The Effect of SIRT6 on the Odontoblastic Potential of Human Dental Pulp Cells

Introduction

The aim of this study was to investigate whether SIRT6 is expressed in human dental pulp as well as the effect of SIRT6 on proliferation and odontoblastic differentiation of human dental pulp cells (HDPCs).

Methods

Immunohistochemical and immunocytochemical assays were used to detect the expression of SIRT6 in human dental pulp tissue and HDPCs. To determine the effect of SIRT6 on odontoblast differentiation, HDPCs with loss (HDPCs SIRT6 knockdown) and gain (HDPCs SIRT6 overexpression) of SIRT6 function were developed, and their proliferation ability was examined. Odontogenic differentiation of HDPCs was determined by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, ALP-positive cell staining, alizarin red staining, and von Kossa staining. Mineralization-related genes, including ALP, dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP), and dentin matrix acidic phosphoprotein 1, were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression of DSPP protein.

Results

SIRT6 was found in the dental pulp tissue and HDPCs. SIRT6 knockdown decreased ALP activity in HDPCs; calcium nodule formation ability; and the expression of mineralization-related genes such as ALP, DSPP, and DMP1, whereas these were increased with the overexpression of SIRT6.

Conclusions

SIRT6 is expressed in human dental pulp and participates in the odontoblast differentiation of HDPCs.     

The PI3K/Akt signalling pathway may play an internal role related to abnormal condylar growth: a preliminary study

Developmental deformity of the mandible is one of the most common craniofacial malformations and is closely related to abnormal condylar growth. In this study, the role of PI3K/Akt signalling in the regulation of chondrocyte proliferation and hypertrophic differentiation in the condylar cartilage was studied. Immunohistochemical staining was used to investigate the expression of PI3K and p-Akt in the rat condyle cartilage. Rat condylar chondrocytes were cultured for the investigation of chondrocyte proliferation and hypertrophic differentiation when PI3K/Akt was inhibited. In addition, organ culture of the rat mandibular condyle was performed to evaluate the condyle cartilage growth while PI3K/Akt was inhibited. PI3K-positive cells and p-Akt-positive cells showing cytoplasmic staining were found to be present in the condylar cartilage. Reduced cell proliferation was observed in the culture of rat condylar chondrocytes when PI3K/Akt was inhibited; however, the hypertrophic differentiation level was increased. The proliferative zone thickness of condylar cartilage in the experimental group was less than that in the control group (P = 0.00185), but the hypertrophic zone was greater than that in the control group (P = 0.01048). PI3K/Akt signalling exerts opposite influences on chondrocyte proliferation and hypertrophic differentiation of the condylar cartilage, and these data suggest that PI3K/Akt is a potential intracellular regulation signal pathway in condylar cartilage development.     

改良富血小板血浆促进乳牙牙髓干细胞成骨分化作用研究

目的：体外研究改良富血小板血浆（modified platelet-rich plasma,mPRP）促进人乳牙牙髓干细胞成骨分化的作用。方法：以α-MEM作为基础培养基,分别加入1％、2％、5％、10％4种不同浓度 mPRP 或者10％胎牛血清（对照）,对第4代SHED 连续培养并诱导矿化,碱性磷酸酶试剂盒检测 ALP 活性的变化,qRT-PCR 方法检测细胞内 RUNX2和骨钙素 mRNA 含量的改变。结果：不同浓度的 mPRP 均可以促进乳牙牙髓干细胞的 ALP 活性,且浓度为2％时 A 值最高;qRT-PCR 检测显示2％ mPRP 可以上调乳牙牙髓干细胞内 RUNX2及骨钙素 mRNA 的含量。结论：一定浓度的 mPRP 对乳牙牙髓干细胞的成骨分化具有一定的促进作用。     

FGF-9参与调控小鼠上颌突间充质细胞体外成骨分化的研究

目的:研究成纤维细胞生长因子9(FGF-9)对体外培养的小鼠上颌突间充质细胞成骨分化的调控作用。方法 :体外培养E12.5(胚胎第12.5天)的小鼠上颌突间充质细胞,取第1代细胞进行成骨诱导,实验组加入FGF-9人重组蛋白,诱导培养1周后通过q PCR、免疫荧光和茜素红染色检测其成骨能力。结果:体外培养的E12.5小鼠上颌突间充质细胞表达FGF9和FGFR3。成骨诱导可促进上颌突间充质细胞表达成骨标记物ALP、Runx2和OCN;加入FGF-9人重组蛋白可降低成骨标记物ALP、Runx2和OCN的表达,减少钙结节形成。结论:体外培养时,FGF9参与负调控上颌突间充质细胞的成骨分化。     

Jellyfish collagen scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering

Porous scaffolds were engineered from refibrillized collagen of the jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum for potential application in cartilage regeneration. The influence of collagen concentration, salinity and temperature on fibril formation was evaluated by turbidity measurements and quantification of fibrillized collagen. The formation of collagen fibrils with a typical banding pattern was confirmed by atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis. Porous scaffolds from jellyfish collagen, refibrillized under optimized conditions, were fabricated by freeze-drying and subsequent chemical cross-linking. Scaffolds possessed an open porosity of 98.2%. The samples were stable under cyclic compression and displayed an elastic behavior. Cytotoxicity tests with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) did not reveal any cytotoxic effects of the material. Chondrogenic markers SOX9, collagen II and aggrecan were upregulated in direct cultures of hMSCs upon chondrogenic stimulation. The formation of typical extracellular matrix components was further confirmed by quantification of sulfated glycosaminoglycans.     

Cardiac differentiation of cardiosphere-derived cells in scaffolds mimicking morphology of the cardiac extracellular matrix

Stem cell therapy has the potential to regenerate heart tissue after myocardial infarction (MI). The regeneration is dependent upon cardiac differentiation of the delivered stem cells. We hypothesized that timing of the stem cell delivery determines the extent of cardiac differentiation as cell differentiation is dependent on matrix properties such as biomechanics, structure and morphology, and these properties in cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) continuously vary with time after MI. In order to elucidate the relationship between ECM properties and cardiac differentiation, we created an in vitro model based on ECM-mimicking fibers and a type of cardiac progenitor cell, cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs). A simultaneous fiber electrospinning and cell electrospraying technique was utilized to fabricate constructs. By blending a highly soft hydrogel with a relatively stiff polyurethane and modulating fabrication parameters, tissue constructs with similar cell adhesion property but different global modulus, single fiber modulus, fiber density and fiber alignment were achieved. The CDCs remained alive within the constructs during a 1 week culture period. CDC cardiac differentiation was dependent on the scaffold modulus, fiber volume fraction and fiber alignment. Two constructs with relatively low scaffold modulus, ∼50–60 kPa, most significantly directed the CDC differentiation into mature cardiomyocytes as evidenced by gene expressions of cardiac troponin T (cTnT), calcium channel (CACNA1c) and cardiac myosin heavy chain (MYH6), and protein expressions of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and connexin 43 (CX43). Of these two low-modulus constructs, the extent of differentiation was greater for lower fiber alignment and higher fiber volume fraction. These results suggest that cardiac ECM properties may have an effect on cardiac differentiation of delivered stem cells.     

Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia: Challenges During Resuscitation and Post–Cardiac Arrest Care

BackgroundCatecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a rare channelopathy involving cardiac calcium metabolism that often shows up at an early age with misleading clinical symptoms, such as emotion- or exercise-related syncope with a normal resting electrocardiogram. In addition, it might be the underlying cause of sudden cardiac arrest in children or young adults. The particular pathophysiology of CPVT makes it particularly challenging for both resuscitation and the subsequent intensive care management after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).Case ReportWe describe a case of sudden cardiac arrest in an 11-year-old girl affected by CPVT, with a particular focus on the most challenging aspects of resuscitation and intensive care management in light of other experiences found in the literature. A warning about the prodysrythmicity of mild hypothermia induced in the context of post-ROSC targeted temperature management in this particular population of patients and its possible physiopathological basis are discussed.Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This?CPVT is a rare but potentially lethal cause of stress-related syncope and sudden cardiac arrest in children and young adults. The diagnosis of CPVT requires a high level of suspicion and an interdisciplinary approach, including some adjustments during resuscitation and post–cardiac arrest care.