ObjectiveTo explore the effect of bFGF-chitosan carriers on inducing bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to differentiate into nerve cells.MethodsMSCs were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot after they were induced by bFGF-chitosan carriers to differentiate into neurons. The MTT chromometry assay was carried out to determine cell viability.ResultsThe proportion of express neural stem cells marker Nestin, and neuronal markers class Ⅲ β-tubulin and MAP-2 was 83.54% after MSCs induced by bFGF-chitosan carriers.ConclusionbFGF-chitosan carriers can induce MSCs to differentiate into nerve cells with a high percentage.

BACKGROUND:Neural stem cells (NSCs) hold self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation potential. NSCs differentiation into neurons in high proportion under induction conditions exhibits broad application prospect. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-chitosan carrier on the NSCs differentiation into neurons in vitro, and whether the differentiated neurons could form synaptic-like connection with myocytes. METHODS:After purification, the NSCs were co-cultured with chitosan, soluble bFGF or bFGF-chitosan carrier. After 7-day induction, the NSCs differentiation into neurons was observed by immunofluorescence staining of beta tubulin Ⅲ. The NSCs differentiation into cholinergic neurons was observed through double immunofluorescence staining of ChaT and beta tubulin Ⅲ. The synaptic-like connection between the neurons and myocytes was observed by triple staining of beta tubulin Ⅲ and MHC. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The percentage of differentiated neurons in the bFGF-chitosan carrier group was 74%, which was significantly higher than that in the other two groups. Additionally, the synaptic-like connection formed between the differentiated neurons and myocytes. To conclude, the bFGF-chitosan carrier promotes the NSCs differentiation into neurons to form synaptic-like connection with the co-cultured myocytes.

Objective To silence the expression of CTGF by small interfering RNA technology,to observe the influence on fibroblast?like synovial cell apoptosis and several apoptosis?related genes,and to explore the mechanism of action of CTGF in rheumatoid arthritis synovial lesions. Methods Effective CTGF siRNA was screened through real?time PCR. The influence of CTGF siRNA on FLS apoptosis was detected with FITC?PI double staining by flow cytometry. bax,bcl?xl and survivin were detected using real?time PCR when CTGF mRNA has been silenced. Results Compared with other 2 groups of oligo and NC oligo,H1 oligo exhibited the strongest interfering action to CTGF(inhibition ratio>70%),so that it is selected as the effective target gene sequence for the following experiment. Apoptosis of FLS induced by serum deprivation was significantly decreased in the presence of exogenous CTGF. When expression of the CTGFgene was knocked down in FLS,FLS apoptosis was significantly increased,and expres?sion levels of survivin mRNA were decreased significantly(P<0.01). Conclusion FLS survival is positively regulated by CTGF,which may through the sustaining the expression of survivin.

Objective To explore the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-chitosan carriers on neural differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs). Methods NSCs were isolated from spinal cord of a neonatal Wistar rat and cultured. Purity of cultured NSCs was identified with Nestin immunofluorescent staining. The 10 mg/ml chitosan carriers, 20 ng/ml bFGF or 10 mg/ml bFGF-chitosan carriers were added into medium of P3~P4 NSCs respectively. NSCs were observed with immunofluorescent staining: 3 days after incubation with Nestin and β-tubulin III; 7 days after incubation with microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP2), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and myelin basic protein (MBP); and 14 days after incubation with synapsin-1 and MAP2. The electrophysiological activity of cells was detected with MED64. Results 3 days after incubation, all the NSCs differentiated into Nestin+/β-tubulin III+, and the length of neurofilament was the highest in those co-cultured with bFGF-chitosan carriers. 7 days after incubation, NSCs differentiated into MAP2+, GFAP+ and MBP+, and more NSCs differentiated into MAP2+ with bFGF-chitosan carriers. 14 days after incubation, NSCs differentiated with bFGF-chitosan carriers express synapsin-1+/MAP2+ and showed electrophysiological activity. Conclusion bFGF-chitosan carriers can induce NSCs to differentiate into neuron with high percentage and the differentiated neurons can form synapses with electrophysiology activity.

Objective To explore the induction of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-chitosan carrier transforming the adult rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) into nerve cells. Methods rMSCs were detected qualitatively and counted quantitatively by immunohistochemistry after they were induced into nerve cells, such as neural stem cells neurons and astrocytes. The methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) chromometry assay was carried out to determine the cell viability. Results rMSCs induced by bFGF-chitosan carrier expressed neural stem cell marker nestin, neuron marker β-tubulin Ⅲ and astrocytes marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Nestin expressed more in the bFGF-chitosan group, and reached its maximum (49.40%) at the 9th day. Conclusion bFGF-chitosan carrier can induce the adult rMSCs differentiate into neural stem cells in a high proportion.

Objective To estimate the value of BIOMED-2 primers for the detection of T cell receptor γ (TCR-γ) gene rearrangements in different types of specimens from patients with mycosis fungoides (MF).Methods Totally,15 paraffin-embedded tissue specimens,14 fresh tissue specimens and 18 whole blood specimens were obtained from 28 patients with MF,and subjected to DNA extraction.BIOMED-2 multiplex PCR tubes TCRγ (A+B) were used for the analysis of TCRγgene rearrangements.Data were processed by SPSS 13.0 software,and statistical analysis was done by chi-square test and Fisher's exact probability test.Results TCR-γ gene rearrangements were detected in 3 paraffin-embedded tissue specimens,11 fresh tissue specimens and 12 blood specimens,with significant differences in the detection rate between the three samples (x2 =13.047,P ＜ 0.01).The fresh tissue samples showed a significantly higher detection rate than the paraffin-embedded tissue samples (X2 =12.523,P ＜ 0.01).The detection rate of TCRγgene rearrangements was 3/6 in paraffin-embedded tissue samples collected in 2011,significantly higher than that in the other 9 paraffin-embedded tissue samples collected before 2011 (Fisher's exact probability test,P =0.044),but similar to that in 14 fresh tissue specimens (12/14,Fisher's exact probability test,P =0.044).Decreased detection rate of TCRγ gene rearrangements was observed in blood samples compared with fresh tissue specimens,but no statistical difference was observed between the two types of specimens (x2 =2.358,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions BIOMED-2 multiplex PCR tubes TCRγ(A+B) are suitable for the detection of clonal rearrangements of TCRγgene in different types of specimens,especially in fresh tissue specimens,from patients with MF.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy,safety and impact of recombinant human cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen (CTLA)-4 fusion proteins (rhCTLA-4Ig) on serum human tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and CX3CL1 in active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.Methods Forty-four RA patients were treated with rhCTLA-4Ig and placebo.Clinical response was assessed by American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28).The levels of serum TNF-α and CX3CL1 were determined in 44 RA patients and 20 healthy controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Comparisons between groups were performed by t-test or x2 test.Results At week 12,ACR20,ACR50and ACR70 responses in RA patients with rhCTLA-4Ig were achieved by 95％(20/21 ),76％( 16/21 )and 19％(4/21) respectively,but no patient with placebo achieved ACR20,ACRS0 and ACR70 responses.There were significantly statistical differences in ACR20 and ACR50 responses (x2=39.17,26.69,P＜0.01 ).At week 12,the mean DAS28 in the rhCTLA4Ig group was 3.1±1.3 versus 6.2±1.1 at baseline (P＜0.01).Similarly,health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) improved significantly,declining from 1.4±0.5 at baseline to 0.4±0.5 at week 12 (P＜0.01).However,the mean DAS28 in the placebo group was 5.8±1.2 versus 6.0±0.7 at baseline (P＞0.05),HAQ declined from 1.6±0.4 to 1.6±0.6 (P＞0.05).In addition,there were higher levels of TNF-α and CX3CL1 in the active RA patients than those of the healthy controls (P＜0.01).After 12 weeks therapy,Serum TNF-α and CX3CL1 levels in the rhCTLA-4Ig group decreased significantly (P＜0.01).There weren't decline in the placebo group (P＞0.05).Conclusion This study has shown that rhCTLA-4Ig is very effective in reducing disease activity,improving function during the 12 weeks treatment.rhCTLA-4Ig therapy for 12 weeks can lead to significant decrease of serum TNF-α and CX3CL1.

Objective To explore the physiological characteristics of synaptic transmission of anterior horn early development in thorac-ic spinal cord mediated byα-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors in rats. Methods 36 Wistar rats were divided into embryonic 17 days group (E17, n=12), embryonic 20 days group (E20, n=12) and postnatal 7 days group (P7, n=12). Immuno-fluorescent staining of calmodulin-dependent protein kinaseⅡ(CaMKⅡ) was used to test the distribution of AMPA receptors. Multi-elec-trode array technique (MED-64 system) was used to test the changes of field excitatory post-synaptic potential (fEPSP) of synaptic transmis-sion mediated by AMPA receptor. Results There was small amount of CaMKⅡ-positive neurons existing in gray matter of spinal cord at E17, CaMKⅡ-positive neurons migrated to the center, and the number of neurons became more and more in E20 and P7 rats. The number of evoked fEPSP gradually increased in rats from E17 to P7, and could be blocked by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX). The range of synaptic connection in spinal cord gray matter significantly reduced (P<0.001). Conclusion AMPA receptors participate in the early development of spinal cord in rats and act as the main excitatory receptor of functional synaptic connection in neural network of ventricornu.

Objective To observe the effects of neurotrophin 3 (NT3)-chitosan on motor function, and proliferation and differentiation of the neural stem cells (NSCs) in the injury area and subventricular zone (SVZ) in rats with motor cortex injury. Methods Sixty-five Wistar rats were divided into control group (n=7), injury group (n=29) and NT3-chitosan group (n=29). The motor cortex was aspirated and re-moved as cerebral injury model. NT3-chitosan was immediately implanted into the injured area after operation, and the control group re-ceived no intervention. Pellet reaching test was performed to detect the recovery of the forelimb function, HE staining was used to observe the lesion cavity size, and immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after operation. Results The grasp success rate was higher (F>6.00, P≤0.05), and the lesion cavity size was significantly smaller (F>629.5, P<0.001) in the NT3-chitosan group than in the injury group. In the NSCs differentiation experi-ment, the number of BrdU cells at all the time points was significantly higher in the NT3-chitosan group than in the injury group (F>171.43, P<0.001). In the NSCs proliferation experiment, the number of BrdU positive cells was still significantly higher in the NT3-chitosan group than in the control group and in the injury group (F>155.06, P<0.001), the number of Dcx positive cells was significantly higher in the NT3-chitosan group than in the injury group (F=62.367, P<0.001), and the number of BrdU/Dcx positive cells was significantly higher in the NT3-chitosan group than in the control group (F=33.527, P<0.001). Conclusion NT3-chitosan could activate NSCs in the SVZ, and pro-mote endogenous neurogenesis and forelimb function recovery in rats after motor cortex injury.

Objective To compare the application of CUBIC and iDISCO clearing methods in observing 3D imaging of spinal cord with immunofluorescent staining. Methods 1 mm thick spinal cord coronal sections were processed with CUBIC and iDISCO, respectively. The neurofilament (NF) protein was detected by immunofluorescent staining and then was observed by a laser confocal microscope. Results Compared with CUBIC, iDISCO had the advantages of shorter time, higher transparency (F=6.64, P<0.01), and deeper penetration (F=5117.55, P<0.01). Conclusion Immunofluorescent staining combined with iDISCO could completely observe the spinal axons with shorter time and better stain effect.