Recently, I have started my teaching career as an associate lecturer (2022) in the University of Leon within the area of pathological anatomy, participating in courses and teaching innovation projects. Additionally, I have contributed to the development and training of young researchers within the department, I have contributed to the creation of the spin off Dental Biomedical associated with the University of León, I have carried out several complementary training courses, training of specialized techniques and I have participated in the organization of R&D activities.
EDUCATION
I started my research career during the completion of the Master's project (2016) in the Biological Drug Applications Group, focused on the study of exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (ad-MSCs). My PhD thesis (2017-2021) was focused on the application of ad-MSCs in discogenic pain and neuropathic pain, funded within the framework of various research contracts. The research conducted generated three first author scientific publications in international journals, five contributions to national and international congresses, a collaborative stay with the CIC bioGUNE center of excellence and the participation of twol conferences.
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Cell Biology, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Molecular Medicine
10
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Optimizing mesenchymal stromal cells priming strategies for tailored effects on the secretome Yaiza González-Rodríguez, Alejandro Casado-Santos, Elsa González-Cubero, Maria Luisa González-Fernández, Alba Sellés-Egea, Vega Villar-Suárez Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 2025 Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising tool in regenerative medicine, with recent focus shifting towards their secretome as a cell-free therapeutic approach. This study investigates the impact of various priming strategies on the immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative potential of adipose-derived MSCs (ASCs) secretomes. We evaluated the effects of hypoxia, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and spheroid culture conditions on ASC secretome composition and functionality. Gene expression analysis, nanoparticle tracking, protein quantification, and functional assays were performed to characterize the secretomes. RNA sequencing revealed significant differences in gene expression profiles across priming conditions, particularly in pathways related to osteogenesis, angiogenesis, inflammation, and neurotrophic factors. Notably, spheroid culture combined with hypoxia and inflammation resulted in a substantial increase in extracellular vesicle production and altered protein content. Functional assays demonstrated enhanced neutrophil inhibition by secretomes from hypoxia-primed ASCs. Our findings indicate that tailored priming strategies can significantly modulate the therapeutic properties of ASC secretomes, potentially enhancing their efficacy in various clinical applications. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing cell-free therapies in regenerative medicine and offers a basis for developing more targeted and effective treatments.
The therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stromal cell secretome in treating spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects in dogs Alejandro Casado-Santos, Elsa González-Cubero, Mª. Belén García-Rodríguez, Álvaro Carrera-Serna, Mª Luisa González-Fernández, Vega Villar-Suárez Research in Veterinary Science, 2025 Corneal ulcers in dogs pose a significant challenge in veterinary ophthalmology, often leading to prolonged visual impairment and discomfort. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (ASCs) secretome as a treatment for complicated corneal ulcers in dogs. Ten dogs with spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects, were treated with topical application of ASC secretome eye drops. Our results showed that secretome therapy facilitated complete healing of all corneal ulcers within 4 weeks, with an average healing time of 1.2 weeks. Notably, secretome treatment was effective even in cases that had previously failed to respond to conventional therapies. Clinical signs such as blepharospasm, conjunctival hyperemia, and photophobia were alleviated promptly following secretome administration. Secretome therapy was well-tolerated, with no adverse reactions reported, further supporting its safety profile. The findings suggest that ASC secretome represents a promising cell-free and minimally invasive therapeutic approach for the treatment of complicated corneal ulcers in dogs. • ASC secretome represents a promising cell-free therapeutic approach for complicated corneal ulcers in dogs. • ASC secretome facilitated complete healing of complicated corneal ulcers in dogs within 2 weeks. • Secretome therapy was effective even in cases refractory to conventional treatments. • Clinical signs like blepharospasm and conjunctival hyperemia were promptly alleviated after secretome administration. • Secretome treatment demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with no adverse reactions reported.
The Therapeutic Potential of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome in Osteoarthritis: A Comprehensive Study Elsa González-Cubero, Maria Luisa González-Fernández, Marta Esteban-Blanco, Saúl Pérez-Castrillo, Esther Pérez-Fernández, Nicolás Navasa, Ana M. Aransay, Juan Anguita, Vega Villar-Suárez International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024 Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by cartilage degradation and inflammation. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of secretome derived from adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) in mitigating inflammation and promoting cartilage repair in an in vitro model of OA. Our in vitro model comprised chondrocytes inflamed with TNF. To assess the therapeutic potential of secretome, inflamed chondrocytes were treated with it and concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, metalloproteinases (MMPs) and extracellular matrix markers were measured. In addition, secretome-treated chondrocytes were subject to a microarray analysis to determine which genes were upregulated and which were downregulated. Treating TNF-inflamed chondrocytes with secretome in vitro inhibits the NF-κB pathway, thereby mediating anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic effects. Additional protective effects of secretome on cartilage are revealed in the inhibition of hypertrophy markers such as RUNX2 and COL10A1, increased production of COL2A1 and ACAN and upregulation of SOX9. These findings suggest that ASC-derived secretome can effectively reduce inflammation, promote cartilage repair, and maintain chondrocyte phenotype. This study highlights the potential of ASC-derived secretome as a novel, non-cell-based therapeutic approach for OA, offering a promising alternative to current treatments by targeting inflammation and cartilage repair mechanisms.
Equine Corneal Wound Healing Using Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome: Case Report Alejandro Casado-Santos, Elsa González-Cubero, Maria Luisa González-Fernández, Yaiza González-Rodríguez, Mª Belén García-Rodríguez, Vega Villar-Suárez Animals, 2024 Corneal ulcers are a common and potentially vision-threatening condition in horses that can be challenging to treat with conventional therapies alone. This case report describes the successful treatment of a non-healing corneal ulcer in a 28-year-old Hispano-Bretón mare using the secretome derived from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs). Despite initial treatment with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and surgical debridement, the corneal ulcer failed to heal properly, exhibiting persistent epithelial defects and stromal complications. As an alternative regenerative approach, the ASC secretome, a rich source of trophic factors, cytokines, and extracellular vesicles, was topically administered to the affected eye. Remarkably, within one week of secretome treatment, the clinical signs of blepharospasm and epiphora resolved, and the corneal ulcer exhibited complete re-epithelialization, regained transparency, and reduced neovascularization. No recurrence was observed during the 1.5-year follow-up period. This case highlights the potential therapeutic benefits of the ASC secretome in promoting corneal wound healing and suggests its promise as a novel cell-free therapy for treating refractory corneal ulcers in horses.
Anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects of MKARE® Eggshell Membrane: An in vitro osteoarthritis model and placebo-controlled clinical study Alejandro Casado-Santos, Manuel A. La Nuez-García, Patricia Álvarez-Rodríguez, Elsa González-Cubero, Yaiza González-Rodríguez, Maria Luisa González-Fernández, Vega Villar-Suárez Journal of Functional Foods, 2024 MKARE®, a 100% natural ingredient derived from fresh eggshell membrane (ESM), has a rich composition in bioactive compounds like collagen, hyaluronic acid, and elastin. These components are beneficial for managing osteoarthritis (OA) due to their anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties. Highlighting the significance of freshness, our research has shown that the effectiveness of MKARE® is higher than that of other commercial products based on ESM that have been stored for several days at room temperature, losing their bioactive compounds. This study explores the MKARE® anti-inflammatory capacity through an in vitro and clinical analyses, demonstrating its ability to alleviate OA symptoms and improve joint health. This underscores the crucial role of freshness in optimizing the therapeutic benefits.
Regenerative Medicine Applied to Musculoskeletal Diseases in Equines: A Systematic Review Andrea Pérez Fraile, Elsa González-Cubero, Susana Martínez-Flórez, Elías R. Olivera, Vega Villar-Suárez Veterinary Sciences, 2023 Musculoskeletal injuries in horses have a great economic impact, predominantly affecting tendons, ligaments, and cartilage, which have limited natural regeneration. Cell therapy, which uses mesenchymal stem cells due to their tissue differentiation properties and anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects, aims to restore damaged tissue. In this manuscript, we performed a systematic review using the Parsifal tool, searching the PubMed and Web of Science databases for articles on regenerative medicine for equine musculoskeletal injuries. Our review covers 17 experimental clinical studies categorized by the therapeutic approach used: platelet-rich plasma, conditioned autologous serum, mesenchymal stem cells, and secretome. These therapies reduce healing time, promote regeneration of fibrocartilaginous tissue, improve cellular organization, and improve joint functionality and sustainability. In conclusion, regenerative therapies using platelet-rich plasma, conditioned autologous serum, equine mesenchymal stem cells, and the emerging field of the secretome represent a promising and highly effective approach for the treatment of joint pathologies in horses, implying a valuable advance in equine healthcare.
Application of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in an in vivo model of peripheral nerve damage Elsa González-Cubero, María Luisa González-Fernández, María Rodríguez-Díaz, Marta Palomo-Irigoyen, Ashwin Woodhoo, Vega Villar-Suárez Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 2022 BackgroundNeuropathic pain is one of the most difficult to treat chronic pain syndromes. It has significant effects on patients’ quality of life and substantially adds to the burden of direct and indirect medical costs. There is a critical need to improve therapies for peripheral nerve regeneration. The aim of this study is to address this issue by performing a detailed analysis of the therapeutic benefits of two treatment options: adipose tissue derived-mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) and ASC-conditioned medium (CM).MethodsTo this end, we used an in vivo rat sciatic nerve damage model to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in the myelinating capacity of ASCs and CM. Furthermore, effect of TNF and CM on Schwann cells (SCs) was evaluated. For our in vivo model, biomaterial surgical implants containing TNF were used to induce peripheral neuropathy in rats. Damaged nerves were also treated with either ASCs or CM and molecular methods were used to collect evidence of nerve regeneration. Post-operatively, rats were subjected to walking track analysis and their sciatic functional index was evaluated. Morphological data was gathered through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of sciatic nerves harvested from the experimental rats. We also evaluated the effect of TNF on Schwann cells (SCs) in vitro. Genes and their correspondent proteins associated with nerve regeneration were analyzed by qPCR, western blot, and confocal microscopy.ResultsOur data suggests that both ASCs and CM are potentially beneficial treatments for promoting myelination and axonal regeneration. After TNF-induced nerve damage we observed an upregulation of c-Jun along with a downregulation of Krox-20 myelin-associated transcription factor. However, when CM was added to TNF-treated nerves the opposite effect occurred and also resulted in increased expression of myelin-related genes and their corresponding proteins.ConclusionFindings from our in vivo model showed that both ASCs and CM aided the regeneration of axonal myelin sheaths and the remodeling of peripheral nerve morphology.
Isolation and characterization of exosomes from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells Elsa González‐Cubero, María Luisa González‐Fernández, Laura Gutiérrez‐Velasco, Eliezer Navarro‐Ramírez, Vega Villar‐Suárez Journal of Anatomy, 2021 Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the subject of intense research as they are a potential therapeutic tool for several clinical applications. The new MSCs action models are focused on the use of MSC‐derived secretome which contains several growth factors, cytokines, microRNAs, and extracellular vesicles such as exosomes. Exosomes have recently emerged as a component with great potential involved as mediators in cellular communication. The isolation and identification of exosomes has made it possible for them to be used in cell‐free therapies. The purposes of this study are: (i) to detect exosomes released into adipose‐derived MSC conditioned cell culture medium, (ii) to identify exosome morphology, and (iii) to carry out a complete characterization of said exosomes. Moreover, it is aimed at determining which method for exosome isolation would be best to use. Precipitation has been identified as a highly useful method of exosome isolation since it provides higher efficiency and purity values than other methods. A broad characterization of the exosomes present in the MSC‐conditioned medium was also carried out. This work fills a gap in the existing literature on bioactive molecules which have attracted a great deal of interest due to their potential use in cellular therapies.
Effect of mesenchymal stem cells combined with chondroitin sulfate in an in vitro model of osteoarthritis American Journal of Translational Research, 2021
