Mesenchymal stromal cell supported umbilical cord blood ex vivo expansion enhances regulatory T cells and reduces graft versus host disease

Background aimsDouble cord blood transplantation (DCBT) may shorten neutrophil and platelet recovery times compared with standard umbilical cord blood transplantation. However, DCBT may be associated with a higher incidence of graft versus host disease (GVHD). In this study, we explored the effect of ex vivo expansion of a single cord blood unit (CBU) in a DCBT setting on GVHD and engraftment.MethodsPost-thaw cryopreserved CBUs from cord blood banks, hereinafter termed “banked” CBUs, were co-cultured with confluent bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) supplemented with a cytokine cocktail comprising 100 ng/mL stem cell factor, 50 ng/mL flt3-ligand, 100 ng/mL thrombopoietin and 20 ng/mL insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 for 12 days.ResultsWhen DCBT of one unexpanded and one expanded CBU was performed in non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient-IL2Rgamma^null (NOD/SCID-IL2γ^?/?, NSG) mice, the expanded CBU significantly boosted in vivo hematopoiesis of the unexpanded CBU. The median survival of NSG mice was significantly improved from 63.4% (range, 60.0–66.7%) for mice receiving only unexpanded units to 86.5% (range, 80.0–92.9%) for mice receiving an expanded unit (P < 0.001). The difference in survival appeared to be due to a lower incidence of GVHD in the mice receiving expanded cells. This effect on GVHD was mediated by a significant increase in regulatory T cells seen in the presence of MSC co-culture.ConclusionsMSC-supported ex vivo expansion of “banked” CBU boosted unexpanded CBU hematopoiesis in vivo, increased regulatory T cell content and decreased the incidence of GVHD.     

Development of mesenchymal stem cells partially originate from the neural crest

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a heterogeneous subset of stromal stem cells isolated from many adult tissues. Previous studies reported that MSCs can differentiate to both mesodermal and neural lineages by a phenomenon referred to as ‘‘dedifferentiation’’ or ‘‘transdifferentiation’’. However, since MSCs have only been defined in vitro, much of their development in vivo is still unknown. Here, we prospectively identified MSCs in the bone marrow from adult transgenic mice encoding neural crest-specific P0-Cre/Floxed-EGFP and Wnt1-Cre/Floxed-EGFP. EGFP-positive MSCs formed spheres that expressed neural crest stem cell genes and differentiated into neurons, glial cells, and myofibroblasts. Interestingly, we observed MSCs both in the GFP⁺ and GFP⁻ fraction and found that there were no significant differences in the in vitro characteristics between these two populations. Our results suggest that MSCs in adult bone marrow have at least two developmental origins, one of which is the neural crest.     

Nestin Positive Bone Marrow Derived Cells Responded to Injury Mobilize into Peripheral Circulation and Participate in Skin Defect Healing

Exogenously infused mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are thought to migrate to injury site through peripheral blood stream and participate in tissue repair. However, whether and how endogenous bone marrow MSCs mobilized to circulating and targeted to tissue injury has raised some controversy, and related studies were restricted by the difficulty of MSCs identifying in vivo. Nestin, a kind of intermediate filament protein initially identified in neuroepithelial stem cells, was recently reported as a credible criteria for MSCs in bone marrow. In this study, we used a green fluorescent protein (GFP) labeled bone marrow replacement model to trace the nestin positive bone marrow derived cells (BMDCs) of skin defected-mice. We found that after skin injured, numbers of nestin⁺ cells in peripheral blood and bone marrow both increased. A remarkable concentration of nestin⁺ BMDCs around skin wound was detected, while few of these cells could be observed in uninjured skin or other organs. This recruitment effect could not be promoted by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), suggests a different mobilization mechanism from ones G-CSF takes effect on hematopoietic cells. Our results proposed nestin⁺ BMDCs as mobilized candidates in skin injury repair, which provide a new insight of endogenous MSCs therapy.     

Fetal vs adult mesenchymal stem cells achieve greater gene expression,but less osteoinduction

AIM: To investigate adenoviral transduction in mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) and effects on stemness in vitro and function as a cell therapy in vivo.METHODS: Bone marrow-derived adult and fetal MSC were isolated from an equine source and expanded in monolayer tissue culture. Polyethylenimine(PEI)-mediated transfection of pc DNA3-e GFP or adenoviral transduction of green fluorescent protein(GFP) was evaluated in fetal MSCs. Adenoviral-mediated transduction was chosen for subsequent experiments. All experiments were carried out at least in triplicate unless otherwise noted. Outcome assessment was obtained by flow cytometry or immunohystochemistry and included transduction efficiency, cell viability, stemness(i.e., cell proliferation, osteogenic and chondrogenic cell differentiation), and quantification of GFP expression. Fetal and adult MSCs were then transduced with an adenoviral vector containing the gene for the bone morphogenic protein 2(BMP2). In vitro BMP2 expression was assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, MSC-mediated gene delivery of BMP2 was evaluated in vivo in an osteoinduction nude mouse quadriceps model. New bone formation was evaluated by microradiography and histology.RESULTS: PEI provided greater transfection and viability in fetal MSCs than other commercial chemical reagents. Adenoviral transduction efficiency was superior to PEI-mediated transfection of GFP in fetal MSCs(81.3% ± 1.3% vs 35.0% ± 1.6%, P < 0.05) and was similar in adult MSCs(78.1% ± 1.9%). Adenoviral transduction provided significantly greater expression of GFP in fetal than adult MSCs(7.4 ± 0.1 vs 4.4 ± 0.3 millions of mean fluorescence intensity units, P < 0.01) as well as significantly greater in vitro BMP2 expression(0.16 pg/cell-day vs 0.10 pg/cell-day, P < 0.01). Fraction of fetal MSC GFP positive cells decreased significantly faster than adult MSCs(1.15% ± 0.05% vs 11.4% ± 2.1% GFP positive at 2 wk post-transduction, P < 0.05). Cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation in vitrowere not affected by Ad transduction in both fetal and adult MSCs, but fetal MSCs had reduced chondrogenic differentiation in vitro when compared to adult(P < 0.01). Chondrogenic differentiation was also significantly reduced in Ad-GFP transduced cells(P < 0.05). AdBMP2 transduced adult MSCs induced new bone formation in more thighs than Ad-BMP2 transduced fetal MSCs(83% vs 17% of the six treated thighs per group, P < 0.05) and resulted in increased femur midshaft diameter due to greater extent of periosteal new bone(1.57 ± 0.35 mm vs 1.27 ± 0.08 mm, P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Fetal MSCs may be genetically manipulated ex vivo with adenoviral vectors. Nonetheless, the abbreviated expression of the exogenous gene may limit their applications in vivo.     

Implantation of Ferumoxides Labeled Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Cartilage Defects

The field of tissue engineering integrates the principles of engineering, cell biology and medicine towards the regeneration of specific cells and functional tissue. Matrix associated stem cell implants (MASI) aim to regenerate cartilage defects due to arthritic or traumatic joint injuries. Adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the ability to differentiate into cells of the chondrogenic lineage and have shown promising results for cell-based articular cartilage repair technologies. Autologous MSCs can be isolated from a variety of tissues, can be expanded in cell cultures without losing their differentiation potential, and have demonstrated chondrogenic differentiation in vitro and in vivo^{1, 2}.In order to provide local retention and viability of transplanted MSCs in cartilage defects, a scaffold is needed, which also supports subsequent differentiation and proliferation. The architecture of the scaffold guides tissue formation and permits the extracellular matrix, produced by the stem cells, to expand. Previous investigations have shown that a 2% agarose scaffold may support the development of stable hyaline cartilage and does not induce immune responses³.Long term retention of transplanted stem cells in MASI is critical for cartilage regeneration. Labeling of MSCs with iron oxide nanoparticles allows for long-term in vivo tracking with non-invasive MR imaging techniques⁴.This presentation will demonstrate techniques for labeling MSCs with iron oxide nanoparticles, the generation of cell-agarose constructs and implantation of these constructs into cartilage defects. The labeled constructs can be tracked non-invasively with MR-Imaging.Open in a separate windowClick here to view.^{(27M, flv)}     

Substance P enhances mesenchymal stem cells-mediated immune modulation

Since clinical application of MSCs requires long-term ex vivo culture inducing senescence in MSCs and reducing the therapeutic activity of transplanted MSCs, numerous efforts have been attempted to sustain the active state of MSCs. Substance P (SP) is a neuropeptide that functions to activate the cellular physiological responses of MSCs, including proliferation, migration, and secretion of specific cytokines. In this study, we explored the potential of SP to restore the weakened immune modulating activity of MSCs resulting from long-term culture by measuring T cell activity and interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion of CD4⁺ Jurkat leukemic T cells and primary CD4⁺ T cells. As the number of cell passages increased, the immunosuppressive function of MSCs based on T cell activity decreased. This weakened activity of MSCs could be restored by SP treatment and nullified by co-treatment of an NK1 receptor blocker. Higher levels of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) secretion were noted in the medium of SP-treated late passage MSC cultures, but IL-10 levels did not change. SP-treated MSC-conditioned medium decreased T cell activity and IL-2/Interferon gamma (IFN-g) secretion in T cells even in the activation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or CD3/CD28 antibodies, both of which were successfully blocked by inhibiting the TGF beta signaling pathway. This stimulatory effect of SP on late passage MSCs was also confirmed in direct cell–cell contact co-culture of MSCs and CD4⁺ Jurkat T cells. Collectively, our study suggests that SP pretreatment to MSCs may recover the immunosuppressive function of late passage MSCs by potentiating their ability to secrete TGF-β1, which can enhance the therapeutic activity of ex vivo expanded MSCs in long-term culture.     

Presence of osteoclast precursor cells during ex vivo expansion of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells for autologous use in cell therapy

Background aimsTo obtain a cell product competent for clinical use in terms of cell dose and biologic properties, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) must be expanded ex vivo.MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed of records of 76 autologous MSC products used in phase I or II clinical studies performed in a cohort of cardiovascular patients. In all cases, native MSCs present in patient bone marrow aspirates were separated and expanded ex vivo.ResultsThe cell products were classified in two groups (A and B), according to biologic properties and expansion time (ex vivo passages) to reach the protocol-established cell dose. In group A, the population of adherent cells obtained during the expansion period (2 ± 1 passages) was composed entirely of MSCs and met the requirements of cell number and biologic features as established in the respective clinical protocol. In group B, in addition to MSCs, we observed during expansion a high proportion of ancillary cells, characterized as osteoclast precursor cells. In this case, although the biologic properties of the resulting MSC product were not affected, the yield of MSCs was significantly lower. The expansion cycles had to be increased (3 ± 1 passages).ConclusionsThese results suggest that the presence of osteoclast precursor cells in bone marrow aspirates may impose a limit for the proper clinical use of ex vivo expanded autologous bone marrow-derived MSCs.     

Simple evaluation method for osteoinductive capacity of cells or scaffolds using ceramic cubes

Mesenchymal stem cells are good candidates for the clinical application of bone repair because of their osteogenic differentiation potential, but in vivo osteoinduction potential should be verified for culture expanded cells before clinical application. This study analyzed in vivo bone formation by MSCs quantitatively after implantation of MSCs planted porous biphasic ceramic cubes into athymic mice. MSCs were divided into osteogenic differentiation-induced and normal groups and also tested in vitro to evaluate the degree of differentiation into osteoblasts. The osteogenic induced group showed higher alkaline phosphatase and calcium level in vitro and corresponding higher level of bone formation in vivo compared to control group. Whereas there was no bone formation observed in fibroblast-implanted negative control group. In critical sized bone defect models, commonly used for evaluation of bone regeneration ability, it is difficult to distinguish between osteoinduction and osteoconduction, and quantitative analysis is not simple. However, this method for evaluating osteoinduction is both accurate and simple. In conclusion, the analysis of in vivo bone formation using porous ceramic cubes is a powerful and simple method for evaluating the osteoinduction ability of target cells and, furthermore, can be applied for evaluation of scaffolds for their osteoinductive properties.     

Mesodermal progenitor cells (MPCs) differentiate into mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) by activation of Wnt5/calmodulin signalling pathway

Background

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) remain poorly characterized because of the absence of manifest physical, phenotypic, and functional properties in cultured cell populations. Despite considerable research on MSCs and their clinical application, the biology of these cells is not fully clarified and data on signalling activation during mesenchymal differentiation and proliferation are controversial. The role of Wnt pathways is still debated, partly due to culture heterogeneity and methodological inconsistencies. Recently, we described a new bone marrow cell population isolated from MSC cultures that we named Mesodermal Progenitor Cells (MPCs) for their mesenchymal and endothelial differentiation potential. An optimized culture method allowed the isolation from human adult bone marrow of a highly pure population of MPCs (more than 97%), that showed the distinctive SSEA-4⁺CD105⁺CD90^neg phenotype and not expressing MSCA-1 antigen. Under these selective culture conditions the percentage of MSCs (SSEA-4^negCD105⁺CD90^bright and MSCA-1⁺), in the primary cultures, resulted lower than 2%.

Methodology/Principal Finding

We demonstrate that MPCs differentiate to MSCs through an SSEA-4⁺CD105⁺CD90^bright early intermediate precursor. Differentiation paralleled the activation of Wnt5/Calmodulin signalling by autocrine/paracrine intense secretion of Wnt5a and Wnt5b (p<0.05 vs uncondictioned media), which was later silenced in late MSCs (SSEA-4^neg). We found the inhibition of this pathway by calmidazolium chloride specifically blocked mesenchymal induction (ID₅₀ = 0.5 µM, p<0.01), while endothelial differentiation was unaffected.

Conclusion

The present study describes two different putative progenitors (early and late MSCs) that, together with already described MPCs, could be co-isolated and expanded in different percentages depending on the culture conditions. These results suggest that some modifications to the widely accepted MSC nomenclature are required.     

Analyzing the Functions of Mast Cells In Vivo Using 'Mast Cell Knock-in' Mice

Mast cells (MCs) are hematopoietic cells which reside in various tissues, and are especially abundant at sites exposed to the external environment, such as skin, airways and gastrointestinal tract. Best known for their detrimental role in IgE-dependent allergic reactions, MCs have also emerged as important players in host defense against venom and invading bacteria and parasites. MC phenotype and function can be influenced by microenvironmental factors that may differ according to anatomic location and/or based on the type or stage of development of immune responses. For this reason, we and others have favored in vivo approaches over in vitro methods to gain insight into MC functions. Here, we describe methods for the generation of mouse bone marrow-derived cultured MCs (BMCMCs), their adoptive transfer into genetically MC-deficient mice, and the analysis of the numbers and distribution of adoptively transferred MCs at different anatomical sites. This method, named the ‘mast cell knock-in’ approach, has been extensively used over the past 30 years to assess the functions of MCs and MC-derived products in vivo. We discuss the advantages and limitations of this method, in light of alternative approaches that have been developed in recent years.     

Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Combination with Hyaluronic Acid for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis in Rabbits

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies may aid in the repair of articular cartilage defects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of intraarticular injection of allogeneic MSCs in an in vivo anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) model of osteoarthritis in rabbits. Allogeneic bone marrow-derived MSCs were isolated and cultured under hypoxia (1% O₂). After 8 weeks following ACLT, MSCs suspended in hyaluronic acid (HA) were injected into the knees, and the contralateral knees were injected with HA alone. Additional controls consisted of a sham operation group as well as an untreated osteoarthritis group. The tissues were analyzed by macroscopic examination as well as histologic and immunohistochemical methods at 6 and 12 weeks post-transplantation. At 6 and 12 weeks, the joint surface showed less cartilage loss and surface abrasion after MSC injection as compared to the tissues receiving HA injection alone. Significantly better histological scores and cartilage content were observed with the MSC transplantation. Furthermore, engraftment of allogenic MSCs were evident in surface cartilage. Thus, injection of the allogeneic MSCs reduced the progression of osteoarthritis in vivo.     

Bortezomib enhances the osteogenic differentiation capacity of human mesenchymal stromal cells derived from bone marrow and placental tissues

Bortezomib (BZB) is a chemotherapeutic agent approved for treating multiple myeloma (MM) patients. In addition, there are several reports showing that bortezomib can induce murine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to undergo osteogenic differentiation and increase bone formation in vivo. MSCs are the multipotent stem cells that have capacity to differentiate into several mesodermal derivatives including osteoblasts. Nowadays, MSCs mostly bone marrow derived have been considered as a valuable source of cell for tissue replacement therapy. In this study, the effect of bortezomib on the osteogenic differentiation of human MSCs derived from both bone marrow (BM-MSCs) and postnatal sources such as placenta (PL-MSCs) were investigated. The degree of osteogenic differentiation of BM-MSCs and PL-MSCs after bortezomib treatment was assessed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, matrix mineralization by Alizarin Red S staining and the expression profiles of osteogenic differentiation marker genes, Osterix, RUNX2 and BSP. The results showed that 1 nM and 2 nM BZB can induce osteogenic differentiation of BM-MSCs and PL-MSCs as demonstrated by increased ALP activity, increased matrix mineralization and up-regulation of osteogenic differentiation marker genes, Osterix, RUNX2 and BSP as compared to controls. The enhancement of osteogenic differentiation of MSCs by bortezomib may lead to the potential therapeutic applications in human diseases especially patients with osteopenia.     

Osteogenesis in cultures of limb mesenchymal cells

The results of previous reports demonstrated that osteoblasts develop in cultures derived from phenotypically unexpressive stage 24 chick limb mesenchymal cells. The observations reported here suggest that initial cell plating densities may provide environmental conditions deterministic to a particular limb phenotype. Quantitative microscopic studies, histochemical localization of calcium phosphate, and electron microscopy indicate that osteoblasts develop in cultures derived from stage 24 limb mesenchymal cells. Additionally, 1–3% of the cells from stage 24 limbs are associated with mineral deposits when plated at initial high densities (5 × 10⁶ cells per 35-mm culture dish), while more than 50% of the cells are associated with cartilage by Day 9. Cultures plated at intermediate seeding densities (between 2.0 and 2.5 × 10⁶ cells per 35-mm culture dish) have minimal cartilage development, and approximately 20% of the cells are associated with mineral by Day 9. Furthermore, cultures prepared from stage 31 limb mesenchymal cells form well-developed bone nodules with both osteoblasts and osteocytes present, but no cartilage. It is clear from these observations and from a consideration of the initiation of osteogenesisin vivo that the initiation of bone development in the limb is not associated with cartilage development. Based on these studies and observations on the effect of nutrient factors on phenotypic expression in culture, an hypothesis is presented relating differential vascularization and nutrient flow to the determination of limb phenotypesin vivo.     

Effects of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors on density of rat myocardial, pericardial, and pulmonary mast cells in experimental heart failure

The activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of cardiac failures (CFs). Using a model of experimental CFs, we studied the effects of lisinopril (LP) and fosinopril (FP) (inhibitors of the angiotensin-converting enzyme), as well as of losartan (LT, antagonist of angiotensin II receptors), on the density of multifunctional mast cells (MCs). RAS inhibitors were injected for 4 weeks beginning 4 weeks after two (with 24-h intervals) isoproterenol injections. MCs of different degrees of maturity were identified in paraffin sections stained with Alcian blue and Safranin. The CF severity was estimated based on functional echocardiogram parameters and on morphological criteria in histological sections. The MC density in the myocardiums of intact rats, as well as of rats with CFs that were and were not treated with drugs was relatively low, i.e., 3–4 cells/mm². The MC density in pericardiums of intact rats was several times higher than in myocardiums, i.e., 35±7 cells/mm². In CFs, the density of pericardial MCs was 1.7 higher than in intact rats due to an increase in the density of immature cells stained with Alcian blue (p< 0.05). Injections of LP increased the MC density 1.4-fold due to the density of mature cells stained with Safranin (p< 0.01). Injections of FP and LT did not affect the MC density and the balance of cells of different degrees of maturity in the pericardium. In lungs, 96–99% of MCs were Alcian positive. In intact rats, rats with CF, and rats with CF treated with FP, the density of these cells was 30 cells/mm². Injections of LP and LT decreased the density of pulmonary MCs to 7 cells/mm² (p< 0.01) and 19 cells/mm² (p< 0.05), respectively. The functional parameters of the heart were consistent with the data of the morphological analysis. The improvement of myocardial function was only noted in rats with CF treated with FP and LT. The obtained data show that, in the myocardiums, pericardiums, and lungs of rats with CF, reaction of MCs (as the cell elements of the RAS tissue) to injections of inhibitors of RAS was diverse. In the pericardium, injections of LP stimulated the maturation of resident MCs, as well as the replenishment of the population at the expense of immature cells that migrate from outside (by means of the migration of immature cells from the outside). This allows us to suggest us that the secretory activity of these cells is intensified. Conversely, in lungs, injections of LP, like of LT, suppress the MC population.     

Activated platelets in carotid artery thrombosis in mice can be selectively targeted with a radiolabeled single-chain antibody

Background

Activated platelets can be found on the surface of inflamed, rupture-prone and ruptured plaques as well as in intravascular thrombosis. They are key players in thrombosis and atherosclerosis. In this study we describe the construction of a radiolabeled single-chain antibody targeting the LIBS-epitope of activated platelets to selectively depict platelet activation and wall-adherent non-occlusive thrombosis in a mouse model with nuclear imaging using in vitro and ex vivo autoradiography as well as small animal SPECT-CT for in vivo analysis.

Methodology/Principal Findings

LIBS as well as an unspecific control single-chain antibody were labeled with ¹¹¹Indium (¹¹¹In) via bifunctional DTPA ( = ¹¹¹In-LIBS/¹¹¹In-control). Autoradiography after incubation with ¹¹¹In-LIBS on activated platelets in vitro (mean 3866±28 DLU/mm², 4010±630 DLU/mm² and 4520±293 DLU/mm²) produced a significantly higher ligand uptake compared to ¹¹¹In-control (2101±76 DLU/mm², 1181±96 DLU/mm² and 1866±246 DLU/mm²) indicating a specific binding to activated platelets; P<0.05. Applying these findings to an ex vivo mouse model of carotid artery thrombosis revealed a significant increase in ligand uptake after injection of ¹¹¹In-LIBS in the presence of small thrombi compared to the non-injured side, as confirmed by histology (49630±10650 DLU/mm² vs. 17390±7470 DLU/mm²; P<0.05). These findings could also be reproduced in vivo. SPECT-CT analysis of the injured carotid artery with ¹¹¹In-LIBS resulted in a significant increase of the target-to-background ratio compared to ¹¹¹In-control (1.99±0.36 vs. 1.1±0.24; P<0.01).

Conclusions/Significance

Nuclear imaging with ¹¹¹In-LIBS allows the detection of platelet activation in vitro and ex vivo with high sensitivity. Using SPECT-CT, wall-adherent activated platelets in carotid arteries could be depicted in vivo. These results encourage further studies elucidating the role of activated platelets in plaque pathology and atherosclerosis and might be of interest for further developments towards clinical application.     

Transplanted interleukin-4--secreting mesenchymal stromal cells show extended survival and increased bone mineral density in the murine femur

Background

Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)–based therapy has great potential to modulate chronic inflammation and enhance tissue regeneration. Crosstalk between MSC-lineage cells and polarized macrophages is critical for bone formation and remodeling in inflammatory bone diseases. However, the translational application of this interaction is limited by the short-term viability of MSCs after cell transplantation.