Inductive Microenvironment Research Articles

The utilization of decellularized tendon slices to provide an inductive microenvironment for the proliferation and tenogenic differentiation of stem cells

The extracellular matrix (ECM) microenvironment for the stem cell niches, including but not limited to the biochemical composition, matrix topography, and stiffness, is crucial to stem cell proliferation and differentiation. The purpose of this study was to explore the capacity of the decellularized tendon slices (DTSs) to induce stem cell proliferation and tenogenic differentiation. Rat adult stem cells, including tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) and bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs), were identified to have universal stem cell characteristics. The DTSs were found to retain the native tendon ECM microenvironment cues, including the inherent surface topography, well-preserved tendon ECM biochemical composition and similar stiffness to native tendon. When the TDSCs and BMSCs were cultured on the DTSs respectively, the LIVE/DEAD assay, alamarBlue® assay, scanning electron microscopy examination and qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that the DTSs have the capacity to support these stem cells homogeneous distribution, alignment, significant proliferation and tenogenic differentiation. Taken together, the findings of this study indicate that the DTSs can provide a naturally inductive microenvironment for the proliferation and tenogenic differentiation of TDSCs and BMSCs, supporting the use of decellularized tendon ECM as a promising and valuable approach for tendon repair/reconstruction.

Plasticity of spermatogonial stem cells.

There have been significant breakthroughs over the past decade in the development and use of pluripotent stem cells as a potential source of cells for applications in regenerative medicine. It is likely that this methodology will begin to play an important role in human clinical medicine in the years to come. This review describes the plasticity of one type of pluripotent cell, spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), and their potential therapeutic applications in regenerative medicine and male infertility. Normally, SSCs give rise to sperm when in the testis. However, both human and murine SSCs can give rise to cells with embryonic stem (ES) cell-like characteristics that can be directed to differentiate into tissues of all three embryonic germ layers when placed in an appropriate inductive microenvironment, which is in contrast to other postnatal stem cells. Previous studies have reported that SSCs expressed an intermediate pluripotent phenotype before differentiating into a specific cell type and that extended culture was necessary for this to occur. However, recent studies from our group using a tissue recombination model demonstrated that SSCs differentiated rapidly into another tissue, in this case, prostatic epithelium, without expression of pluripotent ES cell markers before differentiation. These results suggest that SSCs are capable of directly differentiating into other cell types without going through an intermediate ES cell-like stage. Because SSCs do not require reprogramming to achieve a pluripotent state, they are an attractive source of pluripotent cells for use in regenerative medicine.

Lung mesenchymal cells function as an inductive microenvironment for human lung cancer propagating cells†.

The aim of the present study was to characterize the biological properties and in vivo tumourigenic potential of mesenchymal cells (MCs) obtained from non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples. NSCLC samples (53 adenocarcinomas and 24 squamous-cell carcinomas) surgically removed from 46 males and 31 females were processed to identify mesenchymal cells from human lung cancer (hLc-MCs). hLc-MCs were separated from neoplastic epithelial cells, expanded and extensively characterized in vitro. Subsequently, female BALB/c nude mice were subcutaneously injected with either 10(6) or 2.5 × 10(6) Calu-3 (human adenocarcinoma cell line able to reproducibly induce xenografted tumours) alone or in combination with equal doses of hLc-MCs. Control animals were injected with the two doses of hLc-MCs only. Primary cultures of hLc-MCs were obtained from >80% of NSCLC specimens. The typical MCs immunophenotype was documented by the expression of CD90, CD105, CD73, CD13 and CD44 at fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. CD45, CD14, CD34 and epithelial antigens were negative while CD117 (c-kit) and CD133 (prominin) were partially expressed. Interestingly, nuclear transcription factors octamer-binding transcription factor 3/4 and sex determining region Y-box 2 involved in stemness, thyroid transcription factor 1 in bronchoalveolar commitment, and ETS1 in carcinogenesis, were expressed in hLc-MCs isolated from NSCLC. Specific conditioned media and cocultures confirmed the supportive role of hLc-MCs for cancer cells. In vivo experiments showed that at both doses Calu-3 xenografts doubled in size when hLc-MCs were coinjected. Cell tracking in xenografted tumours, by immunofluorescence combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis, documented hX-chromosome-labelled, Calu-3-derived cytokeratin-positive adenocarcinoma structures surrounded by hLc-MCs. Tumour-propagating cells require the inductive interaction of resident mesenchymal cells to foster lung cancer development.

Methods for the study of mast cells in cancer.

Tumor growth requires interactions of tumor cells with a receptive and inductive microenvironment. Two major populations of tumor-infiltrating cells are considered to be essential for producing such a microenvironment: (1) proinflammatory cells that nurture the tumor with growth factors and facilitate invasion and metastasis by secreting proteases and (2) immune suppressive leukocytes including T-regulatory cells (Treg) that hinder tumor-specific CD8 T-cell responses, which otherwise could potentially reject the tumor. Among the proinflammatory cells, accumulation of mast cells (MCs) in human tumors is frequently recorded and was recently linked with poor prognosis. Causative links between mast cell infiltration and tumor progression can be deduced from animal studies. There is an interesting link between mast cells and Treg. The adoptive transfer of Treg from healthy syngeneic mice to mice susceptible to colon cancer suppresses focal mastocytosis and hinders tumor progression. Furthermore, T-cell-deficient mice susceptible to colon cancer show enhanced focal mastocytosis and tumor invasion. Here, we describe methods to assess MCs in mouse models of cancer and to investigate how MCs affect tumor epithelium. Additionally, we will detail methods used to investigate how T cells influence MCs and how MCs influence T cells.

Intermediate expression of CCRL1 reveals novel subpopulations of medullary thymic epithelial cells that emerge in the postnatal thymus.

Cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cells (cTECs and mTECs, respectively) provide inductive microenvironments for T-cell development and selection. The differentiation pathway of cTEC/mTEC lineages downstream of common bipotent progenitors at discrete stages of development remains unresolved. Using IL-7/CCRL1 dual reporter mice that identify specialized TEC subsets, we show that the stepwise acquisition of chemokine (C-C motif) receptor-like 1 (CCRL1) is a late determinant of cTEC differentiation. Although cTECs expressing high CCRL1 levels (CCRL1(hi) ) develop normally in immunocompetent and Rag2(-/-) thymi, their differentiation is partially blocked in Rag2(-/-) Il2rg(-/-) counterparts. These results unravel a novel checkpoint in cTEC maturation that is regulated by the cross-talk between TECs and immature thymocytes. Additionally, we identify new Ulex europaeus agglutinin 1 (UEA)(+) mTEC subtypes expressing intermediate CCRL1 levels (CCRL1(int) ) that conspicuously emerge in the postnatal thymus and differentially express Tnfrsf11a, Ccl21, and Aire. While rare in fetal and in Rag2(-/-) thymi, CCRL1(int) mTECs are restored in Rag2(-/-) Marilyn TCR-Tg mice, indicating that the appearance of postnatal-restricted mTECs is closely linked with T-cell selection. Our findings suggest that alternative temporally restricted routes of new mTEC differentiation contribute to the establishment of the medullary niche in the postnatal thymus.

The combination use of platelet-rich fibrin and treated dentin matrix for tooth root regeneration by cell homing.

Endogenous regeneration through cell homing provides an alternative approach for tissue regeneration, except cell transplantation, especially considering clinical translation. However, tooth root regeneration through cell homing remains a provocative approach in need of intensive study. Both platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and treated dentin matrix (TDM) are warehouses of various growth factors, which can promote cell homing. We hypothesized that endogenous stem cells are able to sense biological cues from PRF membrane and TDM, and contribute to the regeneration of tooth root, including soft and hard periodontal tissues. Therefore, the biological effects of canine PRF and TDM on periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were evaluated respectively in vitro. Beagle dogs were used as orthotopic transplantation model. It was found that PRF significantly recruited and stimulated the proliferation of PDLSCs and BMSCs in vitro. Together, PRF and TDM induced cell differentiation by upregulating the mineralization-related gene expression of bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteopotin (OPN) after 7 days coculture. In vivo, transplantation of autologous PRF and allogeneic TDM into fresh tooth extraction socket achieved successful root regeneration 3 months postsurgery, characterized by the regeneration of cementum and periodontal ligament (PDL)-like tissues with orientated fibers, indicative of functional restoration. The results suggest that tooth root connected to the alveolar bone by cementum-PDL complex can be regenerated through the implantation of PRF and TDM in a tooth socket microenvironment, probably by homing of BMSCs and PDLSCs. Furthermore, bioactive cues and inductive microenvironment are key factors for endogenous regeneration. This approach provides a tangible pathway toward clinical translation.

Cryopreserved dentin matrix as a scaffold material for dentin-pulp tissue regeneration

Cryopreservation has been identified as an efficient approach to preserve tissue engineered products for a long term. Our prior studies have suggested that the treated dentin matrix (TDM) could be an ideal bioactive scaffold for dental tissue regeneration. In this study, we hypothesize that the cryopreservation could effectively maintain the survival and viability of dentinogenesis-related proteins of TDM and the cryopreserved dentin matrix (CDM) would provide the suitable biological scaffold and inductive microenvironment for the regeneration of dentin-pulp like tissue. CDM-3 and CDM-6 were prepared by cryopreserving TDM in liquid nitrogen (−196 °C) with cryoprotectant for 3 months and 6 months, respectively. Various biological characteristics of CDM, including mechanical properties, cell proliferation, and odontogenesis ability, were investigated. To further evaluate the inductive capacity of CDM, human dental follicle cells were encapsulated within CDM, and implanted the scaffold into a mouse model for 8 weeks, and the grafts were harvested and assessed histologically. The CDM showed superior mechanical properties than TDM. Compared to TDM, CDM can release more dentinogenesis-related proteins due to the larger pore diameter. Cell proliferation with the addition of CDM extract liquid was similar to that of TDM in the first five days. Human dental follicle cells, under the effect of CDM extract liquid, highly expressed bone sialoprotein, collagen-1, alkaline phosphatase, indicating that CDM, regarded as the inductive microenvironment, plays an important role in odontogenesis. Most importantly, in vivo, CDM could induce dental follicle cells to regenerate new dentin-pulp like tissues, such as dentinal tubules, predentin, collagen fibers, nerves, and blood vessels which were positive for dentin sialophosphoprotein, dental matrix protein-1, Tubulin, and collagen-1. In conclusion, CDM is an ideal biological scaffold material for human dentin-pulp like tissue regeneration. These findings indicated that TDM could be preserved as the tissue engineering scaffold that is readily available for patient treatments. Furthermore, the success of cryopreservation of TDM may also provide an insight into preserving other bioactive scaffold materials of tissue engineering.

Regenerative Therapieansätze im Bereich der Mammachirurgie

Besides the established techniques of pediculed and free tissue transplantations for breast reconstruction, adipose tissue engineering and structural fat grafting are being applied as options for regenerative therapy. While the initial euphoria about the foreseeable realisation of cell-matrix entities of sufficient size, functionality and long-term volume stability for use in humans has diminished somewhat, fat grafting as experienced a renaissance in recent years. One of the decisive factors for the engraftment of the tissue graft generated though tissue engineering is the formation of an adequate vascular network. Improvements of the matrix, which ideally should mimic natural tissue, such as the use of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) that can contribute both to adipogenesis and neoangiogenesis represent promising new approaches. In autologous fat grafting, the mixing of adipocytes and cells of the stromal-vascular fraction (SVF) in order to generate the principle of an inductive microenvironment has already been applied successfully in clinical routine. On the basis of the experimental data that demonstrate an interaction of the adipocytes, ASCs and other progenitor cells with breast cancer cells and the insufficient clinical data regarding oncological safety, this procedure should only be used critically. A concluding evaluation will only be possible after long-term clinical studies have provided good results.

Reconstruction of Hematopoietic Inductive Microenvironment after Transplantation of VCAM-1-Modified Human Umbilical Cord Blood Stromal Cells

The hematopoietic inductive microenvironment (HIM) is where hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells grow and develop. Hematopoietic stromal cells were the key components of the HIM. In our previous study, we had successfully cultured and isolated human cord blood–derived stromal cells (HUCBSCs) and demonstrated that they could secret hemopoietic growth factors such as GM-CSF, TPO, and SCF. However, it is still controversial whether HUCBSCs can be used for reconstruction of HIM. In this study, we first established a co-culture system of HUCBSCs and cord blood CD34+ cells and then determined that using HUCBSCs as the adherent layer had significantly more newly formed colonies of each hematopoietic lineage than the control group, indicating that HUCBSCs had the ability to promote the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells/progenitor cells. Furthermore, the number of colonies was significantly higher in vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1)-modified HUCBSCs, suggesting that the ability of HUCBSCs in promoting the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells/progenitor cells was further enhanced after having been modified with VCAM-1. Next, HUCBSCs were infused into a radiation-damaged animal model, in which the recovery of hematopoiesis was observed. The results demonstrate that the transplanted HUCBSCs were “homed in” to bone marrow and played roles in promoting the recovery of irradiation-induced hematopoietic damage and repairing HIM. Compared with the control group, the HUCBSC group had significantly superior effectiveness in terms of the recovery time for hemogram and myelogram, CFU-F, CFU-GM, BFU-E, and CFU-Meg. Such differences were even more significant in VCAM-1-modified HUCBSCs group. We suggest that HUCBSCs are able to restore the functions of HIM and promote the recovery of radiation-induced hematopoietic damage. VCAM-1 plays an important role in supporting the repair of HIM damage.

Effects of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells and Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Stromal Cells on Daunorubicin-Resistant Residual Jurkat Cells

Objective To observe the effects of the hematopoietic inductive microenvironment (HIM) simulated by stromal cells of different origins on daunorubicin-resistant residual Jurkat cells (Jurkat/DNR cells). Methods Jurkat/DNR cells were cultured and identified. Human umbilical cord blood-derived stromal cells (UCBDSCs) and normal human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were isolated and cocultured with Jurkat/DNR cells. Jurkat/DNR cells were collected after 14 days of coculture and analyzed with regard to cell proliferation and differentiation abilities, apoptosis, drug sensitivity, and MRD1 multidrug resistance gene mRNA expression. Results UCBDSC-simulated HIM suppressed proliferation and promoted apoptosis, differentiation, and drug sensitivity of Jurkat/DNR cells more significantly than BMSC-simulated HIM. Conclusions Both BMSCs and UCBDSCs reconstruct the leukemic HIM and reverse drug resistance in Jurkat/DNR cells. UCBDSCs reconstruct the leukemic HIM and reverse drug resistance more significantly than BMSCs.

O24. Role of the microenvironment on epithelial stem cell fate

Stratified epithelia of mammals contain adult stem/progenitor cells that are instrumental for renewal, regeneration and repair. We have recently demonstrated, using clonal and functional analysis, that all stratified epithelia contain clonogenic stem cells that can respond to skin morphogenetic signals, while cells obtained from simple or pseudo-stratified epithelia cannot. A genome-wide expression analysis favors multilineage priming rather than reprogramming. Collectively, these observations are reminiscent of epithelial metaplasia, a phenomenon in which a cell adopts the phenotype of another epithelial cell, often in response to repeated environmental stress, e.g. smoking, alcohol and micro-traumatisms. Furthermore, they support the notion that metaplasia results from the expression of an unseen potency, revealed by an environmental deficiency. The thymus supposedly contains only progenitor epithelial cells but no stem cells. We have demonstrated that the thymus also contains a small population of clonogenic cells that can function as bona fide multipotent hair follicle stem cells in response to an inductive skin microenvironment and a genome-wide expression analysis indicates that it correlates with robust changes in the expression of genes important for thymus identity. Hence, multilineage priming or reprogramming can account for the fate change of epithelial stem/progenitor cells in response to a varying microenvironment.

Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Historical Overview and Concepts

This review describes the historical emergence of the concept of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), summarizing data on Wolf and Trentin's hematopoietic inductive microenvironment; Dexter's hematopoiesis-supportive stromal cells; Friedenstein's osteogenic cells; and Pittenger's trilineal osteoblastic, chondrocytic, and adipocytic precursors; to finally introduce the specific bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with differentiation potential to four lineages (mesenchymal and vascular smooth muscle lineages), and stromal and immunomodulatory capacities. Two points are the object of detailed discussion. The first point envisions the stem cell attributes (multipotentiality, self-renewal, tissue regeneration, population heterogeneity, plasticity, and lineage priming) compared with that of the paradigmatic hematopoietic stem cell. In the second point, we discuss the possible existence of bone marrow cells with greater differentiation potential, eventually pluripotential cells. The latter point raises the issues of cell fusion, reprogramming, or selection under nonstandardized conditions of rare populations of neuroectodermal origin, or of cells that had undergone mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition. In the last section, we review data on MSC senescence and possible malignant transformation secondary to extensive culture, gene transfer of telomerase, or mutations such as leading to Ewing's sarcoma. The set of data leads to the conclusion that bone marrow MSCs constitute a specific adult tissue stem cell population. The multiple characteristics of this stem cell type account for the versatility of the mechanisms of injured tissue repair. Although MSC administration may be extremely useful in a number of clinical applications, their transplantation is not without risks that must not be overlooked when developing cell therapy protocols.

The use of decellularized adipose tissue to provide an inductive microenvironment for the adipogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells

The development of an engineered adipose tissue substitute, capable of supporting reliable, predictable, and complete fat tissue formation, would be of significant value in the fields of plastic and reconstructive surgery. Towards the goal of engineering an optimized microenvironment for adipogenesis, a decellularization strategy was developed for adipose tissue, which yielded 3-D scaffolds with preserved extracellular matrix architecture. A significant volume of scaffolding material could be obtained from a human tissue source that is commonly discarded. Histology, immunohistochemistry, and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the efficacy and reproducibility of the approach, and also indicated that the basement membrane was conserved in the processed matrix, including laminin and collagen type IV. Seeding experiments with human adipose-derived stem cells indicated that the decellularized adipose tissue (DAT) provided an inductive microenvironment for adipogenesis, supporting the expression of the master regulators PPARγ and CEBPα, without the need for exogenous differentiation factors. High levels of adipogenic gene expression and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity were observed in the induced DAT scaffolds, as compared to cells grown in monolayer or cell aggregate culture. The protein data emphasized the importance of the cell donor source in the development of tissue-engineering strategies for large-volume soft tissue regeneration.

Differentiation of Dermal Multipotent Cells Into Odontogenic Lineage Induced by Embryonic and Neonatal Tooth Germ Cell–Conditioned Medium

Stem cell-based therapy represents a novel and more advantageous modality of treatment for tooth defect or loss. However, this strategy is challenged in the circumstances where tooth-derived stem cells are not readily accessible. In present study we sought to explore the possibility of utilizing dermal multipotent cells (DMCs) easily available from skin tissue for odontogenic induction. Using the limiting dilution technique, colony-forming cell population was isolated and characterized by proliferative activity and multilineage differentiation potential. By exposure to conditioned medium of embryonic and neonatal tooth germ cells in culture, the proliferation and mineralization activity of DMCs was elevated, while the embryonic tooth germ cell-conditioned medium (ETGC-CM) produced more significant effects. Meanwhile, ETGC-CM-treated DMCs phenocopied the odontoblasts in vitro as indicated by specific lineage markers. Following in vivo transplantation as cell pellet, ETGC-CM-treated DMCs were capable of producing blocks of mineralized tissues, which resembled those of dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) explants in the same subcutaneous pockets environment. These observations suggest that although more sufficient and continuous inductive microenvironment may be needed for undifferentiated DMCs to perform as odontoblasts, ETGC-CM-treated DMCs indeed acquire properties as those of DPSCs. Our work highlights the potential utility of DMCs as an alternative candidate cell source in hopes of developing more practical strategy of tooth regeneration research and offering promising opportunities for therapeutic approach.

Long-Term in Vitro Cytokine-Free and Serum-Free Culture of Human Cord Blood Mononuclear Cells in a Three-Dimensional Scaffold.

Abstract 503The ability to expand cord blood (CB) cells ex vivo overcomes an important limitation to its wider clinical application in cellular therapies. The current practice of hematopoietic cell culture is based on two-dimensional (2D) tissue culture flasks or well plates which require either co-culture with allogeneic or xenogeneic stromal cells and the exogenous provision of several cytokines. This 2D culture environment is artificial and lacks the 3D cellular niches that characterise the in vivo hematopoietic inductive microenvironment. Specifically, the cultured cells are exposed to abnormally high cytokine concentrations, which may result in differentiation and loss of pluripotency.We have previously developed a 3D bone marrow biomimicry through the use of synthetic scaffolds made of poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and polyurethane (PU) coated with collagen type I. Our previous work has shown that these scaffolds, which were seeded with cord blood (CB) mononuclear cells (MNCs) at a cell density of 3-6×106cells per scaffold (5×5×5mm3), could successfully support long-term culture in the absence of exogenous growth factors for over 4 weeks. Specifically, the 3D biomimicry facilitated a 53-fold total MNC expansion, with an increase in the BFU-E and CFU-GM progenitor cell population. However, these cultures, although cytokine-free, contained 20-30% (v/v) fetal calf serum which can have both conducive and inhibitory effects on hematopoietic cell cultures due to the unknown composition and concentration of humoral factors contained within. Inclusion of serum in expansion-type cultures can limit the clinical application of the derived product.The serum-free and cytokine-free culture and expansion of hematopoietic cells has not been achieved until now. Herein, we report that for at least 4 weeks the polyurethane (PU) scaffolds coated with collagen type I were able to maintain and expand human CB MNCs. Furthermore the progenitor population, as determined by the colony forming unit assay, was also maintained and preferentially directed towards the granulocytic lineage, even though the CFU-GEMMs declined. Immunophenotypic analysis of the extracted cells confirmed the presence of erythroid precursors (CD71+CD45-) as well as early maturing myeloid cells. In contrast, the 2D cytokine- and serum-free cultures collapsed within 3-4 days. We hypothesized that the 3D biomimicry was able to facilitate serum- and cytokine-free conditions because it can recapitulate the three-dimensional architecture of the human bone marrow. This hypothesis was supported by scanning electron microscopy of the central sections of the scaffolds that showed the migration of cells within the pores and establishment of “niche-like” structures. In conclusion, this novel 3D culture system is capable of long-term, cytokine- and serum-free expansion of haematopoietic cells from cord blood, enabling the study of haematopoiesis as well as facilitating the expansion of cells for future clinical applications. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The use of dentin matrix scaffold and dental follicle cells for dentin regeneration

Scaffold and inductive microenvironment are the two most important factors for dentin regeneration. They have been addressed with hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate, polyglycolic acid, calcined bovine bone, and collagen, among other things. However, as of yet, no scaffold and inductive microenvironment combination has been shown to contribute to the regeneration of complete and prefabricated-shaped dentin tissues that include dentin, predentin and odontoblasts. To test the supporting and inductive effects of treated dentin matrix (TDM) on complete and prefabricated-shaped dentin regeneration, dental follicle cells (DFCs) were seeded onto TDM and further incubated for 1 and 2 weeks in vitro and for 2 and 4 weeks in vivo. The results show that in vitro, in addition to dentin sialoprotein (DSP) and dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) (regarded as identifying markers of odontoblasts), DFCs induced by TDM expressed osteocalcin, bone sialoprotein, type I collagen, osteopontin, osteonectin and alkaline phosphatase (all expressed by odontoblasts), and that complete and prefabricated-shaped dentin was successfully regenerated. Most importantly, it was found that in vivo TDM supports and induces regeneration of complete and prefabricated-shaped dentin, and regenerated dentin expresses DSP and DMP1, which are identifying dentin markers. Taken together, these results suggest that, for dentin regeneration, TDM is a suitable scaffold and inductive microenvironment and DFCs are a suitable cell type. The combination of TDM and DFCs may constitute a promising approach for future clinical dentin regeneration.

A Three Dimensional Anchorage Independent In Vitro System for the Prolonged Growth of Embryoid Bodies to Study Cancer Cell Behaviour and Anticancer Agents

We describe a three dimensional (3D) anchorage independent in vitro protocol for the prolonged growth of human embryoid bodies (EBs) up to 90 days. We grew hESCs (46XX) in methylcellulose (MC) in motion culture in the presence of EB medium (EB), EB medium with Matrigel (EB + MAT), bulk culture medium (BCM), and BCM medium with Matrigel (BCM + MAT). All four experimental groups produced embryoid bodies (EBs) which with prolonged growth to 90 days acquired blood vessels and tissues from all three germ layers. Based on histology, microarray gene expression profiles and the definition for experimental teratomas, we could classify the EBs into early EBs, mature EBs and teratomas. The EB + MAT group produced the highest number of teratomas and their microarray data suggested the presence of inductive microenvironment niches and activation of pathways for self-organization, morphogenesis and growth. When we microinjected hepatocarcinoma-Green Fluorescent Protein cells (HepG2-GFP) (46XY) into the teratomas, after 10 days the HepG2-GFP cells had grown inside the teratoma as confirmed by confocal microscopy and SRY gene analysis. This 3D-MC-(EB + MAT) in vitro system requires few cells to produce many teratomas, can be used to test pluripotency of potential human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cell lines (hESC, hiPSC), and is an experimental humanized platform to study cancer cell behavior.

Haemopoietic processes in allergic disease: eosinophil/basophil development

Haemopoietic myeloid progenitors contribute to the ongoing recruitment of pro-inflammatory cells, such as eosinophils and basophils (Eo/B), to target tissue sites in allergic diseases. It is apparent that the development of allergic inflammation is critically dependent on the ability of the bone marrow to support the proliferation, differentiation and mobilization of haemopoietic progenitors. The haemopoietic inductive microenvironment in the bone marrow is crucial for providing signals necessary for maintenance of progenitor populations at varying stages of lineage commitment and permitting these cells to circulate in the bloodstream. Progenitors demonstrate responsiveness to specific cytokines, which varies with stage of differentiation. Pro-inflammatory signals, Th2 cytokines in particular, generated following allergen challenge, can impact on haemopoietic progenitor differentiation and mobilization, leading to accelerated Eo/B production. Allergen inhalation by allergic asthmatics induces a time-dependent change in cytokine levels within the bone marrow compartment, influencing differentiation of Eo/B progenitors, as evidenced by the relationship between increased bone marrow IL-5 levels and Eo/B production. It is proposed that inhaled allergen induces trafficking of IL-5-producing T lymphocytes to the bone marrow, further promoting eosinophilopoiesis through IL-5R signalling. In this manner, Th2 lymphocyte trafficking from the airway may regulate events occurring in the bone marrow. Negative regulators of Eo/B differentiation, including Th1 cytokines, may prove to be important for restoring homeostasis. Eo/B progenitors are also altered in cord blood of infants at risk of atopy and asthma, offering a potential biomarker for, and raising the possibility that Eo/B progenitors are directly involved in the development of allergic disease. For example, changes in the expression of haemopoietic cytokine receptors on cord blood progenitor cells are associated with maternal allergic sensitization, atopic risk and its development, suggesting that haemopoietic processes underlying the allergic phenotype may begin to evolve in the perinatal period.

Odontogenic Potential of Mesenchymal Cells from Hair Follicle Dermal Papilla

Dental pulp stem cells from teeth can be used for tooth regeneration. Although nondental stem cells derived from bone marrow can differentiate into odontoblast-like cells when recombined with embryonic oral epithelium, these cells can lose their ability to differentiate after an extended number of cell culture passages. There has been limited research to identify stem cells from other tissue sources to regenerate teeth. As another candidate source for mesenchymal stem cells, hair follicle has obtained much more attention recently because of its easy accessibility. In this study, cultured vibrissae follicle dermal papilla mesenchymal cells (FDPMCs) from adult C57BL/6 GFP mice can differentiate into adipocytes and osteoblasts in vitro. Moreover, in the inductive microenvironment generated by apical bud and dental mesenchyme from 7-day-old C57 mice, FDPMCs in vitro demonstrated odontogenic potential, as indicated by the morphological transformation, cell-cycle change and expression of tooth-specific markers. Under the same microenvironment, FDPMCs were incubated in vivo for 3 weeks. Coexpression of GFP and DSP proteins in the odontoblast layer was detected in the recovered implants, suggesting that GFP(+) FDPMCs can function as odontoblasts in vivo. Together, our data indicate for the first time that whisker FDPMCs from adult mice can differentiate to odontoblast-like cells.

Advancing Tissue Science and Engineering: A Foundation for the Future A Multi-Agency Strategic Plan

Tissue EngineeringVol. 13, No. 12 Advancing Tissue Science and Engineering: A Foundation for the Future A Multi-Agency Strategic PlanPublished Online:8 Dec 2007https://doi.org/10.1089/ten.2007.1503AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsPermissionsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail "Advancing Tissue Science and Engineering: A Foundation for the Future A Multi-Agency Strategic Plan." , 13(12), pp. 2825–2826FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited ByRegeneration of skin appendages and nerves: current status and further challenges3 February 2020 | Journal of Translational Medicine, Vol. 18, No. 1Overview of the US Food and Drug Administration Regulatory ProcessRegenerative Medicine and Rehabilitation for Tendinous and Ligamentous Injuries in Sport HorsesVeterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice, Vol. 34, No. 2Localized surface functionalization of polycaprolactone with atmospheric-pressure microplasma jet31 July 2015 | Biomedical Physics & Engineering Express, Vol. 1, No. 2Scholte wave generation during single tracking location shear wave elasticity imaging of engineered tissuesThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Vol. 138, No. 2The utilization of decellularized tendon slices to provide an inductive microenvironment for the proliferation and tenogenic differentiation of stem cellsBiomaterials, Vol. 52USPIO-labeled textile materials for non-invasive MR imaging of tissue-engineered vascular graftsBiomaterials, Vol. 39Estimating Cell Concentration in Three-Dimensional Engineered Tissues Using High Frequency Quantitative Ultrasound14 March 2014 | Annals of Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 42, No. 6Hype and expectations in tissue engineeringRegenerative Medicine, Vol. 9, No. 1Mechanical characterization of bioprinted in vitro soft tissue models26 November 2013 | Biofabrication, Vol. 5, No. 4Towards a Richer Debate on Tissue Engineering: A Consideration on the Basis of NEST-Ethics15 November 2012 | Science and Engineering Ethics, Vol. 19, No. 3Thinking Inside the Box: Keeping Tissue-Engineered Constructs In Vitro for Use as Preclinical Models Michael C. Gibbons, Marcus A. Foley, and Kristen O'Halloran Cardinal5 November 2012 | Tissue Engineering Part B: Reviews, Vol. 19, No. 1US FDA outreach to the regenerative medicine community: challenges and opportunitiesRegenerative Medicine, Vol. 7, No. 4Regenerative Medicine Applied to Solid Organ Transplantation: Where Do We Stand?Transplantation Proceedings, Vol. 42, No. 4Synopsis of the Food and Drug Administration–National Institute of Standards and Technology Co-Sponsored “In Vitro Analyses of Cell/Scaffold Products” Workshop Brent McCright, Jiyoung M. Dang, Deborah A. Hursh, David S. Kaplan, Rabia Ballica, Kimberly A. Benton, and Anne L. Plant10 February 2009 | Tissue Engineering Part A, Vol. 15, No. 3 Volume 13Issue 12Dec 2007 InformationCopyright 2007, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.To cite this article:Advancing Tissue Science and Engineering: A Foundation for the Future A Multi-Agency Strategic Plan.Tissue Engineering.Dec 2007.2825-2826.http://doi.org/10.1089/ten.2007.1503Published in Volume: 13 Issue 12: December 8, 2007Online Ahead of Print:December 1, 2007PDF download