Leukocyte differentiation antigen CD109(CD109)is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol(GPI)-associated cell surface antigen,belonging to the α-2 macroglobulin/C3,C4 and C5 super family complex,and is a transfor-ming growth factor(TGF)-β/Smads co-receptor.CD109 regulates the occurrence and development of glioma and is closely related to drug resistance and recurrence of glioma.As a cell membrane protein,CD109 can be directly la-beled by specific antibodies or enzymes,and may also be recognized by targeted vectors for drug delivery,which is expected to become an effective diagnostic molecular marker and pharmacological therapeutic target.

BACKGROUND: Degeneration of the annulus fibrosus (AF), an important structure of the intervertebral disc, is one of the main causes of degenerative disc disease. Fabrication of scaffolds replicating the stratified microstructure of the AF is critical for the successful regeneration of AF. METHODS: In this study, we cultured rabbit AF-derived stem cells (AFSCs) using fabricated electrospun fibrous poly-Llactic acid scaffolds with different diameters. We applied cyclic tensile strain (CTS) on the scaffolds to regulate the differentiation of AFSCs into specific cell types that resided at the inner, middle, and outer zones of the AF. RESULTS: We found that the morphologies of AFSCs on the smaller-fiber-diameter scaffolds were nearly round, whereas spindle-like cells morphologies were observed on large-diameter scaffolds. CTS enhanced these phenomena and made the cells slender. The expression levels of collagen-I in cells increased as a function of the fiber diameter, whereas collagen-II and aggrecan exhibited opposite trends. Moreover, the application of CTS upregulated the gene expressions of collagen-I, collagen-II, and aggrecan. CONCLUSION Overlaying the scaffolds with different CTS-stimulated cells could eventually lead to engineered AF tissues with hierarchical structures that approximated the native AF tissue. Thus, the proposed methodologies could be potentially applied for AF regeneration.

BACKGROUND: Degeneration of the annulus fibrosus (AF), an important structure of the intervertebral disc, is one of the main causes of degenerative disc disease. Fabrication of scaffolds replicating the stratified microstructure of the AF is critical for the successful regeneration of AF. METHODS: In this study, we cultured rabbit AF-derived stem cells (AFSCs) using fabricated electrospun fibrous poly-Llactic acid scaffolds with different diameters. We applied cyclic tensile strain (CTS) on the scaffolds to regulate the differentiation of AFSCs into specific cell types that resided at the inner, middle, and outer zones of the AF. RESULTS: We found that the morphologies of AFSCs on the smaller-fiber-diameter scaffolds were nearly round, whereas spindle-like cells morphologies were observed on large-diameter scaffolds. CTS enhanced these phenomena and made the cells slender. The expression levels of collagen-I in cells increased as a function of the fiber diameter, whereas collagen-II and aggrecan exhibited opposite trends. Moreover, the application of CTS upregulated the gene expressions of collagen-I, collagen-II, and aggrecan. CONCLUSION Overlaying the scaffolds with different CTS-stimulated cells could eventually lead to engineered AF tissues with hierarchical structures that approximated the native AF tissue. Thus, the proposed methodologies could be potentially applied for AF regeneration.

Objective:To investigate the effects of oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) MT01 on the morphology, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).Methods:The BMSCs of SD rat were isolated and cultured by direct adherence method . The extracted cells were identified by cell morphology of different generations, the expression of surface markers detected by flow cytometry and osteogenic differentiation potential. ODN MT01 group was set up in a gradient of concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 μg/ml) and PBS group as control. Each group of experiments was repeated three times. The morphological changes of cell nucleus and cytoskeleton were fluorescent stained by DAPI and FITC-phalloidin, respectively. The proliferation activities of the BMSCs in different group were analyzed by CCK-8 assay at 1, 4 and 7 d. The degrees of osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in different group were assessed via alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, ALP activity assay and alizarin red S staining respectively on the 7th and 21st days after cultured in osteogenic induction medium. Statistical differences between two groups and among groups were analyzed by t-test and one-way ANOVA, respectively. Differences were regarded as statistically significant when a P value of less than 0.05. Results:Flow cytometry showed that the BMSCs were positive for CD29 (99.8%) and CD44 (96.1%) while negative for CD11b (1.03%) and CD45 (1.74%). ALP staining and alizarin red S staining were positive at different stages of osteogenesis induction confirmed that BMSCs was able to differentiate into the osteoblast. The nucleus and cytoskeleton staining showed that BMSCs were shrunk and the extensibility was reduced when the concentration of ODN MT01 was 4.0 μg/ml. CCK-8 assay showed that the absorbance value of control group was 0.446±0.018, 1.0 μg/ml ODN MT01 was 0.505±0.019, 2.0 μg/ml ODN MT01 was 0.528±0.014 after cultured for 4 days. Compared with the control group, the difference is statistically significant ( t=2.954, 4.083, P=0.033, 0.008). The absorbance value of control group was 0.514±0.027, 1.0 μg/ml ODN MT01 was 0.607±0.007, and 2.0 μg/ml ODN MT01 was 0.636±0.023 after cultured for 7 days. Compared with the control group, the difference was statistically significant ( t=4.664, 6.091, P=0.009, 0.008). The proliferation ability of BMSCs was significantly higher than that of the control group. However, 4.0 μg/ml ODN MT01 (0.427±0.013) had an inhibitory effect on the proliferation ability of BMSCs ( t=4.332, P=0.0149). The blue mass and mineralized nodule improved significantly with the increase of ODN MT01 concentration during the induction of osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. After cultured for 4 days, the result of ALP activity assay was similar to ALP staining. The activity value of ODN MT01 in the control group was 1.207±0.023, 0.5 μg/ml ODN MT01 was 1.747±0.095, 1.0 μg/ml ODN MT01 was 2.200±0.136, 2.0 μg/ml ODN MT01 was 3.560±0.088, 4.0 μg/ml ODN MT01 was 3.490±0.144. Compared with the control group, the difference was statistically significant ( t=4.313, 7.934, 18.800, 18.240; P=0.005, 0.001, <0.001, <0.001). But there was no difference between 2.0 and 4.0 μg/ml groups ( t=0.562, P=0.590). Conclusions:ODN MT01 with concentration of 2.0 μg/ml could significantly stimulate the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs without affecting the morphology of BMSCs.

Objective:To investigate the effects of oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) MT01 on the morphology, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).Methods:The BMSCs of SD rat were isolated and cultured by direct adherence method . The extracted cells were identified by cell morphology of different generations, the expression of surface markers detected by flow cytometry and osteogenic differentiation potential. ODN MT01 group was set up in a gradient of concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 μg/ml) and PBS group as control. Each group of experiments was repeated three times. The morphological changes of cell nucleus and cytoskeleton were fluorescent stained by DAPI and FITC-phalloidin, respectively. The proliferation activities of the BMSCs in different group were analyzed by CCK-8 assay at 1, 4 and 7 d. The degrees of osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in different group were assessed via alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, ALP activity assay and alizarin red S staining respectively on the 7th and 21st days after cultured in osteogenic induction medium. Statistical differences between two groups and among groups were analyzed by t-test and one-way ANOVA, respectively. Differences were regarded as statistically significant when a P value of less than 0.05. Results:Flow cytometry showed that the BMSCs were positive for CD29 (99.8%) and CD44 (96.1%) while negative for CD11b (1.03%) and CD45 (1.74%). ALP staining and alizarin red S staining were positive at different stages of osteogenesis induction confirmed that BMSCs was able to differentiate into the osteoblast. The nucleus and cytoskeleton staining showed that BMSCs were shrunk and the extensibility was reduced when the concentration of ODN MT01 was 4.0 μg/ml. CCK-8 assay showed that the absorbance value of control group was 0.446±0.018, 1.0 μg/ml ODN MT01 was 0.505±0.019, 2.0 μg/ml ODN MT01 was 0.528±0.014 after cultured for 4 days. Compared with the control group, the difference is statistically significant ( t=2.954, 4.083, P=0.033, 0.008). The absorbance value of control group was 0.514±0.027, 1.0 μg/ml ODN MT01 was 0.607±0.007, and 2.0 μg/ml ODN MT01 was 0.636±0.023 after cultured for 7 days. Compared with the control group, the difference was statistically significant ( t=4.664, 6.091, P=0.009, 0.008). The proliferation ability of BMSCs was significantly higher than that of the control group. However, 4.0 μg/ml ODN MT01 (0.427±0.013) had an inhibitory effect on the proliferation ability of BMSCs ( t=4.332, P=0.0149). The blue mass and mineralized nodule improved significantly with the increase of ODN MT01 concentration during the induction of osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. After cultured for 4 days, the result of ALP activity assay was similar to ALP staining. The activity value of ODN MT01 in the control group was 1.207±0.023, 0.5 μg/ml ODN MT01 was 1.747±0.095, 1.0 μg/ml ODN MT01 was 2.200±0.136, 2.0 μg/ml ODN MT01 was 3.560±0.088, 4.0 μg/ml ODN MT01 was 3.490±0.144. Compared with the control group, the difference was statistically significant ( t=4.313, 7.934, 18.800, 18.240; P=0.005, 0.001, <0.001, <0.001). But there was no difference between 2.0 and 4.0 μg/ml groups ( t=0.562, P=0.590). Conclusions:ODN MT01 with concentration of 2.0 μg/ml could significantly stimulate the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs without affecting the morphology of BMSCs.

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a leading cause of low back pain, which severely affects the quality of life and incurs significant medical cost. Annulus fibrosus(AF) injuries can lead to substantial deterioration of intervertebral disc degeneration. However, the AF repair/regeneration remains a challenge due to the intrinsic cellular, biochemical and biomechanical heterogeneity of AF tissue. Tissue engineering would be a promising approach for AF regeneration. This article aims to provide a brief overview of the fundamental aspects of AF, the current achievements and future challenges of AF tissue engineering. A multidisciplinary approach is proposed for future studies to fully mimic the native AF tissue and its microenvironment, including choosing adequate cell source, preparing scaffolds with hierarchical microstructures, supplementing appropriate growth factors, and enforcing suitable mechanical stimulation. Hopefully, the engineered AF tissues would be effectively used to facilitate the treatment of DDD in the future.
Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; growth & development ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; therapy ; Regeneration ; Tissue Engineering

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that insulin-like growth factor 1/platelet-derived growth factor has an inhibitory effect on fibroblast apoptosis.miR-141-3p in bone marrow stromal cells increases with age and has a relationship with the activation of inflammatory signaling pathways,suggesting that it may be a therapeutic target for lumbar disc herniation. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of miR-141-3p on dorsal root ganglion inflammation and lower limb pain in rats with lumbar disc herniation by regulating insulin-like growth factor 1/platelet-derived growth factor. METHODS:Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats,SPF level,were randomly divided into normal group,model group,miR-NC group,miR-141-3p inhibitor group and miR-141-3p mimics group,with 10 rats in each group.Except for the normal group,animal models of lumbar disc herniation were established in rats by autologous nucleus pulposus transplantation.After successful modeling,rats in the miR-NC,miR-141-3p inhibitor and miR-141-3p mimics groups were injected intrathecally with 10 μL of 20 μmol/L miR-NC,miR-141-3p inhibitor,miR-141-3p mimics,once a day for 28 days,respectively,while those in the normal and model groups were injected with the same volume of saline at the same location at the same time.Paw withdrawal thermal latency threshold was used to evaluate lower limb pain in rats.The mRNA expression of miR-141-3p in dorsal root ganglion tissue was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR,the levels of inflammatory factors in dorsal root ganglion tissue were detected by ELISA,and the expression of insulin-like growth factor 1/platelet-derived growth factor in dorsal root ganglion tissue was detected by western blot.The correlation between miR-141-3p and insulin-like growth factor 1/platelet-derived growth factor was analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There were no significant differences in all indexes between the miR-NC group and the model group.Paw withdrawal thermal latency threshold was significantly lower in the model group than in the normal group(P＜0.05),significantly lower in the miR-141-3p inhibitor group than the miR-NC group(P＜0.05),and significantly higher in the miR-141-3p mimics group than in the miR-141-3p inhibitor group(P＜0.05).The mRNA expression of miR-141-3p in dorsal root ganglion tissue was significantly lower in the model group than in the normal group(P＜0.05),significantly lower in the miR-141-3p inhibitor group than in the miR-NC group(P＜0.05),and significantly higher in the miR-141-3p mimics group than in the miR-141-3p inhibitor group(P＜0.05).The levels of tumor necrosis factor α,interleukin 1β,and interleukin 1 in dorsal root ganglion tissue were significantly higher in the model group than in the normal group(P＜0.05),significantly higher in the miR-141-3p inhibitor group than in the miR-NC group(P＜0.05),and significantly lower in the miR-141-3p mimics group than in the miR-141-3p inhibitor group(P＜0.05).The protein expressions of insulin-like growth factor 1 and platelet-derived growth factor in dorsal root ganglion tissue were significantly lower in the model group than in the normal group(P＜0.05),significantly lower in the miR-141-3p inhibitor group than in the miR-NC group(P＜0.05),and significantly higher in the miR-141-3p mimics group than in the miR-141-3p inhibitor group(P＜0.05).The expressions of insulin-like growth factor 1 and platelet-derived growth factor showed a positive correlation with miR-141-3p(r=0.904,P＜0.001;r=0.879,P＜0.001).To conclude,miR-141-3p can significantly improve lower limb pain and inhibit inflammation in dorsal root ganglia in rats with lumbar disc herniation,and its mechanism may be related to the promotion of insulin-like growth factor 1/platelet-derived growth factor expression.

Objective:To investigate the cognitive level of wearing and removing personal protective equipment in COVID-19 isolation wards of Wuhan Fangcang shelter hospital, and provide the scientific basis for the training of hospital protection. Methods:Cognitive level of wearing and removing personal protective equipment in Wuhan Fangcang shelter hospital were investigated by using a questionnaire which included 14 related scales, including putting on and off protective equipment, hand hygiene disinfection and so on.Results:The total scale score of non-medical workers was 48.82±9.65, which was lower than the total scale score of doctors (55.46±1.29) and nurses (55.0±2.36), P<0.05. The each score of 14 items in the scale of non-medical workers was all lower than those of doctors and nurses ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences in scale scores among doctors, nurses and medical technicians. The total score of the scale of non-medical workers in later period was 55.23±3.26, which was significantly higher than the total score of 44.50±10.14 in previous period, P<0.001. The total score of nurses and medical technicians in the later period was higher than those in the previous period, and the difference was statistically significant. There was no significant difference between the total score of the scale in the later period and that in the previous period. Conclusions:The cognition level of non-medical workers on wearing and removing personal protective devices was lower than those of doctors and nurses, strengthening the practice could improve cognition.