Objective To investigate the myogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after being transplanted into the local muscle tissues. Methods The serious muscleinjured model was established by the way of radiation injury, incising, and freezing injury in 36 mouses. Purified MSCs derived from bone marrow of male mouse and MSCs induced by5-azacytidine(5-Aza-CR) were transplanted into the local of normal muscle tissues and injured muscle tissues of femal mouse. The quantity of MSCs and the myogenic differentiation of implanted MSCs were detected by the method of double labeling, which included fluorescence in situ DNA hybridization (FISH) and immuno-histochemistry on the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, and 15th day after transplantation. Results The quantity of implanted MSCs decreased as timepassed. MSCs’ differentiation into myoblasts and positive expression of desmin were observed on the 15th day in purified MSCs group and on the 6th day in induced MSCs groups. Conclusion MSCs could differentiate into myoblasts after being implanted into the local of muscle tissues. The differentiationoccurs earlier in the induced MSCs group than that in purified MSCs group.
Objective To study the effect of core-binding factor α1(Cbfa1)on the mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) osteoblastic differentiation.Methods The MSCs were isolated from Japan white rabbits and cultured in vitro. The 3rd generation MSCs were infected with Cbfa1 recombinant adenovirus. The expression of Cbfa1 was detected by immunofluorescence after being infected for 3 days and the proliferation was estimated by MTT method from the 1st day to the 7th day. Then the MSCs were divided into four groups: the commonly cultured group, the simply induced group, the control adenovirus treatment group, and the Cbfa1 adenovirus treatment group. The expressions of mRNA for a various of osteoblast gene markers such as alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, osteopontin and type I collagen were analyzed based on reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The change of adipose and myoblastic differentiation gene marker PPARγ2 and MyoD expression were detected by RT-PCR respectively.Results Positive staining of Cbfa1 was found in the MSCs infected with Cbfa1 adenovirus, and there was no significant difference in cell proliferation among the experimental groups（Pgt;0.05）. The RT-PCR indicated that all the osteoblast gene markers except type I collagen were up-regulated in the Cbfa1 adenovirus treatment group. In contrast, the expressions of PPARγ2 and MyoD were restrained. Conclusion Cbfa1 can directly promote the differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts.
Objective To investigate the feasibility of differentiation of the marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the cells of the skin appendages andthe mechanism of their involvement in the wound healing. Methods The bone marrow was collected from Wistar rats by the flushing of the femurs, MSCs were isolated and purified by the density gradient centrifugation. Then, the MSCs were amplified and labelled with 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU). The full-thickness skin wounds with an area of 1 cm×1 cm were made on the midback of the homogeneous male Wistar rats. At the same time, 1×106/ml BrdU-labelled MSCs were infused from thepenile vein. The specimens were harvested from the wound tissues on the 3rd dayand the 7th day after operation and were immunohistochemically stained by either BrdU or BrdU and pan-keratin. Results The BrdU positive cells appeared in thehypodermia, the sebaceous glands, and the hair follicles of the wounds, as wellas the medullary canal of the femurs. The double-staining showed the BrdU positive cells in the sebaceous glands and the hair follicles of the wounds expressedpan-keratin simultaneously. Conclusion During the course of the wound healing, MSCs are involved in the wound repair and can differentiate into the cells ofthe skin appendages under the microenvironment of the wound.
Objective To explore the effect of the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in China goat in vitro. Methods MSCs from the bone marrow of China goat were cultured. The third passage of MSCs were treated with PRP in the PRP group (the experimental group), but the cells were cultured with only the fetal calf serum (FCS) in the FCS group (the control group). The morphology and proliferation of the cells were observed by an inverted phase contrast microscope. The effect of PRP on proliferation of MSCs was examined by the MTT assay at 2,4,6 and 8 days. Furthermore, MSCs were cultured withdexamethasone（DEX）or PRP; alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and the calcium stainingwere used to evaluate the effect of DEX or PRP on osteogenic differatiation of MSCs at 18 days. The results from the PRP group were compared with those from the FCS group. Results The time for the MSCs confluence in the PRP group was earlier than that in the FCS group when observed under the inverted phase contrast microscope. The MTT assay showed that at 2, 4, 6 and 8 days the mean absorbance values were 0.252±0.026, 0.747±0.042, 1.173±0.067, and 1.242±0.056 in the PRP group, but 0.137±0.019, 0.436±0.052, 0.939±0.036, and 1.105±0.070 in the FCS group. The mean absorbance value was significantly higher in the PRP group than in the FCS group at each observation time (P＜0.01). Compared with the FCS group, the positive-ALP cells and the calcium deposition were decreased in the PRP group; however, DEX could increase boththe number of the positiveALP cells and the calcium deposition. Conclusion The PRP can promote proliferation of the MSCs of China goats in vitro but inhibit osteogenic differentiation.
Objective To investigate the feasibility of differentiating human umbilical cord blood stem cells into hepatocytes. Methods Thirty-six BALB/c nude mice were randomly divided into experimental group and control group(18 in each of the group), and experimental group was again randomly divided into group A， B and C (six in each of the group). The mice in experimental group and control group were exposed to 350 cGy radiation produced by 60Ｃｏ. After 3 h, karyocytes at different concentrations in the fresh human umbilical cord blood were injected into the mice in experimental group A, B, C via their tail veins, and the equal volume of normal sodium (NS) was also injected into control group via tail veins. After one month, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was injected into experimental group A, B and control group via abdominal cavity, and the equal volume of normal sodium was injected into experimental group C. After two months, immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to detect the expressions of human cytokeratin-18 (CK18), cytokeratin-19 (CK19) and albumin (ALB) in liver tissues of all mice. Results The expressions of CK18, CK19 and ALB in injured liver tissues were all positive, and the expressions of experimental group B were higher than those of experimental group A （P＜0.05）, but the expressions of CK18, CK19 and ALB in the liver tissues of control group and experimental group C, whose were not injured with CCl4, were all negative. Conclusion Human umbilical cord blood-derived stem cells can differentiate into hepatocytes and express ALB under special microenvironment after liver injured by CCl4 , and the expression level of ALB maybe directly related to the number of human umbilical cord blood stem cells.
Objective To investigate the possibility of theadipose tissue-derived stromal cells(ADSCs) to differentiate into the neuron-like cells and to explore a new cell source for the transplantation related to the central nervous system. Methods Adipose was digested by collagenase, cultured in the fetal bovine serum containing a medium. Trypse was used to digest the cells and the cell passage was performed. The 3rd to the 9th passage ADSCs were used to make an induction. Isobutylmethylxanthine, indomethacin, insulin, and dexamethasone were used to induce the ADSCs to differentiate into the neuron-like cells and adipocytes. Sudan black B and immunocytochemistry were used to identify the cells. Results A population of the ADSCs could be isolated from the adult human adipose tissue, they were processed to obtain a fibroblast-like population of the cells and could be maintained in vitro for an extendedperiod with the stable population doubling, and they were expanded as the undifferentiated cells in culture for more than 20 passages, which indicated their proliferative capacity. They expressed vimentin and nestin, and characteristics of the neuron precursor stem cells at an early stage of differentiation. And the majority of the ADSCs also expressed the neuron-specific enolase and βⅢ-tubulin, characteristics of the neurons. Isobutyl-methyxanthine, indomethacin, insulin, and dexamethasone induced 40%-50% of ADSCs to differentiate into adipocytes and 0.1%0.2% of ADSCs into neuron-like cells. The neuron-like cells had a complicated morphology of the neurons, and they exhibited a neuron phenotype, expressed nestin, vimentin, neuron-specific enolase and βⅢ-tubulin, but some neuron-like cells also expressed thesmooth muscle actin (SMA), and the characteristics of the smooth muscle cells; however, the neurons from the central nervous system were never reported to express this kind of protein. Therefore, the neuron-like cells from the ADSCs could be regarded as functional neurons. Conclusion Ourresults support the hypothesis that the adult adipose tissue contains the stem cells capable of differentiating into the neuron-like cells, and they can overcome their mesenchymal commitment, which represents an alternative autologous stemcell source for transplantation related to the central nervous system.
Objective To use direct adherent method to induce human embryonic stem cells （hESCs） to become cardiomyocytes in vitro and examine their differentiation rate. Methods Undifferentiated hESCs were seeded onto Matrigel-coated plates at a density of 1×105 cells/cm2 and cultured in MEF-conditioned medium （MEF-CM） with 8 ng/ml basic fibroblast growth factor （bFGF） for 6 days. Then MEF-CM was replaced with RPMI 1640/B27 medium supplemented with 100 ng/ml human recombinant activin A for 24 hours in hESCs culture，followed by supplementation of 10 ng/ml human recombinant bone morphogenetic protein 4 （BMP4） for 4 days in hESCs culture. The medium was then replaced with RPMI 1640/B27 medium without supplementary cytokines，and hESCs were refed every 2-3 days for 2-3 additional weeks. Self-beating cardiomyocytes and the beating frequency were observed under the microscope，and the percentage of colonies showing beating cardiomyocytes was calculated. Cardiac troponin T （cTnT），a specific marker of cardiomyocytes，was examined by immunofluorescence. Spontaneous action potentials of cardiomyocytes were measured with patch clamp technique.Apoptotic rate of cardiomyocytes was detected with apoptosis-hoechst staining kit after beating cardiomyocytes were culturedunder hypoxia for 24 hours. Results A large number of spontaneous beating cardiomyocytes were observed 13 days after induction. The average time to show beating cardiomyocytes was 13.0±1.1 days after induction，the percentage of colonies showing beating cardiomyocytes was 66.7%，and the beating frequency of cardiomyocytes was 63.0±7.0 times/minutes. Beating cardiomyocytes were cTnT-positive. Spontaneous action potentials were detected in beating cardiomyocytes.Apoptotic rate of cardiomyocytes was 8.0%±0.5% after beating cardiomyocytes were cultured under hypoxia for 24 hours. Conclusion It’s the first time to use direct adherent method to induce hESCs to become cardiomyocytes in vitro in China with the differentiation rate of 66.7% and differentiation time of 13 days.
Objective To investigate the neural markers’ expression in the differentiation of marrow stromal stem cells(MSCs) into neural cells. Methods Rats MSCs were expanded as undifferentiated cells in vitro for 5 to7 generations and cultured in a modified neuronal medium(MNM) after 24 hours of all-trans retinoidacid(ATRA) pretreatment. Immunocytochemistry was used to detect the expression of nestin、neuron-specific nuclear protein(NeuN)、microtubule-associated protein2 (MAP-2) and glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) at different timepoints. Results After ATRA and MNM treatment, MSCs progressively assumed neuronal morphological characteristics. Nestin occurred first after 24 hours of ATRA treatment; then NeuN expressed after 2 hours of MNM treatment; the last one was MAP-2 and it was detected after 9 hours of MNM treatment. Other markers continuously expressed except that the expression of nestin peaked after 18 hours of MNM induction and remarkably decreased after 36 hours. Conclusion ATRA and MNM could promote the differentiation of MSCs into neural cells and the expression of neural-specific markers was consistent with current knowledge regarding the timepoints of markers expression in the neuronal development which provides a good model in vitro for neuronal development research.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristic and phenotype of ectomesenchymal stem cells of human fetal facial processes and the procedure of spontaneous differentiation to smooth muscle cells. METHODS: The primary ectomesenchymal cells of E 50 human fetal facial processes were isolated by 2.5 g/L trypsin and cultured with DMEM/F 12 with 10(-6) U/L leukemia inhibitor factor(LIF). The morphology and growth rate were observed by inverted microscop. After being withdrawn LIF, the characteristic of cells were identified by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. Ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: The cultured cells displayed monolayer growth and were fibroblast-like with 2-4 processes. The cells were stainely positived for anti-human natural killer cell marker-1, Vimentin, S-100, neuron specific enolase, myoglobin and VIII factor, but negatively for glial fibrillary acidic protein, neural fiblament, alpha-SMA and cytokeratin in immunohistochemistry. Two days after being withdrawn the LIF, cells expressed alpha-SMA in protein and mRNA levels. The cells were rich in muscular filament-like structure and dense bodies under transmission electron microscope. CONCLUSION: Cultured cells are undifferentiated ectomesenchymal stem cells. The cells have the potential for differentiating spontaneously to smooth muscle cell.
Objective Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are multi potent and thus are able to differentiate into a number of different cell types under certain culture condition. However, the effect of age on the differentiation remains unknown. To explore the effect of the microenvironment formed by Schwann cells (SCs) on BMSCs differentiation into neurons and ol igodendrocytes in rats at different ages in vitro. Methods SCs were extracted and purified from the distal sciatic nerves of neonatal Wistar rats. BMSCs were isolated from bone marrow of Wistar rats (aged 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months, respectively) and cultured in vitro. The cells were identified by immunofluorescent staining. The BMSCs at passage 2 were labeled by PKH26 and cocultured with SCs at passage 3 in equal proportions in two layer Petri dish. According to the BMSCs from the rats at different ages, experiment was divided into 3 groups: SCs were cocultured with 1-month-old rat BMSCs (group A), 6-month-old rat BMSCs (group B), and 12-month-old rat BMSCs (group C), respectively. The morphological changes of cocultured BMSCs were observed by inverted phase contrast microscope, the expressions of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and myel in basic protein (MBP) in the cocultured BMSCs were tested by immunofluorescent staining, and the expression of neuregul in 1 (NRG1) was detected by ELISA method. Results SCs and BMSCs were isolated and cultured successfully. The identification of SCs showed positive expression of S-100 and BMSCs showed positive expressions of CD29, CD44, and CD90. At 7 days after coculture, the BMSCs in group A began retraction, and became round or tapered with the processes and had a nerve cells or ol igodendrocytes-l ike morphology, but most BMSCs in groups B and C showed no obvious morphological changes under inverted phase contrast microscope. Immunofluorescent staining showed that the positive expression rates of NSE in groups A, B, and C were 22.39% ± 2.86%, 12.89% ± 1.78%, and 2.69% ± 0.80%, respectively, and the positive expression rates of MBP in groups A, B, and C were 16.13% ± 2.39%, 6.33% ± 1.40%, and 0.92% ± 0.17%, respectively. There were significant differences in terms of NSE and MBP positive expression rates among 3 groups (P lt; 0.05). ELISA analysis showed that NRG1 in the supernatant of group A was increased after coculture in a time-dependent manner. At 6, 9, and 12 days of coculture, NRG1 content was higher in group A than in groups B and C, and in group B than in group C, showing significant differences (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The microenvironment formed by SCs can promote BMSCs differentiation into neurons and ol igodendrocytes, but the differentiation capabil ity of BMSCs decreases with aging, and the variety of growth factors secreted by SCs is l ikely important factors that induce the differentiation of BMSCs into neurons and ol igodendrocytes.