Novel Programmed Death Ligand 1-AKT-engineered Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Neuroplasticity to Target Stroke Therapy

Advances in brain-targeted delivery strategies and natural product-mediated enhancement of blood-brain barrier permeability

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) represents a formidable challenge in the treatment of neurological disorders, as it restricts the passage of most therapeutic agents into the central nervous system (CNS). Research in brain-targeted delivery strategies and explore in natural products for BBB modulation have opened new avenues for effective CNS drug delivery. This review highlights the latest developments in molecular-based delivery systems, cell-based approaches, physical techniques, toxicity concerns, clinical trials and artificial intelligence (AI) -driven modeling for brain-targeted drug delivery. Additionally, it examines the role of natural products, particularly aromatic resuscitation medicines, in enhancing BBB permeability through modulating tight junction proteins and inhibiting efflux transporters. It is emphasized that the integration of natural products with modern drug delivery systems offers promising opportunities for the development of novel brain-targeted therapies. However, challenges related to the complexity and variety of natural product compositions must be addressed to fully realize their potential. This review underscores the importance of continued research into the molecular mechanisms underlying BBB modulation and natural product-mediated nano-delivery strategies for CNS disorders.

Potential Mechanism and Perspectives of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Ischemic Stroke: A Review

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as a stem cell type with multiple differentiation potentials and immune regulatory abilities, have shown broad prospects in the treatment of ischemic stroke in recent years. The main characteristics of MSCs include their self-renewal ability, differentiation potential for different types of cells, and the ability to secrete various bioactive factors such as cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors, which play a key role in tissue repair and regeneration. In the treatment of ischemic stroke, MSCs exert therapeutic effects through various mechanisms, including promoting vascular regeneration of damaged brain tissue, reducing inflammatory responses, and protecting neurons from damage caused by apoptosis. Research have shown that MSCs can promote the repair of ischemic areas by releasing neurotrophic factors and angiogenic factors, while inhibiting immune responses triggered by ischemia, thereby improving neurological function. With the in-depth study of its biological mechanism, MSCs have gradually shown good safety and effectiveness in clinical applications. Therefore, fully exploring and utilizing the potential of MSCs in the treatment of ischemic stroke may provide new ideas and solutions for future neural repair and regenerative medicine.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC)-Based Drug Delivery into the Brain across the Blood-Brain Barrier

At present, stem cell-based therapies using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are being used to explore the potential for regenerative medicine in the treatment of various diseases, owing to their ability for multilineage differentiation. Interestingly, MSCs are employed not only in regenerative medicine, but also as carriers for drug delivery, homing to target sites in injured or damaged tissues including the brain by crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In drug research and development, membrane impermeability is a serious problem. The development of central nervous system drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, remains difficult due to impermeability in capillary endothelial cells at the BBB, in addition to their complicated pathogenesis and pathology. Thus, intravenously or intraarterially administered MSC-mediated drug delivery in a non-invasive way is a solution to this transendothelial problem at the BBB. Substances delivered by MSCs are divided into artificially included materials in advance, such as low molecular weight compounds including doxorubicin, and expected protein expression products of genetic modification, such as interleukins. After internalizing into the brain through the fenestration between the capillary endothelial cells, MSCs release their cargos to the injured brain cells. In this review, I introduce the potential and advantages of drug delivery into the brain across the BBB using MSCs as a carrier that moves into the brain as if they acted of their own will.

PD-L1 and AKT Overexpressing Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhance Myocardial Protection by Upregulating CD25+ T Cells in Acute Myocardial Infarction Rat Model

This study explores the synergistic impact of Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) and Protein Kinase B (Akt) overexpression in adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AdMSCs) for ameliorating cardiac dysfunction after myocardial infarction (MI). Post-MI adult Wistar rats were allocated into four groups: sham, MI, ADMSC treatment, and ADMSCs overexpressed with PD-L1 and Akt (AdMSC-PDL1-Akt) treatment. MI was induced via left anterior descending coronary artery ligation, followed by intramyocardial AdMSC injections. Over four weeks, cardiac functionality and structural integrity were assessed using pressure-volume analysis, infarct size measurement, and immunohistochemistry. AdMSC-PDL1-Akt exhibited enhanced resistance to reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vitro and ameliorated MI-induced contractile dysfunction in vivo by improving the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship and preload-recruitable stroke work, together with attenuating infarct size. Molecular analyses revealed substantial mitigation in caspase3 and nuclear factor-κB upregulation in MI hearts within the AdMSC-PDL1-Akt group. Mechanistically, AdMSC-PDL1-Akt fostered the differentiation of normal T cells into CD25+ regulatory T cells in vitro, aligning with in vivo upregulation of CD25 in AdMSC-PDL1-Akt-treated rats. Collectively, PD-L1 and Akt overexpression in AdMSCs bolsters resistance to ROS-mediated apoptosis in vitro and enhances myocardial protective efficacy against MI-induced dysfunction, potentially via T-cell modulation, underscoring a promising therapeutic strategy for myocardial ischemic injuries.