Goat mesenchymal stem cell basic research and potential applications

Isolation, in vitro expansion and characterization of ovine fetal adnexa-derived mesenchymal stem cells reveals a source dependent trilineage differentiation and growth kinetics

This study was designed to isolate, cultivate, characterize and evaluate the growth kinetics of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from fetal adnexa of sheep. The gravid uteri of ewes were collected from a local abattoir. The MSCs isolated from different fetal regions (Wharton's Jelly [oWJ], cord blood [oCB], amniotic fluid [oAF] and amniotic Sac [oAS]) were expanded in vitro and characterized for surface and pluripotency markers. The growth kinetics of MSCs was compared at 3rd and 5th passages. Similarly, the colony-forming efficiency (CFE) assay was performed at 3rd passage. The fetal adnexa-derived ovine MSCs showed the expression of CD73, CD90 and CD105. Similarly, the MSCs also expressed pluripotency markers, OCT4 and SOX2. Besides, cells also differentiated into osteogenic, chondrogenic and adipogenic lineages. The MSCs in culture showed a typical growth curve with initial lag phase, an exponential phase, a plateau phase and a decline phase. The growth rate was highest in oAF-MSCs at P5. The population doubling time (PDT) was highest in oAS-MSCs (87.28 ± 3.24 h), whereas the colony number was highest in oAF-MSCs (53.67 ± 4.06). The study reveals that oAF-MSCs were superior which outperformed other MSCs indicating that oAF-derived MSCs could be utilized for regenerative medicine.

Construction and Characterization of Immortalized Fibroblast Cell Line from Bactrian Camel

Immortalized cell lines with many advantages are widely used in various experimental contexts by many different labs. However, the absence of available cell lines poses difficulties for research in some species, such as camels. To establish an immortalized Bactrian camel fibroblast (iBCF) cell line and understand its biological characteristics, primary fibroblast cells from Bactrian camels were isolated and purified using enzymatic digestion in this study, and telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) vectors were introduced into primary BCF (pBCF) for continuous passage to 80 generations after screening with G418. The cell morphology of different generations was examined under a microscope. Cell cycle and viability were evaluated by flow cytometry and CCK-8 assay, respectively. Cellular genes expression was monitored by qPCR, immunofluorescence, and Western blot, respectively. Chromosomes were determined by karyotyping. The results showed that like most other cells, both pBCF and iBCF were sensitive to nutrient concentrations and adapted to culture in the medium with 4.5 g/L glucose and 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) concentration. hTERT gene was introduced and stably expressed in iBCF cells, which promoted BCF cell immortalization. The fibroblast specific marker vimentin (VIM) is expressed in both pBCF and iBCF, but epithelial marker cytokeratin18 (CK18) expression is weak in BCF cells. Proliferation and viability detection showed that hTERT-induced iBCF exhibits faster growth rates and higher viability than pBCF. Karyotyping showed that iBCF maintained the same number and morphology of chromosomes as the pBCF. This study demonstrated that we have successfully constructed an immortalized Bactrian camel fibroblast cell line, which was named BCF23. The establishment of the BCF23 cell line provides a foundation for expanding camel-related research.

Dyslipidemia induced by lipid diet in late gestation donor impact on growth kinetics and in vitro potential differentiation of umbilical cord Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stem cells in goats

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from the umbilical cord (UC) have several attractive properties for clinical use. This study aimed to verify the impact of a lipid-rich diet during late gestation of donor goats on the growth and differentiation of MSCs from UC. From the 100th day of pregnancy to delivery, 22 goats were grouped based on their diet into the donor-lipid (DLD; n = 11) and donor-baseline (DBD; n = 11) diet groups. Diets were isonitrogenous and isoenergetic, differing in fat content (2.8% vs. 6.3% on a dry matter basis). Wharton's jelly (WJ) fragments were cultured. After primary culture, samples of WJ-MSCs were characterized by the expression of CD90, CD73, CD34, CD45, CD105, and Fas genes, mitochondrial activity using MitoTracker (MT) fluorescence probe, and growth kinetics. Population doubling time (PDT) was also determined. WJ-MSCs were differentiated into chondrocytes, adipocytes and osteocytes, and the mineralized area and adipocytes were determined. The lipid diet significantly increased triglyceride and cholesterol levels during pregnancy. The DLD group showed sub-expression of the CD90 gene, a high MT intensity, and a low proliferation rate at the end of the subculture. The mean PDT was 83.9 ± 1.3 h. Mineralized area and lipid droplet stain intensity from osteogenic and adipogenic differentiations, respectively, were greater in DLD. We conclude that in donor goats, dietary dyslipidemia during late pregnancy affects the ability of UC-derived MSCs to express their developmental potential in vitro, thus limiting their possible use for therapeutic purposes.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Studies in the Goat Model for Biomedical Research—A Review of the Scientific Literature

Simple Summary

This review article aims to compile the works published in the scientific literature, over the last two decades, that use the goat as an animal model in preclinical studies using stem cells, alone or associated with biomaterials, for the treatment of injury or disease in divers organ systems. These preclinical studies are performed prior to human clinical trials for the implementation of new medical or surgical therapies in clinical practice. Thus, it appears that, in the area of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, the caprine model is particularly used in studies using stem cells in the musculoskeletal system but, although in a more limited way, also in the field of dermatology, ophthalmology, dentistry, pneumology, cardiology, and urology. It appears that the goat represents a particularly useful animal model for studies related to the locomotor system because of its size, and also because they have a more active behavior than sheep, being more similar to the human species in this aspect. Additionally, the goat knee anatomy and the thickness of the cartilage that covers this joint are closer to that of humans than that of other large animal models commonly used in orthopedic research.

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells, defined by their ability to self-renew, while maintaining the capacity to differentiate into different cellular lineages, presumably from their own germinal layer. MSCs therapy is based on its anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and regenerative potential. Firstly, they can differentiate into the target cell type, allowing them to regenerate the damaged area. Secondly, they have a great immunomodulatory capacity through paracrine effects (by secreting several cytokines and growth factors to adjacent cells) and by cell-to-cell contact, leading to vascularization, cellular proliferation in wounded tissues, and reducing inflammation. Currently, MSCs are being widely investigated for numerous tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Appropriate animal models are crucial for the development and evaluation of regenerative medicine-based treatments and eventual treatments for debilitating diseases with the hope of application in upcoming human clinical trials. Here, we summarize the latest research focused on studying the biological and therapeutic potential of MSCs in the goat model, namely in the fields of orthopedics, dermatology, ophthalmology, dentistry, pneumology, cardiology, and urology fields.

Clinical applications of adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction in veterinary practice

Adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction (AdSVF) comprises a heterogeneous cell population, including the multipotent mesenchymal stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, immune cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and pericytes. As such, multipotent adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AdMSCs), are one of the important components of AdSVF. Commonly used techniques to harvest AdSVF involve enzymatic or non-enzymatic methods. The enzymatic method is considered to be the gold standard technique due to its higher yield. The cellular components of AdSVF can be resuspended in normal saline, platelet-rich plasma, or phosphate-buffered saline to produce a ready-to-use solution. Freshly isolated AdSVF has exhibited promising osteogenic and vasculogenic capacity. AdSVF has already been proven to possess therapeutic potential for osteoarthritis management. It is also an attractive therapeutic option for enhancing wound healing. In addition, the combined use of AdSVF and platelet-rich plasma has an additive stimulatory effect in accelerating wound healing and can be considered an alternative to AdMSC treatment. It is also widely used for managing various orthopaedic conditions in clinical settings and has the potential for regenerating bone, cartilage, and tendons. Autologous AdSVF cells are used along with bone substitutes and other biological factors as an alternative to conventional bone grafting techniques owing to their promising osteogenic and vasculogenic capacity. It can also be used for treating osteonecrosis, meniscus tear, chondromalacia, and tendon injuries in veterinary practice. It has several advantages over in vitro expanded AdMSC, including precluding the need for culturing, reduced risk of cell contamination, and cost-effectiveness, making it ideal for clinical use.

Impact of donor nutritional balance on the growth and development of mesenchymal stem cells from caprine umbilical cord Wharton´s jelly

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from the umbilical cord (UC) have aroused considerable interest. However, little is known about the maternal effect on these cells. The aim of this study was to verify the impact of the nutritional status of donor goats on the growth and differentiation of MSCs from the UC. At parturition, 19 goats were grouped based on their low or high body mass index (low BMI, LBMI, n = 9; and high BMI, HBMI, n = 10). UCs were collected during delivery and Wharton's jelly (WJ) fragments cultured. WJ-MSCs were differentiated into osteocytes, adipocytes, chondrocytes, and the population doubling time (PDT) was determined. Samples of WJ-MSCs were also used to verify the expression of the CD90, CD73, CD34, CD45, and CD105 genes. Media used for WJ-MSC primary cultures were analyzed using near-infrared spectroscopy. The lag phase was 7.5 ± 0.6 days and the entire culture took 26.7 ± 1.3 days, with a cell proliferation rate of 8.500 cells/day. The mean PDT from subculture was 30.0 ± 0.7 h. The CD105 gene was sub-expressed in LBMI, and the spectra of the spent media from the second to fourth day of WJ-MSC primary culture were segregated into negative scores by multivariate analysis. We conclude that, in goats, the nutritional balance of the donor did not affect the in vitro growth of MSCs derived from the UC. However, the molecular profile observed in the low BMI group suggests that the use of MSCs for therapeutic purposes should be considered more carefully.

Small Ruminants and Its Use in Regenerative Medicine: Recent Works and Future Perspectives

Simple Summary

Small ruminants such as sheep and goats have been increasingly used as animal models due to their dimensions, physiology and anatomy identical to those of humans. Their low costs, ease of accommodation, great longevity and easy handling make them advantageous animals to be used in a wide range of research work. Although there is already a lot of scientific literature describing these species, their use still lacks some standardization. The purpose of this review is to summarize the general principles related to the use of small ruminants as animal models for scientific research.

Abstract

Medical and translational scientific research requires the use of animal models as an initial approach to the study of new therapies and treatments, but when the objective is an exploration of translational potentialities, classical models fail to adequately mimic problems in humans. Among the larger animal models that have been explored more intensely in recent decades, small ruminants, namely sheep and goats, have emerged as excellent options. The main advantages associated to the use of these animals in research works are related to their anatomy and dimensions, larger than conventional laboratory animals, but very similar to those of humans in most physiological systems, in addition to their low maintenance and feeding costs, tendency to be docile, long life expectancies and few ethical complications raised in society. The most obvious disadvantages are the significant differences in some systems such as the gastrointestinal, and the reduced amount of data that limits the comparison between works and the validation of the characterization essays. Despite everything, recently these species have been increasingly used as animal models for diseases in different systems, and the results obtained open doors for their more frequent and advantageous use in the future. The purpose of this review is to summarize the general principles related to the use of small ruminants as animal models, with a focus on regenerative medicine, to group the most relevant works and results published recently and to highlight the potentials for the near future in medical research.