Objective To investigate the effect of 1,25(OH)2VD3 on differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into osteoblasts. Methods Osteoblasts were isolated and cultured from calvarium of 2-day-old Kunming white mice, embryoid bodies (EBs) were prepared with modified zur Nieden method. EBs were divided into 4 groups according to different mediums: group A, as the control group, in which EBs medium contained no leukemia inhibitory factor; group B, in which EBs medium contained supplements of Vitamin C (VC, 50 μg/mL) and β-glycerophosphate (β-GP, 50 mmol/L); group C, inwhich EBs medium was the same as that of group B and 5 × 104 osteoblasts of 3rd passage were seeded into each well; group D, in which the medium contained supplements of VC (50 μg/mL), β-GP (50 mmol/L) and 1,25(OH)2VD(4 × 10-9 mol/L), and 5 × 104 osteoblasts of 3rd passage were seeded into each well. The ALP activity was determined by ALP reagent kit every 5 days. The RQ-PCR was performed to measure the mRNA expressions of osteocalcin (OCN). Al izarin red S staining was performed to count the bone nodules. Results The expression of ALP witnessed no obvious change in each group within 5 days after adherence of EBs, but increased gradually after 5 days. The expression of ALP in group D reached the peak at 20 days. Red nodules with clear outl ine and different sizes were evident by microscope. Al izarin red S staining testified the number of bone noudles in groups A, B, C and D was 20 ± 8, 18 ± 5, 31 ± 1 and 50 ± 1, respectively, indicating significant differences between groups C, D and groups A, B (P lt; 0.05), no significant difference between group A and group B (P gt; 0.05), and a significant difference between group C and group D (P lt; 0.05). The result of RQ-PCR showed that the mRNA expressions of OCN in groups A, B, C and D was 10.18 ± 1.17, 20.29 ± 1.03, 18.84 ± 4.07 and 32.15 ± 5.23, respectively, indicating significant differences between groups C, D and groups A, B (P lt; 0.05), no significant difference between group A and group B (P gt; 0.05), and a significant difference between group C and group D (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The combined action of 1,25(OH)2VD(4 × 10-9 mol/L), VC, and β-GP can effectively promote the differentiation of the ESCs-derived osteoblasts.
Objective To review the progress, methods and obstacles in the differentiation of embryonic stem cells(ESCs) into osteoblasts in vitro. Methods The recent literature concerned with the differentiation of ESCs into the osteoblasts was extensively reviewed and briefly summarized. Results ESCs was a good tool for derivation of obsteoblasts.Conclusion The study on the induction of ESCsinto the osteogenic lineage provides a model for analyzing the molecular processes of osteoblasts development in vivo and establishes the foundation for the use of ESCs in skeletal tissue repair.
Objective To review the latest development of the research on the selfrenwal signaling pathway and culture system in vitro of the embryonic stem cells(ESCs). Methods The recent articlesabout the selfrenewal signaling pathway and culture system in vitro of the ESCs were extensively reviewed. Results Understanding of the molecular mechanism of the selfrenewalin vitro and pluripotency of the ESCs was considered important for developing improved methods of deriving, culturing and differentiating these cells into the cells that could be successfully used in the clinical practice. Conclusion A further research is needed to elucidate the selfrenewal signaling pathway and the pluripotency of the ESCs and the culture systemin vitro forthe human ESCs remains to be further improved and developed.
Objective To observe the expression of miR-204 and 211 human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) differentiated into retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Methods RPE cells were derived from hESCs by natural differentiation method, and were identified. miRNA expression profiles and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of miR-204 and 211 were generated from the following groups: hESCs, hESCs-derived cells containing pigmented foci, hESCs-derived RPE cells and human fetal RPE (hfRPE) cells. Results miRNA-204 was continuously upregulated throughout the entire differentiation process of hESCs to RPE cells. It increased 5.026 times in hESCs-derived cells containing pigmented foci compared to hfRPE cells; it was increased 3.337 times in hESCs-derived RPE cells compared to hESCs-derived cells containing pigmented foci; it increased 13.574 times in hfRPE cells compared to hESCs-derived RPE cells. miR-211 does not change during differentiation from hESC to RPE, but it increased 44.333 times in hESCderived RPE cells compared to hfRPE cells. miR-211 was the biggest difference in the miRNA expression pattern. In four cell types of hESCs, hESCs-derived cells containing pigmented foci, hESCs-derived RPE cells and hfRPE cells, RT-PCR showed the levels of miR-204 were 91.81plusmn;4.43, 2263.09plusmn;206.39, 5996.80plusmn;235.42, and 171676.45plusmn;999.82 respectively. miR-204 was significantly increased during the whole course (t=18.22, 20.66, 279.38;P＜0.001). The levels of miR-211 were 2.23plusmn;0.31, 129.33plusmn;3.75, 125.7592plusmn;4.78, and 16682.00plusmn;352.97 respectively. miR-211 was significantly increased from hESCs to cells containing pigmented foci and from hESCs-derived RPE cells to hfRPE (t=58.58, 81.24; P＜0.001). Conclusion There is a continuous change of miR-204 and 211 in differentiation of RPE cells from hESCs.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of over expression of Mash-1 gene on the differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESC) into neural cells in vitro. MethodsThe ESC of rats (CE3 cells) were transfected with MSCVMash- 1 (MSCV-Mash-1-CE3 group) or MSCV (MSCV-CE3 group). The expression of Mash-1 gene was detected by RT-PCR. After transfection, hanging-drop culture was used to form embryonic bodies, and then embryonic bodies were cultured with neural induction medium. The cell morphology was observed under inverted phase contrast microscopy at 7 and 21 days; the positive rates of neural stem cells marker protein (nestin) and neuron marker protein (β-tubulin Ⅲ) were measured by immunofluorescence staining after cell attachment; and the gene expressions of α-fetal protein (AFP), Brachyury, fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF-5), Oct3/4, nestin, and β-tubulin Ⅲ were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR at 0, 1, 7, 14, and 21 days after culture. The CE3 cells were used as control (CE3 group). ResultsCompared with MSCV-CE3 and CE3 groups, the expression of Mash-1 gene in MSCV-Mash-1-CE3 group was significantly increased. At 7 and 21 days after neural induction cultured, cells in MSCV-Mash-1-CE3 group had axons growth and showed neural stem cell-like and neuron cell-like morphology (unipolar, bipolar, and multipolar neurons), but few cells had axons growth in MSCV-CE3 and CE3 groups. The positive rates of nestin at 7 days and β-tubulin Ⅲ at 21 days in MSCV-Mash-1-CE3 group were significantly higher than those in MSCV-CE3 and CE3 groups (P<0.05). Real-time fluorescence quatitative PCR results showed that the gene expression of Brachyury was significantly decreased after 1 day (P<0.05), and the gene expressions of FGF-5 and nestin were significantly increased after 1 day (P<0.05) in MSCV-Mash- 1-CE3 group when compared with CE3 and MSCV-CE3 groups; the gene expression of β-tubulin Ⅲ was significantly increased after 7 days (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in above indexes between CE3 and MSCV-CE3 groups (P>0.05). The expressions of AFP and Oct3/4 showed no significant difference among groups at each time point (P>0.05). ConclusionOver expression of Mash-1 gene can promote differentiation of ESC into neural cells in vitro.
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of TGF-β receptor inhibitor Compound C on the directed differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) into retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. MethodsH1 hESC were divided into control group and experimental group. When the hESC reached over confluence, the medium was changed to knockout serum replacement medium without bFGF to induce RPE differentiation. The experimental group was supplemented with 1 μmol/L TGF-β receptor inhibitor Compound C at the first six days of induction. Real-time PCR was carried out to examine the expression of paired-box gene 6 (PAX6), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), cellular retinaldehyde blinding protein (CRALBP), and RPE65 in both groups at the 1, 3, 5 weeks of the induction process. hESC-derived RPE (hESC-RPE) cells were isolated mechanically and purified. Real-time PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to characterize the purified hESC-RPE cells. ResultsPigmented colonies were observed in experimental group at the 4 weeks of the induction process, while no pigmented colony could be detected in the control group. All the purified pigmented cells from experimental group showed polygons morphology. Experimental group showed significantly higher expression of RPE marker genes PAX6, MITF, CRALBP and RPE65 than the control group(P<0.05). Compared with the hESC and ARPE-19 cells line, purified hESC-RPE cells showed much higher expression of PAX6, MITF, CRALBP and RPE65(P<0.05).High expression level of PAX6 and RPE65 proteins were observed in hESC-RPE cells. Immunofluorescence verified the expression of PAX6 and ZO-1 in hESC-RPE cells. ConclusionTGF-β receptor inhibitor Compound C significantly improved the differentiation efficiency of hESC into RPE.
ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of L-Phenylalanine on the efficiency of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell derivation from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and explore the underlying mechanisms. MethodsH1 hESCs were routinely cultured with mTeSR medium and divided into control and experimental groups. When cells reached over-confluence, spontaneous differentiation was triggered using 10% KSR differentiation medium without bFGF. L-Phenylalanine (0.2 mmol/L) was supplemented in the experimental group from the 3rd week. The expression of RPE markers and Wnt signaling components in the two groups was detected by Real time-RCR, Western blot and Flow cytometry analyses. Purified hESC-RPE cells and PBS were injected into the subretinal space of sodium iodine-induced retinal degeneration rats separately. Retinal function was assessed by ERG 6 weeks after the transplantation. ResultsOn the 7th week, much more pigment cell clumps appeared in the experimental group compared to the control group. Within these areas there were monolayer hexagonal RPE cells full of pigment granules. The experimental group showed significantly higher expression of Pax6, MITF, Tyrosinase, RPE65, Wnt3a, Lef1 and Tcf7 genes than the control group (P < 0.01). Higher expression level of MITF and RPE65 proteins and higher percentage of RPE65 (+) cells (P < 0.01) were detected in the experimental group. 6 weeks after sub-retinal transplantation of hESC-RPE cells, the amplitudes of a-b wave in the transplanted eyes were significantly higher than those in the control eyes (P < 0.01) at the stimulus intensity of 3.0 cd·s/m2. ConclusionsL-Phenylalanine effectively promoted the differentiation of embryonic stem cells into retinal pigment epithelial cells, and its impacts on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may partially explain the underlying mechanisms. Subretinal transplantation of hESC-RPE remarkably improved the retinal functions of retinal degenerative animal models.
There are over 8 million blind patients in China, 1/3 of them are suffered from retinal degeneration diseases. Stem cells transplantation can delay the photoreceptor cell degeneration or replace the dead photoreceptor cells, provides hopes for these patients. How to make enough seed cells is the major barrier for cell therapy. Good seed cells should be safe and with great pluripotency, and can be made from a wide range of sources, easy to be standardized and industrialized. Seed cells made from three-dimensional embryonic stem cells cultures can reach the above criteria, thus three-dimensional embryonic stem cell culture is a new strategy for making seed cells for cell treatment of blind diseases.
Retinal degeneration mainly include age-related macular degeneration, retinitispigmentosa and Stargardt’s disease. Although its expression is slightly different, its pathogenesis is photoreceptor cells and/or retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cel1 damage or degeneration. Because of the 1ack of self-repairing and renewal of retinal photoreceptor cells and RPE cells, cell replacement therapy is one of the most effective methods for treating such diseases.The stem cells currently used for the treatment of retinal degeneration include embryonicstem cells (ESC) and various adult stem cells, such as retinal stem cells (RSC), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). and mesenchyma1 stem cells (MSC). Understanding the currentbasic and clinical application progress of ESC, iPSC, RSC, MSC can provide a new idea for the treatment of retinal degeneration.
Diabetic retinopathy is a serious complication of diabetes and is the leading cause of blindness in people with diabetes. At present, there are many views on the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy, including the changes of retinal microenvironment caused by high glucose, the formation of advanced glycation end products, oxidative stress injury, inflammatory reaction and angiogenesis factor. These mechanisms produce a common pathway that leads to retinal degeneration and microvascular injury in the retina. In recent years, cell regeneration therapy plays an increasingly important role in the process of repairing diseases. Different types of stem cells have neurological and vascular protection for the retina, but the focus of the target is different. It has been reported that stem cells can regulate the retinal microenvironment and protect the retinal nerve cells by paracrine production, and can also reduce immune damage through potential immunoregulation, and can also differentiate into damaged cells by regenerative function. Combined with the above characteristics, stem cells show the potential for the repair of diabetic retinopathy, this stem cell-based regenerative therapy for clinical application provides a pre-based evident. However, in the process of stem cell transplantation, homogeneity of stem cells, cell delivery, effective homing and transplantation to damaged tissue is still a problem of cell therapy.