Transplantation of embryonic stem cells into the infarcted mouse heart: formation of multiple cell types

Initial studies have suggested that transplantation of embryonic stem (ES) cells following myocardial infarction (MI) in animal models is beneficial; however, the mechanism of benefit is largely unknown. The present study investigated the fate of mouse ES cells transplanted post-MI to determine if the ES cells give rise to the range of major cell types present in the native myocardium. MI was produced by coronary artery ligation in C57BL/6 mice. Two different mouse ES cell lines, expressing eGFP and beta-galactosidase, respectively, were tested. Post-MI intramyocardial injection of 3 x 10(4) ES cells was compared to injection of media alone. Histochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to track the transplanted ES cells and identify the resulting cell types. Echocardiography assessed the cardiac size and function in a blinded fashion. Two weeks post-MI, engraftment of the transplanted ES cells was demonstrated by eGFP or beta-galactosidase-positive cells in the infarct region without evidence for tumor formation. Co-immunolabeling demonstrated that the transplanted ES cells had become cardiomyocytes, vascular smooth muscle, and endothelial cells. Echocardiographic analysis showed that ES cell transplantation resulted in reduced post-MI remodeling of the heart and improved cardiac function. In conclusion, transplanted mouse ES cells can regenerate infarcted myocardium in part by becoming cardiomyocytes, vascular smooth muscle, and endothelial cells that result in an improvement in cardiac structure and function. Therefore, ES cells hold promise for myocardial cellular therapy.     

鼠胚胎干细胞早期分化来源的心肌细胞同种异体移植后的电生理特性

目的 探讨小鼠胚胎干细胞早期分化来源的心肌细胞进行同种异体移植后的电生理特性.方法 首先通过电转染构建a-MHC-EGFP-ESc系[将心肌细胞特异的OL-MHC启动子与表达基因--绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)基因融合,构建成真核表达载体],悬滴法诱导胚胎干细胞分化,在分化早期(7+4)d利用流式细胞仪筛选带绿色荧光的心肌细胞,将纯化的心肌细胞(5×106个/ml)移植到小鼠心室壁,对照组注入等体积培养基,移植前3 d开始应用环孢素A(静脉注射,5 mg·kg-1·d-1)和泼尼松龙(静脉注射,2.5 mg·kg-1·d-1)抑制免疫排斥反应.移植后2周分离两侧颈迷走神经行电刺激抑制窦房结与房室结,记录刺激前后的体表心电图,然后分别行免疫荧光显像和膜片钳研究.结果 刺激迷走神经前,移植组和对照组均呈正常的窦性心律,两组无室性心律失常的发生;刺激迷走神经后,两组动物均出现异位的心室起搏心律,细胞移植组与对照组心室频率无差异.移植区冰冻切片免疫荧光分析可见EGFP标记的移植细胞具有肌钙蛋白I(cTnI)表达,说明分化细胞移植后仍具有心肌特性,且移植细胞与宿主心肌细胞间有连接蛋白43的表达,表明移植细胞与宿主心肌细胞间形成电偶联通道.膜片钳分析,绿色荧光细胞移植前后其具有起搏细胞动作电位的比例分别为(85.1%vs 1 1.4%,P＜0.05),该类细胞在移植前后的起搏电流强度有所增强((11.2±2.4)pA/pF vs(15.5±1.9)pA/pF,P＜0.05].移植区分离的绿色荧光细胞中48%具有心室肌动作电位.结论 胚胎干细胞早期分化来源的心肌细胞在体移植后能进一步分化为成熟的心室肌细胞及起搏细胞.     

成体干细胞与肺损伤修复

尽管肺有较强的代偿能力,但如何促进肺的修复再生是提高终末肺疾病患者肺功能的关键之一。近年来应用干细胞治疗提供了我们修复组织损伤的新途径,本文就成体肺内源性干细胞和骨髓源性干细胞的生物学特性、分离培养方法及其在肺损伤中的修复作用作一综述。     

胚胎干细胞体外定向分化为Ngn3+胰岛祖细胞的基因表达谱分析

目的 探讨胚胎干细胞体外定向分化为胰岛祖细胞的基因表达谱.方法 采用逐步诱导分化方案体外传代培养胚胎干细胞,应用RT-PCR和免疫细胞化学方法鉴定各分化阶段相关特异基因的表达,应用Illumina Mouse Ref-8 vl.1小鼠基因表达谱芯片测定胚胎干细胞来源的不同阶段的分化细胞(第4、8、15、20、22和25天)与未分化胚胎干细胞的基因组表达谱.结果 本研究得到了86个阶段特异性表达基因,6组具有相同表达趋势的基因簇,6组阶段差异表达基因组.从数量上看,差异表达基因最多的阶段是后前肠阶段(201个基因),接下来是定形内胚层细胞阶段(17个基因).结论 应用基因芯片对胰腺发育过程中具有相同表达趋势的基因和阶段差异表达基因的分析为早期胚胎发育和胰腺发育研究提供了试验依据.     

Strategies for future histocompatible stem cell therapy

Stem cell therapy based on the safe and unlimited self-renewal of human pluripotent stem cells is envisioned for future use in tissue or organ replacement after injury or disease. A gradual decline of regenerative capacity has been documented among the adult stem cell population in some body organs during the aging process. Recent progress in human somatic cell nuclear transfer and inducible pluripotent stem cell technologies has shown that patient-derived nuclei or somatic cells can be reprogrammed in vitro to become pluripotent stem cells, from which the three germ layer lineages can be generated, genetically identical to the recipient. Once differentiation protocols and culture conditions can be defined and optimized, patient-histocompatible pluripotent stem cells could be directed towards virtually every cell type in the human body. Harnessing this capability to enrich for given cells within a developmental lineage, would facilitate the transplantation of organ/tissue-specific adult stem cells or terminally differentiated somatic cells to improve the function of diseased organs or tissues in an individual. Here, we present an overview of various experimental cell therapy technologies based on the use of patient-histocompatible stem cells, the pending issues needed to be dealt with before clinical trials can be initiated, evidence for the loss and/or aging of the stem cell pool and some of the possible uses of human pluripotent stem cell-derivatives aimed at curing disease and improving health.     

Aging of the prostate epithelial stem/progenitor cell

Maintenance of the prostatic epithelial cell compartment is ensured by proliferation of adult epithelial progenitor or stem cells. These cells are characterized by an undifferentiated state, high proliferative capacity and long life span. Prostate progenitor/stem cells are localized in their stem cell-niche in the basal cell compartment in close contact to the basement membrane and the stromal cell compartment and are characterized by expression of the basal cytokeratins 5 and 14, high levels of integrins, CD44, the stem cell markers CD133 and ABCG2, and AR negativity. They give rise to secretory luminal (cytokeratins 8/18, CD57, AR, p27, PSA, PAP) and neuroendocrine cells (cytokeratins 8/18, CD57, CgA, NSE, NEPs), the two major cell types observed in the glandular epithelium. A growing body of experimental evidence has identified the amplifying progenitor/stem cell (CD44(+), alpha(2)beta(1)(hi), CD133(+)), as a putative origin of prostate cancer. Differentiation of this cell type can be affected by mutations in the intrinsic genetic program, by age-related changes in stromal-epithelial interactions or in the basement membrane/ECM composition. All these stochastic events occur during aging and can transform a normal prostate progenitor/stem cell into a cancer stem cell, a source of androgen-dependent and independent tumor cell clones. Thus, the heterogeneous and multifocal nature of prostatic cancer with a pleora of different tumor cell clones clearly reflects the differentiation capacity of the prostatic epithelial progenitor cells.     

胚胎干细胞移植到大鼠梗死心脏后的分化研究

目的研究胚胎下细胞在梗死心脏微环境下向心肌细胞、成纤维细胞的分化情况。方法将大鼠分为两组,梗死组为正常大鼠通过结扎左前降支(LAD)制备,对照组为正常大鼠。将4,6-二氨基(DAPI)标记的具有伞能分化能力的鼠胚胎干细胞(mESCs)注射人急性心肌梗死大鼠(18只)或对照绀大鼠(16只)的心脏,观察胚胎干细胞在休内的分化情况。结果 DAPI标记的移植mESCs在对照和梗死心脏均能成活并形成稳定的移植岛,同时在移植区有巨噬细胞浸润。mESCs移植2～4周后,心脏特异性肌钙蛋白T(cTnT)阳性的移植mESCs比例在正常心脏较梗死心脏高(2.67%±0.79%比1.06%±0.52%,P0.01),但4周后cTnT阳性的DAP1标记细胞在正常和梗死心脏的比例差异无统计学意义(1.17%±0.98%比1.07±1,02%,P0.05)。mESCs在埘照组和梗死组心脏都能分化为成纤维细胞。结论移植mESCs不仪能仔活,还可分化进入大鼠梗死心肌细胞。但是,梗死心脏的微环境不能选择性促进mESCs分化进入心肌细胞。     

Myeloma stem cell concepts,heterogeneity and plasticity of multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a haematological malignancy characterized by the accumulation of clonal plasma cells (PCs) in the bone marrow (BM). Although novel therapeutic strategies have prolonged survival of patients, the disease remains difficult to treat with a high risk of relapse. The failure of therapy is thought to be associated with a persistent population of the so‐called MM stem cells or myeloma initiating cells (MIC) that exhibit tumour‐initiating potential, self‐renewal and resistance to chemotherapy. However, the population responsible for the origin and sustainability of tumour mass has not been clearly characterized so far. This review summarizes current myeloma stem cell concepts and suggests that high phenotypic and intra‐clonal heterogeneity, together with plasticity potential of MM might be other contributing factors explaining discrepancies among particular concepts and contributing to the treatment failure.     

Embryonic stem cell differentiation to hematopoietic cells: A model to study the function of various regions of the intracytoplasmic domain of cytokine receptors in vitro

To examine whether the in vitro model of embryonic stem (ES) cell hematopoietic differentiation is suitable to study the function of intracytoplasmic regions of cytokine receptors, we used the thrombopoietin receptor Mpl as a typical cytokine receptor.ES cells deficient in c-mpl (mpl(-/)-) were transfected with genes encoding the full-length or two mutated forms of the intracytoplasmic domain of Mpl using the pEF-BOS expression vector. The mutated forms lack box1 or box2.pEF-BOS was able to maintain protein production during ES cell differentiation. Reintroduction of full-length-c-mpl into mpl(-/)- ES cells restored the response of megakaryocyte progenitors to a truncated form of human Mpl-ligand conjugated to polyethylene glycol (PEG-rhuMGDF) and the formation of platelets, for which mpl(-/)- ES cells are defective. In addition, enforced expression of Mpl resulted in the development of all myeloid progenitors and mature cells in the presence of PEG-rhuMGDF. Blast colony-forming cells, the in vitro equivalent of the hemangioblast, also generated blast cell colonies with a hematopoietic potential equivalent to that of the wild type in the presence of PEG-rhuMGDF, although its growth is normally dependent on vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF). Thus, Mpl acts as a substitute for other cytokine receptors and for a tyrosine kinase receptor, Flk-1, indicating that Mpl has no instructive role in hematopoietic cell commitment and differentiation. The Mpl mutant forms lacking box1 or box2 prevented response of ES cell-derived blast colony-forming cells or progenitors to PEG-rhuMGDF. Therefore, these two regions, essential for signaling by cytokine receptors, are required for the responses of ES cell-derived hematopoietic cells to PEG-rhuMGDF.These results show that the in vitro hematopoietic differentiation of ES cells is suitable for studying the role of various intracytoplasmic regions of cytokine receptors.     

Translational research of adult stem cell therapy

Congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to chronic coronary artery disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality world-wide. Its prevalence is increasing despite advances in medical and device therapies. Cell based therapies generating new cardiomyocytes and vessels have emerged as a promising treatment to reverse functional deterioration and prevent the progression to CHF. Functional efficacy of progenitor cells isolated from the bone marrow and the heart have been evaluated in preclinical large animal models. Furthermore, several clinical trials using autologous and allogeneic stem cells and progenitor cells have demonstrated their safety in humans yet their clinical relevance is inconclusive. This review will discuss the clinical therapeutic applications of three specific adult stem cells that have shown particularly promising regenerative effects in preclinical studies, bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cell, heart derived cardiosphere-derived cell and cardiac stem cell. We will also discuss future therapeutic approaches.     

Hormone and growth factor signaling in endometrial renewal: Role of stem/progenitor cells

The human endometrium is a dynamic remodeling tissue undergoing more than 400 cycles of regeneration, differentiation and shedding during a woman's reproductive years. The co-ordinated and sequential actions of estrogen and progesterone direct these major remodeling events preparing a receptive endometrium for blastocyst implantation on a monthly basis. Adult stem/progenitor cells are likely responsible for endometrial regeneration. Functional approaches have been used to identify candidate endometrial stem/progenitor cells, as there are no specific stem cell markers. Rare populations of human endometrial epithelial and stromal colony-forming cells/units (CFU) and side population (SP) cells have been identified. Several growth factors are required for CFU activity: epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor α (TGFα) and platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) for both epithelial and stromal CFU, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) for stromal, but not epithelial CFU. A sub-population of human endometrial stromal cells with mesenchymal stem cell properties of CFU activity and multilineage (fat, muscle, cartilage and bone) differentiation have been isolated by their co-expression of CD146 and PDGF-receptor β. Candidate epithelial and stromal stem/progenitor cells have been identified in mouse endometrium as rare label retaining cells (LRCs) in the luminal epithelium and as perivascular cells at the endometrial–myometrial junction, respectively. While epithelial and most stromal LRC do not express estrogen receptor α (Esr1), they rapidly proliferate on estrogen stimulation, most likely mediated by neighbouring Esr1-expressing niche cells. It is likely that these newly identified endometrial stem/progenitor cells may play key roles in the development of gynecological diseases associated with abnormal endometrial proliferation such as endometriosis and endometrial cancer.     

Guided stem cell cardiopoiesis: discovery and translation

Over 1000 patients have participated worldwide in clinical trials exploring the therapeutic value of bone marrow-derived cells in ischemic heart disease. Meta-analysis evaluation of this global effort indicates that adult stem cell therapy is in general safe, but yields a rather modest level of improvement in cardiac function and structural remodeling in the setting of acute myocardial infarction or chronic heart failure. Although promising, the potential of translating adult stem cell-based therapy from bench to bedside has yet to be fully realized. Inter-trial and inter-patient variability contribute to disparity in the regenerative potential of transplanted stem cells with unpredictable efficacy on follow-up. Strategies that mimic the natural embryonic program for uniform recruitment of cardiogenic progenitors from adult sources are currently tested to secure consistent outcome. Guided cardiopoiesis has been implemented with mesenchymal stem cells obtained from bone marrow of healthy volunteers, using a cocktail of secreted proteins that recapitulate components of the endodermal secretome critical for cardiogenic induction of embryonic mesoderm. With appropriate validation of this newly derived cardiopoietic phenotype, the next generation of trials should achieve demonstrable benefit across patient populations.     

永生型骨髓间质干细胞体外诱导为心肌样细胞的实验研究

目的　采用骨髓间质干细胞体外诱导为心肌细胞 ,为心力衰竭的干细胞移植治疗提供新的细胞材料。方法　抽取贵州香猪骨髓液 3ml,按照Wakitani的方法培养出骨髓间质干细胞 ,连续传代 4个月 ,得到永生型细胞 ,经 5 氮胞苷 (5 azacytidine)刺激后 ,进行RT PCR ,基因测序 ,免疫组化 ,电镜超微结构鉴定。结果　骨髓间质干细胞经 5 氮胞苷刺激后 ,部分细胞呈梭形。RT PCR ,基因测序结果表明细胞有心房利钠肽 (ANP) ,脑利钠肽 (BNP) ,心肌特异性肌球蛋白重链 (cardiac MHC) ,β肌球蛋白重链 (beta MHC) ,α骨骼肌肌动蛋白 (α skeletalactin)表达 ,结蛋白 (desmin) ,肌球蛋白重链 (MHC) ,心肌特异性肌钙蛋白Ⅰ (cTnTⅠ )免疫组化阳性。电镜示梭形细胞有明显的肌丝 ,细胞核呈单椭圆形 ,位于细胞中央。结论　骨髓间质干细胞经 5 氮胞苷刺激后 ,从基因 ,蛋白 ,超微形态上已有心肌细胞特点 ,表明在体外环境下可向心肌细胞转化 ,有望成为心力衰竭干细胞移植治疗的细胞材料     

Normal ovarian surface epithelial label-retaining cells exhibit stem/progenitor cell characteristics

Ovulation induces cyclic rupture and regenerative repair of the ovarian coelomic epithelium. This process of repeated disruption and repair accompanied by complex remodeling typifies a somatic stem/progenitor cell-mediated process. Using BrdU incorporation and doxycycline inducible histone2B-green fluorescent protein pulse–chase techniques, we identify a label-retaining cell population in the coelomic epithelium of the adult mouse ovary as candidate somatic stem/progenitor cells. The identified population exhibits quiescence with asymmetric label retention, functional response to estrous cycling in vivo by proliferation, enhanced growth characteristics by in vitro colony formation, and cytoprotective mechanisms by enrichment for the side population. Together, these characteristics identify the label-retaining cell population as a candidate for the putative somatic stem/progenitor cells of the coelomic epithelium of the mouse ovary.     

The role of microRNA-145 in human embryonic stem cell differentiation into vascular cells

Background

Recent studies have reported that microRNA-145 (miR-145) is a critical mediator in the regulation of proliferation, differentiation, and phenotype expression of smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Previously, we established a system for differentiating human ESCs into vascular cells including endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). In the present study, we investigated the role of miR-145 in the differentiation process from human ESCs into ECs and SMCs.

Methods and results

Undifferentiated human ESCs were induced to differentiate into vascular lineage according to our established method. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that human ESC-derived precursor of SMCs (ES-pre-SMCs), similar to human aortic SMCs, expressed a significant amount of miR-145 as well as smooth muscle-specific proteins, compared to undifferentiated human ESCs, adult ECs, or ESC-derived ECs (ES-ECs). However, morphological analysis revealed that human ES-pre-SMCs appeared round and flattened in shape, though human aortic SMCs exhibited the typical spindle-like morphology of SMCs. In addition, Krüppel-like factor 4 and 5 (KLF4 and 5), direct targets of miR-145 and suppressors of smooth muscle differentiation, were upregulated in ES-pre-SMCs compared to aortic SMCs, indicating ES-pre-SMCs were not fully differentiated SMCs. Overexpression of miR-145 in ES-pre-SMCs upregulated the expression of smooth muscle markers, repressed KLF4 and 5 expressions, and changed their morphology into a differentiated spindle-like shape. Furthermore, by introduction of miR-145, ES-pre-SMC proliferation was significantly inhibited and carbachol-stimulated contraction of ES-pre-SMCs was significantly increased. In contrast, downregulation of miR-145 in ES-pre-SMCs upregulated KLF4 and 5 expressions, suppressed the expression of smooth muscle markers, and left unchanged their proliferation and contractility. In ES-ECs, miR-145 overexpression did not induce the synthesis of smooth muscle-related proteins nor suppress the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase.

Conclusion

We showed that miR-145 can regulate the fate and phenotype of human ES-pre-SMCs as they become fully differentiated SMCs. Overexpression of miR-145 on human ES-pre-SMCs is a promising method to obtain functional mature SMCs from human ESCs, which are required for reliable experimental research in the fields of atherosclerosis, hypertension and other vascular diseases.     

人间充质干细胞免疫学性质的对比研究

目的:对比研究人间充质干细胞(AMSCs)在体内和体外的免疫学性质,为心肌的干细胞移植技术应用于临床打下基础。方法:将免疫功能正常的SD大鼠、免疫功能缺陷的RUN大鼠共72只随机分为6组,分别为:①SD大鼠心肌梗死模型 AMSCs移植组(①组);②SD大鼠心肌梗死模型 AMSCs移植 免疫抑制剂组(②组);③RUN大鼠心肌梗死模型 AMSCs移植组(③组);④SD大鼠心肌梗死模型 人胚胎干细胞(ES)移植组(④组);⑤SD大鼠心肌梗死模型 ES移植 免疫抑制剂组(⑤组);⑥RUN大鼠心肌梗死模型 ES移植组(⑥组)。心肌梗死模型通过结扎左冠状动脉前降支建立,1周后再次开胸,在梗死心肌周围多点注射移植物。分别于移植后第2天、第1周、第2周及第6周处死每组的部分大鼠,用荧光原位杂交及免疫组化的方法分别检测移植细胞的存活、分化及淋巴细胞的浸润情况。同时,移植后第1周对于移植AMSCs的大鼠,分离其外周血中的淋巴细胞,在体外与AMSCs进行混合淋巴细胞培养(MLC)实验,了解移植后大鼠免疫系统对AMSCs是否具有免疫排斥反应。结果:①、④组注射局部可见大量淋巴细胞的浸润,移植细胞在1周后从体内几乎完全消失;①组的MLC结果显示,AMSCs促进淋巴细胞的增殖反应。②、③、⑤、⑥组注射局部可见少量淋巴细胞浸润,移植细胞长期存活,但至移植6周存活细胞有所减少,且未检测到移植细胞向心肌方向的分化;②、③组的MLC结果显示,AMSCs不仅不促使反而抑制淋巴细胞增殖。结论:尽管体外研究证实AMSCs具有低免疫源性和较完善的免疫调节作用,当AMSCs进行异种移植时仍存在免疫排斥反应,同ES进行异种移植所产生的免疫反应相似。另外,存活的移植细胞未发生向心肌方向的分化。     

胚胎干细胞治疗肝病的进展

胚胎干细胞(ESC)在特定的环境下可以分化成各种组织细胞.ESC向肝脏细胞的定向分化使其可能成为肝脏细胞移植的一个重要细胞来源,为肝脏疾病的细胞移植治疗奠定基础,在治疗肝脏疾病的研究领域中有着广阔的应用前景.