Category Archives: California Stem Cells

Clockwise from top: Katrin Hinrichs, Lisa Fortier, Jennifer Anne Mumford and Stephen Reed.

The University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Center announced the 2022 inductees to the Equine Research Hall of Fame. This prestigious award is an international forum to honor outstanding achievements in equine research and those who have made a lasting tribute benefitting equine health. To celebrate this legacy, the UK Gluck Equine Research Foundation will induct four scientists into the UK Equine Research Hall of Fame on October 26 at Kroger Field in Lexington.

Peers of the four individuals and past awardees nominated them for their outstanding achievements in equine research. The inductees are Lisa Fortier, Katrin Hinrichs, Jennifer Anne Mumford and Stephen M. Reed.

In research, we always stand on the shoulders of those who go before us with great discoveries. This years recipients have made substantial contributions that will ensure an excellent future for equine research, said Nancy Cox, UK vice president for land-grant engagement and College of Agriculture, Food and Environment dean.

The success of Kentuckys horse industry is inseparable from the decades of hard work by outstanding equine researchers, said Stuart Brown, chair of the Gluck Equine Research Foundation. Though impossible to measure, it is a unique privilege to recognize the impact made by these four scientists in advancing the health and wellbeing of the horse and, on behalf of the entire equine community, show our appreciation.

Over the past 30 years, Fortier has garnered an international reputation for significant contributions in equine joint disease, cartilage biology and regenerative medicine. She has focused her research on early diagnosis and treatment of equine orthopedic injuries to prevent permanent damage to joints and tendons. She is perhaps best known for her work in regenerative medicine, pioneering the use of biologics such as platelet rich plasma, bone marrow concentrate and stem cells for use in horses and humans. Fortiers lab has also been instrumental in breakthroughs related to cartilage damage diagnosis and clinical orthopedic work. A testament to her impact is that 87% of U.S. equine veterinarians now use biologics for regenerative medicine in their equine patients.

Fortier earned her bachelors degree and doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Colorado State University. She completed her residency at Cornell, where she also earned a Ph.D. and was a postdoctoral fellow in pharmacology. She now holds the James Law Professor of Surgery position at Cornells College of Veterinary Medicine. She is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and serves on the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Racetrack Safety Standing Committee.

Hinrichs devotes her career to research primarily in equine reproductive physiology and assisted reproduction techniques. Specifically, her focus has included equine endocrinology, oocyte maturation, fertilization, sperm capacitation and their application to assisted reproduction techniques.

Hinrichs 40 years of research have led to several significant basic and applied research achievements. The applied accomplishments include producing the first cloned horse in North America and developing the medical standard for effective intracytoplasmic sperm injection and in vitro culture for embryo production in horses. She has mentored more than 85 veterinary students, residents, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in basic and applied veterinary research. Her laboratories have hosted approximately 50 visiting scholars from throughout the world.

Hinrichs earned her bachelors degree and doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of California, Davis. She completed residency training in large animal reproduction at the University of Pennsylvanias New Bolton Center and earned a Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania.

A posthumous inductee, Mumford earned international respect as one of the most prominent researchers of equine infectious diseases, in particular equine viral diseases. Her distinguished career at the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, United Kingdom, began when she became the first head of the newly established equine virology unit. Her work focused on the leading causes of acute infectious respiratory disease in the horse, primarily equine herpesvirus and equine influenza virus, and to a lesser extent,Streptococcus equi, the causative agent of equine strangles.

Mumford made numerous significant contributions in these areas, including developing improved vaccines, diagnostics and international surveillance. She also helped establish research groups in the related fields of equine genetics and immunology.

During Mumfords more than 30-year career, she established the Animal Health Trust as one of the worlds leading centers for the study of the biology, epidemiology, immunology and pathology of diseases, including equine herpes rhinopneumonitis and equine influenza, as well as bacterial diseases, including Streptococcus and Clostridium.

Reeds nominators credited him as the last word in equine neurology. Reed is widely recognized as one of the most prominent equine neurologists worldwide. His list of 180 peer-reviewed publications includes significant contributions to equine medicine, neurology, physiology and pathophysiology, and has earned him worldwide recognition throughout the equine community. He has shared in his achievements as a mentor and role-model for hundreds of aspiring equine practitioners.

One of the most unique and refreshing things about Dr. Reed is he absolutely embodies the need and overlap of discovery science with clinical assessments to further our understanding of equine neurologic disease, wrote Jennifer Janes, associate professor of veterinary pathology at the UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, in her letter of support for the nomination. This mission has served as the foundation and pillars of his long career in equine veterinary medicine.

Reed earned his bachelors degree and doctor of veterinary medicine degree from The Ohio State University. He completed internship and residency training in large animal medicine at Michigan State University.

Established in 1990, theUK Equine Research Hall of Famehonors international scientific community members who have made equine research a key part of their careers, recognizing their work, dedication and achievements. Nominees may be living or deceased, active in or retired from the field of equine research.

To join the Oct. 26 event,visit the Gluck Equine Research Center websitefor ticket information and event details.

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UK Equine Research Hall of Fame Inductees Announced - Equi Management

The global cultured meat market is poised to reach half a billion dollars by 2030; however, this kind of technology is still very much in the R&D phase for a lot of companies that have emerged over the past five years.

Cultured meat, also known as cultivated meat, is animal meat, but instead of slaughtering the animal to get it, cells are collected from the animal and cultivated in a lab where they are then assembled into a structure of tissue that resembles the same meat we all eat.

Weve seen a few cultured meat companies unveil their products. For example, Novel Farms has a pork loin, while Bluu Seafood, a German company developing lab-grown seafood, debuted its fish sticks and fish balls last month. Same for Dutch-based Meatable with its sausages, SCiFi Foods with its burgers, and chicken for UPSIDE Foods.

However, the manufacturing process for cultured meat has historically been both very difficult and very expensive, Prolific Machines co-founder and CEO Deniz Kent told TechCrunch. Thats what his company is out to change.

You have to use these growth media proteins which are some of the most expensive things one of the proteins we are replacing is like 30,000 times more expensive than a gram of gold, he added. Its really hard to scale anything for this reason because you have to use these proteins.

Kent, who has expertise in stem cell biology, explained that these proteins have been used for decades, mainly in the biopharmaceutical industry. The technology works on pharmaceutical products that have big budgets, but not so good when you are trying to make a high-volume, low-margin product like meat, he added.

While having the idea for better proteins, he met physicist Max Huisman and machine learning engineer Declan Jones and convinced them to quit their jobs and form Prolific Machines with him in 2020.

That said, Prolific Machines believes it has a unique manufacturing approach for cultured meat cells and is coming out of stealth mode with $42 million in combined seed and Series A funding to build what Kent calls an assembly line for biology.

The company aims to do for biology what Henry Ford did for automobiles at the turn of the 20th century. Its technology, still in its early stages, is a way to grow and control cells without the need for any of those expensive recombinant proteins for cell production, he said. Prolific Machines will bring products to market, but will also license its infrastructure to other cultured meat companies.

Back then, nobody really owned cars apart from super-rich people. What really changed things was Ford, Kent said. They built the assembly line for cars and found a way to manufacture cars at a price that normal people could afford. That transformed the industry because then you went from hundreds of car companies to only three companies having over 70% of the market.

He believes the same thing is going to happen in the cultured meat industry: There are hundreds of companies right now, but most of them will die because they wont have a way to manufacture cultured meat cheap enough. The ones that can find a way will survive, he added.

Prolific Machines was part of SOSVs IndieBio program in 2021. SOSV led Prolific Machines pre-seed round. Meanwhile, for its new capital infusion, the seed-round portion was led by Arvind Gupta, partner at Mayfield, and the Series A by Bill Gatesfounded Breakthrough Energy Ventures.

I never intended to invest in another cultured meat company, but when Deniz showed me what they were doing, I was blown away by the creativity in their approach to reinvent the assembly line for food production, Gupta said in a written statement. It is my goal to help reverse climate change by partnering with incredible teams, and I am convinced Prolific Machines will be a winner in the race for sustainable food production.

Joining in on the two rounds was a group of VC firms and individual investors, including David Adelman, Mark Cuban, The Kraft Family, David Rubenstein, Michael Rubin, Breyer Capital, The SALT Fund, Purple Orange Ventures, Fred Blackford, Jake Poliskin, Matt Katz and Baruch Future Ventures. Add to that a group of celebrities and restaurateurs, including Kevin Love, Tobias Harris, Meek Mill, Ciara and Russell Wilson, Emily Ratajkowski, Maverick Carter, Sean Feeney, Michael Schulson, Mark Bucher and RJ Melman.

Kent said the Series A was raised a year ago, but the company is coming out of stealth now as it prepares to raise a quite hefty $170 million-ish Series B in the first quarter of 2023. The new funding will go toward building a 25,000-square-foot headquarters in Emeryville, California, and ramp up hiring to expand its assembly line programs, including fish, poultry and beef.

Meanwhile, he expects the facility to be done in spring 2023. Plans for the companys first product include an unstructured Wagyu, which means ground meat. Prolific Machines also has a number of high-profile chefs none that Kent could name now who have agreed to partner with the company and use its first cultured meat products.

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Cultured meat startup Prolific Machines unveils its Henry Ford approach to cell growth - TechCrunch

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease is attributed for progressive motor neuron loss, leading to paralysis and death with no cure in sight.

Now, a new study spearheaded by the Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, developed a new stem cell therapy for brain protection against the neurological disorder. The novel approach is believed to be the first of its kind.

(Photo : Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

In a media release on Monday, Cedars Sinaisaid its investigators developed an investigational therapy utilizing support cells and a protective protein that can be sent beyond the blood-brain barrier. The dual stem cell-gene therapy can potentially protect contaminated motor neurons in the spinal cord of ALS patients.

The team used stem cells mainly designed to produce a protein called glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). The novel protein enables the survival of motor neurons, which are responsible for muscle movement by sending signals from the brain or spinal cord.

Applying stem cells is a strong method to deliver important proteins to the brain or spinal cord that are normally unable to get through the blood-brain barrier, according senior author Clive Svendsen, Ph.D., a professor and executive director at Cedars-Sinai.

The breakthrough findings were published in the journal Nature Medicineon Monday, September 5, as part of an ALS safety trial involving the participation of 18 ALS patients.

Also Read:Combined Efforts for a Successful Ice Bucket Challenge Led to ALS Research Breakthrough

In 1939, American football player was known as a famous hitter until he was forced to retire in 1939 because of ALS, which made the name of the disease associated with him. Gehrig's case is one of the many instances that the neurological disorder became more known. It was first discovered by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot in 1869.

According to the ALS Association, ALS is a "progressive neurodegenerative disease" where the word "Amyotrophic" comes from the Greek language, meaning "A" for no, "Myo" for muscle, and "Trophic for nourishment. This means that no muscle nourishment or muscles in throughout the body are wasted away.

When motor neurons or motor nerves are affected, the ALS says people could lose the ability to breathe, eat, move, and even speak.

The association adds for around 90% of all cases, there is no known signs of family history of the disease or indications of genetic mutation connected to ALS. Approximately between 5% to 10% of all cases are inherited or had a family history, which is called familial ALS.

Understanding of ALS has improved over the decades. However, no one knows how many people are exactly affected by the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Yet, the CDC estimates that over 31,000 patients in the United States are living with ALS. An average of 5,000 new patients are diagnosed with ALS each year. The scarcity of data is because ALS records have not been kept across the country, according to the US health body.

Related Article:Adding Fruits, Vegetables to Diet Could Slow ALS Progression

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New Stem Cell Therapy Protects Brain Against the Neurological Disorder - Nature World News

The near-future of hair loss treatment seems to be quite promising. Recent research in mice points to a potentially new way of restoring hair, while other approaches are set to undergo clinical trials in humans soon.

An experimental treatment developed by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, highlighted in a recent Wired article by writer Simar Bajaj, uses a protein molecule known as SCUBE3. The teams work has suggested that SCUBE3 plays a vital role in how certain cells found at the bottom of our hair follicles known as dermal papilla induce hair growth. Theyve also shown that injecting SCUBE3 into the skin of mice can produce new hair, including on mice with grafted human hair follicles. Their latest research was published in July in the journal Developmental Cell.

Its possible, the scientists argue, that SCUBE3 could be packaged into microbeads that are injected into peoples balding scalps via a relatively painless and short procedure. The treatment would be similar to how Botox is now used for treating wrinkles but likely less expensive than hair grafts, which can cost thousands per session and rely on a finite number of existing hair follicles to be available somewhere else on the scalp. You have a patient sitting in a dentist-like chair, they close their eyes, and then you go tch, tch, tch, tch, study author Maksim Plikus, professor of developmental and cell biology and chief scientific officer of hair biotech company Amplifica, told Wired.

Of course, many experimental drugs have shown promise in animal studies only to fail later in human trials, so the jury is still out on whether SCUBE3 will turn out to be anything valuable. But there are other hair loss treatments further along in development.

This spring, the Food and Drug Administration approved an existing arthritis drug called baricitinib as the first drug of its kind to treat alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that can cause complete baldness along the body and scalp. Baricitinib and other similar drugs that are likely on the way can suppress the specific parts of the immune system that attack hair follicles in people with the condition, which can lead to the dramatic restoration of their hair.

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Even older hair loss drugs may get a new day in the sun. In recent years, doctors have started to prescribe very low doses of minoxidil, the active ingredient in Rogaine, in pill form to hair loss patients. While the research into this method is still ongoing, oral minoxidil so far appears to be just as safe and (modestly) effective as topical minoxidil can be, but could be more convenient and easier to adhere to for many patients.

As noted by Wired, Turn Biotechnologies is hoping to use mRNA technologythe underlying basis of the covid-19 vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTechto rejuvenate dormant stem cells within hair follicles. The company is expecting human trials to begin by late 2023 or early 2024. Two other companies, RepliCel and HairClone, are planning to harvest, grow, and then transplant hair cells from a healthy area of a persons scalp to one where hair is balding, and RepiCel has already begun human trials in Japan.

Any way you look at it, it seems like the futures looking good for those of us worried about balding as we get older.

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Scientists Are Working on New and Improved Hair Loss Treatments - Gizmodo

Glucocorticoids also known as corticosteroids or just steroids are a class of medications prescribed for a variety of different diseases and conditions. These are different from anabolic steroids that may be used to increase muscle mass.

Concerningly, prescription steroids can sometimes come with harsh side effects, including neurological issues, such as mood disorders and cognitive issues.

Now a team of scientists from Leiden University Medical Center in The Netherlands has found evidence suggesting the use of prescribed steroids causes structural and volume changes in the white and gray matter of the brain.

This study recently appeared in the journal BMJ Open.

Doctors mainly prescribe corticosteroids to help lower inflammation in the body, suppress the bodys immune system, or balance hormone levels

They normally prescribe them in tablet or inhaler form, although sometimes people require prescribed steroid injections. There are also topical corticosteroids in the form of lotions or creams.

A doctor might prescribe steroids for the following conditions:

Using glucocorticoids for an extended time increases a persons risk of developing certain side effects, such as:

According to doctoral researcher Merel van der Meulen, from the Department of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology at Leiden University Medical Center and lead author of this study, previous research of people with Cushings disease, who have very high levels of the bodys own glucocorticoid cortisol, shows that long-term exposure to glucocorticoids can affect both the function and the structure of the brain.

Correcting cortisol levels can at least partially reverse these changes. But what about people whose steroid levels increase due to other medical needs?

A few small studies in selected populations also showed that long-term systemic glucocorticoid medication use is associated with some differences in the brain, van der Meulen told Medical News Today.

We wondered whether these effects of glucocorticoids on brain structure could also be observed in the large population-based cohort of the UK Biobank, including inhaled glucocorticoid users, she added.

The research team examined data, including questionnaires and MRI scans, from 222 systemic glucocorticoid users meaning they took the prescribed medication orally or through an injection and 557 inhaled glucocorticoid users from the UK Biobank population recruited between 2006 and 2010.

None of the participants had a history of neurological, psychiatric, or hormonal issues. Researchers compared the data from glucocorticoid users to that of 24,106 people who did not use steroids.

The researchers found that participants using either systemic or inhaled prescribed steroids had less intact white matter structure in the brain compared to non-steroid users. However, this observation increased in systemic steroid users compared to inhaled steroid users.

White matter occurs deep in the brain and is made up of bundles of nerve cells. It plays a role in neuronal connections and signaling in the brain.

The scientists moreover found that participants taking systemic steroids had a larger caudate a part of the gray matter of the brain involved in high-level activities like planning the execution of movements, learning, and memory compared to non-users.

And participants using inhaled glucocorticoids had a smaller amygdala compared to those not taking prescribed steroids. The amygdala is also part of the brains gray matter and is linked to the processing and regulation of emotions.

MNT spoke with Dr. Santosh Kesari, a neurologist at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, and Regional Medical Director for the Research Clinical Institute of Providence Southern California about this study.

I was excited to know someone did this study that really validates what weve known for a long time that steroids cause brain atrophy and a lot of neuropsychiatric symptoms or side effects, he stated.

This study showed that steroids do have an effect on the structure of the brain, Dr. Kesari continued. You do lose white matter, which [makes up] the connections from one neuron to another. Theres also some loss of the gray matter, the actual neurons, that needs to be studied [further].

Dr. Kesari explained that white matter is the conduit for information from one neuron to another:

When you lose white matter, everything slows down, meaning slower response, some memory issues potentially, or cognitive issues. And then there [are] also psychiatric issues, so they [people who take prescription steroids] can get agitated, depressed, mood disorders, things like that.

Adding to the white matter discussion, van der Meulen said that previous research shows that glucocorticoids can have psychiatric side effects, such as depression and anxiety.

In our observational study, we report associations between glucocorticoids and a lower white matter microstructure in the brain, she continued. It is possible that these associations may be related to the psychiatric side effects of glucocorticoids, but more research is needed to confirm this.

MNT also spoke with Dr. Ilan Danan, a sports neurologist and pain management specialist at the Center for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, CA.

He cautioned that it is important to note there is a difference between the prescribed steroids discussed in this study compared to those taken by athletes.

As opposed to the steroids that may be prescribed by physicians, the ones that athletes will look into are going to be more for performance enhancement, he explained. Those are anabolic, androgenic-type steroids that dont necessarily apply in this context.

As for the next steps in this research, van der Meulen said that many questions remain unanswered that she hopes to address in the future.

For example, are these effects reversible? she wondered. How do they depend on the dose and duration of glucocorticoid use and the type of glucocorticoid medication used? And could selective glucocorticoid receptor modulators a type of glucocorticoid-like medication that has a more selective effect and therefore potentially [fewer] side effects prevent these effects from happening?

Dr. Danan stated that he would like to see more details regarding how long participants used prescribed steroids and whether the systemic glucocorticoid users took the medication orally or through an injection.

Those are things that as a physician [I] would want to know so that I can tie in whether or not this has a potential impact on my patient base, he added.

And Dr. Kesari said that although this study documents atrophy of the brain, more research is required to understand how that happens.

We need to do more basic science research to understand the mechanisms of how steroids are causing this brain damage, and then how we can mitigate it with other medications or reparative mechanisms in the future, whether its stem cells or growth factors that may stimulate stem cells, he said.

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What happens to the brain on prescription steroids? - Medical News Today

Explaining science is hard. Explaining stem cells, which have their very own unique complexities, can be even more of a challenge, especially when communicating with a non-scientific audience.

Thats why when we received this blog submission from a CIRM SPARK Program intern through UCSFs High School Intern Program (HIP) explaining stem cells in a simple, straightforward way using Legos, we knew we had to share it with our readers.

Before we share the interns brilliant explanation of stem cells, heres how the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) defines stem cells. These and other key terms can be found on our website:

The first thing to know about stem cells is that there is not just one kind. In fact, there aremany different typesof stem cells, each with very different potential to treat disease. There are various types of stem cells, including pluripotent, embryonic, adult, and iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cell).

Stem cells also have the potential to become other kinds of cells in the body. For example, embryonic stem cells can become many other kinds of cells, whereas adult stem cells, such as in fat, can only become bone or cartilage.

Now, the fun part! Heres what the student shared in their prize-winning SPARK Program blog submission.

If someone were to ask me what stem cells are in a simple and perhaps figurative way now, I would say that stem cells are just like Legos. Legos are special building-blocks that are in a blank or default-like state, but can be something greater and unique on its own later on.

Similarly, stem cells are called unspecialized cells because they are yet to be specialized or become a certain type of cell. They can be a blood, brain, heart, and basically all types of cells respectively, with little to no exceptions. Moreover, not all Legos are built the same. Some can be regular block-shaped, while some can be circular or even triangular. Therefore, this limits Legos abilities to a certain degree. Similarly, not all stem cells are necessarily the same.

With just the right amount and type of Legos, you can easily assemble and build a house, a car, or whatever you could possibly think about. Similarly, the possibilities are endless with stem cells as well, which is why its truly a promising and key aspect in regenerative medicine today.

Bravo! In addition to creating a unique way of explaining stem cells during their internship, the student alsolearned how to differentiate the different types and sources of stem cells from one another through hands-on experience at a world-renowned institution.

The student added,My newly-found interest in regenerative medicine and stem cells is definitely something that Im looking forward to with great passion and knowledge moving forward.

To learn more about CIRMs internship programs, visit our website. To read another prize-winning blog submission from a SPARK intern, click here.

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How this scientist uses Legos to explain the power of stem cells

David Anjakos in the lab. Photo courtesy Sarah White/SDSU.

When he was younger, David Anjakos experienced kidney failure due to an autoimmune disease, leaving him without kidneys in his body. As a trainee in the California Institute for Regenerative Medicines Bridges to Stem Cell Research Internship Program, Anjakos is researching methods of growing organs for transplantation to help people on a transplant list, himself included.

By now, Anjakos thought hed have his own kidney and that he would be off the transplant list and dialysis. Thats not the case, so he realized he wanted to try and do something about it.

Fifteen years later, we havent really gotten there. It just shows how complex the problem is and how even with thousands of hours and scientists working on this, we still havent quite got there, he says. What that showed me is that I needed to step in. We need more people on these problems.

Thats what inspired him to join the CIRM Bridges Program at San Diego State University. Specifically, he wanted to get into stem cells to try to control them to do what he wanted them to do. Hes completing his internship at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, where he is working toward developing a protein that will be able to activate stem cells to turn into different organs.

If successful, this will be important for drug discovery, growing organs and vascularization, the process of growing blood vessels into a tissue to improve oxygen and nutrient supply.

CIRMs Bridges to Stem Cell Research program has really been a huge opportunity for me to get into science, to practice science, to practice the skills that Ill need, said Anjakos. It has really helped me in my confidence in my ability to do science.

After finishing his Bridges internship at the Sanford Consortium, Anjakos plans to start a PhD program so he can apply all he has learned from creating approximations of the Wnt protein that is essential for turning stem cells into organs with functioning vessels.

To date, there are 1,663 Bridges alumni, and another 109 Bridges trainees are completing their internships in 2022.

Started in 2009, the Bridges program provides paid stem cell research internships to students at universities and colleges that dont have major stem cell research programs. Each Bridges internship includes thorough hands-on training and education in regenerative medicine and stem cell research, and direct patient engagement and outreach activities that engage Californias diverse communities.Click here to learn more about CIRMs educational programs.

This story was first covered by Sarah White and Susanne Clara Bard. Read the original releaseon the San Diego State University website.

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CIRM Bridges intern researches stem cells to grow kidneys

In a recent study published inNature Neuroscience, scientists revealed a novel screening platform for characterizing genes that regulate specific microglial functions which may contribute to Alzheimers disease (AD).

Characterizing regulatory genes that cause microglia to switch from a healthy state to a diseased state, such as in the brains of individuals with AD and other neurodegenerative conditions, could help develop therapeutics that target these genes or the proteins encoded by these genes.

Since microglia are guardians of the brains homeostasis, it is important to identify specific drivers that lead to neuronal toxicity for therapeutic intervention. Our new CRISPR screening platform [] enables us to identify these drivers in a rapid, scalable manner. We already uncovered druggable targets that control microglia states, and the next steps would be to test these in relevant preclinical models. Dr. Li Gan, study co-author and neuroscientist at the Weill Cornell Medical College, speaking to Medical News Today

AD is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of all dementia cases. Despite the advances in the understanding of AD, there is a lack of effective treatments for this neurodegenerative disease.

The accumulation of the misfolded beta-amyloid protein into clumps or plaques is one of the hallmarks of AD. A considerable amount of research has focused on mutations that lead to the abnormal processing of the beta-amyloid protein and, subsequently, its accumulation.

However, treatments targeting the pathways involved in the processing of beta-amyloid have not been successful.

Moreover, researchers have found that individuals with AD often do not show mutations in genes associated with the accumulation of the amyloid protein. In contrast, recent evidence suggests that individuals with AD often show deficits in the clearance or removal of misfolded beta-amyloid.

This may be due to the dysfunction of microglia, which are the primary immune cells in the brain. One of the functions of microglia includes phagocytosisa process involving the ingestion of dead cells, pathogens, and misfolded proteins to facilitate their removal.

There is growing evidence that the ability of microglia to remove the beta-amyloid protein may be impaired in AD. Microglia may also contribute to the development of AD by secreting inflammatory proteins and causing excessive removal of neurons and synapses, the links between neurons that allow them to communicate.

In addition to AD, there is evidence suggesting that microglia may also contribute to the development of other neurodegenerative disorders.

However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the wide array of functions performed by microglia in normal conditions and diseases such as AD are not well understood.

Functional genetic screening is a tool used for identifying genes that are involved in a specific cellular function. Such screens involve the inhibition or activation of a specific gene in a cell to assess whether the change in expression levels of that gene impacts a certain function of interest, such as cell proliferation.

In recent years, researchers have adapted the gene-editing tool known as CRISPR-Cas9 to identify genes involved in various diseases, including cancer. The advantages of the CRISPR screening platform include its higher sensitivity and greater reproducibility than previously used screening methods.

CRISPR-Cas9 consists of a small piece of RNA called a guide sequence and the enzyme Cas9. The guide RNA binds to the DNA region of interest, allowing Cas9 to bind and cleave the DNA at the targeted site.

In the present study, the researchers used a modified CRISPR-Cas9 system involving a deactivated Cas9 (dCas9) enzyme that does not cleave the DNA. Besides the deactivated Cas9 enzyme, the modified CRISPR-dCas9 platform also consists of proteins that can either upregulate or downregulate the gene of interestor in other words, turn them on and off.

Such CRISPR screens involve the delivery of the guide RNA to the cell with the help of a genetically engineered virus a viral vector. However, using viruses to deliver the guide RNA to mature microglia has been challenging.

To circumvent these difficulties, the researchers used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). IPSCs are derived by reprogramming adult cells from tissue such as skin, hair, or blood, into an embryonic state.

Similar to stem cells from the embryo, these iPSCs can mature to form any desired cell type, including neurons or microglia. The benefit of using cells derived from iPSCs is that they more closely resemble human cells than conventional cell lines.

Moreover, microglia from mice and humans differ in the molecules released during an immune response. Thus, microglia derived from human iPSCs represent a better model for understanding how genes regulate microglial functions.

In the present study, the researchers used induced pluripotent stem cell lines, which were modified to express genes encoding the CRISPR-dCas9 machinery. The CRISPR machinery in the iPSCs was, however, inactive and could be activated only in the presence of the antibiotic trimethoprim.

The researchers then used viral vectors to deliver guide RNAs to the iPSCs. The iPSCs used by the researchers were genetically engineered to rapidly differentiate or mature into microglia-like cells upon exposure to a specialized culture medium.

Upon differentiating the iPSCs into microglial cells, the researchers activated CRISPR machinery by adding trimethoprim to the cell culture medium. This means that, although scientists introduced the guide RNAs into the iPSCs, the genes targeted by guide RNAs were only activated or inhibited after iPSCs were differentiated into microglia-like cells.

If the expression of these targeted genes is disrupted, this could adversely impact the development of microglia. This could make it difficult to distinguish whether the change in expression of targeted genes impacted the development of microglia or the function of adult microglia.

This novel CRISPR platform thus enables scientists to assess gene function in adult microglia.

After validating the modified CRISPR screens, the researchers were able to identify genes in microglia involved in cellular processes such as proliferation, survival, activation of an immune response, and phagocytosis.

For instance, they identified genes that modulate phagocytosisthe cellular process of eliminating potentially toxic particles such as PFN1 and INPP5D, which have been implicated in neurodegenerative disorders.

Microglia respond adaptively to their local environment and exist in a wide range of context-specific states. Each microglial state, such as a diseased state, a healthy state, or the state while producing an immune response, is characterized by a specific gene expression profile.

The researchers used RNA sequencing at the single cell level to characterize different microglial states.

Based on the differences in gene expression profiles, the researchers were able to characterize nine distinct microglial states.

For instance, one of the functional states was characterized by the increased expression of the SPP1 gene that is upregulated in microglia in AD and other neurodegenerative conditions.

Moreover, by inhibiting the expression of genes using the CRISPR platform, the researchers were able to identify genes regulating the adoption of these functional states.

For instance, the researchers found that downregulating the colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF1R) gene using the CRISPR platform reduced the number of cells expressing high levels of the SPP1 gene.

Scientists observed a similar reduction in the number of microglia in the SPP1 diseased state upon using a drug that inhibits the CSF1R protein. Thus, by targeting genes or the proteins encoded by these genes that regulate the diseased state, scientists could switch microglia back to a healthy state.

Such findings show that this CRISPR-based platform could be used to identify the genes that regulate microglial states that are associated with neurodegenerative conditions. This could subsequently help scientists develop treatments that target these genes or the gene products.

CRISPR screens in human microglia have the potential to uncover therapeutic targets that can reprogram microglia to enhance their beneficial functions and block their toxicity in disease, explained the studys lead author, Dr. Martin Kampmann, a professor at the University of California, SF.

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Alzheimer's: Could controlling the brain's own clean-up crew help? - Medical News Today

Patients with acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes types of a rare blood cancers have begun receiving treatment with an investigational cell therapy across multiple cancer centers as part of a phase 3 clinical trial.

The study, known as Precision-T, is being conducted to assess the safety and efficacy differences between standard of care allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant and Orca-T, a novel cell therapy.

Of note, an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant is a procedure in which a patient receives healthy stem cells from a related or unrelated donor to replace their damaged stem cells that have been affected by radiation or high doses of chemotherapy.

Orca-T is classified by its manufacturer, Orca Bio, as a high-precision cell therapy that combines purified cells from a matched donor. The investigational cell therapy is designed to not only replace a patients diseased blood and immune system with healthy cells, but also to reduce the risk for developing life-threatening transplant-related side effects such as graft versus host disease.

In graft versus host disease, the bone marrow or stem cells that have been transplanted into the patient with cancer views the recipients body as foreign. As a result of this, the donated cells or bone marrow begin to attack the recipient.

By precision engineering the donor graft, we aim to create a cell therapy that retains the benefits of transplant without serious complications like graft versus host disease and disease relapse, Dr. Robert Negrin, professor of medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine in California, said in a press release. This has been demonstrated by the recent results of the phase 1b/2 single-arm trials with Orca-T, and we are pleased to be evaluating this novel cell therapy in a randomized phase 3 clinical trial.

Orca Bio noted that it is expected that approximately 174 patients across more than 20 cancer centers including City of Hope in California as well as the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta.

The main goal of the phase 3 trial is to identify the rate of moderate-to-severe chronic graft versus host disease-free survival among patients who receive Orca-T compared with those who receive standard of care allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The investigators have defined moderate-to-severe chronic graft versus host disease-free survival as being death by any cause of moderate-to-severe chronic versus graft host disease.

Additionally, the study authors aim to assess each treatments effect on relapse-free survival (survival free of death from disease relapse) as well as graft vs. host disease and relapse-free survival, which is being defined as survival free of death from any cause, relapse, serious or severe acute graft versus host disease and moderate to severe chronic graft versus host disease.

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Trial to Compare Safety and Efficacy of Novel Cell Therapy to Standard of Care in Patients With Rare Blood Cancers - Curetoday.com

Medpoint Global was awarded The Best Revolutionary Hair Transplant Center of the Year. The clinic now follows developments in its field and offers more up-to-date and safer services to its patients.

California Medpoint Global, which gladly welcomes its guests from many parts of the world for hair transplant and cosmetic operations in Turkey / Istanbul, one of the leading countries in hair transplantation, has experienced an ever-increasing success rate since the day of its foundation. Medpoint Global was awarded The Best Revolutionary Hair Transplant Center of the Year. The clinic received an award from the International City Awards for its work. The clinic now follows developments in its field and offers more up-to-date and safer services to its patients.

Both men and women frequently struggle with hair loss. There are numerous potential causes; some are temporary, while others, if untreated, could lead to permanent hair loss, said the Spokesperson of Medpoint Global, At Global, we provide a variety of advanced hair treatment solutions rather than just one. To guarantee that our efforts produce pleasing results, we are committed to using top-notch technologies and advances like Otolog Plus treatment with Stem Cells. These changes have led to outcomes that are intended to bring you back to the glory days of your thick hair. That, without a doubt, improves ones appearance and boosts confidence.

Modern hair loss treatments can be found at Medpoint Global, one of Turkeys most renowned hair treatment facilities. They enhance the hairline and implant hairs in thinning places using cutting-edge techniques like the Otolog Plus Stem Cell Treatment, which helps to achieve long-lasting results that look more natural. They provide a wide range of services, including Hair transplant for men and women, Beard treatments, Eyebrow treatments, Unshaven Hair Transplants,

By combining different treatment procedures with current technology, Medpoint Global can have more effective results in less time using Otolog Plus Stem Cell Treatment, a technique created by combining otology plus stem cell therapy and steam infusion. Its purpose is to maximize nutritional quality while ensuring the repair of damaged tissues.

Stem cells, which are involved in the formation of all structures in the body, are actively used in the treatment of many diseases. Stem cells taken from the same person are given back after Medpoint Globals procedures are done. The injected cells take the form of the structure of the damaged tissues and carry out the repair of the damaged tissues.

The Otolog Plus treatment with stem cells has also been successfully applied to people with hair problems in recent years. Samples taken from the back of the neck, where the hair follicles are strongest, called the donor area, which is coded not to fall out from birth, are reproduced through a series of processes. The samples taken are made into a complete solution and injected into the areas with hair loss problems. This technique is considered a revolutionary one used by the team of experts at Medpoint Global for the best hair treatment results.

About Medpoint Global

Medpoint Global, which gladly welcomes its guests from many parts of the world for hair transplant and cosmetic operations in Turkey / Istanbul, one of the leading countries in hair transplantation, has experienced an ever-increasing success rate since the day of its foundation. Medpoint Global, which was awarded The Best Revolutionary Hair Transplant Center of the Year at the International City Awards for its work, closely follows developments in its field and offers more up-to-date and safer services to its patients. Their services include Hair transplants and treatments, beard treatments, Eyebrow treatments, Unshaven Hair Transplants and Treatments, and more.

Media ContactCompany Name: Medpoint Global Email: Send EmailCountry: TurkeyWebsite: https://medpointglobal.com/en/all-about-the-otolog-plus-stem-cell-treatment/

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Medpoint Global was awarded the Best Revolutionary Hair Transplant Center of the Year and continues to follow developments in its field and offer more...