Transplantation of allogeneic and xenogeneic placenta-derived cells reduces bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis.

Fetal membranes (amnion and chorion) have recently raised significant attention as potential sources of stem cells. We have recently demonstrated that cells derived from human term placenta show stem cell phenotype, high plasticity, and display low immunogenicity both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, placenta-derived cells, after xenotransplantation, are able to engraft in solid organs including the lung.

Amniotic mesenchymal tissue cells inhibit dendritic cell differentiation of peripheral blood and amnion resident monocytes.

Cells derived from the amniotic membranes of human term placenta have drawn much interest for their characteristics of multipotency and low immunogenicity, supporting a variety of possible clinical applications in the field of cell transplantation and regenerative medicine. We have previously shown that cells derived from the mesenchymal region of human amnion (AMTC) can strongly inhibit T-lymphocyte proliferation. In this study, we demonstrate that AMTC can block differentiation and maturation of monocytes into dendritic cells (DC), preventing the expression of the DC marker CD1a and reducing the expression of HLA-DR, CD80, and CD83.

Molecular signature detection of circulating tumor cells using a panel of selected genes.

Circulating tumor cell (CTC) detection in peripheral blood of colon and other epithelial cancer patients is becoming a scientifically recognised indicator for the presence of primary tumors and/or metastasis. The resulting need to further develop CTC detection-based systems for improved diagnosis, prognosis and assessment of therapy efficacy in tumour patients has prompted the application of different approaches, including expression analysis of tissue-specific and epithelial genes. In this context, lack of specificity of the analysed genes remains a fundamental problem for reliable CTC detection.

Use of highly sensitive mitochondrial probes to detect microchimerism in xenotransplantation models.

Chimerism, defined as the co-existence of cells of different origin within the same organism, has received much attention in hematopoietic cell and organ transplantation because of the strict relationship between its establishment and the induction of specific tolerance. Traditional methods applied for chimerism detection, such as immunohistochemistry, cytogenetics, fluorescent-activated cell sorter analysis, and serological and biochemical testing, are limited by their sensitivity. We have established a highly sensitive molecular approach based on the amplification of the mitochondrial cytochrome B gene and tested its specificity and sensitivity level in six different mammalian species, including human, pig, mouse, rat, sheep and rabbit.

Conditioning of neonatal pigs using low-dose chemotherapy and murine fetal tissue before murine hybridoma transplantation.

Immunosuppression, myeloablation, and the use of immunologically immature tissue can overcome major histocompatibility complex barriers by inducing tolerance. With the goal of inducing tolerance to BALB/c-derived murine hybridoma cells producing the 4C6 monoclonal antibody (mAb), we transplanted BALB/c fetal tissue into neonatal pigs during a regimen of low-dose conditioning with busulfan and cyclophosphamide. After the tolerance induction phase, animals received intraperitoneal injections of 4C6 mAb hybridoma cells.

Engraftment potential of human amnion and chorion cells derived from term placenta.

Background: Fetal membranes are tissues of particular interest for several reasons, including their role in preventing rejection of the fetus and their early embryologic origin. which may entail progenitor potential. The immunologic reactivity and the transplantation potential of amnion and chorion cells, however, remain to be elucidated.