Mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent cells that have the ability to differentiate down multiple lineages as well as secrete trophic and anti-inflammatory factors. These qualities make MSCs a promising cell source for cell-based therapies to treat a variety of injuries and pathologies. Biomaterials are often used to control and direct stem cell behavior by engineering a desired environment around the cells. Recent research has focused on using the naturally derived sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG), heparin as a biomaterial due to its negative charge and ability to sequester and bind positively charged growth factors. Engineering a heparin coating that can mimic the native heparan sulfate proteoglycan structure found at cell surfaces can be used as a novel platform to present GAGs to cells to direct cell behavior. The overall goal of this dissertation was to develop GAG-based coatings on MSC spheroids in order to study the role of heparin and its derivatives on MSC culture applications. To investigate the role of heparin in coating form on MSC behavior, the ability of the coating to sequester positively charged growth factors was characterized. Given the role of sulfation in the negative charge density of heparin and growth factor interactions, a desulfated heparin coating was develop and used to examine how presentation of coatings with native and no sulfation levels could potentiate response to growth factors in the surrounding environment. Additionally, heparin and growth factor binding in coating presentation was explored to develop a novel platform to assemble MSC-based microtissues. Together these studies provided valuable insight into a novel approach to direct cell behavior by engineering a coating that harnesses heparin interactions with the surrounding environment.

Central nervous system injuries often lead to devastating consequences due to an unfavourable environment created after the injury. Current treatments have yet to address the environment for improved prospects of functional recovery. Transplantation of Schwann cells into the lesion site could in part address the issue, promoting nerve regeneration and enhancing functional recovery. Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) promise to be a viable, autologous source for Schwann cell derivation. Fate-committed Schwann cells derived from BMSCs through co-culture with purified dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons suggest that the DRG neurons present juxtacrine cues that direct commitment to the Schwann cell fate. We hypothesize that Neuregulin 1 type III (NRG1(III)) is one such juxtacrine cue to which BMSC-derived Schwann cell-like cells (SCLC) respond in the switch to fate commitment. In this study, NRG1(III) was found to be expressed on freshly isolated DRG neurons and that SCLCs expressed both the ErbB2 and 3 receptors. Western blot analysis for phosphorylated Akt and MAPK provided indicators of downstream signalling of NRG1/ErbB complexes. We then tested if both the soluble and membrane bound forms of NRG1 mediate SCLC differentiation towards fate commitment. In contrast to the membrane-bound form on DRG neurons, soluble NRG1 failed to direct the SCLCs towards the Schwann cell fate. HEK293T cells that stably overexpress NRG1(III) were generated and tested as a neuronal surrogate that presents NRG1(III) on the cell surface. In a 5-day co-culture system with HEK293TNrg1(III) cells, SCLCs were found to develop elongated processes, acquiring either unipolar or bipolar morphology that resembles that of Schwann cells. Screening for marker expression by RT-PCR suggested that at this stage of morphological transition, SCLCs were not yet committed to the Schwann cell fate. The co-culture system will be pursued to find ex vivo conditions that direct differentiation of BMSC-derived SCLCs to fate-committed Schwann cells. / published_or_final_version / Biochemistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

MSCs are the most studied subtype of adult stem cells and have been derived from most postnatal organs and tissues. MSCs are defined as having the capacity to self-renew and to differentiate into both mesodermal and non-mesodermal lineages, and are immunosuppressive. For these properties, MSCs have been considered ideal candidates for regenerative medicine and have been used in several clinical trials. The difficulty, however, to preserve the potency of the cells during culture expansion and to monitor differentiation are obstacles in their use in the clinic and have emphasized the need to investigate molecular pathways underlying stem cell fate-decisions during differentiation in more detail. Hippo pathway was recently identified in Drosophila melanogaster and mammals, and controls organ size by regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. It is composed of a core of serine/threonine kinases and scaffold proteins that when activated, phosphorylate and inhibit yes-associated protein (YAP) transcriptional co-factor. Inactivation of YAP in some stem and progenitor cells by this pathway is required for their differentiation. In contrast, failure to inhibit YAP enhances proliferation and may cause oncogenic transformation. In the present study, the expression of multiple YAP variants was confirmed in human and mouse MSCs. In both human and mouse, YAP was inhibited in response to cell-contact inhibition and remained unchanged during in vitro chondrogenic differentiation. Overexpression of human (hYAP1) variant in C3H/10T1/2 cells did not appear to affect colony formation, cell cycle distribution or cell size, but increased cell proliferation, induced cell transformation and reduced the in vitro differentiation capacity of the cells towards the chondrogenic, adipogenic and osteogenic lineages. The effects of hYAP1 overexpression are hypothesized to be either a result of a nuclear co-factor function or indirectly via protein interactions in the cytoplasmic compartment. Hippo pathway and YAP are possible pharmacological targets for modulation of MSC function.

There is emerging evidence to suggest that cardiac myofibroblasts (CMyfbs) participating in cardiac fibrosis represent a heterogeneous population in origin. We hypothesized that bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) readily adopt a myofibroblastic phenotype in culture. We assessed and compared human primary MSCs and human CMyfbs with respect to their phenotypic and functional characteristics by examining their gene expression profile, ability to contract collagen gels, and ability to synthesize collagen. We also examined the role of non-muscle myosin II (NMMII) in modulating the myofibroblast function using siRNA and blebbistatin to inhibit NMMII activity. The data revealed that MSCs adopt a myofibroblastic phenotype in culture and demonstrate the capability to contract collagen gels and synthesize collagen similar to human CMyfbs. Inhibition of NMMII activity with blebbistatin completely inhibits gel contractility without affecting cell viability. Thus, MSCs exhibit similar physiological and functional characteristics as CMyfbs, and may contribute to cardiac fibrosis.

There is emerging evidence to suggest that cardiac myofibroblasts (CMyfbs) participating in cardiac fibrosis represent a heterogeneous population in origin. We hypothesized that bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) readily adopt a myofibroblastic phenotype in culture. We assessed and compared human primary MSCs and human CMyfbs with respect to their phenotypic and functional characteristics by examining their gene expression profile, ability to contract collagen gels, and ability to synthesize collagen. We also examined the role of non-muscle myosin II (NMMII) in modulating the myofibroblast function using siRNA and blebbistatin to inhibit NMMII activity. The data revealed that MSCs adopt a myofibroblastic phenotype in culture and demonstrate the capability to contract collagen gels and synthesize collagen similar to human CMyfbs. Inhibition of NMMII activity with blebbistatin completely inhibits gel contractility without affecting cell viability. Thus, MSCs exhibit similar physiological and functional characteristics as CMyfbs, and may contribute to cardiac fibrosis.

Thrombocytopenia is one of the most common hematologic presentations of active human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection, especially in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantations and newborns of congenital HCMV infection. However, mechanisms of HCMV-induced thrombocytopenia have not been well understood. The precursor of circulating platelets – megakaryocyte, is derived from hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell in bone marrow. We postulate that inhibition to megakaryocytic development is the major pathogenesis of HCMV-induced thrombocytopenia. Megakaryocytic cells as well as supportive microenvironment in bone marrow are major targets of HCMV infection. Presented study mainly focused on the impacts of HCMV to megakaryocytic cells and multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) - the precursor of bone marrow stromal cells. Based on a megakaryocytic cell model challenged by HCMV in vitro, inhibited megakaryocytic endomitosis, proliferation, and cellular expression were respectively demonstrated as decreased polyploidy population, decreased colony formation, and reduced c-Mpl (thrombopoietin receptor) expressing cells. Evoked apoptosis of megakaryocytic cells was also evidenced with increased phosphatidylserine exposure on cell surface and intracellular caspase-3 activation after HCMV infection. Involvement of mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic apoptosis was further shown as losing JC-1 fluorescent signal in infected megakaryocytic cells. These results suggest that inhibition induced by HCMV is exerted through multiple processes directly affecting the megakaryopoietic development. Functional failure of bone marrow microenvironment was demonstrated in bone marrow derived MSCs infected by HCMV in vitro. Suppressed cytokine production, impaired cellular migration, and hindered differentiation of HCMV-infected MSCs were respectively demonstrated by lowered level of stromal cell-derived factor 1 in culture medium, decreased number of cells passed through a porous membrane in a transwell culture, and reduced differentiated cells in either adipogenic or osteogenic induction cultures. Alongside with these changes, HCMV-induced programmed cell death further contributed to the supportive failure. Autophagic cell death in infected MSCs was demonstrated as massive accumulation of vacuoles with double membrane structure and LC-3b II molecules followed by viability loss. De novo apoptosis was also observed as another process of programmed cell death, shown as increased phosphatidylserine exposure on cell surface and intracellular caspase-3 activation of infected MSCs. Increased programmed cell death appeared to be associated with extensive HCMV replication in MSCs, which was featured with typical cytopathic morphology, expression of viral tegument protein pp65, and massive accumulation of various viral particles including mature virions. Sustained activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases likely represented a signal transduction network connecting viral expression or replication with programmed cell death. In a “MSCs-dependent” megakaryopoiesis model, HCMV-infected MSCs failed to support survival and maintenance of megakaryocytic cells. Taken together, these results suggest that active HCMV expression or replication inhibits multiple cellular functions and induces multiple processes of programmed cell death of MSCs. Such inhibition compromises supportive functions of bone marrow microenvironment, and subsequently reduces platelet production in an indirect manner. In summary, HCMV suppresses cellular function and induced apoptosis on both megakaryocytic cells and their supportive cells, MSCs. Therefore, the inhibitory effects of HCMV on megakaryopoiesis are operated via both direct and indirect mechanisms. / published_or_final_version / Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The potential applications of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been widely advocated, however, many barriers hinder their clinical utilization. Enhancement of the homing of human MSCs (hMSCs) to the target tissues remains a clinical challenge. To overcome this hurdle, the mechanisms responsible for migration and engraftment of hMSCs have to be defined. My study aimed to explore both the underlying mechanisms and means of enhancing the migration of hMSCs. A graft versus host disease (GvHD) injury model and a novel orthotopic neuroblastoma model were established to delineate the distinct property of hMSCs homing towards either injured or cancerous tissues. This highly specific homing process was further revealed to be in a CXCR4-dependent manner. Notably, a novel gene, exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac), was demonstrated to be actively involved in the hMSCs homing process. hMSCs expressed functional Epac and its activation significantly enhanced the migration and adhesion of hMSCs. Furthermore, Epac activation directly contributed to the chemotactic response of hMSCs to SDF-1, suggesting that Epac is linked to the stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) signaling cascades. Importantly, the homing of hMSCs towards injured tissues in vivo could be dramatically increased by Epac activation. hMSCs are adherent cells and their migration to distant tissues thus requires detachment into a suspension state. This disruption of cell-extracellular matrix interaction, known as anoikis stress, triggers programmed cell death, leading to a marked decrease in the efficiency of cell trafficking and engraftment. Anoikis stress induced massive cell death has emerged as the major challenge in the application of hMSCs. How some of the hMSCs can overcome this adversity and migrate towards distant destinations remains largely unexplored. It was observed that the surviving hMSCs circumvented anoikis stress by forming self-supporting cellular aggregates. Compared to adherent hMSCs, aggregated-hMSCs had better migratory response to both SDF-1α and SDF-1α analogue (CTCE-0214). Such enhanced migratory effect was proven to be CXCR4-dependent both in vitro and in vivo by using a CXCR4 specific antagonist (AMD3100). Although the viability of hMSCs under anoikis stress dramatically decreased, CTCE-0214 could promote cell survival and facilitate the migration of hMSCs towards injured targets. This phenomenon could be partially explained by the increase in anti-apoptosis effect via up-regulated Bcl-2 expression and autophagy activation under CTCE-0214 treatment. The exact effects of hMSCs on tumor growth and progression have long been controversial. Significant fasten growth and promoted metastasis of neuroblastoma in vivo was observed in hMSCs co-transplanted mice in this study. Reciprocally, hMSCs could not only be recruited by primary tumor, but also be selectively attracted by metastatic loci. This recruitment was significantly reduced when hMSCs were pre-treated with AMD3100, suggesting that the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis was a prime mover in this process. In summary, my study demonstrated that the migratory property of hMSCs could be enhanced by novel intrinsic and extrinsic factors using both in vitro and in vivo models. This study provides a new prospective on MSCs biology during the ex vivo manipulation process and I proposed means to overcome some of these hindrance so we can maximize the efficacy of clinical MSCs application in the future. / published_or_final_version / Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Myelin is essential for neuronal survival and maintenance of normal functions of the nervous system. Demyelinating disorders are debilitating and are often associated with failure of resident oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) to differentiate into mature, myelinating oligodendrocytes. Derivation of OPCs, from a safe source that evades ethical issues offers a solution to remyelination therapy. We therefore hypothesized that bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) harbour neural progenitor cells at a pre-commitment stage and that in vitro conditions can be exploited to direct differentiation of these cells along the oligodendroglial lineage. For the current study, adult rat BMSCs used were >90% immunopositive for CD90, CD73, STRO-1 (stromal cell markers), 10% for nestin (neural progenitor marker) but negligible for CD45 (haematopoietic cell marker) as measured by flow cytometry. Transfer of the culture from a highly adhesive substratum to a moderately adhesive substratum resulted in increase in proportion of p75-positive cells but CD49b-positive cells remained at 97% and Sox 10-positive cells remained negligible. Transfer of the culture to a non-adherent substratum fostered the generation of neurospheres comprising cells that were positive for the neural stem/progenitor cell (NP) marker, nestin, and for the neural crest markers CD49b, p75 and Sox10. Prior to this stage, the BMSCs were not yet committed to the neural lineage even though transient upregulation of occasional marker may suggest a bias towards the neural crest cell lineage. The BM-NPs were then maintained in adherent culture supplemented with beta-Heregulin (β-Her), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and platelet-derived growth factor-AA (PDGF-AA) to direct differentiation along the oligodendroglial lineage. Within two weeks of glial induction, cells expressing the OPC markers - NG2, Olig2, PDGFRa and Sox10, were detectable and these could be expanded in culture for up to 3 months with no observable decline in marker expression. These BM-OPCs matured into myelinating oligodendrocytes after 2 weeks in co-culture with either dorsal root ganglion neurons or cortical neurons. In vivo myelination by BM-OPCs was demonstrated by exploitation of the non-myelinated axons of retinal ganglion cells of adult rats. By 8 weeks post-injection of BM-OPCs into the retina, myelin basic protein-positive processes were also observable along the retinal axons. The results not only suppport our hypothesis, but also provide pointers to the adult bone marrow as a safe and accessible source for the derivation of OPCs towards transplantation therapy in acute demyelinating disorders. / published_or_final_version / Biochemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation has achieved only modest success in the treatment of ischemic heart disease due to poor cell viability in the diseased microenvironment. Genetic manipulation on the MSCs holds promising prospects in enhancing cell tolerance against adverse environmental conditions. Recent studies demonstrate that the activation of the NRG1 (neuregulin 1) - ERBB4 (v-erb-b2 avian erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 4) pathway can enhance pro-survival signaling, stimulate mature cardiomyocyte cell cycle re-entry and cell division. In this study, I aimed to determine whether activating NRG1-ERBB4 in MSCs can enhance their cardioprotective effects following myocardial infarction. In chapter 3, I determined that MSC endogenously expresses NRG1, but not ERBB4. Considering the absence of ERBB4 in the MSCs might lead to mute response to its ligand NRG1, I exogenously manipulated ERBB4 into MSCs. In chapter 4, MSCs, with or without ERBB4 overexpression were transplanted into mice following myocardial infarction. The transplantation of MSCs with ERBB4 expression considerably improved left ventricular ejection fraction and reduced infarctsize, compared to unmodified MSCs and direct NRG1 injection. ERBB4 overexpression induced greater MSC survival following infarction. The transduction of ERBB4 in MSCs increased cell mobility and apoptotic resistance via a PI3K/Akt pathway under hypoxic conditions in the presence of NRG1. The transplantation of MSCs with ERBB4 expression induced cardiomyocyte division and protected them against apoptosis during early phase of infarction. In chapter 5, a novel autocrine loop regarding to NRG1-ERBB4-NRG1 signaling was identified. MSCs with ERBB4 overexpression in turn increased NRG1 synthesis and secretion. Conditioned medium of ERBB4-expressing MSCs containing elevated NRG1, promoted cardiomyocyte growth, division and anti-senescence, whereas neutralization of NRG1 blunted these effects. Injecting ERBB4-expressing MSCs restored NRG1 in the infarcted myocardium to a level comparable with that of the normal myocardium. These findings collectively suggest overexpressing ERBB4 in MSCs enhances the effectiveness of MSCtherapy following myocardial in farction through potentiating MSC survival and revitalizing endogenous repair and regeneration. The combination of ERBB4 and MSC is more efficient than naïve MSC or solely recombinant NRG1 injection, emerging as potential target for developing novel strategy in treating myocardial diseases. / published_or_final_version / Medicine / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

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