Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a genetic disorder of photoreceptor cell apoptosis and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell atrophy caused by gene mutation. The clinical manifestations are night blindness, peripheral visual field loss and progressive vision loss. RPE cell apoptosis plays an important role in the progression of RP, and exogenous implantation of RPE cells as an alternative therapy has shown certain efficacy in animal experiments and clinical trials. With the diversification of cell sources, the update of surgical techniques and the continuous emergence of biological materials, more possibilities and hopes are provided for cell therapy. To further promote the development of this field in the future, it is still necessary to strengthen the cooperation between medicine, bioengineering and other disciplines in the future to jointly promote the innovation and development of therapeutic methods. It is believed that RPE cell transplantation therapy will show a brighter prospect in the future
Objective To investigate the effects of chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in repair spinal cord injury of rats. Methods Primary BMSCs were isolated and cultured from the femur and tibia of neonatal Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The spinal cord injury model was established in 24 adult SD male rats (weighing, 200-230 g), which were randomly divided into control group (group A), BMSCs transplantation group (group B), ChABC injection group (group C), and ChABC and BMSCs transplantation group (group D), 6 rats in each group. At 7 and 14 days after injury, Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) score criteria was used to evaluate the hindlimb motor function; at 14 days after injury, the injured spinal cord tissue was perfused and stained by HE for further calculation of the injury area. Immunofluorescence staining were used for observing the expressions of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)/chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) and GFAP/growth associated protein 43 (GAP43). Results At 7 days after injury, three joints movement of the hindlimbs were recovered in all groups, and no significant difference in the BBB score was found among 4 groups (P gt; 0.05). At 14 days after injury, no load drag was observed in 3 joints of the hindlimbs in groups A, B, and C, but weight-bearing plantar or occasional dorsalis pedis weight-bearing walking was observed in group D with no plantar walking. The BBB score of group D was significantly higher than that of the other 3 groups (P lt; 0.05). HE staining showed that the cavity formed in the damage zone, and there were a large number of macrophages in the cavity and its surrounding, which was wrapped by scar tissue. The damage area of group D was significantly smaller than that of the other 3 groups (P lt; 0.05). At 14 days after injury, the GFAP/CSPG double immunofluorescence staining showed that the astroglial scar damage zone in group D was significantly reduced, and no cavity formation was found. And the fluorescence intensity in groups C and D was significantly lower than that in group B (P lt; 0.05). The GFAP/GAP43 double immunofluorescence staining showed that GAP43-positive fibers passed through the damage zone in group D and the fluorescence intensity in group D was significantly higher than those in groups B and C (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Inhibition of astrocytes secreting CSPG by ChABC combined with BMSCs transplantation in early injury may promote the regeneration of nerve fibers, and repair spinal cord injury in rats.
ObjectiveTo improve clinicians' understanding of severe cytokine release syndrome (CRS) through reporting the clinical manifestation, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of CRS after chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy in a patient with solid tumor. Methods A patient with ovarian cancer who suffered severe CRS after CAR-T cell therapy in the Department of Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University was reviewed. Relevant studies were searched for literature review. Results The patient, a 55-year-old woman, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in early 2016 and continued to progress despite multiple lines of treatment, so she received CAR-T cell therapy on September 16, 2022. The patient developed a fever 2 days after infusion, and developed dyspnea and shortness of breath with oxygen desaturation 2 days later. Her condition kept deteriorating with respiratory distress and severe hypoxia 6 days after infusion, and the level of interleukin-6 and interferon-gamma continued to be elevated. Chest CT showed pleural effusion and massive exudation of both lungs. Considered to have acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to severe CRS, she was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU). The patient was treated with tocilizumab, high-dose intravenous glucocorticoid pulses, mechanical ventilation, and sivelestat sodium for ARDS. Her symptoms were gradually relieved, and the results of laboratory tests were gradually stabilized. The patient was extubated 6 days after ICU admission and discharged from ICU a week later. Six patients were screened out with ARDS or acute respiratory failure caused by CRS after CAR-T cell therapy, whose treatments were mainly anticytokine agents combined with high-flow oxygen therapy or invasive mechanical ventilation. One of them died. ConclusionsClinicians should be alert to severe CRS during the administration of CAR-T cell. Rapid interruption of the inflammation development is the key to all treatments. If respiratory and/or circulatory dysfunction occurs, patients should be transferred to ICU in time for organ support therapy.
Objective To review the research progress in cell therapy and tissue engineering approach to regenerate salivary gland so as to provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of salivary hypofunction. Methods The recent literature on cell therapy and tissue engineering for the regeneration of salivary glands was reviewed and summarized. Results It is feasible to repair the salivary function by using various stem cells to repair damaged tissue, or by establishing salivary gland tissueex vivo for salivary gland function restoration and reconstruction. However, the mechanism of three dimensional culturing salivary organoids during organogenesis and function expressing and the potential influence of tissue specific extracellular matrix during this process should be further studied. Conclusion Basic research of cell therapy and salivary tissue engineering should be deeply developed, and a standardized culturing system should be establishedin vitro. In addition, it is of great significance to study thein vivo effects of salivary gland-specific cells, non salivary gland epithelial cells and transplanted gene-transfected stem cells.
Abstract: Objective To transplant the microencapsulated recombinanted Chinese hamster ovary (CHO ) cells into the infracted myocardium of rodent animals and investigate whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secreted by the implanted CHO cells could augment angiogenesis and improve cardiac function. Methods The cDNA of VEGF was transferred into CHO cells with plasmid stable transfection. After microencapsulation, the cell growth in microcapsules and the VEGF level in the culture supernatant were evaluated. Two weeks after myocardial infarction, the microencapsulated CHO cells (MC-CHO group ) were implanted into the border of infracted myocardium, as well as similar amount of CHO cells (CHO group ) , blank microcapsule (MC group ) and non-serum culture medium (control group ) as controls, 12 rats per group. The cardiac function improvement was evaluated 3 weeks after transplantation, while the survival status of implanted CHO cells, in situ secretion of VEGF and capillary density were assayed by histology. Results CHO cells could grow and proliferate after microencapsulation. The secretion of VEGF was detectable in culture media supernatant, with the highest concentration of 3 852 pg/m l at day 8. As compared to the other three groups, the left ventricular dimension and cardiac function were significantly improved in MC-CHO group 3 weeks after transplantation. The capillary density of MC-CHO group were increased significantly than those of CHO group, MC group and control group (22. 3±3. 1 vs. 15. 6±2. 8, 11. 4±2. 5, 13. 2±2. 7 vessels per 0.13 mm2, P lt; 0.05). The implanted microcapsule maintained its original shape and protected theCHO cells in it. Conclusion M icroencapsulaed recombinanted CHO cells transplantation might be a promising app roach to augment angiogenesis and improve the cardiac function in infarction myocardium.
ObjectiveTo study the external biocompatibility bewteen the mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (miPSCs) and poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate (PHBHHx). MethodsAfter we recovered and subcultured miPSCs, we divided them into two groups. There was one group cultured with material of PHBHHx films outside the body. We observed the adhesive pattern of miPSCs on film by fluorescence of 4, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. The cell vitality was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). The morphology of miPSCs attached on the film was visualized under scanning electron microscope (SEM). We used the traditional petri dish to culture miPSCs and detect the cell activity by CCK-8. ResultsMiPSCs can adhere and proliferate on PHBHHx films. The result of cell vitality which detected by CCK-8 showed that there was a statistical difference in OD value between culturing on PHBHHx films and traditional cultivation (0.617±0.019 vs. 0.312±0.004, P < 0.05). ConclusionThere are adhesion and proliferation on the surface of cells patch made by miPSCs co-culturing with PHBHHx film. Compared with traditional culturing in the cell culture dish, culturing in PHBHHx films have great advantages in the process of adhesion and proliferation. PHBHHx can be used as one of the scaffold for stem cells treating various disease.
Objective To explore repair role of allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells （BM-MSCs） transplantation on treating hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury （HIRI） in rats. Methods Ten rats were executed to get BM-MSCs， then BM-MSCs were cultured in vitro and dyed by 4，6-diamidino-2-phenylindole （DAPI）. Models of 70% hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury were eatablished. Thirty two rats were randomly divided into sham operation group （Sham group）， ischemia reperfusion group （I/R group）， Vitamin C group （VC group）， and BM-MSCs group. Serum samples were analyzed for ALT and AST， and hepatic tissue were for superoxide dismutase （SOD） and malondialdehyde （MDA）. Liver sections were stain with hematoxylin and eosin （HE） for histological analysis， TUNEL staining was applied to detect hepatic apoptosis. Serum and tissues were both collected at 24 h after reperfusion. Results The isolated BM-MSCs maintained vigorous growth in vitro. Specific markers for MSCs antigens CD29 and CD44 were detected by flow cytometry， but antigens CD34 and CD45 were not be detected. Models of HIRI were stable， and BM-MSCs were detected around the periportal area by DAPI staining. Compared with I/R group， levels of ALT， AST， MDA， and AI in the VC group and BM-MSCs group decreased at 24 h after reperfusion （P＜0.05）， meanwhile SOD level increased （P＜0.05）. Compared with VC group， levels of ALT， AST， MDA， and AI in the BM-MSC group decreased at 24 h after reperfusion （P＜0.05）， meanwhile SOD level increased （P＜0.05）. Conclusion BM-MSCs could protect HIRI by alleviating oxidative stress and inhibiting cellular apoptosis.
Objective To investigate the effect of the serum from severe burn patients on the biology characteristics of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) in vitro, so as to explore the feasibility of hUCMSCs transplantation for treating severe burn. Methods The 3rd passage of hUCMSCs were randomly divided into 3 groups: 10% fetal bovine serum group (group A), 10% normal serum group (group B), and 10% burn serum group (group C). At 24 hours, 72 hours, and 6 days after culture, the cell morphology and density were observed by inverted microscope; the cell proliferation was assessed by MTT; after 6 days of culture, the cell cycle by propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry, the apoptosis by acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, and the cell senescence by β-galactosidase staining; the levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1 (IL-1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in serum were detected by a double-antibody sandwich ELISA kit. Results hUCMSCs were long spindle/polygon in 3 groups. The cell fusion of group C was obviously faster than that in group A and group B. The cell proliferation curves showed that the velocity and number of cell proliferation in group C were significantly higher than those in group A and group B at 2-6 days after culture (P lt; 0.05). The rates of proliferation period (S) of hUCMSCs were 9.21% ± 1.02%, 11.79% ± 1.87%, and 20.54% ± 2.03%, respectively in groups A, B, and C at 6 days, and group C was significantly higher than that of group A and group B (P lt; 0.05). The hUCMSCs showed normal morphology and structure in 3 groups, and no apoptosis cells was observed. The positive cells percentage of group C (2.6% ± 0.1%) was significantly lower than that of group A (4.8% ± 0.2%) and group B (3.8% ± 0.4%) (P lt; 0.05). The levels of TNF-α, IL-1, PDGF, and IGF-1 in group C were significantly higher than those in group B (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The higher levels of cytokines in serum from the severe burn patients can significantly stimulate hUCMSCs proliferation, prevent cells apoptosis, and reduce cells senescence. Therefore, it is feasible to use hUCMSCs transplantation for treating severe burn patients.
Objective To review the advance in the experimental studies and evaluate the potential therapeutic application of the mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs). Methods The related articles published in China and theother countries during the recent years were extensively reviewed and analyzed. Results The MSCs were widely used in the cell-transplantation therapy and the tissue engineering because of their pluripotency of differentiation into various kinds of cells. They were also frequently used in the gene therapy because they could stably express the transfected objective genes. Because of their immunomodulatory function, the MSCs could also be used in the immunotherapy. Conclusion The MSCs are the stem cells, which have characteristics of renewing themselves, having multipotency, and being easy to undergo amplification in vitro.The MSCs are ideal target cells for the cell therapy, tissue engineering, gene therapy, and immunotherapy.
ObjectiveTo review the recent research progress of skeletal myoblasts for cardiac repair. MethodsThe related literature about skeletal myoblasts for cardiac repair was reviewed, analyzed, and summarized. ResultsThe results of animal experiments and clinical studies have shown that skeletal myoblasts been transplanted into the regional myocardial infarction area in different ways can improve cardiac function. But there are some challenges such as high loss rate of skeletal myoblasts and resulting in ventricular arrhythmias. ConclusionFurther studies can improve the safety and effectiveness of skeletal myoblasts for cardiac repair in the future.