Search

Cartilage derived stem/progenitor cells (CSPCs) have been isolated from a variety of cartilage sources and are suggested to have high chondrogenic potential. However, their role in cartilage engineering has not been well described, in particular, compared to other more widely used cell types such as differentiated chondrocytes and nontissue-specific mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The authors performed a systematic review of literature according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines [Web of Science (Web of Science Core Collection, BIOSIS Citation Index, KCI-Korean Journal Database, MEDLINE, SciELO Citation Index), PubMed, and Embase] from January 1947 to November 2017, to evaluate CSPC isolation, their characterization, and cartilage regeneration. Two investigators independently reviewed all studies and extracted the data against standardized inclusion/exclusion criteria. A total of 1189 studies were identified, 65 of which met the inclusion criteria, consisting of 69 reports on CSPC isolation from articular (n = 35), intervertebral disk (11), auricular (n = 10), meniscal (n = 5), nasoseptal (n = 5), tracheal (n = 2), and costal (n = 1) cartilages. Despite the heterogeneity in isolation methods, 75% of studies found CSPCs to have trilineage differentiation potential, with consistent but nonspecific cell surface marker expression profiles, being positive for the recognized MSC markers CD90, CD105, CD44, CD166, CD73, and CD29 and negative for hematopoietic markers CD34 and CD45. Four cartilage regenerative outcomes were assessed: chondrogenic gene and protein expression (quantitative polymerase chain reaction, histology, immunohistochemistry, and biochemistry), imaging and structural characterization (gross appearance, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy) and biomechanical testing. CSPCs have been used for cartilage repair in animal models with excellent outcomes that are comparable to chondrocytes and superior to MSCs from unrelated tissue sources. The current review concludes that CSPCs represent a promising cell source for cartilage tissue engineering, but there is currently no consensus on specific cell surface markers or isolation protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite medical advances, neurological recovery after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains poor. Elevated levels of high mobility group box protein-1 (HMGB1) are associated with poor outcomes; likely via interaction with receptors for advanced-glycation-end-products (RAGE). We examined the hypothesis that HMGB1 post-TBI is anti-neurogenic and whether this is pharmacologically reversible. Post-natal rat cortical mixed neuro-glial cell cultures were subjected to needle-scratch injury and examined for HMGB1-activation/neuroinflammation. HMGB1-related genes/networks were examined using genome-wide RNA-seq studies in cortical perilesional tissue samples from adult mice. Post-natal rat cortical neural stem/progenitor cell cultures were generated to quantify effects of injury-condition medium (ICM) on neurogenesis with/without RAGE antagonist glycyrrhizin. Needle-injury upregulated TNF-α/NOS-2 mRNA-expressions at 6 h, increased proportions of activated microglia, and caused neuronal loss at 24 h. Transcriptome analysis revealed activation of HMGB1 pathway genes/canonical pathways in vivo at 24 h. A 50% increase in HMGB1 protein expression, and nuclear-to-cytoplasmic translocation of HMGB1 in neurons and microglia at 24 h post-injury was demonstrated in vitro. ICM reduced total numbers/proportions of neuronal cells, but reversed by 0.5 μM glycyrrhizin. HMGB1 is activated following in vivo post mechanical injury, and glycyrrhizin alleviates detrimental effects of ICM on cortical neurogenesis. Our findings highlight glycyrrhizin as a potential therapeutic agent post-TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]