A Simple System for Differentiation of Functional Intestinal Stem Cell-like Cells from Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Molecular Mechanism of Long Noncoding RNA SNHG14 in Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells through the NEDD4L/FOXA2/PCP4 Axis

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have a superior potential of osteogenic differentiation (OD) and a promising stem cell type to treat bone defects. This study sought to investigate the molecular mechanism of long noncoding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 14 (SNHG14) in OD of BMSCs. Western blot analysis or RT-qPCR showed that SNHG14, neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated 4-like (NEDD4L), and Purkinje cell protein 4 (PCP4) were upregulated whereas forkhead box A2 (FOXA2) was declined in OD of BMSCs. RT-qPCR and cell staining showed that SNHG14 downregulation repressed OD of BMSCs, as manifested by reductions in osteopontin and osteocalcin levels, the mineralization degree, and alkaline phosphatase activity. RNA/Co/chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase assays and determination of mRNA stability and ubiquitination level showed that SNHG14 bound to human antigen R improves NEDD4L mRNA stability and expression, further promoted FOXA2 ubiquitination to inhibit FOXA2 expression, and then reduced FOXA2 enrichment on the PCP4 promoter to upregulate PCP4 transcription. Functional rescue experiments showed that the overexpression of NEDD4L or PCP4 and knockdown of FOXA2 both attenuated the inhibition of SNHG14 downregulation on OD of BMSCs. Overall, our findings suggested that SNHG14 promoted OD of BMSCs through the NEDD4L/FOXA2/PCP4 axis.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Acetic Acid-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Rats

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an autoimmune inflammatory bowel disease, characterized by chronic and relapsing inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. Clinical treatments fail to reduce inflammation and induce side effects in nearly 30% of patients. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are immunomodulatory agents that can encourage tissue repair and regeneration. Aim: To investigate the ability of MSCs to differentiate into enterocytes under the mediation of activin a, fibroblastic growth factor 2, and epidermal growth factors and to study the effect of administering MSCs to rats with acetic acid (AA)-induced UC. Methods: MSCs isolated from the umbilical cord were induced to differentiate into enterocytes. The induced cells were morphologically evaluated by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry. Forty rats were divided into four groups: control, AA-induced UC, differentiated, and undifferentiated MSC treated groups. The acute UC in rats was induced by 3% AA transrectal administration. Body weight changes, disease activity index (DAI), and histopathological and immunohistochemical CD105 and CD34 staining were recorded. IL-17, IL-10, and TGF- β levels were measured as well. Results: In Both differentiated and undifferentiated MSCs, induced MSCs improved the DAI score and significantly recovered the pathological changes. The favorable effect of MSCs was significantly linked to CD105 overexpression and CD34 low expression. IL-10 and TGF-β levels increased while IL-17 levels decreased. Conclusion: Both differentiated and undifferentiated MSCs showed anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects in our study. Based on our results, MSCs could become potentially useful for regenerative medicine and the clinical treatment of UC.

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.

Pretreatment with licochalcone a enhances therapeutic activity of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in animal models of colitis

OBJECTIVES

Colitis has a high prevalence rate, limited treatment options, and needs to be solved urgently. Application of Licochacone A (LA) or rBMMSCs alone in the treatment of colitis has a certain but limited effect. This study aims to develop an LA-based strategy to improve mesenchymal stem cells' (MSCs') therapeutic capacity in mice DSS-induced colitis by increasing the number of MSCs migrating to the inflammation site.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In vivo, we injected MSCs pretreated with LA, MSCs alone, or PBS into the tail vein of colitis mice, and assessed the colon length, disease activity index (DAI) score, body weight, HAI score, and tracked the location of MSCs at day 10. In vitro, we knocked down the CXCR4 gene by siRNA and then treated it with LA, then tested the mRNA level of CXCR4 and the migration ability of group CXCR4, CXCR4+LA, LA, and control to verify the relationship between this effect and the SDF-1-CXCR4 signaling pathway.

RESULTS

The mice that received LA- pretreated MSCs had ameliorated body weight loss, preserved colon morphology, and decreased DAI and histological activity index (HAI) compared with the MSCs group. Besides, the number of MSCs migrating to the inflammation site significantly increased in group LA+MSCs, and expression of CXCR4 significantly increased too. Furthermore, we found that LA could partly revise the decrease of the migration of MSCs and the expression of CXCR4 mRNA caused by CXCR4-siRNA.

CONCLUSION

LA may improve the migration ability of MSCs through increasing CXCR4 expression therapy enhancing their therapeutic activity.

Platelet-rich fibrin-loaded PCL/chitosan core-shell fibers scaffold for enhanced osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells

Here, we fabricated the platelet-rich fibrin (PRF)-loaded PCL/chitosan (PCL/CS-PRF) core-shell nanofibrous scaffold through a coaxial electrospinning method. Our goal was to evaluate the effect of CS-RPF in the core layer of the nanofibrous on the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (HMSCs). The elastic modulus of PCL/CS-PRF core-shell scaffold (44 MPa) was about 1.5-fold of PCL/CS scaffold (25 MPa). The specific surface area of the scaffolds increased from 9.98 m²/g for PCL/CS scaffold to 16.66 m²/g for the PCL/CS-PRF core-shell nanofibrous scaffold. Moreover, the release rate of PRF from PCL/CS-PRF nanofibrous scaffold was measured to be 24.50% after 10 days which showed slow and sustained release of PRF from the nanofibrous. The formation of Ca-P on the surface of scaffold immersed in simulated body fluid solution indicated the suitable osteoconductivity of PCL/CS-PRF core-shell nanofibrous scaffold. Also, the value of ALP activity and calcium deposited on the surface of PCL/CS-PRF core-shell nanofibrous scaffold were 81.97 U/L and 40.33 μg/scaffold, respectively after 14 days, which confirmed the significantly higher amounts of ALP and calcium deposition on the scaffold containing PRF compared to PCL/CS scaffold. Due to higher hydrophilicity and porosity of PCL/CS-PRF core-shell nanofibrous scaffold compared to PCL/CS scaffold, a better bone cell growth on surface of PCL/CS-PRF scaffold was observed. The Alizarin red-positive area was significantly higher on PCL/CS-PRF scaffold compared to PCL/CS scaffold, indicating more calcium deposition and osteogenic differentiation of HMSCs in the presence of PRF. Our findings demonstrate that PCL/CS-PRF core-shell scaffolds can provide a strong construct with improved osteogenic for bone tissue engineering applications.