Ex vivo expansion and transplantation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells supported by mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord blood

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotential and are detected in bone marrow (BM), adipose tissue, placenta, and umbilical cord blood (UCB). In this study, we examined the ability of UCB-derived MSCs (UCB-MSCs) to support ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) from UCB and the engraftment of expanded HSPCs in NOD/SCID mice. The result showed that UCB-MSCs supported the proliferation and differentiation of CD34+ cells in vitro. The number of expanded total nucleated cells (TNCs) in MSC-based culture was twofold higher than cultures without MSC (control cultures). UCB-MSCs increased the expansion capabilities of CD34+ cells, long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-ICs), granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming cells (GM-CFCs), and high proliferative potential colony-forming cells (HPP-CFCs) compared to control cultures. The expanded HSPCs were transplanted into lethally irradiated NOD/SCID mice to assess the effects of expanded cells on hematopoietic recovery. The number of white blood cells (WBCs) in the peripheral blood of mice transplanted with expanded cells from both the MSC-based and control cultures returned to pretreatment levels at day 25 posttransplant and then decreased. The WBC levels returned to pretreatment levels again at days 45-55 posttransplant. The level of human CD45+ cell engraftment in primary recipients transplanted with expanded cells from the MSC-based cultures was significantly higher than recipients transplanted with cells from the control cultures. Serial transplantation demonstrated that the expanded cells could establish long-term engraftment of hematopoietic cells. UCB-MSCs similar to those derived from adult bone marrow may provide novel targets for cellular and gene therapy.     

人脐血造血干/祖细胞的磁力搅拌悬浮培养及移植实验

目的 探讨磁搅拌大规模培养体系对人脐血造血祖细胞的扩增效果以及扩增的人造血祖细胞植入动物体内后的造血重建情况.方法 从新鲜抗凝脐血中分离出单个核细胞(MNC),以添加干细胞因子、酪氨酸激酶受体3配基及血小板生成素的无血清培养体系进行培养.静态扩增组的细胞置于T25培养瓶中培养,磁搅拌悬浮扩增组(磁搅拌扩增组)的细胞采用Celstir装置进行培养,培养体系为50～100 ml.培养7 d后进行细胞计数、集落培养检测和细胞表面分子表达的测定.以不进行培养者为对照组.非肥胖糖尿病重症联合免疫缺陷(NOD/SCID)小鼠在接受2.5 Gy的亚致死剂量X射线照射后分别从尾静脉输入上述静态扩增组、磁搅拌扩增组和对照组的MNC(5×106个),另设不移植的空白对照组.观察小鼠的存活情况,6周后处死存活小鼠,检测骨髓细胞中CD34+细胞、CD3+细胞、CD19+细胞、CD33+细胞及CD45+细胞的含量以及人特异的Cart-Ⅰ和Alu基因的表达.结果 经过7天的培养,磁搅拌扩增组的造血祖细胞扩增倍数为(2.8±0.45)倍,明显高于静态扩增组的(2.1±0.48)倍(P<0.01).磁搅拌扩增组形成的红系集落、粒-巨噬细胞集落数均明显高于静态扩增组(P<0.05).静态扩增组扩增后的CD34+细胞、CD34+CD38-细胞和CD133+细胞含量均高于磁搅拌扩增组(P<0.05),而CD184+细胞和CD62L+细胞含量低于磁搅拌扩增组(P<0.01).移植后6周,对照组、静态扩增组和磁搅拌扩增组分别有3、4、5只小鼠存活,三组间两两比较,6周存活率的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).存活6周的小鼠,其骨髓中能检人特异性CD34+细胞,以及CD3+细胞、CD19+细胞、CD33+细胞及CD45+细胞,也检测到人Alu基因和Cart-Ⅰ基因的表达.结论 磁搅拌培养能大规模扩增脐带血造血祖细胞,扩增的细胞能植入x射线照射的NOD/SCID小鼠,并重建其多系造血.     

人脐血造血干/祖细胞的生物反应器大规模扩增及移植实验

目的 利用生物反应器大规模扩增人脐血造血干/祖细胞,并通过动物移植实验检验该方法的有效性.方法 采集抗凝脐血10份,分离出单个核细胞(MNC),分别进行生物反应器扩增培养和静态扩增培养.检测扩增前后细胞表面CD34、CD38、CD133、CD184和CD62L分子的表达,并进行造血干/祖细胞集落的培养.取非肥胖糖尿病重症联合免疫缺陷小鼠,以X射线照射后,分为4组,其中MNC组小鼠注射未经扩增培养的MNC;静态扩增组小鼠注射经过静态扩增培养的细胞;反应器扩增组小鼠注射经过生物反应器扩增培养的细胞;空白对照组小鼠注射生理盐水.移植后6周处死存活小鼠,收集骨髓细胞,检测其中CD45+、CD3+、CD19+和CD33+细胞的含量以及人特异的Cart-Ⅰ和Alu基因的表达.结果 生物反应器扩增前MNC为(1.2～2.8)×108个,扩增后为(3.7～12.6)×108个,扩增后的细胞数明显高于静态扩增培养者(P<0.01).经生物反应器扩增后所形成的红系集落形成单位、粒-巨噬细胞集落形成单位数明显高于经静态扩增者(P<0.05).移植6周后,空白对照组小鼠均死亡,MNC组存活率为35%,静态扩增组存活率为30%,反应器扩增组存活率为62.9%,后者明显高于前二者(P<0.05).各组存活小鼠骨髓细胞中均检测到Alu基因和Cart-Ⅰ基因的表达以及人源CD33+、CD45+、CD3+及CD19+细胞.结论 利用生物反应器可大规模扩增人脐血造血干/祖细胞,所得细胞能植入小鼠体内,并能获得造血功能重建.     

Effects of flt-3 ligand in combination with TPO on the expansion of megakaryocytic progenitors

As an early acting growth factor, flt-3 ligand (FL) promotes the ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. The effect and mechanism of FL on the development of the megakaryocytic lineage remain unclear. In this study, we compared the effects of FL and stem cell factor (SCF) in combination with other megakaryocyte-promoting cytokines on the differentiation and proliferation of megakaryocytic progenitors and investigated the expression of flt-3 receptors on megakaryocytic cell lines. In liquid cultures of enriched CD34+ cells from human umbilical cord blood for 14 days, FL plus thrombopoietin (TPO), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and IL-6 promoted the expansion of nucleated cells, CD34+ cells, CD34+ CD38- cells, and megakaryocyte colony-forming units (CFU-MK) by 300 +/- 115-, 23.8 +/- 11.3-, 33.9 +/- 28.6-, and 584 +/- 220-fold, respectively. Replacing FL with SCF significantly decreased the yield of all cell types. Using murine bone marrow (BM) cells, we demonstrated that FL at a range of 0-100 ng/ml had no significant mitogenic effect on CFU-MK formation. TPO increased CFU-MK (p < 0.001) but the effect was not significantly modified by FL. While one human acute lymphoblastic leukemia sample expressed high levels of flt-3 receptor, the four megakaryocytic cell lines (Meg-01, CHRF-288-11, M-07e, and Dami) did not show any positive expression. Our data suggest that the present cytokine combination and expansion conditions provide an effective and potentially useful system for the clinical expansion of cord blood for bone marrow transplantation (BMT). FL alone did not stimulate megakaryocytopoiesis, possibly due to the lack of receptor expression on megakaryocytes. The effect of FL in augmenting the expansion of CFU-MK in liquid culture might be due to the early action of FL at the pluripotent stem cell stage.     

由脐血单个核细胞和富集的CD34+细胞扩增的造血干/祖细胞的生理功能比较

目的 探讨由脐血单个核细胞(MNC)和富集的CD34+细胞起始扩增所得的造血干/祖细胞在体内植入及造血重建的能力.方法 从人脐血中分离出MNC和CD34+细胞,在体外扩增7 d.将非肥胖糖尿病型重症联合免疫缺陷型(NOD/SCID)小鼠分为四组,在接受亚致死剂量铯源照射后,进行细胞移植,实验A组接受由MNC培养得到的CD34+细胞和CD34-细胞;实验B组接受由富集的CD34+细胞培养得到的CD34+细胞和CD34-细胞;阳性对照组接受从脐血新鲜分离的CD34+细胞和CD34-细胞;阴性对照组不接受细胞移植,仅输注相同体积的IMDM培养基.6周后处死存活的小鼠,取其骨髓、脾脏和外周血细胞,分别进行细胞表型分析、集落和人特异性基因的检测.结果 经过体外扩增,以富集的CD34+细胞起始培养者的细胞总扩增倍数为39.8倍,远高于以MNC为起始细胞者的1.88倍.移植6周后,所有接受细胞移植的小鼠均存活,存活小鼠的骨髓和脾脏细胞中均能检测到人源细胞(CD45+细胞)及人源的各系血细胞,实验A组各类细胞的含量稍高于实验B组,且接受细胞移植小鼠的骨髓和脾脏细胞中可检测出人特异的Alu序列.结论 与从脐血中新鲜分离的细胞相比,扩增后的造血干/祖细胞的体内植入能力有所下降,以MNC起始扩增的造血干/祖细胞体内植入能力优于以富集的CD34+细胞起始扩增者,但二者体内造血重建能力的差异不显著.     

The effect of human fetal liver-derived mesenchymal stem cells on CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell repopulation in NOD/Shi-scid/IL-2Rã(null) mice

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are progenitors that are capable of differentiating into mesenchymal tissues. They are known to support allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation by facilitating engraftment without increasing the risk of graft-versus-host disease. We optimized culture conditions for human fetal liver-derived MSCs (hFL-MSCs) to investigate the role of hFL-MSCs on repopulation of hematopoietic stem cells in NOD/Shi-scid/IL-2Rγ(null) (NOG) mice using CD34(+) hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) derived from umbilical cord blood (UCB). FL-MSCs and CD34(+) HSCs were prepared from fetal liver and UCB, respectively. Twenty-four hours after irradiation, CD34(+) HSCs and hFL-MSCs were injected intravenously and intratibially into NOG mice. During 24 weeks posttransplantation, engraftment levels of human cells were analyzed in bone marrow, peripheral blood, and spleen of transplanted mice by flow cytometry. hFL-MSCs showed a fibroblast-like morphology and immunophenotypic characteristics appropriate for MSCs. hFL-MSCs prolonged the survival of NOG mice that had been cotransplanted with UCB CD34(+) cells. Fluorescence-activated cell-sorting analysis showed that engraftment of human cells was increased by cotransplantation of hFL-MSCs. However, significant enhancement of human cell engraftment was not detected in NOG mice regardless of the number of cotransplanted MSCs. Although survival of repopulating NOG mice and engraftment of human cells were prolonged by cotransplantation of hFL-MSCs, 8.0 × 10(6) MSCs were not sufficient to increase HSC engraftment in irradiated NOG mice in vivo.     

hBMP-2基因改良修饰骨髓间充质干细胞和人脐血间充质干细胞研究

目的研究hBMP-2基因改良修饰骨髓和人脐血间充质干细胞的方法,并比较修饰结果。 方法联合应用密度梯度离心法和贴壁培养法分离、培养骨髓和人脐血间充质干细胞,通过高效非脂质体试剂X-treme GENE介导重组hBMP-2质粒转染骨髓和人脐血间充质干细胞,倒置荧光显微镜检测荧光强度并计算转染效率,qPCR检测hBMP-2及软骨连接蛋白在两种细胞中的表达,免疫组化检测细胞中Ⅱ型胶原的变化。 结果成功分离、培养出骨髓和人脐血间充质干细胞,两种细胞具有不同的生长特性。高效非脂质体试剂介导的重组hBMP-2质粒成功转染骨髓和人脐血间充质干细胞,转染骨髓间充质干细胞效率[（18.44±5.94）%]低于人脐血间充质干细胞[（27.74±7.59）%],且差异有统计学意义（t=3.027,P<0.05）。转染后的两种细胞均检测到hBMP-2、软骨连接蛋白及Ⅱ型胶原的表达。 结论hBMP-2基因可以有效改良修饰骨髓和人脐血间充质干细胞,且能促进其向软骨细胞方向分化。     

Cell recovery sufficient for adult transplantation by additional cord blood collection from placenta

The amount of newborn blood that can be collected from a single cord donor is limited, but a significant amount remains in the placenta. We used a simplified perfusion method to collect this additional blood. Umbilical cord blood from 15 newborns was collected before placental delivery by umbilical vein puncture. After delivery, the placenta was placed on sterile gauze and 63 mL of citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine anticoagulant were injected into the umbilical vein that was then clamped near the placenta. The placenta was gently massaged, hung over a sterile vessel, and the umbilical cord cut sterilely near the embryonic surface. Additional blood was collected into the sterile vessel by pressuring a gauze bag around the placenta. We assessed the contribution of this second fraction to the total volume, total nucleated cell (NC), CD34+, hematopoietic progenitors cell, and colony forming unit count and bacterial contamination risk. The total collected volume was 127.3 mL (range 92-170) and the NC content was 1.6+/-0.73x10(9). The mean second fraction contribution from 15 units to the total nucleated and mononuclear cell content was 54+/-9.87% and 54+/-9.52%, respectively. The added percentage of CD34+ and hematopoietic progenitor cells was 54.3+/-10.35% and 46.7+/-11.5%, respectively, while the additional percentages of colony forming-granulocyte macrophage and colony forming-erythroid in the second fraction were 43.2+/-5.5% and 39.8+/-4.3%, respectively, indicating that the cells collected after placental perfusion (second fraction) had similar HPC content and in vitro hematopoietic potential. The method did not increase the risk of bacterial contamination.     

Risk of viral transmission via bone marrow progenitor cells versus umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow transplantation

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the treatment of choice for children and certain adults with malignant and nonmalignant hematologic disease. Since viral infections are the major problem, this study examined those that might potentially be transmitted to HSCT recipients via bone marrow (BM) versus umbilical cord blood (UCB). BM progenitor cells, peripheral blood leukocytes, and plasma samples were collected from 30 allogenic BM donors. Umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cells and plasma samples were also collected from 34 UCB donors. Viral DNA extracted and purified from collected specimens was processed using nested polymerase chain reactions (PCR) to detect human parvovirus B19 (HPV B19), human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The prevalences of HCMV DNA in collected BM progenitor cells versus UCB hematopoietic stem cells were 73% versus 23%, respectively. Conversely, HHV-6 DNA was not detected in any collected specimen by simple PCR. Distribution of the other investigated virus DNAs except EBV DNA was similar in specimens collected from both groups. EBV DNA was not determined in UCB hematopoietic stem cells. The results indicate that the risk of viral transmission to BM transplant recipients via UCB hematopoietic stem cells is less than that with BM progenitor cells.     

Full reconstitution of hematopoietic system by murine umbilical cord blood

BACKGROUND: Murine umbilical cord blood cells (UCBCs) were studied for their ability to reconstitute the hematopoietic system. METHODS: On average, 150 microL of cord blood per fetus containing 1.2 to 2 x 10(4) nucleated cells were collected from day 18.5 fetal umbilical cord, and 3 to 6 x 10(3) cells per fetus were obtained after separation by gradient centrifugation. RESULTS: Although lineage marker-, c-Kit+, and Sca-1+ cells were detectable among UCBCs, cells designated to be in the side population (SP) by Hoechst 33342 staining were hardly detectable within this population; the frequency of cells of this phenotype was less than 1 of 105. Instead, the lineage marker-, c-Kit+, and Sca-1- population contained a considerable number of SP cells. Nevertheless, UCBCs obtained from fetuses of green fluorescent protein-transgenic mice successfully reconstituted the blood cells of lethally irradiated recipients. Fluorescent cells could be readily detected in every blood cell lineage and among immature cell populations. Furthermore, fluorescent SP cells sorted from the recipient bone marrow cells could also reconstitute the blood cells in the secondary recipients, indicating that UCBCs also replenished bone marrow stem cells. CONCLUSION: Murine UCBC could fully reconstitute the hematopoietic system of lethally irradiated recipients including hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow.     

Shockwave stimulates oxygen radical-mediated osteogenesis of the mesenchymal cells from human umbilical cord blood.

Human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) mesenchymal progenitor cells expressed stro-1 or CD44 or CD29, and subsequently, differentiated toward osteogenic lineage. Physical shockwave treatment increased osteogenic activity of HUCB mesenchymal progenitor cells through superoxide-mediated TGF-beta1 induction. Transplantation of shockwave-treated HUCB mesenchymal progenitor cells enhanced healing of segmental femoral defect in severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) mice. INTRODUCTION: Mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) in the bone marrow are precursors to bone development. It remains uncertain whether MPCs are present in human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) and are capable of differentiating into osteogenic cell lineage. Extending from a model of shockwave (SW) promotion of bone marrow stromal cell differentiation toward osteoprogenitors in rats, we further investigated how physical SW mediated biological responses in regulating osteogenic differentiation of HUCB MPCs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HUCB was subjected to SW treatment at different energy flux densities and impulses. Colony-forming units-stroma (CFU-Stroma), osteogenic activities (Cbfa1/Runx2 expression, bone alkaline phosphatase activity, and bone nodule formation), and bone formation by heterologous transplantation into SCID mice were assessed. RESULTS: Few CD34+ stem cells (1.3%) and stro-1+ cells (1.0%) were present in the freshly prepared mononuclear cells (MNCs) from HUCB. The number of stro-1+ cells, but not CD34+, increased to 72.4% in the adherent cell culture over 6 days. Stro-1+ cells co-expressed CD44 and CD29 markers and grew into CFU-Stroma that matured into bone nodules. We found that the SW treatment (0.16 mJ/mm2 energy flux density, 200 impulses) elicited superoxide production and promoted formation of CFU-Stroma, but not of hematopoietic CFU-Mix. SW also enhanced the production of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, but not of interleukin (IL)-3 or granulocyte monocyte-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Neutralization of TGF-beta1 significantly reduced SW-promoted CFU-Stroma formation. Superoxide scavenging by superoxide dismutase blocked SW enhancement of TGF-beta1 production and formation of CFU-Stroma. Administration of SW-treated HUCB MPCs to SCID mice with femoral segmental defects facilitated dense, bridging callus and gap closure. CONCLUSION: HUCB MPCs subjected to SW treatment is a potential source for stem cells useful in the treatment of orthopedic disorders. An optimal physical SW treatment enhanced osteogenesis through superoxide-mediated TGF-beta1 production. Physical stimulation is an alternative method for extending mesenchymal stem cells of HUCB.     

Characterization of human B cells in umbilical cord blood-transplanted NOD/SCID mice

Humanized mice are crucially important for preclinical studies. However, the development and potential function of human B cells in chimeras remain unclear. Here, we describe the study of human B cells in NOD/LtSzPrkdcscid/J (NOD/SCID) mice. In this study, we transplanted 1.0×10(5) human CD34(+) cells from umbilical cord blood (UCB) into NOD/SCID mice after pretreatment with anti-asialo GM1 antiserum and sublethal irradiation. Human CD45(+) cells were detected in the peripheral blood of the recipient mice from 6 weeks after transplantation. CD19(+) B cells accounted for the greater part of the CD45(+) cells in the human UCB-chimeric mice, but their maturational stages differed in different organs. Most of the bone marrow (BM) CD19(+) cells were immature IgM(-)IgD(-)CD24(hi)CD38(hi) B cells, whereas the mature CD5(+)IgM(+)IgD(+)CD24(int)CD38(int)CD19(+) B cells were predominantly present in the spleen and peripheral blood. Human immunoglobulin (Ig) M was detected in mouse plasma. The human B cells also secreted human interleukin-10 after stimulation with LPS in vitro. These results show that human CD34(+) cells can differentiate into human B cells in NOD/SCID mice, with development and functions that are similar to those of B cell subsets in humans. The transplantation of human CD34(+) cells into NOD/SCID mice may provide a useful tool to study the development and function of human B cells.     

Conditions that enable human hematopoietic stem cell engraftment in all NOD-SCID mice

BACKGROUND: Transplantation of human hematopoietic stem cells is the only true test of their long-term repopulation potential. Models are readily available to evaluate murine hematopoietic stem cells, but few exist that allow reliable quantification of human stem cells. The non-obese diabetic-severe combined immunodeficient (NOD-SCID) mouse model enables quantification of human hematopoietic stem cells, but the conditions that permit human engraftment in all animals have yet to be defined. The aims of the project were, therefore, to describe the variables that allow human engraftment in the NOD-SCID mouse model and the techniques that accurately quantify this engraftment. METHODS: NOD-SCID mice that had or had not received 250, 325, or 400 cGy irradiation received cord blood (CB) mononuclear or CD34+ cells i.v. or i.p. Mice were killed 6 weeks after transplantation, and the bone marrow, spleen, and thymus were harvested. Four-color flow cytometric analysis, semi-quantitative PCR, myeloid and erythroid progenitor, and stem cell assays were used to monitor human engraftment. RESULTS: A 250 or 325 cGy and i.v. injection of CB mononuclear or CD34+ cells is required to detect multilineage human engraftment in the bone marrow, spleen, or thymus of NOD-SCID mice. Four-color flow cytometric analysis and semi-quantitative PCR enable accurate detection of 0.1% human cells. Progenitor and stem cell assays provide functional information about the engrafted cells. CONCLUSIONS: Successful development of the NOD-SCID mouse model and techniques to assess human engraftment now allow it to be used reliably to analyze the effects of short-term cytokine exposure on the long-term repopulating capacity of CB stem cells.     

Radioprotective effects of the expression of FLT3 ligand regulated by Egr-1 regulated element on radiation injury of SCID mice

Objective:In order to explore the radioprotective effects of the expression of hematopoietic growth factors regulated by radio-inducible promoter on radiation injury. Methods:The human FL (Flt3 ligand) cDNA and EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) cDNA were linked together with IRES and then inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector pCI-Egr, which was constructed by substituting CMV promoter in pCIneo with the Egr-1 promoter (Egr-EF). The vector was transferred into human bone marrow stromal cell line HFCL by lipofectin. The transduced cell clones (HFCL/EF) had been selected by the addition of G418. The cells were exposed to γ-radiation by 60 Co source for 0.5-20Gy. The expressions of transduced cells were detected with FACS, Northern blot ELISA and CFU assay. The HFCL/EF and CD34+ cells from human umbilical cord blood were one after the other transplanted i.v. into sublethally irradiated severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. The white blood cell amount in peripheral blood and human cell engrafted in recipent mice were detected by flow cytometry and CFU-GM etc. Results:The activity of EGFP in transduced cells increased by 3.1 fold as compared to non-transduced cells at 18h after exposure to 2.5Gy. The amounts of secreted FL in serum-free supernatants of Egr-EF increased by 605.46±107.21pg/ml, which were significantly higher than the control group (214.45±35.61pg/ml). The effects of FL in HFCL/EF cultural supernatants on expansion of CD34+ cells derived from cord blood in the presence of SCF, IL-6 and IL-3 were also studied. The results showed that at day 10 of culture the number of CD34+ cells increased by 173. 09±11.58×103/ml, which was significantly higher than that of non-radiation group(68. 04± 13. 73 × 103/ml). It showed that radiation can enhance the ability of the supernatants containing FL of HFCL/EF to expand early hematopoietic progenitor cells and protect hematopoietic cells from radiation-injury effects. The HFCL/EF and CD34+cells from human umbilical cord blood were one after the other transplanted i. v. into sublethally irradiated severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. In contrast to two control groups (HFCL and HFCL/F), HFCL/EF (the Egr-1 regulatory element-drived expression of FL gene therapy) resulted in a proportionally obvious increase in the number of the white blood cell at early stage after radiation, while no significant differences were found for CD45+ 、CD34+ cells in bone marrow cells. In contrast to two control groups (HFCL and HFCL/F), HFCL/EF (the Egr1 regulatory element-drived expression of FL gene therapy) resulted in a proportionally obvious increase in the number of the white blood cell at early stage after radiation, without significant differences being found for CD45+、CD34+ 、CFU-GM and marrow nucleared cells in bone marrow cells. Conclusions:The results suggested both in vivo and in vitro use of the gene therapy of FL gene regulated by Egr-1 promoter could protect hematopoiesis from irradiation-induced damage.     

IFN-gamma mediates crescent formation and cell-mediated immune injury in murine glomerulonephritis

Features of crescentic glomerulonephritis suggest that it results from a T helper 1 (Th1) nephritogenic immune response. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), produced by Th1 cells, is involved in T cell-directed macrophage activation in effector Th1 responses. The hypothesis that endogenous IFN-gamma contributes to the development of crescentic glomerulonephritis was tested by comparing the development of glomerulonephritis (induced by a planted antigen) and immune responses in normal C57BL/6 mice (IFN-gamma +/+) and in mice genetically deficient in IFN-gamma (IFN-gamma -/-). Ten days after the initiation of glomerulonephritis, IFN-gamma -/- mice developed fewer glomerular crescents (5+/-1% versus 26+/-3%, P<0.005), less severe glomerular injury, and less renal impairment. Effectors of delayed-type hypersensitivity (CD4+ T cells, macrophages, and fibrin) in glomeruli were reduced in IFN-gamma -/- mice. Skin delayed-type hypersensitivity to sheep globulin was reduced. Total antigen-specific Ig and splenocyte interleukin-2 production were unchanged, but antigen-specific serum IgG2a was reduced. Markers of an antigen-specific Th2 response (serum IgG1, splenocyte interleukin-4) were unchanged. Studies 22 d after the initiation of glomerulonephritis showed that IFN-gamma -/- mice still had fewer crescents (11+/-2% versus 22+/-3%, P = 0.02) and glomerular CD4+ T cells and macrophages than IFN-gamma +/+ mice. These studies demonstrate that endogenous IFN-gamma mediates crescentic glomerulonephritis by promoting cell-mediated immune injury. They support the hypothesis that crescentic glomerulonephritis is a manifestation of a Th1 nephritogenic immune response.     

Human umbilical cord blood cells can be induced to express markers for neurons and glia

Rare cells are present in human umbilical cord blood that do not express the hematopoietic marker CD45 and in culture do not produce cells of hematopoietic lineage. These umbilical cord multipotent stem cells (UC-MC) behave as multilineage progenitor cells (stem cells) and can be expanded in tissue culture. Exposure to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) for a minimum of 7 days in culture induces expression of neural and glial markers. Western immunoblots demonstrate expression of both beta-tubulin III and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Immunocytochemistry of the cells showed intense labeling to both compounds on the intracellular cytoskeleton. The oligodendrocyte cell surface marker galactocerebroside (Gal-C) was present on most cells. Many cells show dual labeling, expressing both neuronal and glial markers.     

Umbilical cord blood cell transplantation for myocardial regeneration

Bone marrow remains the most frequently used source of adult stem cells, but its angiogenic and possibly also myogenic potentials are likely to regress with increasing donor age and morbidity. Recently, cord blood has been suggested as a readily available source for non-embryonic stem cells with high regenerative capacity. We first tested the capacity of mononuclear cells obtained from human umbilical cord blood (UCB(mn)) to migrate to the heart on IV delivery in NOD/Scid mice. As evidenced by the presence of human DNA by PCR analysis, UCB(mn) cells migrated to the heart in 50% of the mice with myocardial infarctions, but in none of the sham-operated control mice. In UCB(mn) cell-positive injured hearts, the infarct size was smaller and capillary density higher in the ischemic myocardium. By immunohistology, we observed endothelial cell differentiation of UCB(mn) cells in the heart but there was no colocalization of UCB cell-specific antibodies with markers of myocyte-type cells. In a second series of experiments, we injected 5 x 10(5) UCB cells enriched for CD133 directly into the necrotic myocardium of NOD/Scid mice. Comparisons were performed with an equivalent number of CD133+ bone marrow (BM) cells or a sham injection in the respective control groups. Both BMCD133+ and UCBCD133+ cells abolished postoperative mortality and improved capillary density in the injured myocardium, but only BMCD133+ cells led to a detectable improvement in myocardial contractility in vivo. We conclude that human UCB cells facilitated neovascularization of ischemic myocardium, but their capacity for formation of contractile neotissue needs further investigation.