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Matrix from urine stem cells boosts tissue-specific stem cell mediated functional cartilage reconstruction
Ming Pei1,2, Yixuan Amy Pei1,3, Sheng Zhou1
1Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
Bioactive Materials
|December 7, 2022
Summary
Cell-derived decellularized extracellular matrix (C-dECM) rejuvenates stem cells for cartilage repair. Urine-derived stem cell C-dECM shows particular promise for enhancing cartilage engineering and functional regeneration in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Biomaterials Science
- Stem Cell Biology
Background:
- Articular cartilage has limited self-healing capacity, necessitating stem cell-based regeneration strategies.
- Ex vivo expansion of stem cells often leads to senescence, posing a challenge for obtaining sufficient quantities for effective cartilage repair.
- Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) from specific stem cell sources has shown potential in rejuvenating stem cells ex vivo.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of cell-derived dECM (C-dECM) in rejuvenating rabbit infrapatellar fat pad-derived stem cells (IPFSCs).
- To assess the in vivo application of C-dECM-treated IPFSCs for functional cartilage repair in a rabbit osteochondral defect model.
- To investigate the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of C-dECM-mediated stem cell rejuvenation.
Main Methods:
- Rabbit infrapatellar fat pad-derived stem cells (IPFSCs) were treated with C-dECMs derived from human synovium-derived stem cells, adipose-derived stem cells, urine-derived stem cells, and dermal fibroblasts.
- An in vivo rabbit osteochondral defect model was used to evaluate functional cartilage repair.
- Proteomics and RNA-Seq analyses were performed to investigate molecular mechanisms.
Main Results:
- C-dECM treatment, particularly with urine-derived stem cell dECM, significantly promoted rabbit IPFSCs' cartilage engineering and functional regeneration in both ex vivo and in vivo models.
- Proteomics data corroborated the enhanced chondrogenic potential induced by specific C-dECMs.
- RNA-Seq analysis suggested involvement of mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) and inflammation-mediated macrophage activation in C-dECM's effects.
Conclusions:
- Cell-derived dECM is a viable strategy for ex vivo rejuvenation of stem cells for cartilage regeneration.
- Urine-derived stem cell dECM demonstrates superior potential in enhancing stem cell-based cartilage repair.
- Further investigation into the molecular pathways, including MET and macrophage polarization, is warranted to fully elucidate the C-dECM mechanism.
