BACKGROUND:The umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells possess multipotent differentiation capacity, but less research focus on its differentiation into fibroblasts.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the capacity of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells differentiating into fibroblasts.
METHODS:Using adherent method, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were isolated, and flow cytometric analysis of the surface antigen was performed. Passage 3 cells were selected for osteogenic and
adipogenic differentiation, and cells differentiated into fibroblasts under the induction of basic fibroblast growth factor. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Adherent stem cells were stably isolated from the umbilical cord. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells lowly expressed CD31, CD45, CD40, HLA-DR, but strongly expressed CD29, CD90, CD44, CD105. Oil red O staining showed red droplets were ful of the cytoplasm after adipogenic induction;alizarin red staining showed red calcium nodules after osteogenic induction. After induced by basic fibroblast growth factor, the type I col agen expression was significantly higher than that in the control group. These findings indicate that the adherent human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells are reliably isolated with high purity;basic fibroblast growth factor can induce differentiation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells into fibroblasts.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological status of visceral leishmaniasis in Hamangou coal mine area of Korla City of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.Methods Based on a hint of possible existence of patients, a retrospective survey was carried out house by house to find cases with suspected signs/symptoms of the disease.Meanwhile, a survey on current status was conducted, including physical examination(liver and spleen palpation) to those less than 15 years-old, leishmanin skin test and rk39 immunochromatographic strip test for part of the residents.Bone marrow smears were examined for the cases with clinical signs/symptoms and positive rk39 strip test.Sandflies were collected using routine methods in and around the area, identified, and dissected to find infection of promastigotes.Results Leishmanin skin test was performed in 185 people with a positive rate of 21.1%(39/185), 39 out of 140 local residents who have lived there for more than 6 years showed positive(27.9%) , while all residents who have lived less than 6 years and children under 5 years old were negative.Of the 81 children under 15 years old with a negative skin test, one showed positive for rk39 strip test, and leishmania body was found in the bone marrow smear of this case, so confirmed as visceral leishmaniasis.12 sandfies were identified as Phlebotomus alexandri, and natural infection with promastigotes was found in one sandly.Conclusion The investigation confirms that visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in the Hamangou coal mine area.