Characterization of mouse clonal mesenchymal stem cell lines established by subfractionation culturing method

AIM:To characterize single-cell-derived mouse clonal mesenchymal stem cells (mcMSCs) established with bone marrow samples from three different mouse strains. METHODS:We established mcMSC lines using subfractionation culturing method from bone marrow samples obtained from long bones.These lines were characterized by measuring cell growth, cell surface epitopes, differentiation potential, lineage-specific gene expression and T-cell suppression capability. Nonclonal MSCs isolated by the conventional gradient centrifugation method were used as controls. RESULTS:All mcMSC lines showed typical nonclonal MSC-like spindle shape morphology. Lines differed inoptimal growth density requirement.Cell surface epitope prof iles of these mcMSC lines were similar to those of nonclonal MSCs. However, some lines exhibited different expression levels in a few epitopes, such as CD44 and CD105. Differentiation assays showed that 90% of the mcMSC lines were capable of differentiating into adipogenic and/or chondrogenic lineages, but only 20% showed osteogenic lineage differentiation. T-cell suppression analysis showed that 75% of the lines exhibited T-cell suppression capability. CONCLUSION:mcMSC lines have similar cell morphology and cell growth rate but exhibit variations in their cell surface epitopes, differentiation potential, lineage-specifi c gene expression and T-cell suppression capability.

Tai Chi for Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus:A Systematic Review

Objective： Tai chi has been recommended for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate evidence from controlled clinical trials testing the effectiveness of tai chi in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods： Systematic searches were conducted on 14 electronic databases without restrictions on either population characteristics or language of publication. The outcome measures considered for inclusion were changes in fasting blood glucose （FBG）, glycosylated haemoglobin A1c （HbA1c） and quality of life （QOL）. Results： Eight randomised clinical trials （RCTs） and two controlled clinical trials （CCTs） met all inclusion criteria. Three RCTs from 1 trial compared the effects of tai chi with sham exercise and failed to show effectiveness of tai chi on FBG, HbA1c, or QOL. The other 3 RCTs tested the effects of tai chi compared with other types of exercise on FBG. The meta-analysis failed to show an FBG-lowering effect of tai chi [n=118, weighted mean difference （WMD）： -0.14 mmol/L, 95% CI：-0.86 to 0.58,P=0.70]. Four studies （2 RCTs and 2 CCT） compared tai chi with no treatment or self-management programme and failed to report significant differences between the experimental and control groups except for QOL from 1 RCT and 1 CCT. Conclusion： The existing evidence does not suggest that tai chi is an effective therapy for type 2 diabetes. Currently, there are few high-quality trials on which to make definitive judgements.