Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Renal stem cell'

Introduction: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for 87% of all kidney cancers. Despite advances in diagnostic techniques and management, renal cell carcinoma remains a lethal tumour accounting for substantial mortality and morbidity. The poor prognosis arises from metastasis, chemoradiation resistance and disease relapse. Cancer stem cells, a subpopulation of tumour cells with capacity to self-renew and reconstitute tumour heterogeneity have been implicated as the root cause of poor prognosis. Therefore, a better understanding of biomarkers of cancer stem cells will be useful for risk stratification, prognostication and may lead to novel targeted therapies that will ultimately alter the management of many patients. Aims and objectives: To review the morphological subtypes of renal cell carcinomas diagnosed in the Division of Anatomical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital over a 10-year period. To identify cancer stem cells in various histopathological subtypes of renal cell carcinoma using immunohistochemical markers (CD133 and CD105). To review the WNT signalling pathway in renal cell carcinomas using selected protein expression by immunohistochemistry (β-Catenin).Materials and methods: Ten-year retrospective study in which sixty-four cases of renal cell carcinoma were retrieved and reviewed. Four immunohistochemical stains (β-catenin, HIF-1α, CD133 and CD105) were performed and scored in tumour tissue. Data were analysed to determine if there was any correlation between expression of the biomarkers and the histopathological subtypes of renal cell carcinoma. Results: The mean age of the patients was 56-years (range, 35 to 81 years). Females constituted just over half (52%, n = 33) of the study patients. All 64 cases were confirmed as renal cell carcinomas, with 29 (45%) clear cell renal cell carcinomas, 14 (22%) papillary renal cell carcinomas, 9(14%) chromophobe renal cell carcinomas, 9 (14%) multicystic renal cell carcinomas and 3 (5%) sarcomatoid renal cell carcinomas. Ten (16%) cases showed abnormal β-Catenin cytoplasmic localisation. The majority of cases (n=6, 60%) showing abnormal β-Catenin localisation were clear cell renal cell carcinomas. However, there was no significant correlation between abnormal and normal β-Catenin localisation and RCC histopathological subtype (p = 0.766). CD133 immunohistochemical studies showed low expression in 52 (81 %) cases and high expression in 12 (19 %) cases. There was no correlation between low and high CD133 expression and histopathological RCC subtype (P = 0.800). CD105 immunostaining showed tumour cell immunopositivity in one case of clear cell renal cell carcinoma whilst the rest of the cases were negative. The low, moderate and high microvascular density categories had 24, 10 and 32 cases respectively. There was no significant correlation between low, moderate, and high microvascular densities and the histopathological RCC subtype (P = 0.320). HIF-1α immunohistochemical studies showed low expression in 39 (61 %) cases and high expression in 25 (39 %) cases. There was no significant correlation between levels of HIF-1α expression and the histopathological RCC subtype (P =0.972).Conclusion: Within the power limitations of this small study,β-catenin abnormal expression, microvascular densities and levels cytoplasmic CD133 and HIF-1α were not associated with any histopathological subtype of renal cell carcinoma.

La fragilità è una sindrome geriatrica definita da un progressivo declino età-correlato di diverse facoltà fisiologiche, che si traduce in una ridotta funzionalità d’organo e in un’aumentata vulnerabilità in condizioni di stress. Fried e coll. propongono una definizione operativa delle fragilità. La letteratura riporta un’alta prevalenza di fragilità in individui affetti da insufficienza renale cronica. Tra questi soggetti, il rischio di sviluppare fragilità è aumentato di due/tre volte rispetto ai soggetti sani. Ad oggi, la definizione e la valutazione della fragilità in questi pazienti è ancora controversa. Tuttavia quello che si sa è che l’invecchiamento è un processo strettamente correlato alla ridotta capacità delle cellule staminali di auto-rinnovarsi e differenziarsi. Quest’alterazione delle funzioni delle cellule staminali può svolgere un ruolo chiave nella fisiopatologia delle malattie associate all’invecchiamento, inclusa la disfunzione renale. Il nostro gruppo ha identificato e isolato le cellule staminali renali adulte a partire da colture clonali di nefrosfere umane. All’interno di queste sono presenti cellule a diversa differenziazione e maturazione, tra queste anche le staminali identificate come PKHhigh/CD133+/CD24-, multipotenti e in grado di ripopolare scaffold renali decellularizzati. Date queste premesse l'obiettivo del progetto è valutare gli effetti di condizioni biologiche legate alla fragilità sul comportamento delle cellule staminali renali adulte umane e capire se tali condizioni sono in grado di esaurire il pool di cellule staminali e alterarne la funzione. In primo luogo abbiamo arruolato soggetti fragili, pre-fragili e non-fragili e giovani sani come controllo e raccolto i rispettivi plasmi e cellule mononucleate dal sangue periferico (PBMC). Sia nelle PBMC che nelle cellule staminali/progenitrici ematopoietiche circolanti abbiamo valutato il danno al DNA osservando una percentuale di cellule positive al danno statisticamente più alta nei pazienti fragili rispetto agli altri gruppi. Per valutare il reale effetto delle condizioni biologiche legate alla fragilità sulle proprietà delle RSC, le colture di NS, ottenute da nefrectomie, sono state trattate con il plasma dei soggetti arruolati. Abbiamo valutato dapprima le capacità di autorinnovamento delle cellule trattate e osserviamo una significativa diminuzione dell'efficienza di formazione della sfera, indice di autorinnovamento, nei soggetti fragili rispetto ai non fragili e ai giovani. Successivamente, abbiamo valutato il danno al DNA, i ROS intracellulari, la proliferazione e la vitalità nelle cellule staminali/progenitrici renali ottenute dopo la dissociazione delle NS. Non sono state evidenziate differenze nella vitalità e nella proliferazione cellulare tra i gruppi, mentre il danno al DNA e i ROS intracellulari sono aumentati nelle cellule delle NS trattate con plasma di anziani fragili rispetto a quelle trattate con gli altri plasmi. Ciò potrebbe indicare che la diminuzione della capacità di autorinnovamento nelle cellule trattate con il plasma di pazienti fragili e un aumento del danno al DNA e dei ROS intracellulari non sono correlati con la morte o la proliferazione cellulare, ma con un'elevata presenza di mediatori infiammatori e ROS nel plasma dei pazienti fragili. Per confermare questi dati abbiamo analizzato lo stress ossidativo e il profilo di 40 citochine infiammatorie nel plasma dei soggetti arruolati. Si ha un aumento dello stress ossidativo nel plasma dei soggetti fragili rispetto agli altri gruppi, così come un’aumentata presenza o l’esclusività di alcune citochine infiammatorie. Questi dati preliminari suggeriscono che esiste una combinazione di stress ossidativo e citochine pro-infiammatorie nel plasma di pazienti fragili che contribuiscono ad aumentare il danno al DNA e i ROS intracellulari alterando conseguentemente le caratteristiche di staminalità delle cellule delle NS.
Frailty is a geriatric syndrome that can be defined as an age-related progressive impairment of multiple physiological systems, resulting in a significantly reduced capacity to compensate for external stressors. Fried and colleagues proposed a phenotype characterization of frailty through five physical criteria, so this can be possible only after the onset of clinical manifestations without the possibility of a precocious diagnosis. Several studies report a high prevalence of frailty in both old and young individuals with kidney dysfunction, and this further increases with advancing age and progressive decline of renal function. Elderly individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are two to three times more likely to be frail than those with normal renal function. However, the relationship between CKD and frailty is still unclear. The aging process can have adverse effects on stem cells; their self-renewal ability declines and their differentiation potential into the various cell types is altered. Aging-induced exhaustion and deterioration of stem cell pool and functions may play a key role in the pathophysiology of aging-associated diseases, including kidney dysfunction. Our group isolated a pure population of multipotent renal stem-like cells by a functional approach, taking advantage from the ability of renal stem cells (RSC) to grow as nephrospheres (NS). Investigating the expression of renal progenitor markers described in literature, our group identified in NS a homogeneous PKHhigh/CD133+/CD24- cell population displaying in vitro stem-cell properties, able to repopulate human decellularized renal scaffold and exhibiting multipotency. In this scenario, we tested whether in the organism of elderly and frail people there are biological conditions able to alter RSC behavior, justifying the high prevalence of chronic kidney dysfunction in the frail status and its severity. First, we recruited frail, pre-frail and non-frail subjects, and young subjects as controls and we obtained whole blood that was separated into plasma and PBMC. We studied DNA damage in both PBMC and circulating hematopoietic progenitor/stem cells (cHPSC) and we observed a statistically higher percentage of cells positive for DNA damage in frail patients compared to all the other groups. To assess the real effect of biological conditions related to frailty on adult RSC properties, NS cultures, obtained from nephrectomies, were treated with 10% plasma of enrolled frail and non-frail subjects and healthy young. We first evaluated the self-renewal abilities of treated cells and we observe a significant decrease in sphere forming efficiency, indication of self-renewal, in frail subjects compared to both non-frail and young people. Subsequently, we evaluated DNA damage, intracellular ROS, proliferation and viability in renal stem/progenitor cells obtained after NS dissociation after plasma treatment. We find no differences in viability and proliferation between groups, while DNA damage and intracellular ROS increased in NS cells treated with plasma of frail seniors compared to those treated with the other plasmas. This might indicate that the decrease of self-renewal ability in cell treated with plasma of frail patients and an increase of DNA damage and intracellular ROS are not correlated to cell death or proliferation, but with a high presence of inflammatory mediators and ROS in the plasma of frail patients. To confirm these data we analyzed the oxidative stress and the profile of 40 inflammatory cytokines on plasma of enrolled subjects. We observed an increase in oxidative stress and osome inflammatory cytokines in frail plasma compared to other plasmas. These preliminary data suggested that there is a combination of oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines in plasma of frail patients that contribute to increase DNA damage and intracellular ROS and consequently alter stem characteristics of NS cells.

Cancer stem cells (CSC) are a rare subset of malignant cells that constitute a reservoir of tumor‐initiating cells with the ability to both self‐renew and differentiate into bulk tumors. As well as for other tumors, also in Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) the identification of CSCs might represent a step toward the development of therapies able to totally eradicate the disease. In the present study, cells with stem properties were identified from cultures of clonal tumor spheres obtained from RCC tissues after standardization of sphere‐forming assay on RCC 786‐0 cell line. Spheres obtained from the cell line and from RCC tissues were similar in term of phenotypic features, growth kinetics and sphere forming efficiency (SFE). These spheres exhibited the expression of pluripotency genes as well as the activation of self‐renewal pathways, when compared to the cultures representative of the bulk tumor population. Moreover they overexpressed the adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR1 and ADAR2) that might be involved in the regulation of self‐renewal as demonstrated by the increase of SFE after overexpression in 786‐0 cell line. When injected in immunocompromised mice, cells from spheres had a higher ability to give rise to tumor. Moreover tumor spheres from RCC tissues, as well as from 786‐0, showed a heterogeneous composition, with different cell subpopulations, displaying diverse self‐renewal ability. These subpopulations were identified on the basis of the different intensity of fluorescence of the PKH26 dye, able to discriminate quiescent cells within a proliferating population. The ability to self‐renew of the different PKH populations depended on the grading of the tumor. Although not distinguishing CSCs from the bulk tumor, surface marker expression in combination with PKH assay further confirmed the heterogeneity of cells within the spheres and allowed to identify an enrichment of CD105+ and CD133+CD105+ cells in the self‐renewing PKHhigh population. In this study, by characterizing for the first time molecular pathways, such as Notch, JAK/STAT and RNA editing, that distinguish spheres, enriched in putative CSCs, from the bulk tumor, represented by primary cell cultures, we provided possible targets for new therapies that need to be further characterized in order to discern their role. Moreover, the combination of PKH assay and surface markers might be helpful for a better definition of the CSC population within RCC.

In recent years, numerous cancers have been described as having a "cancer stem cell" (CSC) population also known as "cancer initiating cells". CSCs refer to a subset of tumour cells that has the ability to self-renew and generate the diverse cells that comprise the tumor. Their name derives from their "stem-like" properties and ability to continually sustain tumorigenesis. CSCs have the same properties that define a normal tissue adult stem cell, even if they are aberrant: self-renewal and differentiation. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for about 3% of adult cancers and is among the 10 most common malignancies in Europe. RCC has several morphological subtypes and clear cell RCC accounts for ~80% of cases. RCC has a late diagnosis and is therapy resistant. In renal pathologies there are situation in which the presence and function of adult renal stem cells may have clinical relevance. In the last years the existence of different sources of renal stem cells has been proposed even if the phenotype of a resident stem cell of the kidney has not been exhaustively described. Even in RCC the definition of a kidney cancer stem cell may have a role for better understanding renal cell carcinoma biology. A number of approaches based on the exploitation of renal stem cell markers have allowed the prospective isolation of human renal stem cells, even if the relative promiscuity of these markers limits their usefulness when highly purified stem cells are needed. So we decided to use a functional approach for the isolation of normal and cancer stem cells of the kidney by culturing the cells in suspension, non-adherent conditions, at low density with specific growth factors. In these conditions only a little percentage of cells survives growing as spherical aggregates in suspension. We called them "nephrospheres". Using fluorescent lipophilic dyes PKH, we demonstrated the clonal origin of the spheres and the presence of a heterogeneous population inside the spheres. In fact the dye dilutes in active replicating cells while is retained in quiescent cells; we can observe in normal and cancer nephrospheres some most fluorescent cells, the quiescent stem cells, and some less fluorescent or not fluorescent cells, that are the active replicating progenitors. We performed a characterization of the nephrospheres by immunofluorescence after cytospin or FACS evaluating the expression of some epithelial and stem cell markers. By Real Time PCR we found that some genes related with stemness or involved in the maintenance of pluripotency are overexpressed in normal and cancer nephrospheres if compared with the corresponding differentiated primary cell cultures. We then evaluated the differentiative abilities of the cells derived from normal nephrospheres by culturing the cells in specific media and semisolid substrates; the cells are able to differentiate into epithelial and neuronal-like phenotype and to form tubular/glomerular-like tridimensional structures. We the isolated the stem cell population form normal nephrospheres on the basis of the PKH fluorescence. We identified 3 PKH populations: PKHhigh population, with a high level of fluorescence, PKHlow population, with a low level of fluorescence, and PKHneg population, negative for PKH. The populations were separated with cell sorting and cultivated to form spheres. Only PKHhigh cells were able to generate new spheres, demostrating that the PKHhigh cells represent the stem cell population inside the nephrospheres. Normal and cancer PKHhigh cells will be deeply characterized in the future.

The incidence of end-stage renal disease is increasing in Western Society. Renal transplantation is known to be the optimal treatment for ESRD, being associated with significant reduction in morbidity, mortality for patients and cost for wider society when compared to remaining on dialysis. Unfortunately, the growing number of patients listed for renal transplantation has occurred without a matched supply in the number of suitable organs. This has led to longer average waiting times for increased numbers of patients, who consequently suffer adverse outcomes at considerable cost to the National Health Service as a result of organ shortage. One strategy employed by clinicians to meet demand for organs has been to transplant ‘suboptimal’ kidneys’ historically rejected as unsuitable for transplantation, which are usually retrieved from older and less fit donors. Sometimes referred to as ‘extended criteria’ or ‘marginal kidneys’, such allografts are more prone to damage in the peri-transplantation period, with the major pathological process recognised to be ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Although functioning ‘marginal’ allografts have been shown to confer benefit to recipients, early transplant failure is associated with negative outcomes. Consequently, there is a real need to develop treatments to mitigate renal IRI, especially since the use of ‘marginal’ kidneys is likely to increase. Stem cell therapy has been shown to protect solid organs from IRI in a number of different animal models. Consequently, there is great interest in researching the ability of stem cell-based therapies to ameliorate solid organ damage and perhaps to encourage organ regeneration. However, debate exists regarding the exact mechanism by which stem cells produce their effects. Some researchers suggest that stem cells directly differentiate to replace specialised cell types in damage organs. Other investigators conclude that stem cells produce their effects in a paracrine fashion via the release of extracellular vesicles with the horizontal transfer of genetic material between cells. Unfortunately, no therapies are currently in widespread use to reduce damage to allografts in the peri-transplant period. In part, this reflects the lack of robust small animal models for screening potential renal IRI therapies before testing in large animal models. Furthermore, clinical application has been limited by safety concerns, and particularly by the risk of stem cells undergoing malignant transformation and subsequent tumour formation in recipients. However, investigators hypothesise that the use of stem cell-derived, extracellular vesicles may confer similar beneficial therapeutic efficacy, but lack many of the side effects associated with stem cells themselves. This thesis describes experiments in which stem cell-based therapies are tested in conventional and novel animal models of renal IRI and renal transplantation. In Chapter 3, initial experiments unexpectedly demonstrated the potential of ex vivo expanded stem cells to undergo malignant change and induce tumour formation in recipient animals. Therefore, the subsequent research investigated the effects of freshly isolated stem cells or those of novel extracellular vesicle preparations. In Chapter 4, experiments unexpectedly demonstrated the shortcomings of a conventional rat model of renal IRI. Therefore, Chapter 5 describes the development of a novel rat of model of renal IRI, in which stem cell-based therapies may be tested. Using this animal model, Chapters 6 and Chapter 7 describe the investigation of novel stem cell-based therapies and their effects on renal IRI. Some of these treatments were found to protect kidneys from IRI damage with preservation of renal function and structure in the medium to long-term. Chapter 8 describes a rat model of renal transplantation, in which therapies were investigated after being screened for efficacy in the novel rat IRI model. Although no functional difference was demonstrated, renal histology was preserved by treatment, although the mechanisms by which this effect occurred remain unclear. These findings suggest that stem cells and their extracellular vesicles have the potential to reduce peri-transplantation renal IRI and hence improve long-term outcomes of ‘marginal’ allografts. However, clinical translation requires the long-term efficacy and safety of these novel therapies to be investigated in large animal models of renal transplantation, before further testing in pilot studies.

A doença renal crônica é uma doença de alta incidência na espécie felina, sendo responsável por altas taxas de mortalidade e morbidade. O tratamento clínico é paliativo. Atualmente as células-tronco têm sido estudadas para várias doenças degenerativas e crônicas, entre elas a doença renal. O presente estudo testou a utilização uma nova linhagem de células, progenitoras do tecido renal na terapia de gatos domésticos acometidos naturalmente com doença renal crônica, nos estágios 1, 2 e 3 da doença (creatinina <1,6 a 5,0 mg/dl), por meio de avaliações clínicas e laboratoriais. Os animais foram divididos em dois grupos, experimental e controle. No grupo experimental foi aplicado pela via intraperitoneal 2x106 células progenitoras renais e os animais do grupo controle receberam a aplicação de PBS. Os animais foram avaliados nos dias 0, 7 e 14 e monitorados clinicamente e por meio de exames laboratoriais, incluindo hemograma, creatinina, urinálise e o SDMA. A análise estatística foi realizada pelo teste Scheirer Ray Hare para dados não paramétricos (p=0,05). A aplicação intraperitoneal ocorreu sem intercorrências e aparenta ser segura para utilização em gatos. Dos 4 animais do grupo experimental 3 apresentaram melhora clínica, melhora do apetite e ganho de peso, o quarto animal apresentou perda de peso inicial, mas retornou ao peso do início do estudo 14 dias após a aplicação das células. Não houve diferenças estatísticas nos parâmetros de creatinina, ureia, fósforo e densidade urinária. Os leucócitos do grupo experimental apresentaram uma redução significativa em relação ao grupo controle. O SDMA apresentou redução em 3 animal do grupo experimental e aumento nos animais do grupo controle, mas a análise não apresentou diferença estatística devido ao aumento dos valores no em um dos animais. A aplicação de células progenitoras renais no tratamento da DRC em gatos é promissora e pode ser realizada pela via intraperitoneal, sem que ocorra intercorrências.
Chronic kidney disease is a high incidence disease in the feline species, responsible for high rates of mortality and morbidity. The clinical treatment is palliative. Currently, stem cells have been studied for various degenerative and chronic diseases, including kidney disease. The present study tested the use of a new lineage of renal tissue progenitor cells in the therapy of naturally occurring chronic kidney disease in cats at stages 1, 2 and 3 of the disease (creatinine <1.6 to 5.0 mg/dl), through clinical and laboratory evaluations. The animals were divided into two groups, experimental and control. In the experimental group 2x106 renal progenitor cells were administered intraperitoneally and the animals in the control group received PBS application. The animals were evaluated on days 0, 7 and 14 and monitored clinically and through laboratory tests, including complete blood count, creatinine, urinalysis and SDMA assay. Statistical analysis was performed by the Scheirer Ray Hare test for non-parametric data (p = 0.05). The intraperitoneal application occurred uneventfully and appeared to be safe for use in cats. Of the 4 animals in the experimental group 3 showed clinical improvement, food intake and weight gain, the fourth animal presented initial weight loss, but returned to the weight of the study beginning 14 days after the application of the cells. There were no statistical differences in the parameters of creatinine, urea, phosphorus and urinary density. Leukocytes in the experimental group showed a significant reduction in relation to the control group. The SDMA showed reduction in 3 animals from the experimental group and increase in the animals from the control group, but the analysis did not show statistical difference due to the increase values in one of the animals. The application of renal progenitor cells in the treatment of CKD in cats is promising and can be performed intraperitoneally, without causing intercurrences.

A doença renal crônica (DRC) é uma afecção frequente em cães idosos, de alta morbidade e mortalidade, sendo definida como uma injúria renal morfo-funcional irreversível, de um ou ambos os rins, que está intrinsecamente associada à degeneração celular. Seu tratamento é paliativo, sendo que nos estágios mais avançados, o animal pode necessitar de hemodiálise ou transplante renal, prática dificultada e muitas vezes inviável na medicina veterinária. As células-tronco mesenquimais derivadas do tecido amniótico caracterizam-se por ser uma população de células de alta plasticidade e de grande potencial imunomodulador, sendo capazes de se diferenciar e produzir diferentes tipos celulares necessários num processo de reparação. Os avanços nos estudos das células-tronco podem tornar a terapia celular uma forma viável de tratamento alternativo ou adjuvante dessa doença, uma vez que estas poderiam restaurar a funcionalidade e manter a integridade do rim. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se o tratamento experimental com células-tronco mesenquimais derivadas do âmnio (CTMAs) canino podem reduzir ou estabilizar a taxa de progressão e o quadro clínico da DRC em cães. Para tanto, células-tronco provenientes da membrana amniótica foram cultivadas até a segunda passagem (P2) e criopreservadas para posterior aplicação. Onze cães domésticos, machos e/ou fêmeas, acometidos pela DRC adquirida em graus II ou III segundo classificação da IRIS e sem outra afecção adjacente receberam duas aplicações de CTMAs nos dias D0 e D30, por via endovenosa. Para avaliar a progressão ou estabilização do quadro clínico foram colhidas amostras de sangue total, soro sanguíneo e urina para exames de hemograma, bioquímica sérica e urinaria e urinálise em quatro momentos: D0, D7, D30 e D60. A análise estatística foi realizada através da aplicação do teste ANOVA, para comparação de médias nas diferentes fases de tratamento, seguida pelo teste de Tukey, para comparação das médias entre os grupos. Do ponto de vista clínico, dois animais apresentaram melhora e se mantiveram estáveis durante todo o período de acompanhamento, dois animais apresentaram melhora nos primeiros 30 dias, apresentando novamente sintomatologia da doença após esse período e os demais apresentaram melhora nos primeiros sete dias de tratamento, havendo uma piora geral do quadro após esse período. Contudo, os exames laboratoriais em todos os casos não revelaram uma melhora significativa com o tratamento. Aparentemente, a utilização de células-tronco de origem amniótica não influencia de forma relevante na melhora da doença devido à extensa lesão renal que cães apresentam.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common condition in older dogs with high morbidity and mortality and is defined as an irreversible morpho-functional renal injury of one or both kidneys, which is intrinsically associated with cell degeneration. Its treatment is palliative, and in the more advanced stages, the animal may need dialysis or kidney transplantation, a practice that is difficult and often not feasible in veterinary medicine. The mesenchymal stem cells derived from amniotic tissue characterized by being a population of high plasticity and high cell immunomodulatory potential, being able to differentiate and produce different cell types required in a repair process. Advances in stem cell studies may make cell therapy a viable alternative or adjunctive treatment for this disease, since it could restore functionality and maintain kidney integrity. The objective of this study was to evaluate if the experimental treatment with the canine amnio- derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) can reduce or stabilize the rate of progression, and clinical condition of CKD in dogs. For this purpose, stem cells from the amniotic membrane were grown until the second pass (P2) and cryopreserved for later use. Eleven domestic male and / or female dogs, affected by the CKD acquired in grades II or III according to IRIS classification and without another adjacent disease, received two applications on days D0 and D30 intravenously. To evaluate the progression or stabilization of the clinical condition, whole blood, blood serum and urine samples were collected for hemogram, serum and urinary biochemistry and urinalysis at four moments: D0, D7, D30 and D60. Statistical analysis was performed using the ANOVA test, to compare means in the different treatment phases, followed by the Tukey test, to compare the means between the groups. From a clinical point of view, two animals showed improvement and remained stable throughout the follow-up period, two animals showed improvement in the first 30 days, showing again symptoms of the disease after this period and the other showed improvement in the first seven days of treatment, with a general worsening of the condition after this period. However, laboratory tests in all cases showed no significant improvement with treatment. Apparently, the use of stem cells of amniotic origin does not influence in a relevant way the improvement of the pathology due the extensive kidney lesion presented by dogs.

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Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo - FAPESP
Introduction: Stem cell therapy is a promising strategy to repair or delay the progression of chronic renal failure (CRF). Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) can be a therapeutic alternative due to their differentiation potential. Objectives: 1- To modify genetically stem cells from mice´s fibroblasts with lentiviral vectors containing transcription factors, transforming differentiated cells into iPS; 2- To evaluate the effect of iPS in the experimental IRC progression of IRC induced by 5/6 nephrectomy (CRF-5/6). Materials and Methods: The animals were divided according to the type of cell therapy received from extracted mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow (MSC) or iPS and compared with CRF group 5/6 without treatment. Assessment of renal function was carried out during baseline and after 60 days. Additionally expression of genes, VEGF, IL-6, TGF-β and IL-10 were quantified in the kidney tissue, and also the analysis of implanted cell migration through the SRY gene. Immunohistochemical study evaluated the expression of CD68, α-SMA, TGF-β, PCNA and VEGF markers. Results: A significant decrease was observed in creatinine variation (p<0.05) and plasma urea (p<0.01) in animals treated with MSC and a 33%-decrease in plasma creatinine levels of animals treated with iPS cells, although non- significant when compared to the control group. The 24-hour proteinuria was significantly reduced only in the iPS group (p<0.0001). Significant improvement was observed in creatinine clearance in both treatments (p<0.04). Disease progression measured by the clearance decline rate was significantly lower only in the MSC group (p<0.05) and the urinary osmolality was similar in both treated groups. There was an increase in the expression of TGF- β gene in iPS group when compared to the control group (p<0.05) and VEGF expression in the groups treated with iPS and MSC (p<0.05). IL-6 and IL-10 showed similar expression levels in both treated groups (p=NS). Immunohistochemical analysis showed fewer macrophages and decreased cell proliferative activity (PCNA) in the iPS group p<0.05. Histological analysis showed a significant decrease in glomerulosclerosis in both treatment groups (p<0.01), tubular atrophy was similar in all groups . Leukocyte infiltration was reduced in both treatments when compared to CRF group. The SRY gene was detected in 5 out of 8 (62.5%) mice that were treated with iPS. After 60 days the tumor formations were observed in animals in which SRY gene was detected. Conclusions: MSC therapy is effective in delaying the progression of CKD. Treatment with iPS also improves some parameters of renal function but this assessment can be difficult since the onset of tumor formations; thus some care is necessary with this type of cells.
Introdução: A terapia com células-tronco (CT) é uma estratégia promissora para reparar ou retardar a progressão da insuficiência renal crônica (IRC). As células-tronco pluripotentes induzidas (iPS) podem ser uma alternativa terapêutica, em virtude de seu potencial de diferenciação. Objetivos: 1) Modificar geneticamente células de fibroblastos de ratos com vetores lentivirais contendo fatores de transcrição, transformando essas células diferenciadas em iPS; 2) Avaliar o efeito das iPS e CTM na progressão da IRC experimental induzida pela nefrectomia 5/6 (CRF5/6). Materiais e Métodos: Os animais foram divididos conforme o tipo de terapia celular recebida (célula-tronco mesenquimal extraída da medula óssea (CTM) ou com iPS) e comparados com o grupo CRF5/6. A avaliação da função renal foi realizada no período basal e após 60 dias. Adicionalmente foi quantificada a expressão dos genes, VEGF, IL-6, TGF-β e IL-10 no tecido renal e estudada a migração das células implantadas contendo o gene SRY. O estudo imunohistoquímico avaliou a expressão de marcadores CD68, α-SMA, TGF-β, PCNA e VEGF. Resultados: Redução significativa foi observada na variação da creatinina (p<0,05) e ureia plasmática (p<0,01) dos animais tratados com CTM e uma diminuição de 33% dos níveis de creatinina plasmática nos animais tratados com células iPS, porém sem significância estatística quando comparada ao grupo controle. A proteinúria de 24 horas foi reduzida somente no grupo iPS (p=0,0001) e houve melhora significativa no clearance de creatinina com ambos tratamentos (p=0,04). A progressão da doença, medida pela taxa de declínio do clearance de creatinina, foi significativamente lentificada somente no grupo CTM (p=0,04) e a osmolalidade urinária foi similar em ambos os grupos tratados. Houve aumento na expressão do gene TGF-β no grupo iPS quando comparado ao grupo controle (p=0,01) e da expressão de VEGF nos grupos tratados com iPS e CTM (p=0,01). IL-6 e IL-10 mostraram níveis de expressão semelhantes em ambos os grupos tratados (p=NS). A análise imunohistoquímica demonstrou menor número de macrófagos e diminuição da atividade proliferativa celular (PCNA) no grupo iPS p<0,05. A analise histológica mostrou diminuição significativa da glomeruloesclerose em ambos grupos tratados (p<0,01), a atrofia tubular foi semelhante nos três grupos. A infiltração leucocitária foi reduzida em ambos os tratamentos, quando comparados ao grupo CRF. O gene SRY foi detectado em 5 de 8 (62,5%) ratos que receberam tratamento com iPS. Após 60 dias foram observadas as formações tumorais nos respectivos animais em que o gene SRY foi detectado. Conclusões: A terapia com CTM é eficiente para retardar a progressão da IRC. Tratamento com iPS também melhora alguns parâmetros da função renal, mas o aparecimento de formações tumorais dificulta essa avaliação e requer cuidados com esse tipo de célula.

Orientadora: Profa. Dra. Marcela Sorelli Carneiro Ramos
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biossistemas, 2014.
A ativação de fatores inflamatórios em um quadro de insuficiência renal isquêmica pode afetar outros órgãos, como o coração. Esses fatores lesionam o tecido cardíaco que, então, sofre um remodelamento, com a hipertrofia dos cardiomiócitos e pode evoluir para a hipertrofia cardíaca. O desenvolvimento de pesquisas com células-tronco demonstram que estas células secretam fatores que protegem o tecido cardíaco da injúria, modulam fatores inflamatórios e diminuem a formação de fibrose, o que despertou o interesse pelo seu uso em terapias para algumas cardiopatias. Este projeto teve como intuito avaliar as alterações ocasionadas pela introdução de células-tronco em modelos de hipertrofia cardíaca, devido um quadro de insuficiência renal. Para isso, camundongos C57BL/6 foram submetidos à oclusão unilateral do pedículo renal esquerdo por 60 minutos, com a aplicação de células-tronco mesenquimais via plexo retro-orbital um dia após a cirurgia. Os corações e rins dos modelos animais foram caracterizados por meio de estudos morfológicos. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que as células-tronco preveniram o desenvolvimento da hipertrofia cardíaca, uma vez que não se verificou o aumento de massa, aumento de volume ou diminuição do lúmen do ventrículo esquerdo dos animais que receberam uma aplicação dessas células. Além disso, verificou-se também uma ação moduladora das células-tronco nos rins direitos, que não apresentaram um aumento de massa ou volume. No entanto, nenhum dado obtido demonstrou uma ação protetora dessas células nos rins esquerdos, diretamente afetados pela cirurgia de indução de lesão isquêmica. Logo, pela primeira vez, foi demonstrado que a aplicação de células-tronco mesenquimais preveniu o desenvolvimento da hipertrofia nos grupo tratados.
Activation of inflammatory factors in ischemic renal failure condition affects other organs as well as the heart. The inflammatory factors injure the cardiac tissue, modulating heart trophism with cardiomyocytes hypertrophy and this pathologic condition may progress to cardiac hypertrophy. Development of stem cell research has shown that it secrete factors that protect cardiac tissue of the injury, modulate inflammatory factors and decreases fibrosis. These discoveries have motivated studies with stem cells in cardiac diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the morphological alterations caused by the stem cells introduction on renal ischemia/reperfusion induced cardiac hypetrophy models. To analyze the stem cell effect at this model, C57BL/6 mice were subjected to unilateral occlusion of left renal pedicle for 60 minutes and one day after surgical procedures mesenchymal stem cells were applied via retro orbital sinus. Hearts and kidneys of the animal models were characterized by morphological study. and, for the first time, we evidenced that mesenchymal stem cells treatment prevents the renal ischemia/reperfusion induced cardiac hypertrophy. The results evidenced the stem cell capacity to prevent cardiac hypertrophy development, since there were no mass increase, volume increase or decrease of left ventricular lumen area on animals that received a stem cells injection. Moreover, it was verified a modulating capacity of stem cells on right kidneys that didn't presented increase in mass or volume. However, no data indicated a protective role of these cells in the left kidneys. Thus, for the first time, we evidenced that mesenchymal stem cells treatment prevents the renal ischemia/reperfusion induced cardiac hypertrophy.

A hiperfosfatemia está relacionada com o hiperparatireoidismo secundário renal (HPTSR) e com a progressão da doença renal crônica (DRC). A retenção de fósforo estimula a síntese do fator de crescimento de fibroblastos 23 (FGF-23), o qual promove fosfatúria, com o objetivo de evitar o aparecimento de hiperfosfatemia. Atualmente, o tratamento disponível para DRC é de manutenção e, portanto, novas estratégias para evitar a progressão da DRC seriam de grande relevância. Recentemente têm sido demonstrado o papel da célula-tronco mesenquimal (CTM) em minimizar os mecanismos inflamatórios e imunológicos envolvidos na progressão da DRC. Portanto, o estudo teve como hipótese de que a CTM possa evitar ou controlar a progressão para o HPTSR, investigada por meio da avaliação de biomarcadores do metabolismo de fósforo, ou seja, as concentrações sérica de fósforo (sP), FGF-23, cálcio total e cálcio ionizado, bem como a excreção fracionada de fósforo urinária (uFEP) em cães com DRC nos estágios 2 (Grupo A) e 3 (Grupo B), submetidos ou não a terapia com CTM, bem como investigar se os valores elevados de FGF-23 estariam relacionados com o menor tempo de sobrevida. Trata-se de um estudo prospectivo, longitudinal, duplo-cego e randomizado em que foram avaliados 22 cães com DRC, tratados com solução fisiológica (SF) ou CTM, avaliados a cada 30 a 45 dias em 12 momentos (T0 a T12). No Grupo A (n= 9; SF: n= 6, CTM: n= 3) todos os cães eram normofosfatêmicos no momento inicial do acompanhamento (T0) e foi observado níveis elevados de FGF-23 em 33,3% dos cães (3 de 9), assim como o aumento de uFEP foi detectado em 33,3% dos casos (3 de 9). A média ± EPM dos valores de FGF-23 sérico do Grupo A foi de 481,5 ± 75,23pg/mL. Já no Grupo B (n = 13; SF: n = 6, CTM: n = 7), todos os cães apresentaram altas concentrações séricas de FGF-23 desde T0 (média ± EPM de 12744 ± 6879pg/mL), sendo que 53,8% dos cães eram normofosfatêmicos. A média ± EPM de fósforo sérico em T0, T6 e T12 ou momento do óbito no Grupo A e B foi de 3,74 ± 0,13mg/dL e 6,40 ± 0,54mg/dL. Ao longo do curso da doença, o desenvolvimento de hiperfosfatemia foi observada em apenas 11,1% dos cães do Grupo A e em 84,6% dos cães do Grupo B. O Grupo B (SF e CTM) apresentou valores mais elevados de FGF-23 do que o Grupo A (SF e CTM), e foi detectada diferença estatística entre os dois grupos. A uFEP nos cães dos Grupos A e B em T0, T6 e T12 ou óbito obteve média ± EPM de 20,93 ± 3,92% e 24,05 ± 2,22%, respectivamente. Além disso, a sobrevida foi menor no Grupo B, a qual estava associada com hiperfosfatemia intensa, altas concentrações de FGF-23 e diminuição da uFEP. Dessa forma, em cães DRC normofosfatêmicos, a presença de aumentos de uFEP e de FGF-23 parece terem atuado como marcador precoce do HPTSR. Em contrapartida, nos estágios tardios da DRC, o aumento de FGF-23 associado a diminuição da uFEP pode indicar mau prognóstico. Em relação à terapia com CTM nos cães com DRC, de acordo com o número de cães avaliados e os resultados obtidos, não foi possível concluir de forma contundente sobre o efeito da terapia com CTM na doença renal crônica de curso natural em cães, entretanto, os resultados obtidos foram relevantes, pois suscitaram questões quanto ao momento ou o estágio da DRC que seria o mais adequado para a indicação da terapia celular para que os efeitos benéficos possam ser obtidos. Assim, ainda se faz necessária a condução de mais pesquisas com um número maior de cães com DRC para avaliar efeito da CTM em evitar o distúrbio no metabolismo mineral, bem como a progressão da DRC em cães
Hyperphosphatemia is associated with renal secondary hyperparathyroidism (SRHP) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. Phosphorus retention stimulates the synthesis of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), which promotes phosphaturia in order to avoid the onset of hyperphosphatemia. Conservative treatment of CKD is currently avaliable and new strategies are needed and welcome to avoid the progression of renal injury. Recent studies have shown the role of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) in minimizing inflammatory and immunological mechanisms known as mediators of CKD progression. Therefore, it was hypothesized that MSCs could avoid or control the progression to SRHP, assessed by serum phosphorus (sP), FGF-23, total and ionized calcium and fractional excretion of phosphorus (uFEP) in CKD dogs in Stages 2 (Group A) and 3 (Group B), also was investigated whether high values of FGF-23 could be associatted with shorter survival time. Prospective, double-blind, randomized and longitudinal study was conducted enrolling 22 dogs with CKD treated with saline solution (SS) or MSC, which were evaluated every 30 to 45 days in 12 moments (T0 to T12). In Group A (n = 9; SF: n = 6, CTM: n = 3) all dogs were normophosphatemic at the beginning of the follow-up (T0) and high levels of FGF-23 were already detected in 33.3% of dogs (3 of 9), as well as increased in uFEP (33.3%; 3 of 9). The mean ± SEM of serum FGF-23 in Group A was 481.50 ± 75.23pg/mL. In Group B (n = 13; SS: n = 6, MSC: n = 7), all dogs showed high concentrations of serum FGF-23 since T0 (mean ± SEM of 12744 ± 6979pg/mL), and normophosphatemia detected in 53.8% of them. The mean ± SEM of serum phosphorus at T0, T6 and T12 or death in Group A and B was 3.74 ± 0.13mg/dL and 6.40 ± 0.54mg/dL. Hyperphosphatemia developed during the follow-up in only 11.1% of the dogs of Group A and 84.6% of the dogs of Group B. Group B (SS and MSC) had higher levels of FGF-23 than Group A (SS and MSC), and difference bewteen those groups detected. The uFEP in dogs of Groups A and B at T0, T6 and T12 or death obtained mean ± SEM of 20.93 ± 3.92% and 24.05 ± 2.22%, respectively. Furthermore, the survival rate was lower in Group B, which was associated with severe hyperphosphatemia, high values of serum FGF-23 and decreased uFEP. Therefore in normophophatemic CKD dogs, the increased in uFEP and high levels of FGF-23 may act as an early marker of SRHP. However, in later stages of CKD, increased levels of serum FGF-23 associated with decreased uFEP and hyperphosphatemia may indicate poor prognosis. Regarding to the MSC therapy in dogs with CKD, the number of dogs involved and also according to the results, it still has not allowed to conclude the effect of therapy with mesenchymal stem cell in spontaneous chronic kidney disease; however, the results obtained raised important questions such as the time or the stage of CKD that could be more suitable for the use of stem cell therapy in order to get its beneficial effects. Therefore, futher studies are needed, including greater number of dogs with CKD and then to evaluate the effect or action of MSC to avoid disturbances in mineral metabolism as well as the progression of CKD in dogs

Unsere Untersuchungen belegen, dass nichtmyeloablative Stammzelltransplantationen (NST) bei Patienten mit Hochrisiko-ALL oder -AML eine neue therapeutische Option darstellen. Die NST ermöglichte eine allogene Stammzelltransplantation bei Transplantationskandidaten mit Kontraindikationen gegen eine hochdosierte Strahlen- und Chemotherapie (Standardtransplantation). Nach NST kam es häufig zur Entwicklung von Infektionen und einer spät auftretenden akuten Transplantat-gegen-Wirt Reaktion (GvHD), diese waren aber mit einer geringeren Mortalität verbunden. Das erkrankungsfreie Überleben und das Gesamt-Überleben nach NST und nach Standardtransplantation waren fast gleich. Der höheren Rezidivrate nach NST stand eine höhere transplantationsassoziierte Mortalität nach Standardtransplantation gegenüber. Das Konditionierungsregime selber war ohne Einfluss auf das Überleben der Patienten. Sequenzielle Chimärismusuntersuchungen von Leukozytensubpopulationen erlaubten eine frühe Diagnose eines gemischten Chimärismus, der einen prädiktiven Wert für das Auftreten eines Rezidivs hatte. Ein stabiler gemischter Chimärismus wurde nicht beobachtet. Durch eine adoptive Immuntherapie mit Spenderlymphozyten (DLI) konnte bei der Mehrzahl der transplantierten Patienten mit gemischtem Chimärismus eine Chimärismuskonversion und eine lang anhaltende komplette Remission induziert werden, ein wichtiger Hinweis auf einen Transplantat-gegen-Leukämie Effekt (GvL) der Spenderzellen. Durch die NST rückt der immunologische Effekt der Transplantation gegenüber der Zytoreduktion bei der Standardtransplantation stärker in den Vordergrund. Unsere Ergebnisse sprechen für die Wirksamkeit eines GvL-Effektes bei akuten Leukämien auch nach NST. Die Erfahrungen mit der NST bei akuten Leukämien haben zu einer Anwendung bei refraktären Nierenzellkarzinomen geführt. Eine Tumorregression wurde erst nach Chimärismuskonversion und/oder Entwicklung einer GvHD beobachtet; diese Befunde sind vereinbar mit einem Transplantat-gegen-Tumor Effekt (GvT). Die transplantationsassoziierte Morbidität war allerdings bei diesen meist älteren Patienten erheblich. Die Therapie sollte ausschließlich im Rahmen klinischer Studien erfolgen, da es sich nach wie vor um ein experimentelles Therapieverfahren handelt. Die Analyse minimal residueller Erkrankung und der Einsatz hochauflösender Chimärismusuntersuchungen von Leukozytensubpopulationen sollte die Bedeutung des gemischten Chimärismus weiter klären und zu einem gezielteren Einsatz von DLI führen. Prospektive vergleichende Studien müssen in naher Zukunft den Stellenwert der NST untersuchen.
Our clinical investigations demonstrate, that nonmyeloablative stem cell transplantation (NST) is a novel therapeutic option in patients with high-risk ALL or AML. NST can be administered to patients eligible for allogeneic stem cell transplantation with contraindications against high-dose radio- and chemotherapy (standard SCT). After NST, infections and late onset acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) frequently occurred, but transplant-related mortality was low in contrast to standard SCT. Leukemia-free survival and overall survival were similar after NST and standard SCT. A higher relapse rate after NST was balanced by a higher transplant-related mortality after standard SCT. The conditioning regimen itself had no relevant impact on survival. Sequential chimerism analyses of leukocyte subpopulations resulted in early diagnosis of mixed chimerism, which proved to be predictive for later relapses. Stable mixed chimerism was not established in these patients. Adoptive immunotherapy in patients, who were in hematologic remission but had mixed chimerism after transplantation, induced conversion to complete donor chimerism and long-lasting complete remissions in the majority of patients, a strong hint to a graft-versus-leukemia-effect (GvL) of donor T-lymphocyte infusions. A change in the character of stem cell transplantation was achieved by NST with a shift from the predominantly cytoreductive effect of standard SCT towards an emphasis on the immunologic GvL-effect. Our results demonstrated the efficacy of a GvL-effect in acute leukemias after NST. The experiences with NST in acute leukemias have prompted studies in patients with refractory advanced renal cell cancer. Tumor regressions were observed only after chimerism conversion and / or development of GvHD, these results being compatible with a graft-versus-tumor effect (GvT). However, transplant-related morbidity was substantial in these mostly elderly patients. Therapy within clinical studies is mandatory, because allogeneic stem cell transplantation still has to be regarded an experimental procedure in these patients. The analysis of minimal residual disease and application of high-resolution chimerism analysis of leukocyte subpopulations by microarrays could lead to a more profound understanding of mixed chimerism and to a more rational use of DLI in the near future. Prospective randomized trials should be conducted to evaluate the role of NST.

Acute Kidney Disease (CKD) is a major public health problem that affects some 3-7% of patients admitted to the hospital and approximately 25-30% of patients in the intensive care unit. None of the existing therapies are exempt from side effects and kidney physiological functionality is never restored. Transplantation has been reported as the preferred cure for CKD management but organ shortage and risks due to the immunosuppressive therapy makes it far from being the perfect treatment for ESRD. In this study we have focused our attention on finding novel strategies, in vitro and in vivo, to obtain kidney regeneration in case of acute and chronic kidney damage. First we have demonstrated the ability of hAFSCs to survive, proliferate and integrate into the embryonic kidney, while it undergoes organ development, in an in vitro culture system. We observed the presence of hAFSCs within kidney primordial, including tubules and developing nephrons. Thus, hAFSCs seem to have the capacity to undergo the expected mesenchymal to epithelial transition that occurs in normal renal development and are induced to express important early kidney markers such as GDNF, ZO-1 and Claudin. Moreover, hAFSCs do not appear to require prior genetic modification or exogenous production of kidney proteins for their differentiation to occur. This is a very important advantage that hAFSCs have for potential future regenerative or bioengineering application. With the in vivo experiments, we have demonstrated that early direct injection of hAFSCs into the kidney strongly ameliorates ATN injury as reflected by more rapid resolution of tubular structural damage and by normalization of creatinine and BUN levels. In addition, our data show evidence of immunomodulatory and antinflammatory effect of hAFSCs, at an early time point, comparable in magnitude to endogenous cytokine production. Understanding how donor and host cells combine to attenuate tubular damage may lead eventually to the application of hAFSCs for therapeutic purposes in acute kidney diseases. Nonetheless, beside the presence of a small number (1%) of cells with pluripotent characteristics, the composition of the other 99% of Amniotic Fluid cells is diverse, with a great amount of cells exhibiting commitment to a defined germ line or cellular endpoint. There seems to be clear evidence for the existence of progenitor cells in Amniotic Fluid, which can give rise to different cell types of mature organs. By 17 weeks of gestation is notable an increase tissue specific cellular presence and this data may indicate that the choice of the time point for cell selection is fundamental. In addition, we demonstrated in the amniotic fluid, the presence of a renal population with specific traits of commitment. In particular, the presence of podocytes at both undifferentiated and almost mature stages could favour their use for kidney regeneration in vitro and in vivo animal models. The presence and identification of specific renal progenitor cells in the Amniotic Fluid, committed to different compartments of the kidney environment, could represent a valuable new tool for regenerative purposes with regards to the treatment of a broad range of renal diseases. The discovery of renal specific progenitor cells within Amniotic Fluid could bring a breakthrough in the study for novel and more selective approaches in the renal therapy. However, the real pluripotential capability of these progenitors cells, in particular the kidney progenitors presenting more differentiation characteristics, has to be established. Moreover, their potential for survival, proliferation, integration, and differentiation needs to be assessed in in vivo models involving different types of renal damage.
L’insufficienza renale terminale ha raggiunto ormai proporzioni epidemiche in tutto il mondo e, tutt’oggi, non sono ancora state trovate terapie sostitutive o rigenerative efficaci a lungo termine. Attualmente la terapia dialitica e il trapianto allogenico rimangono le uniche alternative valide da utilizzare in questi pazienti nonostante se ne conoscano i numerosi limiti e complicanze. Recenti dati epidemiologici, in America e in Europa, mostrano che l’insufficienza renale colpisce circa l’8% della popolazione. [1] L’aumentata domanda di organi, in aggiunta all’insufficiente disponibilita’ di donatori, sta spingendo sempre piu’ i ricercatori di tutto il mondo a sviluppare nuove alternative terapeutiche per la sostituzione dei reni non funzionanti. [2] La creazione di organi bio-artificiali, attraverso l’utilizzo delle tecniche di ingegneria tissutale, ha finora dimostrato grandi difficolta’ specialmente nel riprodurre quegli organi e tessuti la cui struttura e funzione risultino particolarmente complesse, come nel caso dei reni. Storicamente gli ingegneri tissutali che si sono cimentati in questo campo hanno potuto utilizzare esclusivamente linee cellulari adulte dando origine a costrutti bidimensionali caratterizzati da limitata funzione e difficile applicabilita’ in vivo. [3] Nell’ultima dacade le cellule staminali stanno ricevendo sempre maggiore attenzione scientifica grazie al loro crescente impiego nella medicina rigenerativa per la ricostruzione e rigenerazione di tessuti bio-artificiali ed organi. Le cellule Staminali Embrionali (SE), derivate dalla blastocisti, hanno come caratteristiche peculiari il fatto che si replichino ampliamente e che siano capaci di formare aggregati (corpi embrioidi) che possono dar luogo ad una varietà di cellule specializzate come, ad esempio, cellule neurali, cardiache e pancreatiche. [3, 4] Il reclutamento di questo tipo di cellule staminali, tuttavia, comporta la distruzione di embrioni umani creando spinosi problemi etici e morali che portano, in molti Paesi, a vietarne l’utilizzo e il progresso scientifico. Per evitare questo tipo di controversie ricercatori di varie discipline hanno identificato potenziali fonti di cellule staminali alternative. [4, 5] E’ ormai ben noto che in molti tessuti adulti esistono cellule progenitrici con il compito di rigenerare o riparare l'organo a seguito dei fisiologici processi di senescenza o in caso di danno. [6, 7] Ci sono sempre piu’ evidenze che questi progenitori d’organo abbiano caratteristiche di plasticità piu’ elevate di quanto si pensasse originariamente. Parallelamente molti ricercatori credono che la rigenerazione di organi adulti derivi principalmente dalla mobilizzazione di cellule staminali provenienti dal midollo osseo. E’ stato dimostrato che cellule staminali del midollo osseo possono attraversare la barriera endolteliale e dar luogo a differenti linee cellulari differenziate, trasformando cellule circolanti in fegato, cervello, pancreas, pelle, intestino e anche rene. [27, 29] Il liquido amniotico e’stato usato per anni come uno strumento sicuro e valido per la ricerca di malattie genetiche e congenite del feto. Tuttavia, il liquido amniotico contiene un grande numero di cellule progenitrici che posono avere un importante ruolo nelle applicazioni della bioingegneria tissutale. Streubel et al. [8] hanno riportato l’utilizzo di cellule non emopoietiche per la conversione di amniociti in miociti. Recentemente una popolazione di cellule staminali c-Kit+, isolate nel liquido amniotico umano e murino, e’ stata caratterizzata e differenziata in tessuti originati dai tre foglietti embrionali: muscolare, neuronale, adipocitario, epatico, osseo ed endoteliale [9] Nel laboratorio diretto dal dr. R.E. De Filippo, Assistant Professor presso il Childrens Hospital di Los Angeles, abbiamo ampiamente studiato e utilizzato questa nuova popolazione di cellule staminali derivate dal liquido amniotico focalizzando le nostre ricerche sul loro utilizzo nella rigenerazione renale. Abbiamo dimostrato che questa popolazione totipotente di cellule mesenchimali e’ capace di riprodurre alcune tappe essenziali della nefrogenesi dopo essere state iniettate in reni embrionici. Tuttavia, le cellule staminali da liquido amniotico rapresentano meno dell’1% dell’intera popolazione cellulare e forse esistono altri progenitori cellulari, nel liquido stesso, gia’ orientati e piu’ proni alla differenziazione di particolari linee cellulari renali che possano essere utilizzate per gli stessi scopi rigenerativi ma con risultati migliori. Il volume e la composizione del liquido amniotico cambia durante la gravidanza e dall’ottava settimana di gestazione i reni fetali iniziano a produrre liquido che rapidamente aumenta di volume durante il secondo trimestre. [10] Il contatto tra il liquido amniotico e i diversi tessuti fetali sembra giustificare la presenza dei differenti tipi cellulari disciolti nel liquido stesso. La presenza di cellule mature derivanti dai tre foglietti germinali e’ stata gia’ dimostrata in passato come pure la presenza di progenitori cellulari di origine mesenchimale ed emopoietica prima della 12ma settimana gestazionale nell’uomo. [11,12,13] Cellule esprimenti proteine e markers genetici tipici di tessuti diversi come cervello, cuore, e pancreas sono state ritrovate nel liquido amniotico ma ulteriori indagini sono necessarie per completare la caratterizzazione dei diversi tipi cellulari presenti alle diverse eta’ gestazionali. [14, 15, 16] Lo sviluppo renale e’ un complesso processo di attivazione genica, interazioni cellulari ed extracellulari che devono aver luogo secondo un ordine spazio-temporale preciso e nella quantita’ adeguata. Durante l’embriogenesi, il rene metanefrico origina dall’invasione da parte della gemma ureterale, derivata dal dotto epiteliale di Wolffian, nel mesenchima metanefrico. [17] La gemma ureterale inizia la sua arborizzazione all’interno del mesenchima e portera’ alla formazione dell’intero sistema escretore, dall’uretere ai dotti collettori, mentre il mesenchima metanefrico dara’ luogo alle strutture epiteliali costituenti i nefroni (dal tubulo distale alla capsula di Bowman). CD-24 e Caderina 11 sono due markers di superficie che vengono usati per identificare cellule staminali ancora indifferenziate ma presenti nel mesenchima metanefrico prima di ricevere l’induzione da parte della gemma ureterale. [18] In aggiunta, altri markers di superficie che identificano una sottopopolazione di cellule appartenenti al mesenchima metanefrico nei vari stadi dell’induzione verso la nefrogenesi sono stati recentemente descritti in letteratura: Caderine E, PDGFRα, PDGFRβ, e NGFR ad alta affinita’. [19] Cellule Staminali derivate da liquido amniotico e differenziazione renale in vitro e in vivo Negli ultimi sette anni il gruppo di ricerca di cui ho fatto parte per due anni negli Stati Uniti (University of Southern California - Childrens Hospital Los Angeles) sta studiando una popolazione di cellule staminali ricavate da liquido amniotico (Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells, AFSC), umano e murino. Caratterictiche peculiari di questa popolazione cellulare sono: l’espressione di geni e marcatori di superficie comuni a cellule staminali di origine embrionale e mesenchimale; propagazione in vitro senza necessita’ di feeder-layer; mantenimento della lunghezza dei telomeri; capacità di differenziarsi in vitro e in vivo in molti tipi differenti di cellule e tessuti provenienti da tutti e tre i foglietti embrionali. [7] In particolare, negli ultimi 4 anni, il nostro gruppo si e’ concentrato sull’utilizzo di questa particolare popolazione di cellule staminali derivate da liquido amniotico nella rigenerazione renale in vitro e in vivo. [20, 21] Brevemente, siamo stati in grado di dimostrare, basandoci su un sistema in vitro, come le hAFSC abbiano la capacità di differenziarsi in parenchima renale dopo iniezione diretta in reni embrionici (12.5-16 giorni di gestazione) coltivati in vitro fino a 10 giorni. Le cellule staminali da liquido amniotico erano state precedentemente transfettate con il gene codificante una proteina fluorescente verde (GFP) e un secondo gene codificante per il Lac-Z. Mediante queste transfezioni siamo stati in grado di distinguere le cellule iniettate e dopo aver coltivato gli organi, anche a lungo termine (10 giorni), e’ stato possibile dimostrare la loro integrazione ed assimilazione nelle differenti tappe dello sviluppo renale. Analisi istologica dei reni iniettati con le staminali ha rivelato quanto questa popolazione di cellule sia capace di contribuire alle strutture primordiali del rene a partire dalla vescicola renale fino alle ultime fasi della nefrogenesi (tubuli e glomeruli). Mediante RT-PCR abbiamo quindi dimostrato la neoespressione, da parte delle AFSC iniettate, di geni attivi nelle diverse fasi dello sviluppo embrionale del nefrone. [20] Dopo aver dimostrato questa abilità di integrazione nel tessuto renale in via di sviluppo e la compartecipazione a tutte le tappe utili alla formazione del nefrone maturo in vitro, la nostra idea e’ stata quella di procedere all’applicazione in vivo delle cellule staminali da liquido amniotico. L’obiettivo e’ stato quello di dimostrare la loro reale capacità di sopravvivere, replicarsi ed integrarsi attivamente nei reni danneggiati di un modello di topo immunodepresso. Cellule staminali da liquido amniotico di topo (mouse Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells, mAFSC), esprimenti Lac-z e Luciferasi come marcatori, sono quindi state iniettate per via endovenosa (vena della coda) in un modello di topi immunodepressi con tubulonecrosi acuta. Il nostro ultimo obiettivo e’ stato quello di dimostrare se le cellule staminali venissero utilizzate dai reni danneggiati per riparare il danno e quindi fossero in grado di velocizzare la ripresa funzionale dell’organo. I risultati di tali esperimenti hanno dimostrato che le AFSC hanno una buona capacita’, anche in vivo, di integrarsi e partecipare attivamente alla riparazione del danno. Esse hanno iniziato ad esprimere GDNF, un fattore di trascrizione precoce presente nello sviluppo renale e in particolare nella formazione tubulare e glomerulare, e diversi altri markers tubulari quali Acquaporina-2, Agglutinina P, Agglutinina DB. Dagli esperimenti in vivo e’ quindi emerso che la popolazione di cellule staminali totipotenti, derivata da liquido amniotico (hAFSC), e’ capace di differenziarsi in diversi tipi cellulari appartenenti sia a strutture glomerulari (capsula di Bowman) che tubulari (tubulo distale e prossimale) senza dimostrare una chiara specificita’ per una delle due strutture. [9] In accordo con recenti pubblicazioni, abbiamo dimostrato un effetto immuno-modulartorio delle cellule staminali. Lo studio approfondito delle citochine, endogene ed esogene (prodotte dalle hAFSC iniettate), e il loro effetto nel migliorare la porzione infiammatoria del danno renale sono il passo successivo delle nostre ricerche. Un limite potenziale all’utilizzo terapeutico di questa popolazione cellulare totipotente risiede nel fatto che la maggior parte delle malattie renali che portano ad insufficienza renale terminale, colpiscono primariamente le strutture tubulari o quelle glomerulari, ma difficilmente entrambe contemporaneamente. Utilizzando dunque cellule staminali troppo indifferenziate, e quindi totipotenti, si rischierebbe di perdere efficacia terapeutica a causa del fatto che esse riceverebbero troppi segnali contemporaneamente in senso differenziativo e sarebbero indotte a seguire petterns riparativi non mirati e meno efficaci nella riparazione del danno principale. Se infatti avessimo bisogno di trattare selettivamente un danno tubulare piuttosto che uno glomerulare, l’utilizzo di cellule staminali totipotenti non sarebbe cosi’ ottimale come invece l’utilizzo di progenitori tubulo specifici opportunamente espansi ed eventualmente modificati. Questo concetto insieme al fatto che il liquido amniotico e’ composto da differenti popolazioni cellulari ha spinto a considerare la possibilita’ che ci possano essere linee cellulari maggiormente orientate in senso renale (progenitori organo specifici) che possano essere utilizzate in modo piu’ vantaggioso per la rigenerazione di strutture renali specifiche (id. cellule tubulari prossimali o distali, podociti, cellule mesangiali, cellule endoteliali e altro) Caratterizzazione cellulare del liquido amniotico e ricerca di progenitori renali specifici o gia’ parzialmente differenziati L’ultima parte della tesi si e’ concentrata nello studiare ed identificare le varie popolazioni cellulari presenti nel liquido amniotico a diverse settimane di gestazione. I campioni, di eta’ compresa tra le 15 e le 20 settimane di gestazione, sono stati ottenuti tramite amniocentesi, tecnica usata per studiare il cariotipo del feto durante lo sviluppo. Sono stati valutati differenti terreni di coltura, indagando proliferazione e conservazione della morfologia nei campioni ottenuti. L’analisi e la caratterizzazione della popolazione totale presente nel liquido amniotico e’ stata effettuata utilizzando RT-PCR, Real Time PCR e Western Blotting, analizzando l’espressione specifica di geni che sono coinvolti nel mantenimento della pluripotenzialita’, geni che identificano specificatamente i tre foglietti embrionali ed infine geni che identificano progenitori organo-specifici. Sono state inoltre identificate popolazioni specifiche renali, tramite immunoseparazione con biglie magnetiche (MASC). L’espressione di marcatori per i foglietti embrionali endoderma e mesoderma e’ piu’ alta in campioni piu’ giovani rispetto a campioni con tempo di gestazione maggiore mentre, per l’ectoderma, rimane pressoche’ invariata nel tempo. La presenza di cellule pluripotenti e’ costante cosi’ come le cellule staminali mesenchimali mentre le cellule progenitrici ematopoietiche, investigate tramite CD34, fanno la loro comparsa successivamente alle 17 settimane di gestazione. La presenza di progenitori tessuto specifici già “committed” e’ evidente nei campioni di gestazione più avanzata sia per quantitita’ che per specificità dell’organo preso in esame. E’ stata approfondita l’analisi di cellule progenitrici renali, utilizzando un ampio pannello di marcatori che identificano sia la componente tubulare che quella glomerulare del nefrone, struttura fondamentale per la filtrazione renale. I risultati ottenuti confermano la presenza di cellule progenitrici renali dopo le 18 settimane di gestazione. E’ stata identifica e studiata una popolazione esprimente CD24 e Caderin 11 isolata da campioni di liquido amniotico di 18 o piu’ settimane. CD24 e OB-cadehrin sono stati identificati nel topo come co-espressi in vivo nel mesenchima metanefrico. Dal mesenchima metanefrico ha origine il nefrone ed e’ una delle due strutture embrionali fondamentali per lo sviluppo del rene. Da questa popolazione principale sono state ottenute 4 nuove sottopopolazioni che identificano sottocompartimenti del glomerulo, come per esempio le cellule corticali stromogeniche (tramite selezione per la Tyrosin Kinase, TrKA), i podociti (selezionati per la Nefrina), le cellule del mesangio (con selezione positiva per PDGFR Alpha) e le cellule in transizione mesenchima-epitelio (con selezione per la Cadherina-E). Tramite PCR e Real Time PCR e’ stata dimostrata la forte specificita’ di ogni singola linea cellulare. E’ necessario uno studio approfondito che preveda per le AKPC differenziazioni in vitro ed in vivo, utilizzando fattori di crescita nefro-specifici e diversi modelli di danno renale acuto e cronico, in modo tale da confermare la loro possibile completa differenziazione in cellule renali mature. Un approfondimento sul meccanismo d’azione e sulle migliori tempisitiche di somministrazione, infine, sono i punti fondamentali da chiarire per comprendere il meccanismo d’azione delle hAFSC in vivo. Queste ricerche sono una base fondamentale per future applicazioni cliniche in pazienti che soffrono di nefropatie acute e croniche

La transition épithélio-Mésenchymateuse (TEM) est un processus de plasticité cellulaire qui existe dans le développement embryonnaire et qui permet la formation des tissus et organes. Dans la cancérogénèse, ce processus est réactivé par des facteurs de transcription dont l’action implique très probablement un remodelage de la chromatine. La cartographie exacte de ces changements épigénétiques est peu connue à l’échelle du génome entier, même si il y a eu quelques études antérieures explorant les changements de quelques loci de façon bien ciblée. Ce mémoire traite du remodelage épigénétique médié par le facteur de transcription Twist1 dans un modèle de lignée mammaire immortalisée. L’architecture de ce remodelage a été cartographiée grâce à l’utilisation des techniques de haut-Débit pour analyser la méthylation de l’ADN (DREAM) et les modifications des histones (ChIPseq). Nos résultats montrent un changement majeur du méthylome pendant la TEM avec une hyperméthylation focale et une hypométhylation globale des corps des gènes prédominant au niveau des « domaines partiellement méthylés »; ces domaines sont déjà connus dans le développement pour gagner de façon concomitante à leur hypométhylation des marques d’histone répressives. Nous avons aussi observé un remodelage des domaines de l’histone répressive H3K27me3 avec une réduction de leur taille, et surtout le quasi doublement du nombre de gènes bivalents qui accompagne la transition. Le couplage de la méthylation de l’ADN avec le profil des microRNA nous a permis d’identifier le miR-203 comme l’unique microRNA régulé par méthylation de l’ADN durant la TEM; nous avons aussi montré que l’extinction épigénétique du miR-203 est requise pour la TEM et l’acquistion des propriétés de cellules souches. Enfin, nous avons réalisé une caractérisation génétique et/ou épigénétique de deux cancers rares, les carcinomes fibrolamellaires du foie et les carcinomes du rein à translocation. Pour les carcinomes fibrolamellaires du foie, nous avons décrit la nature endocrine de cette tumeur et établi une signature épigénétique basée sur la méthylation de l’ADN pouvant servir à différencier les formes histologiques appelées « pures » des formes « mixtes ». Pour les cancers du rein à translocation, nous avons montré les bases génétiques et épigénétiques de la différence entre les formes pédiatriques et adultes, avec la découverte fréquente du gain du bras chromosomique 17q dans les formes adultes. Nous avons aussi identifié une mutation récurrente dans le gène qui remodèle la chromatine INO80D appartenant à la famille INO80. En conclusion, ce travail explore le rôle de l’étude de l’épigénome pour comprendre la reprogrammation pendant les processus physiologiques comme la TEM d’une part et le cancer d’autre part
The epithelial-Mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process of cellular plasticity that exists in embryonic development and which allows the formation of tissues and organs. In carcinogenesis, the process is reactivated by transcription factors whose action probably involves chromatin remodeling. The exact mapping of these epigenetic changes is poorly understood genome-Wide, although there have been some previous studies exploring changes in so few well-Targeted loci. This thesis deals with the epigenetic remodeling mediated by the transcription factor Twist1 in a model of human mammary immortalized cell line. The architecture of this remodeling has been mapped through the use of high-Throughput techniques to analyze DNA methylation (DREAM) and histone modifications (ChIPseq). Our results suggest a major change in the EMT methylome with focal hypermethylation and gene body hypomethylation predominantly within "partially methylated domains"; these areas are already known in development to gain repressive histone marks concomitantly with DNA hypomethylation. We also observed landscape remodeling of repressive histone mark H3K27me3 with a reduction in domains size, and especially the almost doubling of the number of bivalent genes. The coupling of DNA methylation with the profile of microRNA has allowed us to identify miR-203 as single microRNA regulated by DNA methylation during EMT; we have also shown that epigenetic suppression of miR-203 is both required for EMT and acquisition of stem cell properties. Finally, we performed a genetic and/or epigenetic characterization of two rare cancers, named fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinomas and translocation renal cell carcinomas. In fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, we described the endocrine nature of this tumor and established a signature based on DNA methylation which can be used to distinguish histological forms called "pure" from "mixed" fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinomas. Regarding translocation renal cell carcinomas, we established the genetic and epigenetic basis of differences between pediatric and adult forms, characterized by frequent gain of 17q gain chromosomal arm in adults. We also identified recurrent mutations in the chromatin remodeling gene INO80D which belongs to INO80 family. In conclusion, this work explores the impact of analyzing the epigenome to understand reprogramming during physiological processes such as EMT and cancer

In vitro erythropoiesis of cord blood haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to produce fully enucleated red blood cells could provide an alternate resource for the erythrocyte. However, haematopoietic processes are highly complex and dynamic; defining process requirements to produce reproducible cells of high purity and yield is not an easy task. One major obstacle is the lack of knowledge in process characteristics. Design of experiments (DOE) is proposed as a tool to unveil process complexities that exist in HSC cultures. Characterisation and optimisation of in vitro erythropoiesis as a single-step culture is first performed via a simple DOE experimental strategy. The optimised DOE culture produced significantly better results (higher growth and faster maturation) than other single-step cultures. Subsequently, use of DOE to reveal in vitro process dynamics was attempted. This study was much more challenging and the repeatability of DOE process models was compromised in some cases. Process control of HSC culture bioprocesses is required for the delivery of reliable cell culture products suited for clinical applications. The availability of a convenient and economical online real-time process monitoring system can provide the means to translate stem cell culture bioprocesses from the bench-side into manufacturing production. The design and integration of such a system capable of simultaneous process monitoring of multiple analytes (ammonia, pH and oxygen) is presented. Operational and functional stability of this unique online real-time in situ monitoring platform was achieved. Stability of oxygen and ammonia sensors was achieved for up to three and six days respectively but biocompatibilities of both sensors require some improvements. Sensors of pH were biocompatible but their stability in cell culture is required.

Il meccanismo alla base della riparazione di un danno a cellule renali è ancora oggi oggetto di dibattito e potrebbe coinvolgere sia cellule terminalmente differenziate che l'esistenza di cellule staminali multipotenti quiescenti. Sfruttando il saggio di formazione di sfere e la tecnica del FACS sorting, il nostro gruppo ha isolato una popolazione di cellule marcate col clorante PKH26 che avessero caratteristiche di cellule staminali renali adulte (PKHhigh). In precedenza abbiamo valutato la capacità di queste cellule di differenziare in vitro in lineage epiteliale, podocitico ed endoteliale. Abbiamo anche dimostrato che la popolazione PKHhigh è eterogenea nella sua composizione e all'interno delle nefrosfere le cellule con capacità simil-staminali sono PKHhigh/CD133+/CD24- (RSC). Abbiamo recentemente pubblicato che le nostre cellule delle nefrosfere, che comprendono cellule PKHhigh e la loro progenie PKHlow/neg, sono in grado di ripopolare scaffold renali umani decellularizzati. Con questa ricerca, ora abbiamo come scopo: i) di dimostrare le capacità rigenerative delle cellule staminali PKHhigh, anche in assenza della loro progenie PKHlow/neg. ii) di trovare la signature molecolare delle RSC che, tra PKHhigh, sono le cellule con capacità staminali più ampie. Per raggiungere questi obiettivi, abbiamo messo in coltura cellule PKHhigh su scaffold acellulari per 30 giorni e le cellule delle strutture ripopolate sono state caratterizzate mediante immunofluorescenza sequenziale, utilizzando specifici marcatori di differenziamento. Alcune strutture hanno indicato un differenziamento terminale in lineage epiteliale tubulare prossimale o distale o in quello endoteliale. Solo poche strutture mostravano invece la coespressione di alcuni o di tutti i marcatori testati, suggerendo un fenotipo ancora immaturo. Per la comprensione della signature molecolare delle RSC, è stata eseguita l'analisi trascrittomica delle RSC stesse, della loro progenie PKHlow/neg e di colture primarie terminalmente differenziate e sono stati evidenziati geni differenzialmente espressi (DEG). L’analisi bioinfomatica mediante Gene Set Enrichment Analysis ha suggerito uno stato immaturo delle nostre RSC, ma comunque diverso da cellule staminali embrionali. Infine, incrociando le liste di DEG sono stati ottenuti potenziali marcatori e alcuni di essi sono stati selezionati e validati. In conclusione, abbiamo evidenziato le capacità differenziative in senso epiteliale sia prossimale che distale ed endoteliale delle cellule PKHhigh. Inoltre, abbiamo dimostrato che le cellule PKHhigh, completamente prive di qualsiasi marcatore endoteliale, sono in grado di dare origine a strutture simil-endoteliali. La coespressione occasionale di marcatori epiteliali ed endoteliali in strutture ripopolate potrebbe indicare uno stato precoce di transizione verso un differenziamento terminale. Il possibile ruolo della progenie PKHlow / neg nel velocizzare il differenziamento terminale delle cellule PKHhigh dovrà essere chiarito. Infine, la signature delle RSC ottenuta potrà aprire la possibilità di isolamento diretto di cellule staminali renali adulte da tessuto renale normale.
The mechanism underlying the recovery of renal cell injury is still a matter of debate that concerns the involvement of fully differentiated cells, or the existence of quiescent scattered multipotent stem cells. By sphere forming assay and sorting, our group isolated a population of PKH26 most fluorescent cells with characteristics of adult renal stem-like cells (PKHhigh cells). We previously assessed the ability of PKHhigh cells to differentiate in vitro along epithelial, podocytic and endothelial lineages. We also demonstrated that PKHhigh population is heterogeneous in composition and within nephrospheres the cells with stem capacities are PKHhigh/CD133+/CD24- (RSC). We recently published that our nephrosphere cells, comprising PKHhigh cells and their PKHlow/neg progeny, are able to repopulate human decellularized renal scaffolds. With this research, we now aim: I) to prove the regenerative capabilities of PKHhigh stem-like cells, even in absence of their PKHlow/neg progeny. II) to find the molecular signature of RSC that among PKHhigh cells are those with the wider stem capacities. To reach these aims, we cultured isolated PKHhigh cells on acellular scaffolds for 30 days and the cells of the repopulated structures were characterized by sequential immunofluorescence using specific markers of differentiation. Some structures indicated a specific lineage differentiation into proximal and distal tubular epithelium and endothelium. Only few structures coexpressed some or all markers tested, indicating still immature phenotypes. For the disclosure of RSC molecular signature, transcriptomic analysis of RSC, of their PKHlow/neg progeny and of terminally differentiated primary cell cultures (PCC) was performed and differentially expressed genes (DEG) were evidenced. Bioinformatic Gene Set Enrichment Analysis suggested a renal immature status of our RSC, but different from embryonic stem cells. Crossing DEG lists potential markers were obtained and some of them were selected and validated. In conclusion, we highlighted the proximal and distal tubular epithelial and endothelial differentiative and regenerative abilities of PKHhigh cells. Moreover, we showed that PKHhigh cells, completely lacking any endothelial marker, were able to give rise to endothelial-like structures. The occasional coexpression of epithelial and endothelial markers in repopulated structures may indicate a transitional early status toward cell differentiation. The eventual role of the PKHlow/neg progeny of PKHhigh cells in speeding up the complete PKHhigh differentiation will be clarified. Finally, the obtained RSC signature would open the possibility for the direct isolation of adult renal stem-like cells from normal kidney tissue.

In vitro disease models are powerful platforms for the development of drugs and novel therapies. Stem-cell based approaches have emerged as cutting-edge tools in disease modelling, allowing for deeper insights into previously unknown disease mechanisms. Hence the significant role of these disease-in-a-dish methods in therapeutics and translational medicine. Impedance sensing is a non-invasive, quantitative technique that can monitor changes in cellular behaviour and morphology in real-time. Bioimpedance measurements can be used to characterize and evaluate the establishment of a valid disease model, without the need for invasive end-point biochemical assays. In this work, two stem cell-based disease models-on-a-chip are proposed for acute liver failure (ALF) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The ALF disease model-on-a-chip integrates impedance sensing with the highly-differentiated HepaRG cell line to monitor in real-time quantitative and dynamic response to various hepatotoxins. Bioimpedance analysis and modelling has revealed an unknown mechanism of paracetamol hepatotoxicity; a temporal, dose-dependent disruption of tight junctions (TJs) and cell-substrate adhesion. This disruption has been validated using ultrastructural imaging and immunostaining of the TJ-associated protein ZO-1. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the developed world with a need for disease models for its currently incurable forms. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) technology offers a novel approach for disease modelling, with the potential to impact translational retinal research and therapy. Recent developments enable the generation of Retinal Pigment Epithelial cells from patients (hiPSC-RPE), thus allowing for human retinal disease in vitro studies with great clinical and physiological relevance. In the current study, the development of a tissue-on- a-chip AMD disease model has been established using RPE generated from a patient with an inherited macular degeneration (case cell line) and from a healthy sibling (control cell line). A reproducible Electric Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS) electrical wounding assay was conducted to mimic RPE damage in AMD. First, a robust and reproducible real-time quantitative monitoring over a 25-day period demonstrated the establishment and maturation of RPE layers on microelectrodes. A spatially-controlled RPE layer damage that mimicked cell loss in AMD was then initiated. Post recovery, significant differences in migration rates were found between case and control cell lines. Data analysis and modelling suggested this was due to the lower cell-substrate adhesion of the control cell line. These findings were confirmed using cell adhesion biochemical assays. Moreover, different-sized, individually-addressed square microelectrode arrays with high spatial resolution were designed and fabricated in-house. ECIS wounding assays were performed on these chips to study immortalized RPE migration. Migration rates comparable to those obtained with ECIS circular microelectrodes were determined. The two proposed disease-models-on-a-chip were then used to explore the therapeutic potential of the antioxidant N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) on hiPSC-RPE and HepaRG cell recovery. Addition of 10 mM NAC at the end of a 24h paracetamol challenge caused a slight increase in the measured impedance, suggesting partial cell recovery. On the other hand, no effect on case hiPSC-RPE migration has been observed. More experiments are needed to examine the effect of different NAC concentrations and incubation periods. The therapeutic potential of electrical stimulation has also been explored. A preliminary study to evaluate the effect of electrical stimulation on RPE migration has been conducted. An externally applied direct current electric field (DC EF) of 300 mV/mm was found to direct the migration of the immortalized RPE cell line (hTERT-RPE1) perpendicular to the EF. The cells were also observed to elongate and to realign their long axes perpendicular to the applied EF. The proposed tissue-on-a-chip disease models are powerful platforms for translational studies. The potential of such platforms has been demonstrated through revealing unknown effects of acetaminophen on the liver as well as providing deeper insights into the underlying mechanisms of macular degeneration. Combining stem cell technology with impedance sensing provides a high throughput platform for studying patient-specific diseases and evaluating potential therapies.

During the last few years much progress has been made in the knowledge of adult and embryonic stem cell biological properties. The ability to isolate and culture in conditions that allow the expansion of these cells without their losing stem potential, has helped in using stem cells as a tool to treat patients suffering from certain cellular degenerative diseases or affected with a specific cellular population loss of functionality. Because of their wide potentialities, embryonic stem cells (ES) obtained from blastocyst inner cell mass, appear to have the best chance as a tool to treat degenerative diseases affecting tissues of different embryonic origin. Biological difficulties (such as the risk of uncontrolled proliferation, graft versus host disease, the need to set culture conditions free of non-human compounds) and, above all, legal and ethical problems, seem to prevent the therapeutic application of such cells. The identification and characterization of an ES-like cell population in adult tissues might be of great help to exploit these cells in the medical field. In this thesis I show that a cellular population featuring certain molecular ES cell properties, may be isolated from human cord blood after depletion of all differentiated cells but monocytes, followed by the positive selection of cells bearing p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR). Cytofluorimetric assays revealed that a fraction of p75NTR+ cells express SSEA3 and SSEA4, two typical human ES cell glycolipidic markers. Real Time RT-PCR assays showed that, following the selection for p75NTR+, a cell population is obtained that expresses very high levels of Oct4 and Nanog, two transcription factors whose importance in ES stemness and self-renewal is largely documented. Further increase of Oct4 and Nanog expression level is obtained following depletion of cells bearing Mac-1, a typical monocytes marker. A similar study has been made in human peripheral blood and mouse bone marrow. Data obtained by Real Time RT-PCR assays, have shown that in two out of four samples of adult peripheral blood analysed by the above selection method, following isolation of p75NTR+ cells, a cell population expressing high levels of Oct4 and Nanog was obtained. In 4-5 weeks-old mouse bone marrow, the highest expression of Oct4 and Nanog has been detected in p75NTR+/Mac-1- cells, while, in older mice (13-14 weeks), such expression increase has been detected in p75NTR+/Mac-1+ cells. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether these cells, in addition to bearing ES cell molecular markers, also have functional ES-like properties and can be classified as true ES-like cells

A insuficiência renal crônica (IRC) é uma afecção clínica frequente em gatos domésticos. É caracterizada por inflamação tubulointersticial, vascular, glomerular e fibrose severa. Estudos em modelos de IRC induzida em roedores têm revelado uma redução e estabilização do quadro clínico, evidenciados pela melhora nos parâmetros de função renal e redução da inflamação e da fibrose renal. Neste estudo foi testada a segurança e o efeito do transplante alogênico intra-renal e endovenosa das células-tronco mesenquimais derivadas da membrana amniótica felina (AMSCs) em gatos acometidos pela IRC natural. As AMSCs foram isoladas de âmnio de embriões coletadas em campanhas rotineiras de castração. Dez gatos, machos e fêmeas, foram incluídos neste estudo. Um gato hígido recebeu injeção intra-renal das AMSCs guiada por ultrassom em ambos rins (5x105 células/rim). Nove gatos com IRC natural receberam injeção endovenosa das AMSCs (2x106 células x 2 tratamentos). A avaliação da evolução clínica foi baseada na mensuração dos parâmetros do hemograma, bioquímica, hemogasometria, urinálise e ultrassonografia. Foi efetuada análise de variância (ANOVA) comparar diferenças entre as fases de tratamento seguido de teste de Tukey para comparação das médias entre os grupos. Na injeção intra-renal, não houve variação nos parâmetros clínicos, porém foi necessária a sedação e anestesia geral. Foi registrado elevado estresse de manipulação e ligeira hematúria após o procedimento. Os gatos com IRC que receberam injeção endovenosa das AMSCs, registraram uma variação significativa nos parâmetros de função renal (redução dos níveis de creatinina sérica, redução da proteinúria e aumento da densidade urinária). A arquitetura e morfologia renal não teve variação com o tratamento. Conclui-se que as AMSCs felinas têm um efeito renoprotetor e melhoram a função renal em gatos acometidos pela IRC, estabilizando o quadro clínico e a progressão da doença. A injeção endovenosa das AMSCs constitui uma ferramenta importante para proporcionar boa qualidade de vida aos gatos com IRC
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common clinical condition in domestic cats. It is characterized by tubulointerstitial, vascular, glomerular inflammation and severe fibrosis. Studies in rodent model of induced CKD have been shown a decrease and stabilization of the clinical condition, evidenced by renal function improvement and by inflammation and renal fibrosis reduction. In this study was evaluated the safety and effect of intra-renal and intravenous infusion of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells derived from feline amniotic membrane (AMSCs) in cats with naturally occurring CKD. The AMSCs were isolated from fetal membranes collected after routine castrations. Ten cats, male and female, were enrolled and included in this study. A healthy cat received intrarenal injection of AMSCs guided by ultrasound in both kidneys (5x105 cells/kidney). Nine cats with naturally CDK received intravenous injection of AMSCs (2x106 cells x 2 treatments). The evaluation of the clinical condition was based on the measurement of complete blood count, blood biochemistry, blood gases, urinalysis and ultrasound. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to compare differences between the phases of treatment followed by Tukey test to compare means between groups. The clinical parameters of the healthy cat (intrarenal injection) did not change, but sedation and general anesthesia was required. The number of interventions stressed the animal and he developed transient hematuria after AMSCs injection. Cats with CDK, registered a significant improvement of renal function (decrease in serum creatinine and urine protein concentrations and increase in urine specific gravity). The kidney architecture and morphology did not change with the treatment. We conclude that the feline AMSCs have a renoprotective effect and improve renal function in cats with naturally occurring CKD, stabilizing the clinical condition and disease progression. Intravenous injection of AMSCs is an important tool to provide general well-being for cats with CDK

A injúria renal aguda representa um estado de senescência precoce induzida por estresse, e as células-tronco mesenquimais podem ser uma alternativa para seu tratamento. Células-tronco jovens reduzem o fenótipo de envelhecimento em rins quando comparadas a células idosas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se o tratamento com jovens células-tronco mesenquimais derivadas de cordão umbilical humano podem interferir na senescência renal induzida por lesão de isquemia-reperfusão em ratos. Ratos machos foram submetidos ao modelo de isquemia de artérias renais bilateralmente por 45 minutos, com reperfusão após, e alguns animais receberam 1 X 106 células por via intraperitoneal após 6 horas da indução da lesão. Os animais foram eutanasiados no segundo ou no sétimo dia pós-isquêmico. No segundo dia após a lesão de isquemia-reperfusão, o tratamento com as células melhorou a filtração glomerular e a função tubular, melhorou a expressão renal de aquaporina-2 e reduziu a infiltração de macrófagos nos rins. Proteínas relacionadas à senescência (-galactosidase, p21, p16 e fator de transformação do crescimento ) e microRNAs (mir-29a e miR-34a) estiveram com a expressão aumentada após a isquemia-reperfusão, e houve redução nesses parâmetros com o tratamento. A redução na expressão de Klotho e o estado pró-oxidativo gerados pela isquemia-reperfusão também foram revertidos pelo tratamento. A senescência induzida pela injúria renal aguda é um processo independente de telômeros. Ao sétimo dia pós-lesão, os ratos isquêmicos mantinham defeito de concentração urinária, que foi revertido nos animais tratados. Além disso, o tratamento reduziu o índice de necrose tubular aguda em tecido renal e reduziu o infiltrado macrofágico túbulo-intersticial. O marcador pró-senescência p16 foi completamente restabelecido nos animais tratados. Nossos dados demonstram que o tratamento com jovens células-tronco mesenquimais derivadas de cordão umbilical humano atenua a resposta inflamatória e de estresse oxidativo que ocorre na injúria renal aguda, e reduz a expressão de proteínas e microRNAs relacionados à senescência. Nossos achados expandem as perspecivas para o tratamento da injúria renal aguda
Acute kidney injury represents a status of premature stress-induced senescence, and mesenchymal stem cells are an alternative for treatment. Young stem cells reduce aging phenotype in kidneys when compared to old cells. The objective of this study was to evaluate if treatment with young human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells could interfere in kidney senescence induced by renal ischemia-reperfusion in rats. Male rats were induced to ischemia-reperfusion injury by 45-minutes clamping of both renal arteries; some rats received 1X106 cells intraperitonally six hours later. Rats were euthanatized on post-renal ischemia reperfusion days two and seven. At day 2 after ischemia-reperfusion injury, treatment with cells improved glomerular filtration, tubular function, improved renal expression of aquaporin 2 and decreased macrophage kidney infiltration. Senescence-related proteins (?-galactosidase, p21, p16 and transforming growth factor ?) and microRNAs (miR-29a and miRNA-34a) were overexpressed after ischemia-reperfusion, and reversed by the treatment. The Klotho reduced expression and the pro-oxidative status induced by ischemia-reperfusion were reversed by the treatment. Senescence induced acute kidney injury is a telomere-independent process. At day 7, ischemic rats maintained urinary concentrating defect, which is reversed in treated animals. Moreover, treatment decreased the index of acute tubular necrosis in kidney tissue and decreased macrophage kidney infiltration. Senescence marker p16 was completely restored in treated animals. Our data demonstrate that young human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells treatment attenuates the inflammatory and oxidative stress response occurring in acute kidney injury, and reduces the protein and microRNA expression related to senescence. Our findings broaden the perspectives for the treatment of AKI

A doença renal crônica é uma das maiores causas de enfermidade e óbito de gatos geriátricos e carreia o declínio da função renal. A forma crônica é caracterizada por persistir um período prolongado de tempo e de prognóstico reservado. Atualmente, a reposição hídrica, a hemodiálise e o transplante são as opções de terapia. Como a terapia com células-tronco tem sido extensivamente estudada nos últimos anos devido a sua capacidade de melhorar a função de órgão lesionados, inclusive os rins, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito do transplante de células-tronco de tecido adiposo de gatos, bem como estudar a contribuição de exames complementares laboratoriais e de imagem na evolução terapêutica dos animais. As células provenientes deste tecido apresentaram morfologia fibroblastóide; aderência ao plástico; diferenciaram em osteócitos, condrócitos e adipócitos e expressaram marcadores de superfície característicos de células-tronco mesenquimais. Além disso, quando injetadas em camundongos imunossuprimidos nude não apresentaram formações tumorais. Para triar os animais com a doença renal crônica para este estudo foram realizados exames de sangue, urina e ultrassonografia de 97 animais, destes, sete animais tiveram o perfil escolhido e foram incluídos. Neste estudo os animais foram divididos em 3 grupos: placebo (A); terapia celular (B) e terapia celular associada a reposição hídrica (C). Os resultados demonstram que não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos, mas isso se deve ao tamanho de nossa amostra. Entretanto verificamos que 2 animais apresentaram discreta redução da creatinina sérica. Considerando o perfil das citocinas séricas, constatamos aumento significativo da IL6 dentro do grupo A; a IL10 se comportou de maneira diferente entre os grupos, havendo um discreto aumento no grupo B e significativa redução do grupo A e a TNFα não alterou ao longo do tempo. Sendo assim, a inoculação endovenosa de células-tronco do tecido adiposo pode prevenir a progressão da doença de forma sutil.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most commom causes of illness and death in geriatric cats and leads to a loss of kidney function. The chronic form is characterized by persisting an extended period of time and it has a poor prognosis. Currently, fluid replacement, hemodialysis and kidney transplantation are the treatment options. As the stem cell therapy has been extensively studied in recent years due to its ability to improve the function of organ injured, including the kidneys, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of transplantation of stem cell derived from adipose tissue of cats as also study the contribution of laboratory exams and imaging in therapeutic evolution. Cells from adipose tissue showed fibroblastoid morphology, adherence to plastic; differentiated into osteocytes, adipocytes and chondrocytes and expressed surface markers characteristic of mesenchymal stem cells. Furthermore, when injected into immunocompromised nude mice showed no tumor formation. To screen animals with chronic kidney disease for this study were performed blood tests, ultrasound and urine of 97 animals, these seven animals had chosen profile and were included. In this study the animals were divided into three groups: placebo (A); cell therapy (B) and cell therapy associated with hydration (C). The results show that no significant difference between the groups, but this is due to our sample size. However two cats with CKD of group B experienced modest decrease in serum creatinine. Regarding serum cytokine expression profile, we found a significant increase of IL-6 in the group A; the IL10 behaved differently among the groups, with a slight increase in group B while group A presented significant reduction and TNFα and did not change over time. Thus, the intravenous injection of stem cells from adipose tissue may prevent the progression of disease in a subtle way.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are bone marrow-derived, non-hematopoietic progenitors that are amenable to genetic engineering, making them attractive delivery vehicles for therapeutic proteins. However, limited transplanted cell survival compromises the efficacy of MSC-based gene therapy. We hypothesized that co-implantation of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I)-overexpressing MSC (MSC-IGF) would improve MSC-based therapy of anemia by providing paracrine support to erythropoietin (EPO)-secreting MSC (MSC-EPO). Murine MSC were found to express the IGF-I receptor and be responsive to IGF-I stimulation. IGF-I also improved MSC survival in vitro. MSC were admixed in a bovine collagen matrix and implanted by subcutaneous injection in a murine model of chronic renal failure. Mice receiving MSC-EPO co-implanted with MSC-IGF experienced a greater and significantly sustained elevation in hematocrit compared to controls; heart function was also improved. Co-implantation of MSC-IGF therefore represents a promising new strategy for enhancing implanted cell survival, and improving cell-based gene therapy of renal anemia.

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo estudar a aplicação de células-tronco do epitélio olfatório de coelhos com o uso da videolaparoscopia na face costal do músculo diafragma do modelo mdx. A cirurgia laparoscópica foi utilizada como recurso visualizador da cavidade abdominal, com finalidade de guiar precisamente a aplicação de células-tronco no tecido lesionado. Foram utilizados 10 animais controles, BALB/C57 (grupo A) para padronizar a intervenção cirúrgica; 03 mdx controles (grupo B) que não receberam terapia celular e 03 mdx que receberam terapia celular (grupo C). Padronizou-se a videolaparoscopia em decúbito dorsal com elevação de vinte graus dos membros torácicos e realizou-se 1 aplicação de células-tronco do epitélio olfatório de coelhos, 3x105. Após 8 dias estes animais foram eutanasiados com overdose anestésica e o músculo diafragma e intercostal foram coletados. Na análise estrutural do músculo diafragma no grupo A, observou as fibras musculares com mesmo diâmetro e núcleos das células periféricos. Os fascículos musculares encontravam-se organizados com presença de fibras reticulares em pequena quantidade. As mesmas características estruturais foram observadas no músculo intercostal. No grupo B, as fibras musculares apresentavamse com diferentes diâmetros, núcleos celulares centralizados, com presença de fibrose perimisial. O músculo intercostal apresentou os mesmos achados, entretanto de forma mais branda. Os fascículos musculares tanto do m. diafragma e intercostal estavam desorganizados e observou-se uma grande quantidade de fibras colágenas e reticulares. No grupo C, observou-se uma leve diminuição do infiltrado inflamatório, porém os núcleos das células ainda se apresentavam centrais. Diferentemente dos dois grupos descritos acima, no grupo C observou-se a presença de células de degranulação e de cordões de mioblastos, demonstrando uma moderada reorganização muscular. Em relação aos fascículos musculares e a quantidade de fibras colágenas e reticulares, estes se mantiveram com as mesmas características do grupo B. Na análise de migração das células-tronco, observamos a marcação positiva da Proteína verde fluorescente (GFP) no músculo diafragma a fresco e na análise imunoistoquímica confirmando os achados estruturais obtidos. Contudo não houve marcação positiva para os cordões de mioblastos. Sugerimos que a aplicação local de células-tronco do epitélio olfatório de coelhos utilizando a videolaparoscopia foi capaz de implantar células-tronco no músculo diafragma. Entretanto, não podemos atribuir os resultados estruturais obtidos nos animais que receberam terapia celular às células-tronco. Acredita-se que alguma sinalização até o momento desconhecida, possa ter estimulado tais alterações histológicas. Portanto, este experimento pode acrescentar novas perspectivas na utilização futura das célulastronco no modelo distrófico canino, por exemplo, o GRMD (Golden Retriever Muscular Dystrophy), além de estimular a pesquisa para maior esclarecimento sobre as células do epitélio olfatório de coelho.
This research aimed to investigate the application of stem cells from the rabbit olfactory epithelium with the use of laparoscopy in the diaphragm costal face of the of the mdx model. Laparoscopic surgery was used as a visualizer resource of the abdominal cavity; with the purpose to precisely direct stem cells application in the injury tissue. Were used 10 control animals, BALB/C57 (group A) to standardize the surgical intervention, 03 mdx controls (group B) that did not receive cell therapy and 03 mdx that received cell therapy (group C). The laparoscopic technique was standardized in the supine position with twenty degrees elevation of the thoracic members, subsequently was held an application of stem cells from the olfactory epithelium of rabbits, 3x105. After 8 days the animals were euthanized by using anesthetic overdose and the diaphragm and intercostal muscles were collected. The structural analysis of the group A diaphragm presented muscles fibers with same diameter and the cells nuclei presented peripheral. The muscle fascicles were organized with the presence of reticular fibers in small quantities. The same structural characteristics were observed in the intercostal muscle. The group B, presented muscle fibers with different diameters, centralized nuclei cell, with perimisial fibrosis. The intercostal muscle showed similar findings, less severely though. The muscle fascicles of both diaphragm and intercostal muscles were disorganized and presented a large amount of collagen and reticular fibers. In group C, were found a slight decrease of the inflammatory infiltrates, but, at this point, the cells nuclei were central. Differently from the two groups described above, the group C presented cell degranulation and myoblasts cords, demonstrating moderate muscle reorganization. The muscle fascicles and the amount of collagen and reticular fibers remained with the same characteristics of the group B. When examining the stem cells migration, it could be observed, in the fresh diaphragm, a positive marking of green fluorescent protein (GFP). The immunoistochemical analysis confirmed the findings obtained. However, the myoblasts cords were not positive stained. It could be suggested that the rabbit olfactory epithelium stem cells application using the laparoscopic technique was able to conduct stem cells to the diaphragm. Meanwhile, this cannot attribute the structural results obtained from animals which received cell therapy. It is believed that some signaling until the moment unknown may have stimulated these histological changes. Therefore, this experiment can add new perspectives for cell therapy in dystrophic canine model, for example, GRMD (Golden Retriever Muscular Dystrophy).

Células-tronco (CT) apresentam potencial terapêutico para a doença renal pela possibilidade de regeneração tecidual e recuperação funcional, possivelmente por efeitos parácrinos. Diversos trabalhos mostraram seu efeito renoprotetor em modelo de insuficiência renal aguda. No entanto, existem poucos trabalhos que avaliaram o efeito da CT em doença renal crônica. Neste contexto, a via de inoculação e o número das CT na região da lesão podem desempenhar um papel crucial. Assim, o transplante de CT pela via EV não parece ser o mais apropriado para prover CT em número expressivo no órgão alvo. Uma técnica alternativa consiste em inocular as CT localmente, na região subcapsular renal. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar, em modelo experimental de doença renal crônica por nefrectomia 5/6 (Nx), a migração, a distribuição e o possível efeito renoprotetor da inoculação via subcapsular renal de 2 tipos de CT: derivadas da medula óssea (CTdmo) e mesenquimais (CTm). As CT foram coletadas de fêmur e tíbia de ratos doadores através da técnica de flushing. As CTdmo foram isoladas por gradiente de concentração e as CTm pela sua capacidade de aderência ao plástico e ambas marcadas com DAPI para a visualização no tecido. A caracterização das CT foi feita por citometria de fluxo e pela diferenciação celular in vitro. Foram realizados 2 protocolos experimentais. No protocolo I, CTdmo (1x106) foram inoculadas em ratos fêmeas e, no protocolo II, CTm (2x105) foram inoculadas em ratos machos. A região inoculada foi a subcapsula renal e os animais foram acompanhados por 15 e 30 dias. Os animais foram subdivididos nos grupos: Sham, ratos submetidos à cirurgia fictícia; Sham+CT, ratos submetidos à cirurgia fictícia que receberam CT (CTdmo ou CTm); Nx, ratos submetidos a nefrectomia 5/6; Nx+CT, Nx ratos que receberam CT (CTdmo ou CTm). Para avaliar a localização das CTdmo no tecido renal, utilizou-se a coloração de tricrômio de Masson e foi realizada uma análise semiquantitativa para avaliar o grau de infiltração. Foram analisadas a pressão arterial (PA), a albuminúria e a creatinina sérica. Para os animais que receberam CTm foi realizada a análise de parâmetros histológicos e a análise de marcadores inflamatórios, de células em atividade proliferativa, de miofibroblastos e de podócitos. Os resultados do Protocolo I avaliando a análise da infiltração no tecido renal das CTdmo marcadas com DAPI mostrou, em 5 dias, evidente infiltração das células da região subcapsular em sentido ao córtex e medula, inclusive presente em glomérulos. Ratos fêmeas Nx que receberam a inoculação das CTdmo na região da subcapsular renal não apresentaram melhora nos parâmetros que avaliaram a função renal. Protocolo II: as CTm cultivadas mostraram grande capacidade de aderência, crescimento em colônia e de diferenciação em células osteogênicas. A análise por citometria mostrou-se positiva para CD44 e CD90, com uma pequena população de células de CD34, CD45 e CD31, confirmando a presença preponderante de CTm. A inoculação de CTm em ratos Nx proporcionou um bloqueio da progressão da doença renal. Enquanto ratos Nx machos apresentaram elevada PA com 15 e 30 dias (149,6±9,1 e 191,7±2,8 mmHg) a inoculação de CTm promoveu significante redução após 30 dias (145,2±6,8 mmHg; p<0,05 vs Nx). Em ratos Nx foi observado um aumento na creatinina aos 15 e 30 dias (1,13±0,08 e 1,16±0,26 mg/dL) e a inoculação de CTm promoveu uma marcante redução aos 15 dias (0,58±0,03 mg/dL; p<0,05 vs Nx). A albuminúria foi elevada nos ratos Nx aos 15 e 30 dias (41,7±10,8 mg/24h e 138,7±33,6 mg/24h) enquanto os animais do grupo Nx+CTm aos 15 e 30 dias apresentaram diminuição significativa (4,6±1,5 mg/24h e 23,4±7,7 mg/24h; p<0,0001 vs Nx). A glomeruloesclerose do grupo Nx+CTm apresentou aos 30 dias uma redução significativa em relação ao grupo Nx (5,4±2,5% vs 22,0±6,1%, respectivamente; p<0,0001). A análise da fibrose intersticial não revelou diferença após 15 dias e 30 dias no grupo Nx+CTm em relação ao grupo Nx. Com relação ao número de macrófagos, linfócitos e de células em atividade proliferativa, os animais que receberam CTm apresentaram uma discreta diminuição de sua expressão no tecido renal. A expressão de -actina se reduziu significativamente no grupo Nx+CTm. Quanto à expressão de WT-1, específico para podócitos, os animais Nx+CTm tiveram aumento significativo da marcação em relação ao grupo Nx. Em resumo, após a inoculação de CT na região da subcapsula renal, houve marcante migração e distribuição das mesmas em direção à cortical e à medular. A inoculação de CTm proporcionou um efeito renoprotetor no modelo de nefrectomia 5/6. Sendo assim, a inoculação subcapsular renal pode representar uma importante via de inoculação, permitindo assim que um número maior de células atue na proteção da progressão da doença.
Stem cells (SCs) offer therapeutic potential for the treatment of renal diseases, due to the possibility of tissue regeneration and functional recovery. Various studies have shown renoprotection by SCs in experimental models of acute kidney disease. However, only a few studies have studied their effect in chronic kidney disease. The beneficial effect of SCs seems related to their capacity to differentiate or to secrete paracrine/endocrine factors. In this context, the inoculation route or the number of SCs homing in the injured region can play a crucial role. Therefore, transplantation of MSC through the intravenous route does not seem to be best suited for delivery of an important number of cells to the target organ. An alternative technique consists in local delivery of SCs in the subcapsular region of the kidney. The objective of the present study is to analyze the migration, distribution and potential renoprotective effect of the subcapsular inoculation of two types of SC - BSMC and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) - in an experimental model of chronic kidney disease, the 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx). SCs were collected from the femur and tibia of donor rats by flushing. BSMC were isolated by centrifugation on a concentration gradient and MSCs were isolated by their capacity to adhere to plastic. Both types of SC were stained with DAPI to allow visualization in tissues. SC characterization was carried out by flow cytometry and differentiation in culture. Two experimental procedures were performed. In protocol I, BSMC (106 cells) were injected in female rats and in protocol II, MSCs (2x105 cells) were injected in male rats. Animals were divided into 4 groups: SHAM, sham-operated rats; SHAM+SC, sham-operated rats receiving BSMC or MSCs; Nx, rats undergoing 5/6 nephrectomy; Nx+SC, 5/6 Nx rats receiving BSMC or MSCs. We used Massons Trichrome staining and a semiquantitative analysis according to the degree of infiltration to follow the localization of BSMC in the renal tissue and to quantify their infiltration, respectively. The following parameters were studied: arterial blood pressure (AP), proteinuria (Uprot), albuminuria (Ualb) and serum creatinine (Screat). For the animals receiving SCs, analysis of histology, of inflammatory markers, of proliferating cells and of podocytes was performed. Results from Protocol I assessing DAPI-stained BSMC showed marked infiltration in 5 days from the subcapsular region to the cortex and the medulla, including presence in the glomeruli, over a period of 15 days. Female rats that received subcapsular injection of BSMC did not show improvement of the parameters used to assess kidney function. Protocol II: cultured MSCs demonstrated an ability to adhere to plastic, to grow in colonies and to differentiate in osteogenic cells. Quantitative analysis of cell markers by flow cytometry showed that isolated cells were positive for CD44 and CD90, with a small population of cells positive for CD31, CD34 and CD45, confirming a preponderant presence of MSCs. Inoculation of MSCs in Nx rats blocked the progression of the renal disease. Elevated AP in Nx rats at 15 and 30 days (149.6 ± 9.1 and 191.7 ± 2.8 mm Hg, respectively) was significantly reduced by inoculation of MSCs at 30 days (145.2 ± 6.8 mm Hg, p<0.05 vs Nx). Nx rats showed increased creatinine at 15 and 30 days (1.13 ± 0.08 and 1.16 ± 0.26 mg/dL, respectively) that was significantly reduced by injection of MSCs at 15 days (0.58 ± 0.03 mg/dL, p<0.05 vs Nx). Albuminuria was increased in Nx rats at 15 and 30 days (41.7 ± 10.8 and 138.7 ± 33.6 mg/24h, respectively) and was reduced in the Nx+MSC group at both time points (4.6 ± 1.5, and 23.4 ± 7.7 mg/24h, respectively; p<0.0001 vs Nx). Histologic analysis showed that glomerulosclerosis at 30 days in the Nx+MSC group was significantly reduced as compared to the Nx group (5.4 ± 2.5 % vs 22.0 ± 6.1 %, p<0.0001). Analysis of interstitial fibrosis did not show difference after 15 and 30 days in the Nx+MSC group compared to Nx group. Nx rats receiving MSCs showed slightly decreased inflammation markers, macrophages and lymphocytes, and proliferating cells in the renal tissue when compared to Nx rats. Analysis of myofibroblasts showed a significant decrease in expression of -smooth muscle actin in Nx+MSC rats compared to Nx rats. Podocyte number was analyzed by detection of WT-1, a specific marker. Nx rats receiving MSC had a significantly higher number of podocytes than Nx rats. In conclusion, our results show that after inoculation in the subcapsular region, SCs migrate throughout the cortex in direction of the medulla. Subcapsular inoculation of MSC provides a renoprotective effect in the model of 5/6 nephrectomy. Therefore, subcapsular inoculation could represent an important route of delivery of SCs to the kidney that allows a higher number of cells to act in the protection from progression of the disease.

Células tronco mesenquimais (CTm) apresentam potencial para tratamento da doença renal pela possibilidade de promover regeneração tecidual e recuperação funcional, possivelmente por seus efeitos parácrinos. Na última década, o líquido amniótico foi descrito como uma fonte promissora de extração e isolamento de CTm. Alguns estudos mostraram o efeito renoprotetor das CTm derivadas do líquido amniótico (CTmLA) na doença renal aguda e crônica, quando inoculadas precocemente. Entretanto, ainda não foi estudado o efeito da administração de CTmLA em modelo experimental de doença renal crônica (DRC) com a lesão já estabelecida, situação esta que reproduz melhor a apresentação clínica da doença nos pacientes. Assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar o efeito da inoculação de CTmLA na região subcapsular renal no modelo de DRC já estabelecido. As CTmLA foram obtidas de pacientes no segundo trimestre de gestação e isoladas através da sua capacidade de aderência ao plástico. A caracterização das CTm foi feita por citometria de fluxo e pela diferenciação celular in vitro. O modelo de DRC utilizado foi o de nefrectomia 5/6 (Nx) que, pela perda de massa renal, evolui com hipertensão arterial, proteinúria, glomeruloesclerose, fibrose intersticial e perda progressiva da função renal. Quinze dias após a indução do modelo, estas alterações já são marcantes e agravam-se com 30 dias. Foram realizados 2 protocolos experimentais: no protocolo I, os animais Nx com DRC estabelecida receberam dose única de CTmLA (5x105) na região subcapsular renal e foram acompanhados por 30 e 60 dias de experimento. No protocolo II, os animais Nx com DRC estabelecida receberam duas doses de CTmLA (5x105) na região subcapsular renal, no 15° e 30° dia após a nefrectomia 5/6, e foram acompanhados por 30 dias, totalizando 60 dias de experimento. Os animais foram subdivididos nos grupos: Sham, ratos submetidos à cirurgia fictícia; Sham+CTmLA, ratos submetidos à Sham que receberam CTmLA; Nx, ratos submetidos à nefrectomia 5/6; Nx+CTmLA, ratos Nx que receberam CTmLA. Para verificar a localização das CTmLA no tecido renal foi realizada a hibridização in situ para cromossomo XY. Foram realizadas análises dos parâmetros clínicos e laboratoriais, além de análise histológica, imunohistoquímica, PCR em tempo real e multiplex. Resultados: as CTmLA cultivadas mostraram grande capacidade de aderência, crescimento em colônia e de diferenciação em células osteogênicas, adipogênicas e condrogênicas. A análise por citometria mostrou-se positiva para CD29, CD44, CD90 e CD105, com uma pequena população de células de CD14, CD34, CD45 e CD117, confirmando a presença preponderante de CTm. Protocolo I: Após 30 dias, a inoculação de CTmLA, dose única, preveniu a elevação da pressão arterial, da proteinúria, da glomeruloesclerose, recuperando a expressão dos marcadores de podócitos, WT-1 e sinaptopodina. Entretanto, não houve efeito benéfico nos níveis de creatinina sérica e na fibrose intersticial, após 30 e 60 dias. O tratamento com CTmLA promoveu uma diminuição marcante do número de macrófagos e uma discreta queda dos leucócitos no infiltrado inflamatório renal, além da diminuição do número de miofibroblastos no interstício renal. Citocinas pró-inflamatórias foram encontradas em menor concentração no tecido renal dos animais que receberam CTmLA (IL-1beta, TNF-alfa, MCP-1 e RANTES). Não houve alteração significativa das citocinas Th1 e Th2, exceto por um aumento da IL-4 nos animais tratados com CTmLA. Os animais que foram acompanhados por 60 dias tiveram uma melhora da proteinúria, da glomeruloesclerose, diminuição do infiltrado de macrófagos e uma melhora da expressão de WT-1. Não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas nos parâmetros de creatinina sérica e fibrose intersticial, aos 30 e 60 dias. Protocolo II: Nos animais que receberam a segunda dose de CTmLA e foram acompanhados por 60 dias observou-se prevenção da elevação da pressão arterial e da proteinúria, além de uma marcante diminuição da fibrose intersticial. Em conclusão, o presente estudo mostrou, pela primeira vez, que a terapia com CTmLA foi capaz de induzir renoproteção nos animais com doença renal crônica estabelecida. O tratamento com CTmLA pode representar uma nova abordagem terapêutica bloqueando a progressão da doença renal crônica
Mesenchymal stem cells (mSC) represent therapeutic potential for the treatment of renal diseases, due to their ability to induce tissue regeneration and functional recovery. Human amniotic fluid stem cells (AFmSC) are a class of fetal, pluripotent stem cells, which present characteristics intermediate between embryonic and adult stem cells. These cells are characterized by the expression of mesenchymal stem cells markers. In addition, they have the ability to differentiate into lineages of all embryonic germ layers. They also show high proliferative rates, but do not induce tumor formation. Therefore, AFmSC are considered to be a very promising cell source and these characteristics have generated a great interest concerning their potential renoprotective effects. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of AFmSC in an experimental model of chronic kidney disease, the 5/6 nephrectomy model (Nx), after the disease has been established, in order to more closely resemble the clinical settings in humans. AFmSC derived from second-trimester amniocentesis were isolated by plastic adhesion. After 4-7 passages, AFmSC characteristics were confirmed by flow cytometry and by their ability to differentiate into osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic lineages. Two experimental protocols were performed: In protocol I, rats underwent 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx) or sham surgery at day 0, received at day 15 a single dose of hAFmSC (5x105 cells) injected under the renal capsule and were studied at day 30 and 60 days. In protocol II, rats underwent Nx or sham surgery, and received at days 15 and 30, two doses of hAFmSC (5x105 cells) injected under the renal capsule, and were studied at day 60. In both protocols, the animals were subdivided into four groups: Sham, rats submitted to fictitious surgery; Sham+hAFmSC, Sham rats that received hAFmSC; Nx, rats submitted to nephrectomy 5/6; Nx+hAFmSC, Nx rats receiving hAFmSC. The hAFmSC were followed in the renal tissue by in situ hybridization for XY chromosome. In all the groups, clinical and histological parameters were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR. Results: AFmSC cultivated demonstrated an ability to adhere to plastic, to grow in colonies and to differentiate in osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic cells. Quantitative analysis of cell markers by flow cytometry showed that isolated cells were positive for CD29, CD44, CD90 and CD105, with a small population of cells positive for CD14, CD34, CD45 and CD117, confirming a preponderant presence of mSC. Protocol I: After 30 days, the single dose of hAFmSC significantly reduced the blood pressure levels, proteinuria, glomerulosclerosis and improved the expression of podocytes markers, WT-1 and synaptopodin. A marked decrease on the number of macrophages and a discrete decrease of leucocyte infiltration, as well as a reduction of interstitial myofibroblasts was observed. Treatment with hAFmSC significantly reduced some proinflammatory cytokines (IL1beta, TNF-alpha, MCP-1 and RANTES). No significant difference in Th1 or Th2 cytokines was observed, except for IL-4 increase in Nx rats treated with hAFmSC. At 60 days of follow-up, Nx rats treated with hAFmSC presented reduced proteinuria, glomerulosclerosis and macrophages besides increase in WT-1 expression. No improvements were observed on serum creatinine and of interstitial fibrosis, after 30 and 60 days. Protocol II: Inoculation of two doses of hAFmSC in Nx rats improved blood pressure levels, proteinuria and interstitial fibrosis at day 60. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated, for the first time, that hAFmSC induced renoprotection in animals with established chronic kidney disease. Treatment with hAFmSC may represent a novel therapeutic approach for blocking the progression of chronic kidney disease

Orientador: Sandra Cecília Botelho Costa
Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas
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Resumo: Introdução: Considerando-se que o transplante de células-tronco hematopoiéticas (TCTH) está associado à significativa morbidade e mortalidade devido à toxicidade do regime de condicionamento, sepse, doença do enxerto-contra-hospedeiro (DECH), entre outras complicações, sua indicação requer uma avaliação cuidadosa do risco. As infecções estão associadas a elevados índices de óbitos no pós-transplante, e seu aparecimento pode estar associado a fatores como o regime de condicionamento, imunodepressão para a prevenção da DECH, a própria DECH e a terapia adicional para a doença de base após o transplante. Dentre as infecções virais, o citomegalovírus humano (HCMV) é o patógeno mais importante no pós-TCTH pela morbidade e mortalidade associadas a ele. Por este motivo os pacientes submetidos ao TCTH são monitorados por testes laboratoriais sensíveis e específicos para o diagnóstico precoce da infecção ativa causada pelo HCMV, permitindo assim, a administração imediata da terapia antiviral. A antigenemia tem sido indicada como "padrão ouro" para guiar o tratamento precoce desta infecção. Embora a PCR em tempo real seja outra técnica muito utilizada para este fim, esta pode ser demasiadamente sensível para uso clínico, podendo haver diagnósticos positivos em pacientes que não apresentam risco de desenvolvimento da doença causada pelo HCMV. Objetivos: Determinar um valor de cutoff para diferenciar infecção latente de infecção ativa, além do risco do desenvolvimento da doença causada pelo HCMV. Métodos: Neste trabalho, 49 pacientes submetidos ao TCTH do tipo alogênico foram monitorados desde o dia do transplante até o dia +150 pelas técnicas de antigenemia e pela PCR em tempo real. Resultados: Após a construção da curva ROC o cutoff encontrado para indicar a reativação do HCMV foi 116 cópias. Baseado nesta determinação, os resultados positivos da PCR em tempo real (?116 cópias) foram comparados com resultados positivos da antigenemia (? 3 células pp65 positivas), observando associação estatisticamente significante entre eles. Sendo assim, a PCR em tempo real com 116 cópias como cutoff foi adotada como o único critério para definir a infecção ativa causada pelo HCMV nos pacientes incluídos no estudo. Vinte (40,8%) dos 49 pacientes tiveram infecção ativa causada pelo HCMV durante o monitoramento, ocorrendo com maior frequência entre os dias +41 e +50 pós-TCTH. Dezoito (90%) desses 20 pacientes foram tratados com ganciclovir e 16 deles atingiram a negativação da PCR em tempo real numa mediana de 6 dias após o início do tratamento. Quatro (8,2%) pacientes tiveram doença causada pelo HCMV comprovada por biópsia do trato gastrointestinal, 1 deles sem diagnóstico da viremia. Dois (50%) dos 4 pacientes que tiveram doença causada pelo HCMV não responderam bem ao tratamento antiviral, evoluindo para o óbito por esta causa numa mediana de 6,5 dias após o início do tratamento com ganciclovir. Outros 15 pacientes morreram por infecções fúngicas e bacterianas, DECH, recidiva da doença de base ou doença veno-oclusiva hepática. Conclusões: Pacientes submetidos ao TCTH não aparentado apresentam maior risco de infecção ativa causada pelo HCMV, o aumento repentino da carga viral parece ter relação com o aparecimento da doença causada pelo HCMV, a gravidade desta doença pode estar associada com o tempo de resposta ao tratamento antiviral e a manifestação de doença causada pelo HCMV e provável doença causada pelo HCMV aumentam o risco de óbito no pós-TCTH
Abstract: Considering that allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality due to toxicity of the conditioning regimen, sepsis onset, graft versus host disease (GVHD) manifestation, among other complications, its indication requires careful risk assessment. Infections are associated with high rates of deaths after transplantation, and their appearance can be associated with factors such as conditioning regimen, immunosuppression to prevent GVHD, GVHD itself and additional therapy for the underlying disease after transplantation. Among the viral infections, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most significant pathogen after HSCT, considering morbidity and mortality associated with it. For this reason, patients submitted to HSCT are monitored by sensitive and specific laboratory tests for early diagnosis of HCMV reactivation, thus allowing immediate administration of antiviral therapy. The antigenemia method has been indicated as the gold standard for guiding the early treatment of this infection. Although real-time PCR is another technique widely used for this purpose, this may be too sensitive for clinical use, there may be positive diagnoses in patients without risk of developing HCMV disease. Objectives: Determining a cutoff value to distinguish latent infection from active infection and the risk of developing HCMV disease. Methods: In this study, 49 patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT were monitored from the day of transplantation until day +150 by antigenemia and real-time PCR. Results: After constructing the ROC curve, the cutoff found for HCMV reactivation was 116 copies. Based on this determination, the positive results of real-time PCR (? 116 copies) were compared with results of positive antigenemia (pp65 positive cells ? 3), observing statistically significant association between them. Thus, the real-time PCR with 116 copies as cutoff was adopted as the sole criterion to define the active infection in the patients included in the study. Twenty (40.8%) of the 49 patients had HCMV reactivation during monitoring, occurring most frequently between days +41 and +50 after HSCT. Eighteen (90%) of these 20 patients were treated with ganciclovir and 16 have reached their negative real-time PCR in a median of six days after the beginning of treatment. Four (8.2%) patients had positive gastrointestinal tract biopsy for HCMV disease, one of them with no diagnosis of viremia. Two (50%) of four patients who had HCMV disease have not responded well to antiviral therapy, progressing to death by HCMV disease at a median of 6.5 days after starting treatment with ganciclovir. Another 15 patients died from fungal bacterial infection, GVHD, underlying disease relapse or veno-occlusive hepatic disease. Conclusions: Patients undergoing unrelated HSCT had higher risk of HCMV reactivation; the sudden increase in viral load seems to be related to the onset of HCMV disease; the severity of HCMV disease may be associated with the response time to antiviral therapy; and HCMV disease manifestation and probable HCMV disease increase the risk of death after HSCT
Doutorado
Clinica Medica
Doutora em Clínica Médica

Orientador: Sandra Cecilia Botelho Costa
Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas
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Resumo: O cytomegalovirus humano (HCMV) e o herpesvirus humano 6 (HHV-6) são ß-herpesvirus com homologia superior a 67% e alta soroprevalência na população adulta. A infecção primaria por estes herpesvirus ocorre comumente na infância e é normalmente subclinica, ou pode causar mononucleose (HCMV) ou exantema súbito (HHV-6) sendo resolvidos na maioria dos casos sem complicações. Após a infecção primária os vírus permanecem no hospedeiro por toda vida podendo ser reativado de seu estado de latência em indivíduos adultos imunocomprometidos como os receptores de células tronco hematopoiéticas (TCTH). A reativação ou reinfecção por estes vírus causam serias complicações em pacientes submetidos ao transplante de células tronco hematopoiéticas como pneumonia intersticial, febre, gastroenterite, mielossupressão, encefalite e doença do enxerto contra o hospedeiro (GVHD). A reativação do HHV-6 após o transplante é associada com o desenvolvimento de infecções oportunistas, doença causada pelo citomegalovírus humano e possíveis episódios de rejeição aguda. Com efetivos tratamentos antivirais disponíveis, um monitoramento adequado destes vírus distinguindo entre latência e reativação é critico para estes pacientes. Monitoramos 30 pacientes submetidos à TCTH quanto a infecção ativa por HCMV e HHV-6 pelas técnicas de nested-PCR em soro e células, PCR- em tempo real em soro e células e transcrição reversa acoplada a nestedPCR (RT-nPCR). 29 pacientes (96,66%) apresentaram infecção ativa por HCMV sendo 21 pacientes (70%) pela nested-PCR em células, 17 pacientes(56,66%) pela neste-PCR em soro ,23 pacientes(76,67%) pela PCR em tempo real em células,19 pacientes (63,33%) pela PCR em tempo real em soro e 15 pacientes (53,3%) pela RT-nPCR. 25pacientes (83,33%) apresentaram infecção ativa por HHV-6, sendo 14 pacientes (46,7%) pela nested-PCR em células, 2 pacientes(6,6%) pela PCR em tempo real em células,23 pacientes (76,67%) %) pela PCR em tempo real em soro e 9 pacientes (30%) pela RT-nPCR. Todos os pacientes que apresentaram infecção ativa por HCMV apresentaram também presença do HHV-6, e 25 pacientes (83,33%) apresentaram co-infecção HCMV/HHV-6, sendo a infecção por HHV-6 precoce em relação ao HCMV. O presente estudo encontrou também associação entre infecção ativa por HCMV e doença do enxerto contra o hospedeiro.
Abstract: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6) are ß-herpesvirinae extremely closely related with a homology > 67% with a high seroprevalence in the adult population. Primary infection commonly appears in early childhood and is usually subclinical, or may cause mononucleosis (HCMV) or febrile illness, including exanthema subitum (HHV-6), solving, in the majority of cases, without complications. After primary infection, the viruses persist in the infected individual through life and can be reactivated from their state of latency in immunocompromised hosts. Reactivation or reinfection causes severe clinical diseases in patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, like interstitial pneumonia, fever, gastroenteritis, myelossupression, encephalitis and graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). A potential increase in virulence of HHV-6 in the course of a simultaneous CMV reactivation, leading to a great risk of CMV-associated disease. In this present study, 30 patients who received HSCT were monitoring for active HCMV and HHV-6 infection by Nested PCR in serum and peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) samples, real time PCR in serum and PBL and RT-nPCR. In 29 patients (96,66%) active HCMV infection was detected: 21 patients (70%) by PBL nested-PCR, 17 patients (56,66%) by serum neste-PCR, 23 patients(76,67%) by PBL real-time-PCR,19 patients (63,33%) by serum real-time-PCR and 15 patients (53,3%) by RT-nPCR. In 25 patients (83,33%) active HHV-6 infection was detected : 14 patients (46,7%) by PBL nested-PCR, 2 patients(6,6%) by PBL real time -PCR,23 patients (76,67%) by serum real time-PCR and 9 patients (30%) by RT-nPCR. In all patients who had active HCMV infection, HHV-6 DNA was detected. 25 patients (83,33) had HCMV/HHV-6 co-infection, and the active HHV-6 infection was detected earlier in the majority of the cases. Our results showed a correlation between GVHD and active HCMV infection and detection of active HCMV infection by serum nested-PCR and PBL and serum real time-PCR.
Universidade Estadual de Campi
Ciencias Basicas
Doutor em Clínica Médica

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Chronic renal failure (CRF) is characterized by progressive and irreversible loss of renal function and its treatment generates significant public spending for maintenance and care of patients on dialysis. Stem cell (SC) therapy, in its potential for treatment of chronic diseases, may be a promising strategy for repairing the damage from or slowing the progression of CRF. There are questions about cell type, quantity of cells, method and ideal place for deployment of SC and the role it plays in the repair of renal parenchyma. Objective: 1) To evaluate the effect of infusion of bone marrow derived cells (BMDC) in the treatment of experimental CRF; 2) Evaluate the combined effect of SC and biomaterial (BM) in the progression of CRF and study the effect of this therapy in different stages of CRF; 3) Evaluate the development of techniques for isolation and cultivation of human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) mesenchymal cells. Methods: Article 1: We used the 5/6 mass reduction model to induce experimental CRF. Kidney function was measured at the beginning of the experiment and 60 and 120 days after the surgery; Article 2: Animals were subdivided as to the amount of renal parenchyma injured (5/6 or 2/3), the use of BM as a scaffold to cell implantation, and cell type used (mononuclear or mesenchymal cells). Renal function was evaluated on days 0, 45, and 90 after surgery. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses were done in all groups at the end of the study; Article 3: Ten samples of HUCB were used and two different procedures for cultivation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) were tested: without Ficoll-Paque density gradient, to obtain nucleated cells; with Ficoll-Paque density gradient, for obtaining mononuclear cells. Results: Article 1: CRF progression analysis showed that treatment with BMDC significantly reduced the rate of decline of creatinine clearance (Clcr) when compared with the control group; Article 2:Treated animals showed significantly lower increases in serum creatinine and 24 hour proteinuria, and higher increases in Clcr after 90 days when compared to control animals in both models of CRF; Article 3: The MSC in culture from the method without Ficoll-Paque density gradient maintained growth forming confluent cell foci. Conclusions: Article 1: Progression of CRF can be delayed by injection of BMDC in the renal parenchyma; Article 2: a) Use of SC combined with BM can be an alternative way to administer BMDC; b) Cell therapy seems to be most effective when administered in less severe stages of CRF; Article 3: Nucleated cells without using Ficoll-Paque density gradient showed more efficiency in the cultivation of MSC from HUCB when compared with the procedure employing Ficoll-Paque density gradient
A insuficiência renal crônica (IRC) é caracterizada pela perda progressiva e irreversível da função renal e seu tratamento gera um gasto público significativo para manutenção de pacientes em tratamento dialítico. A terapia com células-tronco (CT), pelo seu potencial de tratamento das doenças crônicas, pode ser uma estratégia promissora para reparar ou retardar a progressão da IRC. Existem dúvidas sobre o tipo celular, a quantidade de células, o método e local ideal para implantação das CT e o papel por elas desempenhado na reparação do parênquima renal. Objetivos: 1) avaliar o efeito da infusão de células derivadas da medula óssea (CDMO) no tratamento da IRC experimental; 2) avaliar o efeito combinado das CT e biomaterial (BM) na progressão da IRC e estudar o efeito dessa terapia em diferentes estágios da IRC; 3) Avaliar o desenvolvimento de técnicas de isolamento e cultivo de células mesenquimais do sangue de cordão umbilical humano (SCU). Métodos: artigo 1: usamos o modelo de redução de massa 5/6 para induzir a IRC experimental. Função renal foi medida no início do experimento e 60 e 120 dias depois da cirurgia; artigo 2: animais foram subdivididos conforme a quantidade de parênquima renal lesado (5/6 ou 2/3), o uso de BM como arcabouço para o implante celular e o tipo de células utilizado (célula mononuclear ou mesenquimal). A função renal foi avaliada nos dias 0, 45 e 90 após cirurgia. Análise histológica e imunohistoquimica foram realizadas em todos os grupos ao final do estudo; artigo 3: Foram utilizadas dez amostras de SCU e testados dois diferentes procedimentos para cultivo de células-tronco mesenquimal (CTM): sem gradiente de densidade Ficoll-Paque, para obtenção de células nucleadas; por gradiente de densidade Ficoll-Paque, para obtenção de células mononucleares. Resultados: artigo 1: Análises da progressão da IRC mostraram que o tratamento com CDMO reduziu significativamente a taxa de declínio do clearance ( Clcr) quando comparados com o grupo controle; artigo 2: animais tratados apresentaram aumentos significativamente menores de creatinina sérica, proteinúria e Clcr maiores após 90 dias, quando comparado aos animais controles em ambos os modelos de IRC; artigo 3: as CTM em cultura provenientes do método sem gradiente de densidade Ficoll- Paque mantiveram o crescimento formando focos confluentes de células. Conclusões: artigo 1: a progressão da IRC pode ser retardada pela injeção de CDMO no parênquima renal; artigo 2: a) utilização da CT combinada com o BM pode ser uma via alternativa para administrar a CTMO; b) terapia celular parece ser mais eficaz quando administrada em estágios menos graves da IRC; artigo 3: As células nucleadas sem uso do gradiente de densidade Ficoll-Paque mostraram mais eficiente para o cultivo de CTM do SCU quando comparado ao procedimento com gradiente de densidade Ficoll-Paque.

Aim: To develop an immunomagnetic assay for the isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) followed by the analysis of a multimarker panel, which will enable the characterization of these malignant cells with high accuracy. Patients and Methods: Peripheral blood (PB) was collected from 32 metastatic breast cancer patients and 42 negative controls. The antibodies BM7 and VU1D9 were used for immunomagnetic tumor cell enrichment. A real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) approach for the markers KRT19, SCGB2A2, MUC1, EPCAM, BIRC5 and ERBB2 was used for CTC detection and characterization. Results: The positivity rates for each marker were as follows: 46.9% for KRT19, 25.0% for SCGB2A2, 28.1% for MUC1, 28.1% for EPCAM, 21.9% for BIRC5, and 15.6% for ERBB2. After the creation of individualized cutoffs, the sensitivity and specificity of the combined marker gene panel increased to 56.3% and 100%, respectively. Interestingly, 27.0% of the HER2-negative tumor patients showed ERBB2 mRNA-positive CTCs. Conclusions: The described technique can be used to measure CTCs with great accuracy. The use of a multimarker panel for the characterization of CTCs may provide real-time information and be of great value in therapy monitoring
Ziel: Entwicklung eines immunomagnetischen Verfahrens zur Isolierung zirkulierender Tumorzellen (CTCs) in Kombination mit einer molekularen Multimarkeranalyse für die hochspezifische Identifizierung maligner Zellen. Patientinnen und Methoden: Peripheres Blut (PB) von 32 Patientinnen mit metastasiertem Mammakarzinom und von 42 gesunden Kontrollen wurde für die immunomagnetische Tumorzellanreicherung mit den Antikörpern BM7 und VU1D9 genutzt. Eine Real-Time Reverse Transkription Polymerase-Kettenreaktion (RT-PCR)-Methodik mit den Markern KRT19, SCGB2A2, MUC1, EPCAM, BIRC5 und ERBB2 wurde für den CTC-Nachweis und die Tumorzellcharakterisierung entwickelt. Ergebnisse: Für die einzelnen Marker wurden die folgenden Positivitätsraten ermittelt: 46,9% für KRT19, 25,0% für SCGB2A2, 28,1% für MUC1, 28,1% für EPCAM, 21,9% für BIRC5 und 15,6% für ERBB2. Nach der Bestimmung individualisierter Cut-off-Werte ergab sich für den kombinierten Multimarkernachweis eine Sensitivität und Spezifität von 56,3% bzw. 100%. Bemerkenswert war der Befund, dass 27,0% der HER2-tumornegativen Patientinnen ERBB2-mRNA-positive CTCs aufwiesen. Schlussfolgerung: Die hier beschriebene Methodik bestimmt CTCs mit hoher Spezifität. Die molekulare Multimarkeranalyse liefert wertvolle Real-Time-Informationen für personalisierte Behandlungsmodalitäten
Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich

Aim: To develop an immunomagnetic assay for the isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) followed by the analysis of a multimarker panel, which will enable the characterization of these malignant cells with high accuracy. Patients and Methods: Peripheral blood (PB) was collected from 32 metastatic breast cancer patients and 42 negative controls. The antibodies BM7 and VU1D9 were used for immunomagnetic tumor cell enrichment. A real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) approach for the markers KRT19, SCGB2A2, MUC1, EPCAM, BIRC5 and ERBB2 was used for CTC detection and characterization. Results: The positivity rates for each marker were as follows: 46.9% for KRT19, 25.0% for SCGB2A2, 28.1% for MUC1, 28.1% for EPCAM, 21.9% for BIRC5, and 15.6% for ERBB2. After the creation of individualized cutoffs, the sensitivity and specificity of the combined marker gene panel increased to 56.3% and 100%, respectively. Interestingly, 27.0% of the HER2-negative tumor patients showed ERBB2 mRNA-positive CTCs. Conclusions: The described technique can be used to measure CTCs with great accuracy. The use of a multimarker panel for the characterization of CTCs may provide real-time information and be of great value in therapy monitoring.
Ziel: Entwicklung eines immunomagnetischen Verfahrens zur Isolierung zirkulierender Tumorzellen (CTCs) in Kombination mit einer molekularen Multimarkeranalyse für die hochspezifische Identifizierung maligner Zellen. Patientinnen und Methoden: Peripheres Blut (PB) von 32 Patientinnen mit metastasiertem Mammakarzinom und von 42 gesunden Kontrollen wurde für die immunomagnetische Tumorzellanreicherung mit den Antikörpern BM7 und VU1D9 genutzt. Eine Real-Time Reverse Transkription Polymerase-Kettenreaktion (RT-PCR)-Methodik mit den Markern KRT19, SCGB2A2, MUC1, EPCAM, BIRC5 und ERBB2 wurde für den CTC-Nachweis und die Tumorzellcharakterisierung entwickelt. Ergebnisse: Für die einzelnen Marker wurden die folgenden Positivitätsraten ermittelt: 46,9% für KRT19, 25,0% für SCGB2A2, 28,1% für MUC1, 28,1% für EPCAM, 21,9% für BIRC5 und 15,6% für ERBB2. Nach der Bestimmung individualisierter Cut-off-Werte ergab sich für den kombinierten Multimarkernachweis eine Sensitivität und Spezifität von 56,3% bzw. 100%. Bemerkenswert war der Befund, dass 27,0% der HER2-tumornegativen Patientinnen ERBB2-mRNA-positive CTCs aufwiesen. Schlussfolgerung: Die hier beschriebene Methodik bestimmt CTCs mit hoher Spezifität. Die molekulare Multimarkeranalyse liefert wertvolle Real-Time-Informationen für personalisierte Behandlungsmodalitäten.
Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Orientador: Sandra Cecilia Botelho Costa
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas
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Resumo: O citomegalovírus humano (HCMV) é um vírus cosmopolita pertencente à família Herpesviridae, subfamília Betaherpesvirinae. É amplamente disseminado na população, com soroprevalência entre 40 e 100%. Sua transmissão se dá através do contato direto com secreções contendo o vírus como: sêmen, secreção cervical, urina, saliva, leite materno, hemoderivados e também através de transplante de órgãos e tecidos. Durante a infecção primária o HCMV apresenta intensa replicação e em seguida estabelece um estágio de latência no hospedeiro. Periódicas reativações ocorrem em situações de estresse, imunossupressão, doenças auto-imunes e uso de quimioterápicos. O impacto desta infecção em receptores de Transplante de Células Tronco Hematopoéticas (TCTH) é grande podendo causar pneumonia intersticial, doença no trato gastrointestinal, hepatite, mielossupressão, retinite, nefrite, encefalite, atraso da pega medular, doença do enxerto contra hospedeiro, infecções por outros organismos oportunistas, aceleração da perda do enxerto e óbito. Por este motivo, é de suma importância o uso de técnicas laboratoriais, suficientemente sensíveis e específicas, capazes de fazer o diagnóstico precoce da infecção ativa pelo HCMV e estudos mais aprofundados sobre a real relação e correlação clínica que estas técnicas apresentam a fim de prevenir o aparecimento da doença pelo HCMV e demais complicações associadas ao HCMV. Neste estudo foram monitorizados semanalmente, 30 pacientes submetidos a TCTH do tipo alogênico desde o dia do transplante até o dia 150 pós-transplante pelas técnicas de antigenemia, Nested-PCR e Real-time PCR. O tratamento precoce com medicamento antiviral foi iniciado a partir dos seguintes resultados: = 1 célula pp65 positiva/3x105 leucócitos e/ou 2 ou mais Nested-PCR positivas consecutivas. O cut-off da Real-time PCR para a infecção ativa pelo HCMV foi padronizado neste estudo, sendo de 418,39 cópias virais/104 leucócitos periféricos. Vinte e sete pacientes (90%) apresentaram infecção ativa pelo HCMV, com maior incidência durante o segundo mês pós-TCTH. Destes 27 pacientes, 21 (77,78%) foram submetidos ao tratamento precoce com Ganciclovir, 18 (66,67%) apresentaram infecções oportunistas, 11 (40,74%) tiveram DECH aguda, 9 pacientes (33,33%) tiveram infecção ativa recorrente pelo HCMV, 5 (18,52%) tiveram rejeição crônica do enxerto, 2 (7,4%) desenvolveram doença pelo HCMV e 11 (40,47%) evoluíram a óbito, sendo 1 (3,7%) por doença por HCMV associado a DECH aguda e infecção bacteriana. O teste mais precoce para o diagnóstico da infecção ativa pelo HCMV foi a Nested-PCR com mediana de 33 dias pós-TCTH, seguido pela Real-time PCR e antigenemia, ambas com mediana de 40 dias pós-TCTH. A Real-time PCR foi o teste mais sensível (S=92,3%) e que apresentou melhor valor preditivo negativo (VPN=85,71%) para o diagnóstico da infecção ativa pelo HCMV. Já a antigenemia foi o teste mais específico (E=77,77%) e que apresentou melhor valor preditivo positivo (VPP=84,61%) para este diagnóstico. Os testes utilizados no estudo foram eficazes no monitoramento da infecção ativa pelo HCMV, pois somente 2 (7,4%) dos 27 pacientes que apresentaram infecção ativa pelo HCMV desenvolveram doença por HCMV.
Abstract: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a member of the Herpesviridae family and Betaherpesvirinae subfamily. HCMV is distributed worldwide, with prevalence of HCMV-positive antibodies of 40% to 100%. Transmission occurs during close personal contact with secretions of infected persons such as: semen, cervical secretions, urine, saliva, breast milk, blood products and transplanted organs and hematopoietic stem cell. During primary infection occurs intense replication followed by latent infection in host. Periodic reactivations occur in stress situations, immunosuppression, autoimmune diseases and use of chemotherapy. The impact of HCMV infection on recipients HSCT is large and can cause pneumonitis, gastrointestinal diseases, hepatitis, marrowsuppression, retinitis, nephritis, encephalitis, delay of bone marrow engraftment, severe acute graft-versus host disease (GVHD), opportunistic infections, chronic rejection and death. For this reason it is extremely important the use of sensitive and specific methods for early diagnostic of active HCMV infection and deeper studies about the real clinical relation and correlation these techniques show in order to prevent the disease through HCMV and further complications connected to HCMV. In this study 30 patients recipients of allogenic HSCT were monitored at weekly intervals from D+0 to D+150 post-transplant by antigenemia, Nested-PCR and Real-time PCR. Antiviral preemptive therapy was initiated upon a result = 1 positive pp65 cell/3x105 of PML and/or two or more consecutive positive Nested-PCR. The optimal cut-off value by Real-time PCR for active HCMV infection was 418,39 copies/104 of PBL. Twenty seven (90%) patients had active HCMV infection, with the highest incidence occurring during the second month after HSCT. Twenty one (77,78%) of the 27 patients who had active HCMV infection received preemptive antiviral therapy with Ganciclovir, 18 (66,67%) had opportunist infection, 11 (40,74%) had acute graft-versus host disease (GVHD), 9 (33,33%) had recurrence of HCMV infection, 5 (18,51%) had chronic rejection, 2 (7,4%) developed HCMV disease and 11 (40,47%) died, one (3,7%) by HCMV disease associated with GVHD and bacterial infection. The most precocious test for diagnostic of active HCMV was Nested-PCR after a median of 33 days after HSCT followed by Real-time PCR and antigenemia, both with a median of 40 days after HSCT. Real-time PCR was the most sensitive (Sensitive=92,3%) and with the best predictive negative value (PNV=85,71%) for diagnostic of active HCMV infection. Antigenemia was the most specific (Specific=77,77%) and with the best predictive positive value (PPV=84,61%) for this diagnostic. The three assays utilized in this study were effective in active HCMV infection surveillance because only 2 (7,4%) of 27 patients that had active HCMV infection had HCMV disease.
Universidade Estadual de Campi
Ciencias Basicas
Mestre em Clinica Medica

Introdução: A doença renal crônica continua sendo um desafio no campo da pesquisa médica. Atualmente um interesse crescente tem surgido no intuito de avaliar o potencial de células tronco em retardar o avanço de doenças crônicas progressivas. Material e Métodos: Para determinar o efeito dessas células em um modelo de progressão de doença renal crônica foram usadas células linhagem negativa (Lin ) separadas magneticamente e injetadas em ratos submetidos à injúria renal. Ratos singênicos Fischer 344 foram submetidos à nefrectomia 5/6 (Nx) e divididos em 3 grupos: Nx (não tratados); NxSC1 (submetidos à infusão de 2 106 células Lin no 15º dia de pós-operatório); e NxSC3 (submetidos à infusão de 2 106 células Lin no 15º, 30º e 45º dias de pós-operatório). No 60º dia de pós-operatório clearance de inulina, imunohistoquímica e immunoblotting foram realizados. Resultados: Os animais submetidos à nefrectomia apresentaram redução do clearance de inulina (0,33 ± 0,02 ml/min/100g peso corpóreo), proteinúria (12 ± 0,5 mg/24hs) , anemia e hipertensão (145 ± 7,7 mmHg) compatíveis com doença renal crônica. A infusão de células Lin- resultou em atenuação da proteinúria (p<0,05) com relação aos animais não tratados a despeito de não ter havido diferença nos níveis de pressão arterial e aldosterona plasmática. Esses achados foram similares entre os grupos tratados com uma ou com três infusões de células. Adicionalmente a infusão de células resultou em redução do índice de glomeruloesclerose e da área intersticial relativa (p<0,05), menor infiltração do tecido renal por macrófagos e linfócitos e menor proliferação celular. A expressão tecidual do p21 e de VEGF já foi associada à aceleração da progressão da lesão renal crônica. No nosso modelo ambas as proteínas tiveram sua expressão reduzida. A redução da expressão tecidual de eNOS tem sido implicada na progressão da doença renal. Em nosso modelo houve aumento dessa expressão após infusão das células Conclusões: A infusão de células Linatenuou todos os marcadores de injúria renal em um modelo de doença precoce possivelmente através de um mecanismo imunomodulador.
Progressive renal failure continues to be a challenge. The use of bone marrowderived stem cells (SCs) represents a means of meeting that challenge. We used lineage-negative (Lin-) SCs to test the hypothesis that Lin- cell infusion decreases renal injury. Syngeneic Fischer 344 rats were submitted to 5/6 nephrectomy and divided into 3 groups: Nx (untreated); NxSC1 (receiving 2 × 106 Lin- cells on postnephrectomy day 15); and NxSC3 (receiving 2 × 106 Lin- cells on postnephrectomy days 15, 30 and 45). Controls were unoperated/untreated. On postnephrectomy day 60, clearance studies, immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting were performed. Lin- cell infusion effectively reduced postnephrectomy proteinuria, glomerulosclerosis, anemia, renal infiltration of immune cells and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 protein expression, as well as decreasing the interstitial area. Immunostaining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen showed that, in comparison with controls, Nx rats presented greater cell proliferation, whereas NxSC1 rats and NxSC3 rats presented less cell proliferation than did Nx rats. Protein expression of p21 and VEGF increased after nephrectomy and decreased after Lin- cell infusion. Protein expression of eNOS reduced after nephrectomy and increased after cell infusion. These data suggest that SC treatment ameliorates progressive end-stage renal disease.

Estudos com células tronco mesenquimais (CTm) têm despertado grande interesse devido a seu promissor potencial terapêutico e representam uma alternativa para o tratamento de diversas patologias em diferentes órgãos, inclusive em transplante renal. A rejeição crônica é um dos maiores desafios no transplante tardio e se caracteriza por perda progressiva da função renal causado pela intensa fibrogênese no aloenxerto. Os tratamentos convencionais com imunossupressores, apesar de reduzirem significativamente as crises de rejeição aguda, não interferem na sobrevida do enxerto a longo prazo. A compreensão dos processos fisiopatológicos da doença depende de seu estudo em modelos experimentais, que são de grande importância pois também propiciam uma melhor compreensão dos possíveis tratamentos. O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a terapia com células-tronco mesenquimais derivadas de tecido adiposo (CTmTA) no modelo experimental de transplante renal em ratos, para estudar seu efeito na rejeição crônica e avaliar seu potencial efeito imunomodulador. O modelo foi estabelecido com ratos das linhagens isogênicas Fisher (doador) e Lewis (receptor) e os animais transplantados foram divididos em três grupos: ISO (transplante isogênico de Lewis para Lewis, n=6), ALO (transplante alogênico de Fisher para Lewis, n=6) e ALO+CTmTA (transplante alogênico, tratado com CTmTA, n=6). As CTmTA foram caracterizadas por aderência ao plástico, diferenciação nas linhagens adipogênica, condrogênicas e osteogênicas e por citometria de fluxo. Foram inoculadas 1 x 106 células na região subcapsular renal no dia da realização da nefrectomia unilateral direita (10 dias pós-transplante). Após 6 meses foram realizadas análises dos parâmetros clínicos e laboratoriais, além de análise histológica, imunohistoquímica e PCR em tempo real. As CTmTA foram eficientes em prevenir significativamente a elevação da ureia e da creatinina séricas, manter clearence de creatinina em níveis normais, e prevenir a elevação da fração de excreção de Na+ e K+. Além disso, impediram o desenvolvimento de proteinúria e da hipertensão arterial. A análise histológica mostrou uma redução significativa do infiltrado inflamatório de macrófagos e linfócitos T, além de uma diminuição da fibrose intersticial no grupo ALO+CTmTA. O tratamento com CTmTA reduziu significativamente a expressão relativa dos fatores e citocinas pró-inflamatórios tais como INF-y, TNF-alfa, IL1beta e IL-6, além de aumento importante na expressão de IL-4 e IL-10, conhecidas por seu potencial antiinflamatório. Em conclusão, o tratamento com ADMSC em um modelo experimental de transplante renal pode trazer uma nova abordagem terapêutica para controle da rejeição crônica do enxerto. A aparente modulação da resposta imune observada neste trabalho, pode estar associada a uma possível polarização de macrófagos e células T. Outros estudos pré-clínicos e clínicos são necessários para confirmar nossos resultados
Studies involving mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have aroused great interest due to their promising therapeutic potential representing an alternative for the treatment of several pathologies in different organs, including renal transplantation. Chronic rejection is one of the major challenges in late transplantation and is characterized by progressive loss of renal function caused by intense fibrogenesis in the allograft. Conventional immunosuppressive treatments, while significantly reducing acute rejection crises, do not interfere with long-term graft survival. Animal model of kidney transplantation can provide a better understanding of the pathophysiological processes and bring a new path to treat chronic rejection. The aim of this project was to analyze the therapy with mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue (ADMSCs) in the experimental model of kidney transplantation in rats, focus on chronic rejection and evaluate its potential immunomodulatory effect. The model was established with rats of isogenic strains Fisher (donor) and Lewis (recipient), and the transplanted animals were divided into three groups: ISO (isogenic transplantation from Lewis to Lewis, n = 6), ALO (allogenic transplant from Fisher to Lewis, n = 6) and ALO + ADMSCs (allogenic transplantation, treated with ADMSCs, n = 6). ADMSCs were characterized by adhesion to plastic, differentiation in adipogenic, condrogenic and osteogenic lines and by flow cytometry. One million of cells were inoculated under the renal capsule on the day of the right unilateral nephrectomy (10 days after transplantation). After 6 months, clinical and laboratory parameters were analyzed, as well as histological analysis, immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR. ADMSCs were effective in preventing elevation of serum urea and creatinine, elevation of the Na + and K + excretion fraction as well as maintained creatinine clearence at normal levels. Furthermore, the treatment also prevented the development of proteinuria and preserved blood pressure. Histological analysis showed a significant reduction of macrophages and T cells infiltrate, associated to a decreased of interstitial fibrosis in the ALO + ADMSCs group. In the presence of ADMSCs, there was a significant decrease in the relative expression of INF-y, TNF-alpha, IL1beta and IL-6 factors and pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as a significant increase in the relative expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines as IL-4 and IL-10. In conclusion, treatment with ADMSC in a transplantation model could open a new approach to control chronic rejection. This apparent modulation of the immune response may be associated with a possible polarization of macrophages and T cells. Further pre-clinical and clinical studies are needed to confirm our findings

Volume I contains a literature review and an empirical paper. The literature review, which is presented first, reviews recent findings for a relationship between informational coping style and psychological adjustment in patients confronted with potential or real life threatening illness. Empirical data is systematically reviewed within the theoretical framework of Miller's (1995) Monitoring Process Model. Suggestions are made for future research on order to develop effective interventions for those individuals who are most vulnerable to psychological, social, and emotional complications secondary to their illness. The empirical paper examines psychological distress in patients undergoing stem cell transplantation in a prospective longitudinal design. Specific aims are to examine the degree of psychological distress over the course of transplantation, which pre-treatment demographic, medical and psychosocial factors predict psychological distress and adjustment after transplantation, and whether informational coping style was associated with distress levels before and after transplantation. The findings of this study illustrate the need for pre-treatment assessment and intervention, focusing on treatment related anxiety management, depression, and dysfunctional illness attributions which may help reduce post-treatment distress. [Volume II contains a series of clinical practice reports and is not available online.].

Introdução: As células-tronco apresentam capacidade de proliferação, autorrenovação, potencial de diferenciação e já foram descritas na hipófise estando envolvidas na renovação celular e regulação homeostática, porém pouco se sabe sobre o seu perfil de expressão nos quadros de hipopituitarismo. Dentre os marcadores de células-tronco descritos previamente na hipófise, destacam-se os genes Sox2, Nanog, Nestina, Cd44 e Oct4. Outro marcador, o gene Nr2e1 (Tlx), encontrado em células-tronco neuronais, apresenta-se elevado durante a embriogênese e na vida adulta no cérebro de camundongos, mas, até o momento, não foi caracterizado na hipófise. Objetivo: Analisar a imunolocalização do SOX2 e o padrão de expressão de marcadores de células-tronco/progenitoras, fatores de transcrição precoce, marcadores de apoptose e proliferação celular na hipófise de três linhagens de camundongos com hipopituitarismo de causa genética por alteração em fatores precoces de diferenciação glandular, as linhagens Ames (Prop1) e Snell (Pou1f1), e por fator tardio de conjugação dos hormônios glicoproteicos, a linhagem alfaGSU, nocaute do gene Cga. Material e Métodos: Foram coletadas hipófises nos tempos P0 (ao nascimento), P7 (final da primeira onda de crescimento glandular), 4 semanas (4S-período da puberdade) e 8 semanas (8S-vida adulta). Nas três linhagens de animais, realizou-se imuno-histoquímica com SOX2 e RT-qPCR com os marcadores de células-tronco/progenitoras Sox2, Nanog, Nestina, Cd44, Oct4 e Nr2e1, fatores de transcrição precoces (Hesx1, Hes1 e Otx2), fator de proliferação celular (Ki67), fatores de diferenciação celular (S100beta e Sox9) e marcadores de apoptose (Caspases 3 e 7). A quantificação relativa dos genes-alvo nos animais mutantes teve como calibrador os seus respectivos selvagens. Resultados: A imunolocalização do SOX2 foi observada na zona que circunda a fenda de Rathke (camada marginal) e em nichos difusos pela glândula nas três linhagens estudadas. Na linhagem alfaGSU, evidenciou-se uma redução de Nanog, Nr2e1, Oct4, e Hesx1 em 4S e de Nestina em 8S. Na linhagem Snell, observou-se aumento na expressão de Sox2, Nanog, Cd44, Nr2e1, Hesx1, Hes1, Otx2, S100beta e Sox9 em 4S e aumento de Sox2, Cd44, Hesx1, Otx2 e Sox9 em 8S, associado à redução de Ki67 em ambos os períodos. Na linhagem Ames, evidenciou-se aumento de Sox2, Nanog, Cd44, Hesx1, Hes1, Otx2, S100beta e Sox9 em 4S e 8S. O gene Nr2e1 esteve hiperexpresso em todos os tempos. Houve redução do Ki67 em 4S. As caspases 3 e 7 não se apresentaram alteradas em nenhuma linhagem e/ou tempo. Discussão e conclusão: O padrão de imunolocalização de SOX2 encontrado nas três linhagens estudadas foi semelhante ao descrito em animais sem hipopituitarismo. A evidência da presença do Nr2e1 o coloca como um novo marcador de células-tronco/progenitoras na hipófise. A expressão elevada dos marcadores de células-tronco/progenitoras nas linhagens Ames e Snell sugere que a ausência dos fatores de transcrição precoces não permitiria que a célula tronco/progenitora iniciasse o processo de diferenciação celular, enquanto o oposto ocorreria na linhagem alfaGSU. Adicionalmente, estes achados justificam a hipoplasia hipofisária observada em animais com defeitos em fatores de transcrição expressos no início da diferenciação hipofisária, nos quais o acúmulo de células-tronco pode ser um indicador da indiferenciação hipofisária
Introduction: The role of stem cells, with their capacity for proliferation, self-renewal, and differentiation, has already been described in the cell turnover and homeostatic regulation of the pituitary gland. However, little is known about the expression profiles of these markers in hypopituitarism. Among the stem cell markers previously described in the pituitary include the genes for Sox2, Nanog, nestin, CD44 and Oct4. Another gene marker, Nr2e1 (Tlx), found in neural stem cells, is highly expressed during embryogenesis and adulthood, but so far has not been characterized in the pituitary. Objective: To analyze the immunohistochemical profile of SOX2, as well as the pattern of expression of various markers of stem/progenitor cells, early transcription factors, apoptosis factors and cell proliferation in three pituitary strains of mice with a genetic cause of hypopituitarism. Strains studied with hypopituitarism due to changes in factors of precocious glandular differentiation, include the Ames (Prop1) and Snell (Pou1f1) lineages; hypopituitarism due to the delayed conjugation of glycoprotein hormones include the alfaGSU strain, which is caused by the knockout of the Cga gene. Material and Methods: We collected pituitaries at four time points including P0 (birth), P7 (considered the end of the first wave of growth glandular), 4 weeks (4S - puberty period) and 8 weeks (8S - adulthood). All three strains were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis of SOX2 and RT-qPCR of markers of stem/progenitor cells Sox2, Nanog, Nestin, Cd44, Oct4 and Nr2e1, early transcription factors (Hesx1, Otx2 and Hes1), cell proliferation (Ki67), cell differentiation factors (S100beta and Sox9) and apoptosis (caspases 3 and 7) markers. Relative quantification of target genes in mutant animals was normalized to their respective wild type littermate. Results: The immunolocalization of SOX2 was observed in the area surrounding the Rathke cleft (marginal layer), as well as in diffuse niches throughout the gland in all three strains studied. The alfaGSU strain showed a reduction of Nanog, Nr2e1, Oct4 and Hesx1 at 4S, and Nestin at 8S. The Snell mice exhibited an increase of expression in Sox2, Nanog, Cd44, Nr2e1, Hesx1, Hes1, Otx2, S100beta and Sox9 in at 4S and increased Sox2, Cd44, Hesx1, Otx2 and Sox9 at 8S, associated with the reduction of Ki67 in both periods. The Ames strain showed an increase of Sox2, Nanog, Cd44, Hesx1, Hes1, Otx2, S100beta and Sox9 at 4S and 8S; the gene Nr2e1 was over expressed at all times; and there was reduction in Ki67 at 4S. Caspases 3 and 7 had not changed in any strain, at any time. Discussion and Conclusion: The pattern of immunolocalization of SOX2 found in the three strains studied was similar to that described in animals without hypopituitarism. The presence of Nr2e1 in our study suggests it as a new marker of stem/progenitor cells in the pituitary. The high expression of markers of stem/progenitor cells in the Ames and Snell strains suggests that the absence of early transcription factors Prop1 and Pou1f1 do not allow the stem/ progenitors cells to start the process of cell differentiation, while the opposite occurs in the alfaGSU lineage. Additionally, these findings explain the pituitary hypoplasia observed in animals with defects in early transcription factors, as indicated by the accumulation of stem cells in the Snell and Ames lineages, preventing the initiation of pituitary differentiation

A fototerapia com laser em baixa intensidade (FTLBI) é capaz de aumentar o metabolismo celular, o que poderia influenciar na diferenciação ósseo/odontogênica das células-tronco da polpa dentária humada (hDPSCs). O PDGF e o BMP-2 são fatores de crescimento envolvidos na dentinogênese e na reparação tecidual. O PDGF tem papel importante durante o desenvolvimento embrionário, na proliferação e migração celular e na angiogênese, enquanto o BMP-2 está fortemente associado à diferenciação celular em tecidos mineralizados, como o osso e a dentina. Sendo assim, o objetivo do estudo foi analisar os efeitos da FTLBI e dos fatores de crescimento (PDGF-BB ou BMP-2), isolados ou em associação, na diferenciação ósseo/odontogênica das hDPSCs. Para o estudo hDPSCs foram cultivadas em meio regular (G1) e irradiadas (G2), meio mineralizante (G3) e irradiadas (G4), meio mineralizante contendo PDGF-BB (G5) e irradiadas (G6), meio mineralizante contendo BMP-2 (G7) e irradiadas (G8). Para os grupos irradiados, a FTLBI foi realizada no modo pontual e em contato, com um laser de diodo semi-condutor, com área de feixe de 0,028cm2 e comprimento de onda 660nm (InGaAlP-vermelho), utilizando-se os seguintes parâmetros: potência de 20mW, densidade de energia de 5J/cm2, tempo de irradiação de 7 segundos por ponto e 0,14J de energia por ponto. A expressão dos genes relacionados à diferenciação ósseo/odontogênica (DSPP, DMP-1 e OCN) através do PCR quantitativo em tempo real (qRT-PCR), a atividade da fosfatase alcalina e os depósitos de cálcio foram analisados em 3, 7 e 14 dias. Os dados obtidos foram comparados pelo teste ANOVA complementado pelo teste de Tukey (p<0,05). As culturas tratadas com meio mineralizante contendo BMP-2 e irradiadas (G8) foram as que mostraram os maiores índices de diferenciação ósseo/odontogênica nos testes realizados. As expressões de DSPP, OCN e DMP-1, ao menos em 14 dias, foram significantemente maiores no G8 que nos demais grupos experimentais, exceto os grupos G3 e G7. Estes grupos apresentaram expressões de DSPP e OCN semelhantes às do G8 em 14 dias. A maior atividade de ALP foi observada no G8 em 3 dias e a menor no mesmo grupo aos 14 dias. A maior quantidade de depósitos de cálcio também foi encontrada no G8 em 14 dias. A associação de FTLBI e BMP-2 se mostrou capaz de induzir a diferenciação ósseo/odontogênica em células-tronco de polpa dentária humana de forma mais marcante que as demais terapias isoladas ou associadas estudadas. Portanto, o uso de uma terapia associando FTLBI e BMP-2 poderia ser de relevância para o restabelecimento da fisiologia pulpar quando aplicada em casos de exposição deste tecido, uma vez que poderia favorecer a diferenciação das células indiferenciadas da polpa dentária.
Laser phototherapy (LPT) is able to increase cellular metabolism, which in turn could influence the odontogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). PDGF and BMP-2 are growth factors involved in dentinogenesis and tissue repair. PDGF plays a role in embryonic development, cell proliferation, cell migration, and angiogenesis, whereas BMP-2 is strongly associated with cell differentiation in mineralized tissues such as bone and dentin. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of LPT and the growth factors PDGF-BB and BMP-2 combined or not on the odontogenic differentiation of hDPSCs. These cells were grown in regular medium (G1) and irradiated (G2), mineralizing medium (G3) and irradiated (G4), mineralizing medium containing PDGF-BB (G5) and irradiated (G6), mineralizing medium containing BMP-2 (G7) and irradiated (G8). For irradiated groups, LPT was performed in punctual and contact mode with a semiconductor diode laser, with a beam spot area of 0.028 cm2 and wavelength of 660nm (InGaAlP-visible red), using the following parameters: power of 20mW, energy density of 5J/cm2 and irradiation time of 7 seconds per point (0,14 J per point). Differentiation was assessed by the following analysis: expression of genes related to odontogenic differentiation (DSPP, DMP-1 and OCN) using quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR); alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition using alizarin red staining in 3, 7 and 14 days. Data were compared by ANOVA and Tukey´s test (p<0.05). The cultures treated with mineralizing medium containing BMP-2 and irradiated (G8) showed the highest rate of odontogenic differentiation. The expressions of DSPP, DMP-1 and OCN genes, at least in 14 days, were significantly higher in G8 compared to all other groups, except for the groups G3 and G7. These groups showed similar expressions of DSPP and OCN than G8 in 14 days. G8 showed the highest ALP activity in 3 days and the lowest in 14 days compared to all other groups. The largest amount of calcium deposits was observed in G8 in 14 days. The most striking feature on induction of odontogenic differentiation of hDPSCs was observed when LPT was applied in association with BMP-2. Therefore, the use of a combined LPT and BMP-2 therapy could be of relevance for the re-establishment of pulp physiology when applied in cases of dental pulp exposure by promoting the differentiation of hDPSCs.

Les cellules souches embryonnaires (cellules ES) sont pluripotentes et ont donc le potentiel de se différencier en cellules des trois feuillets embryonnaires, ainsi qu'en cellules de la lignée germinale. Ces propriétés en font un modèle pour l'étude des mécanismes de prolifération et de différenciation. Le facteur de transcription Lmx1b est impliqué dans la maintenance du phénotype différencié des neurones dopaminergiques mésencéphaliques. Et il a aussi été montré comme un facteur clef dans la différenciation et la maintenance des neurones sérotoninergiques du rhombencéphale générés dans les noyaux du Raphé. Dans ce travail, nous nous sommes intéressés aux capacités de Lmx1b d'influencer la différenciation des cellules ES de souris en neurones sérotoninergiques. La première stratégie adoptée a résulté en une expression ectopique stable de Lmx1b dans les cellules ES et leurs dérivés. Le niveau d'expression de Lmx1b a fortement influencé les capacités de différenciation neuronale des cellules. Puis, l'analyse de marqueurs de différenciation spécifiques a montré une augmentation de l'expression des marqueurs sérotoninergiques, au contraire des marqueurs dopaminergiques ou de neurones moteur. La seconde stratégie a consisté en une surexpression inductible de Lmx1b dans les précurseurs neuraux dérivés de cellules ES pour mimer l'expression physiologique de Lmx1b. Après induction, Lmx1b était bien exprimé dans les cellules durant toutes les étapes de différenciation neuronale. L'activation de l'expression de Lmx1b au stade des colonies neuroépithéliales a aussi résulté en une amélioration de la différenciation sérotoninergique. Les résultats de ce travail soulignent les capacités de Lmx1b à diriger la différenciation des précurseurs neuraux dérivés de cellules ES vers la voie sérotoninergique in vitro.

博士
國立陽明大學
臨床醫學研究所
100
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess pluripotential capabilities. Cell transplantation animal models have shown that MSCs can differentiate into various cells. Moreover, MSCs have been shown to possess immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that results in nephritis and subsequent destruction of renal microstructure. Despite appropriate treatment, some patients with lupus nephritis will lead to renal failure. In recent years, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing public health problem, particularly in developing countries where more and more patients are suffering from kidney disease. Reduction of dietary protein, hypertension control and proteinuria reduction by use of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor are non-specific therapeutic approaches to CKD. CKD resulting in end stage renal disease, unlike acute renal failure, is not a reversible process. Care for these patients lead to long-term burden on caregivers and financial burden to the health care system. Therefore, finding an effective therapeutic option to halt or reverse the relentless progression of lupus nephritis and CKD to end stage renal disease by intervention in early stages of disease is most important and urgent. In the first part of this study, we investigated whether transplantation of MSCs is useful in alleviating lupus nephritis in a murine model. It was found that MSCs transplantation significantly delayed the development of proteinuria, decreased anti-dsDNA antibody, alleviated renal injury, and prolonged the life span. There was a trend of decreasing T-helper (Th) 1 cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2) and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12) and increasing Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-10). The in vitro co-culture experiments showed that MSCs only inhibited lymphocytes and splenocytes proliferation but not mesangial cells. Long-term engraftment of MSCs in the kidney was not observed either. In the second part of the study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of MSCs in a rat CKD model and explored the possible mechanisms. Cultured renal proximal tubular cells (NRK-52E), interstitial fibroblast (NRK-49F) and podocytes were treated with TGF-β1 in the absence or presence of MSCs and /or ascorbic acid 2-phosphate. The in vivo experimental approach was carried out in male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 5/6 nephrectomy. MSCs were found to be protective against TGF-β1 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition of NRK-52E, activation of NRK-49F. Furthermore, MSCs protect podocytes from TGF-β1 induced loss of synaptopodin, fibronectin induction, cell death and apoptosis. HGF levels were significantly increased in co-culture supernatants. Rats treated with MSCs had a significantly increase in creatinine clearance rate, less glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis and increased CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells counts in splenocytes. However, MSCs did not modify biochemical parameters such as blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and severity of proteinuria. Together, these findings indicated MSCs can alter the course of kidney injury and preserve renal function by inhibiting lymphocytes, inducing polarization of Th2 cytokines, anti-fibrosis and anti-inflammation through HGF secretion and increasing regulatory T cells, respectively. However, long-term engraftment of MSCs in the kidney or differentiating into renal tissue was not observed. MSCs may represent an effective therapeutic strategy for kidney diseases.

碩士
中國醫藥大學
癌症生物學研究所
97
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most resistant tumors to radiation and chemotherapy. Gene therapy represents a promising treatment for patient with RCC. However, the efficiency of systemic delivery and tumor specific targeting using currently developed gene therapy approach is limited. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have been recently reported to home to tumor sites and could act as a vehicle for anti-cancer agents including oncolytic Adenoviruses. Previous studies have demonstrated that conditional replication-competent adenoviral vector, Ad-hOC-E1, selectively replicated in osteocalcin(OC)-expressing cells with the enhancement of cytotoxicity upon vitamin D3 induction. Here, we test the feasibility of using hMSCs as a targeting cellular vehicle to deliver Ad-hOC-E1 into RCC and successively induce tumor-kill by vitamin D3 treatment to improve the therapeutic efficiency. Our in vitro migration assay demonstrated that RCC attracted hMSCs much more than normal human renal epithelial cells did. On the other hand, hMSCs rapidly migrated toward RCC compared to differentiated bone marrow stromal cells, HS27A. Antibody array analysis revealed PDGF-AA might be a candidate of RCC-derived chemoattractant for hMSCs. In addition, like RCC, the nearly undetectable basal-level of OC in hMSCs can be dramatically induced by vitamin D3 up to 160 folds, as determined by qRT-PCR. Similarly, Ad-hOC-E1 has no cytotoxic effect on hMSCs but markedly kill cells upon vitamin D3 treatment. Moreover, with vitamin D3 induction, Ad-hOC-E1 but not a replication-defective Ad-CMV-PA pre-infected hMSCs released viruses and then transferred to co-cultured RCC cells, which resulted in cancer cell-kill. Taken together, these results present for the first time to develop an inducible stem cell-based gene delivery system carrying oncolytic adenoviruses for renal cell carcinoma targeted therapy. Our in vitro results warrant a future evaluation in vivo.

Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) is the most common form of kidney tumor, accounting for approximately 3% of all adult malignancies. To date, RCC is still a difficult disease to diagnose and treat. Although the surgery is the standard therapy for localized tumors, one quarter of patients who underwent nephrectomy, relapse within three years. Moreover, one third of patients arrives with metastases at diagnosis. Unfortunately, the metastatic disease is generally characterized by therapy resistance and very poor outcomes. So far, the lack of valid preclinical RCC models has hampered the discovery of valuable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and predictive indicators of therapy response for improving patients' management. In the project, we focused our efforts on the optimization of new patient-derived preclinical models for RCC. We first isolated heterogeneous undifferentiated cell populations responsible for tumor propagation and cancer therapy resistance. By performing a phosphoproteomic analysis we identified a protein signature predictive of cancer progression that would help to select patients more likely to relapse after surgery and who may benefit of adjuvant therapy. We then established an orthotopic patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model that faithfully recapitulate grading, histology and molecular characteristics of the parental tumors. The PDX model proved to be an indicator of bad prognosis and patient tumor could be propagated for up to seventh generation in mice. These findings support the possibility to use PDXs as a platform for patient monitoring and for drug testing. Finally, we were able to establish and characterize, for the first time, long term organoid cultures from normal and tumor samples. All together, these three new models provide innovative and valuable tools for RCC research, suggesting many potential applications for reproducing disease progression models, for biomarkers discovery and drug testing.

碩士
國立臺灣大學
動物科學技術學研究所
107
Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is a main progression pathway of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Besides, CKD is a common chronic disease in Taiwan and its prevalence rate was 9.8% in 2016. Moreover, mortality caused by nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephropathy were ranked as one of the top ten causes of death in the same year. If CKD is severe, it will lead to end-stage of renal failure, and therefore the treatment now is mainly based on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis or kidney transplantation. Previous researches confirmed that stem cells have the clinical potential of tissue regeneration and are expected to find more effective alternative therapies. Application of amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSCs) do not have ethical dispute and the risk of teratoma formation, besides, ASFCs have advantage such as low immunogenicity, easy and non-invasive accessibility. In addition, environmental oxygen concentration of fetal development process is only about 4 to 5%. For this reason, the aim of my research intended to isolate AFSCs from amniotic fluid of fetus during pregnant rats, treat it by hypoxia and then transplant it to RIF models induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in order to discuss whether hypoxia-treated AFSCs can maintain their stemness, proliferation and differentiation potentials, even increase feasibility of RIF treatment after AFSCs transplantation. There were two parts of experiment. In part one, I investigated the effect of hypoxia on stemness, proliferation and differentiation potentials of rAFSCs. After isolated rAFSCs from amniotic fluid of fetus during pregnant rats, cultured them under nomoxia (Nor) 19.9% O2 and hypoxia (Hyp) 5% O2 respectively. The result demonstrated that both Nor-rAFSCs and Hyp-rAFSCs showed spindle-like morphology of fibroblasts and their growth direction exhibit spiral order in subculture. Moreover, Hyp-rAFSCs presented significantly smaller morphology than Nor-rAFSCs (P < 0.05), had higher expression of surface markers such as CD29 and CD90 by flow cytometry, and even exhibited higher Oct-4 gene expression fold change than the latter. Simultaneously, Hyp-treatment significantly increased proliferation rate of Hyp-rAFSCs (P < 0.05). Furthermore, it showed that Hyp did not significantly increased adipogenesis but significantly decreased osteogenesis of Hyp-rAFSCs (P < 0.05), and even caused Hyp-rAFSCs did not form chondrogentic sphere. As a result, I speculated Hyp-treatment might lowered the potentials of Hyp-rAFSCs to differentiate into cartilage and osteoblasts. In part two of experiment, I further investigated whether the rAFSCs and rAFSCs-conditioned medium under hypoxia can alleviate the renal interstitial fibrosis of rat by tail vein injection. After 1 and 2 weeks of transplantation, rats were sacrificed and isolated kidneys for analysis. First, no matter Nor or Hyp-treated rAFSCs or CM groups, their left kidneys showed ectatic morphology due to urine accumulation after 1 and 2 weeks of transplantation. Next, stained renal tissues with H&E and Masson’s Trichrome stain for histological examination. The results demonstrated that infiltration of inflammatory cell in H&E stain, showing renal tissues were damaged. Besides, transplanted Nor or Hyp-treated rAFSCs or CM had alleviated trend on rat RIF after 1 week, and except Nor-CM group, other transplant groups had alleviated trend on fibrosis after 2 weeks. Moreover, analysis of fibrosis related gene such as TGF-β1, collagen I and α-SMA mentioned that except the Nor-rAFSCs group, others had lower trend of fibrosis related gene expression after 1 week-transplantation. However, fibrosis related gene expression fold change in minority of groups were similar to vehicle groups, majority of groups were higher than vehicle group instead after 2 weeks. Therefore, it was speculated that rAFSCs or their CM could not improve RIF in vivo for two weeks, which may be related to the survival time of allogeneic stem cells and decay of their secreted factors in the host. In summary, Hyp-treatment has the advantage of increasing the proliferation rate of rAFSCs, which means Hyp is beneficial to rAFSCs proliferation in vitro. Simultaneously, Hyp-treatment could also increase the ratio of typical stem cell surface antigens such as CD90, MSCs surface antigens such as CD29, the gene expression fold change of stemness and pluripotency related molecular markers such as Oct-4, and reduce the osteogenesis potential of Hyp-rAFSCs. Besides, the therapeutic effect of Hyp-rAFSCs and Hyp-CM on RIF rat only had alleviated trend after one and two-week-transplantation.

碩士
臺灣大學
應用力學研究所
95
Multiple single human bone marrow stem cells with dynamic control of perfusion have been demonstrated in an array of individually isolated microenvironments of a microfluidic device and its associated system. In addition to micro device fabrication, the present study investigates living cells, and monitors the real-time living cell processes in a micro device such as expansion and differentiation of single or several human bone marrow stem cells in individual microenvironments, thus providing a quantitative description of live stem cellular behavior. Such a work, however, has been hampered by the difficulty in data collection using traditional techniques. There is much interest in quantifying the range of biological responses of individual cells to various physiologically-relevant stimuli as opposed to bulk averages. Particularly useful information can be acquired if the environmental factors that contribute to variable responses for individual cells are controlled. Bulk experiments fall short of providing adequate data in that the results elucidate the mean value of a parameter with further experiments providing information about the standard error of the mean. In contrast, single-cell experiments reveal the critical underlying distribution of parameters. This contrast is especially apparent in time-dependent processes such as expansion and differentiation of stem cells in which by averaging over a population. A smooth transition is observed from one state to another, which used to obscure the underlying transition occurring at the cell level. Perfusion culture has been previously used and been able to reduce the effects of diffusible elements on cell behavior by convecting away produced substances that may provide autocrine or paracrine signals. Microfluidics approaches have been developed to allow more precise control of cell positioning and reagent introduction in analyzing single or rare cells. KP-hMSCs (stem cell line derived from human bone marrow) were used in the experiments. Freshly suspended cells were introduced into previously PBS filled microfluidic devices by a syringe connected to a three way valve. Single KP-hMSC was trapped and maintained in individual micro-well by using microfluidic perfusion for dynamic cell culture and differentiation induction. Cells were both cultured in an incubator between images, and were also maintained at 37℃ on a microscope stage for time-lapse experiments. We demonstrate the culture of single KP-hMSC under constant perfusion of media + 20% FBS. In a flow rate of 5μL/min time-lapsed images were taken every minutes of an isolated micro-well of single KP-hMSC on an incubated microscope stage. After one hour, slight changes in morphology were observed away from a spherical morphology towards an adherent morphology. Also, cell division was found in a few cases. After 12 hours, a majority of single cells displayed adherent morphology, and crawled out of the microenviroment by extending the filopodia. We have demonstrated that quantitative analysis of the dynamics of cell adhesion, death, division, and escape from traps were performed in the time length of 72 hours. It was also found that 60% of cells displayed adherent morphology after 24 hours. In 48 hours, 20% of cells showed characteristics of apoptosis, while 10% had escaped from the vicinity of the initial trapping site and 10% of cells had undergone cell division.

Evaluation of tubular regenerative response in AKI-induced trasngenic rodent models. Discovered the existence of a progenitor population scattered in kidney tubule of adut mice devoted to tubular epithelium recovery after ischemic injury.

碩士
國立陽明大學
生理學研究所
105
Renal fibrosis is the common final consequence of progressive chronic kidney diseases. Non-resolving inflammation triggers the excessive activation and expansion of matrix-producing cells, which ultimately lead to renal fibrosis. Mounting evidence suggests that the phenotypic switch of macrophages from a pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype to anti-inflammatory, reparative M2 ones critically governs renal fibrosis. Nonetheless, regulators of the M1/M2 balance in renal fibrosis remain incompletely understood. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that can enhance tissue regeneration by tempering immune responses and macrophage polarization in response to the inflammatory microenvironment. Hypoxia-preconditioned MSCs (hMSCs) have greater tissue repairing capability in unilateral ureteral obstructed (UUO) mice with renal fibrosis. Whether hMSCs improve renal fibrosis in UUO via modulation of macrophage phenotypes is still elusive. Herein, to mimic the inflammatory microenvironment in renal fibrosis, we first utilized UUO-kidney lysate (UUO-KL) to establish M1-polarized J774 macrophages. Furthermore, hMSCs increased mannose receptor and arginase 1 expressions and decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in co-cultured J774 macrophages as compared to normoxia-cultured MSCs. Interestingly, the expression levels of iNOS and nitric oxide (NO) in hMSCs per se were upregulated by the pro-inflammatory milieu. Pre-treatment with L-NAME (an iNOS inhibitor) significantly suppressed the M2-promoting effect of hMSCs, while administration of SNAP (an NO donor) skewed M1-J774 macrophages toward M2 phenotypes. Taken together, the present study found that hMSCs promoted an M1-to-M2 macrophage polarization in UUO, possibly through upregulating iNOS expression and augmenting NO production. Our findings provided the bench evidence to support that hMSCs could be a potential therapeutic approach for inflammatory fibrotic kidney diseases in the future.