Chronic renal failure is an important clinical problem with significant socioeconomic impact worldwide. Despite advances in renal replacement therapies and organ transplantation, poor quality of life for dialysis patients and long transplant waiting lists remain major concerns for nephrologists treating this condition. There is therefore a pressing need for novel therapies to promote renal cellular repair and tissue remodeling. Over the past decade, advances in the field of regenerative medicine allowed development of cell therapies suitable for kidney repair. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are undifferentiated cells that possess immunomodulatory and tissue trophic properties and the ability to differentiate into multiple cell types. Studies in animal models of chronic renal failure have uncovered a unique potential of these cells for improving function and regenerating the damaged kidney. Nevertheless, several limitations pertaining to inadequate engraftment, difficulty to monitor, and untoward effects of MSCs remain to be addressed. Adverse effects observed following intravascular administration of MSCs include immune rejection, adipogenic differentiation, malignant transformation, and prothrombotic events. Nonetheless, most studies indicate a remarkable capability of MSCs to achieve kidney repair. This review summarizes the regenerative potential of MSCs to provide functional recovery from renal failure, focusing on their application and the current challenges facing … Continue reading →

Stem Cell Research & Therapy20123:3 DOI: 10.1186/scrt94 BioMed Central Ltd2012 Received: 6July2011 Accepted: 18January2012 Published: 26January2012 Stem cells are currently seen as a treatment for tissue regeneration in neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, anticipating that they integrate and differentiate into neural cells. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a subset of adult progenitor cells, differentiate into cells of the mesodermal lineage but also, under certain experimental circumstances, into cells of the neuronal and glial lineage. Their clinical development, however, has been significantly boosted by the demonstration that MSCs display significant therapeutic plasticity mainly occurring through bystander mechanisms. These features have been exploited in the effective treatment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of multiple sclerosis where the inhibition of the autoimmune response resulted in a significant amelioration of disease and decrease of demyelination, immune infiltrates and axonal loss. Surprisingly, these effects do not require MSCs to engraft in the central nervous system but depend on the cells' ability to inhibit pathogenic immune responses both in the periphery and inside the central nervous system and to release neuroprotective and pro-oligodendrogenic molecules favoring tissue repair. These results paved the road for the utilization of MSCs for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Mesenchymal … Continue reading →

Petri M: Systemic lupus erythematosus: 2006 update. J Clin Rheumatol 2006, 12:37-40. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText Hoffman RW: T cells in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. Clin Immunol 2004, 113:4-13. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText Sanz I: Connective tissue diseases: targeting B cells in SLE: good news at last! Nat Rev Rheumatol 2011, 7:255-256. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText Liu Z, Davidson A: Taming lupusa new understanding of pathogenesis is leading to clinical advances. Nat Med 2012, 18:871-882. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText | PubMedCentralFullText Rahman A, Isenberg DA: Systemic lupus erythematosus. N Engl J Med 2008, 358:929-939. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText Karim MY, Pisoni CN, Khamashta MA: Update on immunotherapy for systemic lupus erythematosuswhats hot and whats not. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2009, 48:332-341. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText Merrill JT, Ginzler EM, Wallace DJ, McKay JD, Lisse JR, Aranow C, Wellborne FR, Burnette M, Condemi J, Zhong ZJ, Pineda L, Klein J, Freimuth WW, LBSL02/99 Study Group: Long-term safety profile of belimumab plus standard therapy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum 2012, 64:3364-3373. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText Manzi S, Snchez-Guerrero J, Merrill JT, Furie R, Gladman D, Navarra SV, Ginzler EM, DCruz DP, Doria A, Cooper S, Zhong ZJ, Hough D, Freimuth W, Petri MA, BLISS-52 and BLISS-76 … Continue reading →

Autonomic Specialists, in association with the Cell Surgical Network, is now able to offer investigational treatments utilizing adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), dysautonomia, POTS, and a range of other neurodegenerative diseases and chronic conditions. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy utilizes a new medical technology that enables us to extract the stem cells from the patients own body fat (adipose). Adipose tissue contains a very high proportion of stem cells about 2500 times more stem cells than are found in bone marrow. Adipose tissue is also much easier to extract than bone marrow. Using a quick mini-liposuction technique, we are able to extract the fat cells, usually from the abdominal region. The extraction only takes about 20 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia. Once the extraction is completed, a component called stromal vascular fraction (SVF), rich in both stem cells and growth factors, can be separated from the fat the same day right at our medical facility. This process utilizes a new technology that requires only minimal processing and takes place under sterile conditions using a special closed system technology. As a result, the stem cells never come in contact with the outside environment. … Continue reading →

Abstract Although it is generally accepted that osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition of the cartilage, other tissues such as synovium in which immunological and inflammatory reactions occur contribute to the development of joint pathology. This sheds new light on the potential mechanism of action of mesenchymal stem cell therapy in osteoarthritis. Rather than tissue repair due to local transformation of injected mesenchymal stem cells to chondrocytes and filling defects in cartilage, such treatment might suppress synovial activation and indirectly ameliorate cartilage damage. Desando and co-workers report in Arthritis Research & Therapy that intra-articular delivery of adipose-derived stem cells attenuates progression of synovial activation and joint destruction in osteoarthritis in an experimental rabbit model. Clinical studies are warranted to see whether this approach might be a novel way to combat development of joint destruction in inflammatory subtypes of osteoarthritis. Although it is generally accepted that the primary effect of stem cell treatment occurs through tissue-specific differentiation, new data suggest that the therapeutic potential of these cells might also be related to their paracrine effect [1,2]. Clinically, patients with osteoarthritis (OA) express variable synovitis. Thickening of the lining layer containing predominantly macrophages that exhibit an activated phenotype is found within a substantial … Continue reading →

Dear Colleague, We welcome you to GTCbio's 13th Stem Cell Research & Regenerative Medicine Conference, to be held on April 25-26, 2016 in Boston, MA. This conference presents information regarding cutting-edge developments in all areas of stem cell research, including the biology, medicine, applications and regulations of stem cells. Topics of discussion include recent developments in pre-clinical and clinical trials of stem cell therapy, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, cancer stem cells, immunotherapy, stem cell reprogramming, and regulatory policies regarding stem cell research. Conference 1: 13th Stem Cell Research & Regenerative Medicine I. Cells for Therapeutic Development, Disease Modeling, & Drug Discovery II. Advances in Adult & Pluripotent Stem Cell Research & Technology III. Frontiers in Tissue Engineering IV. Immunotherapy - Revolution in Disease Treatments V. Joint Plenary Session: Translation to the Clinic: What's in the Pipeline? VI. Joint Plenary Session: Regulatory Challenges in Cell Therapy This conference is part of our larger Stem Cell Summit 2016, which includes two back-to-back conferences including joint sessions: Conference 1: 13th Stem Cell Research & Regenerative Medicine Conference 2: 5th Stem Cell Product Development & Commercialization Sign up for the Summit to have access to both conferences! We hope to see you there! … Continue reading →

PLEASE NOTE: In early 2016, the Duke Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Program will be incorporated into a new Initiative called Regeneration Next. Please follow this link for information and stay tuned for our Launch. Overview Our program brings together basic scientists and clinicians studying stem cells in a variety of adult and developing organ systems. The goal is to understand and exploit their remarkable capacity to maintain healthy tissues and to replace cells lost by disease or injury. Program highlights include: Executive Director Search The new tissueregenerationinitiative at Duke is hiring an Executive Director to work closely with the Director, Co-Directors, and faculty members to promote and integrate discovery research, training, and applications in the broad field of tissue regeneration.Applications from candidates who have a Ph.D. and postdoctoral research experience in the relevant areas of developmental biology, stem cell biology, or tissue regeneration are of particular interest. Please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, summary of research accomplishments and any administrative leadership experience, and a list of at least three references to Academic Jobs Online. Questions may be directed to . Niche regulation of new neurons production in the adult brain Robust production of new neurons continues in the … Continue reading →

This document addresses the use of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy for regeneration in orthopedic indications (for example, cartilage or bone). MSCs are progenitor cells located in the bone marrow and other tissues that may develop into connective tissue and bone (Shen, 2005).MSC therapy refers to the procurement (through autologous or cadaveric allogeneic harvest) of MSCs, processing (such as, concentration and/or expansion of cells) and subsequent infusion or implantation of the MSCs into various anatomic areas to promote healing or regeneration of damaged cartilage or bone. Note: For additional information please see the following related documents: Investigational and Not Medically Necessary: Mesenchymal stem cell therapy is considered investigational and not medically necessary for treatment of orthopedic indications. Surgical repair of tendon, ligament, cartilage and bone defects has been the standard therapy, which may be augmented by autologous grafts, cadaveric allografts or synthetic grafts. However, there have been several limitations to the use of grafts in orthopedic therapy. For instance, autologous graft sources may be hampered by comorbid conditions, limited sites are suitable for harvesting, and the potential of graft failure is an ever-present risk of these procedures. Therefore, alternative regenerative technologies continue to be investigated. Various agents and techniques to … Continue reading →

Thry C: Exosomes: secreted vesicles and intercellular communications. F1000 Biol Rep 2011, 3:15. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText Cocucci E, Racchetti G, Meldolesi J: Shedding microvesicles: artefacts no more. Trends Cell Biol 2009, 19:43-51. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText Katsuda T, Kosaka N, Takeshita F, Ochiya T: The therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles. Proteomics 2013, 13:1637-53. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText Lai RC, Chen TS, Lim SK: Mesenchymal stem cell exosome: a novel stem cell-based therapy for cardiovascular disease. Regen Med 2011, 6:481-92. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText Biancone L, Bruno S, Deregibus MC, Tetta C, Camussi G: Therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cell-derived microvesicles. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2012, 27:3037-42. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText Raposo G, Nijman HW, Stoorvogel W, Liejendekker R, Harding CV, Melief CJM, et al.: B lymphocytes secrete antigen-presenting vesicles. J Exp Med 1996, 183:1161-72. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText Thry C, Regnault A, Garin J, Wolfers J, Zitvogel L, Ricciardi-Castagnoli P, et al.: Molecular characterization of dendritic cell-derived exosomes. Selective accumulation of the heat shock protein hsc73. J Cell Biol 1999, 147:599-610. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText Zitvogel L, Regnault A, Lozier A, Wolfers J: Eradication of established murine tumors using a novel cell-free vaccine: dendritic cell derived exosomes. Nat Med 1998, 4:594-660. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText … Continue reading →