Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been studied extensively due to their potential to differentiate to cell types of varying lineages.Adipose tissue and umbilical cord blood are two tissues frequently used to obtain MSCs. Due to tumor tropism of MSCs and their ability to protect encoded cytotoxic genes, MSCs have garnered interest as a potential vector for targeted therapy, with limited damage to normal tissues. The tumor microenvironment plays a critical role in ensuring the survival of cancer cells through promotion of MSCs to differentiate into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which promote tumor growth and metastasis. Through specific interactions between ligands and receptors expressed on MSCs and cancer cells, respectively,MSCs can home to necrotic tissues or inflamed sites in the body, including the tumor microenvironment. In fact, an inflammatory tumor environment is similar to a wound healing environment. This review discusses the preeminent characteristics of MSCs and their influence ontumor cell growth and metastasis. MSCs may represent an encouraging platform for cancer treatment. The combination of MSC and gene therapy represents a potentially outstanding strategy to specifically target and effectively destroy tumor.

Breast cancer stem cells were firstly discovered by Al-Hajj et al. (2003). Many scientists interested in targeting them as an important solution to “remove” the root of breast cancer. However, more and more publications showed that breast cancer stem cells are the heterogenous population that expression of some markers can be different between them. Particularly, some different markers were considered as markers of breast cancer stem cells. Therefore, what are gold standards of these cells? In this publication, we discussed some conflicts about markers of breast cancer stem cells and suggested some gold standards for breast cancer stem cells.

Adipose tissue is a rich source of stem cells, especially mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). This study aimed to identify and isolate endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from human adipose tissue. Belly adipose tissues were collected from donors with consent. Stromal vascular fractions (SVFs) were extracted from adipose tissues by enzyme collagenase using commercial kits. SVFs were cultured in MSCCult medium for 24 h to obtain MSCs, then supernatant was collected and cell pellet cultured in EGM-2 medium to obtain adipose tissue EPCs (ADEPCs). ADEPCs were checked for surface marker expression of CD31 and VEGFR2, and for angiogenesis capability in vitro. The results showed that SVFs contained a pool of EPCs with strong angiogenesis potential and that adipose tissue is not only a source for MSCs but also for EPCs. Therefore, ADEPCs may a useful source of EPCs for vascular medicine.

Three-dimensional (3D) cultures are becoming increasingly popular due to their ability to mimic tissue-like structures more effectively than monolayer cultures. In cancer research, the natural tumor characteristics and architecture are more closely mimicked by 3D cell models. Thus, 3D cell cultures are more promising and suitable models, particularly for in vitro drug screening to predict in vivo efficacy. Different methods have been developed to create 3D cell culture systems for research application. This review will introduce and discuss 3D cell culture methods most popularly used in drug screening. The potential applications of these systems in anticancer drug screening will also be discussed.

Introductions: Joint replacements have considerably improved the quality of life of patients with damaged joints. Over the past 30 years, there has been much effort and investigations in ways to repair damages in joints, including knee and hip joints. Materials for joint production have also been developed. Many improvements have been made in the joint replacement materials to increase their biocompatibility and longevity. This study is aimed at evaluating the in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility of Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy and UHMWPE polymer used in total hip replacements. Methods: Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy and UHMWPE polymer were carefully washed with sterile distilled water then autoclaved. The materials were used directly or indirectly to evaluate pyrogens, endotoxins, animal cell cytotoxicity, gene mutation, animal cell transformation, DNA synthesis, immunogenicity, histology reactions, and immune response.  All assays were performed according to ISO10993 guidelines. Results: The results showed that Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy and Chirulen 1020 UHMWPE polymer satisfied all criteria for implantable materials.

Introduction: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head is caused by various factors, including prolonged use of steroid drugs, use of alcohol, vascular injuries and hemoglobinopathies. This study aims to develop a mouse model for glucocorticoid-induced avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head.Methods: Adult mice were randomly divided into two groups: experimental and control. Group A (the experimental group) was given (via intramuscular injection) 10 mg/kg of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 30 mg/kg of methylprednisolone (MPS). Each mouse additionally received MPS in divided oral doses of 13 mg/kg for 10 consecutive days. Group B (the control group) received normal saline at the same location and same volume as those in Group A. Histological changes of the femoral heads were observed by electron microscopy at 3, 5, and 7 weeks after the last chemical injection. The percentage of empty lacunae was measured randomly and the expression of fibrocartilage was evaluated using an image analyz­ing system. The expression of CD31 and VEGF-R2 were observed by immunohistochemistry. The bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells were stained with propidium iodide and cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results:The results showed that at weeks 3 and 5, mice in Group A showed an increase in body weight. From weeks 5 to 7, mouse body weight in both groups remained constant. No difference in bone morphology was observed at week 7. The percentage of empty lacunae was 5.87  2.49% at week 5 and 21.58  8.10% at week 7. After 7 weeks, chondrocyte degeneration and fibrocartilage expression were observed. Moreover, the density of CD31 and VEGF-R2 markers increased in the femoral head. The rate of apoptosis in the bone marrow increased at week 3 then decreased. Conclusion: The data show that MPS, combined with LPS, can induce in mice features typical of early AVN of the femoral head.

Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells areeffector immune cells with anti-tumor potency of T lymphocytes as well as non-major histocompatibility complex restricted elimination of natural killer cells. Preclinical models have shown that CIK cells have strong anti-tumor killing capacity against a variety of blood cancers and solid tumors. Clinical studies confirm the advantages of CIK cells, including the safety of CIK cell therapy in patients with advanced cancer. A preeminent property of CIK cells, which may help them to overcome some of the limitations of other adoptive immunotherapy strategies, is their ability to be expanded ex vivo to high numbers. Their robust in vitro proliferation provides adequate quantity for multiple adoptive infusions. The tumor-killing capacity of CIK cells is mainly based on the interaction between NKG2D molecules on CIK cells and MIC A/B or ULBP molecules on tumor cells. Moreover, CIK cells have a reduced allo-reactivity across HLA-barriers. This review summarizes the clinical applications of CIK cells and updates of combining CIK cells with other therapies. This review highlights the benefits of CIK cell use in clinical treatment of cancer.

Review

Biomedical Research and Therapy

February 2016, 3:5

• Phuc Van Pham

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Abstract

Stem cell transplantation has the long history of more than 50 years from the first bone marrow transplantation in 1957. From the 2000s, clinical applications of stem cells significantly increased with more diseases and more patients treated with stem cells. Both autologous stem cells and allogeneic stem cells as well as adult stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and both in vitro non-expanded stem cells and in vitro expanded stem cells were clinically applied. For adult stem cells, besides hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), neural stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells, limbal stem cells… also were used in the treatment of some diseases. To the year 2015, applications of MSCs have dramatically increased when some MSCs-based drugs that were approved and commercialized in some countries. About iPSCs, Japanese scientists also firstly applied the iPSCs in treatment of ophthalmological diseases. Currently, the European Medicines Agency approved the first expanded stem cell therapy to repair damaged cornea in the Europe. This review aimed to summarize, update clinical applications of stem cells to 2015.

Laboratory of Stem Cell Research and Application, University of Science,Viet Nam National University, Ho Chi Minh city, Viet Nam

*Corresponding author: pvphuc@hcmuns.edu.vn

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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