多层面验证共培养微环境诱导法诱导骨髓间充质干细胞心肌样分化

为了多层面探讨共培养微环境诱导法定向诱导骨髓间充质干细胞(MSCs)心肌样分化的可行性,取第3代MSCs与原代心肌细胞(CMs)进行共培养。在显微镜下观察诱导1周后的MSCs形态学变化,用免疫荧光和实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)分别检测诱导的MSCs中心肌肌钙蛋白I(cTnI)、α-肌动蛋白(α-actin)、Nkx-2.5和GATA-4的基因表达变化情况。采用超高效液相色谱-串联质谱(UPLC-MS/MS)分别检测诱导组和对照组的代谢产物。诱导1周后的MSCs形态呈心肌样改变,cTnI、α-actin、Nkx-2.5和GATA-4的基因表达均明显升高,正交偏最小二乘法判别分析(OPLS-DA)模型显示诱导的MSCs代谢物向CMs转变趋势明显。通过多元和单元统计分析筛选差异变量,根据一级质谱和二级质谱比对结果,最终确定12种差异代谢物。与未经诱导的MSCs相比,经诱导的MSCs与CMs中变化趋势相同的差异代谢物有7种,变化趋势不同的差异代谢物有5种。实验结果表明,无论从形态、基因、蛋白质还是代谢层面看,MSCs通过与CMs间接接触共培养后均发生了心肌样改变,但是与CMs仍存在差异。     

Analytical performance of Compton/Rayleigh signal ratio by total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF): A potential methodological tool for sample differentiation

The high sensitivity Compton and Rayleigh X-ray scattering signals can be used to gain valuable information on the chemical composition of various matrices, by exploiting the ratio of those signals as a function of the effective atomic number (Z_eff). Neither total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) nor the effect of the experimental setup, including sample preparation, X-ray excitation source selection, and band deconvolution procedure, has been assessed in this kind of approach. Here, a Compton/Rayleigh ratio and Z_eff-based TXRF method was set up and tested as an analytical tool for milk samples differentiation. The method was developed using a 90° scattering angle and assessed using different X-ray excitation sources: a molybdenum tube (Mo Kα 17.5 KeV) and a tungsten tube (W Lα 8.5 KeV and W-Brems 35 KeV). The evaluation of independent Compton and Rayleigh signals was performed by non-Gaussian and Gaussian curve resolution methods, and both height and area-based calculations were evaluated. Different sample preparation conditions were assessed. By using 11 standard materials, a calibration curve for Compton/Rayleigh ratio versus Z_eff was established. The method was tested to determine the Z_eff of milk samples, which enabled its use as a parameter to differentiate them. Good precisions were obtained with the Mo excitation source and the area-based calculations, which allowed to differentiate undiluted milk samples by species, treatment, and fat content according to their Compton/Rayleigh ratio. This simple and rapid method has the potential to be used for the differentiation of various types of samples, including liquids, solids, and aerosols.     

聚谷氨酸发酵过程中ATR-FTIR光谱信号的分数阶基线校正

采用衰减全反射傅里叶变换红外光谱法（ATR-FTIR）,结合多元校正模型对γ-聚谷氨酸（γ-PGA）发酵过程中两种主要底物葡萄糖和谷氨酸钠的浓度进行间接测量,为优化发酵系统控制提供重要的反馈信息。光谱测量中经常出现的基线漂移会严重影响后续多元校正模型的性能,需要采用基线校正算法对光谱进行预处理。现有流行的基线校正算法多数是基于Whittaker Smoother（WS）平滑算法,这些算法均采用整数阶微分对拟合基线进行约束,表达能力有限。针对现有基线校正算法中的整数阶微分自适应性差的问题,利用更加灵活的分数阶微分对基线进行约束,提出了一种基于分数阶的基线校正算法,实现对整数阶基线校正的扩展。总共进行了5个批次的γ-PGA发酵实验,并对不同批次和全部批次的ATR-FTIR光谱数据分别进行了分数阶基线校正,模型的预测精度均得到不同程度的提升。实验结果表明,只有在批次2时,基于整数阶的基线校正效果最好;其他批次的基线校正效果最好时的阶次均为分数阶。这也表明了分数阶微分（包含整数阶微分）对基线的约束更加合理。同时发现全部批次的整体基线校正效果远远差于单一批次的效果,原因可能是各批次发酵光谱的基线是不同的,对不同的批次需要选用不同的阶次以获得最佳的基线校正。此外,γ-PGA发酵样品的ATR-FTIR光谱测量是以蒸馏水为背景,会在3 100~3 600 cm-1波数范围内出现负水峰,形成有害的干扰信号;分数阶基线校正后的光谱表明,分数阶基线校正算法将负的水峰当作基线,在一定程度上进行了消除。综上分析,分数阶基线校正算法不仅扩展了传统整数阶基线校正算法的应用范围,也为消除ATR光谱中负的水峰提供了新的解决思路。     

Heparin Interacting Protein Mediated Assembly of Nano‐Fibrous Hydrogel Scaffolds for Guided Stem Cell Differentiation

A new methodology is developed to conjugate hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel with novel nano‐fibrous architectures via non‐covalent assembly that specifically allows for targeted adipose‐derived stem cells (ASCs) differentiation and soft tissue engineering. The assembly of non‐covalently associated hydrogel network produced via the interaction of a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) modified HA derivative and heparin interacting protein (HIP). The multifunctional star poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and HIP copolymer has the capability to mediate the non‐covalent assembly of nano‐fibrous HA hydrogel networks via affinity interactions with LMWH. The effect of the HIP mediation on in vitro gelation, rheological characteristics, degradation, equilibrium swelling, adipose‐derived stem cells (ASCs) proliferation and differentiation of nano‐fibrous hydrogel is examined. The results suggest the potential utility of this unique design of the bioactive nano‐fibrous HA hydrogel in directing the differentiation of ASCs and adipogenesis in ECM‐mimetic scaffolds in vitro. These studies demonstrate that this nano‐fibrous HA hydrogel can render the formulation of a therapeutically effective platform for in vitro adipogenesis applications.

     

硝酸锶对原代培养的小鼠成骨细胞增殖、分化和矿化功能的影响

采用噻唑蓝(MTT)法、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)比活性测定、油红O染色、Ⅰ型胶原测定以及矿化结节染色及定量分析等方法,研究了不同浓度的硝酸锶对原代培养的成骨细胞增殖、分化、矿化功能以及横向分化为脂肪细胞的影响。结果表明:硝酸锶对成骨细胞增殖、分化、矿化功能以及横向分化为脂肪细胞的影响与作用浓度和时间密切相关,但没有呈现出剂量依赖性。结果提示,硝酸锶对骨代谢的影响是复杂的,其具有保护还是损害作用取决于作用浓度和时间,而且它们是影响硝酸锶生物效应(从损伤到保护)转变的关键因素。     

Flexibility in a Stackelberg leadership with differentiated goods

We study the effects of product differentiation in a Stackelberg model with demand uncertainty for the first mover. We do an ex-ante and ex-post analysis of the profits of the leader and of the follower firms in terms of product differentiation and of the demand uncertainty. We show that even with small uncertainty about the demand, the follower firm can achieve greater profits than the leader, if their products are sufficiently differentiated. We also compute the probability of the second firm having higher profit than the leading firm, subsequently showing the advantages and disadvantages of being either the leader or the follower firm.     

Simvastatin inhibits sphingosylphosphorylcholine-induced differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells into smooth muscle cells

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) induces differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hASCs) into smooth muscle-like cells expressing α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) via transforming growth factor-β1/Smad2- and RhoA/Rho kinase-dependent mechanisms. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl- coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) have been known to have beneficial effects in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we examined the effects of simvastatin on the SPC-induced α-SMA expression and Smad2 phosphorylation in hASCs. Simvastatin inhibited the SPC-induced α-SMA expression and sustained phosphorylation of Smad2 in hASCs. SPC treatment caused RhoA activation via a simvastatin-sensitive mechanism. The SPC-induced α-SMA expression and Smad2 phosphorylation were abrogated by pretreatment of the cells with the Rho kinase inhibitor Y27632 or overexpression of a dominant negative RhoA mutant. Furthermore, SPC induced secretion of TGF-β1 and pretreatment with either Y27632 or simvastatin inhibited the SPC-induced TGF-β1 secretion. These results suggest that simvastatin inhibits SPC-induced differentiation of hASCs into smooth muscle cells by attenuating the RhoA/Rho kinase-dependent activation of autocrine TGF-β1/Smad2 signaling pathway.     

Determination of Bioactive Components of Cistanche deserticola (Roucongrong) by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array and Mass Spectrometry Detectors

Cistanche deserticola (Orobanchaceae) has been widely used in China for food and medicinal purposes. Chemical differentiation between the raw and steamed C. deserticola was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and mass spectrometry. Eight chemicals (echinacoside, cistanoside A, acteoside, cistanoside C, 2′-acetylacteoside, isoacteoside, isocistanoside C, and tubuloside B) were obtained from raw and steamed C. deserticola, and the kinetics in the steaming process were investigated in detail. When the steaming time increased, the concentrations of echinacoside, cistanoside A, acteoside, cistanoside C, and 2′-acetylacteoside decreased, while the levels of isoacteoside, isocistanoside C, and tubuloside B increased. Furthermore, two compounds, 5-hydroxymaltol and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, were found only in the steamed form. In addition, hierarchical clustering analysis and principal component analysis were performed to evaluate the classify the chemical concentrations among steamed C. deserticola. The results showed that steaming had a significant influence on the chemical constitution. The study provide chemical analysis of raw and steamed C. deserticola, including possible transformation pathways, and should allow better understanding of the steaming process of this herb.     

Differentiation of aminomethyl corrole isomers by mass spectrometry

Two new isomeric aminomethyl corrole derivatives of [5,10,15‐tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrolato]gallium(III) were synthesized with pyridine (py) molecules as axial ligands. When investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, in the positive and the negative ion modes, these compounds showed an unusual gas‐phase behavior that could be used for their differentiation. In the positive ion mode, the differentiation was achieved through the formation of diagnostic fragment ions formed from [M‐py + H]⁺ precursors, by (CH₃)₂NH and HF losses. An unusual addition of water to the main fragment ions provides an alternative route for isomer identification. Semi‐empirical calculations were performed to elucidate the structures and stabilities of the main ionic species formed in the positive ion mode. In the negative ion mode isomer discrimination is accomplished via the fragmentation of the methoxide adduct ions [M‐py + CH₃O]^‐ through (CH₃)₂ N^. and HF losses. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.