Impact of cardiac stem cell sheet transplantation on myocardial infarction

PURPOSE

Myocardial infarction (MI) remains a major cause of mortality because of the limited regenerative capacity of the myocardium. Transplantation of somatic tissue-derived cells into the heart has been shown to enhance the endogenous healing process, but the magnitude of its therapeutic effects is dependent upon the cell-source or cell-delivery method. We investigated the therapeutic effects of C-Kit positive cardiac cell (CSC) cell-sheet transplantation therapy in a rat model of MI.

METHODS AND RESULTS

CSCs of human origin were sorted and cultured to generate scaffold-free CSC cell-sheets. One-layered or 3-layered cell-sheets were transplanted into nude rats 1 h after left coronary artery ligation. We observed a significant increase in the left ventricular ejection fraction and a significant decrease in left ventricular systolic dimension at 2 and 4 weeks in the 3-layer group, but not in the 1-layer or sham groups. Consistently, there was less accumulation of interstitial fibrosis in the 3-layer group than in the 1-layer or sham groups. Moreover, capillary density was significantly greater in the 3-layer group than in the 1-layer or sham groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The 3-layered cell-sheet improved cardiac function associated with angiogenic and anti-fibrotic effects. Thus, CSC is a promising cell-source to use with the cell-sheet method for the treatment of cardiac failure, as long as a sufficient number of cells are delivered.

The Safety and Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes- A Literature Review

Introduction

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the most common type of diabetes, affecting 6.28% of the population worldwide. Over the decades, multiple therapies and drugs have been developed to control T2D, but they are far from a long-term solution. Stem cells are promising as novel regenerative treatments, especially mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are highly versatile in their regenerative and paracrine capabilities and characteristics. This makes them the most commonly used adult stem cells and ideal candidates to treat diabetes.

Objective

To assess the safety and efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in treating Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in humans.

Methods

Mesenchymal stem cell-based treatments were studied in 262 patients. A total of 6 out of 58 trials fit our inclusion criteria in the last five years.

Results

The treatment of patients with MSCs reduced the dosage of anti-diabetic drugs analyzed over a follow-up period of 12 months. The effective therapy dosage ranged from 1×106 cells/kg to 3.7×106 cells/kg. After treatment, HbAc1 levels were reduced by an average of 32%, and the fasting blood glucose levels were reduced to an average of 45%. The C-peptide levels were decreased by an average of 38% in 2 trials and increased by 36% in 4 trials. No severe adverse events were noted in all trials.

Conclusion

This analysis concludes that MSC treatment of type 2 diabetes is safe and effective. A larger sample size is required, and the trials should also study the effect of differentiated MSCs as insulin-producing cells.

Clinical Applicability of Adult Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis

Introduction

Osteoarthritis causes a progressive deterioration to the protective cartilage between the joints leading to chronic pain and disability. This review focuses on the intrinsic potential of MSCs to stabilize and repair the cartilage tissue of the knee joint in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients.

Methods

An online search through the PubMed database was conducted, limiting the search to the English language and human clinical trials within the past 5 years. Twenty-one clinical trials passed the inclusion criteria. Combined, those trials involved the participation of 589 patients where the progress of the treatments was monitored between a 4-month to 7-years period. The cartilage volume and defects were observed through an MRI to provide an objective assessment. While the pain and knee function were monitored using KOOS, VAS, and WOMAC scoring scales providing a subjective assessment.

Results

MRI scans obtained from clinical trials demonstrate a slowed progression of cartilage degeneration and early signs of cartilage regeneration in KOA patients at the 12-month follow-up period. No major adverse effects were observed post-intervention. The overall KOOS, WOMAC, and VAS scores in patients receiving MSC treatment were reduced, suggesting subjective improvements in knee function and pain reduction when compared to patients in the placebo group.

Conclusion

The use of MSC therapy is a valid form of treatment for KOA as it targets the disease itself rather than the symptoms. We found MSC therapy in KOA patients to be safe, effective, and feasible in its execution.

Meta-Analysis: The Clinical Application of Autologous Adult Stem Cells in the Treatment of Stroke

Introduction

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. The disease is caused by reduced blood flow into the brain resulting in the sudden death of neurons. Limited spontaneous recovery might occur after stroke or brain injury, stem cell-based therapies have been used to promote these processes as there are no drugs currently on the market to promote brain recovery or neurogenesis. Adult stem cells (ASCs) have shown the ability of differentiation and regeneration and are well studied in literature. ASCs have also demonstrated safety in clinical application and, therefore, are currently being investigated as a promising alternative intervention for the treatment of stroke.

Methods

Eleven studies have been systematically selected and reviewed to determine if autologous adult stem cells are effective in the treatment of stroke. Collectively, 368 patients were enrolled across the 11 trials, out of which 195 received stem cell transplantation and 173 served as control. Using data collected from the clinical outcomes, a broad comparison and a meta-analysis were conducted by comparing studies that followed a similar study design.

Results

Improvement in patients’ clinical outcomes was observed. However, the overall results showed no clinical significance in patients transplanted with stem cells than the control population.

Conclusion

Most of the trials were early phase studies that focused on safety rather than efficacy. Stem cells have demonstrated breakthrough results in the field of regenerative medicine. Therefore, study design could be improved in the future by enrolling a larger patient population and focusing more on localized delivery rather than intravenous transplantation. Trials should also introduce a more standardized method of analyzing and reporting clinical outcomes to achieve a better comparable outcome and possibly recognize the full potential that these cells have to offer.

Advancements in Umbilical Cord Biobanking: A Comprehensive Review of Current Trends and Future Prospects

Biobanking has emerged as a transformative concept in advancing the medical field, particularly with the exponential growth of umbilical cord (UC) biobanking in recent decades. UC blood and tissue provide a rich source of primitive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for clinical transplantation, offering distinct advantages over alternative adult stem cell sources. However, to fully realize the therapeutic potential of UC-derived stem cells and establish a comprehensive global UC-biobanking network, it is imperative to optimize and standardize UC processing, cryopreservation methods, quality control protocols, and regulatory frameworks, alongside developing effective consent provisions. This review aims to comprehensively explore recent advancements in UC biobanking, focusing on the establishment of rigorous safety and quality control procedures, the standardization of biobanking operations, and the optimization and automation of UC processing and cryopreservation techniques. Additionally, the review examines the expanded clinical applications of UC stem cells, addresses the challenges associated with umbilical cord biobanking and UC-derived stem cell therapies, and discusses the promising role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing various operational aspects of biobanking, streamlining data processing, and improving data analysis accuracy while ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards. By addressing these critical areas, this review seeks to provide insights into the future direction of UC biobanking and its potential to significantly impact regenerative medicine.

New insights into methods to measure biological age: a literature review

Biological age is a concept that reflects the physiological state of an individual rather than the chronological time since birth. It can help assess the risk of age-related diseases and mortality and the effects of interventions to slow down or reverse aging. However, there is no consensus on measuring biological age best, and different methods may yield different results. In this paper, which includes 140 relevant pieces of literature, out of 33,000, we review some new methods to measure biological age based on recent advances in biotechnology and data science. We discussed some novel biomarkers and algorithms that can capture the dynamic and multidimensional aspects of aging at different levels. We evaluate their performance and validity using various datasets and criteria and compare them with existing methods. We also discuss their potential applications and implications for aging research and clinical practice. We conclude that the new methods offer more accurate and reliable estimates of biological age and open new avenues for understanding and modulating the aging process.