scholarly journals Harnessing 3D collagen hydrogel-directed conversion of human GMSCs into SCP-like cells to generate functionalized nerve conduits

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qunzhou Zhang ◽  
Phuong Nguyen ◽  
Justin C. Burrell ◽  
Jincheng Zeng ◽  
Shihong Shi ◽  
...  

AbstractAchieving a satisfactory functional recovery after severe peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) remains one of the major clinical challenges despite advances in microsurgical techniques. Nerve autografting is currently the gold standard for the treatment of PNI, but there exist several major limitations. Accumulating evidence has shown that various types of nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) combined with post-natal stem cells as the supportive cells may represent a promising alternative to nerve autografts. In this study, gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) under 3D-culture in soft collagen hydrogel showed significantly increased expression of a panel of genes related to development/differentiation of neural crest stem-like cells (NCSC) and/or Schwann cell precursor-like (SCP) cells and associated with NOTCH3 signaling pathway activation as compared to their 2D-cultured counterparts. The upregulation of NCSC-related genes induced by 3D-collagen hydrogel was abrogated by the presence of a specific NOTCH inhibitor. Further study showed that GMSCs encapsulated in 3D-collagen hydrogel were capable of transmigrating into multilayered extracellular matrix (ECM) wall of natural NGCs and integrating well with the aligned matrix structure, thus leading to biofabrication of functionalized NGCs. In vivo, implantation of functionalized NGCs laden with GMSC-derived NCSC/SCP-like cells (designated as GiSCs), significantly improved the functional recovery and axonal regeneration in the segmental facial nerve defect model in rats. Together, our study has identified an approach for rapid biofabrication of functionalized NGCs through harnessing 3D collagen hydrogel-directed conversion of GMSCs into GiSCs.

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 096368972110487
Author(s):  
Samaneh Khazaei ◽  
Masoud Soleimani ◽  
Seyed Hossein Ahmadi Tafti ◽  
Rouhollah Mehdinavaz Aghdam ◽  
Zohreh Hojati

Cardiovascular disease is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are one of the most common sources in cell-based therapies in heart regeneration. There are several methods to differentiate MSCs into cardiac-like cells, such as gene induction. Moreover, using a three-dimensional (3D) culture, such as hydrogels increases efficiency of differentiation. In the current study, mouse adipose-derived MSCs were co-transduced with lentiviruses containing microRNA-1 ( miR-1) and Myocardin ( Myocd). Then, expression of cardiac markers, such as NK2 homeobox 5( Nkx2-5), GATA binding protein 4 ( Gata4), and troponin T type 2 ( Tnnt2) was investigated, at both gene and protein levels in two-dimensional (2D) culture and chitosan/collagen hydrogel (CS/CO) as a 3D culture. Additionally, after induction of myocardial infarction (MI) in rats, a patch containing the encapsulated induced cardiomyocytes (iCM/P) was implanted to MI zone. Subsequently, 30 days after MI induction, echocardiography, immunohistochemistry staining, and histological examination were performed to evaluate cardiac function. The results of quantitative real -time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunocytochemistry showed that co-induction of miR-1 and Myocd in MSCs followed by 3D culture of transduced cells increased expression of cardiac markers. Besides, results of in vivo study implicated that heart function was improved in MI model of rats in iCM/P-treated group. The results suggested that miR-1/Myocd induction combined with encapsulation of transduced cells in CS/CO hydrogel increased efficiency of MSCs differentiation into iCMs and could improve heart function in MI model of rats after implantation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii199-ii200
Author(s):  
Luciano Galdieri ◽  
Arijita Jash ◽  
Olga Malkova ◽  
Diane Mao ◽  
Jian Campian ◽  
...  

Abstract Glioblastoma (GBM) kills almost all patients within 2 years. A subpopulation of cells, GBM stem cells (GSCs), contributes to treatment resistance and recurrence. A major therapeutic goal is to kill GSCs, but no targeted therapy yet exists. Since their discovery, GSCs have been isolated using single surface markers, such as CD15, CD44, CD133, and a-6 integrin. It remains unknown how these single surface marker-defined GSC populations compare to each other in terms of signal transduction and function and whether expression of different combinations of these markers is associated with distinct phenotypes. Using mass cytometry and fresh operating room specimens, we found that 15 distinct GSC subpopulations exist in vivo and they differ in their MEK/ERK, WNT, and AKT pathway activation status. In culture, some subpopulations were lost and previously undetectable ones materialized. GSCs highly expressing all four surface markers had the greatest self-renewal capacity and in vivo tumorigenicity as well as the strongest WNT pathway activation. This work highlights the signaling and phenotypic diversity in GSC subpopulations, together suggesting that not all GSCs are equivalent. These observations should be considered when studying GSCs in the laboratory, with implications for the development of treatments that target GSCs and prevent tumor recurrence in patients.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (S) ◽  
pp. 98
Author(s):  
P H Nguyen ◽  
J Giraud ◽  
C Staedel ◽  
L Chambonnier ◽  
P Dubus ◽  
...  

Gastric carcinoma is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. This cancer, most of the time metastatic, is essentially treated by surgery associated with conventional chemotherapy, and has a poor prognosis. The existence of cancer stem cells (CSC) expressing CD44 and a high aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity has recently been demonstrated in gastric carcinoma and has opened new perspectives to develop targeted therapy. In this study, we evaluated the effects of all-transretinoic acid (ATRA) on CSCs in human gastric carcinoma. ATRA effects were evaluated on the proliferation and tumorigenic properties of gastric carcinoma cells from patient-derived tumors and cell lines in conventional 2D cultures, in 3D culture systems (tumorsphere assay) and in mouse xenograft models. ATRA inhibited both tumorspheres initiation and growth in vitro, which was associated with a cell-cycle arrest through the upregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors and the downregulation of cell-cycle progression activators. More importantly, ATRA downregulated the expression of the CSC markers CD44 and ALDH as well as stemness genes such as Klf4 and Sox2 and induced differentiation of tumorspheres. Finally, 2 weeks of daily ATRA treatment were sufficient to inhibit gastric tumor progression in vivo, which was associated with a decrease in CD44, ALDH1, Ki67 and PCNA expression in the remaining tumor cells. Administration of ATRA appears to be a potent strategy to efficiently inhibit tumor growth and more importantly to target gastric CSCs in both intestinal and diffuse types of gastric carcinoma.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Chen ◽  
Y N Song ◽  
Z Y Huang

Abstract Background Poor cell homing limits efficacy of cardiac cellular therapy. The cysteine–arginine–glutamic acid–lysine–alanine (CREKA) homing peptide binds with high specificity to fibrin which is involved in repair of tissue injury. Purpose We assessed if CREKA-modified stem cells had enhanced fibrin-mediated homing ability resulting in better functional recovery and structural preservation in a rat myocardial injury model. Methods CREKA-modified mesenchymal stem cells (CREKA-MSCs) were obtained via membrane fusion with CREKA-modified liposomes. The fibrin targeting ability of CREKA-MSCs was examined both in vitro and in vivo. Results Under both static and flow conditions in vitro, CREKA significantly enhanced MSCs binding ability to fibrin clots. CREKA-MSCs showed much more higher accumulation than unmodified MSCs in injured rat myocardium, colocalizing with fibrin and resulting in better cardiac function. Stem cell-CREKA-fibrin targeting system Conclusions Modification of MSCs with the homing peptide CREKA favored their migration and retention in the infarcted area, resulting in better structural preservation and functional recovery. Fibrin is therefore a novel target for enhancing homing of transplanted cells to injured myocardium and the fibrin-targeting delivery system represents a generalizable platform technology for regenerative medicine.


2022 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 863
Author(s):  
Alessia Gallo ◽  
Nicola Cuscino ◽  
Flavia Contino ◽  
Matteo Bulati ◽  
Mariangela Pampalone ◽  
...  

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) are believed to function in vivo as a homeostatic tool that shows therapeutic properties for tissue repair/regeneration. Conventionally, these cells are expanded in two-dimensional (2D) cultures, and, in that case, MSCs undergo genotypic/phenotypic changes resulting in a loss of their therapeutic capabilities. Moreover, several clinical trials using MSCs have shown controversial results with moderate/insufficient therapeutic responses. Different priming methods were tested to improve MSC effects, and three-dimensional (3D) culturing techniques were also examined. MSC spheroids display increased therapeutic properties, and, in this context, it is crucial to understand molecular changes underlying spheroid generation. To address these limitations, we performed RNA-seq on human amnion-derived MSCs (hAMSCs) cultured in both 2D and 3D conditions and examined the transcriptome changes associated with hAMSC spheroid formation. We found a large number of 3D culture-sensitive genes and identified selected genes related to 3D hAMSC therapeutic effects. In particular, we observed that these genes can regulate proliferation/differentiation, as well as immunomodulatory and angiogenic processes. We validated RNA-seq results by qRT-PCR and methylome analysis and investigation of secreted factors. Overall, our results showed that hAMSC spheroid culture represents a promising approach to cell-based therapy that could significantly impact hAMSC application in the field of regenerative medicine.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aidan E Gilchrist ◽  
Julio F. Serrano ◽  
Mai T. Ngo ◽  
Zona Hrnjak ◽  
Sanha Kim ◽  
...  

Biomaterial platforms are an integral part of stem cell biomanufacturing protocols. The collective biophysical, biochemical, and cellular cues of the stem cell niche microenvironment play an important role in regulating stem cell fate decisions. Three-dimensional (3D) culture of stem cells within biomaterials provides a route to present biophysical and biochemical stimuli such as cell-matrix interactions and cell-cell interactions via secreted biomolecules. Herein, we describe a maleimide-functionalized gelatin (GelMAL) hydrogel that can be crosslinked via thiol-Michael addition click reaction for the encapsulation of sensitive stem cell populations. The maleimide functional units along the gelatin backbone enables gelation via the addition of a dithiol crosslinker without requiring external stimuli (e.g., UV light, photoinitiator), reducing reactive oxide species generation. Additionally, the versatility of crosslinker selection enables easy insertion of thiol-containing bioactive or bioinert motifs. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were encapsulated in GelMAL, with mechanical properties tuned to mimic the in vivo bone marrow niche. We report insertion of a cleavable peptide crosslinker that can be degraded by the proteolytic action of SortaseA, a mammalian-inert enzyme. Notably, SortaseA exposure preserves stem cell surface markers, an essential metric of hematopoietic activity used in immunophenotyping. This novel GelMAL system enables a route to producing artificial stem cell niches with tunable biophysical properties with intrinsic cell-interaction motifs and orthogonal addition of bioactive crosslinks.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Wan ◽  
Min-kai Xie ◽  
Huan Xu ◽  
Zi-wei Wei ◽  
Hai-jun Yao ◽  
...  

Abstract Rationale: Tissue engineering is a promising alternative for urethral reconstruction, and adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are widely used as seeding cells. Hypoxia preconditioning can significantly enhance the therapeutic effects of ADSCs. The low oxygen tension of postoperative wound healing is inevitable and may facilitate the nutritional function of ADSCs. This study aimed to investigate if hypoxia preconditioned ADSCs, compared to normxia preconditioned ADSCs, combined with scaffold could better promote urethral reconstruction and exploring the underlying mechanism.Methods: In vitro, paracrine cytokines and secretomes that were secreted by hypoxia- or normoxia-preconditioned ADSCs were added to cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to measure their functions. In vivo, hypoxia- or normoxia-preconditioned ADSCs were seeded on a porous nanofibrous scaffold for urethral repair on a defect model in rabbits.Results: The in vitro results showed that hypoxia could enhance the secretion of VEGFA by ADSCs, and hypoxia-preconditioned ADSCs could enhance the viability, proliferation, migration, angiogenesis and glycolysis of HUVECs (p < 0.05). After silencing VEGFA, angiogenesis and glycolysis were significantly inhibited (p < 0.05). The in vivo results showed that compared to normoxia-preconditioned ADSCs, hypoxia-preconditioned ADSCs combined with scaffolds led to a larger urethral lumen diameter, preserved urethral morphology and enhanced angiogenesis (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Hypoxia preconditioning of ADSCs combined with scaffold could better promote urethral reconstruction by upregulating angiogenesis and glycolysis. Hypoxia-preconditioned ADSCs combined with novel scaffold may provide a promising alternative treatment for urethral reconstruction.


2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haoyu Wu ◽  
Zhi Peng ◽  
Ying Xu ◽  
Zixuan Sheng ◽  
Yanshan Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Osteoarthritis (OA), a prevalent degenerative disease characterized by degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM), still lacks effective disease-modifying therapy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation has been regarded as the most promising approach for OA treatment while engrafting cells alone might not be adequate for effective regeneration. Genetic modification has been used to optimize MSC-based therapy; however, there are still significant limitations that prevent the clinical translation of this therapy including low efficacy and safety concerns. Recently, chemically modified mRNA (modRNA) represents a promising alternative for the gene-enhanced MSC therapy. In this regard, we hypothesized that adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) engineered with modRNA encoding insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were superior to native ADSCs on ameliorating OA development. Methods Mouse ADSCs were acquired from adipose tissue and transfected with modRNAs. First, the kinetics and efficacy of modRNA-mediated gene transfer in mouse ADSCs were analyzed in vitro. Next, we applied an indirect co-culture system to analyze the pro-anabolic potential of IGF-1 modRNA engineered ADSCs (named as IGF-1-ADSCs) on chondrocytes. Finally, we evaluated the cell retention and chondroprotective effect of IGF-1-ADSCs in vivo using fluorescent labeling, histology and immunohistochemistry. Results modRNA transfected mouse ADSCs with high efficiency (85 ± 5%) and the IGF-1 modRNA-transfected ADSCs facilitated burst-like production of bio-functional IGF-1 protein. In vitro, IGF-1-ADSCs induced increased anabolic markers expression of chondrocytes in inflammation environment compared to untreated ADSCs. In a murine OA model, histological and immunohistochemical analysis of knee joints harvested at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after OA induction suggested IGF-1-ADSCs had superior therapeutic effect over native ADSCs demonstrated by lower histological OARSI score and decreased loss of cartilage ECM. Conclusions These findings collectively supported the therapeutic potential of IGF-1-ADSCs for clinical OA management and cartilage repair.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 204173142093340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengye Zhang ◽  
Zhaoting Yang ◽  
Da-Long Dong ◽  
Tae-Su Jang ◽  
Jonathan C. Knowles ◽  
...  

Cancer stem cells have been shown to be important in tumorigenesis processes, such as tumor growth, metastasis, and recurrence. As such, many three-dimensional models have been developed to establish an ex vivo microenvironment that cancer stem cells experience under in vivo conditions. Cancer stem cells propagating in three-dimensional culture systems show physiologically related signaling pathway profiles, gene expression, cell–matrix and cell–cell interactions, and drug resistance that reflect at least some of the tumor properties seen in vivo. Herein, we discussed the presently available Cancer stem cell three-dimensional culture models that use biomaterials and engineering tools and the biological implications of these models compared to the conventional ones.


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