Lipopolysaccharide-induced Stem Cell Factor Messenger RNA Expression and Production in Odontoblast-like Cells

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Low power laser radiation at 685 nm stimulates stem-cell proliferation rate in Dugesia tigrina during regeneration

Today's scientific interest in tissue engineering for organ transplantations and regeneration from stem cells, allied with recent observations on biostimulation of tissues and cells by laser radiation, stands as a strong motivation for the present work, in which we examine the effects of the low power laser radiation onto planarians under regenerative process. To investigate those effects, a number of 60 amputated worms were divided in three study groups: a control group and two other groups submitted to daily 1 and 3 min long laser treatment sections at similar to 910 W/m(2) power density. A 685 nm diode laser with 35 mW optical power was used. Samples were sent to histological analysis at the 4th, the 7th and the 15th (lays after amputation. A remarkable increase in stem cells counts for the fourth day of regeneration was observed when the regenerating worms was stimulated by the laser radiation. Our findings encourage further research works on the influence of optical radiation onto stem cells and tissue regeneration. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Clinical outcome in chronic myeloid leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: The experience of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit of FUNFARME/BRAZIL using FISH

Investigation of the efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in chronic myeloid leukemia patients is essential to predict prognosis and survival. In 20 patients treated at the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit of São José do Rio Preto (São Paulo, Brazil), we used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to investigate the frequency of cells with BCR/ABL rearrangement at diagnosis and at distinct intervals after allo-HSCT until complete cytogenetic remission (CCR). We investigated the disease-free survival, overall survival in 3 years and transplant-related mortality rates, too. Bone marrow samples were collected at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, and 24 months after transplantation and additional intervals as necessary. Success rate of the FISH analyses was 100%. CCR was achieved in 75% of the patients, within on average of 3.9 months; 45% patients showed CCR within 60 days after HSCT. After 3 years of the allo-HSCT, overall survival rate was 60%, disease-free survival was 50% and the transplant-related mortality rate was 40%. The study demonstrated that the BCR-ABL FISH assay is useful for follow-up of chronic myeloid leukemia patients after HSCT and that the clinical outcome parameters in our patient cohort were similar to those described for other bone marrow transplantation units. ©FUNPEC-RP.

Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for equine tendinitis

Tendinitis is an important disease that leads to lameness and decreased performance in equine athletes and results in high costs associated with therapy due to a long recovery period and a high rate of recurrence. Although, several treatments for equine tendinitis have been described, few are effective in significantly improving the quality of the extracellular matrix and reducing the rate of recurrence. The use of cell therapy with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from various sources has received much attention because of its therapeutic potential for equine tendinitis. In this paper, we review patents on stem cell therapy and the specific use of MSCs for the treatment of equine tendinitis. © 2013 Bentham Science Publishers.

Platelet lysate 3D scaffold supports mesenchymal stem cell chondrogenesis: An improved approach in cartilage tissue engineering

Articular lesions are still a major challenge in orthopedics because of cartilage's poor healing properties. A major improvement in therapeutics was the development of autologous chondrocytes implantation (ACI), a biotechnology-derived technique that delivers healthy autologous chondrocytes after in vitro expansion. To obtain cartilage-like tissue, 3D scaffolds are essential to maintain chondrocyte differentiated status. Currently, bioactive 3D scaffolds are promising as they can deliver growth factors, cytokines, and hormones to the cells, giving them a boost to attach, proliferate, induce protein synthesis, and differentiate. Using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiated into chondrocytes, one can avoid cartilage harvesting. Thus, we investigated the potential use of a platelet-lysate-based 3D bioactive scaffold to support chondrogenic differentiation and maintenance of MSCs. The MSCs from adult rabbit bone marrow (n=5) were cultivated and characterized using three antibodies by flow cytometry. MSCs (1×105) were than encapsulated inside 60μl of a rabbit platelet-lysate clot scaffold and maintained in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium Nutrient Mixture F-12 supplemented with chondrogenic inductors. After 21 days, the MSCs-seeded scaffolds were processed for histological analysis and stained with toluidine blue. This scaffold was able to maintain round-shaped cells, typical chondrocyte metachromatic extracellular matrix deposition, and isogenous group formation. Cells accumulated inside lacunae and cytoplasm lipid droplets were other observed typical chondrocyte features. In conclusion, the usage of a platelet-lysate bioactive scaffold, associated with a suitable chondrogenic culture medium, supports MSCs chondrogenesis. As such, it offers an alternative tool for cartilage engineering research and ACI. © 2013 Informa UK Ltd.

Stem cell factor estimula células da musculatura lisa da traqueia a produzir TGF-β, FGF-2 E CCL3/MIP-1α

Pós-graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas - FOA

Novel Chemically Modified Bacterial Cellulose Nanocomposite as Potential Biomaterial for Stem Cell Therapy Applications

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has become established as a remarkably versatile biomaterial and can be used in a wide variety of applied scientific applications, especially for medical devices. In this work, the bacterial cellulose fermentation process is modified by the addition of hyaluronic acid and gelatin (1% w/w) to the culture medium before the bacteria is inoculated. Hyaluronic acid and gelatin influence in bacterial cellulose was analyzed using Transmission Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Adhesion and viability studies with human dental pulp stem cells using natural bacterial cellulose/hyaluronic acid as scaffolds for regenerative medicine are presented for the first time in this work. MTT viability assays show higher cell adhesion in bacterial cellulose/gelatin and bacterial cellulose/ hyaluronic acid scaffolds over time with differences due to fiber agglomeration in bacterial cellulose/gelatin. Confocal microscopy images showed that the cell were adhered and well distributed within the fibers in both types of scaffolds.

Evaluation of mesenchymal stem cell migration after equine tendonitis therapy

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

O papel da proteína TET2 no enriquecimento do DNA genômico em 5-hidroximetilcitosina em lesões elanocíticas pré-malignas e pré-metastáticas com fenótipo stem cell-like

Durante a transformação maligna dos melanócitos, padrões de metilação do DNA encontram-se alterados, afetando a expressão gênica. As citosinas metiladas (5mC) podem ser hidroxiladas pelas dioxigenases dependentes de 2-oxoglutarato e Fe(II), Tet1, 2 e 3, resultando na formação de 5-hidroximetilcitosina (5hmC) (Globisch et al., 2010; Ko et al., 2010). A 5hmC pode agir tanto como um produto intermediário na desmetilação ativa do DNA quanto na desmetilação passiva ao longo de sucessivas replicações, o que pode contribuir com a dinâmica da metilação do DNA (Tahiliani et al., 2009). Além disso, demonstrou-se que Tet1 e Tet2 são expressas em células tronco embrionárias (Ito et al., 2010) e que 5hmC desempenha importante papel na manutenção e diferenciação destas células (Koh et al., 2011). No entanto, o papel da 5hmC e das proteínas Tet tanto na fisiologia normal quanto em doenças como o câncer ainda não está claro. Utilizando um modelo linear de progressão do melanoma, observamos aumento na expressão gênica de Tet1 nas linhagens celulares correspondendo a melanócitos pré-malignos (4C) e células de melanoma não metastático (4C11-), comparado a melanócitos não tumorigênicos (melan-a) e células de melanoma metastático (4C11+). Em relação à expressão proteica, há um aumento da expressão de Tet1 nas linhagens 4C e 4C11+, o que pode ser relacionado às fases de transição epitélio-mesênquima (EMT) e mesênquima-epitélio (MET), respectivamente. Além disso, constatamos aumento na expressão gênica e proteica de Tet2 na linhagem metastática 4C11+, o que pode indicar diferenças funcionais entre as proteínas Tet1 e Tet2. Também verificamos aumento significativo do conteúdo de 5hmC na linhagem 4C11+, o que se correlaciona com maior expressão gênica e proteica de Tet2. Por fim, linhagens humanas de melanoma metastático menos agressivas apresentaram aumento significativo na expressão dos genes TET1 ...

Oral changes in individuals undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

INTRODUCTION: Patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation receive high doses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which cause severe immunosuppression. OBJECTIVE: To report an oral disease management protocol before and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out with 65 patients aged > 18 years, with hematological diseases, who were allocated into two groups: A (allogeneic transplant, 34 patients); B (autologous transplant, 31 patients). A total of three dental status assessments were performed: in the pre-transplantation period (moment 1), one week after stem cell infusion (moment 2), and 100 days after transplantation (moment 3). In each moment, oral changes were assigned scores and classified as mild, moderate, and severe risks. RESULTS: The most frequent pathological conditions were gingivitis, pericoronitis in the third molar region, and ulcers at the third moment assessments. However, at moments 2 and 3, the most common disease was mucositis associated with toxicity from the drugs used in the immunosuppression. CONCLUSION: Mucositis accounted for the increased score and potential risk of clinical complications. Gingivitis, ulcers, and pericoronitis were other changes identified as potential risk factors for clinical complications.