4/17/2020 - As we monitor and respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, we at AlphaMed Press know how important every update and new piece of information is to reaching the goal of ending this pandemic. Below you can find helpful links to the latest research and findings.

Featured Articles

 

Failure of intrathecal allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells to halt progressive demyelination in two boys with cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy
Ashish Gupta , et al., STEM CELLS Translational Medicine

 

Cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (CALD) is characterized by imaging findings of demyelination, inflammation, and contrast enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). There is no accepted therapy for patients with advanced cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were delivered via intrathecal (IT) route to two boys with rapidly advancing CALD in hopes of utilizing their anti‐inflammatory ability to halt disease progression. The delivery of IT MSC was feasible and without complication, although follow‐up MRI scans after IT MSC delivery showed progressive demyelination in both patients. This may have been due to the advanced nature of disease in the patients or an inadequate cell dose.

 

 

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide induces a bivalent metabolism and maintains pluripotency in human embryonic stem cells
Jarmon G. Lees, et al., STEM CELLS

 

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) induces an intermediate state of naïvety in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), characterized by a shift in metabolism from glycolytic to more oxidative, which is accompanied by increased self‐renewal and altered epigenetics. Conversely, inhibition of the malate aspartate shuttle (MAS), which recycles NAD+, causes a dramatic loss of oxidative metabolism and pluripotency markers. The findings of this study indicate that NAD+ availability is not only regulated by the MAS, but also that NAD+ is critical to the maintenance of self‐renewal in hESCs and a potential regulator of the pluripotent state.

 

Article Scans

Transcriptional Analysis of Fetal Mesangioblasts May Boost Muscle Regeneration Strategies

Correlations between transcriptomic profiles and myogenic differentiation potential may improve mesoangioblast-based skeletal and cardiac muscle regeneration approaches


DRD1 - A New Target in the Battle Against the Age-related Decline in Neurogenesis?

The discovery that DRD1 activity regulates neurogenesis during human brain development may provide a means to counter the loss of neural stem cell activity associated with aging


Vimentin Helps to Keep Proteins in Balance in Neural Stem Cells

A new study explores the complex responses of neural stem cells to elevated levels of damaged proteins to highlight mechanisms that could enhance adult neurogenesis