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Injecting iron supplement lets Stanford scientists track transplanted stem cells

By Stem Cell Treatment

Public release date: 12-Jul-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Bruce Goldman 650-725-2106 Stanford University Medical Center

STANFORD, Calif. A new, noninvasive technique for tracking stem cells after transplantation developed by a cross-disciplinary team of radiologists, chemists, statisticians and materials scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine could help surgeons determine whether a procedure to repair injured or worn-out knees is successful.

The technique, described in a study to be published online July 12 in Radiology, relies on an imaging agent already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for an entirely different purpose: anemia treatment. Although this study used rodents, the approach is likely to be adapted for use in humans this fall as part of a clinical trial in which mesenchymal stem cells will be delivered to the site of patients' knee injuries. Mesenchymal stem cells are capable of differentiating into bone and cartilage, as well as muscle, fat and tendon, but not into the other cell types that populate the body.

Every year, arthritis accounts for 44 million outpatient visits and 700,000 knee-replacement procedures. But the early repair of cartilage defects in young patients may prevent further deterioration of the joint and the need for knee replacement later in life, said the study's senior author, Heike Daldrup-Link, MD, PhD, an associate professor of radiology and clinician who splits her time between research and treating pediatric patients.

Mesenchymal stem cells have been used with some success in cartilage-repair procedures. "These cells can be easily derived from bone marrow of patients who are going to undergo the knee-repair procedure," said Daldrup-Link, a member of the Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford. "And they can differentiate into the real-life tissues that compose our joints. But here, too, things can go wrong. The newly transferred cells might fail to engraft, or die. They might migrate away. They could develop into tissues other than cartilage, most commonly fibrous scar tissue."

Relatively few transplanted cells go the distance. The ability to monitor the cells' engraftment after they are deposited at a patient's knee-injury site is therefore essential. With the new technique, magnetic resonance imaging can visualize stem cells for several weeks after they have been implanted, giving orthopaedic surgeons a better sense of whether the transplantation was successful.

Until now, the only ways of labeling mesenchymal stem cells so that they could be noninvasively imaged have required their manipulation in the laboratory. Upon extraction, the delicate cells have to be given to lab personnel, incubated with contrast agents, spun in a centrifuge and washed and returned to the surgeons, who then transplant the cells into a patient.

The new technique involves labeling the cells before extraction, while they reside in the donor's bone marrow. For the study, lead authors Aman Khurana, MD, a postdoctoral scholar, and Fanny Chapelin, a research associate, injected ferumoxytol, an FDA-licensed anemia treatment composed of iron-oxide nanoparticles, into rats prior to extracting bone marrow from them. Then, after enriching the mixture for mesenchymal stem cells, the investigators injected it into the sites of knee injuries in recipient rats. They followed the implanted cells' progress for up to four weeks, comparing the results with those obtained both from cells labeled in laboratory dishes and from unlabeled cells.

Daldrup-Link and others previously have used ferumoxytol for stem-cell labeling in a dish. However, mesenchymal stem cells in a laboratory dish take up very little of this substance. Interestingly, the researchers showed in a series of experiments that, ensconced in donor rats' bone marrow, the same cells are avid ferumoxytol absorbers. Even several weeks after transplantation into the recipient rats' knees, the mesenchymal stem cells retain enough iron to provide a strong MRI signal.

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Injecting iron supplement lets Stanford scientists track transplanted stem cells

Billings veterinary clinic conducts city’s first dog stem cell therapy treatment

By Stem Cell Treatment

Thor, an athletic 7-year-old Catahoula leopard hound, lay on a table at the Animal Clinic of Billings, panting lightly while staffers put small bags over his feet and temperature-controlled packs on his chest before the anesthesia kicked in.

Not long after he went under, those same staff members carried Thor to an operating table where his owner, Dr. Bobbi Jo Massic, who is also a veterinarian at the clinic, made a small incision in his abdomen, the first step in a cutting-edge process designed to help the alleviate the dogs hip dysplasia and arthritis.

By the end of Tuesday, Thor became the very first patient in the clinics brand new animal stem cell therapy program.

This is a very exciting day, said Dr. Bryna Felchle, another vet at the clinic who will help spearhead the program. Were launching our very first stem cell therapy right here.

The process is widespread across the United States, but Felchle is just the second vet in Montana certified to perform the procedure and the only one in the eastern half of the state.

Generally, it involves removing fatty tissue from an animal, separating the stem cells from that tissue, activating the cells and then injecting or applying them back into the animal to promote healing or tissue growth.

The stem cells which differentiate and adapt into needed cells and tissues help to treat arthritis, hip dysplasia, ligament and cartilage injuries and other degenerative diseases.

Massic said Thor is a very active dog. Several years ago, he tore an anterior cruciate ligament, for which he underwent three surgeries and has a metal plate and three screws in one of his legs, along with the arthritis and dysplasia.

He has a lot of his active life ahead of him, she said. Were hoping that we can get him back to that mobility he had before.

She also said it could cut down on healing time, since the surgery requires fairly small incisions and a simple injection of the cells later.

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Billings veterinary clinic conducts city's first dog stem cell therapy treatment

New Method to Produce Blood Cells from Stem Cells Could Yield a Purer, Safer Cell Therapy

By Stem Cell Treatment

Durham, NC (PRWEB) July 12, 2013

A new protocol for reprogramming induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into mature blood cells, using just a small amount of the patients own blood and a readily available cell type, is reported on in the current issue of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine. This novel method skips the generally accepted process of mixing iPSCs with either mouse or human stromal cells during the differentiation process and, in essence, ensures no outside and potentially harmful DNA is introduced into the reprogrammed cells.

As such, it could lead to a purer, safer therapeutic grade of stem cells for use in regenerative medicine.

The discovery of iPSCs holds great promise for regenerative medicine since it is possible to produce patient-specific iPSCs from the individual for potential autologous treatment that is, treatment using the patients own cells. This avoids the possibility of rejection and numerous other harmful side effects.

CD34+ cells are a type of blood stem cell that has been linked to proliferation. However, collecting enough CD34+ cells from a patient to produce an adequate amount of blood usually requires a large volume of blood to be taken from the patient. But scientists found a way around this, as outlined in the new study conducted by researchers in the Department of Medicine and Institute for Human Genetic, University of California-San Francisco. They were led by Yuet Wai Kan, M.D., FRS, and Lin Ye, Ph.D.

We used Sendai viral vectors to generate iPSCs efficiently from adult mobilized CD34+ and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNCs), Dr. Kan explained. Sendai virus is an RNA virus that carries no risk of altering the host genome, so is considered an efficient solution for generating safe iPSC.

Just 2 milliliters of blood yielded iPS cells from which hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells could be generated. These cells could contain up to 40 percent CD34+ cells, of which approximately 25 percent were the type of precursors that could be differentiated into mature blood cells. These interesting findings reveal a protocol for the generation iPSCs using a readily available cell type, Dr. Ye added. We also found that MNCs can be efficiently reprogrammed into iPSCs as readily as CD34+ cells. Furthermore, these MNCs derived iPSCs can be terminally differentiated into mature blood cells.

This method, which uses only a small blood sample, may represent an option for generating iPSCs that maintains their genomic integrity, said Anthony Atala, MD, Editor of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine and director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The fact that these cells were differentiated into mature blood cells suggests their use in blood diseases.

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The full article, Blood cell derived induced pluripotent stem cells free of reprogramming factors generated by Sendai viral vectors, can be accessed at http://www.stemcellstm.com.

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New Method to Produce Blood Cells from Stem Cells Could Yield a Purer, Safer Cell Therapy

IntelliCell BioSciences Discusses their Stem Cell Treatment Technology in Online Interview

By Stem Cell Treatment

NEW YORK, NY, July 12, 2013 - (eTeligis via ACCESSWIRE) IntelliCell BioSciences, Inc. (OTC PINK: SVFC), a developer of novel, patented stromal vascular fraction cells (stem cells) technologies that address the regenerative, curative and preventative conditions of disease states, announces an online interview where they discuss their current SVF (stem cell) treatment technology.

Dr. Steven Victor, the Chairman and CEO of IntelliCell BioSciences, Inc. conducted an online interview where he discusses the company's current SVF (stem cell) treatment technology, and prospects for their patented extraction technology in healthcare facilities in the US.

To access the online interview please visit http://www.wallstreetnewscast.com/profile/svfc.html

Register for Mailing List

If you would like to be added to SVFC mailing list, receive updates, or submit a question to the company, please register online at http://www.wallstreetnewscast.com/request/svfc.html

About IntelliCell BioSciences

IntelliCell BioSciences is a Regenerative Medicine company developing novel technologies that address the regenerative, curative and preventative conditions of disease states with high unmet clinical needs. The Company has patented technology for the use of ultrasonic cavitation for separating stromal vascular fraction with stem cells from adipose tissue and several patent-pending. The Company is also pioneering the development of autologous and allogeneic cells from living and non-living tissue donors for research purposes. IntelliCell is planning a series of in-human clinical studies with top tier universities for the treatment of cardiac disease, osteoarthritis, multiple sclerosis, lower limb ischemic wounds, and gum regeneration in the oral cavity as well as medical aesthetics. The Company has developed a first class cGTP cellular processing facility in New York City, purpose built and designed to be fully integrated into an ambulatory surgery center and hospitals. http://www.intellicellbiosciences.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding IntelliCell BioSciences, Inc., and its future business plans, which statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and future achievements of IntelliCell BioSciences to be materially different from those implied by these forward-looking statements. IntelliCell BioSciences has and undertakes no obligation to provide public updates and revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect any changes in its expectations of future events.

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IntelliCell BioSciences Discusses their Stem Cell Treatment Technology in Online Interview

Stem cells in the aesthetic industry: an interview with Dr. Norma …

By Stell Cell Research

Interview conducted by April Cashin-Garbutt, BA Hons (Cantab)

Stem Cells are special master cells in your body. Stem cells are the building blocks that can replicate into other kinds of cells like blood cells, heart, muscle, blood vessels and cartilage.

Every day, your stem cells repair tissue in your body, but as one grows older the stem cell number and potency decreases.

First isolated in bone marrow, stem cells have been used for decades to regenerate healthy blood and immune cells in cancer patients through a stem cell transplant.

There are a few different types of stem cells that have been discovered and exist in umbilical cord blood and adipose tissue [fat].

Today, doctors have successfully used a patients own stem cells in a new field of medicine called regenerative medicine, to grow new cartilage in their knee, regenerate heart muscle after a heart attack, and even engineer new tracheas and bladders for patients with disease or injury.

According to statistics put forth by the National Institute of Health, the United States is spending nearly $1 billion a year on Stem cell research, and, as so far, these expenditures have resulted in incredible findings that have begun revolutionizing the medical field.

Research using mouse models has suggested that stem cells may hold the secret to curing epilepsy, boost the immune system, and even restore memorysomething that doctors have been working on for years.

On top of this, research at the Mayo Clinic has shown stem cell therapy to delay or even eliminate joint replacement procedures, a revelation discovered through the stem cells ability to repair damaged cartilage in the hips and knees.

Read the original post: Stem cells in the aesthetic industry: an interview with Dr. Norma Kassardjian

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Stem cells in the aesthetic industry: an interview with Dr. Norma ...

Babraham scientists make stem cell discovery

By Stem Cell Treatment

Epigenetics researchers at the Babraham Institute in Cambridge UK have identified the biological process that leads to global loss of the genomes methylation memory when cells are reprogrammed at fertilisation to the so-called ground-state development.

Epigenetics is revolutionising our understanding of genetic inheritance and also helping to explain how our genes can be influenced by the environment. Genomic methylation, which does not alter DNA sequence but essentially marks it in a stable lifelong manner, is accumulated during development and plays a vital role in committing cells to specialised roles in the body.

These methylation marks must be erased at the start of each new generation, to restore the ability of a newly fertilised egg to develop into a new organism.

Understanding this mechanism of wiping the slate clean is important to appreciate how the developmental capacity of cells is reset and also provides insights that will guide the use of stem cells for therapeutic purposes, which also requires remodelling of genomic methylation.

It is known that when adult cells are reprogrammed to stem cell-like cells, they do not completely erase their memory. This unfortunately limits their use in stem cell therapy since these cells will have the tendency to develop into the types of specialised cells from which they were originally derived.

Stem cells receive signals from the environment that force them to become more specialised cells. The Babraham researchers blocked these environmental signals with drugs and found that they could induce this superior stem cell state with the treatment.

In a parallel study published recently in Nature, researchers from The University of California San Francisco and The University of British Columbia in Canada found that treating stem cells with Vitamin C had similar effects, suggesting that nutritional factors may lead to better stem cells.

Dr Gabriella Ficz, lead author from the Babraham Institute said: We were quite surprised by the strong mechanistic link between the external signals and the DNA methylation machinery.

This work consequently opens up a whole range of questions related to what happens in the adult body where we know that aberrant methylation is associated with cancer.

In addition, how these changes are mediated through the new DNA modification 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC), similar to what we have observed in ES cells, remains a key focus in epigenetics research.

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Babraham scientists make stem cell discovery

Stop stem cell therapy – Doctor

By Stem Cell Treatment

Manila, Philippines -- If she would have her way, Dr. Marita V.T. Reyes, Co-Chairperson of the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB), yesterday said she would put a stop to the medical procedure of stem cell therapy.

Reyes delivered a paper yesterday on the topic, "Ethical Consideration In Stem Cell-based Therapy and Research-Poor Countries," on the last day of the 35th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Department of Science and Technology-National Academy of Science and Technology (DOST-NAST) at the historic landmark Manila Hotel.

Reyes acknowledged that there is a "standard" stem cell therapy treatment involving "hematopoietic disorders," such as "leukemia and lymphomas," through "bone marrow or cord blood transplant."

She, however, emphasized that this cannot be said yet in the cases of diseases of the heart, eyes, diabetes, stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Lou Gehrig's (ALS), multiple sclerosis, cancer, and cartilage repair.

Stem cell therapy for these diseases, she stressed, should be stopped.

"If I have the power, I will say, 'stop this in the meantime, until the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has come up with a quality assurance. Until the FDA is able to say that what you say is there, is there, we have no way of protecting our people," said Reyes, when asked about the ethics board's possible advice.

"So, as far as I am concerned, I would like the stem cell therapy, meaning for people who are saying they are using stem cell therapy, to stop, until we have set up very clear quality assurance (system)," the PHREB official said.

Stem cell therapy discussions resulted from the reported death of three Filipino politicians, and the complaint of a government official, after allegedly subjecting themselves from the controversial medical procedure.

Dr. Francisco Chung, Jr., of the Makati Medical Center (MMC), on the other hand, conceded that there are many stem cell procedures that are "experimental in nature."

"What we have approved clinically is bone marrow transplantation," he said, citing the approval of the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).

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Stop stem cell therapy – Doctor

Groundbreaking stem cell research requires legal certainty (Other …

By Stell Cell Research

By Denver Post Editorial Board

Medical advances come so fast and furious these days, it might be easy to lose perspective as to how transformative these discoveries can be.

Limb and even face transplants are possible, as is tissue regeneration. And joint replacement well, that has become almost routine.

Against this backdrop, its understandable to perhaps have overlooked an announcement last week that researchers found no detectable HIV virus levels in two stem-cell transplant patients who had previously tested positive for HIV.

Its too early to use the word cure, but the implications are breath-taking. At the very least, the findings could be an important stepping stone on the path to a cure for a virus that has led to more than 30 million deaths worldwide.

The life-changing potential of the discovery brings to mind the need for federal lawmakers to pass legislation cementing into law the Obama administrations rules on embryonic stem-cell research. As it stands, these sensible rules could be modified by a successive administration.

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., reintroduced such a measure several weeks ago, and we hope it passes. Congress passed similar measures twice before, but they were vetoed by then-President George W. Bush.

To be clear, the type of stem-cell therapy used in the HIV research a bone marrow transplant is different from embryonic stem-cell research and doesnt typically spark the kind of controversy that embryonic stem-cell research engenders. And thank goodness.

But the potential for medical breakthroughs from embryonic stem-cell research that could help people suffering from debilitating diseases and conditions such as Parkinsons Disease and juvenile diabetes is similarly inspiring.

As research institutions consider investing in the human capital and infrastructure necessary to carry out embryonic stem-cell research, having legislative clarity would make those expenditures more palatable.

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Groundbreaking stem cell research requires legal certainty (Other ...

ViaCyte, Inc. raises $10.6 Million in a Private Financing to Support Clinical Development of its Cell Therapy Product …

By Uncategorized

SAN DIEGO, July 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --ViaCyte, Inc., a leading regenerative medicine company focused on developing new approaches to treat major diseases through the application of a stem cell-derived cell therapy, announced today that it completed a private equity financing transaction, providing the Company $10.6 million through the sale of Series C-1 Preferred Stock, together with warrants to purchase stock. The financing, conducted as a rights offering to ViaCyte Series B and C Preferred Stock holders, included the Company's largest existing investors - Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, Sanderling Ventures and Asset Management Company (Johnson Trust).

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121026/LA00871LOGO-a)

This funding serves as a match for a $10.1 million Strategic Partnership Award (SPA) that was approved last October by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to support clinical evaluation of VC-01, ViaCyte's promising encapsulated cell-therapy product being developed as a transformative therapy for patients with type 1 and insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes. In addition, ViaCyte may sell additional shares of Series C-1 Preferred Stock and warrants in one or more subsequent closings that may occur during the remainder of 2013.

The Company will use the funds to pursue clinical development of VC-01. VC-01 is a development-stage product that consists of pancreatic precursor cells (designated PEC-01) manufactured through directed differentiation of stem cells sourced from a proprietary human embryonic stem cell line, and encapsulated in a proprietary, immune protective medical device (the ENCAPTRA device). When implanted under the skin, the encapsulated cells are designed to further differentiate into insulin and other hormone-producing pancreatic cells that regulate blood glucose in a manner similar or identical to a normal pancreas.

Kevin D'Amour, Ph.D., ViaCyte's Chief Scientific Officer, recently provided an update on VC-01 during a presentation at the 73rd Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association entitled Development of an Encapsulated Stem Cell-Based Therapy for Diabetes. The presentation highlighted the tremendous progress ViaCyte has made in the preclinical development of VC-01. ViaCyte is currently planning to file its Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate clinical trials in patients with type 1 diabetes early next year. If VC-01 performs in humans as it has in preclinical studies, it could significantly alleviate or eliminate the challenges and complications for Type 1 diabetics who manage their disease through careful control of diet, monitoring of blood glucose levels and injection of insulin.

The SPA from CIRM provides ViaCyte with $10.1 million to support the clinical study planned for next year and complements previous funding from CIRM. This award reflects CIRM's commitment to follow promising science through the progressive stages of product development. The Company has also received and continues to receive both scientific and financial support for the development of VC-01 from JDRF.

Paul Laikind, Ph.D., ViaCyte's president and chief executive officer, said, "We are very gratified by the continued support of our investors and CIRM as we prepare to evaluate the safety and efficacy of VC-01. This promising product candidate has the potential to vastly improve the lives of millions of patients who currently require insulin injections to survive. Moreover, success of VC-01 will validate ViaCyte's proprietary, stem cell-derived cell therapy platform that has multiple applications, as well as demonstrate the full utility of the Company's encapsulation technology for enabling allogeneic cell therapy treatments."

About ViaCyte

ViaCyte, a private company that has emerged as a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, is currently focused on developing a novel cell therapy for the treatment of diabetes. The Company's lead product is based on the production of pancreatic progenitors derived from human pluripotent stem cells. These cells are implanted in a durable and retrievable encapsulation device. Once implanted and matured, these cells are designed to secrete insulin and other regulatory factors in response to blood glucose levels. ViaCyte's goal for this potentially transformative diabetes product is long term insulin independence without immune suppression, and without risk of hypoglycemia and other diabetes-related complications.

ViaCyte is headquartered in San Diego, California with additional operations in Athens, Georgia. The Company is funded in part by CIRM and JDRF.

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ViaCyte, Inc. raises $10.6 Million in a Private Financing to Support Clinical Development of its Cell Therapy Product ...

Stem Cell Therapy for Knee Pain: Safer than Surgery

By Uncategorized

TAMPA, Fla., July 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Stem Cell Therapy for knee joint pain has been involved in multiple clinical trials worldwide. In the United States trials for knee arthritis and back pain with degenerative disc disease have undergone safety trials and phase studies for effectiveness. The safety profile for stem cell therapy in joints has been proven. Adverse effects are not seen as related to the stem cells. These studies were conducted with allogenic (other people's) stem cells. Naturally, if using your own stem cells, the issues which may be raised from someone else's stem cells is not a concern, and are therefore even safer. There are no immune rejection issues or communicable diseases that can be obtained by using your own cells.

Stem Cell Therapy for joints also do not carry surgical risks such as anesthesia, there is no greater risk for other postoperative complications such as blood clots, infections, or need for revision surgery if it is unsuccessful. Dr. Dennis Lox, a Regenerative and Sports Medicine physician in the Tampa Bay, Florida area (www.drlox.com), comments, "Surgery for joint replacement does carry some significant risks, as this is a highly invasive surgery. Knee and other joint replacement surgery consent forms do include the complication of death. More common problems are infection and blood clots. Stem Cell Therapy injections for joints are no more difficult than injecting cortisone into the knee," states Dr. Lox."There is preparation involved to get to that point, however the injection can be a simple, same-day, office-based procedure."

Dr. Lox notes, "Stem Cell Therapy for joint repair has been used for acute and chronic injuries, knee meniscal tears, loss of knee joint cartilage, and to stop the progression of degenerative arthritis. Even avascular necrosis (AVN) or osteonecrosis has been treated with Stem Cell Therapy. The secondary arthritis from joint collapse in avascular necrosis (AVN) can be significant leading to knee joint replacement. The useof stem cells is becoming a more common alternative to joint replacement."

Dr. Lox further notes, "Some patients may have already had one knee joint replaced with a bad outcome, and wish to avoid a second knee replacement. Others may not be healthy enough. Some medical disorders such as bad hear ailments may preclude having a knee replacement. In these cases, having a regenerative medicine procedure is an attractive, conservative option. Patients who are not medically suited for joint or knee replacement are generally good candidates for Stem Cell Therapy. The pursuit of conservative options in patients who wish to avoid surgery for joint disorders, may find Stem Cell Therapy as an attractive alternative."

About Dr. Dennis Lox Dr. Lox practices in the Tampa Bay Florida area. Dr. Lox is a Sports and Regenerative Medicine Physician, who specializes in the use of regenerative and restorative medicine to assist in treating athletic and arthritis conditions. Dr. Lox may be reached at (727) 462-5582 or visit Drlox.com.

http://www.drlox.com

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Stem Cell Therapy for Knee Pain: Safer than Surgery

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