Emerging Medicine

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Global Advances in Cell Therapy

Cell therapy is a novel treatment approach that utilizes live cells or their components to treat diseases, with a wide range of applications. The following are some areas where cell therapy is being applied globally:

  1. Cancer treatment: Cell therapy can be used to treat cancer by activating the immune system or by directly intervening in the growth and spread of cancer cells. Stem cells, T cells, and natural killer cells are widely used in cancer treatment.
  2. Neurological disorders: Cell therapy can be used to treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. Stem cells and neuron cells are used in the treatment of neurological disorders.
  3. Cardiovascular disease: Cell therapy can be used to treat cardiovascular disease such as myocardial infarction and heart failure. Stem cells and myocardial cells are widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
  4. Immune system disorders: Cell therapy can be used to treat immune system disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and autoimmune diseases. Stem cells and immune cells are used in the treatment of immune system disorders.
  5. Hematological disorders: Cell therapy can be used to treat hematological disorders such as leukemia, lymphoma, and bone marrow failure. Hematopoietic stem cells and immune cells are widely used in the treatment of hematological disorders.
  6. Orthopedic disorders: Cell therapy can be used to treat orthopedic disorders such as fractures, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis. Stem cells and osteoblast cells are widely used in the treatment of orthopedic disorders.
  7. Skin disorders: Cell therapy can be used to treat skin disorders such as burns, wounds, and skin diseases. Stem cells and keratinocytes are widely used in the treatment of skin disorders.
  8. Ophthalmic disorders: Cell therapy can be used to treat ophthalmic disorders such as retinal degeneration and glaucoma. Stem cells and retinal cells are used in the treatment of ophthalmic disorders.
  9. Metabolic disorders: Cell therapy can be used to treat metabolic disorders such as diabetes and fatty liver disease. Islet cells and liver cells are used in the treatment of metabolic disorders.
  10. Mental disorders: Cell therapy can be used to treat mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and Alzheimer’s disease. Stem cells and neuron cells are used in the treatment of mental disorders.

In summary, cell therapy is widely used globally for the treatment of many diseases. With the continuous development of technology and research, the application of cell therapy is expected to expand and deepen.

Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells

What are the sources of stem cells and why are umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells suitable for treating cancer and anti-aging?
Stem cells can come from several sources, including:

  1. Embryonic stem cells: Undifferentiated cells from early-stage embryos that can differentiate into various types of cells in the body.
  2. Adult stem cells: Undifferentiated cells that exist in various tissues and organs of the body and can differentiate into cells of the corresponding tissue or organ.
  3. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells): Pluripotent cells obtained by reprogramming mature cells that can differentiate into various types of cells in the body.
  4. Umbilical cord stem cells: Undifferentiated cells that exist in the umbilical cord of newborns that can differentiate into various types of cells.

Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) are a type of adult stem cells sourced from the umbilical cord that possess several unique characteristics, making them an ideal source for treating cancer and anti-aging. Here are some reasons why:

  1. Immune regulation: UC-MSCs can be used to treat certain types of cancer and reduce treatment side effects by regulating the body’s immune system. Additionally, UC-MSCs can be used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
  2. Anti-cancer: UC-MSCs can be used to treat cancer by inhibiting the growth and spread of cancer cells. UC-MSCs can secrete various anti-tumor factors such as IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α.
  3. Regeneration: UC-MSCs have the ability to differentiate into various types of cells and can be used to treat certain types of tissue and organ damage. Additionally, UC-MSCs can secrete various cytokines such as VEGF, FGF, HGF to promote tissue repair and regeneration.
  4. Anti-aging: UC-MSCs can combat aging through several pathways such as regulating the body’s immune system, scavenging free radicals, and repairing DNA.

Therefore, umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells are considered a very promising cell therapy for treating cancer and anti-aging.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs)

What are the potential benefits of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs)?
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) that possess several potential benefits, including:

  1. Anti-inflammatory: EVs derived from MSCs can regulate the immune system, suppress inflammation, and reduce damage and disease caused by inflammation.
  2. Anti-oxidative: MSC-derived EVs can scavenge free radicals within cells, reduce oxidative damage and cellular aging, and protect cells from damage.
  3. Promoting regeneration and repair: MSC-derived EVs can promote cell proliferation and differentiation, aid in the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues and organs.
  4. Anti-tumor: MSC-derived EVs can inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells, and potentially serve as a therapy for cancer.
  5. Immune modulation: MSC-derived EVs can modulate the immune system, enhance immunity, and suppress the development of autoimmune diseases.
  6. Anti-fibrotic: MSC-derived EVs can suppress fibrotic reactions and reduce tissue fibrosis.
  7. Neuroprotection and regeneration: MSC-derived EVs can promote nerve cell growth and regeneration, and have neuroprotective effects.
  8. Anti-apoptotic: MSC-derived EVs can reduce the rate of cell apoptosis, protecting damaged cells from further harm.
  9. Improving immune function: MSC-derived EVs can enhance cellular and humoral immunity, improving immune function.
  10. Cardio-protection: MSC-derived EVs can promote cardiomyocyte growth and regeneration, and lower the risk of heart disease.
  11. Anti-bacterial: MSC-derived EVs can inhibit bacterial growth and potentially be used in the treatment of bacterial infections.
  12. Lowering blood pressure: MSC-derived EVs can lower blood pressure and potentially be used in the treatment of hypertension.

In summary, MSC-derived EVs possess several potential benefits, and their therapeutic applications are expanding as research continues to uncover new potential benefits.

Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) can be obtained, isolated, cultured, and cryopreserved using advanced techniques and state-of-the-art equipment. The process typically involves the following steps:

  1. Collection: The umbilical cord is collected immediately after birth under sterile conditions.
  2. Disinfection and tissue processing: The cord tissue is disinfected and processed to extract the UC-MSCs.
  3. Isolation: The UC-MSCs are isolated from the cord tissue using specialized equipment such as a Ficoll gradient centrifugation system.
  4. Culture: The isolated UC-MSCs are cultured in a specialized environment, such as a bioreactor or a culture dish, that provides the necessary nutrients and growth factors to support the proliferation and differentiation of the cells.
  5. Quality control: The UC-MSCs are subjected to rigorous quality control measures, including testing for contamination and ensuring cell viability and function.
  6. Cryopreservation: The UC-MSCs can be cryopreserved using advanced techniques such as controlled-rate freezing or vitrification, ensuring that the cells remain viable and functional during long-term storage at ultra-low temperatures.
    The use of cutting-edge technologies and advanced equipment ensures that the UC-MSCs obtained, isolated, cultured, and cryopreserved are of the highest quality and purity for use in therapeutic applications.

How to obtain, isolate, purify and cryopreserve extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs)?
Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) that possess numerous therapeutic potentials, and the process of obtaining, isolating, purifying, and cryopreserving these EVs involves the use of advanced technologies and sophisticated equipment.

  1. Collection: UC-MSCs are cultured under specific conditions to promote EV secretion.
  2. Isolation: The EVs are isolated from the UC-MSC culture media using specialized equipment such as ultracentrifuges or tangential flow filtration systems, which separate the EVs from other cellular debris based on size and density.
  3. Purification: The isolated EVs are then purified using advanced techniques such as size-exclusion chromatography, which separates the EVs based on their size and surface markers, resulting in highly pure EV preparations.
  4. Quality control: Throughout the entire process, the EVs are subjected to rigorous quality control measures, including testing for purity, concentration, and functionality.
  5. Cryopreservation: Once the EVs reach the desired purity and concentration, they can be cryopreserved using advanced techniques such as controlled-rate freezing or vitrification, which ensure that the EVs remain viable and functional during long-term storage at ultra-low temperatures.

The purification of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (UC-MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) involves several advanced techniques to ensure the highest possible purity of the EV preparations.
One of the most commonly used techniques is size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), which separates the EVs based on their size and surface markers. In this method, the EVs are passed through a specialized column filled with a porous resin, which separates the EVs from other contaminants based on their size. Since the majority of other contaminants, such as proteins and lipoproteins, are much larger than EVs, they are excluded from the column and the EVs are collected in the purified fractions.
Another technique used for EV purification is ultracentrifugation, which separates the EVs based on their density. This method involves spinning the EV-containing samples at very high speeds, which causes the EVs to form a pellet at the bottom of the tube. The supernatant is then carefully removed, leaving behind the EV pellet, which can be resuspended and further purified as needed. Other methods that can be used in combination with SEC or ultracentrifugation include immunocapture using antibodies specific to EV surface markers, as well as tangential flow filtration, which separates EVs based on their size and molecular weight. Regardless of the method used, the purified EV preparations are subjected to rigorous quality control measures to ensure their purity, concentration, and functionality, and are often characterized using advanced techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and Western blotting to confirm the presence of specific EV markers. The purified EVs are then cryopreserved using advanced techniques such as controlled-rate freezing or vitrification, which ensure that the EVs remain viable and functional during long-term storage at ultra-low temperatures.

Armed-T missile: Ultra-precision killing cancer cells

Armed-T therapy is an emerging treatment that combines CAR-T cell therapy and antibody therapy to improve the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy and mitigate potential side effects. One of the inventors of this technology is Professor Kuang-Chong Huang at Taipei Medical University.

In Armed-T therapy, antibodies are combined with CAR-T cells to enhance their killing ability and specificity, while reducing damage to normal cells and potential autoimmune reactions caused by CAR-T cell therapy. This way, Armed-T therapy can reduce adverse reactions, improve the safety of CAR-T cell therapy, and enhance its therapeutic effect.

Armed-T therapy also has the potential to be applied to other treatment methods, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy. These results indicate that Armed-T therapy will become an important development direction for future cancer treatment, providing better treatment outcomes and quality of life for patients.

Armed-T therapy has been proven to be effective in treating various cancers, such as:

  • Multiple myeloma: Multiple myeloma is a common blood cancer, traditionally treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and bone marrow transplantation. However, these methods have many side effects and limitations, and are not effective for some patients. Research on Armed-T therapy has shown that it can effectively kill multiple myeloma cells and improve patients’ survival rates.
  • Leukemia: Leukemia is a blood cancer that affects many children and adults. Traditional treatment methods include chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation, which have many side effects. Research on Armed-T therapy has shown that it can significantly improve patients’ survival rates, and is still an effective treatment for patients who do not respond to traditional treatments.
  • Head and neck cancer: Head and neck cancer is a common cancer that often requires surgical removal. However, surgical removal can have a significant impact on function and appearance, and it is difficult to maintain tissue integrity while completely removing all cancer cells. Research on Armed-T therapy has shown that it can enhance the killing effect of cancer cells, reduce the need for surgical removal, and improve the success rate of treatment.

Professor Huang’s research achievements have gained widespread attention and recognition internationally. His innovation and determination have made him one of the leaders in the field of biomedical research today. His research and achievements are highly respected and praised globally.

Overall, Armed-T therapy is a promising treatment method that has brought hope to many cancer patients. In the future, scientists will continue to explore its application scope and further optimize the technology to improve its therapeutic efficacy and safety. We believe that Armed-T therapy will become an important development direction for future cancer treatment.

Cancer Vaccine

The novel anti-PD-L1 dendritic cell (DC) vaccine is an immunotherapy approach that aims to enhance the anti-tumor response of the immune system by targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, which plays a crucial role in suppressing immune responses.

The vaccine is designed to stimulate the patient’s immune system by generating an immune response against tumor cells. It consists of a personalized DC vaccine, which is generated from the patient’s own immune cells (dendritic cells) and loaded with tumor antigens. In addition, the vaccine includes a PD-L1 inhibitor, which targets the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway to prevent the tumor cells from evading the immune system.

The DC vaccine is prepared by collecting dendritic cells from the patient’s blood, which are then cultured and stimulated with tumor antigens to produce activated dendritic cells. These activated dendritic cells are then loaded with tumor antigens and treated with a PD-L1 inhibitor to enhance their ability to activate the immune system. The vaccine is then administered back to the patient, which stimulates an immune response against the tumor cells and overcomes the immunosuppressive effect of PD-L1.

The novel anti-PD-L1 DC vaccine works by targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, which is known to play a role in suppressing immune responses to tumors. By combining a personalized DC vaccine with a PD-L1 inhibitor, this approach aims to generate a more effective immune response against the tumor cells, leading to improved outcomes for patients with cancer.

there are numerous institutions conducting research on dendritic cell vaccines and PD-L1 inhibitors. Here are some examples of organizations and institutions conducting research on this topic:

  • National Cancer Institute (NCI), United States
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States
  • University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), United States
  • University of Pennsylvania, United States
  • Karolinska Institutet (KI), Sweden
  • University of Tokyo, Japan
  • Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
  • National University of Singapore, Singapore

These research institutions are conducting a range of clinical trials and basic research to further explore the application and effectiveness of dendritic cell vaccines and PD-L1 inhibitors in cancer treatment.

There are certainly other institutions and individuals involved in research related to dendritic cell vaccines and PD-L1 inhibitors.

Dr. Si-Yi Chen at the University of Southern California is a clinical immunologist whose research interests include cancer immunotherapy, including the development and application of dendritic cell vaccines. His research findings have been published in many international journals, such as the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Cancer Research, and Clinical Cancer Research.

Dr. Chen’s research is primarily focused on the clinical application of cancer treatment, exploring how to maximize the effectiveness of immunotherapy such as dendritic cell vaccines and PD-L1 inhibitors, to improve the treatment outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients.

Story

Jenny, a successful business executive with a happy family and career, had undergone chemotherapy to treat her breast cancer. Although the treatment had been successful initially, a few years later, her cancer had returned and spread to various parts of her body. She had been in and out of the hospital, undergoing multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, enduring the physical and emotional pain that came with it.

At age 60, Jenny received the COVID-19 vaccine, and a few months later, she began feeling weak and went to the hospital for an examination. She was devastated to find out that her cancer had spread even further.

Despite feeling hopeless, Jenny refused to give up. She asked her doctor about other treatment options, and was introduced to the latest therapy involving dendritic cell vaccines and PD-L1 inhibitors.

Jenny began undergoing treatment with DC-PDL1 vaccine, and after three months of treatment, she was pleasantly surprised to find that her health had significantly improved. Her cancer cells began to shrink, and her strength gradually returned. She no longer had to endure the pain and side effects of chemotherapy.

Eventually, Jenny’s metastatic breast cancer completely disappeared. She was grateful for this revolutionary treatment that allowed her to return to a normal life, free from the physical and emotional burden of chemotherapy. She decided to share her experience with other breast cancer patients, hoping to inspire and give them hope for a better future.