Ameliorative effects of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells on myelin basic protein-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in Lewis rats

Mesenchymal stem cells have been previously shown to exert an immunomodulatory function. The present study sought to investigate the effects of multipotential human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells （hAdMSCs） on disease progression and cytokine expression in Lewis rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis （EAE） induced by myelin basic protein. The duration of EAE paralysis in the group treated on day 7 posfimmunization with 5 × 10^6 hAdMSCs was significantly reduced compared with the vehicle-treated controls and the 1 x 106 hAdMSC- treated group. The duration of EAE paralysis in the groups treated with 5 × 10^6 hAdMSCs on both day 1 and day 7 postimmunization was significantly reduced compared with the vehicle-treated controls and the groups treated with 5 × 10^6 hAdMSCs on both day 7 and day 10 postimmunization. The mRNA expression of interleukin-10 and indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase was significantly decreased in the hAdMSC-treated group compared with the vehicle-treated group. These findings suggest that the ameliorative effects of hAdMSCs on EAE symptoms operate in a dose- and time-dependent manner and can be mediated in part by the ample production of anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Is 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D_3 an ideal substitute for dexamethasone for inducing osteogenic differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells in vitro?

Background Human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells （hADSCs） can be induced to differentiate along an osteoblastic lineage under stimulation of dexamethasone （DEX）. Recent studies, however, have questioned the efficacy of glucocorticoids such as DEX in mediating the osteogenesis process of skeletal progenitor cells and processed lipoaspirate cells. Is it possible to find a substitute for DEX？ Therefore, this study was designed to investigate osteogenic capacity and regulating mechanisms for osteoblastic differentiation of hADSCs by comparing osteogenic media （OM） containing either 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 （VD） or DEX and determine if VD was an ideal substitute for DEX as an induction agent for the osteogenesis of hADSCs. Methods Osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs was induced by osteogenic medium （OM） containing either 10 nmol/L VD or 100 nmol/L DEX. Differentiation of hADSCs into osteoblastic lineage was identified by alkaline phosphatase （ALP） staining, von Kossa staining, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assays for mRNA expression of osteogenesis-related genes such as type Ⅰ collagen （COL Ⅰ）, bone sialoprotein （BSP）, osteocalcin （OC）, bone morphogenetic protein （BMP）-2, BMP-4, BMP-6, BMP-7, runt-related transcription factor 2/core binding factor α1 （Runx2/Cbfal）, osterix （Osx）, and LIM mineralization protein- 1 （LMP- 1）. Results von Kossa staining revealed that the differentiated cells induced by both VD and DEX were mineralized in vitro. They also expressed osteoblast-related markers, such as ALP, COL Ⅰ, BSP, and OC. Runx2/Cbfal, Osx, BMP-6, and LMP-1 were upregulated during VD and DEX-induced hADSC osteoblastic differentiation, but BMP-4, BMP-7 were not. BMP-2 was only expressed in VD-induced differentiated cells. Conclusions VD or DEX-induced hADSCs differentiate toward the osteoblastic lineage in vitro. Runx2/Cbfal, Osx, BMP-2, BMP-6, and LMP-1 are involved in regulating osteoblastic differentiation of hADSCs, but BMP-4, BMP-7 are not. VD, but not DEX, induces expression of BMP-2 during osteogenic induction of hADSCs. VD is an ideal substitute for DEX for osteogenic induction of hADSCs.

Common and distinct regulation of human and mouse brown and beige adipose tissues： a promising therapeutic target for obesity

Obesity, which underlies various metabolic and cardio- vascular diseases, is a growing public health challenge for which established therapies are inadequate. Given the current obesity epidemic, there is a pressing need for more novel therapeutic strategies that will help adult individuals to manage their weight. One promising therapeutic intervention for reducing obesity is to enhance energy expenditure. Investigations into human brown fat and the recently discovered beige/brite fat have galvanized intense research efforts during the past decade because of their pivotal roles in energy dissi- pation. In this review, we summarize the evolution of human brown adipose tissue （hBAT） research and dis- cuss new in vivo methodologies for evaluating energy expenditure in patients. We highlight the differences between human and mouse BAT by integrating and comparing their cellular morphology, function, and gene expression profiles. Although great advances in hBAT biology have been achieved in the past decade, more cellular models are needed to acquire a better under- standing of adipose-specific processes and molecular mechanisms. Thus, this review also describes the development of a human brown fat cell line, which could provide promising mechanistic insights into hBAT function, signal transduction, and development. Finally, we focus on the therapeutic potential and current limi- tations of hBAT as an anti-glycemic, anti-lipidemic, and weight loss-inducing ＇metabolic panacea＇.

Enzymatic and non-enzymatic isolationsystems for adipose tissue-derived cells:current state of the art

In the past decade, adipose tissue became a highly interesting source of adult stem cells for plastic surgery andregenerative medicine. The isolated stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is a heterogeneous cell population including theadipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASC), which showed regenerative potential in several clinical studies and trials.SVF should be provided in a safe and reproducible manner in accordance with current good manufacturing practices(cGMP). To ensure highest possible safety for patients, a precisely defined procedure with a high-quality control isrequired. Hence, an increasing number of adipose tissue-derived cell isolation systems have been developed.These systems aim for a closed, sterile, and safe isolation process limiting donor variations, risk for contaminations,and unpredictability of the cell material. To isolate SVF from adipose tissue, enzymes such as collagenase are used.Alternatively, in order to avoid enzymes, isolation systems using physical forces are available. Here, we provide anoverview of known existing enzymatic and non-enzymatic adipose tissue-derived cell isolation systems, which arepatented, published, or already on the market.

Metformin promotes angiogenesis by enhancing VEGFa secretion by adipose-derived stem cells via the autophagy pathway

Human adipose tissue-derived stem cell(ADSC)derivatives are cell-free,with low immunogenicity and no potential tumourigenicity,making them ideal for aiding wound healing.However,variable quality has impeded their clinical application.Metformin(MET)is a 5′adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activator associated with autophagic activation.In this study,we assessed the potential applicability and underlying mechanisms of MET-treated ADSC derivatives in enhancing angiogenesis.We employed various scientific techniques to evaluate the influence of MET on ADSC,assess angiogenesis and autophagy in MET-treated ADSC in vitro,and examine whether MET-treated ADSC increase angiogenesis.We found that low MET concentrations exerted no appreciable effect on ADSC proliferation.However,MET was observed to enhance the angiogenic capacity and autophagy of ADSC.MET-induced autophagy was associated with increased vascular endothelial growth factor A production and release,which contributed to promoting the therapeutic efficacy of ADSC.In vivo experiments confirmed that in contrast to untreated ADSC,MET-treated ADSC promoted angiogenesis.Our findings thus indicate that the application of MET-treated ADSC would be an effective approach to accelerate wound healing by promoting angiogenesis at wound sites.