| 1. |
- Barriere, Jerome, et al.
(author)
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Scientific Integrity Requires Publishing Rebuttals and Retracting Problematic Papers
- 2023
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In: STEM CELL REVIEWS AND REPORTS. - : SPRINGER. - 2629-3269 .- 2629-3277. ; 19, s. 568-572
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recently, an article by Seneff et al. entitled "Innate immunosuppression by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccinations: The role of G-quadruplexes, exosomes, and MicroRNAs" was published in Food and Chemical Toxicology (FCT). Here, we describe why this article, which contains unsubstantiated claims and misunderstandings such as "billions of lives are potentially at risk" with COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, is problematic and should be retracted. We report here our request to the editor of FCT to have our rebuttal published, unfortunately rejected after three rounds of reviewing. Fighting the spread of false information requires enormous effort while receiving little or no credit for this necessary work, which often even ends up being threatened. This need for more scientific integrity is at the heart of our advocacy, and we call for large support, especially from editors and publishers, to fight more effectively against deadly disinformation.
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| 2. |
- Berishvili, E, et al.
(author)
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Treatment of COVID-19 Pneumonia: the Case for Placenta-derived Cell Therapy
- 2021
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In: Stem cell reviews and reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2629-3277 .- 2629-3269. ; 17:1, s. 63-70
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nearly 500’000 fatalities due to COVID-19 have been reported globally and the death toll is still rising. Most deaths are due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), as a result of an excessive immune response and a cytokine storm elicited by severe SARS-CoV-2 lung infection, rather than by a direct cytopathic effect of the virus. In the most severe forms of the disease therapies should aim primarily at dampening the uncontrolled inflammatory/immune response responsible for most fatalities. Pharmacological agents - antiviral and anti-inflammatory molecules - have not been able so far to achieve compelling results for the control of severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Cells derived from the placenta and/or fetal membranes, in particular amniotic epithelial cells (AEC) and decidual stromal cells (DSC), have established, well-characterized, potent anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory properties that make them attractive candidates for a cell-based therapy of COVID19 pneumonia. Placenta-derived cells are easy to procure from a perennial source and pose minimal ethical issues for their utilization. In view of the existing clinical evidence for the innocuousness and efficiency of systemic administration of DSCs or AECs in similar conditions, we advocate for the initiation of clinical trials using this strategy in the treatment of severe COVID-19 disease.
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| 3. |
- Herdenberg, Carl, et al.
(author)
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Hypothesis : Do LRIG proteins regulate stem cell quiescence by promoting BMP signaling?
- 2023
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In: Stem Cell Reviews and Reports. - : Springer. - 2629-3269 .- 2629-3277. ; 19:1, s. 59-66
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains (LRIG) proteins are evolutionarily conserved integral membrane proteins. Mammalian LRIG1 regulates stem cell quiescence in various tissue compartments, including compartments in the epidermis, oral mucosa, intestines, neural system, and incisors. The planarian LRIG1 homolog regulates the quiescence of multipotent neoblasts. The mechanism through which LRIG proteins regulate stem cell quiescence has not been well documented, although it is generally assumed that LRIG1 regulates the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or other receptor tyrosine kinases. However, Lrig-null (Lrig1-/-;Lrig2-/-; and Lrig3-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) have been recently found to exhibit apparently normal receptor tyrosine kinase functions. Moreover, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling has been shown to depend on LRIG1 and LRIG3 expression. BMPs are well-known regulators of stem cell quiescence. Here, we hypothesize that LRIG1 might regulate stem cell quiescence by promoting BMP signaling.HYPOTHESIS: Based on recent findings, it is hypothesized that LRIG1 regulates stem cell quiescence in mammalian tissues as well as in planarian neoblasts by promoting BMP signaling.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Marote, Ana, et al.
(author)
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Cellular Aging Secretes : a Comparison of Bone-Marrow-Derived and Induced Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Secretome Over Long-Term Culture
- 2023
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In: Stem Cell Reviews and Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2629-3269 .- 2629-3277. ; 19:1, s. 248-263
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold promising therapeutic potential in several clinical applications, mainly due to their paracrine activity. The implementation of future secretome-based therapeutic strategies requires the use of easily accessible MSCs sources that provide high numbers of cells with homogenous characteristics. MSCs obtained from induced pluripotent stem cells (iMSCs) have been put forward as an advantageous alternative to the gold-standard tissue sources, such as bone marrow (BM-MSCs). In this study, we aimed at comparing the secretome of BM-MSCs and iMSCs over long-term culture. For that, we performed a broad characterization of both sources regarding their identity, proteomic secretome analysis, as well as replicative senescence and associated phenotypes, including its effects on MSCs secretome composition and immunomodulatory action. Our results evidence a rejuvenated phenotype of iMSCs, which is translated into a superior proliferative capacity before the induction of replicative senescence. Despite this significant difference between iMSCs and BM-MSCs proliferation, both untargeted and targeted proteomic analysis revealed a similar secretome composition for both sources in pre-senescent and senescent states. These results suggest that shifting from the use of BM-MSCs to a more advantageous source, like iMSCs, may yield similar therapeutic effects as identified over the past years for this gold-standard MSC source. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Voulgaris, Dimitrios, 1990-, et al.
(author)
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Generation of Human iPSC-Derived Astrocytes with a mature star-shaped phenotype for CNS modeling
- 2022
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In: Stem Cell Reviews and Reports. - : Springer Nature. - 2629-3269 .- 2629-3277.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The generation of astrocytes from human induced pluripotent stem cells has been hampered by either prolonged diferentiation—spanning over two months—or by shorter protocols that generate immature astrocytes, devoid of salient matureastrocytic traits pivotal for central nervous system (CNS) modeling. We directed stable hiPSC-derived neuroepithelial stemcells to human iPSC-derived Astrocytes (hiAstrocytes) with a high percentage of star-shaped cells by orchestrating anastrocytic-tuned culturing environment in 28 days. We employed RT-qPCR and ICC to validate the astrocytic commitmentof the neuroepithelial stem cells. To evaluate the infammatory phenotype, we challenged the hiAstrocytes with the proinfammatory cytokine IL-1β (interleukin 1 beta) and quantitatively assessed the secretion profle of astrocyte-associatedcytokines and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). Finally, we quantitatively assessed the capacityof hiAstrocytes to synthesize and export the antioxidant glutathione. In under 28 days, the generated cells express canonicaland mature astrocytic markers, denoted by the expression of GFAP, AQP4 and ALDH1L1. In addition, the notion of a maturephenotype is reinforced by the expression of both astrocytic glutamate transporters EAAT1 and EAAT2. Thus, hiAstrocyteshave a mature phenotype that encompasses traits critical in CNS modeling, including glutathione synthesis and secretion,upregulation of ICAM-1 and a cytokine secretion profle on a par with human fetal astrocytes. This protocol generates amultifaceted astrocytic model suitable for in vitro CNS disease modeling and personalized medicine.
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| 8. |
- Warrier, N. M., et al.
(author)
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Emerging Importance of Survivin in Stem Cells and Cancer : the Development of New Cancer Therapeutics
- 2020
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In: Stem Cell Reviews and Reports. - : Springer. - 2629-3269 .- 2629-3277. ; 16:5, s. 828-852
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Survivin is one of the rare proteins that is differentially expressed in normal and cancer cells and is directly or indirectly involved in numerous pathways required for tumor maintenance. It is expressed in almost all cancers and its expression has been detected at early stages of cancer. These traits make survivin an exceptionally attractive target for cancer therapeutics. Even with these promising features to be an oncotherapeutic target, there has been limited success in the clinical trials targeting survivin. Only recently it has emerged that survivin was not being specifically targeted which could have resulted in the negative clinical outcome. Also, focus of research has now shifted from survivin expression in the overall heterogeneous tumor cell populations to survivin expression in cancer stem cells as these cells have proved to be the major drivers of tumors. Therefore, in this review we have analyzed the expression of survivin in normal and cancer cells with a particular focus on its expression in cancer stem cell compartment. We have discussed the major signaling pathways involved in regulation of survivin. We have explored the current development status of various types of interventions for inhibition of survivin. Furthermore, we have discussed the challenges involving the development of potent and specific survivin inhibitors for cancer therapeutics. Finally we have given insights for some of the promising future anticancer treatments.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Hug, Kristina, et al.
(author)
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Do we Still Need Human Embryonic Stem Cells for Stem Cell-Based Therapies? Epistemic and Ethical Aspects.
- 2011
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In: Stem Cell Reviews and Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2629-3269 .- 1550-8943 .- 1558-6804. ; 7, s. 761-774
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- While scientific community disagrees about similarities and differences between human embryonic stem (hES) cells and human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells, some politicians embrace translational hiPS cell research as a replacement for translational hES cell research. We examine the ethical relevance of the main differences between hES and hiPS cell-based therapies and discuss whether, given the current state of knowledge, certain differences are essential. We discuss whether well-founded preferences can be made in hypothetical scenarios with varying levels of patient safety, treatment efficacy, treatment accessibility and ethical controversy.
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