BACKGROUND: Multipotency of hepatic stem cells is of important value in liver transplantation. Stem cells have been successfully identified and isolated from the animal livers. However, reports on whether stem cells exist in human hepatic tissue and how to isolate and identify them ars few.OBJECTIVE: This study was in attempt to isolate hepatic stem cells from human para-cancerous tissues of hepatoma and in vitro culture them, also to identify the stem cell surface marker, in order to find a new source of heptatic stem cells.DESIGN: Cell observation experiment.SETTING: Department of Common Surgery, First Hospital, Jilin University; Department of Common Surgery,Dongfeng Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.PARTICIPANTS: Samples were harvested from 10 patients with hepatoma admitted to Department of hepatobiliary surgery, First Clinical College, Jilin University between October 2005 and June 2006, with age of 45 to 58 years.Hepatic tissue 2 cm away from cancer nest was cut when patients underwent hepatectomy, and it was pathologically confirmed as carcinoma-free tissue. Written informed consents were obtained from each patient. DMEM/F12 dry powder used for cell culture was provided by Hyclone Company, USA. Fresh fetal bovine serum was prepared by Lianxing Biotech Co.,Ltd, Tianjin. Various cell growth factors were the products of Cytolay Company, USA.METHODS: Para-cancerous tissues of hepatoma was cut into pieces, rinsed with Hank's solution and digested with type Ⅳ collagenase. Then the isolated cells were re-suspended in the DMEM/F12 medium supplemented with 0.1 volume fraction of fetal bovine serum, and hepatocyte growth factors, epidermal growth factors and α- fibroblast growth factors of 25 μg/L each were added in the above medium. When the cultured cells covered 2/3 of bottom,they were digested with trypsinase for passage and inoculated at 2×107 L-1. When cells propagated to the 3rd and 4th generations, 2.60×109 L-1 cell suspension prepared with trypsinase was added, and subsequently, anti-human C-kit antibody, immunomagnetic beads and Buffer solution were added in order. C-kit+ cells were preliminarily isolated by immunomagnetic bead separation. Haematoxylin-eosin staining and immunofluorescent histochemical double-staining were used for detecting the hepatic stem cells in para-cancerous tissues.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Observation of cell morphology. ② Identification of hepatic stem cells from para-cancerous tissues. ③ Identification of C-kit+ cells by immunofluorescent histochemical double-staining.RESULTS :① After primarily cultured for 2 weeks, the adherent cells grew in colony. After one half of culture medium was renewed, mature hepatocytes were gradually broken and disappeared. Small round cells propagated, and most of them were located in the center and arranged in cluster. Most cells were found with one big nucleus in each, less cytoplasm and clear cell boundary. When cells propagated to the 1st and 2nd generations, they still grew in colony, but fast. Each C-kit+ cell isolated by immunomagnetic bead separation presented a spherical cell body with a very big nucleus and less cytoplasm. After in vitro cultured for 1 week, it presented broken pieces and apoptotic symptoms.② After para-cancerous tissue was stained by haematoxylin-eosin, atypically proliferated biliary tracts with small round cells could be seen in the portal area. After para-cancerous tissue was stained by immunofluorescent histochemical double-staining, small round cells in the biliary tracts proliferated in the portal arsa co-expressed red fluorescence AFP and green fluorescence cytokeratin (CK) 19 with yellow superposition arsa. ③ After C-kit+ cells were stained by fluorescence immunocytochemisty, cytoplasm expressed alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) red granules and CK19 green granules. The superposition area of both presented yellow fluorescence of AFP+/CK19+-positive cells.CONCLUSION: Hepatic stem cells exist in human para-cancerous tissues of hepatoma. Therefore, expressions of C-kit+/AFP+/CK19+, the surface markers of hepatic stem cells, can be used for identifying and isolating hepatic stem cells. Small round cells obtained by in vitro isolation and culture, i.e. hepatic oval cells possess bipotential differentiation of hepatocyte and hepatobiliary epithelial cells.

Child ; Ear Auricle ; pathology ; Ear Neoplasms ; Female ; Humans ; Neurilemmoma

Neuronal PC12 cells induced by nerve growth factor (NGF) have been considered to be postmitotic and lack the ability to divide. However, in this study, we not only detected DNA synthesis but also observed cell division in some morphologically differentiated neuronal PC12 cells bearing long neurites. More interestingly, in addition to the division of perikaryon, the neurites located on the division site of the cell membrane also divided into two parts and were allocated to the two daughter cells. These results demonstrate that the morphologically differentiated neuronal PC12 cells still retain the ability to divide. This is the first report that neuronal PC12 cells as well as their neurites can divide.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; DNA Replication ; drug effects ; physiology ; Nerve Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Neurites ; drug effects ; Neurons ; cytology ; PC12 Cells ; Rats

The aim of this study was to establish a diagnostic method for ABO genotyping and to investigate the distribution of ABO genotype in Beijing Han population so as to understand the distribution characteristics and regularity of ABO genotype. An ABO genotyping method was established by using multiplex-PCR-RFLP and PCR-SSP techniques, and the ABO allele frequency in Beijing Han population was investigated. The results showed that A102, O1 and B allele were more common genes in Beijing Han individuals. And A102 allele was predominant in the phenotype A group in this population. Three O2 alleles were found and no A201 allele was found while gene frequency investigation was performed. No A101A101, A101O2, A102O2, BO2 and O2O2 in this population were discovered. It is concluded that the primary regularity of ABO allele distribution in Beijing Han population is found through this study. It provides basic reference for further study of ABO types.
ABO Blood-Group System ; genetics ; Adult ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Young Adult

Limitations of polyacrylamide gel or agarose gel electrophoretic methods in genotyping research affect the interpreting of detection results. In order to develop a simple and reliable method for appraising results of ABO genotyping detection, the microfluidic chip analysis system was established by using microfluidic chip to replace the gel electrophoresis and combining with multiplex-PCR-RFLP technique. 150 blood samples were tested by this microfluidic chip analysis system with multiplex-PCR-RFLP technique to evaluate its stability and accuracy. The results showed that all the testing results were consistent with serologic ABO genotyping results and 1 blood sample with decrease of B antigen caused by CML was identified. In conclusion, the established microfluidic chip analysis system is stable and reliable technique. Application of this technique enables the ABO genotyping results to be more objective and accurate.
ABO Blood-Group System ; genetics ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; methods ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques ; Microfluidics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

This study was purposed to optimize the culture conditions of the human amniotic epithelium cells (hAEC) in vitro, and detect the expression of hAEC pluripotent markers. Amnion tissues were separated from the underlying chorion through the spongy layer immediately after elective cesarean section of healthy pregnancy women at term. After the subsequent exposure to trypsin digestion, hAEC were cultured in DMEM with different supplements. The growth and proliferation potential of hAEC was evaluated, and the expression of cultured hAEC pluripotent markers was detected by using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry methods. The results indicated that when being cultured in the mediums similar to that of embryonic stem cell culture supplemented with 10 ng/ml EGF, the hAEC grew better and the time for passage was shortened. In addition, compared to other culture conditions, under this condition, the cells could be passaged up to 5 times as much without obvious morphological changes, and the pluripotent marker SSEA-4 was detected in the cultured cells by flow cytometry. Meanwhile, the detection of immunofluorescence showed the expression of vimentin in cultured hAEC was strengthened as compared with primary cells. It is concluded that the culture condition similar to that for embryonic stem cells supplemented with EGF facilitates the proliferation and passage of hAEC in vitro.
Amnion ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the related factors of portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) in patients with HCC.

METHODSA total number of 234 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were included in this retrospective study. Uni-variate and multi-variate logistic regression analysis were employed to analyze the association between PVTT and 18 routine clinical parameters.

RESULTSAmong the 234 patients with HCC, 15% of patients (35/235) had PVTT. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed significant association of age (P = 0.016), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT, P = 0.003), number of segmental invasion (P = 0.007), microvascular invasion (P < 0.01), segment location of S2 (P = 0.001), S3 (P = 0.000), S4 (P = 0.004) and S6 (P = 0.016). Multivariate analysis shows potential significant predictors of PVTT in HCC were age (RR: 0.373; 95% CI: 0.146-0.954; P = 0.040), the tumor location of S3 (RR: 4.625; 95% CI: 1.916-11. 165;P = 0.001), GGT (RR: 4.091; 95% CI: 1.448-11.553; P = 0.008) and microvascular invasion (RR: 20.912; 95% CI: 4.745-92.172; P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSPVTT occurred more commonly in the younger (< 50 years old), and those with high level of GGT, segment location of S3 and microvascular invasion.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Child ; Embolism ; etiology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: To investigate KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNE1 and KCNE2 gene variants in the cases of sudden manhood death syndrome (SMDS). METHODS: One hundred and sixteen sporadic cases of SMDS and one hundred and twenty-five healthy controlled samples were enrolled. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples. Gene variants of KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNE1 and KCNE2 were screened by direct sequencing. RESULTS: A total of 14 mutations and 14 SNP were detected. Two non-synonymous mutations of them were newfound. There was no non-synonymous mutation found in the control group. CONCLUSION There are KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNE1 and KCNE2 gene variants found in Chinese SMDS cases. KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNE1 and KCNE2 gene mutation may correlate partly with the occurrence of some cases of the SMDS in China.
Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Death, Sudden/ethnology* ; ERG1 Potassium Channel ; Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels/genetics* ; Humans ; KCNQ1 Potassium Channel/genetics* ; Long QT Syndrome ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Potassium Channels ; Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated/genetics*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of annexin I in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and carcinomas of other histological types in order to analyze the correlation between the expression of annexin I and carcinogenesis.

METHODSFirst, a set of tissue microarray was established, which consisted of SCC from the esophagus (208 cases), lung, larynx, cervix, and external genital organs; adenocarcinomas from the lung, stomach, colon and rectum, liver, pancreas, breast, thyroid and kidney with 30 cases in each group, meanwhile, the corresponding normal tissue was also obtained for control. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of annexin I in different types of carcinomas and the corresponding normal controls from different organs. The correlation between the expression of annexin I and the clinicopathological feature was analyzed and compared, which included age, gender, differentiation grade and lymph node metastasis.

RESULTSIt was found that the expression of annexin I was decreased in esophageal SCC, when compared with normal esophageal squamous epithelia (P < 0.001), the similarity was also found in SCC of the lung, larynx and cervix. However, though negative in normal epidermis, annexin I expression was detected in some cases with SCC from external genital organs. Annexin I was found to be overexpressed in adenocarcinomas of the lung, stomach, colon and rectum, liver, pancreas, breast, thyroid and kidney, particularly very strong expression of annexin I was seen in lung adenocarcinoma, uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma and ovarian serous adenocarcinoma. Interestingly, it was found to be positive in all thyroid papillary carcinomas, but negative in all normal thyroid glands. However, annexin I expression was found to be negative in all hepatocellular carcinoma and normal hepatocytes; and it was only detected in myoepithelium of normal breast tissue, but not in ductal luminal cells, and rarely in infiltrating ductal adenocarcinoma. In SCC, annexin I expression was stronger in well differentiated ones than that in the poorly differentiated ones. However, contrasting with SCC, in the adenocarcinomas from different organs, annexin I expression was much stronger in poorly differentiated ones than that in the well differentiate ones, especially in the adenocarcinomas from stomach, colon and rectum, pancreas, ovarian and kidney.

CONCLUSIONAnnexin I expression is quite different among different types of carcinomas, and is correlated with histopathological type and differentiation grade. Further study is needed to investigate its role in the carcinogenesis.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Annexin A1 ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Endometrioid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Epithelium ; metabolism ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Esophagus ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

BACKGROUNDHuman group O red blood cells have great benefit in specialized transfusion areas such as armed conflict and natural calamity. The group B antigen differs structurally from group O antigen only by the addition of one terminal alpha-linked galactose residue. In this study we aimed to remove the terminal galactose from group B red blood cell to get group O red blood cell.

METHODSalpha-galactosidase cDNA was cloned by RT-PCR from Catimor coffee beans grown on Hainan Island of China. The vector for alpha-galactosidase cDNA expression was constructed and transferred into Pichia pastoris cells by electroporation. The transgenic cells were cloned by fermentation and the recombinant alpha-galactosidase was purified by ion exchange chromatography. After studying the biochemical characters of alpha-galactosidase, we have used it in converting human erythrocytes from group B to group O.

RESULTSThe purity of recombinant alpha-galactosidase was higher than 96%, which was thought to be suitable for the use of blood conversion. Enzymatically converted human group O red blood cells (ECHORBC) exhibited membrane integrity, metabolic integrity, normal cell deformation and morphology. There were no coagulation between ECHORBC and any group of human blood. The ECHORBC will keep normal structure and function for a period of 21 days at 4 degrees C in monoammoniumphosphate nutrient solution. Experiments with Rhesus monkeys and gibbons showed that transfusion of enzymatically converted erythrocytes was safe.

CONCLUSIONECHORBC can be easily obtained from group B red blood cell by alpha-galactosidase digestion. This study suggests that ECHORBC could be transfused to patients safely and efficiently.

ABO Blood-Group System ; classification ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Transfusion ; Cloning, Molecular ; Coffee ; enzymology ; Erythrocytes ; metabolism ; Humans ; Macaca mulatta ; Quality Control ; Recombinant Proteins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; alpha-Galactosidase ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; toxicity