OBJECTIVETo explore the role of Compound Danshen Injection (CDI) in regulating the expression of aquaporin 3 (AQP3) in human amnion epithelium cells (hAECs), and to study the relation between c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signal pathway and AQP3.

METHODShAECs were isolated and primarily cultured from term pregnancy with normal amniotic fluid volume and from term pregnancy with oligohydramnios, and then hAECs were further divided into four groups, i.e., the blank control group (A), the SP600125 group (B), the CDI group (C), and the SP600125 +CDI group (D). The cell viability was measured by cell counting kit-8 assay (CCK-8). The expression of total JNK, phosphorylated JNK, and AQP3 were determined by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) In hAECs with normal AFV or with oligohydramnios: There was no statistical difference in the cell viability or the expression of total JNK among the 4 groups (P > 0.05). But there was statistical difference in the expression of p-JNK (P < 0.05). Compared with A group, the expression of p-JNK was obviously down-regulated in B group, but obviously up-regulated in C group (P < 0.05). The expression of p-JNK was significantly lower in D group than in C group, but higher than that in A group or B group (P < 0.05).The AQP3 expression in the hAECs with normal amniotic fluid volume of C group and D group were higher than that in the A group (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistical difference in the AQP3 expression between C group and D group (P > 0.05). In hAECs with oligohydramnios, the expression of AQP3 obviously decreased in B group, but up-regulated in C group (both P < 0.05). The expression of AQP3 was lower in D group than in C group, but higher than in B group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCDI could regulate the AQP3 expression in hAECs with oligohydramnios via activating the JNK signal pathway.

Amnion ; cytology ; drug effects ; Aquaporin 3 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; physiology

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of conditioned media (CM) from human amniotic epithelial cells (HAECs) on the corneal wound healing process. Eighteen rabbits (36 eyes) were used and randomly assigned to three groups according treatment: CM from HAECs (group 1), vehicle alone (group 2), and saline (group 3). Corneal alkali injuries were induced with 1 N sodium hydroxide. Each reagent used for treatment evaluation was injected into the dorsal bulbar subconjunctiva and the area of the corneal epithelial defect was measured every other day. Two animals from each group were euthanized at a time on days 3, 7, and 15, and the cornea was removed for histological examination. The sum of the epithelial defect areas measured on day 0 to day 6 as well as day 0 to day 14 in group 1 was significantly smaller than those of other groups. Histological examination revealed that the group 1 corneas had less inflammatory cell infiltration and showed more intact epithelial features compared to the other groups. These results suggest that CM from HAECs promote corneal wound healing in rabbits.
Alkalies/*toxicity ; Amnion/*cytology ; Animals ; Cornea/*injuries ; Corneal Diseases/chemically induced/therapy/*veterinary ; Culture Media, Conditioned/*pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells/*physiology ; Humans ; Male ; *Rabbits

Recent studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are able to differentiate into multi-lineage cells such as adipocytes, chondroblasts, and osteoblasts. Amniotic membrane from whole placenta is a good source of stem cells in humans. This membrane can potentially be used for wound healing and corneal surface reconstruction. Moreover, it can be easily obtained after delivery and is usually discarded as classified waste. In the present study, we successfully isolated and characterized equine amniotic membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cells (eAM-MSCs) that were cultured and maintained in low glucose Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium. The proliferation of eAM-MSCs was measured based on the cumulative population doubling level (CPDL). Immunophenotyping of eAM-MSCs by flow cytometry showed that the major population was of mesenchymal origin. To confirm differentiation potential, a multi-lineage differentiation assay was conducted. We found that under appropriate conditions, eAM-MSCs are capable of multi-lineage differentiation. Our results indicated that eAM-MSCs may be a good source of stem cells, making them potentially useful for veterinary regenerative medicine and cell-based therapy.
Adipogenesis ; Amnion/*cytology/physiology ; Animals ; *Cell Differentiation ; *Cell Lineage ; Cell Proliferation ; Chondrogenesis ; Female ; Flow Cytometry/veterinary ; Horses ; Immunophenotyping/veterinary ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/*cytology/physiology ; Osteogenesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differentiation of human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) into insulin secreting cells (ISCs) in vitro.

METHODSThe hAECs were isolated from human amnion by trypsin digestion, and the phenotype of the isolated cells were identified by flow cytometry and immunocytochemical staining. The hAECs at passage 3 were treated with nicotinamide and N2 supplement to investigate their differentiation into ISCs. At different times after differentiation, the expression of insulin and beta2 microglobulin (beta2-MG) was determined by immunocytochemical staining, while the content of insulin in supernatant from cultured hAECs was detected by radioimmunoassay and the expressions of insulin, pancreatic and duodenal homeobox factor-1 (PDX-1) mRNA were detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS(1) hAECs expressed high percent of CD29, CD73, CD166 and CK19. (2) At 7, 14 and 21 days, the percentages of insulin-positive cells in induced groups were 74.00% +/- 1.73%, 75.33% +/- 1.15% (see symbol) 75.67% +/- 0.58% respectively, which were negative in control groups. (3) At 7, 14 and 21 days, contents of insulin in supernatant from induced groups were (328.47 +/- 3.22) microIU/ml, (332.26 +/- 1.22) microIU/ml and (329.68 +/- 2.57) microIU/ml respectively, they were significantly higher than those in control groups (All P < 0.01). (4) PDX-1 mRNA and beta2-MG were expressed before and after the induction of hAECs, but insulin mRNA was expressed only in the induced groups.

CONCLUSIONhAECs can differentiate into ISCs, having the potential application for therapy of type I diabetes.

Amnion ; cytology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; Homeodomain Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism ; beta 2-Microglobulin ; metabolism

The aim of this study was to isolate, cultivate and phenotypically characterize two types of human amnio-tic membrane (HAM)-derived cells, and to analyze their differentiation potential in vitro. Human amnion epithelial cells (hAEC) were derived from the embryonic ectoderm, while human amnion mesenchymal cells (hAMC) were derived from the embryonic mesoderm. The cells were characterized by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence, then immunofluorescence also was performed for the analysis of multipotentiality in differentiation. The results indicated that immunophenotypic characterization of both cell types demonstrated positive for HLA-A, B, C and mesenchymal stem cell markers (CD29, CD73, CD44, CD59, CD90, CD105, CD166), but did not express the hematopoietic markers (CD31, CD34, CD45, HLA-DR) and showed the weak expression of costimulatory molecules (CD40, CD40L, CD80, CD86). Phenotypes of both cell populations were maintained from passages 3 to 7. The immunofluorescence indicated that hAEC expressed cytokeratin 19, but did not express vimentin. On the contrary, hAMC expressed vimentin but did not express cytokeratin 19. The assessment of multilineage potential demonstrated that hAMC showed greater cardiomyocytes potential, while hAEC showed greater neural potential. It is concluded that hAEC and hAMC can be successfully isolated from the HAM. Both cell populations possess similar immunophenotype. However, they differ in cell yield and multipotential for differentiation into the major lineages, hAEC possess a much greater ectodermal differentiation capacity, while hAMC possess a much greater mesodermal differentiation capacity. This conclusion will be important for use of these cells in cell therapy.
Amnion ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cell Lineage ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Stromal Cells ; cytology

In this study, the natural biological inducer, rat regenerating pancreatic extract (RPE), was used to induce human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) into insulin-secreting cells. We excised 60% of rat pancreas in order to stimulate pancreatic regeneration. RPE was extracted and used to induce hAMSCs at a final concentration of 20 microg/mL. The experiment methods used were as follows: morphological-identification, dithizone staining, immumofluorescence analysis, reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and insulin secretion stimulated by high glucose. The results show that the cell morphology of passge3 hAMSCs changed significantly after the induction of RPE, resulting in cluster shape after induction for 15 days. Dithizone staining showed that there were scarlet cell masses in RPE-treated culture. Immumofluorescence analysis indicated that induced cells were insulin-positive expression. RT-PCR showed the positive expression of human islet-related genes Pdx1 and insulin in the induced cells. The result of insulin secretion stimulated by high glucose indicated that insulin increasingly secreted and then kept stable with prolongation of high glucose stimulation. In conclusion, hAMSCs had the potential to differentiate into insulin-secreting cells induced by RPE in vitro.
Amnion ; cytology ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; cytology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Pancreas ; physiology ; surgery ; Pancreatic Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Regeneration

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism via which the epidermal growth factor (EGF) affects the migration of human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs).

METHODSIn vitro cultured hAMSCs were divided into control (untreated), EGF group, inhibitor AG1478 + EGF group, inhibitor LY294002 + EGF group, and inhibitor U0126 + EGF group. The migration ability of hAMSCs in each group was measured using Transwell chamber. The expressions of phosphorylated EGFR (P-EGFR), phosphorylated AKT (P-AKT), and phosphorylated ERK1/2 (P-ERK1/2) as well as the expressions of metalloproteinase (MMP) -2 and MMP-9 were detected using Western blot analysis. The differentially expressed genes in the culture solutions in EGF groups and control group were analyzed with RNA-Seq technique.

RESULTSCells in EGF group had significantly stronger migration ability than in control group (P = 0.0361), inhibitor AG1478 + EGF group (P = 0.0113), inhibitor LY294002 + EGF group (P = 0.0169), and inhibitor U0126 + EGF group (P = 0.0293). EGF increased the phosphorylation levels of EGFR, AKT and ERK, and increased the expression of MMP-2. However, the increased expressions of P-AKT and P-ERK could be suppressed by AG1478 and LY294002. As shown by GO functional enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis, EGF increased the transcription of genes, which were mainly involved in transcriptional regulation, protein modification, and apoptosis inhibition. Genes that were involved in the MARK pathway included DUSP5, IL1B, DUSP6, NGF, and HSPA2.

CONCLUSIONEGF-induced migration of hAMSCs may be mediated by the signaling pathways of PI3K and ERK, which needs MMP-2 expression and the co-expression of genes involved in transcriptional regulation, protein modification, and apoptosis inhibition.

Amnion ; cytology ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo isolate human amniotic mesenchymal cells (hAMCs) and investigate their transdifferentiation ability into islet-like cells in vitro.

METHODSHuman amnion was treated with the trypsin/EDTA to remove the amniotic epithelial cells and then incubated with collagenase I and dispase at 37 degrees celsius; overnight. The cells were collected by centrifugation and identified for the expressions of vimentin and SSEA-4 using immunofluorescence assay and for CD29, CD90, CD34, and CD45 using flow cytometry. RT-PCR was performed to detect the expressions of ACTG2, ACTA2, MMP2, Cripto, Sox2, LEFTYA, nanog, and Oct-4 in the cells. The differentiation potential of the isolated cells into inslet-like cells was assessed after a 14-day induction with the inducing factors by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence assay.

RESULTSThe hAMCs were capable of in vitro proliferation and passaging for 10 passages while retaining the normal karyotype. The isolated cells were positive for staining of vimentin and SSEA-4 and negative for CD34 and CD45; the CD29 and CD90 cells accounted for (91.5∓9.93)% and (48.7∓9.47)% of the cells, respectively. The hAMCs expressed several pluripotency-related genes, including Cripto, Sox2, LEFTYA, nanog, and Oct-4. After induction, endocrine-related genes were expressed in the islet-like cells, including PDX1, ngn3, insulin and glucagon.

CONCLUSIONWe have successfully established the method for isolating hAMCs, which possess the potential of differentiation into islet-like cells in vitro.

Amnion ; cytology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Transdifferentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Humans ; Islets of Langerhans ; cytology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship among a 50-Hz MF-induced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) clustering, acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase) and ceramide (CER), and to explore the possible mechanism of receptor clustering.

METHODSHuman amnion (FL) cells were exposed to a 50-Hz sinusoidal magnetic field at 0.4 mT for 15 min with or without imipramine, a specific inhibitor of A-SMase and ceramide pretreatment. EGF treatment served as the positive control and DMSO treatment served as the solvent control. The EGFR was labeled with polyclonal anti-EGFR antibody and the clustering of EGFR was analyzed using immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. The percentage of cells with EGFR clustering was counted and compared.

RESULTSBoth EGF treatment and 50-Hz MF exposure could induce EGFR clustering. However, the effect could be eliminated by imipramine pretreatment for 4 hours. When FL cells were incubated with ceramide following the imipramine pretreatment for 30 min, EGFR clustering induced by 50-Hz MF exposure could be recovered.

CONCLUSIONEGFR clustering induced by 50-Hz MF depends on A-SMase activity, and ceramide, as the hydrolyzate from A-SMase might participate in the process of EGFR clustering.

Amnion ; cytology ; Cell Line ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Ceramides ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Magnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase ; metabolism ; physiology

Adult stem cells are drawing more and more attention due to the potential application in degenerative medicine without posing any moral problem. There is growing evidence showing that the human amnion contains various types of adult stem cell. Since amniotic tissue is readily available, it has the potential to be an important source of regenerative medicine material. In this study we tried to find multipotent adult stem cells in human amnion. We isolated stem cells from amniotic mesenchymal cells by limiting dilution assay. Similar to bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells, these cells displayed a fibroblast like appearance. They were positive for CD105, CD29, CD44, negative for haematopoietic (GlyA, CD31, CD34, CD45) and epithelial cell (pan-CK) markers. These stem cells had the potential to differentiate not only into osteogenic, adipogenic and endothelial lineages, but also hepatocyte-like cells and neural cells at the single-cell level depending on the culture conditions. They had the capacity for self-renewal and multilineage differentiation even after being expanded for more than 30 population doublings in vitro. So they may be an ideal stem cell source for inherited or degenerative diseases treatment.
Adult Stem Cells ; cytology ; Amnion ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Multipotent Stem Cells ; cytology