Patent Application
20230172994
Disclosed herein, in certain embodiments, are methods of promoting vasculogenesis in an individual in need thereof, comprising contacting a tissue comprising endothelial cells and pericytes with a fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is from placenta, placental amniotic membrane, umbilical cord, umbilical cord amniotic membrane, chorion, amnion-chorion, amniotic stroma, amniotic jelly, amniotic fluid or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is isolated from a fetal support tissue that is frozen or previously frozen. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is ground, pulverized, morselized, a graft, a sheet, micronized, a powder, a homogenate, or an extract. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises umbilical cord amniotic membrane (UCAM). In some embodiments, the UCAM further comprises Wharton's jelly. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises umbilical cord that is substantially free of a vein or artery. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises umbilical cord comprising a vein or artery. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises native HC-HA/PTX3 complex, reconstituted HC-HA/PTX3 (rcHC-HA/PTX3) complex, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex comprises high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMW HA), heavy chain 1 (HC1) and heavy chain 2 (HC2) of inter-α-inhibitor (IαI) protein, and pentraxin 3 protein (PTX3). In some embodiments, the rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex consists of HMW HA, HC1, HC2, and PTX3. In some embodiments, the rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex consists of HMW HA, HC1, HC2, PTX3, and TSG-6. In some embodiments, the native HC-HA/PTX3 complex is from a fetal support tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated as a non-solid dosage form. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated as a solid dosage form. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated as a solution, suspension, paste, ointment, oil emulsion, cream, lotion, gel, a patch, sticks, film, paint, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated for local administration, administration by injection, topical administration, or inhalation. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product formulated for topical administration further comprises a penetration enhancer, a gelling agent, an adhesive, an emollient, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated for controlled release. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated into controlled release particles, lipid complexes, liposomes, nanoparticles, microspheres, microparticles, or nanocapsules. In some embodiments, the tissue comprises ischemic tissue. In some embodiments, the tissue comprises an ulcer, wound, perforation, burn, surgery, injury, or fistula. In some embodiments, the method prevents necrosis of the tissue. In some embodiments, the method further comprises selecting an individual having a tissue comprising endothelial cells and pericytes, prior to the contacting step. In some embodiments, the selecting comprises detecting a pericyte marker in the tissue. In some embodiments, the pericyte marker is FLK-1, CD34, CD31, α-SMA, PDGFRβ, NG2, or a combination thereof.
Disclosed herein, in certain embodiments, are methods of treating an ischemic condition in an individual in need thereof, comprising contacting an ischemic tissue with a fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is from placenta, placental amniotic membrane, umbilical cord, umbilical cord amniotic membrane, chorion, amnion-chorion, amniotic stroma, amniotic jelly, amniotic fluid or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is isolated from a fetal support tissue that is frozen or previously frozen. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is ground, pulverized, morselized, a graft, a sheet, micronized, a powder, a homogenate, or an extract. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises UCAM. In some embodiments, the UCAM further comprises Wharton's jelly. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises umbilical cord that is substantially free of a vein or artery. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises umbilical cord comprising a vein or artery. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises native HC-HA/PTX3 complex, rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex comprises high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMW HA), heavy chain 1 (HC1) and heavy chain 2 (HC2) of inter-α-inhibitor (IαI) protein, and pentraxin 3 protein (PTX3). In some embodiments, the rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex consists of HMW HA, HC1, HC2, and PTX3. In some embodiments, the rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex consists of HMW HA, HC1, HC2, PTX3, and TSG-6. In some embodiments the native HC-HA/PTX3 complex is from a fetal support tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated as a non-solid dosage form. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated as a solid dosage form. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated as a solution, suspension, paste, ointment, oil emulsion, cream, lotion, gel, a patch, sticks, film, paint, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated for local administration, administration by injection, or topical administration. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated for topical administration further comprises a penetration enhancer, a gelling agent, an adhesive, an emollient, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated for controlled release. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated into controlled release particles, lipid complexes, liposomes, nanoparticles, microspheres, microparticles, or nanocapsules. In some embodiments, the ischemic condition comprises cardiac ischemia, ischemic colitis, mesenteric ischemia, brain ischemia, acute limb ischemia, cyanosis, and gangrene.
Described herein, in certain embodiments, are methods of promoting neurovasculogenesis in an individual in need thereof, comprising contacting a tissue comprising neural crest progenitor cells with a fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is from placenta, placental amniotic membrane, umbilical cord, umbilical cord amniotic membrane, chorion, amnion-chorion, amniotic stroma, amniotic jelly, amniotic fluid or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is isolated from a fetal support tissue that is frozen or previously frozen. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is ground, pulverized, morselized, a graft, a sheet, micronized, a powder, a homogenate, or an extract. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises umbilical cord amniotic membrane (UCAM). In some embodiments, the UCAM further comprises Wharton's jelly. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises umbilical cord that is substantially free of a vein or artery. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises umbilical cord comprising a vein or artery. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises native HC-HA/PTX3 complex, reconstituted HC-HA/PTX3 (rcHC-HA/PTX3) complex, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex comprises high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMW HA), heavy chain 1 (HC1) and heavy chain 2 (HC2) of inter-α-inhibitor (IαI) protein, and pentraxin 3 protein (PTX3). In some embodiments, the rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex consists of HMW HA, HC1, HC2, and PTX3. In some embodiments, the rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex consists of HMW HA, HC1, HC2, PTX3, and TSG-6. In some embodiments, the native HC-HA/PTX3 complex is from a fetal support tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated as a non-solid dosage form. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated as a solid dosage form. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated as a solution, suspension, paste, ointment, oil emulsion, cream, lotion, gel, a patch, sticks, film, paint, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated for local administration, administration by injection, topical administration, or inhalation. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated for topical administration further comprises a penetration enhancer, a gelling agent, an adhesive, an emollient, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated for controlled release. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated into controlled release particles, lipid complexes, liposomes, nanoparticles, microspheres, microparticles, or nanocapsules. In some embodiments, the tissue comprises ischemic tissue. In some embodiments, the tissue comprises an ulcer, wound, perforation, burn, surgery, injury, or fistula. In some embodiments, the method prevents necrosis of the tissue.
Described herein, in certain embodiments, are methods of promoting vasculogenesis of a tissue comprising endothelial cells and pericytes in an individual in need thereof, comprising reprogramming the pericytes to a first progenitor phenotype by contacting the tissue with a fetal support tissue product and reprogramming the endothelial cells to a second progenitor phenotype by contacting the tissue with the fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the pericytes are selectively contacted with the fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the endothelial cells are selectively contacted with the fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises native HC-HA/PTX3 complex, reconstituted HC-HA/PTX3 (rcHC-HA/PTX3) complex, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex comprises high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMW HA), heavy chain 1 (HC1) and heavy chain 2 (HC2) of inter-α-inhibitor (IαI) protein, and pentraxin 3 protein (PTX3). In some embodiments, the rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex consists of HMW HA, HC1, HC2, and PTX3. In some embodiments, the rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex consists of HMW HA, HC1, HC2, PTX3, and TSG-6. In some embodiments, the native HC-HA/PTX3 complex is from a fetal support tissue. In some embodiments, the tissue further comprises neural crest progenitor cells. In some embodiments, the method further comprises contacting the neural crest progenitor cells with the fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is from placenta, placental amniotic membrane, umbilical cord, umbilical cord amniotic membrane, chorion, amnion-chorion, amniotic stroma, amniotic jelly, amniotic fluid or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is isolated from a fetal support tissue that is frozen or previously frozen. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is ground, pulverized, morselized, a graft, a sheet, micronized, a powder, a homogenate, or an extract. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises umbilical cord amniotic membrane (UCAM). In some embodiments, the UCAM further comprises Wharton's jelly. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises umbilical cord that is substantially free of a vein or artery. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises umbilical cord comprising a vein or artery. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated as a non-solid dosage form. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated as a solid dosage form. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated as a solution, suspension, paste, ointment, oil emulsion, cream, lotion, gel, a patch, sticks, film, paint, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated for local administration, administration by injection, topical administration, or inhalation. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated for topical administration further comprises a penetration enhancer, a gelling agent, an adhesive, an emollient, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated for controlled release. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated into controlled release particles, lipid complexes, liposomes, nanoparticles, microspheres, microparticles, or nanocapsules. In some embodiments, the tissue comprises ischemic tissue. In some embodiments, the tissue comprises an ulcer, wound, perforation, burn, surgery, injury, or fistula. In some embodiments, the method prevents necrosis of the tissue. In some embodiments, the method further comprises selecting an individual having a tissue comprising endothelial cells and pericytes, prior to the contacting step. In some embodiments, the selecting comprises detecting a pericyte marker in the tissue. In some embodiments, the pericyte marker is FLK-1, CD34, CD31, α-SMA, PDGFRβ, NG2, or a combination thereof.
Described herein, in certain embodiments, are methods of treating an ischemic tissue comprising endothelial cells and pericytes in an individual in need thereof, comprising reprogramming the pericytes to a first progenitor phenotype by contacting the tissue with a fetal support tissue product and reprogramming the endothelial cells to a second progenitor phenotype by contacting the tissue with the fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the pericytes are selectively contacted with the fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the endothelial cells are selectively contacted with the fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises native HC-HA/PTX3 complex, rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex comprises high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMW HA), heavy chain 1 (HC1) and heavy chain 2 (HC2) of inter-α-inhibitor (IαI) protein, and pentraxin 3 protein (PTX3). In some embodiments, the rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex consists of HMW HA, HC1, HC2, and PTX3. In some embodiments, the rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex consists of HMW HA, HC1, HC2, PTX3, and TSG-6. In some embodiments, the native HC-HA/PTX3 complex is from a fetal support tissue. In some embodiments, the tissue further comprises neural crest progenitor cells. In some embodiments, the method further comprises contacting the neural crest progenitor cells with the fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is from placenta, placental amniotic membrane, umbilical cord, umbilical cord amniotic membrane, chorion, amnion-chorion, amniotic stroma, amniotic jelly, amniotic fluid or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is isolated from a fetal support tissue that is frozen or previously frozen. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is ground, pulverized, morselized, a graft, a sheet, micronized, a powder, a homogenate, or an extract. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises UCAM. In some embodiments, the UCAM further comprises Wharton's jelly. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises umbilical cord that is substantially free of a vein or artery. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises umbilical cord comprising a vein or artery. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated as a non-solid dosage form. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated as a solid dosage form. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated as a solution, suspension, paste, ointment, oil emulsion, cream, lotion, gel, a patch, sticks, film, paint, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated for local administration, administration by injection, or topical administration. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated for topical administration further comprises a penetration enhancer, a gelling agent, an adhesive, an emollient, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated for controlled release. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated into controlled release particles, lipid complexes, liposomes, nanoparticles, microspheres, microparticles, or nanocapsules. In some embodiments, the ischemic condition comprises cardiac ischemia, ischemic colitis, mesenteric ischemia, brain ischemia, acute limb ischemia, cyanosis, and gangrene.
The novel features of the disclosure set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the disclosure will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the disclosure are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:
Blood vessels comprise endothelial cells, which form the inner lining of the vessel wall, and pericytes, which are found on the surface of the vessel. Blood vessels are generated by two different processes, angiogenesis which involves the formation of new vessels from existing vessels, and vasculogenesis, which involves the de novo formation of vessels. Normal angiogenesis is a complex, multi-step process including the creation the gradient formation of matrix-bound growth factor (GF) (e.g. VEGF-A, bFGF, PDGF-BB), migration and proliferation of endothelial cells (EC), dissolution of the extracellular matrix, and recruitment of mural cells (e.g., pericytes) to stabilize capillary development. Abnormal angiogenesis associated with tumors is characterized by vessel leakiness and hemorrhage, and is often associated with the lack of pericytes and/or accompanied by inability to bind VEGF-A associated matrix heparan.
Pericytes in the brain are derived from neural crest cells, and promote both neurogenesis and vasculogenesis, a process referred to herein as neurovasculogenesis. Pericytes have diverse support functions to regulate blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, angiogenesis, influence neuroinflammatory response, and have multipotent stem cell activity. Pericyte deficiency has been noted as an early hallmark in diabetes-associated microvascular diseases, such as retinopathy and nephropathy, and may contribute to abnormal angiogenesis, resulting in vessel leakiness and hemorrhage, increased metastases in mouse tumor models, cerebrovascular dysfunction in complex neurological disease such as Alzheimer's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Provided herein, in some embodiments, are methods of promoting vasculogenesis or normal angiogenesis in an individual in need thereof, comprising contacting a tissue comprising endothelial cells and pericytes or neural crest progenitor cells with a fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the vasculogenesis occurs as part of neurovasculogenesis. In some embodiments, neurovasculogenesis further comprises neurogenesis. Further provided herein, in some embodiments, are methods of treating an ischemic condition in an individual in need thereof, comprising contacting an ischemic tissue with a fetal support tissue product. Further provided herein, in some embodiments, are methods of treating a neuropathic condition in an individual in need thereof, comprising contacting an ischemic tissue with a fetal support tissue product.
Further provided herein, in some embodiments are methods of inhibiting abnormal angiogenesis in an in an individual in need thereof, comprising contacting a tissue comprising endothelial cells with a fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the tissue lacks pericytes. In some embodiments, the method further comprises selecting the individual by detecting an absence of pericyte markers.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which the claimed subject matter belongs.
As used herein, in some embodiments, ranges and amounts are expressed as “about” a particular value or range. About also includes the exact amount. Hence “about 5 μg” means “about 5 μg” and also “5 μg.” Generally, the term “about” includes an amount that would be expected to be within experimental error.
As used herein, “fetal support tissue product” means any isolated product derived from tissue used to support the development of a fetus. Examples of fetal support tissue product includes, but are not limited to, (i) placental amniotic membrane (PAM), or substantially isolated PAM, (ii) umbilical cord amniotic membrane (UCAM) or substantially isolated UCAM, (iii) chorion or substantially isolated chorion, (iv) amnion-chorion or substantially isolated amnion-chorion, (v) placenta or substantially isolated placenta, (vi) umbilical cord or substantially isolated umbilical cord, or (vii) any combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue is selected from the group consisting of placental amniotic membrane (PAM), umbilical cord amniotic membrane (UCAM), chorion, amnion-chorion, placenta, umbilical cord, and any combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue comprises umbilical cord. Fetal support tissue product includes any form of the fetal support tissue, including cryopreserved, terminally-sterilized, lyophilized fetal support tissue or powders resulting from grinding fetal support tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is ground, pulverized, morselized, a graft, a sheet, a powder, a gel, a homogenate, an extract, or a terminally-sterilized product.
As used herein, “placenta” refers to the organ that connects a developing fetus to the maternal uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the maternal blood supply. The placenta is composed of three layers. The innermost placental layer surrounding the fetus is called amnion. The allantois is the middle layer of the placenta (derived from the embryonic hindgut); blood vessels originating from the umbilicus traverse this membrane. The outermost layer of the placenta, the chorion, comes into contact with the endometrium. The chorion and allantois fuse to form the chorioallantoic membrane.
As used herein, “chorion” refers to the membrane formed by extraembryonic mesoderm and the two layers of trophoblast. The chorion consists of two layers: an outer formed by the trophoblast, and an inner formed by the somatic mesoderm; the amnion is in contact with the latter. The trophoblast is made up of an internal layer of cubical or prismatic cells, the cytotrophoblast or layer of Langhans, and an external layer of richly nucleated protoplasm devoid of cell boundaries, the syncytiotrophoblast. The avascular amnion is adherent to the inner layer of the chorion.
As used herein, “amnion-chorion” refers to a product comprising amnion and chorion. In some embodiments, the amnion and the chorion are not separated (i.e., the amnion is naturally adherent to the inner layer of the chorion). In some embodiments, the amnion is initially separated from the chorion and later combined with the chorion during processing.
As used herein, “umbilical cord” refers to the organ that connects a developing fetus to the placenta. The umbilical cord is composed of Wharton's jelly, a gelatinous substance made largely from mucopolysaccharides. It contains one vein, which carries oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood to the fetus, and two arteries that carry deoxygenated, nutrient-depleted blood away.
As used herein, “placental amniotic membrane” (PAM) refers to amniotic membrane derived from the placenta. In some embodiments, the PAM is substantially isolated.
As used herein, “umbilical cord amniotic membrane” (UCAM) means amniotic membrane derived from the umbilical cord. UCAM is a translucent membrane. The UCAM has multiple layers an epithelial layer, a basement membrane; a compact layer; a fibroblast layer; and a spongy layer. It lacks blood vessels or a direct blood supply. In some embodiments, the UCAM comprises Wharton's Jelly. In some embodiments, the UCAM comprises blood vessels and/or arteries. In some embodiments, the UCAM comprises Wharton's Jelly and blood vessels and/or arteries.
As used herein, “human tissue” means any tissue derived from a human body. In some embodiments, the human tissue is a fetal support tissue selected from the group consisting of placental amniotic membrane, umbilical cord, umbilical cord amniotic membrane, chorion, amnion-chorion, placenta, or any combination thereof.
As used herein, “minimal manipulation” means (1) for structural tissue, processing that does not alter the original relevant characteristics of the tissue relating to the tissue's utility for reconstruction, repair, or replacement; and (2) for cells or nonstructural tissues, processing that does not alter the relevant biological characteristics of cells or tissues.
As used herein, “graft” means a matrix of proteins (e.g., collagen and elastin) and glycans (e.g., dermatan, hyaluronan, and chondroitin) that is used to replace damaged, compromised, or missing tissue. In certain instances, the matrix is laid down and host cells gradually integrate into the matrix.
As used herein, “sheet” means any continuous expanse or surface. In some embodiments, a sheet of a fetal support tissue product is substantially flattened. In some embodiments, a sheet of a fetal support tissue product is flat. In some embodiments, a sheet of fetal support tissue product is tubular. In some embodiments, the sheet is any shape or size suitable for the wound to be treated. In some embodiments, the sheet is a square, circle, triangle, or rectangle.
The term “fresh fetal support tissue” refers to fetal support tissue that is less than 10 days old following birth, and which is in substantially the same form as it was following birth. In some embodiments, the fresh fetal support tissue comprises fetal support tissue cells. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue cells comprise pericytes. In some embodiments, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or at least 95% of the biological activity of the cell support tissue cells is maintained.
“Substantially isolated” or “isolated” when used in the context of a fetal support tissue product means that the fetal support tissue product is separated from most other non-fetal support tissue materials (e.g., other tissues, red blood cells, veins, arteries) derived from the original source organism.
As used herein, the phrase “wherein the biological and structural integrity of the isolated fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved” means that when compared to the biological activity and structural integrity of fresh fetal support tissue, the biological activity and structural integrity of the isolated fetal support tissue has only decreased by about 5%, about 10%, about 15%, about 20%, about 25%, about 30%, about 35%, about 40%, about 50%, or about 60%.
As used herein, “processing” means any activity performed on a fetal support tissue or a preparation comprising HC-HA/PTX3, other than recovery, donor screening, donor testing, storage, labeling, packaging, or distribution, such as testing for microorganisms, preparation, sterilization, steps to inactivate or remove adventitious agents, preservation for storage, and removal from storage.
As used herein, the terms “purified” and “isolated” mean a material (e.g., HC-HA/PTX3 complex) substantially or essentially free from components that normally accompany it in its native state. In some embodiments, “purified” or “isolated” mean a material (e.g., HC-HA/PTX3 complex) is about 50% or more free from components that normally accompany it in its native state, for example, about 50%, about 55%, about 60%, about 65%, about 70%, about 75%, about 80%, about 85%, about 90%, about 91%, about 92%, about 93%, about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, or about 99% free from components that normally accompany it in its native state.
As used herein, “biological activity” means the activity of polypeptides and polysaccharides of the fetal support tissue product comprising HC-HA/PTX3. In some embodiments, the biological activity of polypeptides and polysaccharides found in the fetal tissue support product is anti-inflammatory, anti-scarring, anti-angiogenic, or anti-adhesion. In some embodiments, the biological activity refers to the in vivo activities of the HC-HA/PTX3 complex in the fetal tissue support product or physiological responses that result upon in vivo administration of the fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the biological activity of HC-HA/PTX3 complex in the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved. In some embodiments, the activity of polypeptides and polysaccharides found in the fetal tissue support product is promoting wound healing. In some embodiments, the activity of polypeptides and polysaccharides found in the fetal support tissue product is preventing scarring. In some embodiments, the activity of polypeptides and polysaccharides found in the fetal support tissue product is reducing inflammation. Biological activity, thus, encompasses therapeutic effects and pharmaceutical activity of the HC-HA/PTX3 complex in the fetal support tissue product.
As used herein, “structural integrity” means the integrity of stroma and basement membrane that make up the fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the structural integrity of the fetal support tissue product results in suture pull out strength.
As used herein, a reconstituted HC-HA/PTX3 (rcHC-HA/PTX3) complex is an HC-HA/PTX3 complex that is formed by assembly of the component molecules of the complex in vitro. The process of assembling the rcHC-HA/PTX3 includes reconstitution with purified native proteins or molecules from biological source, recombinant proteins generated by recombinant methods, or synthesis of molecules by in vitro synthesis. In some instances, the purified native proteins used for assembly of the rcHC-HA/PTX3 are proteins in a complex with other proteins (i.e. a multimer, a multichain protein or other complex). In some instances, PTX3 is purified as a multimer (e.g. a homomultimer) from a cell and employed for assembly of the rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex.
As used herein, a purified native HC-HA/PTX3 (nHC-HA/PTX3) complex refers to an HC-HA/PTX3 complex that is purified from a biological source such as a cell, a tissue or a biological fluid. In some embodiments, the nHC-HA/PTX3 is purified from a fetal support tissue. In some embodiments the nHC-HA/PTX3 is purified from amniotic membrane. In some embodiments the nHC-HA/PTX3 is purified from umbilical cord. Such complexes are generally assembled in vivo in a subject or ex vivo in cells, tissues, or biological fluids from a subject, including a human or other animal.
As used herein, a PTX3/HA complex refers to an intermediate complex that is formed by contacting PTX3 with immobilized HA. In the methods provided herein, the PTX3/HA complex is the generated prior to the addition of HC1 to HA.
As used herein, “hyaluronan,” “hyaluronic acid,” or “hyaluronate” (HA) are used interchangeably to refer to a substantially non-sulfated linear glycosaminoglycan (GAG) with repeating disaccharide units of D-glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine (D-glucuronosyl-N-acetylglucosamine).
As used herein, the term “tissue having unwanted changes” refers to tissue that is degenerated due to, for example, a degenerative disease (for example, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, muscular dystrophy, and Huntington's disease) or aging; scar tissue; or damaged due to an insult, such as a burn, wound, laceration, injury, ulcer, surgery, or due to ischemia.
As used herein, the term “mesenchymal cell characteristic of the tissue” refers to specialized cells characteristic of the tissue, such as, for example, cardiomyocytes, osteoblasts (bone cells), chondrocytes (cartilage cells), myocytes (muscle cells), and adipocytes (fat cells).
As used herein, the term “high molecular weight” or “HMW,” as in high molecular weight hyaluronan (HMW HA), is meant to refer to HA that has a weight average molecular weight that is greater than about 500 kilodaltons (kDa), such as, for example, between about 500 kDa and about 10,000 kDa, between about 800 kDa and about 8,500 kDa, between about 1100 kDa and about 5,000 kDa, or between about 1400 kDa and about 3,500 kDa. In some embodiments, the HMW HA has a weight average molecular weight of 3000 kDa or greater. In some embodiments, the HMW HA has a weight average molecular weight of 3000 kDa. In some embodiments, the HMW HA is Healon® with a weight average molecular weight of about 3000 kDa. In some embodiments, HMW HA has a molecular weight of between about 500 kDa and about 10,000 kDa. In some embodiments, BMW HA has a molecular weight of between about 800 kDa and about 8,500 kDa. In some embodiments, BMW HA has a molecular weight of about 3,000 kDa.
As used herein, the term “low molecular weight” or “LMW,” as in low molecular weight hyaluronan (LMW HA), is meant to refer to HA that has a weight average molecular weight that is less than 500 kDa, such as for example, less than about 400 kDa, less than about 300 kDa, less than about 200 kDa, less than about 100 kDa, less than about 50 kDa, less than about 40 kDa, less than about 30 kDa, less than about 20 kDa, about 200-300 kDa, about 1-300 kDa, about 15 to about 40 kDa, or about 8-10 kDa.
As used herein, pentraxin 3, or PTX3, protein or polypeptide refers to any PTX3 protein, including but not limited to, a recombinantly produced protein, a synthetically produced protein, a native PTX3 protein, and a PTX3 protein extracted from cells or tissues. PTX3 include multimeric forms (e.g. homomultimer) of PTX3, including, but not limited to, dimeric, trimeric, tetrameric, pentameric, hexameric, tetrameric, octameric, and other multimeric forms naturally or artificially produced.
As used herein, tumor necrosis factor stimulated gene-6 (TSG-6) refers to any TSG-6 protein or polypeptide, including but not limited to, a recombinantly produced protein, a synthetically produced protein, a native TSG-6 protein, and a TSG-6 protein extracted from cells or tissues.
As used herein, inter-α-inhibitor (IαI) refers to the IαI protein comprised of light chain (i.e., bikunin) and one or both heavy chains of type HC1 or HC2 covalently connected by a chondroitin sulfate chain. In some embodiments, the source of IαI is from serum or from cells producing IαI e.g., hepatic cells or amniotic epithelial or stromal cells or umbilical epithelial or stromal cells under a constitutive mode stimulation by proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 or TNF-α.
As used herein, a “hyaluronan binding protein,” “HA binding protein,” or “HABP” refers to any protein that specifically binds to HA.
The terms “effective amount” or “therapeutically effective amount,” as used herein, refer to a sufficient amount of an agent or a compound being administered which will relieve to some extent one or more of the symptoms of the disease or condition being treated. In some embodiments, the result is a reduction and/or alleviation of the signs, symptoms, or causes of a disease, or any other desired alteration of a biological system. For example, an “effective amount” for therapeutic uses is the amount of the composition including a compound as disclosed herein required to provide a clinically significant decrease in disease symptoms without undue adverse side effects. In some embodiments, an appropriate “effective amount” in any individual case is determined using techniques, such as a dose escalation study. The term “therapeutically effective amount” includes, for example, a prophylactically effective amount. An “effective amount” of a compound disclosed herein, is an amount effective to achieve a desired effect or therapeutic improvement without undue adverse side effects. It is understood that, in some cases, “an effective amount” or “a therapeutically effective amount” varies from subject to subject, due to variation in metabolism of the composition, age, weight, general condition of the subject, the condition being treated, the severity of the condition being treated, and the judgment of the prescribing physician. In some embodiments, an effective amount is an amount of a product or compound sufficient to promote vasculogenesis or normal angiogenesis in a tissue.
As used herein, the terms “subject,” “individual” and “patient” are used interchangeably. None of the terms are to be interpreted as requiring the supervision of a medical professional (e.g., a doctor, nurse, physician's assistant, orderly, hospice worker). As used herein, the subject is any animal, including mammals (e.g., a human or non-human animal) and non-mammals. In one embodiment of the methods and compositions provided herein, the mammal is a human.
As used herein, the terms “treat,” “treating” or “treatment,” and other grammatical equivalents, include alleviating, abating or ameliorating one or more symptoms of a disease or condition, ameliorating, preventing or reducing the appearance, severity or frequency of one or more additional symptoms of a disease or condition, ameliorating or preventing the underlying metabolic causes of one or more symptoms of a disease or condition, inhibiting the disease or condition, such as, for example, arresting the development of the disease or condition, relieving the disease or condition, causing regression of the disease or condition, relieving a condition caused by the disease or condition, or inhibiting the symptoms of the disease or condition either prophylactically and/or therapeutically. In a non-limiting example, for prophylactic benefit, an rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex or composition disclosed herein is administered to an individual at risk of developing a particular disorder, predisposed to developing a particular disorder, or to an individual reporting one or more of the physiological symptoms of a disorder.
Provided herein, in some embodiments, are methods of promoting vasculogenesis in an individual in need thereof. Provided herein, in some embodiments, are methods of promoting neurovasculogenesis in an individual in need thereof. In some embodiments, promoting vasculogenesis or neurovasculogenesis in an individual in need thereof comprises contacting a tissue with a fetal support tissue product described herein. In some embodiments, the tissue comprises endothelial cells and pericytes. In some embodiments, the tissue comprises neural crest progenitor cells. In some embodiments, the tissue comprises endothelial cells and the method comprises further recruiting pericytes to the tissue. In some embodiments, the tissue comprises endothelial cells and the method comprises further recruiting neural crest progenitor cells to the tissue. In some embodiments, the tissue is an ischemic tissue. In some embodiments, the methods described herein prevent necrosis of the tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product recruits pericytes, neural crest progenitors, or a combination thereof to a site of administration. In some embodiments, the site of administration is a tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product reprograms a progenitor cell into a cell that promotes vasculogenesis or neurovasculogenesis. In some embodiments, the progenitor cell is a neural crest progenitor cell. In some embodiments, the neural crest progenitor cell is reprogrammed into a pericyte.
Further provided herein, in some embodiments, are methods of treating an ischemic condition in an individual in need thereof. In some embodiments, treating an ischemic condition in an individual comprises contacting an ischemic tissue with a fetal support tissue product described herein. In some embodiments, the ischemic tissue comprises endothelial cells and pericytes. In some embodiments, the ischemic tissue comprises endothelial cells and the method comprises further recruiting pericytes to the ischemic tissue. In some embodiments, the methods described herein prevent necrosis of the ischemic tissue. In some embodiments, the ischemic condition comprises cardiac ischemia, ischemic colitis, mesenteric ischemia, brain ischemia, acute limb ischemia, cyanosis, and gangrene. Further provided herein, in some embodiments, are methods of treatment microvascular disease. In some embodiments, the microvascular disease is a diabetes-associated microvascular disease. In some embodiments, the diabetes-associated microvascular disease is retinopathy or nephropathy. In some embodiments, the ischemic condition is a neurotrophic or neuropathic condition. In some embodiments, the neuropathic condition diminishes the function of one nerve or more than one nerve. In some embodiments, the neuropathic condition is a hereditary neuropathy or an acquired neuropathy. In some embodiments, the acquired neuropathy is neuropathy caused by a trauma, an infection, a disease, a medication, a vascular disorder, a vitamin imbalance, or alcoholism. In some embodiments, the disease is diabetes.
In some instances, the tissue is an ocular tissue, a brain tissue, a cardiac tissue, a skin tissue, a joint, a spine, a soft tissue, a muscle tissue, a cartilage, a bone, a tendon, a ligament, a nerve, or an intervertebral disc. In some instances, the tissue is an ocular tissue. In some instances, the tissue is a cardiac tissue. In some instances, the tissue is a skin tissue. In some instances, the tissue having unwanted changes is a joint tissue. In some instances, the tissue is from a spine. In some instances, the tissue is an intervertebral disc. In some instances, the tissue is a soft tissue. In some instances, the tissue is a muscle tissue. In some instances, the tissue is a cartilage. In some instances, the tissue is a bone. In some instances, the tissue is a tendon. In some instances, the tissue is a ligament. In some instances, the tissue is a nerve.
In some instances, the tissue comprises degenerated tissue, a burn, a laceration, ischemic tissue, a wound, an injury, an ulcer, or a surgical incision. In some embodiments, the tissue comprises an ulcer, wound, perforation, burn, surgery, injury, or fistula. In some instances, the tissue comprises a degenerated tissue. In some instances, the tissue comprises a burn. In some instances, the tissue comprises a laceration. In some instances, the tissue comprises an ischemic tissue. In some instances, the tissue comprises a wound. In some instances, the tissue comprises an injury. In some instances, the injury is a myocardial infarction. In some instances, the tissue comprises an ulcer. In some embodiments, the ulcer is a diabetic ulcer. In some instances, the tissue comprises a surgical incision.
In some embodiments, the contacting occurs for a time sufficient vasculogenesis or neurovasculogenesis to occur. In some embodiments, the period of time at least 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 1 week, or 2 weeks.
In some embodiments, the contacting occurs for a time sufficient for the fetal support tissue product to reprogram a progenitor cell into a cell that promotes vasculogenesis or neurovasculogenesis. In some embodiments, the progenitor cell is a neural crest progenitor cell. In some embodiments, the neural crest progenitor cell is reprogrammed into a pericyte. In some embodiments, the period of time at least 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 1 week, or 2 weeks.
In some embodiments, the contacting occurs for a time sufficient to induce gene expression. In some embodiments, the contacting to induce gene expression comprises 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 1 week, or 2 weeks.
In some embodiments, the contacting occurs for a time sufficient to induce nuclear translocation of a transcription factor. In some embodiments, the contacting to induce nuclear translocation of a transcription factor comprises at least about 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 16 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, or more than 4 days. at least 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 1 week, or 2 weeks.
In some embodiments, recruiting a neural crest progenitor cell to the tissue comprises contacting the tissue with a fetal support tissue product described herein. In some embodiments, recruiting pericytes to the tissue comprises administering to the tissue a fetal support tissue product described herein. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product attracts pericytes, neural crest progenitor cells, or a combination thereof to a site of the administration. In some embodiments, the pericytes are cells expressing a pericyte phenotype. In some embodiments, the cells expressing a pericyte phenotype are limbal niche cells (LNCs).
In some embodiments, the ratio of endothelial cells to pericytes in the tissue is 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1, 6:1, 7:1, 8:1, 9:1, or 10:1. In some embodiments, the tissue is contacted with pericytes to reach a ratio of endothelial cells to pericytes is 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1, 6:1, 7:1, 8:1, 9:1, or 10:1. In some embodiments, pericytes are recruited to the tissue to reach a ratio of endothelial cells to pericytes of 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1, 6:1, 7:1, 8:1, 9:1, or 10:1
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises an extract of fetal support tissue, a fetal support tissue homogenate, a fetal support tissue powder, morselized fetal support tissue, pulverized fetal support tissue, ground fetal support tissue, a fetal support tissue graft, purified HC-HA/PTX3, reconstituted HC-HA/PTX3 or a combination thereof.
Provided herein, in certain embodiments, are methods of promoting vasculogenesis or neurovasculogenesis in an individual in need thereof, wherein contacting a tissue with a fetal support tissue product modulates gene expression. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises native HC-HA/PTX3 complex, reconstituted HC-HA/PTX3 (rcHC-HA/PTX3) complex, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the HC-HA/PTX3 results in an increase in an expression of angiogenic genes, neurogenic genes, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the HC-HA/PTX3 results in an increase in an expression of angiogenic genes, neurogenic genes, or a combination thereof by at least about 0.5×, 1.0×, 1.5×, 2.0×, 3.0×, 4.0×, or more than 4.0×. In some embodiments, the angiogenic genes, neurogenic genes, or a combination thereof comprises VEGF, PDGFα, PDGFβ, CD31, IGF-1, NGF, p75NTR Sox-2, Musashi-1, PDGFRα, PDGFRβ, VEGFR1, or VEGFR2.
In some embodiments, a tissue is contacted with a fetal support tissue product comprising native HC-HA/PTX3 complex, reconstituted HC-HA/PTX3 (rcHC-HA/PTX3) complex, or a combination thereof for a sufficient amount of time to modulate gene expression. In some embodiments, the tissue is contacted with a fetal support tissue product comprising native HC-HA/PTX3 complex for at least about 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 16 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, or more than 4 days. at least 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 1 week, or 2 weeks.
In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates cellular function. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 promotes apoptosis, necrosis, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 promotes apoptosis, necrosis, or a combination thereof by at least about 0.5×, 1.0×, 1.5×, 2.0×, 3.0×, 4.0×, or more than 4.0×. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 inhibits cell proliferation. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 inhibits cell proliferation by at least about 0.5×, 1.0×, 1.5×, 2.0×, 3.0×, 4.0×, or more than 4.0×.
In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates cell signaling. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates cell signaling by increasing gene expression, protein expression, protein activity, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates cell signaling by decreasing gene expression, protein expression, protein activity, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates SDF-1/CXCR signaling. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates HIF1 signaling. In some embodiments, HIF1 comprises H1Fla. In some embodiments, HIF1 comprises HIF1β. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates TGFβ signaling. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates non-canonical TGFβ signaling. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates CD44ICD signaling. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates Hes signaling. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates Pax6 signaling. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates Notch signaling. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates Notch signaling by modulating expression of Notch ligands, Notch receptors, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the Notch ligands comprises Notch 1, Notch 2, Notch 3, Notch 4, Jagged 1, Jagged 2, Jagged 3, DLL1, DLL2, DLL3, or DLL4. In some embodiments, the Notch ligands comprises Notch 2, Notch 3, Jagged 1 or DLL2.
In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates multiple signaling pathways. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates SDF-1/CXCR, HIF1, TGFβ, CD44ICD, Hes, Pax6, Notch signaling, or combinations thereof.
Provided herein, in certain embodiments, are methods of promoting vasculogenesis or neurovasculogenesis in an individual in need thereof, wherein contacting a tissue with a fetal support tissue product results in cell reprograming. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates cell reprograming. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates cell aggregation, cell shape, or an expression of a cell-specific marker.
In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 reprograms LNCs to a progenitor phenotype. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 reprograms LNCs to a vascular progenitor phenotype. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates expression of FLK-1, CD34, CD31, α-SMA, PDGFRβ, NG2, Pax6, p75NTR, Musashi-1, Sox2, Nestin, Msx1, FoxD3, FLK-1, PDGFRβ, CD31, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, HC-HA/PTX3 modulates expression Pax6. In some embodiments, a time sufficient to reprogram LNCs is at least 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, 6 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours, 9 hours, 10 hours, 11 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 36 hours, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 7 days, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, or 4 weeks.
In some embodiments the methods further comprise contacting a tissue with TGFβ1. In some embodiments, additional administration of TGFβ1 is required to perform the methods described herein. In some embodiments, additional administration of TGFβ1 is not required to perform the methods described herein. In some embodiments, the cell is contacted simultaneously with a fetal support tissue product comprising HC-HA/PTX3 and TGFβ1. In some embodiments, the tissue is contacted sequentially with the fetal support tissue product comprising HC-HA/PTX3 first and then the TGFβ1. In some embodiments, the tissue is contacted sequentially with the TGFβ1 first and then the fetal support tissue product comprising HC-HA/PTX3. In some embodiments, the TGFβ1 is administered in a therapeutically effective amount. In some embodiments, a therapeutically effective amount of TGFβ1 is an amount of TGFβ1 sufficient to enable the fetal support tissue product comprising HC-HA/PTX3 to perform the methods described herein.
In some embodiments, a fetal support tissue product is ground fetal support tissue, pulverized fetal support tissue, powdered fetal support tissue, micronized fetal support tissue, morselized fetal support tissue, a fetal support tissue graft, a fetal support tissue sheet, a fetal support tissue homogenate, a fetal support tissue extract, or any combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is terminally-sterilized. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is a purified native HC-HA/PTX3 complex, a reconstituted HC-HA/PTX3, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is pulverized, powdered, or micronized fetal support tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is morselized fetal support tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is an extract of a fetal support tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue is a placental amniotic membrane, umbilical cord, umbilical cord amniotic membrane, chorion, amnion-chorion, placenta, amniotic stroma, amniotic jelly, or any combination thereof.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is an umbilical cord product, an amniotic membrane product, or umbilical cord amniotic membrane product. In some embodiments, the umbilical cord product comprises umbilical cord amniotic membrane and at least some Wharton's jelly. In some embodiments, the umbilical cord product lacks umbilical cord vein and arteries.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is an extract of a fetal support tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is purified native HC-HA/PTX3 complex (nHC-HA/PTX3) from a fetal support tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is a reconstituted HC-HA/PTX3 complex (rHC-HA/PTX3). In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product consists essentially of nHC-HA/PTX3. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product consists essentially of rcHC-HA/PTX3. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product a combination of nHC-HA/PTX3 and rcHC-HA/PTX3. In some embodiments, the nHC-HA/PTX3 or the rcHC-HA/PTX3 further comprises a small leucine rich proteoglycan (SLRP). In some embodiments, the SLRP is a class I, class II or class II SLRP. In some embodiments, the SLRP is selected from among class I SLRPs, such as decorin and biglycan. In some embodiments, the SLRP is selected from among class II SLRPs, such as fibromodulin, lumican, PRELP (proline arginine rich end leucine-rich protein), keratocan, and osteoadherin. In some embodiments, the SLRP is selected from among class III SLRPs, such as epipycan and osteoglycin. In some embodiments, the SLRP is selected from among bikunin, decorin, biglycan, and osteoadherin. In some embodiments, the SLRP comprises a glycosaminoglycan. In some embodiments, the SLRP comprises keratan sulfate.
Generation of Fetal Support Tissue Products
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is derived from an umbilical cord (UC) tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is derived from an amniotic membrane (AM) tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is derived from an umbilical cord amniotic membrane tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises: isolated fetal support tissue that does not comprise a vein or an artery. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises: isolated fetal support tissue that does not comprise a vein or an artery, a cell with metabolic activity, active HIV-1, active HIV-2, active HTLV-1, active hepatitis B, active hepatitis C, active West Nile Virus, active cytomegalovirus, active human transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, or active Treponema pallidum, wherein the natural structural integrity of the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved for at least 15 days after initial procurement. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises umbilical cord amniotic membrane and Wharton's Jelly. In some embodiments, the biological activity of HC-HA/PTX3 complex in the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved. In some embodiments, the biological activity of HC-HA/PTX3 complex in the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved for at least 15 days. In some embodiments, the biological and structural integrity of the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved for at least 20 days after initial procurement. In some embodiments, the biological and structural integrity of the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved for at least 25 days after initial procurement. In some embodiments, the biological and structural integrity of the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved for at least 30 days after initial procurement. In some embodiments, the biological and structural integrity of the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved for at least 35 days after initial procurement. In some embodiments, the biological and structural integrity of the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved for at least 40 days after initial procurement. In some embodiments, the biological and structural integrity of the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved for at least 45 days after initial procurement. In some embodiments, the biological and structural integrity of the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved for at least 50 days after initial procurement. In some embodiments, the biological and structural integrity of the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved for at least 55 days after initial procurement. In some embodiments, the biological and structural integrity of the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved for at least 60 days after initial procurement. In some embodiments, the biological and structural integrity of the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved for at least 90 days after initial procurement. In some embodiments, the biological and structural integrity of the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved for at least 180 days after initial procurement. In some embodiments, the biological and structural integrity of the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved for at least 1 year after initial procurement. In some embodiments, the biological and structural integrity of the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved for at least 2 years after initial procurement. In some embodiments, the biological and structural integrity of the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved for at least 3 years after initial procurement. In some embodiments, the biological and structural integrity of the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved for at least 4 years after initial procurement. In some embodiments, the biological and structural integrity of the fetal support tissue product is substantially preserved for at least 5 years after initial procurement. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue is obtained from a human, a non-human primate, a cow or a pig.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is kept below 0° C. until donor and specimen eligibility has been determined. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is kept from between 0° C. to −80° C. until donor and specimen eligibility has been determined. In some embodiments, storing the fetal support tissue product at −80° C. kills substantially all cells found in the fetal support tissue. In some embodiments, storing the fetal support tissue product at −80° C. kills substantially all cells found in the fetal support tissue product while maintaining or increasing the biological activity of the fetal support tissue product (e.g., its anti-inflammatory, anti-scarring, anti-antigenic, and anti-adhesion properties) relative to fresh (i.e., non-frozen) fetal support tissue. In some embodiments, storing the fetal support tissue product at −80° C. results in the loss of metabolic activity in substantially all cells found in the fetal support tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue is dried. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue is not dehydrated.
Processing of Fetal Support Tissue
In some embodiments, processing is done following Good Tissue Practices (GTP) to ensure that no contaminants are introduced into the fetal support tissue product.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue is tested for HIV-1, HIV-2, HTLV-1, hepatitis B and C, West Nile virus, cytomegalovirus, human transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (e.g., Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) and Treponema pallidum using FDA licensed screening test. In some embodiments, any indication that the tissue is contaminated with HIV-1, HIV-2, HTLV-1, hepatitis B and C, West Nile virus, or cytomegalovirus results in the immediate quarantine and subsequent destruction of the tissue specimen. In some embodiments, the donor's medical records are examined for risk factors for and clinical evidence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV infection.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue is frozen. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue is not frozen. If the fetal support tissue is not frozen, it is processed as described below immediately.
In some embodiments, substantially all of the blood is removed from the fetal support tissue (e.g., from any arteries and veins found in the fetal support tissue, and blood that has infiltrated into the tissue). In some embodiments, substantially all of the blood is removed before the fetal support tissue is frozen. In some embodiments, blood is not removed from the fetal support tissue. In some embodiments, blood is not removed from the fetal support tissue before the fetal support tissue is frozen. In some embodiments, the blood is substantially removed after the fetal support tissue has been frozen.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue is washed with buffer with agitation to remove excess blood and tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue is soaked with buffer with agitation to remove excess blood and tissue.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is a fetal support tissue graft. In some embodiments, isolated fetal support tissue is used to generate a fetal support tissue graft. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue is cut into multiple sections (e.g., using a scalpel). The size of the sections depends on the desired use of the fetal support tissue graft derived from the fetal support tissue. In some embodiments, the cut fetal support tissue is optionally washed again with buffer to further remove excess blood and tissue.
The umbilical cord comprises two arteries (the umbilical arteries) and one vein (the umbilical vein). In some embodiments, the vein and arteries are removed from the UC. In some embodiments, the vein and the arteries are not removed from the UC. In certain instances, the vein and arteries are surrounded (or suspended or buried) within the Wharton's Jelly. In some embodiments, the vein and arteries are removed concurrently with the removal of the Wharton's Jelly.
The desired thickness of the fetal support tissue product determines how the fetal support tissue product is processed. In some embodiments, the desired thickness of the fetal support tissue product determines how much of the Wharton's Jelly is removed. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is contacted with a buffer to facilitate separation of the Wharton's Jelly and the UCAM. In some embodiments, the Wharton's jelly is removed using peeling, a rotoblator (i.e., a catheter attached to a drill with a diamond coated burr), a liposuction, a liquid under high pressure, a brush (e.g., a mechanized brush rotating under high speed), or a surgical dermatome. In some embodiments, Wharton's Jelly is not removed. In some embodiments, Wharton's Jelly and the umbilical vein and arteries are not removed. In some embodiments, Wharton's Jelly is not removed, and the umbilical vein and arteries are removed.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises isolated umbilical cord amniotic membrane (UCAM). In certain instances, the UCAM comprises proteins, glycans, protein-glycan complexes (e.g., a complex of hyaluronic acid and a heavy chain of IαI and PTX3) and enzymes that promote tissue repair. For example, the stroma of UCAM contains growth factors, anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory proteins, as well as natural inhibitors to various proteases. In some embodiments, proteins and enzymes found in the UCAM diffuse out of the UC and into the surrounding tissue. In some embodiments, the UCAM is isolated by removing all of the Wharton's Jelly and umbilical vessels from the UC, leaving the UCAM. After substantially pure UCAM has been obtained, the UCAM is optionally washed with buffer to remove excess blood and tissue. In some embodiments, the UCAM comprises Wharton's Jelly.
In some embodiments, the UCAM comprises Wharton's Jelly and the umbilical vein and arteries. In some embodiments, the UCAM comprises Wharton's Jelly and not the umbilical vein and arteries.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is in any suitable shape (e.g., a square, a circle, a triangle, a rectangle). In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is generated from a sheet of fetal support tissue. In some embodiments, the sheet is flat. In some embodiments, the sheet is tubular.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is cut into multiple sections (e.g., using a scalpel). In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is divided into sections that are about 1.0 cm×about 0.25 cm, 0.5 cm, 0.75 cm, 1.0 cm, 2.0 cm, 3.0 cm, 4.0 cm, 5.0 cm, or 6 cm. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is divided into sections that are about 2 cm×about 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, or 6 cm. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is divided into sections that are about 3 cm×about 3 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, or 6 cm. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is divided into sections that are about 4 cm×about 4 cm, 5 cm, or 6 cm. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is divided into sections that are about 5 cm×about 5 cm or 6 cm. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is divided into sections that are about 6 cm×about 6 cm. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is divided into sections that are about 8 cm×about 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, 6 cm, 7 cm, or 8 cm. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is divided into sections that are about 10 cm×about 10 cm. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is divided into sections that are about 12 cm×about 10 cm. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is divided into sections that are about 15 cm×about 10 cm. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is divided into sections that are about 20 cm×about 10 cm. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is divided into sections that are about 25 cm×about 10 cm. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is divided into sections that are about 30 cm×about 10 cm.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is contacted with buffer under agitation to remove substantially all remaining red blood cells. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is contacted with a buffer for 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 25 minutes, 30 minutes, 40 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, 24 hours, or more than 24 hours. In some embodiments, the UC product is contacted with a buffer for 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 7 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks or more than 4 weeks.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated as a non-solid dosage form. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated as a solid dosage form.
Processing a Fetal Support Tissue Product
In some embodiments, isolated fetal support tissue is used to generate a morselized fetal support tissue product. As used herein, “morsel” refers to particles of tissue ranging in size from about 0.1 mm to about 1.0 cm in length, width, or thickness that have been obtained from a larger piece of tissue. A “morsel” as described herein, retains the characteristics of the tissue from which it was obtained and upon inspection is identifiable as said tissue. As used herein, the terms “morselized,” “morselizing,” and “morselization” refer to actions involving the “morsels” of the present application. In some embodiments, the morselized fetal support tissue product is further processed into a solution, suspension or emulsion by mixing the morselized fetal support tissue with a carrier. In some embodiments, the morselized fetal support tissue product is formulated into a solution, suspension, paste, ointment, oil emulsion, cream, lotion, gel, a patch, sticks, film, paint, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the morselized fetal support tissue product is contacted with a patch or wound dressing. In some embodiments, the morselized fetal support tissue product is formulated for parenteral injection, is administered as a sterile solution, suspension, or emulsion, or is formulated for inhalation.
In some embodiments, a mixture of amniotic membrane tissue and umbilical cord tissue in any ratio from 0.001:99.999 w/w % to 99.999:0.001 w/w % is morselized from either fresh or frozen tissue through the use of any morselizing tool known to one of skill in the art such as, for example, tissue grinder, sonicator, bread beater, freezer/mill, blender, mortar/pestle, Roto-stator, kitchen chopper, grater, ruler and scalpel to yield morsels ranging in size from about 0.1 mm to about 1.0 cm in length, width, or thickness. In some embodiments, the resulting morsels are homogenized to yield consistently sized morsels. In some embodiments, the resulting morsels are used wet, partially dehydrated or essentially dehydrated by any means known to one of skill in the art such as, for example, centrifuge or lyophilization. In some embodiments, the resulting fetal support tissue product is used immediately or stored for later use in any type of contained known to one of skill in the art such as, for example, pouch, jar, bottle, tube, ampule and pre-filled syringe. In some embodiments, the morselized fetal support tissue product is sterilized by any method known to one of skill in the art such as, for example, γ radiation.
In some embodiments, isolated fetal support tissue is used to generate a pulverized fetal support tissue product. As used herein, “pulverized fetal support tissue product” means a fetal support tissue product comprising tissue that has been broken up (or, disassociated). In some embodiments, the pulverized fetal support tissue product is a dry powder. In some embodiments, the pulverized fetal support tissue product is further processed into a solution, suspension or emulsion by mixing the fetal support tissue powder with a carrier. In some embodiments, the pulverized fetal support tissue product is formulated into a solution, suspension, paste, ointment, oil emulsion, cream, lotion, gel, a patch, sticks, film, paint, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the pulverized fetal support tissue product is contacted with a patch or wound dressing. In some embodiments, the pulverized fetal support tissue product is formulated for parenteral injection, is administered as a sterile solution, suspension, or emulsion, or is formulated for inhalation.
In some embodiments, the isolated fetal support tissue is pulverized by any suitable method. In some embodiments, the isolated fetal support tissue is pulverized by use of a pulverizer (e.g., a Bessman Tissue Pulverizer, a Biospec biopulverizer, or a Covaris CryoPrep). In some embodiments, the isolated fetal support tissue is pulverized by use of a tissue grinder (e.g., a Potter-Elvehjem grinder or a Wheaton Overhead Stirrer). In some embodiments, the isolated fetal support tissue is pulverized by use of a sonicator. In some embodiments, the isolated fetal support tissue is pulverized by use of a bead beater. In some embodiments, the isolated fetal support tissue is pulverized by use of a freezer/mill (e.g., a SPEX® SamplePrep Freezer/Mill or a Retsch Ball Mill). In some embodiments, the isolated fetal support tissue is pulverized by use of a pestle and mortar. In some embodiments, the isolated fetal support tissue is pulverized by manual use of a pestle and mortar.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is an extract from a fetal support tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is an HC-HA/PTX3 complex. In some embodiments, the HC-HA/PTX3 complex is an nHC-HA/PTX3, an rcHC-HA/PTX3, or the combination thereof. In some embodiments, the HC-HA/PTX3 complex is purified by any suitable method.
In some embodiments, the HC-HA/PTX3 complex is purified by centrifugation (e.g., ultracentrifugation, gradient centrifugation), chromatography (e.g., ion exchange, affinity, size exclusion, and hydroxyapatite chromatography), gel filtration, or differential solubility, ethanol precipitation or by any other available technique for the purification of proteins (See, e.g., Scopes, Protein Purification Principles and Practice 2nd Edition, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1987; Higgins, S. J. and Hames, B. D. (eds.), Protein Expression: A Practical Approach, Oxford Univ Press, 1999; and Deutscher, M. P., Simon, M. I., Abelson, J. N. (eds.), Guide to Protein Purification: Methods in Enzymology (Methods in Enzymology Series, Vol 182), Academic Press, 1997, all incorporated herein by reference).
In some embodiments, an nHC-HA/PTX3 is isolated from an extract. In some embodiments, the extract is prepared from an amniotic membrane extract. In some embodiments, the extract is prepared from an umbilical cord extract. In some embodiments, the umbilical cord extract comprises umbilical cord stroma and/or Wharton's jelly. In some embodiments, the nHC-HA/PTX3 complex is contained in an extract that is prepared by ultracentrifugation. In some embodiments, the nHC-HA/PTX3 complex is contained in an extract that is prepared by ultracentrifugation using a CsCl/4-6M guanidine HC1 gradient. In some embodiments, the extract is prepared by at least 2 rounds of ultracentrifugation. In some embodiments, the extract is prepared by more than 2 rounds of ultracentrifugation (i.e. nHC-HA/PTX3 2nd). In some embodiments, the extract is prepared by at least 4 rounds of ultracentrifugation (i.e. nHC-HA/PTX3 4th). In some embodiments, the nHC-HA/PTX3 complex comprises a small leucine-rich proteoglycan. In some embodiments, the nHC-HA/PTX3 complex comprises HC1, HA, PTX3 and/or a small leucine-rich proteoglycan.
Cryopreservation
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is frozen for cryopreservation. In some embodiments, cryopreserving the fetal support tissue product does not destroy the integrity of the fetal support tissue extracellular matrix. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is exposed to a liquid gas (e.g., liquid nitrogen or liquid hydrogen). In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is exposed to liquid nitrogen. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product does not contact the liquid gas. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is placed in a container and the container is contacted with liquid gas. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is exposed to the liquid gas until the fetal support tissue product is frozen.
Lyophilization
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is lyophilized. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is lyophilized before being morselized, pulverized, cryopreserved, sterilized, or purified. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is lyophilized after being morselized, pulverized, cryopreserved, sterilized, or purified. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is lyophilized following freezing. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is lyophilized following freezing by any suitable method (e.g., exposure to a liquid gas, placement in a freezer). In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is frozen by exposure to a temperature below about 0° C. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is frozen by exposure to a temperature below about −20° C. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is frozen by exposure to a temperature below about −40° C. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is frozen by exposure to a temperature below about −50° C. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is frozen by exposure to a temperature below about −60° C. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is frozen by exposure to a temperature below about −70° C. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is frozen by exposure to a temperature below about −75° C. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is frozen by exposure to a temperature below about −80° C. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is frozen by exposure to a temperature below about −90° C. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is frozen by exposure to a temperature below about −100° C. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is frozen by exposure to a liquid gas. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is placed in a vacuum chamber of a lyophilization device until all or substantially all fluid (e.g., water) has been removed. In some embodiments, a cryopreserved fetal support tissue product is lyophilized.
Sterilization
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is subject to terminal sterilization by any suitable (e.g., medically acceptable) method. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is a lyophilized fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is exposed to gamma radiation for a period of time sufficient to sterilize the fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is exposed to gamma radiation at 25 kGy for a period of time sufficient to sterilize the fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is exposed to an electron beam for a period of time sufficient to sterilize the fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is exposed to X-ray radiation for a period of time sufficient to sterilize the fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is exposed to UV radiation for a period of time sufficient to sterilize the fetal support tissue product.
Rehydration
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is partially or fully rehydrated. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is rehydrated by contacting the fetal support tissue product with a buffer or with water. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is contacted with an isotonic buffer. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue is contacted with saline. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is contacted with PBS. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is contacted with Ringer's solution. In some embodiments, the Ringer's solution is Lactate Ringer's Saline. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is contacted with Hartmann's solution. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is contacted with a TRIS-buffered saline. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is contacted with a HEPES-buffered saline; 50% DMEM+50% Glycerol; 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or 100% glycerol; and/or 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or 100% propylene glycol.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is contacted with a buffer for 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 25 minutes, 30 minutes, 40 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, 24 hours, or more than 24 hours. In some embodiments, the UC product is contacted with a buffer for 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 7 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks or more than 4 weeks.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is stored for later use. In some embodiments, storing the fetal support tissue product does not destroy the integrity of the fetal support tissue extracellular matrix. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is lyophilized. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is stored in any suitable storage medium.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is optionally contacted with a substrate (i.e., a supportive backing). In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is not contacted with a substrate. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is orientated such that the fetal support tissue product is in contact with the substrate. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is orientated such that the stroma is in contact with the substrate. In some embodiments the fetal support tissue product is orientated such that the epithelial side is in contact with the substrate.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is attached to the substrate. In some embodiments, the substrate is nitrocellulose paper (NC). In some embodiments, the substrate is nylon membrane (NM). In some embodiments, the substrate is polyethersulfone membrane (PES).
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is a native HC-HA/PTX3 (nHC-HA/PTX3) complex, a reconstituted HC-HA/PTX3 (rcHC-HA/PTX3) complex, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises HC-HA/PTX3 and pharmaceutical excipient. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product consists essentially of an nHC-HA/PTX3 complex or a rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, excipient, vehicle, or carrier. In some embodiments, proper formulation is dependent upon the route of administration selected.
In some embodiments, the nHC-HA/PTX3 is isolated from an extract. In some embodiments, the extract is prepared from an amniotic membrane extract. In some embodiments, the extract is prepared from an umbilical cord extract. In some embodiments, the umbilical cord extract comprises umbilical cord stroma and/or Wharton's jelly. In some embodiments, the nHC-HA/PTX3 complex is contained in an extract that is prepared by ultracentrifugation. In some embodiments, the nHC-HA/PTX3 complex comprises a small leucine-rich proteoglycan. In some embodiments, the nHC-HA/PTX3 complex comprises HC1, HA, PTX3 and/or a small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP).
In some embodiments, ultracentrifugation is performed on a tissue extract. In some embodiments, ultracentrifugation is used to purify a nHC-HA/PTX3 soluble complex. In some embodiments, the nHC-HA soluble complex comprises a small leucine-rich proteoglycan. In some embodiments, the nHC-HA/PTX3 soluble complex comprises HC1, HA, PTX3 and/or a small leucine-rich proteoglycan.
In some embodiments, the nHC-HA/PTX3 complex is purified by immunoaffinity chromatography, affinity chromatography, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, anti HC1 antibodies, anti-HC2 antibodies, or both are generated and affixed to a stationary support. In some embodiments, the HC-HA complex binds to the antibodies (e.g., via interaction of (a) an anti-HC1 antibody and HC1, (b) an anti-HC2 antibody and HC2, (c) an anti-PTX antibody and PTX3, (d) an anti-SLRP antibody and the SLRP, or (e) any combination thereof). In some embodiments, HABP is generated and affixed to a stationary support.
In some embodiments, the nHC-HA/PTX3 complex is purified from the insoluble fraction as described herein using one or more antibodies. In some embodiments, the nHC-HA/PTX3 complex is purified from the insoluble fraction as described herein using anti-SLRP antibodies.
In some embodiments, the nHC-HA/PTX3 complex is purified from the soluble fraction as described herein. In some embodiments, the nHC-HA/PTX3 complex is purified from the soluble fraction as described herein using anti-PTX3 antibodies.
In some embodiments, the nHC-HA/PTX3 complex comprises a small leucine rich proteoglycan (SLRP). In some embodiments, the nHC-HA/PTX3 complex comprises a class I, class II or class II SLRP. In some embodiments, the small leucine-rich proteoglycan is selected from among class I SLRPs, such as decorin and biglycan. In some embodiments, the small leucine-rich proteoglycan is selected from among class II SLRPs, such as fibromodulin, lumican, PRELP (proline arginine rich end leucine-rich protein), keratocan, and osteoadherin. In some embodiments, the small leucine-rich proteoglycan is selected from among class III SLRPs, such as epipycan and osteoglycin. In some embodiments, the small leucine-rich proteoglycan is selected from among bikunin, decorin, biglycan, and osteoadherin. In some embodiments, the small leucine-rich protein comprises a glycosaminoglycan. In some embodiments, the small leucine-rich proteoglycan comprises keratan sulfate.
In some embodiments, a method for generating reconstituted HC-HA/PTX3 complexes comprises (a) contacting high molecular weight hyaluronan (HMW HA) with IαI and TSG-6 to HA to form an HC-HA complex pre-bound to TSG-6 and (b) contacting the HC-HA complex with pentraxin 3 (PTX3) under suitable conditions to form an rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex. Provided herein are rcHC-HA/PTX3 complexes produced by such method. In some embodiments, HC1 of IαI forms a covalent linkage with HA. In some embodiments, the steps (a) and (b) of the method are performed sequentially in order. In some embodiments, the method comprises contacting an HC-HA complex pre-bound to TSG-6 with PTX3. In some embodiments, the purified, rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex is produced in vitro by a method comprising (a) contacting high molecular weight hyaluronan (HMW HA) with (i) pentraxin 3 (PTX3) protein, (ii) inter-α-inhibitor (IαI) protein comprising heavy chain 1 (HC1) and heavy chain 2 (HC2) and (iii) tumor necrosis factor a-stimulated gene 6 (TSG-6) to form an rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex comprising HMW HA, HC1, HC2, and PTX3; and (b) purifying the rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex from unwanted components. In some embodiments, the purified nHC-HA/PTX3 does not comprise an inter-α-inhibitor (IαI) protein heavy chain 2 (HC2). In some embodiments, the purified rcHC-HA/PTX3 comprises an inter-α-inhibitor (IαI) protein comprising heavy chain 2 (HC2). In some embodiments, the rcHC-HA/PTX3 comprises HA, HC1, HC2, and PTX3. In some embodiments, the rcHC-HA/PTX3 comprises HA, HC1, HC2, PTX3, and TSG-6.
In some embodiments, the method comprises first contacting high molecular weight hyaluronan (HMW HA) with pentraxin 3 (PTX3) under suitable conditions to form a PTX3/HA complex, then contacting the PTX3/HA complex with IαI and TSG-6.
In some embodiments, the IαI protein and TSG-6 protein are contacted to the complex at a molar ratio of about 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1, 6:1, 7:1, 8:1, 9:1, 10:1, 15:1, or 20:1 (IαI:TSG-6). In some embodiments the ratio of IαI:TSG-6 ranges from about 1:1 to about 20:1, such as about 1:1 to about 10:1, such as about 1:1 to 5 about:1, such as about 1:1 to about 3:1. In some embodiments, the ratio of IαI:TSG-6 is 3:1 or higher. In some embodiments, the ratio of IαI:TSG-6 is 3:1.
In some embodiments, the steps (a) and (b) of the method are performed sequentially in order. In some embodiments, the method comprises contacting a PTX3/HA complex with IαI and TSG-6.
In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition further comprises at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition further comprises an adjuvant, excipient, preservative, agent for delaying absorption, filler, binder, adsorbent, buffer, and/or solubilizing agent. Exemplary pharmaceutical compositions that are formulated to comprise an HC-HA/PTX3 complex provided herein include, but are not limited to, a gel, solution, suspension, emulsion, syrup, granule, powder, homogenate, ointment, tablet, capsule, pill, paste, cream, lotion, a patch, sticks, film, paint, an aerosol, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprising HC-HA/PTX3 is a graft or a sheet.
Dosage Forms
Provided below are dosage forms of fetal support tissue product. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprises an HC-HA/PTX3 complex. In some embodiments, the HC-HA/PTX3 complex is native complex purified from a fetal support tissue, or a reconstituted HC-HA/PTX3 complex or a combination thereof.
In some embodiments, a fetal support tissue product is administered as an aqueous suspension. In some embodiments, an aqueous suspension comprises water, Ringer's solution and/or isotonic sodium chloride solution. In some embodiments, the Ringer's solution is Lactate Ringer's Saline. In some embodiments, an aqueous suspension comprises a sweetening or flavoring agent, coloring matters or dyes and, if desired, emulsifying agents or suspending agents, together with diluents water, ethanol, propylene glycol, glycerin, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, an aqueous suspension comprises a suspending agent. In some embodiments, an aqueous suspension comprises sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose, sodium alginate, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone, gum tragacanth and/or gum acacia. In some embodiments, an aqueous suspension comprises a dispersing or wetting agent. In some embodiments, an aqueous suspension comprises a naturally-occurring phosphatide, for example lecithin, or condensation products of an alkylene oxide with fatty acids, for example polyoxyethylene stearate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with long chain aliphatic alcohols, for example heptadecaethylene-oxycetanol, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and a hexitol such as polyoxyethylene sorbitol monooleate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example polyethylene sorbitan monooleate. In some embodiments, an aqueous suspension comprises a preservative. In some embodiments, an aqueous suspension comprises ethyl, or n-propyl p-hydroxybenzoate. In some embodiments, an aqueous suspension comprises a sweetening agent. In some embodiments, an aqueous suspension comprises sucrose, saccharin or aspartame.
In some embodiments, a fetal support tissue product is administered as an oily suspension. In some embodiments, an oily suspension is formulated by suspending the active ingredient in a vegetable oil (e.g., arachis oil, olive oil, sesame oil or coconut oil), or in mineral oil (e.g., liquid paraffin). In some embodiments, an oily suspension comprises a thickening agent (e.g., beeswax, hard paraffin or cetyl alcohol). In some embodiments, an oily suspension comprises sweetening agents (e.g., those set forth above). In some embodiments, an oily suspension comprises an anti-oxidant (e.g., butylated hydroxyanisol or alpha-tocopherol).
In some embodiments, a fetal support tissue product is formulated for parenteral injection (e.g., via injection or infusion, including intraarterial, intracardiac, intradermal, intraduodenal, intramedullary, intramuscular, intraosseous, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intravascular, intravenous, intravitreal, epidural, and/or subcutaneous). In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is administered as a sterile solution, suspension or emulsion. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated for inhalation.
In some embodiments, a formulation for injection is presented in unit dosage form, e.g., in ampoules or in multi-dose containers, with an added preservative.
In some embodiments, a fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is formulated for topical administration. Topical formulations include, but are not limited to, ointments, creams, lotions, solutions, pastes, gels, films, sticks, liposomes, nanoparticles. In some embodiments, a topical formulation is administered by use of a patch, bandage or wound dressing.
In some embodiments, a fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is formulated as composition is in the form of a solid, a cross-linked gel, or a liposome. In some embodiments, the fetal tissue support product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is formulated as an insoluble cross-linked hydrogel. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product is formulated as a gel.
In some embodiments, a topical formulation comprises a gelling (or thickening) agent. Suitable gelling agents include, but are not limited to, celluloses, cellulose derivatives, cellulose ethers (e.g., carboxymethylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, methylcellulose), guar gum, xanthan gum, locust bean gum, alginates (e.g., alginic acid), silicates, starch, tragacanth, carboxyvinyl polymers, carrageenan, paraffin, petrolatum, acacia (gum arabic), agar, aluminum magnesium silicate, sodium alginate, sodium stearate, bladderwrack, bentonite, carbomer, carrageenan, carbopol, xanthan, cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), ceratonia, chondrus, dextrose, furcellaran, gelatin, ghatti gum, guar gum, hectorite, lactose, sucrose, maltodextrin, mannitol, sorbitol, honey, maize starch, wheat starch, rice starch, potato starch, gelatin, sterculia gum, polyethylene glycol (e.g. PEG 200-4500), gum tragacanth, ethyl cellulose, ethylhydroxyethyl cellulose, ethylmethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylmethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate), oxypolygelatin, pectin, polygeline, povidone, propylene carbonate, methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride copolymer (PVM/MA), poly(methoxyethyl methacrylate), poly(methoxyethoxyethyl methacrylate), hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose (HPMC), sodium carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC), silicon dioxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP: povidone), or combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, a topical formulation disclosed herein comprises an emollient. Emollients include, but are not limited to, castor oil esters, cocoa butter esters, safflower oil esters, cottonseed oil esters, corn oil esters, olive oil esters, cod liver oil esters, almond oil esters, avocado oil esters, palm oil esters, sesame oil esters, squalene esters, kikui oil esters, soybean oil esters, acetylated monoglycerides, ethoxylated glyceryl monostearate, hexyl laurate, isohexyl laurate, isohexyl palmitate, isopropyl palmitate, methyl palmitate, decyloleate, isodecyl oleate, hexadecyl stearate decyl stearate, isopropyl isostearate, methyl isostearate, diisopropyl adipate, diisohexyl adipate, dihexyldecyl adipate, diisopropyl sebacate, lauryl lactate, myristyl lactate, and cetyl lactate, oleyl myristate, oleyl stearate, and oleyl oleate, pelargonic acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, isostearic acid, hydroxystearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, ricinoleic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, erucic acid, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, hexadecyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, hydroxystearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, ricinoleyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, erucyl alcohol, 2-octyl dodecanyl alcohol, lanolin and lanolin derivatives, beeswax, spermaceti, myristyl myristate, stearyl stearate, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, lecithin, and cholesterol.
In some embodiments, a fetal tissue support product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is formulated with one or more natural polymers. In some embodiments, a fetal tissue support product n comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is formulated with a natural polymer that is fibronectin, collagen, laminin, keratin, fibrin, fibrinogen, hyaluronic acid, heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate. In some embodiments, a fetal tissue support product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is formulated with a polymer gel formulated from a natural polymer. In some embodiments, a fetal tissue support product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is formulated with a polymer gel formulated from a natural polymer, such as, but not limited to, fibronectin, collagen, laminin, keratin, fibrin, fibrinogen, hyaluronic acid, heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, a fetal tissue support product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is formulated for administration to an eye or a tissue related thereto. Formulations suitable for administration to an eye include, but are not limited to, solutions, suspensions (e.g., an aqueous suspension), ointments, gels, creams, liposomes, niosomes, pharmacosomes, nanoparticles, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, a fetal tissue support product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex for topical administration to an eye is administered spraying, washing, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, a fetal tissue support product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is administered to an eye via an injectable depot preparation.
As used herein, a “depot preparation” is a controlled-release formulation that is implanted in an eye or a tissue related thereto (e.g., the sclera) (for example subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intravitreally, or within the subconjunctiva). In some embodiments, a depot preparation is formulated by forming microencapsulated matrices (also known as microencapsulated matrices) of a fetal tissue support product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex in biodegradable polymers. In some embodiments, a depot preparation is formulated by entrapping a fetal tissue support product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex in liposomes or microemulsions.
A formulation for administration to an eye has an ophthalmologically acceptable tonicity. In certain instances, lacrimal fluid has an isotonicity value equivalent to that of a 0.9% sodium chloride solution. In some embodiments, an isotonicity value from about 0.6% to about 1.8% sodium chloride equivalency is suitable for topical administration to an eye. In some embodiments, a formulation for administration to an eye disclosed herein has an osmolarity from about 200 to about 600 mOsm/L. In some embodiments, a formulation for administration to an eye disclosed herein is hypotonic and thus requires the addition of any suitable to attain the proper tonicity range. Ophthalmically acceptable substances that modulate tonicity include, but are not limited to, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium thiosulfate, sodium bisulfate and ammonium sulfate.
A formulation for administration to an eye has an ophthalmologically acceptable clarity. Examples of ophthalmologically-acceptable clarifying agents include, but are not limited to, polysorbate 20, polysorbate 80, or combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, a formulation for administration to an eye comprises an ophthalmologically acceptable viscosity enhancer. In some embodiments, a viscosity enhancer increases the time a formulation disclosed herein remains in an eye. In some embodiments, increasing the time a formulation disclosed herein remains in the eye allows for greater drug absorption and effect. Non-limiting examples of mucoadhesive polymers include carboxymethylcellulose, carbomer (acrylic acid polymer), poly(methylmethacrylate), polyacrylamide, polycarbophil, acrylic acid/butyl acrylate copolymer, sodium alginate and dextran.
In some embodiments, a formulation for administration to an eye is administered or delivered to the posterior segments of an eye (e.g., to the retina, choroid, vitreous and optic nerve). In some embodiments, a topical formulation for administration to an eye disclosed herein for delivery to the posterior of the eye comprises a solubilizing agent, for example, a glucan sulfate and/or a cyclodextrin. Glucan sulfates which are used in some embodiments include, but are not limited to, dextran sulfate, cyclodextrin sulfate and β-1,3-glucan sulfate, both natural and derivatives thereof, or any compound which temporarily binds to and be retained at tissues which contain fibroblast growth factor (FGF), which improves the stability and/or solubility of a drug, and/or which improves penetration and ophthalmic absorption of a topical formulation for administration to an eye disclosed herein. Cyclodextrin derivatives which are used in some embodiments as a solubilizing agent include, but are not limited to, α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, γ-cyclodextrin, hydroxyethyl β-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl γ-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin, sulfated a-cyclodextrin, sulfated β-cyclodextrin, sulfobutyl ether β-cyclodextrin.
Dosages
The amount of pharmaceutical compositions administered is dependent in part on the individual being treated. In instances where pharmaceutical compositions are administered to a human subject, the daily dosage will normally be determined by the prescribing physician with the dosage generally varying according to the age, sex, diet, weight, general health and response of the individual, the severity of the individual's symptoms, the precise disease or condition being treated, the severity of the disease or condition being treated, time of administration, route of administration, the disposition of the composition, rate of excretion, drug combination, and the discretion of the prescribing physician.
In some embodiments, the dosage of the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is between about 0.001 to about 1000 mg/kg body weight/day. In some embodiments, the amount of the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is in the range of about 0.5 to about 50 mg/kg/day. In some embodiments, the amount of nHC-HA/PTX3 or rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex disclosed herein is about 0.001 to about 7 g/day. In some embodiments, the amount of the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is about 0.01 to about 7 g/day. In some embodiments, the amount of the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex disclosed herein is about 0.02 to about 5 g/day. In some embodiments, the amount of the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is about 0.05 to about 2.5 g/day. In some embodiments, the amount of the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is about 0.1 to about 1 g/day.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is administered, before, during or after the occurrence of unwanted changes in a tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is administered with a combination therapy before, during or after the occurrence of a disease or condition. In some embodiments, the timing of administering the composition containing an nHC-HA/PTX3 or rcHC-HA/PTX3 disclosed herein varies. Thus, in some examples, the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is used as a prophylactic and is administered continuously to subjects with a propensity to develop unwanted changes in a tissue in order to prevent the occurrence of unwanted changes in the tissue. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is administered to a subject during or as soon as possible after the onset of the unwanted changes. In some embodiments, the administration of the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is initiated within the first 48 hours of the onset of the unwanted changes, preferably within the first 48 hours of the onset of the symptoms, more preferably within the first 6 hours of the onset of the symptoms, and most preferably within 3 hours of the onset of the symptoms. In some embodiments, the initial administration is via any route practical, such as, for example, an intravenous injection, a bolus injection, infusion over 5 minutes to about 5 hours, a pill, a capsule, transdermal patch, buccal delivery, or combination thereof. The fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is preferably administered as soon as is practicable after the onset of unwanted changes is detected or suspected, and for a length of time necessary for the treatment, such as, for example, from about 1 month to about 3 months. In some embodiments, the length of treatment varies for each subject, and the length is determined using the known criteria. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex or a formulation containing a complex is administered for at least 2 weeks, preferably about 1 month to about 5 years, and more preferably from about 1 month to about 3 years.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is administered in a single dose, once daily. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is administered in multiple doses, more than once per day. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is administered twice daily. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is administered three times per day. In some embodiments, an nHC-HA/PTX3 or rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex is administered four times per day. In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is administered more than four times per day.
In the case wherein the individual's condition does not improve, upon the doctor's discretion the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is administered chronically, that is, for an extended period of time, including throughout the duration of the individual's life in order to ameliorate or otherwise control or limit the symptoms of the individual's disease or condition.
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is packaged as articles of manufacture containing packaging material, a pharmaceutical composition which is effective for prophylaxis and/or treating a disease or condition, and a label that indicates that the pharmaceutical composition is to be used for reprogramming a fibroblastic cell in a tissue having unwanted changes due to a disease or condition. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical compositions are packaged in unit dosage forms contain an amount of the pharmaceutical composition for a single dose or multiple doses. In some embodiments, the packaged compositions contain a lyophilized powder of the pharmaceutical compositions, which is reconstituted (e.g., with water or saline) prior to administration.
Medical Device and Biomaterials Compositions
In some embodiments, the fetal support tissue product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is assembled directly on a surface of or formulated as a coating for an implantable medical device. In some embodiments, an nHC-HA/PTX3 or rcHC-HA/PTX3 complex is assembled directly on a surface of an implantable medical device or a portion thereof.
Exemplary implantable medical devices include, but are not limited to an artificial joint, orthopedic device, bone implant, contact lenses, suture, surgical staple, surgical clip, catheter, angioplasty balloon, sensor, surgical instrument, electrode, needle, syringe, wound drain, shunt, urethral insert, metal or plastic implant, heart valve, artificial organ, lap band, annuloplasty ring, guide wire, K-wire or Denham pin, stent, stent graft, vascular graft, pacemaker, pellets, wafers, medical tubing, infusion sleeve, implantable defibrillator, neurostimulator, glucose sensor, cerebrospinal fluid shunt, implantable drug pump, spinal cage, artificial disc, ocular implant, cochlear implant, breast implant, replacement device for nucleus pulposus, ear tube, intraocular lens, drug delivery system, microparticle, nanoparticle, and microcapsule.
In some embodiments, a fetal tissue support product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is assembled directly on a scaffold, a microparticle, a microcapsule or microcarrier employed for the delivery of a biomaterial, such as a stem cell or an insulin producing cell. In some embodiments, a fetal tissue support product comprising an HC-HA/PTX3 complex is attached to the microcapsule or assembled directly on a microcapsule.
Previously it was demonstrated that soluble HC-HA/PTX3 can suppress HUVEC viability independently by blocking CD44 Ab for 24 h, inhibit cell proliferation and reduce cell death in HUVEC. It has also been reported that collagenase-isolated clusters containing mesenchymal vimentin+ cells from cornea limbus heterogeneously express ESC and Nestin. Such LNCs can be further expanded on coated Matrigel™ (MG) more than 12 passages in MESCM. P4 LNCs maintain the phenotype expressing vascular pericyte markers (pericyte-EC) markers (e.g. FLK-1, CD34, CD31, α-SMA, PDGFβ and NG2) with MSC tri-lineage differentiation. When HC-HA/PTX3 was added to limbal epithelial cells (LEPCs) in the presence of LNC, cell proliferation was reduced with quiescence markers of nuclear Bmi-1. It remains unclear whether the addition of LNCs, which possess pericyte phenotype may prevent HUVEC from cell death in the presence of HC-HA/PTX3.
Materials and Methods
Cells: GFP HUVEC (P3) were purchased from Neuromics (Cat #GF01). These cells were isolated from normal human umbilical vein and transfected with GFP-lentiviral particle at passage 1. Puromycin resistant GFP HUVEC were maintained on fibronectin coated solution in Endo-growth medium containing 5% FBS and growth supplement until passage 3. Cells were split 1:3 every three days when ˜70%-90% confluence is reached. Cells of passage 3-8 were used for all experiments.
LNC (P2-P5) was expanded in MESCM containing 4 ng/ml bFGF and 10 ng/ml LIF on 6-well plastic coated with 5% Matrigel™.
Co-Culture: Total 2×104/per 96 well of GFP-HUVEC, LNC or GFP-HUVECs/LNCs (1:1)1 were resuspended in EGM medium with 10 ng/ml of VEGF on coated fibronectin coating mix (Athena, 0407). The Endothelial Basal Medium-2 (EBM-2) contained 2% FBS, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), EGF, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hydrocortisone, ascorbic acid, heparin, gentamicin, and amphotericin-B (Lonza). 2-2.5 ug/per 96 well (25 ug/ml} of soluble or immobilized HC-HA/PTX3 was added during or prior the seeding and cultured at 37° C. for 48 h. For vascular tube formation, cells were seeded at the density of 105 cells per cm2 on the surface of Matrigel™, which was prepared by adding 50 μl of 100% Matrigel™ into 24 well plates for 30 minutes (min) before use, and cultured in EGM2 to elicit vascular tube-like network as reported. P4/3D cells or HUVEC alone were also seeded at the same density as the controls. Experiments were performed in triplicate.
Cell Death Assay (GFP-certified Apoptosis/Necrosis Detection Kit): A cell death assay kit was used for live cell imaging and to determine the suitable termination time. A positive control (apoptotic inducer and necrosis agent) was added at least 4 hours (h) before cell death assay and cell cultivation was terminated followed by manufacture suggested protocol. A pilot study was tested on the image visualization of positive and negative control in LNC or GFP HUVEC on a fibronectin 96 coated plate for 24 h prior to the actual experiment (Table 1;
Results and Conclusion
On plastic (PL) at 24h, apoptosis and necrosis were absent in HUVEC alone or co-cultured with LNC. When treated with HC-HA/PTX3 for 24h, HUVEC alone showed a significantly higher percentage (>7.1%, white arrows;
On PL, cell apoptosis was promoted in GFP-HUVEC alone on HC-HA/PTX3 but not in PL or HA (
In summary, GFP-HUVEC formed classical vascular tube formation on Matrigel™ HC-HA/PTX3 encouraged anti-angiogenesis effect by facilitating the apoptosis and necrosis in GFP-HUVEC alone. Reunion of GFP-HUVEC to LNC prevented GFP-HUVEC from apoptosis and necrosis induced by the HC-HA/PTX3.
In vitro vascular tube formation is the most direct functional evidence indicating the ability of endothelial cell to form vascular tubes and lumens. It remains unclear whether the addition of LNC can promote cell proliferation and angiogenesis in the presence of HC-HA/PTX3.
Materials and Methods
Cells: GFP HUVEC (P3) were purchased from Neuromics (Cat #GF01). These cells were isolated from normal human umbilical vein and transfected with GFP-lentiviral particle at passage 1. Puromycin resistant GFP HUVEC were maintained on fibronectin coated solution in Endo-growth medium containing 5% FBS and growth supplement until passage 3. Cells were split 1:3 every three days when ˜70%-90% confluence is reached. Cells of passage 3-8 were used for all experiments.
LNC (P2-P5) was expanded in MESCM containing 4 ng/ml bFGF and 10 ng/ml LIF on 6-well plastic coated with 5% Matrigel™
Results and Conclusion
Addition of soluble HA in HUVEC or pericytes (LNC) alone (
It remains unclear whether HC-HA/PTX3 uniquely promotes early signaling (CXCR4/SDF-1, HIF or other) before cell aggregation in P10 LNC.
Materials and Methods
Cell culture: For time course study, 1×105/ml of P10 LNC was seeded on three substrates: 3D Matrigel™, HA, or HC-HA/PTX3 in MESCM at 5, 15, 30, 60 mins, 24 h and 48 h (Table 2).
qPCR: Comparisons were made of mRNA expression of HIF1α, HIF1β, HIF2α, SDF-1, CXCR4, Hes1 at 5, 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 min or 24 and 48 h.
Immunostaining: LNC were then subjected to cytospin to determine nuclear translocation of HIF1α, HIF1β, HIF2α, SDF-1, CXCR4, and Hes1 at 5, 15, 30 and 60 mins.
Results and Discussion
Time course of phase contrast of 10 LNC HC-HA/PTX3 were observed promoting sphere formation as early as 60 min and 120 min in 3D Matrigel™ (
Immunofluorescence staining confirmed cytoplasmic/membrane CXCR4/SDF-1 were present in control (
It is unclear the role of the nuclear translocation of CXCR4. CXCR4 nuclear localization can promote nuclear HIF1α, and nuclear HIF1α promotes CXCR4 transcription, which promotes nuclear CXCR4 expression as a feed-forward loop in carcinomas metastasis. CXCR4 has also reported to translocate to nucleus upon the binding of SDF-1 or non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA protein in renal carcinoma cells. Nuclear translation of CXCR4 has also been associated with HIF1α in rat neural crest stem cells during hypoxia to inhibit proliferation. HIF1α binds directly as the upstream to the hypoxia response element on the CXCR4 promoter and thereby up-regulates CXCR4 expression in endothelial cells and various carcinoma cells.
The time course mRNA expression pattern of the HIF signaling revealed that HC-HA/PTX3 uniquely upregulated expression of HIF1β (
Interestingly, addition of AMD3100 upregulated two peaks of HIF-1α and HIF-1β transcripts, suggesting that with or without SDF1-CXCR4 signaling acts differently in transcript regulation of HIF-1α and HIF-1β (
IF staining showed that there were no differences in HIF2α (
HIF1α is a master regulator of cellular processes including regulation of oxygen concentrations, aerobic glycolysis, cell migration, and inflammation. Interestingly, HIF-1α has been reported to be associated in mammalian tissue regeneration. HIF complex binds to DNA at specific promoter or enhancer sites [e.g. hypoxia response elements (HREs)], resulting in transcriptional regulation of more than 100 gene products. These include molecules of interest in regenerative processes such as angiogenesis, which is induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR-1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and erythropoietin (EPO). Other processes involved in regeneration include tissue remodeling, which is induced by urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), MMP9, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs), and glycolytic metabolism induced by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which converts pyruvate into lactate and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK), which blocks the entry of pyruvate into the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Inhibition HIF1α delay the spontaneous regeneration ear closer in adult MRL mouse suggesting HIF1α play central node for regeneration.
HIF1β is required for the ligand-binding subunit to translocate from the cytosol to the nucleus after ligand binding, enhances HIF target gene activation. HIF-1 binds to HRE sequence promoters in BMP4 and CXCR4.
PHD-2 is mainly in the cytoplasm, shuttles between the cytoplasm and the nucleus and can be in the nucleus in cancer cells. PHD2 mediated hydroxylation of HIF-1α predominantly occurs in the nucleus.
PHD2 is phosphorylated on serine 125 by m-TOR mediated P70S6-kinase (p70S6K) to increases its ability to degrade HIF1α, but dephosphorylated by PP2A/B55α. It remained unclear whether HC-HA/PTX3 promotes PP2A to dephosphorylate the PHD2 in the nucleus. Protein phosphatase 2A holoenzyme is a heterotrimeric protein composed of a structural subunit A, a catalytic subunit C, and a regulatory subunit B. Phosphorylation of PP2A at Tyr307 by Src occurs in response to EGF or insulin and results in a substantial reduction of PP2A activity. Reversible methylation on the carboxyl group of Leu309 of PP2A has been observed. Methylation alters the confirmation of PP2A, as well as its localization and association with B regulatory subunits.
HC-HA/PTX3 also uniquely induced unclear CXCR4 at 15 min (Example 3). Nuclear HIF1α accumulation requires nuclear translocation CXCR4 and nuclear HIF1α promoted CXCR4 transcription in a feed-forward loop to promote carcinoma metastasis. It has been reported the initiation HIF1α is required to upregulate SDF-1/CXCR signaling to promote positive feedback between glial-neuronal interaction in mouse central post-stroke pain suggesting strong relationship of feedback loop between HIF and CXCR4. It remains unclear about the relationship between nuclear CXCR4, HIF1α, and p-PHD2.
mRNA expression of MMP2 and MMP9 has been shown to be downregulated in P4 LNC on 3D Matrigel™ but not by HC-HA/PTX3. It is unclear the protein level. It has also been shown that PTX3 and TSG-6 downregulate the activation of MMP1 and MMP-3 in mRNA and protein of conjunctivochalasis fibroblast. HC-HA/PTX3 inhibits MT1-MMP in HCF with/out TGF-β1. (P-272, unpublished protein data) It was possible the regenerative process may involve rapid turnover of MMPs by increase of TIMPs. Since MMPs and TIMPs are involved during tissue regeneration, it is tempting to speculate that HC-HA/PTX3 may be involved increase of TIMPs for quickly turnover MMPs.
Time course revealed HC-HA/PTX3 promoted mRNA expression of Hes1 as early as 15 min and at peak by thousand-fold at 120 min in P10 LNC when compared to the transcript level on HA or 3D Matrigel™ (**<0.05, n=3) (
Immunofluorescence staining confirmed the HC-HA/PTX3 promotes nucleus Hes1 as early as 5 min (
Hes1 has been known to regulate the undifferentiated status/maintenance of neural stem cell progenitors to promote proper neuronal differentiation and cell-cell interactive lateral inhibition. Expression of Hes1 often in an oscillatory manner every 2 hours as demonstrated in fibroblast and neural progenitors. Without Hes gene, progenitor cells prematurely differentiate into certain types of neurons only and are depleted before they have proliferated sufficiently for other neuronal and glial cell types. These data showed transient nuclear translocation of Hes1 within 5 min when treated by HC-HA/PTX3. The sustained expression of Hes1 enhanced repression the pro-neural gene and maintained the low proliferative or quiescence mode of cells. Notch-Hes1 mediation is responsible for activation of HIF1α signaling for phosphorylation STAT3 at Tyr 416. It remains unclear the mechanistic event responsible for nuclear translation of protein Hes1 but expressed from post-transcriptional event.
Expression of Hes1 has been demonstrated to be mediated through Notch dependent and -independent pathways to promote angiogenesis and neurogenesis. Oscillation of Hes1 has demonstrated notch independence and mediation through BMP and LIF signaling in ES cells, FGF2-JNK axis in ES derived neural progenitors, NGF-NF-KB with sustained expression of Hes1 to maintain the dendriotogenesis, VEGF-FLK-1-ERK for retinal progenitor proliferation and retinal ganglion cell fate specification and acetylation of Pax3 binding the promoter of Hes1 to enhance neural SC maintenance.
It remained unclear whether the phenotypic changes in LNC by HC-HA/PTX3 were different from HA or 3D Matrigel™. The early changes of mRNA levels were screened for angiogenic genes VEGF, CD31, VEGFRB and IGF-1 and neurogenic genes NGF and p75NTR.
Materials
Cell culture: 1×105/ml of P10 LNC was seeded on three substrates: 3D Matrigel™ HA, or HC-HA/PTX3 in MESCM for 48 h. For time course study on HC-HA/PTX3, P10 LNC will be treated HC-HA/PTX3 for 5, 15, 30, 60 mins, 24 h and 48 h.
qPCR: Comparison mRNA expression VEGF, PDGFα, CD31 and IGF-1 for angiogenesis and NGF and p75NTR for neurogenesis at 5, 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 min 24 or 48 h on 3D MG, immobilized HA and immobilized HC-HA/PTX3.
Immunostaining: LNC were then subjected to cytospin to determine nuclear translocation of HIF1α, HIF1β, HIF2α, SDF-1, CXCR4, and Hes1 at 5, 15, 30 and 60 mins.
Results and Conclusions
Time course on mRNA expression showed that HC-HA/PTX3 significantly upregulated transcript levels of VEGF (
Previously it was found cell-cell aggregation between LNC and SC is mediated by CXCR4/SDF-1 axis, in which CXCR4 is strongly expressed by limbal stromal NCs and SDF-1 is expressed by SC. Inhibition of CXCR4 by AMD3100 or a blocking antibody to CXCR4 at the time of seeding disrupted their reunion and yielded separate aggregates with a reduced size, while resultant epithelial spheres exhibited more corneal differentiation and a notable loss of holoclones. It remained unclear whether HC-HA/PTX3 uniquely promoted early signaling (CXCR4/SDF-1, HIF or other) before cell aggregation in P10 LNC.
Cell culture: For time course study, 1×105/ml of P4 LNC were seeded on substrates HA or HC-HA/PTX3 in MESCM at 5, 15, 30, 60 min, 24 h and 48 h (Table 3).
qPCR: Comparison mRNA expression of HIF1α, HIF113, HIF2α, SDF-1, CXCR4, Hes1 for at 5, 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 min or 24 and 48 h.
Immunostaining: LNC then were subjected to cytospin to determine nuclear translocation of HIF1α, HIF1β, HIF2α, SDF-1, CXCR4, and Hes1 at 5, 15, 30 and 60 min.
Results and Conclusions
CXCR4: Immunofluorescence staining confirmed cytoplasmic/membrane CXCR4 were present in the control. HC-HA/PTX3 promoted CXCR4 translocated to the nucleus 5, 30 min, transient nuclear translocation (
HIF: Immunofluorescence staining suggested that HC-HA/PTX3 promoted extended HIF1α nuclear translocation (5-60 min) (
HIF1β is required for the ligand-binding subunit to translocate from the cytosol to the nucleus after ligand binding, enhances HIF target gene activation. HIF-1 binds to HRE sequence promoters in BMP4 and CXCR4. HIF-1α is a master regulator of cellular processes including regulation of oxygen concentrations, aerobic glycolysis, cell migration, and inflammation. Interestingly, HIF-1α has reported associate in mammalian tissue regeneration. HIF complex binds to DNA at specific promoter or enhancer sites [hypoxia response elements (HREs)], resulting in transcriptional regulation of more than 100 gene products). These include molecules of interest in regenerative processes such as angiogenesis, which is induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR-1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and erythropoietin (EPO). Other processes involved in regeneration include tissue remodeling, which is induced by urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), MMP9, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs), and glycolytic metabolism induced by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which converts pyruvate into lactate and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK), which blocks the entry of pyruvate into the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Inhibition HIF1α delay the spontaneous regeneration ear closer in adult MRL mouse suggesting HIF1α play central node for regeneration.
Hes: Hes1 has been known to regulate the undifferentiated status/maintenance of neural stem cell progenitors to promote proper neuronal differentiation and cell-cell interactive lateral inhibition. Expression of Hes1 often in oscillatory manner of every 2 hours demonstrated in fibroblast and neural progenitors. Without Hes gene, progenitor cells prematurely differentiate into certain types of neurons only and are depleted before they have proliferated sufficiently for other neuronal and glial cell types. These data showed that HC-HA/PTX3 promoted transient nuclear translocation of Hes1 in 15 min when treated by HC-HA/PTX3 (
NICD and SDF1: No changed were observed in LNC treated with HC-HA/PTX3 (
HC-HA/PTX3 was purified from water-soluble AM extract as a unique matrix consisting of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HA) covalently linked with heavy chain 1 (HC1) from inter-α-trypsin inhibitor (“-” is used to denote the covalent linkage) and further complexed with pentraxin 3 (PTX3) (“/” is used to denote the non-covalent linkage). HC-HA/PTX3 has been shown to exert an anti-inflammatory action that extends from innate immune responses by facilitating apoptosis of stimulated neutrophils and polarizing M2 macrophages to adaptive immune responses by suppressing activation of Th1 and Th17 lymphocytes to downregulate alloreactive immune responses. In addition, HC-HA/PTX3 also suppresses the TGF-β1 promoter activity in human corneal fibroblasts. Herein, it was discovered that HC-HA/PTX3 differs from 3D MG in reverting late passaged LNC to regain the nuclear Pax6+NC progenitor status by promoting early cell aggregation through CXCR4/SDF-1 signaling but not BMP signaling.
Results
Progressive Loss of Nuclear Pax6+NC Phenotype by Serial Passage of LNC
The serial passage of LNC to P10 results in the loss of the NC progenitor status that is characterized by nuclear Pax6 staining, expression of ESC markers and NC progenitor markers such as Sox2, p75NTR, Musashi-1, Nestin, Msx1, and FoxD3, and neuroglial differentiation. Because there are regional difference of expression of nuclear Pax6, LNC were serially passaged on coated MG in MESCM to P10 and characterized their phenotype by transcript expression and immunoassaying to establish the baseline. The results confirmed that the transcript expression level of Pax6, Sox2, p75NTR, Musashi-1, and Nestin by P10 LNC was indeed significantly reduced when compared to that of P2 LNC (
Immobilized HC-HA/PTX3 Promotes Cell Aggregation and Reverts P10 LNC to Nuclear Pax6+ Neural Crest Progenitors
P4 LNC expanded on coated MG in MESCM form cell aggregation when reseeded on 3D MG or immobilized HC-HA/PTX3, of which the latter also helps regain expression of ESC markers. It was wondered whether P10 LNC could behave the same to regain the nuclear Pax6+NC progenitor status by reseeding on immobilized HC-HA/PTX3. P10 LNC expanded on coated MG in MESCM was therefore reseeded on coated MG, 3D MG or immobilized HC-HA/PTX3 in MESCM for 48 h. Phase contrast microscopy showed that P10 LNC formed cell aggregation in 3D MG and immobilized HC-HA/PTX3 at 24 h and 48 h (
Soluble HC-HA/PTX3 Promotes Early Cell Aggregation and Reverts to Pax6+NC Progenitors
It was then tested whether soluble HC-HA/PTX3 added directly into MESCM in P10 LNC seed on coated MG might also achieve the same outcome. Phase contrast microscopy showed that cell aggregation was also promoted by soluble HC-HA/PTX3 as early as 60 min (marked by a white arrow) but aggregated cells spread to single spindle cells on coated MG by 24 h while cell aggregation became more prominent in 3D MG (
Cell Aggregation Promoted by Soluble HC-HA/PTX3 is Mediated by CXCR4/SDF-1 Signaling and Leads to Nuclear Pax6+NC Progenitors
Previously it had been reported the reunion between P4 LNC and LEPC in 3D MG is mediated by CXCR4/SDF-1 signaling with the receptor CXCR4 strongly expressed by LNC and SDF-1 ligand expressed by LEPC and such reunion is pivotal to maintain self-renewal of LEPC. Therefore, it was wondered whether cell aggregation promoted by soluble HC-HA/PTX3 might also be mediated by CXCR4/SDF-1 signaling in P10 LNC. To test this hypothesis, CXCR4/SDF-1 signaling was perturbed by addition of AMD3100, which is a small-molecule CXCR4 inhibitor. Phase contrast microscopy confirmed that cell aggregation was indeed promoted by soluble HC-HA/PTX3 at 60 min in P10 LNC, similar to what was noted above, and that such aggregation was completely aborted by AMD3100 (
CXCR4/SDF-1 is Required for Activation of BMP Signaling by HC-HA/PTX3
It has been reported that immobilized HC-HA/PTX3, but not 3D MG, upregulates BMP signaling in P4 LNC, which is responsible for the maintenance of limbal SC quiescence. Thus, it was questioned whether BMP signaling might also be promoted by soluble HC-HA/PTX3 in P10 LNC and if so whether it might be affected by CXCR4/SDF1 signaling activated by HC-HA/PTX3. qRT-PCR showed that transcript expression of BMP ligands and BMP receptors by P10 LNC was significantly downregulated when compared to P4 LNC expanded on coated MG (
Suppression of BMP Signaling does not Affect Nuclear Pax6 Staining and Cell Aggregation Mediated by CXCR4/SDF-1 Signaling Promoted by HC-HA/PTX3
BMP signaling promoted by soluble HC-HA/PTX3 was perturbed to determine whether BMP signaling was required for cell aggregation mediated by CXCR4/SDF-1 signaling. To do so, P10 LNC was pre-treated with or without SDN-193189, a small molecule BMP inhibitor (data not shown) or short interfering RNAs (siRNA) to BMP receptors, i.e., BMPR1A, BMPR1B, BMPR2, and Activin A receptor, type I (ACVR1) seeded on coated MG before adding soluble HC-HA/PTX3 in MESCM for another 48 h. Quantitative RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining confirmed the efficiency of siRNAs to BMP receptors in reducing the transcript expressions of BMP receptors (
Discussion
Early passaged P4 LNC regain the expression of ESC markers lost during serial passage in coated MG when reseeded on immobilized HC-HA/PTX3. Herein, it was shown that late passaged P10 LNC also regained the nuclear Pax6+NC multipotent NC progenitor phenotype lost during serial passage when reseeded on immobilized HC-HA/PTX3 (
CXCR4 is highly expressed in LNC subjacent to limbal basal epithelial stem/progenitors, but its expression also declined with serial passage on coated Matrigel (data not shown). Herein, it was noted nuclear translocation of CXCR4 soon after addition of HC-HA/PTX3 (
Immobilized HC-HA/PTX3, but not 3D MG, has been shown to activate BMP signaling in P4 LNC, which is required to maintain limbal epithelial SC quiescence. Herein, it was learned that BMP signaling evidenced by nuclear translocation of pSmad1/5/8 and upregulation of BMP ligands and receptors was also lost during serial passage (
HC-HA/PTX3 purified from human AM exerts a broad anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring actions and supports LNC to ensure limbal epithelial SC quiescence. These actions collectively explain the molecular mechanism explaining why cryopreserved amniotic membrane may promote regenerative healing. Herein, for the first time, evidence has been provided to suggest that HC-HA/PTX3 may also facilitate the reversal of aged LNC to regain their Pax6+NC progenitor status, a finding that helps explain why transplantation of AM augments the success of in vivo and ex vivo expansion of limbal SCs to treat corneal blindness caused by limbal SC deficiency. Because Pax6+NC progenitors have wide differentiation potential into neurovascular cells, HC-HA/PTX3 might also support SC in many other neurovascular niches of the body.
Material and Methods
Cell Isolation and Expansion
Human corneolimbal rim and central cornea button stored at 4° C. in Optisol (Chiron Vision, Irvine, Calif.) for less than 7 days were obtained from donors (Florida Lions Eye Bank, Miami, Fla.). Tissue were rinsed three times with PBS pH 7.4 containing 50 μg/ml gentamicin and 1.25 μg/ml amphotericin B, the excess sclera, conjunctiva, iris, corneal endothelium and trabecular meshwork were removed up to the Schwalbe's line for the corneoscleral rim before being cut into superior, nasal, inferior, and temporal quadrants at 1 mm within and beyond the anatomic limbus. An intact epithelial sheet, including basal epithelial cells, was obtained by subjecting each limbal quadrant to digestion with 10 mg/ml dispase in modified embryonic stem cell medium (MESCM), which was made of Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM)/F-12 nutrient mixture (F-12) (1:1) supplemented with 10% knockout serum, 10 ng/ml LIF, 4 ng/ml bFGF, 5 mg/ml insulin, 5 mg/ml transferrin, 5 ng/ml sodium selenite supplement (ITS), 50 μg/ml gentamicin and 1.25 μg/ml amphotericin B in plastic dishes containing at 4° C. for 16 h under humidified 5% CO2 incubator. Remaining stroma were subjected to 2 mg/mL collagenase A at 37° C. for 16 h to generate floating clusters.
For expansion, single cells derived from limbal clusters or CSC after digestion with 0.25% trypsin and 1 mM EDTA (T/E) were seeded at 1×104/cm2 in the 6-well plate pre-coated with 5% Matrigel™ in MESCM and cultured in humidified 5% CO2 with media change every 3-4 days for total 6-7 days. For cells culture in three-dimensional (3D) Matrigel, Matrigel was prepared by adding 50% Matrigel diluted in MESCM per chamber of an 8-well chamber slide following incubation at 37° C. for 60 min. LNC cells were seeded in 3D Matrigel and cultured for 24 h or 48 h in MESCM.
Upon 80% confluence, P10 LNC cultured on coated MG were pre-treated with 0.1% DMSO with or without 20 μg/mL AMD3100 or 100 nM LDN-193189 for 30 min before being trypsinized and seeded at 2×105/mL on coated MG in MESCM containing 20 μg/mL of AMD3100 or 100 nM LDN-193189 with 20 μg/mL soluble HC-HA/PTX3 for another 48 h. For the siRNA knockdown, 80% confluent P10 LNC on 6-well coated MG were subjected to transfection by mixing 200 μL of serum-free, antibiotic-free MESCM with 4 μL of HiPerFect siRNA transfection reagent (Final dilution, 1:300) and 6 μL of 20 μM of scRNA or siRNAs for BMPR1A, BMPR1B, BMPR2, and ACVR1 at the final concentration of 100 nM, drop-wise, followed by culturing in 1 mL of fresh MESCM at 37° C. for 24 h before soluble HC-HA/PTX3 was added at a final concentration of 20 μg/mL in MESCM.
Purification, Characterization and Immobilization of HC-HA/PTX3
HC-HA/PTX3 was purified from cryopreserved human placentas provided by Bio-Tissue, Inc. (Miami, Fla.), with modification. In brief, AM retrieved from placenta was cryopulverilzed by FreezeMill (FreezerMill 6870, SPEX® SamplePrep, Metuchen, N.J.), extracted by PBS (pH 7.4) at 4° C. for 1 h, and the centrifuged at 48,000×g at 4° C. for 30 min to generate the supernatant which was designated as AM extract. This extract was then fractionated by ultracentrifugation in a CsCl gradient at an initial density of 1.35 g/ml in 4 M GnHCl at 125,000 g at 15° C. for 48 h (Optima™ L-80 X, SW41 rotor, Beckman Coulter, Indianapolis, Ind.). A total of 12 fractions (1 mL/fraction) were collected from each ultracentrifuge tube. The weight of each fraction was measured to calculate the density, while HA content and protein content in each fraction were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent HA Quantitative Test Kit (Corgenix, Broomfield Colo.) and the BCA Protein Assay Kit (Life Technologies, Grand Island, N.Y.), respectively. The fractions of 2-12 which contained most of HC-HA/PTX3 were pooled and were further subjected to three consecutive runs of ultracentrifugation at 125,000 g in CsCl/4 M guanidine HC1 at a density of 1.40 g/mL for the 2nd run and 1.42 g/mL for 3rd and 4th run, each run at 15° C. for 48 h. The fractions 3-9 after the 4th run were pooled and dialyzed against distilled water at 4° C. for 48 h with a total of 5 times of water change, lyophilized, stored at −80° C., and designated as HC-HA/PTX3. Before use, HC-HA/PTX3 was qualified by verifying its biochemical composition containing high molecular weight HA based on agarose gel electrophoresis and validate the presence of HC1 (ab70048, Abcam, Cambridge, Mass.) and PTX3 (ALX-804-464-C100, Enzo Life Sciences, Farmingdale, N.Y.) in purified HC-HA/PTX3 by Western blot with or without HAase digestion (1 U/μg HA) in the presence of protease inhibitors (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.). Because the negligible amount of protein therein, the amount of HC-HA/PTX3 used in the experiment was expressed based on the HA amount.
100 μL of 20 μg/mL HC-HA/PTX3 was immobilized on Covalink-NH 96 wells (Pierce) by first sterilizing the Covalink-NH 96 wells in 70% alcohol for 30 min and then the wells were washed with distilled water two times. HC-HA/PTX3 with the crosslinking reagents of Sulfo-NHS at 9.2 mg/mL (Pierce) and 1-ethyl-3(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (Pierce) at 6.15 mg/mL were added to each well and incubated at 4° C. overnight. After that, the un-crosslinked HC-HA/PTX3 and crosslinking reagents were removed and the wells were washed twice with 2 M NaCl/50 mM MgSO4/PBS, followed by two washes of PBS.
Neuroglial Differentiation
A total of 1×104/m of P10 LNC were seeded on 50 μg/ml poly-L-ornithine and 20 μg/ml laminin-coated or Collagen Type IV coated cover glass in 48-well plate in NSCM supplement with 0.5% N2 and 1% B27 for 2 days. For neuronal differentiation, medium was then replaced to neuronal induction base medium containing DMEM/F12 (1:3) with 0.5% N2 and 1% B27 in additional to 10 ng/ml FGF2 and 20 ng/ml of BDNF (medium A) for 3 days and replaced with base medium in addition to 6.7 ng/ml FGF2 and 30 ng/ml of BDNF for another 3 days. Cell then replaced to base medium in addition to 2.5 ng/ml FGF2, 30 ng/ml BDNF, and 200 mM ascorbic acid for another 8 days. For oligodendrocyte differentiation, medium then replaced with base medium containing DMEM/F12 (1:1) with 1% N2 in addition to 10 ng/ml FGF2, 10 ng/ml PDGF, and 10 μM forskolin for 4 days and then medium was replaced by the base medium in addition to 10 ng/ml FGF2, 30 ng/ml 3,3,5-triiodothyronine, and 200 μM ascorbic acid for another 7 days. For astrocyte differentiation (Thermo Scientific, Santa Clara, Calif.), medium was replaced by DMEM containing 1% FBS, 1% N2, and 2 mM GlutaMax for 10 days. Induction media were changed every 3-4 days.
Subcellular Fractionation and Western Blotting
Nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions were prepared using the NE-PER® Nuclear and Cytoplasmic Extraction Reagents Kit (Pierce, Rockford, Ill., USA) as per manufacturer's instruction. Briefly, the treated P10 LNC were washed once on cold PBS and centrifuged at 500 g for 5 min.
The cell pellet was suspended in 100 μL of cytoplasmic extraction reagent I containing protease inhibitor by vortexing. The suspension was incubated on ice for 10 min followed by the addition of 6 μL of a second cytoplasmic extraction reagent II, vortexed for 5s, incubated on ice for 1 min and centrifuged for 5 min at 16 000 g. The supernatant fraction (cytoplasmic extract) was transferred to a pre-chilled tube. The insoluble pellet fraction, which contains crude nuclei, was resuspended in 50 μL of nuclear extraction reagent by vortexing during 15s three times and incubated on ice for 10 min each, then centrifuged for 10 min at 16 000 g. The resulting supernatant, constituting the nuclear extract, was used for the subsequent experiments. Protein concentration was quantitated using the BCA protein assay kit (Pierce). Equal amounts of protein were loaded in each lane and separated on 4-15% gradient acrylamide gels under denaturing and reducing conditions for Western blotting. The protein extracts were transferred to the nitrocellulose membrane, which was then blocked with 5% (w/v) fat-free milk in TBST. [50 mM Tris-HC1, pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 0.05% (v/v) Tween-20], followed by sequential incubation with the specific primary antibody against either Pax6, CXCR4, phospho-Smad1/5/8 and its respective horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated secondary antibody using β-actin and Histone H3 for their respective cytoplasmic or nucleus fraction of loading control. Immunoreactive proteins were detected with Western Lighting Chemiluminescence (PerkinElmer, Waltham, Mass.) and images captured by GE ImageQuant LAS 4000 (GE Healthcare Biosciences, Pittsburgh, Pa.).
Quantitative Real-Time PCR
Total RNAs were extracted from expanded LNC by RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.) according to manufacturer's guideline and 1-2 ug of RNA extract was reverse transcribed to cDNA with reverse-transcribed using Applied Biosystem™ High Capacity Reverse Transcription Kit (Thermo Fisher, Santa Clara, Calif.) using primers. The resultant cDNAs were amplified by specific TaqMan gene expression assay mix and universal PCR master mix in QuantStudio™ 5 Real Time PCR System (Thermo Fisher, Santa Clara, Calif.) with real-time RT-PCR profile consisting of 10 min of initial activation at 95° C., followed by 40 cycles of 15 sec denaturation at 95° C., and 1 min annealing and extension at 60° C. The threshold was set at 10 times the standard deviation above the mean baseline emission value for the first 15 cycles. Threshold cycle number (Ct) was calculated with QuantStudio Design and. Analysis v.1.4.3 (Thermo Fisher, Santa Clara, Calif.). The relative gene expression data were analyzed by the comparative CT method (ΔΔCT). All assays were performed in triplicate. The results were normalized by glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) as an internal control. All assays were performed in triplicate.
Immunofluorescence Staining
Single cells of LNC or CSC at different passages were harvested with 0.05% trypsin and 1 mM EDTA at 37° C. for 10 min and prepared for cytospin using Cytofuge (StatSpin Inc., Norwood, Mass.) at 1000 g for 8 min. Cells were fixed with 4% formaldehyde, pH 7.0, for 15 min at room temperature, permeabilized with 0.2% Triton X-100 in PBS for 15 min and blocked with 2% bovine serum albumin (BSA) for 1 h before incubated with primary antibodies for 16 h at 4° C. After 3 washes with PBS, the corresponding Alexa Fluor-conjugated secondary IgG (all 1:100 dilution) were incubated for 60 min and 3 washing with PBS. After 3 washes with PBS, the second primary antibodies were incubated for 60 min and followed with the corresponding Alex Fluor-conjugated secondary IgG. The nucleus was counterstained with Hoechst 33342 before being analyzed with Zeiss LSM 700 confocal microscope (Carl Zeiss, Thornwood, N.Y.). Corresponding mouse and rabbit sera were used as negative controls for primary monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, respectively.
Statistical Analysis
All summary data were reported as mean±SD. Significance was calculated for each group and compared with two-tailed Student's t-test by Microsoft Excel (Microsoft, Redmond, Wash.). Test results were reported as p values, where p<0.05 were considered statistically significant.
On the ocular surface, corneal epithelial stem cells (SCs) reside in limbus bordered between cornea and conjunctiva. From the limbal stroma subjacent to limbal epithelial SC, a subpopulation of limbal niche cells (LNC) that express SC markers such as Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, Rex1, Nestin, N-cadherin, and SSEA4 and exhibit differentiation potential into vascular endothelial cells, pericytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes. From the entire human limbal stroma, others have also isolated progenitors that can differentiate into neurons and retinal sensory cilia. It has been reported that limbal niche cells (LNC) in the stroma support limbal epithelial stem (progenitor) cells better by promoting holoclones and preventing corneal epithelial differentiation than that in central corneal stromal cells. Interestingly, a subpopulation of corneal stromal cells (CSC) can also be isolated to exhibit sphere formation and differentiation potential into adipocytes, neurons, and chrondrocytes besides keratocan-expressing keratocytes. The aforementioned limbal and corneal stromal progenitors expressed developmental neural crest genes, such as ATP binding cassette (ABCG2), Nestin, Musashi-1, Sox2, Six2/3, and Sox9. These results indicated both limbal and corneal stroma may contain multi-potent progenitors. It is plausible that these stromal progenitors are derived from migrating per-ocular mesenchyme of the cranial neural crest during development.
Paired box homeotic gene 6 (Pax6) is an evolutionally conserved transcription factor essential for proper development of eye, central nerve system, craniofacial skeletal, olfactory epithelium, and pancreas. In the eye, the primarily function of Pax6 is mediated the commitment of head ectoderm of optic vesicle into the lens ectoderm and promote the formation of lens vesicle. Homozygous Pax6-deficient mouse embryo exhibits lack of eyes and nose and dies soon at birth. Expression of Pax6 is dosage dependent as a mutation or missing allele leads to aniridia in humans and the small eye (sey, Pax6+/−) in mouse animal model. Patients with aniridia-related keratopathy (ARK) observed as typical ocular surface disease with limbal stem cells deficiency (LSCD). However, the pathophysiology of underlying mechanism that leads to LSCD remains to be elucidated. Post-natal expression of Pax6 is restricted to corneal and limbal epithelial cells. Studies reported inadequate levels of Pax6 in corneal epidermis leads to abnormal differentiation in human and mouse. Interestingly, Pax6+/− in heterozygous adult mice has profound severe defect in cornea stroma and endothelium but less of impact in epithelial cells with delay wound healing. Because transient expression of Pax6 is noted in the corneal stroma during development and in aforementioned limbal and corneal stromal progenitors, it was hypothesized that expression of Pax6 in the limbal stroma might have a unique developmental role in maintaining corneal epithelial homeostasis. Herein, the expression and nuclear localization of Pax6 was found to differentiate LNC from CSC and causally correlated with the neural crest progenitor status regarding marker expression, neurosphere formation, and neuroglial differentiation. Furthermore, such a phenotype is crucial to endow LNC with the capability of supporting self-renewal of limbal epithelial SCs by suppressing corneal epithelial differentiation and maintaining holoclone formation.
Results
Unique Nuclear Expression of 46 kDa Pax6 in Limbal Niche Cells
To determine whether there was any difference between LNC and CSC in the expression of Pax6 immediately after isolation, LNC and CSC were isolated from epithelium-containing limbal stroma and epithelially denuded corneal stroma from the same donor using collagenase digestion. Double immunostaining of Pax6 and pan-cytokeratin (PCK) showed positive nuclear staining of Pax6 in PCK (+) epithelial cells as expected but also in freshly isolated PCK (−) LNC (
Immunofluorescence staining confirmed the universal expression of vimentin by these mesenchymal cells. However, nuclear staining of Pax6 was noted in P4 LNC while cytoplasmic staining of Pax6 was predominantly noted in P4 CSC when both cultured on coated Matrigel™ in MESCM (
Nuclear Pax6 in LNC was Lost After Serial Passage
It has previously been reported that P4 LNC exhibit vascular angiogenic potential to differentiate into vascular endothelial cells or pericytes capable of stabilizing vascular tube formation and more potent potential than human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes. To know whether serial passages might affect the aforementioned nuclear localization of Pax6 and expression of the aforementioned neural crest markers in LNC, LNC was isolated from four different limbal quadrants (labeled as A-D) and CSC from the central cornea (labeled as E) of the same donor tissue (
Immunofluorescence staining further showed that nuclear staining of Pax6 by P4 LNC and became nearly nil staining by P10 LNC; nuclear staining of p75NTR and Sox2 at P4 was lost in P10 LNC (
Neural Potential in LNC Declined by Serial Passage
In vitro neurosphere growth assay is gold standard for neural stem cells. Because serial passage of LNC led to reduced expression and loss of nuclear Pax6 staining and other neural crest markers, it was wondered whether such a change was correlated with the loss of the neural progenitor status defined by neurosphere formation and neuroglial differentiation potential. LNC from 4 regions and CSC were serially passaged and seeded at the same density of 5×103/cm2 in poly-HEMA coated 12-well in the neurosphere medium containing 1.6% of methylcellulose for 7 days. Spheres emerged with an increasing size (
Forced Expression of Pax6 Restored Neural Crest Progenitor Status in P10 LNC
Forced expression of Pax6 was carried out in P10 LNC, which exhibited a gradual loss of transcript expression of Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, and Rex14 and the loss of nuclear Pax6 staining as well as expression of neural crest markers. The optimal transfection efficiency of the adenoviral plasmid construct with CMV promoter and enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) with or without Pax6, i.e., Ad-GFP-Pax6 (experimental) and Ad-GFP (control) (
Neurosphere formation (
P10 LNC with Forced Expression of Pax6 Supported Self-Renewal of LEPC
Reunion of single LEPC with single P4 LNC or P4 LNC aggregates in 3D Matrigel™ prevented corneal fate decision/differentiation of limbal epithelial progenitor cells (LEPC). Furthermore, corneal fate decision is prevented more by reunion between LEPC and P4 LNC than that between LEPC and P4 CSC4. The same experiment was repeated and noted that reunion between LEPC and P4 LNC generated similar cell aggregates (
In an in vitro colony forming assay on mitomycin-treated 3T3 fibroblast feeder layers, reunion between LEPC and P4 LNC on 3D Matrigel™ yielded greater clonal growth of holoclone (
Discussion
During eye morphogenesis, Pax6-expressing cranial neural crest cells are involved in the formation of lens placodes, retina, and anterior segment. During eye development, nuclear Pax6+ staining is observed in corneal stroma, ciliary body, endothelial and trabecular meshwork. Herein, it was found nuclear Pax6+ staining in freshly isolated (
The critical role of Pax6 in governing the neural crest progenitor status was further substantiated by forced expression of 46 kDa Pax6 in late passaged LNC. Gain of function by forced expression with adenoviral vector GFP-Pax6 resulted in the reappearance of nuclear 46 kDa Pax6 staining in P10 LNC and re-expression of neural crest markers (
For the post-natal corneal and limbal epithelia, Pax6 together with p63 specifies limbal epithelial SCs from the surface ectoderm and with Wnt7A controls corneal fate decision by promoting CK12 expression by limbal and corneal epithelial cells. To demonstrate the important role of Pax6 in LNC to modulate self-renewal of limbal epithelial SCs, an in vitro colony forming assay was utilized, which is frequently used to measure the self-renewal property of a single SC. For epithelial stem (progenitor) cells, the standard of proof relies on categorizing resultant clones based on morphology and phenotypic characterization as holoclone, meroclone, and paraclone. Only holoclones are capable of performing extensive proliferation and self-renewal, whilst meroclones have a limited proliferative capacity and cannot self-renew and paraclones are incapable of further proliferation. Previously, the aforementioned practice was followed, adopted the same criteria, and reported that the reunion of P4 LNC with limbal epithelial progenitor cells (LEPC) supports self-renewal of the latter in 3D Matrigel™ by demonstrating the greater yield of holoclones with nil expression of corneal epithelial differentiation marker, cytokeratin 12, when compare to LEPC alone. Herein, by taking advantage of the success in establishing the in vitro reunion assay between LNC and LEPC, which contain limbal epithelial SCs34, P10 LNC, which lost nuclear Pax6 staining (
Based on the studies, Pax6 plays an important role in LNC to support self-renewal of limbal epithelial SCs. The finding that LNC from the superior limbus, i.e., Region A (
Materials and Methods
Cell Isolation and Expansion
Human corneolimbal rim and central cornea button stored at 4° C. in Optisol (Chiron Vision, Irvine, Calif.) for less than 7 days were obtained from different donors (Florida Lions Eye Bank, Miami, Fla.). After rinsing three times with PBS pH 7.4 containing 50 μg/ml gentamicin and 1.25 μg/ml amphotericin B, the excess sclera, conjunctiva, iris, corneal endothelium and trabecular meshwork were removed up to the Schwalbe's line for the corneoscleral rim before being cut into superior, nasal, inferior, and temporal quadrants (
For expansion, single cells derived from limbal clusters or CSC after digestion with 0.25% trypsin and 1 mM EDTA (T/E) were seeded at 1×104/cm2 in the 6-well plate pre-coated with 5% Matrigel™ in MESCM and cultured in humidified 5% CO2 with media change every 3-4 days for total 6-7 days. In some instance, CSC were expanded in Neural Stem Cells Serum-Free Expansion Medium (NSCM) consist of DMEM/F-12 (1:1) supplemented, 2% Neural Supplement (consist of B-27 and N-2), 20 ng/ml human FGF-basic recombinant, 20 ng/ml human EGF recombinant. CSC were also expanded on plastic in DMEM with 10% FBS, 50 μg/ml gentamicin and 1.25 μg/ml amphotericin B. When cells reach at 80-90% confluence and were serially expanded at the seeding density of 5×103 per cm2 for up to 13 passages. The extent of total expansion was measured by the number of cell doubling (NCD) calculate from formulate: NCD=log 10(y/x)/log 102, where “y” is the final density of the cells and “x” is the initial seeding density of the cells.
In Vitro Reunion Assay
An in vitro reunion assay was performed. In brief, P4 LNC, P4 CSC, and P10 LNC transfected with Ad-GFP or Ad-GFP-Pax6 that were expanded on coated Matrigel™ were seeded in 3D Matrigel™ at the density of 5×104 cells/cm2 to generate aggregates in MESCM for 24 h. Single LEPC obtained from dispase-isolated limbal epithelial sheet were seeded at the density of 5×104 cells/cm2 in 3D Matrigel™ with or without the aforementioned LNC or CSC aggregates for 6 days. The resultant spheres were harvested by digesting Matrigel™ with 10 mg/ml dispase II at 37° C. for 2 h, of which some were rendered into single cells by T/E before being prepared for cytospin.
In Vitro Colony Forming Assay
An in vitro epithelial colony forming assay was performed on mitomycin-treated 3T3 fibroblast feeder layers in supplemental hormonal epithelial medium (SHEM), which was made of an equal volume of HEPES-buffered DMEM and Ham's F-12 containing bicarbonate, 0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide, 2 ng/ml mouse-derived epidermal growth factor, 5 mg/ml insulin, 5 mg/ml transferrin, 5 ng/ml sodium selenite, 0.5 mg/ml hydrocortisone, 30 ng/ml cholera toxin A subunit, 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 50 mg/ml gentamicin, and 1.25 mg/ml amphotericin B. In brief, a total 2,000 single cells obtained from LEPC with or without reunion with P4 LNC, P4 CSC, and P10 LNC transfected with GFP or GFP-Pax6 were seeded on MMC-treated 3T3 fibroblast feeder layers for 10 days. The resultant clonal growth was fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and assessed by 1% rhodamine B staining solution for marking clones for the measurement of colony-forming efficiency by calculating the percentage of the clone number divided by the total number of PCK+ cells seeded that was determined by double immunostaining of PCK/Vim. Clone morphology was subdivided into holoclone, meroclone, and paraclone based on the criteria established for skin keratinocytes49.
Forced Expression of GFP-Pax6
The forced expression experiment was performed in P10 LNC on coated Matrigel™ in MESCM by adding Ad-GFP-Pax6, which is pre-packaged human adenovirus Type-5 vector (dE1/E3) expressing human enhanced GFP-Pax6 construct gene (NCBI reference sequence of Pax6 is BC011953) under the control of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter or Ad-GFP, which is the empty vector with GFP promoter (both purchased from Vector Biolabs, Malvern, Pa.), at the MOI of 0, 4, 20, 100, 500 and 2500 for 1 to 5 days.
Neurosphere Formation
Single cells of both LNC or CSC expanded at different passages were plated at cell density of 5000/cm2 on anti-adhesive poly-HEMA in 12 well-plate for 6 days in neural stem cell medium (NSCM) consisting of 20 ng/ml EGF, 20 ng/ml FGF2, 2% NSCM supplement, and 1.6% methylcellulose. Sphere formation was monitored by phase microscope and spheres with the size of greater than 50 μm in diameter were counted throughout the entire 12-well on day 6 by Zeiss Axio-Observer Z1 Motorized Inverted Microscope (Carl Zeiss, Thornwood, N.Y.). The neurosphere-forming efficiency was calculated by subdividing the total number of spheres by the total number of seeded cells×100%.
Neuroglial Differentiation
1×104/ml of P4 or P10 LNC were seeded on 50 μg/ml poly-L-ornithine and 20 μg/ml laminin-coated or Collagen Type IV coated cover glass in 48-well plate in NSCM supplement with 0.5% N2 and 1% B27 for 2 days. For neuronal differentiation, medium was then replaced to neuronal induction base medium containing DMEM/F12 (1:3) with 0.5% N2 and 1% B27 in additional to 10 ng/ml FGF2 and 20 ng/ml of BDNF (medium A) for 3 days and replaced with base medium in addition to 6.7 ng/ml FGF2 and 30 ng/ml of BDNF for another 3 days. Cell then replaced to base medium in addition to 2.5 ng/ml FGF2, 30 ng/ml BDNF, and 200 mM ascorbic acid for another 8 days. For oligodendrocyte differentiation, medium then replaced with base medium containing DMEM/F12 (1:1) with 1% N2 in addition to 10 ng/ml FGF2, 10 ng/ml PDGF, and 10 μM forskolin for 4 days and then medium was replaced by the base medium in addition to 10 ng/ml FGF2, 30 ng/ml 3,3,5-triiodothyronine, and 200 μM ascorbic acid for another 7 days. For astrocyte differentiation (Thermo Scientific, Santa Clara, Calif.), medium was replaced by DMEM containing 1% FBS, 1% N2, and 2 mM GlutaMax for 10 days. Induction media were changed every 3-4 days.
RNA Extraction, Reverse Transcription, and Quantitative Real-Time PCR
Total RNAs were extracted from expanded LNC, CSC, or neurospheres on day 6 by RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.) according to manufacturer's guideline and 1-2 μg of RNA extract was reverse transcribed to cDNA with reverse-transcribed using High Capacity Reverse Transcription Kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) using primers. The resultant cDNAs were amplified by specific TaqMan gene expression assay mix and universal PCR master mix in 7300 Real Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) with real-time RT-PCR profile consisting of 10 min of initial activation at 95° C., followed by 40 cycles of 15 sec denaturation at 95° C., and 1 min annealing and extension at 60° C. The relative gene expression data were analyzed by the comparative CT method (ΔΔCT). All assays were performed in triplicate. The results were normalized by glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) as an internal control.
Immunofluorescence Staining
Single cells of LNC or CSC at different passages and their neurospheres with or without knockdown by forced expression of Pax6 were harvested with 0.05% trypsin and 1 mM EDTA at 37° C. for 10 min and prepared for cytospin using Cytofuge (StatSpin Inc., Norwood, Mass.) at 1000 rpm for 8 min. Cells were fixed with 4% formaldehyde, pH 7.0, for 15 min at room temperature, permeabilized with 0.2% Triton X-100 in PBS for 15 min and blocked with 2% bovine serum albumin (BSA) for 1 h before incubated with primary antibodies for 16 h at 4° C. After 3 washes with PBS, the corresponding Alexa Fluor-conjugated secondary IgG (all 1:100 dilution) were incubated for 60 min and 3 washing with PBS. The method to calculate the % nuclear Pax6 positive cells was based on counting of nuclear Pax6 positive cells using AxioVision software (Carl Zeiss, Thornwood, N.Y.) of immunofluorescence staining images with Pax6 staining and Hoechst 33342 counter nuclear staining taken by confocal microscopy. Corresponding mouse and rabbit sera were used as negative controls for the primary monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, respectively. Neurospheres were also incubated in NSCM containing 4 μM of EthD-1 and 2 μM of Calcein AM at 37° C. for 30 min for fluorescence detected at 494/517 nm for viable and 528/617 nm for dead cells, respectively under the confocal microscope.
Western Blot
Cell lysates were extracted from P10 LNC transfected with Ad-Pax6 GFP or Ad-GFP on day 4 by cold lysis buffer containing radioimmunoprecipitation assay buffer, protease inhibitor cocktail (100×) and 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.) Total protein of the cell lysate was measured and normalized by the BCA assay (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.) and 5 μg of protein lysate was loaded on a 4-15% (w/v) gradient sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel and transferred to nitrocellulose membrane using mini Trans-blot electrophoretic transfer apparatus (Bio-Rad, Hercules, Calif.). Each membrane was blocked with 5% (W/V) fat-free milk in 50 mM Tris-HC1, pH 7.5, containing 150 mM NaCl, and 0.05% Tween-20 for 1 h before incubation with specific primary antibodies in 5% (W/V) fat-free milk overnight at 4° C. follow by their respective horseradish peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibodies using antibody against Histone 3 and β-actin as the loading control. The immunoreactive bands were detected by Western Lightning Chemiluminescence (PerkinElmer, Waltham, Mass.) using an ImageQuant LAS 4000 digital imaging system (GE Healthcare Piscataway, N.J.).
Statistical Analysis
All summary data were reported as mean±SD. Significance was calculated for each group and compared with two-tailed Student's t-test and ANOVA by Microsoft Excel (Microsoft, Redmond, Wash.). Test results were reported as p values, where p<0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Endogenous CXCR4 found in cytoplasmic and nucleus of young fetal blood and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) was compared to plasma membrane expressing CXCR4 in adult MSC. Internalization of CXCR4 has been noted to interact with other proteins, such as ferritin, heat shock cognate protein (Hsc73), plectin, and Myosin IIA after SDF-1 treatment. Interestingly, the internalization of endogenous CXCR4 has reported specifically regulated by Rac1 via extracellular domain 2 (ECL2) that control conformational heterogeneity of CXCR4. Inhibition of Rac1 by inhibitors NSC23766 or EHT1864 leads the reduced cell surface CXCR4. Different CXCR4 antibodies against this domain can differentiate conformation changes thus affecting coreceptor efficiency on the cell surface. These data use an antibody against CXCR4 (Clone 44716.111), which is known to specifically recognize this ECL2 domain and was found translocated to nucleus at 15 min. A previous observation showed that transient activation of Rac1 at 5 and 15 min but reduced at 30 min by soluble HC-HA/PTX3, in contrast to a gradual decline of Rac1 GTPase activities by HA (
Previously it has been shown that in an in vitro reunion assay between limbal epithelial progenitor cells (LEPC) and P4 LNC maintains the self-renewal status and prevent corneal SC epithelial from differentiation in 3D Matrigel and promoted their clonogenic potential on mitomycin C-arrested 3T3 fibroblast feeder layers. Both immobilized and soluble HC-HA/PTX3 have been demonstrated to reverse P10 LNC with neural crest phenotype at 48 h and CXCR4 mediated signaling is necessary to promote Pax6 P10 LNC. In this example, it was asked whether the reversed Pax6 P10 LNC can support self-renewal of LEPC on 3D MG.
Experimental Design
The epithelial progenitor status of the sphere growth was determined by a clonal assay on 3T3 fibroblast feeder layers in supplemental hormonal epithelial medium, which was made of an equal volume of HEPES-buffered DMEM and Ham's F-12 containing bicarbonate, 0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide, 2 ng/ml mouse-derived epidermal growth factor, 5 mg/ml insulin, 5 mg/ml transferrin, 5 ng/ml sodium selenite, 0.5 mg/ml hydrocortisone, 30 ng/ml cholera toxin A subunit, 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 50 mg/ml gentamicin, and 1.25 mg/ml amphotericin B. The feeder layer was prepared by treating 80% sub confluent 3T3 fibroblasts with 4 mg/ml mitomycinC (MMC) at 37 C for 2 hours in DMEM containing 10% newborn calf serum before seeding at the density of 2×104 cells per square centimeter.
P10 and P4 LNC were pre-treated with or without immobilized HC-HA/PTX3 or soluble HC-HA/PTX3 for 48h. 5×104/cm2 treated LNC were reunion with 5×104/cm2 LEPC on 3D MG, sphere growth was harvested on day 6 by 10 mg/ml of dispase 37 C for 2h. Harvested spheres were subjected for qPCR and colony forming assay.
For colony forming assay, 500 LEPC or reunion 1,000 single cells sphere growth were seeded on MMC-treated 3T3 fibroblast feeder layers for another 8-10 days. Resultant clonal growth was assessed by 1% rhodamine B staining, which allowed measurement of the colony-forming efficiency by calculating the percentage of the clone number divided by the total number of PCK cells initial seeding with double immunostaining with PCK and Vimentin. Clone morphology was subdivided into holoclone, meroclone, and paraclone based on the criteria established for skin keratinocytes.
Results
Findings in cross-sectioned human corneoscleral rims demonstrated that strong membrane Notch 1 and Notch 2 receptors were predominantly expressed in corneal and conjunctiva epithelia but absent in limbal basal epithelium. The data further suggested antibody against NICD staining was predominantly found in nuclei of suprabasal corneal and conjunctival epithelium but weakly expressed in nuclei of limbal suprabasal epithelium and absent in the limbal basal epithelium further suggest that NICD-Notch signaling was inhibited in limbal basal epithelium (
Recently, it has been reported that P10 LNC on HC-HA/PTX3 promotes cell aggregation and nuclear Pax6 with neuro crest phenotypes and neural crest potential. These preliminary data demonstrated that (5) P4 LNC on immobilized HC-HA/PTX3, but not 3D Matrigel, upregulated transcript expression of Notch2/3, Notch ligand, Jagged1, Dll, and Hes1 signaling (
Blocking notch signaling by DAPT did not prevent cell aggregation (
When two cell types, LEPC and LNC, were compared on immobilized HC-HA/PTX3, LEPC alone expressed Notch1, DLL1, Jag2, LFNG and MFNG whereas LNC alone expressed Notch2, Notch3 and Jagged 1 (
Previous it was shown that co-cultured of LNC+LEPC on HC-HA/PTX3 promotes BMP and PCP signaling and quiescence markers, Bmi-1 of LEPC. The mechanism of how BMP and PCP signaling were activated remains unclear. These preliminary data demonstrated when blocking Notch signaling by DAPT in LEPC+LNC significantly downregulated the quiescence epithelium markers (
In the cornea, Notch signaling has been reported in regulating the maintenance of the corneal transient amplified corneal epithelium (TAC) in fate decision, differentiation and wound healing. Notch 1−/−mouse leads cornea epithelial into hyperproliferative skin-like epidermis. Overexpressed in cornea epithelium-specific K14 NICD transgenic mice promoted corneal epithelial wound healing. Although Notch1/2 receptors have been reported to predominantly expressed at human corneal suprabasal epithelium and absent at limbal basal epithelium, other groups have reported the opposite finding that membrane Notch1 at limbal basal and subjacent suprabasal epithelium. Notch ligands, Delta I, Jagged 1 and Jagged 2 have characterized expressed throughout the entire corneal epithelium. HEY and HES proteins cooperate with each other in suppressing bHLH activator-driven neuronal differentiation and in maintaining the neural stem cell fate. The objective of this example is to confirm and identify whether they are more than one Notch signaling occur between corneal epithelium and subjacent stroma in cornea, limbus and conjunctiva.
Experimental Design
Human corneoscleral rims for less than 5 days were obtained from the Florida Lions Eye Bank and handled according to the declaration of Helsinki. Briefly, after the rims were rinsed three times PBS with 50 μg/ml gentamicin and 1.25 lg/ml amphotericin B; the iris, trabecular meshwork, and endothelium were removed.
Results
The results in cross-sectioned human corneoscleral rims demonstrated that strong membrane Notch 1 and Notch 2 receptors are predominantly expressed in corneal and conjunctiva epithelia but absent in limbal basal epithelium. These data further suggests antibody against NICD staining is predominantly found in nuclei of suprabasal corneal and conjunctival epithelium but weakly expressed in nuclei of limbal suprabasal epithelium and absent in the limbal basal epithelium further suggest that NICD-Notch signaling is inhibited in limbal basal epithelium (
Previously it had been demonstrated collagenase A isolated clusters contain limbal epithelial with its subjacent mesenchymal niche. Those niche cells uniquely express neural crest progenitor defined PCK−/Vim+/Pax6+ mesenchymal expressed Sox2, p75NTR, Musashi-1 and Msx1. It was questioned whether expression Notch3/Jagged1/Hes1 are indeed highly expressed in limbus basal epithelial with subjacent stroma when compared to cornea corneal stromal and epithelial cells.
Experimental Design
Human tissue was handled according to the Declaration of Helsinki. In this study, human corneoscleral rim from donors aged 61 years were provided by the Florida Lions Eye Bank. Immediately after the central corneal button had been used for corneal transplantation, they were transferred in Optisol-GS (Bausch & Lomb; www.bausch.com) and transported at 4° C. to the laboratory. The rim was then rinsed three times with PBSx1 pH7.4 containing 50 mg/mL gentamicin and 1.25 mg/mL amphotericin B. All materials used for cell culturing. After removal of excessive sclera, conjunctiva, iris, and corneal endothelium, the tissue was cut into 12 one-clock-hour segments, from which a limbal segment was obtained by incisions made at 1 mm within and beyond the anatomic limbus. An intact epithelial sheet including basal epithelial cells could be obtained by subjecting each limbal segment to digestion with MESCM. Alternatively, central cornea contains intact epithelial sheet consisted of predominant suprabasal epithelial cells was obtained by dispase digestion at 37° C. for 2 h and the remaining stroma was then digested with 1 mg/mL collagenase A in MESCM at 37° C. for 16 h from the stroma. In parallel, each limbal segment, without any further trimming off any stromal tissue, was directly digested with 1 mg/mL collagenase A in SHEM at 37 C for 16 h under humidified 5% CO2 to generate a cell aggregate termed “cluster.”
Results
Results are illustrated in
Consistently, collagenase isolated limbal cluster revealed weak nuclear NICD expressed PCK+ cells. The preliminary data as seen in Example 11 collectively suggested that Notch3/Jagged1 may play differential role from Notch1 in limbal epithelium and mesenchymal cells.
P4 LNC on HC-HA/PTX3, but not on plastic or 3D Matrigel, uniquely promotes Notch signaling by upregulation of notch ligands notch2, notch3, DLL2 and receptors Jagged 1 and DLL2. In contrast, 3D Matrigel uniquely promotes Beta-1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferance manic fringe (MFNG) (
Experimental Design
1×105/ml of P10 LNC were seeded on three substrates, coated Matrigel, HA or HC-HA/PTX3 in MESCM 48 h. For time course study on soluble HC-HA/PTX3, P10 LNC were treated HC-HA/PTX3 for 5, 15, 30, 60 min, 24 h and 48 h.
Results
Time course revealed HC-HA/PTX3 promoted mRNA expression of Notch3/Jag1 and Hes1 as early as 15 minutes and at peak by thousand-fold at 120 min in P10 LNC when compared to the transcript level on 3D Matrigel (
Discussion
Activation of Notch signaling has been reported necessary to convert cranial neural crest derived mesenchyme to perivascular cells. Constitutive activation of notch pathway through expression of NICD, in mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line or cranial neural crest mesenchyme were sufficient to promote cells into perivascular cell fate. Activation of ligand binds to Notch triggers shedding of its extracellular domain by a metalloprotease.
Expression of Hes1 has been demonstrated to be mediated through Notch dependent and -independent pathways to promote angiogenesis and neurogenesis. Oscillation of Hes1 has been demonstrated notch independent and mediated through BMP and LIF signaling in ES cells, FGF2-JNK axis in ES derived neural progenitors, NGF-NF-KB with sustained expression of Hes1 to maintain the dendriotogensis, VEGF-FLK-1-ERK for retinal progenitor proliferation and retinal ganglion cell fate specification and acetylation of Pax3 binding the promoter of Hes1 to enhance neural SC maintenance.
Hes1 has been known to regulate the undifferentiated status/maintenance of neural stem cell progenitors to promote proper neuronal differentiation and cell-cell interactive lateral inhibition. Expression of Hes1 often in an oscillatory manner of every 2 hours has been demonstrated in fibroblast and neural progenitors. Without Hes gene, progenitor cells prematurely differentiate into certain types of neurons only and are depleted before they have proliferated sufficiently for other neuronal and glial cell types. These data showed that transient nuclear translocation of Hes1 within 5 minutes when treated by HC-HA/PTX3. The sustained expression of Hes1 enhances repression the pro-neuronal gene and maintain the low proliferative or quiescence mode of cells. Notch-Hes1 mediated is responsible for activation of HIF1α signaling for phosphorylation STAT3 at Tyr 416. It remains unclear mechanism event responsible for nuclear translation of protein Hes1 but expressed from post-transcriptional event.
The native limbal niche cells isolated from the limbus has been shown to possess with neural crest and angiogenic potentials. Recently, it has been reported that serially passage of LNC at P10 results in the loss of neural crest progenitor status, which was characterized by downregulation of neural crest progenitor markers such as p75NTR Musashi-1, Sox2, Nestin, Msx1, and FoxD3, and neuroglial differentiation. Similarly, cells also lose the angiogenic progenitor status characterized by downregulation of FLK-1, PDGFRβ and CD31. It has been demonstrated that the reversal of aged P10 LNC with neural crest potential can be achieved by seeding in soluble HC-HA/PTX3, but not in 3D basement membrane Matrigel. Because HC-HA/PTX3 complex purified from AM consists of HMW HA (>3000 kDa) covalently linked with HC1 and tightly bound PTX3, it was speculated whether HC-HA/PTX3, but not HA, can uniquely reverse the aged LNC to their native neural crest progenitor, p75NTR, Musashi-1, Sox2, Nestin, Msx1, and FoxD3 and vascular progenitor phenotype, FLK-1, PDGFRβ and CD31.
Experimental Design
Single cells derived from limbal clusters after digestion with 0.25% trypsin and 1 mM EDTA (T/E) were seeded at 1×104/cm2 in the 6-well plate pre-coated with 5% Matrigel™ in MESCM and cultured in humidified 5% CO2 with media change every 3-4 days for total 6-7 days.
Cells treated by HC-HA/PTX3, HA or coated MG were lysed and harvested for RT-PCR. The comparison the mRNA expression of CXCR4, SDF-1 on soluble HC-HA/PTX3 (25 μg/ml) for 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 min, 24 h and 48h for neural crest (p75NTR, NGF, Sox2, Musashi-1) and angiogenic markers (PDGFRβ, VEGFR, and CD31).
For cytospin, P10 LNC were harvested at 48h and subjected for IF for p75NTR, Sox2, PDGFRβ, CD31.
Supernatant at 0h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 24 h, 48h after treating with HC-HA/PTX3 were collected for measurement of VEGF, PDGFRβ and NGF measured in samples of culture medium using a specific ELISA (Quantikine Human VEGF Immunoassay; R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.). This assay recognized VEGF165, as well as VEGF121. An enzyme immunoassay multi-well reader to read at an emission of 450 nm was used to quantify the results. The inter-assay coefficient of variation was 8.5%, and the sensitivity of the assay was 5 pg/ml.
Results
Phase contrast microscopy showed that cell aggregation was promoted by soluble HC-HA/PTX3 as early as 60 min but not in HA or coated MG (
Previously, it has been shown that early passage P4 LNC express neurovascular phenotypes such as vascular pericyte markers (pericyte-EC) (e.g. FLK-1, CD34, CD31, α-SMA, PDGFRβ and NG2) with MSC tri-lineage differentiation and neuro crest marker (Pax6, p75NTR, Musashi-1, Sox2, Msx-1, FoxD3). It has been demonstrated that soluble amniotic extract or HC-HA can suppress endothelial (HUVEC) viability that is CD44 independently and inhibit cell proliferation and suppress HUVEC tube formation (data not shown). Pericytes have been known to stabilize vessels and survival of endothelial cells. Co-culture of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) with developing vascular endothelial cells reduce the rate of proliferation and apoptosis in endothelial cells. It remains whether the anti-angiogenic of the apoptosis of HUVEC by HC-HA/PTX3 can be averted by the reversal of late passage LNC.
Experimental Design
5×105/ml HUVEC and P10 LNC (2:1) were seeded in ECGM supplemented with 2% FBS on Matrigel and treated with PBS or 25 μg/ml of HA or HC⋅HA/PTX3 for 16 h or longer. Fewer tube formations were found in HC⋅HA-treated cultures based on representative phase contrast micrographs. Total length of tube formations per field in 5 random 100× fields were recorded and compared to control PBS. It was anticipated that HC-HA/PTX3 inhibits tube formation of HUVEC but not HA or non-treated cells on 3D Matrigel at 16 hrs or longer.
5×105/ml HUVEC and/or P10 LNC (2:1) were seeded in ECGM supplemented with 2% FBS on Matrigel and treated with PBS or 25 μg/ml of HA or HC⋅HA/PTX3 for 0h, 30 min, 1h, 4h, 24 h and 48h. Caspase-9 was found in cytoplasmic and is an initiator caspase that is part of intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Upon activation, it translocates to the mitochondria. Following mitochondrial disruption, Cytochrome C is released from mitochondria and interact with APAF-1 resulting in Pro-Caspase dimerization. The act of dimerization activates Pro-Caspase-9 leading to activation of Caspase-3. Thus the anti-angiogenesis effect of HC-HA/PTX3 in HUVEC or/and LNC through Caspase 9 apoptosis assay by a Caspase Colorimetric assay 9 (Abcam, ab65608) was examined. To perform the assay, lysis buffer was added to the samples. After incubation, assay was based on detection of chromophore p-nitroanilide (p-NA) after cleavage from the labeled substrate LEHD-P-NA. The p-NA light emission was quantified with a microplate reader at 400 nm. This assay allowed the earliest time of activation of caspase-9 in a time course study.
Because Annexin V is expressed in early stage of apoptotic cells on cell membrane (earlier than caspase-9), GFP-CERTIFIED® Apoptosis/Necrosis detection kit using fluorescent probes were utilized to determine earliest time of expression of Annexin V (should be earlier than Caspase 9) by HC-HA/PTX3. In the presence of LNC, apoptosis in GFP-HUVEC was particularly in the aggregates cells.
Results
HC-HA/PTX3, but not HA or 3D Matrigel, induced anti-angiogenesis in HUVEC apoptosis in the absence of LNC but increased HUVEC cell survival in the presence of LNC (data not shown).
Because the main driver of sprouting angiogenesis is the arrangement of endothelial cells in tip and stalk cells, it remains unclear whether P10 LNC alone that expressed aforementioned angiogenic progenitor markers, PDGFRβ, VEGR2, IGF-1 and CD31 by soluble HC-HA/PTX3, promotes angiogenesis sprouting on 3D Matrigel or require addition of vascular endothelial cells. It was anticipated the HC-HA/PTX3 but not HA or 3D MG would promote quiescence vasculogenic niche.
Experimental Design
Single 5×105/ml P10 LNC, GFP-HUVEC or P10 LNC+GFP-HUVEC (1:2) were seeded on 8-wells chambers containing Endothelial Cell Growth Medium 2 (EGM2) supplemented with 10 ng/mL VEGF and 2% FBS with or without soluble HC-HA/PTX3 or soluble HA for 4h, 4, 13 and 30 days. Sprouting diameter on D13 was measured from the both invading edges. Measurements of mean values recorded.
The migration assay was performed in 24-well transwell plate (8 μm pore size, Costar, Kennebunk, Me.) by adding Endothelial Cell Growth Medium 2 (EGM2) supplemented with 10 ng/mL VEGF and 2% FBS in the lower compartment while adding 0.1 ml of P10 LNC and GFP-HUVEC in the same media with PBS (vehicle control), HA (25 μg/mL), or HC-HA/PTX3 (25/mL) to the upper compartment that coated with Matrigel. After incubation at 37° C. for 24 h, cells not migrating through the pores were removed by a cotton swab, while cells on the filter facing the lower compartment were fixed with 5% glutaraldehyde, stained with 1% crystal violet, and counted from six random microscopic fields for each control or treatment group. It was anticipated HA or non-treated cells would promote cell invasion but not in HC-HA/PTX3 on 3D Matrigel.
The Click-iT® EdU Assay is an alternative to the BrdU assay. EdU (5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine), is a nucleoside analog of thymidine and is incorporated into DNA during active DNA synthesis.1 Detection is based on a click reaction,2-5 a copper-catalyzed covalent reaction between an azide and an alkyne.
EdU staining was conducted using Click-iT™ EdU imaging kit (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Cell will be cytospin onto slide and fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) for 15 min. After washing twice with 3% bovine serum albumin (BSA) in PBS the sections permeabilize with 0.5% Triton X-100 in PBS for 20 min. The sections were again washed twice with 3% BSA in PBS and then incubated with a Click-iT™ reaction cocktail containing Click-iT™ reaction buffer, CuSO4, Alexa Fluor® 594 Azide, and reaction buffer additive for 30 min while protected from light. The sections were washed once more with 3% BSA in PBS. For subsequent DNA staining, sections were washed once with PBS and then incubated with 5 μg/mL Hoechst 33342 for 30 min. The slides were then washed twice with PBS and coverslip with Vectashield mounting media (Vector Laboratories Inc, Burlingame, Calif.). All steps were carried out at room temperature. Cell proliferation was anticipated to take place in both sprouting LNC and GFP-HUVEC cells on D10 in HC-HA/PTX3 treated group but not in HA or non-treated groups
Results
P10 LNC, GFP-HUVEC or P10 LNC+GFP-HUVEC were seeded on 3D MG in EGM medium with or without soluble HA or soluble HC-HA/PTX3. Phase contrast microscopy showed represented cell morphology reunion aggregates at 4h, D4 and D13. (
HIF1α signaling by HC-HA/PTX3 and TGFβ1
HIF-1α is a master regulator of cellular processes including regulation of oxygen concentrations, aerobic glycolysis, cell migration, and inflammation. The effects of HC-HA/PTX3 and TGFβ1 on HIF1α signaling was determined.
Briefly, P3 human corneal fibroblasts (HCF) were seeded on plastic with or without immobilized HA, HC-HA/PTX3 complex in DMEM+10% FBS for 72 h, and then in DMEM+ITX for 24 h, and then treated with or without TGFβ1 for 24 h before being harvested for mRNA quantitation of HIF1α.
As seen in
While preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the disclosure. It should be understood that various alternatives to elements of the embodiments of the disclosure described herein may be employed in practicing the disclosure. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the disclosure and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/864,379, filed Jun. 20, 2019, which application is incorporated herein by reference.
This invention was made with the support of the United States government under Contract number RO1 EY06819 by National Institutes of Health.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2020/038698 | 6/19/2020 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62864379 | Jun 2019 | US |
