A year after introducing the first pair of rare African black-footed kittens conceived through in vitro fertilization, the scientists at the Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species in Algiers have announced the arrival of another kitten that, genetically, is their sister, and the first kitten of her type to be carried in the womb of a domestic cat. The same parents contributed to the frozen embryos that produced the two males born last year and this year's female.

A black-footed cat served as the surrogate mother for last year's litter. Researchers next sought to show that vastly more plentiful domestic cats can serve as surrogate mothers in efforts to save the small wild cat from extinction.

"Being able to use domestic cats adds another extra dimension to that, being able to produce more," said Earle Pope, acting director of the center. Only 53 of the cats, which are native to South Africa, live in zoo collections in the United States.

Domestic and African black-footed are different species of cat but members of the same group of felines. Their similar sizes and gestation lengths, Pope said, appear to be what made the pregnancy and birth physically possible even though the genetic makeup of the kitten differed from the mother.

"They're considered to be of the same lineage," he said. "Somewhere back a couple of million years ago, they're descended from the same ancestor."

The kitten, named Crystal, was born on Feb. 6 to domestic cat Amelie without any human assistance in the birth itself. It exhibits all the characteristics of a black-footed cat despite being nurtured by a domestic cat mother, Pope said.

"It's not changed genetically in any way," from other black-footed cats, he said. "It is totally a black-footed cat in behavior."

Researchers handle the kitten almost every day as they study it, but she remains decidedly unadapted to human contact.

"It just wants you to leave it alone and stay away from it," Pope said. "It gets along beautifully with the domestic cat mother. They don't know, or do not care, that it's a different species."

Scientists started gathering the genetic material that eventually created the kitten in 2003, when they collected and froze a sperm sample from a black-footed cat named Ramses that lived at a research center in Nebraska. In 2005, they thawed the sperm and combined them with eggs from Zora, a cat living at Audubon. That produced 11 embryos, which went into deep freeze.

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Audubon center in Algiers logs another breakthrough in genetic engineering of endangered cats

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The Los Angeles Times this week reports on a new UnitedHealth Group study that "estimates spending on genetic tests at $5 billion in the US in 2010," adding that it "could reach $25 billion within a decade." The LA Times says that the increasing availability of genetic tests and molecular diagnostics "offers the promise of earlier detection of disease and more personalized treatments that could wring substantial savings from the nation's $2.6 trillion-a-year healthcare tab." However, the LA Times adds, some "worry that those benefits may be outweighed by indiscriminate use of genetic testing."

The research arm of UnitedHealth surveyed physicians and patients on their attitudes toward genetic testing, and estimates that its members in private plans, Medicare, and Medicaid "spent $483 million on genetic tests in 2010, with 40 percent related to infectious diseases, 16 percent for cancer, and the rest for inherited disorders and other conditions." UnitedHealth also found that "more than half the 1,506 consumers surveyed were concerned about their physician's ability to know when a genetic test is needed and interpret it, the confidentiality of test results and about possible discrimination," the LA Times adds.

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Physicians, Patients Talk Genetic/MDx Tests

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On Feb. 28, European and American scientists, including Stanford School of Medicine genetics professor Carlos Bustamante, PhD, and senior research associate Peter Underhill, PhD, announced the sequencing of Otzis entire genome. It is the oldest human sample to undergo such an analysis. Postdoctoral scholars Andres Moreno-Estrada, PhD; Brenna Henn, PhD; and Martin Sikora, PhD, also worked on the study, which appeared in Nature Communications. High-throughput DNA sequencing was performed at Massachusetts-based Life Technologies Corp.

The sequence revealed some things impossible to learn by studying the body: the color of his eyes, for example, (brown) and the fact that he was likely lactose-intolerant. But more importantly, it also gave clues to where his ancestors lived and how humans may have migrated across Europe during the Copper Age, which started about 7,000 years ago. The answer surprised some people:

The Icemans ancestry most closely mirrors that of modern-day Sardinians, said Underhill, who, with Bustamante, came to the conclusion by analyzing the mummys Y chromosome. His lineage is very rare in mainland Europe only 1 percent or less share the same sequence but is rather frequent in northern Sardinia and southern Corsica.

Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It lies 120 miles west of Italys mainland and 7.5 miles south of the French island of Corsica.

Enlarge

The mummy of the Iceman is kept in a refrigerated cell in the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. Credit: South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology

Obtaining and sequencing DNA from such an ancient source was challenging. Ancient DNA, which has been exposed to the elements for thousands of years, is plagued by contamination both from the environment and anyone who has handled Otzi since his discovery, said Timothy Harkins, PhD, of Life Technologies who led the sequencing effort. To limit contamination, researchers used a long needle to tap the inner part of the femur.

As it was, the researchers obtained only about 20 nanograms of genomic DNA for sequencing, which is hundreds of times less than the amount usually used for whole-genome sequencing of modern-day samples. From this, the scientists were able to identify about 2 million unique sequence variants for population studies. One small variation on the Y chromosome pointed researchers to Otzis island heritage.

The finding suggests two scenarios: either the mummys ancestors were once more prevalent in mainland Europe than they are now (and some unknown selection process caused them to die off everywhere but the island strongholds), or they actively immigrated to the mainland from the island. Because there is little archeological evidence of the large, rapid population change required in the first possibility, the Stanford researchers favor the second.

Its thought that Sardinia was first peopled about 11,000 years ago by sedentary hunter-gatherers, said Underhill. Some samples of volcanic glass, or obsidian, found in mainland Italy and southern France have been shown to come from Mount Arci in Sardinia. This implies that there were episodes of trading between the island and mainland. If so, the mummys ancestors could have arrived in Europe as traders.

Link:
Genetic analysis of ancient 'Iceman' mummy traces ancestry from Alps to Mediterranean isle

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By a GenomeWeb staff reporter

NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) Baylor College of Medicine's Medical Genetics Laboratory and Brazil's Dasa medical diagnostic laboratory announced on Friday an agreement to provide advanced genetic testing technology in that country.

Under the terms of the deal, Baylor's lab in Houston will conduct genetic testing and prepare a clinical report for Dasa, which will convey the results to the ordering physician in Brazil. The agreement also provides Dasa access to Baylor's database of clinical microarray results and access to Baylor's genetic research and diagnostic laboratory expertise, BCM said.

Luis Franco, assistant professor of molecular and human genetics at BCM, said in a statement that the collaboration is expected to create opportunities for technology transfer and the joint development of tests tailored to the Brazilian market.

Financial and other terms were not disclosed.

Dasa is Latin America's largest medical reference lab and the world's fourth-largest provider of diagnostic services, according to BCM.

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Baylor, Dasa Partner to Bring Genetic Testing to Brazil

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By Alex Nussbaum - Mon Mar 12 04:00:00 GMT 2012

Genetic tests may become a $25 billion annual market in the U.S. within a decade, highlighting the need to identify which exams work the best, insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) said.

A majority of the 1,800 DNA tests developed to identify or manage medical conditions still havent been studied enough to prove their effectiveness, UnitedHealth, the biggest U.S. insurer by sales, said in a report today. The technology generated $5 billion in 2010, the insurer said, and three to five new tests are being introduced each month.

The projections bode well for diagnostics companies including Genomic Health Inc. (GHDX), Myriad Genetics Inc. (MYGN) and Life Technologies Corp. (LIFE), said Daniel Leonard, a Leerink Swann & Co. analyst in New York. They also raise questions about the effect on consumers, doctors and governments struggling with rising medical bills, UnitedHealth said.

While genetic exams hold great promise for better health and medical care, the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based insurer said in the report. They also pose significant challenges to a system that is increasingly unaffordable.

The paper, released to coincide with a Washington D.C. conference on gene testing, calls for cheaper, quicker methods to evaluate the quality of the technology, as well as better education for consumers about privacy protections.

The report echoed concerns from a study last week in the New England Journal of Medicine that found cancer screening may be less useful than hoped because of the wide variety of mutations found in tumors. That may explain why some oncology drugs become less effective even when targeted at specific genes, scientists from the U.K. said.

Genetic tests can be used to identify cancers, judge a persons predisposition to Alzheimers disease or gauge how well a particular medicine will work in a specific patient.

UnitedHealth, which covers 36 million people in its medical plans, spent about $500 million for genetic exams and molecular diagnostics in 2010, mostly to detect cancers and infectious diseases like HIV, todays report said.

The national figure may swell to $15 billion to $25 billion in 2021, with annual growth rates of more than 10 percent, the company said. It based the projections on internal claims and government Medicare and Medicaid data. The ultimate number depends on how popular the tests grow, how expensive they get and insurers willingness to pay, among other factors.

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Genetic Tests to Generate $25 Billion a Year, UnitedHealth Says

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WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

A new report by UnitedHealth Groups (NYSE: UNH - News) Center for Health Reform & Modernization finds that a majority of physicians are utilizing genetic testing. The report, titled Personalized Medicine: Trends and prospects for the new science of genetic testing and molecular diagnostics, presents new findings on how genetic tests can help diagnose disease, target prevention, and ensure that patients receive the medicines that will best treat their conditions.

Genetic testing is currently available for about 2,500 conditions, including cancers and communicable diseases, and it is estimated to be growing by double digits annually. Full genome sequencing, which maps an individuals entire genetic code, is also expected to become widely available, possibly beginning as soon as later this year.

Genetic science offers unprecedented potential to prevent disease and improve diagnosis and treatment, ushering in an era of truly personalized care, said Simon Stevens, executive vice president, UnitedHealth Group, and chairman of the UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform & Modernization. But for patients to realize these practical benefits, we will also need new models of research and care delivery combined with informed choice and appropriate consumer safeguards.

The report sheds new light on three important questions:

What do U.S. doctors and patients think about genetic testing and molecular diagnostics?

How are these tests currently being used, and how might their use grow?

What practical action can be taken to ensure proper safeguards while accelerating progress for patients?

Report Includes New Survey Results on Patient and Physician Views on Genetic Testing

Most American consumers are optimistic about the potential benefits from advances in genetic testing, according to a national survey of U.S. adults conducted by UnitedHealth Group/Harris Interactive, included in the report. About three-quarters of survey respondents agree that genetic tests help doctors diagnose preventable conditions and offer more personalized treatment options. Most consumers expect that five years from now the use of testing will have increased. However, the coding system used across the country to monitor medical tests offers few codes to describe genetic tests for specific diseases.

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New Report Finds Greater Use of Genetic Testing, but Half of Physicians Concerned About Their Lack of Familiarity With ...

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Newswise CHICAGO, IL March 10, 2012 -- The Genetics Society of America (GSA) and the Drosophila community of geneticists are pleased to announce the six student winners of the Victoria Finnerty Undergraduate Travel Awards, which were used by these students to attend the ongoing 53rd Annual Drosophila Research Conference in Chicago. These students, all juniors or seniors in college are:

Selma Avdagic, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri Samantha Galindo, University of WisconsinMadison Kenneth B. Hoehn, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina Emily Hsieh, University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Jacqueline McDermott, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York Mohammad Siddiq, Indiana University, Bloomington

It is inspiring to see these undergraduates conducting cutting-edge research so early in their scientific careers, said Adam Fagen, Ph.D., GSA executive director. We at GSA have no doubt that the future of genetics is strong with such talented young people leading the field.

This is the first time these students have attended a professional scientific research conference where they are describing their research to doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, and principal investigators from research laboratories all over the world. The experience, described by one student as both exciting and intimidating, is an opportunity for them to explore the field of genetics research as a possible career.

Victoria Finnerty was an outstanding scientist and a dedicated teacher and mentor who conveyed her passion for Drosophila genetics in her creative approaches toward undergraduate education and research. We view this award as an important way to encourage our young scientists to pursue research careers and become our future scientific leaders, said Elizabeth Gavis, Ph.D., president of the Drosophila Board of Directors and professor at Princeton University.

The Victoria Finnerty Undergraduate Travel Awards were established last year in memory of its namesake, who was a long-time GSA member, a dedicated undergraduate educator at Emory University for 35 years, and an active member of the Drosophila research community and the genetics community at large. The six undergraduates are the first to receive this funding to attend the annual Drosophila Research Conference.

A list of the students research projects, a brief description of each and the name of their mentor (principal investigator) of the project, is attached.

ABOUT THE GSA DROSOPHILA RESEARCH CONFERENCE: At least 1,500 researchers attend the annual GSA Drosophila Research Conference to share the latest research using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and other insect species. Many of findings from these model organisms have broad application for the study of human genetic traits and diseases. For more information about the conference, see http://www.drosophila-conf.org/2012/.

ABOUT GSA: Founded in 1931, the Genetics Society of America (GSA) is the professional membership organization for scientific researchers, educators, bioengineers, bioinformaticians and others interested in the field of genetics. Its nearly 5,000 members work to advance knowledge in the basic mechanisms of inheritance, from the molecular to the population level. The GSA is dedicated to promoting research in genetics and to facilitating communication among geneticists worldwide through its conferences, including the biennial conference on Model Organisms to Human Biology, an interdisciplinary meeting on current and cutting edge topics in genetics research, as well as annual and biennial meetings that focus on the genetics of particular organisms, including C. elegans, Drosophila, fungi, mice, yeast, and zebrafish. GSA publishes GENETICS, a leading journal in the field and a new online, open-access publication, G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics. For more information about GSA, please visit http://www.genetics-gsa.org. Also follow GSA on Facebook at facebook.com/GeneticsGSA and on Twitter @GeneticsGSA.

2012 Victoria Finnerty Awardees

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Undergraduate Grant Awardees Present Research at Fly Conference

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Public release date: 10-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Phyllis Edelman pedelman@genetics-gsa.org 301-351-0896 Genetics Society of America

Chicago, IL March 10, 2012 -- More than two-thirds of human genes have counterparts in the well-studied fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, so although it may seem that humans don't have much in common with flies, the correspondence of our genetic instructions is astonishing. In fact, there are hundreds of inherited diseases in humans that have Drosophila counterparts.

At the ongoing Genetics Society of America's 53rd Annual Drosophila Research Conference in Chicago, several scientific investigators shared their knowledge of some of these diseases, including ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), a neurodegenerative disorder; Rett Syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder; and kidney stones, a common health ailment. All are the subject on ongoing research using the Drosophila model system.

Andrew Petersen, a graduate student in Dr. David Wassarman's laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, discussed his experiments with a fly model of the rare childhood disease ataxia-telangiectasia. A-T causes cell death within the brain, poor coordination, characteristic spidery blood vessels that show through the skin, and susceptibility to leukemias and lymphomas. A-T generally results in a life expectancy of only 25 years.

A-T is normally lethal in flies, but Mr. Petersen induced a mutant that develops symptoms only when the environmental temperature rises above a certain level, allowing Mr. Petersen to control the lethality by varying the fly's environment. The mutant flies lose their ability to climb up the sides of their vial habitats - a sign of neurodegeneration -- and die prematurely. Their glial cells are primarily affected, rather than the neurons that the glia support. In addition, an innate immune response is activated in the compromised glia, a scenario reminiscent of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. "We are one step closer to knowing how these diseases occur and possibly how we can treat them," Mr. Petersen concluded.

Sarah Certel, Ph.D., assistant professor of biological sciences at the University of Montana-Missoula, works with flies that have been altered to include the human gene MeCP2. This gene controls how neurons use many other genes, and the amount of the protein that it encodes must be within a specific range for the brain to develop normally. Too little of the protein and Rett syndrome results, a disorder on the X chromosome, which exclusively affects females in childhood. (Males with this mutation are generally miscarried or are stillborn.) It causes a constellation of symptoms including characteristic hand-wringing, autism, seizures, cognitive impairment, and loss of mobility. Yet too much of the protein causes similar problems.

In flies, altered levels of the MeCP2 protein affect sleep and aggression. For flies and most model organisms, sleep is inferred as the absence of activity during the day and night. To study sleep, Dr. Certel conducted "actograms" for individual flies. "The actogram records the activities of individually housed flies when they cross an infrared beam," she explained. The flies' sleep became fragmented, delayed, and shortened. "We're studying the link between the cellular changes and behaviors," she added.

Switching from the brain to the urinary system, it was noted that "Drosophila get kidney stones too" began Julian Dow, Ph.D., professor of molecular and integrative physiology at the University of Glasgow, United Kingdom. The fly version of a kidney is much simpler in design, a quartet of Malpighian tubules that are conveniently transparent.

Dr. Dow discussed a fly mutant called "rosy," discovered a century ago, that corresponds to the rare human inborn error of metabolism called xanthinuria type 1, as well as a diet-induced blockage that corresponds to the more common human condition of calcium oxalate kidney stones. In time-lapse video, Dr. Dow showed stones appearing and growing in the Malpighian tubule.

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Scientists study human diseases in flies

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SILVER SPRING, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Nuvilex, Inc. (OTCQB:NVLX), an emerging biotechnology provider of cell and gene therapy solutions, today discussed the use of the proprietary Cell-in-a-Box technology, being acquired from SG Austria, as an adjunct to chemotherapy across a spectrum of cancer treatments.

The Cell-in-a-Box technology involves the encapsulation of cytochrome P450 expressing cells which are placed beside the target tumor. When the patient is injected with the nontoxic drug ifosfamide, the encapsulated cells transform this prodrug into its active, chemotherapeutic drug. The greatest benefit of this treatment protocol is that the treatment is localized to the tumor, enhancing the chemotherapys effectiveness.

Most chemotherapy drugs affect both normal and cancerous tissue, which is why they also are toxic to naturally fast-growing cells in the body such as hair follicles and intestinal cells. Ifosfamide was one of many drugs originally used for pancreatic cancer that showed an effect against the tumor, but produced severe side effects. By using encapsulated cytochrome P450 expressing cells to convert the ifosfamide at the tumor site, the encapsulated cell treatment was able to localize the drug's effects within the tumor cells. The amount of drug needed was decreased to only one third of the original dose and the side effects were dramatically decreased.

Dr. Robert Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of Nuvilex, commented, Our cell encapsulation technology can help practitioners target the tumors while preserving the health of surrounding tissues and avoiding the often fatal side effects that accompany aggressive chemotherapy. We anticipate that by localizing treatment within the target tumors, we will finally have an effective treatment protocol for cancers that also preserves the quality of life.

About Nuvilex

Nuvilex, Inc. (OTCQB:NVLX) is an emerging international biotechnology provider of live clinically useful, therapeutically valuable, encapsulated cells as well as services for encapsulating live cells for the research and medical communities. Through substantial effort, the aspects of our corporate activities alone and in concert with SG Austria continue to move toward agreement completion and ultimately a strong future. Our companys ultimate clinical offerings will include cancer, diabetes and other treatments using the companys industry-leading cell and gene therapy expertise and cutting edge, live-cell encapsulation technology.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 involving risks and uncertainties. Results, events and performances could vary from those contemplated. These statements involve risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results, expressed or implied, to differ from predicted outcomes. Risks and uncertainties include product demand, market competition, and Nuvilexs ability to meet current or future plans. Investors should study and understand all risks before making an investment decision. Readers are recommended not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Nuvilex is not obliged to publicly release revisions to any forward-looking statement, to reflect events or circumstances afterward, or to disclose unanticipated occurrences, except as required under applicable laws.

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Studies Highlight Nuvilex Cell-In-A-Box® Technology Enhances Chemotherapy Effectiveness

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Public release date: 12-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Sarah Jackson press_releases@the-jci.org 919-684-0620 Journal of Clinical Investigation

EDITOR'S PICK Restoring what's lost: uncovering how liver tissue regenerates

The liver is unique among mammalian organs in its ability to regenerate after significant tissue damage or even partial surgical removal. Laurie DeLeve and her colleagues at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles wanted to better understand which cells are specifically responsible for driving liver regeneration. A specialized cell type, known as liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, has generally been thought to promote regeneration of liver tissue. However, the DeLeve team suspected that stem cells and progenitor cells, which have the capacity to differentiate into mature cell types, might be responsible for stimulating liver regeneration by generating hepatocyte growth factor. Using a rat model system, they first identified the presence of stem and progenitor cells that give rise to liver sinusoidal endothelial cells in both the liver and the bone marrow. They next sought to determine which population of stem and progenitor cells are required for regeneration. DeLeve and colleagues found that the bone marrow-derived cells were not required for liver cell proliferation in the absence of damage. In contrast, following surgical removal of a portion of the rat liver, an infusion of bone marrow-derived progenitor cells was required for liver regeneration. These results improve our understanding of how liver tissue can regenerate following damage and may shed light on liver complications in patients with suppressed bone marrow tissue.

TITLE: Liver sinusoidal endothelial cell progenitor cells promote liver regeneration in rats

AUTHOR CONTACT: Laurie D. DeLeve University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA Phone: 323-442-3248; Fax: 323-442-3238; E-mail: deleve@usc.edu

View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/58789?key=21e2857b21106f232595

ONCOLOGY New Determinant of Human Breast Cancer Metastasis Discovered

Researchers at the University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Center in Lexington, KY have provided new insight as to why the most severe subtype of breast cancer in humans frequently metastasizes. Tumor cells can exploit a cellular program that promotes cell migration and reduces adhesion between cells to spread to distant sites in the body (metastasis). This cellular program, known as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, is normally restricted to wound healing, tissue remodeling and embryonic development. Increasing cell motility requires a decrease in E-cadherin, which functions to promote cell-cell adhesion. Led by Binhua Zhou, the research team identified G9a as a major repressor of E-cadherin expression. They found that G9a interacts with Snail, which can repress gene expression, to modify the E-cadherin promoter and block expression of the E-cadherin gene. Their findings establish that G9a is an important determinant of metastasis in the most severe sub-type of breast cancer, and suggest the development of new therapeutics targeting this pathway could potentially disrupt the metastatic disease.

TITLE: G9a interacts with Snail and is critical for Snail-mediated E-cadherin repression in human breast cancer

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JCI early table of contents for March 12, 2012

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Public release date: 12-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Sarah Jackson sarah.jackson@the-jci.org 919-684-0620 Journal of Clinical Investigation

The liver is unique among mammalian organs in its ability to regenerate after significant tissue damage or even partial surgical removal. Laurie DeLeve and her colleagues at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles wanted to better understand which cells are specifically responsible for driving liver regeneration. A specialized cell type, known as liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, has generally been thought to promote regeneration of liver tissue. However, the DeLeve team suspected that stem cells and progenitor cells, which have the capacity to differentiate into mature cell types, might be responsible for stimulating liver regeneration by generating hepatocyte growth factor. Using a rat model system, they first identified the presence of stem and progenitor cells that give rise to liver sinusoidal endothelial cells in both the liver and the bone marrow. They next sought to determine which population of stem and progenitor cells are required for regeneration. DeLeve and colleagues found that the bone marrow-derived cells were not required for liver cell proliferation in the absence of damage. In contrast, following surgical removal of a portion of the rat liver, an infusion of bone marrow-derived progenitor cells was required for liver regeneration. These results improve our understanding of how liver tissue can regenerate following damage and may shed light on liver complications in patients with suppressed bone marrow tissue.

###

TITLE: Liver sinusoidal endothelial cell progenitor cells promote liver regeneration in rats

AUTHOR CONTACT: Laurie D. DeLeve University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA Phone: 323-442-3248; Fax: 323-442-3238; E-mail: deleve@usc.edu View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/58789?key=21e2857b21106f232595

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

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Restoring what's lost: Uncovering how liver tissue regenerates

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Published: March 12, 2012

(NEW YORK, NY, March 11, 2012) A study by Columbia researchers suggests that cells in the patients intestine could be coaxed into making insulin, circumventing the need for a stem cell transplant. Until now, stem cell transplants have been seen by many researchers as the ideal way to replace cells lost in type I diabetes and to free patients from insulin injections.

The researchconducted in micewas published 11 March 2012 in the journal Nature Genetics.

Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease that destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The pancreas cannot replace these cells, so once they are lost, people with type I diabetes must inject themselves with insulin to control their blood glucose. Blood glucose that is too high or too low can be life threatening, and patients must monitor their glucose several times a day.

Gut insulin cells express glucokinase, a key enzyme for glucose processing. Immunostaining detected insulin in red and glucokinase in green. Yellow marked merged colors.

A longstanding goal of type I diabetes research is to replace lost cells with new cells that release insulin into the bloodstream as needed. Though researchers can make insulin-producing cells in the laboratory from embryonic stem cells, such cells are not yet appropriate for transplant because they do not release insulin appropriately in response to glucose levels. If these cells were introduced into a patient, insulin would be secreted when not needed, potentially causing fatal hypoglycemia.

The study, conducted by Chutima Talchai, PhD, and Domenico Accili, MD, professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, shows that certain progenitor cells in the intestine of mice have the surprising ability to make insulin-producing cells. Dr. Talchai, who works in Dr. Accilis lab, is a New York Stem Cell Foundation-Druckenmiller Fellow.

The gastrointestinal progenitor cells are normally responsible for producing a wide range of cells, including cells that produce serotonin, gastric inhibitory peptide, and other hormones secreted into the GI tract and bloodstream.

Inactivation of Foxo1, a gene important for metabolism generated insulin producing cells in small intestines of newborn mice, as detected by immunofluorescence in red.Drs. Talchai and Accili found that when they turned off a gene known to play a role in cell fate decisionsFoxo1the progenitor cells also generated insulin-producing cells. More cells were generated when Foxo1 was turned off early in development, but insulin-producing cells were also generated when the gene was turned off after the mice had reached adulthood.

Our results show that it could be possible to regrow insulin-producing cells in the GI tracts of our pediatric and adult patients, Dr. Accili says.

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Columbia Researchers Find Potential Role for Gut Cells in Treating Type I Diabetes

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London, Mar 12 (ANI): A new study conducted by scientists suggests a new approach that could give patients the ability to make their own insulin-producing cells without a stem cell transplant.

Until now, stem cell transplants have been seen by many researchers as the ideal way to replace cells lost in type I diabetes and to free patients from insulin injections.

Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease that destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The pancreas cannot replace these cells, so once they are lost, people with type I diabetes must inject themselves with insulin to control their blood glucose.

Blood glucose that is too high or too low can be life threatening, and patients must monitor their glucose several times a day.

A longstanding goal of type I diabetes research is to replace lost cells with new cells that release insulin into the bloodstream as needed.

Though researchers can make insulin-producing cells in the laboratory from embryonic stem cells, such cells are not yet appropriate for transplant because they do not release insulin appropriately in response to glucose levels.

If these cells were introduced into a patient, insulin would be secreted when not needed, potentially causing fatal hypoglycemia.

The study, conducted by Chutima Talchai and Domenico Accili from Columbia University Medical Center, shows that certain progenitor cells in the intestine of mice have the surprising ability to make insulin-producing cells.

The gastrointestinal progenitor cells are normally responsible for producing a wide range of cells, including cells that produce serotonin, gastric inhibitory peptide, and other hormones secreted into the GI tract and bloodstream.

They found that when they turned off a gene known to play a role in cell fate decisions-Foxo1-the progenitor cells also generated insulin-producing cells. More cells were generated when Foxo1 was turned off early in development, but insulin-producing cells were also generated when the gene was turned off after the mice had reached adulthood.

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Gut cells transformed into insulin factories 'could help to treat type I diabetes'

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BETHLEHEM, Pa., March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Saladax Biomedical, Inc., a privately held company developing and commercializing novel diagnostic assays to achieve the promise of personalized medicine for new and existing therapeutics, announced today it has entered into a distribution agreement with INyDIA Labs, based in Madrid, Spain, for My5-FU, a test that measures levels of a widely-used anti-cancer drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), in the blood of cancer patients.

"Our collaboration with INyDIA will allow us to provide cancer patients in Spain and Portugal more personalized treatment," said Adrienne Choma, Esq., Sr. VP and chief marketing officer of Saladax. "With this agreement, we expand availability of Saladax's My5-FU diagnostic assay in the global market."

INyDIA will be the exclusive provider of My5-FU test kits to laboratories in Spain and Portugal, enabling oncologists to individualize 5-FU dosing to optimize therapeutic efficacy and reduce toxicity for their patients.INyDIA, which specializes in producing in vitro diagnostic reagents and instrumentation, including array readers and liquid handling platforms, also offers its customers other manufacturers' products focused in personalized medicine.

"We're pleased to offer Saladax's unique technology to oncologists in Spain and Portugal to ensure personalized care is provided to their patient populations," said Santiago R. Maceira, country manager for INyDIA.

About My5-FUSaladax's first commercially available test for innovative dose management; My5-FU measures levels of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a widely used chemotherapy drug used in conjunction with other drugs in first-line therapy for colorectal cancer and other solid tumors. The assay technology enables oncologists to determine the optimal dose of 5-FU for each individual patient, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the drug and lessening the risk of severe toxicity and side effects.

About Saladax Biomedical, Inc.Saladax Biomedical develops and commercializes novel diagnostic assays to achieve the promise of personalized medicine through dose management and companion diagnostic products for existing and new therapeutics. The Company's dose management technology enables physicians to optimize drug dosing to meet individual patient needs, leading to improved response and quality of life. The Company's 15 MyCare dose management assays are comprised of proprietary, automated and cost-effective in vitro diagnostic tests, with a principal focus in oncology. The first MyCare assay available is for one of the most common anticancer drugs, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). This assay is sold in the European Union by Saladax and its distribution partners as a CE-marked product and will be distributed in Japan by FALCO biosystems. In the United States and Canada, Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc. provides testing for 5-FU dose optimization under the trademark OnDose through a license to Saladax proprietary technology. Saladax also works with pharmaceutical companies to develop companion diagnostics to provide important clinical information to assist in developing and administering new and existing compounds. For more information, visit http://www.saladax.com.

My5-FU is a registered trademark of Saladax Biomedical, Inc. OnDose is a registered trademark of Myriad Genetics, Inc.

Saladax Biomedical, Inc. Adrienne Choma, Esq. Sr. VP & Chief Marketing Officer achoma@saladax.com

Media Contact:Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.212-827-0020 Andrew Mielach amielach@tiberend.com or Jason Rando jrando@tiberend.com

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Saladax Biomedical, Inc. Expands Distribution of My5-FU in Spain and Portugal

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LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The world is currently witnessing a growing interest in both cost savings and greater safety and efficacy associated with a personalized medicine approach to drug therapies. Considerable gains will be realized if the right drug can be given to the right patient at the right dose, within any therapeutic area. Though the reimbursement, pricing, coding, and regulatory systems that will support this scientific and clinical paradigm shift are still evolving, slowly but there are real revenues being made and real potential for earnings. Forecasts say the market will approach USD37,480 million by 2016 globally.

New research study World Market for Personalized Medicine Diagnostics (Biomarkers, Pharmacodiagnostics, Tumor Assays, Cardiac Risk and Other Testing) worked out by Kalorama Information highlights the current opportunity and a realistic future potential for personalized medicine in clinical testing. Besides analyzing tests currently on the market and in development, it profiles key competitors and discusses trends important for understanding this growth area of the diagnostic industry. A special focus of the report is the bustle of activity with collaborations between IVD and pharmaceutical companies, as well as IVD companies and CLIA labs.

Biomarkers discussed in the report include: Cytochrome P450 and Drug Metabolism, Estrogen Receptor and Progesterone, Receptor Status for Breast Cancer, HER2 Overexpression and Herceptin and Tykerb, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), KRAS Mutations and Anti-EGFR Therapy for Colorectal Cancer, BRAF Mutations and Cancer Therapy, UGT1A1 Genetic Variants, 5-Flurouracil Therapy, PIK3CA Genetic Variation, KIF6 Genetic Variation, ALK Genetic Variation.

Report Details:

Title: World Market for Personalized Medicine Diagnostics (Biomarkers, Pharmacodiagnostics, Tumor Assays, Cardiac Risk and Other Testing)

Published: March, 2011

Pages: 430

Price: US$ 3,795

http://marketpublishers.com/report/medicine_pharmaceuticals_biotechnology/drugs_biotechnology/world_market_4_personalized_medicine_diagnostics_biomarkers_pharmacodiagnostics_tumor_assays_cardiac_risk_n_other_testing.html

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Global Personalized Medicine Diagnostics Market Analyzed in New Study Now Available at MarketPublishers.com

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NEW YORK, March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --United Spinal Association's membership division National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA), announced today the start of the on-line auction of the "Healing Harp," a world class Grand Concert Harp built by George Flores -- a master harp builder/technician and wheelchair user. Auction proceeds will benefit people living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) nationwide.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120312/DC68561)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110413/MM82757LOGO)

The auction, via eBay, goes live at 3:00 p.m. EDT, March 12th and concludes on March 22th.

The custom-built Venus Aria model Grand Concert Harp in natural finish with hand painted soundboard and handpicked special veneers has a new technology no other harp in the world has, which was implemented in this particular harp. The technology strengthens the overall structure and enhances the acoustic properties of the wood. The Healing Harp is valued at $40,000.

Flores, an NSCIA member who was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident in 2004, created his 47-string harp with the aid of a stand-up wheelchair that allowed him to build, calibrate, and tune at the highest places of this tall symphonic instrument.

"I thought about the fact that harps are known around the world as being a healing instrument. I thought this would be a great opportunity to bring that same healing power to the world and all people with disabilities, including people with spinal cord injuries and disorders," said Flores who built the harp with the support of the Venus Harp Company, a world leader in harp manufacturing.

Flores chose NSCIA as the beneficiary of his labor of love due to their support in navigating doctors and helping him successfully advocate for a stand-up wheelchair during his rehabilitation, as well as their ability to help others lead full and independent lives with spinal cord injury or disorder.

Continued here:
United Spinal Starts Auction of Grand Concert Harp Built by Master Harp Artisan With Spinal Cord Injury: A World Class ...

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Organogenesis Inc. of Canton, a leader in the regenerative medicine field, announced today its product, Gintuit, which is designed to form new gum tissue for dental patients, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Gintuit marks the first-ever approval of an allogenic cell product via the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, and the first cell-based technology FDA-approved for use in the dental market, the company said.

Organogenesis CEO Geoff MacKay said the FDA approval was a significant milestone for the company.

Our second breakthrough cell-based product, Gintuit, will help dental surgeons create new gum tissue for their patients without turning to palate graft surgery, MacKay said.

Gintuit is a cellular sheet containing human fibroblast and extracellular matrix proteins, as well as bovine collagen.

The company added Gintuit is expected to be commercially available via a controlled market release beginning this summer, and available to the broader U.S. market next year.

The announcement comes as Organogenesis continues work on its $63 million expanded regenerative manufacturing facilities in the Bay State.

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Organogenesis wins FDA approval for Gintuit

Recommendation and review posted by sam

CLEARWATER, FL--(Marketwire -03/12/12)- Biostem U.S., Corporation (OTCQB: BOSM.PK - News) (Pinksheets: BOSM.PK - News) (Biostem, the Company), a fully reporting public company in the stem cell regenerative medicine sciences sector, announced today the addition of cardiothoracic surgeon Thomas W. Prendergast, M.D. to its Scientific and Medical Board of Advisors (SAMBA).

Biostem CEO, Dwight Brunoehler stated, "The Company is now positioned for growth and international expansion. Adding a world class team of clinical, laboratory, and regulatory experts for our Scientific and Medical Board of Advisors to guide our pursuits is essential. Dr. Prendergast brings a wealth of experience not only in the scientific aspects of stem cell use in regenerative medicine, but also in forging research and international economic development opportunities."

Dr. Prendergast is a busy clinical cardiothoracic surgeon, who performs 200-250 open-heart operations and 5 to 15 heart transplants each year. He is deeply involved in numerous clinical and research activities associated with stem cells and heart repair. He is presently Director of Cardiac Transplantation at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey where he holds an Associate Professorship of Surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. In addition to being an active participant in stem cell research program development and teaching medical students and residents, his other interests include medical research funding and humanitarian development of programs for Disabled American Veterans.

Dr. Prendergast received his undergraduate degrees in biophysics and Psychology, as well as his medical degree, at Pennsylvania State University. His general surgery residency was for five years at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. His cardiothoracic surgery training was at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, including the Los Angeles County Medical Center. Subsequent fellowship training included pediatric cardiac surgery at Children's Hospital of LA, along with thoracic transplant fellowships at University of Southern California in Los Angeles and at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. He spent three years at the University of Kansas establishing thoracic transplant programs until returning to Temple University Hospital as one of their staff heart and lung transplant surgeons. Subsequent to his time at Temple, he joined up with Newark Beth Israel/St. Barnabas Hospitals, where he assumed directorship as the Chief of Cardiac Transplantation and Mechanical Assistance.

Regarding his appointment to the Biostem U.S. Scientific and Medical Board of Advisors, Dr. Prendergast said, "I am looking forward with excitement to working again with Dwight at Biostem. The expansion plan is sound, well paced, and will afford improved quality of life opportunities to many people around the world."

About Biostem U.S., Corporation

Biostem U.S., Corporation (OTCQB: BOSM.PK - News) (Pinksheets: BOSM.PK - News) is a fully reporting Nevada corporation with offices in Clearwater, Florida. Biostem is a technology licensing company with proprietary technology centered around providing hair re-growth using human stem cells. The company also intends to train and license selected physicians to provide Regenerative Cellular Therapy treatments to assist the body's natural approach to healing tendons, ligaments, joints and muscle injuries by using the patient's own stem cells. Biostem U.S. is seeking to expand its operations worldwide through licensing of its proprietary technology and acquisition of existing stem cell related facilities. The company's goal is to operate in the international biotech market, focusing on the rapidly growing regenerative medicine field, using ethically sourced adult stem cells to improve the quality and longevity of life for all mankind.

More information on Biostem U.S., Corporation can be obtained through http://www.biostemus.com, or by calling Kerry D'Amato, Marketing Director at 727-446-5000.

Original post:
Biostem U.S., Corporation Appoints Heart Surgeon, Thomas W. Prendergast, M.D. to Its Scientific and Medical Board of ...

Recommendation and review posted by sam

BILLERICA, MASSACHUSETTS and TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire -03/12/12)- Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this press release.

EMD Millipore, the Life Science division of Merck KGaA, and the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM) today announced a collaboration to develop optimized conditions for bioreactor-based cultivation of stem cells.

This joint project will focus on the development of a proprietary monitoring and control methodology, enabling robust growth of adherent human pluripotent stem cells in EMD Millipore's Mobius CellReady stirred tank bioreactor. Ultimately, the project will deliver a commercially available kit containing reagents and associated methodologies for bioreactor culture of stem cells on microcarriers.

"As the demand for stem cells used in drug discovery and clinical applications grows, effectively translating the promise of stem cells into therapeutic reality will require large-scale, industrialized production under tightly controlled conditions," states Robert Shaw, Commercial Director of EMD Millipore's Stem Cell Initiative. "At this time, production is typically achieved using stacks of 2D tissue culture vessels, which is an expensive and labor intensive process. This joint project will address those challenges and facilitate optimized, large-scale cultivation of stem cells which can accelerate the progress of therapies into the clinic."

"When CCRM was created, we had industry partnerships like this in mind," says Michael May, CEO of the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine. "We are delighted to have EMD Millipore as our first project partner. Their production expertise and technologies will help CCRM to develop products that will benefit industry, academia, and the patient community. We appreciate that EMD Millipore has commissioned us to undertake this project and recognizes our strength in bioprocessing engineering."

CCRM will be employing EMD Millipore's Mobius CellReady stirred tank bioreactor in its product development facility at the University of Toronto's Banting Institute. The work began on February 27, 2012.

For more information, please visit http://www.millipore.com and http://www.ccrm.ca.

About EMD Millipore

EMD Millipore is the Life Science division of Merck KGaA of Germany and offers a broad range of innovative, performance products, services and business relationships that enable our customers' success in research, development and production of biotech and pharmaceutical drug therapies. Through dedicated collaboration on new scientific and engineering insights, and as one of the top three R&D investors in the Life Science Tools industry, EMD Millipore serves as a strategic partner to customers and helps advance the promise of life science.

Headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, the division has around 10,000 employees, operations in 67 countries and 2010 revenues of $2.2 billion. EMD Millipore is known as Merck Millipore outside of the U.S. and Canada.

Excerpt from:
EMD Millipore and the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine Collaborate to Optimize Conditions for ...

Recommendation and review posted by sam

CANTON, Mass., March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Today Organogenesis Inc., a business leader in the regenerative medicine field, announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved GINTUIT (Allogeneic Cultured Keratinocytes and Fibroblasts in Bovine Collagen), a cell-based product that has been shown to predictably generate new and aesthetically appealing oral soft tissue (gum tissue).

The GINTUIT approval marks two important firsts: the first-ever approval of an allogeneic cell product via the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) arm of the FDA, and the first cell-based technology that is FDA-approved for use in the dental market.

"This FDA approval is a significant milestone for our company, for the FDA, and for the regenerative medicine and dental surgery fields," said Organogenesis President & CEO Geoff MacKay. "As a pioneer in regenerative medicine, Organogenesis continues to lead the way by ushering in a completely new therapeutic class in dentistry. Our second breakthrough cell-based product, GINTUIT will help dental surgeons generate new gum tissue for their patients without turning to palate graft surgery."

GINTUIT is a cellular sheet that contains human fibroblasts, keratinocytes, human extracellular matrix proteins and bovine collagen. These cells produce a wide array of cytokines and growth factors, signals that allow cells to communicate with each other. These proteins are important factors for the healing and regeneration of tissue.

"Anyone who has experienced the discomfort of palatal graft surgery will immediately recognize the benefits of a product that has been shown to generate new gum tissue, and importantly, does not require excision of tissue from the roof of a patient's mouth," continued Mr. MacKay.

Organogenesis completed a multi-center, randomized, pivotal clinical trial to determine the efficacy and safety of GINTUIT to regenerate oral soft tissue in patients with gingival recession. The GINTUIT-treated sites generated a clinically significant amount of keratinized oral soft tissue. Moreover, GINTUIT-generated gum tissue better matched the color and texture of the patient's surrounding tissue versus traditional palatal grafting procedures. Importantly, patients overwhelmingly preferred GINTUIT over the grafting procedure when taking into consideration all aspects of treatment (surgery, recovery, appearance).

In clinical trials, GINTUIT was considered safe and well tolerated. The most common adverse reactions observed in the clinical trials (greater than or equal to 1%) included sinusitis, nasopharyngitis, respiratory tract infection, aphthous stomatitis, and the local effects of oral surgery.

"Healthy gingiva or gum tissue is important for protecting teeth and dental implants. The loss of keratinized gingiva is a very common, yet serious, problem," said Dr. Michael K. McGuire, the lead investigator of the GINTUIT pivotal trial and a pioneer in the use of tissue engineering technologies in periodontology. "GINTUIT holds the promise of rewriting the rules of regeneration. Delivering a construct with living cells that can generate new tissue indistinguishable from what nature intended is unprecedented and exciting."

Organogenesis expects that GINTUIT will be commercially available via a controlled market release beginning in the summer of 2012 and available to the broader U.S. market in 2013.

The latest FDA approval comes at a time of rapid growth and development for Organogenesis. The company is currently in the midst of a major, multi-year expansion of its global headquarters, research and development, and manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts.

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Organogenesis Inc. Announces FDA Approval of GINTUIT™ for Oral Soft Tissue Regeneration

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Public release date: 11-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Kim Irwin kirwin@mednet.ucla.edu 310-206-2805 University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences

UCLA stem cell researchers have shown that insulin and nutrition keep blood stem cells from differentiating into mature blood cells in Drosophila, the common fruit fly, a finding that has implications for studying inflammatory response and blood development in response to dietary changes in humans.

Keeping blood stem cells, or progenitor cells, from differentiating into blood cells is important as they are needed to create the blood supply for the adult fruit fly.

The study found that the blood stem cells are receiving systemic signals from insulin and nutritional factors, in this case essential amino acids, that helped them to maintain their "stemness," said study senior author Utpal Banerjee, professor and chairman of the molecular, cell and developmental biology department in Life Sciences and a researcher with the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine at UCLA.

"We expect that this study will promote further investigation of possible direct signal sensing mechanisms by mammalian blood stem cells," Banerjee said. "Such studies will probably yield insights into chronic inflammation and the myeloid cell accumulation seen in patients with type II diabetes and other metabolic disorders."

The study appears March 11, 2012 in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Cell Biology.

In the flies, the insulin signaling came from the brain, which is an organ similar to the human pancreas, which produces insulin. That insulin was taken up by the blood stem cells, as were amino acids found in the fly flood, said Ji Won Shim, a postdoctoral fellow in Banerjee's lab and first author of the study.

Shim studied the flies while in the larval stage of development. To see what would happen to the blood stem cells, Shim placed the larvae into a jar with no food - they usually eat yeast or cornmeal and left them for 24 hours. Afterward, she checked for the presence of blood stem cells using specific chemical markers that made them visible under a confocal microscope.

"Once the flies were starved and not receiving the insulin and nutritional signaling, all the blood stem cells were gone," Shim said. "All that were left were differentiated mature blood cells. This type of mechanism has not been identified in mammals or humans, and it will be intriguing to see if there are similar mechanisms at work there."

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UCLA scientists find insulin, nutrition prevent blood stem cell differentiation in fruit flies

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

Newswise UCLA stem cell researchers have shown that insulin and nutrition keep blood stem cells from differentiating into mature blood cells in Drosophila, the common fruit fly, a finding that has implications for studying inflammatory response and blood development in response to dietary changes in humans.

Keeping blood stem cells, or progenitor cells, from differentiating into blood cells is important as they are needed to create the blood supply for the adult fruit fly.

The study found that the blood stem cells are receiving systemic signals from insulin and nutritional factors, in this case essential amino acids, that helped them to maintain their stemness, said study senior author Utpal Banerjee, professor and chairman of the molecular, cell and developmental biology department in Life Sciences and a researcher with the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine at UCLA.

We expect that this study will promote further investigation of possible direct signal sensing mechanisms by mammalian blood stem cells, Banerjee said. Such studies will probably yield insights into chronic inflammation and the myeloid cell accumulation seen in patients with type II diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

The study appears March 11, 2012 in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Cell Biology.

In the flies, the insulin signaling came from the brain, which is an organ similar to the human pancreas, which produces insulin. That insulin was taken up by the blood stem cells, as were amino acids found in the fly flood, said Ji Won Shim, a postdoctoral fellow in Banerjees lab and first author of the study.

Shim studied the flies while in the larval stage of development. To see what would happen to the blood stem cells, Shim placed the larvae into a jar with no food - they usually eat yeast or cornmeal and left them for 24 hours. Afterward, she checked for the presence of blood stem cells using specific chemical markers that made them visible under a confocal microscope.

Once the flies were starved and not receiving the insulin and nutritional signaling, all the blood stem cells were gone, Shim said. All that were left were differentiated mature blood cells. This type of mechanism has not been identified in mammals or humans, and it will be intriguing to see if there are similar mechanisms at work there.

In the fruit fly, the only mature blood cells present are myeloid cells, Shim said. Diabetic patients have many activated myeloid cells that could be causing disease symptoms. It may be that abnormal activation of myeloid cells and abnormal metabolism play a major role in diabetes.

Metabolic regulation and immune response are highly integrated in order to function properly dependent on each other. Type II diabetes and obesity, both metabolic diseases, are closely associated with chronic inflammation, which is induced by abnormal activation of blood cells, Shim said. However, no systemic study on a connection between blood stem cells and metabolic alterations had been done. Our study highlights the potential linkage between myeloid-lineage blood stem cells and metabolic disruptions.

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Insulin, Nutrition Prevent Blood Stem Cell Differentiation in Fruit Flies

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO.OB - News) http://www.internationalstemcell.com, a California-based biotechnology company focused on therapeutic, cosmetic and research products, announced today that it had obtained new capital financing and made important changes in the composition of its Board of Directors to ensure that Independent Directors hold the majority of Board seats.

The financing consists of $5 million in newly issued Series G Convertible Preferred Stock (without warrants), convertible into Common Stock at a conversion price of $0.40/share, the market price of the Companys Common Stock on the date the offer to purchase was made. This financing was made by AR Partners LLC, a healthcare investment firm owned by Dr. Andrey Semechkin, ISCOs CEO and Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Concurrently with the closing of this financing, the Company elected to its Board of Directors Dr. James Berglund, co-founder of Enterprise Partners Venture Capital - one of the premier venture capital firms in the field of healthcare technology founded in 1985. Dr. Berglund, with his extensive professional experience, continues as an active participant in the biotech and healthcare industries. Dr. Berglund will replace Kenneth C. Aldrich, co-founder and former CEO of the Company during the period 2008-2009, who is stepping down as ISCO Board of Directors Co-Chairman. Although Mr. Aldrich is retiring from our Board, he will remain as one of ISCOs largest shareholders and an active consultant to the Board and executive management and will continue to represent the Company as Chairman Emeritus in a variety of public and private venues.

According to Mr. Aldrich, In my view, Dr. Semechkins willingness to commit such a significant amount of capital to ISCO at the market price of the Companys stock on the date of his offer represents a major vote of confidence in ISCOs future by its most senior executive. We are thankful to Dr. Semechkin for his support that will further advance ISCOs parthenogenetic stem cell-based therapeutic programs and income generating businesses.

Having a majority of independent directors on our companys Board represents an important step in ISCOs development and in transforming ISCO into a leading public company in the field of regenerative medicine.

I want to thank Mr. Aldrich for his long-standing dedication and continued involvement in guiding the Company, said Dr. Semechkin. This long-term investment, along with the new executive management team recruited over the previous twelve months, will provide ISCO with the necessary economic stability and resources to pursue its goals of consolidating our leadership position and accelerating our therapeutic programs, continued Dr. Semechkin.

About International Stem Cell Corporation

International Stem Cell Corporation is focused on the therapeutic applications of human parthenogenetic stem cells and the development and commercialization of cell-based research and cosmetic products. ISCO's core technology, parthenogenesis, results in the creation of pluripotent human stem cells from unfertilized oocytes (eggs). HpSCs avoid ethical issues associated with the use or destruction of viable human embryos. ISCO scientists have created the first parthenogenic, homozygous stem cell line that can be a source of therapeutic cells with minimal immune rejection after transplantation into hundreds of millions of individuals of differing genders, ages and racial backgrounds. This offers the potential to create the first true stem cell bank, UniStemCell. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology, and cell-based skin care products through its subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care. More information is available at http://www.internationalstemcell.com.

To subscribe to receive ongoing corporate communications, please click on the following link: http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1468&to=ea&s=0.

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International Stem Cell Corporation Completes $5 Million Financing and Elects Jim Berglund to the Board of Directors

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

Public release date: 12-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Kim Irwin kirwin@mednet.ucla.edu 310-206-2805 University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences

Researchers at the UCLA stem cell center and the departments of chemistry and biochemistry and pathology and laboratory medicine have identified, for the first time, a generic way to correct mutations in human mitochondrial DNA by targeting corrective RNAs, a finding with implications for treating a host of mitochondrial diseases.

Mutations in the human mitochondrial genome are implicated in neuromuscular diseases, metabolic defects and aging. There currently are no methods to successfully repair or compensate for these mutations, said study co-senior author Dr. Michael Teitell, a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine and a researcher with the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA.

Between 1,000 and 4,000 children per year in the United States are born with a mitochondrial disease and up to one in 4,000 children in the U.S. will develop a mitochondrial disease by the age of 10, according to Mito Action, a nonprofit organization supporting research into mitochondrial diseases. In adults, many diseases of aging have been associated with defects of mitochondrial function, including diabetes, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease and cancer.

"I think this is a finding that could change the field," Teitell said. "We've been looking to do this for a long time and we had a very reasoned approach, but some key steps were missing. Now we have developed this method and the next step is to show that what we can do in human cell lines with mutant mitochondria can translate into animal models and, ultimately, into humans."

The study appears March 12, 2012 in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The current study builds on previous work published in 2010 in the peer-reviewed journal Cell, in which Teitell, Carla Koehler, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry and a Broad Stem Cell Research Center scientist, and their team uncovered a role for an essential protein that acts to shuttle RNA into the mitochondria, the energy-producing "power plant" of a cell.

Mitochondria are described as cellular power plants because they generate most of the energy supply within a cell. In addition to supplying energy, mitochondria also are involved in a broad range of other cellular processes including signaling, differentiation, death, control of the cell cycle and growth.

The import of nucleus-encoded small RNAs into mitochondria is essential for the replication, transcription and translation of the mitochondrial genome, but the mechanisms that deliver RNA into mitochondria have remained poorly understood.

Link:
Correcting human mitochondrial mutations

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

CLEARWATER, FL--(Marketwire -03/12/12)- Biostem U.S., Corporation (OTCQB: BOSM.PK - News) (Pinksheets: BOSM.PK - News) (Biostem, the Company), a fully reporting public company in the stem cell regenerative medicine sciences sector, announced today the addition of cardiothoracic surgeon Thomas W. Prendergast, M.D. to its Scientific and Medical Board of Advisors (SAMBA).

Biostem CEO, Dwight Brunoehler stated, "The Company is now positioned for growth and international expansion. Adding a world class team of clinical, laboratory, and regulatory experts for our Scientific and Medical Board of Advisors to guide our pursuits is essential. Dr. Prendergast brings a wealth of experience not only in the scientific aspects of stem cell use in regenerative medicine, but also in forging research and international economic development opportunities."

Dr. Prendergast is a busy clinical cardiothoracic surgeon, who performs 200-250 open-heart operations and 5 to 15 heart transplants each year. He is deeply involved in numerous clinical and research activities associated with stem cells and heart repair. He is presently Director of Cardiac Transplantation at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey where he holds an Associate Professorship of Surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. In addition to being an active participant in stem cell research program development and teaching medical students and residents, his other interests include medical research funding and humanitarian development of programs for Disabled American Veterans.

Dr. Prendergast received his undergraduate degrees in biophysics and Psychology, as well as his medical degree, at Pennsylvania State University. His general surgery residency was for five years at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. His cardiothoracic surgery training was at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, including the Los Angeles County Medical Center. Subsequent fellowship training included pediatric cardiac surgery at Children's Hospital of LA, along with thoracic transplant fellowships at University of Southern California in Los Angeles and at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. He spent three years at the University of Kansas establishing thoracic transplant programs until returning to Temple University Hospital as one of their staff heart and lung transplant surgeons. Subsequent to his time at Temple, he joined up with Newark Beth Israel/St. Barnabas Hospitals, where he assumed directorship as the Chief of Cardiac Transplantation and Mechanical Assistance.

Regarding his appointment to the Biostem U.S. Scientific and Medical Board of Advisors, Dr. Prendergast said, "I am looking forward with excitement to working again with Dwight at Biostem. The expansion plan is sound, well paced, and will afford improved quality of life opportunities to many people around the world."

About Biostem U.S., Corporation

Biostem U.S., Corporation (OTCQB: BOSM.PK - News) (Pinksheets: BOSM.PK - News) is a fully reporting Nevada corporation with offices in Clearwater, Florida. Biostem is a technology licensing company with proprietary technology centered around providing hair re-growth using human stem cells. The company also intends to train and license selected physicians to provide Regenerative Cellular Therapy treatments to assist the body's natural approach to healing tendons, ligaments, joints and muscle injuries by using the patient's own stem cells. Biostem U.S. is seeking to expand its operations worldwide through licensing of its proprietary technology and acquisition of existing stem cell related facilities. The company's goal is to operate in the international biotech market, focusing on the rapidly growing regenerative medicine field, using ethically sourced adult stem cells to improve the quality and longevity of life for all mankind.

More information on Biostem U.S., Corporation can be obtained through http://www.biostemus.com, or by calling Kerry D'Amato, Marketing Director at 727-446-5000.

Continue reading here:
Biostem U.S., Corporation Appoints Heart Surgeon, Thomas W. Prendergast, M.D. to Its Scientific and Medical Board of ...

Recommendation and review posted by simmons