Decellularized Extracellular Matrix Improves Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Spheroid Response to Chondrogenic Stimuli.

Cartilage regeneration is hindered due to the low proliferative capacity of chondrocytes and the avascular nature of cartilaginous tissue. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are widely studied for cartilage tissue engineering, and the aggregation of MSCs into high-density cell spheroids facilitates chondrogenic differentiation due to increased cell-cell contact. Despite the promise of MSCs, the field would benefit from improved strategies to regulate the chondrogenic potential of MSCs differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are advantageous for their capacity to yield large numbers of required cells.

Cationic Polysaccharides Bind to the Endothelial Cell Surface Extracellular Matrix Involving Heparan Sulfate.

Cationic polysaccharides have been extensively studied for drug delivery via the bloodstream, yet few have progressed to clinical use. Endothelial cells lining the blood vessel wall are coated in an anionic extracellular matrix called the glycocalyx. However, we do not fully comprehend the charged polysaccharide interactions with the glycocalyx.

CD9 shapes glucocorticoid sensitivity in pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Resistance to glucocorticoids (GC), the common agents for remission induction in pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL), poses a significant therapeutic hurdle. Therefore, dissecting the mechanisms shaping GC resistance could lead to new treatment modalities. Here, we showed that CD9- BCP-ALL cells were preferentially resistant to prednisone and dexamethasone over other standard cytotoxic agents.

Phosphatidylserine regulates plasma membrane repair through tetraspanin-enriched macrodomains.

The integrity of the plasma membrane is critical to cell function and survival. Cells have developed multiple mechanisms to repair damaged plasma membranes. A key process during plasma membrane repair is to limit the size of the damage, which is facilitated by the presence of tetraspanin-enriched rings surrounding damage sites.

Compliant substrates mitigate the senescence associated phenotype of stress induced mesenchymal stromal cells.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a promising cell population for musculoskeletal cell-based therapies due to their multipotent differentiation capacity and complex secretome. Cells from younger donors are mechanosensitive, evidenced by changes in cell morphology, adhesivity, and differentiation as a function of substrate stiffness in both two- and three-dimensional culture. However, MSCs from older individuals exhibit reduced differentiation potential and increased senescence, limiting their potential for autologous use.