Aluminum is a light metal which is rich in the earth's crust and widely used. Recently, the adverse health effects of environmental and occupational aluminum exposure on human have attracted more and more attention. Aluminum exposure has toxic effects on the central nervous system and is believed to be closely related to the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease. The neurotoxic mechanism of aluminum is complex, especially the role of regulated cell death (RCD) in aluminum-induced neuronal death remains to be further studied. RCD refers to all modes of cell death regulated by multiple intracellular signal transduction pathways under physiological and pathological conditions, including apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis. This review summarized the morphological characteristics and mechanisms of each RCD mode in the process of aluminum-induced neuronal death, and discussed the relationship and transformation between different RCD modes, providing a new scientific basis for future studies on the treatment and intervention of neurotoxicity induced by aluminum exposure.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells are ideal seed cells for tissueengineering research.OBJECTIVE: To isolate, culture and identify tree shrew umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, in order toestablish a standardized tree shrew umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell lines.METHODS: Caesarean-isolated tree shrew umbilical cord samples were used to isolate and culture umbilical cordmesenchymal stem cells using tissue explant adherent method. Flow cytometry assay was used to detect cellsurface markers. Osteogenic and adipogenic induction media were used to induce umbilical cord mesenchymalstem cells to differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The cultured umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells expressed CD90 and CD105 with the positive rate of 99.9% and 99.8% respectively. Hematopoietic stem cell marker CD34 expression ratewas 0.0% and the endothelial cell marker CD31 expression rate was 0.7%, in line with the characteristics of umbilicalcord mesenchymal stem cell surface markers. Calcium nodules by alizarin red staining and lipid droplets by oil red Ostaining were observed in the induced cells. These experimental findings indicated that umbilical cord mesenchymalstem cells from tree shrews capable of osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation were successfully isolated and cultured.

Objective To isolate, culture and identify mouse umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells( mUCMSCs) and to study whether they can be induced to differentiate into adipocytes, chondrocytes and osteoblasts.Methods The mUCMSCs were isolated and expanded by adherent culture from fresh mouse umbilical cord.The morphological characteris-tics of the resulting cells were observed under inverted phase contrast microscope, and their expression of mesenchymal sur-face markers was identified and analyzed by flow cytometry.Then mUCMSCs were induced to differentiate into chondro-cytes, adipocytes and osteoblasts in vitro.Results Fibroblast-like cells could be isolated from the fresh umbilical cord by adherent culture.These adherent cells highly expressed mesenchymal markers including CD29, CD90 and CD105 while low expression of CD34.The cells were successfully induced to differentiate into chondrocytes, adipocytes and osteoblasts. Conclusions The mUCMSCs isolated from fresh mouse umbilical cord by adherent culture have potential of differentiation into chondrocytes, adipocytes and osteoblasts.

BACKGROUND:If an extract can prolong the S phase and reduce the percentage of apoptosis after co-culture with cels, it is proved that the extract is able to promote cel proliferation. OBJECTIVE: To prove the effects of chicken egg-white extracts with different components on the proliferation, cel cycle and apoptosis of 293T cels. METHODS: An ultrafiltration unit was used to separate chicken egg-white extracts into different components that were > 10 ku, < 10 ku, > 3 ku and < 3 ku to co-culture with cels for 3 days. Then, cel proliferation, cel cycle and cel apoptosis were detected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Chicken egg-white extract components of < 10 ku and < 3 ku could promote cel proliferation, increase the percentage of S-phase cels and reduce the percentage of apoptosis. In conclusion, chicken egg-white extract components that are < 10 ku and < 3 ku can promote cel proliferation, as wel as increase the percentage of S-phase cels and reduce apoptosis percentage.

BACKGROUND:Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease characterized as an emergence of a variety of autoantibodies in serum and multi-system and multi-organ lesions. Currently, there is a lack of effective treatment options, and umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cel s are a promising therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus based on cel biological roles. OBJECTIVE:To observe the therapeutic efficacy of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cel transplantation in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus in mice. METHODS:Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cel s were isolated and cultured fol owed by labeling with DiR fluorescence. Experimental mice were divided into normal control group (C57BL mice), model control group (C57BL/lpr mice), low-, medium-and high-dose umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cel therapy groups (C57BL/lpr mice), with 10 mice in each group. Mice in the low-, medium-and high-dose groups were respectively injected 0.5×106, 1×106, 2×106 human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cel s, once a week, for 3 consecutive weeks. At the end of treatment, blood samples were col ected to measure antinuclear antibody, anti-histone antibody, anti-double stranded DNA antibody changes;OPG and Foxp3 gene expression changes were detected by quantitative PCR method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After treatment, the levels of anti-nuclear antibodies, anti-histone antibodies and anti-double stranded DNA antibodies in the peripheral blood of mice were al declined in the low-, medium-and high-dose groups, while the number of peripheral blood CD4+CD25+T cel s was significantly elevated. OPG and Foxp3 gene expression was also increased dramatical y in the low-, medium-and high-dose groups, which was similar to that in the normal control group and significantly different from that in the model control group (P<0.01). Experimental findings demonstrate that after transplantation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cel s, al relevant indicators in C57BL/lpr mice recovered to the normal levels, and the high-dose treatment group had the most obvious effect.

Objective To establish a method for isolation of cynomolgus monkey umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells.Methods Fresh cynomolgus monkey umbilical cord was directly minced into pasty fine pieces, and the pieces were cultured in tissue flask with DMEM/F12 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum.The morphological characteristics of the resulting cells were examined, and their expression of mesenchymal cell surface markers were analyzed by flow cytometry.The multidifferentiation potential was examined in vitro, too.Results The fibroblast-like cells were successfully isolated from the fresh umbilical cord by an adherent culture procedure.These adherent cells expressed mesenchymal markers including CD29, CD44, and CD90, and also could be induced to differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts and chondrocytes.Conclusion Mesenchymal stem cells can be isolated from fresh cynomolgus monkey umbilical cord by using an adherent culture procedure.

The culture of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells is extremely important for studies on umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. Optimization of cellculture technology is crucial for clinical application of mesenchymal stem cells and even celltherapy. Meanwhile, the labeling and tracer technique of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells is a hotspot in stem celltransplantation. OBJECTIVE:To review the research and development of the cellmarkers and tracer methods of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells. METHODS:A computer-based search of VIP, CNKI, Medline, Highwire and Foreign Journals Integration System databases was performed for articles concerning culture and labeling of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells published from January 2001 to October 2013. The keywords were“stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, umbilical cord-derived mesenchymalstem cells, cellculture, labeling methods”in Chinese and English, respectively. Final y, 35 articles were included in result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells have not yet been widely used, mainly because of the immature isolation, culture and staining techniques of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells. These techniques are worthy of further optimization studies. Although in recent years, cellmarkers and tracer technology of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell s have made great progress, there are stil many problems need to be solved.

BACKGROUND:There are less studies addressing whether bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from systemic lupus erythematosus patients are different from healthy people.
OBJECTIVE:To compare the multi-differentiation capacity of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells isolated from systemic lupus erythematosus model mice and normal control mice.
METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of systemic lupus erythematosus model mice and C57BL mice were isolated and cultured fol owed by osteogenic and adipogenic differentiations, respectively. Differentiation abilities of two kinds of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were observed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Passaged bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from C57BL mice were long spindle-shaped and evenly distributed, while bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from systemic lupus erythematosus model mice showed slow growth and were relatively smal er than those from C57BL mice. After osteogenic induction, the amount of calcium salt and calcium nodules were significantly less in the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from systemic lupus erythematosus model mice than from normal control mice. PCR detection showed that expressions of Runx2, alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin were also significantly decreased in the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from systemic lupus erythematosus model mice. After adipogenic induction, the number of lipid droplets in the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from systemic lupus erythematosus model mice was significantly less than the control group, and PCR detection also showed significantly decreased expression of adipogenic genes, including PPARγ2 and lipoprotein lipase. These findings suggest that the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from systemic lupus erythematosus model mice exhibit lower osteogenic and adipogenic capacities than those from normal C57BL mice, and also have the impaired multi-differentiation ability.

Objective To establish a method of identification of DKO mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystro-phy, and to assess the dystrophin regeneration after stem cell transplantation.Methods Heterozygous mice were mated and the resulting offspring were used to identify their genotype by SSP-PCR.The plasma creatine kinase level was measured by biochemical analyzer and histological changes in the DKO mice were analyzed using HE staining.Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were prepared and injected into the DKO mice hindlimb muscle, and dystrophin expression was de-tected by immunofluorescence staining at 2 months after injection.Results Mating of heterozygous mice generated three kinds of genotype offsprings, and 21.2%of the offsprings were identified as DKO genotype (285 bp) .DKO mice showed dystrophic symptoms, their plasma creatine kinase level was as high as 16988.52 ±617.48 IU/L, and significant histologi-cal changes including diverse myocyte sizes, numerous centrally nucleated cells and connective tissue proliferation or in-flammatory cells infiltration.Human dystrophin expression was detected in the DKO mouse hindlimb muscle at two months after injection of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells.Conclusion DKO mouse genotype can be identified by SSP-PCR, and DKO mouse is an ideal animal model for studies of stem cell therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

BACKGROUND:Umbilical cord as childbirth waste has wide variety of sources and can be easily obtained, without any ethical and legal restrictions. Therefore, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells break al the restrictions originated from other sources of mesenchymal stem cells. OBJECTIVE:To review the application of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in cartilage diseases, neuroglioma, ischemic brain injury, lung disease, liver disease and models of myocardial infarction. METHODS:The PubMed and Wanfang databases were searched by the first author using the keywords of“human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, disease models, celltherapy”in English and Chinese, respectively. Seventy-three articles were searched and final y, 35 articles were included in result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells have multilineage differentiation capacity similar to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Compared with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells have lower immunogenicity. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells show certain curative effects on cartilage disease, neuroglioma, ischemic brain injury, lung disease, liver disease and myocardial infarction, indicating that human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells can be used for celltransplantation to treat various diseases.