Gli1+ Mediated Bone Repair Mechanisms: The Role of Gli1+ Mesenchymal Stem Cells within Calvarial Sutures in Craniofacial Bone Repair

Nicole Griggs  Introduction. Craniofacial bones, including the bones of the face and calvarium, develop via intramembranous ossification due to the presence of little bone marrow1,2. Undifferentiated mesenchyme intervenes between calvarial bones to form sutures that remain active as sites of bone formation1,2. A critical sized defect will not heal without…
Featured Abstracts Orthopedics Stem Cells

The Role of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Hydrogels in Facilitating and Promoting Angiogenesis in Response to Ischemia

Kevin Varghese  Introduction. Ischemia is the blockage of arterial supply to live tissue, and prolonged ischemia leads to various types of tissue necrosis1,2, which occurs in response to the release of cytokines. Angiogenesis is a response to ischemia, which is the growth of new vasculature. This process helps replenish the…
Cardiology Stem Cells

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Mediated Survival of Pancreatic Beta Cells Via the Induction of Cellular Signaling Pathways: Akt and Wnt4-Beta-Catenin

Kirby James Taylor Introduction. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is a heterogeneous disorder effecting 1 and 300 Americans characterized by the destruction of pancreatic beta cells, resulting in an insulin deficiency [1]. Beta cells with immune infiltration from CD4+ T cells express specific HLA class II proteins, that cause T-cell…
Endocrinology Stem Cells

MicroRNA-34a reduces the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Increases Chemosensitivity of Cancer Stem Cells by Downregulating the Notch1 Signaling

Celina Garcia-Brinker Introduction. This literature review focuses on breast cancer and more specifically how controlling/reducing cancer stem cells (CSC) can provide beneficial effects including limiting epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT), which allows for metastasis, as well as increasing chemo-sensitivity 1,5. Cancer stem cells are a critical component of tumor maintenance, especially for progression,…
Cancer Stem Cells

IFN-γ/IDO Axis in the Mesenchymal Stem Cell Suppression of T-cells in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Morgan Cattoor  Introduction. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease driven by aberrant responses in both innate and adaptive immunity.1 Standard treatment consists of immunosuppressive agents such as corticosteroids, azathioprine, and methotrexate.2  When these therapies fail, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) offer promise: by modulating the immune system, they…
Featured Abstracts Immunology Inflammation Stem Cells

The Role of the Microenvironment in Modulating Wnt/Beta-Catenin-Mediated Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation for the Treatment of Female Athlete Triad Syndrome

Megan Badejo  Introduction. The Female Athlete Triad Syndrome has hallmark conditions of caloric/dietary deficiency, functional amenorrhea, and low bone mineral density (BMD)1. Focusing on the low bone mineral density condition, the syndrome affects female athletes in any sport at any level2. The condition manifests as a metabolic imbalance caused by…
Stem Cells

The Role of Non Structural Protein 4A of Zika Virus in Suppressing the Akt-mTOR Pathway in Neural Stem Cells

Hannakate Hall Introduction: Zika Virus is a positive sense, single stranded RNA flavivirus that has attracted worldwide attention within the last 5 years for its transcontinental spread and ability to evoke devastating results within certain patient populations1. Zika is transmitted by the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes6, and is…
Microbiology Neuroscience Stem Cells

Emerging technologies for modulating mesenchymal stromal cell differentiation in tissue engineering constructs for use in spinal fusion procedures

Rahul Ghosh Introduction: Low-back pain, commonly associated with age-related degenerative disc disease (DDD), is a major healthcare burden in the United States with an estimated 60% – 90% lifetime prevalence 1. Spinal fusion is the standard of treatment for advanced stages of DDD that are unresponsive to physical therapy or…
Orthopedics Stem Cells