Stem cell and cellular therapy developments

[In vitro study of bone morphogenetic protein 2 gelatin/chitosan hydrogel sustained-release system composite hydroxyapatite/zirconium dioxide foam ceramics and induced pluripotent stem cells derived mesenchymal stem cells]

Objective

To construct bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) gelatin/chitosan hydrogel sustained-release system, co-implant with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to hydroxyapatite (HA)/zirconium dioxide (ZrO ₂) bio porous ceramic foam, co-culture in vitro, and to explore the effect of sustained-release system on osteogenic differentiation of iPS-MSCs.

Methods

BMP-2 gelatin/chitosan hydrogel microspheres were prepared by water-in-oil solution. Drug encapsulation efficiency, drug loading, and in vitro sustained release rate of the microspheres were tested. HA/ZrO ₂ bio porous ceramic foam composite iPS-MSCs and BMP-2 gelatin/chitosan hydrogel sustained release system co-culture system was established as experimental group, and cell scaffold complex without BMP-2 composite gelatin/chitosan hydrogel sustained release system as control group. After 3, 7, 10, and 14 days of co-culture in the two groups, ALP secretion of cells was detected; gene expression levels of core binding factor alpha 1 (Cbfa1), collagen type Ⅰ, and Osterix (OSX) were detected by RT-PCR; the expression of collagen type Ⅰ was observed by immunohistochemical staining at 14 days of culture; and cell creep and adhesion were observed by scanning electron microscopy.

Results

BMP-2 gelatin/chitosan hydrogel sustained-release system had better drug encapsulation efficiency and drug loading, and could prolong the activity time of BMP-2. The secretion of ALP and the relative expression of Cbfa1, collagen type Ⅰ, and OSX genes in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group at different time points in the in vitro co-culture system ( P<0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed that the amount of fluorescence in the experimental group was significantly more than that in the control group, i.e. the expression level of collagen type Ⅰ was higher than that in the control group. The cells could be more evenly distributed on the materials, and the cell morphology was good. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the sustained-release system could adhere to cells well.

Conclusion

iPS-MSCs have the ability of osteogenic differentiation, which is significantly enhanced by BMP-2 gelatin/chitosan hydrogel sustained-release system. The combination of iPS-MSCs and sustained-release system can adhere to the materials well, and the cell activity is better.

Using human stem cells as a model system to understand the neural mechanisms of alcohol use disorders: Current status and outlook

Alcohol use disorders (AUDs), which include alcohol abuse and dependence, are among the most common types of neuropsychiatric disorders in the United States (U.S.). Approximately 14% of the U.S. population is affected in a single year, thus placing a tremendous burden on individuals from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Animal models have been pivotal in revealing the basic mechanisms of how alcohol impacts neuronal function, yet there are currently limited effective therapies developed based on these studies. This is mainly due to a limited understanding of the exact cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying AUDs in humans, which leads to a lack of targeted therapeutics. Furthermore, compounding factors including genetic background, gene copy number variants, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) as well as environmental and social factors that affect and promote the development of AUDs are complex and heterogeneous. Recent developments in stem cell biology, especially the human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell development and differentiation technologies, has provided us a unique opportunity to model neuropsychiatric disorders like AUDs in a manner that is highly complementary to animal studies, but that maintains fidelity with complex human genetic contexts. Patient-specific neuronal cells derived from iPS cells can then be used for drug discovery and precision medicine, e.g. for pathway-directed development in alcoholism. Here, we review recent work employing iPS cell technology to model and elucidate the genetic, molecular and cellular mechanisms of AUDs in a human neuronal background and provide our perspective on future development in this direction.

Multifunctional quantum dots-based cancer diagnostics and stem cell therapeutics for regenerative medicine

A field of recent diagnostics and therapeutics has been advanced with quantum dots (QDs). QDs have developed into new formats of biomolecular sensing to push the limits of detection in biology and medicine. QDs can be also utilized as bio-probes or labels for biological imaging of living cells and tissues. More recently, QDs has been demonstrated to construct a multifunctional nanoplatform, where the QDs serve not only as an imaging agent, but also a nanoscaffold for diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. This review highlights the promising applications of multi-functionalized QDs as advanced nanosensors for diagnosing cancer and as innovative fluorescence probes for in vitro or in vivo stem cell imaging in regenerative medicine.

Isolation and characterization of the environmental bacterial and fungi contamination in a pharmaceutical unit of mesenchymal stem cell for clinical use

Design and implementation of an environmental monitoring program is vital to assure the maintenance of acceptable quality conditions in a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit of human mesenchymal stem cells. Since sterility testing methods require 14 days and these cells are only viable for several hours, they are currently administered without the result of this test. Consequently environmental monitoring is a key element in stem cell banks for assuring low levels of potential introduction of contaminants into the cell products. The aim of this study was to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the environmental microbiological quality in a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit of human mesenchymal stem cells production for use in advanced therapies. Two hundred and sixty one points were tested monthly during one year, 156 from air and 105 from surfaces. Among the 6264 samples tested, 231 showed contamination, 76.6% for bacteria and 23.4% for fungi. Microbial genuses isolated were Staphylococcus (89.7%), Microccocus (4.5%), Kocuria (3.2%) and Bacillus (2.6%). In the identification of fungi, three genuses were detected: Aspergillus (56%), Penicillium (26%) and Cladosporium (18%). The origin of the contamination was found to be due to personnel manipulation and air microbiota. For all sampling methods, alert limits were set and corrective measures suggested.

Advances in reprogramming somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells

Traditionally, nuclear reprogramming of cells has been performed by transferring somatic cell nuclei into oocytes, by combining somatic and pluripotent cells together through cell fusion and through genetic integration of factors through somatic cell chromatin. All of these techniques changes gene expression which further leads to a change in cell fate. Here we discuss recent advances in generating induced pluripotent stem cells, different reprogramming methods and clinical applications of iPS cells. Viral vectors have been used to transfer transcription factors (Oct4, Sox2, c-myc, Klf4, and nanog) to induce reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts, neural stem cells, neural progenitor cells, keratinocytes, B lymphocytes and meningeal membrane cells towards pluripotency. Human fibroblasts, neural cells, blood and keratinocytes have also been reprogrammed towards pluripotency. In this review we have discussed the use of viral vectors for reprogramming both animal and human stem cells. Currently, many studies are also involved in finding alternatives to using viral vectors carrying transcription factors for reprogramming cells. These include using plasmid transfection, piggyback transposon system and piggyback transposon system combined with a non viral vector system. Applications of these techniques have been discussed in detail including its advantages and disadvantages. Finally, current clinical applications of induced pluripotent stem cells and its limitations have also been reviewed. Thus, this review is a summary of current research advances in reprogramming cells into induced pluripotent stem cells.

A biological global positioning system: considerations for tracking stem cell behaviors in the whole body

Many recent research studies have proposed stem cell therapy as a treatment for cancer, spinal cord injuries, brain damage, cardiovascular disease, and other conditions. Some of these experimental therapies have been tested in small animals and, in rare cases, in humans. Medical researchers anticipate extensive clinical applications of stem cell therapy in the future. The lack of basic knowledge concerning basic stem cell biology-survival, migration, differentiation, integration in a real time manner when transplanted into damaged CNS remains an absolute bottleneck for attempt to design stem cell therapies for CNS diseases. A major challenge to the development of clinical applied stem cell therapy in medical practice remains the lack of efficient stem cell tracking methods. As a result, the fate of the vast majority of stem cells transplanted in the human central nervous system (CNS), particularly in the detrimental effects, remains unknown. The paucity of knowledge concerning basic stem cell biology--survival, migration, differentiation, integration in real-time when transplanted into damaged CNS remains a bottleneck in the attempt to design stem cell therapies for CNS diseases. Even though excellent histological techniques remain as the gold standard, no good in vivo techniques are currently available to assess the transplanted graft for migration, differentiation, or survival. To address these issues, herein we propose strategies to investigate the lineage fate determination of derived human embryonic stem cells (hESC) transplanted in vivo into the CNS. Here, we describe a comprehensive biological Global Positioning System (bGPS) to track transplanted stem cells. But, first, we review, four currently used standard methods for tracking stem cells in vivo: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), bioluminescence imaging (BLI), positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and fluorescence imaging (FLI) with quantum dots. We summarize these modalities and propose criteria that can be employed to rank the practical usefulness for specific applications. Based on the results of this review, we argue that additional qualities are still needed to advance these modalities toward clinical applications. We then discuss an ideal procedure for labeling and tracking stem cells in vivo, finally, we present a novel imaging system based on our experiments.