UC-BSCs Exosomes Regulate Th17/Treg Balance in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus via miR-19b/KLF13

Umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (UC-BSCs) are cells with low immunogenicity and differentiation potential, and the transfer of exosomes carried by UC-BSCs can regulate innate and adaptive immunity and affect immune homeostasis. This is an area of focus for autoimmune illnesses such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The target of this research was to investigate the immunomodulatory effect of exosomes produced from mesenchymal stem cells on SLE and its mechanism. After isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from the SLE group and healthy group and treatment of SLE-derived PBMCs with UC-BSC-derived exosomes, the mRNA levels of corresponding factors in cells under different treatments were determined by RT-PCR, Th17/Treg content was analyzed by FCM (flow cytometry), and the targeted binding of microRNA-19b (miR-19b) to KLF13 was identified by in vitro experiments and bioinformatics analysis. The findings demonstrated that PBMC cells from SLE patients had higher proportions of Th17 subsets than the control group, whereas Treg subgroups with lower percentages were discovered. miR-19b's expression level was markedly reduced, which was inversely associated to the concentration of KLF13. In vitro experiments show that UC-BSC-derived exosome treatment can target KLF13 expression by increasing the miR-19b level, thereby regulating Th17/Treg balance and inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors. According to the study's findings, SLE patients have dysregulated expression of the genes miR-19b and KLF13, and UC-BSC exosomes could regulate Th17/Treg cell balance and inflammatory factor expression in SLE patients through miR-19b/KLF13.

LncRNA H19 secreted by umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells through microRNA-29a-3p/FOS axis for central sensitization of pain in advanced osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

To explore the molecular mechanism of umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (UCBMSCs) in the treatment of advanced osteoarthritis pain.

METHODS

Normal healthy rats were selected to establish advanced osteoarthritis (OA) model, and the rats were randomly divided into control group, intravenous group, intracavitary group and intrathecal group. The intravenous group received intravenous injection of UCBMSCs, intracavitary group received intra-articular injection of UCBMSCs, and intrathecal group received subarachnoid injection of UCBMSCs. The pain behavior and serum pro-inflammatory factor levels were evaluated before and after treatment. microRNA-29a-3p and FOS mRNA in spinal dorsal horn was detected using qPCR, the phosphorylation of c-fos protein and NR1, NR2B, ERK and PKCg was detected using Western blot, and the level of LncRNA H19 was detected using qPCR.

RESULTS

LncRNA H19 was enriched in the exosomes of UCBMSCs. microRNA-29a-3p was the target gene of LncRNA H19, while FOS was the downstream target of microRNA-29a-3p. Pain and inflammation of rats in the intrathecal group improved best, and the phosphorylation levels of c-fos and NR1, NR2B, ERK and PKCg in the spinal dorsal horn of the intrathecal group decreased. LncRNA H19 regulated the central sensitization of astrocytes through microRNA-29a-3p/FOS axis.

CONCLUSION

Intrathecal injection of umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells can improve the pain and central sensitization of advanced osteoarthritis through LncRNA H19/microRNA-29a-3p/FOS axis.

3D Spheroids of Umbilical Cord Blood MSC-Derived Schwann Cells Promote Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Schwann cells (SCs) are promising candidates for cell therapy due to their ability to promote peripheral nerve regeneration. However, SC-based therapies are hindered by the lack of a clinically renewable source of SCs. In this study, using a well-defined non-genetic approach, umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (cbMSCs), a clinically applicable cell type, were phenotypically, epigenetically, and functionally converted into SC-like cells (SCLCs) that stimulated effective sprouting of neuritic processes from neuronal cells. To further enhance their therapeutic capability, the cbMSC-derived SCLCs were assembled into three-dimensional (3D) cell spheroids by using a methylcellulose hydrogel system. The cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions were well-preserved within the formed 3D SCLC spheroids, and marked increases in neurotrophic, proangiogenic and anti-apoptotic factors were detected compared with cells that were harvested using conventional trypsin-based methods, demonstrating the superior advantage of SCLCs assembled into 3D spheroids. Transplantation of 3D SCLC spheroids into crush-injured rat sciatic nerves effectively promoted the recovery of motor function and enhanced nerve structure regeneration. In summary, by simply assembling cells into a 3D-spheroid conformation, the therapeutic potential of SCLCs derived from clinically available cbMSCs for promoting nerve regeneration was enhanced significantly. Thus, these cells hold great potential for translation to clinical applications for treating peripheral nerve injury.

Enhancement of Subcutaneously Transplanted β Cell Survival Using 3D Stem Cell Spheroids with Proangiogenic and Prosurvival Potential

Islet transplantation has been demonstrated to be a promising therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus. Although it is a minimally invasive operating procedure and provides easy access for graft monitoring, subcutaneous transplantation of the islet only has limited therapeutic outcomes, owing to the poor capacity of skin tissue to foster revascularization in a short period. Herein, 3D cell spheroids of clinically accessible umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells are formed and employed for codelivery with β cells subcutaneously. The 3D stem cell spheroids, which can secrete multiple proangiogenic and prosurvival growth factors, induce robust angiogenesis and prevent β cell graft death, as indicated by the results of in vivo bioluminescent tracking and histological analysis. These experimental data highlight the efficacy of the 3D stem cell spheroids that are fabricated using translationally applicable cell types in promoting the survival and function of subcutaneously transplanted β cells.

Umbilical Cord Blood Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhance Lipopolysaccharide-Induced IL-10 and IL-37 Production in THP-1 Cells

Umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-MSCs) have been shown to be a source of stem cells for use in cellular therapies and have immunomodulatory effects on several immune cells in an inflammatory environment. However, whether UCB-MSCs have immunomodulatory effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory cytokine secretion in macrophages and whether it is involved in phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway remain unclear. After co-culture of UCB-MSCs and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-activated human THP-1 cells using a transwell system, it showed that LPS significantly induced increases in the expression levels of interleukin 10 (IL-10), interleukin 37 (IL-37), phospho-PI3K (p-PI3K), and phospho-Akt (p-Akt) in macrophages. UCB-MSCs upregulated the expression of IL-10, IL-37, p-PI3K, and p-Akt, while it had no obvious effect on PI3K and Akt levels. Inhibitors of PI3K (LY294002) significantly suppressed the expression of IL-10, IL-37, p-PI3K, and p-Akt; however, it had no effect on the expression levels of PI3K and Akt. The present study demonstrated that UCB-MSCs increased the LPS-stimulated expression of IL-10 and IL-37 in macrophages through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.