Stem Cells: Innovations in Clinical Applications

The use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as clinical therapeutics is a relatively new avenue of study for treatment of a variety of diseases. The therapeutic impact of the MSCs is based upon their multiplicities of function and interaction with host tissues. MSCs can be anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, antimicrobial, and regenerative, all which may improve outcomes in scenarios of damaged tissues and inflammation. Although most studies focus on utilizing MSCs to direct clinical efficacy, it is the ability to orchestrate host response in surrounding tissue that is especially unique and versatile. This orchestration of host response can be applied to a variety of clinical scenarios not only through cell-cell interactions but also through production of bioactive secreted factors. These bioactive factors include small proteins, chemokines, cytokines, and other cellular regulators. These factors have the capacity to induce angiogenesis or blood vessel development, be chemotactic, and induce cellular recruitment. MSCs also have the capacity to differentiate with the implicated environment to regenerate tissue or accommodate host tissue in a cell specific manner. The differentiation cannot only be donein vivobut also can be optimizedin vitroprior toin vivoadministration, potentiating the versatility of the MSCs and opening avenues for corrective therapy and cell delivery of genes. The differentiation process depends on the environment with which the MSCs are put and results in active communication between the newly administered cells host tissue. Since these properties have been identified, there are a variety of clinical trials and studies being conducted on MSCs ability to treat human disease. This review outlines the potential use of MSCs, the types of tissue, and the innovative applications of MSCs for the treatment of diseases.

Download Full-text

Fatty acid is a potential agent for bone tissue induction: In vitro and in vivo approach

Experimental Biology and Medicine ◽

10.1177/1535370217731104 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 242 (18) ◽

pp. 1765-1771 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Guinea BC Cardoso ◽

Erivelto Chacon ◽

Priscila GL Chacon ◽

Pedro Bordeaux-Rego ◽

Adriana SS Duarte ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Oleic Acid ◽

Fatty Acid ◽

Bone Tissue ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Surrounding Tissue ◽

Bone Induction ◽

Acid Addition

Our hypothesis was to investigate the fatty acid potential as a bone induction factor. In vitro and in vivo studies were performed to evaluate this approach. Oleic acid was used in a 0.5 wt.% concentration. Polycaprolactone was used as the polymeric matrix by combining solvent-casting and particulate-leaching techniques, with a final porosity of 70 wt.%, investigated by SEM images. Contact angle measurements were produced to investigate the influence of oleic acid on polycaprolactone chains. Cell culture was performed using adipocyte-derived stem cells to evaluate biocompatibility and bioactivity properties. In addition, in vivo studies were performed to evaluate the induction potential of oleic acid addition. Adipocyte-derived stem cells were used to provide differentiation after 21 days of culture. Likewise, information were obtained with in vivo data and cellular invagination was observed on both scaffolds (polycaprolactone and polycaprolactone /oleic acid); interestingly, the scaffold with oleic acid addition demonstrated that cellular migrations are not related to the surrounding tissue, indicating bioactive potential. Our hypothesis is that fatty acid may be used as a potential induction factor for bone tissue engineering. The study’s findings indicate oleic acid as a possible agent for bone induction, according to data on cell differentiation, proliferation, and migration. Impact statement The biomaterial combined in this study on bone regeneration is innovative and shows promising results in the treatment of bone lesions. Polycaprolactone (PCL) and oleic acid have been studied separately. In this research, we combined biomaterials to assess the stimulus and the speed of bone healing.

Download Full-text

Collagen nanofibril self-assembly on a natural polymeric material for the osteoinduction of stem cells in vitro and biocompatibility in vivo

RSC Advances ◽

10.1039/c6ra15363a ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (84) ◽

pp. 80851-80866 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

A. Aravamudhan ◽

D. M. Ramos ◽

N. A. Jenkins ◽

N. A. Dyment ◽

M. M. Sanders ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Self Assembly ◽

Stem Cell Differentiation ◽

Host Tissue ◽

Tissue Response ◽

Microporous Structure

This manuscript reports the characterization of molecularly self-assembled collagen nanofibers on a natural polymeric microporous structure and their ability to support stem cell differentiation in vitro and host tissue response in vivo.

Download Full-text

Autologous transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells into the portal vein of the miniature pig; a preliminary experiment for NOTES approach

Perspectives in Surgery ◽

10.33699/pis.2019.98.9.350-355 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 98 (9) ◽

pp. 350-355

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽

Cell Therapy ◽

Portal Vein ◽

Liver Parenchyma ◽

Miniature Pig ◽

Hepatic Diseases ◽

Study Results

Introduction: There is evidence that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could trans-differentiate into the liver cells in vitro and in vivo and thus may be used as an unfailing source for stem cell therapy of liver disease. Combination of MSCs (with or without their differentiation in vitro) and minimally invasive procedures as laparoscopy or Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) represents a chance for many patients waiting for liver transplantation in vain. Methods: Over 30 millions of autologous MSCs at passage 3 were transplanted via the portal vein in an eight months old miniature pig. The deposition of transplanted cells in liver parenchyma was evaluated histologically and the trans-differential potential of CM-DiI labeled cells was assessed by expression of pig albumin using immunofluorescence. Results: Three weeks after transplantation we detected the labeled cells (solitary, small clusters) in all 10 samples (2 samples from each lobe) but no diffuse distribution in the samples. The localization of CM-DiI+ cells was predominantly observed around the portal triads. We also detected the localization of albumin signal in CM-DiI labeled cells. Conclusion: The study results showed that the autologous MSCs (without additional hepatic differentiation in vitro) transplantation through the portal vein led to successful infiltration of intact miniature pig liver parenchyma with detectable in vivo trans-differentiation. NOTES as well as other newly developed surgical approaches in combination with cell therapy seem to be very promising for the treatment of hepatic diseases in near future.

Download Full-text

Differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells from humans and animals into insulin-producing cells: An overview in vitro induction forms

Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy ◽

10.2174/1574888x16666201229124429 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 ◽

Author(s):

Bruna O. S. Câmara ◽

Bruno M. Bertassoli ◽

Natália M. Ocarino ◽

Rogéria Serakides

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽

Culture Medium ◽

Adipogenic Differentiation ◽

Medium Composition ◽

Cell Therapies ◽

Insulin Producing Cells ◽

Msc Differentiation

The use of stem cells in cell therapies has shown promising results in the treatment of several diseases, including diabetes mellitus, in both humans and animals. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be isolated from various locations, including bone marrow, adipose tissues, synovia, muscles, dental pulp, umbilical cords, and the placenta. In vitro, by manipulating the composition of the culture medium or transfection, MSCs can differentiate into several cell lineages, including insulin-producing cells (IPCs). Unlike osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic differentiation, for which the culture medium and time are similar between studies, studies involving the induction of MSC differentiation in IPCs differ greatly. This divergence is usually evident in relation to the differentiation technique used, the composition of the culture medium, the cultivation time, which can vary from a few hours to several months, and the number of steps to complete differentiation. However, although there is no “gold standard” differentiation medium composition, most prominent studies mention the use of nicotinamide, exedin-4, ß-mercaptoethanol, fibroblast growth factor b (FGFb), and glucose in the culture medium to promote the differentiation of MSCs into IPCs. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to investigate the stages of MSC differentiation into IPCs both in vivo and in vitro, as well as address differentiation techniques and molecular actions and mechanisms by which some substances, such as nicotinamide, exedin-4, ßmercaptoethanol, FGFb, and glucose, participate in the differentiation process.

Download Full-text

Strategies to Protect Hematopoietic Stem Cells from Culture-Induced Stress Conditions

Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy ◽

10.2174/1574888x15666200225091339 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

Author(s):

Fatima Aerts-Kaya

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Hematopoietic Stem Cells ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Stress Conditions ◽

Stress Factors ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Induced Stress

: In contrast to their almost unlimited potential for expansion in vivo and despite years of dedicated research and optimization of expansion protocols, the expansion of Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) in vitro remains remarkably limited. Increased understanding of the mechanisms that are involved in maintenance, expansion and differentiation of HSCs will enable the development of better protocols for expansion of HSCs. This will allow procurement of HSCs with long-term engraftment potential and a better understanding of the effects of the external influences in and on the hematopoietic niche that may affect HSC function. During collection and culture of HSCs, the cells are exposed to suboptimal conditions that may induce different levels of stress and ultimately affect their self-renewal, differentiation and long-term engraftment potential. Some of these stress factors include normoxia, oxidative stress, extra-physiologic oxygen shock/stress (EPHOSS), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, replicative stress, and stress related to DNA damage. Coping with these stress factors may help reduce the negative effects of cell culture on HSC potential, provide a better understanding of the true impact of certain treatments in the absence of confounding stress factors. This may facilitate the development of better ex vivo expansion protocols of HSCs with long-term engraftment potential without induction of stem cell exhaustion by cellular senescence or loss of cell viability. This review summarizes some of available strategies that may be used to protect HSCs from culture-induced stress conditions.

Download Full-text

Lithium-Doped Biological-Derived Hydroxyapatite Coatings Sustain In Vitro Differentiation of Human Primary Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Osteoblasts

Coatings ◽

10.3390/coatings9120781 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 781 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Paula E. Florian ◽

Liviu Duta ◽

Valentina Grumezescu ◽

Gianina Popescu-Pelin ◽

Andrei C. Popescu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽

Doping Agent ◽

Hydroxyapatite Coatings ◽

3D Network ◽

Immunofluorescence Labelling ◽

Good Biocompatibility ◽

Adhesion Process

This study is focused on the adhesion and differentiation of the human primary mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) to osteoblasts lineage on biological-derived hydroxyapatite (BHA) and lithium-doped BHA (BHA:LiP) coatings synthesized by Pulsed Laser Deposition. An optimum adhesion of the cells on the surface of BHA:LiP coatings compared to control (uncoated Ti) was demonstrated using immunofluorescence labelling of actin and vinculin, two proteins involved in the initiation of the cell adhesion process. BHA:LiP coatings were also found to favor the differentiation of the hMSC towards an osteoblastic phenotype in the presence of osteoinductive medium, as revealed by the evaluation of osteoblast-specific markers, osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase. Numerous nodules of mineralization secreted from osteoblast cells grown on the surface of BHA:LiP coatings and a 3D network-like organization of cells interconnected into the extracellular matrix were evidenced. These findings highlight the good biocompatibility of the BHA coatings and demonstrate that the use of lithium as a doping agent results in an enhanced osteointegration potential of the synthesized biomaterials, which might therefore represent viable candidates for future in vivo applications.

Download Full-text

STEM-26. SMALL MOLECULE DRUG CBL0137 INHIBITS THE FACT COMPLEX AND SENSITIZES GLIOBLASTOMA CANCER STEM CELLS TO RADIOTHERAPY

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noaa215.843 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. ii201-ii202

Author(s):

Miranda Tallman ◽

Abigail Zalenski ◽

Amanda Deighen ◽

Morgan Schrock ◽

Sherry Mortach ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Cancer Stem Cells ◽

High Rate ◽

Orthotopic Model ◽

In Vivo Models ◽

Specific Cytotoxicity ◽

Treatment Paradigm ◽

Cancer Agent

Abstract Glioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant brain tumor with nearly universal recurrence. GBM cancer stem cells (CSCs), a subpopulation of radio- and chemo-resistant cancer cells capable of self-renewal, contribute to the high rate of recurrence. The anti-cancer agent, CBL0137, inhibits the FACT (facilitates chromatin transcription) complex leading to cancer cell specific cytotoxicity. Here, we show that CBL0137 sensitized GBM CSCs to radiotherapy using both in vitro and in vivo models. Treatment of CBL0137 combined with radiotherapy led to increased DNA damage in GBM patient specimens and failure to resolve the damage led to decreased cell viability. Using clonogenic assays, we confirmed that CBL0137 radiosensitized the CSCs. To validate that combination therapy impacted CSCs, we used an in vivo subcutaneous model and showed a decrease in the frequency of cancer stem cells present in tumors as well as decreased tumor volume. Using an orthotopic model of GBM, we confirmed that treatment with CBL0137 followed by radiotherapy led to significantly increased survival compared to either treatment alone. Radiotherapy remains a critical component of patient care for GBM, even though there exists a resistant subpopulation. Radio-sensitizing agents, including CBL0137, pose an exciting treatment paradigm to increase the efficacy of irradiation, especially by inclusively targeting CSCs.

Download Full-text

Effects of in vitro low oxygen tension preconditioning of buccal fat pad stem cells on in Vivo articular cartilage tissue repair

Life Sciences ◽

10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119728 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 119728

Author(s):

Fatemeh Dehghani Nazhvani ◽

Leila Mohammadi Amirabad ◽

Arezo Azari ◽

Hamid Namazi ◽

Simzar Hosseinzadeh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Articular Cartilage ◽

Tissue Repair ◽

Cartilage Tissue ◽

Low Oxygen ◽

Fat Pad ◽

Buccal Fat Pad ◽

Low Oxygen Tension

Download Full-text

Macropinocytosis requires Gal-3 in a subset of patient-derived glioblastoma stem cells

Communications Biology ◽

10.1038/s42003-021-02258-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Laetitia Seguin ◽

Soline Odouard ◽

Francesca Corlazzoli ◽

Sarah Al Haddad ◽

Laurine Moindrot ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Cell Survival ◽

Small Gtpases ◽

Molecular Signature ◽

Carbohydrate Binding ◽

Pancreatic Cancers ◽

Galectin 3 ◽

Pharmacologic Inhibition

AbstractRecently, we involved the carbohydrate-binding protein Galectin-3 (Gal-3) as a druggable target for KRAS-mutant-addicted lung and pancreatic cancers. Here, using glioblastoma patient-derived stem cells (GSCs), we identify and characterize a subset of Gal-3high glioblastoma (GBM) tumors mainly within the mesenchymal subtype that are addicted to Gal-3-mediated macropinocytosis. Using both genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of Gal-3, we showed a significant decrease of GSC macropinocytosis activity, cell survival and invasion, in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that Gal-3 binds to RAB10, a member of the RAS superfamily of small GTPases, and β1 integrin, which are both required for macropinocytosis activity and cell survival. Finally, by defining a Gal-3/macropinocytosis molecular signature, we could predict sensitivity to this dependency pathway and provide proof-of-principle for innovative therapeutic strategies to exploit this Achilles’ heel for a significant and unique subset of GBM patients.

Download Full-text

Comparative analysis of mouse bone marrow and adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells for critical limb ischemia cell therapy

Stem Cell Research & Therapy ◽

10.1186/s13287-020-02110-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Pegah Nammian ◽

Seyedeh-Leili Asadi-Yousefabad ◽

Sajad Daneshi ◽

Mohammad Hasan Sheikhha ◽

Seyed Mohammad Bagher Tabei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽

Adipose Tissue ◽

Cell Therapy ◽

Femoral Artery ◽

Critical Limb Ischemia ◽

Limb Ischemia

Abstract Introduction Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is the most advanced form of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) characterized by ischemic rest pain and non-healing ulcers. Currently, the standard therapy for CLI is the surgical reconstruction and endovascular therapy or limb amputation for patients with no treatment options. Neovasculogenesis induced by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy is a promising approach to improve CLI. Owing to their angiogenic and immunomodulatory potential, MSCs are perfect candidates for the treatment of CLI. The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the in vitro and in vivo effects of allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) on CLI treatment. Methods For the first step, BM-MSCs and AT-MSCs were isolated and characterized for the characteristic MSC phenotypes. Then, femoral artery ligation and total excision of the femoral artery were performed on C57BL/6 mice to create a CLI model. The cells were evaluated for their in vitro and in vivo biological characteristics for CLI cell therapy. In order to determine these characteristics, the following tests were performed: morphology, flow cytometry, differentiation to osteocyte and adipocyte, wound healing assay, and behavioral tests including Tarlov, Ischemia, Modified ischemia, Function and the grade of limb necrosis scores, donor cell survival assay, and histological analysis. Results Our cellular and functional tests indicated that during 28 days after cell transplantation, BM-MSCs had a great effect on endothelial cell migration, muscle restructure, functional improvements, and neovascularization in ischemic tissues compared with AT-MSCs and control groups. Conclusions Allogeneic BM-MSC transplantation resulted in a more effective recovery from critical limb ischemia compared to AT-MSCs transplantation. In fact, BM-MSC transplantation could be considered as a promising therapy for diseases with insufficient angiogenesis including hindlimb ischemia.

Download Full-text