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Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is an advantageous source for hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) transplantation, yet the current strategies for large-scale and cost-effective UCB-HSPC preparation are still unavailable. To overcome these obstacles, we systematically evaluate the feasibility of our newly identified CH02 peptide for ex vivo expansion of CD34+ UCB-HSPCs. We herein report that the CH02 peptide is specifically enriched in HSPC proliferation via activating the FLT3 signaling. Notably, the CH02-based cocktails are adequate for boosting 12-fold ex vivo expansion of UCB-HSPCs. Meanwhile, CH02-preconditioned UCB-HSPCs manifest preferable efficacy upon wound healing in diabetic mice via bidirectional orchestration of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors. Together, our data indicate the advantages of the CH02-based strategy for ex vivo expansion of CD34+ UCB-HSPCs, which will provide new strategies for further development of large-scale HSPC preparation for clinical purposes.

Supernumerary teeth are advantaged sources for high‐quality stem cell preparation from both apical papilla (SCAP‐Ss) and dental pulp (DPSCs). However, the deficiency of the systematic and detailed comparison of the biological and transcriptomic characteristics of the aforementioned stem cells largely hinders their application in regenerative medicine. Herein, we collected supernumerary teeth for SCAP‐S and DPSC isolation and identification by utilizing multiple biological tests (e.g., growth curve, cell cycle and apoptosis, adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation, and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction). Furthermore, we took advantage of transcriptome sequencing and multifaceted bioinformatic analyses to dissect the similarities and diversities between them. In this study, we found that SCAP‐Ss and DPSCs showed indistinctive signatures in morphology and immunophenotypes, whereas with diversity in cell vitality and multi‐lineage differentiation as well as gene expression profiling and differentially expressed genes‐associated gene ontology and signaling pathways. Collectively, our data indicated the diversity of the multifaceted signatures of human supernumerary teeth‐derived stem cells both at the cellular and molecular levels, which also supplied new references for SCAP‐Ss serving as splendid alternative stem cell sources for regenerative medicine purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are spindle-like heterogeneous cell populations with advantageous bidirectional immunomodulatory and hematopoietic support effects. Vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1)+ MSCs have been reported to exhibit immunoregulatory and proangiogenic capacities. Here, we studied the effects of VCAM-1+ human umbilical cord (hUC)-MSCs on neuroprotection against cerebral infarction. Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and VCAM-1− and VCAM-1+ hUC-MSCs were intravenously injected into the rat 4 h post-MCAO surgery. Thereafter, modified neurological severity scores (mNSS) were determined, and the Morris water maze test, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC), hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Nissl, TUNEL staining, and qRT-PCR were conducted. Following induction of oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R), SH-SY5Y cells were co-cultured with VCAM-1− and VCAM-1+ hUC-MSCs. CCK-8, flow cytometry, ELISA, and western blot analyses were performed in vitro. Compared with VCAM-1− hUC-MSCs, administration of VCAM-1+ hUC-MSCs revealed improved therapeutic efficacy against cerebral infarction in rats, as confirmed by lower mNSS scores and infarct volumes, as well as improved learning and memory capacities. In addition, VCAM-1+ hUC-MSCs exhibited improved efficacy against neurological defects in rats with cerebral infarction, accompanied by inhibition of the NLRP3-mediated inflammatory response. VCAM-1+ hUC-MSC co-culture improved the viability and diminished NLRP3-mediated inflammatory response in OGD/R-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, NLRP3 overexpression in SH-SY5Y cells prevented the beneficial effects of VCAM-1+ hUC-MSC co-culture. Overall, our findings demonstrated the relevance of VCAM-1+ hUC-MSC-based cytotherapy for preclinical neuroprotection against cerebral infarction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]