BACKGROUND:Neural stem cel s with self-proliferation and differentiation potential are the ideal seed cel s for central nervous tissue engineering. Although col agen and silk fibroin as biological scaffold materials have been widely used, both of them used alone have certain shortcomings. Is it possible to combine the two materials to build a novel neural tissue-engineered scaffold? What is the effect of this novel scaffold on the growth and differentiation of neural stem cel s? OBJECTIVE:To observe the growth and differentiation of neural stem cel s seeded onto the novel composite scaffold. METHODS:The rat embryonic neural stem cells were inoculated onto new composite scaffolds, and then, their growth and differentiation were observed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Neural stem cells were cultured in conventional suspension culture as control group. Cell counting kit-8 assay was used to detect viability of neural stem cells in the two groups. Three-dimensional composite scaffolds carrying neural stem cells were slic ed into paraffin sections to observe the growth and differentiation of neural stem cells by hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Neural stem cel s cultured on the new composite scaffold grew and differentiated wel , and interconnected synapses were observed. Cel counting kit-8 assay showed that neural stem cel s on the scaffold grew wel , and the cel viability was significantly higher in the composite scaffold group than that in the control group (P<0.05). Hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunofluorescence staining of paraffin sections further provided evidence for good growth and differentiation of neural stem cel s on the scaffold. These results indicate that the novel composite scaffold with good biocompatibility benefits the growth and differentiation of neural stem cel s, promising a favorable application prospect.

Adrenergic receptors are members of the G-protein coupled receptor superfamily. Recent studies revealed that these adrenergic receptors are playing an important role in the growth and metastasis of prostate cancer cells. The expression of adrenergic receptors rises significantly in prostate cancer cells and tissues. Agonists of these receptors promote the growth and mobility of prostate cancer cells, while antagonists may suppress their proliferation, trigger their apoptosis, and inhibit their metastasis. Clinically, receptor antagonists can significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer and improve its prognosis after androgen depravation therapy. This article presents an overview on the roles of adrenergic receptors in prostate cancer.
Adrenergic Agonists ; pharmacology ; Adrenergic Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Receptors, Adrenergic ; drug effects ; physiology

Animals ; Oocytes ; metabolism ; physiology ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; physiology ; Receptors, Purinergic P2X ; physiology ; Xenopus laevis

Animals ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Genes, ras ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism

Cell viability of Pichia pastoris was detected by flow cytometry (FCM) with two reagents fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and propidium iodide (PI). Compared with FDA/PI double-stained dot plots and PI single-stained dot plots,the latter could divide dead and living cells into two separate zones,and get the correct proportion. Then PI single-stained method was used to detect the change of cell viability in Pichia patoris fermentation. At glycerol batch and fed-batch phase,little dead cells were detected. At methanol fed-batch phase,cell viability decreased when cell weight increased,and was only 73.8% at 88 h.

To obtain a number of extracellular penicillinase,the gene(penp)encoding penicillinse of Bacillus cereus ATCC10987 was cloned into expression vector in Bacillus subtilis,transformed into Bacillus subtilis DB104 deficient in two proteases.When recombinant bacteria was cultured in LB medium for 24 hours,the result of SDS-PAGE showed that the molecular weight of the protein was 28kDa and the penicillinase activity reached 339U/ml.By screening seven different fermentation media,the result showed that 4# medium is favorable to producing penicillinase by the recombinant cells than the others,with the yield of the enzyme being 1580U/ml.When the recombinant cells was cultured in 7 liter fermentor for 24h,the penicillinase activity reached 1255.8U/ml.

BACKGROUND:The traditional method of preparing tissue-engineered conduit has the defects of complex shape manufacturing and uncontrolable inner space structure, which cannot meet the requirements of some micro-catheters.
OBJECTIVE:To prepare a bionic spinal catheter and analyze its performance.
METHODS:The data model of the conduit was established using Solid Works software, and platform scan path was generated onthree-dimensionalprinter to produce the bionic spinal catheter with fibroin and colagen as raw materials. Then the water absorption, porosity, mechanical properties and celular compatibility of the conduits were detected. Next, the conduits were implanted into the subcutaneous tissue of rats and taken out at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after surgery, respectively, to observe the degradation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The porosity of the conduit was (53.6±1.0)%, the water absorption was (1347±19.4)%, and the compression modulus was (0.60±0.12) MPa. The micropores distributed uniformly with different size ranging from 10 to 240 μm. Spherical or fusiform stem cels survived in the pores and densely adhered to the conduit with pseudopodia. The degradation rate ofthe conduit was 20%, 59%, 74%and 100% at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after surgery, respectively. These findings indicate that the artificial bionic spinal catheter has good biocompatibility and degradability.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Genes, MDR ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Telomerase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; Vault Ribonucleoprotein Particles ; metabolism

The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) miRNA plasmids on the expressive levels of CTGF, transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) and type I collagen of rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC) which are stimulated by high glucose. The rat HSCs which were successfully transfected rat CTGF miRNA plasmids and the rat HSCs which were successfully transfected negative plasmids were cultured in vitro. After stimulus of the TMP and the high glucose, the protein levels and gene expressive levels of CTGF, TGF-beta and type I collagen were tested. The results indicated that high glucose increased the expression of CTGF mRNA, CTGF protein, TGF-beta mRNA,TGF-beta protein and type I collagen (P < 0.05). The expressive levels of CTGF mRNA, CTGF protein, TGF-beta mRNA, TGF-beta and type I collagen in TMP group were lower than those in high glucose group and showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). Compared with high glucose group, the expressive levels of CTGF mRNA, CTGF protein, TGF-beta mRNA, TGF-beta and type I collagen in rat CTGF miRNA plasmid interference group were significantly lower (P < 0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was found in CTGF mRNA and CTGF protein levels between TMP group and CTGF miRNA group (P > 0.05), while type I collagen levels showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). It is concluded that high glucose could promote the expressions of CTGF, TGF-beta and type I collagen, and TMP and rat CTGF miRNA plasmids could reduce the expressions of CTGF, TGF-beta, type I collagen.
Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; genetics ; Culture Media ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Plasmids ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the proliferation characteristics of fibroblast like synovial cells (FLS)in osteoarthritis in vitro and the mechanism of the immnnosuppressive effect of T-614 [N-(3-formy- lamino-4-oxo-6-phenoxy-4H-chromen-7-yl)methanesulfonamide ] on them.Methods FLS of OA and non- inflamed synovium(NS)were cultured and identified in vitro in the presence or absence of T-614.After incu- bation,the survival fraction(SF)of FLS was evaluated by MTT,cell cycle was observed using fluorescence - activated cell sorting(FCS)method and the expression of c-fos and COX-2 mRNA was examined by RT- PCR in FLS of OA patients.Results No statistically significant difference was noted between the OA and NS FLS in proliferation ability and cell cycle.High dose T-614 suppressed FLS SF obviously in OA and NS sta- tistically(P＜0.05),whereas the inhibition degree was not different between the two kinds of FLS.The agent induced cell apoptosis and reduced the accumulation of c-fos mRNA in OA-FLS at dose 1000 ml/L,prolonged G_1 term and shortened S term at dose 200 ml/L.The expression of COX-2 mRNA in OA FLS was suppressed obviously by T-614 at dose 1000 ml/L.Conclusion OA FLS do not display a distinct activated unlimited viability compared with NS cells,without stimulated by proinflammatory cytokine in vitro.High dose T-614 moderately inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of FLS,directly affects gene of the c-fos and COX-2 expression in OA,which may contribute to its immunosuppressive effect on OA'synovitis.