Epidermal growth factor (EGF) withdrawal masks gene expression differences in the study of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) activation of primary neural stem cell proliferation

Background  

The recently discovered adult neural stem cells, which maintain continuous generation of new neuronal and glial cells throughout adulthood, are a promising and expandable source of cells for use in cell replacement therapies within the central nervous system. These cells could either be induced to proliferate and differentiate endogenously, or expanded and differentiated in culture before being transplanted into the damaged site of the brain. In order to achieve these goals effective strategies to isolate, expand and differentiate neural stem cells into the desired specific phenotypes must be developed. However, little is known as yet about the factors and mechanisms influencing these processes. It has recently been reported that pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) promotes neural stem cell proliferation both in vivo and in vitro.     

Enhanced Protein Adsorption,Cell Attachment,and Neural Differentiation with the Help of Amine Functionalized Polycaprolactone Scaffolds

Today, neurodegenerative diseases are very common among people. As a result, researchers are investigating methods for treatment of these diseases. One therapeutic approach is differentiating stem cells into neural cells to replace damaged areas of the brain. Cell attachment is the first, necessary step for the process of differentiation. Hence, we tried to enhance cell adhesion and proliferation of bone marrow stem cells on poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds through modifying this substrate with amine functional groups. The presence of amine groups was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR). Protein adsorption was measured at 280 nm via UV-spectrometry. The proliferation of differentiated neurons was assessed by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-Yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (a dye) and cresyl violet staining. Finally, the morphology of differentiated neurons was shown by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that amine modification of PCL scaffolds enhanced protein absorption and, consequently, cell adhesion and proliferation.     

Applications of chitosan-based thermo-sensitive copolymers for harvesting living cell sheet

A thermo-sensitive chitosan-based copolymer hydrogel was used for harvesting living cell sheets. The hydrogel was tested for harvesting 3T3 cells after carrying out cell culture at 37 °C and incubating the confluent cells at 20 °C for spontaneous detachment of cell sheets from hydrogel surface without enzyme treatment. Results from cell viability assay and microscopy observations demonstrated that cells could attach to the hydrogel surface and maintain high viability and proliferation ability. Cell detachment efficiency from the hydrogel was about 80%. The detached cell sheet retained high viability and could proliferate again after transferred to a new culture surface.     

Synthetic and biogenic magnetite nanoparticles for tracking of stem cells and dendritic cells

Accurate delivery of cells to target organs is critical for success of cell-based therapies with stem cells or immune cells such as antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DC). Labeling with contrast agents before implantation provides a powerful means for monitoring cellular migration using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this study, we investigated the uptake of fully synthesized or bacterial magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) into hematopoietic Flt3⁺ stem cells and DC from mouse bone marrow. We show that (i) uptake of both synthetic and biogenic nanoparticles into cells endow magnetic activity and (ii) low numbers of MNP-loaded cells are readily detected by MRI.     

Niche-dependent development of functional neuronal networks from embryonic stem cell-derived neural populations

Background  

The present work was performed to investigate the ability of two different embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived neural precursor populations to generate functional neuronal networks in vitro. The first ES cell-derived neural precursor population was cultivated as free-floating neural aggregates which are known to form a developmental niche comprising different types of neural cells, including neural precursor cells (NPCs), progenitor cells and even further matured cells. This niche provides by itself a variety of different growth factors and extracellular matrix proteins that influence the proliferation and differentiation of neural precursor and progenitor cells. The second population was cultivated adherently in monolayer cultures to control most stringently the extracellular environment. This population comprises highly homogeneous NPCs which are supposed to represent an attractive way to provide well-defined neuronal progeny. However, the ability of these different ES cell-derived immature neural cell populations to generate functional neuronal networks has not been assessed so far.     

Cryopreservation of embryogenic tissues of Pinus nigra Arn. by a slow freezing method

Six different embryogenic cell lines of Pinus nigra Arn. have been cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen using cryoprotection with sucrose (18%) and DMSO (7.5%). Post-thaw growth and tissue proliferation have been observed in five cell lines. The survival levels after storage in liquid nitrogen reached values between 62.5 and 100%. Growth of recovered embryogenic cells as well as somatic embryos is similar to the non-frozen tissues maintained in long-term culture. Somatic embryo maturation and plantlet regeneration occurred in all selected cell lines.     

人胚胎干细胞与急性早幼粒细胞白血病细胞的拉曼光谱特征研究

急性早幼粒细胞白血病(APL)属于急性髓系白血病(AML),是FAB分型中的M3亚型。部分APL患者形成早幼粒细胞白血病/维甲酸受体融合基因,即PML-RARα融合基因。在内外界多种因素的共同作用下,早幼粒细胞白血病发病。胚胎干细胞(ESCs)具有多向分化的能力,在一定诱导条件下, ESCs可以向造血系统分化。早幼粒细胞位于ESCs分化下游,为粒系分化阶段的一种细胞。探索一种非标记的技术方法鉴别不同分化阶段造血细胞具有重要的科研和实践意义。拉曼光谱技术可用于多种类型疾病的鉴别诊断研究,近年来应用前景愈加广阔。实验研究人胚胎干细胞系(ES)、急性早幼粒细胞白血病细胞系(NB4)和急性早幼粒细胞白血病患者(M3)白血病细胞的拉曼光谱特征,建立拉曼光谱非标记鉴别不同分化阶段白血病的方法,为临床实验研究提供基础。分别收集胚胎干细胞系(ES)、急性早幼粒细胞白血病细胞系(NB4)和4例M3患者白血病细胞,使用Horiba Xplora拉曼光谱仪获取拉曼光谱,每组或每例患者采集25~30个白血病细胞光谱。结合应用主成分分析法(PCA)、判别函数分析(DFA)、系统聚类分析和偏最小二乘判别分析(PLS-DA),对三类细胞的光谱进行分析并建立模型,进而对三类细胞进行鉴别,应用交互验证法对模型进行验证。同时结合细胞超微结构分析三种细胞的拉曼光谱特征。M3, NB4和ES细胞的拉曼光谱差别显著,主要表现为M3和NB4细胞光谱中对应核酸、蛋白质及脂类物质的谱峰明显高于ES细胞,其生物学机制包含了APL与PI3K/Akt/mTOR通路的密切关系。PI3K/Akt/mTOR通路在急性早幼粒细胞白血病细胞中存在异常激活,影响白血病细胞的生物大分子代谢;鉴别建模的总体分类准确率达100%(181/181),交互验证的分类准确率达98.9%(179/181),表明鉴别模型预测能力良好。拉曼光谱分析显示M3细胞和NB4细胞增殖代谢明显高于ES细胞,根据PCA-DFA、聚类分析及PLS-DA建立的拉曼光谱鉴别模型能够准确区分3种不同分化阶段白血病相关细胞,其结果与电镜结果相符。     

Stem Cell Labeling and Tracking with Nanoparticles

Stem cell research is a field that has attracted tremendous attention in recent years. How to precisely label and track stem cells after administration is important not only for fundamental stem cell research, but also for practical applications of stem cell technology in the clinic. Various stem cell labeling and tracking strategies, many of which utilize nanotechnology, have been reported by many different groups. Here, recent progress in the development of various functional nanomaterials for stem cell labeling and tracking is reviewed and the current challenges and future prospects are discussed.     

Tracking of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells labeled with fluorescent magnetic nanoparticle in liver cirrhosis rat model with 3-T MRI

In vivo visualization of transplanted stem cells with noninvasive technique is essential for the monitoring of cell implantation, homing and differentiation. At present, superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) is most commonly used for cell labeling. However, stem cells lack phagocytic capacity and transfection agent is required for sufficient internalization of SPIO for cellular imaging. However, the potential hazards of transfection agents are not fully investigated. Instead of SPIO, we used commercially available new tagging material, fluorescent magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) containing rhodamine B isothiocyanate within a silica shell (Biterials, Seoul, Korea). This tagging material does not require transfection agents for the cell labeling. In addition to that, the core of this MNP is composed of ferrite and the inner portion of silica shell contains fluorescent materials, therefore, it has both magnetic and optical features. This study was designed to track intrasplenically injected bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) labeled with fluorescent MNP in liver cirrhosis rat model with 3-T magnetic resonance equipment. We compared magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of livers in rats which were injected with non-labeled stem cells or labeled stem cells with MNP or SPIO. We found that the respective liver-to-muscle contrast-to-noise ratios at 3 and 5 h after MNP or SPIO-labeled stem cell injection was significantly lower than that of pre-injection and non-labeled group. There was no significant difference between MNP-labeled group and SPIO-labeled group. We can effectively detect intrasplenically injected MNP-labeled MSCs in an experimental rat model of liver cirrhosis with 3-T MRI.     

In situ Raman spectroscopic monitoring of hydroxyapatite as human mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into osteoblasts

The differentiation of stem cells into specific cell types is playing an essential role in the development of stem cell therapy, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. In this research, Raman microspectroscopy was applied to monitor the development of hydroxyapatite [HA, Ca₅ (PO₄)₃ (OH)], which is associated with the differentiation of the human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into osteoblasts. Raman spectra exhibited dramatic changes in the HA region, 950–970 cm⁻¹, over the period of 7–21 days after the start of differentiation. This work demonstrates the successful application of Raman spectroscopy for monitoring and quantitatively evaluating hMSC differentiation into osteoblasts. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Contribution of constitutively proliferating precursor cell subtypes to dentate neurogenesis after cortical infarcts

Background  

It is well known that focal ischemia increases neurogenesis in the adult dentate gyrus of the hippocampal formation but the cellular mechanisms underlying this proliferative response are only poorly understood. We here investigated whether precursor cells which constitutively proliferate before the ischemic infarct contribute to post-ischemic neurogenesis. To this purpose, transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the nestin promoter received repetitive injections of the proliferation marker bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) prior to induction of cortical infarcts. We then immunocytochemically analyzed the fate of these BrdU-positive precursor cell subtypes from day 4 to day 28 after the lesion.     

The biological characteristics of different generation mesenchymal stem cells cultured in vitro and cocultured with vascular scaffold

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were used widely as seed cells in tissue engineering blood vessel construction. However, the biological characteristics difference of different generation MSCs in vitro culture is unknown, which laid a foundation for appropriate generation seeded cells selection for tissue engineering blood vessel construction. In this report, MSCs were isolated from SD rat bone marrow and identified by flow cytometry; cell growth curve test, cell surface antigen expression rate detection, cryopreservation resuscitation rate test, CD31 expression rate test, cell cycle analysis, and adhesion difference on vascular scaffold test were performed. The research results indicated that the MSCs shape was spindle and uniform with vigorous growth. CD105 and CD90 factor expression rate reached 82.5 and 84.9%, respectively, and the expression rate of CD45 was only 7.3%. The proliferation capacity of the fourth generation MSCs were more exuberant, with proliferation index as 20.3%; the cell proliferation index of the eighth generation decreased to only 9.1%. The cryopreservation resuscitation rate of the second generation and fourth generation MSCs were both higher than 80%, and the cryopreservation resuscitation rate of the eighth generation MSCs was only about 60%. After the induction for 5 days, MSCs had weak CD31 expression, and with the prolonged induction time, expression increased. All generation MSCs expressed CD31 after being induced for 10 days; however, the CD31 positive expression rate of the second generation, fourth generation, and sixth generation MSCs had significant difference with the eighth generation MSCs. Adhesion rate of MSCs before sixth generation was around 40%, but the adhesion rate of eighth generation MSCs was only about 27%. In all, biological characteristics of different generation MSCs existed certain differences, and especially the eighth generation MSCs aged seriously, whose cell activity decreased significantly. The researchers believed that the MSCs before the sixth generation can maintain excellent properties of MSCs, and can be used as seed cells for vascular tissue engineering.     

Adult neurogenesis and specific replacement of interneuron subtypes in the mouse main olfactory bulb

Background  

New neurons are generated in the adult brain from stem cells found in the subventricular zone (SVZ). These cells proliferate in the SVZ, generating neuroblasts which then migrate to the main olfactory bulb (MOB), ending their migration in the glomerular layer (GLL) and the granule cell layer (GCL) of the MOB. Neuronal populations in these layers undergo turnover throughout life, but whether all neuronal subtypes found in these areas are replaced and when neurons begin to express subtype-specific markers is not known.     

Induction of pluripotency by defined factors

The “reversion of cell fate from differentiated states back into totipotent or pluripotent states” has been an interest of many scientists for a long time. With the help of knowledge accumulated by those scientists, we succeeded in converting somatic cells to a pluripotent cell lineage by the forced expression of defined factors. These established induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have similar features to embryonic stem (ES) cells, including pluripotency and immortality. The iPS cell technology provides unprecedented opportunities for regenerative medicine and drug discovery.     

低强度激光辐照HeLa细胞诱导增殖效应的可见光谱特性

比较研究了可见波段405,514,633和785nm低强度激光辐照HeLa细胞的促增殖效应。实验采用100和1 000J.m-2两种有效能量密度的可见光波辐照细胞,照射后24,48,72h采用MTT法检测细胞活性。结果表明,405,633,785nm激光均能促进HeLa细胞增殖,且呈波长和时间依赖性;633nm激光辐照对细胞促增殖效应最显著;514nm激光辐照对HeLa细胞促增殖效应较不明显。不同光剂量对细胞增殖效应不同,405,633,785nm激光辐照时能量密度为1 000J.m-2的辐照组细胞增殖均较100J.m-2辐照组明显,而514nm激光辐照时1 000J.m-2辐照组与100J.m-2辐照组细胞增殖的差异不明显。     

Analysis of feasibility of in vitro nuclear magnetic resonance tracking human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells by Gd-DTPA labeled

Objective

Three different kinds of transfection reagents were used to mediate the transfection of gadolinium-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (Gd-DTPA) into human umbilical-cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs). The efficacy of different transfection reagents and the feasibility of NMR tracer in vitro of magnetized stem cells were estimated.

Methods

After purification by tissue explants adherent method, the biological characteristics of hUCMSCs in vitro were identified by subculture and amplification. Calcium phosphate, Effectene and liposome2000 were used to transfect Gd-DTPA-labeled hUCMSCs respectively, and cell counting was used to mediate the transfection of Gd-DTPA into hUCMSCs, which were then induced to lipoblast and osteoblast in vitro. The determination of the transfection activities of the transfection reagents was conducted by measuring the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal intensity of the Gd-DTPA-labeled cells and the concentration of gadolinium ion in the cells. Furthermore, the relationship between the signal intensity of Gd-DTPA-labeled hUCMSCsMRI, cell subculture and generations was studied.

Results

Primary cells were obtained by tissue explants adherent for two weeks. The cells displayed a long spindle form and grew in swirl. After two passage generations, the cellular morphology became more homogeneous. The result detected by the flow cytometer showed that CD29C, D44, CD90, and CD105 were highly expressed, while no CD45, CD40, and HLA-DR expression was detected in the third generation cells. Directional induction in vitro caused the differentiation into lipoblast and osteoblast. After transfected by calcium phosphate, Effectene and liposome 2000, the signal intensity of stem cells was 2281.2 ± 118.8, 2031.9 ± 59.7 and 1887.4 ± 40.8 measured by MRI. Differences between these three groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The concentrations of gadolinium ion in three groups of stem cells were 0.178 ± 0.009 mg/L, 0.158 ± 0.003 mg/L and 0.120 ± 0.002 mg/L respectively, examined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. No significant differences were found among these three groups (P < 0.05). The proliferation and differentiation abilities of the Gd-DTPA-labeled stem cells were not affected. A minimum 5 × 10⁴ Gd-DTPA-labeled stem cells could be traced with MRI in vitro and presented in high signal. The trace duration time in vitro was about 12 days.

Conclusions

Tissue explants adherent method can be availably applied to purify hUCMSCs. The Effectene method was proved to have the best transfection effect. The proliferation ability and differentiation potency of Gd-DTPA-labeled hUCMSCs were not affected, and the NMR of labeled stem cells in vitro was proved to be feasible.     

The mucosal immune system: From dentistry to vaccine development

The oral cavity is the beginning of the aero-digestive tract, which is covered by mucosal epithelium continuously under the threat of invasion of pathogens, it is thus protected by the mucosal immune system. In the early phase of our scientific efforts for the demonstration of mucosal immune system, dental science was one of major driving forces due to their foreseeability to use oral immunity for the control of oral diseases. The mucosal immune system is divided functionally into, but interconnected inductive and effector sites. Intestinal Peyer’s patches (PPs) are an inductive site containing antigen-sampling M cells and immunocompetent cells required to initiate antigen-specific immune responses. At effector sites, PP-originated antigen-specific IgA B cells become plasma cells to produce polymeric IgA and form secretory IgA by binding to poly-Ig receptor expressed on epithelial cells for protective immunity. The development of new-generation mucosal vaccines, including the rice-based oral vaccine MucoRice, on the basis of the coordinated mucosal immune system is a promising strategy for the control of mucosal infectious diseases.     

Statistical approach to the analysis of cell desynchronization data

Experimental measurements on semi-synchronous tumor cell populations show that after a few cell cycles they desynchronize completely, and this desynchronization reflects the intercell variability of cell-cycle duration. It is important to identify the sources of randomness that desynchronize a population of cells living in a homogeneous environment: for example, being able to reduce randomness and induce synchronization would aid in targeting tumor cells with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Here we describe a statistical approach to the analysis of the desynchronization measurements that is based on minimal modeling hypotheses, and can be derived from simple heuristics. We use the method to analyze existing desynchronization data and to draw conclusions on the randomness of cell growth and proliferation.     

Biocompatibility of nanoactuators: stem cell growth on laser-generated nickel–titanium shape memory alloy nanoparticles

Nanoactuators made from nanoparticulate NiTi shape memory alloy show potential in the mechanical stimulation of bone tissue formation from stem cells. We demonstrate the fabrication of Ni, Ti, and NiTi shape memory alloy nanoparticles and their biocompatibility to human adipose-derived stem cells. The stoichiometry and phase transformation property of the bulk alloy is preserved during attrition by femtosecond laser ablation in liquid, giving access to colloidal nanoactuators. No adverse effect on cell growth and attachment is observed in proliferation assay and environmental electron scanning microscopy, making this material attractive for mechanical stimulation of stem cells.