Intrauterine hCG application increases expression of endothelial cell-cell adhesion molecules in human.

Endometrial receptivity is a decisive factor in human reproduction. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is one of the first embryonic signals that precedes the implantation by trophoblast invasion into the endometrium. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials reports a moderate-quality evidence for improved live birth rate for an intrauterine hCG dose ≥ 500 IU. Nevertheless, all hCG endometrial effects are not completely understood. We, therefore, utilized endometrial tissue from 12 patients after estradiol and progesterone treatment with or without intrauterine hCG flushing at the window of implantation (WOI) to analyze cellular composition by measuring marker proteins for stromal, endothelial, epithelial and immune cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that significantly more cells expressed the endothelial adhesion molecules VE-cadherin (CD144) and S-Endo-1 (CD146) after intrauterine hCG administration. In contrast, the endothelial marker CD31 and markers involved in vessel formation (VEGFR1 and VEGFR2) remained unchanged in their expression. Similarly, stroma markers (CD73, CD90 and CD105), epithelial markers (Desmocollin-2 and E-Cadherin) and immune cell markers (CD11b, CD45, CD79a and HLA-DR) displayed no alterations in their expression. This finding directs the focus on endothelial adhesion molecules as a potential mechanistically explanation of hCG conveyed increase of embryo implantation and pregnancy rates in women undergoing ART.

Effects of Strontium-Doped ß-Tricalcium Scaffold on Longitudinal Nuclear Factor-Kappa Beta and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 Promoter Activities during Healing in a Murine Critical-Size Bone Defect Model.

It was hypothesized that strontium (Sr)-doped ß-tricalcium phosphate (TCP)-based scaffolds have a positive effect on the regeneration of large bone defects (LBD). Readouts in our mice models were nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-κB) activity and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) promoter activity during the healing process. A 2-mm critical-size femoral fracture was performed in transgenic NF-κB- and VEGFR-2-luciferase reporter mice. The fracture was filled with a 3D-printed ß-TCP scaffold with or without Sr. A bioluminescence in-vivo imaging system was used to sequentially investigate NF-κB and VEGFR-2 expression for two months. After sacrifice, soft and osseous tissue formation in the fracture sites was histologically examined. NF-κB activity increased in the ß-TCP + Sr group in the latter stage (day 40-60). VEGFR-2 activity increased in the + Sr group from days 0-15 but decreased and showed significantly less activity than the ß-TCP and non-scaffold groups from days 40-60. The new bone formation and soft tissue formation in the + Sr group were significantly higher than in the ß-TCP group, whereas the percentage of osseous tissue formation in the ß-TCP group was significantly higher than in the ß-TCP + Sr group. We analyzed longitudinal VEGFR-2 promoter activity and NF-κB activity profiles, as respective agents of angiogenesis and inflammation, during LBD healing. The extended inflammation phase and eventually more rapid resorption of scaffold caused by the addition of strontium accelerates temporary bridging of the fracture gaps. This finding has the potential to inform an improved treatment strategy for patients who suffer from osteoporosis.

Liposomal encapsulation of dexamethasone modulates cytotoxicity, inflammatory cytokine response, and migratory properties of primary human macrophages.

The encapsulation of drugs into liposomes aims to enhance their efficacy and reduce their toxicity. Corticosteroid-loaded liposomes are currently being evaluated in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, colitis, and cancer. Here, using several different fluorophore-labeled formulations, we comprehensively studied the impact of liposome encapsulation of the prototypic corticosteroid dexamethasone on various primary human cells in vitro. Liposomal dexamethasone targeted several primary cell types in a dose and time-dependent manner, but specifically reduced cytotoxicity against human fibroblasts and macrophages in comparison to the solute drug. Furthermore, macrophage maturation and polarization markers were altered. Interestingly, liposomal dexamethasone induced proinflammatory cytokine secretion (specifically TNF, IL1ß, IL6) in unstimulated cells, but reduced this response under inflammatory conditions. Monocyte and macrophage migration was significantly inhibited by dexamethasone-loaded liposomes. The findings indicate that the encapsulation of dexamethasone into liposomes modulates their cellular mechanism of action, and provides important indications for follow-up in vivo investigations. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: This study investigates mechanism of action of liposomal dexamethason in the treatment of inflammatory conditions. It is concluded that liposomal dexamethasone actually induces proinflammatory cytokine secretion in unstimulated cells, but reduces the same response under inflammatory conditions. Monocyte and macrophage migration was also inhibited. The findings indicate that liposomal dexamethasone may have different mechanisms of action than its native counterpart.

Erythropoietin Enhances Post-ischemic Migration and Phagocytosis and Alleviates the Activation of Inflammasomes in Human Microglial Cells.

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) has been shown to exert anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects after cerebral ischemia. Inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1ß and -18 (IL-1ß and IL-18) are crucial mediators of apoptosis and are maturated by multiprotein complexes termed inflammasomes. Microglia are the first responders to post-ischemic brain damage and are a main source of inflammasomes. However, the impact of rhEPO on microglial activation and the subsequent induction of inflammasomes after ischemia remains elusive. To address this, we subjected human microglial clone 3 (HMC-3) cells to various durations of oxygen-glucose-deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) to assess the impact of rhEPO on cell viability, metabolic activity, oxidative stress, phagocytosis, migration, as well as on the regulation and activation of the NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRC4, and AIM2 inflammasomes. Administration of rhEPO mitigated OGD/R-induced oxidative stress and cell death. Additionally, it enhanced metabolic activity, migration and phagocytosis of HMC-3. Moreover, rhEPO attenuated post-ischemic activation and regulation of the NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRC4, and AIM2 inflammasomes as well as their downstream effectors CASPASE1 and IL-1ß. Pharmacological inhibition of NLRP3 via MCC950 had no effect on the activation of CASPASE1 and maturation of IL-1ß after OGD/R, but increased protein levels of NLRP1, NLRC4, and AIM2, suggesting compensatory activities among inflammasomes. We provide evidence that EPO-conveyed anti-inflammatory actions might be mediated via the regulation of the inflammasomes.

Functionalized silk fibers from transgenic silkworms for wound healing applications: Surface presentation of bioactive epidermal growth factor.

Growth factors play a crucial role in wound healing in general and are promising tools for the treatment of chronic wounds as they can restore the physiological wound healing process. In growth factor-loaded wound dressings, human epidermal growth factor (EGF) is released in a burst and washed out quickly. The developed matrix consists of recombinant EGF produced in transgenic silkworms as a fusion protein with the fibroin light chain. The covalent linkage prevents EGF from draining into the surrounding tissue while presenting the growth factor on the surface. EGF-functionalized silk membranes and nonwovens lead to a 2.5-fold increase in the cell number of fibroblasts, while retaining full bioactivity even after e-beam sterilization. EGF is long-term presented without burst release and significantly reduces the wound area by 15% in an in vitro wound model. Hence, the cost-effective production of a biomaterial using transgenic silkworm larvae in combination with a growth factor paves the way for a promising new multifactorial wound cover for chronic wound healing. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 2643-2652, 2018.

Comprehensive characterization of chorionic villi-derived mesenchymal stromal cells from human placenta.

BACKGROUND: Studies in which mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) from the placenta are compared with multiple MSC types from other sources are rare. The chorionic plate of the human placenta is mainly composed of fetal blood vessels embedded in fetal stroma tissue, lined by trophoblastic cells and organized into chorionic villi (CV) structures. METHODS: We comprehensively characterized human MSC collected from postnatal human chorionic villi of placenta (CV-MSC) by analyzing their growth and proliferation potential, differentiation, immunophenotype, extracellular matrix production, telomere length, aging phenotype, and plasticity. RESULTS: Immunophenotypic characterization of CV-MSC confirmed the typical MSC marker expression as defined by the International Society for Cellular Therapy. The surface marker profile was consistent with increased potential for proliferation, vascular localization, and early myogenic marker expression. CV-MSC retained multilineage differentiation potential and extracellular matrix remodeling properties. They have undergone reduced telomere loss and delayed onset of cellular senescence as they aged in vitro compared to three other MSC sources. We present evidence that increased human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene expression could not explain the exceptional telomere maintenance and senescence onset delay in cultured CV-MSC. Our in-vitro tumorigenesis detection assay suggests that CV-MSC are not prone to undergo malignant transformation during long-term in-vitro culture. Besides SOX2 expression, no other pluripotency features were observed in early and late passages of CV-MSC. CONCLUSIONS: Our work brings forward two remarkable characteristics of CV-MSC, the first being their extended life span as a result of delayed replicative senescence and the second being a delayed aged phenotype characterized by improved telomere length maintenance. MSC from human placenta are very attractive candidates for stem cell-based therapy applications.

Growth factor-functionalized silk membranes support wound healing in vitro.

Chronic wounds represent a serious problem in daily medical routine requiring improved wound care. Silk of the domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori) has been used to form a variety of biomaterials for medical applications. We genetically engineered B. mori to produce silk functionalized with growth factors to promote wound healing in vitro. In this study FGF-, EGF-, KGF-, PDGF- or VEGF-functionalized silk membranes were compared to native B. mori silk membranes without growth factors for their ability to support wound healing in vitro. All silk membranes were cytocompatible and supported macrophage secretion of neutrophil recruiting factor CXCL1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1). VEGF-functionalized silk significantly outperformed other growth factor-functionalized silk membranes, but not native silk in angiogenesis assays. In addition, EGF- and VEGF-functionalized silk membranes slightly enhanced macrophage adhesion compared to silk without growth factors. In wound healing assays in vitro (reduction of wound lesion), dermal equivalents showed a higher wound healing capacity when covered with EGF-, FGF- or VEGF-functionalized silk membranes compared to native, KGF- or PDGF-functionalized silk membranes. Keratinocyte migration and growth is overstimulated by KGF- and VEGF-functionalized silk membranes. In conclusion, growth factor-functionalized silk membranes prepared from genetically engineered silk worm glands are promising wound dressings for future wound healing therapies.