Comparison of TGF-β1 and NO production by mesenchymal stem cells isolated from murine lung and adipose tissues

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: an Antimicrobial and Host-Directed Therapy for Complex Infectious Diseases

There is an urgent need for new antimicrobial strategies for treating complex infections and emerging pathogens. Human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are adult multipotent cells with antimicrobial properties, mediated through direct bactericidal activity and modulation of host innate and adaptive immune cells. More than 30 in vivo studies have reported on the use of human MSCs for the treatment of infectious diseases, with many more studies of animal MSCs in same-species models of infection. MSCs demonstrate potent antimicrobial effects against the major classes of human pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) across a wide range of infection models. Mechanistic studies have yielded important insight into their immunomodulatory and bactericidal activity, which can be enhanced through various forms of preconditioning. MSCs are being investigated in over 80 clinical trials for difficult-to-treat infectious diseases, including sepsis and pulmonary, intra-abdominal, cutaneous, and viral infections. Completed trials consistently report MSCs to be safe and well tolerated, with signals of efficacy against some infectious diseases. Although significant obstacles must be overcome to produce a standardized, affordable, clinical-grade cell therapy, these studies suggest that MSCs may have particular potential as an adjunct therapy in complex or resistant infections.

Synergic effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field and betaine on in vitro osteogenic differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) due to easy extraction, relative abundance, in vitro expansion and differentiation potential, frozen storage capability, and ability to secrete cytokines, compared to other stem cells, are appropriate candidate in regenerative medicine. Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) and betaine are two safe factors in bone lesions repair. This study was designed to assess the osteogenic differentiation potential of these factors on hADSCs. The samples were collected from women undergoing liposuction after obtaining written consent. The hADSCs were extracted and treated with osteogenesis differentiation medium (OD) as the positive control, with OD and betaine (BET group), with OD and EMF (EMF group), and with OD and betaine and EMF (BET+EMF group) for 21 d; the negative control consisted of cells without treatment. Betaine 10 mM and EMF with 50-Hz frequency, 1-mT intensity (8 h daily), and in the form of sinus wave were used. Osteogenic differentiation was evaluated by Alizarin Red staining, alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium deposition, and real-time PCR. A significant increase in calcium deposition in the BET+EMF group was observed compared to the other groups. The activity of alkaline phosphatase in the positive control and BET groups was increased significantly compared to EMF and BET + EMF groups and a significant increase of this enzyme activity in the BET + EMF compared to EMF group was observed. The expression of RUNX2 and OCN genes in the EMF-treated groups were significantly reduced compared to the non-EMF-treated groups, and BET+EMF showed a significant increase of RUNX2 gene expression as compared the EMF group. The ELF-EMF leads to a decrease in the osteogenic differentiation and the expression RUNX2 and OCN genes in hADSCs. But osteogenic differentiation and RUNX2 gene expression were increased post-induction by betaine. The synergic effect of betaine and EMF on the osteogenic differentiation and related genes expression of hADSCs was higher than EMF.