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Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitor cells of mesodermal origin. Due to their capacity for self-renewal and differentiation into several cell types, MSCs have been extensively studied in experimental biology and regenerative medicine in recent years. Moreover, MSCs release extracellular vesicles (EVs), which might be partly responsible for their regenerative properties. MSCs regulate several processes in target cells via paracrine signalling, such as immunomodulation, anti-apoptotic signalling, tissue remodelling, angiogenesis and anti-fibrotic signalling. The aim of this review is to provide a detailed description of the functional properties of MSCs and EVs and their potential clinical applications, with a special focus on pain treatment. The analgesic, anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties of MSCs and EVs will be discussed for several diseases, such as neuropathic pain, osteoarthritis and spinal cord injury. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on New discoveries and perspectives in mental and pain disorders. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v179.17/issuetoc.

Development of efficient vectors for transfection is one of the major challenges in genetic engineering. Previous research demonstrated that cationic derivatives of polyisoprenoids (PTAI) may serve as carriers of nucleic acids. In the present study, the effectiveness of two PTAI-based formulations (PTAI-6–8 and 10–14) was investigated and compared to the commercial reagents. The purpose of applied gene therapy was to enhance the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) in the renal medulla of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and to test its potential as a novel antihypertensive intervention. In the first part of the study (in vitro), we confirmed that PTAI-based lipoplexes efficiently transfect XC rat sarcoma cells and are stable in 37 °C for 7 days. In the in vivo experiments, we administered selected lipoplexes directly to the kidneys of conscious SHR (via osmotic pumps). There were no blood pressure changes and VEGF-A level in renal medulla was significantly higher only for PTAI-10–14-based formulation. In conclusion, despite the promising results, we were not able to achieve VEGF-A expression level high enough to verify VEGF-A gene therapy usefulness in SHR. However, results of our study give important indications for the future development of PTAI-based DNA carriers and kidney-targeted gene delivery. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s10528-020-09992-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Cell-based therapies have recently emerged as promising strategies for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising cell type that represent a class of adult stem cells characterized by multipotency, high proliferative capacity, paracrine activity, and low immunogenicity. To improve the functional and therapeutic efficacy of MSCs, novel biomaterials are considered as scaffolds/surfaces that promote MSCs growth and differentiation. One of them are graphene-based materials, including graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Due to the unique physical, chemical, and biological properties of graphene, scaffolds comprising GO/rGO have been examined as novel platforms to improve the differentiation potential of human MSCs in vitro. We verified different i) size of GO flakes, ii) reduction level, and iii) layer thickness to select the most suitable artificial niche for MSCs culture. The results revealed that graphene-based substrates constitute non-toxic substrates for MSCs. Surfaces with large flakes of GO as well as low reduced rGO are the most biocompatible for MSCs propagation and do not affect their proliferation and survival. Interestingly, small GO flakes and highly reduced rGO decreased MSCs proliferation and induced their apoptosis. We also found that GO and rGO substrates did not alter the MSCs phenotype, cell cycle progression and might modulate the adhesive capabilities of these cells. Importantly, we demonstrated that both materials promoted the cardiomyogenic and angiogenic differentiation capacity of MSCs in vitro. Thus, our data indicates that graphene-based surfaces represent promising materials that may influence the therapeutic application of MSCs via supporting their pro-regenerative potential.

Combinations of metabolic blockers (including fenofibrate) with chemotherapeutic drugs interfere with the drug‐resistance of prostate cancer cells. However, their effect on cancer stem cells‐dependent microevolution of prostate cancer malignancy remains unaddressed. Here, we hypothesize that the combined docetaxel/fenofibrate treatment prompts the selective expansion of cancer stem cells that affects the microevolution of their progenies. Accordingly, we adapted a combined in vitro/in vivo approach to identify biological and therapeutic consequences of this process. Minute subpopulations of docetaxel‐resistant CD133high and/or CD44high cancer stem cell‐like (SCL) cells were found in prostate cancer DU145 and PC3 cell populations. When pretreated with docetaxel, they readily differentiated into docetaxel‐resistant CD44negative “bulk” cells, thus accounting for the microevolution of drug‐resistant cell lineages. Combined docetaxel/fenofibrate treatment induced the generation of poly(morpho)nuclear giant cells and drug‐resistant CD44high SCL cells. However, the CD44negative offspring of docetaxel‐ and docetaxel/fenofibrate‐treated SCLs remained relatively sensitive to the combined treatment, while retaining enhanced resistance to docetaxel. Long‐term propagation of drug‐resistant SCL‐derived lineages in the absence of docetaxel/fenofibrate resulted in their reverse microevolution toward the drug‐sensitivity and invasive phenotype. Consequently, prostate tumors were able to recover from the combined docetaxel/fenofibrate stress after the initial arrest of their expansion in vivo. In conclusion, we have confirmed the potential of fenofibrate for the metronomic treatment of drug‐resistant prostate tumors. However, docetaxel/fenofibrate‐induced selective expansion of hyper‐resistant CD44high SCL prostate cells and their “bulk” progenies prompts the microevolution of prostate tumor drug‐resistance. This process can limit the implementation of metabolic chemotherapy in prostate cancer treatment., CD44+ stem cell‐related microevolution of prostate cancer drug‐resistance under the combined chemotherapeutic/metabolic stress. Combined (DCX)/fenofibrate (FF) treatment induces the formation of polymorphonuclear cells (upper insert) and DCX/FF‐resistant CD44+/CD133+ SCL cells (lower insert) that give rise to DCX‐ (but not DCX/FF‐) “super‐resistant” cell populations (right).

Bisphenol A (BPA) is commonly present in plastics used for food storage and preservation. The release of BPA from these products results in a permanent human exposition to BPA; however, the quality and quantity of BPA adverse effects remain a matter of controversy. The common presence of BPA in the human environment and the controversies concerning the relations of human exposition to BPA and cancer incidence justify the research on the interactions between BPA and pro-metastatic signaling in cancer cells. Here, we describe a novel BPA-reactive signaling axis that induces the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. BPA exerted negligible effects on their properties in a wide range of concentrations (10 nM - 100 nM), whereas it considerably induced A549 invasiveness at high concentrations (10 μM). The BPA-induced EMT was illustrated by morphologic changes, E/N-cadherin switch and vimentin/Snail-1/connexin(Cx)43 up-regulation in A549 populations. It was followed by enhancement of A549 drug-resistance. Corresponding effects of BPA were observed in prostate cancer cell populations. Concomitantly, we observed increased levels and perinuclear accumulation of estrogen-related receptor gamma (ERRγ) in BPA-treated cells, its interactions with Cx43/Snail-1, and the corresponding effects of phenol red on A549 cells. Collectively, these data identify a novel, pro-metastatic Snail-1/Cx43/ERRγ signaling pathway. Its reactivity to BPA underlies the induction of cancer cells' invasiveness in the presence of high BPA concentrations in vitro. Thus, the chronic exposition of cancer cells to extrinsic and intrinsic BPA should be considered as a potential obstacle in a cancer therapy.

One of the causes of therapeutic failure of chemotherapy is cancer cell resistance. In the case of anthracyclines, many resistance mechanisms have been described. One of them assumes the role of carbonyl reductase 1 (CBR1), a cytosolic enzyme that is responsible for the biotransformation process of anthracyclines to less active, undesirable metabolites. Therefore, CBR1 inhibitors are considered for use as a chemosensitizing agents. In the present study, piperlongumine (PL), a Piper longum L. alkaloid that has previously been described as a CBR1 inhibitor, was investigated for its chemosensitizing properties in co-treatment with doxorubicin (DOX). The biotransformation process of DOX in the presence of PL was tracked using human cytosol fraction and LC-MS, then a molecular modeling study was conducted to predict the interaction of PL with the active site of the CBR1. The biological interaction between DOX and PL was investigated using DU-145 prostate cancer cells. Cytotoxic and antiproliferative properties of DOX and PL were examined, and the type and potency of interaction was quantified by Combination Index. The mechanism of the cell death induced by the agents was investigated by flow cytometry and the anti-invasive properties of the drugs were determined by monitoring the movement of individual cells. PL showed dose-dependent inhibition of DOX metabolism in cytosol, which resulted in less doxorubicinol (DOXol) metabolite being formed. The possible mechanism of CBR1 inhibition was explained through molecular modeling studies by prediction of PL's binding mode in the active site of the enzyme's crystal structure-based model. DOX and PL showed a synergistic antiproliferative and proapoptotic effect on cancer cells. Significant anti-invasive properties of the combination of DOX and PL were found, but when the drugs were used separately they did not alter the cancer cells' motility. Cell motility inhibition was accompanied by significant changes in cytoskeleton architecture. DOX and PL used in co-treatment showed significant synergistic anticancer properties. Inhibition of DOX metabolism by PL was found to be a mechanism that was likely to be responsible for the observed interaction.

Confocal Raman imaging combined with fluorescence-activated cell sorting was used for in vitro studies of cell cultures to look at biochemical differences between the cells in different cell phases. To answer the question what is the impact of the cell cycle phase on discrimination of pathological cells, the combination of several factors was checked: a confluency of cell culture, the cell cycle dynamics and development of pathology. Confluency of 70% and 100% results in significant phenotypic cell changes that can be also diverse for different batches. In 100% confluency cultures, cells from various phases become phenotypically very similar and their recognition based on Raman spectra is not possible. For lower confluency, spectroscopic differences can be found between cell cycle phases (G0 /G1 , S and G2 /M) for control cells and cells incubated with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), but when the mycotoxin cytochalasin B is used the Raman signatures of cell phases are not separable. Generally, this work shows that heterogeneity between control and inflamed cells can be bigger than heterogeneity between cell cycle phases, but it is related to several factors, and not always can be treated as a rule.

Sylwia Dabrowska,1 Andrea Del Fattore,2 Elzbieta Karnas,3,4 Malgorzata Frontczak-Baniewicz,5 Hanna Kozlowska,6 Maurizio Muraca,7 Miroslaw Janowski,1,8 Barbara Lukomska1 1NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; 2Multifactorial Disease and Complex Phenotype Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy; 3Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; 4Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Krakow, Poland; 5Electron Microscopy Platform, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; 6Laboratory of Advanced Microscopy Techniques, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; 7Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; 8Russel H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA Background: Mesenchymal stem cells have been shown therapeutic in various neurological disorders. Recent studies support the notion that the predominant mechanism by which MSCs act is through the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs seem to have similar therapeutic activity as their cellular counterparts and may represent an interesting alternative standalone therapy for various diseases. The aim of the study was to optimize the method of EV imaging to better understand therapeutic effects mediated by EVs.Methods: The fluorescent lipophilic stain PKH26 and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles conjugated with rhodamine (Molday ION Rhodamine B™) were used for the labeling of vesicles in human bone marrow MSCs (hBM-MSCs). The entire cycle from intracellular vesicles to EVs followed by their uptake by hBM-MSCs has been studied. The identity of vesicles has been proven by antibodies against: anti-CD9, -CD63, and -CD81 (tetraspanins). NanoSight particle tracking analysis (NTA), high-resolution flow cytometric analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ELYRA PS.1 super-resolution microscopy, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used for the characterization of vesicles.Results: The PKH26 and Molday ION were exclusively localized in intracellular vesicles positively stained for EV markers: CD9, CD63, and CD81. The isolated EVs represent heterogeneous population of various sizes as confirmed by NTA. The TEM and MRI were capable to show successful labeling of EVs using ION. Co-culture of EVs with hBM-MSCs revealed their uptake by cells in vitro, as visualized by the co-localization of PKH26 or Molday ION with tetraspanins inside hBM-MSCs.Conclusion: PKH26 and Molday ION seem to be biocompatible with EVs, and the labeling did not interfere with the capability of EVs to re-enter hBM-MSCs during co-culture in vitro. Magnetic properties of IONs provide an additional advantage for the imaging of EV using TEM and MRI. Keywords: mesenchymal stem cells, extracellular vesicles, cell tracking, fluorescent dye, iron oxide, MRI

Background Multipotent cancer stem cells (CSC) are involved in micro-evolutionary tumor adaptation to therapeutic regimens. Due to their drug-resistance, they represent a promising target for treatment strategies of advanced prostate tumors. Fenofibrate (FF) has recently been pinpointed as a potential metronomic agent that augments the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. Here, we hypothesized that FF interferes with the drug-resistance of prostate cancer cell populations through the interference with the functions of cancer stem cell-like (SCL) cells. Methods Naive and drug-resistant DU145 cells cultivated in control conditions and in the presence of DCX and/or FF were immunostained against pluripotency markers and analyzed with fluorescent microscopy, fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) and image stream. Results FACS analyses of naive and docetaxel (DCX)-resistant DU145 cells revealed minute sub-populations of CD133+/CD44-, CD133+/CD44+ and CD133-/CD44+ SCL cells. SCL fractions were elevated within DCX-treated naive and DCX-resistant DU145 cell line populations. More prominent increase of SCL-fraction was also observed in naive, and to lower extent, in drug-resistant DU145 lineages upon combined DCX/FF treatment, which confirms their drug-resistance. CD44+ cells formed the aggregates of round and loosely attached cells, surrounded by morphologically diverse cellular clusters. These SCL cells offspring displayed neoplastic and invasive phenotype similar to that of parental cells; however, they showed increased, P-gp-dependent DCX- but not DCX/FF resistance. Loss of drug-resistance over time of SCL cells offspring was accompanied by induction of their EMT and invasive potential, and combined DCX/FF treatment interfered with this process. Conclusions These observations confirm the phenotypic plasticity of SCL cells and its role in the maintenance of prostate cancer cell heterogeneity and drug-resistance. FF can enhance the efficiency of palliative prostate cancer therapies through the interference with the function of cancer stem cells. Legal entity responsible for the study Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology. Funding National Science Centre Poland. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Recent approaches in tissue regeneration focus on combining innovative achievements of stem cell biology and biomaterial sciences to develop novel therapeutic strategies for patients. Growing recent evidence indicates that mesenchymal stem cells harvested from human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly (hUC-MSCs) are a new valuable source of cells for autologous as well as allogeneic therapies in humans. hUC-MSCs are multipotent, highly proliferating cells with prominent immunoregulatory activity. In this study, we evaluated the impact of widely used FDA approved poly(α-esters) including polylactide (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) on selected biological properties of hUC-MSCs in vitro. We found that both polymers can be used as non-toxic substrates for ex vivo propagation of hUC-MSCs as shown by no major impact on cell proliferation or viability. Moreover, PCL significantly enhanced the migratory capacity of hUC-MSCs. Importantly, genetic analysis indicated that both polymers promoted the angiogenic differentiation potential of hUC-MSCs with no additional chemical stimulation. These results indicate that PLA and PCL enhance selected biological properties of hUC-MSCs essential for their regenerative capacity including migratory and proangiogenic potential, which are required for effective vascular repair in vivo. Thus, PLA and PCL-based scaffolds combined with hUC-MSCs may be potentially employed as future novel grafts in tissue regeneration such as blood vessel reconstruction.

Objectives and methods Lichens are an interesting source of potential anti-tumor compounds, among which usnic acid and atranorin seem to be the most promising, but their impact on invasive potential of tumor cells has not yet been comprehensively addressed. The aim of the study was focused on the impact of the two lichen metabolites, on the viability (by Trypan blue test and fluoresceine diacetate and ethidium bromide assay), proliferation (cell counting in a Burker's chamber), apoptosis (flow cytometry analysis and Western blot) and motile activity (cell movement recording and image analysis) and actin cytoskeleton organization (immunofluorescent staining) of melanoma HTB-140, prostate cancers DU-145 and PC-3, normal human skin fibroblasts and prostate epithelial PNT2 cells, with special emphasis to their selectivity and versatility. Results Both compounds exerted strong inhibitory effects on cancer cell proliferation, migration and actin cytoskeleton organization, while their effect on apoptosis process was less relevant. The impact of usnic acid on the examined cancer cells was found more efficient in comparison to atranorin. Also, selective effect of both agents on tumor cells was observed. Significance The ability of usnic acid and atranorin to inhibit cancer cells motility may have future implications for development of new therapeutic strategies targeted at the interference with the metastatic cascade.

Introduction: Stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are known to facilitate cell-to-cell communication. The potential of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived EVs for cardiac repair when compared with MSC whole cell injection remains unknown. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that therapy with MSC-EVs after a reperfused myocardial infarction (MI) will result in greater improvement in LV structure and function compared with injection of MSCs. Methods: EVs were collected by sequential centrifugation from culture supernatants of murine bone marrow MSCs. We used tunable resistive pulse sensing technology (TRPS), flow cytometry, real-time qRT-PCR and mass spectrometry to analyze MSC-EVs. Wild-type (C57BL/6) mice underwent a 30-min coronary occlusion followed by reperfusion, and 48 h later received intramyocardial injection of vehicle (PBS, n=14), MSCs (n=14), or MSC-EVs (n=14). Echocardiography was performed 4 d prior to MI (BSL) and at 48 h and 30 d after injection. Mice were sacrificed after 30 d. Results: MSC-EVs were noted to be small vesicles with average size of 233.0 ± 70.2 nm (Fig), and expressed MSC-specific markers, including CD29, CD90.2, CD105, Sca-1 and CD49e (Fig). MSC-EVs were enriched in mRNAs, miRNAs and proteins from donor MSCs; and carried transcripts of genes regulating cardiac/vascular differentiation, such as GATA-4, Nkx2.5, Tie-2, and GATA-2. In vivo, LV ejection fraction (EF) was significantly and similarly reduced in all groups at 48 h after MI (Fig). At 30 d after MI, mice injected with MSC-EVs exhibited significantly higher EF (Fig) and smaller LV end-diastolic volume compared with vehicle-treated and MSC-injected mice. Conclusions: We conclude that MSC-EVs represent natural nanocarriers capable of transferring bioactive contents and inducing cardiac repair following intramyocardial injection after MI in vivo. The use of MSC-EVs may potentially improve the outcomes of cell therapy in humans.

Introduction: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny membrane-enclosed vesicles released by cells by membrane budding or exocytosis. The molecular profile of contents and regenerative potential of EVs derived from murine induced pluripotent stem cells (miPSCs) have not been investigated. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that miPSC-derived EVs carry bioactive substances, including mRNA and miRNA, which would influence the biology and fate of target cells. Methods: Murine iPSCs were generated using established protocols and EVs were isolated from culture supernatants by sequential centrifugation. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), flow cytometry, and real-time RT-PCR were used to characterize EV contents. Endothelial cells were exposed to miPSC-EVs in culture. Results: AFM and dynamic light scattering showed that miPSC-EVs are homogenous spherical vesicles smaller than 100 nm (Fig, A). High-sensitivity flow cytometry confirmed the presence of several iPSC- specific markers along with typical exosomal markers (CD9, CD63 and CD81) on miPSC-EVs. miPSC-EVs were enriched in mRNAs, miRNAs and proteins from donor iPSCs as shown by real-time RT-PCR and mass spectroscopy, respectively. Moreover, miPSC-EVs contained transcripts regulating pluripotency, self-renewal and differentiation, including Oct-4, Nanog, GATA-4 as well as miR290-295 cluster (Fig, B,C). Importantly, several miRNAs were found to be higher in EVs when compared with parental miPSCs (Fig, B,C). Endothelial cells treated with miPSC-EVs exhibited greater proliferative, metabolic and angiogenic activities, and were more resistant to apoptosis. Conclusions: Our data show, for the first time, that miPSC-derived EVs are natural nanocarriers capable of transferring bioactive contents to mature cells affecting target cell function as well as regenerative potential. We conclude that iPSC-EVs may represent safe therapeutic alternatives to whole cell-based therapy for cardiovascular repair.

Bone marrow-derived cells are thought to participate and enhance the healing process contributing to skin cells or releasing regulatory cytokines. Directional cell migration in a weak direct current electric field (DC-EF), known as electrotaxis, may be a way of cell recruitment to the wound site. Here we examined the influence of electric field on bone marrow adherent cells (BMACs) and its potential role as a factor attracting mesenchymal stem cells to cutaneous wounds. We observed that in an external EF, BMAC movement was accelerated and highly directed with distinction of two cell populations migrating toward opposite poles: mesenchymal stem cells migrated toward the cathode, whereas macrophages toward the anode. Analysis of intracellular pathways revealed that macrophage electrotaxis mostly depended on Rho family small GTPases and calcium ions, but interruption of PI3K and Arp2/3 had the most pronounced effect on electrotaxis of MSCs. However, in all cases we observed only a partial decrease in directionality of cell movement after inhibition of certain proteins. Additionally, although we noticed the accumulation of EGFR at the cathodal side of MSCs, it was not involved in electrotaxis. Moreover, the cell reaction to EF was very dynamic with first symptoms occurring within