Oligodendrocyte-like cell transplantation for acute spinal cord injury

In this study, we used insulin-like growth factor-1 to induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） to differentiate into oligodendrocyte-like cells. Cell surface marker identification showed that they expressed myelin basic protein and galactosylceramide, two specific markers of oligodendrocytes. These cells were transplanted into rats with acute spinal cord injury at Tt0. At 8 weeks post-implantation, oligodendrocyte-like cells were observed to have survived at the injury site The critical angle of the inclined plane, and Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan scores were all increased. Furthermore, latencies of motion-evoked and somatosensory-evoked potentials were decreased. These results demonstrate that transplantation of oligodendrocytic-induced MSCs promote functional recovery of injured spinal cord.

Morphological and immunocytochemical analysis of human retinal glia subtypes in vitro

AIMTo examine the morphological characteristics and antigen expression patterns of cultured human retinal glia to define novel subtypes.

Lipoxin A_4 negatively regulates lipopolysaccharide-induced differentiation of RAW264.7 murine macrophages into dendritic-like cells

Background Lipoxins （LXs）, endogenous anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving eicosanoids generated during various inflammatory conditions, have novel immunomodulatory properties. Because dendritic cells （DCs） play crucial roles in the initiation and maintenance of immune response, we determined whether LXs could modulate the maturation process of DCs and investigated the effects of lipoxin A4 （LXA4） on lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced differentiation of RAW264.7 cells into dendritic-like cells. Methods RAW264.7 cells were cultured in vitro with 1 pg/ml LPS in the absence or presence of LXA4 for 24 hours, and cellular surface markers （MHC-II, CD80 （B7-1）, CD86（B7-2）） were measured by flow cytometry （FCM）. Mixed lymphocyte reaction was performed to evaluate the allostimulatory activity. Cytoplastic IKB degradation and nuclear factor kappa B （NF-KB） translocation were detected by Western blotting. Luciferase reporter plasmid was transiently transfected into RAW264.7 cells, and luciferase activity was determined to measure the transcriptional activity of NF-KB. Results LXA4 reduced the ratio of LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells to DCs with morphological characteristics and inhibited the expression of MHC I1. LPS-induced up-regulation of CD86 was moderately suppressed by LXA4 but no obvious change of CD80 was observed. Moreover, LXA4 weakened the aUostimulatory activity of LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. These alterations of LPS＋LXA4-treated cells were associated with a marked inhibition of IKB degradation, NF-KB translocation and then the transcriptional activity of NF-KB. Conclusions LXA4 negatively regulates LPS-induced differentiation of RAW264.7 cells into dendritic-like cells.This activity reveals an undescribed mechanism of LXA4 to prevent excessive and sustained immune reaction by regulating maturation of DCs.

Apalutamide for patients with metastatic castrationsensitive prostate cancer in East Asia:a subgroup analysis of the TITAN trial

Ethnicity might be associated with treatment outcomes in advanced prostate cancer.This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of androgen deprivation therapy(ADT)combined with apalutamide in East Asians with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer(mCSPC).The original phase 3 Targeted Investigational Treatment Analysis of Novel Anti-androgen(TITAN)trial was conducted at 260 sites in 23 countries.This subgroup analysis included patients enrolled in 62 participating centers in China,Japan,and Korea.Radiographic progression-free survival(PFS),time to prostate-specific antigen(PSA)progression,and PSA changes from baseline were compared between groups in the East Asian population.The intent-to-treat East Asian population included 111 and 110 participants in the apalutamide and placebo groups,respectively.The 24-month radiographic PFS rates were 76.1%and 52.3%in the apalutamide and placebo groups,respectively(apalutamide vs placebo:hazard ratio[HR]=0.506;95%confidence interval[CI],0.302–0.849;P=0.009).Median time to PSA progression was more favorable with apalutamide than placebo(HR=0.210;95%CI,0.124–0.357;P<0.001).Median maximum percentages of PSA decline from baseline were 99.0%and 73.9%in the apalutamide and placebo groups,respectively.The most common adverse event(AE)was rash in the apalutamide group,with a higher rate than that in the placebo group(37.3%vs 9.1%).The most common grade 3 or 4 AEs were rash(12[10.9%])and hypertension(12[10.9%])for apalutamide.The efficacy and safety of apalutamide in the East Asian subgroup of the TITAN trial are consistent with the global results.