Yong-Jian Geng

Bio: Yong-Jian Geng is an academic researcher from University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. The author has contributed to research in topics: Stem cell & Mesenchymal stem cell. The author has an hindex of 36, co-authored 119 publications receiving 5606 citations. Previous affiliations of Yong-Jian Geng include Mount Sinai St. Luke's and Mount Sinai Roosevelt & University of Texas at Austin.

Transendocardial, Autologous Bone Marrow Cell Transplantation for Severe, Chronic Ischemic Heart Failure

Abstract: Background— This study evaluated the hypothesis that transendocardial injections of autologous mononuclear bone marrow cells in patients with end-stage ischemic heart disease could safely promote neovascularization and improve perfusion and myocardial contractility. Methods and Results— Twenty-one patients were enrolled in this prospective, nonrandomized, open-label study (first 14 patients, treatment; last 7 patients, control). Baseline evaluations included complete clinical and laboratory evaluations, exercise stress (ramp treadmill), 2D Doppler echocardiogram, single-photon emission computed tomography perfusion scan, and 24-hour Holter monitoring. Bone marrow mononuclear cells were harvested, isolated, washed, and resuspended in saline for injection by NOGA catheter (15 injections of 0.2 cc). Electromechanical mapping was used to identify viable myocardium (unipolar voltage ≥6.9 mV) for treatment. Treated and control patients underwent 2-month noninvasive follow-up, and treated patients alone underwen...

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Differentiate into an Endothelial Phenotype, Enhance Vascular Density, and Improve Heart Function in a Canine Chronic Ischemia Model

Abstract: Background— Bone marrow–derived stem cells are under investigation as a treatment for ischemic heart disease. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used preferentially in the acute ischemia model; data in the chronic ischemia model are lacking. Methods and Results— Twelve dogs underwent ameroid constrictor placement. Thirty days later, they received intramyocardial injections of either MSCs (100×106 MSCs/10 mL saline) (n=6) or saline only (10 mL) (controls) (n=6). All were euthanized at 60 days. Resting and stress 2D echocardiography was performed at 30 and 60 days after ameroid placement. White blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), and troponin I levels were measured. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was similar in both groups at baseline but significantly higher in treated dogs at 60 days. WBC and CRP levels were similar over time in both groups. CK-MB and troponin I increased from baselin...

MiRNA-Sequence Indicates That Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Exosomes Have Similar Mechanism to Enhance Cardiac Repair

Abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) repair infarcted heart through paracrine mechanism. We sought to compare the effectiveness of MSCs and MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-Exo) in repairing infarcted hearts and to identify how MSC-Exo mediated cardiac repair is regulated. In a rat myocardial infarction model, we found that MSC-Exo inhibited cardiac fibrosis, inflammation, and improved cardiac function. The beneficial effects of MSC-Exo were significantly superior compared to that of MSCs. To explore the potential mechanisms underlying MSC-Exo's effects, we performed several in vitro experiments and miRNA-sequence analysis. MSC-Exo stimulated cardiomyocyte H9C2 cell proliferation, inhibited apoptosis induced by H2O2, and inhibited TGF-β induced transformation of fibroblast cell into myofibroblast. Importantly, novel miRNA sequencing results indicated that MSC-Exo and MSCs have similar miRNA expression profile, which could be one of the reasons that MSC-Exo can replace MSCs for cardiac repair. In addition, the expression of several miRNAs from MSC-Exo was significantly different from that of MSCs, which may explain why MSC-Exo has better therapeutic effect than MSCs. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that MSC-Exo could be used alone to promote cardiac repair and are superior to MSCs in repairing injured myocardium.

Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract: Summary Background Since December, 2019, Wuhan, China, has experienced an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 have been reported but risk factors for mortality and a detailed clinical course of illness, including viral shedding, have not been well described. Methods In this retrospective, multicentre cohort study, we included all adult inpatients (≥18 years old) with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from Jinyintan Hospital and Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital (Wuhan, China) who had been discharged or had died by Jan 31, 2020. Demographic, clinical, treatment, and laboratory data, including serial samples for viral RNA detection, were extracted from electronic medical records and compared between survivors and non-survivors. We used univariable and multivariable logistic regression methods to explore the risk factors associated with in-hospital death. Findings 191 patients (135 from Jinyintan Hospital and 56 from Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital) were included in this study, of whom 137 were discharged and 54 died in hospital. 91 (48%) patients had a comorbidity, with hypertension being the most common (58 [30%] patients), followed by diabetes (36 [19%] patients) and coronary heart disease (15 [8%] patients). Multivariable regression showed increasing odds of in-hospital death associated with older age (odds ratio 1·10, 95% CI 1·03–1·17, per year increase; p=0·0043), higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (5·65, 2·61–12·23; p Interpretation The potential risk factors of older age, high SOFA score, and d-dimer greater than 1 μg/mL could help clinicians to identify patients with poor prognosis at an early stage. Prolonged viral shedding provides the rationale for a strategy of isolation of infected patients and optimal antiviral interventions in the future. Funding Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences; National Science Grant for Distinguished Young Scholars; National Key Research and Development Program of China; The Beijing Science and Technology Project; and Major Projects of National Science and Technology on New Drug Creation and Development.

Comparative analysis of mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, or adipose tissue.

Abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent a promising tool for new clinical concepts in supporting cellular therapy. Bone marrow (BM) was the first source reported to contain MSCs. However, for clinical use, BM may be detrimental due to the highly invasive donation procedure and the decline in MSC number and differentiation potential with increasing age. More recently, umbilical cord blood (UCB), attainable by a less invasive method, was introduced as an alternative source for MSCs. Another promising source is adipose tissue (AT). We compared MSCs derived from these sources regarding morphology, the success rate of isolating MSCs, colony frequency, expansion potential, multiple differentiation capacity, and immune phenotype. No significant differences concerning the morphology and immune phenotype of the MSCs derived from these sources were obvious. Differences could be observed concerning the success rate of isolating MSCs, which was 100% for BM and AT, but only 63% for UCB. The colony frequency was lowest in UCB, whereas it was highest in AT. However, UCB-MSCs could be cultured longest and showed the highest proliferation capacity, whereas BM-MSCs possessed the shortest culture period and the lowest proliferation capacity. Most strikingly, UCB-MSCs showed no adipogenic differentiation capacity, in contrast to BM- and AT-MSCs. Both UCB and AT are attractive alternatives to BM in isolating MSC: AT as it contains MSCs at the highest frequency and UCB as it seems to be expandable to higher numbers.