Mesenchymal stem cell differentiation to neuronal cells on electrospun nanofibrous substrates for nerve tissue engineering

Bone marrow Mesenchymal stem cells capable of differentiating into neuronal cells on engineered nanofibrous scaffolds have great potential for bionanomaterial–cell transplantation therapy of neurodegenerative diseases and injuries of the nervous system. MSCs have been the highlight of many tissue engineering studies mainly because of their multipotential properties. We investigated the potential of human bone marrow derived Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for neuronal differentiation in vitro on poly(l-lactic acid)-co-poly-(3-caprolactone)/Collagen (PLCL/Coll) nanofibrous scaffolds. PLCL and PLCL/Coll nanofibrous scaffolds were fabricated by electrospinning process and their chemical and mechanical characterizations were carried out using SEM, contact angle, FTIR, and tensile instrument. The differentiation of MSCs was carried out using neuronal inducing factors including β-mercaptoethanol, epidermal growth factor, nerve growth factor and brain derived growth factor in DMEM/F12 media. The proliferations of MSCs evaluated by MTS assay showed that the cells grown on PLCL/Coll nanofibrous scaffolds were comparatively higher (80%) than those on PLCL. Scanning electron microscopy results showed that MSCs differentiated on PLCL/Coll nanofibrous scaffolds showed neuronal morphology, with multipolar elongations and expressed neurofilament and nestin protein by immuno-fluorescent microscopy. Our studies on the differentiation of MSCs to neuronal cells on nanofibrous scaffolds suggest their potential application towards nerve regeneration.     

The effects of the physical properties of culture substrates on the growth and differentiation of human embryonic stem cells

The physical factors of cell-culture environment have received little attention despite their anticipated significant role in human embryonic stem cell (hESC) culture optimization. Here we show that hESC culture conditions can be optimized by utilizing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) membranes whose defined pore densities (PDs) determine membrane surface hardness. The PET membranes with 1-4 × 10(6) pores/cm(2) (0.291-0.345 GPa) supported the adherence and survival of hESCs without matrix coating. Furthermore, PET membrane with 4 × 10(6) pores/cm(2) (0.345 GPa) supported optimal hESC self renewal as well as by the increase in cell proliferation. The expression level and activity of Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) were specifically down-regulated in hESCs cultured on the optimal PET membrane. We suggest that PET membranes of a defined PD/hardness provide an excellent culture substrate for the maintenance of uniform and undifferentiated hESCs.     

胚胎干细胞在骨组织工程应用中的研究进展

骨组织工程作为组织工程学研究的重要领域,是目前最有希望获得临床应用的领域之一。种子细胞是骨组织工程研究中最基本的环节,胚胎干细胞以其全能性和无限增殖性,有望成为种子细胞的新来源,就胚胎干细胞在骨组织工程应用中的研究进展做一综述。     

抗坏血酸体外诱导小鼠胚胎干细胞向心肌细胞分化

目的:探讨抗坏血酸作为诱导剂对小鼠胚胎干细胞(mESC)分化为心肌细胞的影响,建立一种体外诱导mESC分化为心肌细胞的实验方法。方法:采用直接悬浮培养法使mESC形成拟胚体(EBs),用含不同浓度抗坏血酸的分化培养基对其进行诱导分化,摸索最佳的诱导分化条件。结果:抗坏血酸诱导mESC分化为心肌细胞的最佳浓度为0.1mg/ml,约为70%的EBs出现跳动的心肌合胞体,显著高于不添加任何诱导剂的对照组。抗坏血酸诱导产生的心肌细胞表达多种心肌蛋白,具有心肌细胞的结构特征。结论:抗坏血酸能够促进mESC向心肌细胞分化,应用抗坏血酸体外诱导mESC向心肌细胞分化是一种较为理想的体外诱导方法。     

人胚胎干细胞建系、培养及体外诱导分化研究现状

胚胎干细胞具有体外无限增殖和分化成三胚层细胞的潜能,它已被视为治疗多种疾病的一种新兴策略。目前胚胎干细胞常规的建系和培养技术已很成熟,并有一套国际公认的鉴定标准。但常规方法存在异源病原体污染的可能,急需研究适于标准化、无动物源性污染及可大量培养胚胎干细胞的培养体系。在现阶段,通过不同的体外诱导途径可将胚胎干细胞诱导成为胚外和三胚层来源的各种细胞,但定向分化的问题仍亟需解决。     

Characterization of chemisorbed hyaluronic acid directly immobilized on solid substrates

Hyaluronic acid (HA) has a number of potential biomedical applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering. For these applications, a prerequisite is to understand the characteristic of HA films directly immobilized to solid substrates. Here, we demonstrate that high molecular weight HA can be directly immobilized onto hydrophilic substrates without any chemical manipulation, allowing for the formation of an ultrathin chemisorbed layer. Hyaluronic acid is stabilized on these surfaces through hydrogen bonding between the hydrophilic moieties in HA [such as carboxylic acid (-COOH) or hydroxyl (-OH) groups] with silanol (-SiOH), carboxylic acid or hydroxyl groups on the hydrophilic substrates. Despite the water solubility, the chemisorbed HA layer remained stable on glass or silicon oxide substrates for at least 7 days in phosphate-buffered saline. Furthermore, HA immobilized on silicon and other dioxide surfaces in much higher quantities than other polysaccharides including dextran sulfate, heparin, heparin sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, and alginic acid. This behavior is related to the molecular entanglement and intrinsic stiffness of HA as a result of strong internal and external hydrogen bonding as well as high molecular weight. These results demonstrate that HA can be used to coat surfaces through direct immobilization.     

Controlling the adhesion and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells using hyaluronic acid-based, doubly crosslinked networks

We have created hyaluronic acid (HA)-based, cell-adhesive hydrogels that direct the initial attachment and the subsequent differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into pre-osteoblasts without osteogenic supplements. HA-based hydrogel particles (HGPs) with an average diameter of 5-6 μm containing an estimated 2.2 wt% gelatin (gHGPs) were synthesized by covalent immobilization of gelatin to HA HGPs prepared via an inverse emulsion polymerization technique. Separately, a photocrosslinkable HA macromer (HAGMA) was synthesized by chemical modification of HA with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). Doubly crosslinked networks (DXNs) were engineered by embedding gHGPs in a secondary network established by HAGMA at a particle concentration of 2.5 wt%. The resultant composite gels, designated as HA-gHGP, have an average compressive modulus of 21 kPa, and are non-toxic to the cultured MSCs. MSCs readily attached to these gels, exhibiting an early stage of stress fiber assembly 3 h post seeding. By day 7, stellate-shaped cells with extended filopodia were found on HA-gHGP gels. Moreover, cells had migrated deep into the matrix, forming a three dimensional, branched and interconnected cell community. Conversely, MSCs on the control gels lacking gelatin moieties formed isolated spheroids with rounded cell morphology. After 28 days of culture on HA-gHGP, Type I collagen production and mineral deposition were detected in the absence of osteogenic supplements, suggesting induction of osteogenic differentiation. In contrast, cells on the control gels expressed markers for adipogenesis. Overall, the HA-gHGP composite matrix has great promise for directing the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs by providing an adaptable environment through the spatial presentation of cell-adhesive modules.     

人胚胎干细胞建系培养及体外诱导分化的研究进展

人胚胎干细胞具有发育全能性,在特定条件下能分化成多种类型的细胞.人胚胎干细胞的研究对人胚胎发育机制、人基因功能研究和治疗性克隆有着重大的意义.本文从人胚胎干细胞建系、培养及体外诱导分化等方面作一综述.     

小鼠胚胎干细胞体外诱导分化为胰岛素分泌细胞

目的 建立小鼠胚胎干细胞(mESCs)分化为胰岛素分泌细胞的体外诱导体系。方法mESCs经拟胚体(EB)阶段,筛选出nestin阳性细胞,扩增培养后,用不同浓度烟碱对nestin阳性细胞进行诱导,观察诱导细胞的形态变化,并进行免疫组化染色、流式细胞仪分析和胰岛素分泌实验。结果 不同大小EB中nestin阳性细胞比例不同,直径为100μm大小EB中较多。nestin阳性细胞经烟碱诱导15d后,可形成分泌胰岛素的胰岛样细胞团,大部分细胞团胰岛素抗体检测为阳性。以10mmol/L烟碱诱导分化后得到的胰岛素分泌细胞较0mmol/L和5mmol/L多,这些细胞在不同浓度葡萄糖刺激下能分泌不同量胰岛素。结论10mmol/L烟碱诱导小鼠ESCs 15d,可获得较多胰岛素分泌细胞。     

体外直接诱导人胚胎干细胞向神经细胞分化的研究

目的探讨体外直接诱导HSF6人胚胎干细胞（humanem bryonic stem cells,hESCs）分化为神经细胞的方法。方法采用直接的方法,在1%血清培养条件下,顺序添加bFGF、RA和Forskolin,诱导HSF6人ESCs分化为神经细胞。结果细胞发生神经样形态学改变,免疫荧光细胞化学分析结果显示,分化细胞表达神经干细胞特异性标志分子——巢蛋白（nestin）,以及神经元标志分子——β微管蛋白Ⅲ（neuron-specific class Ⅲ beta-tubulin,TuJ1）。实验组nestin阳性细胞数占（95.2±3.03）%,明显高于未添加诱导因子组的（31.6±4.93）%,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论本研究直接诱导hESCs分化为神经细胞,减少了常规经胚胎体（embryoid body,EB）的诱导方法而产生其它胚层细胞的机会,为进一步探索hESCs源性神经细胞的功能,以及为细胞替代治疗提供高纯度的hESCs源性神经细胞奠定了基础。     

透明质酸在骨组织工程研究中的应用现状

背景：用组织工程学方法促进骨组织再生,是近年来骨缺损修复的研究热点。支架材料是骨组织工程研究的重要内容。 目的：分析透明质酸作为骨组织工程支架材料的应用进展。 方法：对CNKI、PubMed数据库进行文献检索,以“透明质酸,骨”为中文检索词、“hyaluronic acid, bone“为英文检索词。提取文献进行透明质酸作为骨组织工程支架材料的应用研究的分析。分析了透明质酸的物理特性,透明质酸在骨组织工程中的应用,以及相关文献的发表情况。 结果与结论：透明质酸是一种重要的细胞外基质,透明质酸及其衍生物有优良的特性,是构建组织工程支架的优良材料,且可作为生长因子及细胞的输送载体。国家自然科学基金是资助透明质酸作为骨组织工程支架材料的应用的相关文献最多的基金,湖北中医学院、解放军总医院、广州中医药大学、华南理工大学发表相关文献较多。近年透明质酸在骨组织工程上的应用研究引起了越来越多的关注,但其临床研究较少。     

Methods for expansion of human embryonic stem cells

The manipulation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) requires refined skills. Here we introduce both mechanical and enzymatic transfer methods for hESCs depending on experimental purpose. We use the mechanical transfer method for maintenance of hESC lines. Although the method is laborious and time-consuming, the technique permits efficient transfer of undifferentiated hESCs and results in similar clump sizes. We implement the enzymatic transfer method when we need the bulk production of cells for various experiments. The enzyme-treated expansion rapidly produces greater amounts of hESCs within a limited time frame. However, the cell clumps vary in size, and there is a probability that both the differentiated and undifferentiated cells will be transferred. In cases in which there are differentiated colonies, the combination of two methods allows mass production of hESCs by excluding differentiated colonies from passage by manual selection before enzyme treatment.     

拟胚体贴壁时间对小鼠胚胎干细胞心肌分化的影响

目的观察拟胚体(EB)贴壁时间对小鼠胚胎干细胞(ESC)心肌分化的影响并研究其机制。方法用悬滴培养法促进ESCs形成EBs。EBs在不同的分化天数贴壁,观察搏动EBs百分比,RT-PCR检测Nkx2.5,GATA4和β-MHC mRNA表达,Western blot检测Src家族酪氨酸激酶磷酸化水平。结果分化第3,4天贴壁组搏动EB百分比及Nkx2.5,GATA4,β-MHC表达水平显著低于分化第5,6和7天贴壁组(P<0.05);EB贴壁能够使Src激酶磷酸化水平升高,Src激酶阻断剂PP2能够抑制贴壁诱发的Src激酶磷酸化水平升高(P<0.05);对于分化第4天贴壁组,在分化第4～6天使用PP2能够增加搏动EBs百分比及β-MHC表达水平(P<0.05)。结论 EB贴壁时间是影响ESC心肌分化的一个重要因素。在分化第4天或者之前贴壁可以显著抑制心肌分化,其机制可能是EB贴壁激活了Src激酶。     

胚胎干细胞直接向神经细胞诱导分化的实验研究

目的:探讨不经拟胚体(EB)培养阶段，应用维甲酸(RA)在体外直接将胚胎干细胞(ESC)诱导分化为神经细胞的可行性和效果。 方法:ESC消化后分为A、B、C、D 4组，A、B组进行EB培养后，A组用RA进行诱导分化，B组不添加RA使其自由分化,C、D组不经EB培养阶段，C组直接用RA诱导分化，D组自由分化。倒置相差显微镜及扫描电镜观察细胞形态变化，免疫细胞化学及流式细胞术观察各组第 9 d 分化细胞微管相关蛋白-2(MAP-2)和胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)的表达情况。 结果:A、C组诱导分化的神经样细胞逐渐增多，并形成密集的神经网络样结构，9 d 时大部分为MAP-2阳性细胞，MAP-2阳性率显著高于B、D组(P<0.01)。B、D组以圆形上皮样分化细胞为主，9 d 时绝大部分为GFAP阳性细胞，GFAP阳性率显著高于A、C组(P<0.01)。A、C组之间或B、D组之间的MAP-2及GFAP阳性率均无显著差异(P>0.05)。 结论:在体外，可不经EB阶段，应用RA直接将ESC诱导分化为神经细胞，改良的ESC诱导分化方法与传统的RA4-/4+方法效果相同，可取代传统方法。     

体外诱导小鼠胚胎干细胞分化为心肌细胞的初步研究

目的：5-氮胞苷作为分化诱导剂，初步探讨其单独或联合全反式维甲酸应用时对小鼠胚胎干细胞（mESC）分化为心肌细胞的影响，旨在建立一种体外诱导mESC分化为心肌细胞的实验方法。方法： 采用 MTT法确定5-氮胞苷的非细胞毒性参考剂量。设计不同条件培养基（5-氮胞苷单独或配伍全反式维甲酸应用）对mESC 进行诱导分化，并通过免疫组化技术及RT-PCR方法等对分化细胞进行鉴定。结果： 5-氮胞苷的非细胞毒性参考剂量为8 μmol/L，能够诱导mESC分化为心肌合胞体（与阴性对照组比较，P<0.01），诱导分化率可达50%。配伍全反式维甲酸持续诱导的结果等同于单独应用全反式维甲酸的作用效果（P>0.05）：即对ESC向心肌细胞的诱导分化没有促进作用。结论：5-氮胞苷能够诱导mESC分化为心肌合胞体，从而得以建立一种体外诱导mESC分化为心肌细胞的方法。     

丁酸钠、激活素A和地塞米松诱导小鼠胚胎干细胞分化为胰腺外分泌细胞

目的： 探讨丁酸钠、激活素A （activin A）和地塞米松诱导小鼠胚胎干细胞（ES细胞）分化为胰腺外分泌细胞的可行性,并对诱导作用进行比较。方法： 小鼠 ES细胞悬浮培养为拟胚体后,以不同浓度的丁酸钠（1 mmol/L,2 mmol/L,3 mmol/L）诱导分化,通过RT-PCR检测不同时点胰腺特异性外分泌基因的表达水平,确定丁酸钠诱导ES细胞向胰腺外分泌细胞分化的最佳浓度和作用时间。进一步单独或联合应用丁酸钠、activin A、地塞米松诱导ES细胞分化,并通过细胞形态学变化、RT-PCR和免疫荧光检测观察不同诱导方案对胰腺外分泌基因和蛋白表达的影响,确定最佳诱导方案。结果：1 mmol/L丁酸钠能明显促进胰腺外分泌基因amylase、chymotrypsinogen、elastase1、elastase2和carboxypeptidase的表达,随着丁酸钠浓度的增加,丁酸钠的诱导作用逐渐减弱;1 mmol/L丁酸钠诱导第3 d后可检测到amylase、chymotrypsinogen、elastase1、elastase2和carboxypeptidase的表达,在第5 d外分泌基因mRNA表达水平达到高峰,随后逐渐下降。与自发对照组相比,单独应用丁酸钠、activin A、地塞米松诱导ES细胞分化,均能提高amylase、chymotrypsinogen、elastase1、elastase2和carboxypeptidase的表达水平。但联合应用丁酸钠、activin A、地塞米松诱导后,ES细胞形态更为均一,上述胰腺外分泌基因的表达进一步增强;免疫荧光结果显示amylase表达为阳性。结论： 低浓度的丁酸钠、activin A以及地塞米松均可以诱导小鼠ES细胞胰腺外分泌基因的表达,多种诱导因子的联合作用能明显提高胰腺外分泌细胞的诱导效率。