Analysis of TNF-α and CD133 in pancreas after bone marrow cells transplantation in ovefed mice during lactation

Estudos populacionais, assim como modelos animais demonstram que além dos fatores já conhecidos, como uma dieta não balanceada e sedentarismo, insultos nutricionais no período gestacional ou durante a lactação, causam alterações metabólicas importantes que levam ao surgimento da obesidade, Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) e doenças cardiovasculares em longo prazo. Nesse estudo, analisamos o pâncreas de camundongos hiperalimentados adultos (150 dias) e camundongos hiperalimentados jovens (21 e 28 dias). Os camundongos hiperalimentados de 21 dias receberam transplante de células mononucleares de medula óssea (CMO) e o resultado desse transplante foi observado aos 28 dias, quando os animais foram sacrificados. Nós investigamos: a apoptose das células beta através do fator pró-apoptótico Bax; a proliferação das células da ilhota pancreática através do antígeno nuclear de proliferação celular (PCNA); a expressão da citocina TNF-α, relacionado com a resistência à insulina em animais obesos e a expressão de células tronco CD133 com o objetivo de estudar a participação dessa célula na renovação da massa de células beta durante o estabelecimento da DM2. As análises das proteínas citadas no pâncreas foram realizadas através de microscopia de luz, microscopia confocal, microscopia eletrônica e Western blotting. O peso dos animais, a morfometria das ilhotas pancreáticas, bem como os níveis de glicose e insulina plasmáticos também foram determinados. Nossos resultados confirmaram que os camundongos hiperalimentados adultos apresentavam elevados níveis de glicose e insulina plasmática quando comparados ao grupo controle. Além disso, camundongos hiperalimentados adultos apresentaram aumento na expressão de Bax, indicando apoptose das células beta, maior expressão de TNF-α nas ilhotas pancreáticas, e presença de células CD133 nas ilhotas e ductos pancreáticos de camundongos hiperalimentados. Ao analisarmos os animais com 21 dias também observamos elevados níveis de glicose e insulina plasmática no grupo hiperalimentado. Após o transplante de CMO, os camundongos hiperalimentados apresentaram os níveis de glicose e insulina normalizados em relação ao grupo controle, porém os níveis de TNF-α no pâncreas continuavam elevados. A expressão de células CD133 foi observada tanto aos 21 quanto aos 28 dias nas ilhotas pancreáticas nos grupos hiperalimentados. Porém, a expressão estava aumentada no pâncreas dos animais que receberam transplante de CMO aos 28 dias. Portanto, podemos concluir que camundongos hiperalimentados durante a lactação quando adultos se encontram em um estágio inicial do estabelecimento da DM2, com hiperglicemia e hiperinsulinema, ilhotas pancreáticas hipertrofiadas, evidência de apoptose das células beta, neogênese de células beta a partir de células do ducto pancreático, replicação de células beta já existentes e células tronco endógenas marcadas com CD133. Nos camundongos jovens, além dos parâmetros também observados nos animais adultos, observamos os benefícios das CMO para o restabelecimento da glicemia e insulinemia nos camundongos hiperalimentados. Além disso, demonstramos pela primeira vez, células CD133 marcadas com insulina nas ilhotas pancreáticas. O aumento da expressão de células CD133 no pâncreas de camundongos hiperalimentados que mantinham níveis elevados de TNF-α e receberam transplante de CMO, nos sugere a importância dessa citocina para o recrutamento e diferenciação das células tronco CD133 para melhoria do percurso da diabetes.Population studies as well as animal models show that besides the factors already known as an unbalanced diet and sedentary lifestyle, nutritional insults during pregnancy or during lactation, causes important metabolic changes that lead to the emergence of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and cardiovascular diseases in long-term. In this study, we analyzed the pancreas of overfed adult mice (150 days) and young mice (21 and 28 days). At day 21, overfed mice were transplanted with bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMCs) and the results of this transplantation were observed at day 28. We investigated beta-cell apoptosis through pro-apoptotic factor Bax, the proliferation of pancreatic islet cells by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), expression of TNF-α which has been linked to insulin resistance in obese animals and the expression of CD133 stem cells, in order to study the participation of this cell on the recovery of beta-cell mass during the establishment of DM2. The protein analysis, were performed using light microscopy, Confocal microscopy, electron microscopy and Western blotting. The animals weight, morphology of pancreatic islets, as well as plasma levels of glucose and insulin were also determined. Our results confirmed that adult overfed mice had high levels of blood glucose and insulin when compared to control mice. Moreover, overfed adult mice showed an increased expression of Bax, indicating apoptosis of beta cells, also confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, increased expression of TNF-α in pancreatic islets when compared with the control group, and interestingly we observed the presence of CD133 cells in the pancreas of overfed mice. By analyzing the animals with 21 days, we also observed high levels of blood glucose and insulin in the overfed group, but we did not observe Bax expression at this lifetime. The expression of TNF-α was also increased in the pancreas of overfed mice at day 21. After BMCs transplantation, the overfed group showed normal levels of blood glucose and insulin when compared with the control group, but the levels of TNF-α remained high. The expression of CD133 cells was observed in the pancreatic islets both at 21 and 28 days in overfed groups. However, the expression of CD133 was increased in the pancreas of animals that received BMCs transplantation at day 28. Therefore, we conclude that overfed mice when adults are at an early stage of stablishment of DM2 with hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, pancreatic islet hypertrophy, evidence of apoptosis and neogenesis of beta cells from pancreatic duct cells, replication of existing beta cells and endogenous stem cells. In young mice, further the parameters observed in adult animals, we observed the benefits of the BMCs for the restoration of glucose and insulin in overfed mice. Moreover, we demonstrated for the first time the CD133 stem cells in pancreatic islets in colocalization with insulin, suggesting that CD133 could be a progenitor beta cell marker in pancreas. Also, the increased expression of CD133 cells in the pancreas of overfed mice with elevated levels of TNF-α after BMCs transplantation, suggests the importance of this cytokine for the recruitment and recovery of CD133 stem cells to improve the course of diabetes

Mechanisms Underlying Cell Therapy in Liver Fibrosis : An Overview

Fibrosis is a common feature in most pathogenetic processes in the liver, and usually results from a chronic insult that depletes the regenerative capacity of hepatocytes and activates multiple inflammatory pathways, recruiting resident and circulating immune cells, endothelial cells, non-parenchymal hepatic stellate cells, and fibroblasts, which become activated and lead to excessive extracellular matrix accumulation. The ongoing development of liver fibrosis results in a clinically silent and progressive loss of hepatocyte function, demanding the constant need for liver transplantation in clinical practice, and motivating the search for other treatments as the chances of obtaining compatible viable livers become scarcer. Although initially cell therapy has emerged as a plausible alternative to organ transplantation, many factors still challenge the establishment of this technique as a main or even additional therapeutic tool. Herein, the authors discuss the most recent advances and point out the corners and some controversies over several protocols and models that have shown promising results as potential candidates for cell therapy for liver fibrosis, presenting the respective mechanisms proposed for liver regeneration in each case

Cytokines, hepatic cell profiling and cell interactions during bone marrow cell therapy for liver fibrosis in cholestatic mice

<div><p>Bone marrow cells (BMC) migrate to the injured liver after transplantation, contributing to regeneration through multiple pathways, but mechanisms involved are unclear. This work aimed to study BMC migration, characterize cytokine profile, cell populations and proliferation in mice with liver fibrosis transplanted with GFP⁺ BMC. Confocal microscopy analysis showed GFP⁺ BMC near regions expressing HGF and SDF-1 in the fibrotic liver. Impaired liver cell proliferation in fibrotic groups was restored after BMC transplantation. Regarding total cell populations, there was a significant reduction in CD68⁺ cells and increased Ly6G⁺ cells in transplanted fibrotic group. BMC contributed to the total populations of CD144, CD11b and Ly6G cells in the fibrotic liver, related to an increment of anti-fibrotic cytokines (IL-10, IL-13, IFN-γ and HGF) and reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-17A and IL-6). Therefore, HGF and SDF-1 may represent important chemoattractants for transplanted BMC in the injured liver, where these cells can give rise to populations of extrahepatic macrophages, neutrophils and endothelial progenitor cells that can interact synergistically with other liver cells towards the modulation of an anti-fibrotic cytokine profile promoting the onset of liver regeneration.</p></div

GFP⁺ BMC correlation tests.

<p>(A) Correlation between GFP⁺ BMC marked with PE and total cell populations marked with CD144, CD68, CD11b and Ly6G. Positive correlation for CD144, CD11b and Ly6G in transplanted normal and fibrotic groups (N+BMC7d and F7d+BMC7d).</p

Cytokines gene expression.

<p>IL-10, IL-13, IFN-γ, HGF and FOXP3 genes expression was measured through qPCR. ***P = <0.0001, **P = <0.001 and *P<0.05.</p

Characterization of total liver cells and transplanted GFP⁺ BMC.

<p>(A) Forward scatter x side scatter graph showing typical morphological measurements of hepatic cells after enzymatic dissociation. The histograms show unstained cells (black curves) and stained cells to CD144, CD11b, CD68 and Ly6G antibodies (colorful curves). Quadrant chart shows double marking selection. (B) Immunophenotyping of total hepatic cells populations: CD144, CD68, CD11b and Ly6G. (C) Analysis of transplanted GFP⁺ BMC in the liver, described as the percentage of liver dissociated cells that emitted GFP fluorescence and marked to the antibodies CD144, CD68, CD11b and Ly6G. ***P = <0.0001, **P = <0.001 and *P<0.05.</p

Cytokine profiling.

<p>IL-10, IL-17A, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-4 and IL-2 protein content was analyzed using a flow cytometry-adapted cytokine kit. ***P = <0.0001, **P = <0.001 and *P<0.05.</p

GFP⁺ BMC migration and cellular proliferation in fibrotic liver.

<p>(A) Percentage of GFP⁺ BMC cells in the liver (% GFP). (B) GFP⁺ BMC proliferation, showing percentage of GFP⁺ BMC with PCNA Staining (% GFP and PE) per all GFP⁺ cells. (C) Total cell proliferation in the liver (% PE) ***P = <0.0001, **P = <0.001 and *P<0.05.</p

qPCR primers.

<p>qPCR primers.</p