Non-cryopreserved peripheral blood stem cells as a safe and effective alternative for autologous transplantation in multiple myeloma.

Background: Autologous stem cell transplantation is the standard procedure for multiple myeloma and the grafts are usually cryopreserved. Previous studies reported advantages in the use of fresh peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) autotransplantation compared to cryopreservation of the grafts. This study compared the transplant-related outcomes of two graft preservation methods: fresh storage (4°C/72 h) and cryopreservation (-80°C).

Bovine seminal plasma osteopontin: Structural modelling, recombinant expression and its relationship with semen quality.

Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional phosphoprotein that has been linked to fertility in bulls. However, the exact mechanism by which OPN contributes to fertilisation is yet unknown. The biotechnological use of OPN in bovine reproduction is promising but some gaps remain unfilled.

Deletion of eIF2β lysine stretches creates a dominant negative that affects the translation and proliferation in human cell line: A tool for arresting the cell growth.

Background: Eukaryote initiation factor 2 subunit β (eIF2β) plays a crucial role in regulation protein synthesis, which mediates the interaction of eIF2 with mRNA. eIF2β contains evolutionarily conserved polylysine stretches in amino-terminal region and a zinc finger motif in the carboxy-terminus.

Methods: The gene eIF2β was cloned under tetracycline transcription control and the polylysine stretches were deleted by site-directed mutagenesis (eIF2βΔ3K).

Comparison of human mesenchymal stromal cells from four neonatal tissues: Amniotic membrane, chorionic membrane, placental decidua and umbilical cord.

Background: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are being investigated as a potential alternative for cellular therapy. This study was designed to compare the biological characteristics of MSCs isolated from amniotic membrane (A-MSCs), chorionic membrane (C-MSCs), placental decidua (D-MSCs) and umbilical cord (UC-MSCs) to ascertain whether any one of these sources is superior to the others for cellular therapy purposes.

Methods: MSCs were isolated from amniotic membrane, chorionic membrane, umbilical cord and placental decidua.

Betacellulin overexpression in mesenchymal stem cells induces insulin secretion in vitro and ameliorates streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia in rats.

Betacellulin (BTC), a ligand of the epidermal growth factor receptor, has been shown to promote growth and differentiation of pancreatic β-cells and to improve glucose metabolism in experimental diabetic rodent models. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been already proved to be multipotent. Recent work has attributed to rat and human MSCs the potential to differentiate into insulin-secreting cells.