Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound promotes mesenchymal stem cell transplantation-based articular cartilage regeneration via inhibiting the TNF signaling pathway

Yiming Chen; Huiyi Yang; Zhaojie Wang; Rongrong Zhu; Liming Cheng; Qian Cheng

doi:10.1186/s13287-023-03296-6

Stem Cell Research & Therapy (Apr 2023)

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound promotes mesenchymal stem cell transplantation-based articular cartilage regeneration via inhibiting the TNF signaling pathway

Yiming Chen,
Huiyi Yang,
Zhaojie Wang,
Rongrong Zhu,
Liming Cheng,
Qian Cheng

Affiliations

Yiming Chen: Institute of Acoustics, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University
Huiyi Yang: Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University
Zhaojie Wang: Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University
Rongrong Zhu: Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University
Liming Cheng: Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University
Qian Cheng: Institute of Acoustics, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-023-03296-6
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 1 – 19

Abstract

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Abstract Background Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation therapy is highly investigated for the regenerative repair of cartilage defects. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has the potential to promote chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs. However, its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we investigated the promoting effects and mechanisms underlying LIPUS stimulation on the chondrogenic differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) and further evaluated its regenerative application value in articular cartilage defects in rats. Methods LIPUS was applied to stimulate cultured hUC-MSCs and C28/I2 cells in vitro. Immunofluorescence staining, qPCR analysis, and transcriptome sequencing were used to detect mature cartilage-related markers of gene and protein expression for a comprehensive evaluation of differentiation. Injured articular cartilage rat models were established for further hUC-MSC transplantation and LIPUS stimulation in vivo. Histopathology and H&E staining were used to evaluate the repair effects of the injured articular cartilage with LIPUS stimulation. Results The results showed that LIPUS stimulation with specific parameters effectively promoted the expression of mature cartilage-related genes and proteins, inhibited TNF-α gene expression in hUC-MSCs, and exhibited anti-inflammation in C28/I2 cells. In addition, the articular cartilage defects of rats were significantly repaired after hUC-MSC transplantation and LIPUS stimulation. Conclusions Taken together, LIPUS stimulation could realize articular cartilage regeneration based on hUC-MSC transplantation due to the inhibition of the TNF signaling pathway, which is of clinical value for the relief of osteoarthritis.

Published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy

ISSN: 1757-6512 (Online)
Publisher: BMC
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General); Science: Chemistry: Organic chemistry: Biochemistry
Website: https://stemcellres.biomedcentral.com

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