Therapeutic Potential of Biomedical Cell Product in DSS-Induced Inflammation in the Small Intestine of C57Bl/6J Mice

Polysaccharide from Smilax glabra Roxb Mitigates Intestinal Mucosal Damage by Therapeutically Restoring the Interactions between Gut Microbiota and Innate Immune Functions

Smilax glabra Roxb (S. glabra) is a conventional Chinese medicine that is mainly used for the reliability of inflammation. However, bioactive polysaccharides from S. glabra (SGPs) have not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that SGPs preserve the integrity of the gut epithelial layer and protect against intestinal mucosal injury induced by dextran sulfate sodium. Mechanistically, SGPs mitigated colonic mucosal injury by restoring the association between the gut flora and innate immune functions. In particular, SGPs increased the number of goblet cells, reduced the proportion of apoptotic cells, improved the differentiation of gut tight junction proteins, and enhanced mucin production in the gut epithelial layer. Moreover, SGPs endorsed the propagation of probiotic bacteria, including Lachnospiraceae bacterium, which strongly correlated with decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines via the blocking of the TLR-4 NF-κB and MyD88 pathways. Overall, our study establishes a novel use of SGPs for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated mucosal injury and provides a basis for understanding the therapeutic effects of natural polysaccharides from the perspective of symbiotic associations between host innate immune mechanisms and the gut microbiome.

Stem Cell Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Review of Achievements and Challenges

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a group of chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Repeated inflammation can lead to complications, such as intestinal fistula, obstruction, perforation, and bleeding. Unfortunately, achieving durable remission and mucosal healing (MH) with current treatments is difficult. Stem cells (SCs) have the potential to modulate immunity, suppress inflammation, and have anti-apoptotic and pro-angiogenic effects, making them an ideal therapeutic strategy to target chronic inflammation and intestinal damage in IBD. In recent years, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown efficacy in treating IBD. In addition, numerous clinical trials have evaluated the efficiency of MSCs in treating the disease. This review summarizes the current research progress on the safety and efficacy of SC-based therapy for IBD in both preclinical models and clinical trials. We discuss potential mechanisms of SC therapy, including tissue repair, paracrine effects, and the promotion of angiogenesis, immune regulation, and anti-inflammatory effects. We also summarize current SC engineering strategies aimed at enhancing the immunosuppressive and regenerative capabilities of SCs for treating intestinal diseases. Additionally, we highlight current limitations and future perspectives of SC-related therapy for IBD.

Frizzled 7 modulates goblet and Paneth cell fate, and maintains homeostasis in mouse intestine

Intestinal homeostasis depends on interactions between the intestinal epithelium, the immune system and the microbiota. Because of these complicated connections, there are many problems that need to be solved. Current research has indicated that genes targeted by Wnt signaling are responsible for controlling intestinal stem cell fate and for modulating intestinal homeostasis. Our data show that loss of frizzled 7 (Fzd7), an important element in Wnt signaling, interrupts the differentiation of mouse intestinal stem cells into absorptive progenitors instead of secretory progenitors (precursors of goblet and Paneth cells). The alteration in canonical Wnt and Notch signaling pathways interrupts epithelial homeostasis, resulting in a decrease in physical protection in the intestine. Several phenotypes in our Fzd7-deleted model were similar to the features of enterocolitis, such as shortened intestines, decreased numbers of goblet cells and Paneth cells, and severe inflammation. Additionally, loss of Fzd7 exacerbated the defects in a chemical-induced colitis model and could initiate tumorigenesis. These findings may provide important information for the discovery of efficient therapeutic methods to treat enterocolitis and related cancers in the intestines.

Stem cell therapy as a promising strategy in necrotizing enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating gastrointestinal disease that affects newborns, particularly preterm infants, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. No effective therapeutic strategies to decrease the incidence and severity of NEC have been developed to date. Stem cell therapy has been explored and even applied in various diseases, including gastrointestinal disorders. Animal studies on stem cell therapy have made great progress, and the anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and intestinal barrier enhancing effects of stem cells may be protective against NEC clinically. In this review, we discuss the therapeutic mechanisms through which stem cells may function in the treatment of NEC.

Improving the Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal-Based Therapy for Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) consisting of persistent and relapsing inflammatory processes of the intestinal mucosa are caused by genetic, environmental, and commensal microbiota factors. Despite recent advances in clinical treatments aiming to decrease inflammation, nearly 30% of patients treated with biologicals experienced drawbacks including loss of response, while others can develop severe side effects. Hence, novel effective treatments are highly needed. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSCs) therapy is an innovative therapeutic alternative currently under investigation for IBD. MSCs have the inherent capacity of modulating inflammatory immune responses as well as regenerating damaged tissues and are therefore a prime candidate to use as cell therapy in patients with IBD. At present, MSC-based therapy has been shown preclinically to modulate intestinal inflammation, whilst the safety of MSC-based therapy has been demonstrated in clinical trials. However, the successful results in preclinical studies have not been replicated in clinical trials. In this review, we will summarize the protocols used in preclinical and clinical trials and the novel approaches currently under investigation which aim to increase the beneficial effects of MSC-based therapy for IBD.

Evaluation of the Effect of Plasma from Patients with Trophic Ulcers on the Function of Dermal Fibroblasts, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, and Endothelial Cells

We studied the effect of platelet lysate and platelet-poor plasma from patients with trophic ulcers with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus on proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of human dermal fibroblast, mesenchymal stem cells, and endothelial cells. It is shown that plasma obtained from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus produced inhibitory effects.

Repair and regeneration of small intestine: A review of current engineering approaches

The small intestine (SI) is difficult to regenerate or reconstruct due to its complex structure and functions. Recent developments in stem cell research, advanced engineering technologies, and regenerative medicine strategies bring new hope of solving clinical problems of the SI. This review will first summarize the structure, function, development, cell types, and matrix components of the SI. Then, the major cell sources for SI regeneration are introduced, and state-of-the-art biofabrication technologies for generating engineered SI tissues or models are overviewed. Furthermore, in vitro models and in vivo transplantation, based on intestinal organoids and tissue engineering, are highlighted. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives are discussed to help direct future applications for SI repair and regeneration.

Oral administration of Korean propolis extract ameliorates DSS-induced colitis in BALB/c mice

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disorder of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by inflammation. Although IBD is usually treated with anti-inflammatory agents, most of these treatments have limited efficacy. Propolis is a viscous mixture that honeybees produce by mixing saliva and honeycomb with exudate gathered from tree buds, sap flows, or other botanical sources. Although propolis has proved to ameliorate several inflammatory disorders, its therapeutic properties vary by geographical location, plant resources, bee species, and the solvents used in the extraction. In this study, we investigated the effects of Korean propolis in BALB/c mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Korean propolis extract was diluted in drinking water, and the BALB/c mice were given DSS for 7 days and Korean propolis for 17 days. The mice were sacrificed on day 17. In the DSS-induced colitis model, Korean propolis significantly decreased the severity of colitis, as assessed by body weight, spleen weight, and colonic length. Furthermore, Korean propolis induced the reduction of the inflammatory cytokine KC, infiltration of immune cells, and colonic hyperplasia in mice with DSS-induced colitis. The Korean propolis also decreased the loss of goblet cells and antibody-reactivity to inflammatory markers in the colons of mice administered DSS. These results demonstrate for the first time that Korean propolis has an ameliorative effect on DSS-induced colonic inflammation in BALB/c mice.

Jasonia glutinosa (L.) DC., a traditional herbal medicine, reduces inflammation, oxidative stress and protects the intestinal barrier in a murine model of colitis

Jasonia glutinosa (L.) DC., known as rock tea (RT), is traditionally used in Spain as a digestive due to its beneficial properties in bowel disorders. The pharmacological nature of these properties has not been established yet. The aim of this work was to evaluate the therapeutic utility of RT in experimental colitis and to identify chemical constituents with anti-inflammatory and/or anti-oxidative properties. RT extract was prepared with ethanol in a Soxhlet apparatus and analysed by HPLC-DAD. Superoxide radical scavenging properties, xanthine oxidase and lipoxygenase (5-LOX) inhibitory activity, and capability to lower nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels were measured in cell-free and cell-based assays. In the 2.5%-dextran-sodium sulphate (DSS) injury-repair model of ulcerative colitis (UC), mice were daily treated with sulfasalazine (SSZ, as reference drug, 100 mg/kg bw), RT (5, 25 and 50 mg/kg bw, p.o.), or vehicle over 20 days. Colitis was scored daily. Colon samples were examined macroscopically and histopathologically. Protein levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukins 6, and 10 (IL-6, IL-10), inducible NO synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were studied as markers of oxidative stress and inflammatory activity. The integrity of the apical epithelial layer was assessed by immunofluorescence staining of zonula ocludens-1 (ZO-1). Finally, intestinal contractility was also evaluated by isometric myography. Fifteen phenolic compounds and three pigments were identified and quantified, of which caffeoylquinic acids, and the flavonoid, quercetin-3-O-galactoside, were the most abundant. RT extract significantly scavenged superoxide radicals, inhibited 5-LOX activity, and lowered NO and TNF-α levels. DSS-treated mice receiving RT scored clinically lower than controls during the first 3 days of DSS treatment and during the recovery period. SSZ was less effective than RT. Anatomical and histological examination of colon samples revealed that RT significantly prevented colon shortening, increased colon thickness, and lowered the macroscopic damage score. RT also significantly prevented the increase of MPO activity, IL-6 levels, iNOS and COX-2 expression, the loss of ZO-1 apical expression, and normalized contractility disturbances. In conclusion, daily administration of RT showed therapeutic properties in the DSS-model of UC. The benefits of RT can likely be attributed to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant phenolic and flavonoid constituents.