To determine the role of allogeneil graft of mesenchymal stem cells in mammalian longevity, mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from BALB/c mouse uterine-incision delivery fetus by two successive density gradient centrifugations, and then were purified and amplified by adherent culture. Identified P1 mesenchymal stem cells were injected (i.v.) through vena caudalis into the 15-month-old female BALB/c mice three times. The mice were evaluated with ultrasoundcardiogram, autopsy, score of cardiac, skin, lung, kidney, colon histopathology and serum total superoxide dismutase activity, maleic dialdehyde content, glutathione peroxidase activity. The results showed that after transplantation, the long-term surviving stem cells were found to be located in many organ tissues with in situ Y chromosomal hybridization dyeing. Median life span was increased in these animals after transplantation. Skin, cardiac, lung, kidney and colon pathology development were delayed. The retrogradation of heart function was attenuated, the increase of heart mass index (the mass of heart/the mass of the body), and serum maleic dialdehyde content, the decrease of spleen mass index (the mass of spleen/the mass of the body), serum total superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione peroxidase activity were reduced three months after transplantation (all P<0.05). These results support the idea that longevity can be enhanced by transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells and reinforce the hypothesis of mesenchymal stem cell as antiager.
Aging ; physiology ; Animals ; Female ; Fetal Stem Cells ; transplantation ; Longevity ; physiology ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Random Allocation

AIMTo establish model of differentiation of fetal liver stem cells induced by beta-ME + BHA into neural cells in vitro;

METHODSCD34+ cells from naturally aborted human fetal liver were isolated with MACS Kit, and cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). After confluent more than 80%, the 5 passage cells were induced by 10(-3) mol/L beta-mercaptoethanol (beta-ME) and 2 x 10(-4) mol/L BHA for 24 hours, and washed with PBS, and then incubated in serum-free medium for 5 hours to 5 days. The characteristics of treated cells were assayed by immunocytochemistry staining analysis.

RESULTSCells treated by beta-ME+ BHA exhibited neuronal phenotype, and expressed neuronal specific proteins such as nestin, NeuN, TrnJ-1, and NF-M, which were not found in control cells. Statistic analysis showed that 81% cells were NeuN-positive, 75% cells TuJ-1-positive, 47% cells NF-M-positive, 90% cells NSE-positive.

CONCLUSIONbeta-ME + BHA can induce human fetal liver CD34+ cells to produce neuronal specific antigens and proteins in vitro and become neuronal cells. CD34+ cells from human fetal liver possess potentials of differentiation into neural cells.

Antigens, CD34 ; Butylated Hydroxyanisole ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Liver ; cytology ; embryology ; Mercaptoethanol ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; cytology

Actins ; metabolism ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; metabolism ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Complex and Mixed ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vimentin ; metabolism

In order to determine the involvement of CALM-AF10 fusion transcripted in primary leukaemias with t(10;11) and its chemotherapy sensitivity in vitro, the AF10-CALM fusion transcripts were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the chemotherapy sensitivity testing in vitro was undergone by MTT assay in five t(10;11) leukemia samples from patients with ALL, AML and lymphoblastic lymphoma. The results showed that five different-sized AF10-CALM product and four different-sized CALM-AF10 products were detected. The chemotherapy sensitivity of leukemic cells with t(10;11) in vitro to drugs is lower than that of leukemic cells without t(10;11). 3 out of 5 cases of t(10;11) leukemia were sensitive to chemotherapeutic drugs, while 31 out of 36 cases of leukemia without t(10;11) were sensitive at same condition. There were significant differences (P < 0.01), consistent with clinical features of patients. Apoptosis rate of leukemic cells with t(10;11) induced by chemotherapeutic drugs was lower than that of leukemic cells without t(10;11), (16.37 +/- 2.56)%, and (33.75 +/- 5.59)%, respectively (P < 0.01). It is concluded that the CALM-AF10 fusion transcripts are a common features and are involved in the pathogenesis of haematological malignancies with t(10;11), and are associated with a poor prognosis.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukemia ; genetics ; pathology ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transcriptional Activation ; drug effects ; Translocation, Genetic ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

AIMTo study the mechanism of butylated hydroxyanisole-induced neural differentiation of fetal liver cells in vitro.

METHODS14.5-day-old mouse fetal liver-derived cells were cultured, and were induced by 200 micromol/L butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) combined with PI3K inhibitor LY294002 (20 micromol/L), and then were incubated in serum-free medium. Expression of genes in treated or untreated cells were assayed by Western blotting or RT-PCR.

RESULTSThere was low level of neurofilament-L (NF-L) and brain factor-1 (BF-1) but no neurofilament-H (NF-H) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in fetal liver cells. BHA promoted significantly expression of neuron-specific NF-L, NF-H, BF-1, and TH in fetal liver cells. NF-L mRNA increased 5.8 fold, NF-H mRNA 8.0 fold, BF-1 mRNA 2.68 fold, and TH mRNA 30 fold, respectively (all P < 0.01 vs untreated cells). NF-L protein increased 11.29 fold, NF-H 5.5 fold, BF-1 2.53 fold, TH 4.76 fold. Moreover, expression of these BHA-induced genes were inhibited by PI3K inhibitor LY294002.

CONCLUSIONBHA induced neural differentiation of fetal liver cells through PI3K.

Animals ; Butylated Hydroxyanisole ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryo, Mammalian ; cytology ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism

The physiological effects of Panax notoginseng seedlings under simulated drought stress by PEG 6000 on antioxidant enzymes, osmotic substances and root activities were studied. The results showed that the activity of POD and APX in roots and leaves kept rising with increasing processing concentration and time. However, on the one hand, at the same processing time, SOD in roots and leaves firstly increased and then decreased with the increase of processing concentration. On the other hand, at the same processing concentration, SOD kept rising with the extension of processing time. In addition, the activity of CAT in roots and leaves tended to increase with the increasing concentration at the same processing time, while it increased at first and then decreased with the extension of time at the same concentration. The activity of SOD and APX in stem did not change obviously, whereas CAT activity in stem increased with the increasing processing time and concentration. With the increase of processing concentration and the extension of processing time, the MDA, soluble protein, proline content and root activity in leaves and roots apparently rose. Moreover, fluorescence signal of H2O2 and NO in root tip enhanced as the processing concentration increased after treated for 1 d. In summary, P. notoginseng seedlings could deal with drought stress by means of adjusting the system of antioxidant enzyme, permeating stress substances and impeded stress signal substances. Thus, when the concentration of PEG 6000 was more than 5%, it would have harm on P. notoginseng seedlings.
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Droughts ; Panax notoginseng ; drug effects ; physiology ; Polyethylene Glycols ; pharmacology ; Seedlings ; drug effects ; physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

The physiological response and bioaccumulation of 2-year-old Panax notoginseng to cadmium stress was investigated under a hydroponic experiment with different cadmium concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 10 μmol · L(-1)). Result showed that low concentration (2.5 μmol · L(-1)) of cadmium could stimulate the activities of SOD, POD, APX in P. notoginseng, while high concentration (10 μmol · L(-1)) treatment made activities of antioxidant enzyme descended obviously. But, no matter how high the concentration of cadmium was, the activities of CAT were inhibited. The Pn, Tr, Gs in P. notoginseng decreased gradually with the increase of cadmium concentration, however Ci showed a trend from rise to decline. The enrichment coefficients of different parts in P. notoginseng ranked in the order of hair root > root > rhizome > leaf > stem, and all enrichment coefficients decreased with the increase of concentration of cadmium treatments; while the cadmium content in different parts of P. notoginseng and the transport coefficients rose. To sum up, cadmium could affect antioxidant enzyme system and photosynthetic system of P. notoginseng; P. notoginseng had the ability of cadmium enrichment, so we should plant it in suitable place reduce for reducing the absorption of cadmium; and choose medicinal parts properly to lessen cadmium intake.
Cadmium ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Hydroponics ; Panax notoginseng ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; drug effects ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Weight loss is frequently observed after acute exposure to high altitude. However, the magnitude and rate of weight loss during acute exposure to high altitude has not been clarified in a controlled prospective study. The present study was performed to evaluate weight loss at high altitude. A group of 120 male subjects [aged (32±6) years] who worked on the construction of the Golmud-Lhasa Railway at Kunlun Mountain (altitude of 4 678 m) served as volunteer subjects for this study. Eighty-five workers normally resided at sea level (sea level group) and 35 normally resided at an altitude of 2 200 m (moderate altitude group). Body weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference were measured in all subjects after a 7-day stay at Golmud (altitude of 2 800 m, baseline measurements). Measurements were repeated after 33-day working on Kunlun Mountain. In order to examine the daily rate of weight loss at high altitude, body weight was measured in 20 subjects from the sea level group (sea level subset group) each morning before breakfast for 33 d at Kunlun Mountain. According to guidelines established by the Lake Louise acute mountain sickness (AMS) consensus report, each subject completed an AMS self-report questionnaire two days after arriving at Kunlun Mountain. After 33-day stay at an altitude of 4 678 m, the average weight loss for the sea level group was 10.4% (range 6.5% to 29%), while the average for the moderate altitude group was 2.2% (-2% to 9.1%). The degree of weight loss (Δ weight loss) after a 33-day stay at an altitude of 4 678 m was significantly correlated with baseline body weight in the sea level group (r=0.677, P<0.01), while the correlation was absent in the moderate altitude group (r=0.296, P>0.05). In the sea level subset group, a significant weight loss was observed within 20 d, but the weight remained stable thereafter. AMS-score at high altitude was significantly higher in the sea level group (4.69±2.48) than that in the moderate altitude group (2.97±1.38), and was significantly correlated with baseline body weight. These results indicate that (1) the person with higher body weight during stay at high altitude loses more weight, and this is more pronounced in sea level natives when compared with that in moderate altitude natives; (2) heavier individuals are more likely to develop AMS than leaner individuals during exposure to high-altitude hypoxia.
Adult ; Altitude ; Altitude Sickness ; physiopathology ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; China ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Male ; Weight Loss ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of buried penis on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity of the corpus cavernosum in rats.

METHODSThe experimental model of concealed penis was established by intra-pocket-suture of the root of the penis. Two hundred and forty rats were equally randomized into a 2, a 4 and a 6 months group, each further divided into a buried (n = 50), a sham operation (n = 15) and a normal subgroup (n = 15). The development of the corpus cavernosum was surveyed by measuring its weight and the ratio to the body weight, followed by determination of NOS activity in the corpus cavernosum by spectrophotometry.

RESULTSNo significant differences were found in the corpus cavernosum weight, the body weight and their ratio among the buried, sham operation and normal groups in any experimental stage (P > 0.05). Buried penis decreased NOS activity in the 4- and 6-month groups (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) compared with the normal group, but effected no significant change in the 2-month group.

CONCLUSIONBuried penis decreases the NOS activity of the corpus cavernosum in a positively time-related manner, but with no significant influence on its appearance and weight.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Erectile Dysfunction ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Penis ; abnormalities ; enzymology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spectrophotometry