Proton-sensing GPCR-YAP Signalling Promotes Cancer-associated Fibroblast Activation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The pHs of extracellular fluids (ECFs) in normal tissues are commonly maintained at 7.35 to 7.45. The acidification of the ECF is one of the major characteristics of tumour microenvironment. In this study, we report that decreased extracellular pH promotes the transformation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), termed CAF activation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that GPR68, a proton-sensing G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), is required for the pH-dependent regulation of the differentiation of MSCs into CAFs. We then identify Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP) as a downstream effector of GPR68 for CAF activation. Finally, we show that knockdown of GPR68 in MSCs can prevent the CAF activation under cancer microenvironment. Systemic transplantation of GPR68-silenced MSCs suppresses in-situ tumour growth and prolong life span after cancer graft.     

Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Induce Collagen Production and Tongue Cancer Invasion

Tumor microenvironment (TME) is an active player in carcinogenesis and changes in its composition modify cancer growth. Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts, bone marrow-derived multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs), and inflammatory cells can all affect the composition of TME leading to changes in proliferation, invasion and metastasis formation of carcinoma cells. In this study, we confirmed an interaction between BMMSCs and oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) cells by analyzing the invasion progression and gene expression pattern. In a 3-dimensional myoma organotypic invasion model the presence of BMMSCs inhibited the proliferation but increased the invasion of OTSCC cells. Furthermore, the signals originating from OTSCC cells up-regulated the expression of inflammatory chemokines by BMMSCs, whereas BMMSC products induced the expression of known invasion linked molecules by carcinoma cells. Particularly, after the cell-cell interactions, the chemokine CCL5 was abundantly secreted from BMMSCs and a function blocking antibody against CCL5 inhibited BMMSC enhanced cancer invasion area. However, CCL5 blocking antibody did not inhibit the depth of invasion. Additionally, after exposure to BMMSCs, the expression of type I collagen mRNA in OTSCC cells was markedly up-regulated. Interestingly, also high expression of type I collagen N-terminal propeptide (PINP) in vivo correlated with the cancer-specific mortality of OTSCC patients, whereas there was no association between cancer tissue CCL5 levels and the clinical parameters. In conclusion, our results suggest that the interaction between BMMSC and carcinoma cells induce cytokine and matrix molecule expression, of which high level of type I collagen production correlates with the prognosis of OTSCC patients.     

瑞舒伐他汀促进缺氧复氧间充质干细胞增殖的机制研究

目的：探讨瑞舒伐他汀对缺氧复氧损伤后脂肪来源间充质干细胞增殖的影响及机制。方法：酶消化法分离小鼠的脂肪间充质干细胞（AD-MSCs）,流式细胞术检测CD90、CD44、CD34、CD45等细胞标志物。建立缺氧（H）6h/复氧（R）42h细胞模型,AD-MSCs分为3组：①对照组;②缺氧/复氧组（H/R）;③H/R＋瑞舒伐他汀干预组（浓度分别为10-8、10-7、10-6mol/L）。MTT法测定各组细胞增殖,免疫印迹法检测细胞内Akt、Erk及其磷酸化的表达水平。结果：流式细胞术结果显示脂肪间充质干细胞CD44及CD90阳性,CD34、CD45阴性。MTT实验显示在缺氧环境中,瑞舒伐他汀的干预可显著增加AD-MSCs的增殖（P〈0.05）。Westernblot检测pAkt及pErk的表达在瑞舒伐他汀干预组明显高于对照组和H/R组。（P〈0.05）。结论：瑞舒伐他汀可通过Akt、Erk信号途径促进H/R损伤后AD-MSCs的增殖。     

瑞舒伐他汀促进缺氧复氧间充质干细胞增殖的机制研究

目的:探讨瑞舒伐他汀对缺氧复氧损伤后脂肪来源间充质干细胞增殖的影响及机制。方法:酶消化法分离小鼠的脂肪间充质干细胞(AD-MSCs),流式细胞术检测CD90、CD44、CD34、CD45等细胞标志物。建立缺氧(H)6h/复氧(R)42h细胞模型,AD-MSCs分为3组:①对照组;②缺氧/复氧组(H/R);③H/R+瑞舒伐他汀干预组(浓度分别为10-8、10-7、10-6mol/L)。MTT法测定各组细胞增殖,免疫印迹法检测细胞内Akt、Erk及其磷酸化的表达水平。结果:流式细胞术结果显示脂肪间充质干细胞CD44及CD90阳性,CD34、CD45阴性。MTT实验显示在缺氧环境中,瑞舒伐他汀的干预可显著增加AD-MSCs的增殖(P<0.05)。Westernblot检测pAkt及pErk的表达在瑞舒伐他汀干预组明显高于对照组和H/R组。(P<0.05)。结论:瑞舒伐他汀可通过Akt、Erk信号途径促进H/R损伤后AD-MSCs的增殖。     

缺氧对于间充质干细胞分化的影响

间充质干细胞(mesenchymal stem cell,MSC),是来源于中胚层的具有自我更新能力和多向分化潜能干细胞,在体内外可以分化成骨、软骨、脂肪、肌腱和肌细胞等.由于其强大的分化潜能,MSC在组织工程与再生医学方面具有广泛的应用前景.MSC存在于高度受调控的被称为"壁龛"的微环境中.干细胞壁龛处于一个缺氧的环境中,氧分压可以低至7.2 mmHg.同时MSC是肿瘤微环境的重要的细胞组成成分,肿瘤微环境也是存在于一个缺氧的环境中.了解MSC在缺氧状态下的分化能力,对于组织工程、再生医学和肿瘤的发生发展研究具有重要的意义.缺氧相关的信号转导参与MSC定向分化能力的过程.目前MSC在缺氧状态下的成脂和成骨分化的研究存在着差异,这些研究结果的差异可能是由于MSC的异质性以及实验操作不同所引起.     

低氧培养对间充质干细胞生存与生长的影响

低氧培养能影响间充质干细胞(Mesenchymal stem cells,MSCs)细胞活力、增殖能力、衰老、死亡等生存和生长相关特性,其分子机制复杂多重,涉及能量代谢途径、低氧诱导因子(HIFs)信号通路以及诸多其他信号通路、调控和转导分子。目前受限于MSCs来源、分离纯化方法、筛选标记以及低氧体系构建方法等因素,低氧培养对MSCs的影响结果还无法做统一性的概括。综述现有研究结果,为今后最佳MSCs培养体系构建,以及MSCs的临床应用研究奠定基础。     

溶血磷脂酸抗缺氧无血清诱导的大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞凋亡作用

在体外缺氧无血清条件下模拟心肌缺血微环境,研究溶血磷脂酸(LPA)对骨髓间充质干细胞(BMMSCs)的抗凋亡作用.应用Hoechst33342染色和膜联蛋白V/PI双染流式细胞术观察细胞凋亡,并利用Western印迹方法检测ERK1/2和Akt的磷酸化水平变化.结果表明缺氧无血清条件引起明显的细胞凋亡,LPA处理6 h和1 6 h 组细胞凋亡率较缺氧无血清组显著降低(P＜0.05),而1 h组细胞凋亡率与缺氧无血清组无显著性差异.LPA处理组(1 h,6h,1 6 h组)ERK1/2磷酸化水平较缺氧无血清组降低,Akt磷酸化水平较缺氧无血清组增高.在缺氧无血清环境中,LPA有利于增强BMMSCs的抗凋亡能力,提高BMMSCs存活率,为临床提高BMMSCs治疗缺血性心肌病的疗效提供理论依据.     

Collagen Promotes Higher Adhesion,Survival and Proliferation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) can differentiate into several cell types and are desirable candidates for cell therapy and tissue engineering. However, due to poor cell survival, proliferation and differentiation in the patient, the therapy outcomes have not been satisfactory. Although several studies have been done to understand the conditions that promote proliferation, differentiation and migration of MSC in vitro and in vivo, still there is no clear understanding on the effect of non-cellular bio molecules. Of the many factors that influence the cell behavior, the immediate cell microenvironment plays a major role. In this context, we studied the effect of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in controlling cell survival, proliferation, migration and directed MSC differentiation. We found that collagen promoted cell proliferation, cell survival under stress and promoted high cell adhesion to the cell culture surface. Increased osteogenic differentiation accompanied by high active RHOA (Ras homology gene family member A) levels was exhibited by MSC cultured on collagen. In conclusion, our study shows that collagen will be a suitable matrix for large scale production of MSC with high survival rate and to obtain high osteogenic differentiation for therapy.     

Activation of Cardiac Stem Cells in Myocardial Infarction

The development of heart failure caused by acute myocardial infarction is accompanied by massive necrotic death of cardiomyocytes in lesion areas and subsequent pathological myocardial remodeling. Traditionally, the possibility of heart reparation has been considered to be severely limited or absent in the postnatal period. Endogenous cardiac stem cells with a regenerative potential have recently been described, but the mechanisms of activation of these cells remain poorly understood. The aim of our work was to obtain cardiac stem cells from the ischemic area of the myocardium and compare their functional properties with stem cells isolated from the healthy area of the myocardium. RT-PCR was used to quantify the gene expression in cardiac stem cells. In addition, differentiated cells were stained for specific markers using immunocytochemical method. Cardiac stem cells originating from the infarction area had a higher proliferative potential and a greater propensity to migrate in comparison to the cells originated from a healthy myocardial area. The expression level of several specific markers of cardiogenic, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation upon induction of corresponding differentiation was higher in the cells from the infarction area than in cells from the healthy myocardium. We conclude that myocardial ischemia activates the internal regenerative potential of cardiac stem cells.     

Hypoxia Precondition Promotes Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Based Repair of Diabetic Erectile Dysfunction via Augmenting Angiogenesis and Neuroprotection

The aim of the present study was to examine whether hypoxia preconditioning could improve therapeutic effects of adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) for diabetes induced erectile dysfunction (DED). AMSCs were pretreated with normoxia (20% O₂, N-AMSCs) or sub-lethal hypoxia (1% O₂, H-AMSCs). The hypoxia exposure up-regulated the expression of several angiogenesis and neuroprotection related cytokines in AMSCs, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor FIK-1, angiotensin (Ang-1), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and its CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). DED rats were induced via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) and were randomly divided into three groups—Saline group: intracavernous injection with phosphate buffer saline; N-AMSCs group: N-AMSCs injection; H-AMSCs group: H-AMSCs injection. Ten rats without any treatment were used as normal control. Four weeks after injection, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and intracavernosal pressure (ICP) were measured. The contents of endothelial, smooth muscle, dorsal nerve in cavernoursal tissue were assessed. Compared with N-AMSCs and saline, intracavernosum injection of H-AMSCs significantly raised ICP and ICP/MAP (p<0.05). Immunofluorescent staining analysis demonstrated that improved erectile function by MSCs was significantly associated with increased expression of endothelial markers (CD31 and vWF) (p<0.01) and smooth muscle markers (α-SMA) (p<0.01). Meanwhile, the expression of nNOS was also significantly higher in rats receiving H-AMSCs injection than those receiving N-AMSCs or saline injection. The results suggested that hypoxic preconditioning of MSCs was an effective approach to enhance their therapeutic effect for DED, which may be due to their augmented angiogenesis and neuroprotection.     

低剂量LPS预处理的间充质干细胞对胰岛保护作用的研究

目的:探讨低剂量脂多糖(LPS)预处理的间充质干细胞(MSCs)对于胰岛移植物的保护作用及其机制。方法:给予MSCs不同浓度的LPS预处理,利用流式细胞仪检测不同处理组的间充质干细胞在低氧条件下的凋亡情况,筛选出最佳刺激浓度。通过ELISA检测低氧条件下LPS预处理组与未处理组的MSCs促生长因子的分泌情况。利用Western blot的方法检测不同处理组的MSCs在低氧条件下bax,bcl-2的表达。体外低氧条件下共培养不同处理的MSCs和胰岛细胞,检测胰岛细胞内部CD31阳性细胞的表达。以F344大鼠为供者,以Balb/c裸鼠为受者,制作胰岛联合MSCs移植模型,连续观察21天检测胰岛功能的恢复情况。结果:当以500ng/mL的LPS刺激MSCs能够减少MSCs在低氧条件下的凋亡水平(P0.05),此时为最适浓度。LPS预处理的MSCs相较于未处理组能够在低氧条件下分泌更多的HGF,IGF-1,VEGF。LPS预处理的MSCs能够上调bcl-2下调bax的表达(P0.05)。LPS预处理的MSCs能够明显保护低氧条件下胰岛细胞内部的CD31阳性的内皮细胞的数量。胰岛细胞联合LPS预处理的MSCs能够明显提高胰岛功能的改善。结论:胰岛细胞联合LPS预处理的MSCs能够明显提高移植效率。     

Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Attenuate Mitochondria Damage Induced by Hypoxia in Mouse Trophoblasts

ObjectiveWe aimed to observe the change of mitochondrial function and structure as well as the cell function induced by hypoxia in mouse trophoblasts, and moreover, to validate the restoration of these changes after co-culture with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hereinafter referred to as “MSCs”). Further, we explored the mechanism of MSCs attenuating the functional damage of trophoblasts caused by hypoxia.MethodsCells were divided into two groups, trophoblasts and MSCs+trophoblasts respectively, and the two groups of cells were incubated with normoxia or hypoxia. Chemiluminescence was used to assay the β-HCG and progesterone in cell culture supernatants quantitatively. Western blotting and PCR were applied to detect the expression of Mfn2, MMP-2, MMP-9 and integrin β1 in the two groups. The mitochondrial membrane potential of each group of cells was detected with JC-1 dye and the ATP content was measured by the phosphomolybdic acid colorimetric method. We utilized transmission electron microscopy for observing the ultrastructure of mitochondria in trophoblasts. Finally, we assessed the cell apoptosis with flow cytometry (FCM) and analyzed the expression of the apoptosis related genes—Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase3 and Caspase9 by western blotting.ResultsThe results showed that the Mfn2 expression was reduced after 4 h in hypoxia compared with that in normoxia, but increased in the co-culture group when compared with that in the separated-culture group (p<0.05). In addition, compared with the separated-culture group, theβ-HCG and progesterone levels in the co-culture group were significantly enhanced (p<0.05), and so were the expressions of MMP-2, MMP-9 and integrin β1 (p<0.05). Moreover, it exhibited significantly higher in ATP levels and intensified about the mitochondrial membrane potential in the co-culture group. TEM revealed disorders of the mitochondrial cristae and presented short rod-like structure and spheroids in hypoxia, however, in the co-culture group, the mitochondrial cristae had a relatively regular arrangement and the mitochondrial ultrastructure showed hyperfusion. The expression of Bax, Caspase3 and Caspase9 was decreased in the co-culture group when compared with that in trophoblast cells cultured alone (p<0.05), while the Bcl-2 levels and the Apoptosis Index (AI) were markedly increased in the co-culture group (p<0.05).ConclusionBone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can attenuate mitochondria damage and cell apoptosis induced by hypoxia; the mechanism could be upregulating the expression of Mfn2 in mouse trophoblasts and changing mitochondrial structure.     

低氧对间充质干细胞成骨相关基因表达的影响

目的：观察低氧对间充质干细胞（MSC）成骨相关基因表达的影响。方法：取第2代MSC,分别在常氧和3％氧浓度下培养,采用real-timeRT-PCR检测骨桥蛋白（OPN）、核心结合因子α1（Cbfal）、骨形态发生蛋白（BMP）和血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）mRNA的表达。结果：2种氧浓度下MSC的形态无明显差异,但3％氧浓度下MSC集落形成能力增强。常氧下MSC中Cbfal和BMPmRNA的表达高于3％氧浓度,差异有显著性（P〈0．05）;而OPN和VEGFmRNA的表达虽高于3％氧浓度,但差异无显著性（P〉0．05）。结论：3％氧浓度对MSC的形态没有明显影响,但增强其增殖能力,抑制其成骨分化能力。     

恒磁场抑制缺血缺氧条件下大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞凋亡

目的:研究恒磁场对体外缺血缺氧培养条件下大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞(Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells,BMSCs) 凋亡的影响并探讨其作用机制.方法:采取大鼠骨髓,以密度梯度离心分离出单个核细胞(MNCs),于体外培养并由牛垂体提取物(PEX)诱导扩增传代培养出骨髓间充质干细胞(MSCs).经形态学和流式细胞仪检测MSCs表面标志物鉴定后,将骨髓间充质干细胞(BMSCs)在缺血缺氧条件下培养,通过TUNEL检测比较不同组别细胞的凋亡率和蛋白印迹法(western blot)来观察细胞中特定蛋白质的变化.结果:①经形态学观察和流式细胞仪检测MSCs表面标志物鉴定,提示骨髓间充质干细胞培养成功.②缺血/缺氧组与缺血/缺氧+磁场组比较,缺血缺氧组的凋亡率显著性增加,Akt磷酸化水平显著上升(P＜0.05).提示恒磁场可以使PI3K(Phosphoinositide-3kinase)/Akt(ProteinkinaseB,PKB)信号通路被激活而抑制凋亡的发生.结论:恒磁场通过激活PI3K/Akt信号通路抑制体外缺血缺氧条件下培养的骨髓间充质干细胞的凋亡.     

间充质干细胞与肿瘤转移

间充质干细胞是一类能够自我更新、具有多向分化潜能的成体干细胞。近年来,有证据认为间充质干细胞是肿瘤组织中基质细胞的祖先,因此间充质干细胞微环境与肿瘤转移的关系逐渐成为研究热点,但间充质干细胞对肿瘤转移是促进还是抑制,目前的研究并不一致。我们简要综述了间充质干细胞参与肿瘤转移的研究进展。