Proinflammatory interleukins' production by adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells: the impact of cell culture conditions and cell‐to‐cell interaction

The impact of culture conditions and interaction with activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells on the interleukin (IL) gene expression profile and proinflammatory IL‐6 and IL‐8 production by adipose‐derived stromal cells (ASCs) was investigated. A microarray analysis revealed a wide range of IL genes either under standard (20%) or hypoxic (5%) O₂ concentrations, some highly up‐regulated at hypoxia. IL‐6 and IL‐8 production was inversely dependent on cell culture density. In early (first–third) passages, IL‐6 and IL‐8 concentration was higher at 20% O₂ and in late (8th‐12th) passages under 5% O₂. Interaction between ASCs and mononuclear cells in indirect setting was accompanied with a significant decrease of IL‐6 and did not result in the elevation of IL‐8 concentration. Thereby, the production of proinflammatory interleukins (IL‐6 and IL‐8) may be affected by the ASC intrinsic features (density in culture, and duration of expansion), as well as by microenvironmental factors, such as hypoxia and the presence of blood‐borne cells. These data are important for elucidating ASC paracrine activity regulation in vitro. They would also be on demand for optimisation of the cell therapy protocols, based on the application of ASC biologically active substances. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. SIGNIFICANCE PARAGRAPH Ex vivo expansion is widely used for increasing the number of adipose‐derived stromal cells (ASCs) and improving of their quality. The present study was designed to elucidate the particular factors influencing the interleukin production in ASCs. The presented data specified the parameters (i.e. cell density, duration of cultivation, hypoxia, etc.) that should be taken in mind when ASCs are intended to be used in protocols implying their paracrine activity. These data would be of considerable interest for researchers and clinicians working in the biomedical science.     

The attitudes of riparian communities to the presence of water hyacinth in the Wouri River Basin,Douala, Cameroon

Since publication of the first record of Eichhornia crassipes in Cameroon in 1997, the weed has become highly invasive in the Wouri River Basin. Between June and September 2014, a socio-economic survey using participatory and qualitative methods was undertaken in the riparian villages of the Wouri River Basin to assess the perception of respondents to the presence of water hyacinth. The survey revealed that water hyacinth was a significant threat to activities along the river, which included fishing, sand extraction and river transportation. The presence of water hyacinth mats reduced catch rates of several common fish species, river transportation by 75%, and significantly reduced the income for sand extraction. Cameroon employs manual clearing of water hyacinth; however, respondents indicated they would consider other control methods, provided they do not have any negative impacts.