Tongue muscle-derived stem cells express connexin 43 and improve cardiac remodeling and survival after myocardial infarction in mice

Small G protein signaling modulator 3 (SGSM3) knockdown attenuates apoptosis and cardiogenic differentiation in rat mesenchymal stem cells exposed to hypoxia

Connexin 43 (Cx43) may be important in cell death and survival due to cell-to-cell communication-independent mechanisms. In our previous study, we found that small G protein signaling modulator 3 (SGSM3), a partner of Cx43, contributes to myocardial infarction (MI) in rat hearts. Based on these previous results, we hypothesized that SGSM3 could also play a role in bone marrow-derived rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which differentiate into cardiomyocytes and/or cells with comparable phenotypes under low oxygen conditions. Cx43 and Cx43-related factor expression profiles were compared between normoxic and hypoxic conditions according to exposure time, and Sgsm3 gene knockdown (KD) using siRNA transfection was performed to validate the interaction between SGSM3 and Cx43 and to determine the roles of SGSM3 in rat MSCs. We identified that SGSM3 interacts with Cx43 in MSCs under different oxygen conditions and that Sgsm3 knockdown inhibits apoptosis and cardiomyocyte differentiation under hypoxic stress. SGSM3/Sgsm3 probably has an effect on MSC survival and thus therapeutic potential in diseased hearts, but SGSM3 may worsen the development of MSC-based therapeutic approaches in regenerative medicine. This study was performed to help us better understand the mechanisms involved in the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs, as well as provide data that could be used pharmacologically.

Cardiosphere-Derived Cells and Ischemic Heart Failure

After a myocardial infarction, heart tissue becomes irreversibly damaged, leading to scar formation and inevitably ischemic heart failure. Of the many available interventions after a myocardial infarction, such as percutaneous intervention or pharmacological optimization, none can reverse the ischemic insult on the heart and restore cardiac function. Thus, the only available cure for patients with scarred myocardium is allogeneic heart transplantation, which comes with extensive costs, risks, and complications. However, multiple studies have shown that the heart is, in fact, not an end-stage organ and that there are endogenous mechanisms in place that have the potential to spark regeneration. Stem cell therapy has emerged as a potential tool to tap into and activate this endogenous framework. Particularly promising are stem cells derived from cardiac tissue itself, referred to as cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs). CDCs can be extracted and isolated from the patient's myocardium and then administered by intramyocardial injection or intracoronary infusion. After early success in the animal model, multiple clinical trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of autologous CDC therapy in humans. Clinical trials with allogeneic CDCs showed early promising results and pose a potential "off-the-shelf" therapy for patients in the acute setting after a myocardial infarction. The mechanism responsible for CDC-induced cardiac regeneration seems to be a combination of triggering native cardiomyocyte proliferation and recruitment of endogenous progenitor cells, which most prominently occurs via paracrine effects. A further understanding of the mediators involved in paracrine signaling can help with the development of a stem cell-free therapy, with all the benefits and none of the associated complications.

Is Cardioprotection Dead?

For >4 decades, the holy grail in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction has been the mitigation of lethal injury. Despite promising initial results and decades of investigation by the cardiology research community, the only treatment with proven efficacy is early reperfusion of the occluded coronary artery. The remarkable record of failure has led us and others to wonder if cardioprotection is dead. The path to translation, like the ascent to Everest, is certainly littered with corpses. We do, however, highlight a therapeutic principle that provides a glimmer of hope: cellular postconditioning. Administration of cardiosphere-derived cells after reperfusion limits infarct size measured acutely, while providing long-term structural and functional benefits. The recognition that cell therapy may be cardioprotective, and not just regenerative, merits further exploration before we abandon the pursuit entirely.

Selected suitable seed cell, scaffold and growth factor could maximize the repair effect using tissue engineering method in spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury usually leads to permanent disability, which could cause a huge financial problem to the patient. Up to now there is no effective method to treat this disease. The key of the treatment is to enable the damage zone axonal regeneration and luckily it could go through the damage zone; last a connection can be established with the target neurons. This study attempts to combine stem cell, material science and genetic modification technology together, by preparing two genes modified adipose-derived stem cells and inducing them into neuron direction; then by compositing them on the silk fibroin/chitosan scaffold and implanting them into the spinal cord injury model, seed cells can have features of neuron cells. At the same time, it could stably express the brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3, both of which could produce synergistic effects, which have a positive effect on the recovery of spinal cord. The spinal cord scaffold bridges the broken end of the spinal cord and isolates with the surrounding environment, which could avoid a scar effect on the nerve regeneration and provide three-dimensional space for the seed cell growth, and at last we hope to provide a new treatment for spinal cord injury with the tissue engineering technique.

Osteogenic cell fractions isolated from mouse tongue muscle

The use of stem cells represents a promising approach for the treatment of bone defects. However, successful treatments rely upon the availability of cells that are easily obtained and that appropriately differentiate into osteoblasts. The tongue potentially represents a source of autologous cells for such purposes. In the present study, the ability of stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1) positive cells derived from tongue muscle to differentiate into osteoblasts was investigated. The tongue muscles were excised from Jcl-ICR mice and tongue muscle-derived Sca-1-positive cells (TDSCs) were isolated from the tongue muscle using a magnetic cell separation system with microbeads. TDSCs were cultured in plastic dishes or gelatin sponges of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) with bone differentiation-inducing medium. The expression of osteogenic markers (Runx2, osterix, alkaline phosphatase, fibronectin, osteocalcin, osteonectin and osteopontin) was investigated in cultured TDSCs by western blot analysis. The formation of mineralized matrices was examined using alizarin red S and Von Kossa staining. Bone formation was investigated in cultured TDSCs by hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemstry. In the present study, the expression of Sca-1 in mouse tongue muscle was demonstrated and TDSCs were isolated at high purity. TDSCs differentiated into cells of osteoblast lineage, as demonstrated by the upregulation of osteoblastic marker expression. The formation of mineralized matrices was confirmed by alizarin red S or Von Kossa staining in vitro. Bone formation was observed in the gelatin sponges of β-TCP, which were subsequently implanted under the skin of the backs of nude mice. These results suggested that TDSCs retain their osteogenic differentiation potential and therefore the tongue muscle may be used as a source of stem cells for bone regeneration.

In vivo determination of muscle-derived stem cells in the rat corpus cavernosum

The aim of the present in vivo study was to determine the presence of muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) in the corpus cavernosum of rats. Immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed to detect the expression of the stem cell markers stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1), Oct4 and Desmin in Sprague-Dawley rats aged 2, 5 and 20 months. Sca-1 was mainly expressed in the blood vessels and cavernous sinus and staining revealed that Sca-1 was predominantly expressed in the cytoplasm. Desmin was primarily expressed in muscular tissues and staining demonstrated that it was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm, however, Desmin was also partially expressed in the nuclei. A small number of double positive cells, expressing Sca-1 and Desmin, were also detected near the cavernous sinus. It was found that the expression of the markers was negatively correlated with the age of the rats (P<0.05). The results from the RT-PCR demonstrated that the expression levels of Sca-1 and Desmin significantly decreased with age (P<0.05). In addition, the correlation analysis indicated that the expression of Sca-1 and Desmin were negatively correlated with the age of the rats (r=−−0.929; P<0.05). In conclusion, the present study provided evidence for the presence of MDSCs in the rat corpus cavernosum. MDSCs may be a potential therapeutic treatment for organic erectile dysfunction.

Tissue engineering is a promising method for the repair of spinal cord injuries (Review)

Spinal cord injury (SCI) may lead to a devastating and permanent loss of neurological function, which may place a great economic burden on the family of the patient and society. Methods for reducing the death of neuronal cells, inhibiting immune and inflammatory reactions, and promoting the growth of axons in order to build up synapses with the target cells are the focus of current research. Target cells are located in the damaged spinal cord which create a connect with the scaffold. As tissue engineering technology is developed for use in a variety of different areas, particularly the biomedical field, a clear understanding of the mechanisms of tissue engineering is important. This review establishes how this technology may be used in basic experiments with regard to SCI and considers its potential future clinical use.

Isolation and passage of muscle-derived stem cells from the rat penile corpora cavernosa and induction of differentiation into smooth muscle cells

This study treated the isolation and passage of muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) from rat penile corpora cavernosa, detection of stem cell marker expression, observation of their self-renewal and continuous proliferation, and demonstration of their potential to differentiate into smooth muscle cells in co-culture. Muscle-derived stem cells from the rat penile corpora cavernosa were isolated and purified. The expression of stem cell markers Sca-1 and desmin was detected in PP6 cells, thus confirming that the main components of PP6 cells are MDSCs. The expression of Sca-1 and desmin occurred both in PP6 cells and cells at passages 3, 6, and 8, and there was no significant decrease in the expression level with increasing passage number. The growth curves indicated that the cell doubling time was approximately 48 h. The cells entered the stationary phase after approximately 7 days of culture. The proliferative activity of the cells at passage 8 remained unchanged. After 2 days of co-culture with smooth muscle cells, the DAPI-labeled MDSCs tended to exhibit smooth muscle cell morphology and expression of α-SMA was detected. MDSCs exist in the rat penile corpora cavernosa and possess the potential to differentiate into smooth muscle cells. This discovery serves as the basis in view of the potential use of endogenous stem cells for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED).

Adult stem cells derived from skeletal muscle — biology and potential

Skeletal muscle contains at least two distinct populations of adult stem cells — satellite cells and multipotent muscle-derived stem cells. Monopotential satellite cells are located under the basal lamina of muscle fibers. They are capable of giving rise only to cells of myogenic lineage, which play an important role in the processes of muscle regeneration. Multipotent muscle-derived stem cells are considered to be predecessors of the satellite cells. Under proper conditions, both in vitro and in vivo, they undergo myogenic, cardiogenic, chondrogenic, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. The main purpose of the present article is to summarize current information about adult stem cells derived from skeletal muscle, and to discuss their isolation and in vitro expansion techniques, biological properties, as well as their potential for regenerative medicine.

Cardioprotective effect of apelin-13 on cardiac performance and remodeling in end-stage heart failure

BACKGROUND

Apelin and its cognate G protein-coupled receptor, APJ, constitute a signaling pathway with a positive inotropic effect on cardiac function. Recently, we and other investigators demonstrated that a reduction in myocardial apelin/APJ expression might play a critical role in experimental models of end-stage heart failure (HF). Therefore, we evaluated whether exogenous apelin infusion restores apelin/APJ expression and improves cardiac function in the failing heart of Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive (DS) rats.

METHODS AND RESULTS

High salt-loaded DS rats were treated with vehicle and pyroglutamylated apelin-13 (Pyr-AP13; 200µg·kg(-1)·day(-1), IP) from the age of 11 to 18 weeks. Decreased end-systolic elastance and percent fractional shortening in failing rats was significantly ameliorated by Pyr-AP13. Pyr-AP13 effectively inhibited vascular lesion formation and suppressed expression of inflammation factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β protein. Downregulation of apelin and APJ expression, and phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase at Ser(1177) and Akt at Ser(473) in failing rats was significantly increased by Pyr-AP13. Upregulation of NAD(P)H oxidase p22(phox), p47(phox), and gp91(phox) in DS rats was significantly suppressed by Pyr-AP13.

CONCLUSIONS

Exogenous apelin-13 may ameliorate cardiac dysfunction and remodeling and restore apelin/APJ expression in DS rats with end-stage HF. Thus, apelin-13 may have significant therapeutic potential for end-stage HF.

Overexpression of Csx/Nkx2.5 and GATA-4 enhances the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation after myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

The high death rate of the transplanted stem cells in the infarcted heart and low efficiency of differentiation toward cardiomyocytes show that mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation after myocardial infarction (MI) is not effective. Csx/Nkx2.5 and GATA-4 are considered to be key regulators of cardiogenesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of transplanting MSC overexpressing Csx/Nkx2.5 and GATA-4 (MSCs-CG) after MI.

METHODS AND RESULTS

According to acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, MSCs-CG were more resistant to anoxia as compared with MSCs in vitro. In a mouse MI model, ejection fraction and fractional shortening were higher in the MSC-CG group than in the MSC or phosphate-buffered saline group. Wall thickness of the infarct area was increased and collagen deposition was clearly reduced in the MSC-CG group as compared with the other groups. There were more surviving MSCs in the MSC-CG group than in the MSC group. Most of the Y chromosome-positive cells expressed cardiac troponin T and connexin43 (Cx-43). Cx-43 was localized between Y chromosome-positive cells and recipient cardiomyocytes. Microvessel density in the peri-infarct regions and infarct regions increased significantly in the MSC-CG group.

CONCLUSIONS

Transplantation of MSCs overexpressing Csx/Nkx2.5 and GATA-4 represents a new treatment strategy with the potential to improve cardiac function after MI.

[Surgical intramyocardial stem cell therapy for chronic ischemic heart failure]

Chronic ischemic heart disease patients are already being treated worldwide with bone marrow stem cells both in the context of clinical studies and in therapy trials. By combining this therapy with established revascularization procedures such as bypass surgery, a high level of patient safety can be achieved. To date, no stem cell-related cardiac complications following intramyocardial injection of bone marrow-derived stem cells during CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) surgery have been reported. The functional advantage conferred by surgical bone marrow stem cell therapy is a 7.2% increase in LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction) compared to controls. Randomized placebo-controlled trials, like the German trial PERFECT, are needed to obtain a more evidence-based assessment of this therapy.

Development and evaluation of a perfusion decellularization porcine heart model--generation of 3-dimensional myocardial neoscaffolds

BACKGROUND

Reports about the generation of 3-dimensional neoscaffolds for myocardial tissue engineering are limited. The architecture provided by perfusion decellularization of whole hearts would support the production of human-sized 3-dimensional living tissues from an acellular matrix. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of a perfusion decellularization model for whole heart tissue engineering.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Hearts were obtained from 12 German Landrace pigs from a selected abattoir. After preparation, the hearts were mounted and perfused on a modified Langendorff decellularization model specifically constructed for this reason. Decellularization was achieved by an ionic detergent-based perfusion protocol. The quality of the decellularization process was quantified by histology and fluorescence microscopy. Data regarding the presence of residual DNA within the decellularized hearts was measured with spectrophotometric quantification and compared to controls. After histological examination, all hearts lacked intracellular components but retained various types of collagen, proteoglycan and elastin. Quantitative DNA analysis demonstrated a significant reduction of DNA in decellularized hearts compared to controls (84.32±3.99 ng DNA/mg tissue vs. 470.13±18.77 ng DNA/mg tissue (P<0.05)).

CONCLUSIONS

The modified Langendorff perfusion decellularization model described here is applicable for whole porcine hearts by removing cellular content and DNA. The resulting 3-dimensional matrix provides an interesting tool for further studies in the field of whole heart tissue engineering.