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Targeting p53 pathways: mechanisms, structures, and advances in … – Nature.com

By adminMarch 3, 2023Embryonic Stem Cells

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Targeting p53 pathways: mechanisms, structures, and advances in ... - Nature.com

Kanazawa University research: Biomolecular sliding at the nanoscale – StreetInsider.com

By adminMarch 3, 2023Embryonic Stem Cells

KANAZAWA, Japan, Feb. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at Kanazawa University report in Nano Letters the discovery of a biomolecular dynamical process likely relevant to gene expression. The process, revealed by means of high-speed atomic force microscopy, involves DNA and its packaging molecules.

In organisms whose cells have a nucleus, like plants and animals, the basic packaging units of DNA are the so-called nucleosomes. A nucleosome consists of a segment of DNA wound around eight proteins known as histones. Gene expression, which lies at the basis of protein production, requires 'reading' DNA, for which DNA needs to be temporarily unwrapped. Detailed studies, and especially visualizations, of DNAhistone and nucleosome dynamics are crucial for better understanding DNA unwrapping and related processes. Mikihiro Shibata from Kanazawa University and colleagues have now succeeded in making video recordings of the nucleosome dynamics of H2A.Z, a histone variant associated with various biological processes. The videos reveal the spontaneous sliding of H2A.Z nucleosomes on a substrate.

Histone variants, such as H2A.Z, differ from the canonical forms (like H2A) encountered in stable nucleosome packaging. They form unstable nucleosomes with particular biological functions; H2A.Z is believed to play a role in early embryonic development and stem cell differentiation. The dynamics of the H2A.Z nucleosome under physiological conditions are mostly unknown. Shibata and colleagues used high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) to investigate H2A.Z nucleosome dynamics, as the method is a powerful nanoimaging tool for visualizing molecular structures and their dynamics at high spatiotemporal resolution.

To observe DNAhistone dynamics in HS-AFM experiments, the nucleosome needs to be put onto a substrate. The DNA should adsorb easily to the substrate, but at the same time, substrateDNA interactions should still be weak enough to avoid suppressing dynamical processes. The scientists therefore prepared substrates by putting pillar[5]arenes onto a mica surface. The pillar[5]arenes, molecules with a pentagonal tubular structure, form a thin film on the mica, and provide the ideal surface for nucleosome dynamics observations.

The researchers looked at the time evolution of a system consisting of a nucleosome particle put on a DNA strand. Experiments with canonical H2A histones confirmed the stability of H2A nucleosomes: no significant changes over time were observed. Observations for H2A.Z histone variants showed a different picture, however. HS-AFM with a time resolution of 0.3 s revealed sliding events, in which a nucleosome particle slides along the DNA strand.

The findings of Shibata and colleagues may lead to a better understanding of the biochemical mechanisms behind gene expression. Quoting the researchers: "[t]he single-molecule imaging by HS-AFM presented here could help unveil the relationship between nucleosome dynamics and gene regulation in the near future."

Background

High-speed atomic force microscopyThe general principle of atomic force microscopy (AFM) is to make a very small tip scan the surface of a sample. During this horizontal (xy) scan, the tip, which is attached to a small cantilever, follows the sample's vertical (z) profile, inducing a force on the cantilever that can be measured. The magnitude of the force at the xy position can be related to the z value; the xyz data generated during a scan then result in a height map providing structural information about the investigated sample. In high-speed-AFM (HS-AFM), the working principle is slightly more involved: the cantilever is made to oscillate near its resonance frequency. When the tip is moved around a surface, the variations in the amplitude (or the frequency) of the cantilever's oscillation resulting from the tip's interaction with the sample's surface are recorded, as these provide a measure for the local 'z' value. AFM does not involve lenses, so its resolution is not restricted by the so-called diffraction limit as in X-ray diffraction, for example.

HS-AFM results in a video, where the time interval between frames depends on the speed with which a single image can be generated (by xy-scanning the sample). Researchers at Kanazawa University have in recent years developed HS-AFM further, so that it can be applied to study biochemical molecules and biomolecular processes in real-time. Mikihiro Shibata and colleagues have now applied the method to study nucleosome dynamics, revealing a sliding process of nucleosome particles along a DNA strand.

Related figurehttps://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/H2AZ_thumbnail.png

Caption: High-speed atomic force microscopy visualization of the sliding of a H2A.Z nucleosome along a DNA strand. 2023 Morioka, et al., Nano Letters

Reference

Shin Morioka, Shoko Sato, Naoki Horikoshi, Tomoya Kujirai, Takuya Tomita, Yudai Baba, Takahiro Kakuta, Tomoki Ogoshi, Leonardo Puppulin, Ayumi Sumino, Kenichi Umeda, Noriyuki Kodera, Hitoshi Kurumizaka, and Mikihiro Shibata. High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy Reveals Spontaneous Nucleosome Sliding of H2A.Z at the Subsecond Time Scale, Nano Letters (2023).

DOI: doi=10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c04346

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c04346

ContactHiroe YonedaVice Director of Public AffairsWPI Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI)Kanazawa UniversityKakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, JapanEmail: [emailprotected]Tel: +81 (76) 234-4550

About Kanazawa Universityhttp://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/e/As the leading comprehensive university on the Sea of Japan coast, Kanazawa University has contributed greatly to higher education and academic research in Japan since it was founded in 1949. The University has three colleges and 17 schools offering courses in subjects that include medicine, computer engineering, and humanities.

The University is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in Kanazawa a city rich in history and culture. The city of Kanazawa has a highly respected intellectual profile since the time of the fiefdom (1598-1867). Kanazawa University is divided into two main campuses: Kakuma and Takaramachi for its approximately 10,200 students including 600 from overseas.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kanazawa-university-research-biomolecular-sliding-at-the-nanoscale-301757624.html

SOURCE Kanazawa University

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Kanazawa University research: Biomolecular sliding at the nanoscale - StreetInsider.com

Automating iPSC generation to enable autologous photoreceptor … – Journal of Translational Medicine

By adminMarch 3, 2023Somatic Stem Cells

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Automating iPSC generation to enable autologous photoreceptor ... - Journal of Translational Medicine

Hair Transplant Global Market Report 2023: Increasing use of Follicular Unit Extraction Drives Growth – Yahoo Finance

By adminMarch 3, 2023Stem Cell Clinics

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Global Hair Transplant Market

Dublin, March 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Hair Transplant Market, Size, Forecast 2023-2028, Industry Trends, Growth, Share, Outlook, Impact of Inflation, Opportunity Company Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Global Hair Transplant Market is expected to reach US$ 53.17 Billion by 2028, according to the publisher. The hair transplant industry is a developing and a attractive sector, driven by rising demand for cosmetic surgeries to enhance looks and self-esteem. Advances in surgical procedures and instruments, as well as increased public knowledge of the process, have all contributed to the industry's expansion in recent years.

For example, the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) predicts that 2,221,191 hair restoration treatments would be conducted worldwide in 2021, with hair restoration procedures increasing by 7% globally between 2019 and 2021.

Hair Transplant Growth Trends appears to grow with a double-digit CAGR of 23.84% during 2022-2028

The increasing frequency of chronic diseases like cancer, hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism causes hair loss, which drives market expansion. Increased usage of chemotherapies, which causes hair loss and increases demand for hair transplant surgery. The market is growing because to an increase in the number of product approvals and product launches for hair transplantation procedures.

However, the sector confronts a number of obstacles, including a lack of standardization and regulation, as well as the possibility of substandard outcomes from unskilled or unlicensed practitioners. As a result, patients considering hair transplant surgeries should do their homework and select a trained and recognized surgeon to achieve the best potential results. For the year 2022, Hair Restoration Market World over was worth US$ 17.75 Billion.

Increasing Surgeries at Hospitals and Clinics to Aid Market Share

Hair transplants can be done in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, surgical centres, and other facilities. Clinics that perform hair transplant surgeries may also provide additional hair loss therapies such as topical and oral medicines, laser therapy, and scalp micropigmentation. Patients must conduct research and select a reputed and competent clinic for their hair transplant process. Look for clinics that have a trained medical staff, employ established treatments, and have a track record of favourable results.

Overall, the hair transplant market in Clinics is expanding, fueled by rising demand for hair restoration surgeries and technological developments. For example, HHC (Hermest Hair Clinic) established a cost-effective and innovative follicular unit extraction (FUE) technique service for hair transplants in Turkey in April 2022. Such innovations are expected to drive market expansion over the study period.

Hair transplant treatments are often conducted in hospitals as part of a bigger medical centre that provides a full range of medical services and resources. Emergency services are frequently offered in hospitals, which can give an additional degree of protection for individuals having hair transplant surgeries. The hospitals segment is predicted to grow significantly during the hair transplant market projection period, owing to the availability of various hair transplant procedures and an increase in government investment to strengthen the healthcare sector.

The Increasing use of Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) will Drive Market Growth

To restore hair in bald areas, several hair transplantation techniques such as follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE) are undertaken. Hair transplantation is most typically used to treat male pattern baldness, but it can also be used to treat female hair loss and balding. FUE is a popular hair restoration method because it has numerous advantages over traditional hair transplant procedures, such as less invasiveness, more natural-looking outcomes, a quicker recovery period, and a high degree of customisation. These elements are propelling FUE's popularity and ensuring its continuing expansion as a hair restoration procedure.

For many years, FUT has been a popular hair restoration method, and it remains a viable alternative for people seeking hair restoration. FUT is a well-established hair restoration procedure that is anticipated to flourish and grow in popularity in the next years, especially as technology advances and people become more aware of their alternatives. However, it is critical to select a trained and experienced practitioner for any hair restoration surgery, as the outcomes might vary widely depending on the practitioner's abilities and knowledge.

The Growing Number of Persons Experiencing Hair Loss will have an Impact on Regional Growth

North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific are among the most populous and fastest-growing markets for hair transplant treatments, owing to reasons such as ageing populations, rising disposable incomes, and increased knowledge of the process. Hair transplant market growth is being driven by an increase in the number of operations performed in the United States. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS), 24,348 hair transplantation surgeries were conducted in the United States in 2019.

Furthermore, a growth in physical appearance awareness among Europeans, as well as an increase in the number of people suffering from baldness, increases the need for hair transplant procedures. According to the New Look Institute, a hair restoration facility, in 2021, around 39.24% of the male population in France will be bald.

Emerging Asian countries are focusing on the development of superior healthcare facilities while reducing prices and medical tourism. Istanbul has become the Global Hair Transplant Capital. Turkish health institutions and physicians specialized in this topic have become a global phenomenon in recent years.

During the Projection Period, Platelet Rich Plasma Treatment is Predicted to Increase at a Faster CAGR

The market is divided into three segments based on therapy: low level laser therapy, stem cell hair restoration, and platelet rich plasma. Platelet-rich plasma therapy techniques in hair loss treatment are rapidly expanding, which is projected to enhance demand for platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. Due to its non-surgical and minimally invasive nature, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy for hair loss has grown in popularity in recent years. Rising popularity and efficacy of PRP therapy is projected to recover with minimum scarring following transplantation, leading in increased demand for platelet-rich plasma therapy throughout the projection period.

Stem cell hair restoration treatment is a novel and rapidly developing topic in the hair transplant business. Despite these emerging trends, stem cell hair restoration therapy is still in its infancy, and more study is required to properly understand its efficacy and long-term effects. Furthermore, not all clinics offering stem cell hair restoration therapy have the requisite experience and technology, so selecting a recognised and competent facility for treatment is critical.

Drug Product holds Majority of the Market Share

The hair transplant market is divided into gel, serum, medicines, multivitamins, and others based on product. The medication hair transplant market is continually growing, with new products and treatments being created on a regular basis. Minoxidil and finasteride are two regularly used drugs for the treatment of hair loss. Minoxidil is a topical drug that is readily accessible without a prescription and is used to treat both male and female pattern baldness. Finasteride is an oral medicine that is mostly used to treat male pattern baldness. It is taken on a daily basis and has been proved to be useful in certain men in reducing or preventing hair loss and encouraging hair growth.

Procedure - Hair Transplant Market breakup from 2 viewpoints:

1. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)2. Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)

Therapy - Hair Transplant Market breakup from 3 viewpoints:

1. Platelet Rich Plasma2. Stem Cell Therapy3. Laser Therapy

Product - Hair Transplant Market breakup from 5 viewpoints:

1. Gel2. Serum3. Hair Transplant4. Multivitamins5. Others

Region - Hair Transplant Market breakup from 5 viewpoints:

1. North America2. Europe3. Asia-Pacific4. Latin America5. Middle East & Africa

Service Provider - Hair Transplant Market breakup from 4 viewpoints:

1. Clinics2. Surgical Centers3. Hospitals4. Others

Story continues

Report Attribute

Details

No. of Pages

130

Forecast Period

2022 - 2028

Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022

$14.74 Billion

Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028

$53.17 Billion

Compound Annual Growth Rate

23.8%

Regions Covered

Global

Companies Mentioned

Venus Concept Inc

Sisram Medical Ltd

CUTERA, INC

Allergan Plc

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bex3hs-transplant?w=12

About ResearchAndMarkets.comResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Hair Transplant Global Market Report 2023: Increasing use of Follicular Unit Extraction Drives Growth - Yahoo Finance

Early Mayo Clinic research finds hope in stem cell therapy for … – EurekAlert

By adminMarch 3, 2023Adult Stem Cells

ROCHESTER, Minn. A dissolvable plug delivered stem cell therapy with few side effects in patients with single tractperianal fistulas,Mayo Clinicresearchers discovered. Perianal fistulas are painful tunnels between the intestine and the skin that often do not go away with standard medical or surgical care. People withCrohn's diseaseor otherinflammatory bowel conditionsare most at risk for this condition.

In a prospective, phase 1 clinical trial, researchers loaded stem cells from a patient's own fat tissue onto a bioabsorbable plug that was then surgically implanted to close the anal fistula tract. They followed the patients for one year and reported results of their early research inDiseases of the Colon & Rectum.

"In this early study, our team documented healing of single-tract fistulas," saysEric Dozois, M.D., a colorectal surgeon and first author on the study. "In my 20 years of clinical experience, our fistula research suggests we are getting closer to a care model."

As many as 26% of people with Crohn's disease will develop perianal fistulas. Most often, it starts with an infection within the anal gland and often progresses into an abscess that sometimes requires surgery. Left untreated, perianal fistulas leak fecal material and can lead to permanent colostomy and, in some cases, cancer. A colostomy is a surgical opening in the abdomen that bypasses the damaged colon to rid the body of solid waste. Perianal fistulas can cause quality-of-life challenges, such as the need to wear pads to protect clothing and prevent odor.

"Perianal fistulas are a complex medical condition that, even when repaired surgically, can reoccur, causing a lot of suffering for patients," saysWilliam Faubion Jr., M.D., a gastroenterologist and senior author on the study. "Our hope with this research is to advance a cell-based therapy toward daily clinical care that would be easy to implant in the operating room and offer a new option for patients with unmet needs."

The research

The research team extracted mesenchymal stem cells from adipose (fat) tissue of 20 patients with perianal fistulas who had not responded to standard medical or surgical treatment. Mesenchymal stem cells are adult stem cells with healing potential that have been well studied. After multiplying the stem cells in the lab, the team combined the cells with a plug created from a dissolvable material. They surgically implanted the plug to close the anal fistula tract then monitored the patients seven times within 12 months, with a focus on investigating safety. They also studied whether the treatment intervention led to clinical healing that could be confirmed through deep tissue imaging.

Dr. Dozois' team documented complete healing of 14 patients at six months and 13 patients at one year. Three patients withdrew for various reasons during the course of the clinical trial.

Four participants reported side effects such as infections that required admission to the hospital or surgical draining of an abscess. Twelve participants experienced reactions considered to be minor, such as redness, fever or nausea.

Based on their findings, Dr. Dozois' team is recommending further study of the stem cell-coated fistula plug with larger sample sizes and more types of fistulas. If all goes well, it could take two or three years before this procedure is approved for routine clinical care.

Dr. Dozois, Dr. Faubion and Mayo Clinic have financial interests in the regenerative fistula plug technology. Any profits Mayo Clinic realizes from its business ventures are reinvested in research and education initiatives at Mayo.

###

About Mayo ClinicMayo Clinicis a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit theMayo Clinic News Networkfor additional Mayo Clinic news.

Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Durable Response in Patients With Refractory Fistulizing Perianal Crohns Disease Using Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cells on a Dissolvable Matrix: Results from the Phase I Stem Cell on Matrix Plug Trial

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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Early Mayo Clinic research finds hope in stem cell therapy for ... - EurekAlert

Metabolic Mechanism Activates Stem Cells in the Adult Brain – Technology Networks

By adminMarch 3, 2023Adult Stem Cells

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A team of biologists led by UNIGE and UNIL has discovered how to awaken neural stem cells and reactivate them in adult mice.

Some areas of the adult brain contain quiescent, or dormant, neural stem cells that can potentially be reactivated to form new neurons. However, the transition from quiescence to proliferation is still poorly understood. A team led by scientists from the Universities of Geneva (UNIGE) and Lausanne (UNIL) has discovered the importance of cell metabolism in this process and identified how to wake up these neural stem cells and reactivate them. Biologists succeeded in increasing the number of new neurons in the brain of adult and even elderly mice. These results, promising for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, are to be discovered in the journalScience Advances.

Stem cells have the unique ability to continuously produce copies of themselves and give rise to differentiated cells with more specialized functions. Neural stem cells (NSCs) are responsible for building the brain during embryonic development, generating all the cells of the central nervous system, including neurons.

Surprisingly, NSCs persist in certain brain regions even after the brain is fully formed and can make new neurons throughout life. This biological phenomenon, called adult neurogenesis, is important for specific functions such as learning and memory processes. However, in the adult brain, these stem cells become more silent or dormant and reduce their capacity for renewal and differentiation. As a result, neurogenesis decreases significantly with age. The laboratories of Jean-Claude Martinou, Emeritus Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the UNIGE Faculty of Science, and Marlen Knobloch, Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the UNIL Faculty of Biology and Medicine, have uncovered a metabolic mechanism by which adult NSCs can emerge from their dormant state and become active.

We found that mitochondria, the energy-producing organelles within cells, are involved in regulating the level of activation of adult NSCs,explains Francesco Petrelli, research fellow at UNIL and co-first author of the study with Valentina Scandella. The mitochondrial pyruvate transporter (MPC), a protein complex discovered eleven years ago in Professor Martinous group, plays a particular role in this regulation. Its activity influences the metabolic options a cell can use. By knowing the metabolic pathways that distinguish active cells from dormant cells, scientists can wake up dormant cells by modifying their mitochondrial metabolism.

Biologists have blocked MPC activity by using chemical inhibitors or by generating mutant mice for theMpc1gene. Using these pharmacological and genetic approaches, the scientists were able to activate dormant NSCs and thus generate new neurons in the brains of adult and even aged mice. With this work, we show that redirection of metabolic pathways can directly influence the activity state of adult NSCs and consequently the number of new neurons generated, summarizes Professor Knobloch, co-lead author of the study. These results shed new light on the role of cell metabolism in the regulation of neurogenesis. In the long term, these results could lead to potential treatments for conditions such as depression or neurodegenerative diseases, concludes Jean-Claude Martinou, co-lead author of the study.

Reference:Petrelli F, Scandella V, Montessuit S, Zamboni N, Martinou JC, Knobloch M. Mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism regulates the activation of quiescent adult neural stem cells. Science Advances. 2023;9(9):eadd5220. doi:10.1126/sciadv.add5220

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

How to awaken neural stem cells and reactivate them? – Tech Explorist

By adminMarch 3, 2023Adult Stem Cells

Cellular metabolism is essential for adult neural stem/progenitor cell (NSPC) behavior. These cells can be reactivated to form new neurons. However, its role in the transition from quiescence to proliferation has yet to be fully understood.

A team led by scientists from the Universities of Geneva (UNIGE) and Lausanne (UNIL) has discovered the importance of cell metabolism in this process and identified how to wake up these neural stem cells and reactivate them. They successfully increased the number of new neurons in the brain of adult and even elderly mice.

The brain is constructed during embryonic development by neural stem cells (NSCs), which produce all other central nervous system cells, including neurons. Interestingly, NSCs keep growing and can produce new neurons in specific brain regions even after the brain has fully developed. Adult neurogenesis is a biological process crucial for particular tasks, including memory and learning.

However, in the adult brain, these stem cells become more silent or dormant and reduce their capacity for renewal and differentiation. As a result, neurogenesis decreases significantly with age.

Scientists uncovered a metabolic mechanism by which adult NSCs can emerge from their dormant state and become active.

Francesco Petrelli, a research fellow at UNIL and co-first author of the study with Valentina Scandella, said,We found that mitochondria, the energy-producing organelles within cells, regulate the level of activation of adult NSCs.

A crucial component in this control is played by the mitochondrial pyruvate transporter (MPC), a protein complex first identified by Professor Martinous team eleven years ago. Its activity affects the available metabolic possibilities for a cell. Scientists can awaken dormant cells by altering their mitochondrial metabolism by understanding the metabolic mechanisms that separate active cells from dormant cells.

By utilizing chemical inhibitors or creating mutant mice for the Mpc1 gene, biologists have been able to block MPC activity. The scientists stimulated dormant NSCs and subsequently generated new neurons in the brains of adult and even old mice by using pharmacological and genetic approaches.

Professor Knobloch, co-lead author of the study, said,With this work, we show that redirection of metabolic pathways can directly influence the activity state of adult NSCs and consequently the number of new neurons generated.

Jean-Claude Martinou, co-lead author of the study, said,These results shed new light on the role of cell metabolism in regulating neurogenesis. In the long term, these results could lead to potential treatments for conditions such as depression or neurodegenerative diseases.

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How to awaken neural stem cells and reactivate them? - Tech Explorist

Stem cell therapy may reduce risk of heart attack and stroke in … – CTV News

By adminMarch 3, 2023Adult Stem Cells

Published Feb. 27, 2023 3:30 p.m. ET

Cell therapy, involving adult stem cells from bone marrow, has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in severe heart failure patients, according to a new study.

A single administration of adult stem cells directly into an inflamed heart, through a catheter, could result in a long-term 58 per cent reduced risk of heart attack or stroke among heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction, meaning they have a weakened heart muscle, suggests the study, published Monday in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The study is being called the largest clinical trial of cell therapy to date in patients with heart failure, a serious condition that occurs when the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.

"We followed these patients during several years -- three years -- and what we found was that their hearts got stronger. We found a very significant reduction in heart attack and stroke, especially in the patient that we measured in their blood that they had more inflammation going on," said the study's lead author Dr. Emerson Perin, a practicing cardiologist and medical director at The Texas Heart Institute in Houston.

"That effect, it was there across everyone, but for the patient that had inflammation, it was even more significant," Perin said. "And there also is evidence that we had a reduction in cardiovascular deaths."

The therapy involves injecting mesenchymal precursor cells into the heart. These particular stem cells have anti-inflammatory properties, which could improve outcomes in heart failure patients since elevated inflammation is a hallmark feature of chronic heart failure.

More than 6 million adults in the United States have chronic heart failure, and most are treated with drugs that address the symptoms of the condition. The patients included in the new study were all taking medications for heart failure, and the new research suggests that cell therapy can be beneficial when used in conjunction with heart failure drugs.

"You can imagine, we keep everybody going and doing better with the medicine. And now we have a treatment that actually addresses the cause and quiets everything down. So, this line of investigation really has a great future and I can see that, with a confirmatory trial, we can bring this kind of treatment into the mainstream," Perin said.

"We can treat heart failure differently," he said. "We have a new weapon against heart failure and this study really opens the door and leads the way for us to be able to get there."

The new study -- sponsored by Australian biotechnology company Mesoblast -- included 565 heart failure patients with a weakened heart muscle, ages 18 to 80. The patients were screened between 2014 and 2019 and randomly assigned to either receive the cell therapy or a placebo procedure at 51 study sites across North America.

The patients who received the cell therapy were delivered about 150 million stem cells to the heart through a catheter. The cells came from the bone marrow of three healthy young adult donors.

The researchers, from The Texas Heart Institute and other various institutions in the United States, Canada and Australia, then monitored each patient for heart-related events or life-threatening arrhythmias.

Compared with the patients who received a sham procedure, those treated with the stem cell therapy showed a small but statistically significant strengthening of the muscle of the heart's left pumping chamber within a year.

The researchers also found that the cell therapy decreased the risk of heart attack or stroke by 58 per cent overall.

"This is a long-term effect, lasting an average of 30 months. So that's why we're so excited about it," Perin said.

Among patients with high inflammation in their bodies, the combined reduced risk of heart attack or stroke was even greater, at 75 per cent, the researchers found.

"These cells directly address inflammation," Perin said.

"They have little receptors for these inflammatory substances -- some of them are called interleukins, and there's other kinds," he said. "When you put them into an inflamed heart, it activates the cells and the cells go, 'Wow, we need to respond. This house is on fire. We need to put out the fire.' And so they then secrete various anti-inflammatories."

The researchers wrote in their study that their findings should be considered as "hypothesis generating," in that they show this cell therapy concept could work, but clinical trials would be needed to specifically confirm the effects of these stem cells on heart attack, stroke and other events. It is still unclear for how long the effects of the stem cell therapy last beyond 30 months and whether patients will need more stem cell injections in the future.

Overall, there were no major differences between the adverse events reported among the patients who received the cell therapy compared with those in the control group, and the researchers reported no major safety concerns.

"We've made an enormous step to be able to harness the real power of adult stem cells to treating the heart," Perin said. "This trial really is a signal of a new era."

For more than a decade, scientists have been studying potential stem cell therapies for heart failure patients -- but more research is needed to determine whether this treatment approach could reduce the amount of hospitalizations, urgent care events or complications among patients with heart failure.

The new study didn't find that, said cardiologist Dr. Nieca Goldberg, medical director of Atria New York City and clinical associate professor of medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, who was not involved in the latest study.

What the new study did find is that "there may be a population of people that could benefit from the stem cell therapy, particularly people who have inflammation," Goldberg said.

"It's actually an interesting therapy, an interesting thing to consider, once more research substantiates its benefit. Because in heart failure, there's multiple things going on and, particularly for the inflammatory component, this could be an interesting treatment," she said. "It might have some role in heart failure patients with inflammation."

The therapy's effects on heart attack or stroke risks "were positive," Dr. Brett Victor, a cardiologist at the Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia, who was not involved in the study, said in an email.

"Specifically, patients who received the stem cell therapy were less likely to have a heart attack or stroke over the next 2.5 years, especially among those who were found to have a high degree of systemic inflammation as measured by a laboratory test," Victor said in the email, adding that this represents how heart failure has a significant inflammatory component.

Those "positive signals" likely will be evaluated more in subsequent studies, Victor said.

"Current therapies for heart failure including lifestyle modifications, a growing list of excellent medications, and device therapies will continue to be the standard of care for treatment in the near-term," he said. "I suspect that this trial will continue to move the field forward in studying cardiac cell therapy as we continue to look for ways to not just treat, but actually find a cure for this disease."

Stem cell therapy: A possible solution to save our coral reefs – The Miami Hurricane

By adminMarch 3, 2023Adult Stem Cells

This article was the 2022 first-place winner of the University of Miami Graduate Op-Ed Challenge.

Imagine your next snorkeling vacation at a barren underwater desert. The vibrant corals and bright flashes of darting fish reduced to nothing but a bleak wasteland.This reality is around the corner.

Weve been seeing a decline in coral reef health for decades. Scientists have undeniably proven that greenhouse gas emissions are responsible for the global increase in temperature and ocean acidification, the top contributors to coral decline. Yet, political and economic restraints prevent the reversal of greenhouse gas emissions at a sufficient rate.

So how can we buy corals the time they need until such drastic changes can be met? The answer might be in human medicine.

Patients diagnosed with leukemia or Non-Hodgkins lymphoma are often faced with intense, harmful treatments of chemotherapy or radiation. This leaves the body with a diminished blood cell supply. Its becoming common to follow these treatments with stem cell therapies to reintroduce healthy stem cells, ultimately providing new blood cells and mitigating unpleasant symptoms. Could the same be done for corals?

Coral gardening is currently the favored practice of coral preservation amongst coral conservationists. Artificial structures, usually made out of PVC pipes or plastic mesh, are built to provide a nursery. On these nurseries, small coral fragments are cultivated by conservationists and volunteers until they reach an optimal size. At this point they are outplanted on the reef using a marine epoxy, or glue. While efforts can focus on corals that are more tolerant of higher temperatures, this technique requires endless hours of manpower, reduces the diversity of corals on the reef and is time-consuming due to corals slow-growing nature. While this method has undoubtedly provided relief for many reefs, it is not sustainable enough for the future of corals.

Optimal solutions would be able to prevent the declining health of adult corals already present on the reef. To this end, genome editing and probiotic treatments are examples of solutions under consideration. These methods hold water and should be further explored, but they present their own issues.

As in human cancer patients, stem cell therapy may be the ideal solution. Transplanting stem cells from a resilient coral to one more susceptible, would preserve adult corals already existing on the reef, maintain the genetic diversity, require less maintenance by conservationists and volunteers and maintain the reef structure which is so necessary for the entire ecosystem. So why havent we tried stem cell therapy on corals?

The problem is simple: we dont know if corals have stem cells. Closely related animals (think anemones and jellyfish) have been shown to possess these regenerative cells, suggesting corals might, too.

Testing this is no simple task, unfortunately. A common method of identifying stem cells in other animals is to use a fluorescent tag for common stem cell-associated markers, similar to how we detect antibodies. However, corals possess a wide range of natural fluorescent proteins, making it impossible to distinguish the stem cell markers. To overcome this, researchers at the University of Miami have identified a population of cells that exhibit many characteristics of stem cells across the animal kingdom. These small, structurally simple and rare cells show a gene expression signature similar to an unspecialized cell, which provides convincing evidence that these are indeed stem cells.

With this kernel of hope, the next stage of this research is addressing the logistics: How do we transplant stem cells, and which corals should act as the donors? Corals are essentially animals in rock-form, making classic needle-based injections a challenging mode of transplantation.

One avenue to explore is the application of short-term hydrogels. Commonly used as wound dressings in humans, hydrogels are an ideal substance for donor cell transfers, and act as a physical barrier against physical damage and infection.

The second factor to consider is which corals should serve as the donors. Just as our blood type determines from whom we can receive blood transfusions, there may be genetic compatibility factors that will need to be considered on top of resiliency to heat and other stressors. However, considering that many coral species are capable of growing and fusing together, the probability of successful transplantations seems high.

Despite the hurdles, this research should proceed. We are way past the luxury of questioning if human intervention is necessary or acceptable. According to greenhouse gas emission and temperature predictions by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, corals will face annual mass bleaching and mortality events by 2050. The current methods of coral conservation are simply not enough, and we need to be more effective in our efforts if we are going to save the coral reefs we rely upon and love. Stem cell therapy could be the answer.

Grace Snyder is a graduate student at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, studying the capability of coral stem cell transplantations.

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Stem cell therapy: A possible solution to save our coral reefs - The Miami Hurricane

What are ‘minibrains’? Everything to know about brain organoids – Livescience.com

By adminMarch 3, 2023Adult Stem Cells

In the past decade, lab-grown blobs of human brain tissue began making news headlines, as they ushered in a new era of scientific discovery and raised a slew of ethical questions.

These blobs scientifically known as brain organoids, but often called "minibrains" in the news serve as miniature, simplified models of full-size human brains. These organoids can potentially be useful in basic research, drug development and even computer science.

However, as scientists make these models more sophisticated, there's a question as to whether they could ever become too similar to human brains and thus gain consciousness, in some form or another.

Scientists grow brain organoids from stem cells, a type of immature cell that can give rise to any cell type, whether blood, skin, bowel or brain.

The stem cells used to grow organoids can either come from adult human cells, or more rarely, human embryonic tissue, according to a 2021 review in the Journal of Biomedical Science (opens in new tab). In the former case, scientists collect adult cells and then expose them to chemicals in order to revert them into a stem cell-like state. The resulting stem cells are called "induced pluripotent stem cells" (iPSC), which can be made to grow into any kind of tissue.

To give rise to a minibrain, scientists embed these stem cells in a protein-rich matrix, a substance that supports the cells as they divide and form a 3D shape. Alternatively, the cells may be grown atop a physical, 3D scaffold, according to a 2020 review in the journal Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (opens in new tab).

To coax the stem cells to form different tissues, scientists introduce specific molecules and growth factors substances that spur cell growth and replication into the cell culture system at precise points in their development. In addition, scientists often place the stem cells in spinning bioreactors as they grow into minibrains. These devices keep the growing organoids suspended, rather than smooshed against a flat surface; this helps the organoids absorb nutrients and oxygen from the well-stirred solution surrounding them.

Brain organoids grow more complex as they develop, similar to how human embryos grow more and more complex in the womb. Over time, the organoids come to contain multiple kinds of cells found in full-size human brains; mimic specific functions of human brain tissue; and show similar spatial organization to isolated regions of the brain, though both their structure and function are simpler than that of a real human brain, according to the Journal of Biomedical Science review.

Minibrains can be used in a variety of applications. For example, scientists are using the blobs of tissue to study early human development.

To this end, scientists have grown brain organoids with a set of eye-like structures called "optic cups;" in human embryos in the womb, the optic cup eventually gives rise to the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye. Another group grew organoids that generate brain waves similar to those seen in preterm babies, and another used minibrains to help explain why a common drug can cause birth defects and developmental disorders if taken during pregnancy. Models like these allow researchers to glimpse the brain as it appears in early pregnancy, a feat that would be both difficult and unethical in humans.

Minibrains can also be used to model conditions that affect adults, including infectious diseases that affect the brain, brain tumors and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, according to the Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology review. In addition, some groups are developing minibrains for drug screening, to see if a given medication could be toxic to human patients' brains, according to a 2021 review in the journal Frontiers in Genetics (opens in new tab).

Such models could complement or eventually replace research conducted with cells in lab dishes and in animals; even studies in primates, whose brains closely resemble humans', can't reliably capture exactly what happens in human disease. For now, though, experts agree that brain organoids are not advanced enough to partially or fully replace established cell and animal models of disease. But someday, scientists hope these models will lead to the development of new drugs and reduce the need for animal research; some researchers are even testing whether it could be feasible to repair the brain by "plugging" injuries with lab-grown human minibrains.

Related: FDA no longer requires animal testing for new drugs. Is that safe?

Beyond medicine and the study of human development, minibrains can also be used to study human evolution. Recently, scientists used brain organoids to study which genes allowed the human brain to grow so large, and others have used organoids to study how human brains differ from those of apes and Neanderthals.

Finally, some scientists want to use brain organoids to power computer systems. In an early test of this technology, one group recently crafted a minibrain out of human and mouse brain cells that successfully played "Pong" after being hooked up to a computer-controlled electrode array.

And in a recent proposal published in the journal Frontiers in Science (opens in new tab), scientists announced their plans to grow large brain organoids, containing tens of thousands to millions of cells, and link them together to create complex networks that can serve as the basis for future biocomputers.

Although sometimes called "minibrains," brain organoids aren't truly miniaturized human brains. Rather, they are roughly spherical balls of brain tissue that mimic some features of the full-size human brain. For example, cerebral organoids, which contain cell types found in the cerebral cortex, the wrinkled outer surface of the brain, contain several layers of tissue, as a real cortex would.

Similarly, brain organoids can generate chemical messages and brain waves similar to what's seen in a full-size brain, but that doesn't mean they can "think," (opens in new tab) experts say. That said, one sticking point in this discussion is the fact that neuroscientists don't have an agreed-upon definition of consciousness, nor do they have standardized ways to measure the phenomenon, Nature reported (opens in new tab) in 2020.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine assembled a committee to tackle these quandaries and released a report in 2021 (opens in new tab), outlining some of the potential ethical issues of working with brain organoids.

At the time, the authors concluded that (opens in new tab) "In the foreseeable future, it is extremely unlikely that [brain organoids] would possess capabilities that, given current understanding, would be recognized as awareness, consciousness, emotion, or the experience of pain. From a moral perspective, neural organoids do not differ at present from other in vitro human neural tissues or cultures. However, as scientists develop significantly more complex organoids, the possible need to make this distinction should be revisited regularly."

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What are 'minibrains'? Everything to know about brain organoids - Livescience.com