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

Proplatelet formation is a part of the intricate process by which platelets are generated by their precursor cell,the megakaryocyte. The processes that drive megakaryocyte maturation and platelet production are however still not well understood. The protein kinase C (PKC) family of serine/threonine kinases has been demonstrated as an important regulator of megakaryocyte maturation and proplatelet formation,but little investigation has been made on the individual isoforms. We have previously shown,in mouse models,that PKCα plays a vital role in regulating platelet function,so in this study we aimed to investigate the role of PKCα in megakaryocyte function using the same Prkca(-)(/)(-) mice. We assessed the role of global PKC and specifically PKCα in proplatelet formation in vitro,analyzed polyploidy in Prkca(-)(/)(-)-derived megakaryocytes and followed platelet recovery in platelet-depleted Prkca(-)(/)(-) mice. We show reduced proplatelet formation in the presence of global PKC blockade. However,in the presence of a selective classical PKC isoform inhibitor,Go6976,proplatelet formation was conversely enhanced. PKCα null megakaryocytes also showed enhanced proplatelet formation,as well as a shift to greater polyploidy. In vivo,platelet production was enhanced in response to experimentally induced immune thrombocytopenia. In conclusion,our data indicate that classical PKC isoforms,and more specifically PKCα,are negative regulators of proplatelet formation. PKCα appears to negatively regulate endomitosis,with the enhanced polyploidy observed in Prkca(-)(/)(-)-derived megakaryocytes. In vivo,these observations may culminate in the observed ability of Prkca(-)(/)(-) mice to recover more rapidly from a thrombocytopenic insult. View Publication

Bone remodeling,a physiological process characterized by bone formation by osteoblasts (OBs) and resorption of preexisting bone matrix by osteoclasts (OCs),is vital for the maintenance of healthy bone tissue in adult humans. Imbalances in this vital process result in pathological conditions including osteoporosis. Owing to its initial asymptomatic nature,osteoporosis is often detected only after the patient has sustained significant bone loss or a fracture. Hence,anabolic therapeutics that stimulate bone accrual is in high clinical demand. Here we identify Ca²?/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CaMKK2) as a potential target for such therapeutics because its inhibition enhances OB differentiation and bone growth and suppresses OC differentiation. Mice null for CaMKK2 possess higher trabecular bone mass in their long bones,along with significantly more OBs and fewer multinuclear OCs. In vitro,although Camkk2?/? mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) yield significantly higher numbers of OBs,bone marrow cells from Camkk2?/? mice produce fewer multinuclear OCs. Acute inhibition of CaMKK2 by its selective,cell-permeable pharmacological inhibitor STO-609 also results in increased OB and diminished OC formation. Further,we find phospho-protein kinase A (PKA) and Ser¹³³ phosphorylated form of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein (pCREB) to be markedly elevated in OB progenitors deficient in CaMKK2. On the other hand,genetic ablation of CaMKK2 or its pharmacological inhibition in OC progenitors results in reduced pCREB as well as significantly reduced levels of its transcriptional target,nuclear factor of activated T cells,cytoplasmic (NFATc1). Moreover,in vivo administration of STO-609 results in increased OBs and diminished OCs,conferring significant protection from ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporosis in adult mice. Overall,our findings reveal a novel function for CaMKK2 in bone remodeling and highlight the potential for its therapeutic inhibition as a valuable bone anabolic strategy that also inhibits OC differentiation in the treatment of osteoporosis. View Publication

The future of safe cell-based therapy rests on overcoming teratoma/tumor formation,in particular when using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs),such as human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Because the presence of a few remaining undifferentiated hPSCs can cause undesirable teratomas after transplantation,complete removal of these cells with no/minimal damage to differentiated cells is a prerequisite for clinical application of hPSC-based therapy. Having identified a unique hESC signature of pro- and antiapoptotic gene expression profile,we hypothesized that targeting hPSC-specific antiapoptotic factor(s) (i.e.,survivin or Bcl10) represents an efficient strategy to selectively eliminate pluripotent cells with teratoma potential. Here we report the successful identification of small molecules that can effectively inhibit these antiapoptotic factors,leading to selective and efficient removal of pluripotent stem cells through apoptotic cell death. In particular,a single treatment of hESC-derived mixed population with chemical inhibitors of survivin (e.g.,quercetin or YM155) induced selective and complete cell death of undifferentiated hPSCs. In contrast,differentiated cell types (e.g.,dopamine neurons and smooth-muscle cells) derived from hPSCs survived well and maintained their functionality. We found that quercetin-induced selective cell death is caused by mitochondrial accumulation of p53 and is sufficient to prevent teratoma formation after transplantation of hESC- or hiPSC-derived cells. Taken together,these results provide the proof of concept" that small-molecule targeting of hPSC-specific antiapoptotic pathway(s) is a viable strategy to prevent tumor formation by selectively eliminating remaining undifferentiated pluripotent cells for safe hPSC-based therapy." View Publication

INTRODUCTION Breast cancer stem cells are suspected to be responsible for tumour recurrence,metastasis formation as well as chemoresistance. Consequently,great efforts have been made to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer stem cell maintenance. In order to study these rare cells in-vitro,they are typically enriched via mammosphere culture. Here we developed a mammosphere-based negative selection shRNAi screening system suitable to analyse the involvement of thousands of genes in the survival of cells with cancer stem cell properties. METHODS We describe a sub-population expressing the stem-like marker CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) in SUM149 that were enriched in mammospheres. To identify genes functionally involved in the maintenance of the sub-population with cancer stem cell properties,we targeted over 5000 genes by RNAi and tested their ability to grow as mammospheres. The identified candidate ATG4A was validated in mammosphere and soft agar colony formation assays. Further,we evaluated the influence of ATG4A expression on the sub-population expressing the stem-like marker CD44(+)/CD24(low). Next,the tumorigenic potential of SUM149 after up- or down-regulation of ATG4A was examined by xenograft experiments. RESULTS Using this method,Jak-STAT as well as cytokine signalling were identified to be involved in mammosphere formation. Furthermore,the autophagy regulator ATG4A was found to be essential for the maintenance of a sub-population with cancer stem cell properties and to regulate breast cancer cell tumourigenicity in vivo. CONCLUSION In summary,we present a high-throughput screening system to identify genes involved in cancer stem cell maintenance and demonstrate its utility by means of ATG4A. View Publication

Approximately 70% of KRAS-positive colorectal cancers (CRCs) have a CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) characterized by aberrant DNA hypermethylation and transcriptional silencing of many genes. The factors involved in,and the mechanistic basis of,CIMP is not understood. Among the CIMP genes are the tumor suppressors p14(ARF),p15(INK4B),and p16(INK4A),encoded by the INK4-ARF locus. In this study,we perform an RNA interference screen and identify ZNF304,a zinc-finger DNA-binding protein,as the pivotal factor required for INK4-ARF silencing and CIMP in CRCs containing activated KRAS. In KRAS-positive human CRC cell lines and tumors,ZNF304 is bound at the promoters of INK4-ARF and other CIMP genes. Promoter-bound ZNF304 recruits a corepressor complex that includes the DNA methyltransferase DNMT1,resulting in DNA hypermethylation and transcriptional silencing. KRAS promotes silencing through upregulation of ZNF304,which drives DNA binding. Finally,we show that ZNF304 also directs transcriptional silencing of INK4-ARF in human embryonic stem cells. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.02313.001. View Publication

Oxidative stress serves as an important regulator of both apoptosis and metabolic reprogramming in tumor cells. Chaetocin,a histone methyltransferase inhibitor,is known to induce ROS generation. As elevating basal ROS level sensitizes glioma cells to apoptosis,the ability of Chaetocin in regulating apoptotic and metabolic adaptive responses in glioma was investigated. Chaetocin induced glioma cell apoptosis in a ROS-dependent manner. Increased intracellular ROS induced (i) Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) expression independent of the canonical Hippo pathway as well as (ii) ATM and JNK activation. Increased interaction of YAP1 with p73 and p300 induced apoptosis in an ATM-dependent manner. Chaetocin induced JNK modulated several metabolic parameters like glucose uptake,lactate production,ATP generation,and activity of glycolytic enzymes hexokinase and pyruvate kinase. However,JNK had no effect on ATM or YAP1 expression. Coherent with the in vitro findings,Chaetocin reduced tumor burden in heterotypic xenograft glioma mouse model. Chaetocin-treated tumors exhibited heightened ROS,pATM,YAP1 and pJNK levels. Our study highlights the coordinated control of glioma cell proliferation and metabolism by ROS through (i) ATM-YAP1-driven apoptotic pathway and (ii) JNK-regulated metabolic adaptation. The elucidation of these newfound connections and the roles played by ROS to simultaneously shift metabolic program and induce apoptosis could provide insights toward the development of new anti-glioma strategies. View Publication

Understanding the mechanisms that sustain pluripotency in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is an active area of research that may prove useful in regenerative medicine and will provide fundamental information relevant to development and cancer. hESCs and cancer cells share the unique ability to proliferate indefinitely and rapidly. Because the protein survivin is uniquely overexpressed in virtually all human cancers and in hESCs,we sought to investigate its role in supporting the distinctive capabilities of these cell types. Results presented here suggest that survivin contributes to the maintenance of pluripotency and that post-transcriptional control of survivin isoform expression is selectively regulated by microRNAs. miR-203 has been extensively studied in human tumors,but has not been characterized in hESCs. We show that miR-203 expression and activity is consistent with the expression and subcellular localization of survivin isoforms that in turn modulate expression of the Oct4 and Nanog transcription factors to sustain pluripotency. This study contributes to understanding of the complex regulatory mechanisms that govern whether hESCs proliferate or commit to lineages. textcopyright 2014 Wiley Periodicals,Inc. View Publication

Tendon-bone junctions (TBJs) are frequently injured,especially in athletic settings. Healing of TBJ injuries is slow and is often repaired with scar tissue formation that compromises normal function. This study explored the feasibility of using kartogenin (KGN),a biocompound,to enhance the healing of injured TBJs. We first determined the effects of KGN on the proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of rabbit bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and patellar tendon stem/progenitor cells (PTSCs) in vitro. KGN enhanced cell proliferation in both cell types in a concentration-dependent manner and induced chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells,as demonstrated by high expression levels of chondrogenic markers aggrecan,collagen II and Sox-9. Besides,KGN induced the formation of cartilage-like tissues in cell cultures,as observed through the staining of abundant proteoglycans,collagen II and osteocalcin. When injected into intact rat patellar tendons in vivo,KGN induced cartilage-like tissue formation in the injected area. Similarly,when KGN was injected into experimentally injured rat Achilles TBJs,wound healing in the TBJs was enhanced,as evidenced by the formation of extensive cartilage-like tissues. These results suggest that KGN may be used as an effective cell-free clinical therapy to enhance the healing of injured TBJs. View Publication

The ketone bodies β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and acetoacetate (AcAc) support mammalian survival during states of energy deficit by serving as alternative sources of ATP. BHB levels are elevated by starvation,caloric restriction,high-intensity exercise,or the low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet. Prolonged fasting reduces inflammation; however,the impact that ketones and other alternative metabolic fuels produced during energy deficits have on the innate immune response is unknown. We report that BHB,but neither AcAc nor the structurally related short-chain fatty acids butyrate and acetate,suppresses activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in response to urate crystals,ATP and lipotoxic fatty acids. BHB did not inhibit caspase-1 activation in response to pathogens that activate the NLR family,CARD domain containing 4 (NLRC4) or absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome and did not affect non-canonical caspase-11,inflammasome activation. Mechanistically,BHB inhibits the NLRP3 inflammasome by preventing K(+) efflux and reducing ASC oligomerization and speck formation. The inhibitory effects of BHB on NLRP3 are not dependent on chirality or starvation-regulated mechanisms like AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK),reactive oxygen species (ROS),autophagy or glycolytic inhibition. BHB blocks the NLRP3 inflammasome without undergoing oxidation in the TCA cycle,and independently of uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2),sirtuin-2 (SIRT2),the G protein-coupled receptor GPR109A or hydrocaboxylic acid receptor 2 (HCAR2). BHB reduces NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 production in human monocytes. In vivo,BHB or a ketogenic diet attenuates caspase-1 activation and IL-1β secretion in mouse models of NLRP3-mediated diseases such as Muckle-Wells syndrome,familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome and urate crystal-induced peritonitis. Our findings suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of caloric restriction or ketogenic diets may be linked to BHB-mediated inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome. View Publication

The role of intermediate methylation states in DNA is unclear. Here,to comprehensively identify regions of intermediate methylation and their quantitative relationship with gene activity,we apply integrative and comparative epigenomics to 25 human primary cell and tissue samples. We report 18,452 intermediate methylation regions located near 36% of genes and enriched at enhancers,exons and DNase I hypersensitivity sites. Intermediate methylation regions average 57% methylation,are predominantly allele-independent and are conserved across individuals and between mouse and human,suggesting a conserved function. These regions have an intermediate level of active chromatin marks and their associated genes have intermediate transcriptional activity. Exonic intermediate methylation correlates with exon inclusion at a level between that of fully methylated and unmethylated exons,highlighting gene context-dependent functions. We conclude that intermediate DNA methylation is a conserved signature of gene regulation and exon usage. View Publication

Class switch DNA recombination (CSR) is central to the maturation of the Ab response because it diversifies Ab effector functions. Like somatic hypermutation,CSR requires activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID),whose expression is restricted to B cells,as induced by CD40 engagement or dual TLR-BCR engagement (primary CSR-inducing stimuli). By constructing conditional knockout Igh(+/C)γ(1-cre)Rab7(fl/fl) mice,we identified a B cell-intrinsic role for Rab7,a small GTPase involved in intracellular membrane functions,in mediating AID induction and CSR. Igh(+/C)γ(1-cre)Rab7(fl/fl) mice displayed normal B and T cell development and were deficient in Rab7 only in B cells undergoing Igh(C)γ(1-cre) Iγ1-Sγ1-Cγ1-cre transcription,as induced--like Igh germline Iγ1-Sγ1-Cγ1 and Iε-Sε-Cε transcription--by IL-4 in conjunction with a primary CSR-inducing stimulus. These mice could not mount T-independent or T-dependent class-switched IgG1 or IgE responses while maintaining normal IgM levels. Igh(+/C)γ(1-cre)Rab7(fl/fl) B cells showed,in vivo and in vitro,normal proliferation and survival,normal Blimp-1 expression and plasma cell differentiation,as well as intact activation of the noncanonical NF-κB,p38 kinase,and ERK1/2 kinase pathways. They,however,were defective in AID expression and CSR in vivo and in vitro,as induced by CD40 engagement or dual TLR1/2-,TLR4-,TLR7-,or TLR9-BCR engagement. In Igh(+/C)γ(1-cre)Rab7(fl/fl) B cells,CSR was rescued by enforced AID expression. These findings,together with our demonstration that Rab7-mediated canonical NF-κB activation,as critical to AID induction,outline a novel role of Rab7 in signaling pathways that lead to AID expression and CSR,likely by promoting assembly of signaling complexes along intracellular membranes. View Publication

Blood flow promotes emergence of definitive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the developing embryo,yet the signals generated by hemodynamic forces that influence hematopoietic potential remain poorly defined. Here we show that fluid shear stress endows long-term multilineage engraftment potential upon early hematopoietic tissues at embryonic day 9.5,an embryonic stage not previously described to harbor HSCs. Effects on hematopoiesis are mediated in part by a cascade downstream of wall shear stress that involves calcium efflux and stimulation of the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-protein kinase A (PKA) signaling axis. Blockade of the PGE2-cAMP-PKA pathway in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) abolished enhancement in hematopoietic activity. Furthermore,Ncx1 heartbeat mutants,as well as static cultures of AGM,exhibit lower levels of expression of prostaglandin synthases and reduced phosphorylation of the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB). Similar to flow-exposed cultures,transient treatment of AGM with the synthetic analogue 16,16-dimethyl-PGE2 stimulates more robust engraftment of adult recipients and greater lymphoid reconstitution. These data provide one mechanism by which biomechanical forces induced by blood flow modulate hematopoietic potential. View Publication