Enhancing Diabetic Wound Healing Through Improved Angiogenesis: The Role of Emulsion-Based Core-Shell Micro/Nanofibrous Scaffold with Sustained CuO Nanoparticle Delivery.

Attempts are made to design a system for sustaining the delivery of copper ions into diabetic wounds and induce angiogenesis with minimal dose-dependent cytotoxicity. Here, a dual drug-delivery micro/nanofibrous core-shell system is engineered using polycaprolactone/sodium sulfated alginate-polyvinyl alcohol (PCL/SSA-PVA), as core/shell parts, by emulsion electrospinning technique to optimize sustained delivery of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NP). Herein, different concentrations of CuO NP (0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6%w/w) are loaded into the core part of the core-shell system. The morphological, biomechanical, and biocompatibility properties of the scaffolds are fully determined in vitro and in vivo. The 0.8%w/w CuO NP scaffold reveals the highest level of tube formation in HUVEC cells and also upregulates the pro-angiogenesis genes (VEGFA and bFGF) expression with no cytotoxicity effects. The presence of SSA and its interaction with CuO NP, and also core-shell structure sustain the release of the nanoparticles and provide a non-toxic microenvironment for cell adhesion and tube formation, with no sign of adverse immune response in vivo. The optimized scaffold significantly accelerates diabetic wound healing in a rat model. This study strongly suggests the 0.8%w/w CuO NP-loaded PCL/SSA-PVA as an excellent diabetic wound dressing with significantly improved angiogenesis and wound healing.

Fabrication and characterization of a hydrocolloid wound dressing functionalized with human placental derived extracellular matrix for management of skin wounds: An animal study.

BACKGROUND: Functionalization of wound dressing is one of the main approaches for promoting wound healing in skin wound management. In this study, our aim is to fabricate a bio-functionalized hydrocolloid wound dressing. METHODS: The extracellular matrix (ECM) was extracted from human placental tissue. A hydrocolloid film was fabricated using Na-CMC, pectin, gelatin, styrene-isoprene-styrene adhesive, glycerol, and 0.5%-2.5% powdered ECM. A polyurethane film and a release liner were used in the hydrocolloid/ECM films. The mechanical, adhesion, swelling rate, and integrity of the films were investigated. Cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration assays, as well as, SEM and FTIR spectroscopy were also conducted. Macroscopic and microscopic evaluations of wound healing process and formation of blood vessels were conducted in mouse animal models. RESULTS: We successfully fabricated a three-layered ECM-functionalized hydrocolloid dressing with a water vapor transmission rate of 371 g/m2 /day and an adhesion peel strength of 176 KPa. Cellular adhesion, proliferation and migration were promoted by ECM. In the animal tests, ECM-functionalized hydrocolloids significantly improved wound closure and re-epithelialization at days 14 and 21. Also, ECM-functionalized hydrocolloids promoted the formation of hair follicles. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that ECM could enhance the wound healing properties of hydrocolloid wound dressings. This wound dressing could be considered for application in hard-to-heal acute wounds.

A Review of Genes Involved in Wound Healing.

Background: Gene therapy holds immense potential in the field of wound healing. However, we still do not recognize this procedure well enough to give oversight effectively to improve healing processes. A wide range of information has been achieved from the database for gene expression profiling by clinical trials, So we performed this study to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms behind wound healing and how it could be utilized to develop new therapies and treatments. Methods: In this study, we have been focusing on wound-healing genes, conducting a thorough review to explore the various genes and pathways involved in this process. For this purpose, a total of 320 articles were collected. All experimental studies, systematic or narrative reviews, studies and clinical trials included in this paper were searched on PubMed, Medline, Embase, Science Direct, and Scopus databases in English using the following terms: Wound Healing, wound regeneration, Gene Transfer, and Gene Therapy were used to search the mentioned databases. Unfortunately, we didn't find a large sample cohort study on this topic. A total amount of 330 articles were collected based on the guidelines of the PRISMA method. Both inclusion and exclusion criteria were settled. Results: During the last decade, different models of gene delivery have been introduced, which include viral transfection and Non-viral techniques. In this regard, TIMP-2 protein and VEGF mutants such as VEGF165, CARP, and HIF-1 are the genes that accelerate the rate of tissue repair. Conclusion: The process of wound healing is mainly related to the change of expression of genes that have a role in the parts of inflammation and repair. In our study, some of the most suitable genes involved in the wound-healing process are mentioned.

Introduction of an efficient method for placenta decellularization with high potential to preserve ultrastructure and support cell attachment.

The placenta, as a large discarded tissue and rich in extracellular matrix (ECM), is an excellent candidate for biological scaffolds in reconstructive medicine. Considering the importance of ECM structure in cell fate, the aim of this study was to achieve human placenta decellularization protocol that preserve the structure of scaffolds. Thus, human placenta was decellularized by four protocols and decellularization efficacy was compared by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, and DNA measurement. Decellularized placenta structure preservation was assessed by Masson's trichrome staining, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and immunofluorescence (IF) for collagen I, IV, and fibronectin. Finally, liquid displacement measured scaffolds' porosity. After culturing menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) on placenta scaffolds, cell adhesion was investigated by SEM imaging, and cell viability and proliferation were assessed by MTT assay. According to H&E and DAPI staining, only protocols 1 and 3 could completely remove cells from the scaffolds. DNA measurements confirmed a significant reduction in the genetic material of decellularized scaffolds compared to native placenta. According to Masson's trichrome, IF, and SEM imaging, scaffold structure is better preserved in P3 than P1 protocol. Liquid displacement showed higher porosity of P3 scaffold than P1. SEM imaging confirmed cells adhesion to the decellularized placenta, and the attached cells showed good viability and maintained their proliferative capacity, indicating the suitability of the scaffolds for cell growth. Results introduced an optimized protocol for placenta decellularization that preserves the scaffold structure and supports cell adhesion and proliferation.

Decellularization and preservation of human skin: A platform for tissue engineering and reconstructive surgery.

A matrix derived from natural tissue functions as a highly biocompatible and versatile scaffold for tissue engineering applications. It can act as a supportive construct that provides a niche for colonization by host cells. In this work, we describe a cost-effective, reliable and reproducible protocol for decellularization and preservation of human skin as a potential soft tissue replacement. The decellularized human skin is achieved using purely chemical agents without any enzymatic steps. The suitability of the proposed method for the preservation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) structure and its main components and integrity were evaluated using histological and immunohistochemical analysis. Cryopreservation and final sterility were conducted using programmable freeze-drying and gamma irradiation. The architecture, basement membrane and 3D structure of ECM can be successfully preserved after decellularization. Our protocol was found to be appropriate to maintain key proteins such as collagen type I, III, IV and laminin in the structure of final scaffold. This protocol offers a novel platform for the preparation of a dermal substitute for potential clinical applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Clinical application of naturally-based scaffolds for verity of health problems obliges development of a reproducible and effective technology that does not change structural and compositional material properties during scaffold preparation and preservation. Lack of an effective protocol for the production of biological products using decellularization method is still remaining. This effort is directing to solve this challenge in order to accomplish the off-the -shelf availability of decellularized dermal scaffold in market for clinical application.

Improvement, scaling-up, and downstream analysis of exosome production.

Exosomes are the most researched extracellular vesicles. In many biological, physiological, and pathological studies, they have been identified as suitable candidates for treatment and diagnosis of diseases by acting as the carriers of both drugs and genes. Considerable success has been achieved regarding the use of exosomes for tissue regeneration, cancer diagnosis, and targeted drug/gene delivery to specific tissues. While major progress has been made in exosome extraction and purification, extraction of large quantities of exosomes is still a major challenge. This issue limits the scope of both exosome-based research and therapeutic development. In this review, we have aimed to summarize experimental studies focused at increasing the number of exosomes. Biotechnological studies aimed at identifying the pathways of exosome biogenesis to manipulate some genes in order to increase the production of exosomes. Generally, two major strategies are employed to increase the production of exosomes. First, oogenesis pathways are genetically manipulated to overexpress activator genes of exosome biogenesis and downregulate the genes involved in exosome recycling pathways. Second, manipulation of the cell culture medium, treatment with specific drugs, and limiting certain conditions can force the cell to produce more exosomes. In this study, we have reviewed and categorized these strategies. It is hoped that the information presented in this review will provide a better understanding for expanding biotechnological approaches in exosome-based therapeutic development.

Nanocomposite scaffold seeded with mesenchymal stem cells for bone repair.

The mechanical property of bone tissue scaffolds is one of the most important aspects in bone tissue engineering that has remained problematic. In our previous study, we fabricated a three-dimensional scaffold from nano-hydroxyapatite/gelatin (nHA/Gel) and investigated its efficiency in promoting bone regeneration both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, the effect of adding silicon carbide (SiC) on the mechanical and biological behaviors of the nHA/Gel/SiC and bone regeneration in vivo were determined. nHA and SiC were synthesized and characterized by the X-ray diffraction pattern and transmission electron microscope image. Layer solvent casting, freeze drying, and lamination techniques were applied to prepare these scaffolds. Then, the biocompatibility and cell adhesion behavior of the synthesized nHA/Gel/SiC scaffolds were investigated. For in vivo studies, rats were categorized into three groups: blank defect, blank scaffold, and rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBM-MSCs)/scaffold. After 1, 4, and 12 weeks post-injury, the rats were sacrificed and the calvaria were harvested. Sections with a thickness of 5 µm thickness were prepared and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's Trichrome, and immunohistochemistry was performed. Our results showed that SiC effectively increased the mechanical properties of the nHA/Gel/SiC scaffold. No significant differences were observed in biocompatibility, cell adhesion, and cytotoxicity of the nHA/Gel/SiC in comparison with the nHA/Gel nanocomposite. Based on histological and immunohistochemical studies, both osteogenesis and collagenization were significantly higher in the rBM-MSCs/scaffold group, quantitatively and qualitatively. The present study strongly suggests the potential of SiC as an alternative strategy to improve the mechanical and biological properties of bone tissue engineering scaffolds, and shows that the pre-seeded nHA/Gel/SiC scaffold with rBM-MSCs improves osteogenesis in the engineered bone implant.

3D Protein-Based Bilayer Artificial Skin for the Guided Scarless Healing of Third-Degree Burn Wounds in Vivo.

Severe burn injuries can lead to delays in healing and devastating scar formation. Attempts have been made to develop a suitable skin substitute for the scarless healing of such skin wounds. Currently, there is no effective strategy for completely scarless healing after the thermal injuries. In our recent work, we fabricated and evaluated a 3D protein-based artificial skin made from decellularized human amniotic membrane (AM) and electrospun nanofibrous silk fibroin (ESF) in vitro. We also characterized both biophysical and cell culture investigation to establish in vitro performance of the developed bilayer scaffolds. In this report, we evaluate the appropriate utility of this fabricated bilayered artificial skin in vivo with particular emphasis on healing and scar formation due to the biochemical and biomechanical complexity of the skin. For this work, AM and AM/ESF membranes alone or seeded with adipose-tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) are implanted on full-thickness burn wounds in mice. The healing efficacy and scar formation are evaluated at 7, 14, and 28 days post-implantation in vivo. Our data reveal that ESF accelerates the wound-healing process through the early recruitment of inflammatory cells such as macrophages into the defective site as well as the up-regulation of angiogenic factors from the AT-MSCs and the facilitation of the remodeling phase. In vivo application of the prepared AM/ESF membrane seeded with the AT-MSCs reduces significantly the post-burn scars. The in vivo data suggest that the potential applications of the AM/ESF bilayered artificial skin may be considered a clinical translational product with stem cells to guide the scarless healing of severe burn injuries.

Evidence for embryonic stem-like signature and epithelial-mesenchymal transition features in the spheroid cells derived from lung adenocarcinoma.

Identification of the cellular and molecular aspects of lung cancer stem cells (LCSCs) that are suggested to be the main culprit of tumor initiation, maintenance, drug resistance, and relapse is a prerequisite for targeted therapy of lung cancer. In the current study, LCSCs subpopulation of A549 cells was enriched, and after characterization of the spheroid cells, complementary DNA (cDNA) microarray analysis was applied to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the spheroid and parental cells. Microarray results were validated using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR), flow cytometry, and western blotting. Our results showed that spheroid cells had higher clonogenic potential, up-regulation of stemness gene Sox2, loss of CD44 expression, and gain of CD24 expression compared to parental cells. Among a total of 160 genes that were differentially expressed between the spheroid cells and the parental cells, 104 genes were up-regulated and 56 genes were down-regulated. Analysis of cDNA microarray revealed an embryonic stem cell-like signature and over-expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated genes in the spheroid cells. cDNA microarray results were validated at the gene expression level using qRT-PCR, and further validation was performed at the protein level by flow cytometry and western blotting. The embryonic stem cell-like signature in the spheroid cells supports two important notions: maintenance of CSCs phenotype by dedifferentiating mechanisms activated through oncogenic pathways and the origination of CSCs from embryonic stem cells (ESCs). PI3/AKT3, as the most common up-regulated pathway, and other pathways related to aggressive tumor behavior and EMT process can confer to the spheroid cells' high potential for metastasis and distant seeding.

A Dermal Equivalent Engineered with TGF-ß3 Expressing Bone Marrow Stromal Cells and Amniotic Membrane: Cosmetic Healing of Full-Thickness Skin Wounds in Rats.

Transforming growth factor beta-3 (TGF-ß3) has been shown to decrease scar formation after scheduled topical applications to the cutaneous wounds. This study aimed to continuously deliver TGF-ß3, during the early phase of wound healing, by engineering a dermal equivalent (DE) using TGF-ß3 expressing bone marrow stromal cells (BM-SCs) and human dehydrated amniotic membrane (hDAM). To engineer a DE, rat BM-SCs were seeded on the hDAM and TGF-ß3 was transiently transfected into the BM-SCs using a plasmid vector. Pieces of the dermal equivalent were transplanted onto the full-thickness excisional skin wounds in rats. The process of wound healing was assessed by image analysis, Manchester Scar Scale (MSS), and histopathological studies 7, 14, 21, and 85 days after the excision. The results confirmed accurate construction of recombinant pcDNA3.1-TGF-ß3 expression system and showed that the transfected BM-SCs seeded on hDAM expressed TGF-ß3 mRNA and protein from day 3 through day 7 after transfection. After implantation of the DE, contraction of the wounds was measured from day 7 through 21 and analyzed by linear regression, which revealed that the rate of wound contraction in all experimental groups was similar. Histologic evaluation demonstrated that transfected BM-SCs decreased retention and recruitment of the cells during the early stage of wound healing, decreased the formation of vascular structures and led to formation of uniformly parallel collagen bundles. MSS scores showed that TGF-ß3 secreting cells significantly improved the cosmetic appearance of the healed skin and decreased the scar formation. From these results, it could be concluded that transient secretion of TGF-ß3, during the early phase of healing, by BM-SCs seeded on hDAM can improve the cosmetic appearance of the scar in cutaneous wounds without negatively affecting the process of wound repair.

Comparative gene-expression profiling of CD133(+) and CD133(-) D10 melanoma cells.

AIMS: The present study aimed to compare the gene-expression profiling of CD133(+) and CD133(-) D10 cells. MATERIALS & METHODS: Cancer stem cell-like properties and gene-expression profiling of CD133(+) D10 cells versus CD133(-) cells were evaluated. RESULTS: The CD133(+) D10 cells showed significantly higher clonogenic and spheroid forming potential, also higher expression of stemness genes NANOG and OCT4A compared with the CD133(-) cells. Gene-expression profiling of CD133(+) versus CD133(-) D10 cells revealed that 130 genes including ABC transporter superfamily (ABCC1, ABCG2 and ABCC6) were upregulated, while 61 genes including apoptosis modifying genes (CASP8 and TNFRSF4) were downregulated. CONCLUSION: We conclude that many genes involved in drug resistance and tumor aggressiveness are upregulated in CD133(+) D10 cells and targeting them might be an efficient strategy for treatment of melanoma.

Optimization of nanofibrous silk fibroin scaffold as a delivery system for bone marrow adherent cells: in vitro and in vivo studies.

Electrospun silk fibroin nanofibrous scaffolds (ESFNSs) were successfully prepared by electrospinning of various Bombyx mori silk fibroin concentrations (10, 12, and 14% in formic acid). After characterizing the purified silk fibroin, the morphology, porosity, fibers' diameter, and uniformity of the prepared scaffolds were examined in detail. In addition, biological responses such as effects on bone marrow cell viability, cytotoxicity, and cell adhesion were evaluated in vitro. Biocompatibility and bioactivity properties of the ESFNSs were evaluated in vitro and in vivo by cell culturing and subcutaneous implantation in rat models for 7 and 28 days, respectively. According to the obtained results, no beaded fibers were seen in any of the prepared scaffolds, whereas ESFNS-10% provided more uniformity and porosity with nanoscaled fibers (90 ± 0.021 nm). Furthermore, the scaffolds also showed good cell adhesion and spreading (68.7 ± 11.8 and 7.6 ± 3.3 total length and width, respectively) with no detectable effect on cell viability and cytotoxicity. The in vivo biocompatibility evaluation indicated that the scaffolds did not stimulate detectable cellular inflammatory response (lymphocytes) and increased the total cell number (cellularity) in the implantation area. Furthermore, the results suggest the potential use of the prepared ESFNS-10% bone marrow cell constructs in direct implantation for tissue engineering applications.

In vitro and in vivo evaluations of three-dimensional hydroxyapatite/silk fibroin nanocomposite scaffolds.

In this study, three-dimensional hydroxyapatite/silk fibroin (HAp/SF) nanocomposite scaffolds were successfully prepared through layer solvent casting combined with the freeze-drying technique for tissue engineering applications. Various SF aqueous concentrations, ranging from 2.5% to 10%, were used to control the physicochemical properties of the prepared scaffolds. Biologic responses of the rat bone marrow stromal cells (rBMSCs) to the HAp/SF scaffolds were examined by culturing the cells within them. In addition, biodegradation and biocompatibility of the scaffolds were evaluated in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Among the prepared scaffolds, HAp/SF-2.5% was the most brittle sample and showed porous structure with lowest mechanical properties. The average pore diameters were 350 ± 67 and 112 ± 89 µm and decreased with the increase in the SF concentration from 5% to 10%, respectively. The pores formed in the scaffolds, made up of the 5% SF, were more uniform and regular than those of the scaffolds made up of 5% and 10% SF. The HAp/SF scaffolds did not change the rBMSCs viability and were not cytotoxic compared with the control sample. The scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed that the cells migrated into the pores and well attached to the scaffolds and their cytoplasm was extended in all directions, indicating a promising cell adhesion, high biocompatibility, and no cytotoxicity of the HAp/SF-5% nanocomposite scaffolds. Subcutaneous implantation of the HAp/SF-5% scaffolds in rat models suggested an excellent biocompatibility. All data obtained from this study suggest the potential use of the HAp/SF-5% for hard tissue engineering.

CD44 and CD24 cannot act as cancer stem cell markers in human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are subpopulations of tumor cells that are responsible for tumor initiation, maintenance and metastasis. Recent studies suggested that lung cancer arises from CSCs. In this study, the expression of potential CSC markers in cell line A549 was evaluated. We applied flow cytometry to assess the expression of putative stem cell markers, including aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1), CD24, CD44, CD133 and ABCG2. Cells were then sorted according to the expression of CD44 and CD24 markers by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) Aria II and characterized using their clonogenic and sphere-forming capacity. A549 cells expressed the CSC markers CD44 and CD24 at 68.16% and 54.46%, respectively. The expression of the putative CSC marker ALDH1 was 4.20%, whereas the expression of ABCG2 and CD133 was 0.93%. Double-positive CD44/133 populations were rare. CD44(+)/24(+) and CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) subpopulations respectively exhibited 64% and 27.92% expression. The colony-forming potentials in the CD44(+)/CD24(+) and CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) subpopulations were 84.37 ± 2.86% and 90 ± 3.06%, respectively, while the parental A549 cells yielded 56.65 ± 2.33% using the colony-formation assay. Both isolated subpopulations formed spheres in serum-free medium supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). CD44 and CD24 cannot be considered potential markers for isolating lung CSCs in cell line A549, but further investigation using in vivo assays is required.

The impact of copper nanoparticles surfactant on the structural and biological properties of chitosan/sodium alginate wound dressings.

Multifunctional wound dressings based on hydrogels are an efficacious and practicable strategy in therapeutic processes and accelerated chronic wound healing. Here, copper (Cu) nanoparticles were added to chitosan/sodium alginate (CS/SA) hydrogels to improve the antibacterial properties of the prepared wound dressings. Due to the super-hydrophobicity of Cu nanoparticles, polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used as a surfactant, and then added to the CS/SA-based hydrogels. The CS/SA/Cu hydrogels were synthesized with 0, 2, 3.5, and 5 wt% Cu nanoparticles. The structural and morphological properties in presence of PEG were evaluated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The biodegradation and swelling properties of the hydrogels were investigated in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) at 37 °C for up to 30 days. Cell viability and adhesion, as well as antibacterial behavior, were investigated via MTT assay, FESEM, and disk diffusion method, respectively. The obtained results showed that PEG provided new intra- and intermolecular bonds that affected significantly the hydrogels' degradation and swelling ratio, which increased up to ~1200 %. Cell viability reached ~110 % and all samples showed remarkable antibacterial behavior when CS/SA/Cu containing 2 wt% was introduced. This study provided new insights regarding the use of PEG as a surfactant for Cu nanoparticles in CS/SA hydrogel wound dressing, ultimately affecting the chemical bonding and various properties of the prepared hydrogels.

Suppression of SOCS3 expression in macrophage cells: Potential application in diabetic wound healing.

Impaired polarization of M1 to M2 macrophages has been reported in diabetic wounds. We aimed to improve this polarization by down-regulation of expression of the "Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3" (SOCS3) gene in macrophages. Two oligodeoxynucleotide (ASO) sequences were designed against SOC3 mRNA and were loaded to mannosylated-polyethyleneimine (Man-PEI). The optimum N/P ratio for Man-PEI-ASO was determined to be 8 based on loading efficiency, particle size, zeta potential, cellular uptake and cytotoxicity assay. pH stability of ASO in Man-PEI-ASO and its protection from DNase I was confirmed. After in vitro treatment of macrophages with Man-PEI-ASO, SOCS3 was downregulated, SOCS1 upregulated, and SOCS1/SOCS3 ratio increased. Also, expressions of macrophage markers of M2 (IL-10, Arg1, CD206) increased and those of M1 (IL-1ß, NOS2, CD68) decreased, and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1ß) decreased while that of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 increased. All suggested a polarization into M2 phenotype. Finally, the Man-PEI-ASO was loaded in hydrogel and applied to a diabetic wound model in mice. It improved the healing to the level observed in non-diabetic wounds. We show that using antisense sequences against SOC3 mRNA, macrophage polarization could be directed into the M2 phenotype and healing of diabetic wound could be highly improved.

The evaluation of the FOXO1, KLF9 and YT521 genes expression in human endometrial cancer.

BACKGROUND: The current study was designed to explore the changes of the mRNA levels of the YT521, Forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1), and Krüppel-like factor 9 (KLF9) proteins in human normal and cancerous endometrial tissue. METHODS: The study was conducted in 30 premenopausal patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer and 20 premenopausal women with no clinically documented abnormalities of the endometrium undergoing hysterectomy. Gene expression levels were assayed using quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: The endometrial tissue FOXO1 mRNA level (0.82 +/- 0.27) of patients with endometrial cancer was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than controls (4.51 +/- 2.68). In subjects with endometrial cancer the KLF9 mRNA level (1.12 +/- 0.38) was lower (p < 0.001) when compared to controls (3.11 +/- 1.52). A remarkable (not significant, p = 0.069) increase was found in the YT521 mRNA level of patients' endometrial tissue (11.19 +/- 3.99) in comparison with the control subjects (8.82 +/- 5.01). No significant difference was detected for the FOXO1, KLF9 and YT521 mRNA levels of the endometrial tissue of patients with cancer at different stages. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that the alteration of the gene expression profiles of FOXO1, KLF9 and YT521, which occur in human endometrial cancers likely play a crucial role in initiation of cancer.

Integrated Bioinformatic Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes Associated with Wound Healing.

OBJECTIVE: Wound healing is a complex process involving the coordinated interaction of various genes and molecular
pathways. The study aimed to uncover novel therapeutic targets, biomarkers and candidate genes for drug development
to improve successful wound repair interventions.
Materials and Methods: This study is a network-meta analysis study. Nine wound healing microarray datasets obtained
from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were used for this study. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs)
were described using the Limma package and shared genes were used as input for weighted gene co-expression
network analysis. The Gene Ontology analysis was performed using the EnrichR web server, and construction of a
protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was achieved by the STRING and Cytoscape.
Results: A total of 424 DEGs were determined. A co-expression network was constructed using 7692 shared genes
between nine data sets, resulting in the identification of seven modules. Among these modules, those with the top 20
genes of up and down-regulation were selected. The top down-regulated genes, including TJP1, SEC61A1, PLEK,
ATP5B, PDIA6, PIK3R1, SRGN, SDC2, and RBBP7, and the top up-regulated genes including RPS27A, EEF1A1,
HNRNPA1, CTNNB1, POLR2A, CFL1, CSNk1E, HSPD1, FN1, and AURKB, which can potentially serve as therapeutic
targets were identified. The KEGG pathway analysis found that the majority of the genes are enriched in the "Wnt
signaling pathway".
Conclusion: In our study of nine wound healing microarray datasets, we identified DEGs and co-expressed modules
using WGCNA. These genes are involved in important cellular processes such as transcription, translation, and posttranslational
modifications. We found nine down-regulated genes and ten up-regulated genes, which could serve as
potential therapeutic targets for further experimental validation. Targeting pathways related to protein synthesis and cell
adhesion and migration may enhance wound healing, but additional experimental validation is needed to confirm the
effectiveness and safety of targeted interventions.

Epithelial cells/progenitor cells in developing human lower respiratory tract: Characterization and transplantation to rat model of pulmonary injury.

Introduction: For cell-based therapies of lung injury, several cell sources have been extensively studied. However, the potential of human fetal respiratory cells has not been systematically explored for this purpose. Here, we hypothesize that these cells could be one of the top sources and hence, we extensively updated the definition of their phenotype. Methods: Human fetal lower respiratory tissues from pseudoglandular and canalicular stages and their isolated epithelial cells were evaluated by immunostaining, electron microscopy, flow cytometry, organoid assay, and gene expression studies. The regenerative potential of the isolated cells has been evaluated in a rat model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary injury by tracheal instillation on days 0 and 14 after injury and harvest of the lungs on day 28. Results: We determined the relative and temporal, and spatial pattern of expression of markers of basal (KRT5, KRT14, TRP63), non-basal (AQP3 and pro-SFTPC), and early progenitor (NKX2.1, SOX2, SOX9) cells. Also, we showed the potential of respiratory-derived cells to contribute to in vitro formation of alveolar and airway-like structures in organoids. Cell therapy decreased fibrosis formation in rat lungs and improved the alveolar structures. It also upregulated the expression of IL-10 (up to 17.22 folds) and surfactant protein C (up to 2.71 folds) and downregulated the expression of TGF-ß (up to 5.89 folds) and AQP5 (up to 3.28 folds). Conclusion: We provide substantial evidence that human fetal respiratory tract cells can improve the regenerative process after lung injury. Also, our extensive characterization provides an updated phenotypic profile of these cells.

Altered expression of TNFSF4 and TRAF2 mRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: association with atherosclerotic symptoms and lupus nephritis.

OBJECTIVES: This study compares the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 4 (TNFSF4) and TNF-R-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) mRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) against healthy controls. The association of SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and clinical features of SLE with altered expression levels of TNFSF4 and TRAF2 mRNAs were also evaluated. DESIGN: We used real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to measure TNFSF4 and TRAF2 mRNAs expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 57 SLE patients and 57 healthy controls. RESULTS: The expression level of TNFSF4 mRNA was significantly higher in SLE patients than in the control group. Overexpression of TNFSF4 was correlated with arthritis, atherosclerosis and lupus nephritis. TRAF2 mRNA was underexpressed in PBMCs of SLE patients, and its lower expression was associated with atherosclerosis and lupus nephritis. The altered expression levels of TNFSF4 and TRAF2 mRNAs was significantly correlated with SLEDAI. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that changes in the expression levels of TNFSF4 and TRAF2 mRNAs may significantly correlate with the pathogenesis of SLE, the disease activity and different clinical features of lupus, particularly lupus nephritis, atherosclerosis and arthritis.