scholarly journals Functional ectodermal organ regeneration as the next generation of organ replacement therapy

Open Biology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 190010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Etsuko Ikeda ◽  
Miho Ogawa ◽  
Makoto Takeo ◽  
Takashi Tsuji

In this decade, substantial progress in the fields of developmental biology and stem cell biology has ushered in a new era for three-dimensional organ regenerative therapy. The emergence of novel three-dimensional cell manipulation technologies enables the effective mimicking of embryonic organ germ formation using the fate-determined organ-inductive potential of epithelial and mesenchymal stem cells. This advance shows great potential for the regeneration of functional organs with substitution of complete original function in situ . Organoids generated from multipotent stem cells or tissue stem cells via establishment of an organ-forming field can only partially recover original organ function owing to the size limitation; they are considered ‘mini-organs’. Nevertheless, they hold great promise to realize regenerative medicine. In particular, regeneration of a functional salivary gland and an integumentary organ system by orthotopic and heterotopic implantation of organoids clearly points to the future direction of organ regeneration research. In this review, we describe multiple strategies and recent progress in regenerating functional three-dimensional organs, focusing on ectodermal organs, and discuss their potential and future directions to achieve organ replacement therapy as a next-generation regenerative medicine.

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gele Liu ◽  
Brian T. David ◽  
Matthew Trawczynski ◽  
Richard G. Fessler

AbstractOver the past 20 years, and particularly in the last decade, significant developmental milestones have driven basic, translational, and clinical advances in the field of stem cell and regenerative medicine. In this article, we provide a systemic overview of the major recent discoveries in this exciting and rapidly developing field. We begin by discussing experimental advances in the generation and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), next moving to the maintenance of stem cells in different culture types, and finishing with a discussion of three-dimensional (3D) cell technology and future stem cell applications. Specifically, we highlight the following crucial domains: 1) sources of pluripotent cells; 2) next-generation in vivo direct reprogramming technology; 3) cell types derived from PSCs and the influence of genetic memory; 4) induction of pluripotency with genomic modifications; 5) construction of vectors with reprogramming factor combinations; 6) enhancing pluripotency with small molecules and genetic signaling pathways; 7) induction of cell reprogramming by RNA signaling; 8) induction and enhancement of pluripotency with chemicals; 9) maintenance of pluripotency and genomic stability in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs); 10) feeder-free and xenon-free culture environments; 11) biomaterial applications in stem cell biology; 12) three-dimensional (3D) cell technology; 13) 3D bioprinting; 14) downstream stem cell applications; and 15) current ethical issues in stem cell and regenerative medicine. This review, encompassing the fundamental concepts of regenerative medicine, is intended to provide a comprehensive portrait of important progress in stem cell research and development. Innovative technologies and real-world applications are emphasized for readers interested in the exciting, promising, and challenging field of stem cells and those seeking guidance in planning future research direction.


Catalysts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
Won-Yong Jeon ◽  
Seyoung Mun ◽  
Wei Beng Ng ◽  
Keunsoo Kang ◽  
Kyudong Han ◽  
...  

Enzymatic biofuel cells (EBFCs) have excellent potential as components in bioelectronic devices, especially as active biointerfaces to regulate stem cell behavior for regenerative medicine applications. However, it remains unclear to what extent EBFC-generated electrical stimulation can regulate the functional behavior of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAD-MSCs) at the morphological and gene expression levels. Herein, we investigated the effect of EBFC-generated electrical stimulation on hAD-MSC cell morphology and gene expression using next-generation RNA sequencing. We tested three different electrical currents, 127 ± 9, 248 ± 15, and 598 ± 75 nA/cm2, in mesenchymal stem cells. We performed transcriptome profiling to analyze the impact of EBFC-derived electrical current on gene expression using next generation sequencing (NGS). We also observed changes in cytoskeleton arrangement and analyzed gene expression that depends on the electrical stimulation. The electrical stimulation of EBFC changes cell morphology through cytoskeleton re-arrangement. In particular, the results of whole transcriptome NGS showed that specific gene clusters were up- or down-regulated depending on the magnitude of applied electrical current of EBFC. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that EBFC-generated electrical stimulation can influence the morphological and gene expression properties of stem cells; such capabilities can be useful for regenerative medicine applications such as bioelectronic devices.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 3262
Author(s):  
Neill J. Turner

The present Special Issue comprises a collection of articles addressing the many ways in which extracellular matrix (ECM), or its components parts, can be used in regenerative medicine applications. ECM is a dynamic structure, composed of a three-dimensional architecture of fibrous proteins, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans, synthesized by the resident cells. Consequently, ECM can be considered as nature’s ideal biologic scaffold material. The articles in this Special Issue cover a range of topics from the use of ECM components to manufacture scaffold materials, understanding how changes in ECM composition can lead to the development of disease, and how decellularization techniques can be used to develop tissue-derived ECM scaffolds for whole organ regeneration and wound repair. This editorial briefly summarizes the most interesting aspects of these articles.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-F. Stoltz ◽  
N. de Isla ◽  
Y. P. Li ◽  
D. Bensoussan ◽  
L. Zhang ◽  
...  

Since the 1960s and the therapeutic use of hematopoietic stem cells of bone marrow origin, there has been an increasing interest in the study of undifferentiated progenitors that have the ability to proliferate and differentiate into various tissues. Stem cells (SC) with different potency can be isolated and characterised. Despite the promise of embryonic stem cells, in many cases, adult or even fetal stem cells provide a more interesting approach for clinical applications. It is undeniable that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from bone marrow, adipose tissue, or Wharton’s Jelly are of potential interest for clinical applications in regenerative medicine because they are easily available without ethical problems for their uses. During the last 10 years, these multipotent cells have generated considerable interest and have particularly been shown to escape to allogeneic immune response and be capable of immunomodulatory activity. These properties may be of a great interest for regenerative medicine. Different clinical applications are under study (cardiac insufficiency, atherosclerosis, stroke, bone and cartilage deterioration, diabetes, urology, liver, ophthalmology, and organ’s reconstruction). This review focuses mainly on tissue and organ regeneration using SC and in particular MSC.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Yokoo ◽  
Kei Matsumoto ◽  
Shinya Yokote

Significant advances have been made in stem cell research over the past decade. A number of nonhematopoietic sources of stem cells (or progenitor cells) have been identified, including endothelial stem cells and neural stem cells. These discoveries have been a major step toward the use of stem cells for potential clinical applications of organ regeneration. Accordingly, kidney regeneration is currently gaining considerable attention to replace kidney dialysis as the ultimate therapeutic strategy for renal failure. However, due to anatomic complications, the kidney is believed to be the hardest organ to regenerate; it is virtually impossible to imagine such a complicated organ being completely rebuilt from pluripotent stem cells by gene or chemical manipulation. Nevertheless, several groups are taking on this big challenge. In this manuscript, current advances in renal stem cell research are reviewed and their usefulness for kidney regeneration discussed. We also reviewed the current knowledge of the emerging field of renal stem cell biology.


Cells ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miruna Mihaela Micheu ◽  
Alina Ioana Scarlatescu ◽  
Alexandru Scafa-Udriste ◽  
Maria Dorobantu

Despite significant progress in treating ischemic cardiac disease and succeeding heart failure, there is still an unmet need to develop effective therapeutic strategies given the persistent high-mortality rate. Advances in stem cell biology hold great promise for regenerative medicine, particularly for cardiac regeneration. Various cell types have been used both in preclinical and clinical studies to repair the injured heart, either directly or indirectly. Transplanted cells may act in an autocrine and/or paracrine manner to improve the myocyte survival and migration of remote and/or resident stem cells to the site of injury. Still, the molecular mechanisms regulating cardiac protection and repair are poorly understood. Stem cell fate is directed by multifaceted interactions between genetic, epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Decoding stem cells’ “panomic” data would provide a comprehensive picture of the underlying mechanisms, resulting in patient-tailored therapy. This review offers a critical analysis of omics data in relation to stem cell survival and differentiation. Additionally, the emerging role of stem cell-derived exosomes as “cell-free” therapy is debated. Last but not least, we discuss the challenges to retrieve and analyze the huge amount of publicly available omics data.


Author(s):  
Mayuko Kano ◽  
Hidetaka Suga ◽  
Hiroshi Arima

Abstract The hypothalamus and pituitary have been identified to play essential roles in maintaining homeostasis. Various diseases can disrupt the functions of these systems, which can often result in serious lifelong symptoms. The current treatment for hypopituitarism involves hormone replacement therapy. However, exogenous drug administration cannot mimic the physiological changes that are a result of hormone requirements. Therefore, patients are at a high risk of severe hormone deficiency, including adrenal crisis. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) self-proliferate and differentiate into all types of cells. The generation of endocrine tissues from PSCs has been considered as another new treatment for hypopituitarism. Our colleagues established a three-dimensional culture method for embryonic stem cells (ESCs). In this culture, the ESC-derived aggregates exhibit self-organization and spontaneous formation of highly ordered patterning. Recent results have shown that strict removal of exogenous patterning factors during early differentiation efficiently induces rostral hypothalamic progenitors from mouse ESCs. These hypothalamic progenitors generate vasopressinergic neurons, which release neuropeptides upon exogenous stimulation. Subsequently, we reported adenohypophysis tissue self-formation in three-dimensional cultures of mouse ESCs. The ESCs were found to differentiate into both non-neural oral ectoderm and hypothalamic neuroectoderm in adjacent layers. Interactions between the two tissues appear to be critically important for in vitro induction of a Rathke's pouch-like developing embryo. Various endocrine cells were differentiated from non-neural ectoderm. The induced corticotrophs efficiently secreted adrenocorticotropic hormone when engrafted in vivo, which rescued hypopituitary hosts. For future regenerative medicine, generation of hypothalamic and pituitary tissues from human PSCs is necessary. We and other groups succeeded in establishing a differentiation method with the use of human PSCs. Researchers could use these methods for models of human diseases to elucidate disease pathology or screen potential therapeutics.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (145) ◽  
pp. 20180388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Donnelly ◽  
Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez ◽  
Matthew J. Dalby

Mesenchymal stem cells, characterized by their ability to differentiate into skeletal tissues and self-renew, hold great promise for both regenerative medicine and novel therapeutic discovery. However, their regenerative capacity is retained only when in contact with their specialized microenvironment, termed the stem cell niche . Niches provide structural and functional cues that are both biochemical and biophysical, stem cells integrate this complex array of signals with intrinsic regulatory networks to meet physiological demands. Although, some of these regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood or difficult to harness with traditional culture systems. Biomaterial strategies are being developed that aim to recapitulate stem cell niches, by engineering microenvironments with physiological-like niche properties that aim to elucidate stem cell-regulatory mechanisms, and to harness their regenerative capacity in vitro . In the future, engineered niches will prove important tools for both regenerative medicine and therapeutic discoveries.


Hematology ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 (1) ◽  
pp. 398-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Q. Daley ◽  
Margaret A. Goodell ◽  
Evan Y. Snyder

Abstract Studies of the regenerating hematopoietic system have led to the definition of many of the fundamental principles of stem cell biology. Therapies based on a range of tissue stem cells have been widely touted as a new treatment modality, presaging an emerging new specialty called regenerative medicine that promises to harness stem cells from embryonic and somatic sources to provide replacement cell therapies for genetic, malignant, and degenerative conditions. Insights borne from stem cell biology also portend development of protein and small molecule therapeutics that act on endogenous stem cells to promote repair and regeneration. Much of the newfound enthusiasm for regenerative medicine stems from the hope that advances in the laboratory will be followed soon thereafter by breakthrough treatments in the clinic. But how does one sort through the hype to judge the true promise? Are stem cell biologists and the media building expectations that cannot be met? Which diseases can be treated, and when can we expect success? In this review, we outline the realms of investigation that are capturing the most attention, and consider the current state of scientific understanding and controversy regarding the properties of embryonic and somatic (adult) stem cells. Our objective is to provide a framework for appreciating the promise while at the same time understanding the challenges behind translating fundamental stem cell biology into novel clinical therapies.


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