The role of CXCR7 on the adhesion, proliferation and angiogenesis of endothelial progenitor cells

Previous studies confirmed that stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) was a principal regulator of retention, migration and mobilization of haematopoietic stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) during steady-state homeostasis and injury. CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) has been considered as the unique receptor of SDF-1 and as the only mediator of SDF-1-induced biological effects for many years. However, recent studies found that SDF-1 could bind to not only CXCR4 but also CXC chemokine receptor 7 (CXCR7). The evidence that SDF-1 binds to the CXCR7 raises a concern how to distinguish the potential contribution of the SDF-1/CXCR7 pathway from SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway in all the processes that were previously attributed to SDF-1/CXCR4. In this study, the role of CXCR7 in EPCs was investigated in vitro. RT-PCR, Western blot and flow cytometry assay demonstrate that both CXCR4 and CXCR7 were expressed highly in EPCs. The adhesion of EPCs induced by SDF-1 was inhibited by blocking either CXCR4 or CXCR7 with their antibodies or antagonists. SDF-1 regulated the migration of EPCs via CXCR4 but not CXCR7. However, the transendothelial migration of EPCs was inhibited by either blocking of CXCR4 or CXCR7. Both CXCR7 and CXCR4 are essential for the tube formation of EPCs induced by SDF-1. These results suggested that both CXCR7 and CXCR4 are important for EPCs in response to SDF-1, indicating that CXCR7 may be another potential target molecule for angiogenesis-dependent diseases.     

Genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases are associated with ulcerative colitis in central China

The present study aimed to investigate the association between genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and susceptibility to ulcerative colitis (UC) in central China. The prevalence of GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 gene polymorphisms were examined using polymerase chain reaction methods in 270 consecutive UC patients and 623 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The frequencies of the GSTM1(null) and GSTT1(null) as well as GSTP1 (Val/Val) genotypes were significantly higher in UC patients than in the controls (70.74% vs. 41.74%, P = 0.0001; 64.82% vs. 47.19%, P = 0.0001; and 48.89% vs. 34.35%, P = 0.0004, respectively). When the UC patients were stratified according to clinical features, we found that the frequencies of the GSTT1(null) and GSTP1 (Val/Val) genotypes but not the GSTM1(null) genotype were significantly higher in patients with distal colitis than in extensive colitis (P = 0.0007, P = 0.001, and P = 0.271, respectively). However, these variant GST genotypes were not significantly linked to severity of the disease (P > 0.05). GST variant genotypes are strongly correlated with prevalence and extent but not with severity of UC in the Hubei Han population in central China.     

Implementation of a fast-track clinical pathway decreases postoperative length of stay and hospital charges for liver resection

A fast-track clinical pathway is designed to streamline patient care delivery and maximize cost effectiveness. It has decreased postoperative length of stay (LOS) and hospital charges for many surgical procedures. However, data on clinical pathways after liver surgery are sparse. This study examined whether use of a fast-track clinical pathway for patients undergoing elective liver resection affected postoperative LOS and hospital charges. A fast-track clinical pathway was developed and implemented by a multidisciplinary team for patients undergoing liver resection. Between July, 2007 and May, 2008, a total of 117 patients underwent elective liver resection: the fast-track clinical pathway (education of patients and families, earlier oral feeding, earlier discontinuation of intravenous fluid, no drains or nasogastric tubes, early ambulation, use of a urinary catheter for less than 24 h and planned discharge 6 days after surgery) was studied prospectively in 56 patients (postpathway group). These patients were compared with the remainder who had usual care (prepathway group). Outcome measures were postoperative LOS, perioperative hospital charges, intraoperative and postoperative complications, mortality, and readmission rate. Among all patients, 69 (59%) had complicating diseases and/or a history of surgery and 24 patients belonged to American Society of Anesthesiologists grade III–IV. Compared with the prepathway group, the postpathway group had a significantly shorter postoperative LOS (7 vs. 11 days, P < 0.01). The average perioperative hospital charges were RMB 26,626 for patients in the prepathway group and only RMB 21,004 for those in the postpathway group (P < 0.05), with no differences in intraoperative and postoperative complications (P = 0.814), mortality (P = 0.606), and readmission rate (P = 0.424). Implementation of the fast-track clinical pathway is an effective and safe method for reducing postoperative LOS and hospital charges for high-risk patients undergoing elective liver resection. The result supports the further development of fast-track clinical pathways for liver surgical procedures.     

Human platelet lysate supports ex vivo expansion and enhances osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells) with their versatile growth and differentiation potential are ideal candidates for use in regenerative medicine and are currently making their way into clinical trials, which requires the development of xeno-free protocols for their culture. In this study, MSCs were cultured in 10% FCS or 7.5% HPL (human platelet lysate)-supplemented media. We found that both groups of MSCs showed a comparable morphology, phenotype and proliferation. The percentage of cells in the S- and G2-/M-phases, however, was slightly up-regulated (P<0.01) in HPL group. HPL contains PDGF (platelet derived growth factor)-AB and IGF (insulin-like growth factor)-1. In addition, compared with FCS group, MSCs in HPL group showed an increase in osteogenic differentiation and a decrease in adipogenic differentiation. In conclusion, MSCs in HPL-supplemented media maintained similar growing potential and phenotype, while osteogenic potential was enhanced. HPL offers a promising alternative to FCS for MSC expansion for clinical application, especially in bone injury diseases.     

Role of ROS in the protective effect of silibinin on sodium nitroprusside-induced apoptosis in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells

Silibinin mostly has been used as hepatoprotectants, but it has other interesting activities, e.g. anti-cancer, cardial protective and brain-protective activities. A previous study demonstrated that silibinin protected amyloid β (Aβ)-induced mouse cognitive disorder by behavioural pharmacological observation. This study assessed the effect of silibinin on sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-treated rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Subsequent morphologic observation, flow cytometric analysis and Western blot analysis indicated that treatment with SNP significantly induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. However, silibinin eliminated the apoptotic effect by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, especially hydroxyl free radical. Silibinin-induced autophagy through ROS generation when exerting a protective effect and silibinin-induced autophagy also enhanced the ROS generation since 3-methyladenine (3-MA), a specific autophagy inhibitor, decreased the ROS generation and rapamycin, an autophagy inducer, enhanced the ROS generation. Therefore, there exists a positive feedback loop between autophagy and ROS generation. Autophagy prevented SNP-induced apoptosis, since the addition of 3-MA significantly eliminated the protective effect of silibinin. This protective effect was attributed to the generation of ROS and its two downstream Ras/PI3K/NF-κB and Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathways. Both prevented PC12 cells from apoptosis. The PI3K/NF-κB pathway induced autophagy to protect PC12 cells, but the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway directly protected PC12 cells bypassing the autophagic effect.     

Influence of lowered temperature on the resistance and functional activity of the photosynthetic apparatus of wheat plants

The dynamics of cold resistance and the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus (PSA) of wheat germs at 4°C were studied. It was shown that in the first hours of cold, a certain functional readjustment to the changed conditions takes place in the plant organism. A decrease in the activity of the PSA and cessation of the linear growth of the leaf are registered at this stage along with an increase in resistance, as well as an increase in the coefficient of non-photochemical quenching of the fluorescence of chlorophyll. In one to four days, when resistance reaches its maximum, photosynthesis and the rate of electron transport are stabilized, the chlorophyll content in the lightcollecting complex increases, and the growth recommences. The final stage of adaptation (days 4–7) is characterized not only by the steady level of resistance but also by new functional organization of the PSA, which allows the plants to endure the lowered temperature successfully.