Androgen receptors are expressed in a variety of human fetal extragenital tissues： an immunohistochemical study

Aim： To investigate the expression of androgen receptors in the extragenital tissues of developing human embryo. Methods： Using immunohistochemistry, we investigated the distribution of androgen receptor （AR） in the extragenital tissues of paraffin-embedded tissue sections of first trimester （8-12 weeks gestation） human embryos. Gender was determined by polymerized chain reaction. Results： There were no differences in the expression and distribution of AR in male and female embryos at any stage of gestation. AR expression was seen in the thymus gland. The bronchial epithelium of the lungs showed intense positive staining with surrounding stroma negative. Furthermore, positive staining for androgen receptor was exhibited in the spinal cord with a few positive cells in the surrounding tissues. Cardiac valves also showed strong positive staining but with faint reactivity of the surrounding cardiac muscle. There was no staining in kidney, adrenal, liver or bowel. Conclusion： This study demonstrates that immunoreactive AR protein is present in a wide variety of human first trimester fetal tissues and shows the potential for androgen affecting tissues, which are mostly not considered to be androgen dependent. Moreover, it implies that androgen might act as atrophic factor and affect the early development of these organs rather than simply sexual differentiation.

Characterization of hepatic progenitors from human fetal liver during second trimester

AIM： To enrich hepatic progenitors using epithelial cell adhesion molecule （EpCAM） as a marker from human fetal liver and investigate the expression of human leukocyte antigen （HLA） and their markers associated with hepatic progenitor cells. METHODS： EpCAM ＋ve cells were isolated using magnetic cell sorting （MACS） from human fetuses （n = 10） at 15-25 wk gestation. Expression of markers for hepatic progenitors such as albumin, alpha-fetoprotein （AFP）, CD29 （integrin ~1）, CD49f （integrin c^6） and CD90 （Thy 1） was studied by using flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR; HLA class Ⅰ （A, B, C） and class Ⅱ （DR） expression was studied by flow cytometry only. RESULTS： FACS analysis indicated that EpCAM ＋ve cells were positive for CD29, CD49f, CD90, CD34, HLA class I, albumin and AFP but negative for HLA class Ⅱ （DR） and CD45. RT PCR showed that EpCAM ＋ve cells expressed liver epithelial markers （CK18）, biliary specific marker （CK19） and hepatic markers （albumin, AFP）. On immunocytochemical staining, EpCAM ＋ve cells were shown positive signals for CK18 and albumin. CONCLUSION： Our study suggests that these EpCAM ＋ve cells can be used as hepatic progenitors for cell transplantation with a minimum risk of alloreactivity and these cells may serve as a potential source for enrichment of hepatic progenitor.

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Derived from Human Embryonic Stem Cells, Fetal Limb and Bone Marrow Share a Common Phenotype but Are Transcriptionally and Biologically Different

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can be obtained from several sources and the significant differences in their properties make it crucial to investigate the differentiation potential of MSCs from different sources to determine the optimal source of MSCs. We investigated if this biological heterogeneity in MSCs from different sources results in different mechanisms for their differentiation. In this study, we compared the gene expression patterns of phenotypically defined MSCs derived from three ontogenically different sources: Embryonic stem cells (hES-MSCs), Fetal limb (Flb-MSCs) and Bone Marrow (BM-MSCs). Differentially expressed genes between differentiated cells and undifferentiated controls were compared across the three MSC sources. We found minimal overlap (5% - 16%) in differentially expressed gene sets among the three sources. Flb-MSCs were similar to BM-MSCs based on differential gene expression patterns. Pathway analysis of the differentially expressed genes using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) revealed a large variation in the canonical pathways leading to MSC differentiation. The similar canonical pathways among the three sources were lineage specific. The Flb-MSCs showed maximum overlap of canonical pathways with the BM-MSCs, indicating that the Flb-MSCs are an intermediate source between the less specialised hES-MSC source and the more specialised BM-MSC source. The source specific pathways prove that MSCs from the three ontogenically different sources use different biological pathways to obtain similar differentiation outcomes. Thus our study advocates the understanding of biological pathways to obtain optimal sources of MSCs for various clinical applications.

THE DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF HUMAN FETAL ORGAN TISSUES AT RADIO AND MICROWAVE FREQUENCISE

ＴＨＥＤＩＥＬＥＣＴＲＩＣＰＲＯＰＥＲＴＩＥＳＯＦＨＵＭＡＮＦＥＴＡＬＯＲＧＡＮＴＩＳＳＵＥＳＡＴＲＡＤＩＯＡＮＤＭＩＣＲＯＷＡＶＥＦＲＥＱＵＥＮＣＩＳＥＴＨＥＤＩＥＬＥＣＴＲＩＣＰＲＯＰＥＲＴＩＥＳＯＦＨＵＭＡＮＦＥＴＡＬＯＲＧＡＮＴＩＳＳＵＥＳＡ...

Studies on Human Fetal Lens Crystallins Under Oxidative Stress and Protective Effects of Tea Polyphenols

Purpose: To investigate the oxidative modification of water-soluble crystallins of human fetal lens with H2O2 and fourteen metal ions with or without EDTA. Tea-polyphenols (TP) was added to above solutions in order to testing their antioxidative abilities. Methods: The experiments were performed at 37℃ with final concentration of 2.5mg/ml protein, 0.1 mM metal ions, 0.3 mM EDTA and 1.0 mM H2O2. Then the TP was added to the solution with CuSO4 and H2O2, after 5 or 24 hours, the crystallins were analysed with SDS-PAGE and IEF.Results : There were marked oxidative modifications of lens protein in H2O2 and copper without EDTA. In SDS-PAGE patterns, we found an increase in those species above of bands higher than 30 kD and some diffuse bands from 30 to 17 kD after 5 hours. In IEF patterns, there were a general increase on acidity with loss of the more basic species. When the TP was added, there was not any difference with control group.Conclusion: The results indicate that exposure of water-soluble

Advances in In-vitro Culture Technology of Human Fetal Hepatic Stellate Cells

Liver is an important organ for human metabolism and biological conversion. Medical research on hepatic disease clinic, drug metabolism and drug effi- cacy evaluation all needs an in-vitro model of liver as a research platform. Hepatic stellate cells are core cells for occurrence and development of liver fibrosis. Stud- ies at home and abroad deemed that human fetal hepatic stellate cells are an ideal material for the construction of an in-vitro research model for liver fibrosis. With clinical and basic research of liver going deeper, the requirements to quantity and quality of in-vitro models of fetal hepatic stellate cells become higher and higher. The advances in isolation, culture and cryopreservation technique of human fetal hepatic stellate cells were reviewed in this paper.

EFFECTS OF SALVIA MILTIORRHIZA BUNGE(SMB)ON LIPID PEROXIDATION AND PLASMA MEMBRANE FLUIDITY OF CULTURED HUMAN FETAL HEPATOCYTES INJURED BY CARBON TETRACHLORIDE

In order to investigate the effect of salvia miltiorrhiza hunge(SMB)on the plasma membrane fluidity and the relationship between the lipid peroxidation and the Plasma membrane fluidityin cultured human fetdal hepatocytes,the plasma membrane fluidity,using 1,6-dipheny-1,3,5-hexatriene(DPH)as a fluorescence probe, malondialdehyde(MDA)production as well as alanine aminotransferase(ALT)release of human fetal hepatocytes cultured in Presence of carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)or SMB puls CCl4 were estimated. In the cultured hepatocytes injured by CCl4,significant increments of the MDA production and the ALT release,and significant decrease in the plasma membrane fluidity were observed.when the culture medium was supplied with SMB prior to the additionof CCl4,the CCl4 induced increments in MDA production and ALT release was suppressed signifi cantly and a concomitant raise of plasma membrane fluidity towards normal occurred.The resultssuggested that SMB could suppress the lipid peroxidation in bepatocytes,thereby normal membranefluidity might be retained.

Comparative characterization of human fetal neural stem cells and induced neural stem cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Human-induced neural stem cells(iNSCs)transplantation is a potential treatment of neurodegeneration diseases.However,whether the reprogrammed cells have the same characterizations as human fetal neural stem cells needs further exploration.Here we isolated human fetal neural stem cells from aborted 12-week fetal brains and compared with iNSCs reprogrammed from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in gene expression,proliferation ability,differentiation capacity,and the responses to tumor necrosis factor-α.We found that iNSCs and NSCs both expressed neural stem cell markers Nestin,SOX1,and SOX2.However,only iNSCs can be patterned into dopaminergic neurons and motor neurons.Furthermore,both iNSCs and NSCs can differentiate into oligodendrocyte progenitor cells.In addition,a low dose of tumor necrosis factor-αdid not inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of iNSCs and NSCs.In conclusion,iNSCs have properties similar to,and even better than,fetal neural stem cells and may be suitable for disease modeling and transplantation.

Distribution of melatonin receptor in human fetal brain

Objective:To studythedistributionof2kindsof melatoninreceptorsubtypes(mt1andMT2)in humanfetal brain.Methods:Thefetalbraintissueswereslicedandthedistributionof melatoninreceptorsinhumanfetalbrainwere detectedusingimmunohistochemistryandin situ hybridization.Results:Melatoninreceptormt1existedinthecerebellum andhypothalamus,melatoninreceptorMT2existsinhypothalamus,occipitalandmedulla.Conclusion:Two kindsof melatoninreceptors,mt1andMT2existinthemembraneandcytosolof braincells,indicatingthathumanfetalbrainis a targetorganof melatonin.

ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDY OF THE HEMOPOIETIC MICROENVIRONMENT IN HUMAN FETAL SPLEEN

Reciprocal interactions between hemopoietic stromal cells and immature hemopoietic cells in human spleens obtained from 20 fetuses of 10-28 weeks gestation were observed by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The close association of stromal cells with immature hemopoietic cells was confirmed under the electron microscope and a presumptive HIM (Hemopoietic inductive microenvironment) was visualized. In regions of immature hemopoietic cell-reticular cell, endothelial cell, macrophage and interdigitating cell contact,some communicating structures were found between the plasma membranes of adjacent cells; moreover, the cytoplasm of these four stromal cells were full of various kinds of organelles. These results suggest that reticular cells,endothelial cells, macrophages and interdigitating cells are component parts of the HIM of human fetal spleen and that these cells have a nurturing function in relation to hemopoietic cells.

ISOBUTYRAMIDE ACTIVATES TRANSCRIPTION OF HUMAN FETAL γ-AND MURINE EMBRYONIC εy-GLOBIN GENES

Objective. To examine the effect of isobutyramide synthesized in our laboratory on human and murine globin gene expression and to test cell toxicity ofthe drug.Methods. MEL cells were transfected with the recombinant construct μLCRAγψβδβand the stable transformants were cultured in the medium with different concentrations of isobutyramide. The experimental mice and rabbit were injected with different doses of isobutyramide. The globin mRNAs were analyzed by RNase protection assay. The hematological toxicity and electrolyte toxicity ofthe drug were tested.Results. An inducible and dose dependent expression of the human γ , β and mouse α globin gene was observed in the transfected MEL cells. The induction of the human γ globin gene is significant stronger than that of the β globin gene. With 2.5～5 mmol/L isobutyramide, the induction of the human γ globin gene is even more effective than that of mouse α globin gene. After a 15 day injection under the doses of 500～900mg·kg-1·d-1, the level of the mouse embryonic εy globin mRNA could be significantly induced up to 3～4 fold of that of uninjected controls. The changes of hemoglobin(Hb), RBC, hematocrit(HCT), WBC, derived from mice injected with different doses of isobutyramide at the interval of 24 hours for 2～4 weeks, were generally within the normal range. In rabbits injected with isobutyramide in the same regiment for 2 weeks, the concentration of blood K+, Na+, Cl-and CO2 were all within normal range and serum ionic osmotic pressure remained stable as well. Conclusion. Our results suggested that isobutyramide is a weak inducer ofcell differentiation, but it can selectively activate transcription of human γ globin gene at a certain degree, and it can act on early stages of erythroid progenitor differentiation in adult mice and activate transcription of embryonic εy-globin gene and have no hematological toxicity. Our results have further proved the potential value of isobutyramide in treatment of β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease.

Cell-based therapy in Alzheimer's disease: can human fetal cholinergic neurons “untangle the skein”?

Alzheimer＇s disease（AD）is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder and the most common form of old-age dementia.The disease is characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive functions,gradual loss of memory and ability to perform everyday activities,and leads to inevitable death within 3 to 9 years atter diagnosis.

REGULATORY EFFECTS OF HUMAN RECOMBINANT IL-6 ON NATURAL KILLER CELL ACTIVITY OF HUMAN FETAL SPLEENS

In the present study it was proved first that human recombinant interleukin-6(HrIL-6) significantly augmented natural killer(NK) cell activity derived from human fetal spleens against K562 target cells in a 4 hours 51Cr release assay. The enhancement of NK activity with 24 hours preincubation in HrlL-6 was dose-dependent, and significantly higher than that of fresh NK cells and controls cultured with RPMI-1640 medium alone (P<0.001). We also found that IL-6 was able to augment NK activity from different fetal spleens at 20 to 40 weeks of gestation (up to 2.24 to 2.78 times), and no difference of NK activity of fetal splenocytes treated by HrIL-6 was observed between different fetal age (32.3% to 45.4%, P>0.05). Furthermore, IL-6-augmented NK activity of fetal splenocytes was very similar to adult levels (P>0.05). These finding strongly indicated that IL-6 plays an important role in the development of NK cell function during the gestational period, suggesting that IL-6 may be of importance in the regulation of host defense mechanisms against malignancies and viral diseases.

Ontogeny of expression of transforming growth factor-βand its receptors and their possible relationship with scarless or scar-forming healing in human fetal and postnatal skins

Fetal eutaneous wounds that oeeur in earlygestation heal without sear formation.Althoughmueh work has been done to eharaeterize the roleof transforming growth

RESPONSES OF HUMAN FETAL SPLENOCYTES AND THYMOCYTES TO INTERLEUKIN-2: LAK ACTIVITY AND PROLIFERATION

Using cytotoxicity and thymidine uptake assays, we investigated the effects of human recombinant in-terleukin-2 (rIL-2) on the induction of lympholine-activated killer (LAK) activity and cellular proliferation in splenocytes and thymocytes from human fetuses (18-22 weeks). We observed that fetal splenocytes and thymocytes incubated with low doses of rIL-2 (10-100 U ml) developed broad antitumor activity (LAK activity) although the kinetics and magnitudes of the responses were different. It indicated the LAK precursors are present in fetal spleen and thymus. Further, rIL-2 induced a strong proliferative response in splenocytes, but not in thymocytes. On the basis of the findings, we conclude that the responses of fetal splenocytes and thymocytes to IL-2 are different.

HEXOKINASE, GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATASE DEHYDROGENASE AND ALEOSE REDUCTASE IN HUMAN FETAL LENSES

The lens HK, G6PD, AR activity and its relationship with fetal age was determined.There is a positive correlation between the age of fetus and the activity(IU/mg pro.) of HK and G6PD(r=0.8069, 0.8204, P<0.01) and a negetive correlation between the age of fetus and activity of AR(r=-0.810 1,0.05>P>0.01).

人胎儿真皮间充质干细胞对人恶性黑色素瘤细胞增殖、迁移、侵袭的抑制作用观察

目的 观察人胎儿真皮间充质干细胞(FDMSCs)对人恶性黑色素瘤细胞(A375细胞)增殖、迁移、侵袭的抑制作用。方法 通过酶消化法从16~20孕周的人意外流产健康胎儿的背部皮肤中提取FDMSCs,并进行鉴定。选取A375细胞并分为3组,F-CM组加入FDMSCs条件培养基,A-CM组加入成人真皮成纤维细胞条件培养基,Control组加入DMEM低糖空白培养基,利用CCK-8细胞增殖实验、划痕细胞迁移实验、细胞侵袭实验测算各组细胞相对活力、细胞迁移率、侵袭细胞数。结果 FDMSCs可以从人胎儿皮肤中成功提取并体外培养,阳性表达间充质干细胞(MSCs)特异性标记CD44、CD90、CD105及胚胎组织特异性标记SSEA-4、OCT-4,且具备成脂、成骨、成软骨的多向分化能力。与Control组比较,F-CM组细胞相对活力下降,细胞迁移率低,侵袭细胞数少(P均<0.05)。结论 FDMSCs可抑制A375细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭。

孕中期胎盘功能监测指标的临床研究

目的探讨孕中期胎盘功能监测指标的临床效果。方法选取2021年1月至2023年12月南昌市第一医院诊断为胎儿生长受限(FGR)的60例孕妇设为观察组,正常孕妇60例设为对照组,比较两组胎盘血流学参数[血管指数(VI)、血流指数(FI)和血管血流综合指数(VFI)]、胎盘形态学参数[胎盘体积(PV)]以及外周血胎盘激素[人绒毛膜促性腺激素(hCG)、游离雌三醇(uE3)]等指标差异,分析绘制受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线,分析VI、VFI、FI、PV、hCG、uE3预测FGR价值。结果观察组VI为(15.47±2.39)、VFI为(4.14±0.72)、FI为(21.21±2.31)、PV为(35.51±3.42)cm3,均低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组hCG检测值高于对照组,而uE3检测值低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);VI、VFI、FI、PV、hCG、uE3联合检测预测FGR的曲线下面积(AUC)为0.923,灵敏度为0.917,特异度为0.837,均高于单一检测。结论孕中期胎盘功能监测指标与FGR发生关系密切,各指标联合检测可有效预测FGR发生。

Pregnancies Resulting from Transgenic Embryos with Human Lactoferrin Gene Produced by Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

[Objective] The aim of this study is to understand the effects of donor cell type,embryo stage,number and transfer position on the efficiency of goat transgenic clone.[Method] Using somatic cell nuclear transfer technology,the single goat fetal fibroblasts(GFF)and mammary gland epithelial cells(GMGE)harboring human lactoferrin(hLF)gene were transferred to the enucleated oocyte.Reconstructed karyoplast-cytoplast couplets were fused,activated,and cultured in vitro.Embryos at 2-8 cell stage were transferred into oviduct of synchronized recipients,and blastocysts were transferred into uterine horn.[Result] The pregnancy rate was similar between GFF and GMGE(oviduct transfer:26.47% vs.20.00%),and between oviduct transfer and uterine horn transfer(26.47% vs.25.00%)for GFF group;pregnancy rate in the group with the mean number of embryo transferred per recipient of 21.2 was significantly higher than in those the 5.93 group and 9.64 group(40.00% vs.26.67% and 21.43%).[Conclusion] These results indicate that pregnancy rate of goat transgenic clone couldn't be affected by donor cell type,embryo stage and transfer position but be done by the number of embryo transferred per recipient.In addition,the study also suggests the feasibility of making transgenic goat using GMGE as donor cells.

万古霉素治疗药物监测中不同牛血清替代人血清可行性分析

目的分析万古霉素治疗药物监测(TDM)中不同牛血清替代人血清作为空白基质的可行性。方法建立测定万古霉素血药浓度的高效液相色谱(HPLC)法。收集医院2022年1月至2023年1月接受万古霉素治疗患者的血清样本105份(已检测血药浓度),关联人血清和不同厂家(厂家1和厂家2)的不同牛血清(小牛血清、新生牛血清、胎牛血清)作为空白基质的标准曲线,得到相应的血药浓度。采用Passing-Bablok回归分析法和Bland-Altman法考察测定结果的相关性和一致性。结果以人血清和不同牛血清作为空白基质时,万古霉素质量浓度在1~100 mg/L范围内与峰面积线性关系均良好(R^(2)>0.999);日内精密度、日间精密度的RSD均小于15%,相对回收率均在85%~115%范围内。人血清与不同牛血清作为空白基质均有良好的相关性(r>0.999),但均有系统误差和比例误差。厂家1的3种牛血清(小牛血清1、新生牛血清1、胎牛血清1)对比人血清作为空白基质检测值的相对平均偏差和95%一致性界限均小于50%允许总误差(±15%),厂家2的3种牛血清(小牛血清2、新生牛血清2、胎牛血清2)对比人血清作为空白基质检测值的相对平均偏差或95%一致性界限超出±15%。结论使用HPLC法进行万古霉素TDM时,部分厂家生产的牛血清能替代人血清作为空白基质进行检测。