Ep. 276: “Musculoskeletal Disorders” Featuring Dr. Dmitriy Sheyn
Sep 17, 2024
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Dr. Dmitriy Sheyn, an Associate Professor at Cedars-Sinai, specializes in developing stem cell therapies for musculoskeletal disorders. He delves into innovative modeling of disc degeneration and tendon injuries. The conversation highlights his lab’s groundbreaking work on tendon differentiation and insights into low back pain mechanisms. By discussing the urgent need for stem cell solutions for orthopedic conditions, Dr. Sheyn offers a compelling vision for the future of regenerative medicine and the potential impact on patient care.
Dr. Dmitriy Sheyn emphasizes developing stem cell therapies to address the significant healthcare challenge of musculoskeletal disorders like chronic lower back pain.
Innovative live imaging techniques using FDA-approved dyes offer real-time visualization of internal structures, potentially enhancing medical diagnostics in future applications.
Current research focuses on generating tenocytes from human induced pluripotent stem cells to improve regeneration of tendon injuries and avoid improper healing.
Deep dives
Innovations in Imaging Techniques
A recently highlighted innovation in live imaging involves the use of an FDA-approved food coloring, tartrazine, which can enhance optical transparency in live animals. By applying this dye to the skin of mice, researchers managed to visualize internal structures, including neurons and blood vessels, in real time without invasive procedures. This advancement holds promise for creating better imaging techniques that could potentially be applicable to humans in the future. It suggests a significant leap forward in understanding and monitoring physiological processes in living subjects, which could have implications in various medical fields.
Challenges in Musculoskeletal Disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders, particularly lower back pain, represent a massive healthcare burden, with patients often facing a lack of effective biological treatments. Despite many surgical and pharmacological solutions, there's still an unmet need for regenerative approaches that utilize stem cells to promote healing. The podcast discusses the prevalence of these disorders, emphasizing that common issues like chronic pain significantly impact quality of life and productivity. There is a call for more research funding and focused efforts to address these prevalent conditions, especially given their wide-reaching implications on societal health.
Exploring Stem Cell Therapies for Tendon Repair
Research is being conducted to develop stem cell therapies specifically for tendon and ligament injuries, which currently have limited treatment options. The work involves generating tenocytes from human induced pluripotent stem cells to explore novel regenerative therapies for conditions like rotator cuff injuries. These approaches aim to mimic the unique biomechanical properties of tendon tissues, which are essential for effective healing. Given that tendon injuries often heal improperly, resulting in scar tissue that lacks the necessary mechanical properties, the search for effective solutions is crucial.
Pain as a Key Metric in Back Pain Research
The discussion emphasizes moving away from purely structural measures in assessing back pain, recognizing that pain relief should take precedence in treatment outcomes. Researchers are utilizing various behavioral tests to evaluate pain responses in animal models, targeting the understanding of how specific cells contribute to discogenic pain. This approach aligns with ongoing studies investigating the role of nucleus pulposus cells in low back pain, shedding light on cellular mechanisms that trigger painful responses. The emphasis on function over structure reflects a critical shift in research focus to address chronic pain in a meaningful way.
Translating Discovery into Practice
The future of stem cell therapies for musculoskeletal disorders involves translating successful animal studies into human clinical applications. The podcast highlights the importance of using preclinical models, particularly large animals, to better reflect human physiology before entering clinical trials. There's an emphasis on the necessity of therapy that not only alleviates pain but also rejuvenates the underlying cellular matrix in damaged tissues. As research continues to bridge the gap between basic science and practical applications, there is optimism for scalable, systemic treatments that may soon become available to patients.
Dr. Dmitriy Sheyn is an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopedics and Regenerative Medicine Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. His lab focuses on the development of stem cell therapies for multiple musculoskeletal disorders caused by acute injuries and aging. He talks about ways to model disc degeneration and tendon injuries. He also discuses his lab’s work on tendon differentiation and the mechanisms of low back pain.
Muscle Regeneration – Scientists generated satellite cells from skeletal muscle tissue and transplanted them into mouse muscle.
Cardiac Assembloids – Scientists used PSC-derived cardiac assembloids to model the atrioventricular conduction axis and study complex disorders affecting heart rhythm.
