Effect and mechanism of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in treating allergic rhinitis in mice

The role of cells and their derivatives in otorhinolaryngologic diseases treatment

Otolaryngology is an important specialty in the field of surgery that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of the ear, nose, throat, trachea, as well as related anatomical structures. Various otolaryngological disorders are difficult to treat using established pharmacological and surgical approaches. The advent of molecular and cellular therapies led to further progress in this respect. This article reviews the therapeutic strategies of using stem cells, immune cells, and chondrocytes in otorhinolaryngology. As the most widely recognized cell derivatives, exosomes were also systematically reviewed for their therapeutic potential in head and neck cancer, otitis media, and allergic rhinitis. Finally, we summarize the limitations of stem cells, chondrocytes, and exosomes, as well as possible solutions, and provide an outlook on the future direction of cell- and derivative-based therapies in otorhinolaryngology, to offer a theoretical foundation for the clinical translation of this therapeutic modality.

Single cell RNA-seq identifies a FOS/JUN-related monocyte signature associated with clinical response of heart failure patients with mesenchymal stem cell therapy

Heart failure (HF) is a serious global health issue that demands innovative treatment approaches. In this study, we collected samples from 4 HF patients before and after MSC therapy and performed scRNA-seq. After the MSC therapy, the proportion of CD14+ monocytes decreased significantly in both the treatment response and non-response groups, with a more pronounced decrease in the treatment response group. The therapy-response and non-response group were clearly separated in the UMAP plot, while the CD14+ monocytes in the therapy-response group before and after MSC therapy were very similar, but there were significant differences in the non-response group. By further performing NMF analysis, we identified 11 subsets of CD14+ monocytes. More importantly, we identified a therapy-related CD14+ monocyte subpopulation. The predictive model based on CD14+ monocytes constructed by machine learning algorithms showed good performance. Moreover, genes such as FOS were highly enriched in the therapy-related CD14+ monocytes. The SCENIC analysis revealed potential regulatory factors for this treatment-responsive CD14+ monocytes, and FOS/JUN were identified as potential core indicators/regulators. Finally, HF patients were divided into three groups by NMF analysis, and the therapy-responsive CD14+ monocyte characteristics were differentially activated among the three groups. Together, this study identifies treatment-responsive CD14+ monocytes as a crucial biomarker for assessing the suitability of MSC therapy and determining which HF patients could benefit from it. This provides new clues for further investigating the therapeutic mechanisms of MSC therapy, offering beneficial insights for personalized treatment and improving prognosis in HF patients.

Extracellular vesicles from adipose stem cells ameliorate allergic rhinitis in mice by immunomodulatory

Background

Human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hADSCs) exert potent immunosuppressive effects in the allogeneic transplantation treatment. In mouse model of allergic rhinitis (AR), ADSCs partially ameliorated AR. However, no study has evaluated the potential therapeutic effects of hADSC-derived extracellular vesicles (hADSC-EVs) on AR.

Methods

Female BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) to induce AR. One day after the last nasal drop, each group received phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or hADSC-EVs treatment. Associated symptoms and biological changes were then assessed.

Results

hADSC-EV treatment significantly alleviated nasal symptoms, and reduced inflammatory infiltration. Serum levels of OVA-specific IgE, interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-γ were all significantly reduced. The mRNA levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ in the spleen also changed accordingly. The T helper (Th)1/Th2 cell ratio increased. The treatment efficacy index of hADSC-EV was higher than that of all human-derived MSCs in published reports on MSC treatment of AR. ADSC-EVs exhibited a greater therapeutic index in most measures when compared to our previous treatment involving ADSCs.

Conclusion

These results demonstrated that hADSC-EVs could ameliorate the symptoms of AR by modulating cytokine secretion and Th1/Th2 cell balance. hADSC-EVs could potentially be a viable therapeutic strategy for AR. Further animal studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and to optimize potential clinical protocols.

Long-term hypoxic hUCMSCs-derived extracellular vesicles alleviates allergic rhinitis through triggering immunotolerance of their VEGF-mediated inhibition of dendritic cells maturation

BACKGROUND

Extensions of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro may lead to the loss of their biological functions. However, hypoxic culturation has been shown to enhance the proliferation, survival, and immunomodulatory capacity of MSCs.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the effects of long-term hypoxic cultivation on the properties of human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (hUCMSCs) and the therapeutic effects of their extracellular vesicles (EVs) in allergic rhinitis (AR).

METHODS

Proliferation, senescence, telomerase activity and multipotent properties of hUCMSCs were analyzed under long-term culturation of hypoxia (1%) or normoxia (21%), and the therapeutic effects of their conditional medium (CM) and EVs were evaluated in OVA-induced AR mice. Effects of hypoxia-EVs (Hy-EVs) or normoxia-EVs (No-EVs) on human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) were investigated, and the possible mechanisms of Hy-EVs in induction of immunotolerance were further explored.

RESULTS

Long-term hypoxia significantly promoted the proliferation, inhibited cell senescence, maintained the multipotent status of hUCMSCs. Hy-CM and Hy-EVs showed better therapeutic effects in AR mice compared to No-EVs, seen as improvement of AR-related behaviors such as rubbing and sneezing, and attenuation of inflammation in nasal tissues. In addition, Hy-EVs significantly reduced the expressions of HLA-DR, CD80, CD40, and CD83 induced by OVA plus LPS in DCs, inhibiting the maturation of DCs. Furthermore, we observed that VEGF was remarkably enriched in Hy-EVs, but not in No-EVs, and the inhibition of DCs maturation was markedly neutralized by VEGF antibodies, suggesting that VEGF derived from Hy-EVs was responsible for the inhibition of DCs maturation.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that long-term hypoxia significantly promoted the proliferation, inhibited cell senescence, maintained the multipotent status of hUCMSCs, and hypoxia treated hUCMSCs-derived EVs enhanced their therapeutic effects in AR mice through VEGF-mediated inhibition of DCs maturation.

Effect of mesenchymal stem cell therapy in animal models of allergic rhinitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a worldwide problem that affects people of all ages, impairing patients' physical and mental health and causing great social expenditure. Animal studies have suggested the potential efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in treating AR. Our meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of MSC therapy in animal models of AR by pooling animal studies.

METHODS

The search was executed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, OVID, and the Cochrane Library for relevant studies up to February 2023. The applicable data were extracted from the eligible studies, and the risk of bias was assessed for each study. The meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager (version 5.4.1) and Stata (version 15.1).

RESULTS

A total of 12 studies were included in the final analysis. Compared to the model control group, the MSC therapy group presented lower frequency of sneezing [(Standardized mean difference (SMD) -1.87, 95% CI -2.30 to -1.43)], nasal scratching (SMD -1.41, 95% CI -1.83 to -0.99), and overall nasal symptoms (SMD -1.88, 95% CI -3.22 to -0.54). There were also remarkable reductions after transplantation with MSCs in the levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) (SMD -1.25, 95% CI -1.72 to -0.79), allergen-specific IgE (SMD -1.79, 95% CI -2.25 to -1.32), and allergen-specific immunoglobulin G1 (SMD -1.29, 95% CI -2.03) in serum, as well as the count of eosinophils (EOS) in nasal mucosa (SMD -3.48, 95% CI -4.48 to -2.49). In terms of cytokines, MSC therapy significantly decreased both protein and mRNA levels of T helper cell 2 (Th2)-related cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13.

CONCLUSION

MSC therapy has the potential to be an effective clinical treatment for AR patients by attenuating Th2 immune responses, reducing secretion of IgE and nasal infiltration of EOS, and consequently alleviating nasal symptoms.

Study on the Mechanism of Allergic Rhinitis Based on the Expression of FIB, PCT, hs-CRP, and Th17/Treg-IL10/IL-17 Axis Balance

BACKGROUND

The pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis (AR) is ambiguous, while it is clear that various immune cells and cytokines play crucial roles in its occurrence and development.

AIM

To investigate the effect of exogenous interleukin-10 (IL-10) on the expression of fibrinogen (FIB), procalcitonin (PCT), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and Th17/Treg-IL10/IL-17 axis balance in the nasal mucosa of rats with AR.

METHOD

In this study, 48 female-specific pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: blank control group, AR group, and IL-10 intervention group. The AR model was established in the AR group and IL-10 group. The rats in the control group were treated with normal saline; the rats in the AR group were given 20 μL of saline containing 50 μg of ovalbumin (OVA) every day. The rats in the IL-10 intervention group were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mL of 40 pg/kg IL-10 and provided with OVA. The IL-10 intervention group was composed of mice with AR that received IL-10. The behavior of nasal allergic symptoms (such as nasal itching, sneezing, and runny nose) and the hematoxylin and eosin staining of nasal mucosa were observed. The levels of FIB, PCT, hs-CRP, IgE, and OVA sIgE in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of Treg and Th17 cells in serum were detected by flow cytometry. The protein levels of TGF-β, IL-10, and IL-17 in nasal mucosa were detected by the Western-blot method.

RESULTS

The scores of snots, nasal itching, and sneezing in the AR group were significantly higher than those in the control group, while the scores of the above symptoms in the IL-10 intervention group were lower than those in the AR group. The levels of FIB, PCT, hs-CRP, IgE, and OVA sIgE in serum and the protein levels of IL-10 and IL-17 in the nasal mucosa in the AR group were higher than those in the blank control group. Meanwhile, the levels of FIB, PCT, hs-CRP, IgE, and OVA sIgE in serum and IL-10 and IL-17 protein in the nasal mucosa in the IL-10 group were lower than those in the AR group.

CONCLUSION

IL-10 can relieve the allergy of AR rats by affecting the expression of FIB, PCT, and hs-CRP, as well as the balance of the Th17/Treg-IL10/IL-17 axis in the nasal mucosa of AR rats.

Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth Attenuate Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms in Mice through Modulating Immune Balance and Skin Barrier Function

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin inflammatory disease associated with immune abnormalities and disrupted skin barrier function. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been suggested as an alternative therapeutic option in AD. Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) are a unique postnatal stem cell population with high immunomodulatory properties. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of SHEDs on AD in the BALB/c mouse model induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). SHEDs were administrated intravenously or subcutaneously, and clinical severity, histopathological findings, skin barrier function, and organ indexes were evaluated. Skin tissue cytokine mRNA levels and serum cytokine protein levels were further analysed. SHED administration significantly alleviated AD clinical severity, including dermatitis scores, ear thickness, scratching behaviour, and infiltration of mast cells. In addition, disrupted skin barrier function and enlarged spleens were restored by SHED administration. Further, SHED treatment reduced the levels of IgE, IgG1, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in the serum and the modulated expression of Th1-, Th2-, and Th17-associated cytokines in skin lesions. In conclusion, SHEDs attenuated AD-like skin lesions in mice by modulating the immune balance and skin barrier function. SHEDs could be a potential new treatment agent for AD.

Large-Scale Expansion of Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Stirred Suspension Bioreactor Enabled by Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling

Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) hold great potential to generate novel and curative cell therapy products. However, the current large-scale cultivation of hUCMSCs is based on empirical geometry-dependent methods, limiting the generation of high-quantity and high-quality hUCMSCs for clinical therapy. Herein, we develop a novel scale-up strategy based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to effectively expand the hUCMSCs in a 3D tank bioreactor. Using a standardized hUCMSCs line on microcarriers, we successfully translated and expanded the hUCMSCs from a 200 mL spinner flask to a 1.5 L computer-controlled bioreactor by matching the shear environment and suspending the microcarrier. Experimental results revealed that the batch-cultured hUCMSCs in bioreactors with an agitation speed of 40 rpm shared a more favorable growth and physiological state, similar to that run at 45 rpm in a 200 mL spinner flask, showing comparability in both culture systems. Notably, the maximum cell density reached up to 27.3 × 10⁵ cells/mL in fed-batch culture, 2.9 folds of that of batch culture and 20.2 times of seeding cells. As such, efficient process optimization and scale-up expansion of hUCMSCs were achieved in the microcarrier-based bioreactor system by the developed CFD simulation strategy, which provided an alternative toolbox to generate massive and standardized curative cell therapy products.

Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improve TGF-β, α-SMA and Collagen on Erectile Dysfunction in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Background

A Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the well-known comorbidities in males with diabetes mellitus (DM), whose pathogenesis might be induced by dysregulation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells. UC-MSCs are multipotent cells that attract considerable interest due to immunoregulatory properties and might be a potential strategy to regulate and recover the functional cells and tissues, including tissue improvement in DMED.

Objective

This study aims to determine the efficacy of UC-MSCs in improving the erectile function of DMED rats through analyzing the expression of TGF-β, α-SMA, and collagen.

Methods

Total number of 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats (6 to 8 weeks old) were randomly divided into four groups (negative control group, positive control group, T1 group, and T2 group). After 16 h fast, 24 rats were randomly selected and intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin to induce DM. At 8 weeks after STZ injection, rats with DMED were identified by unresponsive erectile stimulation within 30 min. PC group received 500 μL; T1 rats treated with 500 μL PBS containing 1x106 UC-MSCs; T2 rats treated with 500 μL PBS containing 3x106 UC-MSCs. After MSCs treatment, the rats were sacrificed and the corpus cavernosum tissues were prepared for histological observations.

Results

This study resulted in the administration of UC-MSCs could downregulate the expression of TGF-β, α-SMA, and collagen leading to the improvement of DMED.

Conclusion

UC-MSCs improve the expression of TGF-β, α-SMA, and collagen on erectile dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The Role of Cord Blood in the Regulation of the Cellular and Humoral Link of Immunity in Experimental Atopic Dermatitis

Background. Atopic dermatitis (AD) as one of the most common diseases of autoimmune genesis in the structure of dermatological practice, is characterized by itching, dryness, thickening of the skin, characteristic rashes. The drugs of choice in the treatment of AD are steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, the development of unwanted side effects is a serious problem attributed to using hormone therapy. The search for effective methods of treating AD is an urgent task of medicine and in particular dermatology. At the same time, there is an obvious need for the participation in the solution of this problem also of specialists-immunologists working in the field of application of cell therapy drugs, acting on various pathogenetic links of the disease. The development of new or optimization of existing methods of treating AD is the urgent task facing them. Objective. Evaluation of the immunocorrective effect of lyophilized (lHCBL) and cryopreserved human cord blood leucoconcetrate (cHCBL) on a AD model. Methods. The experiments were carried out on 6-month-old Wistar rats. Upon induction of AD, the inflammation focus was formed on the rat's back (9–10 cm2) by daily rubbing in a 5% alcohol-acetone solution of dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) for 21 days. cHCBL and lHCBL were injected intraperitoneally, 0.5 ml at a dose of 5´106 cells in one day after the final DNCB treatment. The adhesive and phagocytic activity of the cells of the peritoneal cavity, the level of circulating immune complexes, the population and subpopulation of lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD16+, CD4+CD25+), the immunoregulatory index of lymphocytes, the concentration of immunoglobulins in the blood serum were determined. Results. For AD induced by DNCB, systemic changes in the immune status are characteristic, which is expressed by changes in the parameters of cellular and humoral immunity. The most fundamental changes in cell subpopulations in spleen of rats with AD were revealed: a decrease in the number of total T-lymphocytes and their two main subpopulations (CD4+ and CD8+ cells). Against this background, changes were noted in the monocytic-phagocytic and humoral systems of immunity. The paper shows the effectiveness of the use of cHCBL and lHCBL in the correction of pathological manifestations of experimental AD. On the background of treatment, the features of the immunocorrective effect of each of the drugs were noted. Thus, when assessing intergroup values, a more pronounced increase in T-reg was revealed in rats of the 5th group – 3.9 [3.8; 4.0] versus 3.2 [3.0; 3.3] in the 4th group (P < 0.01); IgA level – 1.6 [1.5; 1.7] versus 1.3 [1.2; 1.4] (P < 0.01). Conclusions. Thus, lHCBL exhibits immunocorrective activity in the treatment of experimental AD, surpassing in some parameters the activity of сHCBL, which is promising for its use in clinical practice.

Achievements and Challenges in Transplantation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Otorhinolaryngology

Otorhinolaryngology enrolls head and neck surgery in various tissues such as ear, nose, and throat (ENT) that govern different activities such as hearing, breathing, smelling, production of vocal sounds, the balance, deglutition, facial animation, air filtration and humidification, and articulation during speech, while absence of these functions can lead to high morbidity and even mortality. Conventional therapies for head and neck damaged tissues include grafts, transplants, and artificial materials, but grafts have limited availability and cause morbidity in the donor site. To improve these limitations, regenerative medicine, as a novel and rapidly growing field, has opened a new therapeutic window in otorhinolaryngology by using cell transplantation to target the healing and replacement of injured tissues. There is a high risk of rejection and tumor formation for transplantation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs); mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) lack these drawbacks. They have easy expansion and antiapoptotic properties with a wide range of healing and aesthetic functions that make them a novel candidate in otorhinolaryngology for craniofacial defects and diseases and hold immense promise for bone tissue healing; even the tissue sources and types of MSCs, the method of cell introduction and their preparation quality can influence the final outcome in the injured tissue. In this review, we demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of MSCs, from different sources, to be safely used for cell-based therapies in otorhinolaryngology, while their achievements and challenges have been described too.