A mouse bone marrow stromal cell line with skeletal stem cell characteristics to study osteogenesis in vitro and in vivo

Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy and Other Novel Treatment Approaches for Premature Ovarian Insufficiency

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a condition characterized by amenorrhea, hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, estrogen deficiency, and reduced follicle counts leading to infertility under the age of 40. POI occurs in approximately 1-3% of women in the general population. Evaluation is warranted when the diagnosis of POI is made to rule out underlying etiologies, which could be multifactorial. This review serves to cover the novel treatment approaches reported in the literature.

Combined Use of Autologous Bone Marrow-derived Stem Cells and Platelet-rich Plasma for Ovarian Rejuvenation in Poor Responders

Background:

The management of poor responders is still a challenge in modern-assisted reproductive technology. Several researches are showing encouraging results with autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells (ABMDSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) individually. Hence, we decided to study the synergistic effect of ABMDSCs with PRP.

Aims and Objective:

The aim of the study was to assess the safety and efficacy of intraovarian instillation of ABMDSCs combined with PRP in poor responders.

Design:

This was an interventional pilot study. Study Period: January 2017 to January 2019.

Materials and Methods:

We designed a pilot study using Patient-oriented Strategies Encompassing IndividualizeD Oocyte Number (POSEIDON) Group 3 and 4 poor responder patients (n = 20). The study group underwent laparoscopic/transvaginal intraovarian instillation of ABMDSCs combined with PRP and the outcome was analyzed – primary outcome – antral follicular count (AFC) and mature MII oocytes and secondary outcome – Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels and number of Grade A and B embryos frozen on day 3. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Pearson correlation were used for the statistical analysis and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

After 6 weeks of intraovarian instillation ABMDSCs mixed with PRP, patients were reassessed for AFC and AMH and their response to subsequent controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) cycle was observed. Statistically significant improvement was seen in AFC, MII oocytes, and Grade A and Grade B embryos. AMH was also increased in some patients, but the result was not statistically significant.

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that intraovarian instillation of ABMDSCs combined with PRP is safe and it optimized the recruitment of existing dormant primordial follicles to improve oocyte yield and hence the number and quality of embryos after COS in POSEIDON Group 3 and 4 poor responders.

miR-200a contributes to the migration of BMSCs induced by the secretions of E. faecalis via FOXJ1/NFκB/MMPs axis

Background

Upon migrating to the injured sites, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) play critical roles in the repair of bone lesion caused by chronic apical periodontitis. Emerging evidences have shown that Enterococcus faecalis is always associated with apical periodontitis, especially refractory apical periodontitis. But the mechanism underlying how Enterococcus faecalis affects the migration of BMSCs remains unclear.

Methods

The effects of Enterococcus faecalis supernatants on the migration of BMSCs were determined by transwell migration assays. miRNA sequencing was performed to detect the significantly differentially expressed miRNAs of BMSCs. Proteomics analysis was used to detect the protein expression alterations of BMSCs. Luciferase report assays were deployed to verify the targets of miRNA. Western blot analysis was performed to examine the expressions of matrix metalloproteinases-3, matrix metalloproteinases-9, Forkhead Box Protein J1 (FOXJ1), and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB). The activations of NFκB were detected by luciferase assays with NFκBluc reporter.

Results

We found that Enterococcus faecalis supernatants could promote the migration of BMSCs. The upregulation of miR-200a-3p in this process contributed to BMSC migration through downregulating its target Forkhead Box Protein J1. Moreover, FOXJ1/ NFκB axis was found to regulate matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in this process.

Conclusions

These results above suggest that miR-200a contributes to the migration of BMSCs induced by the secretions of E. faecalis via FOXJ1/NFκB/MMPs axis.

Premature ovarian failure and tissue engineering

Premature ovarian failure (POF) usually happens former to the age of 40 and affects the female physiological state premenopausal period. In this condition, ovaries stop working long before the expected menopausal time. Of diagnostic symptoms of the disease, one can mention amenorrhea and hypoestrogenism. The cause of POF in most cases is idiopathic; however, cancer therapy may also cause POF. Commonly utilized therapies such as hormone therapy, in-vitro activation, and regenerative medicine are the most well-known treatments for POF. Hence, these therapies may be associated with some complications. The aim of the present study is to discuss the beneficial effects of tissue engineering for fertility rehabilitation in patients with POF as a newly emerging therapy.

The therapeutic potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in premature ovarian failure

With the development of regenerative medicine, a variety of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are increasingly considered for the treatment of premature ovarian failure (POF). Reportedly, bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs) improve the ovarian reserve, which mainly depends on homing and paracrine activities. Furthermore, paracrine factors secreted by these stem cells play an important role in ovarian recovery. Relevant studies indicate that BMSC transplantation has some positive effects on the treatment of POF in animals, but BMSCs are not widely applied in clinical therapy. Clinical trials are ongoing despite the fact that several patients experiencing BMSC transplantation recover their normal menstrual cycles and even give birth to babies. In this review, we discuss the possible therapeutic mechanisms of BMSCs for POF, migration, antiapoptosis, antifibrosis, angiogenesis, anti-inflammation, immunoregulation, and oxidative stress, which provide the theoretical basis for further study and clinical therapy.

Integrated data analysis identifies potential inducers and pathways during the endothelial differentiation of bone-marrow stromal cells by DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine

Bone-Marrow Stromal Cells (BMSCs)-derived vascular endothelial cells (VECs) is regarded as an important therapeutic strategy for spinal cord injury, disc degeneration, cerebral ischemic disease and diabetes. The change in DNA methylation level is essential for stem cell differentiation. However, the DNA methylation related mechanisms underlying the endothelial differentiation of BMSCs are not well understood. In this study, DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) significantly elevated the endothelial markers expression (CD31/PECAM1, CD105/ENG, eNOS and VE-cadherin), as well as promoted the capacity of angiogenesis on Matrigel. The result of Alexa 488-Ac-LDL uptake assay indicated that the differentiation ratio of BMSCs into VECs was 68.7% in 5-azaz-dC induced differentiation. And then we screened differentiation inducers with altered expression patterns and DNA methylation levels in four important families (VEGF, ANG, FGF and ETS). By integrating these data, five endothelial differentiation inducers (VEGFA, ANGPT2, FGF2, FGF9 and ETS1) which were directly upregulated by 5-aza-dC and five indirect factors (FGF1, FGF3, ETS2, ETV1 and ETV4) were identified. These data suggested that 5-aza-dC is an excellent chemical molecule for BMSCs differentiation into functional VECs and also provided essential clues for DNA methylation related signaling during 5-aza-dC induced endothelial differentiation of BMSCs.

Antitumor Activity of a Mesenchymal Stem Cell Line Stably Secreting a Tumor-Targeted TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand Fusion Protein

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are currently exploited as gene delivery systems for transient in situ expression of cancer therapeutics. As an alternative to the prevailing viral expression, we here describe a murine MSC line stably expressing a therapeutic protein for up to 42 passages, yet fully maintaining MSC features. Because of superior antitumoral activity of hexavalent TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) formats and the advantage of a tumor-targeted action, we choose expression of a dimeric EGFR-specific diabody single-chain TRAIL (Db-scTRAIL) as a model. The bioactivity of Db-scTRAIL produced from an isolated clone (MSC.TRAIL) was revealed from cell death induction in Colo205 cells treated with either culture supernatants from or cocultured with MSC.TRAIL. In vivo, therapeutic activity of MSC.TRAIL was shown upon peritumoral injection in a Colo205 xenograft tumor model. Best antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo was observed upon combined treatment of MSC.TRAIL with bortezomib. Importantly, in vivo combination treatment did not cause apparent hepatotoxicity, weight loss, or behavioral changes. The development of well characterized stocks of stable drug-producing human MSC lines has the potential to establish standardized protocols of cell-based therapy broadly applicable in cancer treatment.

The New Role of CD163 in the Differentiation of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells into Vascular Endothelial-Like Cells

Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) can differentiate into vascular endothelial cells (VECs). It is regarded as an important solution to cure many diseases, such as ischemic diseases and diabetes. However, the mechanisms underlying BMSC differentiation into VECs are not well understood. Recent reports showed that CD163 expression was associated with angiogenesis. In this study, overexpression of CD163 in BMSCs elevated the protein level of the endothelial-associated markers CD31, Flk-1, eNOS, and VE-cadherin, significantly increased the proportion of Alexa Fluor 488-acetylated-LDL-positive VECs, and promoted angiogenesis on Matrigel. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CD163 acted downstream homeobox containing 1 (Hmbox1) and upstream fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2). These data suggested that CD163 was involved in Hmbox1/CD163/FGF-2 signal pathway in BMSC differentiation into vascular endothelial-like cells. We found a new signal pathway and a novel target for further investigating the gene control of BMSC differentiation into a VEC lineage.

A perfusion bioreactor system efficiently generates cell-loaded bone substitute materials for addressing critical size bone defects

Critical size bone defects and non‐union fractions are still challenging to treat. Cell‐loaded bone substitutes have shown improved bone ingrowth and bone formation. However, a lack of methods for homogenously colonizing scaffolds limits the maximum volume of bone grafts. Additionally, therapy robustness is impaired by heterogeneous cell populations after graft generation. Our aim was to establish a technology for generating grafts with a size of 10.5 mm in diameter and 25 mm of height, and thus for grafts suited for treatment of critical size bone defects. Therefore, a novel tailor‐made bioreactor system was developed, allowing standardized flow conditions in a porous poly(L‐lactide‐co‐caprolactone) material. Scaffolds were seeded with primary human mesenchymal stem cells derived from four different donors. In contrast to static experimental conditions, homogenous cell distributions were accomplished under dynamic culture. Additionally, culture in the bioreactor system allowed the induction of osteogenic lineage commitment after one week of culture without addition of soluble factors. This was demonstrated by quantitative analysis of calcification and gene expression markers related to osteogenic lineage. In conclusion, the novel bioreactor technology allows efficient and standardized conditions for generating bone substitutes that are suitable for the treatment of critical size defects in humans.