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- Talk
- 14/09/2021
- UK
Use of Mesechymal Stromal Cell (MSC) Transcriptomic Signatures to Determine the Optimal Source for Cartilage Regeneration
Description
In this presentation, Isobel Darlington from the University of Cambridge discusses a research project focused on optimizing mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) based therapies for repairing focal cartilage defects, particularly in osteoarthritis patients. The study emphasizes the significant variation in MSC properties based on tissue origin, and aims to identify the optimal "soup niche" for promoting cartilage regeneration by analyzing transcriptomic signatures from MSCs extracted from waste tissue during knee replacement surgeries.
Using flow cytometry and bulk RNA sequencing, the team verified MSC markers and identified multiple genes with differential expression across four tissue types, shedding light on cellular characteristics relevant for regenerative medicine. Preliminary results from two patients revealed distinct expression patterns, particularly in cartilage samples, which appear more unique compared to other tissues analyzed. A heat-map demonstrated 673 differentially expressed genes, characterized by their upregulation and downregulation across samples, with a focus on relevant biological processes such as cartilage development.
Isobel also discusses the identification of 24 cartilage-specific genes and six associated with knee osteoarthritis, emphasizing the clinical significance of these findings. As the research progresses, further investigations are planned into the gene networks and potential manipulations of MSCs sourced from different tissues, raising important considerations about treatment strategies in regenerative therapies. The session concludes with engagement from the audience, discussing the implications of patient variability and possible future collaborations to enhance therapeutic approaches.