搜索结果: 'methocult media formulations for human hematopoietic cells serum containing'

BACKGROUND Cell fusion is a fast and highly efficient technique for cells to acquire new properties. The fusion of somatic cells with stem cells can reprogram somatic cells to a pluripotent state. Our research on the fusion of stem cells and cancer cells demonstrates that the fused cells can exhibit stemness and cancer cell-like characteristics. Thus,tumor-initiating cell-like cells are generated. METHODS We employed laser-induced single-cell fusion technique to fuse the hepatocellular carcinoma cells and human embryonic stem cells (hESC). Real-time RT-PCR,flow cytometry and in vivo tumorigenicity assay were adopted to identify the gene expression difference. RESULTS We successfully produced a fused cell line that coalesces the gene expression information of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and stem cells. Experimental results showed that the fused cells expressed cancer and stemness markers as well as exhibited increased resistance to drug treatment and enhanced tumorigenesis. CONCLUSIONS Fusion with stem cells transforms liver cancer cells into tumor initiating-like cells. Results indicate that fusion between cancer cell and stem cell may generate tumor initiating-like cells. View Publication

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are precipitated by a rupture of the atherosclerotic plaque,often at the site of T cell and macrophage infiltration. Here,we show that plaque-infiltrating CD4 T cells effectively kill vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). VSMCs sensitive to T cell-mediated killing express the death receptor DR5 (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand [TRAIL] receptor 2),and anti-TRAIL and anti-DR5 antibodies block T cell-mediated apoptosis. CD4 T cells that express TRAIL upon stimulation are expanded in patients with ACS and more effectively induce VSMC apoptosis. Adoptive transfer of plaque-derived CD4 T cells into immunodeficient mice that are engrafted with human atherosclerotic plaque results in apoptosis of VSMCs,which was prevented by coadministration of anti-TRAIL antibody. These data identify that the death pathway is triggered by TRAIL-producing CD4 T cells as a direct mechanism of VSMC apoptosis,a process which may lead to plaque destabilization. View Publication

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive malignant tumor in adult brain. Even with the current standard therapy including surgical resection followed by postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide (Temo),GBM patients still have a poor median survival. Reprogramming of tumor cells into non-malignant cells might be a promising therapeutic strategy for malignant tumors,including GBM. Based on previous studies using small molecules to reprogram astrocytes into neuronal cells,here we further identified a FTT cocktail of three commonly used drugs (Fasudil,Tranilast,and Temo) to reprogram patient-derived GBM cells,either cultured in serum containing or serum-free medium,into neuronal like cells. FTT-treated GBM cells displayed a neuronal like morphology,expressed neuronal genes,exhibited neuronal electrophysiological properties,and showed attenuated malignancy. More importantly,FTT cocktail more significantly suppressed tumor growth and prolonged survival in GBM patient derived xenograft than Temo alone. Our study provided preclinical evidence that the neuronal reprogramming drug cocktail might be a promising strategy to improve the existing treatment for GBM. View Publication

The self-renewing epithelium of the small intestine is ordered into stem/progenitor crypt compartments and differentiated villus compartments. Recent evidence indicates that the Wnt cascade is the dominant force in controlling cell fate along the crypt-villus axis. Here we show a rapid,massive conversion of proliferative crypt cells into post-mitotic goblet cells after conditional removal of the common Notch pathway transcription factor CSL/RBP-J. We obtained a similar phenotype by blocking the Notch cascade with a gamma-secretase inhibitor. The inhibitor also induced goblet cell differentiation in adenomas in mice carrying a mutation of the Apc tumour suppressor gene. Thus,maintenance of undifferentiated,proliferative cells in crypts and adenomas requires the concerted activation of the Notch and Wnt cascades. Our data indicate that gamma-secretase inhibitors,developed for Alzheimer's disease,might be of therapeutic benefit in colorectal neoplastic disease. View Publication

Pluripotent stem cells exist in naive and primed states,epitomized by mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and the developmentally more advanced epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs; ref. 1). In the naive state of ESCs,the genome has an unusual open conformation and possesses a minimum of repressive epigenetic marks. In contrast,EpiSCs have activated the epigenetic machinery that supports differentiation towards the embryonic cell types. The transition from naive to primed pluripotency therefore represents a pivotal event in cellular differentiation. But the signals that control this fundamental differentiation step remain unclear. We show here that paracrine and autocrine Wnt signals are essential self-renewal factors for ESCs,and are required to inhibit their differentiation into EpiSCs. Moreover,we find that Wnt proteins in combination with the cytokine LIF are sufficient to support ESC self-renewal in the absence of any undefined factors,and support the derivation of new ESC lines,including ones from non-permissive mouse strains. Our results not only demonstrate that Wnt signals regulate the naive-to-primed pluripotency transition,but also identify Wnt as an essential and limiting ESC self-renewal factor. View Publication

Developing efficacious vaccines against enteric diseases is a global challenge that requires a better understanding of cellular recruitment dynamics at the mucosal surfaces. The current paradigm of T cell homing to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract involves the induction of $$4$$7 and CCR9 by Peyer's patch and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) dendritic cells (DCs) in a retinoic acid-dependent manner. This paradigm,however,cannot be reconciled with reports of GI T cell responses after intranasal (i.n.) delivery of antigens that do not directly target the GI lymphoid tissue. To explore alternative pathways of cellular migration,we have investigated the ability of DCs from mucosal and nonmucosal tissues to recruit lymphocytes to the GI tract. Unexpectedly,we found that lung DCs,like CD103(+) MLN DCs,up-regulate the gut-homing integrin $$4$$7 in vitro and in vivo,and induce T cell migration to the GI tract in vivo. Consistent with a role for this pathway in generating mucosal immune responses,lung DC targeting by i.n. immunization induced protective immunity against enteric challenge with a highly pathogenic strain of Salmonella. The present report demonstrates novel functional evidence of mucosal cross talk mediated by DCs,which has the potential to inform the design of novel vaccines against mucosal pathogens. View Publication

The generation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from blood monocytes has been propagated as a novel approach in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake and lectin binding together with endothelial marker expression are commonly used to define these EPCs. Considerable controversy exists regarding their nature,in particular,because myelomonocytic cells share several properties with endothelial cells (ECs). This study was performed to elucidate whether the commonly used endothelial marker determination is sufficient to distinguish supposed EPCs from monocytes. We measured endothelial,hematopoietic,and progenitor cell marker expression of monocytes before and after angiogenic culture by fluorescence microscopy,flow cytometry,and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The function of primary monocytes and monocyte-derived supposed EPCs was investigated during vascular network formation and EC colony-forming unit (CFU-EC) development. Monocytes cultured for 4 to 6 days under angiogenic conditions lost CD14/CD45 and displayed a commonly accepted EPC phenotype,including LDL uptake and lectin binding,CD31/CD105/CD144 reactivity,and formation of cord-like structures. Strikingly,primary monocytes already expressed most tested endothelial genes and proteins at even higher levels than their supposed EPC progeny. Neither fresh nor cultured monocytes formed vascular networks,but CFU-EC formation was strictly dependent on monocyte presence. LDL uptake,lectin binding,and CD31/CD105/CD144 expression are inherent features of monocytes,making them phenotypically indistinguishable from putative EPCs. Consequently,monocytes and their progeny can phenotypically mimic EPCs in various experimental models. View Publication

Here we describe a simple and efficient protocol for derivation of germline chimera-competent mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) from embryonic day 3.5 (E3.5) blastocysts. The protocol involves the use of early-passage mouse embryonic fibroblast feeders (MEF) and the alternation of fetal bovine serum- and serum replacement (SR)-containing media. As compared to other available protocols for mESCs derivation,our protocol differs in the combination of commercial availability of all reagents,technical simplicity and high efficiency. mESC lines are derived with approximately 50% efficiency (50 independent mESC lines derived from 96 blastocysts). We believe that this protocol could be a good starting point for (i) setting up the derivation of mESC lines in a laboratory and (ii) incorporating further steps to improve efficiency or adapt the protocol to other applications. The whole process (from blastocyst extraction to the freezing of mESC line) usually takes between 15 and 20 d. View Publication

Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) density is an important factor in self-renewal and differentiation fates; however,the mechanisms through which hPSCs sense cell density and process this information in making cell fate decisions remain to be fully understood. One particular pathway that may prove important in density-dependent signaling in hPSCs is the Hippo pathway,which is regulated by cell-cell contact and mechanosensing through the cytoskeleton and has been linked to the maintenance of stem cell pluripotency. To probe regulation of Hippo pathway activity in hPSCs,we assessed whether Hippo pathway transcriptional activator YAP was differentially modulated by cell density. At higher cell densities,YAP phosphorylation and localization to the cytoplasm increased,which led to decreased YAP-mediated transcriptional activity. Furthermore,total YAP protein levels diminished at high cell density due to the phosphorylation-targeted degradation of YAP. Inducible shRNA knockdown of YAP reduced expression of YAP target genes and pluripotency genes. Finally,the density-dependent increase of neuroepithelial cell differentiation was mitigated by shRNA knockdown of YAP. Our results suggest a pivotal role of YAP in cell density-mediated fate decisions in hPSCs. View Publication

Somites form during embryonic development and give rise to unique cell and tissue types,such as skeletal muscles and bones and cartilage of the vertebrae. Using somitogenesis-stage human embryos,we performed transcriptomic profiling of human presomitic mesoderm as well as nascent and developed somites. In addition to conserved pathways such as WNT-$\beta$-catenin,we also identified BMP and transforming growth factor $\beta$ (TGF-$\beta$) signaling as major regulators unique to human somitogenesis. This information enabled us to develop an efficient protocol to derive somite cells in vitro from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Importantly,the in-vitro-differentiating cells progressively expressed markers of the distinct developmental stages that are known to occur during in vivo somitogenesis. Furthermore,when subjected to lineage-specific differentiation conditions,the hPSC-derived somite cells were multipotent in generating somite derivatives,including skeletal myocytes,osteocytes,and chondrocytes. This work improves our understanding of human somitogenesis and may enhance our ability to treat diseases affecting somite derivatives. View Publication