Proliferative activity of vervet monkey bone marrow-derived adherent cells

Vervet monkey bone marrow-derived adherent cell population cultured in Fischer's medium supplemented with 12.5% fetal calf serum and 12.5% horse serum consists of two cell shapes: fusiform (type I) and polygonal (type II). Limiting-dilution cloning of the cells suggested that the two morphologically distinct cell types belong to the same cellular system even though they differ in their proliferative capabilities. The labeling index of type II cells, as measured by autoradiography, was found to be consistently lower than that of type I cells. It is probable that these two phenotypes represent different stages of differentiation, where progenitor type I gives rise to type II cells. The bone marrow-derived adherent cells were found to be cytokinetically at rest in vivo, using the thymidine suicide test, and relatively radioresistant with a D0 = 2.1 Gy and ? = 2.36 at the time of explantation from the bone. Furthermore, in culture these cells are characterized by a relatively long cell cycle of 60 h, where the length of the S phase is 30 h, G2 is 12 h, M is 6 h, and G1 is 12 h. Thus the vervet monkey bone marrow-derived adherent cells represent a cell population with a low turnover rate both in vivo and in vitro.     

Evidence for incorporation of bone marrow-derived endothelial cells into perfused blood vessels in tumors

Recent studies have demonstrated that the cellular contribution of the bone marrow to tumor neovascularization is highly complex. In this context, the extent to which bone marrow-derived cells incorporate as bona fide endothelial (nonhematopoietic) cells into perfused tumor vessels, or any new vessels formed postnatally (vasculogenesis), is unclear. To this end, we developed models to characterize local vessel-derived and bone marrow-derived endothelial cells (BMD-ECs). Then, we characterized the BMD-ECs based on a set of endothelial markers and morphology. Finally, we quantified their contribution to perfused blood vessels in tumors using transplanted as well as spontaneous primary and metastatic tumor models. We demonstrate that BMD-ECs incorporate in perfused tumor vessels, and that this contribution varies with organ site and mouse strain.     

骨髓源性内皮祖细胞与内皮细胞共培养促进其向成熟内皮细胞分化的研究

目的：探讨共培养的内皮细胞对内皮祖细胞向成熟内皮细胞分化的影响。方法：分离1～2个月龄,SD大鼠股骨髓,个核细胞（MNCs）,MNCs,Dil-ac-LDL与FITC-UEA-1荧光双染鉴定内皮细胞的特性。应用贴块法培养大鼠腹主动脉的内皮细胞,vWF免疫组化染色进行鉴定。采用Transwell培养板,上、下室分别加入内皮祖细胞和内皮细胞,15%胎牛血清的NO.2 DMEM/F12培养液培养14 d,倒置相差显微镜观察培养内皮祖细胞的形态。RT-PCR检测eNOS、vWF mRNA,流式细胞术检测CD31及KDR的表达。结果：荧光双染显示培养的单个核细胞具有内皮祖细胞特性;共培养的内皮祖细胞呈短梭型、铺路石状,培养至4 w时有复杂的网状结构形成。RT-PCR检测显示,eNOS及vWF mRNA表达均较对照组显著增加（P〈0.05）。流式细胞术分析表明,共培养组的内皮祖细胞CD31及KDR的表达,也显著高于对照组（分别为P〈0.05及P〈0.01）。结论：与内皮细胞共培养可促进内皮祖细胞向成熟内皮细胞分化。     

Hydrocortisone modulates colony-stimulating activity produced by human bone marrow-derived adherent cells

In an attempt to clarify the significance of hydrocortisone (HC) in human long-term bone marrow cultures, the production of colony-stimulating activity (CSA) and colony-enhancing activity (CEA) by human bone marrow-derived adherent cells (MDAC) and the modulation by HC were examined. The CSA production by MDAC was demonstrated using bilayer agar cultures. After treatment of MDAC with 10(-6) mol/l HC, the CSA production was markedly enhanced, and after treatment of macrophages with 10(-6) mol/l HC, the CSA production was inhibited. When added to a granulocyte-macrophage precursor cells (CFU-GM) assay system, HC inhibited colony formation. These results suggest that HC treatment directly stimulates CSA production by nonmacrophage cells of MDAC. The conditioned medium of the confluent layer of MDAC contained CEA, which was not influenced by the HC treatment of MDAC. Thus, HC plays an essential role in granulopoiesis in vitro, enhancing the CSA production by MDAC and inhibiting the differentiation of CFU-GM.     

Characterization of the phosphatidylserine-exposing subpopulation of sickle cells

Phosphatidylserine (PS), exclusively present in the inner monolayer of the normal red blood cell (RBC) membrane, is exposed in subpopulations of sickle cells. PS-exposing RBCs were found predominantly among the densest and the very light sickle cells. Within the light RBC fraction, PS exposure was found on reticulocytes, transferrin receptor-expressing reticulocytes, and mature RBCs. The last subset contained low-density valinomycin-resistant RBCs, previously shown to have high Na(+) and low K(+) content. This subpopulation contained the highest percentage of PS-exposing cells. The PS-exposing sickle cells did not show the sustained high cytosolic Ca(++) levels that have been shown to activate scramblase activity. Data from this study indicate that PS exposure can occur at different stages in the life of the sickle RBC and that it correlates with the loss of aminophospholipid translocase activity, the only common denominator of the PS-exposing cells. The additional requirement of scramblase activation may occur during transient increases in cytosolic Ca(++). (Blood. 2001;98:860-867)     

Characterization of an HIV type 1 strain with preferential replication in adherent cells

HIV-E, emerging from persistently infected HeLa-T4 cells, replicates better in fibroblasts and epithelial cells with respect to the parental, T cell-derived HIV-T. The two viruses share the same env V3 loop, but differ in cellular molecules incorporated on the envelope. Even when similar amounts of virus attachment occurred, HIV-E replicated better than HIV-T in cells from solid tissues, and the response to exogenous Tat was more efficient. This might be related to the long terminal repeat (LTR), because HIV-E has a TAR duplication, and a mutation in the Sp1-II binding site. Epithelial cells deserve further study, because they may be important in vivo for variant selection and latency.     

Characterization of hemopoietic activities in media conditioned by a murine marrow-derived adherent cell line, B.Ad

The hemopoietic activities present in medium conditioned by a murine bone marrow-derived adherent cell line (B.Ad) have been studied. B.Ad-conditioned medium stimulated neutrophil, neutrophil-macrophage, and macrophage colonies in agar cultures of bone marrow cells and 90% of this activity was neutralized by antimacrophage colony-stimulating factor (anti-M-CSF). The conditioned medium supported the generation and/or maintenance of spleen colony-forming units (CFU-S) in liquid cultures and synergized with multilineage colony-stimulating factor (Multi-CSF; IL-3) to stimulate colony formation by day-3 post-5-fluorouracil (FU)-treated bone marrow cells. When used as feeder layers, B.Ad cells stimulated erythroid colony-forming units (CFU-E) and markedly enhanced erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E) stimulation more than did maximal Multi-CSF (IL-3) and Epo stimulation. No CFU-E- or BFU-E-stimulating activities were detected in medium conditioned by B.Ad cells. Similarly, B.Ad-conditioned medium was unable to stimulate Multi-CSF (IL-3) or granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF-dependent cell lines. The data suggest that medium conditioned by this bone marrow-derived adherent cell line contains M-CSF and other factors not detectable as CSFs that either directly or by means of a synergistic mechanism are able to stimulate CFU-S and colony-forming cells (CFC).     

Characterization of acetylcholine-induced membrane hyperpolarization in endothelial cells.

The characteristics of the hyperpolarization response to acetylcholine (ACh) in endothelial cells from the guinea pig coronary artery were studied by microelectrode recording technique. ACh (30 nM to 3 microM) induced membrane hyperpolarization in a dose-dependent manner. The sustenance of the response required the presence of external calcium. The hyperpolarization was not affected by nifedipine (1 microM) but was inhibited by the potassium channel blockers charybdotoxin (10 nM), tetraethylammonium (1 mM), and 4-aminopyridine (0.5 mM). Glibenclamide (10 microM) and apamin (1 microM) were not effective. The inhibitors of endothelium-derived relaxing factor/nitric oxide synthesis N omega-nitro L-arginine (50 microM) and NG-monomethyl L-arginine (30 microM) had no effect on the resting membrane potential or the ACh-induced responses. No hyperpolarization was observed with application of sodium nitroprusside (10 microM) or 8-bromo-cGMP (0.1 microM). Ouabain (10 microM) depolarized the membrane significantly by 5 mV, but the ACh hyperpolarization was not affected. Indomethacin (10 microM) was without effect on the resting membrane potential or the hyperpolarization to ACh. These results show that ACh-induced hyperpolarization is dependent on external calcium and can be inhibited by certain potassium channel blockers. The hyperpolarization response is not mediated by endothelium-derived relaxing factor/nitric oxide, cGMP, a cyclooxygenase product, or stimulation of the Na-K pump.     

血管内皮生长因子调节内皮祖细胞生物学功能

目的研究血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）对体外培养骨髓源性内皮祖细胞（EPCs）数量及增殖、迁移、黏附功能的影响及机制初探。方法密度梯度离心法获取骨髓单个核细胞,FITC-荆豆凝集素I、DiI-乙酰化低密度脂蛋白荧光双染鉴定。单个核细胞培养7d后分为对照组和VEGF干预组。VEGF干预组加入不同浓度VEGF（25,50,75,100μg／L）培养48h,分别采用四氮唑溴盐比色法、改良的Boyden小室和黏附能力测定观察EPCs的增殖、迁移和黏附能力。RT—PCR法半定量检测VEGF对EPCs内皮型一氧化氮合酶（eNOS）mRNA表达的影响。硝酸还原酶法比色测定VEGF对EPCs分泌一氧化氮的影响。结果VEGF可浓度依赖性地增加EPCs数量并明显促进EPCs的黏附、迁移和增殖能力,与对照组比较差异显著。VEGF可上调EPCseNOSmRNA的表达,促进EPCs分泌一氧化氮。结论VEGF可能通过上调EPCseNOSmRNA的表达影响EPCs部分生物学功能。     

Role of bone marrow-derived lymphatic endothelial progenitor cells for lymphatic neovascularization

The lymphatic vasculature plays a pivotal role in maintaining tissue fluid homeostasis, immune surveillance, and lipid uptake in the gastrointestinal organs. Therefore, impaired function of the lymphatic vessels caused by genetic defects, infection, trauma, or surgery leads to the abnormal accrual of lymph fluid in the tissue and culminates in the swelling of affected tissues, known as lymphedema. Lymphedema causes impaired wound healing, compromised immune defense, and, in rare case, lymphangiosarcoma. Although millions of people suffer from lymphedema worldwide, no effective therapy is currently available. In addition, recent advances in cancer biology have disclosed an indispensable function of the lymphatic vessel in tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, understanding the detailed mechanisms governing lymphatic vessel formation and function in pathophysiologic conditions is essential to prevent or treat these diseases. We review the developmental processes of the lymphatic vessels and postnatal lymphatic neovascularization, focusing on the role of recently identified bone marrow-derived podoplanin-expressing (podoplanin(+)) cells as lymphatic endothelial progenitor cells.     

Hypoxic human umbilical vein endothelial cells induce activation of adherent polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Several pieces of evidence are reported for the accumulation of activated neutrophils in ischemic and reperfused tissues leading to the transformation of the ischemic tissue into an inflammatory territory and to an enhancement of tissue damages during reoxygenation. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for these observations and the precise role played by endothelial cells in this process are still poorly understood. In this study, an in vitro model that mimics this situation was used to investigate the effects of hypoxia-incubated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) on polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) functions. A strong PMN activation characterized by an increase in intracellular calcium concentration as well as by superoxide anion release and leukotriene B4 production was observed when these cells were coincubated with hypoxic HUVEC. On the other hand, conditioned medium from hypoxia-incubated HUVEC failed to activate PMN, as determined by the lack of PMN calcium concentration increase, the failure of superoxide anion production enhancement, as well as the absence of effects on the integrin CD18, CD11a, and CD11b expression. These results indicate that the presence of hypoxia- incubated HUVEC is necessary to obtain an activation of the PMN, probably via the adherence process. Once activated by coincubation with hypoxic HUVEC, PMN became cytotoxic, as evidenced by 51Cr released from prelabeled HUVEC. This cytotoxic effect of activated PMN for hypoxic endothelial cells could be prevented by a combination of superoxide dismutase and catalase (94% inhibition), whereas superoxide dismutase alone was inefficient. Antiprotease (alpha 2-macroglobulin) and a specific elastase inhibitor (MAAPV-CMK) were also inefficient. These results correlate very well with the fact that no increase in elastase release could be observed in supernatants from PMN coincubated with hypoxic HUVEC. Furthermore, when adherence process was blocked by oleic acid or by anti-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibodies, protection was, respectively, 90% and 72%. We thus evidenced that free radicals but not elastase released from activated PMN coincubated with hypoxic HUVEC are involved in HUVEC injury. We conclude from these results that PMN activation is initiated by PMN adherence to hypoxic HUVEC. These observations indicate that hypoxic HUVEC may be partly responsible for neutrophil activation observed in ischemic tissues, which is part of the amplification process of tissue damage.     

糖尿病小鼠缺血诱导的骨髓内皮祖细胞动员障碍

目的 观察糖尿病动物缺血诱导的骨髓内皮祖细胞（EPC）动员是否存在障碍,以及这种障碍是否和缺血诱导的血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）释放降低有关。方法 链脲霉素40mg／kg诱导C5781／6雄鼠糖尿病,非糖尿病组给予等量缓冲液。饲养2个月后,进行左侧股动脉高位结扎离断术造成后肢缺血模型,通过红四氮唑染色法与后肢血管造影确定造模成功。于术前及术后不同时间点采血（1天,3天,n：8;5天,7天及14天,n=5）,三色流式细胞术检测两组动物外周血单个核细胞中c-Ki^＋／Sea-1^＋／flk-1^＋早期EPC比例。ELISA法测定相应时间点血浆VEGF水平。结果 基础状态下,糖尿病组循环EPC数量较非糖尿病组明显减少[（0．60±0．03）％比（0．95±0．09）％,P〈0．001],血浆VEGF水平低于试剂盒检测灵敏度。两组动物缺血诱导的骨髓早期EPC释放曲线相似,即术后1天显著增加,术后3天达峰,动员持续至2周以上。但是在EPC早期快速动员阶段（术后前3天）,糖尿病组外周血早期EPC数量较非糖尿病组明显减少[1天,（1．16±0．29）％比（1．80±0．32）％,P〈0．05;3天,（1．38±0．34）％比（2．37±0．52）％,P〈0．05]。同时组织缺血也伴随着血浆VEGF浓度的显著增高：非糖尿病组血浆VEGF水平在术后一天快速增加并达到峰值,此后渐降至相对较低水平持续两周以上;而糖尿病组术后1天血浆VEGF快速释放明显降低[（73．1±18．6）pg／ml比（128．5±44．2）Pg／ml,P〈0．05]。结论 糖尿病动物基础状态下外周血早期EPC数量减少,组织缺血诱导的骨髓EPC动员障碍,这种障碍可能与缺血诱导的VEGF释放减少有关。     

Bone marrow-derived cells are not involved in reendothelialized endothelium as endothelial cells after simple endothelial denudation in mice

It has been shown that bone marrow (BM)-derived cells are involved in repaired endothelium induced by a model such as neointima-produced wire injury in mice. This has not been shown in a less invasive model that results in simple reendothelialization. A new wire-induced simple endothelial denudation model of the common carotid artery (CCA) of mice, which did not form neointima at 14 days after the operation, was established. At 7 days after operation, the CCAs were reendothelialized from the aortic arch and the carotid bifurcation but not completely, shown by whole-mount CD31 immunohistochemical staining. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that unendothelialized area was covered with platelets. To determine the involvement of BM-derived cells in the repaired endothelium, the wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice, in which BM cells derived from strain-matched green fluorescent protein (GFP)-transgenic mice were transplanted, were operated upon. As a result, there was no GFP-positive endothelial cell (EC) in reendothelialized endothelium, otherwise GFP-positive ‘dendritic’-like cells were recruited under the repaired endothelial layer. Administration of recombinant human erythropoietin [1,000 IU/(kg day) at 0–3 days after operation subcutaneously], which has been shown to increase endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood, also could not recruit BM-derived cells as ECs in BM-transplanted mice despite accelerating reendothelialization in WT mice [%reendothelialized area of the administrated group 78.0 ± 9.4% (mean ± SD) vs. the control group 63.0 ± 4.4%, P < 0.05]. These results suggest that BM-derived cells may not be involved in reendothelialization as ECs after simple endothelial denudation in mice.     

Circulating endothelial cells, bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells and proangiogenic hematopoietic cells in cancer: From biology to therapy

Vascularization, a hallmark of tumorigenesis, is classically thought to occur exclusively through angiogenesis (i.e. endothelial sprouting). However, there is a growing body of evidence that endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and proangiogenic hematopoietic cells (HCs) are able to support the vascularization of tumors and may therefore play a synergistic role with angiogenesis. An additional cell type being studied in the field of tumor vascularization is the circulating endothelial cell (CEC), whose presence in elevated numbers reflects vascular injury. Levels of EPCs and CECs are reported to correlate with tumor stage and have been evaluated as biomarkers of the efficacy of anticancer/antiangiogenic treatments. Furthermore, because EPCs and subtypes of proangiogenic HCs are actively participating in capillary growth, these cells are attractive potential vehicles for delivering therapeutic molecules. The current paper provides an update on the biology of CECs, EPCs and proangiogenic HCs, and explores the utility of these cell populations for clinical oncology.     

雌二醇对骨髓内皮祖细胞部分生物学功能的影响

目的观察雌二醇对体外培养骨髓来源内皮祖细胞(endothelial progenitor cells,EPCs)数量及增殖、迁移、黏附功能的影响。方法密度梯度离心法获取骨髓单个核细胞,FITC-荆豆凝集素I、DiI-乙酰化低密度脂蛋白荧光双染鉴定。单个核细胞培养4天后进行实验分组,分为对照组和雌二醇治疗组。雌二醇治疗组加入不同浓度雌二醇(分别为0.001、0.01、0.1μmol/L)培养48 h,然后分别采用四氮唑溴盐比色法、改良的Boyden小室和黏附能力测定来观察EPCs的增殖、迁移和黏附能力。结果雌二醇剂量依赖性增加EPCs数量并显著改善了EPCs的黏附、迁移和增殖能力,与对照组比较差异显著。结论雌二醇可增加培养EPCs的数量并改善EPCs部分生物学功能。     

Bone marrow-derived cells serve as proangiogenic macrophages but not endothelial cells in wound healing

Bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) contribute to postnatal vascular growth by differentiating into endothelial cells or secreting angiogenic factors. However, the extent of their endothelial differentiation highly varies according to the angiogenic models used. Wound healing is an intricate process in which the skin repairs itself after injury. As a process also observed in cancer progression, neoangiogenesis into wound tissues is profoundly involved in this healing process, suggesting the contribution of BMDCs. However, the extent of the differentiation of BMDCs to endothelial cells in wound healing is unclear. In this study, using the green fluorescent protein-bone marrow chim-eric experiment and high resolution confocal microscopy at a single cell level, we observed no endothelial differentiation of BMDCs in 2 acute wound healing models (dorsal excisional wound and ear punch) and a chronic wound healing model (decubitus ulcer). Instead, a major proportion of BMDCs were macrophages. Indeed, colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) inhibition depleted approximately 80% of the BMDCs at the wound healing site. CSF-1-mutant (CSF-1(op/op)) mice showed significantly reduced neoangiogenesis into the wound site, supporting the substantial role of BMDCs as macrophages. Our data show that the proangiogenic effects of macrophages, but not the endothelial differentiation, are the major contribution of BMDCs in wound healing.     

Characterization of the collagen synthesized by endothelial cells in culture.

[14C]Proline and [14C]lysine were incorporated into collagen by cultures of endothelial cells derived from calf aortae. The isomer 3-hydroxy[14C]proline accounted for 10% of the total hydroxy[14C]proline in the collagen isolated from the medium. Approximately 81% of the hydroxy[14C]lysine isolated from the medium was glycosylated, and 91% of the glycosylated hydroxy[14C]lysine was in the form of the disaccharide glucosylgalactose. Gel filtration chromatography or acrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate indicated that the initially synthesized peptide chain of [14C]collagen had a molecular weight of about 135,000; after pepsin digestion this was converted to 115,000. The ratio of hydroxy[14C]proline to total [14C]proline x 100 in the pesin-resistant fraction was 59. When examined by immunofluorescence microscopy, the endothelial cultures stained positively with antiserum to (Type IV) collagen from basement membrane of bovine anterior lens capsule. The data indicate that cultured endothelial cells derived from calf aortae synthesize collagen that resembles that of basement membrane collagen.     

Young adult bone marrow-derived endothelial precursor cells restore aging-impaired cardiac angiogenic function

Delivery of young bone marrow-derived stem cells offers a novel approach for restoring the impaired senescent cardiac angiogenic function that may underlie the increased morbidity and mortality associated with ischemic heart disease in older individuals. Recently, we reported that alterations in endothelial cells of the aging heart lead to a dysregulation in the cardiac myocyte platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B-induced paracrine pathway, which contributes to impaired cardiac angiogenic function. Based on these results, we hypothesized that cellular restoration of the PDGF pathway by bone marrow-derived endothelial precursor cells (EPCs) could reverse the aging-associated decline in angiogenic activity. In vitro studies revealed that young murine (3-month-old) bone marrow-derived EPCs recapitulated the cardiac myocyte-induced expression of PDGF-B, whereas EPCs from the bone marrow of aging mice (18-month-old) did not express PDGF-B when cultured in the presence of cardiac myocytes. Transplantation of young, but not old, genetically marked syngeneic bone marrow cells into intact, unirradiated aging mice that populated the endogenous senescent murine bone marrow incorporated into the neovasculature of subsequently transplanted syngeneic neonatal myocardium. Moreover, the young bone marrow-derived EPCs restored the senescent host angiogenic PDGF-B induction pathway and cardiac angiogenesis, with graft survival and myocardial activity in the aging murine host (cardiac allograft viability: 3-month-old controls, 8/8; 18-month-old controls, 1/8; 18-month-old donors receiving bone marrow from 3-month-old mice, 15/16; or 18-month-old mice, 0/6; P<0.05). These results may offer a foundation for the development of novel therapies for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease associated with aging.     

Human von Willebrand factor gene sequences target expression to a subpopulation of endothelial cells in transgenic mice.

The present study was undertaken to define the 5' and 3' regulatory sequences of human von Willebrand factor gene that confer tissue-specific expression in vivo. Transgenic mice were generated bearing a chimeric construct that included 487 bp of 5' flanking sequence and the first exon fused in-frame to the Escherichia coli lacZ gene. In situ histochemical analyses in independent lines demonstrated that the von Willebrand factor promoter targeted expression of LacZ to a subpopulation of endothelial cells in the yolk sac and adult brain. LacZ activity was absent in the vascular beds of the spleen, lung, liver, kidney, testes, heart, and aorta, as well as in megakaryocytes. In contrast, in mice containing the lacZ gene targeted to the thrombomodulin locus, the 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl beta-D-galactopyranoside reaction product was detected throughout the vascular tree. These data highlight the existence of regional differences in endothelial cell gene regulation and suggest that the 733-bp von Willebrand factor promoter may be useful as a molecular marker to investigate endothelial cell diversity.