Immunomodulatory Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor Secreted by Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Atopic Dermatitis.

Background And Objectives: Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are emerging as a treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that affects a large number of people across the world. Treatment of AD using human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (hUCB-MSCs) has recently been studied. However, the mechanism underlying their effect needs to be studied continuously.

Valproic Acid-Induced CCN1 Promotes Osteogenic Differentiation by Increasing CCN1 Protein Stability through HDAC1 Inhibition in Tonsil-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Our previous study found that the level of CCN1 increases as osteogenic differentiation progresses in tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSCs). This study investigated how CCN1 is regulated through HDAC inhibition in TMSCs and their relationship with osteogenesis. Valproic acid (VPA) (1-5 mM), a well-known histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, strongly inhibited TMSC proliferation without altering MSC-specific surface markers, CD14, 34, 45, 73, 90 and 105.

TGF-β secreted by human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorates atopic dermatitis by inhibiting secretion of TNF-α and IgE.

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising therapeutics for autoimmune diseases due to their immunomodulatory effects. In particular, human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (hUCB-MSCs) have a prominent therapeutic effect on atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the underlying mechanism is unclear.

Optimization of Microenvironments Inducing Differentiation of Tonsil-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Endothelial Cell-Like Cells.

Background: Stem cell engineering is appealing consideration for regenerating damaged endothelial cells (ECs) because stem cells can differentiate into EC-like cells. In this study, we demonstrate that tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSCs) can differentiate into EC-like cells under optimal physiochemical microenvironments.

Methods: TMSCs were preconditioned with Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) or EC growth medium (EGM) for 4 days and then replating them on Matrigel to observe the formation of a capillary-like network under light microscope.

Preconditioning with interleukin-1 beta and interferon-gamma enhances the efficacy of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells-based therapy via enhancing prostaglandin E2 secretion and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis.

Preconditioning with inflammatory cytokines has improved mesenchymal stem cells characteristics, including differentiation and immunomodulating functions. In this study, we developed a preconditioning combination strategy using interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) to enhance the immuneregulatory ability of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs). Our results showed that hUCB-MSCs preconditioned with IL-1β and IFN-γ (primed hUCB-MSCs) created a statistically significant decrease in peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation, indicating that their immunosuppressive ability was increased.

Therapeutic effect of long-interval repeated intravenous administration of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells in DBA/1 mice with collagen-induced arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common inflammatory chronic disease. It has been reported that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the effect of immune suppression in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice model. However, the in vivo therapeutic effect from the long-interval repeated intravenous administration of human umbilical cord blood-derived (hUCB)-MSCs had not been investigated in CIA mice model.

Far-Infrared Irradiation Inhibits Adipogenic Differentiation and Stimulates Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Tonsil-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Role of Protein Phosphatase 2B.

Background/aims: Far-infrared (FIR) irradiation has been reported to exhibit various biological effects including improvement of cardiovascular function. However, its effect on the differentiation of stem cells has not been studied. Using tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSC), we examined whether and how FIR irradiation affects adipogenic or osteogenic differentiation.

Association of serum mineral parameters with mortality in hemodialysis patients: Data from the Korean end-stage renal disease registry.

Background: We investigated the associations between mineral metabolism parameters and mortality to identify optimal targets in Korean hemodialysis patients.

Methods: Among hemodialysis patients registered in the end-stage renal disease registry of the Korean Society of Nephrology between March 2012 and June 2017, those with serum calcium, phosphorus, and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) measured at enrollment were included. Association of serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, and iPTH with all-cause mortality was analyzed.

HL156A, a novel pharmacological agent with potent adenosine-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator activity ameliorates renal fibrosis in a rat unilateral ureteral obstruction model.

Background: Renal fibrosis is characterized by excessive production and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM), which leads to progressive renal failure. Adenosine-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a highly conserved kinase that plays a key role in Smad-3 signaling. Here, we examined the effect of a novel AMPK activator, HL156A, on the inhibition of renal fibrosis in in vivo and in vitro models.

Double intratibial injection of human tonsil-derived mesenchymal stromal cells recovers postmenopausal osteoporotic bone mass.

Background And Aims: Osteoporosis, which is a disease characterized by weakening of the bone, affects a large portion of the senior population. The current therapeutic options for osteoporosis have side effects, and there is no effective treatment for severe osteoporosis. Thus, we urgently need new treatment strategies, such as topical therapies and/or safe and effective stem cell therapies.

Esophageal Artery Pseudoaneurysm and Takayasu Arteritis in a Patient with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

A 47-year-old female previously diagnosed with ADPKD visited the hospital due to sudden pain in her upper abdomen and back. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT), and CT angiography identified an esophageal artery pseudoaneurysm and hematoma in the esophagus. Urgent angiography and embolization were performed.

Therapeutic potential of tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells in dextran sulfate sodium-induced experimental murine colitis.

The therapeutic potential of tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSC) prepared from human tonsillar tissue has been studied in animal models for several diseases such as hepatic injury, hypoparathyroidism, diabetes and muscle dystrophy. In this study, we examined the therapeutic effects of TMSC in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model. TMSC were injected in DSS-induced colitis mice via intraperitoneal injection twice (TMSC[x2]) or four times (TMSC[x4]).

Autophagy induction in the skeletal myogenic differentiation of human tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are capable of self-renewal and differentiation and are thus a valuable source for the replacement of diseased or damaged organs. Previously, we reported that the tonsils can be an excellent reservoir of MSCs for the regeneration of skeletal muscle (SKM) damage. However, the mechanisms involved in the differentiation from tonsil-derived MSCs (T-MSCs) to myocytes via myoblasts remain unclear.

Tonsil-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Differentiate into a Schwann Cell Phenotype and Promote Peripheral Nerve Regeneration.

Schwann cells (SCs), which produce neurotropic factors and adhesive molecules, have been reported previously to contribute to structural support and guidance during axonal regeneration; therefore, they are potentially a crucial target in the restoration of injured nervous tissues. Autologous SC transplantation has been performed and has shown promising clinical results for treating nerve injuries and donor site morbidity, and insufficient production of the cells have been considered as a major issue. Here, we performed differentiation of tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (T-MSCs) into SC-like cells (T-MSC-SCs), to evaluate T-MSC-SCs as an alternative to SCs.

Expression of tenocyte lineage-related factors from tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Human palatine tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSCs) are known to be a new source of progenitor cells. Using waste tissue after tonsillectomy as a cell provider can be the biggest benefit of TMSCs, compared with other stem cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate tenogenic differentiation of TMSCs and to access the differential effects of transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGF-β3) on the tenogenesis of TMSCs.

Myogenic differentiation potential of human tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells and their potential for use to promote skeletal muscle regeneration.

Stem cells are regarded as an important source of cells which may be used to promote the regeneration of skeletal muscle (SKM) which has been damaged due to defects in the organization of muscle tissue caused by congenital diseases, trauma or tumor removal. In particular, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which require less invasive harvesting techniques, represent a valuable source of cells for stem cell therapy. In the present study, we demonstrated that human tonsil-derived MSCs (T-MSCs) may differentiate into myogenic cells in vitro and that the transplantation of myoblasts and myocytes generated from human T-MSCs mediates the recovery of muscle function in vivo.

Differentiated tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells embedded in Matrigel restore parathyroid cell functions in rats with parathyroidectomy.

Parathyroid cells release parathyroid hormone (PTH), which controls calcium homeostasis. Loss of parathyroid cells results in hypoparathyroidism and consequent low-turnover bone disease. Here, we investigated whether our recently-established human tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSC) restore in vivo parathyroid cell function in rats with parathyroidectomy (PTX).

Massive Hemoptysis due to Endotracheal Hemangioma: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Tracheal hemangioma is a rare benign vascular tumor in adults. We reported a case of massive hemoptysis caused by a cavernous hemangioma in a 75-year-old man. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of a tracheal cavernous hemangioma that presented with massive hemoptysis.

Tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice via autophagy activation.

Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for chronic liver failure, although it is complicated by donor shortage, surgery-related complications, and immunological rejection. Cell transplantation is an alternative, minimally invasive treatment option with potentially fewer complications. We used human palatine tonsil as a novel source of mesenchymal stem cells (T-MSCs) and examined their ability to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells in vivo and in vitro.

A Case of Delayed Diagnosis of Pulmonary Paragonimiasis due to Improvement after Anti-tuberculosis Therapy.

Here, we report a case of pulmonary paragonimiasis that was improved with initial anti-tuberculosis (TB) therapy but confused with reactivated pulmonary TB. A 53-year-old Chinese female presented with a persistent productive cough with foul smelling phlegm and blood streaked sputum. Radiologic findings showed subpleural cavitary consolidation in the right upper lobe (RUL).

Selective osteogenesis by a synthetic mineral inducing peptide for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Mineralization in mammalian cells is accomplished by concerted regulation of protein-based extracellular matrix (ECM) components, such as non-collagenous proteins and collagen fibrils. In this study, we investigated the ability of a collagen-binding motif (CBM) peptide derived from osteopontin to selectively affect osteogenic or adipogenic differentiation in vitro and in vivo. In particular, increased osteogenic differentiation and decreased adipogenic differentiation were observed in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs).

Characterization of long-term in vitro culture-related alterations of human tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells: role for CCN1 in replicative senescence-associated increase in osteogenic differentiation.

Although mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) isolated from bone marrow and adipose tissues are known to be subjected to in vitro culture-related alterations in their stem cell properties, such data have not been reported in human tonsil-derived MSC (T-MSC). Here, we investigated the culture-related changes of phenotypes, the senescence, and the differentiation potential of T-MSC. T-MSC were serially passaged by a standard protocol, and their characteristics were assessed, including MSC-specific surface antigen profiles, the senescence, and the differentiation potentials into adipocytes, chondrocytes and osteocytes.

Cyanidin-3-glucoside suppresses Th2 cytokines and GATA-3 transcription factor in EL-4 T cells.

Allergic disease is dominated by Th2 immune responses. Interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, representative Th2 cytokines, play pivotal roles in the pathogenic activation of the Th2 immune response. In this study, we found that cyanidin-3-glucoside chloride (C3G), an anthocyanin suppressed IL-4 and IL-13 produced in activated EL-4 T cells but not Th1 cytokines including IL-2, interferon-γ, or IL-12.

A randomized phase II study to assess the effectiveness of fluid therapy or intensive nutritional support on survival in patients with advanced cancer who cannot be nourished via enteral route.

Background: Experts advise against parenteral nutrition (PN) for patients with advanced cancer at the end of life. But because many patients and families fear starvation, many physicians administer PN to patients with terminal cancer in Korea.

Objective: We designed this study to investigate the effect of PN on survival in patients with terminal cancer at the end of life.

3D culture of tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells in poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-alanine-co-L-phenyl alanine) thermogel.

Poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-alanine-co-L-phenyl alanine) (PEG-PAF) aqueous solutions undergo sol-to-gel transition as the temperature increases. The transition is driven by the micelle aggregation involving the partial dehydration of the PEG block and the partial increase in β-sheet content of the PAF block. Tonsil-tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSCs), a new stem cell resource, are encapsulated through the sol-to-gel transition of the TMSC-suspended PEG-PAF aqueous solutions.