measuring-respiratory-function-mice-using-unrestrained-whole-body

Measuring Respiratory Function in Mice Using Unrestrained Whole-body Plethysmography

Respiratory dysfunction is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world and the rates of mortality continue to rise. Quantitative ...

automated-counterflow-centrifugal-system-for-small-scale-cell

Automated Counterflow Centrifugal System for Small-Scale Cell Processing

Successful commercialization of gene and cell-based therapies requires manufacturing processes that are cost-effective and scalable. Buffer exchange and ...

monash institute of medical research

Hudson institute of Medical Research

The effects of human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) on angiogenesis remain controversial. It is yet unknown if the presence of inflammation and/or gestational age of hAEC donors have an impact on angiogenesis. In this study, we examined the differences between term and preterm hAECs on angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Conditioned media from term hAECs induced the formation of longer huVEC tubules on Matrigel. Both term and preterm hAECs expressed VEGFA, PDGFB, ANGPT1, and FOXC1, which significantly increased after TNFα and IFNγ stimulation. In the presence of TNFα and IFNγ, coculture with term hAECs reduced gene transcription of Tie-2 and Foxc1 in huVECs, while coculture with preterm hAECs increased gene transcription of PDGFRα and PDGFRβ and reduced gene transcription of FOXC1 in huVECs. In vivo assessment of angiogenesis using vWF immunostaining revealed that hAEC treatment decreased angiogenesis in a bleomycin model of lung fibrosis but increased angiogenesis in a neonatal model of hyperoxia-induced lung injury. In summary, our findings suggested that the impact of hAECs on angiogenesis may be influenced by the presence of inflammation and underlying pathology.

Evaluating the Impact of Human Amnion Epithelial Cells on Angiogenesis.

Circulating markers for endothelial activation such as endothelin-1 (ET-1), ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 are elevated in women with preeclampsia. Using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as an in vitro model of the maternal vasculature, we show that activin A and preeclamptic serum upregulate ET-1, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 in HUVECs. Further, we show that follistatin, a specific binding protein for activin, mitigates the upregulation of ET-1, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in HUVECs exposed to either activin A or preeclamptic serum. These data are consistent with activin A contributing to the pathophysiology of preeclampsia and suggest that therapies targeting activin signalling are worth exploring.

Role of activin A in the pathogenesis of endothelial cell dysfunction in preeclampsia.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease that mainly affects premature babies who require ventilator support. The pathogenesis of BPD is complex but includes vascular maldevelopment, alveolarization arrest, and lung inflammation. There is no cure for BPD. Clinical care is limited to supportive respiratory measures. A population of stem-like cells derived from placental membranes, human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs), has shown therapeutic promise in preclinical models of BPD. With a view to future efficacy trials, we undertook a first-in-human clinical trial of hAECs in babies with BPD to assess the safety of these cells. In a single-center, open-label phase I trial, we administered allogeneic hAECs (1 × 10 per kilogram bodyweight) by intravenous infusion to six premature babies with BPD. The primary outcomes of the study were focused on safety, including local site reaction, anaphylaxis, infection, features of rejection, or tumor formation. Outcomes to discharge from neonatal unit were studied. The hAECs were well tolerated. In the first baby, there was transient cardiorespiratory compromise during cell administration consistent with a pulmonary embolic event. Following changes to cell administration methods, including introduction of an inline filter, and reducing the cell concentration and the rate of cell infusion, no such events were observed in the subsequent five babies. We did not see evidence of any other adverse events related to cell administration. Allogeneic hAECs can be safely infused into babies with established BPD. Future randomized clinical trials to assess efficacy in this patient population are justified. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2018;7:628-635.

Siow Teng Chan

The Ritchie Centre

monash institute of medical research

Measuring Respiratory Function in Mice Using Unrestrained Whole-body Plethysmography

Automated Counterflow Centrifugal System for Small-Scale Cell Processing

Siow Teng Chan

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}The Ritchie Centre

monash institute of medical research

Measuring Respiratory Function in Mice Using Unrestrained Whole-body Plethysmography

Automated Counterflow Centrifugal System for Small-Scale Cell Processing

The Ritchie Centre