哺乳动物胚胎干细胞研究进展

胚胎干细胞(embryonic stem cells, ES)是指从桑椹胚或附植前囊胚内细胞团分离的多潜能细胞,它具有体外培养无限增殖、自我更新和多向分化的特性。无论在体外还是体内环境,ES细胞都能被诱导分化为机体几乎所有的细胞类型。自1981年Evans和Kaufman首次成功分离小鼠ES细胞,国内外研究人员已在仓鼠、大鼠、兔、猪、牛、绵羊、山羊、水貂、恒河猴、美洲长尾猴以及人类都分离获得了ES细胞,而且已经证明小鼠ES细胞可以分化为心肌细胞、造血细胞、卵黄囊细胞、骨髓细胞、平滑肌细胞、脂肪细胞、软骨细胞、成骨细胞、内皮细胞、黑素细胞、神经细胞、神经胶质细胞、少突胶质细胞、淋巴细胞、胰岛细胞、滋养层细胞等。人类ES细胞也可以分化为滋养层细胞、神经细胞、神经胶质细胞、造血细胞、心肌细胞等。ES细胞不仅可以作为体外研究细胞分化和发育调控机制的模型,而且还可以作为一种载体,将通过同源重组产生的基因组的定点突变导入个体,更重要的是,ES细胞将会给人类移植医学带来一场革命。     

Endothelial cells stimulate self-renewal and expand neurogenesis of neural stem cells

Neural stem cells are reported to lie in a vascular niche, but there is no direct evidence for a functional relationship between the stem cells and blood vessel component cells. We show that endothelial cells but not vascular smooth muscle cells release soluble factors that stimulate the self-renewal of neural stem cells, inhibit their differentiation, and enhance their neuron production. Both embryonic and adult neural stem cells respond, allowing extensive production of both projection neuron and interneuron types in vitro. Endothelial coculture stimulates neuroepithelial cell contact, activating Notch and Hes 1 to promote self-renewal. These findings identify endothelial cells as a critical component of the neural stem cell niche.     

Stem cell depletion through epidermal deletion of Rac1

Mammalian epidermis is maintained by self-renewal of stem cells, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Deletion of Rac1, a Rho guanosine triphosphatase, in adult mouse epidermis stimulated stem cells to divide and undergo terminal differentiation, leading to failure to maintain the interfollicular epidermis, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands. Rac1 exerts its effects in the epidermis by negatively regulating c-Myc through p21-activated kinase 2 (PAK2) phosphorylation. We conclude that a pleiotropic regulator of cell adhesion and the cytoskeleton plays a critical role in controlling exit from the stem cell niche and propose that Rac and Myc represent a global stem cell regulatory axis.     

Mammalian neural stem cells

Neural stem cells exist not only in the developing mammalian nervous system but also in the adult nervous system of all mammalian organisms, including humans. Neural stem cells can also be derived from more primitive embryonic stem cells. The location of the adult stem cells and the brain regions to which their progeny migrate in order to differentiate remain unresolved, although the number of viable locations is limited in the adult. The mechanisms that regulate endogenous stem cells are poorly understood. Potential uses of stem cells in repair include transplantation to repair missing cells and the activation of endogenous cells to provide "self-repair. " Before the full potential of neural stem cells can be realized, we need to learn what controls their proliferation, as well as the various pathways of differentiation available to their daughter cells.     

Generation and in vitro differentiation of a spermatogonial cell line

Spermatogenesis is the process by which spermatogonial stem cells divide and differentiate to produce sperm. In vitro sperm production has been difficult to achieve because of the lack of a culture system to maintain viable spermatogonia for long periods of time. Here we report the in vitro generation of spermatocytes and spermatids from telomerase-immortalized mouse type A spermatogonial cells in the presence of stem cell factor. This differentiation can occur in the absence of supportive cells. The immortalized spermatogonial cell line may serve as a powerful tool in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of spermatogenesis. Furthermore, through genomic modification and transplantation techniques, this male germ cell line may be used to generate transgenic mice and to develop germ cell gene therapy.     

Embryonic stem cells. Stem cell programs

The availability of human embryonic stem cell lines provides an important tool for scientists to explore the fundamental mechanisms that regulate differentiation into specific cell types. When more is known about the mechanisms that govern these processes, human embryonic stem cells may be clinically useful in generating cell types that have been damaged or depleted by a variety of human diseases. The NIH is actively pursuing a variety of initiatives to promote this developing research field, while continuing and expanding its long-standing investment in adult stem cells and research.     

精原干细胞的体外增殖与分化

最近,由于干细胞研究普遍取得的令人鼓舞的进展以及干细胞分离、培养、移植等新技术方法的出现和发展,出生后雄性个体的生殖系干细胞———精原干细胞(spermatogonialstemcell,SSC)已成为一个愈加引人瞩目的课题。SSC位于睾丸曲细精管基膜上,既具有自增殖(self-renewal)潜能和定向分化潜能,又是自然状态下出生后个体内在整个生命期间能够进行自增殖并能将基因传递至子代的惟一成体干细胞。了解干细胞增殖与分化的调节机制,获得足够数量的种子细胞一直是所有干细胞研究共同面临的迫切问题之一。近年来,借助于SSCs移植技术这一功能性检测方法,国内外学者就SSCs体外培养的条件进行了深入探讨,取得了可喜进展。结合自己的前期工作,参考相关最新进展,就影响哺乳类SSCs体外存活、增殖、分化的因素及未来需要解决的问题进行了评述。     

精原干细胞的体外增殖与分化

最近，由于干细胞研究普遍取得的令人鼓舞的进展以及干细胞分离、培养、移植等新技术方法的出现和发展，出生后雄性个体的生殖系干细胞——精原干细胞(spermatogonial stem cell, SSC)已成为一个愈加引人瞩目的课题。SSC位于睾丸曲细精管基膜上，既具有自增殖(self-renewal)潜能和定向分化潜能，又是自然状态下出生后个体内在整个生命期间能够进行自增殖并能将基因传递至子代的惟一成体干细胞。了解干细胞增殖与分化的调节机制，获得足够数量的种子细胞一直是所有干细胞研究共同面临的迫切问题之一。近年来，借助于SSCs移植技术这一功能性检测方法，国内外学者就SSCs体外培养的条件进行了深入探讨，取得了可喜进展。结合自己的前期工作，参考相关最新进展，就影响哺乳类SSCs体外存活、增殖、分化的因素及未来需要解决的问题进行了评述。     

一种有效分离及在体外扩增成年小鼠精原干细胞的方法

尝试建立一种简便有效的成年小鼠精原干细胞分离培养及扩增的方法。从单只成年小鼠的睾丸中经过两步酶消化法分离精原干细胞,并在去除间质细胞、纯化后的支持细胞饲养层上培养与扩增,获得稳定增殖的精原干细胞系。此方法可显著提高建系成功率,保证细胞系的单一基因型,显著降低体外培养精原干细胞的成本。为成体基因来源的转基因动物的制作和疾病模型的建立提供技术支持。     

Translating stem and progenitor cell biology to the clinic: barriers and opportunities

Stem cells are the natural units of embryonic generation, and also adult regeneration, of a variety of tissues. Recently, the list of tissues that use the model of differentiation from stem to progenitor to mature cell has increased from blood to include a variety of tissues, including both central and peripheral nervous systems and skeletal muscle; it is also possible that all organs and tissues are derived from, and still contain, stem cells. Because the number and activities of stem cells and their progeny are homeostatically regulated, clinical stem cell transplantation could greatly add to the physician's armamentarium against degenerative diseases.     

Retinal stem cells in the adult mammalian eye

The mature mammalian retina is thought to lack regenerative capacity. Here, we report the identification of a stem cell in the adult mouse eye, which represents a possible substrate for retinal regeneration. Single pigmented ciliary margin cells clonally proliferate in vitro to form sphere colonies of cells that can differentiate into retinal-specific cell types, including rod photoreceptors, bipolar neurons, and Müller glia. Adult retinal stem cells are localized to the pigmented ciliary margin and not to the central and peripheral retinal pigmented epithelium, indicating that these cells may be homologous to those found in the eye germinal zone of other nonmammalian vertebrates.     

胚胎干细胞体外定向诱导分化研究进展

胚胎干细胞是由早期内细胞团分离的一种多潜能细胞 ,在体外分化抑制培养时 ,可保持未分化状态而无限增殖。一旦撤除分化抑制因素 ,或添加适当的诱导剂 ,ES细胞可分化为内胚层、中胚层和外胚层的多种类型的特化细胞。文章综述了体外定向诱导 ES细胞分化为造血细胞、心肌细胞、神经细胞、脂肪细胞、胰岛细胞、内皮细胞、上皮细胞、成骨细胞、软骨细胞和黑素细胞等的途径和方法。     

Transforming growth factor-beta signaling in stem cells and cancer

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and TGF-beta-related proteins, such as the bone morphogenetic proteins, have emerged as key regulators of stem cell renewal and differentiation. These proteins have disparate roles in regulating the biology of embryonic stem cells and tumor suppression, and they help define the selection of cell fate and the progression of differentiation along a lineage. Here we illustrate their roles in embryonic stem cells and in the differentiation of neural, hematopoietic, mesenchymal, and gastrointestinal epithelial stem cells.     

Differential control of U1 small nuclear RNA expression during mouse development

During normal mouse development the relative amounts of two types of U1 small nuclear RNA's (U1 RNA) change significantly. Fetal tissues have comparable levels of the two major types of mouse U1 RNA's, mU1a and mU1b, whereas most differentiated adult tissues contain only mU1a RNA's. Those adult tissues that also accumulate detectable amounts of embryonic (mU1b) RNA's (for example, testis, spleen, and thymus) contain a significant proportion of stem cells capable of further differentiation. Several strains of mice express minor sequence variants of U1 RNA's that are subject to the same developmental controls as the major types of adult and embryonic U1 RNA. The differential accumulation of embryonic U1 RNA's may influence the pattern of gene expression during early development and differentiation.     

牛和小鼠胎儿成纤维细胞混合制成的饲养层对牛胚胎干细胞的体外培养

【目的】建立适合的牛胚胎干细胞培养环境,保持其未分化状态,保证细胞的全能性。【方法】分别培养小鼠胎儿成纤维细胞（mouse embryonic fibroblast,MEF）和牛胎儿成纤维细胞（bovine embryonic fibroblast,BEF）,用丝裂霉素C处理两种成纤维细胞分别计数后按1﹕0、1﹕1、2﹕1、1﹕2和0﹕1的比例制成混合饲养层,观察牛胚胎干细胞的生长状态,并对生长在混合饲养层上的牛胚胎干细胞进行碱性磷酸酶,OCT4和SSEA-1免疫组化检测,OCT4、SOX2、NANOG mRNA 表达RT-PCR检测、体外分化形成拟胚体等试验。【结果】①生长在混合饲养层上的牛胚胎干细胞比单独生长在小鼠或牛胎儿成纤维细胞饲养层的结构致密、与滋养层界限明显;②小鼠胎儿成纤维细胞和牛胎儿成纤维细胞在1﹕1比例混合下牛胚胎干细胞克隆结构致密、显著堆积且边缘轮廓清晰优于其它比例组合;③获得的牛胚胎干细胞AKP染色及OCT4、SSEA-1抗原表达均成阳性,分别在体外分化培养形成了拟胚体。【结论】小鼠和牛胎儿成纤维细胞在以1﹕1的比例混合下制成的饲养层可更好地支持牛胚胎干细胞的体外培养,获得的克隆形态最好。     

小鼠胚胎中脑神经干细胞分离、培养及分化

目的:探讨小鼠胚胎中脑分离神经干细胞的体外培养方法,以获取高纯度的神经干细胞,为神经干细胞的深入研究提供试验材料。方法:无菌条件下分离孕12~13 d小鼠胚胎中脑曲,制成单细胞悬液,碱性成纤维生长因子(bFGF)和B27存在的培养基中培养扩增,通过免疫细胞化学染色鉴定神经干细胞及子代细胞的分化方向,流式细胞术检测TH阳性神经元比例。结果:培养的部分细胞体外分裂增殖,同时表达神经干细胞特异性抗原nestin,并向神经细胞和胶质细胞分化并经流式细胞仪检测自然分化为多巴胺能神经元的比例为3.25%。结论:小鼠胚脑中脑存在具有多分化潜能的神经干细胞,它们能在体外稳定培养、传代和分化。     

人类胚胎干细胞研究述评

对人类胚胎干细胞(hESCs)的来源、培养方法、建系条件、生物学特性和鉴定方法、遗传操作及其需解决的问题进行了讨论。提出目前研究的重点在于揭示维持ES细胞多能性和自我更新的机理,进一步优化人类和其他哺乳动物类ES细胞的分离、培养、建系方法,探讨其定向分化机理,建立胚胎干细胞(ESCs)和胚胎生殖细胞(EGCs)的大规模快速扩增技术;完善hESCs向重要功能细胞(生殖细胞)分化的体系;单细胞比对分析ESCs、畸胎瘤细胞(ECSs)、EGCs、类胚体(EBs)、各级生殖细胞和成体细胞的基因及蛋白表达图谱,以探求生殖细胞、成体细胞、ESCs、ECSs、EGCs的本质区别,积极开展将ES细胞用于治疗人类疾病模型的研究。     

A stem cell molecular signature

Mechanisms regulating self-renewal and cell fate decisions in mammalian stem cells are poorly understood. We determined global gene expression profiles for mouse and human hematopoietic stem cells and other stages of the hematopoietic hierarchy. Murine and human hematopoietic stem cells share a number of expressed gene products, which define key conserved regulatory pathways in this developmental system. Moreover, in the mouse, a portion of the genetic program of hematopoietic stem cells is shared with embryonic and neural stem cells. This overlapping set of gene products represents a molecular signature of stem cells.