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Festinese VG, Faydaver M, Nardinocchi D, Di Giacinto O, El Khatib M, Mauro A, Turriani M, Canciello A, Berardinelli P, Russo V, Barboni B. Neural Markers Predict Tendon Healing Outcomes in an Ovine Achilles Tendon Injury Model: Spontaneous Repair Versus Amniotic Epithelial Cell-Induced Regeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2025; 26:2445. [PMID: 40141090 PMCID: PMC11942428 DOI: 10.3390/ijms26062445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2025] [Revised: 02/28/2025] [Accepted: 03/07/2025] [Indexed: 03/28/2025] Open
Abstract
Tendon injuries pose a clinical challenge due to tendons' limited recovery. Emerging evidence points to the nervous system's critical role in tendon healing, with neural markers NGF, NF-200, NPY, CGRP, and GAL modulating inflammation, cell proliferation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. This study investigates the predictive role of selected neural markers in a validated ovine Achilles tendon injury model, comparing spatio-temporal expression patterns in regenerating tendons transplanted with amniotic epithelial stem cells (AECs) versus spontaneous healing (CTR) 14 and 28 days post-injury (p.i.). AEC-treated tissues showed a spatio-temporal modulation of NF-200, NGF, NPY, CGRP, GAL, and enhanced ECM remodeling, with greater cell alignment, lower angle deviation, and accelerated collagen maturation, with a favorable Collagen type 1 (COL1) to Collagen type 3 (COL3) ratio. Pearson's matrix analysis revealed significant positive correlations between NGF, CGRP, and GAL expression, along a positive correlation between the three neural markers and cell alignment and angle deviation. As opposed to CTR, in AEC-treated tendons, lower levels of NGF, CGRP, and GAL correlated positively with improved tissue organization, suggesting these markers may predict successful tendon regeneration. The findings highlight the neuro-mediated activity of AECs in tendon regeneration, with NGF, CGRP, and GAL emerging as key predictive biomarkers for tendon healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Giovanna Festinese
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Department of Biosciences, Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (V.G.F.); (M.F.); (O.D.G.); (M.E.K.); (A.M.); (M.T.); (A.C.)
- School of Advanced Studies, Center for Neuroscience, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Melisa Faydaver
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Department of Biosciences, Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (V.G.F.); (M.F.); (O.D.G.); (M.E.K.); (A.M.); (M.T.); (A.C.)
| | - Delia Nardinocchi
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Department of Biosciences, Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (V.G.F.); (M.F.); (O.D.G.); (M.E.K.); (A.M.); (M.T.); (A.C.)
| | - Oriana Di Giacinto
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Department of Biosciences, Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (V.G.F.); (M.F.); (O.D.G.); (M.E.K.); (A.M.); (M.T.); (A.C.)
| | - Mohammad El Khatib
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Department of Biosciences, Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (V.G.F.); (M.F.); (O.D.G.); (M.E.K.); (A.M.); (M.T.); (A.C.)
| | - Annunziata Mauro
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Department of Biosciences, Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (V.G.F.); (M.F.); (O.D.G.); (M.E.K.); (A.M.); (M.T.); (A.C.)
| | - Maura Turriani
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Department of Biosciences, Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (V.G.F.); (M.F.); (O.D.G.); (M.E.K.); (A.M.); (M.T.); (A.C.)
| | - Angelo Canciello
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Department of Biosciences, Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (V.G.F.); (M.F.); (O.D.G.); (M.E.K.); (A.M.); (M.T.); (A.C.)
| | - Paolo Berardinelli
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Department of Biosciences, Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (V.G.F.); (M.F.); (O.D.G.); (M.E.K.); (A.M.); (M.T.); (A.C.)
| | - Valentina Russo
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Department of Biosciences, Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (V.G.F.); (M.F.); (O.D.G.); (M.E.K.); (A.M.); (M.T.); (A.C.)
| | - Barbara Barboni
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Department of Biosciences, Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (V.G.F.); (M.F.); (O.D.G.); (M.E.K.); (A.M.); (M.T.); (A.C.)
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Iorio F, El Khatib M, Wöltinger N, Turriani M, Di Giacinto O, Mauro A, Russo V, Barboni B, Boccaccini AR. Electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(glycerol sebacate) aligned fibers fabricated with benign solvents for tendon tissue engineering. J Biomed Mater Res A 2025; 113:e37794. [PMID: 39295227 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/21/2024]
Abstract
The electrospinning technique is a commonly employed approach to fabricate fibers intended for various tissue engineering applications. The aim of this study is to develop a novel strategy for tendon repair through the use of aligned poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) fibers fabricated in benign solvents, and further explore the potential application of PGS in tendon tissue engineering (TTE). The fibers were characterized for their morphological and physicochemical properties; amniotic epithelial stem cells (AECs) were used to assess the fibers teno-inductive and immunomodulatory potential due to their ability to teno-differentiate undergoing first a stepwise epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and due to their documented therapeutic role in tendon regeneration. The addition of PGS to PCL improved the spinnability of the polymer solution, as well as the uniformity and directionality of the so-obtained fibers. The mechanical properties were in the range of most TTE applications, specifically in the case of PCL/PGS 4:1 and 2:1 ratios. Compared to PCL alone, the same ratios also allowed a better AECs infiltration and growth over 7 days of culture, and triggered the activation of tendon-related genes (SCX, COL1, TNMD) and the expression of tenomodulin (TNMD) at the protein level. Concerning the immunomodulatory properties, both PCL and PCL/PGS fibers negatively affected the immunomodulatory profile of AECs, up-regulating both anti-inflammatory (IL-10) and pro-inflammatory (IL-12) cytokines over 7 days of culture. Overall, PCL/PGS 2:1 fibers fabricated with benign solvents proved to be the most suitable composition for TTE application based on their topographical cues, mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and teno-inductive properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Iorio
- Institute of Biomaterials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Mohammad El Khatib
- Department of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Natalie Wöltinger
- Institute of Biomaterials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Maura Turriani
- Department of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Oriana Di Giacinto
- Department of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Annunziata Mauro
- Department of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Valentina Russo
- Department of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Barbara Barboni
- Department of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Aldo R Boccaccini
- Institute of Biomaterials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Haidar-Montes AA, Mauro A, El Khatib M, Prencipe G, Pierdomenico L, Tosi U, Wouters G, Cerveró-Varona A, Berardinelli P, Russo V, Barboni B. Mechanobiological Strategies to Enhance Ovine ( Ovis aries) Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Tendon Plasticity for Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering Applications. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2233. [PMID: 39123758 PMCID: PMC11310997 DOI: 10.3390/ani14152233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2024] [Revised: 07/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) hold promise for tendon repair, even if their tenogenic plasticity and underlying mechanisms remain only partially understood, particularly in cells derived from the ovine animal model. This study aimed to characterize oADSCs during in vitro expansion to validate their phenotypic properties pre-transplantation. Moreover, their tenogenic potential was assessed using two in vitro-validated approaches: (1) teno-inductive conditioned media (CM) derived from a co-culture between ovine amniotic stem cells and fetal tendon explants, and (2) short- (48 h) and long-term (14 days) seeding on highly aligned PLGA (ha-PLGA) electrospun scaffold. Our findings indicate that oADSCs can be expanded without senescence and can maintain the expression of stemness (Sox2, Oct4, Nanog) and mesenchymal (CD29, CD166, CD44, CD90) markers while remaining negative for hematopoietic (CD31, CD45) and MHC-II antigens. Of note, oADSCs' tendon differentiation potential greatly depended on the in vitro strategy. oADSCs exposed to CM significantly upregulated tendon-related genes (COL1, TNMD, THBS4) but failed to accumulate TNMD protein at 14 days of culture. Conversely, oADSCs seeded on ha-PLGA fleeces quickly upregulated the tendon-related genes (48 h) and in 14 days accumulated high levels of the TNMD protein into the cytoplasm of ADSCs, displaying a tenocyte-like morphology. This mechano-sensing cellular response involved a complete SOX9 downregulation accompanied by YAP activation, highlighting the efficacy of biophysical stimuli in promoting tenogenic differentiation. These findings underscore oADSCs' long-term self-renewal and tendon differentiative potential, thus opening their use in a preclinical setting to develop innovative stem cell-based and tissue engineering protocols for tendon regeneration, applied to the veterinary field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlette A. Haidar-Montes
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.A.H.-M.); (M.E.K.); (G.P.); (U.T.); (A.C.-V.); (P.B.); (V.R.); (B.B.)
| | - Annunziata Mauro
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.A.H.-M.); (M.E.K.); (G.P.); (U.T.); (A.C.-V.); (P.B.); (V.R.); (B.B.)
| | - Mohammad El Khatib
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.A.H.-M.); (M.E.K.); (G.P.); (U.T.); (A.C.-V.); (P.B.); (V.R.); (B.B.)
| | - Giuseppe Prencipe
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.A.H.-M.); (M.E.K.); (G.P.); (U.T.); (A.C.-V.); (P.B.); (V.R.); (B.B.)
| | - Laura Pierdomenico
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy;
| | - Umberto Tosi
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.A.H.-M.); (M.E.K.); (G.P.); (U.T.); (A.C.-V.); (P.B.); (V.R.); (B.B.)
| | - Guy Wouters
- FAT STEM Company, Erembodegem, 9300 Aalst, Belgium;
| | - Adrián Cerveró-Varona
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.A.H.-M.); (M.E.K.); (G.P.); (U.T.); (A.C.-V.); (P.B.); (V.R.); (B.B.)
| | - Paolo Berardinelli
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.A.H.-M.); (M.E.K.); (G.P.); (U.T.); (A.C.-V.); (P.B.); (V.R.); (B.B.)
| | - Valentina Russo
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.A.H.-M.); (M.E.K.); (G.P.); (U.T.); (A.C.-V.); (P.B.); (V.R.); (B.B.)
| | - Barbara Barboni
- Unit of Basic and Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (A.A.H.-M.); (M.E.K.); (G.P.); (U.T.); (A.C.-V.); (P.B.); (V.R.); (B.B.)
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Farzamfar S, Garcia LM, Rahmani M, Bolduc S. Navigating the Immunological Crossroads: Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells as Architects of Inflammatory Harmony in Tissue-Engineered Constructs. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:494. [PMID: 38790361 PMCID: PMC11118848 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11050494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
In the dynamic landscape of tissue engineering, the integration of tissue-engineered constructs (TECs) faces a dual challenge-initiating beneficial inflammation for regeneration while avoiding the perils of prolonged immune activation. As TECs encounter the immediate reaction of the immune system upon implantation, the unique immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) emerge as key navigators. Harnessing the paracrine effects of MSCs, researchers aim to craft a localized microenvironment that not only enhances TEC integration but also holds therapeutic promise for inflammatory-driven pathologies. This review unravels the latest advancements, applications, obstacles, and future prospects surrounding the strategic alliance between MSCs and TECs, shedding light on the immunological symphony that guides the course of regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Farzamfar
- Centre de Recherche en Organogénèse Expérimentale/LOEX, Regenerative Medicine Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; (S.F.); (M.R.)
| | - Luciana Melo Garcia
- Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada;
- Hematology-Oncology Service, CHU de Québec—Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Mahya Rahmani
- Centre de Recherche en Organogénèse Expérimentale/LOEX, Regenerative Medicine Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; (S.F.); (M.R.)
| | - Stephane Bolduc
- Centre de Recherche en Organogénèse Expérimentale/LOEX, Regenerative Medicine Division, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; (S.F.); (M.R.)
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
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Liu X, Deng Y, Liang Z, Qiao D, Zhang W, Wang M, Li F, Liu J, Wu Y, Chen G, Liu Y, Tan W, Xing J, Huang W, Zhao D, Li Y. The alteration of the structure and macroscopic mechanical response of porcine patellar tendon by elastase digestion. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1374352. [PMID: 38694621 PMCID: PMC11061363 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1374352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The treatment of patellar tendon injury has always been an unsolved problem, and mechanical characterization is very important for its repair and reconstruction. Elastin is a contributor to mechanics, but it is not clear how it affects the elasticity, viscoelastic properties, and structure of patellar tendon. Methods: The patellar tendons from six fresh adult experimental pigs were used in this study and they were made into 77 samples. The patellar tendon was specifically degraded by elastase, and the regional mechanical response and structural changes were investigated by: (1) Based on the previous study of elastase treatment conditions, the biochemical quantification of collagen, glycosaminoglycan and total protein was carried out; (2) The patellar tendon was divided into the proximal, central, and distal regions, and then the axial tensile test and stress relaxation test were performed before and after phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or elastase treatment; (3) The dynamic constitutive model was established by the obtained mechanical data; (4) The structural relationship between elastin and collagen fibers was analyzed by two-photon microscopy and histology. Results: There was no statistical difference in mechanics between patellar tendon regions. Compared with those before elastase treatment, the low tensile modulus decreased by 75%-80%, the high tensile modulus decreased by 38%-47%, and the transition strain was prolonged after treatment. For viscoelastic behavior, the stress relaxation increased, the initial slope increased by 55%, the saturation slope increased by 44%, and the transition time increased by 25% after enzyme treatment. Elastin degradation made the collagen fibers of patellar tendon become disordered and looser, and the fiber wavelength increased significantly. Conclusion: The results of this study show that elastin plays an important role in the mechanical properties and fiber structure stability of patellar tendon, which supplements the structure-function relationship information of patellar tendon. The established constitutive model is of great significance to the prediction, repair and replacement of patellar tendon injury. In addition, human patellar tendon has a higher elastin content, so the results of this study can provide supporting information on the natural properties of tendon elastin degradation and guide the development of artificial patellar tendon biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyun Liu
- National Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Translation of Medical 3D Printing Application, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuping Deng
- National Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Translation of Medical 3D Printing Application, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zeyu Liang
- National Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Translation of Medical 3D Printing Application, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dan Qiao
- Department of Pathology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wentian Zhang
- National Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Translation of Medical 3D Printing Application, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fujian, China
| | - Mian Wang
- National Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Translation of Medical 3D Printing Application, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Orthopaedics, Pingshan General Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Feifei Li
- National Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Translation of Medical 3D Printing Application, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiannan Liu
- National Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Translation of Medical 3D Printing Application, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaobing Wu
- National Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Translation of Medical 3D Printing Application, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guangxin Chen
- Medical Image College, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Anatomy, Gannan Healthcare Vocational College, Ganzhou, China
| | - Wenchang Tan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jian Xing
- Medical Image College, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Wenhua Huang
- National Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Translation of Medical 3D Printing Application, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Medical Innovation Platform for Translation of 3D Printing Application, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dongliang Zhao
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yanbing Li
- National Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Translation of Medical 3D Printing Application, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Russo V, Prencipe G, Mauro A, El Khatib M, Haidar-Montes AA, Cambise N, Turriani M, Stöckl J, Steinberger P, Lancia L, Schnabelrauch M, Berardinelli P, Barboni B. Assessing the functional potential of conditioned media derived from amniotic epithelial stem cells engineered on 3D biomimetic scaffolds: An in vitro model for tendon regeneration. Mater Today Bio 2024; 25:101001. [PMID: 38420144 PMCID: PMC10899023 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.101001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Tendon diseases pose a significant challenge in regenerative medicine due to the limited healing capacity of this tissue. Successful tendon regeneration requires a combination of angiogenesis, immune response, and tenogenesis processes. An effective tendon engineering (TE) strategy must finely tune this systems' interplay toward homeostasis. This study explores in vitro the paracrine influence of amniotic epithelial stem cells (AECs) engineered on a validated 3D electrospun PLGA scaffolds on HUVECs (angiogenesis), PBMCs/Jurkat (immune response), and AECs (tenogenic stem cell activation). The results revealed the role of scaffold's topology and topography in significantly modulating the paracrine profile of the cells. In detail, AECs basal release of bioactive molecules was boosted in the cells engineered on 3D scaffolds, in particular VEGF-D, b-FGF, RANTES, and PDGF-BB (p < 0.0001 vs. CMCTR). Moreover, biological tests demonstrated 3D scaffolds' proactive role in potentiating AECs' paracrine inhibition on PBMCs proliferation (CM3Dvs. CTR, p < 0.001) and LPS-mediated Jurkat activation with respect to controls (CM3D and CM2Dvs. CTR, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively), without exerting any in vitro pro-angiogenic role in promoting HUVECs proliferation and tubule formation. Teno-inductive paracrine ability of AECs engineered on 3D scaffolds was assessed on co-cultured ones, which formed tendon-like structures. These latter demonstrated an upregulation of tendon-related genes (SCX, THBS4, COL1, and TNMD) and the expression TNMD and COL1 proteins. Overall, this research underscores the pivotal role of the 3D topology and topography of PLGA tendon mimetic scaffolds in orchestrating effective tendon regeneration through modulating cell behavior and crosstalk between engineered stem cells and different subpopulations in the damaged tendon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Russo
- Unit of Basic and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Prencipe
- Unit of Basic and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Annunziata Mauro
- Unit of Basic and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Mohammad El Khatib
- Unit of Basic and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Arlette A Haidar-Montes
- Unit of Basic and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Nico Cambise
- Unit of Basic and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
- Research & Development Department, Assut Europe S.p.A., Magliano dei Marsi, 67062 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Maura Turriani
- Unit of Basic and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Johannes Stöckl
- Centre for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Steinberger
- Centre for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Loreto Lancia
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Berardinelli
- Unit of Basic and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Barbara Barboni
- Unit of Basic and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
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Cerverò-Varona A, Canciello A, Peserico A, Haidar Montes AA, Citeroni MR, Mauro A, Russo V, Moffa S, Pilato S, Di Giacomo S, Dufrusine B, Dainese E, Fontana A, Barboni B. Graphene oxide accelerates TGFβ-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stimulates pro-inflammatory immune response in amniotic epithelial cells. Mater Today Bio 2023; 22:100758. [PMID: 37600353 PMCID: PMC10432246 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The application of biomaterials on immune regenerative strategies to deal with unsolved pathologies is getting attention in the field of tissue engineering. In this context, graphene oxide (GO) has been proposed as an immune-mimetic material largely used for developing stem cell-based regenerative therapies, since it has shown to influence stem cell behavior and modulate their immune response. Similarly, amniotic epithelial stem cells (AECs) are getting an increasing clinical interest as source of stem cells due to their great plasticity and immunomodulatory paracrine activities, even though GO bio-mimetic effects still remain unknown. To this aim, GO-functionalized glass coverslips have been used for AECs culture. The results demonstrated how GO-coating is able to induce and accelerate the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), in a process mediated by the intracellular activation of TGFβ1-SMAD2/3 signaling pathway. The trans-differentiation towards mesenchymal phenotype provides AECs of migratory ability and substantially changes the pattern of cytokines secretion upon inflammatory stimulus. Indeed, GO-exposed AECs enhance their pro-inflammatory interleukins production thus inducing a more efficient activation of macrophages and, at the same time, by slightly reducing their inhibitory action on peripheral blood mononuclear cells proliferation. Therefore, the adhesion of AECs on GO-functionalized surfaces might contribute to the generation of a tailored microenvironment useful to face both the phases of the inflammation, thereby fostering the regenerative process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Cerverò-Varona
- Department of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo,64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Angelo Canciello
- Department of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo,64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Alessia Peserico
- Department of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo,64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Arlette Alina Haidar Montes
- Department of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo,64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Citeroni
- Department of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo,64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Annunziata Mauro
- Department of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo,64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Valentina Russo
- Department of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo,64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Samanta Moffa
- Department of Pharmacy, University “G. D’Annunzio”, Via Dei Vestini, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Serena Pilato
- Department of Pharmacy, University “G. D’Annunzio”, Via Dei Vestini, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Stefano Di Giacomo
- Department of Pharmacy, University “G. D’Annunzio”, Via Dei Vestini, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Beatrice Dufrusine
- Department of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo,64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Enrico Dainese
- Department of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo,64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Antonella Fontana
- Department of Pharmacy, University “G. D’Annunzio”, Via Dei Vestini, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Barbara Barboni
- Department of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo,64100, Teramo, Italy
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Ning C, Li P, Gao C, Fu L, Liao Z, Tian G, Yin H, Li M, Sui X, Yuan Z, Liu S, Guo Q. Recent advances in tendon tissue engineering strategy. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1115312. [PMID: 36890920 PMCID: PMC9986339 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1115312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Tendon injuries often result in significant pain and disability and impose severe clinical and financial burdens on our society. Despite considerable achievements in the field of regenerative medicine in the past several decades, effective treatments remain a challenge due to the limited natural healing capacity of tendons caused by poor cell density and vascularization. The development of tissue engineering has provided more promising results in regenerating tendon-like tissues with compositional, structural and functional characteristics comparable to those of native tendon tissues. Tissue engineering is the discipline of regenerative medicine that aims to restore the physiological functions of tissues by using a combination of cells and materials, as well as suitable biochemical and physicochemical factors. In this review, following a discussion of tendon structure, injury and healing, we aim to elucidate the current strategies (biomaterials, scaffold fabrication techniques, cells, biological adjuncts, mechanical loading and bioreactors, and the role of macrophage polarization in tendon regeneration), challenges and future directions in the field of tendon tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Ning
- Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries PLA, Institute of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Pinxue Li
- Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries PLA, Institute of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Cangjian Gao
- Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries PLA, Institute of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Liwei Fu
- Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries PLA, Institute of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyao Liao
- Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries PLA, Institute of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Guangzhao Tian
- Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries PLA, Institute of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Han Yin
- Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries PLA, Institute of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Muzhe Li
- Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries PLA, Institute of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang Sui
- Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries PLA, Institute of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiguo Yuan
- Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuyun Liu
- Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries PLA, Institute of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Quanyi Guo
- Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Orthopedics, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Trauma and War Injuries PLA, Institute of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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