Stem Cells

The aim of the project is to investigate whether repeated implantations of micro-fragmented adipose tissue (MFAT), into the shoulder muscle can improve the outcome of standard surgical treatment for rotator cuff tears (RCT). The investigators hypothesize that combining surgery with repeated implantations of micro-fragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) into the muscle provides a more effective treatment for patients with rotator cuff tears compared to standard surgical treatment. The result would be better outcomes such as improved shoulder functioning and reduced pain.

Type 1 Diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease. It results from autoimmune destruction of pancreatic Beta cells leading to absolute insulin insufficiency. The establishment of pluripotent like human stem cells derived from adipose tissue derived mesenchymal cell origin have introduced a new potential source for cell therapy in type 1 diabetic patients, especially in light of recent successes in producing glucose-sensitive insulin secreting cells and this will be the scope of this study. In the last decade, human clinical trials of introducing insulin producing stem cells from various origins were approved and conducted.

This study investigates the safety and efficacy of stem cell or stem cell-derived exosome therapy for gonadal failure, including testicular failure, hypogonadism, ovarian insufficiency, and premature ovarian failure (POF). Conducted at First IVF Clinic, Dubai, it will include 60 participants (30 males, 30 females) aged 20-50 years who have not responded to conventional treatments such as HRT, TRT, or ART. Participants will receive intra-gonadal (testicular or ovarian) injections of stem cells or exosomes, with follow-ups at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months to monitor hormonal changes, gonadal function, and potential adverse effects. The study aims to determine whether regenerative therapy can restore hormone production, enhance reproductive function, and regenerate gonadal tissue, providing a novel, culturally appropriate fertility treatment in the UAE, where donor sperm and eggs are not permitted. By bridging the gap between preclinical research and clinical application, this study could offer new hope to individuals with gonadal failure, advancing the field of regenerative reproductive medicine.

Obesity is at risk for the development of chronic kidney disease but the involved mechanisms are not known (Navarro et al. 2015). Establishing the link between obesity and kidney damage is difficult. Indeed, kidney function measurement lacks precision in obese people (Lemoine et al. 2014) and requires expensive methods such as measurement of 99mTc-DTPA clearance. Biopsies are too invasive for the detection of emerging kidney damage or for the following of the kidney function. Therefore new tools are required for the early identification of at risk individuals for the kidney damage complication. Mesenchymal stem cells may represent such a relevant tool. These cells are present in a large number of organs, including kidney (Costa et al. 2020). In addition to be differentiated cells progenitors (Dominici et al. 2006), they also support immunosuppressive, anti-fibrotic and pro-angiogenic functions that have been used for the treatment of kidney fibrosis (Usunier et al. 2014). Therefore, mesenchymal stem cells contribute to tissue homeostasis and their alterations may reflect organ dysfunctions. Indeed, mesenchymal stem cells from obese adipose tissue lose their immunosuppressive (Serena et al. 2016) and differentiation (Gustafson et al. 2009) functions and contribute to fibrosis (Keophiphath et al. 2009) and inflammation (Lee et al. 2010; Gustafson, Nerstedt, et Smith 2019). It is thus probable that kidney dysfunctions are associated with functional alterations of kidney mesenchymal stem cells. The collection of mesenchymal stem cells from kidney can easily be performed from urine and next cultivated for amplification. They are called urine stem cells (USC). From our experience with obese mouse adipose stem cells, we observed that functional changes of stem cells preceded adipose tissue dysfunctions. Functional signatures of mesenchymal stem cells are thus representative of changes occuring in the function of the tissue notably in answer to obesity. These features could be used to identify obese people presenting ongoing alterations of kidney function, before clinical manifestations of kidney dysfunction. Because kidney mesenchymal stem cells are easy to isolate from urine, their collection is compatible with the follow up of patients and can be applied to a large number of individuals, including the younger. USC could represent a valuable tool to detect progression towards kidney damage. In this project we plan to analyse USC alterations induced by obesity and to identify signatures associated with the progression towards kidney damage and type 2 diabetes. The goal is to evaluate USC as potential marker for the non invasive monitoring of patients in answer to a need that is not achieved by the present available approaches.