Liquid Overlay and Collagen-Based Three-Dimensional Models for Investigation of Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) clones reside in the bone marrow (BM), which plays a role in its survival and development. The interactions between MM and their neighboring mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been shown to promote MM growth and drug resistance. However, those interactions are often missing or misrepresented in traditional two-dimensional (2D) culture models.

In Model, In Vitro and In Vivo Killing Efficacy of Antitumor Peptide RDP22 on MUG-Mel2, a Patient Derived Cell Line of an Aggressive Melanoma Metastasis.

The host defense derived peptide was assessed in different model systems with increasing complexity employing the highly aggressive NRAS mutated melanoma metastases cell line MUG-Mel2. Amongst others, fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy, as well as cell death studies were applied for liposomal, 2D and 3D in vitro models including tumor spheroids without or within skin models and in vivo mouse xenografts. Summarized, MUG-Mel2 cells were shown to significantly expose the negatively charged lipid phosphatidylserine on their plasma membranes, showing they are successfully targeted by RDP22.

A preclinical model of cutaneous melanoma based on reconstructed human epidermis.

Malignant melanoma is among the tumor entities with the highest increase of incidence worldwide. To elucidate melanoma progression and develop new effective therapies, rodent models are commonly used. While these do not adequately reflect human physiology, two-dimensional cell cultures lack crucial elements of the tumor microenvironment.

Fully Synthetic 3D Fibrous Scaffolds for Stromal Tissues-Replacement of Animal-Derived Scaffold Materials Demonstrated by Multilayered Skin.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) of soft tissues in vivo has remarkable biological and structural properties. Thereby, the ECM provides mechanical stability while it still can be rearranged via cellular remodeling during tissue maturation or healing processes. However, modern synthetic alternatives fail to provide these key features among basic properties.

Patient-derived in vitro skin models for investigation of small fiber pathology.

Objective: To establish individually expandable primary fibroblast and keratinocyte cultures from 3-mm skin punch biopsies for patient-derived in vitro skin models to investigate of small fiber pathology.

Methods: We obtained 6-mm skin punch biopsies from the calf of two patients with small fiber neuropathy (SFN) and two healthy controls. One half (3 mm) was used for diagnostic intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD).

Ciclopirox olamine promotes the angiogenic response of endothelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells.

Background: Prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (PHIs) are promising compounds to promote angiogenesis by stabilizing hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), a master regulator of angiogenesis. Increased HIF-1α presence induces expression of proangiogenic genes such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Objective: We investigated the pharmacological induction of hypoxia via the PHI ciclopirox olamine (CPX) as angiogenesis strategy on human dermal microvascular endothelial cell (hd-mvEC) spheroids directly and indirectly via activating human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs).