Neural stem cells: involvement in adult neurogenesis and CNS repair

Recent advances in stem cell research, including the selective expansion of neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro, the induction of particular neural cells from embryonic stem cells in vitro, the identification of NSCs or NSC-like cells in the adult brain and the detection of neurogenesis in the adult brain (adult neurogenesis), have laid the groundwork for the development of novel therapies aimed at inducing regeneration in the damaged central nervous system (CNS). There are two major strategies for inducing regeneration in the damaged CNS: (i) activation of the endogenous regenerative capacity and (ii) cell transplantation therapy. In this review, we summarize the recent findings from our group and others on NSCs, with respect to their role in insult-induced neurogenesis (activation of adult NSCs, proliferation of transit-amplifying cells, migration of neuroblasts and survival and maturation of the newborn neurons), and implications for therapeutic interventions, together with tactics for using cell transplantation therapy to treat the damaged CNS.     

环境因素对油松林木材生产影响的定量评价

本文使用多元统计分析方法, 定量评价了环境因素对陕西省油松人工林木材生产的影响程度。在地理-地形-土壤环境因素组中, 土壤类型对油松林的生长影响最大, 占38.75%。在气候因素组中, 7月平均气温对陕南及秦岭一带油松林的生长影响最大, 占34.46%。在陕北地区, 对油松林生长影响最大的因素是年降雨量, 占27.8%。不同气候因素作用于不同地区森林的程度有较大差异。根据综合环境因素对油松林木材生产的影响及林分生长表现, 在陕西省划分了3个油松生长区:(1)陕南及秦岭油松生长区;(2)关中及陕北南部生长区;(3)陕北北部生长区。并对各区的特点进行了总结。     

哺乳动物体细胞核移植研究进展

体细胞核移植技术已经在基础研究领域与产业化应用领域体现出了重要的价值,因而体细胞核移植技术及其相关研究已经成为了生物领域的持续性研究热点,但是围绕体细胞核移植技术仍然存在许多质疑,其中最主要的就是体细胞核移植的效率较低。尽管如此,体细胞核移植研究仍然在近年来取得了令人瞩目的成就,包括小鼠与恒河猴核移植胚胎干细胞系的建立。该文就体细胞核移植的研究历史与进展进行简要的论述,同时针对体细胞核移植研究中的细胞重编程与治疗性克隆研究中的发展与问题进行剖析,希望能够积极推动治疗性克隆的研究进展,加速核移植与干细胞技术在产业化领域中的应用。     

PcG蛋白在干细胞调控中的作用

PcG (polycomb group)蛋白作为一种表观遗传修饰系统,在动物和植物中具有 保守性.从功能上讲,PcG蛋白可以分为PRC1（polycomb repressive complex 1）和 PRC2（polycomb repressive complex 2）两个核心蛋白复合体. PRC2含有组蛋白甲 基化酶的活性,而PRC1在泛素连接酶E3介导的组蛋白泛素化中发挥作用,二者通过对 组蛋白的修饰控制靶基因转录. 近来研究表明,PcG蛋白对干细胞数量维持和命运转变 有重要的调控作用,其成员表达失调或缺失导致许多恶性肿瘤的发生或导致植物细胞 丧失分化能力、形成愈伤组织. 本文简要综述了PcG蛋白的组成及其在干细胞调控中 的作用.     

Identification and expansion of pancreatic stem/progenitor cells

Pancreatic islet transplantation represents an attractive approach for the treatment of diabetes. However, the limited availability of donor islets has largely hampered this approach. In this respect, the use of alternative sources of islets such as the ex vivo expansion and differentiation of functional endocrine cells for treating diabetes has become the major focus of diabetes research. Adult pancreatic stem cells /progenitor cells have yet to be recognized because limited markers exist for their identification. While the pancreas has the capacity to regenerate under certain circumstances, questions where adult pancreatic stem/progenitor cells are localized, how they are regulated, and even if the pancreas harbors a stem cell population need to be resolved. In this article, we review the recent achievements both in the identification as well as in the expansion of pancreatic stem/progenitor cells.     

Effects of water depth and hydrodynamics on the growth and distribution of juvenile cyprinids in the littoral zone of a large pre-alpine lake

In enclosure experiments in the littoral zone of Lake Constance, Germany, juvenile cyprinids showed significantly reduced somatic growth in the shallow eulittoral zone (0·5 m depth) compared to the sublittoral zone (1·6 m depth). Growth was especially reduced in larger and more deep-bodied fish groups, providing evidence that this is due to increased hydrodynamic stress, induced by ship and wind waves, in the shallow habitats compared to the deep habitat. Other factors such as water temperature and food availability seemed to be of minor importance for the observed growth differences. Gillnet catches at the experimental site and an adjacent site showed that most juvenile cyprinids, including the species from the enclosure study, bream Abramis brama and dace Leuciscus leuciscus , nonetheless prefer shallow habitats compared to deeper sublittoral habitats. Juvenile cyprinids in Lake Constance may prefer these shallow habitats as refuges against larger piscivorous predators, mainly perch Perca fluviatilis , despite the cost in terms of reduced somatic growth indicating that juvenile cyprinids first of all optimize survival rate instead of somatic growth rate.     

Clonal isolation of muscle-derived cells capable of enhancing muscle regeneration and bone healing

Several recent studies suggest the isolation of stem cells in skeletal muscle, but the functional properties of these muscle-derived stem cells is still unclear. In the present study, we report the purification of muscle-derived stem cells from the mdx mouse, an animal model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We show that enrichment of desmin(+) cells using the preplate technique from mouse primary muscle cell culture also enriches a cell population expressing CD34 and Bcl-2. The CD34(+) cells and Bcl-2(+) cells were found to reside within the basal lamina, where satellite cells are normally found. Clonal isolation and characterization from this CD34(+)Bcl-2(+) enriched population yielded a putative muscle-derived stem cell, mc13, that is capable of differentiating into both myogenic and osteogenic lineage in vitro and in vivo. The mc13 cells are c-kit and CD45 negative and express: desmin, c-met and MNF, three markers expressed in early myogenic progenitors; Flk-1, a mouse homologue of KDR recently identified in humans as a key marker in hematopoietic cells with stem cell-like characteristics; and Sca-1, a marker for both skeletal muscle and hematopoietic stem cells. Intramuscular, and more importantly, intravenous injection of mc13 cells result in muscle regeneration and partial restoration of dystrophin in mdx mice. Transplantation of mc13 cells engineered to secrete osteogenic protein differentiate in osteogenic lineage and accelerate healing of a skull defect in SCID mice. Taken together, these results suggest the isolation of a population of muscle-derived stem cells capable of improving both muscle regeneration and bone healing.     

骨髓间质干细胞移植治疗大鼠脑出血模型的实验研究

目的:研究大鼠骨髓间质干细胞(MSCs)移植治疗脑出血的可行性。方法:分离MSCs后,连续传代培养、扩增,Brdu标记的MSCs通过颈动脉、侧脑室2种途径移植入脑出血大鼠模型体内,采用爬行计分法评估神经功能的恢复程度,并观察脑部Brdu阳性细胞的分布。结果:通过侧脑室、颈动脉移植后大鼠神经功能改善,明显优于对照组(P<0.05);经颈动脉注射组较经侧脑室注射组爬杆实验评分低(P<0.05)。移植的MSCs主要迁移到出血灶、大脑皮层、海马区等处。结论:MSCs移植对脑出血具有保护作用,而经颈动脉给药疗效优于经侧脑室给药。     

β-TCP支架体外构建组织工程骨及其流体力学研究

骨髓基质干细胞在β-tricalciumphosphate(β-TCP)支架上分别进行了1、2和4周的三维动态培养,对支架上不同时间和部位的细胞面积/微孔面积及支架动态培养的流体环境进行了研究.研究表明,第1周细胞在支架大部分孔道内粘附生长并出现一定区域的单细胞层和多细胞层,第2周部分区域的部分孔道已填满了细胞并出现多细胞层,第4周大部分孔道几乎填满了细胞,主管道内壁出现了较多的细胞生长.同时发现,支架上各个区域细胞粘附面积不等,部分区域无细胞存在,有的部位2周后细胞逐渐减少.为了研究支架各个位置细胞増殖与流速、剪切应力的关系,建立了支架随机孔道结构的流体分析模型,通过支架上流速和剪切应力分布探讨实验中细胞分布现象的机理.结合计算和实验发现,流体能流到的部位几乎都有细胞生长,细胞生长较快的部位速度大多集中在0.24～0.53mm/s,剪切力大多在0.0050～0.023Pa,主管道底部及靠近进口的部位可能存在由于过大的剪切力影响细胞生长的区域.上述结果在一定程度上反映了细胞-支架-流体三者在成骨转化过程中的作用,对指导体外灌注培养的流量确定、灌注工艺及骨转化动力学研究有重要的意义.     

缺氧环境下白细胞介素8通过Akt-STAT3通路提高骨髓间充质干细胞自噬和增殖能力

探讨缺氧环境下,白细胞介素8(Interleukin-8,IL-8)对人骨髓间充质干细胞(Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,hBMSC)增殖和自噬能力的影响以及机制。在缺氧模型下,未进行刺激的hBMSC为缺氧对照组;以100μmol/L人IL-8蛋白刺激的MSC为IL-8组;若先添加50μmol/L MK2206(Akt蛋白抑制剂)培养30 min,然后再添加100μmol/L IL-8则为Akt抑制剂组,在正常条件下培养的MSC为正常对照组。利用Ed U细胞增殖实验、TUNEL细胞凋亡实验、Western blotting或ELISA等实验分别检测各组MSC细胞Ed U标记阳性细胞的数目、细胞凋亡、自噬蛋白(LC-3)和Akt/STAT3等蛋白的表达。相对于缺氧对照组和Akt抑制剂组,IL-8明显提高hBMSC增殖和细胞自噬,并降低hBMSC的凋亡率,IL-8组hBMSC的Akt、STAT3和VEGF等蛋白表达增高。结果表明,缺氧环境下,IL-8通过Akt-STAT3通路发挥对MSC的保护作用,对保护MSC抗缺血缺氧性损伤,促进MSC在再生医学中应用具有重要意义。