Advances in Treatments for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB): Emphasis on Stem Cell-Based Therapy

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare genetic dermatosis characterized by skin fragility and blister formation. With a wide phenotypic spectrum and potential extracutaneous manifestations, EB poses significant morbidity and mortality risks. Currently classified into four main subtypes based on the level of skin cleavage, EB is caused by genetic mutations affecting proteins crucial for maintaining skin integrity. The management of EB primarily focuses on preventing complications and treating symptoms through wound care, pain management, and other supportive measures. However, recent advancements in the fields of stem cell therapy, tissue engineering, and gene therapy have shown promise as potential treatments for EB. Stem cells capable of differentiating into skin cells, have demonstrated positive outcomes in preclinical and early clinical trials by promoting wound healing and reducing inflammation. Gene therapy, on the other hand, aims to correct the underlying genetic defects responsible for EB by introducing functional copies of mutated genes or modifying existing genes to restore protein function. Particularly for severe subtypes like Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (RDEB), gene therapy holds significant potential. This review aims to evaluate the role of new therapeutic approaches in the treatment of EB. The review includes findings from studies conducted on humans. While early studies and clinical trials have shown promising results, further research and trials are necessary to establish the safety and efficacy of these innovative approaches for EB treatment

Leveraging stem cells to combat hepatitis: a comprehensive review of recent studies

Hepatitis is a significant global public health concern, with viral infections being the most common cause of liver inflammation. Antiviral medications are the primary treatments used to suppress the virus and prevent liver damage. However, the high cost of these drugs and the lack of awareness and stigma surrounding the disease create challenges in managing hepatitis. Stem cell therapy has arisen as a promising therapeutic strategy for hepatitis by virtue of its regenerative and immunomodulatory characteristics. Stem cells have the exceptional capacity to develop into numerous cell types and facilitate tissue regeneration, rendering them a highly promising therapeutic avenue for hepatitis. In animal models, stem cell therapy has demonstrated worthy results by reducing liver inflammation and improving liver function. Furthermore, clinical trials have been undertaken to assess the safety and effectiveness of stem cell therapy in individuals with hepatitis. This review aims to explore the involvement of stem cells in treating hepatitis and highlight the findings from studies conducted on both animals and humans. The objective of this review is to primarily concentrate on the ongoing and future clinical trials that assess the application of stem cell therapy in the context of hepatitis, including the transplantation of autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells, human induced pluripotent stem cells, and other mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, this review will explore the potential merits and constraints linked to stem cell therapy for hepatitis, as well as its prospective implications in the management of this disease

Cloning and Functional Assessment of the Recombinant Human Hepcidin-25 in the Baculovirus Expression System

Hepcidin is the primary regulatory hormone responsible for lowering the iron content in the blood circulation. Due to its biodegradability and low cytotoxicity, hepcidin is considered as an alternative for iron chelators. The baculovirus expression system may be suitable for human hepcidin production because the expressed proteins generally exhibit proper folding, post-translational modifications, and oligomerization. Using data from two vector maps, pFastBac1 and pFastBac HTB, a unique vector was designed encoding human hepcidin-25 as fusion recombinant peptide. Expression analysis showed that it was expressed as a peptide with a molecular weight near to 5 kDa. After purification and TEV treatment, findings revealed that recombinant human hepcidin-25 was functional and its effect was dose dependent (P=0.001). It was concluded that baculovirus expression was a suitable expression system for production of functional recombinant human hepcidin-25

Overview of Albumin and Its Purification Methods

As the most frequent plasma protein, albumin constitutes more than 50% of the serum proteins in healthy individuals. It has a key role in oncotic pressure maintenance and it is known as a versatile protein carrier for transportation of various endogenous and exogenous ligands. Reduced amounts of albumin in the body will lead to different kinds of diseases such as hypovolemia and hypoproteinemia. It also has various indications in shocks, burns, cardiopulmonary bypass, acute liver failure and etc. Further applications in research consist of cell culture supplement, drug delivery carrier and protein/drug stabilizer. So, the demand for albumin increased annually worldwide. Due to different applications of albumin, many efforts have been accomplished to achieve albumin during a long period of time. In this review, an overview of serum albumin and different purification methods are summarized

The Combined Thermoresponsive Cell-Imprinted Substrate, Induced Differentiation, and "KLC Sheet" Formation

Purpose: Stem cells can exhibit restorative effects with the commitment to functional cells. Cell-imprinted topographies provide adaptable templates and certain dimensions for the differentiation and bioactivity of stem cells. Cell sheet technology using the thermo-responsive polymers detaches the "cell sheets" easier with less destructive effects on the extracellular matrix (ECM). Here, we aim to dictate keratinocyte-like differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells by using combined cell imprinting and sheet technology. Methods: We developed the poly dimethyl siloxane (PDMS) substrate having keratinocyte cell-imprinted topography grafted with the PNIPAAm polymer. Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) were cultured on PDMS substrate for 14 days and keratinocyte-like differentiation monitored via the expression of involucrin, P63, and cytokeratin 14. Results: Data showed the efficiency of the current protocol in the fabrication of PDMS molds. The culture of AT-MSCs induced typical keratinocyte morphology and up-regulated the expression of cytokeratin-14, Involucrin, and P63 compared to AT-MSCs cultured on the plastic surface (p&lt;0.05). Besides, KLC sheets were generated once slight changes occur in the environment temperature. Conclusion: These data showed the hypothesis that keratinocyte cell imprinted substrate can orient AT-MSCs toward KLCs by providing a specific niche and topography.</jats:p

A comprehensive review on methods for promotion of mechanical features and biodegradation rate in amniotic membrane scaffolds

AbstractAmniotic membrane (AM) is a biological tissue that surrounds the fetus in the mother’s womb. It has pluripotent cells, immune modulators, collagen, cytokines with anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effect, matrix proteins, and growth factors. In spite of the biological characteristics, some results have been released in preventing the adhesion on traumatized surfaces. Application of the AM as a scaffold is limited due to its low biomechanical resistance and rapid biodegradation. Therefore, for using the AM during surgery, its modification by different methods such as cross-linking of the membrane collagen is necessary, because the cross-linking is an effective way to reduce the rate of biodegradation of the biological materials. In addition, their cross-linking is likely an efficient way to increase the tensile properties of the material, so that they can be easily handled or sutured. In this regard, various methods related to cross-linking of the AM subsuming the composite materials, physical cross-linking, and chemical cross-linking with the glutraldehyde, carbodiimide, genipin, aluminum sulfate, etc. are reviewed along with its advantages and disadvantages in the current work.</jats:p