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Benítez-Camacho J, Ballesteros A, Beltrán-Camacho L, Rojas-Torres M, Rosal-Vela A, Jimenez-Palomares M, Sanchez-Gomar I, Durán-Ruiz MC. Endothelial progenitor cells as biomarkers of diabetes-related cardiovascular complications. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:324. [PMID: 37950274 PMCID: PMC10636846 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03537-8] [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: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM) constitutes a chronic metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose which can also lead to the so-called diabetic vascular complications (DVCs), responsible for most of the morbidity, hospitalizations and death registered in these patients. Currently, different approaches to prevent or reduce DM and its DVCs have focused on reducing blood sugar levels, cholesterol management or even changes in lifestyle habits. However, even the strictest glycaemic control strategies are not always sufficient to prevent the development of DVCs, which reflects the need to identify reliable biomarkers capable of predicting further vascular complications in diabetic patients. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), widely known for their potential applications in cell therapy due to their regenerative properties, may be used as differential markers in DVCs, considering that the number and functionality of these cells are affected under the pathological environments related to DM. Besides, drugs commonly used with DM patients may influence the level or behaviour of EPCs as a pleiotropic effect that could finally be decisive in the prognosis of the disease. In the current review, we have analysed the relationship between diabetes and DVCs, focusing on the potential use of EPCs as biomarkers of diabetes progression towards the development of major vascular complications. Moreover, the effects of different drugs on the number and function of EPCs have been also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefa Benítez-Camacho
- Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health Department, Science Faculty, Cádiz University, Torre Sur. Avda. República Saharaui S/N, Polígono Río San Pedro, Puerto Real, 11519, Cádiz, Spain
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz (INIBICA), Cádiz, Spain
| | - Antonio Ballesteros
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz (INIBICA), Cádiz, Spain
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
| | - Lucía Beltrán-Camacho
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology Department, Córdoba University, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Marta Rojas-Torres
- Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health Department, Science Faculty, Cádiz University, Torre Sur. Avda. República Saharaui S/N, Polígono Río San Pedro, Puerto Real, 11519, Cádiz, Spain
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz (INIBICA), Cádiz, Spain
| | - Antonio Rosal-Vela
- Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health Department, Science Faculty, Cádiz University, Torre Sur. Avda. República Saharaui S/N, Polígono Río San Pedro, Puerto Real, 11519, Cádiz, Spain
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz (INIBICA), Cádiz, Spain
| | - Margarita Jimenez-Palomares
- Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health Department, Science Faculty, Cádiz University, Torre Sur. Avda. República Saharaui S/N, Polígono Río San Pedro, Puerto Real, 11519, Cádiz, Spain
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz (INIBICA), Cádiz, Spain
| | - Ismael Sanchez-Gomar
- Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health Department, Science Faculty, Cádiz University, Torre Sur. Avda. República Saharaui S/N, Polígono Río San Pedro, Puerto Real, 11519, Cádiz, Spain
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz (INIBICA), Cádiz, Spain
| | - Mª Carmen Durán-Ruiz
- Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health Department, Science Faculty, Cádiz University, Torre Sur. Avda. República Saharaui S/N, Polígono Río San Pedro, Puerto Real, 11519, Cádiz, Spain.
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz (INIBICA), Cádiz, Spain.
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Rojas-Torres M, Sánchez-Gomar I, Rosal-Vela A, Beltrán-Camacho L, Eslava-Alcón S, Alonso-Piñeiro JÁ, Martín-Ramírez J, Moreno-Luna R, Durán-Ruiz MC. Assessment of endothelial colony forming cells delivery routes in a murine model of critical limb threatening ischemia using an optimized cell tracking approach. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:266. [PMID: 35729651 PMCID: PMC9210810 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-02943-8] [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: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs), alone or in combination with mesenchymal stem cells, have been selected as potential therapeutic candidates for critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), mainly for those patients considered as “no-option,” due to their capability to enhance revascularization and perfusion recovery of ischemic tissues. Nevertheless, prior to translating cell therapy to the clinic, biodistribution assays are required by regulatory guidelines to ensure biosafety as well as to discard undesired systemic translocations. Different approaches, from imaging technologies to qPCR-based methods, are currently applied. Methods In the current study, we have optimized a cell-tracking assay based on DiR fluorescent cell labeling and near-infrared detection for in vivo and ex vivo assays. Briefly, an improved protocol for DiR staining was set up, by incubation of ECFCs with 6.67 µM DiR and intensive washing steps prior cell administration. The minimal signal detected for the residual DiR, remaining after these washes, was considered as a baseline signal to estimate cell amounts correlated to the DiR intensity values registered in vivo. Besides, several assays were also performed to determine any potential effect of DiR over ECFCs functionality. Furthermore, the optimized protocol was applied in combination with qPCR amplification of specific human Alu sequences to assess the final distribution of ECFCs after intramuscular or intravenous administration to a murine model of CLTI. Results The optimized DiR labeling protocol indicated that ECFCs administered intramuscularly remained mainly within the hind limb muscle while cells injected intravenously were found in the spleen, liver and lungs. Conclusion Overall, the combination of DiR labeling and qPCR analysis in biodistribution assays constitutes a highly sensitive approach to systemically track cells in vivo. Thereby, human ECFCs administered intramuscularly to CLTI mice remained locally within the ischemic tissues, while intravenously injected cells were found in several organs. Our data corroborate the need to perform biodistribution assays in order to define specific parameters such as the optimal delivery route for ECFCs before their application into the clinic. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-022-02943-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Rojas-Torres
- Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health Department, Cádiz University, Cádiz, Spain.,Institute of Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of Cádiz (INiBICA), Cádiz, Spain
| | - Ismael Sánchez-Gomar
- Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health Department, Cádiz University, Cádiz, Spain.,Institute of Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of Cádiz (INiBICA), Cádiz, Spain
| | - Antonio Rosal-Vela
- Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health Department, Cádiz University, Cádiz, Spain.,Institute of Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of Cádiz (INiBICA), Cádiz, Spain
| | - Lucía Beltrán-Camacho
- Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health Department, Cádiz University, Cádiz, Spain.,Institute of Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of Cádiz (INiBICA), Cádiz, Spain
| | - Sara Eslava-Alcón
- Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health Department, Cádiz University, Cádiz, Spain.,Institute of Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of Cádiz (INiBICA), Cádiz, Spain
| | - José Ángel Alonso-Piñeiro
- Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health Department, Cádiz University, Cádiz, Spain.,Institute of Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of Cádiz (INiBICA), Cádiz, Spain
| | | | - Rafael Moreno-Luna
- Laboratory of Neuroinflammation, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
| | - Mª Carmen Durán-Ruiz
- Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health Department, Cádiz University, Cádiz, Spain. .,Institute of Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of Cádiz (INiBICA), Cádiz, Spain.
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Beltrán-Camacho L, Eslava-Alcón S, Rojas-Torres M, Sánchez-Morillo D, Martinez-Nicolás MP, Martín-Bermejo V, de la Torre IG, Berrocoso E, Moreno JA, Moreno-Luna R, Durán-Ruiz MC. The serum of COVID-19 asymptomatic patients up-regulates proteins related to endothelial dysfunction and viral response in circulating angiogenic cells ex-vivo. Mol Med 2022; 28:40. [PMID: 35397534 PMCID: PMC8994070 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-022-00465-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has already caused 6 million deaths worldwide. While asymptomatic individuals are responsible of many potential transmissions, the difficulty to identify and isolate them at the high peak of infection constitutes still a real challenge. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 provokes severe vascular damage and thromboembolic events in critical COVID-19 patients, deriving in many related deaths and long-hauler symptoms. Understanding how these processes are triggered as well as the potential long-term sequelae, even in asymptomatic individuals, becomes essential.
Methods We have evaluated, by application of a proteomics-based quantitative approach, the effect of serum from COVID-19 asymptomatic individuals over circulating angiogenic cells (CACs). Healthy CACs were incubated ex-vivo with the serum of either COVID-19 negative (PCR −/IgG −, n:8) or COVID-19 positive asymptomatic donors, at different infective stages: PCR +/IgG − (n:8) and PCR −/IgG + (n:8). Also, a label free quantitative approach was applied to identify and quantify protein differences between these serums. Finally, machine learning algorithms were applied to validate the differential protein patterns in CACs.
Results Our results confirmed that SARS-CoV-2 promotes changes at the protein level in the serum of infected asymptomatic individuals, mainly correlated with altered coagulation and inflammatory processes (Fibrinogen, Von Willebrand Factor, Thrombospondin-1). At the cellular level, proteins like ICAM-1, TLR2 or Ezrin/Radixin were only up-regulated in CACs treated with the serum of asymptomatic patients at the highest peak of infection (PCR + /IgG −), but not with the serum of PCR −/IgG + individuals. Several proteins stood out as significantly discriminating markers in CACs in response to PCR or IgG + serums. Many of these proteins particiArticle title: Kindly check and confirm the edit made in the article
title.pate in the initial endothelial response against the virus. Conclusions The ex vivo incubation of CACs with the serum of asymptomatic COVID-19 donors at different stages of infection promoted protein changes representative of the endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory response after viral infection, together with activation of the coagulation process. The current approach constitutes an optimal model to study the response of vascular cells to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and an alternative platform to test potential inhibitors targeting either the virus entry pathway or the immune responses following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s10020-022-00465-w.
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