BACKGROUNDRecent studies have suggested that cancer stem cells are one of the major causes for tumor recurrence due to their resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Although the highly invasive nature of glioblastoma (GBM) cells is also implicated in the failure of current therapies, it is not clear how glioma stem cells (GSCs) are involved in invasiveness. Rac1 activity is necessary for inducing reorganization of actin cytoskeleton and cell movement. In this study, we aimed to investigate the distribution characteristics of CD133+ cells and Rac1+ cells in GBM as well as Rac1 activity in CD133+ GBM cells, and analyze the migration and invasion potential of these cells.

METHODSA series of 21 patients with GBM were admitted consecutively and received tumor resection in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital during the first half of the year 2011. Tissue specimens were collected both from the peripheral and the central parts for each tumor under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) navigation guidance. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the CD133+ cells and Rac1+ cells distribution in GBM specimens. Double-labeling immunofluorescence was further used to analyze CD133 and Rac1 co-expression and the relationship between CD133+ cells distribution and Rac1 expression. Serum-free medium culture and magnetic sorting were used to isolate CD133+ cells from U87 cell line. Rac1 activation assay was conducted to assess the activation of Rac1 in CD133+ and CD133 - U87 cells. The migration and invasive ability of CD133+ and CD133 - U87 cells were determined by cell migration and invasion assays in vitro. Student's t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test were used to determine statistical significance in this study.

RESULTSIn the central parts of GBMs, CD133+ cells were found to cluster around necrosis and occasionally cluster around the vessels under the microscope by immunohistological staining. In the peripheral parts of the tumors, CD133+ cells were lined up along the basement membrane of the vessels and myelinated nerve fibers. Rac1 expression was high and diffused in the central parts of the GBMs, and the Rac1+ cells were distributed basically in accordance with CD133+ cells both in the central and peripheral parts of GBMs. In double-labeling immunofluorescence, Rac1 was expressed in (83.14 ± 4.23)% of CD133+ cells, and CD133 and Rac1 co-expressed cells were located around the vessels in GBMs. Significantly higher amounts of Rac1-GTP were expressed in the CD133+ cells (0.378 ± 0.007), compared to CD133- cells (0.195 ± 0.004) (t = 27.81; P < 0.05). CD133+ cells had stronger ability to migrate (74.34 ± 2.40 vs. 38.72 ± 2.60, t = 42.71, P < 0.005) and invade (52.00 ± 2.28 vs. 31.26 ± 1.82, t = 30.76, P < 0.005), compared to their counterpart CD133- cells in transwell cell migration/invasion assay.

CONCLUSIONSThese data suggest that CD133+ GBM cells highly express Rac1 and have greater potential to migrate and invade through activated Rac1-GTP. The accordance of distribution between Rac1+ cells and CD133+ cells in GBMs implies that Rac1 might be an inhibited target to prevent invasion and migration and to avoid malignant glioma recurrence.

AC133 Antigen ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Glioblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Vitro Techniques ; Peptides ; metabolism ; rac1 GTP-Binding Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo dynamically observe how glioma stem cells promote the tumor formation and angiogenesis, and to study the correlation between the distribution of glioma stem cells and microvessels within different growth stages of subcutaneous tumor.

METHODSStem cell medium culture and magnetic activated cell sorting were carried out to obtain CD133+ cells from C6 rat glioma cell line. Sprague Dawley (SD) rat ears model were established to observe glioma stem cells promoting blood vessel formation. Subcutaneous glioma model of C6 and immunohistochemical staining of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and CD133 were used to investigate the relationship between distribution of glioma stem cells and microvessels. Expressions of CD133 protein in each stage of the subcutaneous tumor were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSIsolation and identification of glioma stem cells deprived from C6 glioma cell line successfully, the establishment of ears model showed real-time dynamic observation of CD133+ cells involved in angiogenesis and tumor formation. SD rat model of subcutaneous glioma showed the initial of tumor formation, CD133+ cells scattered. With tumor growth, CD133+ cells began to tend to capillaries, in late distributed clusters in perivascular. Meanwhile as tumor growth, CD133 protein expression was gradually increased: the values of Western blot analysis of CD133 expression on 6, 9, 12, 15, 20 d were 0.208±0.004, 0.282±0.003, 0.360±0.004, 0.564±0.135, 0.756±0.007, the differences were significant between different groups (F=2601.681, P<0.01). At a high magnification, the CD133 scores with immunohistochemical staining on 6, 9, 12, 15 d were 0.8±0.4, 2.4±0.5, 4.0 ± 0.7, 6.0±0.7; HIF-1α scores were 0.8±0.4, 2.8±0.8, 5.0±0.7, 6.8±0.4. By Spearman rank correlation analysis found that the relationship between CD133 and HIF-1α expression was positively correlated (r=0.921, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSGlioma stem cells promote angiogenesis more than non-stem cells; HIF-1α and its downstream gene product might mediate the distribution of glioma stem cells around the perivascular.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Glioma ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; pathology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have suggested that cancer stem cells cause tumor recurrence based on their resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Although the highly invasive nature of glioblastoma cells is also implicated in the failure of current therapies, it is not clear whether cancer stem cells are involved in invasiveness. This study aimed to assess invasive ability of glioma stem cells (GSCs) derived from C6 glioma cell line and the distribution patterns of GSCs in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat brain tumor.

METHODSSerum-free medium culture and magnetic isolation were used to gain purely CD133(+) GSCs. The invasive ability of CD133(+) and CD133(-) C6 cells were determined using matrigel invasion assay. Immunohistochemical staining for stem cell markers and luxol fast blue staining for white matter tracts were performed to show the distribution patterns of GSCs in brain tumor of rats and the relationship among GSCs, vessels, and white matter tracts. The results of matrigel invasion assay were estimated using the Student's t test and the analysis of Western blotting was performed using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test.

RESULTSCD133(+) GSCs (number: 85.3 ± 4.0) were significantly more invasive in vitro than matched CD133(-) cells (number: 25.9 ± 3.1) (t = 14.5, P < 0.005). GSCs invaded into the brain diffusely and located in perivascular niche of tumor-brain interface or resided within perivascular niche next to white fiber tracts. The polarity of glioma cells containing GSCs was parallel to the white matter tracts.

CONCLUSIONSOur data suggest that CD133(+) GSCs exhibit more aggressive invasion in vitro and GSCs in vivo probably disseminate along the long axis of blood vessels and transit through the white matter tracts. The therapies targeting GSCs invasion combined with traditional glioblastoma multiforme therapeutic paradigms might be a new approach for avoiding malignant glioma recurrence.

AC133 Antigen ; Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To observe the expression and distribution characteristics of human orthology of mammalian enabled (hMena) in human glioma, and analyze the correlation of its expression with the pathological grade of the glioma. Methods Sixty-five specimens of glioma with different pathological grades were collected; among these samples, according to the WHO classification, grade Ⅰ was noted in 9, grade Ⅱ in 16, grade Ⅲ in 19 and grade Ⅳ in 21; in 6 of these patients with grade Ⅳ glioblastoma multiforme, tissues from the lesion, the junctional zone between the glioma and the normal brain tissue, and the surrounding area (with a diameter of 1.5 cm) were separated under the assistance of neuronavigation system. Another 5 normal brain tissues from patients with cerebral hemorrhage performed decompression were chosen as controls. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to detect the expression and distribution characteristics of hMena. Results The hMena expression was negative in control brain tissue, and its positive rates of gliomas with different grades were 11.11% (1/9), 25% (4/16), 84.21% (16/19) and 90.48% (19/21) in gliomas of grade Ⅰ, grade Ⅱ, grade Ⅲ and grade Ⅳ, respectively; and these staining was mainly located in cytoplasm; the hMena expression in gliomas with different grades was significantly different (x2=34.935, P=0.000). The expression rate of hMena was positively correlated with the increasing grade of WHO classification (rs=0.682, P=0.000).Western blotting indicated that, in gliomas with different pathological grades, hMena expression levels increased gradually with the increase of pathological grade. Conclusion The hMena protein might play a role in the malignant progression of glioma.

Objective To establish a molecular genetic analysis method applicable clinically for genetic diagnosis of patients with neurofibromatosis type Ⅱ (NF2) and their offsprings, and further guide the genetic counseling of NF2 family, condition monitoring, follow-up as well as clinical intervention of the patients. Methods Ten patients with NF2, admitted to our hospital from January 2009 to January 2010, were chosen;tumorigenic Schwann cells in Schwannoma were isolated and purified for primary culture. Genomic DNA was extracted from tumorigenic Schwann cells and from the blood of 2 patients and their offsprings who agreed to accept gene sequencing;the NF2 gene was sequenced (El-15 and El7 exons and adjacent introns). According to the implication of NF2 gene sequencing, genetic counseling was given to the NF2 family, and the potential NF2 patients in offsprings were followed up in a long-term. Results Schwannoma tissue and genomic DNA bank were established initially. Totallysame NF2 gene mutations were detected in genomic DNA extracted both from tumorigenic Schwann cells and blood cells in the same patient. By comparing the genotypes between the patients and the offsprings,consistent NF2 gene mutations were found between a female patient and her daughter aged 3, but not completely consistent gene mutations between another female patient and her son aged 15. All of the mutations in NF2 gene were located in the control region near the exons. Based on the patient's clinical manifestations and symptoms, reasonable plans for clinical interventions and follow-up were developed.Conclusion Schwannoma tissue and genomic DNA bank could supply the bio-resource for genetic molecular testing and treatment studies. Molecular genetic analysis would apply in clinical practice guidance, NF2 risk prediction, and follow-up plan for high-risk NF2 individuals. Early diagnosis and treatment, condition monitoring and long term follow-up and personalized clinical intervention are needed to improve the quality of life and prolong the survival.

Objective:To explore the relation of plasma Elabela with 3-month prognoses in large vessel occlusion-acute ischemic stroke (LVO-AIS) patients accepted endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).Methods:A prospective study was performed; 94 LVO-AIS patients aceepted EVT in Department of Neurology, Anhui Provincal Hospital, Anhui Medical University from August 2020 to August 2022 were selected. Plasma Elabela was detected before EVT, and 24 and 72 h after EVT. Modified Rankin scale (mRS) was used to evaluate the prognoses of the patients 3 months after EVT; differences in clinical data and plasma Elabela level between the good prognosis group and poor prognosis group were compared. Independent influencing factors for prognoses of LVO-AIS patients 3 months after EVT were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the efficacy of Elabela in predicting prognoses of patients with LVO-AIS 3 months after EVT.Results:Compared with the poor prognosis group, the good prognosis group had significantly lower percentages of patients with stroke history and diabetes, and lower NIHSS scores at admission ( P<0.05). Elabela level in the good prognosis group was significantly higher than that in the poor prognosis group 72 h after EVT ( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that stroke history ( OR=0.148, P=0.037, 95% CI: 0.025-0.889), diabetes mellitus ( OR=0.148, P=0.037, 95% CI: 0.025-0.889), hypertension history ( OR=3.488, P=0.024, 95% CI: 1.177-10.339), and Elabela level 72 h after EVT ( OR=1.064, P=0.005, 95% CI: 1.019-1.111) were independent influencing factors for prognoses of LVO-AIS patients 3 months after EVT. ROC curve showed that area under ROC curve of plasma Elabela level 72 h after EVT in predicting prognosies of LVO-AIS patients 3 months after surgery was 0.718 ( P<0.001, 95% CI: 0.614-0.822). Conclusion:Plasma Elabela level 72 h after EVT may be a potential prognostic biomarker for LVO-AIS patients after EVT.

BACKGROUND: Human olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem cells (hOM-MSCs) not only have the basic characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells, but also originate from the ectoderm and are prone to differentiate into neurons, which are a kind of ideal seed cells for nerve repair and regeneration. Cells are conventionally cultured in about 21% in vitro, while only 3%-9% oxygen is found in the human body and tissue space. There is still no report on the effect of hypoxia on the proliferation and activity of hOM-MSCs.OBJECTIVE: To explore whether hypoxic microenvironment can promote hOM-MSCs proliferation and activity and the related mechanism. METHODS: hOM-MSCs were isolated, cultured and identified by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. The passage 4 hOM-MSCs were divided into three groups: 21% O2 group, 3% O2 group and 3% O2+20 μmol/L YC-1 (HIF-1α inhibitors) group. Proliferation and apoptosis of hOM-MSCs was detected by flow cytometry after 72 hours of culture. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein expression was detected by western blot. The mRNA and protein expression of HIF-1α and TWIST were detected by Q-PCR and western blot. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The purity of hOM-MSCs was up to 97%, as defined by flow cytometry. The proliferation index of 3% O2 group was higher than the 21% O2 group (P < 0.05), and cell survival and apoptosis ratio (apoptotic cells included mechanical death + early apoptosis + late apoptosis) between the two groups had no significant difference (P > 0.05). Western blot results showed that the proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein expression in the 3% O2 group was significantly higher than that in the other groups (P < 0.05). The HIF-1α and TWIST expressions at mRNA and protein levels in the 3% O2 group were significantly higher than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). To conclude, hypoxic microenvironment can promote the hOM-MSCs proliferation and has no effect on the apoptosis, and the HIF-TWIST signal pathway plays an important role in this progress.

BACKGROUND:Stem cells have been widely used in the treatment of spinal cord injury,but the clinical application is limited by immune rejection,difficulty in cell harvesting and purification.However,human nasal mucosa mesenchymal stem cells (hNM-MSCs) have no such problems,and its clinical application in the treatment of spinal cord injury has been not reported yet.OBJECTIVE:To observe the biological characteristics of autologous hNM-MSCs and its clinical efficacy in the treatment of advanced incomplete spinal cord injury.METHODS:NM-MSCs were isolated from the human nasal mucosa,cultured and identified in vitro.The ultrastructure of NM-MSCs was observed by transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope.Then the NM-MSCs were induced to differentiate into osteocytes,adipocytes,stem cell spheres,or neurons in vitro.Totally eight patients with incomplete spinal cord injury were enrolled and subjected to hNM-MSCs transplantation via lumbar puncture for 1-3 sessions of about 5× 107 cells each,with an interval of 5-7 days,after the approval of the medical ethics committee.All the patients were followed up for 6 months.Preoperative and postoperative therapeutic effect evaluations were performed on the basis of American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scores.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Under light microscope,the NM-MSCs were mainly spindle-shaped,positive for STRO-1 and exhibited a radial arrangement.NM-MSCs highly expressed CD73,CD90 and CD105,but did not express CD34 and CD45,with the purity of over 97％.And lots of podgy microvilli were seen on the surface of NM-MSCs under the scanning electron microscope,and two kinds of cell morphologies were seen under the transmission electron microscope.Moreover,hNM-MSCs had the ability to differentiate into osteocytes,adipocytes,stem cell spheres and neurons.During the 6-month follow-up,seven patients achieved neurological function recovery to different extents except for one patient,and no side effects were found.It is concluded that hNM-MSCs can become the ideal seed cells for tissue-engineered cell repair.Autologous NM-MSCs transplantation for the treatment of spinal cord injury can achieve the ideal effect,with the value of clinical application.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of the combination of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor-Β1 (TGF-Β1), bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), and temperature-responsive chitosan hydrogel (TCH) gel on the repair of degenerative intervertebral disc in rat models.

METHODSRat models of intervertebral disc degeneration were established by acupuncture. The degenerative effects were observed under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The BMSCs was cultured in vitro and then transfected by adenovirus with enhanced green fluorescent protein to make it carry the gene of enhanced green fluorescent protein,which functioned as fluorescence labeling. The SD rat models of intervertebral disc degeneration were divided into four groups: group A, treated with the combination of bFGF, TGF-Β1,BMSCs,and TCH gel; group B, treated with the combination of BMSCs and TCH gel;group C, treated with the combination of bFGF,TGF-Β1, and TCH gel;and group D, treated with PBS buffer solution. After the corresponding reagents were injected into the degenerative intervertebral discs of each group, the rats were cultivated for another four weeks and then the repair effects of the intervertebral discs were observed under MRI. Furthermore,the intervertebral discs of each group were taken out and observed by HE and Masson staining. The nucleus pulposus was aspirated and the expressions of aggrecan,collagen 2,Sox-9,and collagen I of nucleus pulposus of each group were tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot.

RESULTSThe transplanted BMSCs survived in the intervertebral disc and differentiated into nucleus pulposus-like cells. MRI showed that:the signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus of group A was much higher than that of the rest groups, the signal intensity of group B was higher than that of group C, and the signal intensity of group D was the lowest,in which the dura mater spinalis was in compression and the spinal cord changed in beaded shape. The differences of the Pfirrmann grading among the four groups had statistical significance (P<0.05). The results of the HE and Masson stains showed:the intervertebral disc of group A was well-structured,the quantity of nucleus pulposus cells was larger than that of the other three groups,and the boundary between the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosus was clearly defined;the quantity of the nucleus pulposus cells of group B was larger than that of group C, and the broken annulus fibrosus was not observed in group B, while the broken annulus fibrosus could be observed in group C; and, the nucleus pulposus cells of group D were replaced by fibrous tissue. The results of the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot tests showed that,in terms of the expressions of aggrecan,collagen 2 and Sox-9,group A was the highest, followed by group B,group C,and group D (P<0.05); in terms of the expression of collagen 1,there was no obvious difference among these four groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe transplanted BMSCs can survive in the degenerative intervertebral disc and differentiate into nucleus pulposus-like cells. The combination of bFGF, TGF-Β1, BMSCs,and TCH gel has obvious repair effect on the degenerative intervertebral discs. The effect of the combination of BMSCs and TCH gel on transplantation therapy of the degenerative intervertebral discs is better than that of the combination of bFGF, TGF-Β1 and TCH gel but worse than that of the combination of bFGF, TGF-Β1, BMSCs, and TCH gel.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cell Differentiation ; Collagen ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Intervertebral Disc ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Wound Healing

To explore famous veteran traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) doctors' medication rules in treating spermatorrhea based on the medical cases about spermatorrhea collected from Hundred TCM Clinical Doctors of Hundred Years in China and Proven Cases and National Medical Master Test Case. Researchers extracted such data as medicinal and therapies from these cases according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then,Excle 2010,SPSS Clementine 12. 0 and SPSS 22. 0 were adopted respectively for frequency analysis,association rules analysis,cluster analysis and factor analysis. Cluster analysis was carried out by Ochiai algorithm of binary variable data,one of the systematic clustering methods. And principal component analysis was used for factor analysis. Finally,27 medical cases and 41 prescriptions were included in total. The frequency analysis showed that the most common therapy was the astringent therapy( n = 28),which was followed by the tonifying method,tranquilizing method,heat-clearing method,damp-dispelling method and Qiregulating method. The top three kinds of high-frequency traditional Chinese medicines were Poria,Ostreae Concha and Dioscoreae Rhizoma. The association rules analysis found out 11 association rules of medicine pairs,23 association rules of medicine combinations of the three kinds of herbs and 6 association rules of medicine combinations of five kinds of herbs. Among them,the representatives were Rubi Fructus→Fossilia Ossis Mastodi,Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata + Corni Fructus→Dioscoreae Rhizoma,and Pinelliae Rhizoma→Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium,which showed the therapeutic characteristics of astringing,tonifying the kidney and replenishing essence,fortifying the spleen and dispelling dampness. Moreover,7 medicine groups with relevance were extracted from the tree map generated by cluster analysis,including " Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex and Anemarrhenae Rhizoma" and " Angelicae Sinensis Radix,Rehmanniae Radix,Bupleuri Radix and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma",which demonstrated the effects of nourishing Yin and purging fire,tonifying and soothing the liver. Besides,totally 12 common factors were obtained according to factor analysis,including 14 drug combinations,like " Amomi Fructus,Anemarrhenae Rhizoma and Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex" and " Nelumbinis Stamen,Moutan Cortex,Poria and Scrophulariae Radix",which indicated the compatibility characteristics of tonifying the spleen and purging fire,dispelling dampness and clearing heat. In conclusion,data mining techniques( including frequency analysis,association rules analysis,cluster analysis and factor analysis) were used to comprehensively analyze the famous veteran TCM doctors' medication rules in treating spermatorrhea,which was helpful for guiding the clinical practice of treating spermatorrhea in TCM.
China ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Physicians ; Veterans