ABSTRACT
Objective To establish a cell model targeting the CXCR4 gene promoter to screen of drugs potentially promoting the stem cell homing, and to screen the monomers of traditional Chinese medicine. Methods The human CXCR4 gene promoter sequence (279 bp) was inserted into the luciferase reporter vector pGL4.17-Basic to construct the recombinant plasmid pGL4.17-CXCR4, which was co-transfected with the internal reference plasmid pRL-TK into 293 cells. After verifying transcriptional activity of CXCR4 promoter, single cell clones were cultured to obtain a stable transfectant cell line and used for screening of candidate Chinese herbal monomer (1 to 10). Finally, Western blot was used to verify the effect of the selected Chinese herbal monomer on the expression of CXCR4 in MSCs. Results The drug screening cell model was successfully established and the candidate monomer 6 was screened out because of the strongest effect on enhancing CXCR4 promoter activity. Western blot results verified that the candidate monomer 6 could promoted the expression of CXCR4 of MSCs. Conclusion The drug screening cell model established in this study was able to achieve high-throughput screening for potentially promoting the stem cell homing Chinese herbal monomer.
ABSTRACT
Acupuncture manipulations on Fengchi (GB 20) of famous doctors were taken through force feedback device, then the data was input into a digitized virtual human. Virtual Fengchi (GB 20) acupuncture force feedback simulation system was built through the virtual reality technology to achieve one-to-one high simulative manipulation effect for acupuncture students. The interaction force of the needle body and human tissues was analyzed during the acupuncture process on the 3D digital human integrated with information of Fengchi (GB 20) according to the physical characteristics of the tissues under this point. The mechanical model which is used to imitate the stress received by the body of the needle was established, and transmitted truly to the operator by the force feedback device. Thus, Fengchi (GB 20) virtual acupuncture force feedback simulation was preliminary established, and the sense of touch could be reproduced lively on the visualized virtual acupuncture human. It is held that Fengchi (GB 20) acupuncture force feedback research is a preliminary exploration for virtual acupuncture that integrated with the information of visual, tactile and force feedback. And it also provided a dynamic one-to-one simulation approach for acupuncture teaching.
Subject(s)
Humans , Acupuncture , Education , Acupuncture Points , Acupuncture Therapy , Methods , Computer Simulation , NeedlesABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the therapeutic potential of marrow-derived cardiac stem cell (MCSC) transplantation after myocardial infarction (MI) in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MCSC were selected from the marrow mesenchymal stem cell (MMSC) of male SD rats by single-cell cloning culture. MI was induced by left anterior descending artery ligating in female SD rats. Equal volume PBS, MMSC and MCSC were transplanted at the border zone of the infarct one week after MI. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography at four weeks after cell transplantation. The hearts were removed and morphological changes of scar tissue were examined with HE staining and Masson trichrome staining, VEGFR-1(+) capillary vessels were labeled with immunohistochemical staining. Scar area and vessel density were measured by image analyzer. MCSC containing Y chromosome were examined using in situ fluorescent hybridization, and cardiomyocyte cTnT expression was also analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Cardiac transcription factor Nkx2.5 was expressed at low level in c-kit(+) MCSC. Four weeks after cell transplantation, left ventricular fractional shortening and ejection fraction were significantly higher while scar area was significantly lower in MCSC group compared to MMSC group and control group. cTnT was expressed in cells containing Y chromosome and these cells were connected with myocardium of recipient rats in the rats transplanted with MCSC. Vessel density around the infarcted tissue in MCSC group was similar as that in MMSC group and significantly higher than that in control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MSCS could effectually differentiate into functional cardiomyocytes at the border zone of the infarct, and MCSC transplantation post MI significantly improved cardiac functions and promoted angiogenesis.</p>