Multifaceted role of SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins in lung injury.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the third human coronavirus to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and contains four structural proteins: spike, envelope, membrane, and nucleocapsid. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that all four structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2 are capable of causing lung injury, even without the presence of intact virus. Therefore, the topic of SARS-CoV-2 structural protein-evoked lung injury warrants more attention.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Alleviate Acute Lung Injury Via Transfer of miR-27a-3p.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to determine the role of microRNA transfer in mediating the effects of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles in acute lung injury.

Design: Experimental cell and animal studies.

Setting: University-based research laboratory.

miR-10a in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Is a Biomarker for Sepsis and Has Anti-Inflammatory Function.

Background: Recent literature has reported the use of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as biomarkers for sepsis. Immune cells play an essential role in the pathophysiology of sepsis. The aim of this prospective study was to identify miRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) that could differentiate between sepsis and infection based on Sepsis-3 definition.

Functional proteins of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain proteins, microRNAs, mRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and phospholipids, and are a novel mechanism of intercellular communication. It has been proposed that the immunomodulatory and regenerative effects of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are mainly mediated by soluble paracrine factors and MSC-derived EVs (MSC-EVs). Recent studies suggest that MSC-EVs may serve as a novel and cell-free alternative to whole-cell therapies.

Differential effects of extracellular vesicles from aging and young mesenchymal stem cells in acute lung injury.

Old age is a known risk factor for mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)/acute lung injury. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess potent immunomodulatory properties, while aging MSCs have reduced capacity. Recent studies have demonstrated that MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) are able to mimic MSCs in alleviating acute lung injury.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles affect disease outcomes via transfer of microRNAs.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stromal cells with the capacity to differentiate into multiple types of cells. MSCs represent an attractive option in regenerative medicine due to their multifaceted abilities for tissue repair, immunosuppression, and anti-inflammation. Recent studies demonstrate that MSCs exert their effects via paracrine activity, which is at least partially mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs).

Mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles: regenerative and immunomodulatory effects and potential applications in sepsis.

Mesenchymal stromal (stem) cells (MSCs) have multipotent differentiation capacity and exist in nearly all forms of post-natal organs and tissues. The immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties of MSCs have made them an ideal candidate in the treatment of diseases, such as sepsis, in which inflammation plays a critical role. One of the key mechanisms of MSCs appears to derive from their paracrine activity.

Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells alleviate obliterative bronchiolitis in a murine model via IDO.

Background: Long-term survival of lung transplantation is hindered by the development of obliterative bronchiolitis (OB). Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) were documented to have more potent immunosuppressive ability than mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow and placenta. The goal of our study is to evaluate the effect of repeated administration of ASCs on OB and the involvement of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) mediating the protective effect of ASCs in a heterotopic tracheal transplantation (HTT) model.

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells modulate CD14CD16 expression on monocytes from sepsis patients in vitro via prostaglandin E2.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to reduce sepsis-induced inflammation and improve survival in mouse models of sepsis. CD16 monocytes are proinflammatory and abundant in inflammatory conditions such as sepsis. The primary objective in this exploratory study was to determine the effects of adipose-derived MSCs (ASCs) on three subsets of monocytes from sepsis patients in vitro and to delineate the underlying mechanism.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Educated Macrophages Ameliorate LPS-Induced Systemic Response.

Both bone marrow and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) have immunomodulatory effects. The goal of this study was to determine whether ASCs-educated macrophages could directly ameliorate LPS-induced systemic response in a mouse model. Mouse peritoneal macrophages were cocultured with ASCs in a Transwell system for 2 days to educate macrophages.

Substolides A-G, germacrane sesquiterpenoids from Salvia substolonifera.

Chemical investigation of the whole plants of Salvia substolonifera E.Peter yielded seven germacrane sesquiterpenoids, substolides A-G (1-7), an ethoxylated artifact (8), and two known analogues, 6β-tigloyloxyglechomafuran (9) and castanin F (10). Four germacrane 8-acetylation derivatives (1a-4a) were obtained by chemical transformation.

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Affect Disease Outcomes via Macrophage Polarization.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent and self-renewable cells that reside in almost all postnatal tissues. In recent years, many studies have reported the effect of MSCs on the innate and adaptive immune systems. MSCs regulate the proliferation, activation, and effector function of T lymphocytes, professional antigen presenting cells (dendritic cells, macrophages, and B lymphocytes), and NK cells via direct cell-to-cell contact or production of soluble factors including indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor-α stimulated gene/protein 6, nitric oxide, and IL-10.

Two new sesquiterpenoids including a sesquiterpenoid lactam from Curcuma wenyujin.

Two new sesquiterpenoids, namely elema-1,3,7(11),8-tetraen-8,12-lactam (1) and 7β,8α-dihydroxy-1α,4αH-guai-9,11-dien-5β,8β-endoxide (2), together with five known analogs were isolated from the EtOAc extract of the rhizomes of Curcuma wenyujin. Their structures and relative configurations were determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods including 2D-NMR techniques. All compounds were tested for the inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production.