Transplantation of human urine-derived neural progenitor cells after spinal cord injury in rats

A comprehensive analysis of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) production and applications

The ability to reprogram mature, differentiated cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using exogenous pluripotency factors opened up unprecedented opportunities for their application in biomedicine. iPSCs are already successfully used in cell and regenerative therapy, as various drug discovery platforms and for in vitro disease modeling. However, even though already 20 years have passed since their discovery, the production of iPSC-based therapies is still associated with a number of hurdles due to low reprogramming efficiency, the complexity of accurate characterization of the resulting colonies, and the concerns associated with the safety of this approach. However, significant progress in many areas of molecular biology facilitated the production, characterization, and thorough assessment of the safety profile of iPSCs. The number of iPSC-based studies has been steadily increasing in recent years, leading to the accumulation of significant knowledge in this area. In this review, we aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of methods used for reprogramming and subsequent characterization of iPSCs, discussed barriers towards achieving these goals, and various approaches to improve the efficiency of reprogramming of different cell populations. In addition, we focused on the analysis of iPSC application in preclinical and clinical studies. The accumulated breadth of data helps to draw conclusions about the future of this technology in biomedicine.

Application prospects of urine-derived stem cells in neurological and musculoskeletal diseases

Urine-derived stem cells (USCs) are derived from urine and harbor the potential of proliferation and multidirectional differentiation. Moreover, USCs could be reprogrammed into pluripotent stem cells [namely urine-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (UiPSCs)] through transcription factors, such as octamer binding transcription factor 4, sex determining region Y-box 2, kruppel-like factor 4, myelocytomatosis oncogene, and Nanog homeobox and protein lin-28, in which the first four are known as Yamanaka factors. Mounting evidence supports that USCs and UiPSCs possess high potential of neurogenic, myogenic, and osteogenic differentiation, indicating that they may play a crucial role in the treatment of neurological and musculoskeletal diseases. Therefore, we summarized the origin and physiological characteristics of USCs and UiPSCs and their therapeutic application in neurological and musculoskeletal disorders in this review, which not only contributes to deepen our understanding of hallmarks of USCs and UiPSCs but also provides the theoretical basis for the treatment of neurological and musculoskeletal disorders with USCs and UiPSCs.

Mining human clinical waste as a rich source of stem cells for neural regeneration

Neural diseases are challenging to treat and are regarded as one of the major causes of disability and morbidity in the world. Stem cells can provide a solution, by offering a mechanism to replace damaged circuitry. However, obtaining sufficient cell sources for neural regeneration remains a significant challenge. In recent years, waste-derived stem(-like) cells (WDS-lCs) extracted from both prenatal and adult clinical waste tissues/products, have gained increasing attention for application in neural tissue repair and remodeling. This often-overlooked pool of cells possesses favorable characteristics; including self-renewal, neural differentiation, secretion of neurogenic factors, cost-effectiveness, and low ethical concerns. Here, we offer a perspective regarding the biological properties, extraction protocols, and preclinical and clinical treatments where prenatal and adult WDS-lCs have been utilized for cell replacement therapy in neural applications, and the challenges involved in optimizing these approaches toward patient led therapies.

Exploiting urine-derived induced pluripotent stem cells for advancing precision medicine in cell therapy, disease modeling, and drug testing

The field of regenerative medicine has witnessed remarkable advancements with the emergence of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from a variety of sources. Among these, urine-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (u-iPSCs) have garnered substantial attention due to their non-invasive and patient-friendly acquisition method. This review manuscript delves into the potential and application of u-iPSCs in advancing precision medicine, particularly in the realms of drug testing, disease modeling, and cell therapy. U-iPSCs are generated through the reprogramming of somatic cells found in urine samples, offering a unique and renewable source of patient-specific pluripotent cells. Their utility in drug testing has revolutionized the pharmaceutical industry by providing personalized platforms for drug screening, toxicity assessment, and efficacy evaluation. The availability of u-iPSCs with diverse genetic backgrounds facilitates the development of tailored therapeutic approaches, minimizing adverse effects and optimizing treatment outcomes. Furthermore, u-iPSCs have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in disease modeling, allowing researchers to recapitulate patient-specific pathologies in vitro. This not only enhances our understanding of disease mechanisms but also serves as a valuable tool for drug discovery and development. In addition, u-iPSC-based disease models offer a platform for studying rare and genetically complex diseases, often underserved by traditional research methods. The versatility of u-iPSCs extends to cell therapy applications, where they hold immense promise for regenerative medicine. Their potential to differentiate into various cell types, including neurons, cardiomyocytes, and hepatocytes, enables the development of patient-specific cell replacement therapies. This personalized approach can revolutionize the treatment of degenerative diseases, organ failure, and tissue damage by minimizing immune rejection and optimizing therapeutic outcomes. However, several challenges and considerations, such as standardization of reprogramming protocols, genomic stability, and scalability, must be addressed to fully exploit u-iPSCs' potential in precision medicine. In conclusion, this review underscores the transformative impact of u-iPSCs on advancing precision medicine and highlights the future prospects and challenges in harnessing this innovative technology for improved healthcare outcomes.

Implantation of human urine stem cells promotes neural repair in spinal cord injury rats associated cadeharin-1 and integrin subunit beta 1 expression

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of human urine-derived stem cells (HUSCs) for the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) and investigate associated the molecular network mechanism by using bioinformatics combined with experimental validation.

METHODS

After the contusive SCI model was established, the HUSC-expressed specific antigen marker was implanted into the injury site immediately, and the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan locomotor rating scale (BBB scale) was utilized to evaluate motor function so as to determine the effect of HUSCs for the neural repair after SCI. Then, the geneCards database was used to collect related gene targets for both HUSCs and SCI, and cross genes were merged with the findings of PubMed screen. Subsequently, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment, as well as core network construction, were performed using Cytoscape software. Lastly, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunofluorescence were employed to validate the mRNA expression and localization of 10 hub genes, and two of the most important, designated as cadherin 1 (CDH1) and integrin subunit beta 1 (ITGB1), were identified successfully.

RESULTS

The immunophenotypes of HUSCs were marked by CD90+ and CD44+ but not CD45, and flow cytometry confirmed their character. The expression rates of CD90, CD73, CD44 and CD105 in HUSCs were 99.49, 99.77, 99.82 and 99.51%, respectively, while the expression rates of CD43, CD45, CD11b and HLA-DR were 0.08, 0.30, 1.34 and 0.02%, respectively. After SCI, all rats appeared to have severe motor dysfunction, but the BBB score was increased in HUSC-transplanted rats compared with control rats at 28 days. By using bioinformatics, we obtained 6668 targets for SCI and 1095 targets for HUSCs and identified a total of 645 cross targets between HUSCs and SCI. Based on the PPI and Cytoscape analysis, CD44, ACTB, FN1, ITGB1, HSPA8, CDH1, ALB, HSP90AA1 and GAPDH were identified as possible therapeutic targets. Enrichment analysis revealed that the involved signal pathways included complement and coagulation cascades, lysosome, systemic lupus erythematosus, etc. Lastly, quantificational real-time (qRT)-PCR confirmed the mRNA differential expression of CDH1/ITGB1 after HUSC therapy, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunofluorescence staining showed that the astrocyte proliferation at the injured site could be reduced significantly after HUSC treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

We validated that HUSC implantation is effective for the treatment of SCI, and the underlying mechanisms associated with the multiple molecular network. Of these, CDH1 and ITGB1 may be considered as important candidate targets. Those findings therefore provided the crucial evidence for the potential use of HUSCs in SCI treatment in future clinic trials.

Genetic Mechanism Study of Auditory Phoenix Spheres and Transcription Factors Prediction for Direct Reprogramming by Bioinformatics

Background: Hearing loss is the most common irreversible sensory disorder. By delivering regenerative cells into the cochlea, cell-based therapy provides a novel strategy for hearing restoration. Recently, newly-identified phoenix cells have drawn attention due to their nearly unlimited self-renewal and neural differentiation capabilities. They are a promising cell source for cell therapy and a potential substitute for induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in many in vitro applications. However, the underlying genomic mechanism of their self-renewal capabilities is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to identify hub genes and potential molecular mechanisms between differentiated and undifferentiated phoenix cells and predict transcription factors (TFs) for direct reprogramming. Material and Methods: The datasets were downloaded from the ArrayExpress database. Samples of differentiated and undifferentiated phoenix cells with three biological replicates were utilised for bioinformatic analysis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened and the Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment were investigated. The gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was conducted to verify the enrichment of four self-defined gene set collections, followed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction and subcluster analysis. The prediction of TFs for direct reprogramming was performed based on the TRANSFAC database. Results: Ten hub genes were identified to be the key candidates for self-renewal. Ten TFs were predicted as the direct reprogramming factors. This study provides a theoretical foundation for understanding phoenix cells and clues for direct reprogramming, which would stimulate further experiments and clinical applications in hearing research and treatment.

Application and progress of three-dimensional bioprinting in spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a central nervous system disorder that can lead to sensory and motor dysfunction, which can seriously increase pressure and economic burden on families and societies. The current SCI treatment is mainly to stabilize the spine, prevent secondary damage, and control inflammation. Drug treatment is limited to early, large-scale use of steroids to reduce the effects of edema after SCI. In short, there is no direct treatment for SCI. Recent 3D bioprinting development provides a new solution for SCI treatment: a series of spinal cord bionic scaffolds are being developed to improve spinal cord function after injury. This paper reviews the pathophysiological characteristics of SCI, current treatment methods, and the progress of 3D bioprinting in SCI. Finally, its challenges and prospects in SCI treatment are summarized.

Cell Therapy for Neurological Disorders: The Perspective of Promising Cells

Neurological disorders are big public health challenges that are afflicting hundreds of millions of people around the world. Although many conventional pharmacological therapies have been tested in patients, their therapeutic efficacies to alleviate their symptoms and slow down the course of the diseases are usually limited. Cell therapy has attracted the interest of many researchers in the last several decades and has brought new hope for treating neurological disorders. Moreover, numerous studies have shown promising results. However, none of the studies has led to a promising therapy for patients with neurological disorders, despite the ongoing and completed clinical trials. There are many factors that may affect the outcome of cell therapy for neurological disorders due to the complexity of the nervous system, especially cell types for transplantation and the specific disease for treatment. This paper provides a review of the various cell types from humans that may be clinically used for neurological disorders, based on their characteristics and current progress in related studies.