Sox7 is dispensable for primitive endoderm differentiation from mouse ES cells

Abstract Background Primitive endoderm is a cell lineage segregated from the epiblast in the blastocyst and gives rise to parietal and visceral endoderm. Sox7 is a member of the SoxF gene family that is specifically expressed in primitive endoderm in the late blastocyst, although its function in this cell lineage remains unclear. Results Here we characterize the function of Sox7 in primitive endoderm differentiation using mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells as a model system. We show that ectopic expression of Sox7 in ES cells has a marginal effect on triggering differentiation into primitive endoderm-like cells. We also show that targeted disruption of Sox7 in ES cells does not affect differentiation into primitive endoderm cells in embryoid body formation as well as by forced expression of Gata6. Conclusions These data indicate that Sox7 function is supplementary and not essential for this differentiation from ES cells

Sox7 is dispensable for primitive endoderm differentiation from mouse ES cells.

BACKGROUND: Primitive endoderm is a cell lineage segregated from the epiblast in the blastocyst and gives rise to parietal and visceral endoderm. Sox7 is a member of the SoxF gene family that is specifically expressed in primitive endoderm in the late blastocyst, although its function in this cell lineage remains unclear. RESULTS: Here we characterize the function of Sox7 in primitive endoderm differentiation using mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells as a model system. We show that ectopic expression of Sox7 in ES cells has a marginal effect on triggering differentiation into primitive endoderm-like cells. We also show that targeted disruption of Sox7 in ES cells does not affect differentiation into primitive endoderm cells in embryoid body formation as well as by forced expression of Gata6. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that Sox7 function is supplementary and not essential for this differentiation from ES cells

A novel, visible light-induced, rapidly cross-linkable gelatin scaffold for osteochondral tissue engineering

Osteochondral injuries remain difficult to repair. We developed a novel photo-cross-linkable furfurylamine-conjugated gelatin (gelatin-FA). Gelatin-FA was rapidly cross-linked by visible light with Rose Bengal, a light sensitizer, and was kept gelled for 3 weeks submerged in saline at 37 degrees C. When bone marrow-derived stromal cells (BMSCs) were suspended in gelatin-FA with 0.05% Rose Bengal, approximately 87% of the cells were viable in the hydrogel at 24 h after photo-cross-linking, and the chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs was maintained for up to 3 weeks. BMP4 fusion protein with a collagen binding domain (CBD) was retained in the hydrogels at higher levels than unmodified BMP4. Gelatin-FA was subsequently employed as a scaffold for BMSCs and CBD-BMP4 in a rabbit osteochondral defect model. In both cases, the defect was repaired with articular cartilage-like tissue and regenerated subchondral bone. This novel, photo-cross-linkable gelatin appears to be a promising scaffold for the treatment of osteochondral injury

化学療法施行中のオピオイド使用による便秘に対するルビプロストンの有用性

　当科において2014年10月から2016年２月に入院で化学療法を施行し，がん性疼痛に対して使用したオピオイドにより誘発された便秘に対してルビプロストンを投与した全症例を対象とした．対照群は，当院のルビプロストン採用以前の2012年４月から2014年９月まで，化学療法施行中にオピオイドを使用した患者に緩下薬を使用していた全症例とした．ルビプロストンを追加してからの排便回数と食事量の変化を後方視的に解析した．対照群の排便回数と食事量の変化は，新たな緩下薬（センノシド，ピコスルファートナトリウム，または大建中湯）の追加または酸化マグネシウムを増量した前後を基準とした．ルビプロストン使用群７人，未使用の対照群12人で，オキシコドン換算の使用量中央値（範囲）は対照群で10.0（10.0～62.9）mg，ルビプロストン群で39.3（10.0～125.7）mg であった（P=0.103）．ルビプロストン群ではその投与翌日に７例中６人，対照群においては12例中３例で排便が認められた（P<0.05）．ルビプロストン群においては排便があった翌日の食事摂取量は７例中６例，対照群は12例中３例で改善していた（P<0.05）．化学療法施行中にもオピオイドによる便秘に対するルビプロストンが有用であることが示唆された．　Lubiprostone is a useful treatment for opioid-induced constipation (OIC); however, it is not known whether the treatment is suitable for OIC in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy. This study evaluated hospitalized patients receiving cancer chemotherapy in whom OIC was treated with lubiprostone between October 2014 and February 2016. The control group consisted of OIC + chemotherapy patients who were hospitalized between April 2012 and September 2014, before lubiprostone was approved for use at our hospital. Frequency of stool and food intake were retrospectively evaluated before and after treatment with lubiprostone (lubiprostone group; n=7) or other laxative agent (control group; n=12). Other laxative agents included sennoside, sodium picosulfate, daikenchuto or magnesia. The lubiprostone and control groups both received oxycodone (median [range]: 39.3 [10.0-125.7] mg vs 10.0 [10.0-62.9] mg; P=0.103). The day following treatment, defecation was observed in 6 of 7 patients in the lubiprostone group and 3 of 12 patients in the control group (P<0.05). Dietary intake also increased in 6 of 7 patients in the lubiprostone group and 3 of 12 patients in the control group (P<0.05). Therefore, lubiprostone may be an effective treatment for OIC during chemotherapy

The C-terminal region of Xpc is dispensable for the transcriptional activity of Oct3/4 in mouse embryonic stem cells

AbstractThe transcription factor Oct3/4 is essential to maintain pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. It was reported that the Xpc DNA repair complex is involved in this process. Here we examined the role of Xpc on the transcriptional activation of the target genes by Oct3/4 using the inducible knockout strategy. We found that the removal of the C-terminal region of Xpc, including the interaction sites with Rad23 and Cetn2, showed faint impact on the gene expression profile of ES cells and the functional Xpc-ΔC ES cell lines retained proper gene expression profile as well as pluripotency to contribute chimeric embryos. These data indicated that the C-terminal region of Xpc is dispensable for the transcriptional activity of Oct3/4 in mouse ES cells

In Vivo Determination of Vitamin D Function Using Transgenic Mice Carrying a Human Osteocalcin Luciferase Reporter Gene

Vitamin D is an essential factor for ossification, and its deficiency causes rickets. Osteocalcin, which is a noncollagenous protein found in bone matrix and involved in mineralization and calcium ion homeostasis, is one of the major bone morphogenetic markers and is used in the evaluation of osteoblast maturation and osteogenic activation. We established transgenic mouse line expressing luciferase under the control of a 10-kb osteocalcin enhancer/promoter sequence. Using these transgenic mice, we evaluated the active forms of vitamins D2 and D3 for their bone morphogenetic function by in vivo bioluminescence. As the result, strong activity for ossification was observed with 1α,25-hydroxyvitamin D3. Our mouse system can offer a feasible detection method for assessment of osteogenic activity in the development of functional foods and medicines by noninvasive screening