Why do anti-inflammatory signals of bone marrow-derived stromal cells improve neurodegenerative conditions where anti-inflammatory drugs fail?

Assessment of Rab geranylgeranyltransferase subunit beta in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Introduction

Geranylgeranyltransferase Subunit Beta (RABGGTB) was expressed at higher levels in patients with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) compared with healthy controls. This study aims to observe the expression of RABGGTB in different cells from patients with ALS and different diseases.

Methods

In this case-control study, we collected peripheral blood from patients with ALS and healthy controls, and compared the expression of RABGGTB in natural killer cells (NK), T cells and B cells between patients with ALS and healthy controls by flow cytometry. And compared the expression of RABGGTB in monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages from patients with ALS, Parkinson's disease (PD), acute cerebrovascular disease (ACVD), and healthy controls by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. Then flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of RABGGTB in monocytes from SOD1G93A mice and WT mice.

Results

The expression of RABGGTB was not significantly changed in NK cells, cytotoxic T cells (CTL), helper T cells (Th), regulatory T cells (Treg), and B cells from patients with ALS compared to healthy controls. And the expression of RABGGTB in monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages was higher in the ALS group than in the PD, ACVD and control group. The expression of RABGGTB was significantly higher in monocytes of SOD1G93A mice compared to WT mice.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that RABGGTB expression was increased in monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages from patients with ALS, not in NK, CTL, Th, Treg, and B cells. Future studies are needed to find the clinical implication of RABGGTB in ALS.

Use of Brain-Derived Stem/Progenitor Cells and Derived Extracellular Vesicles to Repair Damaged Neural Tissues: Lessons Learned from Connective Tissue Repair Regarding Variables Limiting Progress and Approaches to Overcome Limitations

Pluripotent neural stem or progenitor cells (NSC/NPC) have been reported in the brains of adult preclinical models for decades, as have mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) been reported in a variety of tissues from adults. Based on their in vitro capabilities, these cell types have been used extensively in attempts to repair/regenerate brain and connective tissues, respectively. In addition, MSC have also been used in attempts to repair compromised brain centres. However, success in treating chronic neural degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and others with NSC/NPC has been limited, as have the use of MSC in the treatment of chronic osteoarthritis, a condition affecting millions of individuals. However, connective tissues are likely less complex than neural tissues regarding cell organization and regulatory integration, but some insights have been gleaned from the studies regarding connective tissue healing with MSC that may inform studies attempting to initiate repair and regeneration of neural tissues compromised acutely or chronically by trauma or disease. This review will discuss the similarities and differences in the applications of NSC/NPC and MSC, where some lessons have been learned, and potential approaches that could be used going forward to enhance progress in the application of cellular therapy to facilitate repair and regeneration of complex structures in the brain. In particular, variables that may need to be controlled to enhance success are discussed, as are different approaches such as the use of extracellular vesicles from stem/progenitor cells that could be used to stimulate endogenous cells to repair the tissues rather than consider cell replacement as the primary option. Caveats to all these efforts relate to whether cellular repair initiatives will have long-term success if the initiators for neural diseases are not controlled, and whether such cellular initiatives will have long-term success in a subset of patients if the neural diseases are heterogeneous and have multiple etiologies.

Advances in mesenchymal stem cell exosomes: a review

Stem cells can be used for regenerative medicine and as treatments for disease. The application of tissue engineering-related transplantation, stem cells, and local changes in the microenvironment is expected to solve major medical problems. Currently, most studies focus on tissue repair and regeneration, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are among the most common research topics. MSCs are applicable as seed cells, and they represent one of the current hot topics in regenerative medicine research. However, due to storage limitations and because cell senescence occurs during in vitro expansion, their clinical application is challenging. Exosomes, which are secreted by MSCs through paracrine signalling, not only have the same effects as MSCs, but they also have the advantages of targeted delivery, low immunogenicity, and high repairability. This article reviews the acquisition methods, characteristics, biological functions, and clinical applications of exosomes.

Cang-Ai Volatile Oil Ameliorates Depressive Behavior Induced by Chronic Stress Through IDO-Mediated Tryptophan Degradation Pathway

Background: Cang-ai volatile oil (CAVO) is a Chinese herbal volatile oil. Previous studies report that CAVO exhibits of anti-depressant and anti-inflammatory effects, and modulates activity of monoamine neurotransmitter. The current study sought to explore whether CAVO exhibits anti-depressant effects of CAVO through inhibition of inflammatory response and regulation of indoleamine 2 and 3-dioxygenase (IDO) mediated tryptophan degradation pathway. Methods: The study established chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) depression-like model using rats. Body weight and food intake of animals were determined, and open field test (OFT), forced swim test (FST), and sucrose preference test (SPT) were performed to explored the behavioral changes of animals. Expression levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10), kynurenine (KYN), quinolinic acid (QUIN), tryptophan (Trp), kynurenic acid (KYNA), serotonin (5-HT), and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in the prefrontal cortex of CUMS rats were determined by ELISA. Co-localization of the microglia markers, Iba1 and IL-6 was determined by immunofluorescence. Western blotting was performed to determine the protein expression level of IDO1. Results: The findings of the current study showed that CAVO increased the body weight and food intake of rats and alleviated depression-like behaviors as shown in OFT, FST, and SPT analysis. ELISA assay showed that CAVO decreased IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels and increased levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in the prefrontal cortex of CUMS rats. Analysis showed that CAVO significantly reduced KYN and QUIN levels and the ratio of KYN/Trp, whereas it increased the levels of Trp, KYNA, 5-HT, and 5-HIAA. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that CAVO reduced the number of positive cells with co-localization of microglia markers, Iba1 and IL-6. Western blot analysis showed that CAVO decreased the protein expression level of IDO1 in rats. Conclusion: The findings show that the anti-depressant effects of CAVO are mainly attributed to inhibition of the activation of microglia and downregulation of IDO expression, thus inhibiting the kynurenine pathway and reversing the effects exerted on the 5-HT system.