Effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on engraftment of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in sensitized mice

AIM: To evaluate the effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on engraftment of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in sensitized mice. METHODS: Mouse bone marrow-derived MSCs were cultured by adherent culture method. MSCs combined with or without hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells were implanted into the sensitized mouse model, which was established by allogeneic splenocyte transfusion, and were divided into 6 groups: MSC intervention groups, including sensitized mice with MSCs on day 11, sensitized mice with MSCs on day 0 and sensitized-mice with MSCs both on day 11 and day 0; control groups, including sensitized mice without MSC intervention, non-sensitized mice without MSC intervention and non-sensitized mice without MSCs or transplantation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. The survivors were assessed after transplantation and hematopoietic recovery was monitored weekly including hematological change, immune function reconstruction, bone marrow cell recovery, chimera analysis and graft-versus-host disease development. RESULTS: Compared with different control groups, MSC intervention did not prolong the survival rates of the sensitized model mice after lethal irradiation. CONCLUSION: Under the experimental conditions, MSC combined with C57BL/6 bone marrow hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells fail to promote the growth of engraftment in C57BL/6 allogeneic splenocyte-sensitized BALB/c mice in vivo.     

Supportive effects of human aorta-gonad-mesonephero stromal cells on the directed differentiation of embryonic stem cells into hematopoietic stem cells

AIM: To direct embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in vitro by simulating the hematogenic microenvironment in human early embryonic aorta-gonad-mesonephero (AGM) region.METHODS: Murine E14 embronic stem cell line was used for two-step differentiation.In the first step of primary differentiation,E14 ESCs were seeded into semisolid methylcellulose-based medium containing bone morphogenesis protein 4 (BMP4) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for embryoid body (EB) formation.On days 3,6,9,12 and 15,single EB cells were analyzed for Flk-1+ cells amount through flow cytometry.In the second step,single cell from EB containing most Flk-1+ cells was further co-cultured with human AGM stromal cells in non-contact system.On co-culture days of 3,6,9 and 12 days,cells were collected for cell count,flow cytometry for Sca-1+c-kit+ cells analysis,and colony forming cell assay.RESULTS: During the EB formation,BMP4+VEGF promoted Flk-1+ cell genesis on day 9 at peak pencentage value of 27.53%±2.84％,which was statistically higher than that in control group as 8.77±1.10 (P<0.05).Collagenase-disassociated single cell from day 9 EB was co-cultured with human AGM stromal cells of hAGMS3 or hAGMS4 for further hematopoietic differentiation.On day 6 Sca-1+c-kit+ cells got to peak value as 7.31%±1.21％ ［(2.57±0.48) folds］ and 7.62%±1.52％ ［(2.35±0.36) folds］ in hAGMS3 and hAGMS4 feeder systems,respectively,both of which were greater than those values of no-stroma groups at the same culture duration (P<0.05).Colonogenic cell assay showed that these Sca-1+c-kit+ cells had ability of forming multiple lineage hematopoietic colonies.CONCLUSION: BMP4 in combination with VEGF promotes Flk-1+ cell genesis during EB formation in vitro.Stromal cells from early human embryonic AGM region further enhance the directed differentiation of these primitive cells into HSCs.This two-step induction differentiation model can be used for molecular mechanism study of ESCs hematopoietic differentiation.     

Effects of cotransplantation of umbilical cord blood and mesenchymal stem cells by intra-bone marrow injection on hematopoietic reconstitution in a rat model

AIM: To investigate the effects of cotransplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and umbilical cord blood (UCB) by intra-bone marrow (IBM) injection on the hematopoietic reconstitution and recovery of bone marrow MSCs in the recipients. METHODS: Wistar female rats were transplanted with fetal and neonatal peripheral blood (FNPB) and BrdU-labeled MSCs separated from BMNCs of F344 rats. The MSCs were infused by IBM injection in bilateral tibiae or intravenous injection (IV), while the FNPB was all via IBM route. The survival rate, reconstitution of hematopoietic and immunological function, engraftment level of HSCs and recovery of bone marrow (BM)-MSCs in recipients were monitored. The origins of BM-MSCs of recipients were examined by immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS: (1)The survival rate in the two cotransplantation groups was 100% at day 60, while that in FNPB group was only 66.7%. (2)The counts of peripheral blood cells and BM hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell colonies of the recipients were better in cotransplantation groups than those in FNPB group, especially in the FNPB (IBM)+MSC (IBM) group. (3)No significant difference between of engraftment level of HSCs in the two cotransplantation groups was observed. The percentage of RT1A1 cells subset in FNPB (IBM)+MSC (IBM) group was much higher than that in FNPB group (P<0.05). (4)At day 30, the growth characteristic of recipient BM-MSCs was still below normal, but that in FNPB (IBM)+MSC (IBM) group was the best of all the experiment groups (P<0.05). (5)The donor MSCs coexisted with host MSCs in only a few recipient rats. CONCLUSION: The cotransplantation of MSCs and FNPB can accelerate the recovery of recipient BM-MSCs and hematopoietic reconstitution, promote the engraftment level of HSCs. Cotransplantation by IBM route is safe and has better effects on hematopoietic reconstitution than by IV route.     

Treatment of acute tubular necrosis by autologous bone marrow stem cells transplantation through renal artery in the rabbits

AIM: To observe the effects and location of autologous bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) transplanted through renal artery into ischemic-reperfusion (I/R) injured kidney.METHODS: BMSCs were collected from rabbits after isolated and then labeled with 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU). Twenty-eight rabbits were subjected to clamping renal pedicles for 105 min and divided into the transplantation group and control group randomly. BrdU labeled BMSCs or saline were injected into the kidney by renal artery, respectively. Before and after I/R at the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 14th, 21th and 28th d, the venous blood was collected to measure serum Cr and BUN. In the same time, renal tissue was collected for pathological and immunohistochemical study.RESULTS: After I/R, serum Cr and BUN levels in the rabbits in two groups became higher, and on the 1st and 3rd d after I/R, reached the highest level. On the 7th d the serum Cr and BUN levels in transplantation group were lower than those in control group. On the 28th d the levels of serum Cr (90.1±11.1) μmol/L and BUN (8.0±1.5) mmol/L in transplantation group were significantly lower than those in control group (135.6±32.5) μmol/L and (10.9±2.5) mmol/L, respectively (P<0.05). Pathological observation of renal tissue showed the degeneration, necrosis and abscission in renal tubular epithelial cells. The BrdU positive staining by immunohistochemical study was found in renal tubular in transplantation group on the 5th and 7th d after I/R, and maintained to the end of experiment, but no detection in control group.CONCLUSION: BMSCs transplantation through renal artery accelerates the repairment of renal functions after acute tubular necrosis by ischemic-reperfusion. Autologous BMSCs transplantation is a safe and valid method to accelerate the repairment after acute tubular necrosis.     

Supportive and expansive effects of aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM)-derived stromal cells on hematopoietic stem in vitro

AIM: To explore the supportive and expansive effects of aorta-gonad-mesonephros(AGM) region derived stromal cells on hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in vitro.METHODS: The murine stromal cells were separated and cultured from AGM region of a 11 day postcoitum (dpc) mouse embryo and 6 week mouse. After identification by Wrights staining and flow cytometry, the stromal cells were co-cultured with the embryonic stem cell(ESC)-derived, cytokine-induced HSCs, and the maintenance and expansion of HSCs were evaluated by detecting CD34+，CD34+Sca-1+cells with flow cytometry.Blast colony-forming cell (BL-CFC) and high proliferative potential colony-forming cells(HPP-CFC) were determined by semi-solid medium clonal culture.RESULTS: AGM-derived and bone marrow(BM)-derived stromal cells were similar in morphology and phenotype, and had common character of stromal cells. Supported by AGM stromal cells or by BM stromal cells, more primitive progenitor cells HPP-CFC were expanded, but BL-CFC expansion was only detected in AGM-derived stromal cells. In the supporting of BM stromal cells CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells were expanded 3-4 times, but no significant expansion in CD34+Sca-1+ cells was observed. While in the supporting of AGM stromal cells, both CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and CD34+Sca-1+ cells were expanded significantly from 4 to 5 times, respectively (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: AGM-derived stromal cells significantly support the expansion of HSC, and also maintain the self-renewal activity and multi-lineage differentiation of HSC in vitro.     

Distribution of mesenchymal stem cells in mdx mice after transplantation

AIM: To investigate the distribution of mesenchymal stem cells in mdx mice after transplantation. METHODS: P5 mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) of SD rats labeled with ［3H］－TdR were injected intravenously into the mdx mice preconditioned with 7 Gy γ ray. The mice were killed at 24 h, 48 h, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months after transplantation of MSCs. Blood, lung, liver, bone marrow, heart, and skeletal muscle were collected, then the irradiated quantity was detected to calculate tissue specific localization account using scintillascope. RESULTS: Specific localization account in lung was the highest at 24 h. At 48 h liver was the highest. After transplantation the account of bone marrow increased and at 2 weeks reached the highest, then decreased as time going but was still higher than that of other organs. The account of skeletal muscle and heart also increased. CONCLUSION: At early time after transplantation, the MSCs labeled by ［3H］－TdR mainly distribute in lung and liver, then homing to bone marrow increasingly and the account is the highest at 2 weeks. MSCs migrate to injured organs, such as skeletal muscle and heart. The migration suggests that MSCs can settle down in muscles and provide evidence for MSCs to differentiate into myocytes.     

Supportive effects of human AGM region and fetal liver stromal cells on differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells into hematopoietic stem cells and in vivo hematopoietic reconstitution

AIM: To investigate the differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by the supportive effects of human aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region and fetal liver (FL) stromal cells.METHODS: E14 ESCs were induced into embryoid body (EB) first. Then the cells from EB were further co-cultured with human AGM region and FL stromal cells in non-contact system. On day 6, the cells derived from EB were collected for Sca-1⁺c-Kit⁺ cell analysis by flow cytometry, colony forming unit (CFU) assay and teratoma formation checking. BALB/c female mice conditioned with lethal dose of γ-ray irradiation were transplanted with EB cells from different culture systems. The survival rates, engraftment of donor cells, reconstitution of hematopoietic were monitored.RESULTS: Sca-1⁺c-Kit⁺ cells in EB cells co-cultured with human AGM region and FL stromal cells had the value of (21.96±2.54)%, and the total CFU was as (520±52)/10⁵ cells, which were statistically greater than those in EB cells only cultured with human AGM region stromal cells (P＜0.05). No teratoma was found in NOD-SCID mice after subcutaneous injection of EB cells co-cultured with human AGM region and FL stromal cells. In BALB/c female mice transplanted of EB cells co-cultured with human AGM region and FL stromal cells, the survival rate was 77.8%, and the peripheral blood cell count was obviously improved on day 14. PCR results showed the recipients all had sry gene copies from donor in bone marrow. The recipient mice transplanted with EB cells only cultured with human AGM region stromal cells all died within 15 days.CONCLUSION: Stromal cells from human AGM region and FL enhance the directed differentiation of ESCs into HSCs which can reconstruct hematopoiesis in vivo.     

Risk factors of respiratory infections in patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at early stage

AIM:To investigate the pathological status, hematopoietic reconstitution and risk factors of respiratory infections(RI) in the patients with hematopoietic stem cell(HSC) transplantation at early stage. METHODS:The retrospective and case-control study, single-factor and Logistic analysis were performed to analyze the clinical data of 168 patients with HSC transplantation. RESULTS:The incidence rate of RI was 72.6%, upper RI was 44.0%, and lower RI was 28.6%. The cases with RI attacked before hematopoietic reconstitution were 81.1%. The risk factors of RI analyzed by single factor were age, origin of HSC, pretreatment, non-genetic transplantation, non-complete matching of human leukocyte antigen(HLA), hemogram recovery time, and independent risk factors were age and non-genetic transplantation. The risk factors of upper RI were age, origin of HSC, non-genetic transplantation, non-complete matching of HLA, hemogram recovery time, and independent risk factors were age and non-genetic transplantation. The risk factors of lower RI were the origin of HSC, non-genetic transplantation, non-complete matching of HLA, history of fungal pneumonia and graft-versus-host disease(GVHD), and independent risk factors were non-complete matching of HLA and history of fungal pneumonia. CONCLUSION:Higher incidence rate of RI exists at early stage of HSC transplantation, and independent risk factors include age, non-genetic transplantation, non-complete matching of HLA and history of fungal pneumonia.     

Generation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells with property of strengthened cell mediated immunity from an embryonic stem cell line

AIM:To induce lymphoid stem cells and/or T-cell precursors to differentiate into functional mature T lymphocyte, and to increase the surface marker of T lymphocytes such as CD₃⁺, while embryonic stem(ES) cells differentiated into hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells(HSPCs) in vitro. When they were injected into lethally irradiated mice, these differentiated cells had the advantage in immune reconstitution. METHODS:Embryonic stem cells formed embryoid bodies(EBs) in the medium containing methycellulose, hematopoietic growth factors(HGFs) was added to the culture system on the 6th day, thymopeptide was added at the same time. Flow cytometry were performed to detect the surface marker CD₃₄⁺ and CD₃⁺ of the differentiated cells. Finally the differentiated cells were injected into lethally irradiated mice, 60 days later, the incidence rate of graft versus host disease(GVHD) was taken as the mark of cell mediated immunity, PCR was performed to detect the sex determining region of the Y-chromosome(Sry) in bone marrow cells and spleen cells of the survival host female mice. RESULTS:The percentage of CD₃⁺ T lymphocytes was 10.52% and the incidence rate of GVHD was 0% on the 13th day, but they respectively rose up to 22.93% and 100% if thymopeptide was added in the procedure of inducing ES cells to differentiate into HSPC in vitro. CONCLUSION:The quantity of CD₃⁺ T lymphocytes increased in medium containing thymopeptide when ES cells differentiated into CD₃₄⁺ HSPC.     

Study on changes of neurological function and neuron apoptosis after intravenous administration of bone marrow stromal stem cells for treating permanent focal cerebral ischemia in rats

AIM: To explore the survivorship and the mechanism of the intravenous administration of bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSCs) for treating permanent focal cerebral ischemia in rats. METHODS: After purified, proliferated, and marked with BrdU, the BMSCs were injected intravenously into rats 1 d after focal cerebral ischemia.Modified neurological severity score (mNSS) was evaluated before and following 1, 7, 14 and 28 d after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Rats were executed at 1, 7, 14 and 28 d after MCAO. Brain sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) for determining the infarct volume. Slides were stained by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and immunostaining for cleaved caspase-3 method for apoptosis detection and mechanism exploration in situ.RESULTS: mNSS in BMSCs-transplanted group at 14th day and 28th day of MCAO was significantly lower than that in control group(P<0.05). TUNEL-positive cells in the hippocampus and thalamus area of BMSCs-transplanted rats were significantly fewer than those in control rats at 14th day and 28th day of MCAO(P<0.05). Double immunostaining showed that small grafted BMSCs and small endogenous neural cell apoptosis depended on the capase-3 in hippocampus.CONCLUSION: The intravenous administration of BMSCs promotes the recovery of neurological function of rats with focal cerebral ischemia. The therapeutic effect of BMSCs on rats with focal cerebral ischemia may be derived from the reduction of apoptosis and the mobility and migration of endogenous neural stem cells in the ischemic boundary zone.     

Activation of vascular endothelial cells improves the homing of hematopoietic stem cells

AIM: To study the effect of endothelial cell activation on the homing of hematopoietic stem cells (HUHSC) during transplantation. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were cultured to single layer and activated by vascular endothelial growth factor (EVGF), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), respectively. The HUHSC, enriched by eliminating red blood cells, granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes from cord blood, were cocultured with activated HUVEC to make adhesion. The adhesive ability of activated HUVEC to C-Kit⁺ HUHSC was assayed by ELISA. Anti-VCAM-1 monoclonal antibody was used to detect the effect of activation on HUVEC and HUHSC interactions. RESULTS: Resting HUVEC had a little adhesive ability to HUHSC. A great enhancement of adhesive ability was showed when HUVEC was activated by VEGF, G-CSF and LPS. In the presence of anti-VCAM-1, the adhesive ability of activated HUVEC was decreased remarkablely. CONCLUSION: HUHSC homing may be related to the activation of endothelial cells and adhesion molecules.     

The new seed cells for hepatocyte transplantation

The prospect of liver disease treatment by hepatocyte transplantation is broad, but it is difficult to apply it in clinic therapy due to the restriction of source and proliferation of donor hepatocyte. The hematopoietic stem cell plasticity of trans-differentiation to hepatocyte provides a new source of seed cells for hepatocyte transplantation. In this review, we focus on advances in the seed cells for hepatocyte transplantation.     

Effect of irradiation on the engraftment of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in different organs of recipient rats

AIM: To investigate the effect of irradiation on the engraftment of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in different organs of recipient rats and possible mechanisms. METHODS: The apoptosis in the irradiated rats heart, kidney, liver and lung was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nickend labeling (TUNEL) at day 14 after irradiation. MSCs cultured from male rats were delivered systemically into irradiated ［60COγ］ and nonirradiated syngeneic female rats sacrificed at day 28 after MSCs transplantation. Tracking of MSCs was determined by PCR and Y chromosome fluorescent in situ hybridization (Y-FISH). RESULTS: The numbers of apoptotic cells in the heart, kidney, liver and lung were significantly greater in the irradiated rats compared with those in the nonirradiated controls. Sry gene was amplified in the irradiated recipient heart, kidney, liver and lung. Moreover, Y chromosome positive cells in these organs of the irradiated recipient rats were observed. However, no Sry gene sequence and cells with Y chromosome were found in the nonirradiated recipients. CONCLUSION: Whole body irradiation induces apoptosis and results in engraftment of MSCs in the recipients heart, kidney, liver and lung.     

Transplantation of exogenous mesenchymal stem cells treats post-infarction ventricular remodeling in rats

AIM: This study was performed to investigate the feasibility and efficiency of exogenous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation on post-infarction ventricular remodeling and heart function in rats and compare the effects between adult rat MSCs and neonate rat MSCs transplantation. METHODS: 1-2 hours after left coronary artery ligation, MSCs cultured in ex vivo, marked with BrdU, were injected directly into the border of infarcts in exogenous rats. 6 weeks after transplantation, rat heart function, ventricular remodeling and pathological results were measured. RESULTS: MSCs transplantation decreased LV end-diastolic diameter and end-systolic diameter, limited LV chamber dilatation and reduced collagen content significantly. The numbers of blood vessels and cardiomyocytes were increased. BrdU-labelled MSCs with oval nucleus were widely distributed. There were no significant difference between adult rat MSCs and neonate rat MSCs transplanted groups. CONCLUSION: MSCs can survive and home in exogenous host infarct hearts without addition of any immunosuppressant. MSCs transplantation has benificial effects on remodeling processes and contributes to improvement of cardiac function, which may be related with the reduction of the amount of the collagen, promotion of myogenesis and angiogenesis.     

Protective effect of the bone marrow cells transfected with multidrug resistance gene on the reconstruction of murine hematopoietic function

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of the bone marrow cells transfected with human multidrug resistance gene (MDR1) on the reconstruction of murine hematopoietic function.METHODS: The mononuclear cells of the bone marrow from donors, BALB/C mice, treated with 5-Fu previously, were isolated and transfected with human multidrug resistance gene in vitro , then transplanted to the tertiary recipients. After lethal irradiation(8.5 Gy) and bone marrow transplantation, the recipients were selected with Taxol 7 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection, VCR 5 mg/kg or DNA 5 mg/kg intravenous injection. The survival rate and blood pictures of mice as well as the integration and expression of target gene MDR1 were studied. RESULTS: The lethal irradiated murine hematopoietic function could be reconstructed and protected from toxicity of high doses Taxol, VCR and DNR selection after reinfusing the hematopoietic progenitor cells containing human multidrug resistance gene (MDR1). The survival rate and survival time of experimental mice were higher than that in the control group. The integration and expression of MDR1 gene in recipients were confirmed by PCR, RT-PCR and FCM. CONCLUSION: The integration and expression of human multidrug resistance gene in recipients may play an important role in the reconstruction and protection of murine hematopoietic function.     

Effects of meglumine cycle adenylate phosphate combined with transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells on heart functions in rat model of heart failure

AIM: To investigate the therapeutic effects of recombinant meglumine cycle adenylate phosphate (MCA) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on the enhancement of the cell survival and improvement of the cardiac functions in the rat model of adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathic heart failure. METHODS: BMSCs were isolated and expanded using the pre-plating method. Doxorubicin was used by intraperitoneal injection into the Wistar rats to establish the model of cardiomyopathic heart failure. The model animals randomly received the injection of PBS, MCA, BMSCs or MCA+BMSCs respectively, and normal controls were without any treatment. Four weeks after injection, the cardiac functions were determined by echocardiography and multichannel physiological recorder. The levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured by ELISA. The positive rate of BrdU-labeled BMSCs in the myocardium was analyzed by the method of immunohistochemistry. The expression of myocardium-specific protein, GATA-4, connexin 43(Cx43) and cardiac troponin 1(cTNI), was detected by Western blotting. Myocardial fibrosis was observed with Masson's staining. RESULTS: Compared with other groups, the results of echocardiography and hemodynamic showed that the left ventricular functions in BMSCs+MCA group improved significantly (P<0.05). The BMSCs numbers in the myocardium in BMSCs+MCA group were significantly higher than those in BMSCs group (P<0.05). The level of BNP was significantly lower in BMSCs+MCA group than that in BMSCs group (P<0.05). Compared with other groups, the expression of GATA-4, Cx43 and cTNI was significantly increased in BMSCs+MCA group. CONCLUSION: Combination of MCA with BMSCs transplantation improves the cardiac functions, possibly due to the enhancement of BMSCs survival and the increase in the protein expression of GATA-4.     

Tetramethylpyrazine combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation inhibits neuronal apoptosis in rats with cerebral ischemia

ATM: To investigate the effects of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on neuronal apoptosis, and Bcl-2 and Bax expression in rats with cerebral ischemia. METHODS: The BMSCs were isolated by the whole bone marrow adherent method and cultured, and those in the 3rd passage were used for tail-vein transplantation. The rats were subjected to right middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) using suture method, and the rats except sham group were randomly divided into model group, BMSCs (1×10⁹ cells/L) group, TMP (40 mg/kg) group and combination (TMP+BMSCs) group with 12 rats in each group. Neurological function was evaluated by modified neurological severity scoring (mNSS) on 1 d, 7 d and 14 d after cerebral ischemia. Toluidine blue staining was performed to detect cerebral infarct volume, HE staining was used to observe brain histopathological change, neuronal apoptosis was observed by TUNEL staining, and the mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot at 14 d after cerebral ischemia. RESULTS: Compared with BMSCs group and TMP group, TMP combined with BMSCs significantly reduced the score of mNSS (P<0.01) and the infarct volume (P<0.01), alleviated the pathological damage in the peripheral area of cerebral ischemia, decreased the number of TUNEL positive cells (P<0.01), increased the expression of Bcl-2 and decreased the expression of Bax at mRNA and protein levels (P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Tetramethylpyrazine combined with transplantation of BMSCs improves the functional recovery, reduces the infarct volume, relieves the ischemic injury of the brain tissue, and attenuates neuronal apoptosis in the rats with cerebral ischemia. The mechanism may be related to regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.     

miR-193 regulates proliferation of rat marrow mesenchymal stem cells by cell cycle-related proteins

AIM: To investigate the effects of microRNA-193 (miR-193) on the proliferation and apoptosis of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). METHODS: Cultured rat MSCs were transfected with pre-miR-193 or anti-miR-193 to regulate the expression of miR-193. The proliferation of the MSCs after transfection was evaluated by MTS assay, colorimetric BrdU cell proliferation assay and Ki-67 immunostaining. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI staining. The effect of miR-193 on the expression of cell cycle-related proteins was evaluated by qRT-PCR. RESULTS: Transfection of pre-miR-193 or anti-miR-193 regulated the expression of miR-193 in MSCs effectively. Over-expression of miR-193 significantly promoted the proliferation of MSCs (P<0.05), and inhibition of miR-193 reduced the proliferation of MSCs (P<0.05). miR-193 had no significant effect on the apoptosis of MSCs (P>0.05). The result of qRT-PCR indicated miR-193 promoted the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) significantly (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: miR-193 promotes the proliferation of MSCs possibly through the CDK2 pathway.     

Difference of immune response to transplantation of BMSCs and non-BMSCs-derived cells in animals

AIM: To analyze the characteristics of immune response in the animals after transplantation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) or non-BMSCs-derived cells.METHODS: Rat BMSCs and Buffalo rat liver (BRL) cells were transplanted into SD rats and New Zealand rabbits by intravenous and subcutaneous injections. The differences of immune response in the animals received these two types of cells were evaluated by comparative analysis of the lymphocytes and monocytes in peripheral blood as well as the histopathological characteristics of the subcutaneous transplantation sites.RESULTS: The increase intensity of the lymphocyte number in BMSCs group was lower than that in BRL group, regardless of allograft or xenograft. The immune reaction of the animals to BMSCs transplantation was a little slower. It was obviously dissimilar that the increase intensity of monocyte number in BMSCs group was higher than that in BRL group. Pathological cutaneous sections showed that neither obvious necrosis nor inflammatory cells was observed in the vicinity of BMSCs transplantation sites.CONCLUSION: The intensity of immune response induced by BMSCs is lower than that by BRL cells. The anti-rejection ability of BMSCs in cell transplantation is better than that of BRL cells.