Monolayer cultures of normal human bone cells contain multiple subpopulations of alkaline phosphatase positive cells

Summary Cytochemical staining of normal human bone cells in monolayer cultures for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) indicated that the cultures contained mixed-cell populations. Time course evaluations of the cytochemical staining revealed, in addition to the ALP-negative cell population, at least two subpopulations of ALP-positive human bone cells with different levels of ALP. A cytochemical method has been developed which separates the ALP-positive cells into high and intermediate ALP subpopulations. In this method, human bone cells were stained for ALP using an azo-dye method and incubating at 4°C for 10 and 30 minutes, respectively. We defined the cell population that stained positively for ALP at 10 minutes as strong ALP-positive cells, and both strong and intermediate cells were stained at 30 minutes. The intermediate cells were determined from the difference between the values at the two time points. The intra- and interassay variations of the assay, with the same investigator in blinded investigations, were both less than 10% and the interobserver variation was approximately 25%. Analysis of the distribution of ALP levels in cells with a laser densitometer confirmed the presence of at least three cell subpopulations. 1,25(OH)₂D₃ treatment increased the proportions of both ALP-positive cell populations, whereas TGF-beta treatment increased only the intermediate ALP-positive cell population. On the contrary, fluoride increased the proportion of the strong ALP cells, and IGF-1 had no effect on the proportions of either ALP-positive subpopulation. When the ALP-specific activity was compared with the percentage of each ALP-positive subpopulations for the cells treated with effectors, the ALP-specific activity correlated with the total ALP-positive and with the strong ALP-positive populations but not with the intermediate ALP-positive subpopulation. In summary, this study represents the first evidence that normal human bone cells in monolayer cultures contained at least two subpopulations of ALP-positive cells, and that bone cell effectors could have differential effects on each cell population.     

Effect of distension on adrenergic innervation of the rat urinary bladder

Summary The effect of distension on adrenergic innervation was investigated in the rat urinary bladder. Bladders were distended for 3 h by forced diuresis and ballon obstruction, and specimens were taken from the bladder dome, body and neck for the demonstration of glyoxylic acid-induced fluorescence of catecholamines. Depletion of catecholamines started after 10 h and was almost complete after 2 days. The fluorescence had recovered part way after 5–7 days and was practically normal after 21 days. Small, intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells in the ganglia continued to leak catecholamines throughout the 21-day study period. The primary clinical success of distension therapy for the treatment of unstable bladder may be at least partly due to a reversible disturbance in the function of the adrenergic nerves, which have an excitatory alpha-adrenergic dominance in such cases, but the persistent leakage from SIF cells raises the question of whether distension causes prolonged disturbances in bladder function.     

Osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor exhibits hypocalcemic effects in normal mice and in hypercalcemic nude mice carrying tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy

Osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OCIF) is a novel secreted protein that inhibits osteoclastogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we examined the effects of OCIF on serum calcium (Ca) concentrations in normal mice and in hypercalcemic nude mice carrying tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. In normal mice, a single intraperitoneal injection of OCIF reduced serum Ca levels in a dose-dependent manner. Significant decrease in serum Ca (by 1.6 ± 0.3 mg/dL, n = 5) was observed 2 h after the injection of OCIF at 20 mg/kg and the hypocalcemic effect continued for up to 12 h. Serum phosphate (Pi) concentrations also decreased in response to OCIF. Urinary excretion of Ca, Pi, and creatinine did not change significantly after injection of OCIF or vehicle. In hypercalcemic, tumor-bearing nude mice, a single intraperitoneal injection of OCIF at 20 mg/kg resulted in a dramatic decrease in serum Ca (maximal decrease 2.8 ± 0.37 mg/dL, n = 11), which continued for up to 24 h. The results suggest that OCIF decreased serum Ca through its inhibitory effect on bone resorption. Furthermore, it is suggested that OCIF has therapeutic potential for the treatment of hypercalcemic conditions such as malignancy-associated hypercalcemia.     

9-顺式维甲酸体外诱导神经母细胞瘤细胞分化的研究

目的：为设计维甲酸治疗神经母细胞瘤可能的有效方案，本文对9-顺式维甲酸（9-cis retinoic acid,9-cisRA)体外诱导分化神经母细胞瘤细胞（SK-N-SH）作用进行了研究。方法：SK-N-SH细胞经9-cisRA处理后，采用相差显微镜，神经纤维银染法，透射电镜观察等手段。观察9-cisRA对细胞生长的影响。结果：9-cisRA作用SK-N-SH细胞7d后，细胞形态发生变化；12d时出现神经原性表型，多个细胞形成“神经节”，节间形成粗而长的类神经纤维；尼氏小体和银染法亦证明细胞产生显著分化，透射电镜观察结果表明，9-cisRA对该细胞有分化作用。却无明显凋亡诱导作用。结论：9-cisRA对神经母细胞瘤细胞体外能产生明显诱导分化作用。     

As2O3处理前后K562细胞基因表达变化的基因芯片检测

目的应用基因芯片研究三氧化二砷(As2O3)处理前后K562细胞基因表达的变化.方法提取As2O3处理前后K562细胞的总RNA,纯化为mRNA后再反转录为cDNA.cDNA经限制性内切酶Sau3AI切割后,cDNA片段分别用Cy3和Cy5标记,与自制的包含348个基因片段的胎盘库芯片杂交.结果杂交结果经扫描和软件分析,发现了11个差异表达的基因片段,其中有3个基因片段与细胞凋亡密切相关.结论我们构建的胎盘库基因芯片可以成功地用于研究药物作用前后基因表达的变化.     

Cytokeratin expression in a congenital multipotential primitive neuroectodermal tumor

A case of an uncommon congenital primitive neuroectodermal cerebellar tumor (PNET) in a 5-month-old child is reported. After subtotal surgical resection, the residual tumor did not respond to radiation and chemotherapy. Histologically, the tumor was composed of small, round, undifferentiated cells and several other patterns like astrocytomatous, oligodendrogliomatous, and ependymomatous structures. Immunostaining was positive for most of the cells for vimentin and S 100, fewer were positive for glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) and neuron-specific enolase, and only a few for synaptophysin. Surprisingly, the tumor showed strong expression of several monoclonal cytokeratins (CK) with different molecular weights, together with epithelial membrane antigen. Furthermore, we found a coexpression of the tumor cells for CK and vimentin, while CK-GFAP and CK-S 100 were negative. Ultrastructurally, intracyto-plasmic intermediate filaments could be observed corresponding to immunohistochemical CK expression. The very strong CK and vimentin expression in this case was interpreted as a sign of the embryonic nature of the tumor.     

Ocular changes in the mouse embryo following acute maternal ethanol intoxication

The development of the eye was investigated in the mouse embryo following a single administration of ethanol plus [3H]thymidine to the dam on day 13 of gestation. After 1 hr there was no difference in the number of labelled cells/100 micron 2 in the neural layer of the retina compared to controls, but there was an alcohol-related reduction in labelling density. After 24 hr there was an increase in the numbers of both pyknotic cells and mitotic figures, breaks occurred in the inner surface of the retina and cell debris was being extruded into the posterior chamber. At 48 hr the increase in pyknotic cells persisted, but there was less evidence of cell debris and the borders had been repaired. The estimated cell cycle time in the neural progenitor cells following maternal alcohol administration was increased 7-fold compared to controls. Morphometric analysis revealed that after 48 hr there were significant alcohol-related reductions in the width and depth of the eye, in the thickness of the neural layer and in the interocular distance. It appears that many of the ophthalmic abnormalities reported in human fetal alcohol syndrome can be produced in the mouse embryo following a single episode of acute maternal intoxication during a critical period of ocular ontogeny, and that they evolve primarily from disturbances in the normal patterns of recruitment and loss of neural progenitor cells in the developing retina.     

来源于骨髓和脐带血的基质细胞基本特性的比较

目的比较骨髓与脐带血细胞体外培养基质细胞的基本特性,为基质细胞的选择应用提供依据.方法用Dexter长期培养体系培养骨髓和脐带血基质细胞,以细胞增殖、细胞形态、细胞化学染色、细胞表面及基质细胞支持另一骨髓细胞形成的鹅卵石造血区(CAFC),长期培养起始细胞(LTC-IC)为指标,比较两者的生长特性、成分及功能.结果①细胞生长特性:出现贴壁细胞时间,骨髓细胞为培养3d,脐带血细胞为培养5～6d;细胞融合成片时间,骨髓细胞为培养10～14d,脐带血细胞为培养12～18d;第21天细胞增殖数,骨髓比脐带血细胞增殖少;②细胞成分:21d培养后细胞成分,骨髓来源者以成纤维细胞为主,其次是巨噬细胞与内皮细胞,脂肪细胞最少;脐带血细胞来源者,以巨噬细胞为主,其次是内皮细胞、成纤维细胞,偶见脂肪细胞;细胞化学与上述结果基本一致;细胞表面抗原检测,CD14、CD45的表达骨髓细胞明显低于脐带血细胞;③细胞功能:骨髓来源的基质细胞较脐带血细胞的基质细胞支持另一骨髓细胞形成的CAFC和LTC-IC明显多.结论①生长特征:形成贴壁细胞时间骨髓较脐带血短,骨髓细胞比脐带血细胞有核细胞数增殖快、持续时间相对短;②细胞成分特性:骨髓来源形成的基质细胞以成纤维细胞为主,脐带血来源者以巨噬细胞为主;③细胞功能特性:骨髓细胞形成的贴壁细胞较脐带血细胞形成的贴壁细胞更利于CAFC、LTC-IC生长.     

神经干细胞移植治疗缺氧缺血性脑损伤的实验研究

目的 研究神经干细胞移植治疗缺氧缺血性脑损伤的可行性。方法 取孕龄为12－16天的母鼠，从胎脑中分离神经细胞，进行培养、鉴定。用出生7天的SD大鼠的新生鼠制作缺氧缺血性脑损伤的动物模型，7天后接受神经干细胞移植（移植组，n＝16只），同时设置对照组，只注射磷酸缓冲液（对照组，n=8只），8－10周后，作Y迷宫实验检测大鼠的学习能力和记忆能力。取脑组织作免疫组织化学检查。结果 从大鼠胎脑中成功培养出神经干细胞，培养条件下呈悬浮状态生长，形成神经球，绝大多数的细胞表达神经干细胞的标志物神经巢蛋白（nestin）。接爱神经干细胞移植组大鼠的学习能力、记忆能力和对照组相比，有明显提高，差异具有显著性（P＜0.05）。接受神经干细胞移植大鼠组织中可见存活的移植细胞，并和宿主脑组织融合在一起。结论 在体外培养条件下，可从胎脑组织中培养出神经干细胞，移植到缺氧缺血性脑损伤大鼠脑内后，细胞与宿主的脑组织融合在一起，动物的学习、记忆能力有改善。移植神经干细胞是治疗缺氧缺知性脑损伤的有效方法之一。