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Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:45 μμ
Potential Clinical Use of Differentiated Cells From Embryonic or Mesencyhmal Stem Cells in Orthopaedic Problems
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
Stem cells are classified by their tissue source. Embryonic stem cells that are derived from the inner cell mass of blastocyst stage embryos are highly proliferative in their undifferentiated state. A multipotent type of mesenchymal stem cells is isolated from various types of tissues such as bone marrow, fat tissue etc. The dynamics of embryonic and adult stem cell cycles are profoundly dissimilar from the culture of stem cells. After improving the culture conditions and differentiation potentials, differentiated stem cells are the first cells to be preferred in modern regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. This review article focuses on the cell-based therapy of orthopedic problems. We explore the challenges associated with bone repair and regeneration using embryonic or mesenchymal stem cells that are in undifferentiated or/and differentiated condition. This paper also discusses optimizing the best cell type, differentiation condition and using them on bone tissue engineering for future investigations.
HOX Genes as Potential Markers of Circulating Tumour Cells
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) have significant diagnostic potential as they can reflect both the presence and recurrence of a wide range of cancers. However, this potential continues to be limited by the lack of robust and accessible isolation technologies. An alternative to isolation might be their direct detection amongst other peripheral blood cells, although this would require markers that allow them to be distinguished from an exceptionally high background signal. This review assesses the potential role of HOX genes, a family of homeodomain containing transcription factors with key roles in both embryonic development and oncogenesis, as unique and possibly disease specific markers of CTCs.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Ischemic Stroke: Progress and Possibilities
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
Stroke is the most common neurological cause of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries, afflicting 15 million people every year. The numbers are expected to increase, mostly due to aging populations. One in five stroke patients dies, and one in three are left with permanent disabilities. </p> <p> Although some acute phase therapies such as intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) andendovascular treatment have been shown to improve ischemic stroke outcome, these therapies are available only for a small proportion of patients. </p> <p> The use of stem cells to replace brain cells lost during stroke is a long-term goal, and one which is difficult to achieve given that transplanted cells must integrate and restore neural pathways to regain function of damaged parts of the brain. Over the past decade the use of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) as therapy has emerged as a particularly attractive option. </p> <p> MSCs are a class of multipotent, self-renewing cells that give rise to differentiated progeny when implanted into appropriate tissues. Herein, we present a review of the application of MSCs in ischemic stroke, including the source of MSCs, the route and timing of their delivery into the brain and the endpoints measured. Experimental data of transplantation of MSCs in animal stroke models suggest an improved functional recovery. The transplantation of MSCs influences a wide range of events by modulating the inflammatory environment, stimulating endogenous neurogenesis and angiogenesis and reducing the formation of glial scar, although the precise, underlying mechanism of this phenomenon remains unknown. The results from early clinical trials highlight the need to optimize variables such as cell selection and route of administration in order to translate these results into safe and successful clinical applications.
Microfluidic Devices for Circulating Tumor Cells Isolation and Subsequent Analysis
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
The research of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has drawn much attention in recent years. It is because of the potential values of CTCs in early diagnosis of cancer, management of clinical treatment, exploration of metastatic mechanism, and development of personalized medicine. However, isolating CTCs has been technically challenging due to their rare numbers in blood. Recently, a variety of microfluidic devices have been developed for CTC isolation, and these devices can realize high capture efficiency and high purity. While enumeration of CTCs has been achieved, further cellular and DNA analysis on the captured CTCs are less reported. In this article, we review recent reports in microfluidic methods for isolation of CTCs and subsequent cellular analysis on them.
Stem Cells in Skeletal Tissue Engineering: Technologies and Models
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
This review surveys the use of pluripotent and multipotent stem cells in skeletal tissue engineering. Specific emphasis is focused on evaluating the function and activities of these cells in the context of development in vivo, and how technologies and methods of stem cell-based tissue engineering for stem cells must draw inspiration from developmental biology. Information on the embryonic origin and in vivo differentiation of skeletal tissues is first reviewed, to shed light on the persistence and activities of adult stem cells that remain in skeletal tissues after embryogenesis. Next, the development and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells is discussed, and some of their advantages and disadvantages in the context of tissue engineering are presented. The final section highlights current use of multipotent adult mesenchymal stem cells, reviewing their origin, differentiation capacity, and potential applications to tissue engineering.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Nano-Bioceramics for Bone Regeneration
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
Orthopedic disorders and trauma usually result in bone loss. Bone grafts are widely used to replace this tissue. Bone grafts excluding autografts unfortunately have disadvantages like evoking immune response, contamination and rejection. Autografts are of limited sources and optimum biomaterials that can replace bone have been searched for several decades. Bioceramics, which have the similar inorganic structure of natural bone, are widely used to regenerate bone or coat metallic implants. As people continuously look for a higher life quality, there are developments in technology almost everyday to meet their expectations. Nanotechnology is one of such technologies and it attracts everyone’s attention in biomaterial science. Nano scale biomaterials have many advantages like larger surface area and higher biocompatibility and these properties make them more preferable than micro scale. Also, stem cells are used for bone regeneration besides nano-bioceramics due to their differentiation characteristics. This review covers current research on nano-bioceramics and mesenchymal stem cells and their role in bone regeneration.
High Content, Multi-Parameter Analyses in Buccal Cells to Identify Alzheimer’s Disease
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a degenerative brain disorder and is the most common form of dementia. Minimally invasive approaches are required that combine biomarkers to identify individuals who are at risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD, to appropriately target clinical trials for therapeutic discovery as well as lifestyle strategies aimed at prevention. Buccal mucosa cells from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle Flagship Study of Ageing cohort (n=60) were investigated for cytological markers that could be used to identify both MCI and AD individuals. Visual scoring of the buccal cytome demonstrated a significantly lower frequency of basal and karyorrhectic cells in the MCI group compared with controls. A high content, automated assay was developed using laser scanning cytometry to simultaneously measure cell types, nuclear DNA content and aneuploidy, neutral lipid content, putative Tau and amyloid-β (Aβ) in buccal cells. DNA content, aneuploidy, neutral lipids and Tau were similar in all groups. However, there was significantly lower Tau protein in both basal and karyolytic buccal cell types compared with differentiated buccal cells. Aβ, as measured by frequency of cells containing Aβ signal, as well as area and integral of Aβ signal, was significantly higher in the AD group compared with the control group. Buccal cell Aβ was correlated with mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores (r = -0.436, P=0.001) and several blood-based biomarkers. Combining newly identified biomarkers from buccal cells with those already established may offer a potential route for more specific biomarker panels which may substantially increase the likelihood of better predictive markers for earlier diagnosis of AD.
iPSCs Derived from Malignant Tumor Cells: Potential Application for Cancer Research
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
The development of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has inspired a series of methods to manipulate cell fate and has provided novel insight into the profound molecular events underlying the development of diseases. Reprogramming somatic cells into iPSCs has been intensively investigated. However, few studies have investigated the reprogramming of malignant cells and its potential application. Herein, we review the recent progress of iPSCs derived from malignant cells, and highlight tumor iPSCs applications on cancer research which mainly focus on mesenchymal-epithelial transition, genetic and epigenetic change, diseases model construction, drug screening and tumor pathway study.
Application of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Targeted Gene Therapy for Gastric Cancer
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
The incidence of gastric cancer is third most prevalent among all malignant tumors in China. The conventional therapies for advanced gastric cancer are futile. Targeted gene therapy has become a promising alternative approach. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be used as potential cellular vehicles for cancer therapy in vivo. This review will summarize the published data about the application of MSC-based targeted therapy for gastric cancer, and discuss some of the challenges associated with this method.
Accumulation Effects of Salicylic acid Saccharide Carboxylate on the Alkaloids in Catharanthus roseus Cells
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
Plant growth regulators with the suitable concentrations had obvious effects on the accumulation of indole alkaloids in Catharanthusroseus cells. Four salicylic acid saccharide carboxylate derivatives were designed and synthesized as plant elicitors. The structures were confirmed and the accumulation effect was also evaluated. The results showed that it exhibited obvious effects on the accumulation of indole alkaloids, catharanthine and ajmalicine in Catharanthus roseus cells.
Telocytes as a Source of Progenitor Cells in Regeneration and Repair Through Granulation Tissue
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
This review outlines the role of CD34+ stromal cells/telocytes (CD34+ SC/TCs) in repair and considers the following issues. Firstly, the conceptual aspects of repair, including regeneration and repair through granulation tissue (RTGT) as two types of repair, RTGT stages (inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling), and tissue in repair as a substrate to assess the in vivo behavior of activated CD34+ SC/TCs. Subsequently, current knowledge of CD34+ SC/TCs, such as identification, characteristics, and functions, as well as possible stages (quiescent and activated) are taken into account. We then consider the role in regeneration of quiescent CD34+ SC/TCs (in unperturbed physiological conditions) as a nurse of stem cells (e.g., in the heart, skin, respiratory tree, gastrointestinal tract, liver, eye, and choroid plexus). Special attention is paid to the characteristics of activated CD34+ SC/TCs and the overlapping steps of activation with and without loss of CD34 expression and with and without gain of SMA expression. With this contribution, we establish the role of CD34+ SC/TCs as progenitor cells and as a source of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in repair through granulation tissue, fibrosis, and tumor stroma. Activated CD34+ SC/TCs in encapsulation and other processes (e.g., Reinke’s edema, cutaneous myxoid cyst, mixomatous mitral valve degeneration, and fibrous papula of the face) are also outlined. Finally, similarities between modifications of CD34+ SC/TCs during in vivo activation and of multipotent mesenchymal stromal/stem cells in culture are examined in order to correlate the growing literature on CD34+ SC/TCs and the exponential research in cultured mesenchymal stromal/stem cells.
Extracellular Matrix on the Phenotypic Switching of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
Background: Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) show eminently plasticity during physiological and pathological processes. VSMCs undergo from contractile phenotype to proliferative, matrigenic, inflammatory or osteogenic phenotype during the pathogenesis of hypertension, atherosclerosis, and vascular calcification etc. </p> <p> Methods: Here we reviewed the research papers regarding to the respective effects of extracellular matrix (ECM) on VSMC phenotypic switching. </p> <p> Results: The ECM including collagens, elastins, proteoglycans and glycoproteins etc, via complex protein-protein interaction, constitute a complicated microenvironment for VSMCs. Each component regulates VSMC phenotypic switching via various signaling pathways and cell surface receptor. On the other hand, ECM can be dynamic degraded or proteolysed by a variety of extracellular proteinases such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS). Thus, these extracellular proteinases are able to modulate VSMC phenotypes partially via degrading ECM. Moreover, the ECM-modulated VSMC phenotypic switching also plays a critical role in various vascular diseases, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis and vascular calcification. </p> <p> Conclusion: Various ECM compositions including fibrous proteins, glycoproteins and proteoglycans exhibit the ability to modulate the VSMC phenotypic switching.
Reversal of Oxidative Stress in Neural Cells by an Injectable Curcumin/Thermosensitive Hydrogel
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
Curcumin as an antioxidative agent which has been widely used medicinally in India and China. However, rapid metabolism coupled with the instability of curcumin under physiological conditions has greatly limited its applications in vivo. In the present study, a thermosensitive hydrogel with high payload of curcumin was developed by using a co-precipitation method, and its reversion of oxidative stress in Neuro-2a cells was investigated. With an increase in drug loading capacity, the solgel transition temperature of the thermosensitive hydrogel decreased accordingly. The stability of curcumin in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; pH=7.4) was greatly improved by encapsulation in the thermosensitive hydrogel, as indicated by an in vitro degradation test. An in vitro release study showed that the encapsulated curcumin was rapidly released from the hydrogel within 6 h. A curcumin/F-127 aqueous solution under the threshold concentration of 4μg/mL was non-toxic against Neuro-2a cells after 24-h incubation. A MitoSOX assay indicated that the developed curcumin formulation could attenuate the oxidative damage induced by H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> as compared to that of the H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> group. All these results suggested that the developed curcumin/thermosensitive hydrogel might have great potential application in the reversion of oxidative stress after traumatic brain injury.
Current Techniques for Studying Oligomer Formations of G-Protein-Coupled Receptors Using Mammalian and Yeast Cells
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are physiologically important transmembrane proteins that sense signaling molecules such as hormones, neurotransmitters, and various sensory stimuli; GPCRs represent major molecular targets for drug discovery. Although GPCRs traditionally have been thought to function as monomers or homomers, in the recent years these proteins have also been shown to function as heteromers. Heteromerization among GPCRs is expected to generate potentially large functional and physiological diversity and to provide new opportunities for drug discovery. However, due to the existence of numerous combinations, the larger universe of possible GPCR heteromers is unknown, and thus its functional significance is still poorly understood. The oligomerization of GPCRs in living cells now has been demonstrated in mammalian cells and in native tissues by using genetic, biochemical, and physiological approaches, as well as various resonance energy transfer (RET) technologies. In addition, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which can serve as a biosensor for monitoring eukaryotic biological processes, can also be used for the identification of functionally significant heteromer pairs of GPCRs. In this review, we focus on studies of GPCR oligomers, and summarize the technologies used to evaluate GPCR oligomerization. We additionally consider the potential limitations of these methods at present, and envision the possible future applications of these techniques.
Effect of HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibition on Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Extracellular Matrix Production: Role of RhoA
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
Cholesterol-lowering effects apart, statins can improve the endothelial function, stabilize the atherosclerotic plaques, decrease the oxidative stress and inflammation and inhibit the thrombogenic response by means of the inhibition of isoprenoids, which serve as lipid attachments for intracellular signaling molecules. We aimed to evaluate whether the effect of statins on RhoA activity mediate extracellular matrix production, particularly affecting collagen type I, in smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Our results showed that lovastatin decreased collagen expression in primary cultured chicken SMCs as determined by incorporation of [H<sup>3</sup>]-proline, RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. This fall was parallel to that found in Rho A activity. Similar results were found when GGTI-298, a RhoA inhibitor, was added to the culture medium. Mevalonate or geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate reverted these effects. In order to elucidate the role of Rho A in these events we transfected the cell line A10 (rat SMCs) with constitutively active (G14V) or dominant negative RhoA (T19N) constructs. The last ones showed similar results regarding collagen production that those stated above in lovastatin treated primary SMC cultures. Constitutively active RhoA transfected cells showed the opposite effects. Next we performed a promoter activity assay to exclude post-transcriptional mechanisms implicated in these studies. We found a similar pattern in col1a2 promoter activity to that found in collagen expression. Our results have demonstrated that statins regulate the activation of RhoA through its isoprenylation, which is crucial for the regulation of extracellular matrix synthesis in SMCs.
Lithium Distinctly Modulates the Secretion of Pro- and Anti- Inflammatory Interleukins in Co-Cultures of Neurons and Glial Cells at Therapeutic and Sub-Therapeutic Concentrations
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
Lithium is associated with various effects on immune functions, some of which are still poorly understood. The roles of many cytokines have been characterized in a variety of neurodevelopmental processes including neurogenesis, neuronal and glial cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, synaptic maturation and synaptic pruning. This work aims to evaluate the effects of different doses of lithium (0.02; 0.2 and 2mM) on the secretion of cytokines in co-cultures of cortical and hippocampal neurons with glial cells. Our results indicate that chronic treatment with lithium chloride at subtherapeutic concentrations are able to modify the secretion of pro- and anti-inflammatory interleukins in co-cultures of cortical and hippocampal neurons with glial cells.
Multiple Pharmacological Properties of a Novel Parthenin Analog P16 as Evident by its Cytostatic and Antiangiogenic Potential Against Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma PANC -1 Cells
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) remains one of the deadliest types of cancers. Median survival rate is very poor with the currently available chemotherapeutical regimens. Therefore, discovery of new antineoplastic agents against PDA is one of the focused areas of contemporary research. The present study was undertaken to explore the antitumour activity of a potent parthenin analog P16. Among PANC-1, Mia PaCa-2 and AsPC-1 pancreatic cancer cells, PANC-1 showed highest sensitivity to P16 with an IC50 value of 3.4 μM. Time dependent cell cycle studies revealed that P16 suppressed the growth of PANC-1 cells by arresting the progression through the cell cycle in G2/M phase via downregulation of cyclin B1 and cyclin A. However, P16 did not alter the expressions of CDK-1 and CDC25C in PANC-1 cells. The P16 induced cell cycle arrest, which consequently, led to induction of apoptosis, which was accompanied by activation of caspase-9 and -3. Interestingly, PANC-1 cells displayed increasing loss of mitochondrial potential, which seemed to be correlated to the activation of caspase-3. Additionally, P16 was also able to down-regulate the cell migration in PANC-1 cells. Furthermore, P16 treatment of hypoxic PANC-1 cells strongly suppressed the expression of proangiogenic factors VEGFR-2, HIF1α and HIF1β. Antiangiogenic ability of P16 was also reflected in the human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs), where it effectively suppressed the migration and inhibited the formation of the tube in a matrigel based assay. Therefore, cytostatic and antiangiogenic properties of P16 against pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells make it a suitable candidate for further investigation.
Two Novel Heparin-binding Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Splices, L-VEGF144 and L-VEGF138, are Expressed in Human Glioblastoma Cells
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
The expression levels of different vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF) isoforms are associated with the angiogenesis and the patient’s prognoses in human cancers. Ribosomes specifically scan from 5’ to 3’ CUG initiation codon in the long 5’-untranslated region (5’-UTR) of the VEGF mRNA, resulting in the generation of high mol wt VEGF isoform [call large VEGF (L-VEGF)]. Alternative splicing of VEGF mRNA transcripts results in several isoforms with distinct properties that are dependent up their exon compositions. In this study, we observed two novel kinds of splicing VEGF isoforms that transcripted at the first upstream CUG codon, and which we have named large-VEGF144 (LVEGF144), and large-VEGF138 (L-VEGF138). The expression levels of messenger RNA for the different VEGF splice forms were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). After DNA sequencing, the genetic structure of L-VEGF144 involved not only a partial exon 1, exon 6a, and exons 7-8, but also an unique 108- nucleotides insertion of VEGF intron 5 interposed between exon 1 and exon 6. At the same time, L-VEGF144 lacked most of the Nterminal fragments (exons 1-5). We further found that a specific detection model could easily and rapidly confirm the presence of L-VEGF144 mRNA fragments in the biopsies or cell lines via RT-PCR assay. In addition, we used visible fluorescent fusion proteins to prove that both L-VEGF144 and L-VEGF138 have nuclear localization ability. Taken together, the findings of this study indicate that, unlike previously identified isoforms, these novel VEGF isoforms are likely to suggest a further level of complexity in the angiogenic process.
Development of Anti-CD20 Antigen-Targeting Therapies for B-cell Lymphoproliferative Malignancies - The State of the Art
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
For decades, the available anticancer therapies were mostly based on nonspecific cytotoxic regimens. These cytostatic combinations, while effective in some subpopulations of patients, are often limited by extensive toxicity and/or development of tumor resistance. Although standard chemotherapy still remains a common therapeutic tool in the fight with cancer, immunotherapy increasingly revolutionizes treatment strategy for several hematologic malignancies. For a subset of patients with B-cell lymphoproliferative disease, the introduction of subsequently developed classes of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has resulted in improved overall response rates and, to some extent, patient overall survival. Rituximab, the most thoroughly-explored chimeric mouse anti-human anti-CD20 mAb, has been widely and successfully introduced to oncohematology, but also to other fields of medicine, such as transfusiology or rheumatology. Currently, several new generation anti-CD20 mAbs are undergoing different stages of preclinical and clinical studies of assessment to further improve the outcome and overcome mechanisms of resistance. The nature of the direct mechanisms responsible for the anticancer properties of different classes of anti-CD20 mAbs is still not fully understood. This is reflected in different approaches during the investigation of novel anti-CD20 agents. So far, three classes of anti- CD20 mAb have been described. In this review, we focus on CD20 antigen-targeting therapies both currently available and undergoing preclinical or clinical investigation for B-cell lymphoproliferative malignancies.
Label-Free Cell Phenotypic Assays for Assessing Drug Polypharmacology
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:46 μμ
Background: Most drugs exert their biological and physiological effects via binding to protein targets. Although drugs are traditionally optimized against a single protein, most marketed drugs exhibit clinically relevant polypharmacology – the activity of drugs at multiple targets. The wide-spread presence of polypharmacology makes it challenging to assess the mechanisms of action of multi-target drugs. Methods: This paper first reviews approaches for discovering multi-targets of drug molecules, then discusses key characteristics of label-free cell phenotypic assays, and finally focuses on how to use these assays to assess drug polypharmacology. Results: labelfree cell phenotypic assays have ability to provide a holistic view of drug action in living cells with wide phenotype/ target/pathway coverage, and permit effective deconvolution of the action of multi-target drugs at the whole cell level. Conclusion: Label-free cell phenotypic assays hold great potential in assessing drug polypharmacology.
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