Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is associated with the onset of several major liver diseases. Inactive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers (IHCs) may be successfully treated with PEGylated interferon-a2b (PEG-IFNa2b)-based antiviral therapy; however, studies on this treatment have been insufficient. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of PEG-IFNa2b treatment in IHCs. Methods: Nineteen IHCs were treated with subcutaneous PEG-IFNa2b (180 lg/week) for 48 weeks (treatment group). Patients were followed up for 24 weeks after treatment

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Background Skeletal stem cells (SSCs) have attracted extensive attention for their crucial role in bone accrual and therapeutical values. The substantial unmet cellular need of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering calls for identification of a novel source for human SSC isolation, or even skeletal stem cell-like cells (SSCLCs). Methods hSSCLCs were isolated through enzyme-digestion and fluorescent-activated cell sorting (FACS) from human tissues including placenta, cord blood, Wharton’s Jelly and various adipose depots. Proportion of hSSCLCs in all those tissues were compared through flow cytometry. For adipose tissue, immunofluorescent staining was also employed to substantiate our flow results. In vitro CFU-F assay, chondrogenic and osteogenic assays were performed to assess self-renewal and multipotency for differentiation of hSSCLCs. Transcriptomic profiling of adipose-derived hSSCLCs was achieved through scRNA-seq. Results Here, we illustrated that adipose tissues contain a satisfying abundancy of hSSCLCs, especially infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP), but not fetal tissues. Moreover, we discovered IPFP-derived hSSCLCs display intact self-renewal and a marked elevation in chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation. Transcriptomically comparing IPFP-hSSCLCs and dorsal adipose depot (DSAT)-derived hSSCLCs through scRNA-seq, we further demonstrated IPFP-hSSCLCs are less differentiated but more motivated in expressing transcriptomes related to chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation. Conclusion Our study first identified adipose tissue as an alternative but encouraging source for isolating hSSCLCs with intact SSC properties which might be promising in treating diseases related to bone and/or cartilage defects.