BackgroundCorneal stromal cells (CSCs) are components of the corneal endothelial microenvironment that can be induced to form a functional tissue-engineered corneal endothelium. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) have been reported as an important component of regenerative medicine and cell therapy for corneal stromal damage. We have demonstrated that the treatment with ADSCs leads to phenotypic changes in CSCs in vitro. However, the underlying mechanisms of such ADSC-induced changes in CSCs remain unclear.

MethodsADSCs and CSCs were isolated from New Zealand white rabbits and cultured in vitro. An Exosome Isolation Kit, Western blotting, and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) were used to isolate and confirm the exosomes from ADSC culture medium. Meanwhile, the optimal exosome concentration and treatment time were selected. Cell Counting Kit-8 and annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide assays were used to assess the effect of ADSC- derived exosomes on the proliferation and apoptosis of CSCs. To evaluate the effects of ADSC- derived exosomes on CSC invasion activity, Western blotting was used to detect the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and collagens.

Results:ADSCs and CSCs were successfully isolated from New Zealand rabbits. The optimal concentration and treatment time of exosomes for the following study were 100 μg/ml and 96 h, respectively. NTA revealed that the ADSC-derived exosomes appeared as nanoparticles (40-200 nm), and Western blotting confirmed positive expression of CD9, CD81, flotillin-1, and HSP70 versus ADSC cytoplasmic proteins (all P < 0.01). ADSC-derived exosomes (50 μg/ml and 100 μg/ml) significantly promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis (mainly early apoptosis) of CSCs versus non-exosome-treated CSCs (all P < 0.05). Interestingly, MMPs were downregulated and extracellular matrix (ECM)-related proteins including collagens and fibronectin were upregulated in the exosome-treated CSCs versus non-exosome-treated CSCs (MMP1: t = 80.103, P < 0.01; MMP2: t = 114.778, P < 0.01; MMP3: t = 56.208, P < 0.01; and MMP9: t = 60.617, P < 0.01; collagen I: t = -82.742, P < 0.01; collagen II: t = -72.818, P < 0.01; collagen III: t = -104.452, P < 0.01; collagen IV: t = -133.426, P < 0.01, and collagen V: t = -294.019, P < 0.01; and fibronectin: t = -92.491, P < 0.01, respectively).

Conclusion:The findings indicate that ADSCs might play an important role in CSC viability regulation and ECM remodeling, partially through the secretion of exosomes.

Adipose Tissue ; cytology ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; physiology ; Cell Survival ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Exosomes ; metabolism ; Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; metabolism ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Rabbits

PURPOSE: Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) is a critical factor for vascular stabilization and endothelial survival via inhibition of endothelial permeability and leukocyte- endothelium interactions. Hence, we hypothesized that treatment with umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) carrying the Ang1 gene (UCMSCs-Ang1) might be a potential approach for acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: UCMSCs with or without transfection with the human Ang1 gene were delivered intravenously into rats one hour after intra-abdominal instillation of LPS to induce ALI. After the rats were sacrificed at 6 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 8 days, and 15 days post-injection of LPS, the serum, the lung tissues, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were harvested for analysis, respectively. RESULTS: Administration of fluorescence microscope confirmed the increased presence of UCMSCs in the injured lungs. The evaluation of UCMSCs and UCMSCs-Ang1 actions revealed that Ang1 overexpression further decreased the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, TGF-β1, and IL-6 and increased the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in the injured lungs. This synergy caused a substantial decrease in lung airspace inflammation and vascular leakage, characterized by significant reductions in wet/dry ratio, differential neutrophil counts, myeloperoxidase activity, and BALF. The rats treated by UCMSCs-Ang1 showed improved survival and lower ALI scores. CONCLUSION: UCMSCs-Ang1 could improve both systemic inflammation and alveolar permeability in ALI. UC-derived MSCs-based Ang1 gene therapy may be developed as a potential novel strategy for the treatment of ALI.
Acute Lung Injury/chemically induced/*therapy ; Angiopoietin-1/*genetics ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Endotoxins ; Genetic Therapy ; Interleukin-10/metabolism ; Interleukin-6/metabolism ; Leukocyte Count ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lung/metabolism ; Male ; *Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/metabolism ; Neutrophils/metabolism ; Rats ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism ; Umbilical Cord/*cytology

Mesothelial cells (MCs) cover the surface of visceral organs and the parietal walls of cavities, and they synthesize lubricating fluids to create a slippery surface that facilitates movement between organs without friction. Recent studies have indicated that MCs play active roles in liver development, fibrosis, and regeneration. During liver development, the mesoderm produces MCs that form a single epithelial layer of the mesothelium. MCs exhibit an intermediate phenotype between epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells. Lineage tracing studies have indicated that during liver development, MCs act as mesenchymal progenitor cells that produce hepatic stellate cells, fibroblasts around blood vessels, and smooth muscle cells. Upon liver injury, MCs migrate inward from the liver surface and produce hepatic stellate cells or myofibroblast depending on the etiology, suggesting that MCs are the source of myofibroblasts in capsular fibrosis. Similar to the activation of hepatic stellate cells, transforming growth factor β induces the conversion of MCs into myofibroblasts. Further elucidation of the biological and molecular changes involved in MC activation and fibrogenesis will contribute to the development of novel approaches for the prevention and therapy of liver fibrosis.
Epithelial Cells/*physiology ; Epithelium/metabolism ; Hepatic Stellate Cells/*physiology ; Humans ; Liver/*cytology/injuries/*physiology ; Liver Cirrhosis/etiology/prevention & control ; Liver Regeneration/*physiology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/physiology ; Myofibroblasts/physiology

BACKGROUNDSeveral studies have revealed that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) can be used as seed cells for the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI). Chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) decomposes chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in the glial scar that forms following SCI, allowing stem cells to penetrate through the scar and promote recovery of nerve function. This study aimed to establish ADSCs that stably express ChABC (ChABC-ADSCs) and evaluate the migratory capability of ChABC-ADSCs in vitro.

METHODSADSCs were obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats using secondary collagenase digestion. Their phenotypes were characterized using flow cytometry detection of cell surface antigens and their stem cell properties were confirmed by induction of differentiation. After successful culture, ADSCs were transfected with lentiviral vectors and ChABC-ADSCs were obtained. Proliferation curves of ChABC-ADSCs were determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 method, ChABC expression was verified using Western blotting, and the migration of ChABC-ADSCs was analyzed using the transwell assay.

RESULTSSecondary collagenase digestion increased the isolation efficiency of primary ADSCs. Following transfection using lentiviral vectors, the proliferation of ChABC-ADSCs was reduced in comparison with control ADSCs at 48 h (P < 0.05). And the level of ChABC expression in the ChABC-ADSC group was significantly higher than that of the ADSC group (P < 0.05). Moreover, ChABC-ADSC migration in matrigel was significantly enhanced in comparison with the control (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSecondary collagenase digestion can be used to effectively isolate ADSCs. ChABC-ADSCs constructed using lentiviral vector transfection stably express ChABC, and ChABC expression significantly enhances the migratory capacity of ADSCs.

Adipocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Adipose Tissue ; cytology ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cell Movement ; physiology ; Cell Proliferation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Chondroitin ABC Lyase ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVEWe explored the expressions of the Notch and Wnt signaling pathways and their significance in the repair process of alveolar bone defects by establishing animal models with a composite of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) to repair bone defects in the extraction sockets of rabbits.

METHODSA total of 36 two-month-old male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups, and the left mandibular incisors of all the rabbits were subjected to minimally invasive removalunder general anesthesia. BMSC-PRF compounds, single PRF, and single BMSC were implanted in Groups A, B, and C. No material was implanted in Group D (blank control). The animals were sacrificed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after surgery, the bone defect was immediately drawn, and the bone specimens underwent surgery after four, eight, and twelve weeks, with three rabbits per time point. The expressions of Notch1 and Wnt3a in the repair process of the bone defect were measured via immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence detection.

RESULTSImmunohistochemistry showed that the expressions of Notch1 and Wnt3a in Groups A, B, and C were higher than that in Group D at the fourth and eighth week after operation (P<0.05). By contrast, the expressions of Notch1 and Wnt3a in Group D were higher than those in Groups A, B, and C at the twelfth week (P<0.05). Immunofluorescence showed that the expressions of both Notch1 and Wnt3a reached their peaks in the new bone cells of the bone defect after four weeks following surgery and gradually disappeared when the bone was repaired completely.

CONCLUSIONNotch1 and Wnt3a signaling molecules are expressed in the process of repairing bone defects using BMSC-PRF composites and can accelerate the healing by regulating the proliferation and differentiation of BMSCs. Moreover, the expressions of Notch and Wnt are similar, and a crosstalk between them may exist it.

Alveolar Bone Grafting ; methods ; Animals ; Blood Platelets ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Bone and Bones ; abnormalities ; Cell Differentiation ; Fibrin ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Receptor, Notch1 ; metabolism ; Tissue Engineering ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; Wnt3A Protein ; metabolism ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Jianpi Bushen Qingchang Huashi Recipe (JBQHR) on proliferation and migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).

METHODSBMSCs were isolated and cultured in vitro with adherence screening method to prepare cell suspension. No drug intervention was given to BMSCs in the vehicle control group. JBQHR at 0.39, 0.78, 1.56 µg/mL was added in BMSCs of low, mid, and high dose JBQHR groups for co-incubation. Its effect on the proliferation of BMSCs was detected by CCK-8. BMSCs migration and chemotactic ability was detected using Transwell method. Each dose JBQHR combined ERK kinase inhibitor U0126 was set up as control. The phosphorylation of extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) and CAMP responsive element-binding protein (CREB) were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the vehicle control group, the proliferation of BMSCs and BMSCs migration number could be promoted in the 3 JBQHR groups (P < 0.05). Besides, the proliferation of BMSCs was better in mid and high dose JBQHR groups than in the low dose JBQHR group (P < 0.05). Compared with the vehicle control group, the phosphorylation of ERK and CREB could be elevated in the 3 JBQHR groups (P < 0.05), and could be inhibited by U0126 (P < 0.01). Compared with the low dose JBQHR group, the phosphorylation of ERK increased in mid and high dose JBQHR groups with statistical difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONJBQHR could promote the proliferation and migration of BMSCs, and its mechanism might be related to ERK/CREB signaling pathway

Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether plasma from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) inhibits the suppressive effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on lupus B lymphocytes.

METHODSMSCs isolated and expanded from the bone marrow of healthy donors were co-cultured with B cells purified from the peripheral blood of SLE patients in the presence of fetal bovine serum or pooled plasma from SLE patients, and the proliferation and maturation of the B lymphocytes were analyzed.

RESULTSs Co-culture with normal MSCs obviously inhibited the proliferation of lupus B cells and suppressed the maturation of B lymphocytes, which showed lowered expressions of CD27 and CD38. The pooled plasma from SLE patients significantly inhibited the suppressive effects of normal MSCs on B cell proliferation and maturation.

CONCLUSIONPlasma from SLE patients negatively modulates the effects of normal MSCs in suppressing lupus B cell proliferation and maturation to affect the therapeutic effect of MSC transplantation for treatment of SLE. Double filtration plasmapheresis may therefore prove beneficial to enhance the therapeutic effects of MSC transplantation for SLE.

B-Lymphocytes ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; Coculture Techniques ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; blood ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Plasma

The research of bone tissue engineering bases on three basic directions of seed cells, scaffold materials and growth information. Stem cells have been widely studied as seed cells. Human urine-derived stem cell (hUSC) is extracted from urine and described to be adhesion growth, cloning, expression of the majority of mesenchymal stem cell markers and peripheral cell markers, multi-potential and no tumor but stable karyotype with passaging many times. Some researches proposed that hUSC might be a new source of seed cells in tissue engineering because of their invasive and convenient obtention, stable culture and multiple differentiation potential.
Bone and Bones ; Cell Differentiation ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering ; Urine ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of total flavonoids of Herba Epimedium (FHE) on BMP-2/RunX2/OSX signaling pathway in promoting osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).

METHODSPassage 3 BMSCs were randomly divided into the control group, the experimental group, and the inhibitor group. BMSCs in the control group were cultured in 0.2% dimethyl sulfoxide + Osteogenuxic Supplement (OS) fluid + DMEM/F12 culture media. BMSCs in the experimental group were intervened by 20 microg/mL FHE. BMSCs in the inhibitor group were intervened by 20 microg/mL FHE and 1 microg/mL NOGGIN recombinant protein. At day 9 alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was measured. Calcium nodules were stained by alizarin red staining and the density was observed. The transcription expression of osteogenic differentiation-related proteins (type I collagen, osteocalcin, and osteopontin) and related factors of BMP-2/RunX2/OSX signaling pathway was assayed by RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, ALP activities were enhanced and the density of calcium nodules significantly increased; type I collagen, osteocalcin, and osteopontin expression levels were increased in the experimental group. The expression of osteogenesis-related transcription factor was also increased in the experimental group. Noggin recombinant protein inhibited FHE promoting BMSCs osteogenesis in the inhibitor group. Compared with the experimental group, ALP activity decreased (P < 0.05), the density of calcium nodules was lowered, expression levels of type I collagen, osteocalcin, osteopontin significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the inhibitor group.

CONCLUSION20 microg/mL FHE promoted osteogenic differentiation process of BMSCs by BMP-2/RunX2/OSX signaling pathway.

Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Osteocalcin ; metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; Osteopontin ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Sp7 Transcription Factor ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the application of tendon-derived stem cells (TDSC) and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) for patellar tendon injury repair in rat model.

METHODSTDSCs and BMSCs were isolated from patellar tendons or bone marrow of healthy SD rats. The patellar tendon injury model was induced in 60 SD rats, then the animals were divided into 3 groups with 20 in each group: rats in TDSC group received transplantation of TDSC with fibrin glue in defected patellar tendon, rats in BMSC group received BMSC with fibrin glue for transplantation and those in control group received fibrin glue only. The gross morphology, histology and biomechanics of the patellar tendon were examined at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after the treatment.

RESULTSGross observation showed that the tendon defects in TDSC group and BMSC group almost disappeared in week 8, while the boundary of tendon defects in control group was still visible. Histology examination showed that the neo-tendon formation in TDSC group and BMSC group was observed at week 8, while there was no neo-tendon formation in control group. Biomechanics study showed that the ultimate stress and Young Modulus, relative ultimate stress and relative Young Modulus increased with the time going in all groups(all P<0.05); the ultimate stress and Young Modulus, relative ultimate stress and relative Young Modulus of TDSC and BMSC groups were significantly higher than those in control group at week 4, 6 and 8(all P<0.05). There was no difference in ultimate stress and Young Modulus between TDSC group and BMSC group(P>0.05), however, the relative Young Modulus of TDSC group was significantly higher than that in BMSC group at week 8(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAllogeneic TDSC and BMSC transplantation facilitates the repair of tendon injury and improves the biomechanics of tendon. TDSC is more suitable for in vivo tendon regeneration than BMSC.

Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Elastic Modulus ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Regeneration ; Tendon Injuries ; therapy ; Tendons ; cytology ; Wound Healing