Mesenchymal Stem Cells: a Promising Therapeutic Tool for Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a rapid loss of renal function. It has high mortality rates. Still, renal replacement therapy is considered the best solution for recovering AKI. This opens a line of thought to develop an alternative therapy for it without complications. Mesenchymal stem cells are considered a new therapy for treating kidney diseases. The aim of this work was to address the anti-apoptotic, antioxidative, and pro-angiogenic effects of adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) and bone marrow-MSCs (BM-MSCs) for treating AKI. Adult male Wistar rats were assigned into nine groups (n = 10): (1) the control group; (2) the AKI group, receiving cisplatin; (3) the AKI group treated with AD-MSCs (1 × 10⁶); (4) the AKI group treated with AD-MSCs (2 × 10⁶); (5) the AKI group treated with AD-MSCs (4 × 10⁶); (6) the AKI group treated with losartan; (7) the AKI group treated with BM-MSCs (1 × 10⁶); (8) the AKI group treated with BM-MSCs (2 × 10⁶); and (9) the AKI group treated with BM-MSCs (4 × 10⁶). The results showed a significant rise in creatinine, urea, and cystatin C (cys C) levels and upregulation of p38 mRNA, whereas a significant decline in NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1) protein and downregulation of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) mRNA and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA were recorded in AKI. MSCs could improve renal functions manifested by decreased urea, creatinine, and cys C levels; downregulation of p38; and upregulation of Bcl-2 and VEGF. Moreover, MSC therapy could induce NQO-1 in the treated rats relative to the untreated rats. So, cell-based therapy can reduce AKI through the antioxidative, anti-apoptotic, and pro-angiogenic properties of MSCs. Therefore, the findings received in this attempt create a fertile base for the setup of cell therapy in patients with AKI.

Therapeutic potential effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on chronic liver disease in murine Schistosomiasis Mansoni

Some reports have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy could ameliorate chemically-induced hepatic fibrosis. This research assesses the therapeutic action of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) on chronic diseased liver in Schistosoma mansoni infected mice. All infected female mice divided into three groups, one group (15 mice) treated with oral praziquantel (PZQ), second group (15 mice) received intravenous injection of BM-MSCs and third group (15 mice) treated with both MSCs + PZQ. Two control groups (15 mice each) subdivided into one infected and second healthy one. BM-MSCs were obtained from bones of both femur and tibia of male mice (30 mice), then cultured and characterized morphologically by detection of CD105 by flow cytometer. Liver tissues for all groups were examined histopathologically. Measuring of the collagen 1 gene expression was done by real-time PCR and immunohistochemical study to detect stem cells differentiation for detection of MSCs engraftments in liver tissue. MSCs treatment caused marked improvement and regression of fibrosis, and prevents deposition of collagen and reduced the expression of collagen 1 gene in infected mice on their liver tissues, especially when used with PZQ in mice treatment. It can be concluded that, MSCs is a good therapeutic method for liver fibrosis caused by S. mansoni infection.

Factors enhancing the migration and the homing of mesenchymal stem cells in experimentally induced cardiotoxicity in rats

Doxorubicin is an effective anti-neoplastic drug but its use is limited by its cardiotoxicity. Administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the management of cardiotoxicity was with poor myocardial homing capacity. With the aim of developing novel techniques to improve the migration of MSCs, we tested whether valproate and electric fields (EFs) direct the migration of MSCs towards the damaged myocardium. The study included five groups of female albino rats. The first group included 10 healthy rats as normal control group. The remaining 40 female rats received doxorubicin for induction of acute cardiotoxicity. Four rats were sacrificed for histopathological confirmation of cardiotoxicity. The remaining rats were equally divided into subsequent four groups. The second group included nine rats that did not receive further treatment (positive control group). The third group included nine rats which received intravenous bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) after cardiotoxicity induction. The fourth group included nine rats which received BM-MSCs plus sodium valporate after cardiotoxicity induction. The fifth group included nine rats which received BM-MSCs plus sodium valporate after cardiotoxicity induction and were exposed to an electrical stimulation (ES). Blood samples were taken from all groups at the end of the study to estimate creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), aspartate transaminase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Heart tissues from all rats were used for RNA extraction for assessment of sry gene expression. Homing was tested by PKH26 fluorescence in myocardial tissue sections and by sry gene expression. The best biochemical and histopathological improvement in cardiotoxicity was demonstrated in group 5 (rats that received ES and valporate with MSCs). We concluded that EFs and sodium valproate enhance homing ability of MSCs towards the damaged myocardium in doxorubicin induced carditoxicity model. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(3):162-169, 2017.

The role of placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells in healing of induced full-thickness skin wound in a mouse model

We examined the effect of placenta-derived MSCs (PDMSCs) injection intraregionally and intraperitoneally on healing of induced full thickness mice skin wounds; moreover, the mechanisms by which MSCs exert their effects were also studied. Sixty female mice were divided into three groups after induction of full thickness skin wound; untreated group, wounded mice were injected with MSCs derived from human placenta intraperitoneally or intraregionally. Skin biopsies were obtained 7 and 12 days after wound incision for histological examinations, detection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by ELISA, and estimation of expression of mouse ICAM-1, Integrin β1, Integrin β3 genes and human albumin and GAPDH genes by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Human placenta derived-MSCs treated groups showed accelerated wound healing than non-treated group. VEGF, Integrin β1, and Integrin β3 levels were significantly increased in the intraregionally and intraperitoneally treated mice as compared to non-treated group at day 7 after wound induction. ICAM-1 showed significant decrease in its expression in treated groups compared with non-treated group. Interestingly, the intraperitoneal MSCs injections showed better results than intraregional one. PDMSCs accelerate full thickness skin wound healing and the intraperitoneal MSCs injections are more effective than intraregional one. MSCs promote wound healing through release of proangiogenic factors as VEGF, increase healing promoting factors as integrin β1 and β3, and decrease proinflammatory cytokines as ICAM-1.

Human peripheral blood CD34+ cells attenuate oleic acid-induced acute lung injury in rats

BACKGROUND AIMS

Adult stem cell-based therapy is a promising novel approach for treatment of acute lung injury (ALI). In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effect of isolated human peripheral blood CD34+ progenitor cells in an ALI rat model, induced by oleic acid (OA) injection.

METHODS

Seventy-five adult female rats were used in this study. Group A, control without treatment, and group B, control injected with phosphate-buffered saline, comprised 15 rats each; the remaining 45 rats were injected with OA to induce ALI and were further subdivided into 3 groups: group C (ALI group, 15 rats), group D (ALI and fibroblast group, 15 rats) and group E (ALI and CD34+ cell group, 15 rats).

RESULTS

CD34+ cells transplantation in rats with OA-induced lung injury improves the arterial PaO(2) and wet/dry ratio, reduces infiltration of inflammatory cells and decreases lung vascular permeability as determined by reduced intra-alveolar and interstitial patchy congestion and hemorrhage as well as decreased interstitial edema. Additionally, lung inflammation determined by expression of the pro-inflammatory mediators intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and tumor necrosis factor-α was attenuated in CD34+ cell-treated rats at 6, 24 and 48 h post-OA challenge compared with non-treated rats. Moreover, the expression of anti-inflammatory molecule interleukin-10 was up-regulated in the lung of OA-induced ALI rats after administration of CD34+ cells. The important finding was that human TNF-α-induced protein 6 (TSG-6) gene expression was significantly up-regulated in rats treated with CD34+ cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The freshly isolated human peripheral blood-derived CD34+ cells may be used as an important source of stem cells that improve ALI. The anti-inflammatory properties of CD34+ cells in the lung are explained, at least in part, by activation of CD34+ cells to express TSG-6.

Effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells on hepatoma

BACKGROUND AIMS

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) on tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo and to elucidate the apoptotic and anti-proliferative mechanisms of MSCs on a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) murine model.

METHODS

The growth-inhibitory effect of MSCs on the Hepa 1-6 cell line was tested by means of methyl thiazolyl diphenyl-tetrazolium assay. Eighty female mice were randomized into four groups: group 1 consisted of 20 mice that received MSCs only by intrahepatic injection; group 2 consisted of 20 HCC mice induced by inoculation of Hepa 1-6 cells into livers without MSC treatment; group 3 consisted of 20 mice that received MSCs after induction of liver cancer; group 4 consisted of 20 mice that received MSCs after induction of liver cancer on top of induced biliary cirrhosis.

RESULTS

MSCs exhibited a growth-inhibitory effect on Hepa 1-6 murine cell line in vitro. Concerning in vivo study, decreases of serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and albumin levels after MSC transplantation in groups 2 and 3 were found. Gene expression of α-fetoprotein was significantly downregulated after MSC injection in the HCC groups. We found that gene expression of caspase 3, P21 and P53 was significantly upregulated, whereas gene expression of Bcl-2 and survivin was downregulated in the HCC groups after MSC injection. Liver specimens of the HCC groups confirmed the presence of dysplasia. The histopathological picture was improved after administration of MSCs to groups 2 and 3.

CONCLUSIONS

MSCs upregulated genes that help apoptosis and downregulated genes that reduce apoptosis. Therefore, MSCs could inhibit cell division of HCC and potentiate their death.

Mesenchymal stromal cell injection protects against oxidative stress in Escherichia coli-induced acute lung injury in mice

BACKGROUND AIMS

Stem cells may be a promising therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome. Recent in vivo and in vitro studies suggested that the mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have anti-oxidative stress properties. We hypothesized that intravenous injection of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could attenuate Escherichia coli-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice by controlling the oxidative stress status.

METHODS

Eighty mice were randomly divided into four groups: group 1 (control group) received 25 μL of saline as a vehicle; group 2 contained E coli-induced ALI mice; group 3 included mice that received MSCs before induction of ALI; group 4 included mice that received MSCs after induction of ALI. Lung samples were isolated and assayed for oxidative stress variables and histopathologic analysis. Total anti-oxidant capacity was measured in broncho-alveolar lavage.

RESULTS

Pre- and post-injury MSC injection increased survival, reduced pulmonary edema and attenuated lung injuries in ALI mice. Histologically, MSCs exhibited a considerable degree of preservation of the pulmonary alveolar architecture. An increase of anti-oxidant enzyme activities and a decrease of myeloperoxidase activity and malondialdehyde levels in the MSC recipient groups versus the ALI group were found. Furthermore, the total anti-oxidant capacity and reduced glutathione levels were significantly increased in MSCs recipient groups versus the ALI group. Weak +ve inducible nitric oxide synthase immuno-expression in groups that received MSCs was detected. Pre-injury MSC injection showed better effects than did post-injury MSC injection.

CONCLUSIONS

Systemic bone marrow-derived MSC injection was effective in modulating the oxidative stress status in E coli-induced acute lung injury in mice.

Vitamin D status and vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to type 1 diabetes in Egyptian children

BACKGROUND

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is recognized as a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease. Vitamin D compounds are known to suppress T-cell activation by binding to vitamin D receptor (VDR); and thus, VDR gene polymorphisms may be related to T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between vitamin D status and VDR gene polymorphisms and T1DM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and twenty patients with T1DM and one hundred and twenty controls were enrolled in the study. VDR gene BsmI, FokI, ApaI and TaqI polymorphisms were determined using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was determined using ELISA.

RESULT

Serum 25(OH)D levels revealed a vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency in 75% of the patients. The mean levels of vitamin D were significantly lower in patients as compared to their controls (P=<0.001). VDR BsmI Bb and bb genotypes and VDR FokI Ff and ff genotypes were associated with increased risk of T1DM (OR=2.3, 95% CI=1.3-4.2, P=0.005; OR=2.2, 95% CI=1.1-4.7, P=0.04; OR=1.8, 95% CI=1.03-3.04, P=0.04; OR=4.03, 95% CI=1.2-13.1, P=0.01 respectively), while the VDR ApaI and TaqI polymorphisms were not.

CONCLUSION

Our study indicated that vitamin D deficiency and VDR BsmI and FokI polymorphisms were associated with T1DM in Egyptian children.

Mechanistic action of mesenchymal stem cell injection in the treatment of chemically induced ovarian failure in rabbits

BACKGROUND

No curative treatment is known for primary ovarian failure; however, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), through self-renewal and regeneration, push the trial to evaluate their role in the treatment of ovarian failure. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of MSCs on cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced ovarian failure in rabbits and to clarify the mechanism(s) by which MSCs exert their action.

METHODS

Thirty-five adult female rabbits were injected with CTX to induce ovarian failure. Five rabbits were euthanized after the last injection of CTX for histological examination. The others (30 rabbits) were further subdivided into two groups: group 1 (ovarian failure group, 15 rabbits) received no treatment; group 2 (ovarian failure and MSC recipient group, 15 rabbits) received MSCs isolated from extracted bone marrow of male rabbits.

RESULTS

A decrease of follicle-stimulating hormone and an increase of estrogen and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in the MSC recipient group versus the ovarian failure group were found. Weak caspase-3 expression and +ve proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining after MSC injection were detected. Cytological and histological examinations showed increased follicle numbers with apparent normal structure of ovarian follicles in the MSC recipient group. Moreover, Y chromosome-containing cells from male donors were present within the ovarian tissues in group 2.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study suggests that intravenous injection of MSCs into rabbits with chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage improved ovarian function. MSCs accomplish this function by direct differentiation into specific cellular phenotypes and by secretion of VEGF, which influence the regeneration of the ovary.

Variation of matrix metalloproteinase 1 and 3 haplotypes and their serum levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

The matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 3 (MMP1 and MMP3) are thought to be important in destructive joint changes seen in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) diseases. The aim of this study was to analyze whether functional polymorphisms in the promoter region of the MMP1 and MMP3 genes were associated with RA and OA. The MMP1 (-1607 1G/2G) and MMP3 (-1171 5A/6A) polymorphisms were screened by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 100 patients with (RA), 100 patients with (OA), and 100 controls. Serum MMP1 and MMP3 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results reported a significant difference between patients with OA and controls regarding allele distributions of MMP1 polymorphism, but not between patients with RA and controls. For MMP3 polymorphism, the 6A/6A genotype was significantly more frequent in patients with RA and OA than in controls. The haplotype 2G-6A, which carries the abnormal alleles, showed higher frequencies in the patients with RA and OA than in controls (28%, 30% and 8%, respectively). There were no significant differences in serum MMP1 and MMP3 levels between all studied groups. In conclusion, the MMP1 and MMP3 haplotypes may represent genetic determinants for RA and OA in the Egyptian population. The results suggest that MMP polymorphism genotypes may be more useful in predicting joint damage than measurement of serum concentrations of MMP1 and MMP3. Moreover, MMP1 and MMP3 polymorphisms may predict the activity and severity of these diseases.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 and glycodelin levels in uterine flushing before and after hysteroscopic polypectomy

BACKGROUND

Endometrial polyps are one of the most common endometrial abnormalities and it may be associated with infertility and early pregnancy loss. The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 binding protein (IGFBP-1) and glycodelin levels in uterine flushings before and after hysteroscopic polypectomy.

METHODS

Two-hundred fifty non pregnant women participated in this prospective interventional study. One-hundred women with a complaint of infertility had endometrial polyps diagnosed by two-dimensional ultrasound scan and confirmed by transvaginal sonohysterography were prepared for hysteroscopic polypectomy, and 150 women with a history of menorrhagia not responding to medical treatment were prepared for hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy. Paired samples of uterine flushings were taken from all patients prior to and post hysteroscopic intervenetion at the midluteal phase. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 was analyzed using an immunoradiometric assay. Enzyme-linked immunoassays were performed to analyze glycodelin. Glycodelin and IGFBP-1 levels were compared in both groups prior to and post hysteroscopic intervention.

RESULTS

The glycodelin and IGFBP-1 levels are significantly lower in patients with uterine polyps than in patients having menorrhagia preoperatively (p < 0.001 for each). In patients with uterine polyps, both glycodelin and IGFBP-1 were significantly increased postoperatively (p < 0.001 for each), while no significant changes in their values were noted postoperatively in patients with menorrhagia undergoing endometrial biopsy.

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased levels of mid-secretory IGFBP-1 and glycodelin were associated with the presence of endometrial polyps and both were reversed following hysteroscopic polypectomy. This could explain the pathophysiological mechanisms by which endometrial receptivity is impaired in the presence of endometrial polyps.

Plasma levels of nitric oxide in association with severe Plasmodium falciparum in Yemen

One hundred and five patients with Plasmodium falciparum were included, forty-three with cerebral malaria and sixty-two without cerebral manifestations. The main clinical presentations in cerebral malaria patients were fever (76.4%), pallor (72%), splenomegaly (60.5%), deep coma (39.5%), jaundice (18.6%), pulmonary oedema (13.9%), subconjunctival haemorrhage (13.9%), severe anemia (Hb<5mg/l) (53.5%), hypoglycemia (glucose<40mg/dl) (67.4%) and haemoglobinuria (6.9%) while in non cerebral malaria patients the clinical presentations were fever (83.8%), pallor (67.7%), splenomegaly (66%), jaundice (9.7%), severe anemia (Hb<5gm/dl) (51.6%) and hypoglycemia (glucose<40mg/dl) (3.2%). Nine patients from cerebral malaria group died after admission. Serum level of nitric oxide (nitrite plus nitrate) were assayed for all patients, serum level of nitric oxide were highly significant in patients with cerebral malaria than those without (34.6 +/- 2.3n. mol/ml VS 12.9 +/- 1.3n. mol/ml; P<0.01). In cerebral malaria, nitric oxide levels were highly elevated in patients with deeper coma than those with lighter coma (48.2 +/- 3.1n. mol/ml VS 24.4 +/- 1.3n. mol/ml; P<0.001) and also higher among patients with longer duration of coma (>72 hours) than among patients with shorter duration of coma (<72 hours) (54.5 +/- 2.8 n. mol/ml V.S. 23.6 +/- 3.1n. mol/ml; P<0.001). Also, nitric oxide levels were correlated with clinical outcome, fatal cases (9 patients) having significantly higher nitric oxide levels than survivors (56.2 +/- 3.1 n. mol/ml VS 32.5 +/- 1.3 n. mol/ml; P<0.001). Thus, higher levels of nitric oxide are associated with indices of disease severity and may predict outcome in-patients with cerebral malaria. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that nitric oxide is involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria.