技术资料

BACKGROUND: Serum-free cultures supplemented with stem cell factor (SCF) and IL-6 is reported to support the extensive growth of less functional human cord blood-derived mast cells. OBJECTIVE: To obtain more functional mast cells from cord blood,we developed a culture system combining a serum-free condition for 0-8 weeks of culture,and followed by a serum-supplemented culture condition and examined the function of the cells compared to the cells cultured continuously in serum-free condition. METHODS: Human cord blood progenitors were purified with anti-CD133 antibody. They were cultured in a serum-free medium StemSpan supplemented with SCF at 100 ng/ml and IL-6 at 50 ng/ml for 8 weeks. Then,an aliquot of the cultured cells were cultured in the above condition but further supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS). RESULTS: The addition of FCS after 8 weeks of culture significantly increased the amount of histamine per mast cell (3.8 pg/cell) when compared to the serum-free condition (0.7 pg/cell). The cells cultured with FCS after 8 weeks expressed more FcvarepsilonRI alpha and released textgreater30% of the histamine content upon anti-IgE stimulation than those cultured without serum. CONCLUSION: It is uncertain why FCS enhanced the functional maturation of mast cells when added after week 8 of culture but suppressed mast cell development when added at day 0 of culture. Yet,the present method combining a serum-free culture system with a serum-supplemented culture system seems to be beneficial for most of the laboratories to obtain functional human mast cells. View Publication

Excessive accumulation of smooth-muscle cells (SMCs) has a key role in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases. It has been assumed that SMCs derived from the outer medial layer migrate,proliferate and synthesize extracellular matrix components on the luminal side of the vessel. Although much effort has been devoted to targeting migration and proliferation of medial SMCs,there is no effective therapy that prevents occlusive vascular remodeling. We show here that in models of post-angioplasty restenosis,graft vasculopathy and hyperlipidemia-induced atherosclerosis,bone-marrow cells give rise to most of the SMCs that contribute to arterial remodeling. Notably,purified hematopoietic stem cells differentiate into SMCs in vitro and in vivo. Our findings indicate that somatic stem cells contribute to pathological remodeling of remote organs,and may provide the basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies for vascular diseases through targeting mobilization,homing,differentiation and proliferation of bone marrow-derived vascular progenitor cells. View Publication

INTRODUCTION: The assay of endogenous erythroid colony formation (EEC),a characteristic of polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia,is not standardized. In this multicentric study,we tested four semisolid,serum-free,cytokine-free media based on either methylcellulose (M1,M2) or collagen (C1,C2) commercialized for the EEC assay. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMC) from 73 individuals (62 patients with either polycythemia vera (26),essential thrombocythemia (19),secondary polyglobuly (17) or chronic myeloid leukemia (2) and 11 healthy donors) were grown in parallel in the four media without,or with 0.01 U/ml erythropoietin (EPo). RESULTS: In all four media EEC formation was specific,as it was not observed in cultures of patients with secondary polyglobuly or chronic myeloid leukemia,nor of healthy donors. Analysis of fresh or MGG-stained collagen gel cultures allowed detection of EEC formation significantly more frequently than methylcellulose-based media; addition of 0.01 U/ml of EPo had little or no effect on EEC formation. Collagen-based medium C1 gave better results than the other media tested: the 'C1' EEC assay was positive for 68.2% of polycythemia vera cultures with significantly higher median EEC numbers (6.5/10(5) BMMC for patients with one major criteria of polycythemia vera and 19 and 21/10(5) BMMC for patients with two or three major criteria,respectively). Medium C1 was also better for essential thrombocythemia cultures with 47.4% of positive results but with a low median EEC number (6.7/10(5) BMMC). When associated with the ELISA dosage of serum EPo,the 'C1' EEC assay allowed confirmation or elimination of the diagnosis of polycythemia vera for 91% (20/22) of polyglobulic patients. CONCLUSION: We propose that serum-free collagen-based culture systems be considered to standardize the EEC assay,now part of the new criteria of polycythemia vera. View Publication

BACKGROUND: Ex vivo expansion of cord blood (CB) hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells increases cell dose and may reduce the severity and duration of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia after transplantation. This study's purpose was to establish a clinically applicable culture system by investigating the use of cytokines,serum-free media,and autologous plasma for the expansion of CB cells and the engraftment of expanded product in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Enriched CB CD34+ cells were cultured in four media (Iscove's modified Dulbecco's medium with FCS,Gibco; X-Vivo-10,BioWhittaker; QBSF-60,Quality Biological; and StemSpan SFEM,Stem Cell Technologies) with four cytokine combinations (thrombopoietin [TPO],SCF,Flt-3 ligand [FL] with and without G-CSF,and/or IL-6). The effect of autologous CB plasma was also investigated. The read-out measures were evaluated on Days 8 and 12. After expansion at the optimized condition,cultured cells were transplanted into sublethally irradiated NOD/SCID mice. The engraftment of human CD45+ cells and subsets in the bone marrow,spleen,and peripheral blood was determined. RESULTS: QBSF-60 or StemSpan SFEM supported high yields of early progenitors (CD34+ cells,textlessor= 64.8-fold; CD34+CD38- cells,330-fold; CFU-granulocyte erythroid macrophage megakaryocyte [GEMM],248-fold) and CFUs of the myeloid (CFU-GM,407-fold) and erythroid (BFU/CFU-E,144-fold) lineages. The expansion of the megakaryocytic lineage was consistently higher in X-Vivo-10 (CFU-megakaryocyte,684-fold). Autologous plasma promoted colony formation but reduced CD34+ cells and CFU-GEMM. The addition of G-CSF or IL-6 improved cell yields; G-CSF was more effective for committed progenitors. Expansion products from cultures in QBSF-60 with the cytokines engrafted and differentiated into the myeloid and lymphoid lineages in NOD/SCID mice. CONCLUSION: The data supported the strategy of expansion. The optimized condition may be applicable to clinical expansion for the abrogation or reduction of posttransplant cytopenia. View Publication

In the present study,we report a new method for enrichment and analysis of fetal CD34+ stem cells after culture in order to determine whether it is feasible for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis. We also determined whether fetal CD34+ stem cells persist in maternal blood after delivery and assessed whether they have an impact on noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of genetic abnormalities. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 35 pregnant women,13 non-pregnant women who had given birth to male offsprings,12 women who had never been pregnant,and eight pregnant women with male fetuses. CD34+ stem cells were enriched and either cultured for prenatal diagnosis or analyzed with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)/polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine peristance in maternal blood. Fetal/maternal cells can be isolated and grown in vitro" to provide enough cells for a more accurate fetal sex or aneuploid prediction than is provided by unenriched and uncultured CD34+ stem cells. The presence of fetal cells in maternal blood samples from mothers who had given birth to male offspring was found in 3 of 13 blood samples. PCR was positive for Y chromosome in one woman who had never been pregnant. Analysis of cultured CD34+ stem cells from mothers with Y PCR positivity did not detect any male cells in any samples. Even if PCR positivity is due to persistence of fetal stem cells from previous pregnancies View Publication

The Cre recombinase (Cre) from bacteriophage P1 is an important tool for genetic engineering in mammalian cells. We constructed lentiviral vectors that efficiently deliver Cre in vitro and in vivo. Surprisingly,we found a significant reduction in proliferation and an accumulation in the G(2)/M phase of Cre-expressing cells. To minimize the toxic effect of Cre,we designed a lentiviral vector that integrates into the host genome,expresses Cre in the target cell,and is subsequently deleted from the genome in a Cre-dependent manner. Thus,the activity of Cre terminates its own expression (self-deleting). We showed efficient modification of target genes in vitro and in the brain after transduction with the self-deleting vectors. In contrast to sustained Cre expression,transient expression of Cre from the self-deleting vector induced significantly less cytotoxicity. Such a self-deleting Cre vector is a promising tool for the induction of conditional gene modifications with minimal Cre toxicity in vivo. View Publication

Reinfusion of ex vivo-expanded autologous megakaryocytes together with a stem cell transplantation may be useful to prevent or reduce the period of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia. In this study,we analyzed several serum-containing and serum-free media to identify the most suitable medium for megakaryocyte expansion. Moreover,two thrombopoietin (Tpo)-mimetic peptides were tested to evaluate whether they could replace Tpo in an expansion protocol. To analyze the effects of different media on megakaryocyte expansion,we used an in vitro liquid culture system. For this purpose,CD34(+) cells were isolated from peripheral blood and cultured for 8 days in the presence of Tpo and interleukin-3 (IL-3). The presence of megakaryocytes was analyzed by flow cytometric analysis after staining for CD41 expression. For our standard culture procedure,megakaryocyte medium (MK medium) supplemented with 10% AB plasma was used. Addition of 5% or 2.5% AB plasma yielded higher numbers of megakaryocytes,implying the presence of inhibitory factors in plasma. However,some plasma components are required for optimal megakaryocyte expansion because addition of less than 1% AB plasma or addition of human serum albumin instead of AB plasma resulted in the formation of lower numbers of megakaryocytes. Two commercially available serum-free media were also tested: Cellgro and Stemspan. If CD34(+) cells were cultured in Cellgro medium similar numbers of megakaryocytes were obtained as when CD34(+) cells were cultured in MK medium supplemented with 10% AB plasma. In MK medium with 2.5% AB plasma,higher numbers of megakaryocytes were cultured than in MK medium supplemented with 10% AB plasma. Therefore,Cellgro medium is not the best alternative medium. In cultures with Stemspan medium,higher numbers of megakaryocytes were obtained compared to MK medium with 10% AB plasma. Stemspan is thus a good alternative for MK medium. Two Tpo-mimetic peptides,AF13948 and PK1M,were tested for their ability to replace Tpo. In cultures with AF13948,comparable numbers of megakaryocytes were obtained as in the presence of Tpo,but in cultures with PK1M the number of megakaryocytes was lower. This study shows that high concentrations of plasma in medium inhibits megakaryocyte formation,but some plasma components are required for optimal megakaryocyte expansion. For an ex vivo expansion protocol,it is worthwhile to test several media,because the number of megakaryocytes differs widely with the medium used. View Publication

Genetic modification of hematopoietic stem cells often results in the expression of foreign proteins in pluripotent progenitor cells and their progeny. However,the potential for products of foreign genes introduced into hematopoietic stem cells to induce host immune responses is not well understood. Gene marking and induction of immune responses to enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) were examined in rhesus macaques that underwent nonmyeloablative irradiation followed by infusions of CD34(+) bone marrow cells transduced with a retroviral vector expressing eGFP. CD34(+) cells were obtained from untreated animals or from animals treated with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) alone or G-CSF and recombinant human stem cell factor. Levels of eGFP-expressing cells detected by flow cytometry peaked at 0.1% to 0.5% of all leukocytes 1 to 4 weeks after transplantation. Proviral DNA was detected in 0% to 17% of bone marrow--derived colony-forming units at periods of 5 to 18 weeks after transplantation. However,5 of 6 animals studied demonstrated a vigorous eGFP-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response that was associated with a loss of genetically modified cells in peripheral blood,as demonstrated by both flow cytometry and polymerase chain reaction. The eGFP-specific CTL responses were MHC-restricted,mediated by CD8(+) lymphocytes,and directed against multiple epitopes. eGFP-specific CTLs were able to efficiently lyse autologous CD34(+) cells expressing eGFP. Antibody responses to eGFP were detected in 3 of 6 animals. These data document the potential for foreign proteins expressed in CD34(+) hematopoietic cells and their progeny to induce antibody and CTL responses in the setting of a clinically applicable transplantation protocol. (Blood. 2001;97:1951-1959) View Publication

DYRKs are a new subfamily of dual-specificity kinases that was originally discovered on the basis of homology to Yak1,an inhibitor of cell cycle progression in yeast. At present,mDYRK-3 and mDYRK-2 have been cloned,and mDYRK-3 has been characterized with respect to kinase activity,expression among tissues and hematopoietic cells,and possible function during erythropoiesis. In sequence,mDYRK-3 diverges markedly in noncatalytic domains from mDYRK-2 and mDYRK-1a,but is 91.3% identical overall to hDYRK-3. Catalytically,mDYRK-3 readily phosphorylated myelin basic protein (but not histone 2B) and also appeared to autophosphorylate in vitro. Expression of mDYRK-1a,mDYRK-2,and mDYRK-3 was high in testes,but unlike mDYRK1a and mDYRK 2,mDYRK-3 was not expressed at appreciable levels in other tissues examined. Among hematopoietic cells,however,mDYRK-3 expression was selectively elevated in erythroid cell lines and primary pro-erythroid cells. In developmentally synchronized erythroid progenitor cells,expression peaked sharply following exposure to erythropoietin plus stem cell factor (SCF) (but not SCF alone),and in situ hybridizations of sectioned embryos revealed selective expression of mDYRK-3 in fetal liver. Interestingly,antisense oligonucleotides to mDYRK-3 were shown to significantly and specifically enhance colony-forming unit-erythroid colony formation. Thus,it is proposed that mDYRK-3 kinase functions as a lineage-restricted,stage-specific suppressor of red cell development. (Blood. 2001;97:901-910) View Publication

According to the current model of adult hematopoiesis,differentiation of pluripotential hematopoietic stem cells into common myeloid- and lymphoid-committed progenitors establishes an early separation between the myeloid and lymphoid lineages. This report describes a rare and previously unidentified CD45R-CD19+ B cell progenitor population in postnatal bone marrow that can also generate macrophages. In addition to the definition of this B-lineage intermediate,the data indicate that a developmental relationship between the B and macrophage lineages is retained during postnatal hematopoiesis. View Publication

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