On the basis of established JF305 cell line from human pancreatic cancer at this university, cell clone technique, cell electrophoresis, flower cytometer, and cancer orthotopically implanted nude mice technique were used to establish the sublines with different metastatic potential from human pancreatic cancer line-JF305 and the nude mice model implanted orthotopically with human pancreatic cancer monoclonal sublines with different metastatic potential. The results showed that the monoclonal cell sublines with different metastatic potential from human pancreatic caner-JF305 and the nude mice model implanted orthotopically with the sublines, would provided a useful method to study the metastatic mechanism of human pancreatic cancer.
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) on the reproductive function of mice and provide a suitable animal model for reproduction and stress. MethodsA total of 240 female Kunming mice were feed for 5 days, and then divided randomly into the control group (n=90) and experimental group (n=150). The mice in the experimental group were stressed by 9 chronic mild unpredictable stress factors for 4 weeks and validated by open field test and sucrose consumption test. We administrated pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG)/human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) for induction of superovulation and observed the ovarian response and embryo development potential. ResultsAfter 4-week CUMS stimulation, the weight gain, 2% sugar consumption test and open field test were significantly different between the mice in two groups (P>0.05). After PMSG/HCG was administrated, the antra follicles and preovulatory follicles significantly reduced significantly in the experiment group than that in the control group (P<0.05); the number of oocytes, fertilization rate, 2-cell embryos, D4 embryos, blastocysts, high quality embryo rate and D5 bed points were all significantly decreased in the experiment group than those in the control group (P<0.05). ConclusionThe CUMS female Kunming mice model is a kind of emotional stress animal model with low reproductive function, which is effective, operable and repeatable; it could be used for further study on the mechanism of reproductive medicine.
Amyloid fibrils belong to a category of abnormal aggregations of natural proteins, which are closely related to many human diseases. Recently, some critical peptide sequences have been extensively studied for clarifying the molecular mechanism of natural proteins to form amyloid fibrils. In the present study, we designed a short peptide GGAAVV (GAV-6) composed of hydrophobic amino acids glycine (G), alanine (A) and valine (V) and studied its ability to form amyloid fibrils. As characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS), the peptide could self-assemble into smooth nanofibers without branches. Congo red staining/binding and thioflavin-T (ThT) binding experiments show that the nanofibers formed by GAV-6 shared identical properties with typical amyloid fibrils. These results show that the designed peptide GAV-6 could self-assemble into typical amyloid fibrils, which might make it a useful model molecule to clarify the mechanism for the formation of amyloid fibrils in the future.
Objective To investigate the feasibility and characteristic of tissue engineered testicular prosthesis with highdensity polyethylene(HDPE，trade name: Medpor) and polyglycolic acid(PGA). Methods The chondrocytes were isolated from the swine articular.The PGA scaffold was incorporated with medpor which semidiameters were 6mmand 4mm respectively.Then, the chondrocytes (5×10 7/ml) were seeded onto Medpor-PGA scaffold and cultured for 2 weeks. The ten BALB／C mice were divided into two groups randomly(n=5). In the experimental group, the cell-scaffold construct was implanted into subcutaneous pockets on the back of nude mice. In the control group, the Medpor-PGA scaffold was implanted. The mice of two groups were sacrificed to harvest the newly formed cartilage prosthesis after 8 weeks. Macroscopy, histology and immunohistochemistry observations were made. Results The gross observation showed that on changes were in shape and at size, the color and elasticity were similar to that of normal cartilage and that the cartilage integrated with Medpor in the experimental group; no cartilage formed and fiberlike tissue was found in the control group. HE staining showed that many mature cartilage lacuna formed without blood vessel and some PGA did not degradated completely. Toluidine blue staining showed extracellular matrix had metachromia. Safranin O-fast green staining showed that many proteoglycan deposited and collagen type Ⅱ expression was bly positive. In the control group, Medpor was encapsulated by fiber tissue with rich blood vessel. Conclusion The newly formed complex of Medpor-PGA and cells was very similar to testicle in gross view and to normal cartilage in histology. This pilot technique of creating testicular prosthesis by incorporating tissue-engineered cartilage with Medpor demonstrated success.
Objective To investigate the effect of myoblast transplantation on duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and to explore the method and feasibil ity of applying gene therapy to DMD. Methods Myoblast of C57/BL10 mice were cultured using multiple-step enzyme digestion method and differential velocity adherent technique. The morphology of the cells was observed with inverted phase contrast microscope. The cells at passage 4 were labeled with 5-BrdU. Twenty-four DMDmodel mice (mdx mice: aged 4-6 weeks, male, 13.8-24.6 g) were randomly divided into two groups (n=12 per group): group A, 1 × 106/mL labeled myoblast were injected via ven caudal is twice at an interval of 2 weeks; group B: 1 mL DMEM/F12 was injected in the same manner serving as a control group. The mice were killed 4 weeks after operation and the motor abil ity of the mice was detected by one-time exhaustive swimming before their death. HE staining and immunohistochemistry staining observation for 5-BrdU, desmin, and dystrophin (Dys) were preformed, and the imaging analysis was conducted. Results The primary myoblast could be sub-cultured 5-7 days after culture, providing stable passage and sufficient cells. The time of onetime exhaustive swimming was (60.72 ± 5.76) minutes in group A and (47.77 ± 5.40) minutes in group B, there was significant significance between two groups (P lt; 0.01). At 4 weeks after injection, HE staining showed that in group A, there were round and transparent-stained myocytes and the percentage of centrally nucleated fibers (CNF) was 67%; while in group B, there were uneven muscle fiber with such pathological changes as hypertrophia, atrophia, degeneration, and necrosis, and the percentage of CNF was above 80%. Immunohistochemistry staining revealed that the expression of 5-BrdU, desmin, and Dys was positive in group A; while in group B, those expressions were l ittle or negative. Image analysis result displayed that integral absorbency (IA) value of desmin was 489.70 ± 451.83 in group A and 71.15 ± 61.14 in group B (P lt; 0.05) and the ratio of positive area to thetotal vision area was 0.314 3 ± 0.197 3 in group A and 0.102 8 ± 0.062 8 in group B (P lt; 0.05); the Dys IA value was 5 424.64 ± 2 658.01 in group A and 902.12 ± 593.51 in group B (P gt; 0.05) and the ratio of positive area to the total vision area was 0.323 7 ± 0.117 7 in group A and 0.035 2 ± 0.032 9 in group B (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Myoblast transplantation has certain therapeutic effect on DMD of mice.
Objective To provide the seed cells for bone tissue engineering, to establ ish immortal ized human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCxj) and to investigate the ectopic osteogenesis of MSCxj. Methods MSCxjs of the 35thand 128th generations were maintained and harvested when the cell density reached 2 109. Then, these cells were co-cultured with heterogeneous bone scaffold in groups A (the 35th generation, n=12) and group B (the 128th generation, n=12); heterogeneous bone alone was used in group C (n=12). The cell prol iferation was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after 48 hours and 18 days of osteogenic induction culture. The complex was implanted subcutaneouly through a 3-mm-incision at both sides of the back in 18 nude mice. Tetracycl ine label ing was performed before the animals were sacrificed. Tetracycl ine fluorescence staining, HE staining, ponceau staining, and immunohistochemistry staining for osteocalcin were performed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after transplantation; the morphologic quantitative analysis was made. Results After 48 hours, SEM showed that MSCxjs adhered to heterogeneous bone and grew well; after 18 days, a large number of new filamentous extracellular matrix and small granules were found to cover the cells. The results of tetracycl ine fluorescence staining, HE staining, and ponceau staining in groups A and B showed that the osteogenesis was not obvious at 4 weeks after transplantation; osteoid matrix deposition was noted around and in theheterogeneous bone at 8 weeks; and osteogenesis was increased at 12 weeks. There was no significant difference in bone formation between groups A and B. Osteogenesis was not observed in group C. The osteocalcin expressions were positive in groups A and B. The bone ingrow percentages of groups A and B were 5.64% ± 2.68% and 4.92% ± 2.95% at 8 weeks, and 13.94% ± 2.21% and 14.34% ± 3.46% at 12 weeks, showing significant differences between 8 weeks and 12 weeks at the same group (P lt; 0.05) and no significant difference between groups A and B at the same time (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion MSCxj has favorable abil ities of ectopic osteogenesis and can be appl ied as seeded cells in bone tissue engineering.
Objective To determine the effect of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on angiogenesis in mouse breast cancer model of lower and normal serum IGF-1 levels after using angiogenesis inhibitor ginsenoside Rg3 （GS Rg3）. Methods The breast cancer models were established in control mice and liver specific IGF-1 deficient (LID) mice by feeding DMBA and were treated with GS Rg3. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and F8-RAg were detected by immunohistochemical method in breast cancer tissues. IGF-1 gene and angiogenesis relating genes were detected by gene chip in breast cancer and normal breast tissue. Results The incidence rate of breast cancer in LID mice was lower than that in control mice (P＜0.05). VEGF expression and microvessel density of LID mice were lower than those in control mice (P＜0.05). Compared to the control mice, IGF-1, FGF-1, TGF-β1 and HGF genes were increased, and FGFR-2, PDGF-A and PDGF-B genes were decreased in breast cancer of LID mice. After GS Rg3 treatment, VEGFa, EGF, EGFR, PDGF-A and FGFR-2 genes were increased, IGF-1 and TGF-β1 genes were decreased in breast cancer of LID mice compared with the control mice. Conclusion IGF-1 may be involved in mouse breast cancer progression and associated with the growth of blood vessels. Angiogenesis inhibitor may play an antitumor role by IGF-1 and TGF-β1.
Objective To identify immune-related genes critical to asthma pathogenesis and construct a clinically applicable diagnostic model based on immune-gene signatures. Methods We first intersected 1639 immune-related genes (IRGs) with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the discovery dataset (GSE43696, n=128) to obtain differentially expressed IRGs (DE-IRGs). Expression stability was confirmed in the independent validation dataset GSE64913 (n=62). Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and support-vector-machine (SVM) recursive feature elimination were applied to rank genes, followed by overlap with key modules identified by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). A logistic-regression diagnostic model was constructed using the optimal gene set, and its functional landscape was interrogated by gene-set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Finally, the model and the selected genes were cross-validated in ten transcriptomic cohorts encompassing eight distinct asthma phenotypes (total n=1137) and in lung tissue from an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine asthma model. Results A total of 38 DE-IRGs were identified. Among them, cholecystokinin (CCK), cellular retinol binding protein 2 (CRABP2) and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 6 (CXCL6) were involved in immune-related processes and signaling pathways, which were of great significance in the diagnosis of asthma. The logistic regression diagnostic model based on three genes has shown good universality in various asthma samples. These three genes have also been verified to a certain extent in the lung tissues of OVA mice. Conclusion Integrative bioinformatics and in vivo validation establish CCK, CRABP2, and CXCL6 as a compact, biologically grounded immune-gene signature for asthma diagnosis and mechanistic investigation.
Objective To investigate the intervention effect of 3-phosphoinositede dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1) inhibitor on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in smoking-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mice. Methods Fifty C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into normal control group, smoking group, smoking +low dose PDK1 inhibitor group, smoking + medium dose PDK1 inhibitor group and high dose PDK1 inhibitor group with 10 mice in each group. The mice in the normal control group inhaled phosphate-buffered saline twice a day for 12 weeks, and the mice in the smoking group were fumigated twice a day, 5 days per week for 12 weeks, and the other three groups were given intraperitoneal injection of low-dose PDK1 inhibitor OSU-03012 (0.25 mg/kg), medium-dose PDK1 inhibitor (0.5 mg/kg) and high-dose PDK1 inhibitor (1.0 mg/kg) respectively before smoking. After smoking, lung function was tested, the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of each mouse was taken for cell count, the PGE2 in serum and BALF of mice was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and the lung tissue of mice was sectioned with paraffin and stained by hematoxylin-eosin (HE), and pathological changes were observed under microscope. Results Compared with the control group, FEV100/FVC and FEV200/FVC of the mice in each smoking group were significantly decreased (P<0.05); The number of cells in BALF of smoking group was significantly higher than that of normal control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the total number of BALF cells, the proportion of neutrophils and macrophages between the smoking + low-dose PDK1 inhibitor group and the smoking group. However, the total number of BALF cells and the proportion of neutrophils in the smoking + medium dose PDK1 inhibitor group and the high dose PDK1 inhibitor group gradually decreased, while the proportion of macrophages gradually increased, compared with the normal control group, the PGE2 concentrations of serum and BALF in the smoking group and the smoking + PDK1 inhibitor group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Compared with the smoking group, the PGE2 concentrations of serum and BALF in the middle and high dose PDK1 inhibitor groups were significantly lower than those in the smoking group. HE staining of lung tissue showed that there were a large number of inflammatory cell infiltration, alveolar cavity dilatation, alveolar wall rupture and fusion, alveolar formation, significant decrease in the number of alveoli and other pathological changes in the smoking group, which were consistent with the pathological changes of COPD. The inflammatory cell infiltration, mucus obstruction and alveolar dilatation were slightly alleviated in the smoking + low-dose PDK1 inhibitor group, while the inflammatory cell infiltration, alveolar wall thinning and alveolar dilatation were improved in both the medium-dose inhibitor group and the high-dose inhibitor group, and the improvement was more obvious in the high-dose inhibitor group. Conclusion The lung function of the smoked COPD mouse decreases, the airway inflammation is obvious, and the secretion of PGE2 is also increased, while the use of PDK1 inhibitor could reduce the secretion of PGE2, reduce airway inflammation and pathological changes, and improve lung function in a dose-dependent manner.
【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the impact of dermal papillary cells on vascularization of tissue engineered skinsubstitutes consisting of epidermal stem cells and allogeneic acellular dermal matrix. Methods Human foreskins from routinecircumcisions were collected to separate epidermal cells by using dispase with trypsogen. Collagen type IV was used to isolateepidermal stem cells from the 2nd and 3rd passage keratinocytes. Dermal papilla was isolated by the digestion method of collagenaseI from fetus scalp and cultured in routine fibroblast medium. Tissue engineered skin substitutes were reconstructed by seedingepidermal stem cells on the papillary side of allogeneic acellular dermis with (the experimental group) or without (the controlgroup) seeding dermal papillary cells on the reticular side. The two kinds of composite skin substitutes were employed to cover skindefects (1 cm × 1 cm in size) on the back of the BALB/C-nu nude mice (n=30). The grafting survival rate was recorded 2 weeks aftergrafting. HE staining and immunohistochemistry method were employed to determine the expression of CD31 and calculate themicrovessel density at 2 and 4 weeks after grafting. Results Those adhesion cells by collagen type IV coexpressed Keratin 19 andβ1 integrin, indicating that the cells were epidermal stem cells. The cultivated dermal papillary cells were identified by expressinghigh levels of α-smooth muscle actin. The grafting survival rate was significantly higher in experimental group (28/30, 93.3%), thanthat in control group (24/30, 80.0%). HE staining showed that the epithelial layer in experimental group was 12-layered with largeepithelial cells in the grafted composite skin, and that the epithelial layer in control group was 4-6-layered with small epithelial cells.At 2 and 4 weeks after grafting, the microvessel density was (38.56 ± 2.49)/mm2 and (49.12 ± 2.39)/mm2 in experimental group andwas (25.16 ± 3.73)/mm2 and (36.26 ± 3.24)/mm2 in control group respectively, showing significant differences between 2 groups(P lt; 0.01). Conclusion Addition of dermal papillary cells to the tissue engineered skin substitutes can enhance vascularization,which promotes epidermis formation and improves the grafting survival rate.