Effect of culture medium type on canine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and developmental competence of interspecies cloned embryos

Influence of the Anatomical Site on Adipose Tissue-Derived Stromal Cells' Biological Profile and Osteogenic Potential in Companion Animals

Adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) have generated considerable interest in the field of veterinary medicine, particularly for their potential in therapeutic strategies focused on bone regeneration. These cells possess unique biological characteristics, including their regenerative capacity and their ability to produce bioactive molecules. However, it is crucial to recognize that the characteristics of ADSCs can vary depending on the animal species and the site from which they are derived, such as the subcutaneous and visceral regions (SCAT and VAT, respectively). Thus, the present work aimed to comprehensively review the different traits of ADSCs isolated from diverse anatomical sites in companion animals, i.e., dogs, cats, and horses, in terms of immunophenotype, morphology, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation potential. The findings indicate that the immunophenotype, proliferation, and osteogenic potential of ADSCs differ according to tissue origin and species. Generally, the proliferation rate is higher in VAT-derived ADSCs in dogs and horses, whereas in cats, the proliferation rate appears to be similar in both cells isolated from SCAT and VAT regions. In terms of osteogenic differentiation potential, VAT-derived ADSCs demonstrate the highest capability in cats, whereas SCAT-derived ADSCs exhibit superior potential in horses. Interestingly, in dogs, VAT-derived cells appear to have greater potential than those isolated from SCAT. Within the VAT, ADSCs derived from the falciform ligament and omentum show increased osteogenic potential, compared to cells isolated from other anatomical locations. Consequently, considering these disparities, optimizing isolation protocols becomes pivotal, tailoring them to the specific target species and therapeutic aims, and judiciously selecting the anatomical site for ADSC isolation. This approach holds promise to enhance the efficacy of ADSCs-based bone regenerative therapies.

Stem Cells as Nuclear Donors for Mammalian Cloning

Mammals are routinely cloned by introducing somatic nuclei into enucleated oocytes. Cloning contributes to propagating desired animals, to germplasm conservation efforts, among other applications. A challenge to more broader use of this technology is the relatively low cloning efficiency, which inversely correlates with donor cell differentiation status. Emerging evidence suggests that adult multipotent stem cells improve cloning efficiency, while the greater potential of embryonic stem cells for cloning remains restricted to the mouse. The derivation of pluripotent or totipotent stem cells from livestock and wild species and their association with modulators of epigenetic marks in donor cells should increase cloning efficiency.

Birth of clones of the world's first cloned dog

Animal cloning has gained popularity as a method to produce genetically identical animals or superior animals for research or industrial uses. However, the long-standing question of whether a cloned animal undergoes an accelerated aging process is yet to be answered. As a step towards answering this question, we compared longevity and health of Snuppy, the world’s first cloned dog, and its somatic cell donor, Tai, a male Afghan hound. Briefly, both Snuppy and Tai were generally healthy until both developed cancer to which they succumbed at the ages of 10 and 12 years, respectively. The longevity of both the donor and the cloned dog was close to the median lifespan of Afghan hounds which is reported to be 11.9 years. Here, we report creation of 4 clones using adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from Snuppy as donor cells. Clinical and molecular follow-up of these reclones over their lives will provide us with a unique opportunity to study the health and longevity of cloned animals compared with their cell donors.

New Insights into the Neural Differentiation Potential of Canine Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) can be obtained from different adipose tissue sources within the body. It is an abundant cell pool, easily accessible, suitable for cultivation and expansion in vitro and preparation for therapeutic approaches. Amongst these therapeutic approaches are tissue engineering and nervous system disorders such as spinal cord injuries. For such treatment, ASCs have to be reliably differentiated in to the neuronal direction. Therefore, we investigated the neural differentiation potential of ASCs using protocols with neurogenic inductors such as valproic acid and forskolin, while dog brain tissue served as control. Morphological changes could already be noticed 1 h after neuronal induction. Gene expression analysis revealed that the neuronal markers nestin and βIII-tubulin as well as MAP2 were expressed after induction of neuronal differentiation. Additionally, the expression of the neurotrophic factors NGF, BDNF and GDNF was determined. Some of the neuronal markers and neurotrophic factors were already expressed in undifferentiated cells. Our findings point out that ASCs can reliably be differentiated into the neuronal lineage; therefore, these cells are a suitable cell source for cell transplantation in disorders of the central nervous system. Follow-up studies would show the clinical benefit of these cells after transplantation.

Oocyte maturation-related gene expression in the canine oviduct, cumulus cells, and oocytes and effect of co-culture with oviduct cells on in vitro maturation of oocytes

PURPOSE

In contrast to most other mammals, canine oocytes are ovulated in an immature state and undergo oocyte maturation within the oviduct during the estrus stage. The aim of the study was to investigate whether oviduct cells from the estrus stage affect the maturation of oocytes and show gene expression patterns related to oocyte maturation.

METHODS

We analyzed MAPK1/3, SMAD2/3, and BMP6/15 expression in oviduct cells, cumulus cells, and oocytes from anestrus, estrus, and diestrus stages. Next, we investigated the effect of co-culture with oviduct cells derived from the estrus stage upon in vitro maturation (IVM) of canine oocytes.

RESULTS

There was significantly higher MAPK1/3 (1.42 ± 0.02 and 2.23 ± 0.06), SMAD2/3 (0.77 ± 0.03 and 2.39 ± 0.07), and BMP15 (2.21 ± 0.16) expression in oviduct cells at the estrus stage (P < 0.05). In cumulus cells, MAPK1 (1.26 ± 0.07), SMAD2/3 (0.82 ± 0.01, 1.04 ± 0.01), and BMP6 (13.09 ± 0.11) expression was significantly higher in the estrus stage (P < 0.05). In oocytes, significant upregulation of MAPK1/3 (14,960 ± 3121 and 1668 ± 253.4), SMAD3 (774.6 ± 79.62), and BMP6 (8500 ± 895.4) expression was found in the estrus stage (P < 0.05). After 72 h of IVM culture, a significantly higher maturation rate was observed in oocytes co-cultured with oviduct cells (10.0 ± 1.5%) than in the control group (3.2 ± 1.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrate that oviduct cells at the estrus stage highly expressed MAPK1/3, SMAD2/3, and BMP15. Furthermore, canine oviduct cells from the estrus stage enhance the culture environment for canine oocyte maturation.

Adipose-derived stem cells in veterinary medicine: characterization and therapeutic applications

Mesenchymal stem cells, considered one of the most promising cell types for therapeutic applications due to their capacity to secrete regenerative bioactive molecules, are present in all tissues. Stem cells derived from the adipose tissue have been increasingly used for cell therapy in humans and animals, both as freshly isolated, stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells, or as cultivated adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). ASCs have been characterized in different animal species for proliferation, differentiation potential, immunophenotype, gene expression, and potential for tissue engineering. Whereas canine and equine ASCs are well studied, feline cells are still poorly known. Many companies around the world offer ASC therapy for dogs, cats, and horses, although in most countries these activities are not yet controlled by regulatory agencies. This is the first study to review the characterization and clinical use of SVF and ASCs in spontaneously occurring diseases in veterinary patients. Although a relatively large number of studies investigating ASC therapy in induced lesions are available in the literature, a surprisingly small number of reports describe ASC therapy for naturally affected dogs, cats, and horses. A total of seven studies were found with dogs, only two studies in cats, and four in horses. Taken as a whole, the results do not allow a conclusion on the effect of this therapy, due to the generally small number of patients included, diversity of cell populations used, and lack of adequate controls. Further controlled studies are clearly needed to establish the real potential of ASC in veterinary medicine.