Objective To probe the relationship of differentiation degree with spread or survival prognosis in retinoblastoma (RB). Methods Clinical data, follow up status and eyeball specimens in 156 RB cases were investigated retrospectively. The tumors were divided into differentiated and undifferentiated groups. Conditions of the tumor invasion of ocular or surrounding tissues were reviewed. The fatality rate was obtained from the follow-up materials of 82 cases of RB. The fatality rate and the invasion rate between the two types were compared statistically by Chi-square test. In addition, the relation between the tumor invasion and death ,and the average survival time for dead people after surgery were explored. Results Local invasion of tumor cell was found in 8 eyes among 17 eyes with differentiated RB (47.06%),and in 66 eyes among 139 eyes with undifferentiated RB (47.48%).There was no significant difference with regards to the local invasion between the two types ( The fatality rate of cases of differentiated RB was 27.27%,and 22.54% in undifferent iated RB, and there was no statistical difference between the two types .The fat ality rate for patients with orbital and scleral extension was 100%, optic nerve invasion (grade Ⅳ) was 62.50%,and uveal invasion was 22.22%.The survival time for the dead victims were from 5 months to 41 months and averaged to 21.92 months. Conclusion There was no significant differ ence both in survival prognosis and local invasion between the two types. The survival prognosis of metastatic RB was dependent on the degree of spread and the efforts of treatment and regardless of the types of differentiation of RB cells. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2001,17:18-20)
Objective To investigate the possibility of commitment differentiation of embryonic stem cells induced by the medium of cultured retinal neurons of SD rats. Methods The medium from cultured retinal neurons of SD rats were collected, sterilized and mixed with DMEM medium according to 2∶3 proportion, ES cells were cultured with these mixed medium and were observed under the phase contrast microscope daily, the induced cells were identified by NF immunohistochemistry methods. Results The ES cells cultured with these mixed medium can differentiate into neuron-like structure, and the induced cells were positive in NF immunofluorescence staining. Conclusion The medium from cultured retinal neurons of SD rats can induce ES cells commitment differentiation into neuron-like structure. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 134-136)
Objective To analyze MC3T3E1 cell morphology, prol iferation, and osteogenic differentiation in fibrin gel (FG) so as to lay a fundament for use of FG in tissue engneering. Methods MC3T3E1 cells were incubated in three concentrations (20, 10 and 5 mg/mL)of FG as the experimental groups (groups A, B and C) and in the common medium culture as the control group (group D). The cell morphology and distribution in FG were observed by inverted phase contrast microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope at different time. The cell prol iferation was assessed by fluorospectrophotometer. The alkal ine phosphatase (ALP) activity was detected by automatic biochemistry analyses and von Kossa staining was used to analyze calcium salts mineralization. RT-PCR was used to analyze the ALP and bone sialoprotein (BSP)mRNA expression at 14 and 21 days. Results In groups A, B and C, the MC3T3E1 cells had long processes which connected each other and formed network; but fusiform or cube cells were observed in group D at 21 days. The fluorescence intensity was increased gradually with time, was the highest at 14 days and the lowest at 28 days in group D; it was highest in groups A, B and C at 28 days, there were statistically significant differences when compared with group D (P lt; 0.05). The ALP activity was increased gradually with time, and it was the highest at 28 days in group D and at 21 days in groups A and B, there were significant differences (P lt; 0.05), no statistically significant differences compared with group D at other time points (P gt; 0.05). The mineral ization nodus were seen at 21 and 28 days in group A, but no mineral ization nodus was seen in group D at 28 days. The RT-PCR results showed the mRNA expressions of ALP and BSP were enhanced in group A when compared with group D (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The osteogenic differentiation was most obvious and cell prol iferation was most active after 21 days of incubation in FG.
ObjectiveTo investigate the differentiation potential of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) into hepatocytes induced by rat fibrotic liver tissue extracts. MethodsLiver fibrosis was induced in the Sprague Dawley rats (weighting, 180-220 g) by repeated intraperitoneal injections of 3% thioacetamide-saline at a dose of 200 mg/kg twice a week for 4 weeks;fibrotic liver tissues were used to prepare liver homogenate supernatants. The HUCMSCs at passage 3 were cultured in DMEM/F12 with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) (control group) and in DMEM/F12 with 10%FBS and 50 g/L liver homogenate supernatants (experimental group) for 7 days. The morphological changes of the cells were recorded;the protein levels of cytokeratin 18 (CK18), alpha fetoprotein (AFP), and CYP3A4 were measured using Western blot. The glycogen storing ability of the cells was detected by periodic acid-schiff (PAS) staining. Furthermore, the synthesis of albumin (ALB) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was measured. ResultsIn experimental group, after 1 day of induction, the stem cells of fusiform shape began to lose sharp edges and progressively shrunk, and then they changed into hepatocyte-like cells with round and irregular shape at 7 days. Positive expressions of AFP, CK18, and CYP3A4 were observed in the experimental group, but negative expression in the control group. The concentrations of BUN and ALB were (0.43±0.07) mmol/L and (8.08±0.41) μg/mL in the control group and were (2.52±0.20) mmol/L and (41.48±4.11) μg/mL in the experimental group, showing significant differences (t=24.160, P=0.000;t=19.810, P=0.000). PAS staining results showed navy blue nucleus and lavender cytoplasm in the control group, but dark purple cell body and visible nucleus in the experimental group. ConclusionHUCMSCs could differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells induced by rat fibrotic liver tissue extracts, which have hepatocyte biomarkers (AFP, CK18, and CYP3A4) and hepatocyte-specific functions of glycogen storage, urea production and ALB secretion, so they could partially replace the function of hepatocytes, that may be one of the therapeutic mechanisms of stem cell transplantation.
ObjectiveTo explore the phenotypic changes of epidermal stem cells (ESCs) differentiating into sweat glands cells (SGCs) in vitro and its mechanisms. MethodsESCs and SGCs were isolated and cultured in vitro, which were identified using immunofluorescence staining. ESCs at passage 2 were divided into 4 groups: ESCs and SGCs co-cultured by Transwell plates in group A, ESCs cultured by simply adding sweat supernatant in group B, ESCs and SGCs co-cultured on Transwell plate adding epidermal growth factor (EGF) (60 ng/mL) in group C, and ESCs and SGCs co-cultured on transwell plate adding PD98059 (10 mmol/L) in group D. The inverted microscope was used for observing the morphology of ESCs, flow cytometry for detecting ESCs positive phenotype, and Western blot for exploring mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathway. ResultsThe morphology observation and immunofluorescence staining suggested that cultured cells were ESCs and SGCs. The inverted phase contrast microscope observation showed that cells had similar morphological changes, with flat polygonal shape at 9 days in groups A, C, and D; cells had slow morphological change in group B, and had similar change to that of other groups at 12 days. Significant decreasing of β1-integrin expression and increasing of carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) expression of ESCs were observed in group A when compared with group B, which was inhibited by EGF (group C) and enhanced by PD98059 (group D), and there were significant differences among groups A, C, and D (P<0.05). High level of ERK expression was displayed in 4 groups, but it was significantly lower in group B than the other 3 groups (P<0.05). The expression of phosphorylation ERK was the highest in group A and was the lowest in group C, showing significant difference among 4 groups (P<0.05). ConclusionESCs can be induced to differentiate into SGCs with the phenotypic changes under the condition of co-cultured by Transwell plates. The MAPK/ERK pathway plays a key role in the differentiation of ESCs into SGCs.
Objective To isolate neural stem cells (NSCs) from rabbit retina and brain, and induce differentiation of those NSCs using different culture media. Methods Single-cell suspensions of retina and cerebral cortex were prepared from rabbit embryo, cultured in 5 types of different media to isolate the NSCs by continual passages. After 3 passages, NSCs were induced to differentiation in 2 types of different media for 8 to 10 days. NSCs and inducedretinal cells were examined by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry for the expression pattern of some specific antigens.Results Immunofluorescence showed that NSCs from retina and brain, cultured in serumfree media, both expressed Nestin partially. Flow cytometry showed that Nestin positive cells were significantly decreased while the Rhodopsin and Thy1.1 positive cells were increased after induction. Compared with the combined induction of alltrans retinoid acid (ATRA) and serum, 5%FBS (fetal bovine serum) led to higher expression of Rhodopsin（P＜0.01），but lower expression of Thy1.1（P=0.01）.Conclusion Serumfree media with N2, EGF, bFGF, LIF is the best for NSCs purification. Both induciton media can induce NSCs to differentiate.Retina NSCs have higher potentials to differentiate into retinal neuroepithelial cells than brain NSCs.
Objective To investigate the experimental condition and mechanism of differentiation of human umbilical cord blood derived mesenchymal stem cells（hUCB-MSC）into neuron-like cells induced by recombined human epidermal growth factor （rhEGF） and taurine in vitro.Methods hUCB-MSC were primary cultured in Dulbeccoprime;s modified Eagle's medium/F12 （DMEM/F-12）which supplemented with 105U/L penicillin G, 100 mg/L streptomycin sulfate, 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS),5% autologous plasma,4 mmol Lglutamine, 30 ng/ml rhEGF.The DMEM/F-12 medium was replaced by taurine medium after 3 passages.The expression of surface antigen CD90,CD29,CD34,CD44 and CD45 were detected by flow cytometry；the expression of neuron specific enolase,rhodopsin and nestin were investigated by immunocytochemistry. The statistical method was chi square test.Results Morphologically similar to bonemarrow MSC,hUCB-MSC became attached cells after the first 5 to 7 days in culture，and reached 80% to 90% confluent after 3 to 4 weeks. Growth accelerated after passage. hUCB-MSC were positive for CD29,CD44 and CD90 but negative for CD34 and CD45. After taurine induction, 2515/3120 cells expressed NSE, 1168/3175 cells expressed rhodopsin and 903/3050 cells expressed nestin while only 234/2965 cells expressed NSE in the control group(P＜0.01).Conclusion rhEGF and taurine can induce hUCB-MSC differentiating into neuronlike or rhodopsin positive cells.
Objective To investigate the effect of blood microenvironment of rats with hepatic fibrosis on differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) into hepatocytes and its mechanisms. Methods Eighteen male adult Sprague Dawley rats [weighing, (200±20) g] were used, liver fibrosis was induced in 12 rats by repeated intraperitoneal injections of thioacetamide. The serum was separated after successful model preparation, and the serum of 6 normal rats was collected. ELISA assay was used to detect the concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), oncostatin M (OSM), and basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF). Passage 3 HUCMSCs were divided into 3 groups: cells were cultured for 7 days in DMEM/F12 containing 10% fetal bovine serum and 5 mL/ L serum from rats with hepatic fibrosis (group A), in DMEM/F12 containing 10% fetal bovine serum and 5 mL/ L serum from normal rats (group B), and in DMEM/F12 containing 10% fetal bovine serum (group C). The morphological changes of the cells were observed. The expressions of α-fetoprotein (AFP) and cytokeratin 18 (CK18) were detected by immunofluorescence. The protein levels of albumin (ALB), tryptophan 2, 3-dioxygenase (TPH2), and CYP3A4 and MAPK/ERK signal pathway protein (P-ERK) were detected using Western blot. The content of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was measured by diacetyl m onoxime method. Results HE staining showed that the liver tissue of rats was in accordance with the change of fibrosis, indicating successful model preparation. In serum of normal rats and rats with hepatic fibrosis, the concentrations of EGF were (21.42±0.32) pg/mL and (17.57±0.31) pg/mL respectively, showing significant difference (t=14.989, P=0.000); the concentrations of OSM were (129.96±0.65) pg/mL and (98.44±1.32) pg/mL respectively, showing significant difference (t=37.172, P=0.000); the concentrations of HGF were below the detection limit and (1.03±0.12) ng/ mL respectively; and the concentrations of bFGF were lower than the detection limit in both groups. No morphological changes of cells were observed in both groups at 7 days, and there was no significant difference between groups. At 7 days after culture, the cells in group A could express human hepatocyte biomarkers of AFP, CK18 and hepatocyte-specific-function proteins of ALB, TPH2, and CYP3 A4 while cells in groups B and C did not. Western blot showed that cells in each group could express P-ERK protein. The relative level of P-ERK protein in group A was significantly higher than that in groups B and C (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found between groups B and C (P > 0.05). The BUN concentration of group A [(0.74±0.07) mmol/ L] was significantly higher than that of groups B [(0.40±0.04) mmol/ L] and C [(0.38±0.04) mmol/L] (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was shown between groups B and C (P > 0.05). Conclusion Under the condition of hepatic fibrosis, the level of HGF will increase while EGF and OSM will decrease. The formed blood microenvironment will activate MAPK/ERK signal pathway in HUCMSCs, induce them differentiate into hepatocytes.
【Abstract】 Objective To explore the interventional effect of platelet lysate (PL) on osteogenic differentiation ofBMSCs by induction in rats in vitro. Methods Twenty-four clean-grade adult Wistar rats, weighing from 250 g to 300 g, maleor female, were included in this study. PL was obtained through three times of centrifugation and repeated freeze-thaw for the blood aspirated from cardiac cavities in 16 Wistar rats. ELISA assay was conducted to detect the concentration of growth factors PDGF, TGF-β1, IGF-1 and VEGF in PL. The BMSCs harvested by flushing femurs of 8 adult Wistar rats were isolated, cultivated and expanded in vitro. The cells at the 4 passage were performed for osteogenic differentiation by induction in three groups of A (5% PL of final concentration in basic induction medium), B (1% PL of final concentration in basic induction medium), and C (no presence of PL in basic induction medium as a control). The morphological changes of the cells were dynamically observed with inverted phase contrast microscope during the whole period. At different time-points, ALP staining (7 days) and ALP/TP (2, 8, 12 days) of the cells were detected to evaluate ALP activity, and the mineral formation in extracellular martrix was examined with Al izarin red staining which provided quantitative analysis of mineral deposits. Results ELISA assay showed that the content of PDGF, TGF-β1, IGF-1 and VEGF in PL reached (300 ± 30), (140 ± 25), (80 ± 35), (70 ± 20) pg/mL, respectively. Morphological observation displayed BMSCs in group A or B gradually turned from spindle-shape to square- or polygon-shape as the morphorlogical type of osteoblast-l ike cells at 7 days. The cells in group A showed slower shape changesbut higher prol iferation than that in group B or C. Moreover, at the 20 days, the cells in group A still displayed dense gro wth and produced obviously decreased amount of mineral deposits in ECM when compared with group B or C. At the 7 days, the cells ofgroup A showed smaller amount of granules positive for ALP staining in cytoplasm when compared with groups B and C, and displayed marked reduction in ALP activity assay at the 2, 8, and 10 days compared with that of groups B and C (P lt; 0.05). At the 20 days, Al izarin red staining showed the number of mineral deposits in groups A, B and C were 7.67 ± 1.10, 12.87 ± 0.81 and 15.59 ± 0.25, respectively, while the area of mineral deposits were (161 778.70 ± 44 550.80), (337 349.70 ± 56 083.24), and (415 921.70 ± 71 725.39) pixels, respectively. The number of mineral deposits and the area of mineral deposits in group A were smaller than those in groups B and C (P lt;0.05). But there was no statistically significant difference between groups B and C (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion PL is a kind of system carrying various growth factors. Exposure of PL inhibits both ALP activity and mineral formation of BMCs in a dose-dependent way under the osteogenic induction environment.
Objective To observe the expression of genes related to hereditary retinal diseases (IRD) in human microglia (hMG). MethodsA experimental study. Efficient differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) into hMG. Identification of octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), sex-determining transcription factor 2 (SOX2), Nanog homeobox (NANOG), stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 (SSEA4), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) as markers associated with iPSC dryness and pluripotency by immunofluorescence staining Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP); hMG associated marker transmembrane protein 119 (TMEM119), purinergic receptor P2Y12 (P2RY12), and allograft inflammatory factor 1 (IBA1). The proportion of CD11b+ and CD45+ cells was detected by flow cytometry. Mature hMG was collected and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide for 0, 4, 8 and 12 h, and were divided into groups 0 h, 4 h, 8 h and 12 h, respectively. Total RNA samples from the 4 groups were extracted for transcriptome sequencing, and the persistently significant differentially expressed genes (DEG) were screened. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to verify and analyze the expression of DEG mRNA. The two-tailed Student t test was used for comparison between the two groups. ResultsiPSC expressed the dry related markers OCT4, SOX2, NANOG and SSEA4, and differentiated into endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm, expressing the corresponding markers AFP, α-SMA and GFAP, respectively. iPSC formed embryoid bodies under specific culture conditions, and then differentiated into hMG, and hMG expressed related markers TMEM119, P2RY12 and IBA1 by immunofluorescence staining. The double positive ratio of CD11b+ and CD45+ was > 95%. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the expression of 18 DEG in hMG stimulated by LPS was changed. qPCR test results showed that compared with group 0 h, mRNA expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), phosphoglycerate kinase 1, disintegrin and metallopeptidase domain 9 (ADAM9) in LPS stimulated group 4 h were significantly increased (t=25.43, 15.54, 6.26; P＜0.01). The mRNA expression levels of MER proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase (MERTK), non-hydrolase domain containing lysophospholipase 12 (ABHD12), retinal dehydrogenase 11 (RDH11), DNA damage autophagic regulator 2 (DRAM2) decreased (t=5.94, 14.14, 8.21, 6.97; P＜0.01), and the differences were statistically significant. Compared with group 0 h, mRNA expressions of RDH11, MERTK, ABHD12, DRAM2 and ADAM9 in group 8 h stimulated by LPS were significantly decreased, with statistical significance (t=25.97, 5.47, 43.97, 38.40, 3.84; P＜0.05). Compared with the group 0 h, the mRNA expressions of TLR4, ADAM9, MERTK, ABHD12, RDH11 and DRAM2 in the 12 h stimulated group were significantly decreased, and the differences were statistically significant (t=6.39, 46.11, 5.34, 14.14, 25.97, 25.65; P＜0.05). ConclusionIRD-related genes may be involved in the occurrence and development of IRD by regulating the function of hMG.