Cell Therapy of Congenital Corneal Diseases with Umbilical Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Lumican Null Mice

BACKGROUND: Keratoplasty is the most effective treatment for corneal blindness, but suboptimal medical conditions and lack of qualified medical personnel and donated cornea often prevent the performance of corneal transplantation in developing countries. Our study aims to develop alternative treatment regimens for congenital corneal diseases of genetic mutation. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Human mesenchymal stem cells isolated from neonatal umbilical cords were transplanted to treat thin and cloudy corneas of lumican null mice. Transplantation of umbilical mesenchymal stem cells significantly improved corneal transparency and increased stromal thickness of lumican null mice, but human umbilical hematopoietic stem cells failed to do the same. Further studies revealed that collagen lamellae were re-organized in corneal stroma of lumican null mice after mesenchymal stem cell transplantation. Transplanted umbilical mesenchymal stem cells survived in the mouse corneal stroma for more than 3 months with little or no graft rejection. In addition, these cells assumed a keratocyte phenotype, e.g., dendritic morphology, quiescence, expression of keratocyte unique keratan sulfated keratocan and lumican, and CD34. Moreover, umbilical mesenchymal stem cell transplantation improved host keratocyte functions, which was verified by enhanced expression of keratocan and aldehyde dehydrogenase class 3A1 in lumican null mice. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Umbilical mesenchymal stem cell transplantation is a promising treatment for congenital corneal diseases involving keratocyte dysfunction. Unlike donated corneas, umbilical mesenchymal stem cells are easily isolated, expanded, stored, and can be quickly recovered from liquid nitrogen when a patient is in urgent need

Honey and propolis production, hygiene and defense behaviors of two generations of Africanized honey bees

Phenotypic characters of honeybees, relevant to beekeepers, can be evaluated by studying correlations between them, and the correlated characteristics can be evaluated in the short term to assist in monitoring of annual genetic progress. This work therefore aims to evaluate the production of honey and propolis, the hygiene and defensive behaviours of two generations of Africanized Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae), to estimate the correlations between them and their heritability. We used 30 Langstroth beehives in apiaries in Marechal Cândido Rondon, Paraná State, Brazil. We used a method of drilling pupae to evaluate hygiene behaviour and the velveteen ball method to test defensive behaviour. We selected ten colonies which had the best honey and propolis production, and which produced F1 queens that were then transferred to beehives at an experimental farm, in order to observe honey and propolis production, hygiene and defence behaviours of their female offspring. The estimated differences for each characteristic between the generations, the correlations between them within each generation and their heritability suggest that selection of colonies based on propolis production was more efficient at maintaining this high production than was selection based on honey production according to the performance of the colonies for this characteristic. The selected behavioural characteristics can be used to enhance performance, but not for improving yield characteristics evaluated

Hybrid particles derived from alendronate and bioactive glass for treatment of osteoporotic bone defects

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Hybrid particles derived from alendronate and bioactive glass for treatment of osteoporotic bone defects

\u3cp\u3eOsteoporosis is the most widespread metabolic bone disease which represents a major public health burden. Consequently, novel biomaterials with a strong capacity to regenerate osteoporotic bone defects are urgently required. In view of the anti-osteoporotic and osteopromotive efficacy of alendronate and 45S5 bioactive glass, respectively, we investigated the feasibility to synthesize novel hybrid particles by exploiting the strong interactions between these two compounds. Herein, we demonstrate the facile preparation of a novel class of hybrid particles of tunable morphology, chemical composition and structure. These hybrid particles (i) release alendronate and various inorganic elements (Ca, Na, Si, and P) in a controlled manner, (ii) exhibit a strong anti-osteoclastic effect in vitro, and (iii) stimulate regeneration of osteoporotic bone in vivo. Consequently, this novel class of hybrid biomaterials opens up new avenues of research on the design of bone substitutes with specific activity to facilitate regeneration of bone defects in osteoporotic patients.\u3c/p\u3