Significance of Placental Mesenchymal Stem Cell in Placenta Development and Implications for Preeclampsia

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells and bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common complication in preterm infants, leading to chronic respiratory disease. There has been an improvement in perinatal care, but many infants still suffer from impaired branching morphogenesis, alveolarization, and pulmonary capillary formation, causing lung function impairments and BPD. There is an increased risk of respiratory infections, pulmonary hypertension, and neurodevelopmental delays in infants with BPD, all of which can lead to long-term morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, treatment options for Bronchopulmonary dysplasia are limited. A growing body of evidence indicates that mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) can treat various lung diseases in regenerative medicine. MSCs are multipotent cells that can differentiate into multiple cell types, including lung cells, and possess immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative stress, and regenerative properties. MSCs are regulated by mitochondrial function, as well as oxidant stress responses. Maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis will likely be key for MSCs to stimulate proper lung development and regeneration in Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. In recent years, MSCs have demonstrated promising results in treating and preventing bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Studies have shown that MSC therapy can reduce inflammation, mitochondrial impairment, lung injury, and fibrosis. In light of this, MSCs have emerged as a potential therapeutic option for treating Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The article explores the role of MSCs in lung development and disease, summarizes MSC therapy's effectiveness in treating Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and delves into the mechanisms behind this treatment.

The Oncogenic Theory of Preeclampsia: Is Amniotic Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Derived PLAC1 Involved?

The pathomechanisms of preeclampsia (PE), a complication of late pregnancy characterized by hypertension and proteinuria, and due to improper placentation, are not well known. Mesenchymal stem cells derived from the amniotic membrane (AMSCs) may play a role in PE pathogenesis as placental homeostasis regulators. PLACenta-specific protein 1 (PLAC1) is a transmembrane antigen involved in trophoblast proliferation that is found to be associated with cancer progression. We studied PLAC1 in human AMSCs obtained from control subjects (n = 4) and PE patients (n = 7), measuring the levels of mRNA expression (RT-PCR) and secreted protein (ELISA on conditioned medium). Lower levels of PLAC1 mRNA expression were observed in PE AMSCs as compared with Caco2 cells (positive controls), but not in non-PE AMSCs. PLAC1 antigen was detectable in conditioned medium obtained from PE AMSCs, whereas it was undetectable in that obtained from non-PE AMSCs. Our data suggest that abnormal shedding of PLAC1 from AMSC plasma membranes, likely by metalloproteinases, may contribute to trophoblast proliferation, supporting its role in the oncogenic theory of PE.

PFKFB3-mediated glycometabolism reprogramming modulates endothelial differentiation and angiogenic capacity of placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells

BACKGROUND

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have a great potential ability for endothelial differentiation, contributing to an effective means of therapeutic angiogenesis. Placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PMSCs) have gradually attracted attention, while the endothelial differentiation has not been fully evaluated in PMSCs. Metabolism homeostasis plays an important role in stem cell differentiation, but less is known about the glycometabolic reprogramming during the PMSCs endothelial differentiation. Hence, it is critical to investigate the potential role of glycometabolism reprogramming in mediating PMSCs endothelial differentiation.

METHODS

Dil-Ac-LDL uptake assay, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence were all to verify the endothelial differentiation in PMSCs. Seahorse XF Extracellular Flux Analyzers, Mito-tracker red staining, Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), lactate secretion assay, and transcriptome approach were to assess the variation of mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis during the PMSCs endothelial differentiation. Glycolysis enzyme 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) was considered a potential modulator for endothelial differentiation in PMSCs by small interfering RNA. Furthermore, transwell, in vitro Matrigel tube formation, and in vivo Matrigel plug assays were performed to evaluate the effect of PFKFB3-induced glycolysis on angiogenic capacities in this process.

RESULTS

PMSCs possessed the superior potential of endothelial differentiation, in which the glycometabolic preference for glycolysis was confirmed. Moreover, PFKFB3-induced glycometabolism reprogramming could modulate the endothelial differentiation and angiogenic abilities of PMSCs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results revealed that PFKFB3-mediated glycolysis is important for endothelial differentiation and angiogenesis in PMSCs. Our understanding of cellular glycometabolism and its regulatory effects on endothelial differentiation may propose and improve PMSCs as a putative strategy for clinical therapeutic angiogenesis.