COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and has spread globally in 2020. Cellular immunity may serve as an important functional marker of the disease, especially in the asymptomatic cases. Blood samples were collected from 46 convalescent donors with a history of COVID-19 and 38 control donors. Quantification of the T-cell response upon contact with SARS-CoV-2 proteins in vitro was based on IFN-γ. Significantly higher numbers of activated cells were measured in patients who underwent COVID-19. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 T cells were detected weeks after the active virus disappeared from the organism. Repeated sample collection after five months proved that the T-cell activation was weaker in time in 79 % of the patients. In the majority of cases, the CD4+ helper T-cell subpopulation was responsible for the immune reaction. Moreover, different viral proteins triggered activation in CD4+ helper and in CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. Together, these findings suggest that the T-cell activation level identifies the individuals who underwent COVID-19 and may become a diagnostic tool for the disease.
- MeSH
- aktivace lymfocytů MeSH
- COVID-19 * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- protilátky virové MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
- T-lymfocyty MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR T-cells) represent a novel and promising approach in cancer immunotherapy. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of oncological patients is steadily growing in developed countries despite immense progress in oncological treatments, and the prognosis of individual patients is still relatively poor. Exceptional results have been recorded for CAR T-cell therapy in patients suffering from B-cell malignancies. This success opens up the possibility of using the same approach for other types of cancers. To date, the most common method for CAR T-cell generation is the use of viral vectors. However, dealing with virus-derived vectors brings possible obstacles in the CAR T-cell manufacturing process owing to strict regulations and high cost demands. Alternative approaches may facilitate further development and the transfer of the method to clinical practice. The most promising substitutes for virus-derived vectors are transposon-derived vectors, most commonly sleeping beauty, which offer great coding capability and a safe integration profile while maintaining a relatively low production cost. This review is aimed at summarizing the state of the art of nonviral approaches in CAR T-cell generation, with a unique perspective on the conditions in clinical applications and current Good Manufacturing Practice. If CAR T-cell therapy is to be routinely used in medical practice, the manufacturing cost and complexity need to be as low as possible, and transposon-based vectors seem to meet these criteria better than viral-based vectors.
- MeSH
- buněčné kultury metody MeSH
- chimerické antigenní receptory genetika imunologie MeSH
- genetické vektory genetika MeSH
- imunoterapie adoptivní metody MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nádory imunologie terapie MeSH
- T-lymfocyty imunologie transplantace MeSH
- technika přenosu genů * MeSH
- transpozibilní elementy DNA genetika MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have become a promising tool in cellular therapy for restoring immune system haemostasis; however, the success of clinical trials has been impaired by the lack of standardized manufacturing processes. This study aims to determine the suitability of source tissues and culture media for the production of MSC-based advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) and to define parameters to extend the set of release criteria. MSCs were isolated from umbilical cord (UC), bone marrow and lipoaspirate and expanded in three different culture media. MSC phenotype, proliferation capacity and immunosuppressive parameters were evaluated in normal MSCs compared to primed MSCs treated with cytokines mimicking an inflammatory environment. Compared to bone marrow and lipoaspirate, UC-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) showed the highest proliferative capacity, which was further enhanced by media supplemented with bFGF, while the cells maintained their immunosuppressive characteristics. Moreover, UC-MSCs expanded in the bFGF-enriched medium were the least sensitive to undesirable priming-induced changes in the MSC phenotype. Surface markers and secreted factors were identified to reflect the cell response to inflammatory priming and to be variable among MSCs from different source tissues. This study demonstrates that UC is a favorable cell source for manufacturing MSC-based ATMPs for immunosuppressive applications. UC-MSCs are able to use the bFGF-enriched medium for higher cell yields without the impairment of immunosuppressive parameters and undesirable phenotype changes after inflammatory preconditioning of MSCs before transplantation. Additionally, immunosuppressive parameters were identified to help finding predictors of clinically efficient MSCs in the following clinical trials.
- MeSH
- buněčná diferenciace účinky léků imunologie MeSH
- fibroblastový růstový faktor 2 imunologie farmakologie MeSH
- imunosupresivní léčba * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mezenchymální kmenové buňky cytologie imunologie MeSH
- proliferace buněk účinky léků MeSH
- pupečník cytologie imunologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are a promising source of autologous endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) that can be used for the treatment of vascular diseases. However, this kind of treatment requires a large amount of EPCs. Therefore, a highly efficient, robust, and easily reproducible differentiation protocol is necessary. We present a novel serum-free differentiation protocol that exploits the synergy of multiple powerful differentiation effectors. Our protocol follows the proper physiological pathway by differentiating EPCs from hPSCs in three phases that mimic in vivo embryonic vascular development. Specifically, hPSCs are differentiated into (i) primitive streak, which is subsequently turned into (ii) mesoderm, which finally differentiates into (iii) EPCs. This differentiation process yields up to 15 differentiated cells per seeded hPSC in 5 days. Endothelial progenitor cells constitute up to 97% of these derived cells. The experiments were performed on the human embryonic stem cell line H9 and six human induced pluripotent stem cell lines generated in our laboratory. Therefore, robustness was verified using many hPSC lines. Two previously established protocols were also adapted and compared to our synergistic three-phase protocol. Increased efficiency and decreased variability were observed for our differentiation protocol in comparison to the other tested protocols. Furthermore, EPCs derived from hPSCs by our protocol expressed the high-proliferative-potential EPC marker CD157 on their surface in addition to the standard EPC surface markers CD31, CD144, CD34, KDR, and CXCR4. Our protocol enables efficient fully defined production of autologous endothelial progenitors for research and clinical applications.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Publikační typ
- abstrakt z konference MeSH
BACKGROUND: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were indicated in vascular repair, angiogenesis of ischemic organs, and inhibition of formation of initial hyperplasia. Differentiation of endothelial cells (ECs) from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC)-derived endothelial cells (hiPSC-ECs) provides an unlimited supply for clinical application. Furthermore, magnetic cell labelling offers an effective way of targeting and visualization of hiPSC-ECs and is the next step towards in vivo studies. METHODS: ECs were differentiated from hiPSCs and labelled with uncoated superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (uSPIONs). uSPION uptake was compared between hiPSC-ECs and mature ECs isolated from patients by software analysis of microscopy pictures after Prussian blue cell staining. The acute and long-term cytotoxic effects of uSPIONs were evaluated by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay) and Annexin assay. RESULTS: We showed, for the first time, uptake of uncoated SPIONs (uSPIONs) by hiPSC-ECs. In comparison with mature ECs of identical genetic background hiPSC-ECs showed lower uSPION uptake. However, all the studied endothelial cells were effectively labelled and showed magnetic properties even with low labelling concentration of uSPIONs. uSPIONs prepared by microwave plasma synthesis did not show any cytotoxicity nor impair endothelial properties. CONCLUSION: We show that hiPSC-ECs labelling with low concentration of uSPIONs is feasible and does not show any toxic effects in vitro, which is an important step towards animal studies.
- MeSH
- biologické markery MeSH
- buněčná diferenciace * MeSH
- endoteliální buňky pupečníkové žíly (lidské) MeSH
- endoteliální buňky cytologie metabolismus ultrastruktura MeSH
- imunohistochemie MeSH
- indukované pluripotentní kmenové buňky cytologie metabolismus ultrastruktura MeSH
- kultivované buňky MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- magnetické nanočástice * chemie MeSH
- viabilita buněk MeSH
- železité sloučeniny * chemie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
New approaches in regenerative medicine and vasculogenesis have generated a demand for sufficient numbers of human endothelial cells (ECs). ECs and their progenitors reside on the interior surface of blood and lymphatic vessels or circulate in peripheral blood; however, their numbers are limited, and they are difficult to expand after isolation. Recent advances in human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) research have opened possible avenues to generate unlimited numbers of ECs from easily accessible cell sources, such as the peripheral blood. In this study, we reprogrammed peripheral blood mononuclear cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and human saphenous vein endothelial cells (HSVECs) into hiPSCs and differentiated them into ECs. The phenotype profiles, functionality, and genome stability of all hiPSC-derived ECs were assessed and compared with HUVECs and HSVECs. hiPSC-derived ECs resembled their natural EC counterparts, as shown by the expression of the endothelial surface markers CD31 and CD144 and the results of the functional analysis. Higher expression of endothelial progenitor markers CD34 and kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) was measured in hiPSC-derived ECs. An analysis of phosphorylated histone H2AX (γH2AX) foci revealed that an increased number of DNA double-strand breaks upon reprogramming into pluripotent cells. However, differentiation into ECs restored a normal number of γH2AX foci. Our hiPSCs retained a normal karyotype, with the exception of the HSVEC-derived hiPSC line, which displayed mosaicism due to a gain of chromosome 1. Peripheral blood from adult donors is a suitable source for the unlimited production of patient-specific ECs through the hiPSC interstage. hiPSC-derived ECs are fully functional and comparable to natural ECs. The protocol is eligible for clinical applications in regenerative medicine, if the genomic stability of the pluripotent cell stage is closely monitored.
- MeSH
- biologické markery metabolismus MeSH
- buněčná diferenciace fyziologie MeSH
- endoteliální buňky pupečníkové žíly (lidské) cytologie metabolismus MeSH
- endoteliální buňky cytologie metabolismus MeSH
- fibroblasty cytologie metabolismus MeSH
- fyziologická neovaskularizace fyziologie MeSH
- indukované pluripotentní kmenové buňky cytologie metabolismus MeSH
- kultivované buňky MeSH
- leukocyty mononukleární cytologie metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- regenerativní lékařství metody MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The potential clinical applications of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are limited by the difficulty of recapitulating embryoid hematopoiesis and by the unknown differentiation potential of hPSC lines. To evaluate their hematopoietic developmental potential, available hPSC lines were differentiated by an embryoid body (EB) suspension culture in serum-free medium supplemented with three different cytokine mixes (CMs). The hPSC differentiation status was investigated by the flow cytometry expression profiles of cell surface molecules, and the gene expression of pluripotency and differentiation markers over time was evaluated by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). hPSC lines differed in several aspects of the differentiation process, including the absolute yield of hematopoietic progenitors, the proportion of hematopoietic progenitor populations, and the effect of various CMs. The ability to generate hematopoietic progenitors was then associated with the morphology of the developing EBs, the expression of the endodermal markers AFP and SOX17, and the hematopoietic transcription factor RUNX1. These findings deepen the knowledge about the hematopoietic propensity of hPSCs and identify its variability as an aspect that must be taken into account before the usage of hPSC-derived HSCs in downstream applications.
- MeSH
- buněčné linie MeSH
- diferenciační antigeny biosyntéza MeSH
- embryoidní tělíska cytologie metabolismus MeSH
- endoderm cytologie metabolismus MeSH
- hematopoéza * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lidské embryonální kmenové buňky cytologie metabolismus MeSH
- regulace genové exprese * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
BACKGROUND: Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) play roles in both disease modelling and regenerative medicine. It is critical that the genomic integrity of the cells remains intact and that the DNA repair systems are fully functional. In this article, we focused on the detection of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by phosphorylated histone H2AX (known as γH2AX) and p53-binding protein 1 (53BP1) in three distinct lines of hiPSCs, their source cells, and one line of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). METHODS: We measured spontaneously occurring DSBs throughout the process of fibroblast reprogramming and during long-term in vitro culturing. To assess the variations in the functionality of the DNA repair system among the samples, the number of DSBs induced by γ-irradiation and the decrease over time was analysed. The foci number was detected by fluorescence microscopy separately for the G1 and S/G2 cell cycle phases. RESULTS: We demonstrated that fibroblasts contained a low number of non-replication-related DSBs, while this number increased after reprogramming into hiPSCs and then decreased again after long-term in vitro passaging. The artificial induction of DSBs revealed that the repair mechanisms function well in the source cells and hiPSCs at low passages, but fail to recognize a substantial proportion of DSBs at high passages. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations suggest that cellular reprogramming increases the DSB number but that the repair mechanism functions well. However, after prolonged in vitro culturing of hiPSCs, the repair capacity decreases.
- MeSH
- 53BP1 genetika metabolismus MeSH
- buněčné linie MeSH
- DNA genetika metabolismus MeSH
- dvouřetězcové zlomy DNA * účinky záření MeSH
- exprese genu MeSH
- fibroblasty cytologie metabolismus účinky záření MeSH
- fosforylace účinky záření MeSH
- histony genetika metabolismus MeSH
- indukované pluripotentní kmenové buňky cytologie metabolismus účinky záření MeSH
- kontrolní body fáze G1 buněčného cyklu genetika MeSH
- kontrolní body fáze G2 buněčného cyklu genetika MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lidské embryonální kmenové buňky cytologie metabolismus účinky záření MeSH
- oprava DNA genetika MeSH
- přeprogramování buněk MeSH
- stárnutí buněk genetika účinky záření MeSH
- záření gama MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The potential clinical applications of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are limited by genetic and epigenetic variations among hiPSC lines and the question of their equivalency with human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). We used MethylScreen technology to determine the DNA methylation profile of pluripotency and differentiation markers in hiPSC lines from different source cell types compared to hESCs and hiPSC source cells. After derivation, hiPSC lines compromised a heterogeneous population characterized by variable levels of aberrant DNA methylation. These aberrations were induced during somatic cell reprogramming and their levels were associated with the type of hiPSC source cells. hiPSC population heterogeneity was reduced during prolonged culture and hiPSCs acquired an hESC-like methylation profile. In contrast, the expression of differentiation marker genes in hiPSC lines remained distinguishable from that in hESCs. Taken together, in vitro culture facilitates hiPSC acquisition of hESC epigenetic characteristics. However, differences remain between both pluripotent stem cell types, which must be considered before their use in downstream applications.
- MeSH
- buněčná diferenciace genetika MeSH
- buněčné linie MeSH
- fibroblasty cytologie metabolismus MeSH
- indukované pluripotentní kmenové buňky cytologie metabolismus MeSH
- kultivované buňky MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lidské embryonální kmenové buňky cytologie metabolismus MeSH
- metylace DNA * MeSH
- přeprogramování buněk genetika MeSH
- shluková analýza MeSH
- stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
- vývojová regulace genové exprese MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
