Influences of coculture with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on dopaminergic neurons in brain slice treated with 1-methyl-4-phenylpytidinium

AIM: To study the protective effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on damaged dopaminergic neurons induced by 1-methyl-4-phenylpytidinium(MPP+).METHODS: The parkinson disease(PD) models were established in newborn rats. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) obtained from adult bone marrow were cultured, isolated and purified. MSCs were co-cultured with brain slice and the immunohistochemical technique, electron microscopy, propidium iodide staining were used to observe the changes of neurons. RESULTS: In the MPP+ treatment group, the neurites grew slowly and sparsely, dead cells were found in all regions. In the co-culture group, the neuritis grew densely, only a few cells were dead, the number of tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)-stained neurons increased and the structure of organellae was normal. CONCLUSION: MSCs may protect dopaminergic neurons against damage induced by MPP+. These results provide some data for cell transplantation therapy to Parkinsons disease.     

Distribution and identification of immunocytes in humanized SCID mouse model

AIM: Humanized-NOD/SCID(hu-NOD/SCID) mouse model was established and the level of immune reconstitution was assessed in this model. METHODS: Mononuclear cells (MNC) and CD34⁺ cells were isolated or sorted from cord blood(CB). Human CD45, CD19, CD3 markers on cells from NOD/SCID murine peripheral blood(PB), bone marrow(BM), thymus were detected by FCM from 4 to 10 weeks after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. After 10 weeks, the gene expressions of the human β₂M and RAG2 were detected by RT-PCR in PB or bone marrow of mice model. RESULTS: Human CD45, CD19, CD3 cells populations in PB and BM were found by flow cytometry in mice model transplanted with CD34+ cells or CB MNC from 4 to 10 weeks. The highest positivity of human lymphocytes was at 8 week after transplantation. The levels of human cell engraftment in mice transplanted with CD34⁺ cells were higher than those in mice transplanted with CB MNC. The mRNA of human β₂M and RAG2 were found by RT-PCR in BM.CONCLUSION: The higher level of human lymphocyte engraftment is established in NOD/SCID mouse model transplanted with CD34⁺ compared with CB MNC. The maturation of T lymphocytes could be happened in bone marrow of mice model.     

Mitogen-activated protein kinase is involved in the changes of intracellular free calcium concentration induced by wound exudate in cultured rat epidermal stem cells

AIM: To observe the effects of harvested wound exudate on intracellular free Ca²⁺ in epidermal stem cells (ESCs) in vitro, and to investigate the relationship between mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signal pathways and Ca²⁺ mobilization in this condition.METHODS: Wound exudate was harvested from the 80 full-thickness wounds produced on both sides of the back in 40 adult Wistar rats. ESCs were isolated, purified from neonatal Wistar rats by referring to the formerly records and binding our ideas. When the cultured cells showed up clone growing, they were divided into five groups as follows: group A: control group (no-treatment); group B: only treatment with wound exudate; group C: treatment with wound exudate and PD98059; group D: treatment with wound exudate and SB203580; group E: treatment with wound exudate, PD 98059 and SB203580. Then, the cells were incubated with fluorescence Ca²⁺ dye fluo-3/AM at 37 ℃ for 30 min, and measured by using laser scanning confocal microscope.RESULTS: The results showed that the fluorescent intensity of group B was higher than that in group A. A phenomenon of calcium oscillation was found in group C and group D. Furthermore, a rapid decrease of fluorescent intensity was observed in the cells that were preincubated with PD98059 and SB203580 at the same time. CONCLUSION: Based on above results, we propose that wound exudate can directly induce an increase in intracellular free Ca²⁺concentrations of ESCs. MAPKs signaling pathway has an important function of feedback regulation for free Ca²⁺ mobilization of ESCs in this condition, and also is capable of affecting the biological behaviour of epidermal stem cells.     

Effect of different PRA serum levels from patients with β-thalassemia on the proliferation and differentiation potential of the hematopoietic stem cells /progenitor cells of cord blood

AIM: To probe the effect of different panel reactive antibody(PRA) serum levels from patients with β-thalassemia on the proliferation and differentiation potential of the hematopoietic stem /progenitor cell of cord blood.METHODS: 1×105 mononuclear cells (MNCs) isolated from umbilical cord blood were incubated with different PRA serum levels (0 μL,50 μL,100 μL) respectively and complement,inoculated into the methylcellulose cultural system.The proliferation and differentiation potential of the hematopoietic stem /progenitor cell of cord blood by the colony formation assay were detected on day 7 and day 14,respectively.RESULTS: After culture of 7 days,the total colonies and CFU-GM were 88.20±9.41,79.00±11.39 in group A and 88.60±9.12,79.20±10.44 in group B,which were significantly higher than those of 20.60±7.39,15.20±4.66 in group C and those of 4.00±2.05,1.40±0.51 in group D (P<0.01).Meanwhile compared with group A and group E,no significant difference was found (P>0.05).After culture for 14 days,the total colonies and CFU-GM were 216.00±31.10,117.40±24.80 in group A and 213.20±31.06,116.00±19.75 in group B,which were significantly higher than those of 97.80±14.43,32.80±8.10 in group C and those of 31.40±13.41,8.40±4.30 in group D (P<0.01).The CFU-GEMMs were 45.60±8.51 in group A and 42.60±7.03 in group B,which were significantly higher than those of 20.80±6.96 in group C and those of 7.80±6.06 in group D (P<0.05).The BFU-MK was 12.80±4.42 in group A and 11.00±2.74 in group B respectively,which were significantly higher than that of 1.00±0.55 in group D (P<0.05).The CFU-E in group B 17.20±4.03 was significantly higher than that of 5.60±2.87 in group D (P<0.05).Meanwhile compared with group A and group E,no significant difference was found (P>0.05).By the Kendall test,there were negative correlations between the level of PRA serum and the total colonies,CFU-GM on day 7,the total colonies,CFU-GM,CFU-GEMM,BFU-E,BFU-MK on day 14 (tau-b=-0.793,-0.849,-0.808,-0.804,-0.645,-0.674,-0.624,P<0.01).There was a negative correlation between the level of PRA serum and CFU-MK on day 14 (tau-b=-0.466，P<0.05).CONCLUSION: PRA sera inhibit the colony in the colony cultures of the hematopoietic stem cells/progenitor cells in cord blood.The inhibition depends on the level of PRA sera.The higher the level of PRA sera,the stronger the inhibition is observed in our study.     

Isolation and identification of human fetal bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells and their differentiation to hepatocyte like cells

AIM: To separate and identify the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from human fetal bone and to study their differentiation to hepatocyte like cells under the action of chemical induction.METHODS: The MSCs from human fetal bone were isolated and purified according to the different growth characteristic of attaching to the wall of cell culture flask.The cell cycle and surface markers of MSCs were identified using flow cytometry.The MSCs were pre-induced by adding DMSO,β-Me and 5-aza for 24 h,then adding the inductive medium of H-DMEM and rh-HGF to induce their differentiation to hepatocyte like cells (HLCs).HLCs were identified by the typical morphological change and the expression of special protein with the method of immunocytochemistry.RESULTS: The MSCs derived from human fetal bone expressed adhesion molecules CD29+,CD44+,but not antigens of hematopoietic CD34,CD45,and not antigens related to GVHD,such as HLA-DR,CD80 and CD86.Exposure of these cells to above-mentioned inductive agents resulted in obvious morphological change and an increase in expression of AFP and ALB.CONCLUSION: The results suggest the existence of plentiful MSCs in human fetal bone.MSCs derived from human fetal bone can easily differentiate to HLCs,and they have a lower immunogenic nature,which may provide the ideal source for tissue engineering (bioartificial liver) for cellular therapeutics.     

Purification and differentiation potentiality of fetal liver mesenchymal stem cells from mouse

AIM: To purify and investigate the differentiation potentials of fetal liver mesenchymal stem cells (flMSCs) from murine in vitro.METHODS: flMSCs from mouse fetuses at embryonic and fetal day (ED)13.5 or ED14.5 were isolated by adhering to plastic and passaged by modified method.Cell cycle and phenotype were analyzed by flow cytometry.The cell differentiation was induced by special induction media.The cells differentiated to adipose,cartilaginous and osteoid tissues were identified with oil red O,Toluid blue,alkaline phosphatease (ALP) and von Kossa’s staining.The cells differentiated to neural-like cells were detected by RT-PCR and immuno-staining.RESULTS: Fibroblast-like cells predominated in culture.(83.76±2.88)% of flMSCs stayed in the G₀/G₁ phases.Homogenous cells were positive for mesenchymal lineage markers CD44,CD29,but not for markers of hematopoietic cells CD45,CD11b.flMSCs were able to differentiate into adipogenic,chondrogenic,osteogenic and neurogenic cells.CONCLUSION: flMSCs can be purified by modified plastic-attachment method and have multiple differentiation,which is available to stem cell therapy for various diseases.     

Root and stem rot of chrysanthemum caused by five <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pythium</Emphasis> species in Japan

Root and stem rot with wilt of above ground parts of cultivated chrysanthemums was first found in Ibaraki, Toyama and Kagawa prefectures, Japan in 2002 and 2003. Pythium species were isolated from the diseased tissues and identified as P. dissotocum, P. oedochilum, P. sylvaticum, P. ultimum var. ultimum and asexual strains of P. helicoides based on their morphologies and sequences of rDNA-ITS region. All the Pythium species were strongly pathogenic to chrysanthemums in pot conditions and were reisolated from the inoculated plants. Because Pythium root and stem rot of chrysanthemum has never been reported in Japan, we propose that this is a new disease that can be caused by the five Pythium species.     

SC1(pluripotin)对昆明小鼠胚胎干细胞分离培养的影响

比较了在无血清培养体系中分别添加小分子化学物质pluripotin(SCl)和白血病抑制因子(LIF)对昆明小鼠ES细胞未分化状态的维持作用,并探讨了SC1在培养液中的最佳浓度.以小鼠胎儿成纤维细胞(MEF)为饲养层,以含LIF的添加血清替代品(KSR)的培养基(ESC-SR)为对照,分别用SC1浓度为0.3、1、3μmol/L的ESC-SR培养液对昆明小鼠胚胎进行分离培养.结果显示:胚胎在添加3 μmol/L SC1的ESC-SR培养液中ICM形成率显著高于对照组(P＜0.05),形成的ES集落与对照组形态差异不明显,最高传至第7代,并且在无饲养层条件下可以传至第6代而保持未分化状态.不同浓度SC1培养液中,胚胎在SC1浓度为0.3 μmol/L组的F2代形成率显著高于1 μmol/L组和3μmol/L组(P＜0.05),所分离的细胞AKP染色呈阳性,Oct4、Nanog和Sox2的免疫荧光染色均显阳性,具有ES细胞的特点.结果表明,ESC-SR培养液中SC1可以替代LIF用于小鼠ES细胞未分化状态的维持,并且可以在无饲养层条件下进行昆明小鼠ES细胞的培养.