Human Retinal Progenitor Cell Transplantation Preserves Vision

Cell transplantation is a potential therapeutic strategy for retinal degenerative diseases involving the loss of photoreceptors. However, it faces challenges to clinical translation due to safety concerns and a limited supply of cells. Human retinal progenitor cells (hRPCs) from fetal neural retina are expandable in vitro and maintain an undifferentiated state. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of hRPCs transplanted into a Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat model of retinal degeneration. At 12 weeks, optokinetic response showed that hRPC-grafted eyes had significantly superior visual acuity compared with vehicle-treated eyes. Histological evaluation of outer nuclear layer (ONL) characteristics such as ONL thickness, spread distance, and cell count demonstrated a significantly greater preservation of the ONL in hRPC-treated eyes compared with both vehicle-treated and control eyes. The transplanted hRPCs arrested visual decline over time in the RCS rat and rescued retinal morphology, demonstrating their potential as a therapy for retinal diseases. We suggest that the preservation of visual acuity was likely achieved through host photoreceptor rescue. We found that hRPC transplantation into the subretinal space of RCS rats was well tolerated, with no adverse effects such as tumor formation noted at 12 weeks after treatment.     

HO-1 modified mesenchymal stem cells modulate MMPs/TIMPs system and adverse remodeling in infarcted myocardium

The present study was to determine the effects of the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) modified mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation into acute MI hearts on normalizing the ratio of MMPs/TIMPs and remodeling in infarcted myocardium. HO-1 was transfected into cultured MSCs using an adenoviral vector. 1 × 10⁶ Ad-HO-1-transfected MSCs (HO-1-MSCs) or Ad-Null-transfected MSCs (Null-MSCs) or PBS was respectively injected into rat hearts 1 h intramyocardially after myocardial infarction. The cardiac performance was significantly improved and left ventricular dilatation was significantly attenuated in HO-1-MSCs transplanted hearts. Moreover, a significant increase in microvessel density was observed in HO-1-MSCs transplanted hearts. TIMP2,3 expression in HO-1-MSCs transplanted hearts was significantly increased, and MMP2,9 expression in HO-1-MSCs transplanted hearts was significantly lower than Null-MSCs transplanted and PBS-treated hearts. TIMP1 expression did not vary significantly. Null-MSCs transplantation did not decrease the expression of MMP2,9 significantly compared with PBS-treated hearts. The ratio of TIMP2 to MMP2, and TIMP3 to MMP9 in cell-grafted hearts was increased significantly. HO-1-MSCs transplantation normalize the ratio of MMPs/TIMPs, contributing to the reversion of myocardial extracellular remodeling.     

Pre-induced adult human peripheral blood mononuclear cells migrate widely into the degenerative retinas of rd1 mice

Background aimsRecent advances in stem cell research have raised the possibility of stem cells repairing or replacing retinal photoreceptor cells that are either dysfunctional or lost in many retinal diseases. Various types of stem cells have been used to replace retinal photoreceptor cells. Recently, peripheral blood stem cells, a small proportion of pluripotent stem cells, have been reported to mainly exist in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).MethodsIn this study, the effects of pre-induced adult human PBMCs (hPBMCs) on the degenerative retinas of rd1 mice were investigated. Freshly isolated adult hPBMCs were pre-induced with the use of the conditioned medium of rat retinas for 4 days and were then labeled with chloromethyl-benzamidodialkylcarbocyanine (CM-DiI) and then transplanted into the subretinal space of the right eye of rd1 mice through a trans-scleral approach. The right eyes were collected 30 days after transplantation. The survival and migration of the transplanted cells in host retinas were investigated by whole-mount retinas, retinal frozen sections and immunofluorescent staining.ResultsAfter subretinal transplantation, pre-induced hPBMCs were able to survive and widely migrate into the retinas of rd1 mice. A few CM-DiI–labeled cells migrated into the inner nuclear layer and the retinal ganglion cell layer. Some transplanted cells in the subretinal space of rd1 host mice expressed the human photoreceptor–specific marker rhodopsin.ConclusionsThis study suggests that pre-induced hPBMCs may be a potential cell source of cell replacement therapy for retinal degenerative diseases.     

Sustained Neural Stem Cell-Based Intraocular Delivery of CNTF Attenuates Photoreceptor Loss in the nclf Mouse Model of Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis

A sustained intraocular administration of neurotrophic factors is among the strategies aimed at establishing treatments for currently untreatable degenerative retinal disorders. In the present study we have analyzed the neuroprotective effects of a continuous neural stem (NS) cell-based intraocular delivery of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on photoreceptor cells in the nclf mouse, an animal model of the neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder variant late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (vLINCL). To this aim, we genetically modified adherently cultivated NS cells with a polycistronic lentiviral vector encoding a secretable variant of CNTF together with a Venus reporter gene (CNTF-NS cells). NS cells for control experiments (control-NS cells) were modified with a vector encoding the reporter gene tdTomato. Clonal CNTF-NS and control-NS cell lines were established using fluorescent activated cell sorting and intravitreally grafted into 14 days old nclf mice at the onset of retinal degeneration. The grafted cells preferentially differentiated into astrocytes that were attached to the posterior side of the lenses and the vitreal side of the retinas and stably expressed the transgenes for at least six weeks, the latest post-transplantation time point analyzed. Integration of donor cells into host retinas, ongoing proliferation of grafted cells or adverse effects of the donor cells on the morphology of the host eyes were not observed. Quantitative analyses of host retinas two, four and six weeks after cell transplantation revealed the presence of significantly more photoreceptor cells in eyes with grafted CNTF-NS cells than in eyes with grafted control-NS cells. This is the first demonstration that a continuous intraocular administration of a neurotrophic factor attenuates retinal degeneration in an animal model of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.     

Overexpression of phosphoinositide-3-kinase class II alpha enhances mesenchymal stem cell survival in infarcted myocardium

The efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy for myocardial regeneration is limited by the poor survival of stem cells after transplantation into the infarcted heart. To improve the cell survival of MSCs in the infarcted heart, MSCs were genetically engineered to overexpress phosphoinositide-3-kinase class II alpha (PI3K-C2α). PI3K-C2α overexpression increased PI3K expression and the cell viability of MSCs. Furthermore, levels of survival-related phosphorylation were elevated in PI3K-C2α-MSCs. But, the level of apoptotic proteins downregulated and the number of PI-positive cells decreased in PI3K-C2α-MSCs compared to hypoxic MSCs. Nine rats per group had 1 × 10⁶ cells (20 μl PBS) transplanted after myocardial infarction. One week after transplantation, infarct size and area of fibrosis were reduced in the PI3K-C2α-MSC-transplanted group. The number of TUNEL positive cells declined, while the mean microvessel count per field was higher in the PI3K-C2α-MSC group than the MSC-injected group. Heart function was improved in the PI3K-C2α-MSCs group as assessed using a Millar catheter at 3 weeks after transplantation. These findings suggest that overexpression of PI3K-C2α in MSCs can assist cell survival and enhance myocardial regeneration.     

绿色荧光蛋白基因修饰的人视网膜色素上皮细胞异种移植的长期观察

探讨利用视网膜色素上皮 (retinalpigmentepithelium ,RPE)细胞移植介导目的基因转移至视网膜的可行性。人的RPE细胞在体外经携带绿色荧光蛋白 (greenfluorescentprotein ,GFP)基因的逆转录病毒感染及G4 1 8筛选后 ,手术显微镜直视下经睫状体平坦部注射到兔眼视网膜下间隙。术后通过活体荧光眼底照相 ,荧光显微镜、共聚焦显微镜及透射电镜等观察眼球铺片及切片 ,发现经 gfp基因修饰的人RPE细胞在兔眼视网膜下间隙可存活一年以上。移植的RPE gfp细胞不仅仅局限于移植部位 ,大多扩散到超过 2～ 3个象限的眼底 ,镶嵌于宿主RPE细胞之间或呈单层排列在宿主色素上皮与神经视网膜之间 ,并持续高水平表达GFP。移植后早期玻璃体内每周注射免疫抑制剂普乐可复 (FK5 0 6 )可明显改善移植细胞的存活状态     

EPO修饰增强Muller细胞对RCS大鼠视网膜变性的干预效果

目的：研究人源促红细胞生成素（hEPO）修饰的Müller（hEPO-Müller）细胞对视网膜退行性病变大鼠的干预作用。方法通过质粒转染法构建hEPO和GFP的Müller细胞稳转株（hEPO-Müller和GFP-Müller）;以体外共培养和体内细胞移植为研究体系,利用RT-PCR和冰冻切片及免疫荧光染色的方法检测hEPO-Müller对RCS大鼠视网膜退行性病变的干预作用。内核层与外核层厚度比较采用t检验。结果本实验成功构建了hEPO-Müller和GFP-Müller细胞系。将RCS大鼠的视网膜组织剥离并在体外不同条件下培养两周后测定视网膜各核层厚度发现,与对照细胞裂解液共培养组的内核层（15.94±1.77）μm和外核层（24.81±3.03）μm的厚度相比较,两核层的厚度分别在hEPO组为（23.03±3.29）μm,（33.92±7.59）μm（P〈0.05）;Müller 组为（24.81±2.02）μm,（32.15±3.03）μm（P〈0.05）;hEPO-Müller组为（32.40±8.35）μm,（40.25±3.29）μm（n=3, P〈0.01）;以hEPO-Müller组厚度增加最为显著（P〈0.05）。提示EPO和Müller细胞对视网膜变性都有干预作用且两者可以叠加。将hEPO-Müller和GFP-Müller分别移植到RCS大鼠的视网膜下腔,四周后取视网膜进行冰冻切片检测,染色结果显示,细胞移植后有更多的外核层细胞存活,且同样也是hEPO-Müller组的外核层细胞更多。此外,Müller移植并不会促进视网膜的胶质化。结论移植Müller细胞可以减缓RCS大鼠视网膜变性,而经hEPO修饰的Müller细胞对视网膜变性有更好的干预作用。因此,Müller细胞可以作为一种供体细胞兼携带hEPO等营养因子的载体用于视网膜变性的治疗。     

Effects of bone marrow stromal cell injection in an experimental glaucoma model

We investigated if bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) transplanted into the vitreous body of a glaucoma model eye could be integrated in the host retina and also whether they could rescue the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from death induced by the elevated intraocular pressure. Glaucoma was induced in the right eye of adult Wistar rats by ligating the episcleral veins. The GFP-expressing BMSCs (GFP-BMSCs) were injected into the vitreous body of both the control and the glaucomatous eyes. After transplantation, GFP-BMSCs were mostly present along with the inner limiting membrane and only a few cells were integrated into the ganglion cell layer. At 2 or 4 weeks after transplantation, GFP-BMSCs were observed to express various trophic factors. The BMSCs injected glaucoma model eyes showed less reduction in the number of RGCs compared to the glaucomatous eyes with PBS injection. This study suggests that BMSC transplantation may be worthy as a neuroprotective tool to treat glaucoma.     

In vivo study to assess dosage of allogeneic pig retinal progenitor cells: Long‐term survival,engraftment, differentiation and safety

Despite notable efforts and significant therapeutical advances, age‐related macular degeneration remains the single most common reason for vision loss. Retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) are considered promising candidates for cellular treatments that repair and restore vision. In this allogenic study, the phenotypic profile of pig and human RPCs derived using similar manufacturing processes is compared. The long‐term (12‐week) survival of green fluorescent protein‐pig retinal progenitor cells GFP‐pRPC after subretinal transplantation into normal miniature pig (mini‐pig) retina is investigated. Human eyes are both anatomically and physiologically mimicked by pig eyes, so the pig is an ideal model to show an equivalent way of delivering cells, immunological response and dosage. The phenotypic equivalency of porcine and clinically intended human RPCs was established. Thirty‐nine mini‐pigs are used in this study, and vehicle‐injected eyes and non‐injected eyes serve as controls. Six groups are given different dosages of pRPCs, and the cells are found to survive well in all groups. At 12 weeks, strong evidence of integration is indicated by the location of the grafted cells within the neuro‐retina, extension of processes to the plexiform layers and expression of key retinal markers such as recoverin, rhodopsin and synaptophysin. No immunosuppression is used, and no immune response is found in any of the groups. No pRPC‐related histopathology findings are reported in the major organs investigated. An initial dose of 250 k cells in 100 µl of buffer is established as an appropriate initial dose for future human clinical trials.     

多巴胺合成相关酶基因联合治疗帕金森病大鼠模型的研究

目的 利用骨髓间充质干细胞（MSCs）作为运载细胞,携带DA合成代谢过程中3个重要相关酶的基因：酪氨酸羟化酶（TH）、芳香族氨基酸脱羧酶(AADC) 和三磷酸鸟苷酸环化水解酶-I (GCH-I)基因,治疗帕金森病(PD) 模型大鼠。方法 首先用重组病毒AAV-TH、AAV-AADC 和AAV-GCH-I的上清液对MSCs进行体外感染;将携带有TH、AADC和GCH-I基因的MSCs移植到PD模型大鼠纹状体内,检测纹状体及黑质内多巴胺及其代谢产物的变化,并观察其行为学的变化,以评估上述基因对PD大鼠的治疗作用。结果 重组假病毒颗粒感染MSCs后植入PD模型大鼠损伤侧纹状体内。通过逆转录聚合酶链反应 (RT-PCR) 和原位杂交的方法在移植后12w仍能检测到上述三种基因的表达。免疫荧光检测发现移植后12w MSCs在脑内存活良好;移植后4w、8w、12w行为学观察发现阿扑吗啡(APO)诱导旋转行为较对照组LacZ基因移植组有明显改善（p<0.01）;移植后12w时三重基因移植组较双重基因移植组有明显改善（p<0.01）。移植后12w用高效液相色谱（HPLC）电化学法测定损伤侧纹状体和黑质内DA及其代谢产物3,4-二羟苯丙酸（DOPAC）的含量,三重基因移植组较hTH+hGCH-I基因移植组有明显增高（p<0.01）;三重基因移植组较hTH+hAADC基因移植组有所增高,但两组之间没有显著性差异。结论 基因工程改造的MSCs 在移植到PD模型大鼠脑内后可以很好地表达目的基因并在对动物行为学及生化方面改善的长期观察中发现三重基因联合脑内移植可能是比双重基因联合移植更佳的帕金森病基因治疗途径。     

骨髓间质干细胞向大鼠损伤心肌组织的迁移

实验旨在动态观察骨髓间充质干细胞（mesenchymal stem cells,MSCs）向不同微环境下心肌组织的迁移特点,明确组织损伤在干细胞迁移中的作用,为提高干细胞治疗的靶向性和高效性奠定初步试验基础。分离纯化雄性Sprague-Dawley（SD）大鼠的骨髓MSCs,输注入雌性SD大鼠。实验分为4组：正常大鼠＋MSCs移植组,假手术＋MSCs移植组,心肌缺血＋MSCs移植组,心肌缺血对照组（心肌缺血＋培养基移植）。结扎冠状动脉前降支制造心肌缺血模型,将相等数量的雄性MSCs经尾静脉注射移植入前3组雌性大鼠体内,对照组注射等体积培养基,分别于移植后1周及8周取心脏组织标本,采用荧光原位杂交方法（fluorescence in situ hybridization,FISH）检测大鼠Y染色体雄性鉴别基因sty片段的表达,用透射电镜观察大鼠心肌组织超微结构改变。结果发现,移植后1周和8周,正常大鼠移植组和对照组大鼠的心肌组织中均未见sry基因的表达,但假手术移植组和心肌缺血移植组的心肌组织中均可见sty基因的表达,心肌缺血移植组的Y染色体sty基因阳性细胞数量在两个时间点均显著高于假手术移植组（P〈0．01）。分别比较心肌缺血移植组和假手术组在移植后1周和8周的Y染色体sry基因阳性细胞的数量,两个时间点无明显差异。心肌组织的超微结构观察发现心肌缺血移植组大鼠的心肌梗死周边区域可见一些细胞,其形态类似于体外培养的MSCs。研究结果提示MSCs具有向损伤心肌组织迁移的特性,迁移的高峰期可能在组织损伤1周左右,组织损伤及其程度在干细胞迁移中起重要作用。     

胚胎干细胞衍生的视网膜色素上皮细胞移植治疗眼病

Schwartz等报告的用从人胚胎干细胞分化成的视网膜色素上皮细胞（RPE）移植治疗视网膜病,已观察4月,尚属成功。这是首次用从人胚胎干细胞（hESC）定向分化而成的细胞移植至患者取得成功。本文复习RPE移植的历史与现况;hESC分化而成的RPE（hESC-RPE）的实验研究以及临床移植的意义、方法、效果及存在问题,并展望了应用干细胞分化的RPE移植的前景。     

多能成体祖细胞培养条件促进人脂肪干细胞的视网膜神经保护功能

目的：检测多能成体祖细胞（MAPC）的培养条件对猴骨髓间充质细胞（BMMSCs）和人脂肪干细胞（hADSCs）生长的影响,旨在获得更适合治疗视网膜变性疾病的供体细胞。方法通过细胞形态观察、MTT实验、克隆形成率、PCR检测、以及成脂、成骨、成软骨分化潜能检测等,研究MAPC培养条件下猴BMMSCs和hADSCs的特征,并用DMEM/LG和MAPC培养条件培养的hADSCs进行RCS大鼠视网膜下腔移植,通过视网膜电图（ERG）和TUNEL检测,判断细胞移植治疗对视功能及视网膜细胞凋亡的影响。结果与常规培养基相比,MAPC培养条件能促进猴BMMSCs增殖,细胞变小,但传2代后,细胞变得宽大扁平,出现衰老征象;然而,MAPC培养条件下的hADSCs细胞增殖能力及克隆形成率均增强,形成的克隆较大可稳定传10代以上,且具有成脂、成骨、成软骨的多向分化潜能,细胞表面标记物及细胞因子出现差异表达：CD140b、CD90、CD47、HGF和PEDF显著上调,CD73、CD105和IL-6显著下调。与对照组相比,移植DMEM/LG和MAPC培养条件培养的hADSCs（P4）3周后,RCS大鼠的B波波幅明显升高,外核层细胞凋亡明显减少。结论 MAPC培养条件培养的hADSCs显示出更好的视网膜神经保护作用,适合用于治疗视网膜退行性疾病。     

Rescue from Photoreceptor Degeneration in the rd Mouse by Human Immunodeficiency Virus Vector-Mediated Gene Transfer

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common inherited retinal disease, in which photoreceptor cells degenerate, leading to blindness. Mutations in the rod photoreceptor cGMP phosphodiesterase beta subunit (PDEbeta) gene are found in patients with autosomal recessive RP as well as in the rd mouse. We have recently shown that lentivirus vectors based on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 achieve stable and efficient gene transfer into retinal cells. In this study, we evaluated the potential of HIV vector-mediated gene therapy for RP in the rd mouse. HIV vectors containing a gene encoding a hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged PDEbeta were injected into the subretinal spaces of newborn rd mouse eyes. One to three rows of photoreceptor nuclei were observed in the eyes for at least 24 weeks postinjection, whereas no photoreceptor cells remained in the eyes of control animals at 6 weeks postinjection. Expression of HA-tagged PDEbeta in the rescued photoreceptor cells was confirmed by two-color confocal immunofluorescence analysis using anti-HA and anti-opsin antibodies. HIV vector-mediated gene therapy appears to be a promising means for the treatment of recessive forms of inherited retinal degeneration.     

Microglia in the Mouse Retina Alter the Structure and Function of Retinal Pigmented Epithelial Cells: A Potential Cellular Interaction Relevant to AMD

Background

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of legal blindness in the elderly in the industrialized word. While the immune system in the retina is likely to be important in AMD pathogenesis, the cell biology underlying the disease is incompletely understood. Clinical and basic science studies have implicated alterations in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layer as a locus of early change. Also, retinal microglia, the resident immune cells of the retina, have been observed to translocate from their normal position in the inner retina to accumulate in the subretinal space close to the RPE layer in AMD eyes and in animal models of AMD.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this study, we examined the effects of retinal microglia on RPE cells using 1) an in vitro model where activated retinal microglia are co-cultured with primary RPE cells, and 2) an in vivo mouse model where retinal microglia are transplanted into the subretinal space. We found that retinal microglia induced in RPE cells 1) changes in RPE structure and distribution, 2) increased expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory, chemotactic, and pro-angiogenic molecules, and 3) increased extent of in vivo choroidal neovascularization in the subretinal space.

Conclusions/Significance

These findings share similarities with important pathological features found in AMD and suggest the relevance of microglia-RPE interactions in AMD pathogenesis. We speculate that the migration of retinal microglia into the subretinal space in early stages of the disease induces significant changes in RPE cells that perpetuate further microglial accumulation, increase inflammation in the outer retina, and fosters an environment conducive for the formation of neovascular changes responsible for much of vision loss in advanced AMD.     

Kallikrein Transduced Mesenchymal Stem Cells Protect against Anti-GBM Disease and Lupus Nephritis by Ameliorating Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

Previously we have shown that kallikreins (klks) play a renoprotective role in nephrotoxic serum induced nephritis. In this study, we have used mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as vehicles to deliver klks into the injured kidneys and have measured their therapeutic effect on experimental antibody induced nephritis and lupus nephritis. Human KLK-1 (hKLK1) gene was transduced into murine MSCs using a retroviral vector to generate a stable cell line, hKLK1-MSC, expressing high levels of hKLK1. 129/svj mice subjected to anti-GBM induced nephritis were transplanted with 10⁶ hKLK1-MSCs and hKLK1 expression was confirmed in the kidneys. Compared with vector-MSCs injected mice, the hKLK1-MSCs treated mice showed significantly reduced proteinuria, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and ameliorated renal pathology. Using the same strategy, we treated lupus-prone B6.Sle1.Sle3 bicongenic mice with hKLK1-MSCs and demonstrated that hKLK1-MSCs delivery also attenuated lupus nephritis. Mechanistically, hKLK1-MSCs reduced macrophage and T-lymphocyte infiltration into the kidney by suppressing the expression of inflammation cytokines. Moreover, hKLK1 transduced MSCs were more resistant to oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. These findings advance genetically modified MSCs as potential gene delivery tools for targeting therapeutic agents to the kidneys in order to modulate inflammation and oxidative stress in lupus nephritis.     

Study of differentiated human umbilical cord–derived mesenchymal stem cells transplantation on rat model of advanced parkinsonism

The aim of this study was to explore the curative effect of differentiated human umbilical cord–derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC‐MSCs) transplantation on rat of advanced Parkinson disease (PD) model. Human umbilical cord–derived mesenchymal stem cells were cultured and induced differentiation in vitro. The PD rats were established and allocated randomly into 2 groups: differentiated hUC‐MSCs groups and physiological saline groups (the control group). Rotation test and immunofluorescence double staining were done. The result showed that hUC‐MSCs could differentiate into mature dopamine neurons. Frequency of rotation was significantly less in differentiated hUC‐MSCs groups than in normal saline group. After we transplanted these cells into the unilateral lesioned substantia nigra induced by striatal injection of 6‐hydroxydopamine and performed in the medial forebrain bundle and ventral tegmental area, nigral tyrosine hydroxylase–positive cells were observed and survival of at least 2 months. In addition, transplantation of hUC‐MSCs could make an obviously therapeutic effect on PD rats.     

不同数目骨髓间充质干细胞移植对大鼠肺损伤的抑制作用

目的研究不同数目的骨髓间充质干细胞（mesenchymal stem cells,MSCs）静脉移植对野百合碱（monocrotaline,MCT）诱导大鼠肺损伤的抑制作用。方法全骨髓贴壁法培养Wistar大鼠MSCs,取第3～5代细胞进行移植。健康雄性Wistar大鼠20只由颈外静脉移植MSCs,按移植细胞个数分为5×105组、1×106组、5×106组和对照（生理盐水）组（n=5）,测定移植前、移植后5 min,30 min及24 h的RVSP。另40只随机分组（n=10）：①MCT/MSCs 5×105组;②MCT/MSCs 1×106组;③MCT组;④对照组,腹腔注射60 mg/kgM CT（对照组注射等量生理盐水）,同时分别移植MSCs 5×105个、1×106个或等量PBS液体。4周后检测大鼠右心室收缩压（right ventricularsystolic pressure,RVSP）、RV/（LV＋S）重量比值;肺组织苏木素-伊红染色、地衣红染色和平滑肌Actin免疫组织化学染色。统计数据采用SPSS 11.0软件,对各组数据进行单因素方差分析检验。结果少于1×106个MSCs颈外静脉移植是安全的。MSCs颈外静脉移植4周后,MCT/MSCs 1×106组RVSP（35.6±8.4）mmHg与MCT组（47.2±10.5）mmHg相比明显下降（P〈0.05）,心室比0.3572±0.0923明显低于MCT组0.4454±0.0935（P〈0.05）,而MCT/MSCs 5×105组RVSP为（42.5±11.3）mmHg,心室比0.4003±0.0725,与MCT组相比无明显下降（两者P〉0.05）;病理染色可见肺组织肺小动脉中,MCT/MSCs 1×106组中膜厚度分布为（19.2±3.8）%,较MCT组（26.4±4.9）%明显变薄（P〈0.05）;而MCT/MSCs 5×105组（23.3±3.6）%较MCT组相比无显著差异（P〉0.05）。结论 MSCs颈外静脉移植对MCT诱导的肺损伤具有抑制作用,1×106个细胞较5×105个细胞移植抑制作用显著。     

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury in a rat model

Background

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury associated with living donor liver transplantation impairs liver graft regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are potential cell therapeutic targets for liver disease. In this study, we demonstrate the impact of MSCs against hepatic I/R injury and hepatectomy.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We used a new rat model in which major hepatectomy with I/R injury was performed. Male Lewis rats were separated into two groups: an MSC group given MSCs after reperfusion as treatment, and a Control group given phosphate-buffered saline after reperfusion as placebo. The results of liver function tests, pathologic changes in the liver, and the remnant liver regeneration rate were assessed. The fate of transplanted MSCs in the luciferase-expressing rats was examined by in vivo luminescent imaging. The MSC group showed peak luciferase activity of transplanted MSCs in the remnant liver 24 h after reperfusion, after which luciferase activity gradually declined. The elevation of serum alanine transaminase levels was significantly reduced by MSC injection. Histopathological findings showed that vacuolar change was lower in the MSC group compared to the Control group. In addition, a significantly lower percentage of TUNEL-positive cells was observed in the MSC group compared with the controls. Remnant liver regeneration rate was accelerated in the MSC group.

Conclusions/Significance

These data suggest that MSC transplantation provides trophic support to the I/R-injured liver by inhibiting hepatocellular apoptosis and by stimulating regeneration.     

Retinal Pigmented Epithelial Cells Obtained from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Possess Functional Visual Cycle Enzymes in Vitro and in Vivo

Differentiated retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells have been obtained from human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells. However, the visual (retinoid) cycle in hiPS-RPE cells has not been adequately examined. Here we determined the expression of functional visual cycle enzymes in hiPS-RPE cells compared with that of isolated wild-type mouse primary RPE (mpRPE) cells in vitro and in vivo. hiPS-RPE cells appeared morphologically similar to mpRPE cells. Notably, expression of certain visual cycle proteins was maintained during cell culture of hiPS-RPE cells, whereas expression of these same molecules rapidly decreased in mpRPE cells. Production of the visual chromophore, 11-cis-retinal, and retinosome formation also were documented in hiPS-RPE cells in vitro. When mpRPE cells with luciferase activity were transplanted into the subretinal space of mice, bioluminance intensity was preserved for >3 months. Additionally, transplantation of mpRPE into blind Lrat^−/− and Rpe65^−/− mice resulted in the recovery of visual function, including increased electrographic signaling and endogenous 11-cis-retinal production. Finally, when hiPS-RPE cells were transplanted into the subretinal space of Lrat^−/− and Rpe65^−/− mice, their vision improved as well. Moreover, histological analyses of these eyes displayed replacement of dysfunctional RPE cells by hiPS-RPE cells. Together, our results show that hiPS-RPE cells can exhibit a functional visual cycle in vitro and in vivo. These cells could provide potential treatment options for certain blinding retinal degenerative diseases.