Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; pharmacology ; Postoperative Period

Based on the requirement of culture conditions for hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) ex vive expansion, we developed a new-type bioreactor by combining superiorities of static and stirred culture models. Stem cell factor (SCF), thrombopoietin (TPO), FLT-3 ligand(Flt-3) were used as the cytokines cocktails. The effects of the static and cyclic culture on the expansion characteristics of CD34+ selected cells were compared in the new-type bioreactor. After 7 d cultures, the expansion of total cells in the static culture was 13.86 +/- 4.26 fold, higher than that in the cyclic culture (7.23 +/- 2.67 fold). The analysis of the fold expansion and the proportion of CD34+ cells showed that there was no marked difference between the static culture and the cyclic culture. However, the fold expansion and the proportion of CD34+CD38- cells were higher in the cyclic culture than those in the static culture (3.90 +/- 0.85 versus 1.82 +/- 0.58), which reflected more primary CD34+CD38- cells were obtained in the cyclic culture. The above results demonstrated that both the static culture and the cyclic culture could be used in ex vive expansion of CD34+ cells with the new-type bioreactor. In static culture hematopoietic stem cells differentiated into progenitor cells, whilst the cyclic culture favored the expansion of primary HSPCs.
Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Bioreactors ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytokines ; pharmacology ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Humans ; Stem Cell Factor ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of growth factors on the survival and proliferation of human spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in vitro.

METHODSSSCs were treated with the growth factors SCF, LIF and bFGF added to the culture, each at the concentrations of 0, 5, 10 and 20 microg/L and repeated three times. The survival time and proliferation rate of the cells were determined every 8-12 hours and their morphological features observed with the light microscope and electron microscope.

RESULTSThe survival time and proliferation rate of the SSCs were significantly increased in the treated groups as compared with the control (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe growth factors SCF, LIF and bFGF can promote the survival and proliferation of SSCs in vitro.

Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; pharmacology ; Leukemia Inhibitory Factor ; pharmacology ; Male ; Spermatogonia ; cytology ; drug effects ; Stem Cell Factor ; pharmacology ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects

The purpose of this study was to observe the bone marrow endothelial cell-conditioned medium (BECM) and cytokines, i.e. vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), stem cell factor (SCF) and EPO promoting the generation of hematopoietic precursor cells from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESC) in vitro. Day 4 embryoid body (4dEB) cells were derived from ESC-D3 cell line, a murine ESC line, and then induced with BECM and/or cytokines. Four groups, i.e. BECM, BECM + VEGF + SCF + EPO, VEGF + SCF + EPO and control (spontaneous differentiation), were designed. Immunochemistry staining and flow cytometry were adopted to observe the antigen expression, RT-PCR to detect hematopoietic transcription factors, and hematopoietic progenitor assay to examine hematopoietic differentiation. The results showed that the cells induced from ESC expressed hematopoietic precursor cell antigens (c-kit, Sca-1, Thy-1 and CD34), transcription factors (c-myb, SCL and beta-H1) and generated HPP-CFC and BFU-E. The effect of BECM + VEGF + SCF + EPO was the most potent in the inducing groups according to the numbers of hematopoietic precursor cells and colonies. It is concluded that BECM promotes the differentiation of ESC into hematopoietic precursor cells in vitro, and this effect is the strongest when BECM combining with VEGF + SCF + EPO.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Embryo, Mammalian ; cytology ; Endothelial Cells ; physiology ; Erythropoietin ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Mice ; Stem Cell Factor ; pharmacology ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; pharmacology

The object of this study was to explore the effect of FL gene transfected marrow stromal cells on expansion of human cord blood CD34(+) cells ex vivo. A co-culture system was established with FL gene transfected human marrow stromal cells and cord blood CD34(+) cells. The CD34(+) cells were cultured in different culture systems with different combinations of stromal cells and SCF, IL-3 and FL. The numbers of total nucleated cells, CFCs and CD34(+) cells were repeatedly counted in culture systems for 3 weeks. The results showed that the FL transgenic marrow stromal cell feeder layer significantly enhanced the expansion of total nucleated cells, CFC and CD34(+) cells, compared with stromal cell feeder layer and stromal cell-free culture systems. The transgenic stromal cells and cytokines co-culture system manifested the most potent expansion of the cord blood cells with increase of the number of total nucleated cells by (122.5 +/- 4.3)-fold, CFCs by (39.6 +/- 2.7)-fold and CD34(+) cells by (11.8 +/- 0.52)-fold. It is concluded that human umbilical cord blood CD34(+) cells can be extensively expanded ex vivo by using FL gene transfected stromal cells combined with cytokines.
Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Cell Separation ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Interleukin-3 ; pharmacology ; Membrane Proteins ; physiology ; Stem Cell Factor ; pharmacology ; Transfection

In order to investigate the influence of cytokine combinations on proliferation and differentiation of human umbilical cord blood CD34(+) cells into megakaryocytes/platelets in vitro, the CD34(+) cells from human umbilical cord blood were amplified in serum-free medium StemSpan(SFEM) supplemented with several cytokine combinations by three-phase culture system. The effects of the cytokine combinations were compared. The results showed that at day 14 of the first culture phase, the CD34(+) cells cultured with cytokine combinations SCF + TPO + FL + IL-3 were amplified (11 000 ± 1 000) times, which were significantly higher than that of cells cultured with SCF + TPO + FL, but were not significantly different from that of cells cultured with SCF + TPO + IL-3 or SCF + TPO + FL + IL-3+ hydroxyl-corticosteroids. At day 7 of the second culture phase, the CD34(+) cells cultured with cytokine combination SCF + TPO + FL + IL-11 were amplified by (204666.7 ± 11718.9) times, which were significantly higher than that of cells cultured with SCF + TPO + FL + IL-3, but were not significantly different from that of cells cultured with SCF + TPO + FL + IL-11 + BMP4 + VEGF. At day 3 and day 6, the CD34(+) platelet-like cells accounted for about (39.8 ± 1.9)%, (39.7 ± 2.6)% and (25.5 ± 1.4)%, (23.1 ± 3.5)% cultured with SCF + TPO + FL + IL-11 and SCF + TPO + FL + IL-11 + BMP4 + VEGF, and significantly higher than that of the cells cultured with SCF + TPO + FL + IL-3. It is concluded that the cytokine combination of SCF + TPO + FL + IL-3 is most suitable cytokines combination for the amplification of CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells. The cytokine combination of SCF + TPO + FL + IL-11 is preferred for the proliferation and differentiation of megakaryocytes, this study lays an experimental basis for investigating the proliferation and differentiation of CD34(+) into megakaryocytes/platelets in vitro.
Antigens, CD34 ; immunology ; Blood Platelets ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-11 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-3 ; pharmacology ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology ; Stem Cell Factor ; pharmacology ; Thrombopoietin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the proliferation, differentiation of rat hepatic stem like cell line WB-F344 and cytokines in vitro.

METHODS(3)H thymidine labelling of new synthesized DNA was used to examine the mitogenic responsiveness of WB-F344 cells to cytokines, western blot was used to study the expression of cytokines receptors on hepatic stem cells, and apoptotic cells were detected by Flow cytometry.

RESULTSWB-F344 cells showed a proliferative response to the cytokines of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), Insulin at the dose of 80 ng/ml, and the relative cpm values are 982.95, 906.32, 863.98 and 968.67 respectively, while non response to interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) at the same dose, and an inhibition or apoptosis response to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) at 80 ng/ml with a 26.89% apoptotic rate. Western blot showed that there were HGF, EGF, FGF, TGF-beta receptors expressed on WB-F344 cells. When WB-F344 cells were cultured in the differential system (DMEM, 10% Fcs, HGF 10 to approximately 50 ng/ml, EGF 20 ng/ml, Insulin 1 microg/ml, Dex 1 micromol/L), the cells could differentiated into hepatocytes. In addition, HGF could scattered WB-F344 cells.

CONCLUSIONThe proliferation and differentiation of liver stem cells are regulated by various cytokines which may play an important role when liver is damaged seriously.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cytokines ; pharmacology ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Liver ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred F344 ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate in vitro methods of inducing mouse embryonic stem cell(s) (ESC) into hepatocytes.

METHODSE14 mouse ESC were cultivated in suspension and plated to form aggregates, the embryoid bodies. They were allowed to outgrow on the plated culture with the stepwise addition of growth factors-- acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and oncostatin M (OSM) into the culture medium. Morphology was investigated by phase contrast microscopy. Gene expressions of endodermal and liver specific mRNA were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Indocyanine green (ICG) uptake assay and periodic acid-Schiff reaction (PAS) were performed to assess the differentiation and function of the cells.

RESULTSMorphology analysis revealed a difference between ESC-derived hepatic cells and original ESC in that the former showed distinct round or polygonal shapes with clear boundaries, some arranged tightly in cords, while the latter grew in clones without clear boundaries between cells. Those ESC-derived hepatic cells expressed endodermal and liver specific genes mRNA--TTR, AAT, AFP, ALB, G6P and TAT. ICG uptake assay and PAS reaction were positive for those ESC-derived hepatic cells. The ICG positive cells were about 85.1% in number.

CONCLUSIONESC-derived hepatic cells possess characteristics of hepatocytes, which would promise the eventual clinical use of ESC in treating damaged liver tissues.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; pharmacology ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 ; pharmacology ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Mice ; Oncostatin M ; Stem Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETTo explore the method for inducing the dedifferentiation of epidermal cells into their progenitor stem cells in vitro without external gene intervention.

METHODSHEK cells obtained from Casacade were induced to reverse their differentiated process and produce immature stem-like cells, namely the dedifferentiation derived epidermal stem cells (dESCs), by induction with basic fibroblasts growth factors (bFGF) in vitro. Immunochemical staining, flow FACS analysis, RT-PCR and immunofluorescent staining were used to detect the phenotypic and functional changes of the differentiated epidermal cells, using human epidermal stem cells (ESCs) as the positive control.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical staining revealed that the expressions of β₁-integrin, CK19 and CK14 were up-regulated, while CK10 expression was down-regulated significantly after bFGF treatment. Two-color flow cytometric analysis of α₆-integrin and CD71 showed that the percentages of α₆(+)CD71(-), α₆(+)CD71(+) and CD71(+) expressing populations reached 13.24%, 58.26% and 23.12% of the total isolated cells, as compared with those of the control (0.12%, 3.06%, 51.50%) and positive control cells (37.49%, 45.13%, 5.86%). RT-PCR analysis indicated that the relative gene expressions of β₁-integrin, CK19 and CK14 increased in bFGF treatment group, whereas the expression of CK10 was significantly suppressed. Although there was no significant difference in the expression levels of β₁ integrin, CK19 and CK10 between the bFGF-treated and the positive controls, the expression of CK14 in bFGF-treated cells showed a 1.4-fold increase as compared with that in ESCs (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescent staining showed that a regional difference in the subcellular localization of telomerase between dESCs and ESCs.

CONCLUSIONbFGF can induce the epidermal cells to convert into epidermal precursor cells. Although they are more likely to be transient amplifying cells, the method for reprogramming somatic epidermal cells into their progenitors by bFGF induction other than genetic manipulation offers a new approach to generate residual healthy stem cells for wound repair and regeneration.

Cell Dedifferentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Epidermis ; cytology ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ; cytology

In vitro manipulation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by environmental factors is of great interest for three-dimensional (3D) tissue/organ induction. The effects of mechanical force depend on many factors, including force and cell type. However, information on such effects in iPSCs is lacking. The aim of this study was to identify a molecular mechanism in iPSCs responding to intermittent compressive force (ICF) by analyzing the global gene expression profile. Embryoid bodies of mouse iPSCs, attached on a tissue culture plate in 3D form, were subjected to ICF in serum-free culture medium for 24 h. Gene ontology analyses for RNA sequencing data demonstrated that genes differentially regulated by ICF were mainly associated with metabolic processes, membrane and protein binding. Topology-based analysis demonstrated that ICF induced genes in cell cycle categories and downregulated genes associated with metabolic processes. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database revealed differentially regulated genes related to the p53 signaling pathway and cell cycle. qPCR analysis demonstrated significant upregulation of Ccnd1, Cdk6 and Ccng1. Flow cytometry showed that ICF induced cell cycle and proliferation, while reducing the number of apoptotic cells. ICF also upregulated transforming growth factor β1 (Tgfb1) at both mRNA and protein levels, and pretreatment with a TGF-β inhibitor (SB431542) prior to ICF abolished ICF-induced Ccnd1 and Cdk6 expression. Taken together, these findings show that TGF-β signaling in iPSCs enhances proliferation and decreases apoptosis in response to ICF, that could give rise to an efficient protocol to manipulate iPSCs for organoid fabrication.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Differentiation ; Embryoid Bodies ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Mice ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/pharmacology*