Proliferation, Differentiation and Immunoregulatory Capacities of Brown and White Adipose-Derived Stem Cells from Young and Aged Mice.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Adipose tissue is a source of mesenchymal stem cells, which have the potential to differentiate into various types of cells. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are now recognized as an accessible, abundant, and reliable stem cells suitable for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. However, few literatures gave a comprehensive report on the capacities of ADSCs harvested from different sites. Especially, the capacities of ADSCs from aged mice remained unclear. In this study, we investigated several main capacities of brown adipose derived stem cells (B-ADSCs) and white adipose derived stem cells (W-ADSCs) from both young and aged mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: When isolated from young mice, B-ADSCs showed a stronger proliferation rate and higher osteogenic, adipogenic and myocardial differentiation ability than W-ADSCs. Carboxy fluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) labeling test suggested no significant difference in immunosuppression capacity between B-ADSCs and W-ADSCs. Similarly, no difference between these two were found in several immune related molecules, such as programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), intercellular cell adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 10 (IL10), and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (socs1). When isolated from aged mice, B-ADSCs also showed a stronger proliferation rate and higher osteogenic, adipogenic and myocardial differentiation ability than W-ADSCs; however, it demonstrated an attenuated immunosuppression capacity compared to W-ADSCs. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our data showed that ADSCs' characteristics were tissue source dependent and changed with age. It provided evidence for choosing the right tissue-specific ADSCs for clinical application and fundamental research.

[Postoperative management of patients with sellar tumors through monitoring urine volume and urine electrolytes].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of urine volume and urine electrolytes in postoperative management of patients with sellar tumors. METHODS: Medical records of 103 patients with sellar tumors in the West China Hospital from January 2009 to December 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were managed either based on blood electrolytes (Group A, n = 56) or based on urine volume and urine electrolytes (Group B, n = 47). The incidence of balance disturbance of water and electrolytes was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The levels of blood electrolytes were normal in both groups 3 days after operations despite significant loss of electrolytes through urine. Balance disturbance of water and electrolytes was revealed 4-7 days after operations. Group B had a lower incidence of balance disturbance of water and electrolytes (17.02%, 8/47) compared with Group A (73.21%, 41/56, P < 0.05). No gender difference in the incidence of balance disturbance of water and electrolytes was found. Higher incidence of balance disturbance of water and electrolytes was found in craniopharyngioma (P < 0.05, vs. pituitary adenoma) and in the patients undergoing craniotomy (P < 0.05, vs. transsphenoidal approach) in Group A, but not in Group B. CONCLUSION: Better management of balance disturbance of water and electrolytes can be achieved for patients with sellar tumors through monitoring urine than through blood. It can also simplify the postoperative management of patients with sellar tumors.

[Isolation and preliminary identification of stem-like cells in pituitary adenoma].

OBJECTIVE: To isolate and identify the pituitary adenoma stem-like cells from pituitary adenoma tissue. METHODS: Total RNA was prepared with 42 cases of pituitary adenoma tissue samples frozen in liquid nitrogen, the expression of Nestin was detected by RT-PCR. Tumor spheres were cultured in serum-free conditions and the immunefluorescence were used to detect the expression of stem cell markers such as Nestin, Sox2. RESULTS: The positive rate of Nestin mRNA expression was 88.1% (37/42). The cultured tumor spheres were found positive for Nestin, Sox2 by immunefluorescence detection. CONCLUSION: Stem cell markers are expressed in the pituitary adenoma tissue and the pituitary adenoma stem-like cells can be cultured in serum-free condition.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion gene polymorphism and risk of intracranial aneurysm in a Chinese population.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) gene polymorphisms and intracranial aneurysm (IA) has been studied in Caucasian and Japanese populations. The present study aimed to investigate this association in a Chinese population. METHODS: Patients with confirmed IA and age- and sex-matched control subjects without evidence of IA were enrolled. ACE I/D gene polymorphisms were analysed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: A total of 220 patients with IA and 220 matched controls were enrolled. In the IA group, 64, 106 and 50 patients were of the II, ID and DD genotypes, respectively, compared with 44, 99 and 77 subjects in the control group. The ACE DD genotype and D allele frequencies were significantly lower in the IA group compared with the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in the site, shape, size and Fisher Grade of aneurysms between genotypes in patients with IA. CONCLUSION: The ACE DD genotype may be a protective factor for IA in a Chinese population.

[Repair and reconstruction of diaphragmatic defect during transcranial pituitary adenoma surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the application value of titanium-clip and artificial menigeal in the sella diaphragm repair and reconstruction during transcranial pituitary adenoma surgery. METHODS: Thirty eight patients undergoing transcranial pituitary adenoma surgery received sella diaphragmatic defect repair and reconstruction after the removal of tumor, intraoperative diaphragmatic defect was classified as three grades, titanium-clip, artificial menigeal and EC glue were used for the sella diaphragmatic repair and reconstruction. The short-term and long-term complications were compared with those in the control group which contains 74 patients without diaphragmatic reconstruction. RESULTS: As 14 to 46 months' follow-up in the diaphragmatic reconstruction group, there were no leakage of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF), infections, empty sella syndrome (ESS), optic nerve damage, and any other severe complications was found. Only one inter-sella hemorrhage without optic nerve damage was found 3 hours after surgery by CT scan. In the group without diaphragmatic reconstruction, more secondary empty sella, cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and intra-cranial infection were found after the following transsphenoidal surgery (P < 0.05), there was one case underwent the 2nd time transcranial surgery 1 hours later due to severe inter-sella hemorrhage resulting in vision damage and conscious disturbance. There was no significant difference in pituitary function and vision improvement between the two groups as the occurrence of diabetes insipidus (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: It is important to repair the sellae diaphragm defect during transcranial pituitary adenoma surgery, which could reduce short-term and long-term complication.