We previously identified a decapeptide from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, OSIP108, which is induced upon fungal pathogen infection. In this study, we demonstrated that OSIP108 interferes with biofilm formation of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans without affecting the viability or growth of C. albicans cells. OSIP108 displayed no cytotoxicity against various human cell lines. Furthermore, OSIP108 enhanced the activity of the antifungal agents amphotericin B and caspofungin in vitro and in vivo in a Caenorhabditis elegans-C. albicans biofilm infection model. These data point to the potential use of OSIP108 in combination therapy with conventional antifungal agents. In a first attempt to unravel its mode of action, we screened a library of 137 homozygous C. albicans mutants, affected in genes encoding cell wall proteins or transcription factors important for biofilm formation, for altered OSIP108 sensitivity. We identified 9 OSIP108-tolerant C. albicans mutants that were defective in either components important for cell wall integrity or the yeast-to-hypha transition. In line with these findings, we demonstrated that OSIP108 activates the C. albicans cell wall integrity pathway and that its antibiofilm activity can be blocked by compounds inhibiting the yeast-to-hypha transition. Furthermore, we found that OSIP108 is predominantly localized at the C. albicans cell surface. These data point to interference of OSIP108 with cell wall-related processes of C. albicans, resulting in impaired biofilm formation.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are heterogeneous population of cells with great potential for regenerative medicine. MSCs are relatively easy to expand in a cell culture, however determination of their concentration in harvested tissue is more complex and is not implemented as routine procedure. To identify MSCs collected from bone marrow we have used two combinations of cell markers (CD45/CD73/CD90/CD105 and CD45/CD271) and fibroblast colony-forming unit (CFU-F) assay. Further, in donors of various ages, mesenchymal stem cell concentration was compared with the result of CFU-F assay and with hematopoietic stem cell concentration, determined by a standardized flow cytometric assay. A positive correlation of MSC populations to the CFU-F numbers is observed, the population of the CD45/CD271 cells correlates better with CFU-F numbers than the population of the CD45/CD73/CD90/CD105 cells. The relationship between the hematopoietic CD45/CD34 cell concentration and mesenchymal CFU-Fs or CD45/CD271 cells shows a positive linear regression. An age-related quantitative reduction of hematopoietic CD45/CD34, mesenchymal CD45/CD73/CD90/CD105 and CD45/CD271 stem cells, and CFU-F numbers were noted. Additionally, statistically significant higher CFU-F numbers were observed when bone marrow samples were harvested from three different sites from the anterior iliac crest instead of harvesting the same sample amount only from one site.
BackgroundGlioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is among the most aggressive cancers with a poor prognosis in spite of a plethora of established diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and treatment modalities. Therefore, the current goal is the detection of novel biomarkers, possibly detectable in the blood of GBM patients that may enable an early diagnosis and are potential therapeutic targets, leading to more efficient interventions.Experimental ProceduresMicroRNA profiling of 734 human and human-associated viral miRNAs was performed on blood plasma samples from 16 healthy individuals and 16 patients with GBM, using the nCounter miRNA Expression Assay Kits.ResultsWe identified 19 miRNAs with significantly different plasma levels in GBM patients, compared to the healthy individuals group with the difference limited by a factor of 2. Additionally, 11 viral miRNAs were found differentially expressed in plasma of GBM patients and 24 miRNA levels significantly correlated with the patients’ survival. Moreover, the overlap between the group of candidate miRNAs for diagnostic biomarkers and the group of miRNAs associated with survival, consisted of ten miRNAs, showing both diagnostic and prognostic potential. Among them, hsa miR 592 and hsa miR 514a 3p have not been previously described in GBM and represent novel candidates for selective biomarkers. The possible signalling, induced by the revealed miRNAs is discussed, including those of viral origin, and in particular those related to the impaired immune response in the progression of GBM.ConclusionThe GBM burden is reflected in the alteration of the plasma miRNAs pattern, including viral miRNAs, representing the potential for future clinical application. Therefore proposed biomarker candidate miRNAs should be validated in a larger study of an independent cohort of patients.
BACKGROUND: Osteochondral injury is a very common orthopaedic pathology, mainly affecting young, active population, with limited current treatment options. Herein we are presenting cellular and early clinical data of a patient series treated for chronic osteochondral lesions in the knee with a filter-based intra-operative bone marrow aspirate (BMA) separation device. METHODS: Fifteen patients with chronic knee osteochondral lesions (60% females, 19-59 years) were included in this prospective case series. Filtered BMA (f-BMA), containing mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), was combined with a biomimetic collagen-hydroxyapatite scaffold (CHAS) and implanted into the site of the lesion. Harvested BMA and postseparation f-BMA were analysed for blood cell counts, flow cytometry, and fibroblast colony forming units (CFU-Fs). Patients were followed for serious adverse events and graft failures. Clinical evaluation was assessed using the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS). In 8 patients a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/arthroscopy were performed. RESULTS: Cell suspension contained 0.027% CD271 ? CD45 -7-AADcells, 0.15% CD73 ? CD90 ? CD105 ? cells and 0.0012% CFU-Fs of all nucleated cells with 86% viability. Filtration process resulted in 12.8 (4.0-40.8) fold enrichment in terms of CFU-F content in comparison to initial BMA. No serious adverse events related directly to the osteochondral treatment were reported. After an average follow-up of 20 months (14-25) all KOOS subscales (Symptoms/Pain/Daily activities/Sport and recreation/Quality of life) increased significantly from pre-operative 55/56/67/30/30 to post-operative 73/76/79/51/52 (p values \ 0.05), respectively. MRI or arthroscopic evaluation revealed nearly normal to normal overall International Cartilage Repair Society assessment in 7/8 patients. CONCLUSION: The filter-based BMA separation procedure significantly increased the frequency of mesenchymal stem/ stromal cells (MSCs), however their concentration was not increased. The clinical evaluation revealed high safety profile of the treatment and resulted in improved clinical status of the patients.
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