ABSTRACT
Age associated decline of the immune system continues to be a major health concern. All components of innate and adaptive immunity are adversely affected to lesser or greater extent by ageing resulting in an overall decline of immunocompetence. As a result in the aged population, there is increased susceptibility to infection, poor responses to vaccination, and increased incidence of autoreactivity. There is an increasing focus on the role of T cells during ageing because of their impact on the overall immune responses. A steady decline in the production of fresh naïve T cells, more restricted T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire and weak activation of T cells are some of the effects of ageing. In this review we summarize our present understanding of the effects of ageing on naïve CD4 T cells and potential approaches for therapeutic interventions to restore protective immunity in the aged population.
ABSTRACT
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the levels of basic biochemical parameters like uric acid, potassium, sodium, bicarbonate and chloride in umbilical cord blood with a view to assess its suitability for stem cell transplantation. Study Design: This is a cross-sectional prospective study. Place and Duration of the Study: The study was carried out at the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Chemical Pathology University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City Nigeria between July 2010 and March 2011. Methodology: Cord blood from a total of 164 pregnant women (HIV, hepatitis B and C negative) who delivered in University of Benin Teaching Hospital from July 2010 to March 2011 were analyzed for some basic biochemical parameters. Results: The levels of the biochemical parameters were sodium 135.4±6.1mmol/L (128 to 150mmol/L), potassium 7.08±1.9mmol/L (4.5 to 14.7mmol/L), bicarbonate 19.6±2.4mmol/L(14-25mmol/L), chloride 101.7±3.8mmol/L (90-109mmol/L) and uric acid 1.63±0.9mmol/L (0.19-3.09mmol/L) chloride was the most stable with a CV of 3.71% while uric acid was the least stable with a CV of 12.63%. Conclusion: Umbilical cord blood could become an important source of stem cell in sub-sahara Africa especially with the large number of deliveries. However careful selection of quality cord blood must be enforced to avoid contaminants and haemolysis which may be responsible for the hyperkalaemia as seen in this study.
ABSTRACT
Stem cell therapy hold the potential to meet the demand for transplant cells/tissues needed for treating damages resulting from both natural and man-made disasters. Pluripotency makes embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells ideal for use, but their teratogenic character is a major hindrance. Therapeutic benefits of bone marrow transplantation are well known but characterizing the potentialities of haematopoietic and mesenchymal cells is essential. Haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have been used for treating both haematopoietic and non-haematopoietic disorders. Ease of isolation, in vitro expansion, and hypoimmunogenecity have brought mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into limelight. Though differentiation of MSCs into tissue-specific cells has been reported, differentiation-independent mechanisms seem to play a more significant role in tissue repair which need to be addressed further. The safety and feasibility of MSCs have been demonstrated in clinical trials, and their use in combination with HSC for radiation injury treatment seems to have extended benefit. Therefore, using stem cells for treatment of disaster injuries along with the conventional medical practice would likely accelerate the repair process and improve the quality of life of the victim.
Subject(s)
Acute Radiation Syndrome/therapy , Disasters , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/methods , Humans , Mass Casualty Incidents , Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation/methods , Musculoskeletal System/injuries , Nuclear Reactors , Spinal Cord Injuries/therapy , Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy/methods , Wounds and Injuries/therapyABSTRACT
Objective To measure the number of peripheral blood CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSC/HPC) expression of CD34 in the peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and exploreits relationship with clinical manifestations. Methods CD34+ HSC/HPCs in the peripheral blood of RA patients (n=32) and healthy controls (n=16) were detected using flow cytometry. The relationship between the frequency of HSC/HPCs, mean fluorescence intensities (MFI) of CD34 and clinical manifestations and rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies, disease activity score (DAS) 28,X rays stages and healthy assessment questionnaire (HAQ) were analyzed. Student's t-test and pearont test were used for statistical analysis. Results Frequency of CD34+ HSC/HPC in the peripheral blood of RA patients was decreased compared with normal controls [ (0.13±0.09)% vs (0.38±0.21)%, P＜0.05 ], CD34 MFIwere higher in RA patients than those in the normal controls (57±33 vs 3111, P＜0.05). The frequency was positively correlated with the number of (RBC red blood cell), (Hb hemoglobin), and was negatively correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP), and the MFI of RA patients was positively correlated with healthy assessment questionnaire (HAQ) and X ray stages, but negatively correlated with the number of platelets.Conclusion CD34+ HSC/HPC of the peripheral blood of RA patients are significantly abnormal, which is characterized by decreased CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell, and the decrease is positively correlated with RBC and Hb, but negatively correlated with CRP. CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell may play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the impact of auto and allogenic mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) transplantation on hematopoietic reconstitution. Methods MSC from auto, donor bone marrow or embryonic tissue were cultured and expanded in vitro in the serum culture system. Five patients received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) were investigated. Case 1 of systemic lupus erythematosus and Case 2 of non-hodgkin' s lymphoma (NHL) received auto MSC transplant before auto-HSCT. Case 3 of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria received HLA-identical allogenic MSC transplant before HLA-identical allo-HSCT.Case 4 of chronic myelocytic leukemia and Case 5 of NHL had delayed hematopoietic reconstitution (129th and 78th day, respectively) after allo- and auto-HSCT, respectively, and received MSC from embryonic tissue.Results Case 1, 2 and 3 had no manifested side effects after MSC transplantation combined with HSCT.Neutrophil count of case 1, 2, and 3 were over 0.5 ×109/L at 1st, 10th and 10th day, respectively, platelet count were over 20 ×109/L at 1st, 8th and 33th day, respectively, and agranulocytosis at Ost, 7th and 12th day, respectively. The treatment of embryonic tissue MSC transplant was confirmed to fail for Case 4 and 5.Conclusion The time of MSC transplant has a great impact on hematopoietic reconstitution. MSC transplantation and HSCT performed simultaneously can improve hematopoietic reconstitution. However, the impact of MSC on patients with delayed hematopoietic reconstitution after HSCT needs further study.