Simple Summary Regenerative medicine using platelet-based blood products or adult stem cells offers the prospect of better clinical outcomes with many diseases. In veterinary medicine, most progress has been made with the development and therapeutic use of these regenerative therapeutics in horses, but the clinical need is given in dogs as well. Our aim was to transfer previous advances in the development of horse regenerative therapeutics, specifically the use of platelet lysate for feeding stem cell cultures, to the dog. Here, we describe the scalable production of canine platelet lysate, which could be used in regenerative biological therapies. We also evaluated the canine platelet lysate for its suitability in feeding canine stem cell cultures in comparison to equine platelet lysate used for equine stem cell cultures. Platelet lysate production from canine blood was successful, but the platelet lysate did not support stem cell culture in dogs in the same beneficial way observed with the equine platelet lysate and stem cells. In conclusion, canine platelet lysate can be produced in large scales as described here, but further research is needed to improve the cultivation of canine stem cells. Abstract Platelet lysate (PL) is an attractive platelet-based therapeutic tool and has shown promise as xeno-free replacement for fetal bovine serum (FBS) in human and equine mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) culture. Here, we established a scalable buffy-coat-based protocol for canine PL (cPL) production (n = 12). The cPL was tested in canine adipose MSC (n = 5) culture compared to FBS. For further comparison, equine adipose MSC (n = 5) were cultured with analogous equine PL (ePL) or FBS. During canine blood processing, platelet and transforming growth factor-β1 concentrations increased (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001), while white blood cell concentrations decreased (p < 0.05). However, while equine MSC showed good results when cultured with 10% ePL, canine MSC cultured with 2.5% or 10% cPL changed their morphology and showed decreased metabolic activity (p < 0.05). Apoptosis and necrosis in canine MSC were increased with 2.5% cPL (p < 0.05). Surprisingly, passage 5 canine MSC showed less genetic aberrations after culture with 10% cPL than with FBS. Our data reveal that using analogous canine and equine biologicals does not entail the same results. The buffy-coat-based cPL was not adequate for canine MSC culture, but may still be useful for therapeutic applications.

Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) transplantation ameliorated hepatic lipid load; tissue inflammation; and fibrosis in rodent animal models of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) by as yet largely unknown mechanism(s). In a mouse model of NASH; we transplanted bone marrow-derived MSCs into the livers; which were analyzed one week thereafter. Combined metabolomic and proteomic data were applied to weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and subsequent identification of key drivers. Livers were analyzed histologically and biochemically. The mechanisms of MSC action on hepatocyte lipid accumulation were studied in co-cultures of hepatocytes and MSCs by quantitative image analysis and immunocytochemistry. WGCNA and key driver analysis revealed that NASH caused the impairment of central carbon; amino acid; and lipid metabolism associated with mitochondrial and peroxisomal dysfunction; which was reversed by MSC treatment. MSC improved hepatic lipid metabolism and tissue homeostasis. In co-cultures of hepatocytes and MSCs; the decrease of lipid load was associated with the transfer of mitochondria from the MSCs to the hepatocytes via tunneling nanotubes (TNTs). Hence; MSCs may ameliorate lipid load and tissue perturbance by the donation of mitochondria to the hepatocytes. Thereby; they may provide oxidative capacity for lipid breakdown and thus promote recovery from NASH-induced metabolic impairment and tissue injury.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease and one of the most severe complications that develop in premature infants following mechanical ventilation, exposure to supplemental oxygen, and inflammation. The hallmarks of the lung pathology are arrested lung development, including fewer and larger alveoli with less septation, thickening of alveolar septa, and impaired development of the capillary network. BPD is associated with increased mortality, respiratory morbidity, neurodevelopmental impairment, and increased healthcare costs. Significant advancements in neonatology in the last several decades, including antenatal steroids and exogenous surfactant replacement therapy, more gentle ventilation methods, and judicious oxygen use, have allowed for the survival of more preterm infants. However, the incidence of BPD still remains high and currently, there is no cure for the disease. Novel effective interventions at this stage of life are of exceptional value. Considering their great potential in promoting tissue regeneration and modulating inflammation, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) represent a promising avenue for treating several disorders, including BPD. Umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) offer biological advantages over other MSC sources (easily available, high proliferative capacity, and better repair efficacy). Pioneering work in our lab showed that MSCs prevent injury to the developing lung in a rat model mimicking BPD. However, there are still considerable challenges that must be overcome before MSCs can be effectively implemented in clinical trials. As such, UC-MSC heterogeneity is poorly understood, with concerns regarding variations from donors and batches. Thus, to improve the reproducibility of basic research and clinical applications, and to identify the optimal therapeutic cell product, better molecular characterization of UC-MSCs and the development of standardized BPD models will be essential in the clinical translation of MSC therapy for BPD. Moreover, considering that BPD is a disease of prematurity, the therapeutic potential of UC-MSCs isolated from preterm birth is of major interest. In the study presented here, using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), we characterized MSCs isolated from the UC of term and preterm pregnancies at delivery (term and preterm donors), as well as non-progenitor control cell line, human neonatal dermal fibroblasts (HNDFs). Moreover, we associated UC-MSC transcriptomic profiles with their therapeutic potential in hyperoxia-induced lung injury in neonatal rats. Finally, we developed and characterized a novel two-hit (2HIT) BPD model in neonatal mice, assessed UC-MSCs' optimal route of injection, timing, and dose, and evaluated their therapeutic effects in that model. We showed that UC-MSCs isolated from the majority of term and preterm donors, including preterm donors with pregnancy-related complications, have limited heterogeneity and possessed a transcriptome enriched in genes related to cell cycle and cell proliferation activity (termed "progenitor-like" cells). In contrast, UC-MSCs isolated from one term and two preterm donors with preeclampsia displayed a unique transcriptome comprised of many genes related to fibroblast activity, including extracellular matrix (ECM) organization (termed "fibroblast-like" cells). In addition, treatment with progenitor-like UC-MSCs, but not with fibroblast-like cells nor HNDFs, significantly improved lung structure, function, and pulmonary hypertension (PH) in hyperoxia-induced lung injury in neonatal rats. We identified marker genes for the therapeutic UC-MSCs (progenitor-like cells) and non-therapeutic cells (fibroblast-like cells and HNDFs). Among them, the high expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHCI) is associated with a reduced therapeutic effect. Furthermore, we developed a novel 2HIT BPD mice model with in-depth characterization of the innate immune response and lung injury. 2HIT injury caused a transient type 1 proinflammatory cytokine response and a significant decrease in type 2 anti-inflammatory cytokine lung expression and number of anti-inflammatory M2 type alveolar macrophages. Moreover, 2HIT mice showed impaired lung compliance and growth. Repeated intravenous (i.v.) injections of UC-MSCs at a dose of 20×10⁶ cells/kg body weight (BW) on postnatal day (PD) one and two improved survival, BW, lung compliance, and growth of 2HIT animals. In conclusion, scRNA-seq experimentation provided evidence that UC-MSCs isolated from different donors harbor different transcriptomes with progenitor-like or fibroblast-like characteristics. Only progenitor-like cells provided a therapeutic effect in hyperoxia-induced lung injury in neonatal rats. The development of a novel murine 2HIT BPD model allowed us to characterize the innate immune response and lung pathology and confirm the optimal dose of UCMSCs to provide therapeutic potential in that model. These results will enable better therapeutic selection of UC-MSCs and help improve treatment regimen prior to ultimate clinical translation.

Translation of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-based therapies is advancing in human and veterinary medicine. One critical issue is the in vitro culture of MSC before clinical use. Using fetal bovine serum (FBS) as supplement to the basal medium is still the gold standard for cultivation of many cell types including equine MSC. Alternatives are being explored, with substantial success using platelet lysate-supplemented media for human MSC. However, progress lags behind in the veterinary field. The aim of this study was to establish a scalable protocol for equine platelet lysate (ePL) production and to test the ePL in equine MSC culture. Whole blood was harvested into blood collection bags from 20 healthy horses. After checking sample materials for pathogen contamination, samples from 19 animals were included. Platelet concentrates were prepared using a buffy coat method. Platelets, platelet-derived growth factor BB, and transforming growth factor b1 concentrations were increased in the concentrates compared with whole blood or serum (p < 0.05), while white blood cells were reduced (p < 0.05). The concentrates were lysed using freeze/thaw cycles, which eliminated the cells while growth factor concentrations were maintained. Donor age negatively correlated with platelet and growth factor concentrations after processing (p < 0.05). Finally, all lysates were pooled and the ePL was evaluated as culture medium supplement in comparison with FBS, using adipose-derived MSC from four unrelated donor horses. MSC proliferated well in 10% FBS as well as in 10% ePL. However, using 5 or 2.5% ePL entailed highly inconsistent proliferation or loss of proliferation, with significant differences in generation times and confluencies (p < 0.05). MSC expressed the surface antigens CD90, CD44, and CD29, but CD73 and CD105 detection was low in all culture media. Adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation led to similar results in MSC from different culture media. The buffy coat method is useful to produce equine platelet concentrate with increased platelet and reduced white blood cell content in large scales. The ePL obtained supports MSC expansion similar as FBS when used at the same concentration (10%). Further investigations into equine MSC functionality in culture with ePL should follow.

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have emerged as therapeutic tools for a wide range of pathological conditions. Yet, the still existing deficits regarding MSC phenotype characterization and the resulting heterogeneity of MSC used in different preclinical and clinical studies hamper the translational success. In search for novel MSC characterization approaches to complement the traditional trilineage differentiation and immunophenotyping assays reliably across species and culture conditions, this study explored the applicability of lipid phenotyping for MSC characterization and discrimination. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), human fibroblasts, and human and equine adipose-derived MSC were used to compare different mesodermal cell types and MSC from different species. For MSC, cells cultured in different conditions, including medium supplementation with either fetal bovine serum or platelet lysate as well as culture on collagen-coated dishes, were additionally investigated. After cell harvest, lipids were extracted by chloroform/ methanol according to Bligh and Dyer. The lipid profiles were analysed by an untargeted approach using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LCMS) with a reversed phase column and an ion trap mass spectrometer. In all samples, phospholipids and sphingomyelins were found, while other lipids were not detected with the current approach. The phospholipids included different species of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylserine (PS) in all cell types, whereas phosphatidylglycerol (PG) species were only present in MSC. MSC from both species showed a higher phospholipid species diversity than PBMC and fibroblasts. Few differences were found between MSC from different culture conditions, except that human MSC cultured with platelet lysate exhibited a unique phenotype in that they exclusively featured PE O-40:4, PG 38:6 and PG 40:6. In search for specific and inclusive candidate MSC lipid markers, we identified PE O-36:3 and PG 40:7 as potentially suitable markers across culture conditions, at which PE O-36:3 might even be used across species. On that basis, phospholipid phenotyping is a highly promising approach for MSC characterization, which might condone some heterogeneity within the MSC while still achieving a clear discrimination even from fibroblasts. Particularly the presence or absence of PG might emerge as a decisive criterion for future MSC characterization.

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京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第23770号 / 医博第4816号 / 新制||医||1056(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 長船 健二, 教授 安達 泰治, 教授 遊佐 宏介 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Master of Science / Department of Anatomy and Physiology / Mark L. Weiss / Wharton's jelly is a non-controversial source of mesenchymal stromal cells. Isolation of the cells is non-invasive and painless. The cells have been shown to have a wide array of therapeutic applications. They have improved symptoms when transplanted in a variety of animal disease models, can be used in tissue engineering applications to grow living tissue ex vivo for transplantation, and can be used as drug delivery vehicles in cancer therapy. The cells have also been shown to be non-immunogenic and immune suppressive. This thesis focuses on optimizing isolation protocols, culture protocols, cryopreservation, and characterization of cells in different growth conditions. Results from the experiments indicate that isolation of cells by enzyme digestion yields cells consistently, a freezing mixture containing 90% FBS and 10% DMSO confers maximum viability, and the expression of mesenchymal stromal cell consensus markers does not change with passage and cryopreservation. The results of the experiments also show that cells grow at a higher rate in 5% oxygen culture conditions compared to 21% oxygen culture conditions, serum does not have an effect on growth of the cells, serum and oxygen do not have effects on the expression of mesenchymal stromal cell consensus markers and the cells are stable without nuclear abnormalities when grown in 5% oxygen and serum free conditions for six passages after first establishing in serum conditions.

O diabetes mellitus do tipo 1 (DM-1) é uma doença autoimune caracterizada pela destruição seletiva de células pancreáticas produtoras de insulina. O tratamento convencional é feito com insulina e existe atualmente a necessidade de desenvolver alternativas terapêuticas para o DM-1, como por exemplo o tratamento com células-tronco. As células estromais mesenquimais multipotentes (multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells-MSCs) representam uma fonte de células ideal para terapias celulares em virtude de seu fácil isolamento, expansão e capacidades imunomoduladora e regenerativa. Ainda não está esclarecido se MSCs isoladas de indivíduos com doenças autoimunes possuem alterações funcionais que poderiam limitar seu uso no contexto do transplante autólogo. Já foi descrito que MSCs de pacientes com esclerose múltipla, artrite reumatoide e lúpus eritematoso sistêmico possuem alterações fenotípicas e/ou funcionais. No entanto, pouco se sabe acerca das características das MSCs de pacientes com DM-1. Desse modo, o objetivo principal deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficácia da infusão de MSCs derivadas de pacientes com DM-1 no tratamento do diabetes experimental e comparar os resultados obtidos com o tratamento feito com MSCs isoladas de indivíduos saudáveis. Além disso, investigamos os efeitos da hiperglicemia in vitro sobre as MSCs, estabelecemos a melhor via de administração das MSCs em camundongos diabéticos e caracterizamos fenotipicamente e funcionalmente as MSCs de pacientes com DM-1. O diabetes experimental foi induzido em camundongos C57BL/6 por meio da administração de estreptozotocina. MSCs isoladas de tecido adiposo murino (ADMSCs) foram administradas em camundongos diabéticos pelas vias intravenosa, intraperitoneal, intrapancreática ou intraesplênica. MSCs foram isoladas da medula óssea de pacientes com DM-1 recém-diagnosticado (DM1-MSCs) e de indivíduos saudáveis (C-MSCs). A morfologia, tamanho celular, perfil imunofenotípico, diferenciação em adipócitos, migração e capacidade imunossupressora foram avaliados. 1x106 DM1-MSCs ou C-MSCs foram injetadas pela via intraesplênica em camundongos diabéticos 20 dias após indução do diabetes. A glicemia foi monitorada periodicamente. Após sacrifício dos camundongos, avaliamos a histologia do tecido pancreático, níveis de insulina circulante, a população de células T reguladoras no baço e linfonodos pancreáticos, o perfil de citocinas no soro e homogeneizado pancreático. A migração das ADMSCs Luc+ injetadas foi avaliada por meio de processamento de imagem baseado em bioluminescênia. Sete dias após cultivo com diferentes concentrações de glicose, as MSCs não apresentaram alterações nos parâmetros avaliados. A injeção de MSCs em camundongos diabéticos por meio da via intraesplênica foi a mais eficiente, promovendo reversão da hiperglicemia em cerca de 70-100% dos camundongos tratados. As DM1-MSCs apresentaram morfologia, tamanho celular, perfil imunofenotípico, diferenciação in vitro em adipócitos e capacidade imunossupressora in vitro semelhante às MSCs de indivíduos saudáveis. No entanto, as DM1-MSCs apresentaram maior migração in vitro em relação às C-MSCs. Não houve diferenças significantes do tratamento de camundongos diabéticos feito com DM1-MSCs ou C-MSCs, uma vez que ambas MSCs foram capazes de reverter a hiperglicemia, promover aumento da massa de células pancreáticas, bem como diminuir os níveis de IL-2 e IFN- no pâncreas dos camundongos tratados. Considerando-se que as MSCs de pacientes com DM-1 recém-diagnosticados não apresentaram alterações fenotípicas ou funcionais, elas poderiam ser transplantadas de forma autóloga nesses pacientes, representando uma nova alternativa terapêutica para o DM-1. / Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM-1) is an autoimmune disease characterized by a selective destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic cells. The conventional treatment for DM-1 patients is the administration of insulin and new therapeutic approaches are needed, such as stem cell therapies. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) represent an important stem cell source for cell therapies because they are easy to isolate, present good capacity of expansion and they exhibit immunomodulatory and regenerative properties. However, it is not fully understood if MSCs from autoimmune patients are functionally defective or not, limiting their use in the autologous transplantation setting. There are some reports in the literature showing that MSCs from patients with multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus exhibit phenotypical and/or functional alterations. However, little is known about MSCs isolated from DM-1 patients (DM1-MSCs). Taking this into account, the aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of DM1-MSCs transplantation in diabetic mice and to compare this treatment with the treatment using MSCs isolated from healthy individuals. We also evaluated the influence of in vitro hyperglycemia on MSCs and we established the best route of MSCs administration in diabetic mice. The phenotypical and functional characteristics of DM1-MSCs were analyzed. The experimental diabetes model was induced in C57BL/6 male mice by the administration of streptozotocin. MSCs were isolated from mouse adipose tissue (ADMSCs) and injected in diabetic mice by intravenous, intraperitoneal, intrapancreatic or intrasplenic routes. DM1-MSCs were isolated from bone marrow aspirates of newly-diagnosed type 1 diabetes patients and C-MSCs were obtained from healthy individuals. The morphology, immunophenotypic profile, cell size, adipocyte differentiation (in vitro), migration (in vitro) and immunosuppressive capacity (in vitro) were evaluated. 1x106 DM1-MSCs or C-MSCs were injected by intrasplenic route in diabetic mice 20 days after diabetes induction. Glycemia was frequently monitored. The pancreatic tissue (histology and immunohistochemistry), serum insulin levels, the regulatory T cells population in spleen and pancreatic lymph nodes, the serum and pancreatic homogenate cytokine profiles were evaluated after MSCs administration. The homing of ADMSCs Luc+ was analyzed by bioluminescence based image processing. MSCs cultured for seven days with different glucose concentrations did not exhibit alterations in all evaluated parameters. The intravenous, intraperitoneal, intrapancreatic or intrasplenic routes of MSCs administration were tested. The intrasplenic route was the most efficient and promoted diabetes reversion in about 70-100% of MSCs-treated mice. No differences in morphology, cell size, immunophenotypic profile, adipocyte differentiation and immunosuppressive capacity were found for DM1-MSCs when compared with C-MSCs. However, the migration capacity of DM1-MSCs was higher than C-MSCs. The intrasplenic administration of DM1-MSCs or C-MSCs in diabetic mice similarly promoted a decrease in blood glucose levels, improved insulin-producing cell mass and modulated the production of IL-2 e IFN- in pancreatic tissue. Taking into account that MSCs from newly-diagnosed DM-1 patients did not show phenotypical and functional alterations, these cells could be isolated from diabetic patients representing a new therapeutic approach for DM-1 patients (autologous transplantation).