Corpus cavernous smooth muscle cells are the main functional component of the corpus cavernosum penis, whose phenotypic modulation is the key initial step in the proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells. Therefore, an insight into the mechanism of the phenotypic modulation of smooth muscle cells and its influencing factors is important for the prevention and management of penis erectile dysfunction. Smooth muscle cells are generally divided into contracting (differentiated) and composing (undifferentiated, proliferated or dedifferentiated) types. It is found that TGF-beta, transcription factor E2F1, BTEB2 and insulin may affect the phenotypic modulation of smooth muscle cells. This paper presents an overview of the progress in the researches on the phenotypic modulation of corpus cavernous smooth muscle cells and its influencing factors.
Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; classification ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Penis ; Phenotype

The interactions between endothelial cells (EC) and smooth muscle cells (SMC) contribute to vascular physiological functions and also cause the occurrence and development of different kinds of diseases. Currently, EC-SMC co-culture model is the best way to study the interactions between the two kinds of cells. This article summarizes existing EC-SMC co-culture models and their effects on the structure and functions of the two kinds of cells. Microscopically speaking, it provides a basis for in-depth studies on their interactions as well as a reference for the establishment of in vitro EC-SMC co-culture system that is closer to organic physiology or pathology state.
Animals ; Coculture Techniques ; methods ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; metabolism

Erectile dysfunction (ED), as a pathological phenomenon, refers to repeated or sustained difficulty to achieve and maintain sufficient penile erection to complete satisfactory sexual intercourse or sexual activity in male. The erectile reflex interruption induced by cavernous nerve (CN) damage is a direct cause of ED. In addition, the apoptosis of smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells in the corpus cavernosum caused by CN injury, along with the reduction of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle fibers, can increase the incidence of ED. Therefore, early intervention of the pathological process of CN injury and promotion of CN regeneration are essential for the treatment of ED. In recent years, the stem cell therapy for ED has become a focus in clinical research. This article offers an overview on the application of embryonic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, muscle-derived stem cells, and adipose stem cells in the treatment of ED.
Adipocytes ; cytology ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Erectile Dysfunction ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells ; cytology

AIMIn order to establish a coculture system of ECs and SMCs and by which further study can be done.

METHODSECs in primary culture were grown on a side of Transwell membrane, and SMCs were grown on an other side of it or the bottom of culture well, so that two kinds of coculture systems were established, and detail observation on the coculture systems was carried out by transmission and scanning electron microscope.

RESULTSECs in primary culture were positive of VI factor by immunocytochemistry staining. ECs and SMCs were grown well on both sides of Transwell membrane, relative to ECs monolayer of "cobblestone appearance", SMCs were multilayer of "hills and valleys appearance". ECs and SMCs on both sides of Transwell membrane could form the gap junctions by micropores.

CONCLUSIONThe coculture systems of ECs and SMCs were established successfully by modeling the structural relationship of vascular wall.

Animals ; Aorta ; cytology ; Cell Communication ; Coculture Techniques ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo establish the methods for purification, culture, and identification of adult human skeletal muscle stem cells in vitro and to explore the biological properties of the cells.

METHODSMuscle stem cells were obtained by reformed enzymatic digestion of muscle tissue from the consenting donors and cultured in serum-free medium. The morphology was inspected by an inverted phase contrast microscope. Phenotypic characteristics of the cells and expression of cell-specific markers were determined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunocytochemistry. The growth of single cells in suspension culture was observed and recorded continuously. The cells were analyzed for their multi-lineage differentiation potential into osteoblastic, adipocyte, and smooth muscle cell lineages.

RESULTSPrimary cultured human skeletal muscle stem cells proliferated and formed the big spheres when cultured with serum free medium. Immunofluorescence staining displayed Pax7 and ALDH1 positive expression in the cell spheres. Furthermore, Myod and Desmin showed positive expression in the monolayer cells derived from the spheres. The gene expressions of Oct3/4, Nanog, Sox2 and Pax7 in the cells were determined by RT-PCR. The cell clones formed from single cells grew well. In addition, they were capable of spontaneous differentiation into myotubes in differentiation medium and into other mesodermal cell lineages in induction medium.

CONCLUSIONSHuman muscle stem cells with properties of self-renewal capacity and multi-differentiation could be successfully isolated and expanded in vitro.

Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Muscle, Skeletal ; cytology ; Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle ; cytology ; Stem Cells ; cytology

Skeletal muscle possesses a remarkable ability for its regeneration and injured tissue repair. This ability depends on the activity and contributions of muscle satellite cells. Proliferating satellite cells, termed myogenic precursor cells or myoblasts, are activated and driven out of their quiescent state upon muscle injury. In this summary, we present a review to summarize the molecular regulation in skeletal satellite cells to light on the satellite cells' self-renewal mechanism.
Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Regeneration ; Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle ; cytology ; Soft Tissue Injuries

Muscle-derived stem cells (MDSC) are defined as myogenic stem cells endowed with their ability to self-renew and differentiate into multiple cell types of their derivative tissue, and are proved to be over 10 times more efficient in hematopoiesis than hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). Although the mechanism which MDSC differentiate into blood cells is still unclear, MDSC were considered to replace HSC to treat the patients suffering from bone marrow diseases such as aplastic anemia and tumor. MDSC are different from HSC in a variety aspects like biological characteristics, protein expression and cell proliferation. On the other hand, MDSC contain multiple distinct stem cell populations. Among these, there is only a small part with the ability to repopulate hematopoietic cells, and it is still uncertain whether their origin is same as HSC. This review summarizes the difference between MDSC and HSC, the ability of MDSC to repopulate hematopoietic cells, and the prospect of MDSCs' transplantation.
Anemia, Aplastic ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Hematopoiesis ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Muscle, Skeletal ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the method of culturing rabbit clitoral smooth muscle cells(SMC) in vitro and their biological characteristics.

METHODSRabbit clitoral SMCs were cultured in vitro by enzymatically dispersed method, and morphological observation, cell counting and immunohistochemical staining were employed to study their biological characteristics.

RESULTSRabbit clitoral SMCs were spindle-shaped and parallelled along their longitudinal axis, and the attachment and proliferation in vitro were rapid.

CONCLUSIONRabbit clitoral SMCs cultured in vitro can grow and maintain their steady characteristics when provided with appropriate culture condition. Clitoral SMCs cultured in vitro can serve as a cell material for researches of clitoris.

Animals ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Division ; Cells, Cultured ; Clitoris ; cytology ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; Rabbits

Bronchi ; cytology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology

Endothelial injury, smooth muscle cells (SMCs) proliferation and migration are the same common pathophysiological processes of many cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes and restenosis. It is important to determine the functional interactions between endothelial cells (ECs) and SMCs under pathologic conditions. This work was to study the effects of ECs growth states on the proliferation and migration of vascular SMCs in cell coculture system. (3)H-TdR incorporation and flow cytometry were used to determine the effects of ECs growth states on the proliferation of SMCs. The number of migrating SMCs was counted. RT-PCR was used to analyze the expression of alpha-SM-actin mRNA. The results showed that (3)H-TdR incorporation decreased significantly from 14,900+/-1035 cpm/well in the control group to 8,575+/-749 cpm/well in the confluent ECs group (n=6, P<0.01), and increased to 27,268+/-2310 cpm/well in the proliferative ECs group ( n=6, P<0.01). The transition of SMCs from G(0)/G(1) phase to G(2)/M and S phases was blocked in the confluent ECs group but promoted in the proliferative ECs group. Compared with the control group, the number of migrating cells was about 4 times higher in the proliferative ECs group (n=6, P<0.01), while it in the confluent ECs group was only the half of the number of the control(n=6, P<0.05). The expression of alpha-SM-actin mRNA was increased significantly in the confluent ECs group(2.3+/-0.11 vs 1.4+/-0.12, P<0.05), but decreased significantly in the proliferative ECs group(0.92+/-0.08 vs 1.4+/-0.12, P<0.05). The results suggest that the biologic features of SMCs are influenced by ECs growth states. The proliferative ECs promote SMCs proliferation, migration and downregulate alpha-SM-actin mRNA expression significantly.
Actins ; metabolism ; Aorta ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Division ; Cell Movement ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology