Inflammation-mediated age-dependent effects of casein kinase 2-interacting protein-1 on osteogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#The casein kinase 2-interacting protein-1 (CKIP-1) is important in the development of osteoblasts and cardiomyocytes. However, the effects of CKIP-1 on osteoblast precursor mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) remain unclear. This study aimed to determine whether CKIP-1 affects osteogenic differentiation in MSCs and explore the relationship of CKIP-1 and inflammation.@*METHODS@#Bone marrow MSCs of CKIP-1 wild type (WT) and knockout (KO) mice were cultivated in vitro. Cell phenotype was analyzed by flow cytometry, colony formation was detected to study the proliferative ability. Osteogenic and adipogenic induction were performed. The osteogenic ability was explored by alizarin red staining, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and ALP activity detection. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was carried out to determine the mRNA expression levels of osteoblast marker genes. The adipogenic ability was detected by oil red O staining. Content of the bone was analyzed to observe the differences of bone imaging parameters including trabecular bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV), bone surface area fraction/trabecular BV, trabecular number (Tb.N), and trabecular spacing (Tb.sp). Interleukin (IL)-1β was injected on WT mice of 2 months old and 18 months old, respectively. Difference in CKIP-1 expression was detected by RT-PCR and western blot. The relationship between CKIP-1 and inflammation was explored by RT-PCR and western blot.@*RESULTS@#ALP assays, alizarin red staining, and qRT-PCR showed that MSCs derived from CKIP-1 KO mice exhibited a stronger capability for osteogenesis. Micro-computed tomography detection showed that among 18-month-old mice, CKIP-1 KO mice presented significantly higher bone mass compared with WT mice (P = 0.02). No significant difference was observed in 2-month-old mice. In vivo data showed that expression of CKIP-1 was higher in the bone marrow of aging mice than in young mice (4.3-fold increase at the mRNA level, P = 0.04). Finally, the expression levels of CKIP-1 in bone marrow (3.2-fold increase at the mRNA level, P = 0.03) and cultured MSCs were up-regulated on chronic inflammatory stimulation by IL-1β.@*CONCLUSIONS@#CKIP-1 is responsible for negative regulation of MSC osteogenesis with age-dependent effects. Increasing levels of inflammation with aging may be the primary factor responsible for higher expression levels of CKIP-1 but may not necessarily affect MSC aging.

Correlation between the Expression of High Temperature Requirement Serine Protease A1 in Nucleus Pulposus Tissue and the Degree of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To investigate the correlation between the expression level of high temperature requirement serine protease A1 (HtrA1) in nucleus pulposus and the degree of intervertebral disc degeneration (Pfirrmann grade).Methods Thirty-six patients who underwent excision of nucleus pulposus were examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before operation,and the Pfirrmann grading of all patients was performed according to the sagittal T2 weighted MRI.The expression of HtrA1 in nucleus pulposus tissue was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot.The correlation between the expression level of HtrA1 in nucleus pulposus tissue and Pfirrmann grade was analyzed.Results MRI in all 36 patients showed that there were 3 cases of Pfirrmann grade Ⅰ,10 cases of grade Ⅱ,11 cases of grade Ⅲ,7 cases of grade Ⅲ,and 5 cases of grade Ⅴ.The mRNA and protein expressions of HtrA1 in nucleus pulposus tissue increased with the increase of Pfirrmann grade.There were significant differences in the expression level of HtrA1 among different Pfirrmann grade groups (P<0.05) except for the difference between grade Ⅲ and Ⅴ (P>0.05).Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed that there was a rank correlation between expression level of HtrA1 and Pfirrmann grade (P<0.000 1).Conclusion The mRNA and protein expressions of HtrA1 in nucleus pulposus tissue increase with the increase of Pfirrmann grade,indicating HtrA1 is correlated with the degree of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Advances in Tissue-engineered Oral Mucosa / 中国医学科学院学报

The large defect of oral and maxillofacial region doesn't only affect the function and aesthetics but also has an adverse impact on patients' psychology. The traditional way to restore the defects are limited by donor site and secondary trauma. In recent years,the oral mucosal tissue engineering has developed rapidly and provides a new solution for craniofacial reconstruction. Tissue-engineered oral mucosa is an ideal substitute of oral mucosa. It can be used in clinical settings and in vitro experiments. This articles review the recent advances in tissue-engineered oral mucosa and its applications.

Chemical constituents from herb of Epimedium brevicornum / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the chemical constituents of Epimedium brevicornum.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The chemical constituents were isolated by using silica gel column chromatography and preparative TLC. The structures were identified on the basis of physical-chemical constants and spectral data.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Five compounds were isolated and identified as hyperoside, icariin, epimedin B, epimedin C, inositol.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compound I and III - V were isolated from the plant for the first time.</p>