Experimental therapy of graft-versus-host disease by mesenchymal stromal cells grown on oxide nanocoatings.

Immune aggression to transplanted allogeneic bone marrow, i.e. the graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), could be decreased by the suppression of effector and/or activation of T- regulatory cells (Treg). This task could be solved by co-transplantaiton of allogeneic bone marrow and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). This study demonstrated the elevated immune modulating activity of MSCs by their culturing in vitro on Al203 oxide nanocoatings. Introduction of the cells to the animals with GVHD resulted in an increased content of Treg in the spleen of bone marrow recipients, reduced severity of the pathology, and higher survival of animals. Thefindings could be the basis for developing the new approaches to optimize the GVHD treatment methods involving the oxide nanocoating cultured MSCs.

[Possibilities for early diagnosis and monitoring of age-related macular degeneration].

High prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) among older adults and treatment difficulties at later stages make early diagnosis and disease monitoring an actual problem of ophthalmology. Although methods for identification of gene-positive groups are now available, genetic studies are not sufficiently widespread in our country to ensure screening for AMD risk. In this regard there remains a need to determine the earliest objective sings of the degenerative process and progression criteria. This paper reviews anatomically oriented functional methods of retinal examination at the onset of AMD and later in the course of the disease. Analysis of collected material will provide systematic understanding of current possibilities for early diagnosis and functional monitoring of AMD patients prior to the decrease of their visual acuity.

The use of nanocomposite coatings with various physicochemical properties in tissue engineering.

We studied the effect of nanocomposite coatings with various physicochemical properties on the structural and functional properties (adhesion potential, phenotype, gene expression) of mesenchymal stem cells. Of all tested nanocoatings (Al2O3, ZrO2, Ta2O5), oxide coating Al2O3 enriched in vitro monolayer bone marrow cell culture with cells carrying mesenchymal stem cells phenotype markers and stimulated expression of ido gene, which can confer new therapeutic potencies to these cells and extend their application in clinical practice.