Characterization of CRISPR/Cas9 RANKL knockout mesenchymal stem cell clones based on single-cell printing technology and Emulsion Coupling assay as a low-cellularity workflow for single-cell cloning

Mesenchymal stromal cells and CAR-T cells in regenerative medicine: The homing procedure and their effective parameters

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells are two core elements in cell therapy procedures. MSCs have significant immunomodulatory effects that alleviate inflammation in the tissue regeneration process, while administration of specific chemokines and adhesive molecules would primarily facilitate CAR-T cell trafficking into solid tumors. Multiple parameters affect cell homing, including the recipient's age, the number of cell passages, proper cell culture, and the delivery method. In addition, several chemokines are involved in the tumor microenvironment, affecting the homing procedure. This review discusses parameters that improve the efficiency of cell homing and significant cell therapy challenges. Emerging comprehensive mechanistic strategies such as non-systemic and systemic homing that revealed a significant role in cell therapy remodeling were also reviewed. Finally, the primary implications for the development of combination therapies that incorporate both MSCs and CAR-T cells for cancer treatment were discussed.

Therapeutics of osteoarthritis and pharmacological mechanisms: A focus on RANK/RANKL signaling

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease afflicting millions globally. Despite the development of numerous pharmacological treatments for OA, a substantial unmet need for effective therapies persists. The RANK/RANKL signaling pathway has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for OA, owing to its pivotal role in regulating osteoclast differentiation and activity. In this comprehensive review, we aim to elucidate the relevant mechanisms of OA mediated by RANK/RANKL signaling, including bone remodeling, inflammation, cartilage degradation, osteophyte formation, and pain sensitization. Furthermore, we discuss and summarize the cutting-edge strategies targeting RANK/RANKL signaling for OA therapy, encompassing approaches such as gene-based interventions and biomaterials-aided pharmacotherapy. In addition, we highlight the prevailing challenges associated with pharmacological OA treatments and explore potential future directions, approached through a clinical-translational lens.

Research and Therapeutic Approaches in Stem Cell Genome Editing by CRISPR Toolkit

The most widely used genome editing toolkit is CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats). It provides the possibility of replacing and modifying DNA and RNA nucleotides. Furthermore, with advancements in biological technology, inhibition and activation of the transcription of specific gene(s) has become possible. Bioinformatics tools that target the evolution of CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) turn this protein into a vehicle that is specific for a DNA or RNA region with single guide RNA (sgRNA). This toolkit could be used by researchers to investigate the function of stem cell gene(s). Here, in this review article, we cover recent developments and applications of this technique in stem cells for research and clinical purposes and discuss different CRISPR/Cas technologies for knock-out, knock-in, activation, or inhibition of gene expression. Additionally, a comparison of several deliveries and off-target detecting strategies is discussed.