Xiaonan Yang

By Leisheng Zhang, Xiaowei Gao, Shixun Ma, Miao Yu, Xianghong Xu, Yuanguang Zhao, Shuang Chen, Yonghong Li, Xiaonan Yang, Tiankang Guo and Hui Cai

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), also known as mesenchymal stromal cells or medicinal signaling cells or multipotent stem cells, are heterogeneous cell populations with unique immunomodulatory feature and hematopoietic-supporting capacity. MSCs function through a variety of approaches including paracrine and autocrine, direct- or trans-differentiation, bidirectional immunomodulation, and serving as constitutive microenvironment. Of them, exosomes and microvesicles function as the pivotal vehicle for mediating the ameliorative and therapeutic effect of MSCs toward various recurrent and refractory diseases, such as xerophthalmia, radioactive nasal mucosa injury, acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), dermal chronic ulcers, and intrauterine adhesions. State-of-the-art renewal has also highlighted the promising prospective of MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-exo) and diverse biomaterial composites in regenerative medicine. In this book chapter, we mainly focus on the concept, biological phenotypes, preclinical research, and clinical practice of MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-Exos) and/or biomaterials, which will collectively supply overwhelming new references for the further development of MSC-Exos-based biotherapy and disease diagnosis in future.

Part of the book: Exosomes

By Hao Yu, Xiaonan Yang, Shuang Chen, Xianghong Xu, Zhihai Han, Hui Cai, Zheng Guan and Leisheng Zhang

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) with hematopoietic-supporting and immunoregulatory properties have aroused great expectations in the field of regenerative medicine and the concomitant pathogenesis. However, many obstacles still remain before the large-scale preparation of homogeneous and standardized MSCs with high cellular vitality for clinical purposes ascribe to elusive nature and biofunction of MSCs derived from various adult and fetal sources. Current progress in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), including embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced PSCs (iPSCs), have highlighted the feasibility of MSC development and disease remodeling, together with robust MSC generation dispense from the inherent disadvantages of the aforementioned MSCs including ethical and pathogenic risks, donor heterogeneity and invasiveness. Herein, we review the state-of-the-art updates of advances for MSC preparation from hPSCs and multiple tissues (perinatal tissue, adult tissue) as well as tumor intervention with biomaterials, and thus propose a framework for MSCs-based oncotherapy in regenerative medicine. Collectively, we describe the landscape of in vitro generation and functional hierarchical organization of hPSC-MSCs, which will supply overwhelming new references for further dissecting MSC-based tissue engineering and disease remodeling.

Part of the book: Advances in Pluripotent Stem Cells

By Leisheng Zhang, Xiaonan Yang, Zhihai Han, Zhongchao Han, Tiankang Guo, Xiaowei Gao and Hui Cai

Longitudinal studies have indicated the multifaceted regimens for atopic dermatitis (AD) administration, including ultraviolet phototherapy, oral JAK inhibitors, and the concomitant adjunctive therapies according to the American Academy of Dermatology published Guidelines of Care for the Management of Atopic Dermatitis. As a disease with typical characteristics of relapsing pruritus and chronic inflammation, AD has caused heavy burden on children and adults, as well as healthcare providers and family members. As a multi-factorial disease, AD has been considered primarily derived by Th2 dysfunction, with clinical and molecular heterogeneity. The current therapeutic regimens are various and largely due to the diversity in the wide spectrum of the clinical phenotypes based on epidermal barrier disruption, genetic predisposition, and dysregulation of patients’ immune system. Meanwhile there’s an urgent need for developing safer and long-term agents to efficiently control moderate to severe AD. In this book chapter, we mainly summarized the fundamental concept, clinical manifestation, pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms of AD, and in particular, the biofunction and modulation of natural killer (NK) cells for AD. Collectively, the contents in this chapter will help further understand the landscape of this disease and the rationale behind new emerging therapies.

Part of the book: Latest Breakthroughs in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis