Latest developments in the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine compiled from publicly available information and press releases from non-academic institutions in July 2023.
Latest developments in the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine compiled from publicly available information and press releases from non-academic institutions in July 2023.
Aim: This study investigated whether US businesses engaged in direct-to-consumer online marketing of purported stem cell therapies and stem cell-derived exosome products made claims concerning the regulatory status of these interventions. Methods: We used data mining and content analysis of company websites to examine regulatory-related representations made by US businesses marketing stem cell treatments and exosome therapies. Results: More than two thirds of such businesses did not make explicit representations about the regulatory status of their marketed products. Businesses that made claims about the regulatory status of the stem cell and exosome products they sold used range of representations concerning the legal standing of these interventions. Conclusion: The absence of information addressing the regulatory status of stem cell interventions and exosome products and the use of what appeared to be inaccurate information concerning the regulatory status of numerous products likely complicates efforts by customers to make informed health-related decisions.
Photoaging, the primary cause of exogenous skin aging and predominantly caused by ultraviolet radiation, is an essential type of skin aging characterized by chronic skin inflammation. Recent studies have shown that oxidative stress, inflammation, skin barrier homeostasis, collagen denaturation and pigmentation are the main contributors to it. As a composite tissue rich in matrix and vascular components, adipose tissue derivatives have been recently gaining attention as potential therapeutic agents for various human diseases with fat-processing technology upgrades. This review analyzes both 'minimally treated' and 'nonminimally treated' fat derivatives to give an overview of the preclinical and clinical relevance of adipose tissue derivatives for antiphotoaging application, highlighting their good clinical prospects as well as discussing their safety and potential risks.
Aim: To profile and study the proteins responsible for the beneficial effect of the TNF-α-induced human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) secretome in wound healing. Methods: The hUCMSCs secretome was generated with (induced) or without (uninduced) TNF-α and was subsequently analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, immunoassay and in vitro scratch assay. Results: Proteomic analysis revealed approximately 260 proteins, including 51 and 55 unique proteins in the induced and uninduced secretomes, respectively. Gene ontology analysis disclosed that differential proteins in the induced secretome mainly involved inflammation-related terms. The induced secretome, consisting of higher levels of FGFb, VEGF, PDGF and IL-6, significantly accelerated wound closure and enhanced MMP-13 secretion in HaCaT keratinocytes. Conclusion: The secretome from induced hUCMSCs includes factors that promote wound closure.
A 70-year-old female presented with an 8-month history of right anterior shoulder pain and weakness, unresolved with conservative management. Among other shoulder pathology, the patient was diagnosed with a full-thickness supraspinatus tear and elected to proceed with the microfragmented adipose tissue procedure to treat the injured tendon and nearby relevant structures. Improvements in pain and function were documented along with progressive healing of the supraspinatus on ultrasound and MRI following the procedure. This case demonstrates the efficacy of microfragmented adipose tissue as a relatively novel approach to treating non-retracted, full-thickness rotator cuff tears.
Aim: Examining websites of US businesses engaged in direct-to-consumer advertising of putative stem cell treatments and exosome therapies, this study investigated the marketing claims such companies make about the purported safety and efficacy of these products. Methods: Data mining and content analysis of company websites were used to identify and analyze safety and efficacy claims. Results: Of the 978 businesses analyzed, less than half the companies made identifiable claims about the safety and efficacy of their advertised stem cell and exosome products. We also explored how companies framed the stem cell and exosome products they promoted. Representations ranged from assertions that such products are unproven and investigational to claims they constituted cures. Most advertising frames fell between these poles. Conclusion: Some businesses include in their marketing representations claims about the safety and efficacy of advertised products. Businesses that did not make such assertions use other techniques to attract prospective clients.
Tendon injuries are common disorders that can significantly impact people's lives. Unfortunately, the limited regenerative ability of tendons results in tissue healing in a scar-mediated manner. The current therapeutic strategies fail to fully recover the functions of the injured tendons, and as such, the conception of 'scarless healing' has gained prominent attention in the field of regenerative medicine. Interestingly, injured fetal tendons possess the capability to heal through regeneration, which builds an ideal blueprint for adult tendon regeneration. Studies have shown that fetal biochemical cues have the potential to improve adult tendon healing. Here we review the biological factors that contribute to fetal tendon regeneration and how manipulation of these biochemical cues in the adult tendon healing process could achieve regeneration.
Latest developments in the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine compiled from publicly available information and press releases from non-academic institutions in June 2023.
Research has shown that the therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is partially due to its secreted factors as opposed to the implantation of the cells into the treated tissue or tissue replacement. MSC secretome, especially in the form of conditioned medium (MSC-CM) is now being explored as an alternative to MSCs transplantation. Despite the observed benefits of MSC-CM, only a few clinical trials have evaluated it and other secretome components in the treatment of eye diseases. This review provides insight into the potential therapeutic use of MSC-CM in eye conditions, such as corneal diseases, dry eye, glaucoma, retinal diseases and uveitis. We discuss the current evidence, some limitations, and the progress that remains to be achieved before clinical translation becomes possible.
Aim: Bibliometric surveys are time-consuming endeavors, which cannot be scaled up to meet the challenges of ever-expanding fields, such as bone regeneration. Artificial intelligence, however, can provide smart tools to screen massive amounts of literature, and we relied on this technology to automatically identify research topics. Materials & methods: We used the BERTopic algorithm to detect the topics in a corpus of MEDLINE manuscripts, mapping their similarities and highlighting research hotspots. Results: Using BERTopic, we identified 372 topics and were able to assess the growing importance of innovative and recent fields of investigation such as 3D printing and extracellular vescicles. Conclusion: BERTopic appears as a suitable tool to set up automatic screening routines to track the progress in bone regeneration.