Novel peptides derived from neuropeptide Y prevent chemotherapy-induced bone marrow damage by regulating hematopoietic stem cell microenvironment

Chemotherapy-induced bone marrow damage is accompanied by acute nerve injury in the bone marrow (BM), resulting in sensory and autonomic neuropathy. Cisplatin, a popular chemotherapy drugs, induces the impairment of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and bone marrow regeneration, leading to chronic bone marrow abnormalities. Previously, we reported the protective roles of neuropeptide Y (NPY) against cisplatin-induced bone marrow impairment. In this study, we identified novel peptides, generated from full-length NPY that rescued cisplatin-induced sensory neuropathy and HSC suppression by regulating cell survival in the BM microenvironment. One of these peptides, especially, showed a better protective property against these impairments compared to that seen in full-length NPY. Therefore, we suggest the NPY sequences most effective against the chemotherapy-induced bone marrow dysfunction that could be potentially useful as therapeutic agents for patients receiving chemotherapy.     

Role of neuropeptide Y in the bone marrow hematopoietic stem cell microenvironment

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) or neurotransmitters in the bone marrow microenvironment has been known to regulate hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) functions such as self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation. However, the specific role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in this process remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we demonstrated that NPY deficient mice have significantly reduced HSC numbers and impaired bone marrow regeneration due to apoptotic destruction of SNS fibers and/or endothelial cells. Moreover, NPY treatment prevented bone marrow impairments in a mouse model of chemotherapy-induced SNS injury, while conditional knockout mice lacking the Y1 receptor in macrophages did not restore bone marrow dysfunction in spite of NPY injection. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) secreted by NPY-mediated Y1 receptor stimulation in macrophages plays a key role in neuroprotection and HSC survival in the bone marrow. Therefore, this study reveals a new role of NPY in bone marrow HSC microenvironment, and provides an insight into the therapeutic application of this neuropeptide. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(12): 645-646]     

The cardiac differentiation of bone marrow stem cells might be not important for heart repair

Lots of evidence showed that bone marrow stem cells can differentiate into cardiac myocytes so as to treat damaged hearts. However, the following studies revealed that bone marrow stem cells also produced protective effects on hearts by releasing some beneficial cytokines and suppressing inflammatory effects and so on. Therefore, we speculated that the cardiac differentiation of bone marrow stem cells did not play an important role in cardiac repair.     

Bone and bone marrow: The same organ

Interplays between bone and bone marrow are not limited to merely anatomic and histological connections, but include a tight functional correlation. Bone marrow resides within the medullary cavity of the bones and the process of hematopoiesis is regulated, at least in part, by bone cells. Moreover, osteoclasts and osteoblasts derive from precursors of hematopoietic and mesenchymal origin, respectively, both residing within the bone marrow. Alterations in one of these components typically cause impairment in the other, so diseases of the bone marrow compartment often affect the bone and vice versa. All these findings could make us to speculate that bone and bone marrow are not two separate districts, but can be considered as the two elements of the same unique functional unit, the bone-bone marrow organ. Here we will describe histological and functional interplays between bone and bone marrow, and will illustrate some diseases in which this tight correlation is evident.     

Additive effect of endothelial progenitor cell mobilization and bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation on angiogenesis in mouse ischemic limbs

Summary The methods of therapeutic angiogenesis include endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) mobilization with cytokines [e.g., granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)] and bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMNC) transplantation. Combined angiogenic therapies may be superior to a single angiogenic therapy for the treatment of limb ischemia. Therefore, we investigated whether the angiogenic efficacy of a combination of two angiogenic strategies is superior to either strategy alone. One day after the surgical induction of hindlimb ischemia, mice were randomized to receive either no treatment, EPC mobilization with G-CSF administration, BMMNC transplantation using a fibrin matrix, or a combination of EPC mobilization with BMMNC transplantation using a fibrin matrix. EPC mobilization with G-CSF or BMMNC transplantation using a fibrin matrix significantly increased the microvessel density compared with no treatment. Importantly, a combination of EPC mobilization with BMMNC transplantation using a fibrin matrix further increased the densities of microvessels and BrdU-positive capillaries compared to either strategy alone. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression was higher in the EPC mobilization with G-CSF or BMMNC transplantation group than in the no treatment group. The combination therapy of EPC mobilization with G-CSF and BMMNC transplantation resulted in more extensive expression of bFGF and VEGF than the single therapy of either EPC mobilization with G-CSF treatment or BMMNC transplantation. This study demonstrates that the combination therapy of BMMNC transplantation and EPC mobilization potentiates the angiogenic efficacy of either single therapy in mouse limb ischemia models.     

供体骨髓干细胞输注联合肝移植治疗终末期肝病的近期效果观察

目的评价供体骨髓干细胞输注联合肝移植治疗终末期肝病的近期效果。方法2008年3月至2009年1月本中心30例肝移植受者分为两组,实验组8例,行同期供体骨髓干细胞联合肝脏移植;对照组22例,仅行肝脏移植,不行骨髓干细胞输注。观察两组受者术后免疫抑制剂（甲基强的松龙、他克莫司）用量、肝功能（谷氨酸转氨酶、天冬氨酸转氨酶等）变化、急性排斥反应和感染并发症发生情况,以及术后住院时间和费用。采用,检验、方差分析及确切概率法进行统计学分析。结果实验组术后甲基强的松龙总用量和出院时每日他克莫司用量显著低于对照组[甲基强的松龙分别为（1314±105）mg,（1884±256）mg,t=6．060,P=0．000;他克莫司分别为（3．73±0．35）mg／d,（4．93±0．62）mg／d,,=5．147,P=0．000]。术后第1天实验组血清谷氨酸转氨酶、天冬氨酸转氨酶均显著低于对照组[谷氨酸转氨酶分别为（875．2±325．5）IU／L,（1350．4±482．7）IU／L,t=2．543,P=0．016,天冬氨酸转氨酶分别为（646．2±184．9）IU／L,（1021．8±325．4）IU／L,t=3．067,P=0．005]。术后第3天也低于对照组[谷氨酸转氨酶分别为（252．9±35．8）IU／L,（343．5±47．8）IU／L,f=4．866,P=0．000,天冬氨酸转氨酶分别为（227．8±38．0）IU／L,（310．8±61．7）IU／L,t=3．545,P=0．001]。结论同期供体骨髓干细胞联合肝脏移植可以降低术后免疫抑制剂用量,减轻术后早期肝脏损伤,不增加治疗风险,是一种安全有效的治疗方法。     

Fluctuations in circulating cell numbers following chemotherapy or bone marrow transplant

We study the effect of noise on the behaviour of a dynamic cell population model in which cell replication and maturation take place simultaneously. We assume that the maximum proliferative potential fluctuates uniformly about a mean value of v, and show that a decrease in v and/or the input flux u _in into the population can lead to an increase in the variance in the cellular efflux u _f. We draw a qualitative correspondence between this behaviour and the commonly observed increase in the variance of circulating blood cell numbers following chemotherapy and radiotherapy, both of which lead to a decrease in v and u _in , and bone marrow transplant which probably corresponds to a decrease in u _in .     

移植途径对大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞归巢及肝功能恢复的影响

目的 探讨移植途径对骨髓间充质干细胞（MSCs）归巢及促进肝切除大鼠肝再生的影响.方法 建立肝切除大鼠模型,随机分为3 组,即肝切除对照组、尾静脉移植组和门静脉移植组.移植组分别经尾静脉和门静脉注射DAPI 标记的MSCs 约1.5×106/ 只,分别于第3 天和第9 天后采血清检测肝功能,第9 天处死大鼠取肝脏标本,并通过荧光显微镜观察两种移植途径对MSCs 向肝脏迁移的影响.结果 门静脉移植组（18.1 ± 3.4）个细胞/100 倍视野到肝脏归巢及定植的 MSCs 多于尾静脉移植组（7.6 ± 2.0）个细胞/100 倍视野,差异有统计学意义（P 〈 0.01）.术后第9 天各组大鼠肝功能均有好转,丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）及天冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）3 组之间对比差异无统计学意义（F = 2.822,1.046,P = 0.057,0.365,P 〉 0.05）;但两移植组与单纯肝切除组比较血浆白蛋白（ALB）均有明显升高,差异具有统计学意义（F = 6.259,P = 0.006）;尾静脉移植组与门静脉移植组两移植组之间相比,差异无统计学意义（P 〉 0.05）.结论 移植途径对 MSCs 归巢、定植到肝脏有一定影响,门静脉途径优于外周静脉,MSCs 移植对肝大部切除大鼠肝功能恢复具有促进作用.     

T and B cell responses to cytomegalovirus antigens in healthy blood donors and bone marrow transplant recipients

Abstract We measured the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) from single T cells and the T cell proliferative response to different cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigens in healthy blood donors and bone marrow transplant recipients. The antigens consisted of a CMV nuclear antigen (CMV na) containing the pp65-kDa matrix protein and the immediate early antigens but lacking CMV glycoproteins, and an antigen comprising native CMV glycoproteins (CMV gp). We also measured the IgG antibodies to CMV na and CMV gp. The T cells reacted to CMV na in CMV seropositive blood donors both with the production of IFN-γ and with proliferation, while bone marrow transplant recipients had a deficient T cell response. After stimulation with CMV gp, no T cell response could be observed in CMV seropositive subjects. IgG antibodies to CMV na coexisted in plasma with similar levels of antibodies to CMV gp.     

Isolation and characterisation of mesenchymal stem cells from adult mouse bone marrow

The future use of adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for human therapies depends on the establishment of preclinical studies with other mammals such as mouse. Surprisingly, purification and characterisation of murine MSCs were only poorly documented. The aim of this study was to purify mouse MSCs from adult bone marrow and to functionally characterise their abilities to differentiate along diverse lineages. Adherent cells from adult C57Bl/6J mouse bone marrow were depleted of granulo-monocytic cells and subsequently allowed to grow on fibronectin-coated dishes in presence of fetal bovine serum and growth factors. The growing fibroblastoid cell population primarily consisted of spindle- and star-shaped cells with significant renewal capacity as they were cultured until 30 passages (about 60 doubling population). We fully demonstrated the MSC phenotype of these cells by inducing them to differentiate along osteoblastic, adipocytic, and chondrocytic pathways. Mouse MSCs (mMSCs) sharing the same morphological and functional characteristics as human MSCs can be successfully isolated from adult bone marrow without previous mouse or bone marrow treatment. Therefore, mMSCs will be an important tool to study the in vivo behaviour and fate of this cell type after grafting in mouse pathology models.     

Molecular markers distinguish bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from fibroblasts

To characterize mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), we compared gene expression profiles in human bone marrow MSC (11 lines) and human fibroblasts (4 lines) by RT-PCR and real time PCR. Messenger RNA levels of MHC-DR-alpha, MHC-DR-beta, MHC-DR-associated protein CD74, tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2, and neuroserpin were much higher in MSC than in fibroblasts, even in the presence of large interindividual variations. Those of adrenomedullin, apolipoprotein D, C-type lectin superfamily member-2, collagen type XV alpha1, CUG triplet repeat RNA-binding protein, matrix metalloproteinase-1, protein tyrosine kinase-7, and Sam68-like phosphotyrosine protein/T-STAR were lower in MSC than in fibroblasts. FACS analysis showed that cell surface expression of MHC-DR was also higher in MSC than in fibroblasts. MHC-DR expression decreased after osteogenic differentiation, whereas the expression of adrenomedullin-a potent stimulator of osteoblast activity-along with collagen XV alpha1 and apolipoprotein D increased after osteogenic differentiation. The marker genes identified in this study should be useful for characterization of MSC both in basic and clinical studies.     

Neuropeptide Y regulates the hematopoietic stem cell microenvironment and prevents nerve injury in the bone marrow

Many reports have revealed the importance of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in the control of the bone marrow environment. However, the specific role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in this process has not been systematically studied. Here we show that NPY‐deficient mice have significantly reduced hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) numbers and impaired regeneration in bone marrow due to apoptotic destruction of SNS fibers and/or endothelial cells. Furthermore, pharmacological elevation of NPY prevented bone marrow impairments in a mouse model of chemotherapy‐induced SNS injury, while NPY injection into conditional knockout mice lacking the Y1 receptor in macrophages did not relieve bone marrow dysfunction. These results indicate that NPY promotes neuroprotection and restores bone marrow dysfunction from chemotherapy‐induced SNS injury through the Y1 receptor in macrophages. They also reveal a new role of NPY as a regulator of the bone marrow microenvironment and highlight the potential therapeutic value of this neuropeptide.     

骨髓单个核细胞在周围神经修复中的应用

基础研究证实,多种细胞移植可以促进周围神经修复,其中来源丰富的骨髓单个核细胞,因具有取材过程简单、无交叉感染风险、无免疫排斥、可以自体移植等诸多优点,是目前重要的候选细胞之一。本文就近期有关骨髓单个核细胞的神经修复作用机制的研究、细胞植入修复受损周围神经的文献、以及与各种生物材料复合应用构建的组织工程化神经等方面最新进展进行综述,以期促进该领域基础向临床应用的转化。     

Non-hematopoietic bone marrow stem cells: molecular control of expansion and differentiation

The first non-hematopoietic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were discovered by Friedenstein in 1976, who described clonal, plastic adherent cells from bone marrow capable of differentiating into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. More recently, investigators have now demonstrated that multi-potent MSCs can be recovered from a variety of other adult tissues and differentiate into numerous tissue lineages including myoblasts, hepatocytes and possibly even neural tissue. Because MSCs are multipotent and easily expanded in culture, there has been much interest in their clinical potential for tissue repair and gene therapy and as a result, numerous studies have been carried out demonstrating the migration and multi-organ engraftment potential of MSCs in animal models and in human clinical trials. This review describes the recent advances in the understanding of MSC biology.     

Human CD133-derived bone marrow stromal cells establish ectopic hematopoietic microenvironments in immunodeficient mice

Cultured adherent bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) are capable of forming ectopic hematopoietic microenvironments (HMEs) in immunodeficient mice. However, the cell surface phenotype of the native bone marrow stem/progenitor cell that gives rise to BMSCs that support hematopoiesis remains poorly defined. We recently reported the derivation of human BMSC-like cells (CD133BMSCs) by magnetic cell sorting against Prominin-1 (CD133), an epitope expressed by embryonic, fetal, and adult stem cells. Here we demonstrate that CD133BMSCs are capable of forming ectopic HMEs. Cultured adherent CD133BMSCs derived from sorted CD133-positive cells lacked CD133 expression, but were uniformly positive for CD146, an epitope recently described to identify self-renewing osteoprogenitor cells that could transfer the HME. CD133BMSCs were genetically-tagged by lentivirus, expanded, and seeded into HA/TCP/fibrin constructs that were implanted subcutaneously. After 60 days, CD133BMSCs produced human osteocytes, osteoblasts, adipocytes, and reticular cells that supported murine hematopoiesis. CD133BMSCs that were not transduced with lentivirus also formed HMEs. Control constructs seeded with human dermal fibroblasts formed connective tissue, but failed to form HMEs. Our data indicate that CD133 expression identifies a native human bone marrow stem/progenitor cell that gives rise to BMSCs capable of forming the HME.     

Impact of stromal cell composition on BMP-induced chondrogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow derived mesenchymal cells

Chondrogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) has been actively studied due to their potential use in mesenchymal tissue repair. Our goal was to develop a simple isolation protocol for adherent mouse MSCs to simultaneously clear off hematopoietic cells and expand to obtain enough starting material for differentiation studies. CD34 and CD45 expressing cells were rapidly removed by inhibiting growth of hematopoietic cells to yield short-term selected (STS) cells. Further passaging enriched more primitive, uniformly Sca-1 expressing, long-term selected (LTS) cells. The efficacy of several BMPs to induce chondrogenesis in pellet culture was compared in STS and LTS cells. In STS cells, chondrogenesis progressed rapidly to terminal differentiation while LTS cells differentiated at a slower rate with no hypertrophy. In LTS cells, rhBMP homodimers -2, -4, -6 and rhBMP2/7 heterodimer were effective enhancers of chondrogenesis over that of rhBMP-5 and -7. In STS cells, rhBMP-2 and rhBMP-7 supported rapid chondrogenesis and terminal differentiation over that of rhBMP-6. These data indicate the impact of stromal cell composition on the chondrogenic differentiation profile, which is an important aspect to be considered when standardizing differentiation assay conditions as well as developing MSC based cartilage repair technologies.     

小型猪骨髓间充质干细胞的分离和培养

目的建立小型猪骨髓间充质干细胞（mesenchymal stem cells,MSCs）的体外分离和培养方法。方法穿刺小型猪髂后上嵴抽取骨髓,经密度梯度法离心得到骨髓单个核细胞,接种后形成单层贴壁细胞。用形态学方法鉴定培养的MSCs。结果经培养存活的MSCs原代和一代呈纺锤型、多边型或星型。至二代起呈均一纺锤型,似成纤维细胞样,长宽比例约为（2～3）？1。体外培养的原代MSCs8～10d达到融合,传代后仍具有较强的增殖能力。结论小型猪MSCs可在体外长期、稳定培养,其分离、培养体系的建立为基础研究和组织工程技术提供了一个有价值的动物模型。