A virtual reality craving study in tobacco addiction: The role of non-pharmacological support in tobacco detox therapy.

Nicotine addiction is a widespread, worldwide epidemic, causing six million deaths per year. A large variety of treatments for smoking cessation are currently available, including Cytisine, which is a promising drug due to its low cost and high safety levels. Notwithstanding the important amount of research on tobacco addiction treatments, smoking remains one of the most difficult substance use disorders to treat, probably also due to the fact that pharmacological treatment often overlooks other maintaining factors in this addiction, such as sensory impact and cue reactivity. To address this gap in both treatment protocols and scientific literature, we propose a study protocol in which we will compare the effects of combining Cytisine with Nirdosh, a herbal tobacco substitute, to Cytisine only in two groups of patients (C + N and C) who will also undergo exposure to four different virtual reality settings that will assess the importance of environmental cues. We will further assess mood and craving in the two samples, and include a control group taken from the general population. We expect the C + N group to report a more positive mood and a lower sensitivity to tobacco-related environmental cues.

First clinical application of cord blood mesenchymal stromal cells in children with multi-drug resistant nephrotic syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Children with multi-drug resistant idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (MDR-INS) usually progress to end-stage kidney disease with a consistent risk of disease recurrence after transplantation. New therapeutic options are needed for these patients. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotential non-hematopoietic cells with several immunomodulatory properties and growing clinical applications. Cord blood-derived MSC have peculiar anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. We aimed at assessing safety and efficacy of cord-blood-derived MSCs (CB-MSCs) in children with MDR-INS. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: Prospective, open-label, single arm phase I-II pilot study. Pediatric patients with MDR-INS, resistant to at least two lines of therapy, were enrolled. Allogenic CB-MSCs were administered intravenously on days 0, 14, and 21 at a dose of 1.5 × 106 cells/kg. Patients were followed for at least 12 months. The primary outcomes were safety and toxicity. The secondary outcome was remission at 12 months evaluated by urinary protein/urinary creatinine ratio (uPr/uCr). Circulating regulatory T cells (Tregs) were monitored. RESULTS: Eleven pediatric patients with MDR-INS (10 females, median age 13 years) resistant to a median of 3 previous lines of therapy were enrolled. All patients completed the CB-MSC infusion schedule. No patient experienced any infusion-related adverse event or toxicity. Nine patients were assessable for efficacy. At the 12 months follow-up after the treatment, the median uPr/uCr did not change significantly from baseline (8.13 vs. 9.07; p = 0.98), while 3 patients were in partial or complete remission. A lower baseline uPr/uCr was a predictor of remission (2.55 vs. 8.74; p = 0.0238). Tregs count was not associated with CB-MSCs therapy. CONCLUSIONS: CB-MSCs are safe and may have a role in the immunosuppressive therapy of pediatric patients with MDR-INS. This preliminary experience paves the way toward further phase II studies addressing MSC efficacy in immune-mediated kidney diseases.

Factors associated with a change in smoking habit during the first COVID-19 lockdown: an Italian cross-sectional study among ever-smokers.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown period lasted from March to May 2020, resulted in a highly stressful situation yielding different negative health consequences, including the worsening of smoking habit. METHODS: A web-based cross-sectional study on a convenient sample of 1013 Italian ever smokers aged 18 years or more was conducted. Data were derived from surveys compiled by three different groups of people: subjects belonging to Smoking Cessation Services, Healthcare Providers and Nursing Sciences' students. All institutions were from Northern Italy. The primary outcome self-reported worsening (relapse or increase) or improvement (quit or reduce) of smoking habit during lockdown period. Multiple unconditional (for worsening) and multinomial (for improving) logistic regressions were carried out. RESULTS: Among 962 participants, 56.0% were ex-smokers. Overall, 13.2% of ex-smokers before lockdown reported relapsing and 32.7% of current smokers increasing cigarette intake. Among current smokers before lockdown, 10.1% quit smoking and 13.5% decreased cigarette intake. Out of 7 selected stressors related to COVID-19, four were significantly related to relapse (OR for the highest vs. the lowest tertile ranging between 2.24 and 3.62): fear of being infected and getting sick; fear of dying due to the virus; anxiety in listening to news of the epidemic; sense of powerlessness in protecting oneself from contagion. In addition to these stressors, even the other 3 stressors were related with increasing cigarette intensity (OR ranging between 1.90 and 4.18): sense of powerlessness in protecting loved ones from contagion; fear of losing loved ones due to virus; fear of infecting other. CONCLUSION: The lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with both self-reported relapse or increase smoking habit and also quitting or reduction of it.

Alter Game: A Study Protocol on a Virtual "Serious Game" for Relapse Prevention in Patients With Gambling Disorder.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most successful protocol in gambling disorder (GD) treatment. However, it presents some weaknesses, especially concerning relapse prevention (RP). RP is one of the most important therapeutic steps, aiming at managing cravings and to avoid future relapse increasing perceived self-efficacy. Encouraging results come from the blending of psychotherapy and virtual reality (VR), containing gambling cues. The goal of Alter Game (approved by the Ethical Commission, Prot. No. 69346) is verifying the efficacy of an innovative psychological treatment for GD based on the integration of traditional CBT therapy and an immersive VR cue exposure therapy using a serious virtual game, which is a game designed for purposes other than entertainment. RP in virtual cue-exposure therapy allows pathological gamblers to manage the urge to gamble and to avoid relapse by becoming aware of which internal and external triggers are related to craving. We hypothesize that the integrated intervention will be more effective than simple CBT with regard to self-efficacy, craving, and gambling-related distortions. Four virtual ecological environments were developed, and a virtual app, Exludo, interfaced with a computerized multiparametric acquisition system for biofeedback, was created. A sample of about 60 patients aged between 18 and 65 with GD referring to the Addiction Medicine Unit of Verona (Rossi Hospital) will be recruited. Patients will be randomly assigned to the CBT group (16 CBT sessions) or the CBT + VR group (8 CBT sessions + 8 VR cue-exposure therapy sessions). The MCMI-III, the BIS-11, and the SOGS will be used to evaluate inclusion and exclusion criteria, while the Gambling Related Cognitions Scale and the Multidimensional Gambling Self-Efficacy Scale will be used to verify changes as a function of the treatment. Craving will be evaluated through VAS, and psychophysiological variables will be assessed through biofeedback. A pre-test/post-test experimental design with a 1-month follow-up will be conducted. This study will examine an innovative psychotherapeutic protocol for GD treatment, and it will help in identifying new virtual tools to increase the efficacy of traditional therapeutic approaches that could also be applied to treat other addictions.

Process development and validation of expanded regulatory T cells for prospective applications: an example of manufacturing a personalized advanced therapy medicinal product.

BACKGROUND: A growing number of clinical trials have shown that regulatory T (Treg) cell transfer may have a favorable effect on the maintenance of self-tolerance and immune homeostasis in different conditions such as graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), solid organ transplantation, type 1 diabetes, and others. In this context, the availability of a robust manufacturing protocol that is able to produce a sufficient number of functional Treg cells represents a fundamental prerequisite for the success of a cell therapy clinical protocol. However, extended workflow guidelines for nonprofit manufacturers are currently lacking. Despite the fact that different successful manufacturing procedures and cell products with excellent safety profiles have been reported from early clinical trials, the selection and expansion protocols for Treg cells vary a lot. The objective of this study was to validate a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant protocol for the production of Treg cells that approaches the whole process with a risk-management methodology, from process design to completion of final product development. High emphasis was given to the description of the quality control (QC) methodologies used for the in-process and release tests (sterility, endotoxin test, mycoplasma, and immunophenotype). RESULTS: The GMP-compliant protocol defined in this work allows at least 4.11 × 109 Treg cells to be obtained with an average purity of 95.75 ± 4.38% and can be used in different clinical settings to exploit Treg cell immunomodulatory function. CONCLUSIONS: These results could be of great use for facilities implementing GMP-compliant cell therapy protocols of these cells for different conditions aimed at restoring the Treg cell number and function, which may slow the progression of certain diseases.

Safety and Effectiveness of Cell Therapy in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Take-Home Messages From a Pilot Feasibility Phase I Study of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells with anti-inflammatory properties. Here we tested the safety of MSCs in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01824121; Eudract No. 2011-004051-39). Seven patients were treated. To improve the safety, protocol adjustments were made during the performance of the study. The objectives of our work were: (1) to assess the safety of MSCs and (2) to identify critical issues in cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Autologous MSCs from the bone marrow of PSP patients were administered through the internal carotid arteries. 1-year survival and number of severe adverse events were considered as safety endpoints. Clinical rating scales, neuropsychological assessments, gait and posture analysis, single-photon emission computed tomography, positron emission tomography, and brain magnetic resonance (BMR) were performed at different follow-up times. Peripheral blood levels of inflammatory cytokines were measured before and after cell infusion. Six of the seven treated patients were living 1 year after cell infusion. Asymptomatic spotty lesions were observed at BMR after 24 h in six of the seven treated patients. The last patient in the preliminary cohort (Case 5) exhibited transiently symptomatic BMR ischemic alterations. No severe adverse events were recorded in the last two treated patients. Interleukin-8 serum concentrations decreased in three patients (Case 2, 3, and 4). An adaptive study design, appropriate and up-to-date efficacy measures, adequate sample size estimation, and, possibly, the use of a cellular and/or allogeneic cell sources may help in performing phase II trials in the field.

ASRS Questionnaire and Tobacco Use: Not Just a Cigarette. A Screening Study in an Italian Young Adult Sample.

Young adults exhibit greater sensitivity than adults to nicotine reinforcement, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) increases the risk for early-onset smoking. We investigated the correlation between ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) scores and smoking, evaluated the prevalence of ADHD symptomatology (not diagnoses) in smokers and non-smokers and its comorbidity with benzodiazepine and gambling addictions. A total of 389 young adults from 14 schools in Northern Italy fill out a survey and the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). A total of 15.2% of subjects tested positive at the ASRS, which correlated with smoking; moreover, smokers had twice the probability of testing positive at the ASRS. ADHD symptomatology, especially when comorbid with tobacco abuse, is an important condition to monitor because early nicotine exposure could be a gateway for other addictive behaviors.

Chondrogenic and BMP-4 primings confer osteogenesis potential to human cord blood mesenchymal stromal cells delivered with biphasic calcium phosphate ceramics.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (BMSCs) show great promise for bone repair, however they are isolated by an invasive bone marrow harvest and their regenerative potential decreases with age. Conversely, cord blood can be collected non-invasively after birth and contains MSCs (CBMSCs) that can be stored for future use. However, whether CBMSCs can replace BMSCs targeting bone repair is unknown. This study evaluates the in vitro osteogenic potential of unprimed, osteogenically primed, or chondrogenically primed CBMSCs and BMSCs and their in vivo bone forming capacity following ectopic implantation on biphasic calcium phosphate ceramics in nude mice. In vitro, alkaline phosphatase (intracellular, extracellular, and gene expression), and secretion of osteogenic cytokines (osteoprotegerin and osteocalcin) was significantly higher in BMSCs compared with CBMSCs, while CBMSCs demonstrated superior chondrogenic differentiation and secretion of interleukins IL-6 and IL-8. BMSCs yielded significantly more cell engraftment and ectopic bone formation compared to CBMSCs. However, priming of CBMSCs with either chondrogenic or BMP-4 supplements led to bone formation by CBMSCs. This study is the first direct quantification of the bone forming abilities of BMSCs and CBMSCs in vivo and, while revealing the innate superiority of BMSCs for bone repair, it provides avenues to induce osteogenesis by CBMSCs.

A flow cytometric assay for the quantification of MSC lysis by peripheral blood mononucleated cells.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are attractive candidates for the treatment of acute graft versus host disease (aGvHD) or autoimmune disorders. However, mechanisms of MSC recognition remain unclear and there are evidences that MSC are not totally immunoprivileged. Data suggest that MSC undergo apoptosis after infusion in presence of cytotoxic cells and their death could drive immunosuppression. In GvHD patients, that activity was associated with clinical response. It is mandatory to develop an in vitro potency testing predictor of the "in vivo" response to the therapy. We describe a flow cytometric assay based on differential immunostaining of target and effector cells where BM MSC are enumerated with fluorospheres to determine the loss of target cells after co-culture with PB MNC. 6/13 (46%) of BM MSC lots were lysed by PB MNC and the lysis was proportional to the E/T cell ratio. The method overcomes the problems linked to the use of dyes or radioactive, evidencing the limitations linked to the use of a single vital dye and proposing a precise gating strategy based on absolute cell counts where cells are left untouched. The assay is easy and could be used to predict the response of the patients to the therapy.

COVID-19 lockdown: Impact on online gambling, online shopping, web navigation and online pornography.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and control measures may have had an impact on unpleasant emotions experimented during the lockdown (LD). This may have increased the number of hours spent online and could have impacted the quality of the enacted behavior, in terms of loss of control of Internet use. In this online survey, we were interested in measure how much loss of control was perceived regarding online gambling, online shopping, the fruition of online pornographic content and web navigation. Design and methods: The online survey was carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic in the post-lockdown and 1232 subjects participated in the survey. In the participating sample, healthcare workers (HW) were 43.1% of the sample, of which 18.7% were directly involved in the Coronavirus emergency, and 52.3% of the sample is not a HW. Only 0.6% of the sample gambled online and 37.5% of those reported losing control of their gambling mode. Most of the sample shopped online during the LD (70.1%), but only 7.2% of those lost control by buying and/or spending more than what they had set themselves. Results: Significant data emerged showing that those who lost control while online shopping also lost control regarding the amount of time spent online (p<0.001); 21.6% of the sample, reported making use of online pornographic material during LD, 4.7% of them stated that the frequency increased and 5.1% reported losing control by having spent more money or more time than what was intended. Finally, 44.7% of the sample have experienced loss of control during the web navigation. Furthermore, during the LD 67.8% of the sample reports having experienced unpleasant emotions. Of these, 8.4% state that they enacted behaviors such as online gambling, online shopping, online pornographic material viewing and web navigation to counter their negative emotions. Interestingly, we found a correlation between loss of control during web navigation and online shopping and the emotional states "upset", "scared" and "restless" (p<0.05). Conclusion: To conclude, there was no significant increase in potentially addictive behaviors, nor an increase in loss of control of these behaviors when enacted online. However, the loss of control in online shopping and web navigation was significantly correlated to the unpleasant emotional states of nervousness, fear and restlessness, whereas those who reported feeling strong and able to handle the situation experienced a lower loss of control in their web navigation. These correlations may suggest that these online behaviors may act as modulators of unpleasant emotional states.

Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head Safely Healed with Autologous, Expanded, Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in a Multicentric Trial with Minimum 5 Years Follow-Up.

Background: Osteonecrosis (ON) of the femoral head represents a potentially severe disease of the hip where the lack of bone regeneration may lead to femoral head collapse and secondary osteoarthritis, with serious pain and disability. The aim of this European, multicentric clinical trial was to prove safety and early efficacy to heal early femoral head ON in patients through minimally invasive surgical implantation of autologous mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) expanded from bone marrow (BM) under good manufacturing practices (GMP). Methods: Twenty-two patients with femoral head ON (up to ARCO 2C) were recruited and surgically treated in France, Germany, Italy and Spain with BM-derived, expanded autologous MSC (total dose 140 million MSC in 7 mL). The investigational advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP) was expanded from BM under the same protocol in all four countries and approved by each National Competent Authority. Patients were followed during two years for safety, based on adverse events, and for efficacy, based on clinical assessment (pain and hip score) and imaging (X-rays and MRIs). Patients were also reviewed after 5 to 6 years at latest follow-up for final outcome. Results: No severe adverse event was recalled as related to the ATMP. At 12 months, 16/20 per protocol and 16/22 under intention-to-treat (2 drop-out at 3 and 5 months) maintained head sphericity and showed bone regeneration. Of the 4 hips with ON progression, 3 required total hip replacement (THR). At 5 years, one patient (healed at 2 years visit) was not located, and 16/21 showed no progression or THR, 4/21 had received THR (all in the first year) and 1 had progressed one stage without THR. Conclusions: Expanded MSCs implantation was safe. Early efficacy was confirmed in 80% of cases under protocol at 2 years. At 5 years, the overall results were maintained and 19% converted to THR, all in the first year.

Early efficacy evaluation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) combined to biomaterials to treat long bone non-unions.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMP) frequently lack of clinical data on efficacy to substantiate a future clinical use. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy to heal long bone delayed unions and non-unions, as secondary objective of the EudraCT 2011-005441-13 clinical trial, through clinical and radiological bone consolidation at 3, 6 and 12 months of follow-up, with subgroup analysis of affected bone, gender, tobacco use, and time since the original fracture. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight patients were recruited and surgically treated with autologous bone marrow derived mesenchymal stromal cells expanded under Good Manufacturing Practices, combined to bioceramics in the surgical room before implantation. Mean age was 39 ± 13 years, 57% were males, and mean Body Mass Index 27 ± 7. Thirteen (46%) were active smokers. There were 11 femoral, 4 humeral, and 13 tibial non-unions. Initial fracture occurred at a mean ± SD of 27.9 ± 31.2 months before recruitment. Efficacy results were expressed by clinical consolidation (no or mild pain if values under 30 in VAS scale), and by radiological consolidation with a REBORNE score over 11/16 points (value of or above 0.6875). Means were statistically compared and mixed models for repeated measurements estimated the mean and confidence intervals (95%) of the REBORNE Bone Healing scale. Clinical and radiological consolidation were analyzed in the subgroups with Spearman correlation tests (adjusted by Bonferroni). RESULTS: Clinical consolidation was earlier confirmed, while radiological consolidation at 3 months was 25.0% (7/28 cases), at 6 months 67.8% (19/28 cases), and at 12 months, 92.8% (26/28 cases including the drop-out extrapolation of two failures). Bone biopsies confirmed bone formation surrounding the bioceramic granules. All locations showed similar consolidation, although this was delayed in tibial non-unions. No significant gender difference was found in 12-month consolidation (95% confidence). Higher consolidation scale values were seen in non-smoking patients at 6 (p = 0.012, t-test) and 12 months (p = 0.011, t-test). Longer time elapsed after the initial fracture did not preclude the occurrence of consolidation. CONCLUSION: Bone consolidation was efficaciously obtained with the studied expanded hBM-MSCs combined to biomaterials, by clinical and radiological evaluation, and confirmed by bone biopsies, with lower consolidation scores in smokers.

Regulatory T cells from patients with end-stage organ disease can be isolated, expanded and cryopreserved according good manufacturing practice improving their function.

BACKGROUND: Here, we isolated, expanded and functionally characterized regulatory T cells (Tregs) from patients with end stage kidney and liver disease, waiting for kidney/liver transplantation (KT/LT), with the aim to establish a suitable method to obtain large numbers of immunomodulatory cells for adoptive immunotherapy post-transplantation. METHODS: We first established a preclinical protocol for expansion/isolation of Tregs from peripheral blood of LT/KT patients. We then scaled up and optimized such protocol according to good manufacturing practice (GMP) to obtain high numbers of purified Tregs which were phenotypically and functionally characterized in vitro and in vivo in a xenogeneic acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) mouse model. Specifically, immunodepressed mice (NOD-SCID-gamma KO mice) received human effector T cells with or without GMP-produced Tregs to prevent the onset of xenogeneic GVHD. RESULTS: Our small scale Treg isolation/expansion protocol generated functional Tregs. Interestingly, cryopreservation/thawing did not impair phenotype/function and DNA methylation pattern of FOXP3 gene of the expanded Tregs. Fully functional Tregs were also isolated/expanded from KT and LT patients according to GMP. In the mouse model, GMP Tregs from LT or KT patient proved to be safe and show a trend toward reduced lethality of acute GVHD. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that expanded/thawed GMP-Tregs from patients with end-stage organ disease are fully functional in vitro. Moreover, their infusion is safe and results in a trend toward reduced lethality of acute GVHD in vivo, further supporting Tregs-based adoptive immunotherapy in solid organ transplantation.

Feasibility and safety of treating non-unions in tibia, femur and humerus with autologous, expanded, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells associated with biphasic calcium phosphate biomaterials in a multicentric, non-comparative trial.

BACKGROUND: ORTHO-1 is a European, multicentric, first in human clinical trial to prove safety and feasibility after surgical implantation of commercially available biphasic calcium phosphate bioceramic granules associated during surgery with autologous mesenchymal stromal cells expanded from bone marrow (BM-hMSC) under good manufacturing practices, in patients with long bone pseudarthrosis. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with femur, tibia or humerus diaphyseal or metaphyso-diaphyseal non-unions were recruited and surgically treated in France, Germany, Italy and Spain with 100 or 200 million BM-hMSC/mL associated with 5-10 cc of bioceramic granules. Patients were followed up during one year. The investigational advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP) was expanded under the same protocol in all four countries, and approved by each National Competent Authority. FINDINGS: With safety as primary end-point, no severe adverse event was reported as related to the BM-hMSC. With feasibility as secondary end-point, the participating production centres manufactured the BM-hMSC as planned. The ATMP combined to the bioceramic was surgically delivered to the non-unions, and 26/28 treated patients were found radiologically healed at one year (3 out of 4 cortices with bone bridging). INTERPRETATION: Safety and feasibility were clinically proven for surgical implantation of expanded autologous BM-hMSC with bioceramic. FUNDING: EU-FP7-HEALTH-2009, REBORNE Project (GA: 241876).

Tips and Tricks for Validation of Quality Control Analytical Methods in Good Manufacturing Practice Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Production.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) for cellular therapy in European Union are classified as advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), and their production must fulfill the requirements of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) rules. Despite their classification as medicinal products is already well recognized, there is still a lack of information and indications to validate methods and to adapt the noncompendial and compendial methods to these peculiar biological products with intrinsic characteristics that differentiate them from classic synthetic or biologic drugs. In the present paper, we present the results of the validation studies performed in the context of MSC development as ATMPs for clinical experimental use. Specifically, we describe the validation policies followed for sterility testing, endotoxins, adventitious viruses, cell count, and immunophenotyping. Our work demonstrates that it is possible to fully validate analytical methods also for ATMPs and that a risk-based approach can fill the gap between the prescription of the available guidelines shaped on traditional medicinal products and the peculiar characteristics of these novel and extremely promising new drugs.

Microtubule defects in mesenchymal stromal cells distinguish patients with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is a rare neurodegenerative disease whose etiopathogenesis remains elusive. The intraneuronal accumulation of hyperphosphorylated Tau, a pivotal protein in regulating microtubules (MT), leads to include PSP into tauopathies. Pathological hallmarks are well known in neural cells but no word yet if PSP-linked dysfunctions occur also in other cell types. We focused on bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) that have recently gained attention for therapeutic interventions due to their anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic and trophic properties. Here, we aimed to investigate MSCs biology and to disclose if any disease-linked defect occurs in this non-neuronal compartment. First, we found that cells obtained from patients showed altered morphology and growth. Next, Western blotting analysis unravelled the imbalance in α-tubulin post-translational modifications and in MT stability. Interestingly, MT mass is significantly decreased in patient cells at baseline and differently changes overtime compared to controls, suggesting their inability to efficiently remodel MT cytoskeleton during ageing in culture. Thus, our results provide the first evidence that defects in MT regulation and stability occur and are detectable in a non-neuronal compartment in patients with PSP. We suggest that MSCs could be a novel model system for unravelling cellular processes implicated in this neurodegenerative disorder.

Challenges of running a GMP facility for regenerative medicine in a public hospital.

Advanced therapy medicinal products represent a new generation of medicinal products for regenerative medicine. Since the implementation of the EU regulation for this innovative class of drugs, the academic and hospital institutions have played a central role in their development and manufacture. For these institutions that are not familiar with the industrial context, being in compliance with the pharmaceutical standards is extremely challenging. This report describes how we dealt with some specific issues during our hospital-based GMP experience. Furthermore, we identify as a future perspective the consistent stimulating contribution that a public entity can ensure for advanced therapy medicinal product development and licensing.

Molecular and functional characterization of CD133+ stem/progenitor cells infused in patients with end-stage liver disease reveals their interplay with stromal liver cells.

BACKGROUND AIMS: Growing evidence supports the therapeutic potential of bone marrow (BM)-derived stem/progenitor cells for end-stage liver disease (ESLD). We recently demonstrated that CD133+ stem/progenitor cell (SPC) reinfusion in patients with ESLD is feasible and safe and improve, albeit transiently, liver function. However, the mechanism(s) through which BM-derived SPCs may improve liver function are not fully elucidated. METHODS: Here, we characterized the circulating SPCs compartment of patients with ESLD undergoing CD133+ cell therapy. Next, we set up an in vitro model mimicking SPCs/liver microenvironment interaction by culturing granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized CD133+and LX-2 hepatic stellate cells. RESULTS: We found that patients with ESLD show normal basal levels of circulating hematopoietic and endothelial progenitors with impaired clonogenic ability. After G-CSF treatment, patients with ESLD were capable to mobilize significant numbers of functional multipotent SPCs, and interestingly, this was associated with increased levels of selected cytokines potentially facilitating SPC function. Co-culture experiments showed, at the molecular and functional levels, the bi-directional cross-talk between CD133+ SPCs and human hepatic stellate cells LX-2. Human hepatic stellate cells LX-2 showed reduced activation and fibrotic potential. In turn, hepatic stellate cells enhanced the proliferation and survival of CD133+ SPCs as well as their endothelial and hematopoietic function while promoting an anti-inflammatory profile. DISCUSSION: We demonstrated that the interaction between CD133+ SPCs from patients with ESLD and hepatic stellate cells induces significant functional changes in both cellular types that may be instrumental for the improvement of liver function in cirrhotic patients undergoing cell therapy.

Clinically relevant hydrogel-based on hyaluronic acid and platelet rich plasma as a carrier for mesenchymal stem cells: Rheological and biological characterization.

Intervertebral disc regeneration is quickly moving towards clinical applications. However, it is still missing an ideal injectable hydrogel to support mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) delivery. Herein, a new injectable hydrogel composed of platelet rich plasma (PRP) and hyaluronic acid (HA) blended with batroxobin (BTX) as gelling agent, was designed to generate a clinically relevant cell carrier for disc regeneration. PRP/HA/BTX blend was tested for rheological properties. Amplitude sweep, frequency sweep, and rotational measurements were performed and viscoelastic properties were evaluated. Human MSC encapsulated in PRP/HA/BTX hydrogel were cultured in both growing medium and medium with or without TGF-ß1 up to day 21. The amount of glycosaminoglycan was evaluated. Quantitative gene expression evaluation for collagen type II, aggrecan, and Sox 9 was also performed. Rheological tests showed that the hydrogel jellifies in 15 min 20°C and in 3 min at 37°C. Biological test showed that MSCs cultured in the hydrogel maintain high cell viability and proliferation. Human MSC within the hydrogel cultured with or without TGF-ß1 showed significantly higher GAG production compared to control medium. Moreover, MSCs in the hydrogel underwent differentiation to chondrocyte-like cells with TGF-ß1, as shown by histology and gene expression analysis. This novel hydrogel improves viability and proliferation of MSCs supporting the differentiation process toward chondrocyte-like cells. Rheology tests showed optimal gelation kinetics at room temperature for manipulation and faster gelation after transplantation (37°C). The clinical availability of all components of the hydrogel will allow a rapid translation of this regenerative approach into the clinical scenario. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:2109-2116, 2017.

Finding a new therapeutic approach for no-option Parkinsonisms: mesenchymal stromal cells for progressive supranuclear palsy.

BACKGROUND: The trophic, anti-apoptotic and regenerative effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) may reduce neuronal cell loss in neurodegenerative disorders. METHODS: We used MSC as a novel candidate therapeutic tool in a pilot phase-I study for patients affected by progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare, severe and no-option form of Parkinsonism. Five patients received the cells by infusion into the cerebral arteries. Effects were assessed using the best available motor function rating scales (UPDRS, Hoehn and Yahr, PSP rating scale), as well as neuropsychological assessments, gait analysis and brain imaging before and after cell administration. RESULTS: One year after cell infusion, all treated patients were alive, except one, who died 9 months after the infusion for reasons not related to cell administration or to disease progression (accidental fall). In all treated patients motor function rating scales remained stable for at least six-months during the one-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated for the first time that MSC administration is feasible in subjects with PSP. In these patients, in whom deterioration of motor function is invariably rapid, we recorded clinical stabilization for at least 6 months. These encouraging results pave the way to the next randomized, placebo-controlled phase-II study that will definitively provide information on the efficacy of this innovative approach. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01824121.