scholarly journals Design and Validation of a Process Based on Cationic Niosomes for Gene Delivery into Novel Urine-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 696
Author(s):  
Yerai Vado ◽  
Gustavo Puras ◽  
Melania Rosique ◽  
Cesar Martin ◽  
Jose Luis Pedraz ◽  
...  

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are stem cells present in adult tissues. They can be cultured, have great growth capacity, and can differentiate into several cell types. The isolation of urine-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUSCs) was recently described. hUSCs present additional benefits in the fact that they can be easily obtained noninvasively. Regarding gene delivery, nonviral vectors based on cationic niosomes have been used and are more stable and have lower immunogenicity than viral vectors. However, their transfection efficiency is low and in need of improvement. Methods: We isolated hUSCs from urine, and the cell culture was tested and characterized. Different cationic niosomes were elaborated using reverse-phase evaporation, and they were physicochemically characterized. Then, they were screened into hUSCs for transfection efficiency, and their internalization was evaluated. Results: GPxT-CQ at a lipid/DNA ratio of 5:1 (w/w) had the best transfection efficiency. Intracellular localization studies confirmed that nioplexes entered mainly via caveolae-mediated endocytosis. Conclusions: In conclusion, we established a protocol for hUSC isolation and their transfection with cationic niosomes, which could have relevant clinical applications such as in gene therapy. This methodology could also be used for creating cellular models for studying and validating pathogenic genetic variants, and even for performing functional studies. Our study increases knowledge about the internalization of tested cationic niosomes in these previously unexplored cells.

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 269-284
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Gharbavi ◽  
Ali Sharafi ◽  
Saeed Ghanbarzadeh

In recent years, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a new tool for therapeutic gene delivery in clinics have attracted much attention. Their advantages cover longer lifespan, better isolation, and higher transfection efficiency and proliferation rate. MSCs are the preferred approach for cell-based therapies because of their in vitro self-renewal capacity, migrating especially to tumor tissues, as well as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Therefore, they have considerable efficiency in genetic engineering for future clinical applications in cancer gene therapy and other diseases. For improving therapeutic efficiency, targeted therapy of cancers can be achieved through the sustained release of therapeutic agents and functional gene expression induction to the intended tissues. The development of a new vector in gene therapy can improve the durability of a transgene expression. Also, the safety of the vector, if administered systemically, may resolve several problems, such as durability of expression and the host immune response. Currently, MSCs are prominent candidates as cell vehicles for both preclinical and clinical trials due to the secretion of therapeutic agents in several cancers. In the present study, we discuss the status of gene therapy in both viral and non-viral vectors along with their limitations. Throughout this study, the use of several nano-carriers for gene therapy is also investigated. Finally, we critically discuss the promising advantages of MSCs in targeted gene delivery, tumor inhibition and their utilization as the gene carriers in clinical situations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1170-1176
Author(s):  
Minchen Liu ◽  
Yulan Hu ◽  
Yi Feng

This study aimed to examine the transfection ability of polyethylenimine (PEI) (1800 Da)-grafted chitosan (10 kDa) (CP), a newly synthesized PEI derivative, in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The safety evaluation of the complex/DNA was studied in vitro and in vivo. In addition, CP/pGL3 was applied to investigate the effects of transfection efficiency. In this study, CP/DNA can be formed with compatible physicochemical characteristics for gene delivery. CP cytotoxicity decreased in A549 cells. Moreover, a zebrafish embryo model was used for evaluating the safety in vivo. Compared to the PEI (25 kDa) group, the zebrafish hatching rate increased and the mortality rate decreased in the CP/DNA group, which provided an indication of the safety of CP. In comparison with chitosan (100 kDa)-PEI (1200 Da), CP's transfection efficiency was higher in both A549 cells and MSCs. This study aimed to lay the foundation for further applications of CP in gene delivery. Therefore, further gene therapy investigations of CP by using MSCs need to be performed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (S) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Yu-Chen Hu

Regenerative medicine requires coordinated functions of cells, materials and appropriate signaling. Recent years have witnessed the marriage of regenerative medicine and gene delivery by which various genes encoding anabolic/catabolic proteins or RNA therapeutics are delivered into cells to potentiate the tissue regeneration.  This presentation will focus on the use of viral vectors for genetic modification of mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow or adipose tissue for tissue regeneration. In particular, emphasis is placed on the applications of baculovirus, an emerging nonpathogenic gene delivery vector, for the delivery of various anabolic genes and miRNA mimics/sponges to repair tissues


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6

Non-hematopoietic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering as they possess multilineage differentiation potential and self-renewal properties. MSCs can be easily isolated from several tissues and expanded following standard cell culture procedures. MSCs have the capability of mobilization to the tumor site; so, they can automatically relocate to the tumor sites through their chemokine receptors following intravenous transplantation. In this respect, they can be used for MSC-based gene therapy. In this therapeutic technique, beneficial genes are inserted by viral and non-viral methods into MSCs that lead to transgene expression in them. Genetic modifications of MSCs have been widely studied and thoroughly investigated to further enhance their therapeutic efficacy. The current strategies of MSC-based therapies emphasize the incorporation of beneficial genes, which will enhance the therapeutic ability of MSCs and have better homing efficiency. Non-viral methods produce less toxicity and immunogenicity compared to viral gene delivery methods and thus represent a promising and efficient tool for the genetic engineering of MSCs. Several non-viral gene delivery strategies have been developed in recent decades, and some of them have been used for MSCs modification. This mini review provides an overview of current gene delivery approaches used for the genetic modification of MSCs with beneficial genes including viral and non-viral vectors.


2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 1255-1269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minchen Liu ◽  
Lu Zhang ◽  
Qingqing Zhao ◽  
Xinchi Jiang ◽  
Luyao Wu ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Genetic modification of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is an essential requirement for their use as a delivery vehicle. To achieve higher transfection efficiency and better reproducibility than previously synthesized chitosan (100 kDa)-polyethylenimine (PEI; 1200 Da), we synthesized a low molecular weight PEI (1200 Da)-grafted chitosan (50 kDa) (CP). Methods: Safety of CP/DNA or PEI (25 kDa)/DNA was evaluated by an MTT assay using A549 cells or MSCs and a zebrafish embryo model. Effects of CP/DNA on the characteristics of MSCs were evaluated using flow cytometry. Additionally, a pGL3 plasmid was used to investigate the transfection efficiency of PEI (25 kDa), chitosan (100 kDa)-PEI (1200 Da), and CP with different N/P mass ratios on A549 cells and MSCs. Furthermore, CP/pGL3 was used to investigate the effect of serum on transfection, and intracellular transport was assessed by observing the intracellular location of DNA using laser scanning confocal microscopy. In addition, the effect of endocytosis on transfection efficiency was evaluated using A549 cells pre-treated with different inhibitors. Investigations related to analysis of transfection efficiency were all performed using the BCA protein assay to standardize the data. Furthermore, TGF-β1-and CXCR4-expressing plasmids were applied to evaluate the gene transfer efficiency of CP, including its effects on the osteogenic differentiation and migratory ability of MSCs. Results: The safety evaluation demonstrated that CP/DNA had significantly lower toxicity than PEI (25 kDa)/DNA. Additionally, DNA entered MSCs transfected by CP without changing their properties, while the examination of intracellular transport demonstrated that CP/pGL3 was internalized rapidly into MSCs. Furthermore, studies of the internalization mechanism showed that CP/pGL3 complexes entered the cells through caveolae-mediated endocytosis, thereby suggesting that the CP coating helped DNA enter A549 cells without the requirement for receptors. Compared to PEI (25 kDa), the interference of serum on transfection was reduced significantly with the use of CP in both A549 cells and MSCs. To evaluate the effects of gene delivery using the constructed CP complex and the possibility of obtaining gene-engineered MSCs, TGF-β1- and CXCR4-expressing plasmids were successfully delivered into MSCs, confirming their ability to induce osteogenesis and change the migratory ability of MSCs, respectively. Conclusion: These results demonstrated that CP could be used to deliver genes into MSCs and could potentially be used in gene therapy based on MSCs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (8) ◽  
pp. 698-710
Author(s):  
Roya Cheraghi ◽  
Mahboobeh Nazari ◽  
Mohsen Alipour ◽  
Saman Hosseinkhani

Gene-based therapy largely relies on the vector type that allows a selective and efficient transfection into the target cells with maximum efficacy and minimal toxicity. Although, genes delivered utilizing modified viruses transfect efficiently and precisely, these vectors can cause severe immunological responses and are potentially carcinogenic. A promising method of overcoming this limitation is the use of non-viral vectors, including cationic lipids, polymers, dendrimers, and peptides, which offer potential routes for compacting DNA for targeted delivery. Although non-viral vectors exhibit reduced transfection efficiency compared to their viral counterpart, their superior biocompatibility, non-immunogenicity and potential for large-scale production make them increasingly attractive for modern therapy. There has been a great deal of interest in the development of biomimetic chimeric peptides. Biomimetic chimeric peptides contain different motifs for gene translocation into the nucleus of the desired cells. They have motifs for gene targeting into the desired cell, condense DNA into nanosize particles, translocate the gene into the nucleus and enhance the release of the particle into the cytoplasm. These carriers were developed in recent years. This review highlights the stepwise development of the biomimetic chimeric peptides currently being used in gene delivery.


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (60) ◽  
pp. 998-1010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae Ho Lee ◽  
Hye-Sun Yu ◽  
Gil-Su Lee ◽  
Aeri Ji ◽  
Jung Keun Hyun ◽  
...  

Three-dimensional gel matrices provide specialized microenvironments that mimic native tissues and enable stem cells to grow and differentiate into specific cell types. Here, we show that collagen three-dimensional gel matrices prepared in combination with adhesive proteins, such as fibronectin (FN) and laminin (LN), provide significant cues to the differentiation into neuronal lineage of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from rat bone marrow. When cultured within either a three-dimensional collagen gel alone or one containing either FN or LN, and free of nerve growth factor (NGF), the MSCs showed the development of numerous neurite outgrowths. These were, however, not readily observed in two-dimensional culture without the use of NGF. Immunofluorescence staining, western blot and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses demonstrated that a large population of cells was positive for NeuN and glial fibrillary acidic protein, which are specific to neuronal cells, when cultured in the three-dimensional collagen gel. The dependence of the neuronal differentiation of MSCs on the adhesive proteins containing three-dimensional gel matrices is considered to be closely related to focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activation through integrin receptor binding, as revealed by an experiment showing no neuronal outgrowth in the FAK-knockdown cells and stimulation of integrin β1 gene. The results provided herein suggest the potential role of three-dimensional collagen-based gel matrices combined with adhesive proteins in the neuronal differentiation of MSCs, even without the use of chemical differentiation factors. Furthermore, these findings suggest that three-dimensional gel matrices might be useful as nerve-regenerative scaffolds.


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