人颈椎间盘髓核细胞的体外培养和鉴定

目的：建立人颈椎间盘髓核细胞体外培养体系,并对其细胞表型进行鉴定。方法：采用酶消化法分离人颈椎间盘髓核细胞,进行单层培养,倒置相差显微镜观察细胞生长和形态,流式细胞仪测定细胞周期和凋亡率,并行甲苯胺蓝、Ⅱ型胶原及CK8免疫组化染色对其细胞表型进行鉴定。结果：原代髓核细胞凋亡率6.1±1.4%,S期细胞比例7.3±0.5%。贴壁后形态为多角形或短楔形,传代后生长加速。细胞呈甲苯胺蓝异染性;Ⅱ型胶原免疫组化染色阳性;只有少量椭圆形大细胞CK8免疫组化染色阳性。结论：成功建立人颈椎间盘髓核细胞体外培养模型,并证实成年后髓核内仍有少量细胞保持脊索细胞表型。     

人颈椎间盘髓核细胞的体外培养和鉴定

目的:建立人颈椎间盘髓核细胞体外培养体系,并对其细胞表型进行鉴定。方法:采用酶消化法分离人颈椎间盘髓核细胞,进行单层培养,倒置相差显微镜观察细胞生长和形态,流式细胞仪测定细胞周期和凋亡率,并行甲苯胺蓝、Ⅱ型胶原及CK8免疫组化染色对其细胞表型进行鉴定。结果:原代髓核细胞凋亡率6.1±1.4%,S期细胞比例7.3±0.5%。贴壁后形态为多角形或短楔形,传代后生长加速。细胞呈甲苯胺蓝异染性;Ⅱ型胶原免疫组化染色阳性;只有少量椭圆形大细胞CK8免疫组化染色阳性。结论:成功建立人颈椎间盘髓核细胞体外培养模型,并证实成年后髓核内仍有少量细胞保持脊索细胞表型。     

改良胶原酶消化法分离培养人原代髓核细胞

目的:优化人原代髓核细胞的体外分离培养方法,为椎间盘退变的防治研究提供种子细胞。方法:无菌环境中摘取人椎间盘髓核组织,采用多次胶原酶消化法分离提取原代人髓核细胞,置于5%CO2培养箱中37℃恒温培养,倒置相差显微镜中观察细胞形态,采用MTT法绘制细胞生长曲线,甲苯胺蓝染色法检测髓核细胞内蛋白多糖的表达情况,细胞免疫荧光染色法检测Ⅱ型胶原蛋白表达情况。结果:本研究中获得的细胞形态不规则,呈梭形或多角形,原代细胞48 h内贴壁,培养第8天左右细胞融合度可达90%,第三代细胞12 h内即可贴壁,生长至融合90%约需5d。甲苯胺蓝染色及细胞免疫荧光染色均阳性,提示所得细胞具有分泌蛋白多糖及Ⅱ型胶原蛋白的功能。结论:改良胶原酶消化法可获得大量纯净的人髓核细胞,提高培养效率,原代及传代细胞具备类软骨细胞表型,且活性及功能均较为稳定,可作为椎间盘组织工程研究的种子细胞。     

周期性机械应力对髓核细胞增殖和细胞外基质表达的影响

目的：探讨周期性机械应力对髓核细胞增殖和细胞外基质表达的影响。方法：对兔髓核细胞进行体外细胞培养,对细胞施加周期性机械应力（0.25Mpa,0.1Hz）。实验分为2组,不加压组和加压组,不加压组置于单纯旋转式生物反应器内,加压组每天置于周期性机械应力场内2小时。分别于3天,7天检测细胞数目以及聚集蛋白聚糖（aggrecan）和Ⅱ型胶原的基因表达。结果：髓核细胞的增殖和聚集蛋白聚糖、Ⅱ型胶原基因的表达水平与周期性压力密切相关,在周期性机械应力刺激下髓核细胞增殖明显,细胞外基质的分泌增加,组织工程髓核细胞的活性显著提高。结论：周期性机械应力能够显著促进髓核细胞增殖,同时上调聚集蛋白聚糖、Ⅱ型胶原的基因的表达。     

周期性机械应力对髓核细胞增殖和细胞外基质表达的影响

目的:探讨周期性机械应力对髓核细胞增殖和细胞外基质表达的影响。方法:对兔髓核细胞进行体外细胞培养,对细胞施加周期性机械应力(0.25Mpa,0.1Hz)。实验分为2组,不加压组和加压组,不加压组置于单纯旋转式生物反应器内,加压组每天置于周期性机械应力场内2小时。分别于3天,7天检测细胞数目以及聚集蛋白聚糖(aggrecan)和Ⅱ型胶原的基因表达。结果:髓核细胞的增殖和聚集蛋白聚糖、Ⅱ型胶原基因的表达水平与周期性压力密切相关,在周期性机械应力刺激下髓核细胞增殖明显,细胞外基质的分泌增加,组织工程髓核细胞的活性显著提高。结论:周期性机械应力能够显著促进髓核细胞增殖,同时上调聚集蛋白聚糖、Ⅱ型胶原的基因的表达。     

生长分化因子-5及碱性成纤维细胞生长因子诱导家兔椎间盘髓核细胞成骨作用的研究

目的建立家兔椎间盘髓核细胞的体外培养模型,研究重组人生长分化因子-5(recombinant human growth differentiation factor-5,rhGDF-5)和碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(basic fibroblast growth factor,bFGF)对髓核细胞成骨潜能的激发作用。方法将诱导剂rhGDF-5和bFGF分别及联合加入体外培养的髓核细胞中,观察髓核细胞的成骨表型表达和细胞学特性的变化。结果 rhGDF-5和bFGF均能促进钙盐沉积形成钙结节。rhGDF-5抑制髓核细胞增殖同时增加骨钙素表达;bFGF促进髓核细胞增殖及Ⅰ型胶原表达,但对骨钙素表达无显著影响。联合使用rhGDF-5和bFGF对髓核细胞成骨潜能(促进髓核细胞增殖、Ⅰ型胶原及骨钙素表达和钙盐沉积)的激发作用均优于单独使用其中任一细胞因子。结论 rhGDF-5诱导髓核细胞向成骨细胞分化,bFGF加强该诱导作用,联合使用rhGDF-5和bFGF能充分激发髓核细胞的成骨潜能。     

人外分泌汗腺细胞分离方法的优化

目的:优化人外分泌汗腺细胞的分离方法,以高效地提取外分泌汗腺细胞。方法:新鲜的皮肤样本剪成组织微粒(大小约1 mm3),A组采用胰蛋白酶-乙二胺四乙酸(EDTA)和胶原酶Ⅱ型(2 mg/ml)体积分数1∶1混合的方法;B组采用传统消化方法,即胶原酶Ⅱ型;C组采用胰蛋白酶-EDTA消化的方法,三组同时置于恒温培养箱内,比较三种方法处理后汗腺细胞团的获取情况。将挑取的汗腺细胞团种于培养皿内,观察细胞贴壁和生长情况,并用流式细胞仪测定各组细胞的增殖指数,最后进行免疫细胞化学检测汗腺细胞标志性蛋白的表达。结果:A组和C组在消化30 min后,镜下可见少部分的汗腺细胞团,2 h后A组游离汗腺细胞团明显增多,C组游离汗腺细胞团很少;B组在消化6 h后,才出现部分游离的汗腺细胞团。将汗腺细胞团培养3 d后发现C组汗腺细胞贴壁情况差、成活细胞少;A组和B组的汗腺细胞贴壁情况良好,培养9 d后呈"铺路石样"生长,细胞增殖指数分别为(18±4)%和(17±6)%,无明显差异,免疫细胞化学结果表明:两组细胞癌胚抗原(CEA)和细胞角蛋白7(CK7)表达均为阳性。结论:胰蛋白酶-EDTA和Ⅱ型胶原酶联合消化法能明显缩短汗腺细胞的分离时间,且不影响细胞的活性和增殖特性。     

大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞的分离纯化与初步鉴定

目的：探讨体外分离、纯化大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞(mesenchymal stem cells,MSCs)的方法,分析其部分表型特点。方法：用密度梯度离心结合贴壁培养法分离纯化大鼠骨髓MSCs,传代扩增,测定生长曲线,形态学观察,免疫细胞化学及图像分析测定细胞表面抗原和细胞外基质蛋白表达情况。结果：MSCs属骨髓中单个核细胞,密度梯度离心结合贴壁培养法能有效分离纯化大鼠骨髓MSCs,MSCs在含10％小牛血清的L-DMEM中生长性状相对稳定,1、3、5代细胞生长曲线基本一致,增殖速度快。细胞呈均一的成纤维细胞样,均一表达CD44、CD54、纤维粘连蛋白(Fibronectin,FN)、Ⅰ型胶原(CollagenⅠ)。结论：本实验建立了一种体外分离纯化、培养扩增大鼠骨髓MSCs的方法,MSCs稳定表达CD44、CD54、FN、CollagenⅠ。     

大鼠骨髓基质细胞的培养及生物学特性鉴定

目的:分离、培养大鼠MSCs,对其生物学特性进行鉴定.方法:取大鼠长骨中的骨髓组织,以贴壁法培养分离大鼠MSCs,经多次传代得到较纯的MSCs,倒置相差显微镜下观察细胞形态,应用免疫细胞化学方法对细胞的表面抗原标志进行检测.取3代MSCs,B-ME诱导6小时候后,倒置相差显微镜下观察细胞形态,应用免疫细胞化学方法鉴定诱导后细胞的表型特征.结果:倒置相差显微镜观察发现,接种后24h,细胞开始贴壁.培养3代以后,细胞呈梭形或多角形,折光性好,核为圆形、居中.免疫细胞化学检测细胞表面抗原显示:CD34-、CD45-、CD29+、CD44+、CD90+.诱导后细胞发出突起,逐渐生长延伸并彼此相连,形态学上具有神经细胞的明显特征.免疫细胞化学显示诱导后细胞NSE(神经元特异性烯醇化酶)阳性.结论:所采用的细胞分离培养方法简便可行,所获得的细胞其表型特征与文献报道一致,且具有向神经细胞分化的潜能.     

脐带间充质干细胞成脂分化的研究

目的:探讨脐带间充质干细胞向成脂细胞方向分化的潜能,为脂肪组织工程提供一种来源丰富的干细胞来源。方法:采用胰酶和胶原酶Ⅰ型联合消化法获得脐带间充质干细胞,通过免疫细胞化学法对其表面标志物进行鉴定,化学诱导方法诱导脐带间充质干细胞向成脂细胞方向分化,倒置显微镜观察其形态变化,油红O染色对诱导后的细胞进行染色。结果:胰酶和胶原酶Ⅰ联合消化法分离的细胞贴壁生长,呈现成纤维细胞形态,免疫细胞化学显示脐带间充质干细胞表达CD29、CD44和CD105,但不表达CD31、CD34和CD105,脐带间充质干细胞在成脂诱导培养基中细胞生长速度明显减慢,细胞形态转变为肥大、扁平、含有大量脂滴的脂肪细胞,油红O染色示胞浆充满了油滴空泡。结论:脐带间充质干细胞具有向成脂细胞方向分化的潜能,为脂肪组织工程提供了一种来源丰富、免疫力低和低分化的种子细胞。     

Effects of adeno-associated virus (AAV) of transforming growth factors β1 and β3 (TGFβ1,3) on promoting synthesis of glycosaminoglycan and collagen type Ⅱ of dedifferentiated nucleus pulposus (NP) cells

The effects of AAV-TGFβ1 and AAV-TGFβ3 on promoting synthesis of glycosaminoglycan and collagen type Ⅱ of dedifferentiated rabbit lumbar disc NP cells were studied in this work. The rabbit lumbar disc NP cells were isolated and cultured. The earlier and later dedifferentiated NP cells were established by subculture. The AAV transfection efficiency to dedifferentiated NP cells was analyzed with AAV-EGFP in vitro. After dedifferentiated NP cells were transfected by AAV-TGFβ1 or AAV-TGFβ3, their biological effects on promoting synthesis of glycosaminoglycan or collagen type Ⅱ were detected and compared by the methods of 35S incorporation or immunoblotting. The experimental results showed that AAV could transfect efficiently the earlier dedifferentiated NP cells, but its transfection rate was shown to be at a low level to the later dedifferentiated NP cells. Both AAV-TGFβ1 and AAV-TGFβ3 could promote the earlier dedifferentiated NP cells to synthesize glycosaminoglycan and collagen type Ⅱ, and the effect of AAV-TGFβ1 was better than that of AAV-TGFβ3. For the later dedifferentiated NP cells, the AAV-TGFβ3 could promote their synthesis, but AAV-TGFβ1 could slightly inhibit their synthesis. Therefore, AAV-TGFβ1 and AAV-TGFβ3 could be used for the earlier dedifferentiated NP cells, and the TGFβ3 could be used as the objective gene for the later dedifferentiated NP cells.     

TGF-β1 induces type I collagen deposition in granulosa cells via the AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway-mediated MMP1 down-regulation

Type I collagen is the most abundant extracellular matrix (ECM) protein in the mammalian ovary, and comprises two COL1A1 subunits and one COL1A2 subunit. Matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) is a typical collagenase of type I collagen, that can be detected in ovarian follicles and early corpus luteum. Previous studies demonstrated that MMP1-mediated degradation of type I collagen plays a functional role in regulating corpus luteum formation, and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) inhibits luteinization and progesterone production in granulosa cells (GCs). Whether TGF-β1 regulates the expression of MMP1, COL1A1, or the deposition of type I collagen during corpus luteum formation remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms through which TGF-β1 regulates MMP1 expression and type I collagen deposition in GCs. Our results show that TGF-β1 upregulates COL1A1 expressions and downregulates MMP1 expression. Inhibition approaches, including pharmacological inhibitors such as p38 inhibitor (SB203580), ERK1/2 inhibitor (U0126), AKT inhibitor (LY294002), and GSK-3β inhibitor (LiCl), as well as knockdown using siRNA specific to these genes, were used. Our results suggest that TGF-β1 decreases MMP1 production via an ALK5-mediated AKT/GSK-3β-dependent signaling pathway, and a decrease in MMP1 levels and an increase in COL1A1 levels synergistically promote type I collagen deposition in GCs. Collectively, these findings provide novel insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms by which TGF-β1 upregulates type I collagen deposition in GCs.     

Apigenin suppresses TGF-β1-induced cardiac fibroblast differentiation and collagen synthesis through the downregulation of HIF-1α expression by miR-122-5p

BackgroundApigenin can reduce cardiomyocyte hypertrophy by downregulating hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) expression. However, its effects on cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and its exact inhibitory molecular mechanisms on HIF-1α remain unclear.PurposeThis study aims to examine the effects of apigenin on cell proliferation and differentiation, microRNA-122-5p (miR-122-5p) expression, and HIF-1α-mediated Smad signaling pathway in transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)-stimulated CFs and cardiac fibrosis and to investigate the relationship between miR-122-5p and HIF-1α.MethodsThe TGF-β1-stimulated CFs, the combination of TGF-β1-stimulated and miR-122-5p mimic-transfected CFs, the combination of TGF-β1-stimulated and miR-122-5p inhibitor-transfected CFs, and the isoproterenol-induced cardiac fibrotic mice were used and treated with or without apigenin. The recombinant lentiviruses overexpressing HIF-1α vector and miR-122-5p mimic were co-transfected to observe their interaction. Related mRNA and protein expressions and myocardial collagen were determined. The luciferase reporter gene that contains HIF-1α wild type or mutant type 3’-UTR was used, and the luciferase activity was determined to verify the direct link between miR-122-5p and HIF-1α.ResultsIn the TGF-β1-stimulated CFs, apigenin treatment increased the miR-122-5p and Smad7 expressions and decreased the HIF-1α, α-smooth muscle actin, collagen Ⅰ/Ⅲ, Smad2/3, and p-Smad2/3 expressions. Similar and inverse results were observed in the miR-122-5p mimic- and inhibitor-transfected CFs, respectively. Moreover, the miR-122-5p mimic could antagonize the effects of TGF-β1 in the TGF-β1 and miR-122-5p mimic-combined CFs, and the miR-122-5p inhibitor could enhance the effects of TGF-β1 in the TGF-β1 and miR-122-5p inhibitor-combined CFs. In the two aforementioned cell models, the addition of apigenin could further enhance the effects of miR-122-5p mimic and partially reverse the effects of miR-122-5p inhibitor. After treatment of HIF-1α-transfected CFs with miR-122-5p mimic, the HIF-1α expression decreased. Further study confirmed that HIF-1α was a direct target of miR-122-5p. Apigenin also decreased the myocardial collagen accumulation in cardiac fibrotic mice.ConclusionApigenin could suppress the differentiation and collagen synthesis of TGF-β1-stimulated CFs and mouse cardiac fibrosis, and its mechanisms were related to the increment of miR-122-5p expression and subsequent downregulation of HIF-1α expression via direct interaction, which might finally result in the decrements of Smad2/3 and p-Smad2/3 expressions and increment of Smad7 expression.     

TGF-β1 facilitates MT1-MMP-mediated proMMP-9 activation and invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, also known as gelatinases or type IV collagenases, are recognized as major contributors to the proteolytic degradation of extracellular matrix during tumor invasion. Latent MMP-2 (proMMP-2) is activated by membrane type 1 MMP (MT1-MMP) on the cell surface of tumor cells. We previously reported that cell-bound proMMP-9 is activated by the MT1-MMP/MMP-2 axis in HT1080 cells treated with concanavalin A in the presence of exogenous proMMP-2. However, the regulatory mechanism of proMMP-9 activation remains largely unknown. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 is frequently overexpressed in tumor tissues and is associated with tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis. In this study, we examined the role of TGF-β1 on MT1-MMP-mediated proMMP-9 activation using human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. TGF-β1 significantly increased the expression of MMP-9. By adding exogenous proMMP-2, TGF-β1-induced proMMP-9 was activated during collagen gel culture, which was suppressed by the inhibition of TGF-β1 signaling or MT1-MMP activity. This MT1-MMP-mediated proMMP-9 activation was needed to facilitate TGF-β1-induced cell invasion into collagen gel. Thus, TGF-β1 may facilitate MT1-MMP-mediated MMP-9 activation and thereby stimulate invasion of tumor cells in collaboration with MT1-MMP and MMP-2.     

Method to analyze collagenase and gelatinase activity by fibroblasts in culture

Summary The net amount of collagen produced and deposited by fibroblasts in cell culture is determined by the rate of collagen synthesis as well as the rate of collagen degradation. Although collagen synthesis can be analyzed by several techniques, it is more difficult to measure collagen degradation. Breakdown of collagen depends upon the activity of a family of structurally and catalytically related mammalian enzymes termed matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Interstitial collagenase (MMP1) initiates the cleavage of fibrillar collagen, whereas gelatinases (MMP2 and MMP9) digest the denatured collagen fragments. A method has been developed to quantitate the activity of collagenase (MMP1) and gelatinase (MMP9) in conditioned medium from fibroblast cell cultures. The assay, which uses the fluorogenic substrate Dnp-Pro-Cha-Gly-Cys(Me)-His-Ala-Lys(Nma)NH₂, is technically simple and amenable to high throughput analysis. Addition of specific inhibitors of the metalloproteinases allows for simultaneous measurement of both collagenase and gelatinase activity.     

IL-13抑制剂在损伤大鼠尾椎间盘退变中的作用研究

为了探讨IL-13细胞因子在损伤后大鼠椎间盘退变中的影响,建立了大鼠尾椎间盘退变模型,给予IL-13抑制剂sIL-13Rα2-Fc进行干预,将实验分为空白、对照、低剂量、中剂量、高剂量干预组。分别于4周及6周后通过HE染色和Masson染色观察椎间盘形态变化并评分;DMMB法定量分析椎间盘中的糖胺多糖(glycosaminoglycan,GAG)、硫酸软骨素(chondroitin sulfate,CS)、硫酸角质素(keratan sulfate,KS)、透明质酸(hyaluronic acid,HA)含量变化;RT-PCR分析Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型胶原蛋白的mRNA表达水平;蛋白质印迹分析Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型胶原蛋白含量。HE和Masson染色显示与对照组相比,干预组椎间盘病理改变减小,纤维环排列更规则,破裂部位减小,NP细胞数量增加,胶原纤维减少。sIL-13Rα2-Fc干预增加了糖胺多糖、透明质酸含量,增加了硫酸软骨素/硫酸角质素比,减少了Ⅰ型胶原蛋白的表达,并增加了Ⅱ型胶原蛋白。结果表明IL-13抑制剂sIL-13Rα2-Fc可有效减轻椎间盘退变,并且与作用时间和浓度成正相关。