Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomal miR-144-5p improves rat ovarian function after chemotherapy-induced ovarian failure by targeting PTEN

Preclinical Experimental Applications of miRNA Loaded BMSC Extracellular Vesicles

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells have been investigated for many years, especially for tissue regeneration, and have inherent limitations. One of the rapidly developing fields in the scientific world in recent years is extracellular vesicles. Especially, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell originated extracellular vesicles are known to have positive contributions in tissue regeneration, and these extracellular vesicles have also been used as gene transfer systems for cellular therapy. Through gene expression analysis and bioinformatics tools, it is possible to determine which genes have changed in the targeted tissue or cell and which miRNAs that can correct this gene expression disorder. This approach connecting the stem cell, extracellular vesicles, epigenetics regulation and bioinformatics fields is one of the promising areas for the treatment of diseases in the future. With this review, it is aimed to present the studies carried out for the use of bone marrow stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles loaded with targeted miRNAs in different in vivo and in vitro human disease models and to discuss recent developments in this field.

Let-7i-5p functions as a putative osteogenic differentiation promoter by targeting CKIP-1

MicroRNA (miRNA) is an endogenous regulatory small molecule RNA. Growing evidence shows that miRNA plays an important regulatory role in gene expression. Although miRNA is a more intensive regulatory noncoding RNA in recent years, few studies have investigated the regulation of targeting genes involved in bone repair. Meanwhile, as a negative bone regulator, previous studies showed that casein kinase 2-interacting protein 1 (CKIP-1) is closely associated with bone formation and regeneration. However, the gene knockout method may not be suitable for clinical application. Therefore, it was hypothesized that miRNA molecules can inhibit the expression of CKIP-1 and ultimately promote the osteogenesis process. The present study revealed that let-7i-5p plays an important role in the process of fracture healing by inhibiting the expression of CKIP-1. Related research provides a novel gene target for fracture healing.

Supplementary information

The online version of this article (10.1007/s10616-020-00444-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Bio Organ for Treatment of Female Infertility

Female infertility is a global medical condition that can be caused by various disorders of the reproductive system, including premature ovarian failure (POF), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, Asherman syndrome, and preeclampsia. It affects the quality of life of both patients and couples. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have received increasing attention as a potential cell-based therapy, with several advantages over other cell sources, including greater abundance, fewer ethical considerations, and high capacity for self-renewal and differentiation. Clinical researchers have examined the therapeutic use of MSCs in female infertility. In this review, we discuss recent studies on the use of MSCs in various reproductive disorders that lead to infertility. We also describe the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) and exosomal miRNAs in controlling MSC gene expression and driving MSC therapeutic outcomes. The clinical application of MSCs holds great promise for the treatment of infertility or ovarian insufficiency, and to improve reproductive health for a significant number of women worldwide.

Plasma Exosomal miRNA Expression Profile as Oxaliplatin-Based Chemoresistant Biomarkers in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma

Background: Chemotherapy is one of the most common therapies used in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), but chemoresistance inevitably occurs. It is challenging to obtain an immediate and accurate diagnosis of chemoresistance. The potential of circulating exosomal miRNAs as oxaliplatin-based chemoresistant biomarkers in CRC patients was investigated in this study.

Methods: Plasma exosomal miRNAs in sensitive and resistant patients were analyzed by miRNA microarray analysis, followed by verification with a quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay in two independent cohorts. The diagnostic accuracy was determined by ROC curve analysis. Logistic regression analysis and Spearman's rank correlation test were also performed. Finally, bioinformatics was used to preliminarily explore the potential molecular mechanism of the selected miRNAs in chemoresistance.

Results: miRNA microarray analysis identified four upregulated miRNAs and 20 downregulated miRNAs in chemoresistant patients compared to chemosensitive patients. Twelve markedly dysregulated miRNAs were selected for further investigation, of which six (miR-100, miR-92a, miR-16, miR-30e, miR-144-5p, and let-7i) were verified to be significantly and consistently dysregulated (>1.5-fold, P < 0.05). The combination of the six miRNAs had the highest AUC (0.825, 95% CI, 0.753–0.897). The expression level of these 6 miRNAs was not correlated with tumor location, stage, or chemotherapy program. Only miR-100 was significantly upregulated in low histological grade. GO analysis and KEGG pathway analysis showed that miRNAs were related to RNA polymerase II transcription and enriched in the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, AMPK signaling pathway, and FoxO signaling pathway.

Conclusions: We identified a panel of plasma exosomal miRNAs, containing miR-100, miR-92a, miR-16, miR-30e, miR-144-5p, and let-7i, that could significantly distinguish chemoresistant patients from chemosensitive patients. The detection of circulating exosomal miRNAs may serve as an effective way to monitor CRC patient responses to chemotherapy. Targeting these miRNAs may also be a promising strategy for CRC treatment.

Intraovarian injection of mesenchymal stem cells improves oocyte yield and in vitro embryo production in a bovine model of fertility loss

Valuable female cattle are continuously subject to follicular puncture (ovum pick-up - OPU). This technique is commonly used for in-vitro embryo production, but may result in ovarian lesion. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) ameliorate the function of injured tissues, but their use to treat ovarian lesions in cattle has not been established. We investigated whether a local injection of MSC would reduce the negative effects of repeated OPU under acute and chronic scenarios in bovines. First, we performed four OPU sessions and injected 2.5 × 106 MSCs immediately after the 4th OPU procedure (n = 5). The treated organs (right ovary) were compared to their saline-treated counterparts (left), and presented superior production of oocytes and embryos in the three following OPU sessions (P < 0.05). Then, cows with progressive fertility loss went through three OPU sessions. Animals received MSC, saline, or MSC + FSH in both ovaries after the first OPU. In the two following OPU sessions, the MSC and MSC + FSH - treated groups failed to present any significant alteration in the number of oocytes and embryos compared to saline-treated animals. Thus, MSC have beneficial effects on the fertility of OPU-lesioned cows, but not in cows with cystic ovarian disease and chronic ovarian lesions.

Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells repair a Parkinson's disease model by inducing autophagy

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressively debilitating neurodegenerative condition that leads to motor and cognitive dysfunction. At present, clinical treatment can only improve symptoms, but cannot effectively protect dopaminergic neurons. Several reports have demonstrated that human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSCs) afford neuroprotection, while their application is limited because of their uncontrollable differentiation and other reasons. Stem cells communicate with cells through secreted exosomes (Exos), the present study aimed to explore whether Exos secreted by hucMSCs could function instead of hucMSCs. hucMSCs were successfully isolated and characterized, and shown to contribute to 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-stimulated SH-SY5Y cell proliferation; hucMSC-derived Exos were also involved in this process. The Exos were purified and identified, and then labeled with PKH 26, it was found that the Exos could be efficiently taken up by SH-SY5Y cells after 12 h of incubation. Pretreatment with Exos promoted 6-OHDA-stimulated SH-SY5Y cells to proliferate and inhibited apoptosis by inducing autophagy. Furthermore, Exos reached the substantia nigra through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in vivo, relieved apomorphine-induced asymmetric rotation, reduced substantia nigra dopaminergic neuron loss and apoptosis, and upregulated the level of dopamine in the striatum. These results demonstrate that hucMSCs-Exos have a treatment capability for PD and can traverse the BBB, indicating their potential for the effective treatment of PD.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomal miR-223 regulates neuronal cell apoptosis

Hypoxia limits the survival and function of neurons in the development of Alzheimer’s diseases. Exosome-dependent intercellular communication is an emerging signaling mechanism involved in tissue repair and regeneration; however, the effect and underlying mechanism of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in regulating neuronal cell apoptosis have not been determined. Here, we showed that the establishment of an AD cell model was accompanied by increased HIF-1α expression and cell apoptosis, impaired cell migration, and decreased miR-223. MSC-derived exosomes were internalized by the AD cell coculture model in a time-dependent manner, resulting in reduced cell apoptosis, enhanced cell migration and increased miR-223, and these effects were reversed by KC7F2, a hypoxic inhibitor. Furthermore, MSC-derived exosomal miR-223 inhibited the apoptosis of neurons in vitro by targeting PTEN, thus activating the PI3K/Akt pathway. In addition, exosomes isolated from the serum of AD patients promoted cell apoptosis. In short, our study showed that MSC-derived exosomal miR-223 protected neuronal cells from apoptosis through the PTEN-PI3K/Akt pathway and provided a potential therapeutic approach for AD.

Vitamin C improves the therapeutic potential of human amniotic epithelial cells in premature ovarian insufficiency disease

BACKGROUND

Human amniotic epithelial cell (hAEC) transplantation holds great promise in treating premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). However, some deficient biological characteristics of hAECs restrict their application.

METHODS

Vitamin C (VC) was added to the culture media of hAECs for 2 weeks. Then, the proliferative ability, migration ability, pluripotency, and self-renewal of VC-treated hAECs (VC-hAECs) were determined. Next, hAECs and VC-hAECs were transplanted into the ovaries of cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced POI model mice. The ovarian function of POI mice was evaluated after transplantation by counting follicle numbers and measuring the blood levels of AMH, E2, and FSH. The rescue effects of VC-hAECs and hAECs were unveiled by coculturing with CTX-damaged human ovarian granulosa cells (hGCs) and analyzing relative marker expression. Additionally, ovarian marker expression and transplant survival were detected in POI mice after transplantation to verify the beneficial effect of VC-hAECs. The cytokine profiles of VC-hAECs and hAECs were revealed by performing a cytokine array and an ELISA to show their paracrine function.

RESULTS

Our results indicated that VC promoted the proliferation, migration, pluripotency, and self-renewal of hAECs in vitro. The most effective concentration of VC was 50 μg/ml. After transplantation into the POI mouse model, VC-hAECs reversed ovarian function more powerfully than hAECs. Human granulosa cell marker expression in CTX-damaged hGCs was increased after coculture with VC-hAECs compared with hAECs. In the ovaries of the POI mice, ovarian marker expression was greater after VC-hAEC transplantation than after hAEC transplantation. VC-hAECs showed higher transplant survival than hAECs. Furthermore, VC-hAECs secreted more growth factors than hAECs.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with VC promoted the proliferation, migration, self-renewal, and paracrine functions of hAECs. Additionally, VC elevated the therapeutic potential of hAECs in treating POI.

In Vitro Generation of Oocyte Like Cells and Their In Vivo Efficacy: How Far We have been Succeeded

In the last few decades, stem cell therapy has grown as a boon for many pathological complications including female reproductive disorders. In this review, a brief description of available strategies that are related to stem cell-based in vitro oocyte-like cell (OLC) development are given. We have tried to cover all the aspects and latest updates of the in vitro OLC developmental methodologies, marker profiling, available disease models, and in vivo efficacies, with a special focus on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) usage. The differentiation abilities of both the ovarian and non-ovarian stem cell sources under various induction conditions have shown different effects on morphological alterations, proliferation- and size-associated developments, hormonal secretions under gonadotropic stimulations, and their neo-oogenesis or folliculogenesis abilities after in vivo transplantations. The attainment of characters like oocyte-like morphology, size expansion, and meiosis initiation have been found to be major obstacles during in vitro oogenesis. A number of reports have either lacked in vivo studies or have shown their functional incapability to produce viable and healthy offspring. Though researchers have gained many valuable insights regarding in vitro gametogenesis, still there are many things to do to make stem cell-derived OLCs fully functional.