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Zaky MY, Mohamed EE, Mahmoud R, Halfaya FM, Farghali A, Abo El-Ela FI. Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities of mesenchymal stem cells in chemically induced arthritic rats. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:9951-9961. [PMID: 37878206 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08905-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been extensively used as cell-based treatments for decades due to their anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and healing abilities. The intent of our study was to determine the efficacy of MSCs in alleviating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) induced by Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics of MSCs. METHODS AND RESULTS Intrapedally injecting 0.1 ml of CFA directly into the footpad of the right hind paw daily for 2 days was used to induce RA. Arthritic rats received four doses of MSCs (1 × 106 cells/rat/dose) intravenously through the lateral tail vein. Our results showed that arthritic rats treated with MSCs exhibited reduced levels of paw edema. Furthermore, arthritic rats treated with MSCs exhibited a significant decrease in the levels of RF, CRP, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-17 and ADAMTS-5, along with a significant increase in the levels of IL-4 and TIMP-3. Additionally, MSCs significantly reduced the expression of TGF-β. Both the glutathione (GSH) content and antioxidant activity of GST were enhanced by MSCs, while LPO levels were suppressed. CONCLUSION These findings provide further evidence that MSCs are valuable in treating RA, possibly due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. Thus, MSCs have potential as a more effective therapeutic strategy for treating RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Y Zaky
- Molecular Physiology Division, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, P.O. Box 62521, Beni-Suef, Egypt.
| | - Eman E Mohamed
- Molecular Physiology Division, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, P.O. Box 62521, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Rehab Mahmoud
- Department of Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, 62511, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Fatma Mohamed Halfaya
- Department of Surgery, Anesthesiology and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, 62511, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Farghali
- Materials Science and Nanotechnology Department, Faculty of Postgraduate Studies for Advanced Sciences, Beni-Suef University, 62511, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Fatma I Abo El-Ela
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, 62511, Beni-Suef, Egypt
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Ahmed OM, Saleh AS, Ahmed EA, Ghoneim MM, Ebrahim HA, Abdelgawad MA, Abdel-Gabbar M. Efficiency of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Hesperetin in the Treatment of Streptozotocin-Induced Type 1 Diabetes in Wistar Rats. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:859. [PMID: 37375806 DOI: 10.3390/ph16060859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) was established to be ameliorated by islet transplantation, but the shortage of the transplanted human islet tissue and the use of immunosuppressive drugs to inhibit the rejection of allogeneic grafts make this type of therapy is limited. Nowadays, therapy with stem cells is one of the most promising future treatments. This kind of therapy could have a profound impact on both replacement, as well as regenerative therapies, to improve or even cure various disorders, including diabetes mellitus. Flavonoids have also been shown to possess anti-diabetic effects. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and hesperetin in the treatment of a T1DM rat model. T1DM was induced in male Wistar rats that had been starved for 16 h via intraperitoneal injection of STZ at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight (b.wt.). After 10 days of STZ injection, the diabetic rats were allocated into four groups. The first diabetic animal group was considered a diabetic control, while the other three diabetic animal groups were treated for six weeks, respectively, with hesperetin (given orally at a dose of 20 mg/kg b.wt.), BM-MSCs (injected intravenously at a dose of 1 × 106 cells/rat/week), and their combination (hesperetin and BM-MSCs). The use of hesperetin and BM-MSCs in the treatment of STZ-induced diabetic animals significantly improved the glycemic state, serum fructosamine, insulin and C-peptide levels, liver glycogen content, glycogen phosphorylase, glucose-6-phosphatase activities, hepatic oxidative stress, and mRNA expressions of NF-κB, IL-1β, IL-10, P53, and Bcl-2 in pancreatic tissue. The study suggested the therapy with both hesperetin and BM-MSCs produced marked antihyperglycemic effects, which may be mediated via their potencies to ameliorate pancreatic islet architecture and insulin secretory response, as well as to decrease hepatic glucose output in diabetic animals. The improvement effects of hesperetin and BM-MSCs on the pancreatic islets of diabetic rats may be mediated via their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osama M Ahmed
- Physiology Division, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, P.O. Box 62521, Beni-Suef 62521, Egypt
- Experimental Obesity and Diabetes Research Lab (EODRL), Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62521, Egypt
| | - Ablaa S Saleh
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, P.O. Box 62521, Beni-Suef 62521, Egypt
| | - Eman A Ahmed
- Physiology Division, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, P.O. Box 62521, Beni-Suef 62521, Egypt
| | - Mohammed M Ghoneim
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, AlMaarefa University, Ad Diriyah, Riyadh 13713, Saudi Arabia
- Pharmacognosy and Medicinal Plants Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | - Hasnaa Ali Ebrahim
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed A Abdelgawad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72341, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Abdel-Gabbar
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, P.O. Box 62521, Beni-Suef 62521, Egypt
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Curcumin and Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorate Ankle, Testis, and Ovary Deleterious Histological Changes in Arthritic Rats via Suppression of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation. Stem Cells Int 2021; 2021:3516834. [PMID: 34795765 PMCID: PMC8595025 DOI: 10.1155/2021/3516834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition, an autoimmune disease that affects the joints, and a multifactorial disease that results from interactions between environmental, genetic, and personal and lifestyle factors. This study was designed to assess the effects of curcumin, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), and their coadministration on complete Freund's adjuvant- (CFA-) induced arthritis in male and female albino rats. Parameters including swelling of the joint, blood indices of pro-/antioxidant status, cytokines and histopathological examination of joints, and testis and ovary were investigated. RA was induced by a single dose of subcutaneous injection of 0.1 mL CFA into a footpad of the right hind leg of rats. Arthritic rats were treated with curcumin (100 mg/kg b.wt./day) by oral gavage for 21 days and/or treated with three weekly intravenous injections of BM-MSCs (1 × 106 cells/rat/week) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The treatment with curcumin and BM-MSCs singly or together significantly (P < 0.05) improved the bioindicators of oxidative stress and nonenzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants in sera of female rats more than in those of males. Curcumin and BM-MSCs significantly (P < 0.05) improved the elevated TNF-α level and the lowered IL-10 level in the arthritic rats. Furthermore, joint, testis, and ovary histological changes were remarkably amended as a result of treatment with curcumin and BM-MSCs. Thus, it can be concluded that both curcumin and BM-MSCs could have antiarthritic efficacies as well as protective effects to the testes and ovaries which may be mediated via their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory potentials as well as oxidative stress modulatory effects.
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Therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cells on histopathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular analysis in second-grade burn model. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:308. [PMID: 34051875 PMCID: PMC8164255 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02365-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and aim Deleterious cutaneous tissue damages could result from exposure to thermal trauma, which could be ameliorated structurally and functionally through therapy via the most multipotent progenitor bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). This study aimed to induce burns and examine the effect of BM-MSCs during a short and long period of therapy. Material and methods Ninety albino rats were divided into three groups: group I (control); group II (burn model), the animals were exposed to the preheated aluminum bar at 100°C for 15 s; and group III (the burned animals subcutaneously injected with BM-MSCs (2×106 cells/ ml)); they were clinically observed and sacrificed at different short and long time intervals, and skin samples were collected for histopathological and immunohistochemical examination and analysis of different wound healing mediators via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results Subcutaneous injection of BM-MSCs resulted in the decrease of the wound contraction rate; the wound having a pinpoint appearance and regular arrangement of the epidermal layer with thin stratum corneum; decrease in the area percentages of ADAMs10 expression; significant downregulation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α), metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and microRNA-21; and marked upregulation of heat shock protein-90α (HSP-90α) especially in late stages. Conclusion BM-MSCs exhibited a powerful healing property through regulating the mediators of wound healing and restoring the normal skin structures, reducing the scar formation and the wound size.
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Bai WF, Zhang Y, Xu W, Li W, Li M, Yuan F, Luo X, Zhang M. Isolation and Characterization of Neural Progenitor Cells From Bone Marrow in Cell Replacement Therapy of Brain Injury. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:49. [PMID: 32226361 PMCID: PMC7080866 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Many studies supported that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) can differentiate into neural cells, but few researchers detected mature and function of nerve cells, especially in vivo study. Some researchers even suggested that BM-MSCs transplantation would not be able to differentiate into functional neural cells. To figure out the dispute, this study examined bone marrow-derived sphere-like cells, harvested via neural stem cell suspension culture, then identified as bone marrow-derived neural progenitor cells (BM-NPCs) by finding the expression of neural progenitor cells genes and proteins, neural progenitor cells characteristic and nerve cell differentiation induced through both methods. Moreover, BM-NPCs transplantation showed long-term survival and improved the ethological and histological indexes of brain injury rats, demonstrating functional nervous cells differentiated from BM-NPCs. These in vitro and in vivo results confirmed BM-NPCs differentiating into mature and functional nerve cells. This study provided valuable experimental data for BM-NPCs, suggesting a potential alternative treatment of central nervous injury disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-fang Bai
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Geriatrics, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuling Zhang
- School of Medical Instrument and Food Engineering, The University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
- Stroke Biological Recovery Laboratory, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, a Teaching Affiliate of Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Weicheng Xu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Geriatrics, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weikun Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zengcheng District People’s Hospital of Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meihui Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fengying Yuan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Foshan, China
| | - Xun Luo
- Kerry Rehabilitation Medicine Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Sanming Project Group, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, a Teaching Affiliate of Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Mingsheng Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Geriatrics, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Mingsheng Zhang
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Teh SW, Mok PL, Abd Rashid M, Bastion MLC, Ibrahim N, Higuchi A, Murugan K, Mariappan R, Subbiah SK. Recent Updates on Treatment of Ocular Microbial Infections by Stem Cell Therapy: A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19020558. [PMID: 29438279 PMCID: PMC5855780 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19020558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 12/03/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ocular microbial infection has emerged as a major public health crisis during the past two decades. A variety of causative agents can cause ocular microbial infections; which are characterized by persistent and destructive inflammation of the ocular tissue; progressive visual disturbance; and may result in loss of visual function in patients if early and effective treatments are not received. The conventional therapeutic approaches to treat vision impairment and blindness resulting from microbial infections involve antimicrobial therapy to eliminate the offending pathogens or in severe cases; by surgical methods and retinal prosthesis replacing of the infected area. In cases where there is concurrent inflammation, once infection is controlled, anti-inflammatory agents are indicated to reduce ocular damage from inflammation which ensues. Despite advances in medical research; progress in the control of ocular microbial infections remains slow. The varying level of ocular tissue recovery in individuals and the incomplete visual functional restoration indicate the chief limitations of current strategies. The development of a more extensive therapy is needed to help in healing to regain vision in patients. Stem cells are multipotent stromal cells that can give rise to a vast variety of cell types following proper differentiation protocol. Stem cell therapy shows promise in reducing inflammation and repairing tissue damage on the eye caused by microbial infections by its ability to modulate immune response and promote tissue regeneration. This article reviews a selected list of common infectious agents affecting the eye; which include fungi; viruses; parasites and bacteria with the aim of discussing the current antimicrobial treatments and the associated therapeutic challenges. We also provide recent updates of the advances in stem cells studies on sepsis therapy as a suggestion of optimum treatment regime for ocular microbial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seoh Wei Teh
- Department of Biomedical Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Pooi Ling Mok
- Department of Biomedical Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
- Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Aljouf University, 72442 Sakaka, Aljouf Province, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Munirah Abd Rashid
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, UKM Medical Center, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Mae-Lynn Catherine Bastion
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, UKM Medical Center, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Normala Ibrahim
- Department of Psychiatry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Akon Higuchi
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, No. 300, Jhongda RD., Jhongli, 32001 Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| | - Kadarkarai Murugan
- Department of Zoology, Thiruvalluvar University, Serkkadu, 632 115 Vellore, India.
| | - Rajan Mariappan
- Biomaterials in Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Natural Products Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, 625 021 Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Suresh Kumar Subbiah
- Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Oner A, Gonen ZB, Sinim N, Cetin M, Ozkul Y. Subretinal adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell implantation in advanced stage retinitis pigmentosa: a phase I clinical safety study. Stem Cell Res Ther 2016; 7:178. [PMID: 27906070 PMCID: PMC5134260 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-016-0432-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Revised: 07/10/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This prospective clinical case series aimed to investigate the safety of subretinal adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ADMSC) implantation in advanced stage retinitis pigmentosa (RP). METHODS This study included 11 patients with end-stage RP who received subretinal implantation of ADMSCs. All patients had a total visual field defect and five of them only had light perception. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in the study was 20/2000. All patients had undetectable electroretinography (ERG). The worst eye of the patient was operated on and, after total vitrectomy with a 23 gauge, ADMSCs were injected subretinally. Patients were evaluated at day 1, at weeks 1-4, and then once a month for 6 months, postoperatively. BCVA, anterior segment and fundus examination, color photography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were carried out at each visit. Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), perimetry, and ERG recordings were performed before treatment and at the end of month 6, and anytime if necessary during the follow-up. RESULTS All 11 patients completed the 6-month follow-up. None of them had systemic complications. Five patients had no ocular complications. One of the patients experienced choroidal neovascular membrane (CNM) at the implantation site and received an intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drug once. Five patients had epiretinal membrane around the transplantation area and at the periphery, and received a second vitrectomy and silicon oil injection. There was no statistically significant difference in BCVA and ERG recordings from baseline. Only one patient experienced an improvement in visual acuity (from 20/2000 to 20/200), visual field, and ERG. Three patients mentioned that the light and some colors were brighter than before and there was a slight improvement in BCVA. The remaining seven patients had no BCVA improvement (five of them only had light perception before surgery). CONCLUSIONS Stem cell treatment with subretinal implantation of ADMSCs seems to have some ocular complications and should be applied with caution. The results of this study provide the first evidence of the short-term safety of ADMSCs in humans, and clarifies the complications of the therapy which would be beneficial for future studies. To optimize the cell delivery technique and to evaluate the effects of this therapy on visual acuity and the quality of life of these patients, future studies with a larger number of cases will be necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Oner
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Z. Burcin Gonen
- Genome and Stem Cell Center (GENKOK), Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Neslihan Sinim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Cetin
- Genome and Stem Cell Center (GENKOK), Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Yusuf Ozkul
- Genome and Stem Cell Center (GENKOK), Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
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Ng TK, Yung JSY, Choy KW, Cao D, Leung CKS, Cheung HS, Pang CP. Transdifferentiation of periodontal ligament-derived stem cells into retinal ganglion-like cells and its microRNA signature. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16429. [PMID: 26549845 PMCID: PMC4637909 DOI: 10.1038/srep16429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal diseases are the leading causes of irreversible visual impairment and blindness in the developed countries. Human retina has limited regenerative power to replace cell loss. Stem cell replacement therapy has been proposed as a viable option. Previously, we have induced human adult periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) to the retinal lineage. In this study, we modified our induction protocol to direct human adult PDLSCs into retinal ganglion-like cells and determined the microRNA (miRNA) signature of this transdifferentiation process. The differentiated PDLSCs demonstrated the characteristics of functional neurons as they expressed neuronal and retinal ganglion cell markers (ATOH7, POU4F2, β-III tubulin, MAP2, TAU, NEUROD1 and SIX3), formed synapses and showed glutamate-induced calcium responses as well as spontaneous electrical activities. The global miRNA expression profiling identified 44 upregulated and 27 downregulated human miRNAs after retinal induction. Gene ontology analysis of the predicted miRNA target genes confirmed the transdifferentiation is closely related to neuronal differentiation processes. Furthermore, the expressions of 2 miRNA-targeted candidates, VEGF and PTEN, were significantly upregulated during the induction process. This study identified the transdifferentiation process of human adult stem cells into retinal ganglion-like cells and revealed the involvement of both genetic and miRNA regulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsz Kin Ng
- Department of Ophthalmology &Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jasmine S Y Yung
- Department of Ophthalmology &Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Kwong Wai Choy
- Department of Obstetrics &Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Di Cao
- Department of Ophthalmology &Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Christopher K S Leung
- Department of Ophthalmology &Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Herman S Cheung
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Chi Pui Pang
- Department of Ophthalmology &Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Ng TK, Lam DSC, Cheung HS. Prospects of Stem Cells for Retinal Diseases. ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY (PHILADELPHIA, PA.) 2013; 2:57-63. [PMID: 26107868 DOI: 10.1097/apo.0b013e31827e3e5d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Retinal diseases, including glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration, are the leading causes of irreversible visual impairment and blindness in developed countries. Traditional and current treatment regimens are based on surgical or medical interventions to slow down the disease progression. However, the number of retinal cells would continue to diminish, and the diseases could not be completely cured. There is an emerging role of stem cells in retinal research. The stem cell therapy on retinal diseases is based on 2 theories: cell replacement therapy and neuroprotective effect. The former hypothesizes that new retinal cells could be regenerated from stem cells to substitute the damaged cells in the diseased retina, whereas the latter believes that the paracrine effects of stem cells modulate the microenvironments of the diseased retina so as to protect the retinal neurons. This article summarizes the choice of stem cells in retinal research. Moreover, the current progress of retinal research on stem cells and the clinical applications of stem cells on retinal diseases are reviewed. In addition, potential challenges and future prospects of retinal stem cell research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsz Kin Ng
- From the *Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL; †State Key Laboratory in Ophthalmology & Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; and ‡Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
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