Effect of endothelial progenitor cells derived from human umbilical cord blood on oxygen-induced retinopathy in mice by intravitreal transplantation.

AIM: To investigate the effect of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) labeled by carboxy fluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) on murine oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) by intravitreal transplantation. METHODS: After isolated from human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells, EPCs were cultivated and then labeled with CFSE in vitro. C57BL/6J mice were placed to 75% hyperoxia chamber from P7 to P12 to establish OIR model. At P12, OIR mice were intravitreally injected with 1 µL suspension contained 2×105 EPCs (EPCs group) or isometric phosphate buffered saline (PBS group). The contralateral eye of each mice received no injection (OIR group). Evans blue angiography and frozen section were examined to track the labeled cells in OIR group at P15 and P19. Using retina paraffin sections and adenosinediphos phatase staining at P12 and P19, the effect of EPCs on OIR mice was evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively. RESULTS: The retinas from EPCs group with less non-perfusion area and fewer peripheral tufts were observed at P19, comparing with that from PBS or OIR group. The retinopathy in EPCs group receded earlier with less non-ganglion cells and neovascular nuclei, together with relatively regular distribution. The counts of the neovascular nuclei at P19 were reduced by 44% or 45%, compared with those of OIR group or PBS group respectively. Three days after EPCs injection, a large number of EPCs appeared in the vitreous cavity and adhered to the retinal surface. While at one week, the cells gathered between the internal plexiform layer and the inner limiting membrane, and some EPCs appeared in retinal vessels. CONCLUSION: EPCs transplantation can participate in the reparative procedure of the neovascularization in OIR.

Extraction optimization and biological properties of a polysaccharide isolated from Gleoestereum incarnatum.

Extraction was optimized of polysaccharides from Gleoestereum incarnatum (GIP). The three parameters, extraction temperature, extraction time and the ratio of water to raw material, were optimized using the Box-Behnken design. As a result, the optimal extraction conditions were: extraction temperature 87.5 °C, extraction time 1 h and the ratio of water to raw material of 39.7 mL/g, where the highest yield of polysaccharide (13.18%) was obtained. GIP-II was the main fraction purified form GIP. GIP-II was composed of galactose, glucose, xylose, and mannose, with glucose was the predominant monosaccharide. GIP-II exhibited strong scavenging activities against DPPH and hydroxyl radials in vitro, as well as a strong inhibitory effect on the growth of HepG2 cells. The overall findings indicated that GIP-II is worthy of further exploration for its potential applications in antitumor drugs or health foods.

Biological decolorization of malachite green by Deinococcus radiodurans R1.

Cultures of Deinococcus radiodurans R1 were observed to decolorize malachite green (MG) dye. The effects of various factors on decolorization efficiency were investigated. The optimal decolorization temperature and pH ranges were 25-50°C and 6.0-8.0, respectively. With increasing initial MG concentration, the decolorization efficiency decreased, and the kinetic parameters, R(MG,max) and K(m) were 416.7 mg-MG/g-cell/h and 1033.7 mg/L, respectively. The D. radiodurans R1 cells were capable of tolerating and rapidly degrading high concentrations of the dye. When MG concentration was 200 mg/L, decolorization efficiency was up to 97.2% within 30 min. The intermediate products of MG biodegradation were 4-(dimethylamino)phenol and 4-(dimethylamino)benzophenone, as identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. Toxicity tests indicated that D. radiodurans R1 did not detoxify an MG solution completely, but clearly reduced its toxicity. This study demonstrated that this strain was an efficient degrader compared to other microorganisms.