Dopaminergic mediation in the brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases:a role of senescent cells

Aging is well known to be the main risk factor for the neurodegenerative pathologies,in particular,Parkinson’s disease（PD）and Alzheimer’s disease（AD）.In aging and in the diseases,similar changes in various hallmarks of neurodegeneration（lipofuscin accumulation,autophagia weakening,and disturbances in functions of mitochondriaand lysosomes） were shown （Tan et al., 2014）. Furthermore, dopami- nergic system （DAS） involvement in mechanisms of aging, PD, and AD were revealed （Martorana and Koch, 2014）.

Strategies to improve regenerative potential of mesenchymal stem cells

In the last few decades,stem cell-based therapies have gained attention worldwide for various diseases and disorders.Adult stem cells,particularly mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs),are preferred due to their significant regenerative potential in cellular therapies and are currently involved in hundreds of clinical trials.Although MSCs have high self-renewal as well as differentiation potential,such abilities are compromised with“advanced age”and“disease status”of the donor.Similarly,cell-based therapies require high cell number for clinical applications that often require in vitro expansion of cells.It is pertinent to note that aged individuals are the main segment of population for stem cell-based therapies,however;autologous use of stem cells for such patients(aged and diseased)does not seem to give optimal results due to their compromised potential.In vitro expansion to obtain large numbers of cells also negatively affects the regenerative potential of MSCs.It is therefore essential to improve the regenerative potential of stem cells compromised due to“in vitro expansion”,“donor age”and“donor disease status”for their successful autologous use.The current review has been organized to address the age and disease depleted function of resident adult stem cells,and the strategies to improve their potential.To combat the problem of decline in the regenerative potential of cells,this review focuses on the strategies that manipulate the cell environment such as hypoxia,heat shock,caloric restriction and preconditioning with different factors.

Inflammation and hematopoietic stem cells aging

Hematopoietic stem cells(HSCs)replenish all lineages of blood cells throughout the lifespan.During aging,the repopulation capacity of HSCs declined,and aged HSCs display a tendency for myeloid differentiation.Several intrinsic and extrinsic factors have been identified to promote HSCs aging.In this review,we focus on the contribution of aging-associated inflammation in provoking HSCs aging and discuss the future research direction of inflammation and HSC aging.

Thymosin Beta-4 Recombinant Adeno-associated Virus Enhances Human Nucleus Pulposus Cell Proliferation and Reduces Cell Apoptosis and Senescence

Background： Thymosin beta-4 （TB-4） is considered key roles in tissue development, maintenance and pathological processes. The study aimed to prove TB-4 positive biological function on nucleus pulposus （NP） cell apoptosis and slowing the process of cell aging while increasing the cell proliferation. Methods： TB-4 recombinant adeno-associated virus （AAV） was constructed and induced to human NP cells. Cell of same group were cultured without gene modification as controlled group. Proliferation capacity and cell apoptosis were observed during 6 passages of the cells. Morphology and expression of the TB-4 gene were documented as parameter of cell activity during cell passage. Results： NP cells with TB-4 transfection has normal TB-4 expression and exocytosis. NP cells with TB-4 transfection performed significantly higher cell activity than that at the control group in each generation. TB-4 recombinant AAV-transfected human NP cells also show slower cell aging, lower cell apoptosis and higher cell proliferation than control group. Conclusions： TB-4 can prevent NP cell apoptosis, slow NP cell aging and promote NP cell proliferation. AAV transfection technique was able to highly and stably express TB-4 in human NP cells, which may provide a new pathway for innovation in the treatment of intervertebral disc degenerative diseases.

Extract from Zanthoxylum piperitum Induces Apoptosis of AGS Gastric Cancer Cells through Akt/MDM2/p53 Signaling Pathway

Objective:To determine the effect of Zanthoxylum piperitum extracet(ZPE)on apoptosis and analyze anticancer substances in ZPE,changes in proteins related to apoptosis,and pathological changes in tumors in mouse.Methods:Fifteen 4-week-old female BALB/c nu/nu mice were divided into 3 groups depending on ZPE dose,with 5 in each group.AGS gastric carcinoma cells(1 x 10^(6) cells/200 jxL)were subcutaneously injected into the flank of each mouse.One week after the injection of AGS cells,ZPE was administered to the skin tissue[10 or 50 mg/(kg-d)]in the low-and high-dose groups,respectively for 20 days.Control animals were injected with vehicle only.After 3 weeks,the tumor was extracted and carried out for immunohistochemistry,the tendency of apoptosis and p53 in the body was checked using TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL)assay.For 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT)assay,annexin V dead cell staining,cell cycle arrest and Western blotting,AGS gastric carcinoma cells were incubated with various concentrations of ZPE for 24 h.Cell survival rates were analyzed by MTT assays.Apoptosis was analyzed using annexin V dead cell staining and cell cycle arrest and measured using Muse cell analyzer.Results:High performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)analysis showed that ZPE contained organic sulfur compounds such as alliin and S-allylcysteine.MTT assay results revealed that ZPE(10-85»xg/mL)could effectively inhibit the growth of AGS gastric cancer cells at higher concentrations(P<0.05,P<0.01).The annexin V&dead cell staining assay and cell cycle arrest assay confirmed a dose-dependent increase in the apoptosis rate and G!phase in ZPE(10-70 jig/mL)groups.ZPE decreased the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins(p-Akt,p-MDM2,Bcl-2),while increased pro-apoptotic proteins(cleaved PARP,p53,pro-Caspase 3,Bax).TUNEL assays revealed an increase in cell apoptosis.Immunohistochemistry staining confirmed the involvement of p53.Conclusion:ZPE decreases AGS cell proliferation and induces apoptosis by inhibiting Akt and MDM2 expression.

DNA Damage Response in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Ageing

Maintenance of tissue-specific stem cells is vital for organ homeostasis and organismal longevity.Hematopoietic stem cells（HSCs） are the most primitive cell type in the hematopoietic system.They divide asymmetrically and give rise to daughter cells with HSC identity（selfrenewal） and progenitor progenies（differentiation）,which further proliferate and differentiate into full hematopoietic lineages.Mammalian ageing process is accompanied with abnormalities in the HSC self-renewal and differentiation.Transcriptional changes and epigenetic modulations have been implicated as the key regulators in HSC ageing process.The DNA damage response（DDR）in the cells involves an orchestrated signaling pathway,consisting of cell cycle regulation,cell death and senescence,transcriptional regulation,as well as chromatin remodeling.Recent studies employing DNA repair-deficient mouse models indicate that DDR could intrinsically and extrinsically regulate HSC maintenance and play important roles in tissue homeostasis of the hematopoietic system.In this review,we summarize the current understanding of how the DDR determines the HSC fates and finally contributes to organismal ageing.