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Press Releases from AlphaMed Press

November 24, 2020
Pre-treating progenitor cells with protein-activator slows progression of atherosclerosis

Durham, NC (November 24, 2020) - A new treatment for atherosclerosis, commonly known as hardening of the arteries, may be on the horizon, according to a study released today in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine (SCTM). The study demonstrates how injecting mice with early outgrowth cells (EOCs), after first treating the cells with chemicals to activate a type of protein called liver x receptor (LXR), slows the development of this disease.

Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of heart attack, stroke and other cardiopulmonary disorders. It results when plaque buildup in the arteries causes them to narrow and blocks blood flow. Many researchers believe this plaque begins when an artery's inner lining, called the endothelium, is damaged. Since EOCs are a type of endothelial progenitor cell that contributes to vascular repair, this makes them a promising candidate for treating atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases, too.

November 9, 2020
Study sheds light on how MSCs suppress inflammation long after they leave the body

Durham, NC (November 09, 2020) - A new study released today in STEM CELLS might just have solved the mystery behind why mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) continue to suppress inflammation in the body long after the MSCs are cleared from the system. The findings, by researchers at Duke University (Durham, N.C.), could help overcome a critical barrier to MSCs being considered a reliable option when developing treatments for inflammatory diseases ranging from COVID-19 and cancer, to allergies, arthritis and more.

MSCs are stem cells that can be isolated from bone marrow, adipose and other tissue sources. Their ability to differentiate into a variety of cell types, along with their capability to self-renew, repair and heal, make them attractive candidates for therapeutic use.

However, there's a drawback, researchers say.

November 3, 2020
Study points way to possible new treatment for ligament injuries

Durham, NC (November 03, 2020) -Each year ligament injuries sideline thousands of athletes and regular citizens. Recovery is long and painful, and sometimes a return to full function is never realized due to scar formation - a factor that makes ligament injuries prone to further damage. A new exosomes study released today in STEM CELLS may lead to a welcomed solution in the future.

This study demonstrates how exosomes, sacs of cell membrane in the body that shuttle proteins and genetic information between cells, and exosome-educated macrophages (EEMs), a type of white blood cell that typically kills microorganisms and removes dead cells, but also could stimulate the action of other immune system cells, can promote ligament healing and reduce scarring.

October 27, 2020
Study reveals fibulin 5 is required for Schwann cells' myelination

Durham, NC (October 27, 2020) - A study released today in STEM CELLS may point to a new treatment for myelin-related disorders including Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. The study demonstrates that fibulin 5, a protein secreted by human Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs), plays an important role in the development of Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

October 7, 2020
Amniotic fluid may yield new, better treatment for ischemic stroke

Durham, NC (October 7, 2020) - A study released today in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine points the way to a possible new avenue of treatment for ischemic stroke. The study, led by Annamaria Cimini, Ph.D., of the University of L'Aquila, and Liborio Stuppia, M.D., of D'Annunzio University, Italy, reveals how the secretome of amniotic fluid stem cells can restore neuronal plasticity (the brain's capacity to change and adapt), improve cognition, and replace neurons damaged or lost due to an ischemic stroke.

Their finding may lead to a more broadly applicable stroke therapy that is not hindered by a narrow treatment window or pre-existing conditions.

September 14, 2020
Stem cells engineered to evade immune system hold promise for ‘off-the-shelf’ grafts

Durham, NC (Sept. 15, 2020) – Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) hold promise in the field of regenerative medicine for how they give rise to every other cell type in the body and for their ability to propagate indefinitely. Their potential, however, is hampered by the body’s tendency to reject any “allogeneic” cells or tissue, which means that the cells come from a donor other than the patient.  This rejection is due to the body’s immune system labeling the cells as “foreign invaders” and setting in motion a series of strategies intended to ward off what it deems an attack — leaving researchers scrambling for a way around this protective measure.

September 9, 2020
Adding stem cells to educational intervention can significantly help kids with autism

Durham, NC (Sept. 9, 2020) - Results of a clinical trial released today in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine indicate that a combination of stem cell therapy and educational intervention can significantly help children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

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August 13, 2020
Enzyme inhibitor enhances transplanted stem cells' ability to treat heart failure

Durham, NC (August 13, 2020) – Stem cell replacement offers great potential for helping people recover from a heart attack by regenerating the damaged cardiac tissue. However, a critical barrier to the success of this promising therapy is the significant loss of transplanted stem cells due to inflammation in the host environment, which causes fibrosis (scarring) and the stem cells to die off. Today, a team of researchers report in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine that they have found a way to overcome this obstacle.

July 28, 2020
Adult Stem Cells/Glaucoma Drug Combo Promotes Diabetic Wound Healing in Mice

Durham, NC (July 28, 2020) - A new study released today in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine shows promise of a major breakthrough in healing chronic foot ulcers resulting from diabetes. The study, by researchers at the University of California, Davis, is the first to demonstrate how a bioengineered scaffold made up of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) combined with timolol -- a drug commonly used to treat glaucoma -- improved healing and decreased inflammation in the wounds of diabetic mice by as much as 75 percent over the control groups.

July 23, 2020
New Platform Enables Long-Term Tracking of Stem Cell-Derived Tissues After Transplantation

Durham, NC (July 23, 2020) – A new platform reported on today in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine will enable long-term tracking of cardiomyocytes produced from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) after implantation into the heart. This non-invasive strategy, created by the use of modern gene editing to insert a gene called sodium/iodide symporter (NIS), features superior safety and allows long-term non-invasive cell tracking, plus offers the potential for a broad variety of applications in the preclinical and clinical development of cardiac and other cell therapies, its creators say.

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