Current Issues in Molecular Biology (Aug 2024)

ELIXCYTE<sup>®</sup>, an Allogenic Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Product, Mitigates Osteoarthritis by Reducing Inflammation and Preventing Cartilage Degradation In Vitro

  • Yu-Hsiu Chen,
  • Yi-Pei Hung,
  • Chih-Ying Chen,
  • Yi-Ting Chen,
  • Tai-Chen Tsai,
  • Jui-Jung Yang,
  • Chia-Chun Wu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46080495
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 46, no. 8
pp. 8395 – 8406

Abstract

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Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) comprise a promising therapy for osteoarthritis (OA). The therapeutic potential of ELIXCYTE®, an allogeneic human ADSC (hADSC) product, was demonstrated in a phase I/II OA clinical trial. However, the exact mechanism underlying such effects is not clear. Moreover, studies suggest that interleukin-11 (IL-11) has anti-inflammatory, tissue-regenerative, and immune-regulatory functions. Our aim was to unravel the mechanism associated with the therapeutic effects of ELIXCYTE® on OA and its relationship with IL-11. We cocultured ELIXCYTE® with normal human articular chondrocytes (NHACs) in synovial fluid obtained from individuals with OA (OA-SF) to investigate its effect on chondrocyte matrix synthesis and degradation and inflammation by assessing gene expression and cytokine levels. NHACs exposed to OA-SF exhibited increased MMP13 expression. However, coculturing ELIXCYTE® with chondrocytes in OA-SF reduced MMP13 expression in chondrocytes and downregulated PTGS2 and FGF2 expression in ELIXCYTE®. ELIXCYTE® treatment elevated anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1RA, IL-10, and IL-13) levels, and the reduction in MMP13 was positively correlated with IL-11 concentrations in OA-SF. These findings indicate that IL-11 in OA-SF might serve as a predictive biomarker for the ELIXCYTE® treatment response in OA, emphasizing the therapeutic potential of ELIXCYTE® to mitigate OA progression and provide insights into its immunomodulatory effects.

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