Interleukin-25 as a candidate gene in immunogene therapy of pancreatic cancer

Current progress in engineered and nano-engineered mesenchymal stem cells for cancer: From mechanisms to therapy

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as self-renewing multipotent stromal cells, have been considered promising agents for cancer treatment. A large number of studies have demonstrated the valuable properties of MSC-based treatment, such as low immunogenicity and intrinsic tumor-trophic migratory properties. To enhance the potency of MSCs for therapeutic purposes, equipping MSCs with targeted delivery functions using genetic engineering is highly beneficial. Genetically engineered MSCs can express tumor suppressor agents such as pro-apoptotic, anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic factors and act as ideal delivery vehicles. MSCs can also be loaded with nanoparticle drugs for increased efficacy and externally moderated targeting. Moreover, exosomes secreted by MSCs have important physiological properties, so they can contribute to intercellular communication and transfer cargo into targeted tumor cells. The precise role of genetically modified MSCs in tumor environments is still up for debate, but the beginning of clinical trials has been confirmed by promising results from preclinical investigations of MSC-based gene therapy for a wide range of malignancies. This review highlights the advanced techniques of engineering/nano-engineering and MSC-derived exosomes in tumor-targeted therapy.

Immunobiological Properties and Clinical Applications of Interleukin-38 for Immune-Mediated Disorders: A Systematic Review Study

Exponential growth in the usage of "cytokines" (as seroimmunobiomarkers) has facilitated more accurate prognosis, early diagnosis, novel, and efficient immunotherapeutics. Numerous studies have reported immunopathophysiological and immunopathological processes of interleukin-38 (IL-38). Therefore, in this systematic review article, the authors aimed to present an updated comprehensive overview on the immunobiological mechanisms, diagnostic, and immune gene-based therapeutic potentials of IL-38. According to our inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 216 articles were collected from several search engines and databases from the January 2012 to July 2021 time interval by using six main keywords. Physiologic or pathologic microenvironments, optimal dosage, and involved receptors affect the functionalities of IL-38. Alterations in serum levels of IL-38 play a major role in the immunopathogenesis of a wide array of immune-mediated disorders. IL-38 shows anti-inflammatory activities by reduction or inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines, supporting the therapeutic aspects of IL-38 in inflammatory autoimmune diseases. According to the importance of pre-clinical studies, it seems that manipulation of the immune system by immunomodulatory properties of IL-38 can increase the accuracy of diagnosis, and decipher optimal clinical outcomes. To promote our knowledge, more collaboration is highly recommended among laboratory scientists, internal/infectious diseases specialists, oncologists, immunologists, diseases-specific biomarkers scientists, and basic medical researchers.

New perspective into mesenchymal stem cells: Molecular mechanisms regulating osteosarcoma

•

The origin of osteosarcoma cells from osteoblasts and mesenchymal stem cells remains controversial.

•

Mesenchymal stem cells regulate the development of osteosarcoma by influencing the tumor microenvironment and mediating cell communication.

•

Mesenchymal stem cells and exosomes secreted by them can be used as good genes and drug carriers for the treatment of osteosarcoma.

•

Mesenchymal stem cells from different tissue sources have different regulatory effects on the development of osteosarcoma.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells with significant potential for regenerative medicine. The tumorigenesis of osteosarcoma is an intricate system and MSCs act as an indispensable part of this, interacting with the tumor microenvironment (TME) during the process. MSCs link to cells by acting on each component in the TME via autocrine or paracrine extracellular vesicles for cellular communication. Because of their unique characteristics, MSCs can be modified and processed into good biological carriers, loaded with drugs, and transfected with anticancer genes for the targeted treatment of osteosarcoma. Previous high-quality reviews have described the biological characteristics of MSCs; this review will discuss the effects of MSCs on the components of the TME and cellular communication and the prospects for clinical applications of MSCs.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Engineered by Nonviral Vectors: A Powerful Tool in Cancer Gene Therapy

Due to their "tumor homing" and "immune privilege" characteristics, the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been proposed as a novel tool against cancer. MSCs are genetically engineered in vitro and then utilized to deliver tumoricidal agents, including prodrugs and bioactive molecules, to tumors. The genetic modification of MSCs can be achieved by various vectors, and in most cases viral vectors are used; however, viruses may be associated with carcinogenesis and immunogenicity, restricting their clinical translational potential. As such, nonviral vectors have emerged as a potential solution to address these limitations and have gradually attracted increasing attention. In this review, we briefly revisit the current knowledge about MSC-based cancer gene therapy. Then, we summarize the advantages and challenges of nonviral vectors for MSC transfection. Finally, we discuss recent advances in the development of new nonviral vectors, which have provided promising strategies to overcome obstacles in the gene modulation of MSCs.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells: The Past Present and Future

The biomedical applications of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have gained expanding attention over the past three decades. MSCs are easily obtained from various tissue types (e.g. bone marrow, fat, cord blood, etc.), are capable of self-renewal, and could be induced to differentiate into several cell lineages for countless biomedical applications. In addition, when transplanted, MSCs are not detected by immune surveillance, thus do not lead to graft rejection. Moreover, they can home towards affected tissues and induce their therapeutic effect in a cell-base and/or a cell-free manner. These properties, and many others, have made MSCs appealing therapeutic cell candidates (for cell and/or gene therapy) in myriad clinical conditions. However, similar to any other therapeutic tool, MSCs still have their own limitations and grey areas that entail more research for better understanding and optimization. Herein, we present a brief overview of various pre-clinical/clinical applications of MSCs in regenerative medicine and discuss limitations and future challenges.

Is Interleukin-38 a key player cytokine in atherosclerosis immune gene therapy?

Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the arteries associated with lipids and other metabolic alterations is a leading cause of death all around the world and its rate is raising as a result of unhealthy lifestyles. Reports by World Health Organization indicate that 31% of all death occurrences are due to heart attacks and strokes. Today, the most common medicines for treating atherosclerosis are statins which are HMG-coA reductase inhibitors. Beside their benefits in treating atherosclerosis, some side effects have been reported as well. Thus, therapeutic methods based on statins should be evaluated to result in more beneficial effects. Since atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disorder, an anti-inflammatory component can decrease the impact of this disease. Interleukin-38, a newly discovered anti-inflammatory cytokine, which acts as an Interleukin-36 receptor antagonist can block Nuclear Factor KB and Activator protein-1 signaling pathways, and block atherogenic core formation accordingly. This novel proposed immune gene therapy can be applied to atherosclerosis treatment in a trial study. In this hypothesis, Interleukin-38 gene is transferred into bone marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells of atherosclerotic mouse model Apo E-/- via an adenoviral vector. It is expected that Interleukin-38 gene expression by Mesenchymal Stem Cells can efficiently remedy atherosclerosis without the side effects of statins.

Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells: A New Era in the Cell-Based Targeted Gene Therapy of Cancer

In recent years, in light of the promising potentials of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) for carrying therapeutic anticancer genes, a complete revisitation on old chemotherapy-based paradigms has been established. This review attempted to bring forward and introduce the novel therapeutic opportunities of using genetically engineered MSCs. The simplicities and advantages of MSCs for medical applications make them a unique and promising option in the case of cancer therapy. Some of the superiorities of using MSCs as therapeutic gene micro-carriers are the easy cell-extraction procedures and their abundant proliferation capacity in vitro without losing their main biological properties. Targeted therapy by using MSCs as the delivery vehicles of therapeutic genes is a new approach in the treatment of various types of cancers. Some of the distinct properties of MSCs, such as tumor-tropism, non-immunogenicity, stimulatory effect on the anti-inflammatory molecules, inhibitory effect on inflammatory responses, non-toxicity against the normal tissues, and easy processes for the clinical use, have formed the basis of attention to MSCs. They can be easily used for the treatment of damaged or injured tissues, regenerative medicine, and immune disorders. This review focused on the drugability of MSCs and their potential for the delivery of candidate anticancer genes. It also briefly reviewed the vectors and methods used for MSC-mediated gene therapy of malignancies. Also, the challenges, limitations, and considerations in using MSCs for gene therapy of cancer and the new methods developed for resolution of these problems are reviewed.

Interleukin 35 and Hepatocyte Growth Factor; as a novel combined immune gene therapy for Multiple Sclerosis disease

An autoimmune demyelination disease of the Central Nervous System, Multiple Sclerosis, is a chronic inflammation which mostly involves young adults. Suffering people face functional loss with a severe pain. Most current MS treatments are focused on the immune response suppression. Approved drugs suppress the inflammatory process, but factually, there is no definite cure for Multiple Sclerosis. Recently developed knowledge has demonstrated that gene and cell therapy as a hopeful approach in tissue regeneration. The authors propose a novel combined immune gene therapy for Multiple Sclerosis treatment using anti-inflammatory and remyelination of Interleukine-35 and Hepatocyte Growth Factor properties, respectively. In this hypothesis Interleukine-35 and Hepatocyte Growth Factor introduce to Mesenchymal Stem Cells of EAE mouse model via an adenovirus based vector. It is expected that Interleukine-35 and Hepatocyte Growth Factor genes expressed from MSCs could effectively perform in immunotherapy of Multiple Sclerosis.