bFGF和EGF对胚胎神经干细胞分化为神经元及神经胶质细胞的影响

目的：观察碱性成纤维生长因子（bFGF）和表皮生长因子（EGF）对体外培养胚胎神经管神经干细胞生长和分化的影响。方法：从孕12天大鼠胚胎神经管分离神经干细胞，进行原代培养，分为bFGF组、EGF组、bFGF＋EGF组及对照组：培养过程中观察干细胞的生长，培养2小时做nestin染色鉴定神经干细胞，培养第5天用免疫组化方法检测培养细胞神经元特异烯醇化酶（NSE）和胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP）的表达，以观察神经干细胞分化为神经元及神经胶质细胞的状况。结果：取材细胞大部分为nestin免疫阳性细胞；各实验组均可促进培养细胞的生长和分 化。免疫组化中，EGF使神经干细胞增殖成团，增加GFAP的表达（P＜0．01）；bFGF能明显增加NSE及GFAP的表达（P＜0．01）；两种因子联合应用，神经元和神经胶质细胞均比对照组增多（P＜0．01）。结论：EGF和bFGF两类生长因子均能促进胚胎神经干细胞的生长，在分化方面，EGF倾向于诱导干细胞增并向着胶质细胞分化，bFGF则诱导干细胞分 成更多的神经元。     

肝细胞生长因子对鼠胚胎干细胞分化为心肌细胞的作用

目的观察肝细胞生长因子(HGF)在胚胎干细胞(ESC)向心肌细胞分化过程中的作用。方法制备小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞饲养层(FL),复苏的E14细胞接种在FL上,经直接悬浮法形成拟胚体(EBs),诱导组每孔加2m L胚体完全培养液再加15 ng/m L HGF,对照组只加入胚体完全培养液每孔2ml,免疫荧光染色激光共聚焦扫描显微镜下观察细胞心肌特异性蛋白Mlc-1v的表达,透射电子显微镜下观察分化细胞的超微结构特征。结果制备的FL细胞为长梭型,呈条索状或漩涡状排列,复苏在FL上的ES-E14细胞呈圆形、椭圆形克隆,经悬浮培养后即可见球形悬浮状EBs。诱导分化后第12d的细胞其心肌Mlc-1v蛋白表达阳性,透射电子显微镜下可见细胞核的周围有许多不规则成束的肌丝分布。结论肝细胞生长因子可以促进胚胎干细胞分化为心肌样细胞。     

Insulin-like growth factor 2 promotes osteogenic cell differentiation in the parthenogenetic murine embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent and can differentiate into all somatic cell types. ESCs are an alternative solution to hard tissue regeneration and skeletal tissue repair to treat bone diseases and defects using regenerative strategies. Parthenogenetic ESCs (PESCs) may be a useful alternative stem cell source for tissue repair and regeneration. The defects in full-term development of this cell type enable researchers to avoid the ethical concerns related to ESC research. Moreover, in female patients, if the PESCs are derived from oocytes, then they will have that patient's genetic information. Here, we present data demonstrating that osteogenic differentiation of PESCs can be promoted by insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2). PESCs were plated onto Petri dishes with ESC culture medium supplemented with or without IGF2, followed by culturing of the cells for 1 week. PESCs formed floating aggregates called embryoid bodies (EBs). An osteogenic lineage was induced from the EBs by incubating them in medium containing serum, ascorbic acid, β-glycerophosphate, and retionic acid, with or without IGF2, for 20 days. Gene expression of specific osteoblastic markers such as osteocalcin, osteopontin, osteonectin, bone sialoprotein, collagen type-I, alkaline phosphatase, and Runx2 (Cbfa-I) was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The expression level of osteocalcin, osteopontin, osteonectin, and alkaline phosphatase was twofold higher in IGF2-treated PESC derivatives than IGF2-naive PESC derivatives. In vivo experiments were also performed using a critical-sized calvarial defect mouse model. Ten weeks after cell transplantation, more bone tissue regeneration was observed in the IGF2-treated PESC transplantation group than in IGF2-naive PESC transplantation group. Both our in vitro and in vivo data indicate that IGF2 induces osteogenic differentiation of PESCs. Addition of IGF2 may reactivate imprinting genes in PESCs that are only expressed in the paternal genome and are normally silent in PESCs. Our findings provide insights into the mechanisms of skeletal tissue repair and the imprinting mechanisms active in stem cells.     

Expression and potential role of fibroblast growth factor 2 and its receptors in human embryonic stem cells

Although the detection of several components of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling pathway in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) has been reported, the functionality of that pathway and effects on cell fate decisions are yet to be established. In this study we characterized expression of FGF-2, the prototypic member of the FGF family, and its receptors (FGFRs) in undifferentiated and differentiating hESCs; subsequently, we analyzed the effects of FGF-2 on hESCs, acting as both exogenous and endogenous factors. We have determined that undifferentiated hESCs are abundant in several molecular-mass isoforms of FGF-2 and that expression pattern of these isoforms remains unchanged under conditions that induce hESC differentiation. Significantly, FGF-2 is released by hESCs into the medium, suggesting an autocrine activity. Expression of FGFRs in undifferentiated hESCs follows a specific pattern, with FGFR1 being the most abundant species and other receptors showing lower expression in the following order: FGFR1 --> FGFR3 --> FGFR4 --> FGFR2. Initiation of differentiation is accompanied by profound changes in FGFR expression, particularly the upregulation of FGFR1. When hESCs are exposed to exogenous FGF-2, extracellular signal-regulated kinases are phosphorylated and thereby activated. However, the presence or absence of exogenous FGF-2 does not significantly affect the proliferation of hESCs. Instead, increased concentration of exogenous FGF-2 leads to reduced outgrowth of hESC colonies with time in culture. Finally, the inhibitor of FGFRs, SU5402, was used to ascertain whether FGF-2 that is released by hESCs exerts its activities via autocrine pathways. Strikingly, the resultant inhibition of FGFR suppresses activation of downstream protein kinases and causes rapid cell differentiation, suggesting an involvement of autocrine FGF signals in the maintenance of proliferating hESCs in the undifferentiated state. In conclusion from our data, we propose that this endogenous FGF signaling pathway can be implicated in self-renewal or differentiation of hESCs.     

肝细胞生长因子促进人胚胎干细胞向神经前体细胞分化

目的:研究肝细胞生长因子(HGF)诱导人胚胎干细胞(hESCs)定向分化为神经前体细胞(NPs)的作用。方法:诱导拟胚体(EBs)生成,随机将EBs分为正常对照组、G5 supplement组、HGF组和HGF+G5 supple-ment组,悬浮培养诱导7d,转移至多聚赖氨酸/层黏连蛋白(20mg/L)包被的24孔培养板中继续培养7-10d。免疫荧光染色鉴定NPs和体外分化能力,流式细胞仪检测各组巢蛋白(nestin)阳性细胞的比例,RT-PCR检测音猥因子(Shh)对NPs的脑区标记基因表达的影响。结果:HGF+G5可诱导hESCs定向分化为NPs,HGF+G5组的nestin阳性的NPs比例(87.3%±3.9%)显著高于其它组(P0.05),NPs具有分化成神经元、少突和星形胶质细胞的能力;HGF+G5诱导时间对于NPs的分化有影响,7d时nestin+细胞比例达到最大;Shh可使NPs表达腹侧化基因,后脑标记表达上调,而前脑标记表达下调。结论:含HGF和G5的无血清神经分化体系可有效诱导hESCs神经分化,是研究神经诱导的良好体系。     

血管内皮生长因子促进小鼠胚胎干细胞的造血分化

目的：研究血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)体外促进小鼠胚胎干细胞系ES-D3向造血分化的能力。方法：先将ES-D3形成拟胚体，将拟胚体细胞转入含不同浓度的VEGF和VEGF+SCF的培养基中。实验分6组，分别为VEGF 5 μg/L组、VEGF 10 μg/L组、VEGF 20 μg/L组、VEGF 5 μg/L＋SCF组、VEGF 10 μg/L＋SCF组、VEGF 20 μg/L＋SCF组，同时设不加因子的自发分化对照组。RT-PCR检测造血转录基因GATA-2和早期造血细胞基因c-kit和β-H1的表达，流式细胞仪检测CD34+细胞，甲基纤维素半固体培养法检测生成造血集落的能力。结果：经过1周的诱导培养，实验组生成的细胞可以表达GATA-2、c-kit和β-H1，CD34＋细胞的比例也升高，并可形成造血祖细胞的集落。从诱导生成CD34＋细胞的比例和生成的集落数量看，VEGF联合SCF组的诱导效率要高于VEGF单用组和对照组，其中以VEGF 20 μg/L＋SCF组和VEGF 10 μg/L＋SCF组的诱导效率最高。结论：VEGF能够促进ESC的早期造血分化，尤以与SCF合用时，其诱导效率更高。     

bFGF在人胚胎干细胞中自我更新的研究进展

人胚胎干细胞具有自我更新和多向分化的独特生物学特性。维持人和小鼠胚胎干细胞增殖的生长因子不同,白血病抑制因子（LIF）不能维持人胚胎干细胞的生长。目前已经确定了数种维持人胚胎干细胞（hESCs）自我更新的生长因子,其中碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）信号系统是人胚胎干细胞自我更新中最重要的调节因素之一。将从bFGF及其受体在人胚胎干细胞中的表达和作用的最新进展进行综述。     

Basic fibroblast growth factor support of human embryonic stem cell self-renewal

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells have most commonly been cultured in the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) either on fibroblast feeder layers or in fibroblast-conditioned medium. It has recently been reported that elevated concentrations of FGF2 permit the culture of human ES cells in the absence of fibroblasts or fibroblast-conditioned medium. Herein we compare the ability of unconditioned medium (UM) supplemented with 4, 24, 40, 80, 100, and 250 ng/ml FGF2 to sustain low-density human ES cell cultures through multiple passages. In these stringent culture conditions, 4, 24, and 40 ng/ml FGF2 failed to sustain human ES cells through three passages, but 100 ng/ml sustained human ES cells with an effectiveness comparable to conditioned medium (CM). Two human ES cell lines (H1 and H9) were maintained for up to 164 population doublings (7 and 4 months) in UM supplemented with 100 ng/ml FGF2. After prolonged culture, the cells formed teratomas when injected into severe combined immunodeficient beige mice and expressed markers characteristic of undifferentiated human ES cells. We also demonstrate that FGF2 is degraded more rapidly in UM than in CM, partly explaining the need for higher concentrations of FGF2 in UM. These results further facilitate the large-scale, routine culture of human ES cells and suggest that fibroblasts and fibro-blast-conditioned medium sustain human ES cells in part by stabilizing FGF signaling above a critical threshold.     

小鼠骨髓基质细胞Kusa-A1成骨分化中CBF1的作用

目的揭示CBF1在骨髓基质细胞Kusa-A1成骨分化过程中的作用。方法采用基因转染法建立CBF1稳定过表达细胞系Kusa-A1/CBF1,检测其成骨活性。指标包括细胞钙沉积能力、碱性磷酸酶活性、体外钙化结节(CN)形成、实时PCR测定细胞骨钙素(OC)和骨桥蛋白(OPN)基因表达、蛋白印迹检测细胞RANKL蛋白。最后用报告基因法检测CBF1对HES1启动子活性的影响。结果经RT-PCR和Western blot鉴定,Kusa-A1/CBF1细胞建立成功。与对照细胞系Kusa-A1/host相比,Kusa-A1/CBF1细胞的钙沉积能力、CN形成能力均显著提高;Kusa-A1/CBF1细胞OC和OPN基因表达和RANKL蛋白水平明显高于对照细胞。瞬时转染Notch的细胞内结构域NICD促进HES1的启动子活性,这一作用被CBF1强烈抑制。结论CBF1可以促进Kusa-A1的成骨分化,该作用至少部分是通过影响Notch信号实现的。     

Osteogenic differentiation of dental follicle stem cells

Background: Stem cells are defined as clonogenic cells capable of self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation. A population of these cells has been identified in human Dental Follicle (DF).Dental Follicle Stem Cells (DFSCs) were found in pediatric unerupted wisdom teeth and have been shown to differentiate, under particular conditions, into various cell types of the mesenchymal tissues.Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate if cells isolated from DF show stem features, differentiate toward osteoblastic phenotype and express osteoblastic markers.Methods: We studied the immunophenotype of DFSCs by flow cytometric analysis, the osteoblastic markers of differentiated DFSCs were assayed by histochemical methods and real-time PCR.Results: We demonstrated that DFSCs expressed a heterogeneous assortment of makers associated with stemness. Moreover DFSCs differentiated into osteoblast-like cells, producing mineralized matrix nodules and expressed the typical osteoblastic markers, Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and Collagen I (Coll I).Conclusion: This study suggests that DFSCs may provide a cell source for tissue engineering of bone.     

Effects of three-dimensional culture and growth factors on the chondrogenic differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have the ability to self-replicate and differentiate into cells from all three germ layers, holding great promise for tissue regeneration applications. However, controlling the differentiation of ES cells and obtaining homogenous cell populations still remains a challenge. We hypothesize that a supportive three-dimensional (3D) environment provides ES cell-derived cells an environment that more closely mimics chondrogenesis in vivo. In the present study, the chondrogenic differentiation capability of ES cell-derived embryoid bodies (EBs) encapsulated in poly(ethylene glycol)-based (PEG) hydrogels was examined and compared with the chondrogenic potential of EBs in conventional monolayer culture. PEG hydrogel-encapsulated EBs and EBs in monolayer were cultured in vitro for up to 17 days in chondrogenic differentiation medium in the presence of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 or bone morphogenic protein-2. Gene expression and protein analyses indicated that EB-PEG hydrogel culture upregulated cartilage-relevant markers compared with a monolayer environment and induction of chondrocytic phenotype was stimulated with TGF-beta1. Histology of EBs in PEG hydrogel culture with TGF-beta1 demonstrated basophilic extracellular matrix deposition characteristic of neocartilage. These findings suggest that EB-PEG hydrogel culture, with an appropriate growth factor, may provide a suitable environment for chondrogenic differentiation of intact ES cell-derived EBs.     

Adhesion and differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells on a substrate with immobilized fibroblast growth factor

Control of cell-matrix interactions plays a role in the regulation of stem cell function. In this study basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) linked to maltose-binding protein (MBP) was designed as a matrix for cell adhesion. MBP-FGF was immobilized on polystyrene (PS) surfaces by spontaneous adsorption. The amount of MBP-bFGF immobilized on the PS surface increased with increasing protein concentration, being 158 ng cm(-2) at 10 μg ml(-1) protein. Human adipose-derived stem cell (hASC) adhesion to MBP-bFGF immobilized on a PS surface (PS-MBP-bFGF) was inhibited by heparin. Integrin signaling and cell spreading of hASC on PS-MBP-bFGF were down-regulated compared with those on fibronectin-coated surfaces or tissue culture polystyrene (TCP). hASC differentiated into adipocytes, which stained positive for lipid vacuoles with Oil Red, more readily on PS-MBP-bFGF than on TCP. In contrast, hASC hardly differentiated into osteoblast on PS-MBP-bFGF or on TCP. These results suggest that the mechanism of hASC adhesion to MBP-bFGF immobilized on a PS substrate is mediated by a specific interaction between bFGF and heparin, and that the adhesion mechanism might provide an insight into the design of biomaterials to control the fate of stem cells.     

镁黄长石浸提液诱导多潜能干细胞的成骨分化

背景：镁黄长石属于硅酸盐生物活性陶瓷,在生物体内具有降解作用,降解溶出的离子产物能够诱导细胞成骨分化,是组织工程骨支架材料的良好选择。目的：通过研究不同浓度的镁黄长石浸提液对诱导性多潜能干细胞增殖和成骨分化的影响,确定镁黄长石浸提液促进诱导性多潜能干细胞成骨分化的最佳浓度。方法：将诱导性多潜能干细胞培养于不同浓度的镁黄长石浸提液中,用MTT法检测细胞的增殖情况;在第7,14,21天时,分别收集培养上清液,检测其中碱性磷酸酶、骨钙素、Ⅰ型胶原蛋白含量。结果与结论：镁黄长石浸提液促进诱导性多潜能干细胞增殖的作用具有时间依赖性,第3天时,诱导性多潜能干细胞增殖明显,第5天与第3天相比差异无显著性意义,至第7天时则明显减弱。同时,1/4浓度浸提液组促进诱导性多潜能干细胞增殖作用最强。作为细胞成骨分化标志的碱性磷酸酶和骨钙素含量随时间增加而增加,1/4浸提液浓度组含量最高。作为细胞成骨分化早中期标志的Ⅰ型胶原蛋白在第7天时各组均未检出,第14,21天时,同样是1/4浓度浸提液组含量最高,这些说明镁黄长石浸提液中的Ca、Mg、Si离子参与了诱导性多潜能干细胞的成骨分化,其中1/4浓度浸提液(Ca离子2.37 mmol/L、Mg离子1.12 mmol/L、Si离子1.05 mmol/L)促进诱导性多潜能干细胞体外成骨分化的效果最好。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程全文链接：     

人胚胎成纤维细胞对人胚胎干细胞生长的作用

目的：比较人和小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞对人胚胎干细胞生长的作用,为胚胎干细胞定向诱导各系统细胞应用于临床,消除异种蛋白污染打下基础。方法：分别采用人胚胎成纤维细胞和小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞为饲养层细胞,支持人受精卵的培养,观察其增殖和分化情况。结果：人和小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞分别加入白血病抑制因子（hLIF）均能很好支持人胚胎干细胞生长增殖,并保持未分化状态。结论：完全可以使用人胚胎成纤维细胞支持人胚胎干细胞增殖,消除异种蛋白污染的可能性,为胚胎干细胞定向诱导分化发育应用于临床打下坚实基础。     

Protein kinase C mediated extraembryonic endoderm differentiation of human embryonic stem cells

Unlike mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), which are closely related to the inner cell mass, human ESCs appear to be more closely related to the later primitive ectoderm. For example, human ESCs and primitive ectoderm share a common epithelial morphology, growth factor requirements, and the potential to differentiate to all three embryonic germ layers. However, it has previously been shown that human ESCs can also differentiate to cells expressing markers of trophoblast, an extraembryonic lineage formed before the formation of primitive ectoderm. Here, we show that phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate causes human ESCs to undergo an epithelial mesenchymal transition and to differentiate into cells expressing markers of parietal endoderm, another extraembryonic lineage. We further confirmed that this differentiation is through the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) pathway and demonstrated that a particular PKC subtype, PKC-δ, is most responsible for this transition.