Browsing by Author "Smith, Robin"

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    Anti-fibrotic effects of different sources of MSC in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in C57BL6 male mice.
    (Respirology (Carlton, Vic.), 2021-02) Periera-Simon, Simone; Xia, Xiaomei; Catanuto, Paola; Coronado, Ramon; Kurtzberg, Joanne; Bellio, Michael; Lee, Yee-Shuan; Khan, Aisha; Smith, Robin; Elliot, Sharon J; Glassberg, Marilyn K

    Background and objective

    IPF is a fatal and debilitating lung disorder increasing in incidence worldwide. To date, two approved treatments only slow disease progression, have multiple side effects and do not provide a cure. MSC have promising therapeutic potential as a cell-based therapy for many lung disorders based on the anti-fibrotic properties of the MSC.

    Methods

    Critical questions remain surrounding the optimal source, timing and efficacy of cell-based therapies. The present study examines the most effective sources of MSC. Human MSC were derived from adipose, WJ, chorionic membrane (CSC) and chorionic villi (CVC). MSC were injected into the ageing mouse model of BLM-induced lung fibrosis.

    Results

    All sources decreased Aschroft and hydroxyproline levels when injected into BLM-treated mice at day 10 with the exception of CSC cells that did not change hydroxyproline levels. There were also decreases in mRNA expression of αv -integrin and TNFα in all sources except CSC. Only ASC- and WJ-derived cells reduced AKT and MMP-2 activation, while Cav-1 was increased by ASC treatment as previously reported. BLM-induced miR dysregulation of miR-29 and miR-199 was restored only by ASC treatment.

    Conclusion

    Our data suggest that sources of MSC may differ in the pathway(s) involved in repair.
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    Science incubators: synthesis centers and their role in the research ecosystem.
    (PLoS Biol, 2013) Rodrigo, Allen; Alberts, Susan; Cranston, Karen; Kingsolver, Joel; Lapp, Hilmar; McClain, Craig; Smith, Robin; Vision, Todd; Weintraub, Jory; Wiegmann, Brian
    How should funding agencies enable researchers to explore high-risk but potentially high-reward science? One model that appears to work is the NSF-funded synthesis center, an incubator for community-led, innovative science.