BMP2基因在脂肪形成过程中的功能研究进展

骨形态发生蛋白2（BMP2）属于转化生长因子β（TGF-β）超家族成员,是一种分泌性蛋白,具有多重生物学功能。BMP2基因不仅可以诱导骨细胞的形成,还可以促进间充质干细胞向脂肪细胞分化,在脂肪的形成过程中发挥着重要作用。就该基因的结构、表达及其在诱导脂肪细胞形成方面的功能等进行综述。     

脂肪干细胞促进肌腱损伤修复研究进展

脂肪干细胞（adipose-derived stem cells, ADSCs）具有来源广泛、易于获取、体外扩增、免疫原性低等许多优于其他组织来源间充质干细胞（mesenchymal stem cells, MSCs）的特点,越来越多的研究开始关注如何将其应用于组织损伤的治疗与修复。就近几年来国内外ADSCs的发现与分离、向肌腱谱系分化能力以及在肌腱损伤修复方面的应用进行了综述,分析了ADSCs应用于肌腱损伤修复时的优势和面临的问题,并对未来的研究方向进行了展望。     

脂肪间充质干细胞体外分化成心肌样细胞

探讨大鼠脂肪间充质干细胞（adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells,AMSC）体外分化成心肌样细胞的潜能,为自体干细胞移植治疗心肌梗死提供理论基础.采用消化法分离大鼠AMSC,培养于RPMI1640生长培养基中,倒置相差显微镜观察细胞形态发现,随着培养时间的延长,细胞形态趋向于心肌细胞,SQ RT-PCR检测表达心肌特异性基因：β-肌球蛋白重链（β-MHC）、α-肌球蛋白重链（α-MHC）、心房利钠肽（ANP）、心肌肌钙蛋白（cTnT）、心肌肌动蛋白、肌肉增强因子和GATA-4;免疫细胞化学和免疫荧光染色检测表达心肌细胞特异性蛋白：结蛋白、横纹肌辅肌动蛋白、心肌肌动蛋白和间隙连接蛋白45(connexin 45);Western印迹检测表达心肌特异性蛋白Nkx2.5. 实验表明,大鼠AMSC在体外培养条件下能分化成心肌样细胞,在组织工程学及干细胞移植领域有着良好的应用前景.     

Nurr-1基因转染促进脂肪干细胞的神经分化

目的:研究孤儿核受体相关基因1(Nurr-1)对脂肪干细胞(adipose tissue-derived stem cells,ADSC)向神经元方向分化的潜在作用。方法:流式细胞术与成骨、成脂诱导技术鉴定脂肪干细胞;Nurrr-1基因转染脂肪干细胞后,应用神经特异性标志物MAP-2,β-tubulin的免疫荧光染色评估其向神经方向分化的能力。结果:流式细胞术结果表明培养的细胞CD29,CD44表达90%以上,CD45,CD90表达均低于1.5%,经过诱导后,油红O、茜素红S染色均呈阳性,表明所培养的细胞为脂肪干细胞;慢病毒转染Nurr-1基因后,免疫荧光染色检测MAP-2,β-tubulin的免疫荧光强度显著增加;RT-PCR结果显示Nurr-1转染的脂肪干细胞的MAP-2、β-tubulin、NF200的表达量显著提高。结论:Nurr-1基因转染能促进脂肪干细胞向神经方向分化,为神经损伤和神经退行性病变的治疗提供了新途径。     

胃癌干细胞研究进展

胃癌是仅次于肺癌的第二大致死率癌症,尽管近年来对胃癌研究有了很大进展,但由于缺乏良好的动物模型,对胃癌的发病机理仍然不是很清楚.近年的研究表明,肿瘤组织不是由均一细胞构成的,其中存在一些少量细胞可以自我更新并可以分化为肿瘤组织的其他细胞,这类细胞具有类似成体组织干细胞（tissue stem cells）的特性称之为肿瘤干细胞（cancer stem cells）.肿瘤干细胞被认为在肿瘤的生长、转移、复发中发挥着重要作用.有证据表明在胃癌组织中存在胃癌干细胞（gastric cancer stem cells）,但是对胃癌干细胞的来源仍然不是十分明确.对肿瘤干细胞的研究有助于癌症的治疗,改变目前药物针对所有癌细胞的治疗策略.     

脂肪干细胞在再生医学中的应用

再生医学是一门研究如何促进创伤与组织再生及功能重建的新兴学科,主要通过研究干细胞分化、机体等正常组织创伤修复与再生等机制来维持、修复、再生或改善损伤组织和器官功能。脂肪干细胞（adipose-derived stem cells,ASCs）是近年来从脂肪组织中分离得到的一种具有多向分化潜能的干细胞,是一种足量的、可用于实际的、有一定吸引力的自体细胞代替的供体资源,并能够广泛的用于组织修复、再生、发育的可塑性及细胞治疗等研究中。阐述了脂肪干细胞在旁分泌、软组织重建及损伤修复、骨骼肌重建、心血管重建、神经系统重建及癌症转移与入侵方面的作用模式,概括总结了目前利用脂肪干细胞参与的临床治疗方法,以期对脂肪干细胞在再生医学中应用研究提供参考。     

TGF-β/Smad通路对造血干细胞的调控作用

造血干细胞(hematopoietic stem cells,HSCs)是典型的成体干细胞,造血系统的稳定依靠造血干细胞正确的自我更新、增殖和分化。TGF-β超家族包括TGF-β、骨生成蛋白(BMP)和激活素,可通过Smad蛋白对造血干细胞进行调节。TGF-β/Smad通路可通过降低CDK4的表达、增加p21蛋白表达和改变p27分布,将造血干细胞阻断于G1期;通过上调CD34表达,抑制造血干细胞的分化。但也有不同的观点,认为TGF-β对HSCs的调节与Smads无关,TGF-β并非通过调控p21和p27抑制HSCs的增殖,TGF-β/Smad通路对维持HSCs静止状态无关。     

猪脂肪干细胞的特点及其应用

脂肪干细胞(adipose-derived stem cells,ADSCs)是从脂肪组织中分离得到的一种具有多元分化潜能的干细胞,且脂肪组织在人体内的储量丰富,取材简单。因此,人源脂肪干细胞(human adipose-derived stem cells,hADSCs)具有良好的应用前景,如干细胞治疗、再生以及药物研发等。然而,要将这些基础研究成果应用于临床,必须通过临床前的安全性、可行性和潜在的风险评估。而在实验动物中,猪与人类在解剖学、遗传学和生理学上非常相似,因此猪脂肪干细胞(porcine adiposederived stem cells,pADSCs)的相关研究对人脂肪干细胞走向临床应用具有重要的理论及实践意义。基于猪脂肪干细胞的重要作用,本文综述了猪脂肪干细胞的分离、培养、免疫表型、分化能力及应用前景。     

间充质干细胞向内皮细胞的分化及其在血管组织工程中的应用

利用间充质干细胞(menchymal stem cells,MSCs)的多向分化能力,将其诱导成为内皮细胞(endothelial cells,ECs),可解决血管组织工程中自体血管细胞作为种子细胞所面临的细胞来源及成体细胞增殖能力有限的问题.MSCs可从多种组织中分离获得,目前应用于血管组织工程的3种MSCs主要源于骨髓、脂肪和肌肉.MSCs的分化可由多种刺激触发,在其向ECs的分化过程中生长因子、支架性质和机械应力等因素起着重要的作用.而以MSCs分化为ECs为基础的组织工程血管在动物模型中展现出促血管生成能力和良好的通畅性,但目前其在临床上的应用较少,需进一步研究,并有许多问题仍待探究.     

Nanog、Oct-4、Sox-2基因在3种间充质干细胞中的表达

本研究通过体外传代培养人胎盘(placenta mesenchymal stem cells, PA-MSCs)、脐带(umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, UC-MSCs)以及脂肪间充质干细胞(adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells, AD-MSCs),对3种细胞的细胞形态、生长能力、细胞周期及表面标志物进行了检测,同时检测了多能维持基因Nanog、Oct-4和Sox-2的基因表达水平,以探讨其表达量对3种间充质干细胞细胞干性维持能力的影响。结果表明:在3种细胞的传代过程中,PA-MSCs和UC-MSCs的增殖活性明显高于AD-MSCs;随着传代次数的增加,在PAMSCs中,Nanog和Sox-2表达较为稳定,而Oct-4的表达不稳定;在UC-MSCs及AD-MSCs中,3种基因表达水平均表现出较大的差异。因此,研究人员推测PA-MSCs多能性维持能力强于UC-MSCs及AD-MSCs。     

The dynamic role of bone morphogenetic proteins in neural stem cell fate and maturation

The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are a group of powerful morphogens that are critical for development of the nervous system. The effects of BMP signaling on neural stem cells are myriad and dynamic, changing with each stage of development. During early development inhibition of BMP signaling differentiates neuroectoderm from ectoderm, and BMP signaling helps to specify neural crest. Thus modulation of BMP signaling underlies formation of both the central and peripheral nervous systems. BMPs secreted from dorsal structures then form a gradient which helps pattern the dorsal-ventral axis of the developing spinal cord and brain. During forebrain development BMPs sequentially induce neurogenesis and then astrogliogenesis and participate in neurite outgrowth from immature neurons. BMP signaling also plays a critical role in maintaining adult neural stem cell niches in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and subgranular zone (SGZ). BMPs are able to exert such diverse effects through closely regulated temporospatial expression and interaction with other signaling pathways.     

Bone morphogenetic proteins in dentin regeneration for potential use in endodontic therapy

The human dentition is indispensable for nutrition and physiology. The teeth have evolved for mastication of food. Caries is a common dental problem in which the dentin matrix is damaged. When the caries is deep and the dental pulp is exposed, the pulp has to be removed in many cases, resulting ultimately in loss of the tooth. Therefore, the regeneration of dentin-pulp complex is the long-term goal of operative dentistry and endodontics. The key elements of dentin regeneration are stem cells, morphogens such as bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and a scaffold of extracellular matrix. The dental pulp has stem/progenitor cells that have the potential to differentiate into dentin-forming odontoblasts in response to BMPs. Pulpal wound healing consists of stem/progenitor cells release from dental pulp niche after noxious stimuli such as caries, migration to the injured site, proliferation and differentiation into odontoblasts. There are two main strategies for pulp therapy to regenerate dentin: (1) in vivo method of enhancing the natural healing potential of pulp tissue by application of BMP proteins or BMP genes, (2) ex vivo method of isolation of stem/progenitor cells, differentiation with BMP proteins or BMP genes and transplantation to the tooth. This review summarizes recent advances in application of BMPs for dentin regeneration and possible use in endodotic therapy.     

Expression of bone morphogenetic proteins in stromal cells from human bone marrow long-term culture.

Highly purified primitive hemopoietic stem cells express BMP receptors but do not synthesize bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). However, exogenously added BMPs regulate their proliferation, differentiation, and survival. To further explore the mechanism by which BMPs might be involved in hemopoietic differentiation, we tested whether stromal cells from long-term culture (LTC) of normal human bone marrow produce BMPs, BMP receptors, and SMAD signaling molecules. Stromal cells were immunohistochemically characterized by the presence of lyzozyme, CD 31, factor VIII, CD 68, S100, alkaline phosphatase, and vimentin. Gene expression was analyzed by RT-PCR and the presence of BMP protein was confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The supportive role of the stromal cell layer in hemopoiesis in vitro was confirmed by a colony assay of clonogenic progenitors. Bone marrow stromal cells express mRNA and protein for BMP-3, -4, and -7 but not for BMP-2, -5, and -6 from the first to the eighth week of culture. Furthermore, stromal cells express the BMP type I receptors, activin-like kinase-3 (ALK-3), ALK-6, and the downstream transducers SMAD-1, -4, and -5. Thus, human bone marrow stromal cells synthesize BMPs, which might exert their effects on hemopoietic stem cells in a paracrine manner through specific BMP receptors.     

Cyclic tensile force stimulates BMP9 synthesis and in vitro mineralization by human periodontal ligament cells

Periodontal ligament (PDL) cells are mechanosensitive and have the potential to differentiate into osteoblast-like cells under the influence of cyclic tensile force (CTF). CTF modulates the expression of regulatory proteins including bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), which are essential for the homeostasis of the periodontium. Among the BMPs, BMP9 is one of the most potent osteogenic BMPs. It is yet unknown whether CTF affects the expression of BMP9 and mineralization. Here, we demonstrated that continuously applied CTF for only the first 6 hr stimulated the synthesis of BMP9 and induced mineral deposition within 14 days by human PDL cells. Stimulation of BMP9 expression depended on ATP and P2Y ₁ receptors. Apyrase, an ecto-ATPase, inhibited CTF-mediated ATP-induced BMP9 expression. The addition of ATP increased the expression of BMP9. Loss of function experiments using suramin (a broad-spectrum P2Y antagonist), MRS2179 (a specific P2Y ₁ receptor antagonist), MRS 2365 (a specific P2Y ₁ agonist), U-73122 (a phospholipase C [PLC] inhibitor), and thapsigargin (enhancer of intracytosolic calcium) revealed the participation of P2Y ₁ in regulating the expression of BMP9. This was mediated by an increased level of intracellular Ca ²⁺ through the PLC pathway. A neutralizing anti-BMP9 antibody decreased mineral deposition, which was stimulated by CTF for almost 45% indicating a role of BMP9 in an in vitro mineralization. Collectively, our findings suggest an essential modulatory role of CTF in the homeostasis and regeneration of the periodontium.     

TGFβ/BMP Type I Receptors ALK1 and ALK2 Are Essential for BMP9-induced Osteogenic Signaling in Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are bone marrow stromal cells that can differentiate into multiple lineages. We previously demonstrated that BMP9 is one of the most potent BMPs to induce osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. BMP9 is one of the least studied BMPs. Whereas ALK1, ALK5, and/or endoglin have recently been reported as potential BMP9 type I receptors in endothelial cells, little is known about type I receptor involvement in BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation in MSCs. Here, we conduct a comprehensive analysis of the functional role of seven type I receptors in BMP9-induced osteogenic signaling in MSCs. We have found that most of the seven type I receptors are expressed in MSCs. However, using dominant-negative mutants for the seven type I receptors, we demonstrate that only ALK1 and ALK2 mutants effectively inhibit BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation in vitro and ectopic ossification in MSC implantation assays. Protein fragment complementation assays demonstrate that ALK1 and ALK2 directly interact with BMP9. Likewise, RNAi silencing of ALK1 and ALK2 expression inhibits BMP9-induced BMPR-Smad activity and osteogenic differentiation in MSCs both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, our results strongly suggest that ALK1 and ALK2 may play an important role in mediating BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation. These findings should further aid us in understanding the molecular mechanism through which BMP9 regulates osteogenic differentiation of MSCs.     

敲低低密度脂蛋白受体相关蛋白1抑制C3H10T1/2多潜能干细胞定向成脂

C3H10T1/2多潜能干细胞成脂过程分为定向和分化两个阶段,骨形成蛋白4(BMP4)可以诱导其定向成前脂肪细胞．已有的研究表明,脂肪组织特异性敲除低密度脂蛋白受体相关蛋白1(Lrp1)的小鼠体重减轻,脂肪组织含量减少,揭示此基因对成脂具有重要作用．然而,目前尚不清楚Lrp1是否在成脂定向过程中发挥作用．采用小干扰RNA技术(RNAi),在体外水平研究低密度脂蛋白Lrp1对C3H10T1/2多潜能干细胞成脂定向的作用．分别在C3H10T1/2成脂的定向期和脂滴成熟期敲低Lrp1,通过显微镜下观察、油红O染色、Western blotting等实验证实,定向期而非脂滴成熟期敲低Lrp1显著抑制C3H10T1/2多潜能干细胞成脂．BMP4通过激活下游Smad1/5/8信号通路发挥作用,而敲低Lrp1显著抑制BMP4诱导的Smad1/5/8磷酸化．这些结果说明：敲低Lrp1通过下调Smad信号通路,抑制BMP4诱导的C3H10T1/2多潜能干细胞成脂定向．     

Suppression of bone morphogenetic protein inhibitors promotes osteogenic differentiation: therapeutic implications

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are expressed during osteogenesis and their action is regulated by corresponding BMP inhibitors. Chordin (a well recognized BMP inhibitor) and BMP-2 are expressed during osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells. Chordin inhibition induces human mesenchymal stem cell differentiation and reduces their proliferation by increasing BMP-2 bioavailability. The potential of suppressing BMP inhibitors is emerging as a biological therapeutic target in bone tissue engineering, because it results in an unopposed synergy between the various growth factors that are involved in osteogenesis, within their physiological milieu.