Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, non-coding RNA are reversible, heritable alterations which are induced by environmental stimuli. Major risk factors of diabetes and diabetic complications including hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products, can lead to abnormal epigenetic modifications in retinal vascular endothelial cells and retinal pigment epithelium cells. Epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of macular edema and neovascularization of diabetic retinopathy (DR), as well as diabetic metabolic memory. The heritable nature of epigenetic marks also playsakey role in familial diabetes mellitus. Further elucidation of epigenetic mechanisms in DR can open the way for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets to prevent DR progression.
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of simvastatin on the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and alkaline phosphates (ALP) activity in the primary cultured bone marrow stromal cells, and to elucidate the mechanism of the anabolic osteogenetic effect of simvastatin. METHODS: Bone marrow stromal cells in femur and tibia of adult mouse were cultured in vitro. after treated with different concentrations of simvastatin (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 mumol/L) or recombinant human BMP-2 for 72 hours, ALP activity of bone marrow stromal cells was determined. BMP-2 expression of bone marrow stromal cells was analyzed by using immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS: After treated with simvastatin for 72 hours, BMP-2 expression increased, while little BMP-2 expression could be observed in the control group. ALP activity also increased in a dose-dependent manner; t-test showed that ALP activity in the group which concentrations of simvastatin were 0.5 mumol/L (t = 2.35, P = 0.041), 1.0 mumol/L (t = 2.348, P = 0.041) had significant difference when compared with control group. CONCLUSION: Simvastatin lead to high expression of BMP-2 in bone marrow stromal cells, via the increased auto- or para-crine of BMP-2, and ALP activity increased. These may be parts of the mechanism on the anabolic osteogenetic effect of simvastatin.
Objective To study in vitro sustained release behaviour of the recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2(rhBMP-2) from the sample which porous calcium phosphate cement (PCPC) was combined with rhBMP-2, and to evaluate the effect of PCPC/rhBMP-2 composite on repairing bone defect in the animalstudy.Methods rhBMP-2 was absorbed into PCPC by vacuum-adsorption and freeze-dried at -40℃, the PCPC/rhBMP-2 enwrapped with chitosan as the experimental group, the pure PCPC/rhBMP-2 as the control group, then the sustained release ofrhBMP-2 from PCPC was determined in simulated body fluid (SBF) by UV-VIS spectrophotometer. At same time, the PCPC/rhBMP-2 composites with chitosan were implanted into the (4.2 mm×5.0 mm femora defects of rabbits, which were considered as the experimental group, whereas in the control group only PCPC was implanted. The effect of repairingbone defect was evaluated in the 4th and 8th week postoperatively by radiograph and histomorphology.Results The PCPC have a high absorption efficiency to rhBMP-2, and the release of rhBMP-2 was sustained release system. The release of rhBMP-2 from PCPC in the experimental group (99% after 350 hours) was slowerthan that in the control group (100% after 150 hours). In the experimental group, the radiological and histomorphological evaluations showed that theinterfaces between the materials and host bones became blurred both at 4th and 8th week. The implanted materials were partially absorbed, and the implanted areas exhibited the formation of new bone. In the control group, a little amount of new bones was observed. Conclusion The PCPC shows great clinical potential as a carrier for rhBMP-2. The PCPC/rhBMP-2 composite possesses much potentialities of osteoinductivity and the ability of repairing bone defect, so it can be used as a novel bone substitute clinically.
Objective To investigate the effect of the synthetic bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2)derived peptide on the osteogenic induction in the marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs）and to evaluate the osteoinductivity and dosedependence of the BMP-2 derived peptide in vitro. Methods MSCs of 4-week old Wistar rats were separated and cultured. In the 3rd passage, the conditional culture medium was changed, in which the BMP-2-derived peptide in the following doses was added: 300,200, 100, 50, and 0 μg/ml, respectively (Groups A-E). The activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP）and the amount of calciumdeposition were meassured at 5，10，15 and 20 days during the culture with the conditional culture medium. The real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) was performed to measure the mRNA expressions of collagen type Ⅰ, osteopontin (OPN), and osteocalcin（OCN）and to measure the osteoinductivity of the BMP-2-derived peptide in the different concentrations.Results Under the inverted phase contrast microscope, MSCs cultured in the conditional culture medium for 3-4 days were changed in shape, from long fusiform to short fusiform or polygon. As the concentration of the BMP-2-derived peptide increased, the time for MSCs to change into the osteoblasts decreased. There was a significantly greater level of the ALP activity and amount of the calcium deposition in Groups A and B than in the other groups（Plt;0.05）. However,there was no significant difference between Group A and Group B （Pgt;0.05）. Theresult of FQPCR showed that after MSCs were cultured in the different doses of theconditional culture medium for 14 days, the mRNA expressions of collagen type Ⅰ, OPN andOCN were at higher levels. An increasing order in the level of the cycle threshold (Ct) was found in the following groups: Agt;Bgt;Cgt;D. Almost no expression was found in Group E. The Ct levels were significantly greater in Groups A and B thanin Groups C and D（Plt;0.05）. However, there was no significant difference between Group A and Group B （Pgt;0.05）.ConclusionThe BMP-2-derived peptide can greatly promote differentiation of MSCs into the osteoblasts, the promotion of osteogenesis has a dosedependent pattern, and the best inducing dosage is 200 μg/ml.
Objective To explore the osteogenic potential of cervical intervertebral disc fibroblasts in vitro, to investigate the regulatory factors of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2(rhBMP-2) and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α) on osteogenic phenotype of fibroblasts and to discuss the condition that facilitates osteogenesis of fibroblasts. Methods Theannulus fibroblasts cell lines of experiment goats were established in vitro and the biologicspecificity was found. According to different medias, 4 groups were included in this experiment: control group, TNF-α group ( 50 U/ml TNF-α), rhBMP-2 group (0.1 μg/ml rhBMP-2) and TNF-α+rhBMP-2 group (50 U/ml TNF-α+0.1 μg/ml rhBMP-2). Thefibroblasts were incubated in the media for about 3 weeks,and then the markers for osteogenic features were investigated by biochemistry, histochemistry observations. Results rhBMP-2 and TNF-α had no effect on the proliferation of fibroblasts from the experiment goats. rhBMP-2 or TNF-α could stimulate fibroblasts to secrete alkaline phosphatase and collagen type Ⅰ. The combined use of rhBMP-2 and TNF-α or the single use of rhBMP-2 could make fibroblasts to secrete osteocalin and the morphological changes of the fibroblasts were very obvious. Histochemical study of the nodules with specific new bone labeler(Alizarin red S) revealed positive reaction, denoting that the nodules produced by the fibroblasts werebone tissues. There was statistically significant difference(Plt;0.05) inALP activity between 3 experimental groups and control group and in secretion of osteocalcin between rhBMP-2 group, TNF-α+rhBMP-2 group and control group. Conclusion The results point out clearly that rhBMP-2 can induce theosteogenic potential of annulus fibroblasts in vitro.
OBJECTIVE: To construct a co-expressing vector of human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) and to determine the expression of BMP-2 and OPG in myoblast C2C12. METHODS: Using the isolated total RNA from osteosacoma cell line MG63 as a template, the cDNA encoding region of human OPG was amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCT) method and cloned into sites EcoR 1 and BamH I of mammalian expressing vector pIRES2-EGFP, and the cDNA encoding region of human BMP-2 was cloned into endonucleases site BstX I. Then the recombinant plasmid pIRES2-BMP-2-OPG was transformed into C2C12 cell line, the expression of OPG and BMP-2 were determined by Western blot assay. RESULTS: The sequence of OPG cDNA obtained was the same as that reported, recombinant plasmid pIRES2-BMP-2-OPG was constructed successfully. Human OPG and BMP-2 co-expression cell line C2C12 was selected and confirmed by Western blot analysis. CONCLUSION: The co-expressing vector of OPG and BMP-2 is constructed and can expressed stably in myoblast C2C12. The co-expression of human OPG and BMP-2 may be logical approach for treatment of osteoporosis and bone metastasis.
Objective To investigate the effect of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and dexamethason (DXM) on proliferation and differentiation of human dental pulp cellsin vitro. Methods Primary human dental pulp cells were cultured in vitro by tissue culture method. The 3rd generation cells were used to identify cell phenotype for vimentin and cytokeratin by immunocytochemistry staining. The 3-5 generations of human dental pulp cells were randomly divided into 4 groups: 100 ng/mL BMP-2 (group A), 1×10–8 mol/L DXM (group B), and both 100 ng/mL BMP-2 and 1×10–8 mol/L DXM (group C) were added; neither BMP-2 nor DXM was added in group D as control group. The cell growth curve was drawn at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after culture. The expressions of osteo/dentanogenic genes including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), dentin sialophoshoprotein (DSPP), and dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP-1) were detected by RT-PCR analysis at 5 and 7 days after culture, the ratio between the positive staining area and the total area by ALP staining at 14 days, and absorbance (A) value at 562 nm by alizarin red staining at 21 days after culture. Results Human dental pulp cells were successfully isolated and cultured, which were long fusiform and showed a positive reaction for vimentin and a negative reaction for cytokeratin. The growth curve indicated that cells increased with the extending of incubation time, reached a peak at 5 days, then reduced at 7 days to the level at 3 days. At 5 days after culture, the cells were significantly more in groups A, B, and C than group D (P<0.05), in group C than group A (P<0.05), and in group A than group B (P<0.05). RT-PCR analysis showed that the mRNA expressions of ALP, DSPP, and DMP-1 at 5 days were significantly higher in groups A, B, and C than group D (P<0.05), and in group C than groups A and B (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between groups A and B (P>0.05); the mRNA expression of DSPP in groups A, B, and C was significantly higher than that in group D (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in mRNA expressions between other groups at 7 days (P>0.05). At 14 days, positive staining in varying degrees was observed in each group, especially in group C; the ratio between the positive staining area and the total area was significantly higher in group C than groups A, B, and D (P<0.05), and in groups A and B than group D (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between groups A and B (P>0.05). At 21 days, there were a variety of mineralized nodules in groups A, B, and C in nonuniformly scattered or clustered distribution, but no mineralized nodules were observed in group D. TheA values of mineralized nodules showed significant difference between groups (P<0.05). Conclusion BMP-2 may be more effective in promoting proliferation of human dental pulp cells than DXM. Combined application of BMP-2 and DXM can remarkably promote the proliferation and differentiation of human dental pulp cells.
Objective To investigate the relationship between diabetic retinopathy (DR) and insertion/deletion (a/b) polymorphism of a 27 base pair variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) in intron 4 of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene. Methods 321 patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus with over 10 years duration (case group) and 146 normal subjects (control group) were enrolled in this study. All the clients are Han Chinese. The case group was divided into DR subgroup (154 patients) and non-DR (NDR) subgroup (167 patients) according to the results of indirect ophthalmoscope and fundus fluorescent angiography. The VNTR polymorphism in eNOS gene was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with 8% agarose gel electrophoresis. Then the b, a allele frequency and b/b, a/a, b/a allele frequency of two groups were compared, and its correlation with diseases were analyzed. Results The b allele frequency of the VNTR in intron 4 of eNOS gene in the DR group was significantly higher than that in the NDR group（chi;2=4.745，P=0.029；OR=1.685，95%CI=1.050-3.905）and control group（chi;2=6.958，P=0.008；OR=1.891，95%CI=1.172-4.437）; b/b allele frequency in the DR group was also significantly higher than that in the NDR group（chi;2=4.811，P=0.028；OR=1.790，95%CI=1.060-4.645）and control group（chi;2= 5.203，P=0.023；OR=1.859，95%CI=1.087-4.952）. Conclusions The b allele and b/b genotype in intron 4 of eNOS gene in the Han Chinese are closely related to DR.
Objective To study the effect of adenovirus bone morphogenetic protein 2 gene(Ad-BMP-2) transfer inducing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) compounded with fibrin gel on repair of rabbit cartilage defect. Methods ①BMP-2 and collagen type Ⅱ in MSCs transferred by Ad-BMP-2 were examined by RT-PCR, aniline dyeing and immunohistochemical analysis in vitro. ②MSCs were cultured in fibrin gel for 9 days, and were examined with electron microscope. ③Fortytwo rabbits suffering from cartilage defect were divided into 3 groups:the defects were treated with Ad-BMP-2 transfer inducing MSCs compounded with fibrin in group A, with MSCs compounded with fibringel in group B and with no implants in group C as control. HE and aniline dyeing, immunohistochemical analysis and biomechanics study were carried out in the 4th, 8thand 12th weeks. Results ①The positive results were observed for BMP-2 and collagen type Ⅱ with RT-PCR on the 3rd day and 5th day respectively, being statisticallysignificant difference when compared with control group(P＜0.05). ②Ad-BMP-2 transfer inducing MSCs cultured in fibrin gel were positively stained by aniline dyeing and immunohistochemstry. ③The therapy effect of group A was better than that of the other two groups in histology, biochemistry and biomechanics, and the biomechanic and histological features of repaired cartilage were similar to those of the natural cartilage. Conclusion Ad-BMP-2 can induce the expressionof collagen type Ⅱ and mucopolysaccharide in MSCs by secreting BMP-2, and can reconstruct articular cartilage defects better when compounded with fibrin gel.
Objective To identify the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its high affinity receptor (tyrosine kinase receptor A, TrkA) during bone induction by recombined human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and to discuss the role of NGF on the bone induction of the BMP. Methods Thirty-six ICR mice were divided into the experimental groupand the control group at random. rhBMP-2 /collagen sponge and collagen sponge were implanted into the right thigh muscle pouches of the mice in the experimental group and the control group, respectively. The tissues in the implanted site of the two groups were removed on the 7th, 14th and 21st day after the implantation. Histological, immunohistochemical and RT-PCR analyses were performed to detect osteoinductive effects of rhBMP-2 and the expression of NGF and TrkA. Results Gross observation showed that a solid lump was found in theright thigh in the experimental group on the 7th day and became harder on the 14th and 21st day, which was not found in the control group. rhBMP-2/collagen sponge displayed a potent ability to induce bone formation, while immunostaining for NGF and TrkA was observed in the course of osteoinduction by rhBMP-2. On the 7th day in the experimental group, NGF positive immunostaining reached the peak in thestage of chondrogenesis and there were a large number of cells expressing NGF, including fibroblasts, chondroblasts, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts; then, therewas a decrease in the number of the positivecells and in the intensity of immunostaining on the 14th and 21st day. Staining of TrkA wassimilar to that of NGF. The expression level of the mRNA of NGF during the course of bone induction peaked 7 days after the implantation and then decreased. Conclusion rhBMP-2/collagen is a kind of satisfactory osteoinductive material, and many different kinds of cells induced by rhBMP-2 can express NGF and TrkA, which suggests that NGF may play an important role in the osteogenesis initiated by exogenous BMP through direct and indirect pathways.