Little evidence for developmental plasticity of adult hematopoietic stem cells

To rigorously test the in vivo cell fate specificity of bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), we generated chimeric animals by transplantation of a single green fluorescent protein (GFP)-marked HSC into lethally irradiated nontransgenic recipients. Single HSCs robustly reconstituted peripheral blood leukocytes in these animals, but did not contribute appreciably to nonhematopoietic tissues, including brain, kidney, gut, liver, and muscle. Similarly, in GFP+:GFP- parabiotic mice, we found substantial chimerism of hematopoietic but not nonhematopoietic cells. These data indicate that "transdifferentiation" of circulating HSCs and/or their progeny is an extremely rare event, if it occurs at all.     

Reversal of diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice without spleen cell-derived beta cell regeneration

Autoimmune destruction of beta cells is the predominant cause of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in humans and is modeled in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Many therapeutic interventions prevent the development of T1DM in NOD mice, but few can induce its reversal once established. Intervention with Freund's complete adjuvant, semi-allogeneic splenocytes, and temporary islet transplantation has been reported to cure NOD mice of established T1DM. Using the same approach, we report here that this treatment cured 32% of NOD mice of established diabetes (>340 milligrams per deciliter blood glucose), although beta cells in these mice were not derived from donor splenocytes.     

Donor-derived cells in the central nervous system of twitcher mice after bone marrow transplantation

The twitcher mouse is an animal model of galactosylceramidase deficiency, comparable to Krabbe's disease, a lysosomal storage disease in humans. As in most lysosomal storage diseases, neurological deterioration is a prominent feature of the disease in these mice. Transplantation of enzymatically normal congenic bone marrow was earlier found to result in prolonged survival and increased levels of galactosylceramidase in the visceral organs of twitcher mice. It is now reported that bone marrow transplantation results in increased galactosylceramidase levels in the central nervous system (CNS). Concomitantly, the levels of psychosine, a highly toxic lipid that progressively accumulates in the CNS of untreated twitcher mice, stabilized at much lower levels in the CNS of treated twitcher mice. Histologically, a gradual disappearance of globoid cells, the histological hallmark of Krabbe's disease, and the appearance of foamy macrophages capable of metabolizing the storage product were seen in the CNS. By immunohistochemical labeling it was demonstrated that these foamy macrophages were of donor origin. The infiltration of enzymatically competent, donor-derived macrophages was accompanied by extensive remyelination in the CNS. It is concluded that after bone marrow transplantation, donor-derived macrophages infiltrate the affected brain tissue and are capable of inducing a partial reversal of the enzyme deficiency.     

Transplantation of the cockroach circadian pacemaker

Surgical removal of the optic lobes of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae followed by transplantation of the optic lobes from another individual led to a restoration of the circadian activity rhythm in 4 to 8 weeks. The free-running period of the restored rhythm was determined by the period of the donor rhythm before surgery. The results suggest that the transplanted optic lobe contains a circadian clock that regenerates those neural connections with the host brain that are necessary to drive the circadian rhythm of activity.     

Drug-induced tolerance for skin allografts across the H-2 barrier in adult mice

Mice treated with methylhydrazine derivatives for 3 to 4 weeks before the transplantation showed markedly prolonged survival times for allogeneic skin grafts differing at the H-2 histocompatibility locus. Presumably permanent tolerance was induced in about 20 to 30 percent of the mice when the drug treatment was combined with a single injection of additional donor antigen. The tolerance persists without further drug treatment and is specific for donor tissue.     

Regulation of hepatic stellate cell differentiation by the neurotrophin receptor p75NTR

Differentiation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to extracellular matrix- and growth factor-producing cells supports liver regeneration through promotion of hepatocyte proliferation. We show that the neurotrophin receptor p75NTR, a tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member expressed in HSCs after fibrotic and cirrhotic liver injury in humans, is a regulator of liver repair. In mice, depletion of p75NTR exacerbated liver pathology and inhibited hepatocyte proliferation in vivo. p75NTR-/- HSCs failed to differentiate to myofibroblasts and did not support hepatocyte proliferation. Moreover, inhibition of p75NTR signaling to the small guanosine triphosphatase Rho resulted in impaired HSC differentiation. Our results identify signaling from p75NTR to Rho as a mechanism for the regulation of HSC differentiation to regeneration-promoting cells that support hepatocyte proliferation in the diseased liver.     

The influence of allogeneic cells on the human T and B cell repertoire

Clinical transplantation is often complicated by rejection episodes, in which the immune system of the recipient reacts to the foreign transplantation (HLA) antigens on the graft. This immune response includes humoral and cellular components. In the first, B lymphocytes form antibodies to the HLA alloantigens. In the second, CD8+ T lymphocytes recognize and react to HLA class I antigens, and CD4+ T cells react to HLA class II antigens. The frequency and severity of these rejection episodes can be diminished by immunosuppressive drugs, HLA matching between donor and recipient, and immune modulation by blood transfusion. Effective HLA matching between donor and recipient is not always possible and often not necessary. Insight into the factors that influence the T and B cell repertoire after blood transfusion might lead to new approaches to improve graft survival.     

Patient-specific embryonic stem cells derived from human SCNT blastocysts

Patient-specific, immune-matched human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are anticipated to be of great biomedical importance for studies of disease and development and to advance clinical deliberations regarding stem cell transplantation. Eleven hESC lines were established by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) of skin cells from patients with disease or injury into donated oocytes. These lines, nuclear transfer (NT)-hESCs, grown on human feeders from the same NT donor or from genetically unrelated individuals, were established at high rates, regardless of NT donor sex or age. NT-hESCs were pluripotent, chromosomally normal, and matched the NT patient's DNA. The major histocompatibility complex identity of each NT-hESC when compared to the patient's own showed immunological compatibility, which is important for eventual transplantation. With the generation of these NT-hESCs, evaluations of genetic and epigenetic stability can be made. Additional work remains to be done regarding the development of reliable directed differentiation and the elimination of remaining animal components. Before clinical use of these cells can occur, preclinical evidence is required to prove that transplantation of differentiated NT-hESCs can be safe, effective, and tolerated.     

Prion-induced amyloid heart disease with high blood infectivity in transgenic mice

We investigated extraneural manifestations in scrapie-infected transgenic mice expressing prion protein lacking the glycophosphatydylinositol membrane anchor. In the brain, blood, and heart, both abnormal protease-resistant prion protein (PrPres) and prion infectivity were readily detected by immunoblot and by inoculation into nontransgenic recipients. The titer of infectious scrapie in blood plasma exceeded 10(7) 50% infectious doses per milliliter. The hearts of these transgenic mice contained PrPres-positive amyloid deposits that led to myocardial stiffness and cardiac disease.     

A bioartificial liver--state of the art

End-stage liver disease is treated by liver transplantation, but donor organ shortages remain a serious problem. This has prompted the design of bioartificial liver devices to "bridge" patients until they either recover or receive a liver transplant. In these devices, patient plasma is circulated extracorporeally through a bioreactor that houses liver cells (hepatocytes) sandwiched between artificial plates or capillaries.     

In Vitro Developmental Potential of Cloned Embryos Derived from Bovine Somatic Cells and Rabbits Oocyte

180 reconstituted embryos were produced by nuclear transplantation using bovine ear fibroblasts at G0 or non-G0 stage as donor nuclei and oocytes collected from superovulated multiparous or young rabbits as recipients. After cultivation in two kinds of medium M199+ 10%FBS or RD+ 10%FBS, 112 of them developed to 2-cell stage (62.2%) and 26 to morula stage (14.4%) and 20 of them eventually developed to blastocyst stage (11. 1% ). There is no significant difference for the cleavage rates in two groups of reconstituted embryos derived from G0-stage and non-G0 stage donor cells respectively. However, G0-stage donor cells could result in higher rate of 8-cell - 16-cell stage embryos significantly (P＜0.05), as well as higher rate of blastocysts (P＜0.01). It seems that using two different culture systems had no significant effects on the cleavage rate, morula rate or blastocyst rate (P＞0.05).     

转敲低MSTN基因绵羊重构胚的移植及鉴定

为培育肌肉丰满绵羊品系,以前期试验中获得的干涉MSTN基因的转基因细胞株为核供体,进行核移植,将获得的重构胚进行体外培养和胚胎移植。结果表明:所获得的重构胚与绵羊成纤维细胞为核供体时的重构胚分裂比率(分别为44.6%和24.1%)及其发育至桑椹胚比率(分别为15.6%和33.0%)相比,差异无统计学意义;将重构胚移植23只受体后,获得1只流产胎儿,对其进行PCR鉴定,结果显示MSTN基因干涉序列已整合入流产胎儿的基因组中。     

Histocompatible embryonic stem cells by parthenogenesis

Genetically matched pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells generated via nuclear transfer or parthenogenesis (pES cells) are a potential source of histocompatible cells and tissues for transplantation. After parthenogenetic activation of murine oocytes and interruption of meiosis I or II, we isolated and genotyped pES cells and characterized those that carried the full complement of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens of the oocyte donor. Differentiated tissues from these pES cells engrafted in immunocompetent MHC-matched mouse recipients, demonstrating that selected pES cells can serve as a source of histocompatible tissues for transplantation.     

Innate lymphoid cells promote anatomical containment of lymphoid-resident commensal bacteria

The mammalian intestinal tract is colonized by trillions of beneficial commensal bacteria that are anatomically restricted to specific niches. However, the mechanisms that regulate anatomical containment remain unclear. Here, we show that interleukin-22 (IL-22)-producing innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are present in intestinal tissues of healthy mammals. Depletion of ILCs resulted in peripheral dissemination of commensal bacteria and systemic inflammation, which was prevented by administration of IL-22. Disseminating bacteria were identified as Alcaligenes species originating from host lymphoid tissues. Alcaligenes was sufficient to promote systemic inflammation after ILC depletion in mice, and Alcaligenes-specific systemic immune responses were associated with Crohn's disease and progressive hepatitis C virus infection in patients. Collectively, these data indicate that ILCs regulate selective containment of lymphoid-resident bacteria to prevent systemic inflammation associated with chronic diseases.     

Orthotopic transplantation of donor ovary as an alternative method of artificial reproduction of fowl

It was shown that orthotopic transplantation of a donor ovary between chicks of different breeds, performed without using any techniques to overcome the histoincompatibility barriers, allows us to produce recipient hens that are fertile on account of the graft’s functions, but the rate of producing such fowl is low and varies from 0 to 20%, depending on the combinations of breeds and grafting version.     

利用体细胞核移植技术生产表达红色荧光蛋白的猪转基因克隆胚胎（摘要）

[目的]为生产转基因克隆猪奠定基础。[方法]以反转录病毒转染的带有红色荧光蛋白（RFP）基因的猪胎儿成纤维细胞作为核移植的核供体,利用体细胞克隆技术研究红色荧光蛋白克隆胚胎体外发育情况。[结果]RFP转基因细胞的融合率为83.87%,与未转基因细胸（80.56%）相比无显差异著（P〉0.05）;RFP转基因体细胞重构胚体外囊胚率为8.67%,与未转基因细胞组（6.56%）相比无显差异著（P〉0.05）;RFP转基因体细胞重构胚移植于15头受体后,尚无受孕个体。[结论]利用转红色荧光蛋白基因的细胞为供体细胞,并成功地克隆出转基因胚胎。     

Male and female Drosophila germline stem cells: two versions of immortality

Drosophila male and female germline stem cells (GSCs) are sustained by niches and regulatory pathways whose common principles serve as models for understanding mammalian stem cells. Despite striking cellular and genetic similarities that suggest a common evolutionary origin, however, male and female GSCs also display important differences. Comparing these two stem cells and their niches in detail is likely to reveal how a common heritage has been adapted to the differing requirements of male and female gamete production.     

提高兔核移植胚胎体外发育率的研究

 本研究首先比较了不同培养液维持兔胚体外发育的作用，以及多种卵母细胞去核显微操作的去核效率，建立了高效的体外培养体系及去核方法。然后对16-细胞期卵裂球的细胞周期及核移植（Nuclear transplantation,NT）胚的核质比对发育的影响进行了试验，结果表明：G#-1期NT胚的发育率优于G#-2期NT胚（P<0.01）。当G#-1期NT胚的核质比等于卵母细胞时，78.5%(73/93)可在兔眼球玻璃体液(Rabbit vitreous humor,RVH)中发育至囊胚期。这是迄今为止，在动物胚细胞核移植试验中所获得的最高发育率。