To evaluate the effectiveness of HA mixed with adenovirus mediated rhBMP-2 gene (Adv-rhBMP-2) transferred BMSCs of goats on distraction osteogenesis.

To explore the electrophysiological properties of outward voltage-gated potassium channels of neural stem cells (NSCs) from adult rat hippocampus.

To explore the optimal dosage, timing and cytotoxicity of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labelling for rabbit adipose-derived stromal stem cells (ADSCs) in vitro so as to confirm its feasibility for stem cells labelling and tracer means.

To investigate the effect of IGF-1 on the growth of primary human embryonic myoblasts.

To study the morphological changes of mature adipocytes in hypoxic condition in vitro and investigate the effect of hypoxia on dedifferentiation of mature adipocytes.

To evaluate whether human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) administration alter the clinical course of hyperoxia-induced lung injury.

To identify and select smooth muscle progenitor cells from mouse bone marrow mesenchyme stem cell population and to characterize smooth muscle progenitor cells in peripheral blood.

To investigate the Methods for culturing two types of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) from human umbilical cord blood and study their differentiation traits and the depressant effect of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) on its proliferation.

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are cells with unlimited self-renewing property and differentiation potential mainly derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of human blastocyst. Because of the remarkable developmental potential and proliferative capacity, human embryonic stem cells hold great promise for future use in various research areas, such as human developmental biology and cell-based therapy. This review expounds the culture system of human embryonic stem cells and the induced differentiation technology in vitro.

As the most important antigen present cells in the processes of post-transplant complications in vivo, dendritic cells (DCs) play an important role in graft versus host disease (GVHD), infection, and relapse. DCs have became one of the most critical problems in the transplantation immune research recently. The reconstitution kinetics of circulating DCs after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and its relationship with the post-transplant complications, even the promoter or inhibitor affecting this process are summarized in this review.

It was recently discovered that a subset of osteoblasts functions as a key component of the hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) niche in vivo, controlling HSC self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation. Disruption of Smad4 gene specifically in osteoblasts leads to a remarkable decrease of osteoblast number and endosteal surface area. In order to elucidate if the osteoblast loss has any effect on hematopoietic activity, the bone marrow (BM) and extramedullary hematopoiesis in the osteoblast-specific Smad4 knockout mice were systematically analyzed, the proportions of mature hematocytes in BM, liver and spleen were detected by flow cytometry, the hematopoietic progenitor number in different stages was measured by colong-forming assay, CFU-S and analysis of LSK cells. The results indicated that the conditional mutant mice demonstrated normal BM hematopoiesis without sign of extramedullary hematopoiesis. Furthermore, the proportion of hematopoietic progenitor cells was normal, while cell number/body weight of the conditional knockout mice increased. It is concluded that hematopoiesis is normally maintained in osteoblast-specific Smad4 knockout mice, and osteoblast loss does not of necessity result in the decrease in BM hematopoiesis.

To investigate the effects of interaction between human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and K562 cells on the expression of proangiogenic factor IL-8, the K562 cells were co-cultured in direct contact with MSCs or cultured in MSCs conditioned medium while the controlled K562 cells were cultured alone. The IL-8 gene expression of K562 cells and MSCs was determined by RT-PCR. The results indicated that the expression of IL-8 in K562 cells when co-cultured in direct contact with MSCs or cultured in MSCs conditioned medium was obviously higher than that of K562 cells cultured alone (p<0.01). MSCs co-cultured with K562 cells also had an increased level of IL-8 compared with MSCs cultured alone (p<0.01). It is concluded that the interaction between MSCs and K562 cells via direct contact and the cytokine network promotes expression of IL-8.

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of low dose radiation (LDR) on human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by using proteomic analysis. The bidirectional gel electrophoresis was used to establish the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis patterns of proteome in group of MSCs exposed to LDR and in group of sham irradiated MSCs, the matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) was used to identify the differentially expressed proteins in two groups. The results showed that among the differentially expressed proteins in the two groups, the expressions of 12 proteins were up-regulated, the expressions of 12 protein were down-regulated, 3 proteins disappeared after LDR, 12 proteins had been identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. In conclusion, the identified 12 proteins, such as prolyl 4-hydroxylase, dihydropyrimidinase-like 2 variant, ARP3 (actin-related protein 3, yeast) homolog, guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein), phosphoglycerate mutase 1 may be related to mechanism of LDR effect. The study provides some new explanation for the mechanism of low dose radiation injury.

This study was aimed to investigate the expression of SDF-1 mRNA in SDF-1 cDNA-modified human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) before and after transfection. The hBMSCs were isolated, cultured and identified, the SDF-1-pIRES2-EGFP eukaryotic expressing vector was constructed, and then the hBMSCs were transfected with the vector encapsulated by lipofectamine 2000. The transfection efficiency was measured by observing the expression of green fluorescence protein and detecting the mRNA by RT-PCR. The results indicated that the expression of SDF-1 mRNA increased by about 20% after hBMSCs were transfected instantaneously by SDF-1-pIRES2-EGFP. It is concluded that SDF-1 cDNA eukaryotic expression vector can be instantly transfected into hBMSCs by lipofectamine 2000, but the efficiency was too low to obtain enough steady transferred hBMSCs. Other procedures should be trialed to improve the transfection efficiency.

This study was purposed to compare the biological characteristics of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). The frequency of successful isolation, cell yield, colony-forming units-fibroblastics (CFU-F), proliferation capacity, immunophenotype and multi-differentiation potentials of UC-MSCs and BM-MSCs were determined by limiting dilution assay, flow cytometry, invert microscopy, RT-PCR and so on, the determined results were compared. The results showed that MSCs were successfully isolated from all the 36 portion of UC tissue and 8 portion of BM. Although the mean number of nucleated cells isolated from UC tissue was significantly lower than that from BMs (1 x 10(6)/cm vs 5.5 x 10(7)/ml) (p=0.0002), no significant differences of the yield of adherent cells were observed (8.6 x 10(5)/cm vs 8.4 x 10(5)/ml) (p>0.05). UC-MSCs shared the most of the characteristic of BM-MSC, including fibroblastic-like morphology, typical immunophenotype, cell cycle status, adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation potentials. However, the CFU-F frequency was higher in UC (1:1609+/-0.18) than that in BM (1:35700+/-0.01) (p<0.05). Furthermore, the proliferation capacity of UC-MSCs was higher than that of BM-MSCs; the expressions of CD106 and HLA-class I in UC-MSCs were lower than those in BM-MSCs (p<0.05). It is concluded that the cell yield and most biological characteristics of UC-MSCs are similar to BM-MSCs, but UC-MSCs possess the higher proliferation capacity, and the lower expression of HLA-class I and HLA-DR as compared with BM-MSCs, therefore the human umbilical cord tissue may be considered as a promising alternative to bone marrow as a source of MSCs.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency and safety of tandem double autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplants (T-APBSCT) for de novo multiple myeloma (MM) patients. The clinical data of 3 patients treated by T-APBSCT after chemotherapy were analyzed retrospectively. The first mobilization regimen was cyclophosphamide (CTX) combined with G-CSF 5 microg/(kg x d) and the conditioning regimen for the transplantation was 180 mg/m(2) melphalan. The second mobilization regimen was CTX and VP16 in combination with G-CSF 5 microg/(kg x d) and the conditioning regimen for the transplantation was 180 mg/m(2) melphalan or 10 Gy total body irradiation plus 140 mg/m(2) melphalan. The interval of two in tandem autotransplants was 31, 15 and 27 weeks. For two in tandem APBSCT in 3 patients, the cell number of mononuclear cells (MNCs) transfused was 4.7 x 10(8), 2.798 x 10(8), 6.08 x 10(8)/kg and 1.67 x 10(8), 2.798 x 10(8), 4.28 x 10(8)/kg, while the dose for CD34(+) cells were 3.25 x 10(6), 9.6 x 10(6), 5.91 x 10(6)/kg and 6.9 x 10(6), 9.6 x 10(6), 5.91 x 10(6)/kg for their first and second transplants respectively. The results showed that all patients gained prompt and sustained hematopoietic reconstitution. In double tandem transplantation for 3 patients the interval of absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >or= 1 x 10(9)/L were at day 12, 0, 10 and 12, 25, 0; while platelet count >or= 20 x 10(9)/L were at day 12, 0, 10, and 11, 25, 20 days. The median follow-up time for 2 T-APBSCT was 44 (range 19 - 58) months. Two patients survived, one of them was in complete remission and other was in a stable PR stage, but one out 3 patients died at 58 months after T-APBSCT. It is concluded that the method of T-APBSCT for de novo multiple myeloma is probably safe and effective.

The aim of this study was to investigate the expanding capacity of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in 34 patients who received a marrow and/or peripheral blood stem cells transplant (SCT). Marrow samples were obtained from iliac crest aspirates of healthy individuals (normal controls) and patients for the isolation, purification, and expansion of MSCs. The different passage MSCs of patients were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM) to reveal the cell surface antigen expression. The expanding function of MSCs from patients after SCT, which might be affected by cytotoxic therapy in the conditioning regimen, colony-forming unit-fibroblast (CFU-F), confluent time, and passage number of the culture were measured, and then compared with those in the normal controls. At the same time, the numbers of colony-forming unit of hematopoietic progenitor were detected and compared with normal controls. In addition, CFU-F, confluent time, and passage number of MSCs were compared between group of BMSCs plus PBSCs co-transplanted patients and group of BMSCs plus PBSCs with the second donor umbilical cord blood cells (UBCs) co-transplanted patients. The results indicated that a confluent monolayer of stroma cells was generated in 31 out of the 34 cases (91.1%), a subconfluent monolayer was generated in one case (2.9%), no adherent stromal layer was generated in 2 cases (5.9%). As compared with the normal controls, the time generating a confluent layer of stroma cells from primary MSCs of patients was longer significantly, and the passage number and CFU-F of MSCs of patients in vitro was less than that of normal controls significantly. Compared with the group of BMSCs plus PBSCs co-transplanted patients, the confluent time of MSCs in group of BMSCs plus PBMSCs with UBCs co-transplanted patients was shorter, the passage number and CFU-F count in this group were higher. It is concluded that the MSCs of patients after HSCT are damaged, and the co-transplant of BMSCs and PBSCs plus UBCs can partially improve in vitro expanding capacity of MSCs from patients.

This study was aimed to investigate the biological characteristics of osteoblasts from patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and their supportive capacity for hematopoiesis in vitro. A two-dimensional culture system was constructed by using osteoblasts derived from human marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC); MSCs were isolated from bone marrow of MDS patients and normal individuals and were cultured; the third passage of MSCs were induced into osteoblasts which were treated with mitomycin C and confluenced into a feeder layer. Ficolled bone marrow mononuclear cells were obtained from normal individuals and seeded into the two-dimensional culture system to culture in vitro without exogenous cytokines. By using colony-forming assay, the ability of the two-dimensional system to culture HPCs was observed. The cytokine expression of osteoblasts from MDS patient bone marrows in mRNA level was detected by RT-PCR and was compared with human osteoblast cell line hFOB1.19. The results showed that the osteoblasts from MDS patients could support short-term survival of GM-CFC in condition without exogenous cytokines, that is, osteoblasts played a crucial role in regulation of HPC growth. The results of RT-PCR clearly demonstrated that the osteoblast cell line hFOB1.19 expressed SCF, IL-6, SDF-1alpha, G-CSF and GM-CSF. The same expression patterns of above cytokines were also seen in osteoblasts derived from BM-MSCs of MDS patients and normal individuals, but these cells did not express GM-CSF. It is concluded that the biological characteristics of osteoblasts from bone marrow of MDS patients are generally not different from those of osteoblasts from normal bone marrow. Both of them can support GM -CFC to form colonies in vitro, it may be associated with expressing important related cytokines by osteoblasts.