Effect of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch extract on proliferation and cardiogenic pre-differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Background: Vietnamese medicine tried and tested certain bioactive compounds from plants to increase the rate of tissue immunomodulation, regeneration, and differentiation. Although there are many research papers discovered about phytochemicals of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch and differentiation induction potential of some substances purified from this herbal, it finds difficult to seek research that investigated the effect of hot water-extracted R. glutinosa Libosch (RGE) on proliferation and cardiogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, even though it has commonly been used for a long time because of its function as a restorative and as a critical role in cardiovascular treatment in traditional. Results: Our research indicated that RGE has many predicted bio-pharmacological effects, and the RGE is demonstrated that it is non-toxic to UC-MSCs (IC50 = 1274 ppm). It also stimulates the proliferation and migration of UC-MSCs at various concentrations, especially at the RGE concentration of 50 ppm, during four days of treatment. On the other hand, the RGE can induce the cardiac pre-differentiation process from the fifth day to the fifteenth day after treatment, which was proven through both molecular and cellular (morphology evidence) levels like the up-regulation of GATA4, Nkx2.5, cTnT α-MHC, Desmin genes; the expression of Desmin protein, the appearance of two-nuclei cells, connecting process of adjoining cells, the cytoplasmic striations. Conclusion: The RGE could either stimulate proliferation-migration of MSCs or induce the cardiac pre-differentiation process. This extract can be classified as non-toxic to the UC-MSCs.

Ability to regulate immunity of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is characterized by broad clinical symptoms in brain insult by external damages to the skull. TBI potentially leads to severe physical, cognitive, and emotional impairment. The complex biochemical reactions of inflammatory processes in TBI significantly influence brain function and clinical sequelae's overall severity. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy has become a promising therapeutic field of treatment for serious injuries due to its ability to regulate the inflammatory microenvironment. In this study, we aimed to investigate MSC's anti-inflammatory ability through regulating leukocyte, neutrophils, and inflammatory factors (IL-6, CRP, and TNF-a), thereby reducing the trauma in the TBI. Biological effects of autologous MNC and MSC cell transplantation have been studied in 40 patients with molded TBI, after being filtered according to appropriate criteria. All patients initially received MNCs and subsequently MSCs (both intravenously) followed by continuous monitoring during treatment (2 months) with clinical cognitive indicators. The results after transplantation MSC indicated that the majority of patients experienced improved health function in different degrees during the follow-up period. Lower serum levels of inflammatory factors, leukocytes, and neutrophils population were detected following the transplantation compared with the levels prior to treatment and with the control patients. No severe symptoms were observed in patients after transplantation, despite 3-4 death cases in each group. Overall, the present study suggests that transplantation of MSC possibly regulates inflammatory factors and appears to be safe in TBI treatment.

Influence of Piper betle L. extract on umbilical cord cells in vitro and potential treating cutaneous wound.

This research aimed to test the effects of Piper betle L. from Vietnam on fibroblasts and UC-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) from human umbilical cord (UC) on the scratch assay. We tested the extract at different concentrations and then assessed the level of expression of the factors involved in the inflammatory process on fibroblasts including IL-33, VCAM, CD248 by assay real time qPCR. At the concentrations of 0.025 µL/mL and 0.03 µL/mL, the extracts positively affected fibroblast proliferation and UC-MSCs. By contrast, the concentration of 0.058 µL/mL, the extract was toxic to UC-MSCs and fibroblast cell lines, the cells were no longer able to survive. qPCR results show that Piper betle L. extract has the ability to reduce the expression levels of IL-33 (50.8%), VCAM (32.1%), CD248 (46.13%) which trigger inflammatory processes, thereby reducing cellular stress and promoting the process of healing scratches. Our study revealed the proliferation capabilities of Piper betle L. extract from Vietnam In vitro. Hence, Piper betle L. could be recommended as a potential source of wound healing agents.