Objective Hyaline cartilage degenerative pathologies induce morphologic and biomechanical changes resulting in cartilage tissue damage. In pursuit of therapeutic options, electrical and mechanical stimulation have been proposed for improving tissue engineering approaches for cartilage repair. The purpose of this review was to highlight the effect of electrical stimulation and mechanical stimuli in chondrocyte behavior. Design Different information sources and the MEDLINE database were systematically revised to summarize the different contributions for the past 40 years. Results It has been shown that electric stimulation may increase cell proliferation and stimulate the synthesis of molecules associated with the extracellular matrix of the articular cartilage, such as collagen type II, aggrecan and glycosaminoglycans, while mechanical loads trigger anabolic and catabolic responses in chondrocytes. Conclusion The biophysical stimuli can increase cell proliferation and stimulate molecules associated with hyaline cartilage extracellular matrix maintenance.
BackgroundWe previously demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of pentosan polysulfate (PPS) in a rat model of mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) type VI. Reduction of inflammation, reduction of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) storage, and improvement in the skeletal phenotype were shown. Herein, we evaluate the long-term safety and therapeutic effects of PPS in a large animal model of a different MPS type, MPS I dogs. We focused on the arterial phenotype since this is one of the most consistent and clinically significant features of the model.Methodology/Principal FindingsMPS I dogs were treated with daily oral or biweekly subcutaneous (subQ) PPS at a human equivalent dose of 1.6 mg/kg for 17 and 12 months, respectively. Safety parameters were assessed at 6 months and at the end of the study. Following treatment, cytokine and GAG levels were determined in fluids and tissues. Assessments of the aorta and carotid arteries also were performed. No drug-related increases in liver enzymes, coagulation factors, or other adverse effects were observed. Significantly reduced IL-8 and TNF-alpha were found in urine and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). GAG reduction was observed in urine and tissues. Increases in the luminal openings and reduction of the intimal media thickening occurred in the carotids and aortas of PPS-treated animals, along with a reduction of storage vacuoles. These results were correlated with a reduction of GAG storage, reduction of clusterin 1 staining, and improved elastin integrity. No significant changes in the spines of the treated animals were observed.ConclusionsPPS treatment led to reductions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and GAG storage in urine and tissues of MPS I dogs, which were most evident after subQ administration. SubQ administration also led to significant cytokine reductions in the CSF. Both treatment groups exhibited markedly reduced carotid and aortic inflammation, increased vessel integrity, and improved histopathology. We conclude that PPS may be a safe and useful therapy for MPS I, either as an adjunct or as a stand-alone treatment that reduces inflammation and GAG storage.
Cell membrane is a lipid bilayer that allows the flow of ions through their ionic pumping proteins. The ionic flow can be stimulated with external stimuli to activate specific signaling pathways intracellularly. Although studies have applied electric and magnetic stimuli to modify the cell function, the parameters to stimulate the cell membrane are unknown. Accordingly, a computational model to simulate the effect of electric and magnetic fields on the cell membrane was developed. Cells were stimulated with electric fields from 45 × 103 V/m to 12.6 × 105 V/m and magnetic fields of 2 mT, at frequencies of 60 kHz, 10 MHz, and 1 GHz. Results showed that the electric fields applied to the cell membrane tend to increase according to the frequency used, while magnetic fields do not have any effect on it. It was observed that electric fields generate a high voltage concentrator in the cell membrane of ellipsoidal cells when a frequency window from 1 kHz to 1 GHz was applied. These findings demonstrate that depending on the intensity of the field and frequency, it was possible to stimulate different cell membrane zones. This model is a promising tool to establish the adequate parameters to stimulate cells, and accurately predict if the stimulation modifies the cell membrane potential.
sistema funcional para generación de puntaje semi-automático para diferenciación condrogénica. Corroboramos estos resultados mediante análisis bioquímico con resultados comparables. En nuestro saber este es el primer reporte en evaluar esta metodología, la cual puede ser útil para otras aplicaciones en el campo biológico o médico.Palabras clave: células mesenquimales, condrogénesis in vitro, glicosaminoglicanos, ImageJ. ResumoEstabelecimento de um sistema de pontuação semi-automático para ensaios histoquímicos e imuno-histoquímicos para avaliar diferenciação condrogênica in vitro. Durante o desenvolvimento embrionário os membros emergem a partir da condensação de células mesenquimais e sua diferenciação em condrócitos em um processo chamado condrogênese. Estes condrócitos sintetizam glicosaminoglicanos, desempenhando um papel importante neste processo. Existe um sistema de condrogénese in vitro utilizando células mesenquimatosas, geralmente avaliado por histoquímica. Objetivo. Estabelecer um sistema de pontuação semi-automático para ensaios histoquímicos e imuno-histoquímicos. Materiais e métodos. Na condrogênese as células foram cultivadas com meio indutor em agregados, durante três semanas. Os glicosaminoglicanos totais foram determinados pelo azul de dimetileno. Para a análise histológica os agregados foram corados com Azul Alciano e imuno-histoquímica para detecção de agrecan. A pontuação semi-automática foi obtida utilizando o programa ImageJ. Resultados. As células mesenquimais cultivadas em meio de diferenciação condrogênica tiveram uma concentração de proteína comparável durante as três semanas de cultura, o que sugere uma celularidade similar. A concentração de glicosaminoglicanos foi maior para os agregados cultivados em meio condrogênico. A mesma tendência foi observada para a coloração com Azul Alciano segundo as pontuações do observador cego e a análise com ImageJ. Finalmente, os resultados de imuno-histoquímica de pontuações dados pelo observador e aqueles dados pela análise ImageJ revelaram uma tendência decrescente ao longo do tempo para os agregados em meio condrogênico. Conclusão. Nós realizamos um sistema funcional para gerar pontuação semi-automática para diferenciação condrogênica. Nós corroboramos esses resultados por análise bioquímica com resultados comparáveis. Segundo nosso conhecimento, este é o primeiro estudo a avaliar esta metodologia, que pode ser útil para outras aplicações no campo biológico ou médico.Palavras-chave: células mesenquimais, condrogênese in vitro, glicosaminoglicanos, ImageJ.
Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are a group of about 50 inborn errors of metabolism characterized by the lysosomal accumulation of partially or non-degraded molecules due to mutations in proteins involved in the degradation of macromolecules, transport, lysosomal biogenesis or modulators of lysosomal environment. Significant advances have been achieved in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of LSDs patients. In terms of approved therapies, these include enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), substrate reduction therapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and pharmacological chaperone therapy. In this review, we summarize the Colombian experience in LSDs thorough the evidence published. We identified 113 articles published between 1995 and 2019 that included Colombian researchers or physicians, and which were mainly focused in Mucopolysaccharidoses, Pompe disease, Gaucher disease, Fabry disease, and Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases. Most of these articles focused on basic research, clinical cases, and mutation reports. Noteworthy, implementation of the enzyme assay in dried blood samples, led to a 5-fold increase in the identification of LSD patients, suggesting that these disorders still remain undiagnosed in the country. We consider that the information presented in this review will contribute to the knowledge of a broad spectrum of LSDs in Colombia and will also contribute to the development of public policies and the identification of research opportunities.
The use of specialized centers has been the main alternative for an appropriate diagnosis, management and follow up of patients affected by inborn errors of metabolism (IEM). These centers facilitate the training of different professionals, as well as the research at basic, translational and clinical levels. Nevertheless, few reports have described the experience of these centers and their local and/or global impact in the study of IEM. In this paper, we describe the experience of a Colombian reference center for the research, diagnosis, training and education on IEM. During the last 20 years, important advances have been achieved in the clinical knowledge of these disorders, as well as in the local availability of several diagnosis tests. Organic acidurias have been the most frequently detected diseases, followed by aminoacidopathies and peroxisomal disorders. Research efforts have been focused in the production of recombinant proteins in microorganisms towards the development of new enzyme replacement therapies, the design of gene therapy vectors and the use of bioinformatics tools for the understanding of IEM. In addition, this center has participated in the education and training of a large number professionals at different levels, which has contributed to increase the knowledge and divulgation of these disorders along the country. Noteworthy, in close collaboration with patient advocacy groups, we have participated in the discussion and construction of initiatives for the inclusion of diagnosis tests and treatments in the health system.
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