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Petrella F, Cassina EM, Libretti L, Pirondini E, Raveglia F, Tuoro A. Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy for Thoracic Surgeons: An Update. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1632. [PMID: 38138859 PMCID: PMC10744666 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13121632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells presenting extensive self-renewal features and the ability to differentiate "in vitro" and "in vivo" into a range of lineage cells, like chondrogenic, osteogenic and adipogenic lineages when cultured in specific inducing media. Two major domains of clinical applications of stem cells in thoracic surgery have been investigated: regenerative medicine, which is a section of translational research in tissue engineering focusing on the replacement, renewal or regeneration of cells, tissues and organs to re-establish damaged physiologic functions; drug loading and delivery, representing a new branch proposing stem cells as carriers to provide selected districts with anti-cancer agents for targeted treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Petrella
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, 20900 Monza, Italy; (E.M.C.); (L.L.); (E.P.); (F.R.); (A.T.)
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Andersen C, Uvebrant K, Mori Y, Aarsvold S, Jacobsen S, Berg LC, Lundgren-Åkerlund E, Lindegaard C. Human integrin α10β1-selected mesenchymal stem cells home to cartilage defects in the rabbit knee and assume a chondrocyte-like phenotype. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:206. [PMID: 35578319 PMCID: PMC9109317 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-02884-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown promising results in stimulating cartilage repair and in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). However, the fate of the MSCs after intra-articular injection and their role in cartilage regeneration is not clear. To address these questions, this study investigated (1) homing of labeled human adipose tissue derived integrin α10β1-selected MSCs (integrin α10-MSCs) to a cartilage defect in a rabbit model and (2) the ability of the integrin α10-MSCs to differentiate to chondrocytes and to produce cartilage matrix molecules in vivo. DESIGN Integrin α10-MSCs were labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) co-conjugated with Rhodamine B to allow visualization by both MRI and fluorescence microscopy. A cartilage defect was created in the articular cartilage of the intertrochlear groove of the femur of rabbits. Seven days post-surgery, labeled integrin α10-MSCs or vehicle were injected into the joint. Migration and distribution of the SPION-labeled integrin α10-MSCs was evaluated by high-field 9.4 T MRI up to 10 days after injection. Tissue sections from the repair tissue in the defects were examined by fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS In vitro characterization of the labeled integrin α10-MSCs demonstrated maintained viability, proliferation rate and trilineage differentiation capacity compared to unlabeled MSCs. In vivo MRI analysis detected the labeled integrin α10-MSCs in the cartilage defects at all time points from 12 h after injection until day 10 with a peak concentration between day 1 and 4 after injection. The labeled MSCs were also detected lining the synovial membrane at the early time points. Fluorescence analysis confirmed the presence of the labeled integrin α10-MSCs in all layers of the cartilage repair tissue and showed co-localization between the labeled cells and the specific cartilage molecules aggrecan and collagen type II indicating in vivo differentiation of the MSCs to chondrocyte-like cells. No adverse effects of the α10-MSC treatment were detected during the study period. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrated migration and homing of human integrin α10β1-selected MSCs to cartilage defects in the rabbit knee after intra-articular administration as well as chondrogenic differentiation of the MSCs in the regenerated cartilage tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Andersen
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Højbakkegaard Allé 5, 2630, Taastrup, Denmark.
| | | | - Yuki Mori
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | | | - Stine Jacobsen
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Højbakkegaard Allé 5, 2630, Taastrup, Denmark
| | - Lise Charlotte Berg
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Højbakkegaard Allé 5, 2630, Taastrup, Denmark
| | | | - Casper Lindegaard
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Højbakkegaard Allé 5, 2630, Taastrup, Denmark
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Ruiz-Alonso S, Lafuente-Merchan M, Ciriza J, Saenz-Del-Burgo L, Pedraz JL. Tendon tissue engineering: Cells, growth factors, scaffolds and production techniques. J Control Release 2021; 333:448-486. [PMID: 33811983 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.03.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tendon injuries are a global health problem that affects millions of people annually. The properties of tendons make their natural rehabilitation a very complex and long-lasting process. Thanks to the development of the fields of biomaterials, bioengineering and cell biology, a new discipline has emerged, tissue engineering. Within this discipline, diverse approaches have been proposed. The obtained results turn out to be promising, as increasingly more complex and natural tendon-like structures are obtained. In this review, the nature of the tendon and the conventional treatments that have been applied so far are underlined. Then, a comparison between the different tendon tissue engineering approaches that have been proposed to date is made, focusing on each of the elements necessary to obtain the structures that allow adequate regeneration of the tendon: growth factors, cells, scaffolds and techniques for scaffold development. The analysis of all these aspects allows understanding, in a global way, the effect that each element used in the regeneration of the tendon has and, thus, clarify the possible future approaches by making new combinations of materials, designs, cells and bioactive molecules to achieve a personalized regeneration of a functional tendon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Ruiz-Alonso
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Markel Lafuente-Merchan
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Jesús Ciriza
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Laura Saenz-Del-Burgo
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
| | - Jose Luis Pedraz
- NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
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Ribitsch I, Baptista PM, Lange-Consiglio A, Melotti L, Patruno M, Jenner F, Schnabl-Feichter E, Dutton LC, Connolly DJ, van Steenbeek FG, Dudhia J, Penning LC. Large Animal Models in Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering: To Do or Not to Do. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:972. [PMID: 32903631 PMCID: PMC7438731 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid developments in Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering has witnessed an increasing drive toward clinical translation of breakthrough technologies. However, the progression of promising preclinical data to achieve successful clinical market authorisation remains a bottleneck. One hurdle for progress to the clinic is the transition from small animal research to advanced preclinical studies in large animals to test safety and efficacy of products. Notwithstanding this, to draw meaningful and reliable conclusions from animal experiments it is critical that the species and disease model of choice is relevant to answer the research question as well as the clinical problem. Selecting the most appropriate animal model requires in-depth knowledge of specific species and breeds to ascertain the adequacy of the model and outcome measures that closely mirror the clinical situation. Traditional reductionist approaches in animal experiments, which often do not sufficiently reflect the studied disease, are still the norm and can result in a disconnect in outcomes observed between animal studies and clinical trials. To address these concerns a reconsideration in approach will be required. This should include a stepwise approach using in vitro and ex vivo experiments as well as in silico modeling to minimize the need for in vivo studies for screening and early development studies, followed by large animal models which more closely resemble human disease. Naturally occurring, or spontaneous diseases in large animals remain a largely untapped resource, and given the similarities in pathophysiology to humans they not only allow for studying new treatment strategies but also disease etiology and prevention. Naturally occurring disease models, particularly for longer lived large animal species, allow for studying disorders at an age when the disease is most prevalent. As these diseases are usually also a concern in the chosen veterinary species they would be beneficiaries of newly developed therapies. Improved awareness of the progress in animal models is mutually beneficial for animals, researchers, human and veterinary patients. In this overview we describe advantages and disadvantages of various animal models including domesticated and companion animals used in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering to provide an informed choice of disease-relevant animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Ribitsch
- Veterm, Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University Equine Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Pedro M. Baptista
- Laboratory of Organ Bioengineering and Regenerative Medicine, Health Research Institute of Aragon (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Anna Lange-Consiglio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Melotti
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Marco Patruno
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Florien Jenner
- Veterm, Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University Equine Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Schnabl-Feichter
- Clinical Unit of Small Animal Surgery, Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Luke C. Dutton
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - David J. Connolly
- Clinical Unit of Small Animal Surgery, Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Frank G. van Steenbeek
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jayesh Dudhia
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Louis C. Penning
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Naskou MC, Sumner S, Berezny A, Copland IB, Peroni JF. Fibrinogen-Depleted Equine Platelet Lysate Affects the Characteristics and Functionality of Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Stem Cells Dev 2020; 28:1572-1580. [PMID: 31637965 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2019.0070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is widely used to culture mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the laboratory; however, FBS has been linked to adverse immune-mediated reactions prompting the search for alternative cell culture medium. Platelet lysate (PL) as an FBS substitute has been shown to promote MSCs growth without compromising their functionality. Fibrinogen contained in PL has been shown to negatively impact the immune modulating properties of MSCs; therefore, we sought to deplete fibrinogen from PL and compare proliferation, viability, and immunomodulatory capacities of MSCs in FBS or PL without fibrinogen. We depleted fibrinogen from equine platelet lysate (ePL) and measured platelet-derived growth factor-beta (PDGF-β), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) through ELISA. First, we determined the ability of 10% ePL or fibrinogen-depleted lysate (fdePL) compared with 10% FBS to suppress monocyte activation by measuring TNF-α from culture supernatants. We then evaluated proliferation, viability, and immunomodulatory characteristics of bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) cultured in FBS or ePL with or without fibrinogen. Growth factor concentrations decreased in ePL after fibrinogen depletion. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated monocytes exposed to ePL and fdePL produced less TNF-α than LPS-stimulated monocytes in 10% FBS. BM-MSCs cultured in fdePL exhibited lower proliferation rates, but similar viability compared with BM-MSCs in ePL. BM-MSCs in fdePL did not effectively suppress TNF-α expression from LPS-stimulated monocytes compared with BM-MSCs in FBS. Depleting fibrinogen results in a lysate that suppresses TNF-α expression from LPS-stimulated monocytes, but that does not support proliferation and immune-modulatory capacity of BM-MSCs as effectively as nondepleted lysate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Naskou
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Scarlett Sumner
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Alysha Berezny
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Ian B Copland
- Emory Personalized Immunotherapy Center [EPIC], Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - John F Peroni
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
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Bonilla-Gutiérrez AF, López C, Carmona JU. Regenerative Therapies for the Treatment of Tenodesmic Injuries in Horses. J Equine Vet Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2018.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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Naskou MC, Sumner SM, Chocallo A, Kemelmakher H, Thoresen M, Copland I, Galipeau J, Peroni JF. Platelet lysate as a novel serum-free media supplement for the culture of equine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2018; 9:75. [PMID: 29566772 PMCID: PMC5863827 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-018-0823-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) produced for clinical purposes rely on culture media containing fetal bovine serum (FBS) which is xenogeneic and has the potential to significantly alter the MSC phenotype, rendering these cells immunogenic. As a result of bovine-derived exogenous proteins expressed on the cell surface, MSCs may be recognized by the host immune system as non-self and be rejected. Platelet lysate (PL) may obviate some of these concerns and shows promising results in human medicine as a possible alternative to FBS. Our goal was to evaluate the use of equine platelet lysate (ePL) pooled from donor horses in place of FBS to culture equine MSCs. We hypothesized that ePL, produced following apheresis, will function as the sole media supplement to accelerate the expansion of equine bone marrow-derived MSCs without altering their phenotype and their immunomodulatory capacity. Methods Platelet concentrate was obtained via plateletpheresis and ePL were produced via freeze-thaw and centrifugation cycles. Population doublings (PD) and doubling time (DT) of bone marrow-derived MSCs (n = 3) cultured with FBS or ePL media were calculated. Cell viability, immunophenotypic analysis, and trilineage differentiation capacity of MSCs were assessed accordingly. To assess the ability of MSCs to modulate inflammatory responses, E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated monocytes were cocultured with MSCs cultured in the two different media formulations, and cell culture supernatants were assayed for the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Results Our results showed that MSCs cultured in ePL media exhibited similar proliferation rates (PD and DT) compared with those cultured in FBS at individual time points. MSCs cultured in ePL showed a statistically significant increased viability following a single washing step, expressed similar levels of MSC markers compared to FBS, and were able to differentiate towards the three lineages. Finally, MSCs cultured in ePL efficiently suppressed the release of TNF-α when exposed to LPS-stimulated monocytes similar to those cultured in FBS. Conclusion ePL has the potential to be used for the expansion of MSCs before clinical application, avoiding the concerns associated with the use of FBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Naskou
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, Veterinary Medical Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 2200 College Station Road, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Scarlett M Sumner
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, Veterinary Medical Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 2200 College Station Road, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Anna Chocallo
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, Veterinary Medical Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 2200 College Station Road, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Hannah Kemelmakher
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, Veterinary Medical Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 2200 College Station Road, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Merrilee Thoresen
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, Veterinary Medical Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 2200 College Station Road, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Ian Copland
- Emory Personalized Immunotherapy Center [EPIC], Emory University School of Medicine, 100 Woodruff Circle, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Jacques Galipeau
- Department of Medicine and Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, 53792, USA
| | - John F Peroni
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, Veterinary Medical Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 2200 College Station Road, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
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Innate immune responses of equine monocytes cultured in equine platelet lysate. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2017; 195:65-71. [PMID: 29249319 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2017.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2017] [Revised: 11/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Platelet lysate (PL) has been extensively used for the laboratory expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in order to avoid fetal bovine serum (FBS) which has been associated with immune-mediated host reactions and transmission of bovine-origin microbial contaminants. Before suggesting the routine use of PL for MSC culture, we wanted to further investigate whether PL alone might trigger inflammatory responses when exposed to reactive white blood cells such as monocytes. Our objectives were to evaluate the inflammatory profile of equine monocytes cultured with equine PL (ePL) and to determine if ePL can modulate the expression of inflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated monocytes. In a first experiment, equine monocytes were isolated and incubated with donor horse serum (DHS), FBS, six individual donors ePL or pooled ePL from all horses. In a second experiment, monocytes were stimulated with E. coli LPS in the presence of 1, 5 or 10% DHS and/or pooled ePL. After 6h of incubation, cell culture supernatants were assayed via ELISA for production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) as well as for the anti-inflammatory Interleukin 10 (IL-10). Equine monocytes incubated with pooled ePL produced significantly less TNF-α and significantly more IL-10 than monocytes incubated in FBS. A statistically significant difference was not identified for the production of IL-1β. The second experiment showed that pooled ePL added to LPS-stimulated equine monocytes resulted in a significant reduction in TNF-α and IL-1β production. IL-10 production was not significantly upregulated by the addition of ePL to LPS-stimulated monocytes. Finally, the addition of ePL to LPS-stimulated monocytes in the presence of various concentrations of DHS resulted to statistically significant decrease of TNF-α and IL-1β compared to the control groups. This is the first study to demonstrate that ePL suppresses the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from stimulated equine monocytes. These results encourage further exploration of PL as a homologous media substitute for FBS but also opens the possibility of investigating its use as means to suppress cell-mediated inflammation.
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Effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and stem cell supernatant on equine corneal wound healing in vitro. Stem Cell Res Ther 2017; 8:120. [PMID: 28545510 PMCID: PMC5445363 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-017-0577-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Revised: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We aimed to determine and compare the in vitro effects of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and mesenchymal stem cell supernatant (MSC-Sp) on the wound healing capacity of equine corneal fibroblasts using a scratch assay. Methods Bone marrow aspirates and eyes were collected from normal, euthanized horses with subsequent isolation and culture of BM-MSCs and corneal stromal cells. Corneal stromal cells were culture-expanded in the culture well of transwell plates and then treated with an autologous BM-MSC suspension (dose: 2.5 × 105/100 μL media with the BM-MSCs contained within the insert well), MSC-Sp solution, or naive culture media (control) for 72 h. A linear defect in confluent cell cultures was created (i.e., corneal scratch assay) to assess the cellular closure (“healing”) over time. Three representative areas of the scratch in each culture were photographed at each time point and the scratch area was quantitated using image analysis software (ImageJ). Media from the scratches were analyzed for various growth factors using human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits that crossreact with the horse. Results There was a significant percentage decrease in the scratch area remaining in the BM-MSC and MSC-Sp groups compared to the control group. There was also a significant percentage decrease in the scratch area remaining in the BM-MSC group compared to the MSC-Sp group at 36 h post-scratch and all time points thereafter. The concentration of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in the media was significantly higher in the BM-MSC group compared to the control group. Conclusions The significant decrease in scratch area in equine corneal fibroblast cultures treated with autologous BM-MSCs compared to MSC-Sp or control treatments suggests that BM-MSCs may substantially improve corneal wound healing in horses. MSC-Sp may also improve corneal wound healing given the significant decrease in scratch area compared to control treatments, and would be an immediately available and cost-effective treatment option. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13287-017-0577-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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