Immunomodulatory agents and cell therapy for patients with type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes (TID) is a chronic disease caused by autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β-cells, that progresses in three stages: 1) stage 1: β-cell autoimmunity + normoglycemia; 2) stage 2: β-cell autoimmunity + mild dysglycemia; 3) stage 3: symptomatic disease + hyperglycemia. Interventions to prevent or cure T1D in the various stages of the disease have been pursued and may target the prevention of the destruction of β cells, regression of insulitis, preservation or recovery of β cells residual mass. Some therapies show promising results that might change the natural history and the approach to patients with T1D in the next few years.

Analysis of the antigenic and immunogenic properties of the native rabies virus glycoprotein purified by Lens culinaris lectin affinity chromatography.

Rabies virus glycoprotein (RABV-G) is responsible for the recognition of specific cell surface receptors and induces the production of neutralizing antibodies (VNA). Since RABV-G is a glycoprotein, this work aimed to evaluate Lens culinaris (LCA) chromatography as a simple and effective purification method. The purity and identification of the protein obtained were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, ELISA and lectin-binding assay.

Evaluation of type 1 diabetes' partial clinical remission after three years of heterologous adipose tissue derived stromal/stem cells transplantation associated with vitamin D supplementation.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cell infusion and vitamin D supplementation may have immunomodulatory actions that could prolong the preservation of residual insulin secretion in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Intervention with these agents after onset of T1D could favor the development of a remission phase, with potential clinical impact. We aimed to compare the presence of clinical remission (CR), glycemic control and daily insulin requirement at 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months after the diagnosis of T1D using IDAA1c in patients who received therapy with adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ASC) infusion and vitamin D supplementation and a control group.

High Concentrations of Cannabidiol Induce Neurotoxicity in Neurosphere Culture System.

Recent studies have demonstrated that cannabinoids are potentially effective in the treatment of various neurological conditions, and cannabidiol (CBD), one of the most studied compounds, has been proposed as a non-toxic option. However, the adverse effects of CBD on neurodevelopmental processes have rarely been studied in cell culture systems. To better understand CBD's influence on neurodevelopment, we exposed neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to different concentrations of CBD (1 µM, 5 µM, and 10 µM).

Potential and Limitations of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Musculoskeletal Disorders Treatment.

The burden of musculoskeletal disorders (MSK) is increasing worldwide. It affects millions of people worldwide, decreases their quality of life, and can cause mortality. The treatment of such conditions is challenging and often requires surgery.

Adipose Tissue-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells Transplantation with Cholecalciferol Supplementation in Recent-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Patients: Twelve Months Follow-Up.

To evaluate safety and therapeutic effect along 12 months of allogenic adipose tissue-derived stromal/stem cells (ASCs) transplantation with cholecalciferol (VITD) in patients with recent-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D). Prospective, phase II, open trial, pilot study in which patients with recent onset T1D received ASCs (1xKgx10 cells) and VITD 2000UI/day for 12 months (group 1) and were compared to controls with standard insulin therapy (group 2). Adverse events, C-peptide area under the curve (CPAUC), insulin dose, HbA1c and frequency of FoxP3+ in CD4+ or CD8+ T-cells(flow cytometry) were evaluated at baseline(T0), after 3(T3), 6(T6) and 12 months(T12).

Seroprevalence to Rabies Virus in Wildlife in Brazil.

Serum samples of 638 free-ranging wild mammals from São Paulo state, Brazil, were tested for neutralizing antibodies against rabies virus by the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test. Overall seroprevalence was 1.7% among 24 species surveyed, with individuals of six species having positive results indicating exposure to rabies virus.

Secretome effect of adipose tissue-derived stem cells cultured two-dimensionally and three-dimensionally in mice with streptozocin induced type 1 diabetes.

Aims: To analyze therapeutic potential of the conditioned medium from adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASC) cultivated in 2D (CM-2D) and 3D (CM-3D) models, in mice with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) induced by streptozotocin.

Main Methods: Viability andCD105 expression of 2D and 3D ASC were analyzed by flow cytometry. T1D was induced in mice by multiple injections of streptozocin.

Adipose tissue-derived stromal/stem cells + cholecalciferol: a pilot study in recent-onset type 1 diabetes patients.

Objective: Adipose tissue-derived stromal/stem cells (ASCs) and vitamin D have immunomodulatory actions that could be useful for type 1 diabetes (T1D). We aimed in this study to investigate the safety and efficacy of ASCs + daily cholecalciferol (VIT D) for 6 months in patients with recent-onset T1D.

Methods: In this prospective, dual-center, open trial, patients with recent onset T1D received one dose of allogenic ASC (1 × 10 cells/kg) and cholecalciferol 2,000 UI/day for 6 months (group 1).

Scaffold- and serum-free hypertrophic cartilage tissue engineering as an alternative approach for bone repair.

Human adipose stem/stromal cell (ASC) spheroids were used as a serum-free in vitro model to recapitulate the molecular events and extracellular matrix organization that orchestrate a hypertrophic cartilage phenotype. Induced-ASC spheroids (ø = 450 µm) showed high cell viability throughout the period of culture. The expression of collagen type X alpha 1 chain (COLXA1) and matrix metallopeptidase 13 (MMP-13) was upregulated at week 2 in induced-ASC spheroids compared with week 5 (P < .

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.

Adipose-derived stromal/stem cells from different adipose depots in obesity development.

The increasing prevalence of obesity is alarming because it is a risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (such as type 2 diabetes). The occurrence of these comorbidities in obese patients can arise from white adipose tissue (WAT) dysfunctions, which affect metabolism, insulin sensitivity and promote local and systemic inflammation. In mammals, WAT depots at different anatomical locations (subcutaneous, preperitoneal and visceral) are highly heterogeneous in their morpho-phenotypic profiles and contribute differently to homeostasis and obesity development, depending on their ability to trigger and modulate WAT inflammation.

Adaptation of a skin sensitization assay to a chemically defined culture.

There are currently three in vitro methods adopted by the Organization for the Economic Co-operation and Development for testing chemicals based on the third key event of the skin sensitization adverse outcome pathway, the activation of dendritic cells. All of them use culture medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS), which brings technical disadvantages and animal welfare concerns. The objective of this study was to analyze the possibility of eliminating the use of FBS in the human Cell Line Activation Test (h-CLAT).

Predictive factors of weaning from mechanical ventilation and extubation outcome: A systematic review.

Purpose: To identify, describe and discuss the parameters used to predict weaning from mechanical ventilation and extubation outcomes.

Methods: Systematic review of scientific articles using four electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, PEDro and Cochrane Library. Search terms included "weaning", "extubation", "withdrawal" and "discontinuation", combined with "mechanical ventilation" and "predictive factors", "predictive parameters" and "predictors for success".

Spheroids of stem cells as endochondral templates for improved bone engineering.

Osteodegenerative disease and bone fractures lead to bone damage or loss, requiring new bone formation to replace the damaged tissues. Classical 'top-down' tissue engineering relies on seeding cell suspensions into biomaterial scaffolds, and then guiding cell fate by growth factors. However, complex tissue fabrication using this approach has important limitations.

Characterization of stromal vascular fraction and adipose stem cells from subcutaneous, preperitoneal and visceral morbidly obese human adipose tissue depots.

Background/objectives: The pathological condition of obesity is accompanied by a dysfunctional adipose tissue. We postulate that subcutaneous, preperitoneal and visceral obese abdominal white adipose tissue depots could have stromal vascular fractions (SVF) with distinct composition and adipose stem cells (ASC) that would differentially account for the pathogenesis of obesity.

Methods: In order to evaluate the distribution of SVF subpopulations, samples of subcutaneous, preperitoneal and visceral adipose tissues from morbidly obese women (n = 12, BMI: 46.

Skipping of exon 27 in C3 gene compromises TED domain and results in complete human C3 deficiency.

Primary deficiency of complement C3 is rare and usually associated with increased susceptibility to bacterial infections. In this work, we investigated the molecular basis of complete C3 deficiency in a Brazilian 9-year old female patient with a family history of consanguinity. Hemolytic assays revealed complete lack of complement-mediated hemolytic activity in the patient's serum.

Effects of centrifugation on cell composition and viability of aspirated adipose tissue processed for transplantation.

Background: Centrifugation is one of the preferred methods of fat processing. Although it has been promoted for nearly three decades to separate adipose tissue components before grafting, there remain many controversies regarding the results obtained with centrifuged adipose tissue.

Objectives: The authors demonstrate the effects of centrifugation on the cellular components of aspirated fat.

Adipose tissue of control and ex-obese patients exhibit differences in blood vessel content and resident mesenchymal stem cell population.

Background: The normal function of white adipose tissue is disturbed in obesity. After weight loss that follows bariatric surgery, ex-obese patients undergo plastic surgery to remove residual tissues and it is not known whether their adipose tissue returns to its original state. The aim of this study was to compare the white adipose tissue composition of ex-obese with control patients with regard to blood vessels and resident mesenchymal stem cells (MSC).