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Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are extensively researched for therapeutic applications in tissue engineering and show significant potential for clinical use. Intrinsic or extrinsic factors causing senescence may lead to reduced proliferation, aberrant differentiation, weakened immunoregulation, and increased inflammation, ultimately limiting the potential of MSCs. It is crucial to comprehend the molecular pathways and internal processes responsible for the decline in MSC function due to senescence in order to devise innovative approaches for rejuvenating senescent MSCs and enhancing MSC treatment. We investigate the main molecular processes involved in senescence, aiming to provide a thorough understanding of senescence-related issues in MSCs. Additionally, we analyze the most recent advancements in cutting-edge approaches to combat MSC senescence based on current research. We are curious whether the aging process of stem cells results in a permanent "memory" and if cellular reprogramming may potentially revert the aging epigenome to a more youthful state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scar repair inevitably causes damage of skin function and loss of skin appendages such as hair follicles (HF). It is of great challenge in wound repair that how to intervene in scar formation while simultaneously remodeling HF niche and inducing in situ HF regeneration. Here, chemical reprogramming techniques are used to identify a clinically chemical cocktail (Tideglusib and Tamibarotene) that can drive fibroblasts toward dermal papilla cell (DPC) fate. Considering the advantage of biomaterials in tissue repair and their regulation in cell behavior that may contributes to cellular reprogramming, the artificial HF seeding (AHFS) hydrogel microspheres, inspired by the natural processes of "seeding and harvest", are constructed via using a combination of liposome nanoparticle drug delivery system, photoresponsive hydrogel shell, positively charged polyamide modification, microfluidic and photocrosslinking techniques. The identified chemical cocktail is as the core nucleus of AHFS. In vitro and in vivo studies show that AHFS can regulate fibroblast fate, induce fibroblast‐to‐DPC reprogramming by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway, finally promoting wound healing and in situ HF regeneration while inhibiting scar formation in a two‐pronged translational approach. In conclusion, AHFS provides a new and effective strategy for functional repair of skin wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), products of neutrophil death when exposed to certain stimuli, were first proposed as a type of response to bacterial infection in infectious diseases. Since then, extensive studies have discovered its involvement in other non-infectious inflammatory diseases including thromboembolism, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies in the world. NET formation is closely associated with tumorigenesis, progression, and metastasis in CRC. Therefore, the application of NETs in clinical practice as diagnostic biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and prognostic predictors has a promising prospect. In addition, therapeutics targeting NETs are significantly efficient in halting tumor progression in preclinical cancer models, which further indicates its potential clinical utility in cancer treatment. This review focuses on the stimuli of NETosis, its pro-tumorigenic activity, and prospective clinical utility primarily in but not limited to CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restoration of sweat glands (SwGs) represents a great issue in patients with extensive skin defects. Recent methods combining organoid technology with cell fate reprogramming hold promise for developing new regenerative methods for SwG regeneration. Here, a practical strategy for engineering functional human SwGs in vitro and in vivo is provided. First, by forced expression of the ectodysplasin‐A in human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs) combined with specific SwG culture medium, HEKs are efficiently converted into SwG cells (iSwGCs). The iSwGCs show typical morphology, gene expression pattern, and functions resembling human primary SwG cells. Second, by culturing the iSwGCs in a special 3D culturing system, SwG organoids (iSwGOs) that exhibit structural and biological features characteristic of native SwGs are obtained. Finally, these iSwGOs are successfully transplanted into a mouse skin damage model and they develop into fully functioning SwGs in vivo. Regeneration of functional SwG organoids from reprogrammed HEKs highlights the great translational potential for personalized SwG regeneration in patients with large skin defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wound healing is a multi-step process that includes multiple cellular events such as cell proliferation, cell adhesion, and chemotactic response as well as cell apoptosis. Accumulating studies have documented the significance of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1)/C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) signaling in wound repair and regeneration. However, the molecular mechanism of regeneration is not clear. This review describes various types of tissue regeneration that CXCR4 participates in and how the efficiency of regeneration is increased by CXCR4 overexpression. It emphasizes the pleiotropic effects of CXCR4 in regeneration. By delving into the specific molecular mechanisms of CXCR4, we hope to provide a theoretical basis for tissue engineering and future regenerative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient wound repair with skin appendage regeneration following severe trauma poses a challenge due to the scarcity of skin grafts and decreased drug effectiveness in protease‐rich wound microenvironments. Here, a multifunctional artificial skin (NIR‐mFAS) with photothermal‐triggered drug delivery capabilities is designed to actively and comprehensively improve the regenerative potential of full‐thickness wounds. The antibacterial chitosan/silk fibroin hydrogel matrix of artificial skin, cross‐linked by electrostatic interactions, effectively encapsulates and sustains the release of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to accelerate re‐epithelialization and neovascularization by promoting the migration and proliferation of repair cells. Subsequently, the photothermal responsive polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA‐NPs) dispersed in the matrix enable precise control over the release of BMP4 under the irradiation of 1064 nm NIR, thereby inhibiting scarring by reducing myofibroblasts during the proliferative stage. Importantly, the concurrent controlled release of CHIR99021 can modulate cell fate by inducing the conversion of myofibroblasts into dermal papilla‐like cells, leading to hair follicle and sebaceous gland regeneration. The NIR‐mFAS functions as an advanced delivery system for achieving high‐quality wound healing with appendage regeneration and offers a smart therapeutic approach that can be applied to other treatments requiring coordinated delivery of multiple pharmacological agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common diseases causing blindness in the world, and most patients are already in advanced stage. Recent years, many studies reported mean platelet volume (MPV) may be associated with development of DR, but there was no consistent conclusion reached. Methods: Literature was retrieved by formally searching PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library and Scopus and by hand searching of reference lists of related articles. Finally, a total of 14 literatures included, and Review manager 5.3 and STATA 14.0 statistical software were utilized for processing. Results: Meta-analysis showed that MPV values in DR were significantly higher than health controls [SMD (95% CI) = 0.92 (0.60–1.24)] and type 2 diabetes mellitus without diabetic retinopathy (T2DM without DR) [SMD (95% CI) = 0.36 (0.19–0.53)]. Subgroup analysis indicated that MPV level in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) patients was higher than T2DM without DR patients [SMD (95% CI) = 0.48 (0.28, 0.68)], but this difference didn't appear in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). Conclusions: The study demonstrated that increased MPV level was significant associated with the development of DR, and it might reflect the severity of DR, which could be provided to monitor development and progression of DR clinically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been indicated to be an independent predictor for all-cause mortality or adverse events in a variety of diseases. However, no consistent conclusions regarding it's relevance to patients with heart failure have been made. This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the significance of NLR in patients with heart failure. Methods Pubmed and Embase databases were searched for eligible studies that reported the association between NLR and heart failure through September 2017. The overall hazard ratio (HR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to assess the associations. Results Ten studies met the eligibility criteria and a total of 5979 heart failure patients were included in the meta-analysis. The overall hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality was 1.28 (95% CI 1.14–1.43) and the HR of renal dysfunction was 1.23 (95% CI 1.07–1.41) comparing the highest with the lowest category of NLR. However, the total pooled adjusted HR for in-hospital mortality (HR = 1.18, 95% CI 0.88–1.59) and rehospitalization (HR = 2.19, 95% CI 0.94–5.09) were not statistically significant. A subgroup analysis showed that sample size with moderate heterogeneity may be the origin of heterogeneity in all-cause mortality. Sensitivity analysis proved the stability of results of our meta-analysis. Conclusions The meta-analysis demonstrates that NLR is a predictor of all-cause mortality in patients with heart failure. Because the quality of the included studies varies, further well-designed studies are needed to confirm this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]