Objective To study the culture and purification of the fetal mouse liver mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) in vitro and to investigate their differentiation potential and the composite ability with true bone ceramic(TBC). Methods The single cell suspension of MSCs was primarily cultured and passaged, which was prepared from the fetal mouse liver; the flow cytometry was applied to detectCD29, CD34, CD44 and CD45. The osteogenic differentiation was induced in chemical inducing system; the osteogenic induction potency was tested. The purified fetal mouse liver MSCs were compounded with TBC covered with collagen type Ⅰ in vitro and the cell attachment and proliferation to the TBC were observed. Results The primary MSCs of fetal mouse liver were easy to culture in vitro. They proliferated well and were easy to subcultured. The proliferation ability of primary and passaged MSCs was similar. Flow cytometric analysis showed the positive results for CD29, CD44 and the negative results for CD34, CD45. After 7 days of induction, the MSCs expressed collagen type I and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) highly. After 14 days of induction, the fixed quantity of ALP increased significantly. After 28 days of induction, calcium accumulation was observed by Von Kossa’s staining. Many liver MSCs attached to the surface of TBC. Conclusion The MSCs of the fetalmouse liver can be obtained, subcultured and purified easily. After culturing in chemical inducing system, the MSCs of fetal mouse liver can be successfully induced to osteoblast-like cells, attach to the surface of TBC and proliferate well.
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of using tungsten drills to prepare mouse knee osteochondral injury model by comparing with the needle modeling method, in order to provide an appropriate animal modeling method for osteochondral injury research.MethodsA total of 75 two-month-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=25). Mice in groups A and B were used to prepare the right knee osteochondral injury models by using needles and tungsten drills, respectively; group C was sham-operation group. The general condition of the mice was observed after operation. The samples were taken at 1 day and 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after modeling, and HE staining was performed. The depth, width, and cross-sectional area of the injury site at 1 day in groups A and B were measured, and the percentage of the injury depth to the thickness of the articular cartilage (depth/thickness) was calculated. Toluidine blue staining and immunohistochemical staining for collagen type Ⅱ were performed at 8 weeks, and the International Cartilage Research Society (ICRS) score was used to evaluate the osteochondral healing in groups A and B.ResultsAll mice survived to the completion of the experiment. HE staining showed that group C had normal cartilage morphology. At 1 day after modeling, the injury in group A only broke through the cartilage layer and reached the subchondral bone without entering the bone marrow cavity; the injury in group B reached the bone marrow cavity. The depth, width, cross-sectional area, and depth/thickness of the injury in group A were significantly lower than those in group B (P<0.05). At 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after modeling, there was no obvious tissue filling in the injured part of group A, and no toluidine blue staining and expression of collagen type Ⅱ were observed at 8 weeks; while the injured part of group B was gradually filled with tissue, the toluidine blue staining and the expression of collagen type Ⅱ were seen at 8 weeks. At 8 weeks, the ICRS score of group A was 8.2±1.3, which was lower than that of group B (13.6±0.9), showing significant difference (t=−7.637, P=0.000).ConclusionThe tungsten drills can break through the subchondral bone layer and enter the bone marrow cavity, and the injury can heal spontaneously. Compared with the needle modeling method, it is a better method for modeling knee osteochondral injury in mice.
Objective To investigate the mechanism of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI). Methods ① Grouping. Forty-two mice were randomly divided into Sham group, 4 ischemia reperfusion (IR) group of different times (2, 6, 12, and 24 h), Compound C group, and Compound C+repamycin (Rapa) group, each group enrolled in 6 mice. Compound C group: mice were modeled at 1 h after intraperitoneal injection of Compound C (25 mg/kg). Compound C+Rapa group: mice were modeled at 1 h after intraperitoneal injection of rapamycin (1 mg/kg) and Compound C (25 mg/kg). Mice of 4 IR groups, Compound C group, and Compound C+Rapa group were used to prepare HIRI model. Mice of Sham group were treated only for laparotomy, freeing the first portal hepatis and closing peritoneal. ② To filter the best IR time. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the serum of mice in Sham group and IR groups of 4 different reperfusion time points were measured. The pathological changes of liver tissues were observed by HE staining, and the expressions of related proteins in liver tissue of mice were detected by Western blot. Considering the results of blood biochemical test, HE staining, and Western blot together to determine the best IR point. ③ The exploration of signal pathway for AMPK. The expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were observed by immunohistochemical staining in the liver tissues of IR-12 h group, Compound C group (12 h after IR) and compound C+Rapa group (12 h after IR). The mitochondrial damage was observed by rhodamine 123 staining, and the apoptotic status of liver cells was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay (TUNEL). Results ① The 12 h after IR was the best observation time point. Compared with IR-12 h group, the levels of ALT and AST in Sham group, IR-2, 6, and 24 h groups were lower (P<0.05). HE staining showed that liver tissue destruction in IR-12 h group was the most severe. Western blot showed that, expressions of AMPKα, phosphorylated adenylate activated protein kinase α (p-AMPKα), Nip3-like protein X (Nix), BCL-2 homologous water-soluble protein (Bax), as well as ratio of autophagy microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)Ⅱto LC3Ⅰof Sham group, IR-2, 6, and 24 h group were all lower than those of IR-12 h group (P<0.05), but the expressions of phosphorylated mammalian target of Rapa (p-mTOR) of Sham group, IR-2, 6, and 24 h group were all higher (P<0.05). Therefore, 12 h after IR was the best time to observe. ② Compared with IR-12 h group, the expression level of PCNA protein in liver tissue of Compound C group was lower (P<0.05), the mitochondrial luminescence intensity was weaker and the apoptotic cells were more. Compared with Compound C group, the expression of PCNA protein in the liver tissue of the Compound C+Rapa group was higher (P<0.05), the mitochondrial intensity was stronger and the apoptotic cells were less. ③ Compared with IR-12 h group, the expressions of Nix and p-AMPKα, and ratio of LC3Ⅱ to LC3Ⅰ in liver tissue of Compound C group decreased (P<0.05), while the expressions of p-mTOR, Caspase-3, and Cleaved Caspase-3 increased (P<0.05). Compared with Compound C group, the expressions of p-AMPKα and Nix in the liver tissue of Compound C+Rapa group increased (P<0.05), while the expressions of p-mTOR, Caspase-3, and Cleaved Caspase-3 decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion During the HIRI in mouse, AMPK regulates mitophagy and apoptosis through the mTOR/Nix pathway.
In the development of radio frequency (RF) coils for better quality of the mini-type permanent magnetic resonance imager for using in the small animal imaging, the solenoid RF coil has a special advantage for permanent magnetic system based on analyses of various types of RF coils. However, it is not satisfied for imaging if the RF coils are directly used. By theoretical analyses of the magnetic field properties produced from the solenoid coil, the research direction was determined by careful studies to raise further the uniformity of the magnetic field coil, receiving coil sensitivity for signals and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The method had certain advantages and avoided some shortcomings of the other different coil types, such as, birdcage coil, saddle shaped coil and phased array coil by using the alloy materials (from our own patent). The RF coils were designed, developed and made for keeled applicable to permanent magnet-type magnetic resonance imager, multi-coil combination-type, single-channel overall RF receiving coil, and applied for a patent. Mounted on three instruments (25 mm aperture, with main magnetic field strength of 0.5 T or 1.5 T, and 50 mm aperture, with main magnetic field strength of 0.48 T), we performed experiments with mice, rats, and nude mice bearing tumors. The experimental results indicated that the RF receiving coil was fully applicable to the permanent magnet-type imaging system.
Objective To review the in vivo imaging research progress of two-photon microscopy (TPM) in spinal cord. Methods The recent literature concerning in vivo two-photon imaging of axon, microglia, and calcium in transgenic mice spinal cord was extensively consulted and reviewed. Results In vivo two-photon imaging of spinal cord provide dynamic information about axonal degeneration and regeneration, microglial accumulation, and calcium influx after spinal cord injury. Conclusion TPM in vivo imaging study on spinal cord will provide theoretical foundation for pathophysiologic process of spinal cord injury.
In this study, the role of newcastle disease virus (NDV) combined thermic solidified tumor vaccine in inhibiting growth of tumor and immune control was investigated, and rate of inhibiting tumor and cellular immunity were measured. The results showed that rate of inhibiting tumor in experimental group Ⅰ and Ⅱ were 24.8% and 41.1% respectively; average weight of tumor was significantly lower in both experimental groups than in control group, and activity of natural killing (NK) cells in experimental groups was higher than that in control group (P<0.01). This suggests that NDV combined thermic solidified tumor vaccine can inhibit growth of tumor and improve activity of NK cells, and their effects are better than that of NDV.
The model of transplanted colonic SW480 cell line carcinoma in gymnomouse body was set up to observe the effect of octapeptide somatostatin (SMS 201-995,SMS) on the transplanted carcinoma and elucidate its mechanism. Results: the volume, weight, DNA and protein content in carcinoma cell, cell amount and proliferation index of S and G2M phase in SMS group and SMS+PG (pentagastrin) group were markedly lower than those in PG group and control group, those of PG group were markedly higher than those in control group.The cell amount of G0/G1 phase in SMS group and SMS+PG group was markedly higher than that in PG group and control group, and that of PG group was markedly lower than that in control group.All these suggested that somatostatin could not only inhibit the growth of transplanted human colonic SW480 cell line carcinoma directly but also inhibit the growthpromoting effect of gastrin on the transplanted carcinoma.The mechanism might be that somatostatin inhibit the synthesis of cAMP, DNA and protein in carcinoma cells, then inhibit the cell growing from G0/G1 phase to S and G2M phases.Our study might provide experimental basis for the homonotherapy with analogue of somatostatin in patients with large intestine carcinoma.
Objective To investigate the mechanism of vascular stromal fraction (SVF) at the early stage after aspirated fat transplantation. Methods Fat was harvested from 5 cases of women undergoing abdominal liposuction operation, and SVF was isolated. Aspirated fat with (group B) or without (group A) SVF was injected subcutaneously into the back of nude mice, and the grafts were harvested at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days. Graft wet weight was measured; and immunohistochemical method (CD31) was performed and the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were qnantified by Western blot assay. Results The wet weight of transplanted adipose tissue showed an increasing tendency in groups A and B with time, and no significant difference was found between groups A and B (P gt; 0.05). At 1 and 3 days after transplantation, no CD31 positive cells was seen in 2 groups; the CD31 positive cells of group B were significantly more than those of group A at 5 and 7 days (P lt; 0.05), and the CD31 positive cells at 7 days were significantly more than those at 5 days in 2 groups (P lt; 0.05). Western blot test showed that VEGF expression reached peak at 3 days , then decreased gradually; the expression of VEGF protein in group B was significantly higher than that in group A at 1, 3, and 5 days (P lt; 0.05). The expression of HGF protein in groups A and B remained at a high level within 5 days, but it tended to decrease at 7 days, which was significantly higher in group B than that in group A (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion SVF can enhance angiogenesis by secretion of growth factors at the early stage after aspirated fat transplantation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of G protein coupled receptor kinase interacting protein 1 (GIT1) affecting angiogenesis by comparing the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) differentiated into endothelial cells between GIT1 wild type mice and GIT1 gene knockout mice.MethodsMale and female GIT1 heterozygous mice were paired breeding, and the genotypic identification of newborn mice were detected by PCR. The 2nd generation BMSCs isolated from GIT1 wild type mice or GIT1 gene knockout mice were divided into 4 groups, including wild type control group (group A), wild type experimental group (group A1), GIT1 knockout control group (group B), and GIT1 knockout experimental group (group B1). The cells of groups A1 and B1 were cultured with the endothelial induction medium and the cells of groups A and B with normal cluture medium. The expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), VEGFR-3, and phospho-VEGFR-2 (pVEGFR-2), and pVEGFR-3 proteins were detected by Western blot. The endothelial cell markers [von Willebrand factor (vWF), platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1), and vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-Cadherin)] were detected by flow cytometry. The 2nd generation BMSCs of GIT1 wild type mice were divided into 4 groups according to the different culture media: group Ⅰ, primary cell culture medium; group Ⅱ, cell culture medium containing SAR131675 (VEGFR-3 blocker); group Ⅲ, endothelial induction medium; group Ⅳ, endothelial induction medium containing SAR131675. The endothelial cell markers (vWF, PECAM-1, and VE-Cadherin) in 4 groups were also detected by flow cytometry.ResultsWestern blot results showed that there was no obviously difference in protein expressions of VEGFR-2 and pVEGFR-2 between groups; and the expressions of VEGFR-3 and pVEGFR-3 proteins in group A1 were obviously higher than those in groups A, B, and B1. The flow cytometry results showed that the expressions of vWF, PECAM-1, and VE-Cadherin were significantly higher in group A1 than in groups A, B, and B1 (P<0.05), and in group B1 than in groups A and B (P<0.05); but no significant difference was found between groups A and B (P>0.05). In the VEGFR-3 blocked experiment, the flow cytometry results showed that the expressions of vWF, PECAM-1, and VE-Cadherin were significantly higher in group Ⅲ than in groupsⅠ, Ⅱ, and Ⅳ, and in group Ⅳ than in groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ (P<0.05); but no significant difference was found between groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ (P>0.05).ConclusionGIT1 mediates BMSCs of mice differentiation into endothelial cells via VEGFR-3, thereby affecting the angiogenesis.
ObjectiveTo study the effect and mechanism of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on osteoclasts formation and its bone resorption function.MethodsBone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) were extracted from the marrow of femur and tibia of 4-week-old male C57BL/6 mice. Flow cytometry was used to detect BMMs. The effect of different concentrations of LPS (0, 100, 200, 500, 1 000, 2 000 ng/mL) on BMMs activity was examined by cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) activity test. In order to investigate the effect of LPS on osteoclastogenesis, BMMs were divided into macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) group, M-CSF+receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) group, M-CSF+RANKL+50 ng/mL LPS group, M-CSF+RANKL+100 ng/mL LPS group. After the completion of culture, tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was used to observe the formation of osteoclasts. In order to investigate the effect of LPS on the expression of Connexin43, BMMs were divided into the control group (M-CSF+RANKL) and the LPS group (M-CSF+RANKL+100 ng/mL LPS); and the control group (M-CSF+RANKL), 50 ng/mL LPS group (M-CSF+RANKL+50 ng/mL LPS), and 100 ng/mL LPS group (M-CSF+RANKL+100 ng/mL LPS). The expressions of Connexin43 mRNA and protein were detected by Western blot and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, respectively. In order to investigate the effect of LPS on osteoclast bone resorption, BMMs were divided into M-CSF group, M-CSF+RANKL group, M-CSF+RANKL+50 ng/mL LPS group, and M-CSF+RANKL+100 ng/mL LPS group. Bone absorption test was used to detect the ratio of bone resorption area.ResultsThe flow cytometry test confirmed that the cultured cells were BMMs, and CCK-8 activity test proved that the 100 ng/mL LPS could promote the proliferation of BMMs, showing significant differences when compared with the 0, 200, 500, 1 000, and 2 000 ng/mL LPS (P<0.05). TRAP staining showed no osteoclast formation in M-CSF group. Compared with M-CSF+RANKL group, the osteoclasts in M-CSF+RANKL+50 ng/mL LPS group and M-CSF+RANKL+100 ng/mL LPS group were larger with more nuclei, while the osteoclasts in M-CSF+RANKL+100 ng/mL LPS group were more obvious, and the differences in the ratio of osteoclast area between groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). Western blot result showed that the relative expression of Connexin43 protein in LPS group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR showed that the relative expression of Connexin43 mRNA in control group, 50 ng/mL LPS group, and 100 ng/mL LPS group increased gradually, and the differences between groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). Bone resorption test showed that osteoclast bone resorption did not form in M-CSF group, but the ratio of bone resorption area increased gradually in M-CSF+RANKL group, M-CSF+RANKL+50 ng/mL LPS group, and M-CSF+RANKL+100 ng/mL LPS group, and the differences between groups were statistically significant (P<0.05).ConclusionLPS at concentration of 100 ng/mL can promote the expression of Connexin43, resulting in increased osteoclastogenesis and enhanced osteoclastic bone resorption.