ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus [D.M] is a disease with a high and increasing prevalence. Insulin-producing cells [IPCs] generated from mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs] have shown immense potential for therapy. This study aimed to compare the differentiation potential of 2 kinds of MSCs obtained from human bone marrow [BM], and umbilical cord blood [UCB] into IPCs. In addition, their therapeutic efficiency to control streptozotocin [STZ] - induced diabetic rats was investigated. MSCs were isolated from human BM and UCB, expanded and differentiated to IPCs. The Cells were evaluated by flow cytometry analysis for MSCs markers, RT-PCR for insulin gene expression and ELISA detection of C-peptide release. IPCS were transplanted into the liver of diabetic rats and then evaluated by weekly measurement of the fasting blood glucose [FBG] levels, and detection of in vivo release of C-peptide. This study demonstrated that FBG levels were reduced in diabetic rats transplanted with IPCs, but in rats transplanted with UCB-derived cells were significantly lower than in those transplanted with BM-derived cells. The amount of C-peptide released from transplanted IPCs derived from BM-MSCs and UCB-MSCs was non-significantly different. The results indicate that UCB- MSCs and BM-MSCs are promising stem cell sources for IPCs that help in the development of a new strategy for treatment of D.M. However, transplantation of IPCs derived from UCB brings better results than BM-derived cells
ABSTRACT
Inappropriate male germ cell apoptosis is associated with pathological conditions such as infertility Apoptosis is a key phenomenon in the control of sperm production. Fas is widely expressed glycosylated type transmembrane protein which has been suggested to play a role in regulating testicular germ cell apoptosis. A soluble isoforms of Fas [SFas/CD95] are lacking parts of the transmembrane domain generated by alternative mRNA splicing. These soluble molecules may regulate Fas mediated apoptosis. Our aim was to investigate the possible role of s Fas in regulation of germ cell apoptosis and its significance in male infertility. The seminal plasma levels of sFas and alpha glucosidase were measured using ELISA, and spectrophotometer respectively in 75 semen samples which were grouped into 6 groups [one fertile and five infertile] according to the criteria of WHO. There were a statistically significant [p < 0.001] increases in the levels of sFas in all studied infertile groups, while there were significant decreases [p<0.001] in alpha-glucosidase levels in the same infertile groups when compared with normozoospermia. There were significant negative correlations between sFas and sperm concentration, grade [A] motility, velocity, linear velocity, linearity index, normal morphology and alpha glucosidase activity. There were significant positive correlation between sFas and grade [D] motility. Receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve was done to use sFas as a discrimination marker between fertile and infertile groups. From this study we concluded that the detection of sFas in seminal plasma could pro- vide additional information about the biochemical integrity of sperm and may be used in future studies from assessment of fertilization failures particularly in round head syndrome. In fact, these new hypotheses as regards apoptosis in male infertility need to be fatherly investigated to determine whether the opportunities of fered by modulation of apoptotic cell death will lead to new treatment approaches