Phase I/IIa Feasibility Trial of Autologous Quality- and Quantity-Cultured Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Therapy for Non-Healing Extremity Ulcers.

Non-healing wounds are among the main causes of morbidity and mortality. We recently described a novel, serum-free ex vivo expansion system, the quantity and quality culture system (QQc), which uses peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) for effective and noninvasive regeneration of tissue and vasculature in murine and porcine models. In this prospective clinical study, we investigated the safety and efficacy of QQ-cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cell (MNC-QQ) therapy for chronic non-healing ischemic extremity wounds.

MMP9 secreted from mononuclear cell quality and quantity culture mediates STAT3 phosphorylation and fibroblast migration in wounds.

Introduction: Intractable ulcers may ultimately lead to amputation. To promote wound healing, researchers developed a serum-free ex vivo peripheral blood mononuclear cell quality and quantity culture (MNC-QQc) as a source for cell therapy. In mice, pigs, and even humans, cell therapy with MNC-QQc reportedly yields a high regenerative efficacy.

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells enriched in endothelial progenitor cells via quality and quantity controlled culture accelerate vascularization and wound healing in a porcine wound model.

The transplantation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) is used to promote wound angiogenesis. In patients with chronic wounds and accompanying morbidities, EPCs are often compromised in number and function. To overcome these limitations, we previously developed a quality and quantity controlled (QQ) culture system to enrich peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) in EPCs.

Quality-Quantity Control Culture Enhances Vasculogenesis and Wound Healing Efficacy of Human Diabetic Peripheral Blood CD34+ Cells.

Autologous endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) therapy is commonly used to stimulate angiogenesis in ischemic repair and wound healing. However, low total numbers and functional deficits of EPCs make autologous EPC therapy ineffective in diabetes. Currently, no known ex vivo culture techniques can expand and/or ameliorate the functional deficits of EPCs for clinical usage.

Interleukin-6 stimulates Akt and p38 MAPK phosphorylation and fibroblast migration in non-diabetic but not diabetic mice.

Persistent inflammatory environment and abnormal macrophage activation are characteristics of chronic diabetic wounds. Here, we attempted to characterize the differences in macrophage activation and temporal variations in cytokine expression in diabetic and non-diabetic wounds, with a focus on interleukin (IL)-6 mRNA expression and the p38 MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Cutaneous wound closure, CD68- and arginase-1 (Arg-1)-expressing macrophages, and cytokine mRNA expression were examined in non-diabetic and streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic mice at different time points after injury.

Successful Treatment of Infantile Hemangiomas With Propranolol in Low-Birth-Weight Infants.

Background: Infantile hemangioma (IH) is a benign neoplasm that causes scarring and cosmetic problems after spontaneous regression. Therefore, aggressive treatments such as laser irradiation and corticosteroid have been used; however, recently, the effect of propranolol has been widely noticed. In this study, the authors applied propranolol to low-birth-weight infants with IHs and evaluated its effect.