A comparison between osteogenic differentiation of human unrestricted somatic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow and adipose tissue. Biotechnol Lett. 2011;33:1257-1264. [PMID: 21287233 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-011-0541-8]

Inferior ectopic bone formation of mesenchymal stromal cells from adipose tissue compared to bone marrow: rescue by chondrogenic pre-induction

Human mesenchymal stromal cells derived from bone marrow (BMSC) and adipose tissue (ATSC) represent a valuable source of progenitor cells for cell therapy and tissue engineering. While ectopic bone formation is a standard activity of human BMSC on calcium phosphate ceramics, the bone formation capacity of human ATSC has so far been unclear. The objectives of this study were to assess the therapeutic potency of ATSC for bone formation in an ectopic mouse model and determine molecular differences by standardized comparison with BMSC. Although ATSC contained less CD146(+) cells, exhibited better proliferation and displayed similar alkaline phosphatase activity upon osteogenic in vitro differentiation, cells did not develop into bone-depositing osteoblasts on β-TCP after 8weeks in vivo. Additionally, ATSC expressed less BMP-2, BMP-4, VEGF, angiopoietin and IL-6 and more adiponectin mRNA, altogether suggesting insufficient osteochondral commitment and reduced proangiogenic activity. Chondrogenic pre-induction of ATSC/β-TCP constructs with TGF-β and BMP-6 initiated ectopic bone formation in >75% of samples. Both chondrogenic pre-induction and the osteoconductive microenvironment of β-TCP were necessary for ectopic bone formation by ATSC pointing towards a need for inductive conditions/biomaterials to make this more easily accessible cell source attractive for future applications in bone regeneration.

Human unrestricted somatic stem cell administration fails to protect nude mice from cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury

BACKGROUND

Kidney failure is a debilitating disorder with limited treatment options. The kidney-protective effects of stem cells have been vastly investigated and promising results have been achieved with various sources of stem cells. However, in spite of beneficial effects on other disease models, the renoprotective potential of human cord blood-derived unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSC) has not been examined so far.

METHODS

In the present study, acute kidney failure was induced in female nude mice and the effect of USSC transplantation on kidney function and structure was assessed. Furthermore, the expression of some cytokine genes was examined by real-time PCR. Homing of the transplanted cells into kidneys was assessed by flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and real-time PCR.

RESULTS

USSC-conditioned medium did not attenuate the in vitro nephrotoxic effects of cisplatin. Transplantation of USSC to nude mice did not protect kidney function and was associated with worsened kidney structural damage. USSC transplantation was also associated with a decline in the renal expression of VEGF-A gene. In spite of these effects, the transplanted cells could not be detected in the kidneys by any of the exploited methods and they were mainly entrapped in the lungs.

CONCLUSION

These data indicate that USSC are not suitable for cell therapy in the setting of acute kidney injury. Also, this study shows that these stem cells are able to affect damaged kidneys even if they are not homed there.

Mesenchymal stem cell differentiation on electrochemically modified titanium: an optimized approach for biomedical applications

PURPOSE

To speed up the osteointegration process, surface-treated titanium has been widely used in dental and orthopedic applications. The present work describes a new silicon-based anodic spark deposition (ASD) treatment and investigates the properties of the surfaces obtained, focusing on their capability to modulate the osteogenic differentiation potential of adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

METHODS

The surfaces examined were obtained from commercially pure grade 2 titanium by a single-step ASD (SUM) eventually followed by a thermal treatment in alkali solution (SUMNa), while acid-etched titanium (AE; NextMaterials s.r.l.) was selected as a control. Their morphology, elemental composition, crystallographic structure of the Ti2O layer, wettability and topography were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thin-film X-ray diffraction, contact angle measurements and laser profilometry, respectively. MSCs' response to surface properties was assessed by examining cell morphology and viability by scanning electron microscopy and Alamar Blue assay®, while their osteogenic differentiation potential was investigated by evaluating the levels of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and the degree of calcium accumulation by Alizarin Red-S (AR-S) staining.

RESULTS

The proposed ASD treatment has allowed the obtaining of surfaces with round-shaped micrometric pores, enriched in calcium, phosphorus and silicon and significantly more wettable than controls; furthermore, the treatment has been shown to promote MSC proliferation and the degree of in vitro mineralization.

CONCLUSIONS

The described ASD treatment may be an effective technique to modify the surface cues of titanium implants, aiming at enhancing the conveying of osteoprogenitor cells and their functional differentiation in bone cells.

The Necessity of a Systematic Approach for the Use of MSCs in the Clinical Setting

Cell therapy has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy in regenerative disease. Among different cell types, mesenchymal stem/stromal cells have been wildly studied in vitro, in vivo in animal models and even used in clinical trials. However, while clinical applications continue to increase markedly, the understanding of their physiological properties and interactions raises many questions and drives the necessity of more caution and supervised strategy in their use.

Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells as monocultures or cocultures with human umbilical vein endothelial cells: performance in vitro and in rat cranial defects

The aim of this study was to compare the osteogenic capacity between human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) and their cocultures with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro and their biological performance in vivo. First, the optimal cell ratio in cocultures for osteogenic differentiation was determined by seeding AT-MSCs and HUVECs in ratios varying from 100:0 to 0:100 on tissue culture plates. Afterward, AT-MSCs and AT-MSCs/HUVECs (50:50) were seeded on porous titanium fiber mesh scaffolds (Ti) for both in vitro and in vivo osteogenic evaluation. For in vitro evaluation, cell osteogenic differentiation was assessed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium assay. For in vivo evaluation, the scaffolds were implanted bilaterally into rat cranial defects (5 mm diameter) and bone formation was assessed histologically and histomorphometrically after 8 weeks. The ratio of 50:50 was chosen in the cocultures because this coculture condition retained similar amount of calcium deposition while using the least amount of AT-MSCs. Moreover, AT-MSCs showed higher osteogenic differentiation in comparison to AT-MSCs/HUVECs on Ti in vitro. Furthermore, superior bone formation was observed in AT-MSCs compared to AT-MSCs/HUVECs in rat cranial defects. In conclusion, AT-MSCs showed significantly higher osteogenic potential compared to AT-MSCs/HUVECs both in vitro and in vivo.

Markers Are Shared Between Adipogenic and Osteogenic Differentiated Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The stem cell differentiation paradigm is based on the progression of cells through generations of daughter cells that eventually become restricted and committed to one lineage resulting in fully differentiated cells. Herein, we report on the differentiation of adult human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) towards adipogenic and osteogenic lineages using established protocols. Lineage specific geneswere evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR relative to two reference genes. The expression of osteoblast-associated genes (alkaline phosphatase, osteopontin, and osteocalcin)was detected in hMSCs that underwent adipogenesis. When normalized, the expression of adipocyte marker genes (adiponectin, fatty acid binding protein P4, and leptin) increasedin a time-dependent manner during adipogenic induction. Adiponectin and leptin were also detected in osteoblast-induced cells. Lipid vacuoles that represent the adipocyte phenotype were only present in the adipogenic induction group. Conforming to the heterogeneous nature of hMSCs and the known plasticity between osteogenic and adipogenic lineages, these data indicatea marker overlap between MSC-derived adipocytes and osteoblasts. Weproposea careful consideration of experimental conditions such as investigated timepoints, selected housekeeping genesand the evidence indicating lack of differentiation into other lineageswhen evaluating hMSC differentiation.

Winner for outstanding research in the Ph.D. category for the 2013 Society for Biomaterials meeting and exposition, April 10-13, 2013, Boston, Massachusetts: Osteogenic differentiation of adipose-derived and marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in modular protein/ceramic microbeads

Modular tissue engineering applies biomaterials-based approaches to create discrete cell-seeded microenvironments, which can be further assembled into larger constructs for the repair of injured tissues. In the current study, we embedded human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and human adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) in collagen/fibrin (COL/FIB) and collagen/fibrin/hydroxyapatite (COL/FIB/HA) microbeads, and evaluated their suitability for bone tissue engineering applications. Microbeads were fabricated using a water-in-oil emulsification process, resulting in an average microbead diameter of approximately 130 ± 25 μm. Microbeads supported both cell viability and cell spreading of MSC and ASC over 7 days in culture. The embedded cells also began to remodel and compact the microbead matrix as demonstrated by confocal reflectance microscopy imaging. After two weeks of culture in media containing osteogenic supplements, both MSC and ASC deposited calcium mineral in COL/FIB microbeads, but not in COL/FIB/HA microbeads. There were no significant differences between MSC and ASC in any of the assays examined, suggesting that either cell type may be an appropriate cell source for orthopedic applications. This study has implications in the creation of defined microenvironments for bone repair, and in developing a modular approach for delivery of pre-differentiated cells.

Effects of different serum conditions on osteogenic differentiation of human adipose stem cells in vitro

INTRODUCTION

Currently, human adipose stem cells (hASCs) are differentiated towards osteogenic lineages using culture medium supplemented with L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (AsA2-P), dexamethasone (Dex) and beta-glycerophosphate (β-GP). Because this osteogenic medium (OM1) was initially generated for the differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, the component concentrations may not be optimal for the differentiation of hASCs. After preliminary screening, two efficient osteogenic media (OM2 and OM3) were chosen to be compared with the commonly used osteogenic medium (OM1). To further develop the culture conditions towards clinical usage, the osteo-inductive efficiencies of OM1, OM2 and OM3 were compared using human serum (HS)-based medium and a defined, xeno-free medium (RegES), with fetal bovine serum (FBS)-based medium serving as a control.

METHODS

To compare the osteo-inductive efficiency of OM1, OM2 and OM3 in FBS-, HS- and RegES-based medium, the osteogenic differentiation was assessed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineralization, and expression of osteogenic marker genes (runx2A, DLX5, collagen type I, osteocalcin, and ALP).

RESULTS

In HS-based medium, the ALP activity increased significantly by OM3, and mineralization was enhanced by both OM2 and OM3, which have high AsA2-P and low Dex concentrations. ALP activity and mineralization of hASCs was the weakest in FBS-based medium, with no significant differences between the OM compositions due to donor variation. However, the qRT-PCR data demonstrated significant upregulation of runx2A mRNA under osteogenic differentiation in FBS- and HS-based medium, particularly by OM3 under FBS conditions. Further, the expression of DLX5 was greatly stimulated by OM1 to 3 on day 7 when compared to control. The regulation of collagen type I, ALP, and osteocalcin mRNA was modest under induction by OM1 to 3. The RegES medium was found to support the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hASCs, but the composition of the RegES medium hindered the comparison of OM1, OM2 and OM3.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum conditions affect hASC proliferation and differentiation significantly. The ALP activity and mineralization was the weakest in FBS-based medium, although osteogenic markers were upregulated on mRNA level. When comparing the OM composition, the commonly used OM1 was least effective. Accordingly, higher concentration of AsA2-P and lower concentration of Dex, as in OM2 and OM3, should be used for the osteogenic differentiation of hASCs in vitro.

A comparison of pluripotency and differentiation status of four mesenchymal adult stem cells

The self-renewal and differentiation status of a stem cell is very important in the applications concerning regenerative medicine. Proliferation capacity, differentiation potentials and epigenetic properties of stem cells differ between sources. Studies have shown the high potentials of stem cells in iPS reprogramming. To examine this; we have compared the stem-ness and differential potential of four adult stem cells from common sources. We show a correlation between pluripotency and differentiation status of each stem cell with available data on the reprogramming efficiency. Four human adult stem cells including, adipose tissue-mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSC), bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), nasal septum derived multipotent progenitors (NSP) and umbilical cord blood stem cells (USSCs) were isolated and characterized. The self- renewal and differentiation potentials of each stem cell were assessed. Stem-ness transcription factors and the propagation potentials of all cells were analyzed. Furthermore the differentiation potentials were evaluated using treatment with induction factors and specific MicroRNA profile. Real-time PCR results showed that our stem cells express innate differentiation factors, miR145 and Let7g, which regulate the stem-ness and also the reprogramming potentials of each stem cell. To complete our view, we compared the propagation and differentiation potentials by correlating the stem-ness gene expression with differentiation MicroRNAs, also the direct effect of these factors on reprogramming. Our results suggest that the potentials of adipose tissue stem cells for GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) compliant starting material are adequate for clinical applications. Our results indicate a low risk potential for AT-MSCs as starting material for iPS production. Although let7g and mir145 are well known for their differentiation promoting effects, but function more of a fine tuning system between self-renewal and differentiation status.

Stem cell and tissue engineering research in the Islamic republic of Iran

During the last few years, the Islamic republic of Iran has consistently grown in nearly all scientific fields and achieved considerable success in producing science and developing technology. The Iranian government and scientific community have jointly started programs to support the creation of new scientific opportunities and technology platforms for research in the domain of stem cell and tissue engineering. In addition, clinical translation of basic researches in the fields of stem cell and regenerative medicine has been amongst the top priorities. Interestingly, the public sector, media, and authorities are also actively monitoring these attainments. In spite of this nationwide interest, however, there is currently a dearth of analytical information on these accomplishments. To address this issue, here we introduce the key decisions made by the country's policy makers and also review some of the Iranian researchers' publications in this field.

Comparative investigation of the differentiation capability of bone-marrow- and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells by qualitative and quantitative analysis

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold promise for cell-based therapy in regenerative medicine. To date, MSCs have been obtained from conventional bone marrow via a highly invasive procedure. Therefore, MSCs are now also isolated from sources such as adipose tissue, cord blood and cord stroma, a subject of growing interest. As the characterization and differentiation potential of adipose-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) and bone-marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) have not been documented, we have evaluated and compared the characteristics of both MSC types by qualitative and quantitative analyses. Both cell types show similar morphology and surface protein expression, being positive for stromal-associated markers and negative for hematopoietic and endothelial markers. The colony-forming potential of AD-MSCs is distinctly higher than that of BM-MSCs. Nonetheless, similar adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation is observed in both groups of MSCs. Cytochemical qualitative analysis and calcium mineralization demonstrate higher levels toward osteogenic differentiation in BM-MSCs than in AD-MSCs. On the contrary, the percentage of Nile red oil staining for differentiated adipocytes is higher in AD-MSCs than in BM-MSCs. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction shows similar patterns of osteogenic- and adipogenic-associated gene expression in both cell types. Each of theMSCs respond in functional analysis by exhibiting unique properties at the differentiation level according to their micro-environmental niche. Thus, quantitative analysis might be a valuable means of describing stem cell multipotency, in addition to qualitative investigation.

Isolation of mesenchymal stem cells from shoulder rotator cuff: a potential source for muscle and tendon repair

The self-healing potential of each tissue belongs to endogenous stem cells residing in the tissue; however, there are currently no reports mentioned for the isolation of human rotator cuff-derived mesenchymal stem cells (RC-MSCs) since. To isolate RC-MSCs, minced rotator cuff samples were first digested with enzymes and the single cell suspensions were seeded in plastic culture dishes. Twenty-four hours later, nonadherent cells were removed and the adherent cells were further cultured. The RC-MSCs had fibroblast-like morphology and were positive for the putative surface markers of MSCs, such as CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105, and CD166, and negative for the putative markers of hematopoietic cells, such as CD34, CD45, and CD133. Similar to BM-MSCs, RC-MSCs were demonstrated to have the potential to undergo osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation. Upon induction in the defined media, RC-MSCs also expressed lineage-specific genes, such as Runx 2 and osteocalcin in osteogenic induction, PPAR-γ and LPL in adipogenic differentiation, and aggrecan and Col2a1 in chondrogenic differentiation. The multipotent feature of RC-MSCs in the myogenic injury model was further strengthened by the increase in myogenic potential both in vitro and in vivo when compared with BM-MSCs. These results demonstrate the successful isolation of MSCs from human rotator cuffs and encourage the application of RC-MSCs in myogenic regeneration.

Stem cell-derived extracellular matrix enables survival and multilineage differentiation within superporous hydrogels

Hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel surfaces resist protein adsorption and are generally thought to be unsuitable for anchorage-dependent cells to adhere. Intriguingly, our previous findings revealed that PEGDA superporous hydrogel scaffolds (SPHs) allow anchorage of bone marrow derived human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and support their long-term survival. Therefore, we hypothesized that the physicochemical characteristics of the scaffold impart properties that could foster cellular responses. We examined if hMSCs alter their microenvironment to allow cell attachment by synthesizing their own extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Immunofluorescence staining revealed extensive expression of collagen type I, collagen type IV, laminin, and fibronectin within hMSC-seeded SPHs by the end of the third week. Whether cultured in serum-free or serum-supplemented medium, hMSC ECM protein gene expression patterns exhibited no substantial changes. The presence of serum proteins is required for initial anchorage of hMSCs within the SPHs but not for the hMSC survival after 24 h. In contrast to 2D expansion on tissue culture plastic (TCP), hMSCs cultured within SPHs proliferate similarly in the presence or absence of serum. To test whether hMSCs retain their undifferentiated state within the SPHs, cell-seeded constructs were cultured for 3 weeks in stem cell maintenance medium and the expression of hMSC-specific cell surface markers were evaluated by flow cytometry. CD105, CD90, CD73, and CD44 were present to a similar extent in the SPH and in 2D monolayer culture. We further demonstrated multilineage potential of hMSCs grown in the PEGDA SPHs, whereby differentiation into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes could be induced. The present study demonstrates the potential of hMSCs to alter the "blank" PEGDA environment to a milieu conducive to cell growth and multilineage differentiation by secreting adhesive ECM proteins within the porous network of the SPH scaffolds.

Mesenchymal stromal cells for cell therapy: besides supporting hematopoiesis

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have attracted the attention of scientists and clinicians due to their self-renewal, capacity for multipotent differentiation, and immunomodulatory properties. Some essential problems remain to be solved before the clinical application of MSC. Platelet lysate (PL) has recently been used as a substitute for FBS in MSC amplification in vitro to achieve clinically applicable numbers of MSC. In addition to promising trials in regenerative medicine, such as in the treatment of major bone defects and myocardial infarction, MSC have shown therapeutic effect other than direct hematopoiesis support in hematopoietic reconstruction. It has been confirmed that MSC promote hematopoietic cell engraftment and immune recovery after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, probably through the provision of cytokines, matrix proteins, and cell-to-cell contacts. Their suppressive effects on immune cells, including T cells, B cells, NK cells and DC cells, suggest MSCs as a novel therapy for GVHD and other autoimmune disorders. These cells thus present as promising candidates for cellular therapy in the fields of regenerative medicine, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and autoimmune disorders.

Electrospun nanofiber-based regeneration of cartilage enhanced by mesenchymal stem cells

Application of biomaterials in combination with stem cells is a novel tissue engineering approach to regenerate cartilage. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of poly(vinyl alcohol)/polycaprolactone (PVA/PCL) nanofiber scaffolds seeded with rabbit bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cell (BM-MSC) for cartilage tissue engineering in vitro and in vivo. We tested the biocompatibility and mechanical properties of nanofibrous scaffolds using scanning electron microscope, MTT assay, and tensile measurements. The capacity of MSC for chondrogenic differentiation on scaffolds was examined using reverse transcription-polymer chain reaction and immunostaining. For in vivo assessments, PVA/PCL nanofiber scaffolds with or without MSC were implanted into rabbit full-thickness cartilage defects. To evaluate cartilage regeneration, semi-quantitative grading and histological analysis were performed. Our results showed that PVA/PCL scaffolds supported the proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of MSC in vitro. Moreover, the animals treated with cell-seeded PVA/PCL scaffolds showed improved healing of defects compared with untreated control and those which received cell-free scaffolds. Our findings suggest that PVA/PCL scaffolds incorporated with MSC can serve as a suitable graft for articular cartilage reconstruction.