Background: Stem cells have shown promising potential to treat burn wounds. Erythropoietin was capable of promoting in vitro transdifferentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The aim of the study was to investigate possible role of erythropoietin-pretreated mesenchymal stem cells (EPOa/MSCs) in burn wounds healing and to evaluate its in vivo differentiation into keratinocytes. Materials and methods: Forty rats were utilised in this study divided into four groups (n = 10 for each). Control group (I), burn group (II), burn + MSCs, group (III), burn + EPOa/MSCs. 1 × 10 6 cells were injected locally for each 1 cm 2 of burn areas. Burn areas were followed-up morphologically. After 21 days of the experiment, the rats were euthanised, skin specimens were assessed biochemically, histologically and immunohistochemically. Results: EPOa/MSCs enhanced significantly (p < 0.05) burn wound vimentin gene expression and level of interleukin (IL)-10 while decreased IL-1 and COX2 as compared to the burn group. Histologically, EPOa/MSCs improved epithelialisation despite stem cells' differentiation into keratinocytes was rarely detected by PKH26 red fluorescence. EPOa/MSCs promoted angiogenesis as detected by significant increase in VEGF and PDGF immunoexpression as compared to burn group. Conclusions: EPOa/MSCs may improve burn wound healing, probably through anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and angiogenic action. However, in vivo transdifferentiation into keratinocytes was rarely detected. (Folia Morphol 2019; 78, 4: 798-808)

Objective:The objective is to evaluate the possible mechanisms of action of a water soluble curcumin derivative and MSCs in Alzheimer disease (AD). Materials and Methods: This work included: Seventy rats which were divided equally into: control group, AD group (induced by lipopolysaccharide), AD group received a novel curcumin derivative (NCD), AD group received pure curcumin, AD group received MSCs then NCD, AD group received MSCs, AD group received MSCs with NCD. Histopathological examination and estimation of serum IL-10 and IL-6 by ELISA, estimation of MDA and GSH in brain tissue by colorimetry and estimation of tissue cholesterol were performed. Results: Histopathological examination of brain tissue from AD animals revealed the presence of plaques. Administration of MSCs or MSCs with NCD into rats after induction of experimental AD improved the histopathological picture with plaque disappearance, while other groups showed decrease of plaque formation. Levels of IL-10 were increased while of IL-6 were decreased in all treated groups. MDA and cholesterol levels were decreased while GSH levels were increased in all treated groups.Conclusion: Administration of BMderived MSCs either alone or with the NCD exert a therapeutic effect on the brain lesion in Alzheimer's disease. This effect may be through the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action of both MSCs and curcumin. These data suggests that MSCs and curcumin may be a therapeutic target in treatment of AD.

Objective: The objective is to evaluate the possible mechanisms of action of a water soluble curcumin derivative and MSCs in Alzheimer disease (AD). Materials and Methods: This work included: Seventy rats which were divided equally into: control group, AD group (induced by lipopolysaccharide), AD group received a novel curcumin derivative (NCD), AD group received pure curcumin, AD group received MSCs then NCD, AD group received MSCs, AD group received MSCs with NCD. Histopathological examination and gene expression of Bax, bcl2 and Seladin-1 gene expression in brain tissue and estimation of MDA and GSH in brain tissue by colorimetry were performed. Results: Histopathological examination of brain tissue from AD animals revealed the presence of plaques. Administration of MSCs or MSCs with NCD into rats after induction of experimental AD improved the histopathological picture with plaque disappearance and improved the behavior study, while other groups showed decrease of plaque formation. Gene expression demonstrated that bcl2 and Seladin-1 were upregulated while Bax gene was downregulated in all treated groups with a significant effect in the group treated with MSCs alone and group treated with both MSCs and NCD. MDA levels were decreased while GSH levels were increased in all treated groups. Conclusion: Administration of BM-derived MSCs either alone or with the NCD exerts a therapeutic effect on the brain lesion in Alzheimer's disease. This effect may be through the antioxidant and antiapoptotic action of both MSCs and curcumin. These data suggests that MSCs and curcumin may be a therapeutic target in treatment of AD.