Nuclear reprogramming: A key to stem cell function in regenerative medicine

Jason Pomerantz; Helen M. Blau

doi:10.1038/ncb0904-810

Mechanobiological Strategies to Enhance Stem Cell Functionality for Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering

Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology ◽

10.3389/fcell.2021.747398 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Muhammad Shafiq ◽

Onaza Ali ◽

Seong-Beom Han ◽

Dong-Hwee Kim

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Stem Cells ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Regenerative Medicine ◽

Tissue Repair ◽

Cell Function ◽

Target Site ◽

Inflammatory Microenvironment ◽

Cell Functionality ◽

Cell Cell

Stem cells have been extensively used in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering; however, they often lose their functionality because of the inflammatory microenvironment. This leads to their poor survival, retention, and engraftment at transplantation sites. Considering the rapid loss of transplanted cells due to poor cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions during transplantation, it has been reasoned that stem cells mainly mediate reparative responses via paracrine mechanisms, including the secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs). Ameliorating poor cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions may obviate the limitations associated with the poor retention and engraftment of transplanted cells and enable them to mediate tissue repair through the sustained and localized presentation of secreted bioactive cues. Biomaterial-mediated strategies may be leveraged to confer stem cells enhanced immunomodulatory properties, as well as better engraftment and retention at the target site. In these approaches, biomaterials have been exploited to spatiotemporally present bioactive cues to stem cell-laden platforms (e.g., aggregates, microtissues, and tissue-engineered constructs). An array of biomaterials, such as nanoparticles, hydrogels, and scaffolds, has been exploited to facilitate stem cells function at the target site. Additionally, biomaterials can be harnessed to suppress the inflammatory microenvironment to induce enhanced tissue repair. In this review, we summarize biomaterial-based platforms that impact stem cell function for better tissue repair that may have broader implications for the treatment of various diseases as well as tissue regeneration.

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The osteoarthritic niche and modulation of skeletal stem cell function for regenerative medicine

Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine ◽

10.1002/term.1455 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 7 (8) ◽

pp. 589-608 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

E. L. Williams ◽

C. J. Edwards ◽

C. Cooper ◽

R. O. C. Oreffo

Keyword(s):

Stem Cell ◽

Regenerative Medicine ◽

Cell Function ◽

Skeletal Stem Cell

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Effects of Electrical Stimulation on Stem Cells

Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy ◽

10.2174/1574888x15666200129154747 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. 441-448 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Wang Heng ◽

Mit Bhavsar ◽

Zhihua Han ◽

John H. Barker

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Stem Cells ◽

Cell Proliferation ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Regenerative Medicine ◽

Cell Function ◽

Recent Interest ◽

Scaffold Materials ◽

Block Cell Proliferation

Recent interest in developing new regenerative medicine- and tissue engineering-based treatments has motivated researchers to develop strategies for manipulating stem cells to optimize outcomes in these potentially, game-changing treatments. Cells communicate with each other, and with their surrounding tissues and organs via electrochemical signals. These signals originate from ions passing back and forth through cell membranes and play a key role in regulating cell function during embryonic development, healing, and regeneration. To study the effects of electrical signals on cell function, investigators have exposed cells to exogenous electrical stimulation and have been able to increase, decrease and entirely block cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, alignment, and adherence to scaffold materials. In this review, we discuss research focused on the use of electrical stimulation to manipulate stem cell function with a focus on its incorporation in tissue engineering-based treatments.

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