Comparison of HepaRG cells following growth in proliferative and differentiated culture conditions reveals distinct bioenergetic profiles

HepaRG is a proliferative human hepatoma-derived cell line that can be differentiated into hepatocyte-like and biliary-like cells. Differentiated HepaRG cultures maintain key hepatic functions including drug transporters and xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes. To gain insight into proliferative and differentiated HepaRG metabolism we profiled various bioenergetic parameters and investigated cell culture levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), lactate, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Compared to differentiated-derived HepaRG, cells from proliferative cultures had increased basal and ATP-linked respiration and decreased maximal and spare respiratory capacities. Basal ATP levels but not lactate or LDH activity were increased in samples from proliferative-derived compared to differentiated-derived HepaRG. Further extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) experiments revealed parameters associated with glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. Under basal conditions, cells derived from both cultures had similar ECARs; however, under stressed conditions, proliferative-derived HepaRG had increases in ECAR capacity and apparent glycolytic reserve. The biguanide metformin has been reported to protect differentiated HepaRG against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced cell injury, as well as offer protection against bioenergetic deficiencies; therefore, we studied the outcome of exposure to these drugs in both culture conditions. Proliferative- and differentiated-derived cells were found to have distinct mitochondrial bioenergetic alterations when exposed to the hepatotoxic drug APAP. Metformin offered protection against loss of APAP-induced cellular viability and prevented APAP-induced decreases in bioenergetics in differentiated- but not proliferative-derived HepaRG. Distinguishingly, treatment with metformin alone reduced ATP-linked respiration, maximal respiratory capacity, and basal respiration in proliferative-derived HepaRG. Our results support that HepaRG represents an appropriate model to study drug-induced bioenergetic dysfunction.     

Human umbilical cord blood‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB‐MSC) inhibit the proliferation of K562 (human erythromyeloblastoid leukaemic cell line)

hUCB‐MSC (human umbilical cord blood‐derived mesenchymal stem cells) offer an attractive alternative to bone marrow‐derived MSC for cell‐based therapy by being less invasive a source of biological material. We have evaluated the effect of hUCB‐MSC on the proliferation of K562 (an erythromyeloblastoid cell line) and the cytokine secretion pattern of hUCB‐MSC. Co‐culturing of hUCB‐MSC and K562 resulted in inhibition of proliferation of K562 in a dose‐dependent manner. However, the anti‐proliferative effect was reduced in transwells, suggesting the importance of direct cell‐to‐cell contact. hUCB‐MSC inhibited proliferation of K562, arresting them in the G₀/G₁ phase. NO (nitric oxide) was not involved in the hUCB‐MSC‐mediated tumour suppression. The presence of IL‐6 (interleukin 6) and IL‐8 were obvious in the hUCB‐MSC conditioned media, but no significant increase was found in 29 other cytokines. Th1 cytokines, IFNα (interferon α), Th2 cytokine IL‐4 and Th17 cytokine, IL‐17 were not secreted by hUCB‐MSC. There was an increase in the number of hUCB‐MSC expressing the latent membrane‐bound form of TGFβ1 co‐cultured with K562. The anti‐proliferative effect of hUCB‐MSC was due to arrest of the growth of K562 in the G₀/G₁ phase. The mechanisms underlying increased IL‐6 and IL‐8 secretion and LAP (latency‐associated peptide; TGFβ1) by hUCB‐MSC remains unknown.     

蝉蜕、僵蚕对大鼠系膜增生性肾炎作用的实验研究

目的:研究蝉蜕、僵蚕对大鼠系膜增生性肾小球肾炎(MsPGN)的治疗作用。方法:采用改良慢性血清病法制备的MsPGN模型,随机分为模型对照组、蝉蜕高剂量组、蝉蜕低剂量组、僵蚕高剂量组、僵蚕低剂量组,另设正常对照组。分别在用药5周、8周后检测大鼠24h尿蛋白;8周后处死大鼠,行血液生化指标检测和肾组织HE染色观察,免疫组化法检测TGF-β1的表达水平。结果:与模型对照组比较,用药5周后蝉蜕、僵蚕高剂量组显著降低大鼠24h蛋白尿(P<0.01);8周后各治疗组大鼠肾组织TGF-β1表达量,24h蛋白尿和血清胆固醇均显著下降,蝉蜕高、低剂量组血清白蛋白均有所升高,差异具有显著性意义(P<0.01)。肾组织形态学观察显示,蝉蜕、僵蚕高剂量组个别区域肾小球系膜细胞轻度增生,系膜区轻度增宽,管腔无挤压现象,较模型组明显改善。结论:蝉蜕、僵蚕均能有效降低MsPGN大鼠24h尿蛋白,改善脂质代谢,其作用机制可能与抑制TGF-β1的过度表达有关。     

Age-related changes in Drosophila midgut are associated with PVF2, a PDGF/VEGF-like growth factor

Age-associated changes in stem cell populations have been implicated in age-related diseases, including cancer. However, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms that link aging to the modulation of adult stem cell populations. Drosophila midgut is an excellent model system for the study of stem cell renewal and aging. Here we describe an age-related increase in the number and activity of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and progenitor cells in Drosophila midgut. We determined that oxidative stress, induced by paraquat treatment or loss of catalase function, mimicked the changes associated with aging in the midgut. Furthermore, we discovered an age-related increase in the expression of PVF2, a Drosophila homologue of human PDGF/VEGF, which was associated with and required for the age-related changes in midgut ISCs and progenitor cell populations. Taken together, our findings suggest that PDGF/VEGF may play a central role in age-related changes in ISCs and progenitor cell populations, which may contribute to aging and the development of cancer stem cells.     

Prostate epithelial stem cell culture

The prostate gland is the site of the second most common cancer in men in the UK, with 9,280 deaths recorded in 2000. Another common disease of the prostate is benign prostatic hyperplasia and both conditions are believed to arise as a result of changes in the balance between cell proliferation and differentiation. There are three types of prostatic epithelial cell, proliferative basal, secretory luminal, and neuroendocrine. All three are believed to be derived from a common stem cell through differentiation along different pathways but the mechanisms behind these processes is poorly understood. In particular, there has until recently been very little information about prostate stem cell growth and differentiation. This review will discuss ways of distinguishing these prostate cell types using markers, such as keratins. Methods available for the culture of prostate epithelial cells and for the characterisation of stem cells both in monolayer and three-dimensional models are examined. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

人骨髓CD34^＋造血细胞体外扩增形成HPP—CFC造血祖细胞的能力

目的和方法：高增殖潜能集落形成细胞（ＨＰＰＣＦＣ）是表达ＣＤ３４＋ＤＲＬｉｎ－的最早期造血祖细胞之一,它在体外的增殖分化能力可反映造血干细胞的某些特征。结果：本文研究了人正常骨髓ＣＤ３４＋造血细胞在体外扩增和形成ＨＰＰＣＦＣ的能力。利用ＣＩＭＳ１００免疫磁性分离术首先获得＞９０％的ＣＤ３４＋造血细胞以富集ＨＰＰＣＦＣ。在含有Ｅｐｏ＋ＧＭＣＳＦ＋ＩＬ３＋ＩＬ６＋ＳＣＦ（简ＥＧＩＩＳ）的无基质液培条件下,ＣＤ３４＋造血细胞在四周内可持续产生单个核细胞和ＨＰＰＣＦＣ,并使其总量最高可达１７７０倍和８倍,以第２和３周为最佳时期,但不同个体ＣＤ３４＋造血细胞的这种能力差别较大。结论：高度纯化的人骨髓ＣＤ３４＋造血细胞能够在含有最佳组合造血生长因子的无基质液培条件下持续扩增,为临床应用提供了重要依据。     

EB荧光分析法测定肿瘤细胞DNA交联及增殖活性

应用EB荧光分析法测定体外培养人宫颈癌细胞株(HeLa)、人白血病细胞株(HL-60),增殖性和非增殖性人外周血淋巴细胞(PBL)的DNA含量及其交联度(DNA cross-link),并据此研究不同增殖状态细胞与其DNA百分交联度(ct%)的相互关系.结果显示,HeLa细胞、HL-60细胞、增殖性和非增殖性PBL的DNA ct%分别为36.5、 22.5、 20.2和0,表明不同增殖速度或周期的细胞具有不同的DNA交联反应,而非增殖性细胞或G₀期细胞不产生DNA交联反应.     

Directed cell invasion and asymmetric adhesion drive tissue elongation and turning in C. elegans gonad morphogenesis

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