Lipoaspirate stored at a constant low temperature by electric control suppresses intracellular metabolism and maintains high cell viability

Background

Cell therapy is a useful treatment method for wide spectrum of diseases which utilizes the immunosuppressive and regenerative abilities of administered cells. It is essential to build a transport system of tissues from which cells are harvested, because various external factors, such as temperature, time, air pressure, and vibration affect the cell functions isolated from body tissues. In particular, temperature is a critical factor which determines the viability of the cells and organs. In this study, we investigated the optimal temperature during the transportation of lipoaspirates from which adipose -derived stem cells (ASCs) were isolated.

Method

Lipoaspirates obtained by liposuctions (lipomatic or vaser method) were transported in four different temperature zones (4, 20, 32, and 37 °C) in a transport container which is electrically controlled to maintain a constant temperature during transport. Stromal vascular fractions (SVFs) were harvested from the lipoaspirate, and the cell number, viability and proliferation rate and the yield of ASCs were examined. In addition, the metabolic state of the cells was examined.

Results

ASCs from lipoaspirates transported at high temperature significantly decreased cell viability, while those at low temperature maintained high cell viability and showed good cell proliferation. In addition, transportation of lipoaspirates at low temperature resulted in a high level of NAD+/NADH, coenzymes involved in intracellular metabolism, and a low level of lactate in lipoaspirate suppressed the glycolytic system of intracellular metabolism, in ASCs.

Conclusion

The lipoaspirate transported at 4 °C exhibited best results regarding live cell number, viability and cell proliferation in our experiments. This study offers a direction to build a transport system that connects laboratories and hospitals and achieve a beneficial therapy for patients.

Requirement of direct contact between chondrocytes and macrophages for the maturation of regenerative cartilage

Regenerative cartilage prepared from cultured chondrocytes is generally immature in vitro and matures after transplantation. Although many factors, including host cells and humoral factors, have been shown to affect cartilage maturation in vivo, the requirement of direct cell-cell contact between host and donor cells remains to be verified. In this study, we examined the host cells that promote cartilage maturation via cell-cell contact. Based on analysis of the transplanted chondrocytes, we examined the contribution of endothelial cells and macrophages. Using a semiclosed device that is permeable to tissue fluids while blocking host cells, we selectively transplanted chondrocytes and HUVECs or untreated/M1-polarized/M2-polarized RAW264.7 cells. As a result, untreated RAW264.7 cells induced cartilage regeneration. Furthermore, an in vitro coculture assay indicated communication between chondrocytes and RAW264.7 cells mediated by RNA, suggesting the involvement of extracellular vesicles in this process. These findings provide insights for establishing a method of in vitro cartilage regeneration.

Adipose-derived stem cells improve tendon repair and prevent ectopic ossification in tendinopathy by inhibiting inflammation and inducing neovascularization in the early stage of tendon healing

INTRODUCTION

Achilles tendinopathy is characterized by scar formation or ectopic ossification, both of which result in pain and worsened physical function in athletes and older people. Although cell therapy using adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) has been shown to be effective for tendinopathy, the underlying mechanisms by which ASCs result in tendon healing in vivo have not yet been fully clarified.

METHODS

ASCs were obtained from the fat pads of EGFP transgenic mice by collagenase digestion. C57BL/6 mice were used in a collagenase-induced injury model. ASCs were transplanted into injury sites at 1 week after injury. Tendons were harvested at 9 days, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after transplantation, and analyzed by histological examination and μCT scanning.

RESULTS

Histological analysis and μCT scanning revealed greater recovery of collagen fibers and suppression of ectopic ossification in the ASC-treated group than in the control group at 2 and 4 weeks after injury. Immunohistochemical analysis identified transplanted ASCs in the tendon core close to peritenon and connective tissue at 2 days and 1 week after transplantation, but not at 3 weeks. Furthermore, while the expression levels of IL-1β, GLUT1, and CA9 were significantly reduced in the ASC group compared to the control group at 9 days after injury, those of VEGF and the number of CD31 positive vessels were significantly increased.

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of ASCs for tendon repair and the prevention of ectopic ossification in Achilles tendinopathy were demonstrated. Our data suggest that ASCs can modulate inflammation and induce neovascularization in the early stage of tendon injury.

Identification of a metastatic lung adenocarcinoma of the palate mucosa through genetic and histopathological analysis: a rare case report and literature review

Background

Cancers of unknown primary origin (CUPs) are reported to be the 3-4th most common causes of cancer death. Recent years have seen advances in mutational analysis and genomics profiling. These advances could improve accuracy of diagnosis of CUPs and might improve the prognosis of patients with CUPs.

Case presentation

A 76-year old male with an adenocarcinoma of unknown primary origin in the lung presented with another tumor of the palate mucosa. The tumor cells in the pleural effusion were all negative for immunohistochemical markers (TTF-1 and Napsin A) and lung-specific oncogenic driver alterations (EGFR mutation and ALK translocation). The tumor of the palate mucosa was likewise identified as an adenocarcinoma, and the cells showed cytological similarities with the tumor cells in the pleural effusion; TTF-1, Napsin A, EGFR mutation and ALK translocation were all negative. This result suggested that origins of the tumors of the palate mucosa and in the lung were the same, even though the origin had not yet been determined. Next, we addressed whether the tumor of the palate mucosa was a primary tumor or not. Secretory carcinoma (SC), which is a common type of minor salivary gland tumor (MSGT), was suspected; however, mammaglobin was negative and ETV6-NTRK3 (EN) fusion was not observed. Other MSGTs were excluded based on histological and immunohistochemical findings. Furthermore, an additional examination demonstrated an oncogenic KRAS mutation at codon 12 (p.G12D) in both palate tumor and in pleural effusion. KRAS mutation is known to exist in one-third of lung adenocarcinomas (LUADs), but quite rare in MSGTs. The possibility of metastasis from other organs was considered unlikely from the results of endoscopic and imaging studies. This result indicated that the primary site of the CUP was indeed the lung, and that the tumor of the palate mucosa was a metastasis of the LUAD.

Conclusions

A tumor of the palate mucosa that showed diagnostic difficulties was determined to be a metastatic LUAD by genomic alterations and histopathological findings.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-019-5277-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Three-dimensional changes of noses after transplantation of implant-type tissue-engineered cartilage for secondary correction of cleft lip-nose patients

INTRODUCTION

We have developed an implant-type tissue-engineered cartilage using a poly-l-lactide scaffold. In a clinical study, it was inserted into subcutaneous areas of nasal dorsum in three patients, to correct cleft lip-nose deformity. The aim of this study was to helping evaluation on the efficacy of the regenerative cartilage.

METHODS

3D data of nasal shapes were compared between before and after surgery in computed tomography (CT) images. Morphological and qualitative changes of transplants in the body were also evaluated on MRI, for one year.

RESULTS

The 3D data from CT images showed effective augmentation (>2 mm) of nasal dorsum in almost whole length, observed on the medial line of faces. It was maintained by 1 year post-surgery in all patients, while affected curves of nasal dorsum was not detected throughout the observation period. In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the images of transplanted cartilage had been observed until 1 year post-surgery. Those images were seemingly not straight when viewed from the longitudinal plain, and may have shown gentle adaptation to the surrounding nasal bones and alar cartilage tissues.

CONCLUSION

Those findings suggested the potential efficacy of this cartilage on improvement of cleft lip-nose deformity. A clinical trial is now being performed for industrialization.

A Case of Systemic Infection Caused by Streptococcus pyogenes Oral Infection in an Edentulous Patient

BACKGROUND

Infections in the oral and maxillofacial region can sometimes extend beyond the oral cavity, with serious consequences. Most oral infections are odontogenic, occurring through the root apex of the tooth or the periodontal pocket. It thus makes sense that edentulous patients have a much lower risk of oral bacterial infection. For this reason, while there are many reports on systemic infections caused by oral infections, few of these describe such infections in edentulous patients.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a case of oral and maxillofacial cellulitis followed by sepsis due to Streptococcus pyogenes infection in an 89-year-old Japanese edentulous woman. S. pyogenes was detected in the wound of left maxilla and the blood sample. S. pyogenes has been reported to be one of the most common and influential aerobic bacteria associated with deep neck infection and subsequent systemic infection. Left maxillary sinusitis was observed, and this could be the origin of the S. pyogenes infection. S. pyogenes derived from the sinusitis and leaked to the oral cavity might have caused systemic infection through wounding of the oral mucosa. Fortunately, intensive antibiotic therapy was effective, and the patient recovered without any surgical procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

We experienced a rare case of oral and maxillofacial cellulitis followed by sepsis due to a Streptococcus pyogenes infection in an old edentulous woman. This result indicated that, while edentulous patients are considered to have no risk of odontogenic infection, they still carry a risk of bacterial infection.

Secretory carcinoma - impact of translocation and gene fusions on salivary gland tumor

Secretory carcinoma (SC), previously described as mammary analogue secretory carcinoma (MASC), is a recently described salivary gland tumor which morphologically resembles mammary secretory carcinoma. The first description of SC/MASC, reported by Skálová et al. in 2010, was as a rare salivary carcinoma imitating secretory carcinoma of the breast. SC/MASC is a unique salivary gland tumor with morphological overlap with acinic cell carcinoma (AciCC), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC), and adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified (ADC-NOS). SC/MASC shares similar clinicopathological features with AciCC. As a critical difference between SC/MASC and AciCC, SC/MASC characteristically has the chromosomal translocation t(12;15)(p13;q25) which leads to a fusion gene between the ETV6 gene on chromosome 12 and the NTRK3 gene on chromosome 15. This genetic background is an important differential diagnostic finding for excluding other salivary gland tumors and may be a critical factor determining the prognosis for patients with SC/MASC. Research in recent years has provided a large body of new data on SC/MASC and suggests the possibility that the ETV6-NTRK3 translocation could be a therapeutic target. Here, we review the morphological and clinicopathological features of SC/MASC and discuss new directions for therapy.

Molecular analysis of a mammary analog secretory carcinoma in the upper lip: Novel search for genetic and epigenetic abnormalities in MASC

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Mammary analog secretory carcinoma (MASC) is a rare malignancy of the salivary glands characterized by ETV6–NTRK3 fusion gene.

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We diagnosed a case of MASC by molecular approaches (FISH, RT-PCR and sequencing).

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Furthermore, we searched novel genetic and epigenetic abnormalities in this MASC.

Introduction

Mammary analog secretory carcinoma (MASC) is a newly described rare malignancy of the salivary glands characterized by an ETS variant 6 (ETV6)–neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 3 (NTRK3) fusion gene (EN fusion gene).

Presentation of case

We present a case of MASC derived from the left upper lip in a 61-year-old woman. ETV6 rearrangement was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The presence of EN fusion transcripts was verified by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and sequencing of the PCR products. Accordingly, this tumor was diagnosed as MASC. Moreover, we performed mutation analysis of the 50 known cancer-related genes using next-generation sequencing. No mutation of cancer-related genes was identified here. Subsequently, the methylation status in promoter region of tumor-suppressor genes, RASSF1A and RARB2, was examined. Both genes have been reported to be methylated in malignant salivary gland tumors, but they were found to be unmethylated.

Discussion

Recent studies have demonstrated that distinct types of malignant salivary gland carcinomas are driven by specific, highly recurrent genetic alterations. Detection of molecular abnormalities could be powerful diagnostic tools in the field of salivary gland tumors in near future.

Conclusion

We experienced a rare malignant salivary gland carcinoma, MASC. We diagnosed this tumor by molecular approach and subsequently tried to identify novel molecular abnormalities. Although no novel molecular alteration except for EN fusion gene was identified, this result might represent the favorable prognosis of patients with MASC.