Stem Cell Differentiation Stage Factors from Zebrafish Embryo: A Novel Strategy to Modulate the Fate of Normal and Pathological Human (Stem) Cells

Abstract

In spite of the growing body of evidence on the biology of the Zebrafish embryo and stem cells, including the use of Stem Cell Differentiation Stage Factors (SCDSFs) taken from Zebrafish embryo to impact cancer cell dynamics, comparatively little is known about the possibility to use these factors to modulate the homeostasis of normal human stem cells or to modulate the behavior of cells involved in different pathological conditions. In the present review we recall in a synthetic way the most important researches about the use of SCDSFs in reprogramming cancer cells and in modulating the high speed of multiplication of keratinocytes which is characteristic of some pathological diseases like psoriasis. Moreover we add here the results about the capability of SCDSFs in modulating the homeostasis of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) isolated from a fat tissue obtained with a novel-non enzymatic method and device. In addition we report the data not yet published about a first protein analysis of the SCDSFs and about their role in a pathological condition like neurodegeneration.

Tissue Regeneration without Stem Cell Transplantation: Self-Healing Potential from Ancestral Chemistry and Physical Energies

“…Moreover, in colon adenocarcinoma cells, an activation of the p73-dependent apoptotic pathway was observed [ 35 ]. A mixture of early, middle, and late developmental stage zebrafish extracts was also able to enhance cell survival to toxic stimuli, as shown by the reduction in mortality observed in cells from mouse hippocampal slices (CA1 area) that had been subjected to serum deprivation or NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) treatment [ 36 ]. These findings and previous observations showing that embryonic microenvironment is able to suppress tumor development during cell differentiating processes [ 37 , 38 ] led us to further investigate whether zebrafish embryonic factors may also be exploited in a developmental stage manner to control essential features in stem cell dynamics.…”

The Use of Stem Cell Differentiation Stage Factors (SCDSFs) Taken from Zebrafish Embryos during Organogenesis and Their Role in Regulating the Gene Expression of Normal and Pathological (Stem) Cells

“…This is important for standardizing all the experiments, with the goal of obtaining repeatable results over time in different research studies; second, notwithstanding their size and relative simplicity, the proteins extracted from Zebrafish might have been overall evolutionarily conserved in humans. In fact, all the different protein types taken from Zebrafish embryos after the beginning of stem cell differentiation were identified in our research using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry testing [7]. It was demonstrated that the identified proteins, which represented 98% of the molecules isolated from the different stages of cell differentiation, are important for the metabolism of mitochondria, for their function in anti-oxidant defense, for immune response, and for the whole metabolism of the cells (the remaining 2% of the molecules isolated were nucleic acids).…”

“…In all five stages of cell differentiation, three main protein clusters are distinguishable on the basis of their molecular weight (Figure 1). mass spectrometry testing [7]. It was demonstrated that the identified proteins, which represented 98% of the molecules isolated from the different stages of cell differentiation, are important for the metabolism of mitochondria, for their function in anti-oxidant defense, for immune response, and for the whole metabolism of the cells (the remaining 2% of the molecules isolated were nucleic acids).…”

“…In fact, it was demonstrated that the factors taken from the Zebrafish embryo just before the middle blastula-gastrula are able to activate all the genes which counteract cell senescence. [7][8][9][10]. Similarly, the substances present during the stages in which cell differentiation events take place are able not only to differentiate normal stem cells but also to reprogram cancer cells to a normal phenotype [11].…”

Nutraceuticals and "Repurposed" Drugs of Phytochemical Origin in Prevention and Interception of Chronic Degenerative Diseases and Cancer

“…Previous studies, which were conducted in one of our laboratories on zebrafish embryos, have made possible the identification of precise moments of stem cell differentiation in which a panoply of genes switch on and off, a sign that the genome is undergoing substantial changes in gene expression. These studies on zebrafish embryos have allowed us to identify and choose five moments in which important cell differentiation events take place [1]. From these experiments has emerged the conclusion that stem cell differentiation stage factors (SCDSFs), present during the stages in which cell differentiation events take place, are able to retard or inhibit tumor growth.…”