Toh Wei Seong
Associate Professor, Faculty of Dentistry
Associate Professor (Courtesy), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
National University of Singapore
Email: dentohws@nus.edu.sg
Website: http://www.dentistry.nus.edu.sg/Faculty/staff/Toh_Wei_Seong.html

What are your present research interests?

With a specific focus on cartilage injuries and osteoarthritis, we decipher the pathogenic changes during disease in animal models. We study the paracrine mechanisms of mesenchymal stem cells in tissue repair, with the aim to develop mechanism-based therapies for targeted tissue repair.

Do you have a distinctive viewpoint to your research?

Our basic translational research program aims to develop a better basic science understanding of disease pathogenesis and develop well-rationalized mechanism-based strategies for translational and clinical applications.

What do you see as your future research directions?

To develop mechanism-based strategies for musculoskeletal tissue repair and regeneration through interdisciplinary research.

Does your laboratory have a particularly strong research expertise?

We have established the relevant in vitro assays and animal models for study of cartilage biology, injury and osteoarthritis.

Recent Publications

1. Tan SSH, Kwan YT, Neo WJ, Chong JY, Kuek JTY, See FJZ, Wong KL, Toh WS, Hui JHP (2021) Intra-articular injections of mesenchymal stem cells without adjuvant therapies for knee osteoarthritis – A systematic review and meta-analysis. The American Journal of Sports Medicine (In press)

2. Gimona M, Brizzi MF, Choo ABH, Dominici M, Davidson SM, Grillari J, Hermann DM, Hill AF, de Kleijn D, Lai RC, Lai C, Lim R, Monguió-Tortajada M, Muraca M, Ochiya T, Ortiz LA, Toh WS, Yi YW, Witwer KW, Giebel B, Lim SK (2021) Critical considerations for the development of potency tests for therapeutic applications of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-derived small extracellular vesicles. Cytotherapy (In press)

3. Wong KL, Zhang S, Wang M, Ren XF, Afizah H, Lai RC, Lim SK, EH Lee, Hui JH, Toh WS* (2020) Intra-articular injections of mesenchymal stem cell exosomes and hyaluronic acid improve structural and mechanical properties in repaired cartilage in a rabbit model. Arthroscopy – The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery 36(8): 2215-2228.

4. Witwer KW, van Balkom BWM, Bruno S, Choo A, Dominici M, Gimona M, Hill AF, de Kleijn D, Koh M, Lai RC, Mitsialis AS, Ortiz LA, Rohde E, Asada T, Toh WS, Weiss DJ, Zheng L, Giebel B, Lim SK (2019) Defining mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-derived small extracellular vesicles for therapeutic applications. Journal of Extracellular Vesicles 8(1): 1609206.

5. Teo AQ, Wong KL, Shen L, Lim JY, Toh WS, Lee EH, Hui JH (2019) Equivalent 10-year outcomes after implantation of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells versus autologous chondrocyte implantation for chondral defects of the knee. The American Journal of Sports Medicine 47(12): 2881-2887.

6. Chew JR, Chuah SJ, Teo KYW, Zhang S, Lai RC, Fu JH, Lim LP, Lim SK, Toh WS* (2019) Mesenchymal stem cell exosomes enhance periodontal ligament cell functions and promote periodontal regeneration. Acta Biomaterialia 89: 252-264.

7. Zhang S, Teo KYW, Chuah SJ, Lai RC, Lim SK, Toh WS* (2019) MSC exosomes alleviate temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis by attenuating inflammation and restoring matrix homeostasis. Biomaterials 200: 35-47.

8. Toh WS, Zhang B, RC Lai, Lim SK (2018) Immune regulatory targets of mesenchymal stromal cell exosomes/small extracellular vesicles in tissue regeneration. Cytotherapy 20(12): 1419-1426.

9. Toh WS, RC Lai, Zhang B, Lim SK (2018) MSC exosome works through a protein-based mechanism of action. Biochemical Society Transactions 46(4): 843-853.

10. Srinivasan A, Chang SY, Zhang S, Toh WS, Toh YC (2018) Substrate stiffness modulates the multipotency of neural crest derived human ectomesenchymal stem cells via CD44 mediated PDGFR signaling. Biomaterials 167: 153-167.

11. Zhang S, Chuah SJ, Lai RC, Hui JH, Lim SK, Toh WS* (2018) MSC exosomes mediate cartilage repair by enhancing proliferation, attenuating apoptosis and modulating immune reactivity. Biomaterials 156: 16-27.

12. Zhang S, Chu WC, Lai RC, Lim SK, Hui JH, Toh WS* (2016) Exosomes derived from human embryonic mesenchymal stem cells promote osteochondral regeneration. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 24(12): 2135-2140.