Acquisition of a Unique Mesenchymal Precursor-like Blastema State Underlies Successful Adult Mammalian Digit Tip Regeneration

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Transdifferentiated Mesenchymal Stem Cells as Alternative Therapy in Supporting Nerve Regeneration and Myelination

1. Aims: Demyelination plays a crucial role in neurodegenerative processes and traumatic disorders. One possibility to achieve remyelination and subsequent restoration of neuronal function is to provide an exogenous source of myelinating cells via transplantation. In this context, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have attracted interest. They are multipotent stem cells that differentiate into cells of the mesodermal lineage like bone, cartilage, fat, and muscle. Although adult, their differentiation potential is remarkable, and they are able to transdifferentiate.2. Methods: We transformed cultivated rat MSCs into myelinating cells by using a cytokine cocktail. Transdifferentiated MSCs were characterized by an enhanced expression of LNGF-receptor, Krox20, and CD104, and a decreased expression of BMP receptor-1A as compared to untreated MSCs. The myelinating capacity was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, PC12 cells, normally unmyelinated, were cocultivated with MSCs, transdifferentiated MSCs, and Schwann cells, or the respective cells were grafted into an autologous muscle conduit bridging a 2-cm gap in the rat sciatic nerve. Myelination of PC12 cells was demonstrated by electron microscopy. In vivo, after 3 and 6 weeks regeneration including myelination was monitored histologically and morphometrically. Autologous nerves and cell-free muscle grafts were used as control.3. Results: Schwann cells and transdifferentiated MSCs were able to myelinate PC12 cells after 14 days in vitro. In vivo, autologous nerve grafts demonstrated the best results in all regenerative parameters. An appropriate myelination was noted in the Schwann cell groups and, albeit with restrictions, in the transdifferentiated MSC groups, while regeneration in the MSC groups and in the cell-free groups was impaired.4. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that it may be possible to differentiate MSCs into therapeutically useful cells for clinical applications in myelin defects.     

Langerhans cells are essential components of the angiogenic niche during murine skin repair

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骨髓间充质干细胞生物学特性及其在牙周组织工程的应用

牙周病是一种慢性进行性疾病,可导致牙周支持组织的破坏,最终导致牙丧失。牙周病治疗的目的不仅在于控制炎症,更在于使已经破坏的牙周组织再生以形成新附着。牙周的重建包括因炎症破坏吸收的硬组织(牙槽骨与牙骨质)和软组织(牙周膜与牙龈)。骨髓间充质干细胞有其独特的生物学特性从而作为种子细胞有巨大潜力。以骨髓间充质干细胞作为种子细胞联合组织工程技术应用于牙周组织再生为根治牙周病提供了新思路。     

Localization of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Umbilical Cord Blood and Their Role in Repair of Diabetic Foot Ulcers in Rats

The aim of this study is to explore the localization of human mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord matrix (hMSCs-UC) and the role of these cells in the repair of foot ulcerate tissue in diabetic foot ulcers in rats. A diabetic rat model was established by administering Streptozotocin. Diabetic foot ulceration was defined as non-healing or delayed-healing of empyrosis on the dorsal hind foot after 14 weeks. hMSCs-UC were delivered through the left femoral artery. We evaluated the localization of hMSCs-UC and their role in tissue repair in diabetic foot ulcers by histological analysis, PCR, and immunohistochemical staining. A model for diabetes was established in 54 out of 60 rats (90% success rate) and 27 of these rats were treated with hMSCs-UC. The area of ulceration was significantly and progressively reduced at 7 and 14 days following treatment with hMSCs-UC. This gross observation was strongly supported by the histological changes, including newly developed blood vessels and proliferation of inflammatory cells at 3 days post-treatment, significant increase in granulation tissue at 7 days post-treatment and squamous epithelium or stratified squamous epithelium at 14 days post-treatment. Importantly, human leukocyte antigen type-I (HLA-1) was confirmed in ulcerated tissue by RT-PCR. The expression of cytokeratin 19 was significantly increased in diabetic model rats, with no detectable change in cytokeratin 10. Additionally, both collagens I and III increased in model rats treated with hMSCs-UC, but the ratio of collagen I/III was less significant in treated rats compared with control rats. These results suggest that hMSCs-UC specifically localize to the target ulcerated tissue and may promote the epithelialization of ulcerated tissue by stimulating the release of cytokeratin 19 from keratinocytes and extracellular matrix formation.     

Advances of tooth‐derived stem cells in neural diseases treatments and nerve tissue regeneration

Nerous system diseases, both central and peripheral, bring an incredible burden onto patients and enormously reduce their quality of life. Currently, there are still no effective treatments to repair nerve lesions that do not have side effects. Stem cell–based therapies, especially those using dental stem cells, bring new hope to neural diseases. Dental stem cells, derived from the neural crest, have many characteristics that are similar to neural cells, indicating that they can be an ideal source of cells for neural regeneration and repair. This review summarizes the neural traits of all the dental cell types, including DPSCs, PDLCs, DFCs, APSCs and their potential applications in nervous system diseases. We have summed up the advantages of dental stem cells in neural repair, such as their neurotrophic and neuroprotective traits, easy harvest and low rejective reaction rate, among others. Taken together, dental stem cells are an ideal cell source for neural tissue regeneration and repair.     

HSV-1感染大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞及形成潜伏感染的初步研究

在体外培养大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞(BMSCs),观察单纯疱疹病毒1型感染骨髓间充质干细胞情况.分离并鉴定BMSCs;HSV-1感染BMSCs,观察细胞病变(CPE);建立BMSCs的HSV-1潜伏感染模型.提取总DNA,PCR法扩增BMSCs内的HSV-1特异性片段,检测HSV-1感染BMSCs及潜伏感染.结果显示骨髓间充质干细胞经14d诱导后,碱性磷酸酶含量增高、形成钙结节,表现出成骨细胞特性.HSV-1感染BMSCs,出现典型的CPE,PCR法证实BMSCs内存在HSV-1的特异性片段.HSV-1潜伏感染的BMSCs,未出现明显的CPE,细胞传至7代,仍可测到HSV-1的基因片段,表明BMSCs有可能形成HSV-1的潜伏感染.大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞在体外可以向成骨细胞方向分化,可作为组织工程学的种子细胞.HSV-1可以在体外感染骨髓间充质干细胞并有形成潜伏感染的趋势.     

Tissue-Resident PDGFRα+ Progenitor Cells Contribute to Fibrosis versus Healing in a Context- and Spatiotemporally Dependent Manner

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Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons and Differentiated Adipose-derived Stem Cells: An In Vitro Co-culture Model to Study Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons, located in the intervertebral foramina of the spinal column, can be used to create an in vitro system facilitating the study of nerve regeneration and myelination. The glial cells of the peripheral nervous system, Schwann cells (SC), are key facilitators of these processes; it is therefore crucial that the interactions of these cellular components are studied together. Direct contact between DRG neurons and glial cells provides additional stimuli sensed by specific membrane receptors, further improving the neuronal response. SC release growth factors and proteins in the culture medium, which enhance neuron survival and stimulate neurite sprouting and extension. However, SC require long proliferation time to be used for tissue engineering applications and the sacrifice of an healthy nerve for their sourcing. Adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) differentiated into SC phenotype are a valid alternative to SC for the set-up of a co-culture model with DRG neurons to study nerve regeneration. The present work presents a detailed and reproducible step-by-step protocol to harvest both DRG neurons and ASC from adult rats; to differentiate ASC towards a SC phenotype; and combines the two cell types in a direct co-culture system to investigate the interplay between neurons and SC in the peripheral nervous system. This tool has great potential in the optimization of tissue-engineered constructs for peripheral nerve repair.     

Muscle Stem Cells Exhibit Distinct Clonal Dynamics in Response to Tissue Repair and Homeostatic Aging

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