Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (Mar 2024)

MicroRNA-155 mediates multiple gene regulations pertinent to the role of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in skin regeneration

  • Hady Shahin,
  • Hady Shahin,
  • Hady Shahin,
  • Luigi Belcastro,
  • Jyotirmoy Das,
  • Jyotirmoy Das,
  • Marina Perdiki Grigoriadi,
  • Rolf B. Saager,
  • Ingrid Steinvall,
  • Folke Sjöberg,
  • Pia Olofsson,
  • Moustafa Elmasry,
  • Ahmed T. El-Serafi,
  • Ahmed T. El-Serafi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2024.1328504
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Introduction: The role of Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) in skin wound healing remains to be fully characterized. This study aims to evaluate the regenerative potential of autologous AD-MSCs in a non-healing porcine wound model, in addition to elucidate key miRNA-mediated epigenetic regulations that underlie the regenerative potential of AD-MSCs in wounds.Methods: The regenerative potential of autologous AD-MSCs was evaluated in porcine model using histopathology and spatial frequency domain imaging. Then, the correlations between miRNAs and proteins of AD-MSCs were evaluated using an integration analysis in primary human AD-MSCs in comparison to primary human keratinocytes. Transfection study of AD-MSCs was conducted to validate the bioinformatics data.Results: Autologous porcine AD-MSCs improved wound epithelialization and skin properties in comparison to control wounds. We identified 26 proteins upregulated in human AD-MSCs, including growth and angiogenic factors, chemokines and inflammatory cytokines. Pathway enrichment analysis highlighted cell signalling-associated pathways and immunomodulatory pathways. miRNA-target modelling revealed regulations related to genes encoding for 16 upregulated proteins. miR-155-5p was predicted to regulate Fibroblast growth factor 2 and 7, C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 and Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1. Transfecting human AD-MSCs cell line with anti-miR-155 showed transient gene silencing of the four proteins at 24 h post-transfection.Discussion: This study proposes a positive miR-155-mediated gene regulation of key factors involved in wound healing. The study represents a promising approach for miRNA-based and cell-free regenerative treatment for difficult-to-heal wounds. The therapeutic potential of miR-155 and its identified targets should be further explored in-vivo.

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