Summary
Psoriasis microenvironment, characterized by an imbalance between T helper type 1 (Th1)/Th17 and Th2 cytokines and also influences the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) phenotypical profile. MSCs ...from healthy donors (H‐MSCs) can exert a strong paracrine effect by secreting active soluble factors, able to modulate the inflammation in the microenvironment. To evaluate the influence of H‐MSCs on MSCs from psoriatic patients (PsO‐MSCs), H‐MSCs and PsO‐MSCs were isolated and characterized. Indirect co‐culture of H‐MSCs with PsO‐MSCs was performed; effects on proliferation and expression of cytokines linked to Th1/Th17 and Th2 pathways were assayed before and after co‐culture. The results show that before co‐culture, proliferation of PsO‐MSCs was significantly higher than H‐MSCs (P < 0·05) and the levels of secreted cytokines confirmed the imbalance of Th1/Th17 versus the Th2 axis. After co‐culture of H‐MSCs with PsO‐MSCs, healthy MSCs seem to exert a ‘positive’ influence on PsO‐MSCs, driving the inflammatory phenotypical profile of PsO‐MSCs towards a physiological pattern. The proliferation rate decreased towards values nearer to those observed in H‐MSCs and the secretion of the cytokines that mostly identified the inflammatory microenvironment that characterized psoriasis, such as interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐12, IL‐13, IL‐17A, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and granulocyte–macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF), is significantly lower in co‐cultured PsO‐MSCs than in individually cultured PSO‐MSCs (P at least < 0·05). In conclusion, our preliminary results seem to provide an intriguing molecular explanation for the ever‐increasing evidence of therapeutic efficacy of allogeneic MSCs infusion in psoriatic patients.
Psoriatic mesenchymal stem cells (PsO‐MSCs) show the same imbalance of Th1‐17 vs Th2 pathways detected in psoriatic differentiated cells The crosstalk (through a paracrine effect) with healthy mesenchymal cells restore a profile closer to physiological conditions new insight into the therapeutic efficacy of allogeneic MSCs infusion in psoriatic patients.
Stem cells are essential for tissue homeostasis and regeneration throughout the lifespan of multicellular organisms. The decline in stem cell function during advanced age is associated with a reduced ...regenerative potential of tissues that leads to an increased frequency of diseases. Age-related changes also occur in the dental pulp that represents a reliable model tissue, with high regenerative capability, for studying senescence mechanisms. However, little information is available concerning the effects of ageing on dental stem-cell function. In this mini-review, recent data on how the molecular and functional alterations that accumulate in stem cell populations during ageing result in modifications of dental pulp physiology are discussed. Changes that accumulate during ageing such as how reduction of pulp chamber volume, decreased vascular supply and modifications to the stem cell niches affect stem cell functions and, therefore, dental pulp regenerative potential in response to various stressful agents. Dental pulp cells from aged individuals are still metabolically active and secrete pro-inflammatory and matrix-degrading molecules. Furthermore, miRNAs and exosomes derived from dental pulp stem cells constitute an attractive source of nanovesicles for the treatment of age-related dental pathologies. Further investigation of the epigenetic alterations in dental pulp stem cells, accumulating during ageing, might reveal crucial information for potential stem cell-based therapeutic approaches in the elderly.
Polysaccharide-based hydrogels are achieving remarkable performances in chronic wounds treatment. In this work, a carboxymethyl cellulose-based hydrogel film was developed to support skin repair. The ...hydrogel was loaded with berberine, a polyphenolic molecule endowing antioxidant and cytoprotective features. The film was physico-chemically characterized and in vitro tested on keratinocytes and fibroblasts subjected to oxidative stress. The biocomposite showed high thermal stability (onset decomposition temperature 245 °C) and significant fluid uptake performances, both in free conditions (up to 6510%) and under external pressure (up to 3400%). Moreover, it was able to control oxidative stress and inflammation markers involved in wound chronicity. Keratinocytes hyperproliferation, features that normally hamper injury restoration, was reduced of 25%. Our results showed that the combination of berberine and hydrogel provides a synergic improvement of the material properties. The biocomposite represents a promising candidate for dermatological applications against oxidative stress at the chronic wound site, promoting the healing process.
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Purpose
The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of synovial mast cells (MCs) in hip and knee tissue from osteoarthritis (OA) patients and to correlate them with clinical and ...radiological data.
Methods
Synovial tissue was obtained during arthroplasty from 60 patients, 30 with knee OA and 30 with hip OA. Control synovial tissue was obtained from 30 patients without OA, 15 undergoing above-knee amputation and 15 receiving a hip replacement for fracture. Before surgery, the radiographic findings were graded according to the Kellgren-Lawrence system and clinical data including pain (VAS) and functional information (KOOS and HOOS) was collected. The tissue was stained with hematoxylin–eosin and toluidine blue for histochemistry and incubated with CD117 and CD31 antibodies for immunohistochemistry. MC and vessel number and synovitis score were determined in all samples.
Results
Mean MC number, synovitis score and vessel number were significantly higher in the OA samples (
p
< 0.05) than in control tissue. MC number correlated with the synovitis score and disease severity in both patient groups.
Conclusions
The prevalence of MCs in synovium from OA patients and their association with synovial inflammation and pain suggest a role for them in OA pathophysiology.
High-temperature requirement A1 (HtrA1), a multidomain serine protease acting on Extracellular matrix (ECM) rearrangement, is also secreted by osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Recent and conflicting ...literature highlights HtrA1's role as a controller of bone remodeling, proposing it as a possible target for pathologies with unbalanced bone resorption, like Osteoporosis (OP). To add knowledge on this molecule function in bone physiopathology, here we compared HtrA1 distribution in the ECM of healthy (H) and OP bone tissue, also examining its localization in the sites of new bone formation. HtrA1 was homogeneously expressed in the mature bone ECM of H tissue showing a 55.6 ± 16.4% of the stained area, with a significant (p=0.0001) decrease in OP percentage stained area (21.1 ± 13.1). Moreover, HtrA1 was present in the endosteum and cells involved in osteogenesis, mainly in those “entrapped” in woven bone, whereas osteocytes in mature lamellar bone were negative. Based on our previous observation in OP tissue of a significantly increased expression of Decorin and Osteocalcin, both involved in bone mineralization and remodeling and equally substrates for HtrA1, we speculate that HtrA1 by controlling the proper amount of Decorin and Osteocalcin favors normal bone maturation and mineralization. Besides, we suggest that late-osteoblasts and pre-osteocytes secrete HtrA1 in the adjacent matrix whilst proceeding with their maturation and that HtrA1 expression is further modified during the remodeling from woven to the lamellar bone. Overall, our data suggest HtrA1 as a positive regulator of bone matrix formation and maturation: its reduced expression in mature OP bone, affecting protein content and distribution, could hamper correct bone remodeling and mineralization.
•HtrA1 was homogeneously expressed in the mature bone ECM of H tissue, with an evident decrease in OP.•MEPE localized in cells nearby and embedded in the woven bone whilst DMP-1 was mostly expressed in pre-osteocytes.•HtrA1 was detected in pre-osteocytes of the newly formed bone, as evidenced by the co-localization between HtrA1/MEPE and HtrA1/DMP-1.•We suggest that late-osteoblasts and pre-osteocytes secrete HtrA1 in the adjacent matrix whilst proceeding with their maturation and that HtrA1 expression is further modified during the remodeling from woven to the lamellar bone.
Tissue engineered scaffolds must have an organized and repeatable microstructure which enables cells to assemble in an ordered matrix that allows adequate nutriental perfusion. In this work, to ...evaluate the reciprocal cell interactions of endothelial and osteoblast-like cells, human osteoblast-like cells (MG63) and Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) were co-seeded onto 3D geometrically controlled porous poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and cultured by means of a rotary cell culture system (RCCS-4DQ). In our dynamic co-culture system, the lack of significant enhancement of osteoblast ALP activity and ECM production indicated that the microgravity conditions of the rotary system affected the cells by favoring their proliferation and cellular cross-talk. These results emphasize how osteoblasts increase endothelial cell proliferate and endothelial cells amplify the growth of osteoblasts but decrease their differentiation. This dynamic seeding of osteoblasts and endothelial cells onto a 3D polymeric scaffold may represent a unique approach for studying the mechanisms of interaction of endothelial and osteoblast cells as well as achieve a functional hybrid in which angiogenesis, furnished by neo-vascular organization of endothelial cells may further support osteoblasts growth. Furthermore, this in vitro model may be useful in examining the applicability of novel material structures for tissue engineering.
Purpose
– The purpose of this study is to show how selective laser sintering (SLS) manufacturing of bioresorbable scaffolds is used for applications in bone tissue engineering.
...Design/methodology/approach
– Polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds were computationally designed and then fabricated via SLS for applications in bone and cartilage repair.
Findings
– Preliminary biocompatibility data were acquired using human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) assuring a satisfactory scaffold colonization by hMSCs.
Originality/value
– A promising procedure for producing porous scaffolds for the repair of skeletal defects, in tissue engineering applications, was developed.
New promising and versatile materials for the development of
in situ sustained release systems consisting of thin films of either poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) or a copolymer based on ...poly(ethylene–glycol diacrylate) and acrylic acid were investigated. These polymers were electrosynthesized directly on titanium substrates and loaded with ciprofloxacin (CIP) either during or after the synthesis step. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to check the CIP entrapment efficiency as well as its surface availability in the hydrogel films, while high-performance liquid chromatography was employed to assess the release property of the films and to quantify the amount of CIP released by the coatings. These systems were then tested to evaluate the
in vitro inhibition of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) growth. Moreover, a model equation is proposed which can easily correlate the diameter of the inhibition haloes with the amount of antibiotic released. Finally, MG63 human osteoblast-like cells were employed to assess the biocompatibility of CIP-modified hydrogel coatings.
(2019) concerning the reported values of the magnetic fields published in our article “The use of pulsed electromagnetic fields to promote bone responses to biomaterials in vitro and in vivo” (2018). ...Since our original paper may be of interest to a larger audience than only physicists or engineers, we believe that some introductory remarks are necessary to properly understand the issue. Waves with lower frequencies, e.g., visible light or radio waves, cannot ionize atoms and are thus known as nonionizing radiation. figure omitted; refer to PDF If we move to the lower frequencies of the spectrum, the common solutions of Maxwell’s equations are no longer ordinary EM waves. ...the term used to describe the frequencies around 50 or 60 Hz is low-frequency electric and magnetic “fields,” in short, electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Electromagnetic waves (Figure 2) are particular solutions of Maxwell’s equations with specific properties: (i) The electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular to each other and to the direction of propagation. (ii) There is a unique relationship between the magnitudes of the electric and magnetic fields so that it is possible to compute one based on the other. (iii) An EM wave carries energy away from the source, and usually, the energy does not return to that source. (iv) There is a definite relationship between frequency, f, and wavelength, λ: f ⋅λ = c, where c is the speed of light. (v) At least for waves with λ similar to visible light, the energy in the EM wave is exchanged with its surroundings by photons. The electric and magnetic fields are not even necessarily perpendicular to each other, they do not carry away energy, and the fields do not exhibit wave behavior; it therefore does not make sense to talk about wavelengths in these situations. figure omitted; refer to PDF As an approximate rule, we can say that wave characteristics dominate the fields when viewed farther than about one calculated wavelength away from the source.
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