Interferon-γ priming enhances the therapeutic effects of menstrual blood-derived stromal cells in a mouse liver ischemia-reperfusion model.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used in liver transplantation and have certain effects in alleviating liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and regulating immune rejection. However, some studies have indicated that the effects of MSCs are not very significant. Therefore, approaches that enable MSCs to exert significant and stable therapeutic effects are worth further study. AIM: To enhance the therapeutic potential of human menstrual blood-derived stromal cells (MenSCs) in the mouse liver ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) model via interferon-γ (IFN-γ) priming. METHODS: Apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry to evaluate the safety of IFN-γ priming, and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) levels were measured by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and ELISA to evaluate the efficacy of IFN-γ priming. In vivo, the liver I/R model was established in male C57/BL mice, hematoxylin and eosin and TUNEL staining was performed and serum liver enzyme levels were measured to assess the degree of liver injury, and regulatory T cell (Treg) numbers in spleens were determined by flow cytometry to assess immune tolerance potential. Metabolomics analysis was conducted to elucidate the potential mechanism underlying the regulatory effects of primed MenSCs. In vitro, we established a hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) model and analyzed apoptosis by flow cytometry to investigate the mechanism through which primed MenSCs inhibit apoptosis. Transmission electron microscopy, western blotting, and immunofluorescence were used to analyze autophagy levels. RESULTS: IFN-γ-primed MenSCs secreted higher levels of IDO, attenuated liver injury, and increased Treg numbers in the mouse spleens to greater degrees than untreated MenSCs. Metabolomics and autophagy analyses proved that primed MenSCs more strongly induced autophagy in the mouse livers. In the H/R model, autophagy inhibitors increased the level of H/R-induced apoptosis, indicating that autophagy exerted protective effects. In addition, primed MenSCs decreased the level of H/R-induced apoptosis via IDO and autophagy. Further rescue experiments proved that IDO enhanced the protective autophagy by inhibiting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and activating the AMPK pathway. CONCLUSION: IFN-γ-primed MenSCs exerted better therapeutic effects in the liver I/R model by secreting higher IDO levels. MenSCs and IDO activated the AMPK-mTOR-autophagy axis to reduce IRI, and IDO increased Treg numbers in the spleen and enhanced the MenSC-mediated induction of immune tolerance. Our study suggests that IFN-γ-primed MenSCs may be a novel and superior MSC product for liver transplantation in the future.

Human menstrual blood-derived stem cells reverse sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cells through the hyperactivation of mitophagy.

BACKGROUND: Sorafenib is a first-line drug targeting the RTK-MAPK signalling pathway used to treat advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, tumour cells readily develop sorafenib resistance, limiting long-term therapy with this drug. In our previous study, we found that human menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) altered the expression of some sorafenib resistance-associated genes in HCC cells. Therefore, we wanted to further explore the feasibility of MenSC-based combination therapy in treating sorafenib-resistant HCC (HCC-SR) cells. METHODS: The therapeutic efficiency of sorafenib was determined using CCK-8 (Cell Counting Kit-8), Annexin V/PI and clone formation assays in vitro and a xenograft mouse model in vivo. DNA methylation was determined using RT‒PCR and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP). Autophagy was detected by measuring LC3-II degradation and autophagosome maturation. Transmission electron microscopy identified autophagosomes and mitochondria. Physiological functions of mitochondria were assessed by measuring the ATP content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). RESULTS: The tumour suppressor genes BCL2 interacting protein 3 (BNIP3) and BCL2 interacting protein 3 like (BNIP3L) were silenced by promoter methylation and that BNIP3 and BNIP3L levels correlated negatively with sorafenib resistance in HCC-SR cells. Strikingly, MenSCs reversed sorafenib resistance. MenSCs upregulated BNIP3 and BNIP3L expression in HCC-SR cells via tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (TET2)-mediated active demethylation. In HCC-SR cells receiving sorafenib and MenSC combination therapy, pressure from sorafenib and elevated BNIP3 and BNIP3L levels disrupted balanced autophagy. Hyperactivation of mitophagy significantly caused severe mitochondrial dysfunction and eventually led to the autophagic death of HCC-SR cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our research suggests that combining sorafenib and MenSCs may be a potentially new strategy to reverse sorafenib resistance in HCC-SR cells.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related cardiac injury: Focus on cardiac cell death.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a kind of disease in which amyloid ß (Aß) and other amyloid protein deposits in the cerebral cortex and the small blood vessels of the brain, causing cerebrovascular and brain parenchymal damage. CAA patients are often accompanied by cardiac injury, involving Aß, tau and transthyroxine amyloid (ATTR). Aß is the main injury factor of CAA, which can accelerate the formation of coronary artery atherosclerosis, aortic valve osteogenesis calcification and cardiomyocytes basophilic degeneration. In the early stage of CAA (pre-stroke), the accompanying locus coeruleus (LC) amyloidosis, vasculitis and circulating Aß will induce first hit to the heart. When the CAA progresses to an advanced stage and causes a cerebral hemorrhage, the hemorrhage leads to autonomic nervous function disturbance, catecholamine surges, and systemic inflammation reaction, which can deal the second hit to the heart. Based on the brain-heart axis, CAA and its associated cardiac injury can create a vicious cycle that accelerates the progression of each other.

TNF-α Enhances the Therapeutic Effects of MenSC-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles on Inflammatory Bowel Disease through Macrophage Polarization by miR-24-3p.

Human menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MenSCs) and their secreted small extracellular vesicles (EVs) had been proven to relieve inflammation, tissue damage, and fibrosis in various organs. The microenvironment induced by inflammatory cytokines can promote mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to secrete more substances (including EVs) that could regulate inflammation. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic idiopathic intestinal inflammation, the etiology and mechanism of which are unclear. At present, the existing therapeutic methods are ineffective for many patients and have obvious side effects. Hence, we explored the role of tumor necrosis factor α- (TNF-α-) pretreated MenSC-derived small EV (MenSCs-sEVTNF-α ) in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced colitis, expecting to find better therapeutic alterations. In this research, the small EVs of MenSCs were obtained by ultracentrifugation. MicroRNAs of small EVs derived from MenSCs before and after TNF-α treatment were sequenced, and the differential microRNAs were analyzed by bioinformatics. The small EVs secreted by TNF-α-stimulating MenSCs were more effective in colonic mice than those secreted directly by MenSCs, as evidenced by the results of histopathology analysis of colonic tissue, immunohistochemistry for tight junction proteins, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for cytokine expression profiles in vivo. The process of MenSCs-sEVTNF-α relieving colonic inflammation was accompanied by the polarization of M2 macrophages in the colon and miR-24-3p upregulation in small EVs. In vitro, both MenSC-derived sEV (MenSCs-sEV) and MenSCs-sEVTNF-α reduced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, and MenSCs-sEVTNF-α can increase the portion of M2 macrophages. In conclusion, after TNF-α stimulation, the expression of miR-24-3p in small EVs derived from MenSCs was upregulated. MiR-24-3p was proved to target and downregulate interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) expression in the murine colon and then promoted the polarization of M2 macrophages. The polarization of M2 macrophages in colonic tissues then reduced the damage caused by hyperinflammation.

Additive Effect of Parathyroid Hormone and Zoledronate Acid on Prevention Particle Wears-Induced Implant Loosening by Promoting Periprosthetic Bone Architecture and Strength in an Ovariectomized Rat Model.

Implant-generated particle wears are considered as the major cause for the induction of implant loosening, which is more susceptible to patients with osteoporosis. Monotherapy with parathyroid hormone (PTH) or zoledronate acid (ZOL) has been proven efficient for preventing early-stage periprosthetic osteolysis, while the combination therapy with PTH and ZOL has exerted beneficial effects on the treatment of posterior lumbar vertebral fusion and disuse osteopenia. However, PTH and ZOL still have not been licensed for the treatment of implant loosening to date clinically. In this study, we have explored the effect of single or combined administration with PTH and ZOL on implant loosening in a rat model of osteoporosis. After 12 weeks of ovariectomized surgery, a femoral particle-induced periprosthetic osteolysis model was established. Vehicle, PTH (5 days per week), ZOL (100 mg/kg per week), or combination therapy was utilized for another 6 weeks before sacrifice, followed by micro-CT, histology, mechanical testing, and bone turnover examination. PTH monotherapy or combined PTH with ZOL exerted a protective effect on maintaining implant stability by elevating periprosthetic bone mass and inhibiting pseudomembrane formation. Moreover, an additive effect was observed when combining PTH with ZOL, resulting in better fixation strength, higher periprosthetic bone mass, and less pseudomembrane than PTH monotherapy. Taken together, our results suggested that a combination therapy of PTH and ZOL might be a promising approach for the intervention of early-stage implant loosening in patients with osteoporosis.

Multifunctional role of microRNAs in mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in treatment of diseases.

Mesenchymal stem cells can be replaced by exosomes for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, injury repair, degenerative diseases, and tumors. Exosomes are small vesicles rich in a variety of nucleic acids [including messenger RNA, Long non-coding RNA, microRNA (miRNA), and circular RNA], proteins, and lipids. Exosomes can be secreted by most cells in the human body and are known to play a key role in the communication of information and material transport between cells. Like exosomes, miRNAs were neglected before their role in various activities of organisms was discovered. Several studies have confirmed that miRNAs play a vital role within exosomes. This review focuses on the specific role of miRNAs in MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-exosomes) and the methods commonly used by researchers to study miRNAs in exosomes. Taken together, miRNAs from MSC-exosomes display immense potential and practical value, both in basic medicine and future clinical applications, in treating several diseases.

Human menstrual blood-derived stem cells mitigate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis through anti-apoptosis and anti-inflammatory effects.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a kind of diffuse interstitial lung disease, the pathogenesis of which is unclear, and there is currently a lack of good treatment to improve the survival rate. Human menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MenSCs) have shown great potential in regenerative medicine. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of MenSCs for bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. METHODS: We investigated the transplantation of MenSCs in a pulmonary fibrosis mouse model induced by BLM. Mouse was divided into three groups: control group, BLM group, MenSC group. Twenty-one days after MenSC transplantation, we examined collagen content, pathological, fibrosis area in the lung tissue, and the level of inflammatory factors of serum. RNA sequence was used to examine the differential expressed gene between three groups. Transwell coculture experiments were further used to examine the function of MenSCs to MLE-12 cells and mouse lung fibroblasts (MLFs) in vitro. RESULTS: We observed that transplantation of MenSCs significantly improves pulmonary fibrosis mouse through evaluations of pathological lesions, collagen deposition, and inflammation. Transwell coculturing experiments showed that MenSCs suppress the proliferation and the differentiation of MLFs and inhibit the apoptosis of MLE-12 cells. Furthermore, antibody array results demonstrated that MenSCs inhibit the apoptosis of MLE-12 cells by suppressing the expression of inflammatory-related cytokines, including RANTES, Eotaxin, GM-CSF, MIP-1γ, MCP-5, CCL1, and GITR. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our results suggested MenSCs have a great potential in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis, and cytokines revealed in antibody array are expected to become the target of future therapy of MenSCs in clinical treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.