Cholinergic Nerve Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Long-Term Cryopreserved Human Dental Pulp In Vitro and Analysis of Their Motor Nerve Regeneration Potential In Vivo

The reduction of choline acetyltransferase, caused by the loss of cholinergic neurons, leads to the absence of acetylcholine (Ach), which is related to motor nerve degeneration. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the in vitro cholinergic nerve differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells from cryopreserved human dental pulp (hDPSCs-cryo) and to analyze the scale of in vivo motor nerve regeneration. The hDPSCs-cryo were isolated and cultured from cryopreserved dental pulp tissues, and thereafter differentiated into cholinergic neurons using tricyclodecane-9-yl-xanthogenate (D609). Differentiated cholinergic neurons (DF-chN) were transplanted into rats to address sciatic nerve defects, and the scale of in vivo motor nerve regeneration was analyzed. During in vitro differentiation, the cells showed neuron-like morphological changes including axonal fibers and neuron body development, and revealed high expression of cholinergic neuron-specific markers at both the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels. Importantly, DF-chN showed significant Ach secretion ability. At eight weeks after DF-chN transplantation in rats with sciatic nerve defects, notably increased behavioral activities were detected with an open-field test, with enhanced low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor (p75NGFR) expression detected using immunohistochemistry. These results demonstrate that stem cells from cryopreserved dental pulp can successfully differentiate into cholinergic neurons in vitro and enhance motor nerve regeneration when transplanted in vivo. Additionally, this study suggests that long-term preservation of dental pulp tissue is worthwhile for use as an autologous cell resource in the field of nerve regeneration, including cholinergic nerves

Inhibition of cell growth by cellular differentiation into adipocyte-like cells in dexamethasone sensitive cancer cell lines

The stress responses in human body lead to secretion of cortisol hormone. The present study investigated the cellular responses on cell growth and cellular differentiation into adipocytes by exposure of synthetic stress hormone, dexamethasone (DEX) in various human cancer and normal cells. After prolonged exposure of cells with 1 μg/ml DEX for 2 weeks, population doubling time (PDT) was significantly (P < .05) increased by inhibited cell growth in A-549 and MCF-7 cancer cells, and was unchanged in MDA-MB-231 cancer cells, normal MRC-5 fibroblasts, umbilical cord matrix-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) and dental papilla tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (DSCs). Whereas, PDT was significantly (P < .05) decreased in U87-MG cancer cells by increased cell growth. Glucose uptake was significantly (P < .05) increased in all the cancer cell lines compared to that in normal cell lines. Further, adiposome-like vesicles were noted in A-549 and MCF-7 cancer cells indicating retarded cell growth by DEX treatment, and the vesicles were stained with Oil-Red O solution. Further, the expression of adipocyte-specific genes such as glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4), glucocorticoid receptors β (GRβ) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) were significantly (P < .05) increased in A-549 and MCF-7 with lipid vesicles. The level of telomerase activity was found to be significantly (P < .05) downregulated in DEX-treated A-549 and MCF-7 cancer cells. Our results have clearly shown that DEX treatment induces inhibition of cell growth by differentiating into adipocyte-like cells in dexamethasone sensitive cancer cells

Supplementary_figure - CD105⁺ Porcine Endometrial Stromal Mesenchymal Stem Cells Possess Differentiation Potential Toward Cardiomyocyte-Like Cells and Insulin-Producing β Cell-Like Cells In Vitro

<p>Supplementary_figure for CD105⁺ Porcine Endometrial Stromal Mesenchymal Stem Cells Possess Differentiation Potential Toward Cardiomyocyte-Like Cells and Insulin-Producing β Cell-Like Cells In Vitro by Raghavendra Baregundi Subbarao, Sharath Belame Shivakumar, Yong-Ho Choe, Young-Bum Son, Hyeon-Jeong Lee, Imran Ullah, Si-Jung Jang, Sun-A Ock, Sung-Lim Lee, and Gyu-Jin Rho in Reproductive Sciences</p