Therapeutic effects of menstrual blood-derived endometrial stem cells on mouse models of streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes

Melatonin pretreatment improves endometrial regenerative cell-mediated therapeutic effects in experimental colitis

BACKGROUND

Endometrial regenerative cells (ERCs) have been proven to be an effective strategy for attenuating experimental colitis, but the complex in vivo microenvironment such as oxidative stress may largely limit and weaken ERC efficacy. Melatonin (MT) works as an anti-oxidative agent in a variety of preclinical diseases, and has been identified to promote mesenchymal stem cell-mediated therapeutic effects in different diseases. However, the ability of MT to enhance ERC-mediated effects in colitis is currently poorly understood.

METHODS

Menstrual blood was collected from healthy female volunteers to obtain ERCs and identified. In vitro, H2O2-induced oxidative stress was introduced to test if MT could prevent ERCs from damage through detection of intracellular reactive oxidative species (ROS) and apoptosis assay. In vivo, dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced acute colitis was treated by ERCs and MT-primed ERCs, therapeutic effects were assayed by the disease activity index (DAI), histological features, and macrophage and CD4+ T cell in the spleen and colon, and cytokine profiles in the sera and colon were also measured.

RESULTS

In vitro, ERCs that underwent MT-precondition were found to possess more anti-oxidative potency in comparison to naïve ERCs, which were characterized by decreased apoptosis rate and intracellular ROS under H2O2 stimulation. In vivo, MT pretreatment can significantly enhance the therapeutic effects of ERCs in the attenuation of experimental colitis, including decreased DAI index and damage score. In addition, MT pretreatment was found to promote ERC-mediated inhibition of Th1, Th17, and M1 macrophage and pro-inflammatory cytokines, increase of Treg, and immunomodulation of cytokines in the spleen and colon.

CONCLUSIONS

MT pretreatment facilitates the promotion of cell viability under oxidative stress in vitro, while also enhancing ERC-mediated therapeutic effects in experimental colitis.

The efficiency of stem cell differentiation into functional beta cells for treating insulin-requiring diabetes: Recent advances and current challenges

In recent years, the potential of stem cells (SCs) to differentiate into various types of cells, including β-cells, has led to a significant boost in development. The efficiency of this differentiation process and the functionality of the cells post-transplantation are crucial factors for the success of stem cell therapy in diabetes. Herein, this article reviews the current advances and challenges faced by stem cell differentiation into functional β-cells for diabetes treatment. In vitro, researchers have sought to enhance the differentiation efficiency of functional β-cells by mimicking the normal pancreatic development process, using gene manipulation, pharmacological and culture conditions stimulation, three-dimensional (3D) and organoid culture, or sorting for functional β-cells based on mature islet cell markers. Furthermore, in vivo studies have also looked at suitable transplantation sites, the enhancement of the transplantation microenvironment, immune modulation, and vascular function reconstruction to improve the survival rate of functional β-cells, thereby enhancing the treatment of diabetes. Despite these advancements, developing stem cells to produce functional β-cells for efficacious diabetes treatment is a continuous research endeavor requiring significant multidisciplinary collaboration, for the stem-cell-derived beta cells to evolve into an effective cellular therapy.

Therapeutic effect of menstrual blood stem cells in rats with thin endometrium

OBJECTIVES

To explore the therapeutic effect of transplantation of menstrual blood stem cells (MenSCs) in rats with thin endometrium.

METHODS

Thirty SPF grade female SD rats aged 8-10 weeks were randomly divided into model control group and MenSC group, with 15 rats in each group. The thin endometrium injury model was prepared by chemical method in one side of the uterus of both groups. On the 7th day of modeling, normal saline or the third generation of MenSCs were injected into the model uterus at multiple points, and the other side of the uterus was used as an internal control without treatment. HE staining was used to observe the histological structure of endometrium; immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the expression of cyto-keratin (CK) 18 and vimentin in endometrial tissue; 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) cell proliferation assay was used to evaluate the cell proliferation in endometrial tissue; immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of vascular endothelial marker CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in endometrial tissue; the expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), integrin β3 (ITGβ3) and homeobox A10 (HOXA10) in endometrial tissue was determined by realtime RT-PCR. After treatments, the female and male rats were caged in a ratio of 2∶1 to observe the effect of MenSC on the reproductive function of thin endometrium model rats.

RESULTS

Compared with the surgical control group, the endometrium in the model control group was thinner, and the numbers of glands and blood vessels were less (all P<0.01). After MenSC transplantation, the thickness of endometrium, the numbers of blood vessels and glands were significantly increased (all P<0.01). The proliferative cells in the basal layer of endometrium in MenSC group were more than those in the model control group (P<0.05), and the expression of vimentin, CK18, CD34 and VEGF in the uterus of rats in MenSC group were significantly higher than those in the model control group (P<0.05). LIF, ITGβ3 and HOXA10 gene expression levels were also significantly higher than those in the model control group (all P<0.05). The results of pregnancy experiment showed that the number of embryo implantation in MenSC group was higher than that in model control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

MenSC transplantation can promote the proliferation of endometrial cells, upregulate vimentin, CK18, CD34 and VEGF levels, and promote the recovery of endometrial morphology and function, thus improving the endometrial receptivity and fertility of the rats with thin endometrium.

Comparison of therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord and bone marrow in the treatment of type 1 diabetes

Background

The therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in type 1 diabetes (T1D) has been demonstrated in both preclinical and clinical studies. MSCs that have been used in research on T1D are derived from various tissue sources, with bone marrow (BM) and umbilical cord (UC) tissues being the most commonly used. However, the influence of tissue origin on the functional properties and therapeutic effects of MSCs in T1D remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of UC-MSCs and BM-MSCs in a mouse model of T1D as well as in patients with T1D.

Methods

In non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, the development of diabetes was accelerated by streptozotocin injections. Thereafter, diabetic mice were randomized and treated intravenously with UC-MSCs, BM-MSCs or phosphate-buffered saline as a control. Blood glucose and serum insulin were measured longitudinally after transplantation. At 14 days post-transplantation, pancreatic tissues were collected to assess insulitis and the β-cell mass. Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the composition of T lymphocytes in the spleen and pancreatic lymph nodes of the NOD mice. In our retrospective study of patients with T1D, 28 recipients who received insulin therapy alone or a single transplantation of UC-MSCs or BM-MSCs were enrolled. The glycaemic control and β-cell function of the patients during the first year of follow-up were compared.

Results

In NOD mice, UC-MSC and BM-MSC transplantation showed similar effects on decreasing blood glucose levels and preserving β cells. The regulation of islet autoimmunity was examined, and no significant difference between UC-MSCs and BM-MSCs was observed in the attenuation of insulitis, the decrease in T helper 17 cells or the increase in regulatory T cells. In patients with T1D, MSC transplantation markedly lowered haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and reduced insulin doses compared to conventional insulin therapy. However, the therapeutic effects were comparable between UC-MSCs and BM-MSCs, and they also exerted similar effects on the endogenous β-cell function in the patients.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both UC-MSCs and BM-MSCs exhibited comparable therapeutic effects on improving glycaemic control and preserving β-cell function in T1D. Considering their abundance and higher cell yields, UC-MSCs appear to be more promising than BM-MSCs in clinical applications.

Trial registration NCT02763423. Registered on May 5, 2016—Retrospectively registered, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/.

The Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic disease characterized by inadequate or absent insulin production due to the autoimmune destruction of beta (β) cells in the pancreas. It was once called "juvenile diabetes" since the disease frequently occurs in children, but it can also develop in adults. According to the International Diabetes Federation, an estimated 700 million adults will suffer from diabetes by 2045. Although the exact cause of diabetes remains unknown, it is hypothesized that genetic factors, environmental factors, and exposure to certain viruses play a role in the development of T1D. To date, exogenous insulin is the most common treatment for T1D. However, it is not a cure for the disease. Islet cell transplantation and pancreatic transplantation are two additional treatments that have gained popularity in recent years, but their clinical application may be limited by the need for high doses of immunosuppressants, the rarity of human cadaveric islets, and the need for extensive surgery in pancreatic transplantation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a highly promising novel treatment for T1D and their discovery has advanced biological sciences by allowing for modification of cell fate and the development of higher-order cellular structures. They play an essential role in lowering levels of fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c, and C-peptide, and in treating microvascular complications associated with T1D. However, some of the disadvantages of its use in clinical practice are limited to its method of collection, proliferation rate, cell activity with age, and the risk of tumour formation identified in some studies. Large-scale studies are required to discover the mechanism of action of MSCs after administration as well as the optimal route, dose, and timing to maximize the benefits to patients. This article focuses primarily on the role of MSCs in the treatment of T1D and compares the feasibility, benefits, and drawbacks of MSCs in the treatment of T1D.