Research Projects

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown great potential in treating chronic inflammation and autoimmune disorders due to their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. However, recent clinical studies have shown massive cell death and low retention and engraftment of transplanted MSCs due to the harsh microenvironment at the diseased site in-vivo. To maximize the benefits of MSC-based therapy, it is crucial for transplanted MSCs to be viable, functional, and home successfully to the inflammation site to promote tissue regeneration. Understanding the communication of MSCs with its inflammatory microenvironment is essential for improving MSC-based therapy. Inflammation can be associated with hypothermia or febrile temperature conditions, which are beneficial defense responses by cells to eliminate pathogens. However, little is known about how these temperature changes in the inflammatory mileu are sensed by MSCs following transplantation. A study designed to explore how MSCs sense temperature stimuli in their microenvironment and regulate cellular processes downstream is necessary from a therapeutic point of view. The Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) superfamily of cation channel proteins plays a unique role as cellular sensors, controlling a wide array of Ca2+ signaling mediated cellular processes, including cell survival, differentiation, motility, gene and protein expression. MSCs isolated from different tissue sources respond differently to microenvironmental stresses for their clinical performance. Understanding the regulation of TRP expression or activity in WJ-MSCs under different temperature conditions would help modulate MSC cellular processes for better therapeutic outcomes.