Melanoma Cell Adhesion Molecule (CD 146) in Endometrial Physiology and Disorder.

The human endometrium, the innermost lining of the uterus, is the anatomic prerequisite for pregnancy. It is the only dynamic tissue that undergoes more than 400 cycles of regeneration throughout the reproductive life of women. Key to this function are endometrial stem cells as well as cell adhesion molecules. Melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM/CD146/MUC18) is a membrane glycoprotein of the mucin family and a key cell adhesion protein, highly expressed by endometrial cells. CD146 is a significant molecule pivotal in endometrial physiology, assisting tissue regeneration and angiogenesis. Endometrium also acts as a culprit in causing several endometrial dysfunctions, such as endometriosis, endometrial hyperplasia, and endometrial carcinoma, due to interrupted molecular and functional mechanisms. Though most of the endometrial dysfunctions arise as a result of endocrine disturbance, it has a major pathological role associated with angiogenesis. It has already been proven that CD146 is a potential marker for the diagnosis of angiogenic dysfunctions and malignancy, including endometrial cancer. However, its mechanistic role in causing the pathology is a mystery. This chapter explores the role of CD146 in normal and pathological endometrial conditions and the therapeutic implications of CD146.

Characterization and angiogenic potential of CD146+ endometrial stem cells.

BACKGROUND: The human endometrium, lining the inner uterus, regenerates over 400 times uniquely during a woman's reproductive life. Endometrial stem cells (eSCs) enrich the tissue, resulting in a dense vascular network, significant angiogenic potential, and effective regeneration power. Being of natural angiogenic properties and proven effective in the treatment of vascular disorders, eSCs can be considered safe, reliable, and superior to other post-natal stem cells. Cluster of Differentiation 146 (CD146) has emerged as a pivotal marker associated with pericytes and endothelial cells for promoting angiogenesis. Endometrial cells with high CD146 expression could proliferate and differentiate into multiple lineages. This study will explore the role of CD146 in eSCs, focusing on the potential to boost the angiogenic and regenerative functions of the cells. The novelty of this study lies in the investigation of CD146 on eSC function, which may open new possibilities for eSC-based therapy in regenerative medicine and vascular disorders. METHODS: The study involved obtaining endometrial biopsies from active reproducing women to isolate and cultivate eSCs. eSCs were assessed for growth factor secretion pattern, characterized for their mesenchymal properties. Finally, eSCs were tested for their angiogenic potential by angiogenic gene expression profile and in-ovo chick embryo model. As aimed, to check the role of CD146 in eSC angiogenesis, CD146+ cells were magnetically sorted and cultured. The sorted cells underwent various analyses, including flowcytometry to identify mesenchymal markers and human growth factor panel to analyze growth factor secretion profiles The study evaluated the angiogenic potential of CD146 + cells using functional assays, including ring formation, endothelial differentiation, and wound scratch assays, to evaluate cell migration and healing capabilities. Molecular insights were obtained through chemokine and cytokine investigations In-ovo Chick model assay was conducted to check the angiogenic potential and evaluated through macroscopic as well as through immunohistochemistry. RESULT: Endometrial stem cells (eSCs) were successfully isolated using a combination of mechanical and enzymatic digestion, followed by culturing in complete DMEM media. The secretion profile of eSCs revealed significant production of various angiogenic growth factors, including Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Fibroblast growth factors (FGF), and Platelet derived growth factor AA (PDGF-AA). The angiogenic gene profile indicated upregulation of several angiogenic genes in eSCs. The mesenchymal nature of eSCs was demonstrated through surface marker analysis (Cluster of differentiation 73, Cluster of differentiation 90, Cluster of differentiation 105) and trilineage differentiation. The in-ovo chick model confirmed the angiogenic potential of eSCs. CD146+ cells, isolated via magnetic sorting, exhibited enhanced angiogenic potential. These cells secreted significant levels of angiogenic growth factors such as VEGF. In Matrigel assays, CD146+ cells formed endothelial ring structures more rapidly and persistently than unsorted eSCs. Semi-quantitative PCR confirmed their endothelial differentiation. CD146+ cells express various angiogenic chemokines such as CXCL5, CXCL8, CCL3, and CCL20 and cytokines such as GM-CSF, Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), PDGF AA/BB, Epidermal growth factor (EGF), Endothelin 1, Angiopoietin. In-ovo chick model assay showed that CD146+ cells had superior angiogenesis, with more nodes, junctions, and segments compared to eSCs and controls. Immunohistochemistry confirmed increased expression of endothelial markers (Cluster of differentiation 31, VEGF, Vascular associated protein (VAP), Von Willebrand factor (vWF) in CD146+ cells. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the angiogenic potential of endometrial stem cells, particularly the CD146+ cell population. These cells promote angiogenesis, secreting growth factors and forming stable blood vessel structures. CD146+ cells have higher expression levels of VEGF and TGF-α, key factors in angiogenesis. This suggests CD146+ eSCs may be promising for therapeutic applications in vascular diseases requiring angiogenesis. Further research is needed.

Recellularization of Acellular Xeno Kidney Scaffold: An In Vivo Method to Generate Bioartificial Kidney.

A significant hurdle for kidney tissue engineering is reproducing the complex three-dimensional structure of the kidney. In our study, a stepwise approach of generating a reproducible Xeno kidney scaffold from a goat kidney is described, which can be implanted and recellularized by host cells. We have proposed a combination of sodium dodecyl sulfate and Triton-X-100-based protocol to generate a reproducible Xeno kidney scaffold, which was then analyzed by histology, DNA quantification, SEM, and renal angiography. Further, a small portion from the cortico-medullar region of the acellular scaffold was implanted in the rat's kidney subcapsular pocket for a period of 1 month, to check the recruitment of host cells into the scaffold. Post implantation, the extracellular matrix of the scaffold was well preserved and it did not induce any damage or inflammation in the native kidney. Implantation of the Xeno scaffold resulted in apparent early vascularization which helped in the recruitment of the host cells, which was characterized by histology, immunohistochemistry, and scanning electron microscopy. Implanted Xeno scaffold showed AQP-1, Nephrin, α-SMA, and VEGF expression in proximal tubules and renal glomerulus. Importantly, Ki-67 and WTAP-expressing cells were also observed near proximal tubules suggesting a high level of proliferation in the scaffold. Thus, showing the potential of Xeno kidney development that can be recellularized by the host cell to engineer into a functional kidney.

Silver-doped hydroxyapatite laden chitosan-gelatin nanocomposite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering: an in-vitro and in-ovo evaluation.

Despite the advancements in bone tissue engineering, the majority of implant failures are caused due to microbial contamination. So, efforts are being made to develop biomaterial with antimicrobial property enhancing the regeneration of damaged bone tissue. In the present study, chitosan-gelatin (CG) scaffolds containing silver-doped hydroxyapatite (AgHAP) nanoparticles at 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% (w/v) were fabricated by lyophilization technique. The results confirmed the synthesis of AgHAP nanoparticles and showed interconnected porous structure of the nanocomposite scaffolds with 89%-75% porosity. Similarly, the swelling percentage, degradation behavior and compressive modulus of CG-AgHAP nanocomposite scaffolds were 1666%, 40% and 0.7 MPa, respectively. The developed nanocomposite scaffolds revealed better antimicrobial properties and bioactivity. The cell culture studies showed favorable viability of Wharton's jelly stem cells on CG-AgHAP nanocomposite scaffolds. CAM (chorioallantoic membrane) assay determined the angiogenic potential with better visualization of blood vessels in the CAM area. Hence, the obtained results confirmed that CG-AgHAP3 nanocomposite scaffold was the most suitable for bone tissue engineering applications among all scaffolds.

A biologically functional bioink based on extracellular matrix derived collagen for 3D printing of skin.

Over the past few years, several advancements have been made to develop artificial skin that mimics human skin. Artificial skin manufactured using 3D printing technology that includes all epidermal and dermal components, such as collagen, may offer a viable solution. The skin-specific bioink was derived from digested chicken skin and incorporated into PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) and gelatin. The prepared bioink was further analyzed for its structure, stability, biocompatibility, and wound healing potential in in vitro, in ovo, and in vivo models. The 3D-printed skin showed excellent mechanical properties. In vitro scratch assays showed the proliferation and migration of cells within 24 h. In an in ovo assay, the 3D-printed skin facilitated the attachment of cells to the scaffolds. In the animal study, the quick cellular recruitment at the injury site accelerated wound healing. Further, hydroxyproline content was estimated to be 0.9-1.2 mg/ml, and collagen content was 7.5 %, which confirmed the epithelization. The relative expressions of MMP-9, COMP, TNF-α, and IL-6 genes were found to be increased compared to the control. These results demonstrate that 3D bioprinting represents a suitable technology to generate bioengineered skin for therapeutic and industrial applications in an automated manner.

Decellularized small intestine scaffolds: a potential xenograft for restoration of intestinal perforation.

Small intestine perforation is a serious medical condition that requires immediate medical attention. The traditional course of treatment entails resection followed by anastomosis; however, it has complications such as small bowel syndrome (SBS), anastomotic leakage, and fistula formation. Here, a novel strategy is demonstrated, that utilizes the xenogeneic, decellularized goat small intestine as a patch for small intestine regeneration in cases of intestinal perforation. The goat small intestine scaffold underwent sodium dodecyl sulfate decellularization, which revealed consistent, quick, and effective decellularization. Decellularization contributed the least amount of extracellular matrix degradation while maintaining the intestinal architecture. By implanting the decellularized goat small intestine scaffolds (DGSIS) on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), no discernible loss of angiogenesis was seen in the CAM region, and this enabled the DGSIS to be evaluated for biocompatibility in ovo. The DGSIS was then xeno-transplanted as a patch on a small intestine perforation rat model. After 30 days post transplant, barium salt used as contrast gastrointestinal X-ray imaging revealed no leakage or obstruction in the small intestine. Histology, scanning electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry assisted in analyzing the engraftment of host cells into the xeno patch. The xeno-patch expressed high levels of E-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), Occludin, Zonnula occluden (ZO-1), Ki 67, and Na+/K+-ATPase. The xeno-patch was consequently recellularized and incorporated into the host without causing an inflammatory reaction. As an outcome, decellularized goat small intestine was employed as a xenograft and could be suitable for regeneration of the perforated small intestine.

Dysregulated metal ion homeostasis underscores non-canonical function of CD8+ T cell during COVID-19.

Introduction: Several efforts have been made to describe the complexity of T cell heterogeneity during the COVID-19 disease; however, there remain gaps in our understanding in terms of the granularity within. Methods: For this attempt, we performed a single-cell transcriptomic analysis of 33 individuals (4 healthy, 16 COVID-19 positive patients, and 13 COVID-19 recovered individuals). Results: We found CD8+ T cell-biased lymphopenia in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy and recovered individuals. We also found an optimal Th1/Th2 ratio, indicating an effective immune response during COVID-19. Expansion of activated CD4+ T and NK T was detected in the COVID-19-positive individuals. Surprisingly, we found cellular and metal ion homeostasis pathways enriched in the COVID-19-positive individuals compared to the healthy and recovered in the CD8+ T cell populations (CD8+ TCM and CD8+ TEM) as well as activated CD4+ T cells. Discussion: In summary, the COVID-19-positive individuals exhibit a dynamic T cell mediated response. This response may have a possible association with the dysregulation of non-canonical pathways, including housekeeping functions in addition to the conventional antiviral immune response mediated by the T cell subpopulation. These findings considerably extend our insights into the heterogeneity of T cell response during and post-SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Activated platelet-rich plasma accelerate endometrial regeneration and improve pregnancy outcomes in murine model of disturbed endometrium.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) contains high concentrations of growth factors, therefore, PRP activation results in their release, stimulating the process of healing and regeneration. The study was conducted to check whether activated platelet-rich plasma (aPRP) treatment can improve regeneration of the endometrium in an experimental model of ethanol-induced disturbed endometrium. Seventy-two female Wistar rats were randomly assigned into the control group, disturbed endometrium (DE) group and aPRP treated group. Activation of PRP was performed by adding thrombin. All the animals were sacrificed on day 1, day 3, day 6 and day 9 and samples were taken from the miduterine horn. Quantification of Cytokine and chemokine profiles of activated and non-activated PRP for CCL2, TNF- α, IL-1ß, CXCL8, CXCL10, IL2, IL4, IL-6 IL-10, IL-12, IL-17A, TGF- ß, IFN-γ was carried out. Functional and structural recovery of the endometrium was analyzed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses. HE confirmed proliferated epithelial lining and stromal reconstruction with decreased fibrosis in PRP treated group compared to the DE group. Epithelial thickness in aPRP treated on day 1, day 3, day 6 and day 9 revealed an significant increase (p ≤ 0.05). Significantly stronger IHC expression of alpha smooth muscle actin, Cytokeratin 18, Cytokeratin 19, Connexin-40, E-Cadherin, Claudin-1, Zona Occludin-1was found in the aPRP treated group compared to the DE group. Furthermore, aPRP treatment was associated with birth of live pups. Our results suggest that intrauterine administration of aPRP stimulated and accelerated the regeneration of endometrium in the murine model of disturbed endometrium.

Transplantation of Human Placenta Derived Mitochondria Promotes Cell Communication in Endometrium in a Murine Model of Disturbed Endometrium.

OBJECTIVES: Herein, we investigated the regenerative potential of functional mitochondria to restore endometrial injury. METHODS: The endometrium was disturbed with an intrauterine injection of 95% ethanol. Regeneration of the disturbed endometrium was achieved by transplantation of human placenta derived mitochondria followed by thrombin activated platelet rich plasma (hMTx). The transplantation method provided a biomimetic gel layer that stabilized and supported the functionality of the transplanted mitochondria to flourish regeneration of the disturbed endometrium. The presence of engrafted Rhodamine B labelled mitochondria was quantified at 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after transplantation. RESULTS: Detection of human-specific mitochondria mRNA in recipient rat uterus showed significant up-regulation of MT ATP-8, MT COX-1, MT COX -3, MT COX -2, MT ATP-6 (p = 0.009) in the hMTx treated group compared to the disturbed endometrium group. The hMTx group demonstrated showed regeneration through increased expressions of α-SMA, CK-18, CK-19, Connexin-40, E Cadherin, Claudin-1, Zona Occludin as compared with disturbed endometrium group. Experimental hMTx endometrial cells had significantly higher values of activities of NADH, NADPH, Cytochrome B5, Cytochrome P450, Complex I, Complex II, Complex III, Complex IV compared with disturbed endometrium indicating the regeneration of damaged endometrial cells at 72 h. CONCLUSIONS: Intrauterine hMTx was accounted to improve endometrial junction protein thus regeneration in the disturbed endometrium. Our Data provide the first evidence that hMTx promotes endometrial regeneration in the disturbed endometrium, paving the way for the development of a novel approach to human endometrial regeneration.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles disseminated chitosan gelatin scaffold for bone tissue engineering applications.

Cell-free and cell-loaded constructs are used to bridge the critical-sized bone defect. Oxidative stress at the site of the bone defects is a major interference that slows bone healing. Recently, there has been an increase in interest in enhancing the properties of three-dimensional scaffolds with free radical scavenging materials. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs) can scavenge free radicals due to their redox-modulating property. In this study, freeze-drying was used to fabricate CG-CNPs nanocomposite scaffolds using gelatin (G), chitosan (C), and cerium oxide nanoparticles. Physico-chemical, mechanical, and biological characterization of CG-CNPs scaffolds were studied. CG-CNPs scaffolds demonstrated better results in terms of physicochemical, mechanical, and biological properties as compared to CG-scaffold. CG-CNPs scaffolds were cyto-friendly to MC3T3-E1 cells studied by performing in-vitro and in-ovo studies. The scaffold's antimicrobial study revealed high inhibition zones against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. With 79 % porosity, 45.99 % weight loss, 178.25 kPa compressive modulus, and 1.83 Ca/P ratio, the CG-CNP2 scaffold displays the best characteristics. As a result, the CG-CNP2 scaffolds are highly biocompatible and could be applied to repair bone defects.

Surgical cotton microfibers loaded with proteins and apatite: A potential platform for bone tissue engineering.

Tissue engineering has emerged as the best alternative to replacing damaged tissue/organs. However, the cost of scaffold materials continues to be a significant obstacle; thus, developing inexpensive scaffolds is strongly encouraged. In this study, cellulose microfibers (C), gelatin (G), egg white (EW), and nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) were assembled into a quaternary scaffold using EDC-NHS crosslinking, followed by freeze-drying method. Cellulose microfibers as a scaffold have only received a limited amount of research due to the absence of an intrinsic three-dimensional structure. Gelatin, more likely to interact chemically with collagen, was used to provide a stable structure to the cellulose microfibers. EW was supposed to provide the scaffold with numerous cell attachment sites. nHA was chosen to enhance the scaffold's bone-bonding properties. Physico-chemical, mechanical, and biological characterization of scaffolds were studied. In-vitro using MG-63 cells and in-ovo studies revealed that all scaffolds were biocompatible. The results of the DPPH assay demonstrate the ability of CGEWnHA to reduce free radicals. The CGEWnHA scaffold exhibits the best properties with 56.84 ± 28.45 µm average pore size, 75 ± 1.4 % porosity, 39.23 % weight loss, 109.19 ± 0.98 kPa compressive modulus, and 1.72 Ca/P ratio. As a result, the constructed CGEWnHA scaffold appears to be a viable choice for BTE applications.

Pathophysiology of Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Engineering Approach for Its Neuronal Regeneration: Current Status and Future Prospects.

A spinal cord injury (SCI) is a very debilitating condition causing loss of sensory and motor function as well as multiple organ failures. Current therapeutic options like surgery and pharmacotherapy show positive results but are incapable of providing a complete cure for chronic SCI symptoms. Tissue engineering, including neuroprotective or growth factors, stem cells, and biomaterial scaffolds, grabs attention because of their potential for regeneration and ability to bridge the gap in the injured spinal cord (SC). Preclinical studies with tissue engineering showed functional recovery and neurorestorative effects. Few clinical trials show the safety and efficacy of the tissue engineering approach. However, more studies should be carried out for potential treatment modalities. In this review, we summarize the pathophysiology of SCI and its current treatment modalities, including surgical, pharmacological, and tissue engineering approaches following SCI in preclinical and clinical phases.

SARS-CoV-2 Mutations and COVID-19 Clinical Outcome: Mutation Global Frequency Dynamics and Structural Modulation Hold the Key.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has had an enormous burden on the healthcare system worldwide as a consequence of its new emerging variants of concern (VOCs) since late 2019. Elucidating viral genome characteristics and its influence on disease severity and clinical outcome has been one of the crucial aspects toward pandemic management. Genomic surveillance holds the key to identify the spectrum of mutations vis-à-vis disease outcome. Here, in our study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the mutation distribution among the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) recovered and mortality patients. In addition to the clinical data analysis, the significant mutations within the two groups were analyzed for their global presence in an effort to understand the temporal dynamics of the mutations globally in comparison with our cohort. Interestingly, we found that all the mutations within the recovered patients showed significantly low global presence, indicating the possibility of regional pool of mutations and the absence of preferential selection by the virus during the course of the pandemic. In addition, we found the mutation S194L to have the most significant occurrence in the mortality group, suggesting its role toward a severe disease progression. Also, we discovered three mutations within the mortality patients with a high cohort and global distribution, which later became a part of variants of interest (VOIs)/VOCs, suggesting its significant role in enhancing viral characteristics. To understand the possible mechanism, we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of nucleocapsid mutations, S194L and S194*, from the mortality and recovered patients, respectively, to examine its impacts on protein structure and stability. Importantly, we observed the mutation S194* within the recovered to be comparatively unstable, hence showing a low global frequency, as we observed. Thus, our study provides integrative insights about the clinical features, mutations significantly associated with the two different clinical outcomes, its global presence, and its possible effects at the structural level to understand the role of mutations in driving the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tissue engineering of human ear pinna.

Auricular deformities (Microtia) can cause physical, social as well as psychological impacts on a patient's wellbeing. Biofabrication of a complex structure such as ear pinna is not precise with currently available techniques. These limitations can be overcome with the help of tissue engineering. In this article, the authors presented molding and three dimensional (3D) printing to generate a flexible, human size ear pinna. The decellularization of goat ear cartilage protocol and bioink alkaline digestion protocol was followed to yield complete removal of all cellular components without changing the properties of the Extra Cellular Matrix (ECM). Decellularized scaffold used in molding technology and 3D printing technology Computer-Aided Design /Stereolithography (CAD/STL) uses bioink to construct the patient-specific ear. In vivo biocompatibility of the both ear pinnae showed demonstrable recellularization. Histology and scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed the recellularization of cartilage-specific cells and the development of ECM in molded and 3D printed ear pinna after transplantation. Both the techniques provided ideal results for mechanical properties such as elasticity. Vascular Associated Protein expression revealed specific vasculogenic pattern (angiogenesis) in transplanted molded pinna. Chondrocyte specific progenitor cells express CD90+ which highlighted newly developed chondrocytes in both the grafts which indicated that the xenograft was accepted by the rat. Transplantation of molded as well as 3D ear pinna was successful in an animal model and can be available for clinical treatments as a medical object to cure auricular deformities.

Heparin Immobilization of Tissue Engineered Xenogeneic Small Diameter Arterial Scaffold Improve Endothelialization.

BACKGROUND: Autologous vessels graft (Inner diameter < 6 mm) harvesting always challenged during bypass grafting surgery and its complication shows poor outcome. Tissue engineered vascular graft allow to generate biological graft without any immunogenic complication. The approach presented in this study is to induce graft remodeling through heparin coating in luminal surface of small diameter (Inner diameter < 1 mm) decellularized arterial graft. METHODS: Decellularization of graft was done using SDS, combination of 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate and 0.5% sodium deoxycholate and only sodium deoxycholate. Decellularization was confirmed on basis of histology, and DAPI. Characterization of extracellular matrix was analyzed using histology and scanning electron microscopy. Surface modification of decellularized vascular graft was done with heparin coating. Heparin immobilization was evaluated by toluidine blue stain. Heparin-coated graft was transplanted end to end anastomosis in femoral artery in rat. RESULTS: Combination of 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate and 0.5% Sodium deoxycholate showed complete removal of xenogeneic cells. The heparin coating on luminal surface showed anti-thrombogenicity and endothelialization. Mechanical testing revealed no significant differences in strain characteristics and modulus between native tissues, decellularized scaffolds and transplanted scaffold. Collectively, this study proposed a heparin-immobilized ECM coating to surface modification offering functionalize biomaterials for developing small-diameter vascular grafts. CONCLUSION: We conclude that xenogeneic decellularized arterial scaffold with heparin surface modification can be fabricated and successfully transplanted small diameter (inner diameter < 1 mm) decellularized arterial graft.

Downregulation of MICA/B tumor surface expressions and augmented soluble MICA serum levels correlate with disease stage in breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the profiling of the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-related chain A and B (MICA/B) in human breast cancer tumor tissue, saliva, and urine samples of breast cancer patients and control is carried out. MICA/B is ligand of NKG2D receptor expressed on malignant cells. The release of MICA/B from tumor tissue comprises an immune escape mechanism that impairs antitumor immunity. Based on this literature we explored the potential of soluble MICA (sMICA) as a marker in breast cancer (BC). METHODS: The expression was profiled by using immunohistochemistry (MICA/B), western blot (MICA/B) and ELISA (MICA). RESULTS: The optical density of western blot of MICA/B in different stages of BC illustrated significant difference as per one way analysis of variance and significant difference with stage III and IV by Dunnett's multiple comparisons test respectively. Analysis of sMICA in serum, saliva and urine of BC patients revealed significantly higher levels (median 41.0 ± 4.1 pg/ml in pre-treatment sera, 181.9 ± 1.6 pg/ml in saliva and 90.7 ± 1.7 pg/ml in urine) than in control (median <1.2 pg/ml). The elevated levels of sMICA were related to the cancer stage. CONCLUSIONS: The elevated levels of sMICA were observed in patients with well differentiated cancer while the poor expression of sMICA was observed in patients with poorly differentiated tumors. Tumor immunity is impaired by the release of MICA in the biofluids and may be useful for detection and diagnosis of the stage of BC.

A comparative study of smica in various body fluids of diagnosed cervical cancer patients and healthy women.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical cancer (CC) is a major public health problem in women, and its early detection can help reduce morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to compare serum levels of soluble major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A (sMICA) levels in various body fluids between women diagnosed with CC and healthy women. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital and a cancer center in Kolhapur, India. Overall, 150 individuals (100 CC patients and 50 healthy women) participated after providing informed written consent. Demographic data, histopathology history, parity, and tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) staging data were collected. Pap smears, saliva, blood, and urine samples were collected. Pap smears were examined microscopically, and sMICA levels in all samples were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). RESULTS: The mean age of women with cervical cancer was 49.86±8.18 years. Squamous cell carcinoma (70%) was the most common histological variant in CC patients. Serum soluble sMICA levels differed significantly with parity and TNM staging (P<0.05). Mean levels of sMICA were significantly different in samples (CC cases vs. healthy patients; saliva: 166.721±108.718 vs. 0.039±0.005 pg/mL; urine: 82.921±45.580 vs. 0.010±0.005 pg/mL; serum: 35.756±10.799 vs. 0.039±0.005 pg/mL, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Levels of sMICA in body fluids can be considered as a diagnostic or prognostic tool to determine disease progression or tumor regression.

Tissue engineered human ear pinna derived from decellularized goat ear cartilage: clinically useful and biocompatible auricle construct.

Surgery of the entire ear pinna even today presents a challenge to reconstructive surgeons, in the absence of a universally acceptable, quality construct for clinical use. In this article, the authors present a technique to generate a flexible, human size ear with the aim to meet this limitation for ear reconstructive surgeries. The construct was engineered by using a decellularized goat ear cartilage. This was characterized by hematoxylin-eosin (H/E), diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), Masson's trichrome (MT), Alcian Blue (AB) staining and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for extracellular matrix (ECM) analysis. The decellularization protocol followed yielded complete removal of all cellular components without changing the properties of the ECM. In vivo biocompatibility of the ear pinna showed demonstrable recellularization. Recellularization was tracked using HE, DAPI, MT, AB staining, toluidine staining, SEM, vascular-associated protein (VAP) and CD90+ expressing cells. VAP expression revealed specific vasculogenic pattern (angiogenesis). CD90+ expression reflected the presence of the stromal cell. The graft maintained the properties of ECM and displayed chondrocyte recruitment. In summary, the decellularized goat ear pinna (cartilage) exhibited xenograft biocompatibility, stable mechanical properties and in vivo chondrocyte recruitment. Subsequently developed tissue-engineered ear pinna offer potential for cartilage flexibility and individualization of ear shape and size for clinical application.

Learning From Biological and Computational Machines: Importance of SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Surveillance, Mutations and Risk Stratification.

The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has demonstrated the range of disease severity and pathogen genomic diversity emanating from a singular virus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2). This diversity in disease manifestations and genomic mutations has challenged healthcare management and resource allocation during the pandemic, especially for countries such as India with a bigger population base. Here, we undertake a combinatorial approach toward scrutinizing the diagnostic and genomic diversity to extract meaningful information from the chaos of COVID-19 in the Indian context. Using methods of statistical correlation, machine learning (ML), and genomic sequencing on a clinically comprehensive patient dataset with corresponding with/without respiratory support samples, we highlight specific significant diagnostic parameters and ML models for assessing the risk of developing severe COVID-19. This information is further contextualized in the backdrop of SARS-CoV-2 genomic features in the cohort for pathogen genomic evolution monitoring. Analysis of the patient demographic features and symptoms revealed that age, breathlessness, and cough were significantly associated with severe disease; at the same time, we found no severe patient reporting absence of physical symptoms. Observing the trends in biochemical/biophysical diagnostic parameters, we noted that the respiratory rate, total leukocyte count (TLC), blood urea levels, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were directly correlated with the probability of developing severe disease. Out of five different ML algorithms tested to predict patient severity, the multi-layer perceptron-based model performed the best, with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) score of 0.96 and an F1 score of 0.791. The SARS-CoV-2 genomic analysis highlighted a set of mutations with global frequency flips and future inculcation into variants of concern (VOCs) and variants of interest (VOIs), which can be further monitored and annotated for functional significance. In summary, our findings highlight the importance of SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance and statistical analysis of clinical data to develop a risk assessment ML model.

Antiviral properties of placental growth factors: A novel therapeutic approach for COVID-19 treatment.

The current challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic is complicated by the limited therapeutic options against the virus, with many being anecdotal or still undergoing confirmatory trials, underlining the urgent need for novel strategies targeting the virus. The pulmotropic virus causes loss of oxygenation in severe cases with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and need for mechanical ventilation. This work seeks to introduce placental extract-derived biologically active components as a therapeutic option and highlights their mechanism of action relevant to COVID-19 virus. Human placenta has been used in clinical practice for over a century and there is substantial experience in clinical applications of placental extract for different indications. Aqueous extract of human placentacontains growth factors, cytokines/chemokines, natural metabolic and other compounds, anti-oxidants, amino acids, vitamins, trace elements and biomolecules, which individually or in combination show accelerated cellular metabolism, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, cellular proliferation and stimulation of tissue regeneration processes. Placental extract treatment is proposed as a suitable therapeutic approach consideringthe above properties which could protect against initial viral entry and acute inflammation of alveolar epithelial cells, reconstitute pulmonary microenvironment and regenerate the lung. We reviewed useful therapeutic information of placental biomolecules in relation to COVID-19 treatment. We propose the new approach of using placental growth factors, chemokines and cytokine which will execute antiviral activity in coordination with innate and humoral immunity and improve patient's immunological responses to COVID-19. Executing a clinical trial using placental extract as preventive, protective and/or therapeutic approach for COVID-19treatment could advance the development of a most promising therapeutic candidate that can join the armamentaria against the COVID-19 virus.