Astragaloside IV alleviates lung inflammation in Klebsiella pneumonia rats by suppressing TGF-β1/Smad pathway

Astragaloside IV is a biologically active substance derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Astragalus mambranaceus Bunge, and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of astragaloside IV on Klebsiella pneumonia rats and the underlying mechanisms. Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) rats were treated with different dosages of astragaloside IV (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) by intragastric administration. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined. Pathological changes of lung tissue were inspected by HE staining. The expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in lung tissue was determined with immunohistochemistry, and the expression levels of TGF-β1, p-Smad2/Smad2, p-Smad3/Smad3, IκBα/p-IκBα, and p65/p-p65 in lung tissue were determined by western blot. The mechanism was further investigated with TGF-β1 inhibitor SB-431542. Astragaloside IV reduced the elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines caused by K. pneumoniae and improved lung tissue damage in a dose-dependent manner. Astragaloside IV also decreased the expression of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway-related proteins and decreased the protein levels of inflammation-related p-IκBα and p65 in lung tissues induced by K. pneumoniae. Additionally, it was found that the effects of 20 mg/kg astragaloside IV were similar to SB-431542, which could improve pulmonary fibrosis induced by K. pneumoniae, decrease the levels of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway-related proteins in lung, and reduce inflammation at the same time. Astragaloside IV could alleviate the inflammation of rat pneumonia induced by K. pneumoniae through suppressing the TGF-β1/Smad pathway.

Effects of isorhyncophylline on hippocampal metabolism using 1H NMR-based metabolomics combined with molecular docking analysis / 药学学报

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of isorhyncophylline on hippocampal endogenous metabolites in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) by 1H NMR metabolomics and molecular docking. Twelve SHR were randomly divided into a model group and a treatment group. Six Wistar-Kyoto rats were selected as a control group. The rats in the treatment group were administered isorhyncophylline (0.3 mg·kg-1) while the rats in the other two groups were treated with the same amount of sterilized saline solution. Animal experiment was authorized by the Ethics Committee of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (No. SDUTCM20210721002). Hippocampal tissues were removed after administration for 8 weeks and assayed by 1H NMR based metabolomics technology combined with a pattern recognition method to find characteristic metabolites, and the metabolic targets were retrieved from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database. Molecular docking technology was used to evaluate binding of isorhyncophylline to the core targets. The results of a principal components analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) showed a clear cluster of samples among three groups. There were seven differentially altered metabolites, and glucose metabolism and glutamate metabolism were the principal related pathways. Molecular docking indicated that isorhyncophylline had good binding properties with nine key candidate target proteins. According to the above research results, isorhyncophylline can influence energy metabolism and glutamate metabolism in the hippocampus.

Mechanism of Sinisan in Treating Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Based on Network Pharmacology / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of Sinisan in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus（T2DM） based on network pharmacology. Method:Based on electronic databases， active ingredients of Sinisan and target genes of ingredients as well as type 2 diabetes were screened out. Cytoscape software was applied to construct "herb-active ingredient-target-disease" interaction network diagram，respectively. The common genes of ingredients and disease were uploaded to the STRING database， and the protein interaction network map （PPI） was constructed. CytoNCA and Cluster Marker were used to analyze PPI，respectively. Finally，ClueGO was used to analyze gene ontology （GO） enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of genes and genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment. Result:A total of 137 active components and 110 effective genes of Sinisan in the treatment of type 2 diabetes were screened out. Based on PPI analysis，these effective genes were divided into 4 different clusters， and 12 genes were considered as the most effective targets. GO enrichment analysis showed that cluster 1 mainly involved acute inflammatory response and acetylcholine receptor signaling pathway， cluster 2 mainly involved cellular response to steroid hormone stimulu and xenobiotic stimulus，and cluster 3 was mainly engaged in the metabolism process of protein，fatty and glucose and the response to hypoxia. KEGG analysis was highly correlated with advanced glycation end products-receptor for AGE （AGE-RAGE） pathway，apoptosis pathway，inflammatory pathway，cell cycles and various metabolic pathways. Conclusion:Sinisan has a regulatory effect in pathogenesis and prognosis of T2DM，such as inflammation，cell apoptosis and nutrition metabolism. Moreover，its potential mechanisms on diabetic angiopathies，diabetic cognitive impairment and cancers were reveal，so as to define a direction for the fundamental research of Sinisan.

Relationship between lower limb alignment distribution and short-term clinical results after primary total knee arthroplasty in patients with varying degrees of knee varus / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the relationship between the distribution of lower limb alignment and short term clinical efficacy in patients with varus-type osteoarthritis after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).@*METHODS@#From December 2016 to March 2018, 87 patients (101 knees) with knee osteoarthritis were treated with the first total knee arthroplasty by the same medical group, including 21 males(25 knees) and 66 females(76 knees), ranging in age from 51 to 85 years old, with a mean of (67.6±7.0) years old. According to the difference of hip knee ankle angle (HKA) after total knee arthroplasty, the patients were divided into 4 groups:neutral position group (group A), -3°≤HKA≤3°, 50 knees;slight varus group (group B), 3°0.05). There was no significant difference in knee joint activity among the 4 groups. The score of femoral prosthesis force line within ±3°was better than that of the other group (0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The short term clinical efficacy of patients with knee varus osteoarthritis after primary total knee arthroplasty is related to the distribution of lower limbs alignment. The short-term clinical efficacy of slight inversion position can be similar to that of neutral position. The force line distribution of femoral prosthesis is related to the short term clinical efficacy after primary knee arthroplasty.

Intractable sudden deafness treated with acupuncture on the base of "heart housing the mind" / 中国针灸

Intractable sudden deafness is a kind of primary sudden deafness that is insensitive to the comprehensive treatment in modern medicine. Due to the close relationship between the ear and the "heart", combined with the characteristics of intractable sudden deafness, in the theoretic guidance of "the heart housing the mind", the acupuncture therapy for regulating the mind and nourishing the heart was introduced in treatment of intractable sudden deafness, the relevant theoretic evidences were explored and elaborated with the typical case.

Clinical randomized controlled trial on ultrashort wave and magnetic therapy for the treatment of early stage distal radius fractures / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of application of ultrashort wave and magnetic therapy instrument on the swelling regression in distal radius fractures treated by splint external fixation in initial stage.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From March 2007 to May 2010,90 patients with distal radial fracture were treated by manual reduction and splint external fixation. After manual reduction and small splints external fixation, these patients were randomly divided into electrical physical therapy group, western medicine group and the control group by the order of calling number, with 30 cases each group. In control group, there were 9 males and 21 females with an average age of (61.29 +/- 1.97) years, the patients raised and exercise the limb and fingers only. The other two groups also carried out this treatment. In electrical physical therapy group, there were 9 males and 21 females with an average age of (62.37 +/- 2.48) years, the patients were treated with ultrashort wave and magnetic therapy instrument for early intervention, once a day, 5 days for a course of treatment and three cycle were operated. In western medicine group,there were 8 males and 22 females with an average age of (60.12 +/- 2.87) years, the patients were injected with beta-aescin (20 mg, intravenous injection,once a day) for 5 days, followed by Danshen injection (20 ml, intravenous injection, once a day) for 10 days. The limb swelling of patients were assessed every day for 20 days after manual reduction and small splints external fixation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The time of swelling regression in electrical physical therapy group, western medicine group and the control group were respectively (9.62 +/- 3.32), (10.05 +/- 3.05) and (14.57 +/- 2.93) days. Both of that in electrical physical therapy group and western medicine group were shorter than that in the control group (P<0.05), then there were not statistical difference between electrical physical therapy group and western medicine group (P>0.05). The effective rate of swelling regression in electrical physical therapy group, western medicine group and the control group were 86.67%, 80.00%, 46.66% respectively. There was no significant differences between electrical physical therapy group and western medicine group in the curative effect, but both of them had advantage over the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Application of ultrashort wave and magnetic therapy instrument for treatment of distal radial fractures in initial stage can promote the regression of limb swelling evidently, which is similar to the intravenous infusion of beta-aescin injection and Danshen injection in curative effect.</p>

Efficacy of compound xuanju capsule on type-III prostatitis-related sexual dysfunction / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the value of Compound Xuanju Capsule in the treatment of type-III prostatitis-related sexual dysfunction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We randomly divided 90 type-III prostatitis patients with sexual dysfunction diagnosed by NIH clinical criteria into an experiment group and a control group to be treated with Compound Xuanju Capsule and antibiotics, respectively. We analyzed the therapeutic results based on the scores on chronic prostatitis symptom index (CPSI), prostatitis-related sexual function index (PSFI ) and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and compared them between the two groups and with the baseline data.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The degree of prostatitis-related sexual dysfunction was not correlated with that of prostatitis symptoms. Prostatitis symptoms and sexual function were significantly improved in the experiment group than in the control (P < 0.05), and the SAS score was markedly lower in the former than in the latter (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compound Xuanju Capsule can not only alleviate the symptoms of type-III prostatitis, but also improve its related sexual dysfunction and anxiety.</p>

Effect of tangtong recipe on the proliferation of cultured iliac arterial smooth muscle cells of diabetic rats in vitro / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the inhibition of Tangtong Recipe (TTR) on proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in rat model of diabetes mellitus using seropharmacological and modern molecular biological technologies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The drug-serum of TTR was prepared by feeding pure-breed New Zealand rabbits at various doses (18 mL/kg, 13 mL/kg, and 8 mL/kg) of TTR, and used to intervene the VSMCs get from the iliac artery of diabetic model rats cultured by tissue block plantation. The impact of drug-serum on VSMCs proliferation was estimated through measuring tritiated thymine deoxy-ribonucleotide (3H-TDR) incorporation using liquid-scintillation detector, and the cell cycle was detected using flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 3H-TDR incorporation in cells after intervention with various doses of TTR drug-serum were reduced significantly, in a concentration-dependent manner, to the level lower than that in the normal serum control group (P < 0.01). And the percentage of S and G2/M phase cells in the drug-serum treated groups also were markedly lower than that in the normal control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Drug-serum of TTR could inhibit the proliferation of VSMC of diabetic rat in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner.</p>

Effects of Jiangtang Bushen Recipe on serum C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>UNLABELLED</b>OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of Jiangtang Bushen Recipe (JBR) on inflammatory cytokines in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and explore its therapeutic mechanism. METHODS Sixty-four patients with T2DM were randomly divided into the treated group (n = 34) and the control group (n = 30). Education course, dietary treatment and conventional hypoglycemic agent were given to both groups, and JBR, mainly composed of Cibot Rhizome, Radix Dipsaci, Glossy Privet Fruit; Ecliptae Herba, Radicis Lycii, Radix Astragali, Rehmannia Dride Rhizome, etc., was given additionally to patients in the treated group, one dose a day for 4 weeks by boiled water and taking in two times. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured, and insulin sensitive index (ISI) and clinical TCM symptom score were calculated before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the clinical symptom score dropped in both groups (P < 0.01), and it was lower in the treated group than that in the control group (P < 0.01). At the same time, serum levels of FINS, CRP, TNF-alpha and IL-6 decreased and ISI increased significantly, the effect showed in the treated group was also superior to that in the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>JBR, which could tonify Pi and Shen, nourish Yin and clear away heat, can improve insulin resistance and alleviate clinical symptoms of T2DM patients, the mechanism may be related with its actions in regulating the production of inflammatory cytokines and inhibiting inflammatory reac-</p>

Effect of jiangtang bushen recipe in intervention treatment of patients with impaired glucose tolerance / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the intervention effect of diet, exercise and Jiangtang Bushen Recipe (JBR, a Chinese herbal recipe) in preventing the progress of patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) to diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-one patients with IGT, with their diagnosis conformed to the diagnosis standard of WHO, 1999, were randomly divided into the control group (n = 26) and the TCM group (n = 25). Patients in the control group attended to the educational course for DM and received dietotherapy and kinetotherapy, and to those in the TCM group, under these treatments, JBR was given additionally. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), body weight index (BWI), levels of blood lipids and fasting insulin of all the patients were examined after 3 months, 6 months and 12 months of treatment. The total observation time was 1 year.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Except the 6 cases out of the 51 patients (11.7%), on whom the observation discontinued, in the control group, as compared with before treatment, levels of fasting insulin and fasting blood glucose after treatment were not changed significantly (P > 0.05), also insignificant difference was shown in levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG), though the two indexes lowered slightly after treatment (P > 0.05), but significant difference was shown in comparison of OGTT/2 h, blood glucose and BWI (P < 0.05). While in the TCM group, fasting blood glucose was changed insignificantly (P > 0.05), but there was significant difference in comparison of fasting insulin, TC, BWI, OGTT/2 h and plasma glucose levels (P < 0.01) respectively before and after treatment. At the end of the study, the cumulative cases with conversion to diabetes were 3 (13.6%) in the control group, and 1 (4.3%) in the TCM group, chi 2 test showed insignificant difference in comparison of diabetes conversion rate between the two groups (P > 0.05), however, the TCM group showed a better year conversion rate of normal glucose tolerance than that in the control group (chi 2 = 8.31, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TCM intervention is possibly effective in delaying the conversion of IGT to DM type 2, and plays integrative effeciency in impelling IGT patients to health. The favorable education and treatment of DM controlling, including dieto- and kineto-therapy may also be advantageous in IGT intervention, but could not be effective in blocking the advance of IGT.</p>

Study of biological characteristics of murine dermal mesenchymal stem cells and their enhancement of hematopoiesis recovery / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the characteristics of dermal mesenchymal stem cells (DMSC), and explore whether they could enhance hematopoiesis recovery in vivo as well as facilitate proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Multipotential stem cells from the murine dermal mesenchyme were dissociated and cultured as donor cells. After 2 approximately 3 passages, the growth status, cell cycle, immunophenotype and morphology of DMSC were analyzed. Hematopoietic cells were plated onto a feeder layer formed by DMSC, cell count and CFU-GM yields were observed dynamically. Female mice received 5 Gy (137)Cs radiation were injected with DMSC cultured for 2 - 3 passages via tail vein. Cell count and CFU-GM yields of the bone marrow were observed regularly. Pathological study of the liver, spleen and bone marrow was done to evaluate hematopoiesis recovery.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Murine DMSC are adherent cells with a morphology of fibroblastoid and spindle and multiangle in shape. Immunophenotypes showed that CD(45), CD(34), HL-DR positive DMSC were 1 - 3%, CD(44) and CD(13) positive DMSC 75 approximately 95%. Cell cycle assay demonstrated 83% of DMSC being G(0)/G(1) phase. In vitro, the total cell count and CFU-GM yields in the experimental group were higher than those of the long-term culture bone marrow cells by the third week. The DMSC can sufficiently support the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells for seven weeks. In vivo, peripheral granulocytic count, cells in the bone marrow of one femoral bone and CFU-GM by the third week in the experimental group were much higher than those of controls. Genetic assay of the murine blood demonstrated Y chromosome.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The DMSC have characteristics of stem cells. DMSC sped up hematopoiesis recovery of irradiated mice. DMSC as a feeder layer can support proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells.</p>

Dendritic cells (DC) induced from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells with cytokine cocktails / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To explore the feasibility of DC being in vitro induced from AML cells with cytokine cocktails and their biological properties.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>AML cells were cultured in either presence or absence of cytokine cocktails. DC were studied for morphology, and cytochemical and immunofluorescent staining. Functions of DC were examined by MLC, FITC-conjugated dextran uptake test, and LDH release assay. RT-PCR and FISH were used to analyze the specific fusion genes of culture-derived DC.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Classical DC morphological changes occurred in all 15 cultured AML cells. DC-associated surface molecules such as CD(1a), CD(80), CD(86), CD(106), CD(83) and HLA-DR were upregulated (P < 0.05). The allostimulatory abilities of culture-derived DC were significantly higher than those of AML cells uncultured or cultured in the absence of cytokines (P < 0.05). Culture-derived DC only in the presence of GM-CSF + IL-4 have phagocytotic activities. CTL assay was performed in 5 of the 15 samples. At effector/target ratio of 20:1, auto-T lymphocytes primed with the culture-derived DC exhibited no more killing activity to auto-AML cells than those stimulated by IL-2 or uncultured AML cells. Culture-derived DC presenced the native AML-specific aberrant karyotype and related fusion gene.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Cytokine cocktails could in vitro induce AML cells into DC with classical morphology, immunophenotype and function. DC maturity induced by different cytokine cocktails could be variable. Culture-derived DC were originated from the native AML cells. AML cells could make the auto-T lymphocyte anergy.</p>

The effects of the Smad3-knockout on the hematopoiesis of mouse / 生物工程学报

The effects of the Smad3- knockout on the hematopoiesis of mouse were investigated in this work. Five pairs of wild type and Smad3- null mice were studied. White blood cell(WBC), red blood cell(RBC) and platelet (PLT) counting of peripheral blood cells were performed with blood obtained from tails. And white blood cells were classified by their morphology. Bone marrow nucleated cells (BMNCs) were counted and classified. The CFU-GM, BFU-E, CFU-GEMM yields were measured in each pair of mice. CFU-S yield of each mouse was measured by injecting bone marrow cells into lethally irradiated 8-10 weeks old wild type female mice. And the pathomorphism of their bone marrows, spleens and livers were observed. As a result, WBC and PLT of Smad3- null mice were significantly higher than those in wild type mice. Smad3- null mice had much more proportion of granulocytes in classification. There wasn't any difference in RBC counting and BFU-E measurement. The yield of CFU-GM increased, while the yields of CFU-GEMM and CFU-S markedly reduced. Bone marrows are actively proliferative, with granulocytosis. The granulocyte/erythrocyte ratio increased. There were no obviously alterative in spleen and liver. Thus Smad3- knockout results in a decreased number of stem and progenitor cells. Moreover hematopoietic differentiation is abnormal with a tendency to forming more granulocytes and platelets. The effect of Smad3 on hematopoiesis is correlative to that of TGF-beta.

Transplantation of mesenchymal derived stem cells followed by G-CSF injection can reconstitute hematopoiesis of lethally irradiated BALB/c mice / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the hematopoietic reconstitution potential of mesenchymal derived stem like cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal derived stem like cells into lethally irradiated BALB/c mice. Hematopoietic cells were derived from the non-adherent bone marrow cells 24 hours after initial culture while murine mesenchymal derived stem like cells from bone marrow of donor mice were cultured for 10 days before the transplantation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All mice of group 1 and 3 died in 7-8 days post irradiation following transplantation, while all the mice from group 2 and 4 survived. The time course of hematopoietic reconstitution was then observed. The peripheral blood and bone marrow cell count recovered in the MSC + G-CSF transplanted group and the BM transplanted group after 3 weeks. Interestingly, CFU-GM number in the MSC + G-CSF transplanted group increased significantly after 2 weeks and even more than that in the BM transplanted group after 3 weeks while as CFU-GM colony dropped 2 weeks after in the BM transplanted group. Spleen colony (CFU-S) number and size of the MSC + G-CSF transplanted group was significantly greater than the BM transplanted group. Furthermore, PCR analysis was performed using peripheral blood cells to determine if any male-derived cells were present. No male-derived cells were found in any of the mice from group 1 and 3. Y-chromosome-specific src gene was found to be dominant in the MSC + G-CSF transplanted group and the BM transplanted group by week 4 post transplantation. In addition, we demonstrated that induction with G-CSF lead to CFU-GM colony formation from MSC compartment in vitro.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results indicate that under stimulation of G-CSF, mesenchymal derived stem like cells might differentiate into hematopoietic primitive stem cells in vivo and have the capacity to re-establish hematopoiesis in lethally irradiated mice. This study should provide an alternative transplantation treatment for malignancy.</p>

Identification and isolation of mesenchymal stem cells from human fetal pancreas / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To isolate and identify the phenotype and biological characteristics of pancreas derived mesenchymal stem cell.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fresh pancreas of 4-5 months old aborted fetus was dissected free from connective tissue, and was cut into small pieces. The adherent cells were harvested and subcultured, after the third subculture, the cells were used for examination. Cell cycle was analyzed by measuring DNA content by FACScan flow cytometer. Phenotype of MSCs was analyzed by immunohistochemical SA technique and differentiated cells were identified by relevant specific staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fetal pancreas derived cells gave rise to a population of adherent cells characterized by the presence of a predominant cell type with a typical fibroblast like morphology. By transmission electron microcopy, MSC had few endoplasmic reticulums and mitochondrias. During the log phase of growth, MSC proliferated with a two fold population at 30 h. MSC can be ex vivo expanded by successive cycles of trypsinization, seeding, and culture. Under these conditions, MSC had capability of passaging up to 30 times without displaying significant changes in morphology, with 2-fold increase in cell number after each passage. This indicates the high ex vivo expansion potential of MSC. The results showed that the yield of CFU-Fs was above 200 clones even after the 6th passage. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry revealed that more than 83% of cells were in the G0/G1 phases, while a small population of cells were actively engaged in proliferation (S + G2 + M = 17%). We also showed that more than 86% of cells were positive stained by FITC labeled CD44, CD29, CD13, and only about 1% of cells were positive for CD34, HLA-DR. Expression of collagen I, III was positive while vWF was negative. In the differentiation study, we found culture-expanded pancreas MSCs could be directed into the osteogenic lineage as detected by osteoblastic morphology, expression of alkaline phosphatase, modulation of osteocalcin mRNA production and the formation of a mineralized extracellular matrix. We also found that MSCs could give rise to the adipogenic and chondrogenic lineage as evidenced by accumulation of lipid-rich vacuoles within cells and the expression of lipoprotein lipase mRNA or the expression of collagen II and the deposition of proteoglycans.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Mesenchymal stem cells existing in human pancreas can be isolated by their adherent ability and should be essential to sustain a steady supply of primitive cells in tissue remodeling.</p>

Phenotypical and Biological Characteristics of Human Fetal Marrow and Liver Mesenchymal Stem Cells / 中国实验血液学杂志

There has been an increasing interest in recent years in the stromal cell system. The stroma is a complex tissue, composed of a number vascular and connective tissue cell types including endothelial cells, adipocytes, smooth muscle cells, osteogenic cells, and stromal cells. The marrow mesenchymal stem cells are capable of self-renewal and differentiate into various connective tissue lineages including bone, cartilage, tendon, muscle, fat, and marrow stroma. Recently, techniques for the isolation of adult bone marrow-derived human and animal mesenchymal stem cells have been described, as well as the methods to directing their differentiation into osteogenic, chondrogenic, tendogenic, myogenic, adipogenic, and marrow stromal lineages. But there is no report about the fetal bone marrow- and liver-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Are they the same or not? In our assay, human fetal mesenchymal stem cells from 4 - 5 months old human fetal bone marrow and liver low-density mononuclear cells were cultured, and the cell cycle, immunophenotype and ex vivo expansion properties were studied. Results showed that the mesenchymal stem cells from fetal liver and fetal bone marrow were similar in morphology, growth character and immuno-phenotypes, but the liver mesenchymal cells manifested higher ability to support hematopoiesis than the marrow-derived mesenchymal cells. This study demonstrates that adherent fetal marrow- and liver-derived cells cultured in the absence of differentiation stimulus gave rise to a population of cells with phenotypical features of mesenchymal stem cells, and should be enough to sustain a steady supply of low differentiated cells upon proliferation.