Long-Term Animal Feeding Trial of the Refined Konjac Meal Ⅱ. Effects of the Refined Konjac Meal on the Aging of the Brain, Liver, and Cardiovascular Tissue Cells in Rats

Rats of both sexes were fed on a basal feed containing 1% refined konjac meal (RKM) for 18 months and the effects of RKM on the cell aging were observed. A comparable group fed on the basic feed was used as the control. Results obtained demonstrate that the long-term feeding of RKM to rats can delay the course of cell aging of the gliocyte, cadiomyocyte, and the endothelial cell of the large and medium arteriases, hence it is likely to delay the occurrence of arteriosclerosis and improve the functions of the brain, heart and vascular system.

Therapeutic and regenerative potential of different sources of mesenchymal stem cells for cardiovascular diseases

Mesenchymalstemcells(MSCs)areidealcandidatesfortreatingmanycardiovasculardiseases.MSCscanmodify the internal cardiac microenvironment to facilitate their immunomodulatory and differentiation abilities,which are essential to restore heart function.MSCs can be easily isolated from different sources,including bone marrow,adipose tissues,umbilical cord,and dental pulp.MSCs from various sources differ in their regenerative and therapeutic abilities for cardiovascular disorders.In this review,we will summarize the therapeutic potential of each MSC source for heart diseases and highlight the possible molecular mechanisms of each source to restore cardiac function.

Application of platelet-rich plasma with stem cells in bone and periodontal tissue engineering

Presently, there is a high paucity of bone grafts in the United States and worldwide. Regenerating bone is of prime concern due to the current demand of bone grafts and the increasing number of diseases causing bone loss. Autogenous bone is the present gold standard of bone regeneration. However, disadvantages like donor site morbidity and its decreased availability limit its use. Even allografts and synthetic grafting materials have their own limitations. As certain specific stem cells can be directed to differentiate into an osteoblastic lineage in the presence of growth factors(GFs), it makes stem cells the ideal agents for bone regeneration.Furthermore, platelet-rich plasma(PRP), which can be easily isolated from whole blood, is often used for bone regeneration, wound healing and bone defect repair. When stem cells are combined with PRP in the presence of GFs, they are able to promote osteogenesis. This review provides in-depth knowledge regarding the use of stem cells and PRP in vitro, in vivo and their application in clinical studies in the future.

Angiogenesis in a 3D model containing adipose tissue stem cells and endothelial cells is mediated by canonical Wnt signaling

Adipose-derived stromal cells （ASCs） have gained great attention in regenerative medicine. Progress in our understanding of adult neovascularization further suggests the potential of ASCs in promoting vascular regeneration, although the specific cues that stimulate their angiogenic behavior remain controversial In this study, we established a three-dimensional （3D） angiogenesis model by co-culturing ASCs and endothelial cells （ECs） in collagen gel and found that ASC-EC-instructed angiogenesis was regulated by the canonical Wnt pathway. Furthermore, the angiogenesis that occurred in implants collected after injections of our collagen gel- based 3D angiogenesis model into nude mice was confirmed to be functional and also regulated by the canonical Wnt pathway. Wnt regulation of angiogenesis involving changes in vessel length, vessel density, vessel sprout, and connection numbers occurred in our system. Wnt signaling was then shown to regulate ASC- mediated paracrine signaling during angiogenesis through the nuclear translocation of β-catenin after its cytoplasmic accumulation in both ASCs and ECs. This translocation enhanced the expression of nuclear cofactor Lef-1 and cyclin D1 and activated the angiogenic transcription of vascular endothelial growth factor A （VEGFA）, basic fibroblast growth factor （bFGF）, and insulin-like growth factor 1 （IGF-1）. The angiogenesis process in the 3D collagen model appeared to follow canonical Wnt signaling, and this model can help us understand the importance of the canonical Wnt pathway in the use of ASCs in vascular regeneration.

Low-dose intralesional injection of 5-fluorouracil and triamcinolone reduces tissue resident memory T cells in chronic eczema

BACKGROUND Tissue resident memory T(TRM)cells have been reported to play a significant role in the pathogenesis and relapse of chronic eczema.AIM To compare the efficacy and safety of the intralesional injection of 5-fluorouracil(5-FU)and triamcinolone(TA)with those associated with TA alone for the treatment of chronic eczema.METHODS A total of 168 patients were randomized to 5-FU+TA or TA groups and received a one-time intralesional injection of 5-FU+TA or TA only.Biopsies were collected before and 2 wk after treatment for evaluation of histopathological changes.All patients were followed up monthly for up to 1 year.RESULTS No serious adverse event was observed in either group.Although the mean atopic dermatitis severity index scores and effective rates were comparable between the two groups after 2 wk of treatment,the relapse rate was significantly lower in the 5-FU+TA group than in the TA group.Histological examination showed significantly fewer CD8^(+)and CD103^(+)T cells but not CD4^(+)T cells in the 5-FU+TA group.CONCLUSION One-time intralesional injection of 5-FU+TA is effective and safe for chronic eczema treatment and can further reduce the retention of T_(RM) cells in the lesional skin and the relapse rate of chronic eczema.

Cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and tissue resident memory cells in colorectal cancer based on microsatellite instability and BRAF status

BACKGROUND Recent studies in non-colorectal malignancy have associated T resident memory(T_(RM)) cells with improved patient survival. It is unknown if T_(RM) plays a role in colorectal cancer(CRC).AIM To examine the potential role of T_(RM) cells in providing immunogenicity in CRC stratified by microsatellite instability(MSI) and BRAF status.METHODS Patients with known MSI and BRAF mutation status were eligible for inclusion in this study. CRC tumour sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin were microscopically reviewed and the images scanned prior to assessment for location of invading edge and core of tumour. Sequential sections were prepared for quantitative multiplex immunohistochemistry(IHC) staining. Opal Multiplex IHC staining was performed with appropriate positive and negative controls and imaged using a standard fluorescent microscope fitted with a spectral scanning camera(Mantra) in conjunction with Mantra snap software. Images were unmixed and annotated in in Form 2.2.0. Statistical analysis was performed using Graphpad Prism Version 7 and Stata Version 15.RESULTS Seventy-two patients with known MSI and BRAF status were included in the study. All patients were assessed for MSI by IHC and high resolution capillary electrophoresis testing and 44 of these patients successfully underwent quantitative multiplex IHC staining. Overall, there was a statistically significant increase in CD8+ T_(RM) cells in the MSI(BRAF mutant and wild type) group over the microsatellite stable(MSS) group. There was a statistically significant difference in CD8+ T_(RM) between high level MSI(MSI-H):BRAF mutant [22.57, 95% confidence interval(CI): 14.31-30.84] vs MSS [8.031(95%CI: 4.698-11.36)], P = 0.0076 and MSI-H:BRAF wild type [16.18(95%CI: 10.44-21.93)] vs MSS [8.031(95%CI: 4.698-11.36)], P = 0.0279. There was no statistically significant difference in CD8 T cells(both CD8+CD103-and CD8+CD103+T_(RM)) between MSI-H: BRAF mutant and wild type CRC.CONCLUSION This study has shown that CD8+ T_(RM) are found in greater abundance in MSI-H CRC, both BRAF mutant and MSI-H:BRAF wild type, when compared with their MSS counterpart. CD8+ T_(RM) may play a role in the immunogenicity in MSI-H CRC(BRAF mutant and BRAF wild type). Further studies should focus on the potential immunogenic qualities of T_(RM) cells and investigate potential immunotherapeutic approaches to improve treatment and survival associated with CRC.

Bone tissue engineering via nanostructured calcium phosphate biomaterials and stem cells

Tissue engineering is promising to meet the increasing need for bone regeneration. Nanostructured calcium phosphate （CAP） biomaterials/scaffolds are of special interest as they share chemical/crystallographic similarities to inorganic components of bone. Three applications of nano-CaP are discussed in this review： nanostructured calcium phosphate cement （CPC）; nano-CaP composites; and nano-CaP coatings. The interactions between stem cells and nano-CaP are highlighted, including cell attachment, orientation/ morphology, differentiation and in vivo bone regeneration. Several trends can be seen： （i） nano-CaP biomaterials support stem cell attachment/proliferation and induce osteogenic differentiation, in some cases even without osteogenic supplements; （ii） the influence of nano-CaP surface patterns on cell alignment is not prominent due to non-uniform distribution of nano-crystals; （iii） nano-CaP can achieve better bone regeneration than conventional CaP biomaterials; （iv） combining stem cells with nano-CaP accelerates bone regeneration, the effect of which can be further enhanced by growth factors; and （v） cell microencapsulation in nano-CaP scaffolds is promising for bone tissue engineering. These understandings would help researchers to further uncover the underlying mechanisms and interactions in nano-CaP stem cell constructs in vitro and in vivo, tailor nano-CaP composite construct design and stem cell type selection to enhance cell function and bone regeneration, and translate laboratory findings to clinical treatments.

PRELIMINARY COMPARISON OF SENSITIVITY TOWARD PARVO VIRUS H-1 OF HUMAN HEP ATOM A CELLS AND PARAHEPATOMA TISSUE

Preliminary observations on the result of infection by parvovirus of primary cultured cells of human hepatoma and parahepatoma tissue were reported. Human hepatoma and parahepatoma tissue were obtained by the culture method of tissue fragment plating. It was observed that their respective sensitivity to parvovirus H-1 was different. H-1 had inhibitory effect on epithelial cells of hepatoma tissue but without any significant effect on fibroblasts simultaneously, H-l had no effect on epithelial cells and fibroblasts of parahepatoma tissue. Further investigation of the relationship between parvovirus and hepatoma would be helpful not only in elucidating the mechanism of carcinogenesis and its suppression but also in the search of new approach for the treatment of hepatoma.

The chemical constituents of the tissue culture cells of Daphne giraldii cullus

Three compounds were isolated from the tissue culture cells of Daphne giraldii cullus, their structures were identified as daphneolone （1）, S-（＋）-1-（4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl）-3-hydroxy-5-phenyl-l-pentanone （2）, S-（＋）-1-（4-methoxyphenyl）-3- hydroxy-5-phenyl-l-pentanone （3）, and among them, 2 was a new compound, 3 was a novel natural product.

A NEW METHOD OF ISOLATING KUPFFER CELLS FROM BIOPSY TISSUE OF RAT LIVER

The isolation of a high yield and purity of Kupffer cells has been reported in detail.1 This paper reports into the research about isolation Kupffer cells from biopsy tissue of liver. This method includes 5 important steps: (1) take fresh liver tissue, and mince with scissors. (2) spin at low speed to wash off red blood cells. (3) digest in collagenase for suitable time. (4) isolate Kupffer cells on a percoll density gradient. (5) cell charaterization was observed by N.S.E stain and peroxidatic activity with lumino-meter measurement and phagocytosis with latex beads.2.3

Effects of transforming growth factor β2 and connective tissue growth factor on induction of epithelial mesenchymal transition and extracellular matrix synthesis in human lens epithelial cells

AIM:To Investigate the effects of transforming growth factorβ2(TGF-β2)and connective tissue growth factor(CTGF)on transdifferentiation of human lens epithelial cells(HLECs)cultured in vitro and synthesis of extracellular matrix(ECM).METHODS:HLECs were treated with TGF-β2(0,0.5,1.0,5,10μg/L)and CTGF(0,15,30,60,100μg/L)for different times(0,24,48,72h)in vitro and the expression ofα-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),the main component of the extracellular matrix typeⅠcollagen(Col-1)and fibronectin(Fn)were measured by using real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and western-blot.RESULTS:TGF-β2 and CTGF significantly increased expression ofα-SMA mRNA and protein(P【0.05,P【0.001),Fn mRNA and protein(P【0.001),Col-1 mRNA and protein(P【0.001).TGF-β2 could induce HLECs expression of CTGF mRNA and protein in dosedependent manner(P【0.05,P【0.001).TGF-β2 and CTGF could induce HLECs to expressα-SMA,Fn and Col-1 in time-dependent manner.Each time of TGF-β2and CTGF induced HELCs expression ofα-SMA,Fn,Col-1 mRNA and protein was significant increase compared with control(P【0.05,P【0.001).CONCLUSION:TGF-β2 and CTGF could induce HLECs epithelial mesenchymal transition and ECM synthesis.

Allogenic banking of dental pulp stem cells for innovative therapeutics

Medical research in regenerative medicine and cellbased therapy has brought encouraging perspectives for the use of stem cells in clinical trials. Multiple types of stem cells, from progenitors to pluripotent stem cells, have been investigated. Among these, dental pulp stem cells(DPSCs) are mesenchymal multipotent cells coming from the dental pulp, which is the soft tissue within teeth. They represent an interesting adult stem cell source because they are recovered in large amount in dental pulps with non-invasive techniques compared to other adult stem cell sources. DPSCs can be obtained from discarded teeth, especially wisdom teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons. To shift from promising preclinical results to therapeutic applications to human, DPSCs must be prepared in clinical grade lots and transformed into advanced therapy medicinal products(ATMP). As the production of patient-specific stem cells is costly and time-consuming, allogenic biobanking of clinical grade human leukocyte antigen(HLA)-typed DPSC lines provides efficient innovative therapeutic products. DPSC biobanks represent industrial and therapeutic innovations by using discarded biological tissues(dental pulps) as a source of mesenchymal stem cells to produce and store, in good manufacturing practice(GMP) conditions, DPSC therapeutic batches. In this review, we discuss about the challenges to transfer biological samples from a donor to HLA-typed DPSC therapeutic lots, following regulations, GMP guidelines and ethical principles. We also present some clinical applications, for which there is no efficient therapeutics so far, but that DPSCs-based ATMP could potentially treat.

Liver regeneration using decellularized splenic scaffold: a novel approach in tissue engineering

BACKGROUND： The potential application of decellularized liver scaffold for liver regeneration is limited by severe shortage of donor organs. Attempt of using heterograft scaffold is accompanied with high risks of zoonosis and immunological rejection. We proposed that the spleen, which procured more extensively than the liver, could be an ideal source of decellularized scaffold for liver regeneration. METHODS： After harvested from donor rat, the spleen was processed by 12-hour freezing/thawing ×2 cycles, then circulation perfusion of 0.02% trypsin and 3% Triton X-100 sequentially through the splenic artery for 32 hours in total to prepare decellularized scaffold. The structure and component characteristics of the scaffold were determined by hematoxylin and eosin and immumohistochemical staining, scanning electron microscope, DNA detection, porosity measurement, biocompatibility and cytocompatibility test. Recellularization of scaffold by 5×106 bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells（BMSCs） was carried out to preliminarily evaluate the feasibility of liver regeneration by BMSCs reseeding and differentiation in decellularized splenic scaffold.RESULTS： After decellularization, a translucent scaffold, which retained the gross shape of the spleen, was generated. Histological evaluation and residual DNA quantitation revealed the remaining of extracellular matrix without nucleus and cytoplasm residue. Immunohistochemical study proved the existence of collagens I, IV, fibronectin, laminin and elastin in decellularized splenic scaffold, which showed a similarity with decellularized liver. A scanning electron microscope presented the remaining three-dimensional porous structure of extracellular matrix and small blood vessels. The poros-ity of scaffold, aperture of 45.36±4.87 μm and pore rate of 80.14%±2.99% was suitable for cell engraftment. Subcutaneous implantation of decellularized scaffold presented good histocompatibility, and recellularization of the splenic scaffold demonstrated that BMSCs could locate and survive in the decellularized matrix. CONCLUSION： Considering the more extensive organ source and satisfying biocompatibility, the present study indicated that the three-dimensional decellularized splenic scaffold might have considerable potential for liver regeneration when combined with BMSCs reseeding and differentiation.

Characteristics of primary giant cell tumor in soft tissue on magnetic resonance imaging:A case report

BACKGROUND Primary soft tissue giant cell tumor(GCT-ST)is rare and has relatively low malignant potential.Most reports are pathological and clinical studies,while imaging studies have only been reported in cases of adjacent bone or with atypical cystic degeneration.With regard to the findings on magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)or ultrasonography,superficial masses can be further identified based on facial edema,skin thickening,skin contact,internal hemorrhage or necrosis and lobulation of the mass.Unlike deep-seated masses,MRI features do not always provide an accurate diagnosis for benign and malignant patients with superficial soft-tissue lesions.Thus,the application of diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)to evaluate superficial soft tissue tumors is necessary.CASE SUMMARY A 36-year-old woman who had a suspected malignant tumor in the upper limb on ultrasound and computed tomography is reported.The signal intensity of the suspected tumor was heterogeneous on plain MRI;nodular and heterogeneous enhancement was observed in the tumor with irregular shapes and blurred margins on dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.The lesion on DWI was hyperintense with a higher mean apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)value.Finally,a GCT-ST was confirmed by pathology.This case suggests that GCT-ST should be distinguished as a benign soft tissue mass from giant cell-rich soft tissue neoplasms or malignant tumors.CONCLUSION The MRI features of the superficial GCT-ST in the upper limb included heterogeneous signal intensity within the lesion on T2-weighted image(T2WI)and T1-weighted fat-saturation spoiled gradient recalled echo(T1 FSPGR),nodular enhancement with blurred margins,irregular shapes,and a slow-increased enhancement.DWI could be used to differentiate a benign soft tissue mass from a malignant mass by the mean ADC value and provide more radiologic-pathologic information for the diagnosis of GCT-ST.Comprehensive imaging of primary GCT-ST could help complete tumor resection,and in turn likely prolong survival after surgery.