Effects of conditioned media from human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells in the skin immune response

Role of umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells in skin rejuvenation

Aging is the main cause of many degenerative diseases. The skin is the largest and the most intuitive organ that reflects the aging of the body. Under the interaction of endogenous and exogenous factors, there are cumulative changes in the structure, function, and appearance of the skin, which are characterized by decreased synthesis of collagen and elastin, increased wrinkles, relaxation, pigmentation, and other aging characteristics. skin aging is inevitable, but it can be delayed. The successful isolation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) in 1991 has greatly promoted the progress of cell therapy in human diseases. The International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) points out that the MSC is a kind of pluripotent progenitor cells that have self-renewal ability (limited) in vitro and the potential for mesenchymal cell differentiation. This review mainly introduces the role of perinatal umbilical cord-derived MSC(UC-MSC) in the field of skin rejuvenation. An in-depth and systematic understanding of the mechanism of UC-MSCs against skin aging is of great significance for the early realization of the clinical transformation of UC-MSCs. This paper summarized the characteristics of skin aging and summarized the mechanism of UC-MSCs in skin rejuvenation reported in recent years. In order to provide a reference for further research of UC-MSCs to delay skin aging.

Proposal of Simplified Standardization of the Cell-Growth-Promoting Activity of Human Adipose Tissue Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Culture Supernatants

The conditioned medium (CM) obtained from mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) culture has excellent cell growth-promoting activity and is used for cosmetics and healthcare products. Unlike pharmaceuticals, strict efficacy verification is not legally required for these products. However, their efficacy must be substantiated as commercial products. We attempted to simplify CM production and to standardize the evaluation of the growth-promoting activity of CM. CM was obtained through the culturing of two lines of commercially available human adipose tissue-derived MSCs using MEMα with or without 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) for 24 h. Non-CM control media were produced by the same protocol without MSCs. Growth-promoting activities of the CM were estimated by [3H]-thymidine pulse. CM were subjected to molecular weight fractionation with ultrafiltration using 10 k-, 30 k-, 50 k-, and 100 k-membranes. The FBS-free CMs showed 1.34- to 1.85-fold increases and FBS-containing CMs showed 1.45- to 1.67-fold increases in proliferation-promoting activity compared with non-CM controls, regardless of the source of the cell. The thymidine incorporation levels were approximately three times higher in FBS-containing CMs. Aged cells also showed 1.67- to 2.48-fold increases in the activity due to FBS-containing CM, but not to FBS-free CM. The CM activities were sustained even after 1 year at 4 °C. Molecular weight fractionation showed that the activity was recovered in the fraction above 100 k. Clear and stable cell-growth-promoting activity was confirmed with CMs of commercially available adipose tissue MSCs. The activity was detected in the fraction over 100 k. We propose here the importance of standardizing the production and evaluation of CMs to indicate their specific action.

The Role and Prospects of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Skin Repair and Regeneration

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been recognized as a cell therapy with the potential to promote skin healing. MSCs, with their multipotent differentiation ability, can generate various cells related to wound healing, such as dermal fibroblasts (DFs), endothelial cells, and keratinocytes. In addition, MSCs promote neovascularization, cellular regeneration, and tissue healing through mechanisms including paracrine and autocrine signaling. Due to these characteristics, MSCs have been extensively studied in the context of burn healing and chronic wound repair. Furthermore, during the investigation of MSCs, their unique roles in skin aging and scarless healing have also been discovered. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms by which MSCs promote wound healing and discuss the recent findings from preclinical and clinical studies. We also explore strategies to enhance the therapeutic effects of MSCs. Moreover, we discuss the emerging trend of combining MSCs with tissue engineering techniques, leveraging the advantages of MSCs and tissue engineering materials, such as biodegradable scaffolds and hydrogels, to enhance the skin repair capacity of MSCs. Additionally, we highlight the potential of using paracrine and autocrine characteristics of MSCs to explore cell-free therapies as a future direction in stem cell-based treatments, further demonstrating the clinical and regenerative aesthetic applications of MSCs in skin repair and regeneration.

Effects of microenvironment and biological behavior on the paracrine function of stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), the most well-studied cell type in the field of stem cell therapy, have multi-lineage differentiation and self-renewal potential. MSC-based therapies have been used to treat diverse diseases because of their ability to potently repair tissue and locally restore function. An increasing body of evidence demonstrates that paracrine function is central to the effects of MSC-based therapy. Growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, extracellular matrix components, and extracellular vehicles all contribute to the beneficial effects of MSCs on tissue regeneration and repair. The paracrine substances secreted by MSCs change depending on the tissue microenvironment and biological behavior. In this review, we discuss the bioactive substances secreted by MSCs depending on the microenvironment and biological behavior and their regulatory mechanisms, which explain their potential to treat human diseases, to provide new ideas for further research and clinical cell-free therapy.

hucMSCs Treatment Ameliorated Pulmonary Fibrosis via Downregulating the circFOXP1-HuR-EZH2/STAT1/FOXK1 Autophagic Axis

This study was performed to determine the effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSCs) treatment on pulmonary fibrosis and investigate the circFOXP1-mediated autophagic mechanism of hucMSCs treatment. Pulmonary fibrosis models were established by spraying bleomycin in mice and TGF-β1 treatment of MRC-5 cells. Results showed that hucMSCs were retained in lung and hucMSCs treatment alleviated pulmonary fibrosis. Morphological staining indicated that hucMSCs-treated mice had thinner alveolar walls, effectively improved alveolar structure, significantly reduced alveolar inflammation, and decreased collagen deposition than control mice. Fibrotic proteins, including vimentin, α-SMA, collagens I and III, and the differentiation-related protein S100 calcium-binding protein A4 was reduced considerably in the hucMSCs-treated group. The mechanistic study revealed that the inhibition of hucMSCs treatment on pulmonary fibrogenesis depended on downregulating circFOXP1, in which hucMSCs treatment promoted circFOXP1-mediated autophagy process via blocking the nuclear human antigen R (HuR) translocation and promoting the HuR degradation, leading to a marked decrease in autophagy negative regulators EZH2, STAT1, and FOXK1. In conclusion, hucMSCs treatment significantly improved pulmonary fibrosis by downregulating the circFOXP1-HuR-EZH2/STAT1/FOXK1 autophagic axis. hucMSCs can act as an effective treatment for pulmonary fibrosis.

Clinical Evaluation of Conditioned Media of Human Umbilical Cord Blood Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Improvement of Symptoms of Sensitive Skin: Prospective, Single Blinded, Split-face Study

BACKGROUND

The exact definition of sensitive skin is not established yet. Since its high prevalence and significant influence on quality of life, it has become an important topic of research. Among various ingredients, conditioned media from umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-MSC-CM) can be a promising source for the treatment of sensitive skin.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of UCB-MSC-CM on patients with sensitive skin.

METHODS

We designed a randomized, single blinded, prospective, split-face comparison study and enrolled thirty patients. All patients underwent nonablative fractional laser over the entire face before UCB-MSC-CM or normal saline was applied. Each facial area was randomly assigned to undergo treatment with either UCB-MSC-CM or normal saline. We performed three sessions at two-week intervals, and final results were assessed on six weeks after the last session. As an outcome measure, we evaluated a five-point global assessment scale, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), erythema index (EI) and Sensitive Scale-10. Twenty seven subjects were included in final analysis.

RESULTS

The treated side exhibited greater improvement compared to the untreated side based on a five-point global assessment scale. TEWL, EI of the treated side were significantly lower than those of the untreated side throughout study period. Sensitive Scale-10 was significantly improved after treatment.

CONCLUSION

The application of UCB-MSC-CM resulted in improved skin barrier function and reduced inflammatory responsiveness, which could provide beneficial effect on sensitive skin.

Recent advance in mesenchymal stem cells therapy for atopic dermatitis

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells found in a variety of tissues in the body, including but not limited to bone marrow, adipose tissue, umbilical cord, and umbilical cord blood. Given their immunomodulatory effect and ability to be readily isolated from several tissues, they have great potential to be used as a therapeutic agent in a variety of immune-mediated disorders. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a persistent and relapsing immune skin condition that has recently become more common in several species such as humans, canines, equines, and felines. The use of MSCs to treat AD has piqued the great interest of researchers in recent years. In this article, we review the recent understanding of AD pathology and advances in preclinical and clinical studies of MSCs, MSCs-derived conditional media and exosomes as therapeutic tools to treat AD.

Secretome of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells as a Possible Innovative Therapeutic Tool in Facial Nerve Injury Treatment

Facial nerve palsy is a serious neurological condition that strongly affects patient everyday life. Standard treatments provide insufficient improvement and are burdened with the risk of severe complications, e.g., facial synkinesis. Mesenchymal stromal cell-based therapies are a novel and extensively developed field which offers new treatment approaches with promising results in regards to the nervous tissue regeneration. The potential of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to aid the regeneration of damaged nerves has been demonstrated in several preclinical models, as well as in several clinical trials. However, therapies based on cell transplantation are difficult to standardize in the manner similar to that of routine clinical practices. On the other hand, treatments based on mesenchymal stromal cell secretome harness the proregenerative features of mesenchymal stromal cells but relay on a product with measurable parameters that can be put through standardization procedures and deliver a fully controllable end-product. Utilization of mesenchymal stromal cell secretome allows the controlled dosage and standardization of the components to maximize the therapeutic potential and ensure safety of the end-product.

Secretome of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell maintains skin homeostasis by regulating multiple skin physiological function

Skin is the largest organ in the body and the first defense to resist various diseases and external stimuli that easily cause infection and inflammation. Aseptic inflammation, barrier damage, and foreign aid pressure induce the destruction and damage to the skin microenvironment. Subsequently, it destroys the skin's physiological function, leading to the maintenance and circulation of steady-state imbalance and aggravating the process of skin disorders. Our study evaluated the therapeutic potential of the secretome of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-CM) for dermatological diseases in adult human skin cells, ex vivo skin tissue, and a 3D skin model. Our data suggested several advantages of UC-CM due to (1) their low cytotoxicity and sensitization properties; (2) their anti-inflammatory capacity for treating inflammatory chronic cutaneous diseases; (3) their enhanced capacity of the skin barrier for treating abnormal barrier metabolism; and (4) their positive impact on restoring skin homeostasis due to effective regulation ability of skin physiological function including cell apoptosis, detoxification, and anti-aging. We thus envisage that the possibility of harnessing the therapeutic potential of UC-CM might benefit patients suffering from inflammatory skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis, acne, and psoriasis.

Human Umbilical Cord-Based Therapeutics: Stem Cells and Blood Derivatives for Female Reproductive Medicine

There are several conditions that lead to female infertility, where traditional or conventional treatments have limited efficacy. In these challenging scenarios, stem cell (SC) therapies have been investigated as alternative treatment strategies. Human umbilical cord (hUC) mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSC), along with their secreted paracrine factors, extracts, and biomolecules, have emerged as promising therapeutic alternatives in regenerative medicine, due to their remarkable potential to promote anti-inflammatory and regenerative processes more efficiently than other autologous treatments. Similarly, hUC blood derivatives, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), or isolated plasma elements, such as growth factors, have also demonstrated potential. This literature review aims to summarize the recent therapeutic advances based on hUC-MSCs, hUC blood, and/or other plasma derivatives (e.g., extracellular vesicles, hUC-PRP, and growth factors) in the context of female reproductive medicine. We present an in-depth analysis of the principal molecules mediating tissue regeneration, compiling the application of these therapies in preclinical and clinical studies, within the context of the human reproductive tract. Despite the recent advances in bioengineering strategies that sustain delivery and amplify the scope of the therapeutic benefits, further clinical trials are required prior to the wide implementation of these alternative therapies in reproductive medicine.

Supramolecular Hydrogel-Wrapped Gingival Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Cutaneous Radiation Injury

Radiation-induced skin wound/dermatitis is one of the common side effects of radiotherapy or interventional radiobiology. Gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) were indicated to have therapeutic potentials in skin diseases. However, stem cells are prone to spread and difficult to stay in the skin for a long time, limiting their curative effects and application. This study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of Nap-GDFDFpDY (pY-Gel) self-assembled peptide hydrogel-encapsulated GMSCs to treat ¹³⁷Cs γ-radiation-induced skin wounds in mice. The effects were evaluated by skin damage score, hind limb extension measurement and histological and immunohistochemical analysis. In vivo studies showed that pY-Gel self-assembled peptide hydrogel-encapsulated GMSCs could effectively improve wound healing in irradiated skin tissues. In addition, it was found that GMSCs conditioned medium (CM) could promote the proliferation, migration and DNA damage repair ability of skin cells after irradiation in human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT and normal human dermal fibroblasts (HFF). Mechanistically, GMSCs-CM can promote the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), suggesting that activation of the EGFR/STAT3 signaling pathway may be involved in the repair of skin cells after exposure to radiations. In conclusion, pY-Gel self-assembled peptide hydrogel-encapsulated GMSCs have a beneficial therapeutic effect on radiation-induced cutaneous injury and may serve as a basis of novel cells therapeutic approach.

Vitiligo: An Autoimmune Skin Disease and its Immunomodulatory Therapeutic Intervention

Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune depigmenting skin disorder characterized by patches of the skin losing functional melanocytes. Multiple combinatorial factors are involved in disease development, among which immune T cells play a prominent role. The immune cells implicated in melanocyte destruction through adaptive immunity include CD8⁺ cytotoxic T cells and regulatory T cells, and aberrantly activated skin-resident memory T cells also play a role in melanocyte destruction. Over the past several years, major progress in understanding vitiligo pathogenesis has led to the development of targeted therapies. Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, which share the similar mechanism that autoactivates CD8⁺ T cells in chronic inflammatory diseases, have been reported to have therapeutic significance in vitiligo. Recently, immunomodulatory therapeutic interventions in vitiligo have been emerging. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) regulate cytokine secretion and the balance of T-cell subsets, which makes them a promising cell-based treatment option for autoimmune diseases. The induction of MSC-mediated immunomodulation is complicated and occurs by contact-dependent mechanisms and soluble extracellular vesicle (EV) mediators. EVs released from MSCs contain various growth factors and cytokines with anti-inflammatory effects in the skin immune response. Here, we summarize and discuss the progress to date in targeted therapies that immunomodulate the niche environment of vitiligo, from the clinical trial of JAK inhibitors to the potential of MSCs and MSC-EVs. The available information was collected to highlight the need for further research into the treatment of vitiligo.

Perinatal derivatives: How to best characterize their multimodal functions in vitro. Part C: Inflammation, angiogenesis, and wound healing

Perinatal derivatives (PnD) are birth-associated tissues, such as placenta, umbilical cord, amniotic and chorionic membrane, and thereof-derived cells as well as secretomes. PnD play an increasing therapeutic role with beneficial effects on the treatment of various diseases. The aim of this review is to elucidate the modes of action of non-hematopoietic PnD on inflammation, angiogenesis and wound healing. We describe the source and type of PnD with a special focus on their effects on inflammation and immune response, on vascular function as well as on cutaneous and oral wound healing, which is a complex process that comprises hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation (including epithelialization, angiogenesis), and remodeling. We further evaluate the different in vitro assays currently used for assessing selected functional and therapeutic PnD properties. This review is a joint effort from the COST SPRINT Action (CA17116) with the intention to promote PnD into the clinics. It is part of a quadrinomial series on functional assays for validation of PnD, spanning biological functions, such as immunomodulation, anti-microbial/anti-cancer activities, anti-inflammation, wound healing, angiogenesis, and regeneration.

Conditioned medium from a human adipose-derived stem cell line ameliorates inflammation and fibrosis in a lung experimental model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, progressive parenchymal lung disease that results in fibrogenesis and the conditioned medium from adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (CM-ADSCs) has been shown to be efficacious in pulmonary fibrosis animal models. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of CM-ADSCs on lung inflammation and fibrosis in a Bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis model. CM-ADSCs safety and toxicity were evaluated in Sprague Dawley rats and no adverse effects were observed. Six-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were employed in the BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis model and were divided into four groups: Group 1 (Sham): animals were kept without BLM and treatment, Group 2 (Control): BLM with vehicle DMEM, Group 3: 10 μg/kg CM-ADSCs and Group 4: 100 μg/kg CM-ADSCs. Body weight, fibrosis and inflammation histological analyses, mRNA and protein pro-inflammatory cytokine, and total hydroxyproline content calculation were performed in all groups upon sacrifice. The 100 μg/kg CM-ADSCs showed a significant increase in mean body weight compared to Controls. CM-ADSCs doses resulted in the amelioration of fibrosis, as seen by Masson's Trichrome-staining, Ashcroft scoring, and Sirius red-staining. Compared to Controls, inflammation was also significantly reduced in CM-ADSCs-treated mice, with reduced F4/80 macrophage antigen staining, TNF-α mRNA and IL-6 and IL-10 protein levels. Total hydroxyproline content was found significantly reduced in both groups of CM-ADSCs-treated mice. Overall, our study shows that the CM-ADSCs is safe and efficient against pulmonary fibrosis, as it significantly reduced inflammation and fibrosis, with the larger dose of 100 μg/kg CM-ADSCs being the most efficient one.

Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Derived from Human and Animal Perinatal Tissues-Origins, Characteristics, Signaling Pathways, and Clinical Trials

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are currently one of the most extensively researched fields due to their promising opportunity for use in regenerative medicine. There are many sources of MSCs, of which cells of perinatal origin appear to be an invaluable pool. Compared to embryonic stem cells, they are devoid of ethical conflicts because they are derived from tissues surrounding the fetus and can be safely recovered from medical waste after delivery. Additionally, perinatal MSCs exhibit better self-renewal and differentiation properties than those derived from adult tissues. It is important to consider the anatomy of perinatal tissues and the general description of MSCs, including their isolation, differentiation, and characterization of different types of perinatal MSCs from both animals and humans (placenta, umbilical cord, amniotic fluid). Ultimately, signaling pathways are essential to consider regarding the clinical applications of MSCs. It is important to consider the origin of these cells, referring to the anatomical structure of the organs of origin, when describing the general and specific characteristics of the different types of MSCs as well as the pathways involved in differentiation.

Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Conditioned Medium for Skin Diseases: A Systematic Review

The skin is the largest organ of the human body, and its dysfunction is related to many diseases. There is a need to find new potential effective therapies for some skin conditions such as inflammatory diseases, wound healing, or hair restoration. Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-conditioned medium (CM) provides a potential opportunity in the treatment of skin disease. Thus, the objective of this review is to evaluate the uses of MSC-CM for treating skin diseases in both animal and human models. A systematic review was conducted regarding the use of MSC-CM for treating skin conditions. One hundred one studies were analyzed. MSC-CM was evaluated in wound healing (55), hypertrophic scars (9), flap reperfusion (4), hair restoration (15), skin rejuvenation (15), and inflammatory skin diseases (3). MSC-CM was obtained from different MSC sources, mainly adipose tissue, bone marrow, and umbilical cord blood. MSC-CM was tested intravenously, intraperitoneally, subcutaneously, intradermally or intralesionally injected or topically applied. MSC-CM was used in both animals and humans. MSC-CM improved wound healing, hair restoration, skin rejuvenation, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis in both animals and humans. MSC-CM also decreased hypertrophic scars and flap ischemia in animal models. In conclusion, MSC-CM is a promising therapy for skin conditions. Further studies are needed to corroborate safety and effectiveness and to standardize CM manufacturing.