Integrative Biology

Biography

Biography: Helena Barreto Henriksson

Abstract

Regenerative medicine is a rapidly increasing research field worldwide. In this field, cell therapy applications involving mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) are currently under investigation, some applications are already in clinical use. Cell sources for clinical treatments in clinical use are e.g. bone marrow derived MSCs. Low back pain is common in the Western world and intervertebral disc(IVD) degeneration is considered to be a major cause.Recently, stem cell therapy has been discussed as alternative treatment option for degenerated IVDs where the purpose would be to repair, maintain, or enhance the function of particular cell typesin theIVD.Further, normal cell proliferation and regeneration in the IVD are at present sparsely investigated.Cartilage is considered to lack/have a poor capacity of self-repair. However, studies have identified progenitor-/stem cells in cartilage(different mammalian species)and data point in direction that adult IVDs have a regeneration capacity, however slow.The possibility to stimulate local cells in situ would be an interesting biological treatment option.Preclinical experimentse.g. xenotransplantation animal models are useful for evaluation of e.g. the local microenvironment effects thatMSCs will encounter after transplantation. We have investigated cellular migration and tissue distribution of transplanted MSCs bynon-toxic pre-labeling e.g. iron compoundsfor tracing n vivoas well asmonitoring effects of different biomaterials e.g. cellular motilityon aligned collagen fibres coated surfaces (time-lapse methods). In conclusion, stem cell therapy using MSCs and/or to stimulate local stem-/progenitor cells hold a high promise for development of biological treatment options fordegeneratedcartilaginous tissues.