0000000000174171
AUTHOR
Peter Kruzliak
Flavonoids against the SARS-CoV-2 induced inflammatory storm
The disease severity of COVID-19, especially in the elderly and patients with co-morbidities, is characterized by hypercytokinemia, an exaggerated immune response associated with an uncontrolled and excessive release of proinflammatory cytokine mediators (cytokine storm). Flavonoids, important secondary metabolites of plants, have long been studied as therapeutic interventions in inflammatory diseases due to their cytokine-modulatory effects. In this review, we discuss the potential role of flavonoids in the modulation of signaling pathways that are crucial for COVID-19 disease, particularly those related to inflammation and immunity. The immunomodulatory ability of flavonoids, carried out …
Immunomodulatory effects of stem cells: Therapeutic option for neurodegenerative disorders.
Stem cells have the capability of self-renewal and can differentiate into different cell types that might be used in regenerative medicine. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) currently lack effective treatments. Although stem cell therapy is still on the way from bench to bedside, we consider that it might provide new hope for patients suffering with neurodegenerative diseases. In this article, we will give an overview of recent studies on the potential therapeutic use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), neural stem cells (NSCs), embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent…
Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from Human Umbilical Cord: a Close-up on Immunomodulatory Molecules Featured In Situ and In Vitro
Therapeutic options for end-stage organ failure are often limited to whole organ transplantation. The tolerance or rejection of the transplanted organ is driven by both early non-specific innate and specific adaptive responses. The use of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is considered a promising tool in regenerative medicine. Human umbilical cord (HUC) is an easily available source of MSCs, without relevant ethical issues. Moreover, Wharton's jelly-derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs), showed consistent immunomodulatory features that may be useful to promote immune tolerance in the host after transplantation. Few data are available on the phenotype of WJ-MSCs in situ. We investigated the expression of i…
Caffeine and cardiovascular diseases: critical review of current research.
Caffeine is a most widely consumed physiological stimulant worldwide, which is consumed via natural sources, such as coffee and tea, and now marketed sources such as energy drinks and other dietary supplements. This wide use has led to concerns regarding the safety of caffeine and its proposed beneficial role in alertness, performance and energy expenditure and side effects in the cardiovascular system. The question remains "Which dose is safe?", as the population does not appear to adhere to the strict guidelines listed on caffeine consumption. Studies in humans and animal models yield controversial results, which can be explained by population, type and dose of caffeine and low statistica…
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells From Wharton's Jelly (WJ-MSCs)
Abstract Among the potential sources of cells with attractive features for regenerative medicine, perinatal tissues have gained much attention in recent years. The umbilical cord (UC) is a fundamental part of placenta, the organ providing feto–maternal interface during pregnancy. The mature UC is constituted by three vessels, one vein, and two arteries, which are comprised into a meshwork formed by a mature mucous connective tissue, named Wharton's jelly (WJ). Recent data from research groups worldwide highlighted that WJ stromal cells possess unique features both in terms of differentiative ability and immunomodulation. These features are desirable for cellular therapy applications, thereb…
The effect of Betanin parenteral pretreatment on Jejunal and pulmonary tissue histological architecture and inflammatory response after Jejunal ischemia-reperfusion injury
Intestinal ischemic-reperfusion (IR) injury has detrimental effects on both local and distant organs in the body. Betanin is known for its antioxidant properties, and it is found mostly in vegetables. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that betanin administration prior intestinal IR, may be beneficial in protecting jejunal mucosa and lung parenchyma against IR damage. Male specific pathogen-free Charles River Wistar rats were used (n = 42). Betanin (50 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally 30 min before ischemia of the superior mesenteric artery lasting 1 h, followed by 1, 4 and 24 h of reperfusion. Immunohistochemical as well as histomorphometrical analy…
Downregulation of myogenic microRNAs in sub-chronic but not in sub-acute model of daunorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy
Cardiac muscle-related microRNAs play important roles in cardiac development and disease by translational silencing of mRNAs, the dominant mechanism of microRNA action. To test whether they could be involved in daunorubicin-associated cardiomyopathy (DACM), we determined expression patterns of myomiRs in two distinct models of DACM. We used 10â12 weeks old male Wistar rats. In the sub-acute model, rats were administered with six doses of daunorubicin (DAU-A, 3Â mg/kg, i.p., every 48Â h). Rats were sacrificed two days after the last dose. In the sub-chronic model, anaesthetized rats were administered a single dose of daunorubicin (15Â mg/kg, i.v., DAU-C). Age-matched controls (CON) receive…
Current Perspectives on Adult Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Biological Features and Clinical Indications.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) constitute one of the main mechanisms by which cells communicate with the surrounding tissue or at distance. Vesicle secretion is featured by most cell types, and adult mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) of different tissue origins have shown the ability to produce them. In recent years, several reports disclosed the molecular composition and suggested clinical indications for EVs derived from adult MSCs. The parental cells were already known for their roles in different disease settings in regulating inflammation, immune modulation, or transdifferentiation to promote cell repopulation. Interestingly, most reports also suggested that part of the properties of pare…