Osteogenic differentiation of human amniotic epithelial cells and its application in alveolar defect restoration.

The present study investigated the detailed in vitro osteogenic differentiation process and in vivo bone regenerative property of human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs). The in vitro osteogenic differentiation process of hAECs was evaluated by biochemical staining, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescence. Next, ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) scaffolds alone or loaded with hAECs were implanted into the alveolar defects of rats. Micro-computed tomography evaluation and histologic studies were conducted. Our results validated the in vitro osteogenic capacity of hAECs by upregulation of Runx2, osterix, alkaline phosphatase, collagen I, and osteopontin, with positive biochemical staining for osteoblasts. An epithelial-mesenchymal transformation process might be involved in the osteogenic differentiation of hAECs by increased expression of transforming growth factor-ß1. Our data also demonstrated that in vivo implantation of hAECs loaded on ß-TCP scaffolds, not only improved bone regeneration by direct participation, but also reduced the early host immune response to the scaffolds. The presented data indicate that hAECs possess proper osteogenic differentiation potential and a modulatory influence on the early tissue remodeling process, making these cells a potential source of progenitor cells for clinical restoration of the alveolar defect.

Long-term culture and differentiation of skin-derived mesenchymal stem cells / 生物医学工程学杂志

The aim of this study was to investigate the culture conditions of skin-derived mesenchymal stem cell (sMSCs) and to explore a new cell source for central nervous system cell transplantation. The cells from skins of mice were primarily isolated and cultured in serum-free medium, and they were transferred into serum-containing medium after passaged 2, and the passaged cells were identified by immunocytochemistry and induced to differentiate into multiple lineages. The results indicated that a population of sMSCs could be isolated from skins, they could be maintained in vitro for extended periods with stable population doubling, and they were expanded as undifferentiated cells in culture for more than 10 passages, indicating their proliferative capacity. About 60% of sMSCs expressed vimentin and the majorities of these cells expressed fibronectin. They could differentiate into adipocytes, osteogenic cells and fibroblast-like cells, they could differentiate into neurons with a simple protocol, and almost 50-60% of these cells expressed neuron specific enolase (NSE) and neurofilament (NF); and the differentiated neurons showed typical complicated morphology of neurons. In conclusion, skin contains stem cells that are capable of multiple differentiation; they could be cultured in vitro for long time and could maintain their characteristics of stem cells, and they may represent an alternative autologous stem cell source for CNS cell transplantation.

Long-term culture and differentiation of neural stem cells of embryonic mice / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To assess the culture and differentiation of neural stem cells in embryonic mice and set up a basis for further research in to neural stem cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Embryonic cortices of mice were dissociated and single cell suspensions were achieved by mechanical methods in sterile conditions, and cells were seeded in uncoated plate in N2 medium. The cells were passaged by mechanical methods, frozen and thawed by general procedure. They were identified by immunocytochemical techniques.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Neural stem cells from embryonic mice were successfully cultured forming typical neurospheres in suspension. Neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes were differentiated from neural stem cells, with a ratio of 7%, 85% - 90% and 2% - 4% respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Neural stem cells, which can be cultured and passaged steadily in vitro and they are the ideal cell sources for cell transplantation and gene therapy.</p>

Inhibitory Efficiency on Growth in vivo of B16 Melanoma Cell Expressing Angiostatin / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

Objective: Study on the growth character of B16 melanoma cell which can express angiostatin. Methods: Angiostatin gene was constructed from human plasminogen cDNA by deletion mutation. A B16 melanoma cell clone named BAG28 which stably expresses angiostatin was established by introducing gene into it. Results: BAG28 in vitro had no changes in proliferation rate and the ability of clone formation in soft agar. Study in vitro showed that the tumor weight had reduced about 87% ( P

Luteolin protected cultured cortical neurons from oxidative stress-induced damage / 中国药理学通报

Aim To examine the effect of Luteolin on H2O2 induced damage in cultured cortical neurons.Methods Cortical neurons were exposed to 200 ?mol?L-1 H2O2 for 12 hours and the cell toxicity of H2O2 was evaluated by LDH release.MTT assay was used to elucidate the mitochondrial activity.Mitochondrial transmembrane potential, intracellular reactive oxygen species, catalase activity and glutathione were measured by spectrofluorophotometer.Results 200 ?mol?L-1 H2O2 induced great damage to mitochondria and caused death in primary cultured cortical neurons.20 ?mol?L-1 Luteolin effectively protected neurons from oxidative damage, maintained the mitochondrial activity as well as transmemnbrane potential, decreased the ROS accumulation and kept the activity of the antioxidant system. What is more, increasing the GSH level by Luteolin pretreatment might improve the antioxidant ability of neurons.Conclusions Luteolin protects cortical neurons from H2O2 toxicity by inhibiting the damage to the mitochondria and improving the antioxidant ability of neurons.