Effects of bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) on adipocyte differentiation from mouse adipose-derived stem cells

Feasibility of adipose-derived therapies for hair regeneration: Insights based on signaling interplay and clinical overview

Dermal white adipose tissue (dWAT) is a dynamic component of the skin and closely interacts with the hair follicle. Interestingly, dWAT envelops the hair follicle during anagen and undergoes fluctuations in volume throughout the hair cycle. dWAT-derived extracellular vesicles can significantly regulate the hair cycle, and this provides a theoretical basis for utilizing adipose tissue as a feasible clinical strategy to treat hair loss. However, the amount and depth of the available literature are far from enough to fully elucidate the prominent role of dWAT in modulating the hair growth cycle. This review starts by investigating the hair cycle-coupled dWAT remodeling and the reciprocal signaling interplay underneath. Then, it summarizes the current literature and assesses the advantages and limitations of clinical research utilizing adipose-derived therapies for hair regeneration.

Irisin Promotes Osteogenesis by Modulating Oxidative Stress and Mitophagy through SIRT3 Signaling under Diabetic Conditions

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulate in the bone tissue of patients with diabetes mellitus, resulting in oxidative stress, poor bone healing, or regeneration. Irisin, a novel exercise-induced myokine, is involved in the regulation of bone metabolism. However, the effects of irisin on adipose-derived stem cell (ASC) osteogenic differentiation and bone healing under diabetic conditions remain poorly understood. ASCs were obtained from inguinal fat of Sprague-Dawley rats and treated with different concentrations of AGEs and irisin. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and osteogenic differentiation abilities of ASCs were detected. To explore the regulatory role of sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), ASCs were transfected with lentivirus-mediated SIRT3 overexpression or knockdown vectors. Next, we investigated mitochondrial functions, mitophagy, and mitochondrial biogenesis in different groups. Moreover, SOD2 acetylation and potential signaling pathways were assessed. Additionally, a diabetic rat model was used to evaluate the effect of irisin on bone healing in calvarial critical-sized defects (CSDs) in vivo. Our results showed that irisin incubation mitigated the inhibitory effects of AGEs on ASCs by increasing cell viability and promoting osteogenesis. Moreover, irisin modulated mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular ROS levels, mitochondrial O₂^·− status, ATP generation, complex I and IV activities, mitophagy, and mitochondrial biogenesis via a SIRT3-mediated pathway under AGEs exposure. Furthermore, in calvarial CSDs of diabetic rats, transplantation of gels encapsulating irisin-pretreated ASCs along with irisin largely enhanced bone healing. These findings suggest that irisin attenuates AGE-induced ASC dysfunction through SIRT3-mediated maintenance of oxidative stress homeostasis and regulation of mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis. Thus, our studies shed new light on the role of irisin in promoting the ASC osteogenesis and targeting SIRT3 as a novel therapeutic intervention strategy for bone regeneration under diabetic conditions.

Perivascular adipose-derived exosomes reduce macrophage foam cell formation through miR-382-5p and the BMP4-PPARγ-ABCA1/ABCG1 pathways

Background Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) releases exosomes (EXOs) to regulate vascular homeostasis. PVAT-derived EXOs reduce macrophage foam cell formation, but the underlying molecular mechanism has yet to be fully elucidated. We hypothesize that PVAT release miRNA through EXOs and regulate the expression of cholesterol transporter of macrophages, thereby reducing foam cell formation. Methods and results Through RT-qPCR, we identified that miR-382-5p, which was expressed at lower levels in PVAT-EXOs from coronary atherosclerotic heart disease patients than healthy individuals, was expressed at higher levels in wild-type C57BL/6 J mouse aortic PVAT-EXOs than in subcutaneous adipose tissue-derived EXOs. We explored macrophage lipid accumulation through oil red O staining, assessed cholesterol uptake and efflux, and verified cholesterol transporter expression. We found that transfection with a miR-382-5p inhibitor offset PVAT-EXO-related reductions in macrophage foam cell formation and increases in cholesterol efflux mediated by ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABGA1). In addition, bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) pretreatment and si-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) transfection showed that BMP4-PPARγ participated in PVAT-EXO-mediated upregulation of the cholesterol efflux transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1. Conclusions PVAT-EXOs reduce macrophage foam cell formation through miR-382-5p- and BMP4-PPARγ-mediated upregulation of the cholesterol efflux transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1. This finding suggests a promising strategy for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.

Osteogenic Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells: From Bench to Clinics

In addition to mesenchymal stem cells, adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (ASCs) are an attractive source for a large variety of cell-based therapies. One of their most important potential applications is related to the regeneration of bone tissue thanks to their capacity to differentiate in bone cells. However, this requires a proper control of their osteogenic differentiation, which depends not only on the initial characteristics of harvested cells but also on the conditions used for their culture. In this review, we first briefly describe the preclinical and clinical trials using ASCs for bone regeneration and present the quantitative parameters used to characterize the osteogenic differentiation of ASCs. We then focus on the soluble factors influencing the osteogenic differentiation of ACS, including the steroid hormones and various growth factors, notably the most osteoinductive ones, the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Impact statement Adipose-derived stromal/stem cells are reviewed for their use in bone regeneration.

Effects of adiponectin on osteoclastogenesis from mouse bone marrow-derived monocytes

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of adiponectin on bone marrow-derived monocytes (BMMs) in the process of osteoclastogenesis. Primary BMMs derived from the mouse bone marrow were cultured, which were then treated with different concentrations of adiponectin and macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF). Cell viability was determined by measuring the absorbance after 24 h with Cell Counting Kit-8 reagent. BMM cells treated with adiponectin and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) were induced and differentiated to mature osteoclasts for 1 week, and then stained with tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). The number of osteoclasts was evaluated under light microscopy. The expression of adiponectin in BMMs at the gene and protein levels was further assessed with reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. The cellular proliferation experiment demonstrated that the optical density value decreased gradually with an increase of adiponectin concentration, with statistically significant differences detected among groups. In addition, the number of osteoclasts in the adiponectin-treated group was significantly reduced compared with that in the control group. Adiponectin expression was confirmed in BMMs at both the protein and mRNA levels. In conclusion, the present data demonstrated that adiponectin has a significant inhibitory effect on the osteoclast differentiation and proliferation of BMMs, suggesting a novel strategy for preventing osteoporosis.

Platelet-Rich Plasma, Adipose Tissue, and Scar Modulation

Level of Evidence: 4.

BMP signaling orchestrates a transcriptional network to control the fate of mesenchymal stem cells in mice

Signaling pathways are used reiteratively in different developmental processes yet produce distinct cell fates through specific downstream transcription factors. In this study, we used tooth root development as a model with which to investigate how the BMP signaling pathway regulates transcriptional complexes to direct the fate determination of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). We first identified the MSC population supporting mouse molar root growth as Gli1⁺ cells. Using a Gli1-driven Cre-mediated recombination system, our results provide the first in vivo evidence that BMP signaling activity is required for the odontogenic differentiation of MSCs. Specifically, we identified the transcription factors Pax9, Klf4, Satb2 and Lhx8 as being downstream of BMP signaling and expressed in a spatially restricted pattern that is potentially involved in determining distinct cellular identities within the dental mesenchyme. Finally, we found that overactivation of one key transcription factor, Klf4, which is associated with the odontogenic region, promotes odontogenic differentiation of MSCs. Collectively, our results demonstrate the functional significance of BMP signaling in regulating MSC fate during root development and shed light on how BMP signaling can achieve functional specificity in regulating diverse organ development.

Impacts of Alternative Splicing Events on the Differentiation of Adipocytes

Alternative splicing was found to be a common phenomenon after the advent of whole transcriptome analyses or next generation sequencing. Over 90% of human genes were demonstrated to undergo at least one alternative splicing event. Alternative splicing is an effective mechanism to spatiotemporally expand protein diversity, which influences the cell fate and tissue development. The first focus of this review is to highlight recent studies, which demonstrated effects of alternative splicing on the differentiation of adipocytes. Moreover, use of evolving high-throughput approaches, such as transcriptome analyses (RNA sequencing), to profile adipogenic transcriptomes, is also addressed.

The angiogenic and adipogenic modes of adipose tissue after free fat grafting

BACKGROUND

The major drawback of adipose grafting is its clinical unpredictability, which leads to surgeon and patient dissatisfaction. The mechanisms underlying angiogenesis and regeneration of the graft tissue are still unclear.

METHODS

Mouse adipose tissue was processed using two different methods (fragmental and integral) and was used to identify the mode of angiogenesis of the graft. Cross-grafting of tissue from normal mice and transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein was used to observe the origin of cells during the adipose regeneration.

RESULTS

Almost all the CD31 endothelial cells of the new vessels were derived from the recipient. The new vessels in the graft were mainly formed through recipient vessels growing into the graft rather than the reassembly of donor endothelial cells or the reconnection of recipient and donor vessels. Angiogenesis depends largely on recipient-site environment. The retention of donor-derived tissue dropped to only 10 percent 8 weeks after grafting, and the majority of the key regeneration cells, the CD34 cells, came from the recipient during adipogenesis (p < 0.05). In total, the retention of the recipient-derived tissue was up to 73 percent in the fragmental group and 47.5 percent in the integral group.

CONCLUSIONS

The angiogenesis of the graft occurs by the classic "vessel branching" mode, in which the recipient plays a dominant role. The mode of graft tissue retention primarily involves CD34 adipose precursor cells derived from the recipient.

Isolation, characterization and investigation of differentiation potential of human periodontal ligament cells and dental follicle progenitor cells and their response to BMP-7 in vitro

The aim of this study was to assess the factors, mechanisms and the differences between periodontal ligament (PDL) cells and denta l follicle (DF) progenitor cells towards the osteoblastic/cementoblastic differentiation and to investigate the effects of BMP-7 on developmental (DF) and mature tissue-derived (PDL) cells, respectively. Primary cell culture of PDL cells and DF progenitor cells was performed. Osteogenic differentiation was evaluated using von Kossa, Alizarin Red S and immuno-histo-chemistry staining of osteocalcin. Gene expression pattern was evaluated via real-time PCR. A series of CD surface marks were tested using flow cytometry and fluorescence-activated cell-sorting analysis was performed. Real-time RT-PCR demonstrated similar gene expression pattern of PDL cells and DF progenitor cells: the expression of OPN and OCN significantly was elevated when incubated with osteogenic components, Runx2 was unaffected, and Osteorix was hardly expressed whether in basic medium or induction medium. In addition, BMP-7 induced osteoblast/cementoblast differentiation of PDLSCs and DF progenitor cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, as reflected by enhanced Runx2 and (OCN) mRNA transcript expression. BMP-7 triggers PDL cells and DF progenitor cells to differentiate towards an osteoblast/cementoblast phenotype.

Effect of activated autologous platelet-rich plasma on proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells in vitro

To investigate whether activated autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can promote proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) in vitro. hASCs were isolated from lipo-aspirates, and characterized by specific cell markers and multilineage differentiation capacity after culturing to the 3(rd) passage. PRP was collected and activated from human peripheral blood of the same patient. Cultured hASCs were treated with normal osteogenic inductive media alone (group A, control) or osteogenic inductive media plus 5%, 10%, 20%, 40%PRP (group B, C, D, E, respectively). Cell proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 assay. mRNA expression of osteogenic marker genes including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteopontin (OPN), osteocalcin (OCN) and core binding factor alpha 1 (Cbfa1) were determined by Real-Time Quantitative PCR Analysis (qPCR). Data revealed that different concentrations of activated autologous PRP significantly promoted hASCs growth in the proliferation phase compared to the without PRP group and resulted in a dose-response relationship. At 7-d and 14-d time point of the osteogenic induced stage, ALP activity in PRP groups gradually increased with the increasing of concentrations of PRP and showed that dose-response relationship. At 21-d time point of the osteogenic induced stage, PRP groups make much more mineralization and mRNA relative expression of ALP, OPN, OCN and Cbfa1 than that without PRP groups and show that dose-response relationship. This study indicated that different concentrations of activated autologous PRP can promote cell proliferation at earlier stage and promote osteogenic differentiation at later stage of hASCs in vitro. Moreover, it displayed a dose-dependent effect of activated autologous PRP on cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hASCs in vitro.