子宫腺肌病发病与干细胞关系的研究进展

子宫腺肌病(adenomyosis,AM)是一种常见的严重影响女性身心健康及女性生育并伴有恶性侵袭性的妇科良性疾病。以子宫内膜的腺体和间质异位至深部子宫肌层,并伴随相邻肌细胞增生和肥大为特征,其临床特点特殊,近期统计研究发现其发病率正逐渐升高,而且趋向年轻化。现有研究报道子宫腺肌发病涉及多方面的因素,但具体发病机制尚不明确。近期研究发现子宫内膜存在的基底层干细胞可能与子宫内膜随月经周期发生脱落、增殖相关,其功能紊乱可能导致子宫内膜增生异常性疾病包括子宫腺肌病的发生,子宫内膜干细胞侵入子宫肌层,在局部环境的诱导下增殖、分化或可形成子宫内膜的异位病灶。子宫内膜干细胞的研究可能为子宫腺肌病发病和治疗带来新的思路和希望。本文参考国内外文献,就近年来子宫腺肌病发病机制及与干细胞相关研究进展进行综述并提出展望。     

乳腺癌肿瘤干细胞的研究进展

干细胞(stem cell,SC)是一类具有自我更新、多向分化潜能的特殊细胞群体.而肿瘤干细胞(cancer stem cell,CSC)不仅具备了干细胞方面的特征,同时还有其自身特殊性.乳腺癌中肿瘤干细胞的发现为乳腺癌的治疗提供了创新性策略.近年来,有关乳腺癌肿瘤干细胞的筛选标记和方法以及信号转导通路方面的研究颇多,但其中也不乏争议.就乳腺癌干细胞研究的最新进展作一端述.     

子宫内膜干细胞及其与血管生成关系的研究进展

大量的临床观察和基础研究均提示,子宫内膜中存在一些干细胞,它们具有高度增殖、自我更新和的分化潜能。目前有学者研究子宫内膜干细胞是否可能成为子宫内膜病变患者进行内膜修复替代治疗的手段,以及是否可以在毛细血管重建及血管发生中发挥作用。虽然近年来在子宫内膜干细胞的鉴定和分离方面有了很大的进展,但对于它的特异性标志物仍在探索中。同时对子宫内膜干细胞的研究可为内膜异位症、子宫内膜癌等疾病的治疗提供新的思路。本文针对国内外研究者近年来在这发面的研究现状进行综述。     

小鼠精原干细胞与胚胎干细胞样细胞

近年来,通过培养小鼠精原干细胞(spermatogonial stem cells,SSCs)获得了胚胎干细胞样细胞(,embryonic stem cell-like cells,ES样细胞).这些研究表明小鼠精原干细胞不仅具备特异分化为精子的干细胞潜能,而且具备胚胎干细胞(embryonic stem cell,ES)分化为三胚层的多向分化潜能.因此.这将有助于研究干细胞的分化调控机制,并且这些研究成果延伸至人类精原干细胞,也将为再生医学获取特殊的胚胎干细胞样细胞或特异分化的精子细胞开辟了蹊径.     

基于经血源性子宫内膜干细胞的中枢神经系统疾病治疗的研究进展

干细胞研究已成为当今生命科学领域中的前沿和热点问题,该研究为探讨胚胎发生、组织细胞分化以及基因表达调控等生物学问题提供了理想的模型,同时也为临床组织缺陷性疾病和遗传性疾病的细胞治疗和基因治疗开辟了新的手段。其中,经血源性子宫内膜干细胞(Menstrual blood-derived stem cells,MenSCs)来源丰富,具有多向分化潜能和较低的免疫排斥的特性,可以实现个体化治疗,是临床最具有应用优势的干细胞。脑与脊髓作为中枢神经系统,其损伤极为常见,致死率和致残率居各类创伤之首。与周围神经系统损伤相比,中枢神经受损后恢复较为困难,其治疗仍缺乏突破。而MenSCs的治疗有希望解决此难题,故结合近年来国内外对MenSCs的生物学特性及其对中枢神经系统疾病治疗的研究作一综述,从而为中枢神经系统疾病的治疗提供参考。     

骨髓造血干细胞龛

造血干细胞（hematopoietic stem cell,HSC）位于骨髓的造血微环境即龛（niche）中,它们与龛内特定的细胞相互作用以调节其自我更新和定向分化。研究发现,骨髓中的成骨细胞和内皮细胞与造血干细胞关系密切,分别构成了HSC龛中的成骨龛和血管龛,其中成骨龛维持静态的HSC微环境,而血管龛调控HSC的增殖、分化和动员等行为。对骨髓HSC龛的研究为将来临床治疗血液系统相关疾病提供了新的思路。     

干细胞的异常分化与肿瘤发生

干细胞是一类具有自我更新和多向分化潜能的细胞群体。越来越多的研究表明,干细胞异常分化可导致肿瘤。并且在肿瘤组织中存在部分细胞,它们具有干细胞的多种特性,被称为肿瘤干细胞(cancer stem cell,CSC)。肿瘤干细胞理论的提出,为肿瘤的治疗与研究提供了新的方向。本文综述了正常干细胞异常分化、肿瘤干细胞的存在和特性、肿瘤干细胞靶向治疗的前景及所面临的问题等方面的研究进展。     

基因组编辑技术在干细胞疾病模型和疾病治疗中的应用

基于人类多能干细胞(human pluripotent stem cells,h PSCs)的疾病模拟体系提供了一个全新的疾病研究平台。携带特定致病突变的h PSCs可以通过患者体细胞重编程成诱导性多能干细胞(induced pluripotent stem cells,i PSCs)获得,或者通过向野生型h PSCs中引入致病突变获得。获得的突变h PSCs及其野生型对照细胞株在体外诱导下可以分化为疾病相关体细胞类型,继而被用于疾病模拟和机理研究。近几年出现的基因组编辑技术使得疾病模拟平台的建立更加高效和优化。主要讨论干细胞疾病模拟领域的进展,以及基因组编辑技术在干细胞疾病模拟和疾病治疗中的应用。     

人胚胎干细胞建株与维持培养条件的优化

人胚胎干细胞(human embryonic stem cell,hESCs)是早期胚胎或原始性腺中分离出来的一类细胞,它具有无限增殖、自我更新和全能分化的特性。无论在体内还是体外环境,人胚胎干细胞都能分化为机体几乎所有类型的细胞。基于其全能分化性,胚胎干细胞成为治疗各种退行性疾病的理想细胞来源。然而,在目前培养条件下所建立的胚胎干细胞株,仍然存在动物源性物质潜在污染的问题。因此,更优化的建株及培养条件十分重要。     

诱导性多潜能干细胞技术进展

诱导性多潜能干细胞(induced pluripotent stem cells,iPSCs)可以通过在分化的成纤维细胞中导入特定的转录因子获得。IPS细胞与胚胎干细胞(embryonic stem cell,ESCs)在形态,增殖能力,基因表达谱和畸胎瘤形成上没有区别,因此在研究疾病机制,药物筛选和毒理学上有重要的应用价值。一旦解决了安全性和效率问题,iPS细胞将在再生医学上有重要的应用价值。主要从提高转化效率、制备无遗传修饰的iPS细胞和疾病特异性的iPS细胞这3个近来在iPS领域飞速进展的方向做一综述。     

干细胞生物工程研究展望

 由于最近两年干细胞研究技术的突破 ,一门崭新的学科“干细胞生物工程”已经形成 .人类胚胎干细胞在体外的成功培养以及一种组织的干细胞 (成体干细胞 )向另一种组织细胞横向分化的发现 ,为利用“干细胞生物工程”技术治疗疾病奠定了基础 .本综述着重介绍干细胞研究领域的一些新概念和新技术以及干细胞分化的基因调控 .对干细胞生物工程的临床应用前景作了概括性讨论     

细胞药物的研发现状——细胞药物连载之三

近年来,细胞药物的研究受到了国内外重视。特别是干细胞药物,已成为世界各国竞相研究的热点领域,但各国的干细胞药物绝大多数仍处于研究阶段,全球真正上市的干细胞药物很少。目前正在研发的干细胞药物主要集中在治疗慢性疾病（关节炎、糖尿病和癌症等）和心脏相关疾病（心肌梗死、心脏衰竭等）。一些传统体细胞药物（软骨细胞、心肌细胞、胰岛细胞等）和免疫细胞药物已在临床应用。     

Stem/progenitor cells in liver injury repair and regeneration

Morbidity and mortality from cirrhosis is increasing rapidly in the world. Currently, orthotopic liver transplantation is the only definitive therapeutic option. However, its clinical use is limited, because of poor long‐term graft survival, donor organ shortage and high costs associated with the procedure. Stem cell replacement strategies are therefore being investigated as an attractive alternative approach to liver repair and regeneration. In this review we discuss recent preclinical and clinical investigations that explore the therapeutic potential of stem cells in repair of liver injuries. Several types of stem cells. including embryonic stem cells, haematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells, can be induced to differentiate into hepatocyte‐like cells by defined culture conditions in vitro. Stem cell transplantation has been shown to significantly improve liver function and increase animal survival in experimentally‐induced liver‐injury models. Moreover, several pilot clinical studies have reported encouraging therapeutic effects in patients treated with stem cells. Although there remain many unresolved issues, the available data support the notion that stem cell technology may lead to the development of effective clinical modalities for human liver diseases.     

Novel insights in basic and applied stem cell therapy

The achievement of novel findings in stem cell research were the subject of the meeting organized by Stem Cell Research Italy (SCR Italy) and by the International Society for Cellular Therapy-Europe (ISCT). Stem cell therapy represents great promise for the future of molecular and regenerative medicine. The use of several types of stem cells is a real opportunity to provide a valid approach to curing several untreatable human diseases. Before it is suitable for clinical applications, stem cell biology needs to be investigated further and in greater detail. Basic stem cell research could provide exact knowledge regarding stem cell action mechanisms, and pre-clinical research on stem cells on an in vivo model of disease provides scientific evidence for future human applications. Applied stem cell research is a promising new approach to handling several diseases. Along with tissue engineering, it offers a new and promising discipline that can help to manage human pathologies through stem cell therapy. All of these themes were discussed in this meeting, covering stem cell subtypes with their newest basic and applied research.     

小分子化合物诱导干细胞向视网膜感光细胞分化的研究进展

干细胞是一类具有多向分化潜能的细胞群,如胚胎干细胞(embryonic stem cell,ESC)、诱导多潜能干细胞(induced pluripotent stem cell,i PSC)等,可在特定的条件下向包括视网膜感光细胞在内的多种细胞分化。小分子化合物是一类由组织细胞合成、分泌的小分子多肽类因子,特定的小分子化合物可作用于干细胞诱导其向视网膜感光细胞分化。目前,对干细胞体外培养,通过使用不同的诱导培养方案,探索干细胞向视网膜感光细胞分化的研究成为热点。早期,研究者们主要在共培养条件下采用小分子化合物诱导ESC向视网膜感光细胞分化,随着研究的进展,逐渐开始探索在无共培养条件下小分子化合物诱导ESC向视网膜感光细胞的分化以及小分子化合物诱导i PSC向视网膜感光细胞的分化。本文主要就小分子化合物促进ESC和i PSC向视网膜感光细胞分化的研究进展进行综述。     

Application of mesenchymal stem cell exosomes and their drug‐loading systems in acute liver failure

Stem cell exosomes are nanoscale membrane vesicles released from stem cells of various origins that can regulate signal transduction pathways between liver cells, and their functions in intercellular communication have been recognized. Due to their natural substance transport properties and excellent biocompatibility, exosomes can also be used as drug carriers to release a variety of substances, which has great prospects in the treatment of critical and incurable diseases. Different types of stem cell exosomes have been used to study liver diseases. Due to current difficulties in the treatment of acute liver failure (ALF), this review will outline the potential of stem cell exosomes for ALF treatment. Specifically, we reviewed the pathogenesis of acute liver failure and the latest progress in the use of stem cell exosomes in the treatment of ALF, including the role of exosomes in inhibiting the ALF inflammatory response and regulating signal transduction pathways, the advantages of stem cell exosomes and their use as a drug‐loading system, and their pre‐clinical application in the treatment of ALF. Finally, the clinical research status of stem cell therapy for ALF and the current challenges of exosome clinical transformation are summarized.     

Stem cells and regenerative medicine

Stem cells have been defined as clonogenic cells that undergo both self-renewal and differentiation to more committed progenitors and functionally specialized mature cells. Of late years, stem cells have been identified in a variety of tissues of an adult body. Depending on the source, they have the potential to form one or more, or even all cell types of an organism. Stem cell research provided some outstanding contributions to our understanding of developmental biology and offered much hope for cell replacement therapies overcoming a variety of diseases. The establishment of human ES cell lines enabled us to generate all tissues we comprise. Recently, excitement has been evoked by the controversial evidence that adult stem cells have a much higher degree of developmental plasticity than previously imagined. More recently, the existence of multipotent somatic stem cells in bone marrow has been reported. Combined with these discoveries and achievements as well as the developing technologies, scientists are now trying to bring stem cell therapies to the clinic.     

脂肪干细胞在泌尿系统疾病中的研究进展

脂肪干细胞(adipose-derived stem cells,ADSCs)是一类从脂肪分离出来的具有自我更新及多向分化潜能的成体干细胞,ADSCs具有高度的可塑性,可分化成多种类型的细胞。与其他干细胞相比,ADSCs具有来源充足,取材方便,供体易接受等独特优势,已成为基础医学及临床治疗的研究热点。ADSCs诱导分化和移植可有效治疗多种组织损伤性疾病,改善或修复器官功能,近年来ADSCs作为细胞疗法及组织工程的新型种子细胞在泌尿系统疾病治疗中取得了重大进展。本文重点讨论ADSCs的生物学特性及其在泌尿系统疾病中的应用前景。     

Stem cell therapy for Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory loss and cognitive impairment. It is caused by synaptic failure and excessive accumulation of misfolded proteins. To date, almost all advanced clinical trials on specific AD-related pathways have failed mostly due to a large number of neurons lost in the brain of patients with AD. Also, currently available drug candidates intervene too late. Stem cells have improved characteristics of self-renewal, proliferation, differentiation, and recombination with the advent of stem cell technology and the transformation of these cells into different types of central nervous system neurons and glial cells. Stem cell treatment has been successful in AD animal models. Recent preclinical studies on stem cell therapy for AD have proved to be promising. Cell replacement therapies, such as human embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cell–derived neural cells, have the potential to treat patients with AD, and human clinical trials are ongoing in this regard. However, many steps still need to be taken before stem cell therapy becomes a clinically feasible treatment for human AD and related diseases. This paper reviews the pathophysiology of AD and the application prospects of related stem cells based on cell type.     

Stem cell research in China

In the past 5 years, China has increased its efforts in the field of stem cell research and practice. Basic research mainly focuses on bone marrow and embryonic stem cells. Clinical applications of stem cells in the treatment of acute heart failure, acute liver failure and lower limb ischaemia have been reported by many hospitals. China enacted its 'Ethical Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research' in 2003. At present, China has the most liberal and favourable environments for human embryonic stem cell research.