Miro1 improves the exogenous engraftment efficiency and therapeutic potential of mitochondria transfer using Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells

Mitochondria are important for maintaining cellular energy metabolism and regulating cellular senescence. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes subunits of the OXPHOS complexes which are essential for cellular respiration and energy production. Meanwhile, mtDNA variants have been associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including MELAS, for which no effective treatment has been developed. To alleviate the pathological conditions involved in mitochondrial disorders, mitochondria transfer therapy has shown promise. Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs) have been identified as suitable mitochondria donors for mitochondria-defective cells, wherein mitochondrial functions can be rescued. Miro1 participates in mitochondria trafficking by anchoring mitochondria to microtubules. In this study, we identified Miro1 over-expression as a factor that could help to enhance the efficiency of mitochondrial delivery. More specifically, we reveal that Miro1 over-expressed WJMSCs significantly improved intercellular communications, cell proliferation rates, and mitochondrial membrane potential, while restoring mitochondrial bioenergetics in mitochondria-defective fibroblasts. Furthermore, Miro1 over-expressed WJMSCs decreased rates of induced apoptosis and ROS production in MELAS fibroblasts; although, Miro1 over-expression did not rescue mtDNA mutation ratios nor mitochondrial biogenesis. This study presents a potentially novel therapeutic strategy for treating mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), and other diseases associated with dysfunctional mitochondria, while the pathophysiological relevance of our results should be further verified by animal models and clinical studies.

Characteristics of Pooled Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (WJ-MSCs) and their Potential Role in Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

INTRODUCTION

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) from Wharton's jelly of umbilical cord is primitive and serve as an inexhaustible source of stem cells with greater potential in clinics. The existence of heterogeneity among the donor MSCs makes it difficult to predict the properties and clinical outcome of WJ-MSCs. We developed a strategy to minimize the donor to donor heterogeneity and produce consistency in biological properties by pooling three individual donors WJ-MSCs. Further, evaluated the effectiveness of the pooled MSCs in regulating the disease severity of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in animal models.

METHODS

WJ-MSCs were isolated from umbilical cord obtained from different donors, characterised and pooled based on the gender of baby. The biological properties of the pooled WJ-MSCs were compared to the individual WJ-MSCs. Further, the pooled WJ-MSCs were analysed for their safety profile in both in vitro and in vivo settings. The efficiency of pooled WJ-MSCs in regulating RA pathogenesis was also analysed in mice models of Collagen induced arthritis (CIA).

RESULTS

We identified differences in proliferation capacity, pro inflammatory gene expression levels among individual WJ-MSCs isolated from different donors and the variation is also attributed to gender difference. WJ-MSCs pooled and cultured from different donor's exhibit all the MSC characteristics and exhibited superior immunosuppressive capabilities. In the in vivo toxicity study, pooled MSCs are found to be safe, and further in the RA preclinical studies, they were found to decrease the disease severity in these animals.

CONCLUSIONS

Pooled WJ-MSCs reduces heterogeneity of individual donors and have superior immunosuppressive property. It is also effective in reducing the disease severity in the experimental animal models of RA.

Potential of ovine Wharton jelly derived mesenchymal stem cells to transdifferentiate into neuronal phenotype for application in neuroregenerative therapy

Introduction: The transdifferentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is not limited to mesodermal derivatives but also to other cell types such as neuronal cells under appropriate cell culture conditions.Materials and methods: The present study characterizes the differentiation of Wharton's jelly (WJ) derived MSCs using neuronal conditioned medium (NCM) collected from cultured foetal brain cells.Results: After induction with NCM to neuronal stem cells (NSC), the WJ MSCs showed profound morphological changes showing multiple neurites extending from the cell body containing reminiscent of Nissl substance and single long axon-like processes. In RT PCR and immunocytochemistry, the induced neuronal cells showed a strong positive expression of neuronal markers Nestin, β III tubulin and GFAP indicated that, the cells were reactive to NCM for differentiation. A significant (p < 0.01) increase in the level of secretome BDNF was observed in NCM suggests that the BDNF could play a key role in the transdifferentiation of WJMSCs to NSCs.Conclusion: These results support the potential of ovine MSCs isolated from umbilical cord WJ of abattoir derived foetuses to differentiate into neuronal stem cells and also provide a valuable experimental data for NSC transplant research in veterinary medicine.

Pancreatic endocrine-like cells differentiated from human umbilical cords Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells using small molecules

Following success of pancreatic islet transplantation in the treatment of Type I diabetes mellitus, there is a growing interest in using cell-based treatment approaches. However, severe shortage of donor islets-pancreas impeded the growth, and made researchers to search for an alternative treatment approaches. In this context, recently, stem cell-based therapy has gained more attention. The current study demonstrated that epigenetic modification improves the in vitro differentiation of Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs) into pancreatic endocrine-like cells. Here we used two histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors namely trichostatin A (TSA) and TMP269. TSA inhibits both class I and II HDACs whereas TMP269 inhibits only class IIa HDACs. WJMSCs were differentiated using a multistep protocol in a serum-free condition with or without TSA pretreatment. A marginal improvement in differentiation was observed after TSA pretreatment though it was not significant. However, exposing endocrine precursor-like cells derived from WJMSCs to TMP269 alone has significantly improved the differentiation toward insulin-producing cells. Further, increase in the expression of paired box 4 (PAX4), insulin, somatostatin, glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), MAF bZIP transcription factor A (MAFA), pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX-1), and NKX6.1 was observed both at messenger RNA and protein levels. Nevertheless, TMP269-treated cells secreted higher insulin upon glucose challenge, and demonstrated increased dithizone staining. These findings suggest that TMP269 may improve the in vitro differentiation of WJMSCs into insulin-producing cells.

Making surrogate β-cells from mesenchymal stromal cells: perspectives and future endeavors

Generation of surrogate β-cells is the need of the day to compensate the short supply of islets for transplantation to diabetic patients requiring daily shots of insulin. Over the years several sources of stem cells have been claimed to cater to the need of insulin producing cells. These include human embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, human perinatal tissues such as amnion, placenta, umbilical cord and postnatal tissues involving adipose tissue, bone marrow, blood monocytes, cord blood, dental pulp, endometrium, liver, labia minora dermis-derived fibroblasts and pancreas. Despite the availability of such heterogonous sources, there is no substantial breakthrough in selecting and implementing an ideal source for generating large number of stable insulin producing cells. Although the progress in derivation of β-cell like cells from embryonic stem cells has taken a greater leap, their application is limited due to controversy surrounding the destruction of human embryo and immune rejection. Since multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells are free of ethical and immunological complications, they could provide unprecedented opportunity as starting material to derive insulin secreting cells. The main focus of this review is to discuss the merits and demerits of MSCs obtained from human peri- and post-natal tissue sources to yield abundant glucose responsive insulin producing cells as ideal candidates for prospective stem cell therapy to treat diabetes.