The Ability of Human Nasal Inferior Turbinate–Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Repair Vocal Fold Injuries

Abstract

Objective This study investigated the ability of implanted human nasal inferior turbinate-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hTMSCs) to repair injured vocal folds. To this end, we used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to analyze the early phase of wound healing and histopathological analysis to explore the late phase of wound healing in xenograft animal models. Study Design Prospective animal study. Setting Research laboratory. Subjects and Methods The right-side lamina propria of the vocal fold was injured in 20 rabbits and 30 rats. Next, hTMSCs were implanted into half of the injured vocal folds (hTMSC groups). As a control, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was injected into the other half of the injured vocal folds (PBS groups). Rat vocal folds were harvested for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at 1 week after injury. Rabbit vocal folds were evaluated endoscopically and the larynges harvested for histological and immunohistochemical examination at 2 and 8 weeks after injury. Results In the hTMSC group, PCR showed that hyaluronan synthase ( HAS) 1, HAS 2, and transforming growth factor ( TGF)-β1 were significantly upregulated compared with the PBS group. Procollagen type III ( COL III) messenger RNA expression was significantly upregulated in the PBS group compared with the normal group. Histological analyses showed that hTMSC administration afforded more favorable collagen and hyaluronic acid deposition than was evident in the controls. Implanted hTMSCs were observed in injured vocal folds 2 weeks after implantation. Conclusions Our results show that hTMSCs implantation into injured vocal folds facilitated vocal fold regeneration, with presenting antifibrotic effects.

The Ability of Conditioned Media From Stem Cells to Repair Vocal Fold Injuries

“…Previous studies have verified that hTMSC exhibits the properties of MSC and hTMSC has been used in regenerative medicine in a variety of contexts . In the field of vocal fold regeneration, hTMSC has exhibited antifibrotic effects in both qPCR and histologic examination …”

“…A previous study revealed that the survival period of hTMSC transplanted to injured vocal folds was more than 2 weeks but not more than 1 month . Therefore, transplanted stem cells are believed to exhibit a paracrine effect continuously for at least 2 weeks.…”

“…20,21 In the field of vocal fold regeneration, hTMSC has exhibited antifibrotic effects in both qPCR and histologic examination. 22 The regeneration mechanism for implanted stem cells in injured vocal folds has not been fully explained. Some studies have reported that implanted stem cells survived for more than 1 month and suggested that improved vocal fold healing was due to stem cell differentiation.…”

“…A previous study revealed that the survival period of hTMSC transplanted to injured vocal folds was more than 2 weeks but not more than 1 month. 22 Therefore, transplanted stem cells are believed to exhibit a paracrine effect continuously for at least 2 weeks. However, the duration of the effect of hCM injected into the vocal folds is limited due to diffusion and decreasing concentrations.…”

Therapeutic Potential of Human Turbinate-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Experimental Acute Ischemic Stroke

“…Intrastriatal administration of hTMSCs at 1 day after MCAo could provide comparable motor functional recoveries in 2 different neurologic examinations compared to AdMSCs, demonstrating outstanding therapeutic potentials of hTMSCs against ischemic stroke. Moreover, another study reported that hTMSCs could repair vocal fold injuries by promoting growth factors and extracellular matrix materials, supporting the excellent regenerative capabilities of hTMSCs [ 17 ]. As both hTMSCs isolated from hypertrophic and contralateral normal inferior turbinate showed indistinguishable characteristics of stem cells [ 13 ], hTMSCs we utilized in the present study are basically not pathologic, alleviating possible safety issues.…”