Chromatographic Scalable Method to Isolate Engineered Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Liver Fibrosis in Mice.

New therapeutic options for liver cirrhosis are needed. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a promising tool for delivering therapeutic factors in regenerative medicine. Our aim is to establish a new therapeutic tool that employs EVs derived from MSCs to deliver therapeutic factors for liver fibrosis. EVs were isolated from supernatants of adipose tissue MSCs, induced-pluripotent-stem-cell-derived MSCs, and umbilical cord perivascular cells (HUCPVC-EVs) by ion exchange chromatography (IEC). To produce engineered EVs, HUCPVCs were transduced with adenoviruses that code for insulin-like growth factor 1 (AdhIGF-I-HUCPVC-EVs) or green fluorescent protein. EVs were characterized by electron microscopy, flow cytometry, ELISA, and proteomic analysis. We evaluated EVs' antifibrotic effect in thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in mice and on hepatic stellate cells in vitro. We found that IEC-isolated HUCPVC-EVs have an analogous phenotype and antifibrotic activity to those isolated by ultracentrifugation. EVs derived from the three MSCs sources showed a similar phenotype and antifibrotic potential. EVs derived from AdhIGF-I-HUCPVC carried IGF-1 and showed a higher therapeutic effect in vitro and in vivo. Remarkably, proteomic analysis revealed that HUCPVC-EVs carry key proteins involved in their antifibrotic process. This scalable MSC-derived EV manufacturing strategy is a promising therapeutic tool for liver fibrosis.

Generation and characterization of human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells for cell therapy applications.

Stem Cell based-therapy is an active area of research in regenerative medicine. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent adult stem/progenitor cells, which could be easily expanded in vitro and have the ability to selectively migrate toward injured tissues, evade the immune system, and secrete trophic factors to support the repair of damaged tissues. The use of MSCs for cell and regenerative purposes has garnered the attention of scientists and clinicians. However, one of the most important issues before use MSCs in clinical practice is to standardize a number of aspects related to the source of MSCs, culture conditions, pre-condition protocols before transplantation, administration route, doses, or treatment duration. In this chapter, we described two standard protocols to isolate MSCs from bone marrow and umbilical cord connective tissue. In addition, basic characterization including immunophenotyping by flow cytometry and differentiation capability is also described.

Células madre/estromales mesenquimales. Su potencial terapéutico en medicina / Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells. Their therapeutic potential in medicine

Resumen La terapia celular y la medicina regenerativa son áreas en gran desarrollo en la investigación biomédica. En la mayoría de los tejidos existen mecanismos de auto-reparación llevados a cabo, principalmente, por células madre o progenitoras residentes con capacidad para diferenciarse y reemplazar a las células dañadas o para secretar factores tróficos que induzcan el proceso regenerativo. Dado que estos mecanismos de reparación no siempre son suficientes, se postula que la terapia celular puede contribuir a la regeneración de los tejidos sometidos a injuria. Las células madre/estromales mesenquimales (MSCs, del inglés Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells) son un tipo de progenitor adulto multipotente, que tienen la capacidad de expandirse in vitro con facilidad cuando son aisladas de su nicho in vivo, migrar selectivamente a los tejidos lesionados, modular y evadir el sistema inmunológico, y secretar factores tróficos que ayudan a la reparación tisular. Asimismo, la fácil manipulación ex vivo permitiría también usarlas como vehículos de genes terapéuticos. Las principales fuentes de obtención son la médula ósea, el tejido adiposo y cordón umbilical. Los numerosos estudios pre-clínicos y clínicos han demostrado que las MSCs parecieran ser seguras tanto para uso autólogo como alogénico. En este trabajo se resumen las propiedades de las MSCs y su potencial terapéutico para una amplia gama de enfermedades, también presentamos los distintos ensayos clínicos avanzados que las posicionan en el ámbito biomédico como una herramienta interesante para la regeneración de tejidos y el tratamiento de enfermedades inflamatorias.

Abstract Cell therapy and regenerative medicine are currently active areas for biomedical research. In most tissues, there are self-repair mechanisms carried out mainly by resident stem cells that can differentiate and replace dead cells or secrete trophic factors that stimulate the regenerative process. These mechanisms often fail in degenerative diseases; thus it is postulated that exogenous cell therapy can contribute to tissue regeneration and repair. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent adult stem/progenitor cells, which could be easily expanded in vitro and have the ability to selectively migrate toward injured tissues, evade the immune system recognition, and secrete trophic factors to support tissue repair. Furthermore, MSCs could be engineered for the delivery of therapeutic genes. The main sources for MSCs are bone marrow, adipose tissue, and umbilical cord. A number of pre-clinical and clinical studies have shown that MSCs therapy is safe for both autologous and allogeneic uses. This review summarizes information about the properties of MSCs and their therapeutic potential for a broad spectrum of diseases. We also present here the last data about clinical trials that position the use of MSCs as an interesting tool for tissue regeneration and the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

[Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells. Its therapeutic potential in medicine]. / Células madre/estromales mesenquimales. Su potencial terapéutico en medicina.

Cell therapy and regenerative medicine are currently active areas for biomedical research. In most tissues, there are self-repair mechanisms carried out mainly by resident stem cells that can differentiate and replace dead cells or secrete trophic factors that stimulate the regenerative process. These mechanisms often fail in degenerative diseases; thus it is postulated that exogenous cell therapy can contribute to tissue regeneration and repair. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent adult stem/progenitor cells, which could be easily expanded in vitro and have the ability to selectively migrate toward injured tissues, evade the immune system recognition, and secrete trophic factors to support tissue repair. Furthermore, MSCs could be engineered for the delivery of therapeutic genes. The main sources for MSCs are bone marrow, adipose tissue, and umbilical cord. A number of pre-clinical and clinical studies have shown that MSCs therapy is safe for both autologous and allogeneic uses. This review summarizes information about the properties of MSCs and their therapeutic potential for a broad spectrum of diseases. We also present here the last data about clinical trials that position the use of MSCs as an interesting tool for tissue regeneration and the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

La terapia celular y la medicina regenerativa son áreas en gran desarrollo en la investigación biomédica. En la mayoría de los tejidos existen mecanismos de auto-reparación llevados a cabo, principalmente, por células madre o progenitoras residentes con capacidad para diferenciarse y reemplazar a las células dañadas o para secretar factores tróficos que induzcan el proceso regenerativo. Dado que estos mecanismos de reparación no siempre son suficientes, se postula que la terapia celular puede contribuir a la regeneración de los tejidos sometidos a injuria. Las células madre/estromales mesenquimales (MSCs, del inglés Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells) son un tipo de progenitor adulto multipotente, que tienen la capacidad de expandirse in vitro con facilidad cuando son aisladas de su nicho in vivo, migrar selectivamente a los tejidos lesionados, modular y evadir el sistema inmunológico, y secretar factores tróficos que ayudan a la reparación tisular. Asimismo, la fácil manipulación ex vivo permitiría también usarlas como vehículos de genes terapéuticos. Las principales fuentes de obtención son la médula ósea, el tejido adiposo y cordón umbilical. Los numerosos estudios pre-clínicos y clínicos han demostrado que las MSCs parecieran ser seguras tanto para uso autólogo como alogénico. En este trabajo se resumen las propiedades de las MSCs y su potencial terapéutico para una amplia gama de enfermedades, también presentamos los distintos ensayos clínicos avanzados que las posicionan en el ámbito biomédico como una herramienta interesante para la regeneración de tejidos y el tratamiento de enfermedades inflamatorias.

Human umbilical cord perivascular cells-derived extracellular vesicles mediate the transfer of IGF-I to the liver and ameliorate hepatic fibrogenesis in mice.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) can mediate mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) paracrine effects. We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord perivascular cells (HUCPVCs) engineered to produce Insulin Growth Factor like-I (IGF-I) in experimental liver fibrosis and the role of EVs in this effect. HUCPVCs were engineered to produce human IGF-I (AdhIGF-I) or green fluorescence protein (AdGFP) using adenoviruses, and EVs were isolated from their conditioned medium (CM). In vitro effects of CM and EVs on hepatic stellate cells and hepatic macrophages were studied. Cells or EVs-based treatments were evaluated in thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in mice. The application of AdhIGF-I-HUCPVCs resulted in a further amelioration of liver fibrosis when compared to AdGFP-HUCPVCs and saline. Similarly, treatment with AdhIGF-I-HUCPVCs-derived EVs resulted in a reduction of collagen deposition and gene expression of the fibrogenic related molecules TGF-ß1, α-SMA, and COL1A2. In vitro incubation of hepatic stellate cells with EVs-AdhIGF-I-HUCPVCs significantly reduced activation of fibrogenic cells. In addition, EVs-AdhIGF-I-HUCPVCs trigger hepatic macrophages to switch their phenotype towards anti-inflammatory phagocytes, which might be involved in the antifibrotic effect. Consistently, high levels of IGF-I were observed within EVs-AdhIGF-I-HUCPVCs but not in controls EVs. Our results showed that hIGF-I carrying EVs could mediate the paracrine mechanism by which AdhIGF-I-HUCPVCs reduce liver fibrosis.

A comprehensive study of epigenetic alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma identifies potential therapeutic targets.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: A causal link has recently been established between epigenetic alterations and hepatocarcinogenesis, indicating that epigenetic inhibition may have therapeutic potential. We aimed to identify and target epigenetic modifiers that show molecular alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We studied the molecular-clinical correlations of epigenetic modifiers including bromodomains, histone acetyltransferases, lysine methyltransferases and lysine demethylases in HCC using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data of 365 patients with HCC. The therapeutic potential of epigenetic inhibitors was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. RNA sequencing analysis and its correlation with expression and clinical data in the TCGA dataset were used to identify expression programs normalized by Jumonji lysine demethylase (JmjC) inhibitors. RESULTS: Genetic alterations, aberrant expression, and correlation between tumor expression and poor patient prognosis of epigenetic enzymes are common events in HCC. Epigenetic inhibitors that target bromodomain (JQ-1), lysine methyltransferases (BIX-1294 and LLY-507) and JmjC lysine demethylases (JIB-04, GSK-J4 and SD-70) reduce HCC aggressiveness. The pan-JmjC inhibitor JIB-04 had a potent antitumor effect in tumor bearing mice. HCC cells treated with JmjC inhibitors showed overlapping changes in expression programs related with inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of cell death. JmjC inhibition reverses an aggressive HCC gene expression program that is also altered in patients with HCC. Several genes downregulated by JmjC inhibitors are highly expressed in tumor vs. non-tumor parenchyma, and their high expression correlates with a poor prognosis. We identified and validated a 4-gene expression prognostic signature consisting of CENPA, KIF20A, PLK1, and NCAPG. CONCLUSIONS: The epigenetic alterations identified in HCC can be used to predict prognosis and to define a subgroup of high-risk patients that would potentially benefit from JmjC inhibitor therapy. LAY SUMMARY: In this study, we found that mutations and changes in expression of epigenetic modifiers are common events in human hepatocellular carcinoma, leading to an aggressive gene expression program and poor clinical prognosis. The transcriptional program can be reversed by pharmacological inhibition of Jumonji enzymes. This inhibition blocks hepatocellular carcinoma progression, providing a novel potential therapeutic strategy.