60 research outputs found
Adipose-derived perivascular stem cell as a source for cell therapy
Perivascular stem cells (PSCs) have been isolated from several organs and tissues, including
adipose tissue. They have unique features resembling both pericytes and mesenchymal stem
cells (MSCs). PSCs as MSCs are capable to multilineage differentiation into neurons, astrocytes
and oligodendrocytes, as well as to produce angiogenic and neurotrophic factors, indicating their
regenerative and neuroprotective properties. It was recently shown that PSCs play an important
role in repairing of the nervous tissue during cerebral ischemia, as they can differentiate into
neurons, endothelial and glial cells in the hippocampal subgranular zone. In this connection,
recently PSCs have been considered as a potential alternative to MSCs for the treatment of
cardiovascular diseases. Here we review the recent literature and own data on PSCs, discuss
their unique features, regenerative potential and possible applications in cell therapy and tissue
engineering
Brillouin spectroscopy and radiography for assessment of viscoelastic and regenerative properties of mammalian bones
Biomechanical properties of mammalian bones, such as strength, toughness, and plasticity, are
essential for understanding how microscopic-scale mechanical features can link to macroscale bones’ strength
and fracture resistance. We employ Brillouin light scattering (BLS) microspectroscopy for local assessment of
elastic properties of bones under compression and the efficacy of the tissue engineering approach based on
heparin-conjugated fibrin (HCF) hydrogels, bone morphogenic proteins, and osteogenic stem cells in the regeneration
of the bone tissues. BLS is noninvasive and label-free modality for probing viscoelastic properties of
tissues that can give information on structure-function properties of normal and pathological tissues. Results
showed that MCS and BPMs are critically important for regeneration of elastic and viscous properties, respectively,
HCF gels containing combination of all factors had the best effect with complete defect regeneration at
week nine after the implantation of bone grafts and that the bones with fully consolidated fractures have higher
values of elastic moduli compared with defective bone
Characterization of the Primo-Vascular System in the Abdominal Cavity of Lung Cancer Mouse Model and Its Differences from the Lymphatic System
Cancer growth and dissemination have been extensively studied for a long time. Nevertheless, many new observations on anatomy and histopathology of cancer events are still reported such as formation of a vasculogenic-like network inside aggressive tumors. In this research, new kinds of micro-conduits, named primo-vessels, were found inside the abdominal cavity of NCI-H460 lung cancer murine xenograft models. These vascular threads were largely distributed on the surfaces of various organs and were often connected to peritoneal tumor nodules. Histological and immunofluorescent investigations showed that the primo-vessels had characteristic features that were distinctively different from those of similar-looking lymphatic vessels. They had multiple channels surrounded with loose collageneous matrices, which is in contrast to the single-channel structure of other vascular systems. The rod-shaped nuclei aligned longitudinally along the channels were assumed to be the endothelial cells of the primo-vessels, but LYVE-1, a specific marker of lymphatics, was not expressed, which indicates a clear difference from lymphatic endothelial cells. Taken together these findings on and characterization of the novel threadlike vascular structures in cancer models may have important implications for cancer prognosis and for therapy
Sub-Telomere Directed Gene Expression during Initiation of Invasive Aspergillosis
Aspergillus fumigatus is a common mould whose spores are a
component of the normal airborne flora. Immune dysfunction permits developmental
growth of inhaled spores in the human lung causing aspergillosis, a significant
threat to human health in the form of allergic, and life-threatening invasive
infections. The success of A. fumigatus as a pathogen is unique
among close phylogenetic relatives and is poorly characterised at the molecular
level. Recent genome sequencing of several Aspergillus species
provides an exceptional opportunity to analyse fungal virulence attributes
within a genomic and evolutionary context. To identify genes preferentially
expressed during adaptation to the mammalian host niche, we generated multiple
gene expression profiles from minute samplings of A. fumigatus
germlings during initiation of murine infection. They reveal a highly
co-ordinated A. fumigatus gene expression programme, governing
metabolic and physiological adaptation, which allows the organism to prosper
within the mammalian niche. As functions of phylogenetic conservation and
genetic locus, 28% and 30%, respectively, of the
A. fumigatus subtelomeric and lineage-specific gene
repertoires are induced relative to laboratory culture, and physically clustered
genes including loci directing pseurotin, gliotoxin and siderophore biosyntheses
are a prominent feature. Locationally biased A. fumigatus gene
expression is not prompted by in vitro iron limitation, acid,
alkaline, anaerobic or oxidative stress. However, subtelomeric gene expression
is favoured following ex vivo neutrophil exposure and in
comparative analyses of richly and poorly nourished laboratory cultured
germlings. We found remarkable concordance between the A.
fumigatus host-adaptation transcriptome and those resulting from
in vitro iron depletion, alkaline shift, nitrogen
starvation and loss of the methyltransferase LaeA. This first transcriptional
snapshot of a fungal genome during initiation of mammalian infection provides
the global perspective required to direct much-needed diagnostic and therapeutic
strategies and reveals genome organisation and subtelomeric diversity as
potential driving forces in the evolution of pathogenicity in the genus
Aspergillus
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