• Molecules and Cells
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• 제44권11호
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• pp.851-860
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• 2021

Label-free optical diffraction tomography (ODT), an imaging technology that does not require fluorescent labeling or other pre-processing, can overcome the limitations of conventional cell imaging technologies, such as fluorescence and electron microscopy. In this study, we used ODT to characterize the cellular organelles of three different stem cells-namely, human liver derived stem cell, human umbilical cord matrix derived mesenchymal stem cell, and human induced pluripotent stem cell-based on their refractive index and volume of organelles. The physical property of each stem cell was compared with that of fibroblast. Based on our findings, the characteristic physical properties of specific stem cells can be quantitatively distinguished based on their refractive index and volume of cellular organelles. Altogether, the method employed herein could aid in the distinction of living stem cells from normal cells without the use of fluorescence or specific biomarkers.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제18권5호
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• pp.975-982
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• 2008

We investigated whether transplantation of osteogenically differentiated bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) and the use of an hydroxyapatite (HAp) scaffold can enhance the in vivo bone formation efficacy of human BMMSCs. Three months after implantation to the subcutaneous dorsum of athymic mice, transplantation of osteogenically differentiated human BMMSCs increased the bone formation area and calcium deposition to 7.1- and 6.2-folds, respectively, of those of transplantation of undifferentiated BMMSCs. The use of the HAp scaffold increased the bone formation area and calcium deposition to 3.7- and 3.5-folds, respectively, of those of a polymer scaffold. Moreover, a combination of transplantation of osteogenically differentiated BMMSCs and HAp scaffold further increased the bone formation area and calcium deposition to 10.6- and 9.3-folds, respectively, of those of transplantation of undifferentiated BMMSCs seeded onto polymer scaffolds. The factorial experimental analysis showed that osteogenic differentiation of BMMSCs prior to transplantation has a stronger positive effect than the HAp scaffold on in vivo bone formation.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.177-186
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• 2018

Background and Objectives: Glial scarring and inflammation after spinal cord injury (SCI) interfere with neural regeneration and functional recovery due to the inhibitory microenvironment of the injured spinal cord. Stem cell transplantation can improve functional recovery in experimental models of SCI, but many obstacles to clinical application remain due to concerns regarding the effectiveness and safety of stem cell transplantation for SCI patients. In this study, we investigated the effects of transplantation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) that were genetically modified to express Olig2 in a rat model of SCI. Methods: Bone marrow-derived hMSCs were genetically modified to express Olig2 and transplanted one week after the induction of contusive SCI in a rat model. Spinal cords were harvested 7 weeks after transplantation. Results: Transplantation of Olig2-expressing hMSCs significantly improved functional recovery in a rat model of contusive SCI model compared to the control hMSC-transplanted group. Transplantation of Olig2-expressing hMSCs also attenuated glial scar formation in spinal cord lesions. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that transplanted Olig2-expressing hMSCs were partially differentiated into Olig1-positive oligodendrocyte-like cells in spinal cords. Furthermore, NF-M-positive axons were more abundant in the Olig2-expressing hMSC-transplanted group than in the control hMSC-transplanted group. Conclusions: We suggest that Olig2-expressing hMSCs are a safe and optimal cell source for treating SCI.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제63권2호
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• pp.153-162
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• 2020

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most devastating conditions and many SCI patients suffer neurological sequelae. Stem cell therapies are expected to be beneficial for many patients with central nervous system injuries, including SCI. Adult stem cells (ASCs) are not associated with the risks which embryonic stem cells have such as malignant transformation, or ethical problems, and can be obtained relatively easily. Consequently, many researchers are currently studying the effects of ASCs in clinical trials. The environment of transplanted cells applied in the injured spinal cord differs between the phases of SCI; therefore, many researchers have investigated these phases to determine the optimal time window for stem cell therapy in animals. In addition, the results of clinical trials should be evaluated according to the phase in which stem cells are transplanted. In general, the subacute phase is considered to be optimal for stem cell transplantation. Among various candidates of transplantable ASCs, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are most widely studied due to their clinical safety. MSCs are also less immunogenic than neural stem/progenitor cells and consequently immunosuppressants are rarely required. Attempts have been made to enhance the effects of stem cells using scaffolds, trophic factors, cytokines, and other drugs in animal and/or human clinical studies. Over the past decade, several clinical trials have suggested that transplantation of MSCs into the injured spinal cord elicits therapeutic effects on SCI and is safe; however, the clinical effects are limited at present. Therefore, new therapeutic agents, such as genetically enhanced stem cells which effectively secrete neurotrophic factors or cytokines, must be developed based on the safety of pure MSCs.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한불임학회 2005년도 제49차 추계학술대회
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• pp.87-88
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• 2005

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.386-395
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• 2010

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) are a multipotent cell population that can differentiate into neuron-like cells. Previously it has been reported that murine BM-MSC can differentiate into neuron-like cells by co-treatment with a Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor -Y27632 and $CoCl_2$. In this study, we compared several ROCK inhibitors for the ability to induce human BM-MSCs to differentiate into neuron-like cells in the presence of $CoCl_2$. Y27632 with high specificity for ROCK at 1-30 ${\mu}M$ was best at inducing neuronal differentiation of MSCs. Compared to HA1077 and H1152, which also effectively induced morphological change into neuron-like cells, Y27632 showed less toxicity even at 100 ${\mu}M$, and resulted in longer multiple branching processes at a wide range of concentrations at 6 h and 72 h post-induction. H89, however, which has less specificity by inhibition of protein kinase A, S6 kinase 1 and MSK1 with similar or greater potency, was less effective at inducing neuronal differentiation of MSCs. Simvastatin, which can inhibit Rho, Ras, and Rac by blocking the synthesis of isoprenoid intermediates, showed little activity for inducing morphological changes of MSCs into neuron-like cells. Accordingly, the expression patterns for neuronal cell markers,including ${\beta}$-tubulin III, neuron-specific enolase, neurofilament, and microtubule-associated protein, were consistent with the pattern of the morphological changes. The data suggest that the ROCK inhibitors with higher specificity are more effective at inducing neuronal differentiation of MSCs.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.336-342
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• 2015

Propyl gallate (PG) used as an additive in various foods has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Although the functional roles of PG in various cell types are well characterized, it is unknown whether PG has effect on stem cell differentiation. In this study, we demonstrated that PG could inhibit adipogenic differentiation in human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) by decreasing the accumulation of intracellular lipid droplets. In addition, PG significantly reduced the expression of adipocyte-specific markers including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$ (PPAR-${\gamma}$), CCAAT enhancer binding protein-${\alpha}$ (C/EBP-${\alpha}$), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein 2 (aP2). PG inhibited adipogenesis in hAMSCs through extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Decreased adipogenesis following PG treatment was recovered in response to ERK blocking. Taken together, these results suggest a novel effect of PG on adipocyte differentiation in hAMSCs, supporting a negative role of ERK1/2 pathway in adipogenic differentiation.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.177-183
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• 2009

Human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSCs) isolated from human adult bone marrow have self-renewal capacity and can differentiate into multiple cell types in vitro and in vivo. A number of studies have now demonstrated that MSCs can differentiate into various neuronal populations. Due to their autologous characteristics, replacement therapy using MSCs is considered to be safe and does not involve immunological complications. The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor Olig2 is necessary for the specification of both oligodendrocytes and motor neurons during vertebrate embryogenesis. To develop an efficient method for inducing neuronal differentiation from MSCs, we attempted to optimize the culture conditions and combination with Olig2 gene overexpression. We observed neuron-like morphological changes in the hMSCs under these induction conditions and examined neuronal marker expression in these cells by RTPCR and immunocytochemistry. Our data demonstrate that the combination of Olig2 overexpression and neuron-specific conditioned medium facilitates the neuronal differentiation of hMSCs in vitro. These results will advance the development of an efficient stem cell-mediated cell therapy for human neurodegenerative diseases.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.31-36
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• 2012

Dlx3 and Dlx5 are homeobox domain proteins and are well-known regulators of osteoblastic differentiation. Since possible reciprocal relationships between osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells exist, we examined the regulatory role of Dlx3 and Dlx5 on adipogenic differentiation using human dental pulp stem cells. Over-expression of Dlx3 and Dlx5 stimulated osteogenic differentiation but inhibited adipogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells. Dlx3 and Dlx5 suppressed the expression of adipogenic marker genes such as $C/EBP{\alpha}$, $PPAR{\gamma}$, aP2 and lipoprotein lipase. Adipogenic stimuli suppressed the mRNA levels of Dlx3 and Dlx5, whereas osteogenic stimuli enhanced the expression of Dlx3 and Dlx5 in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. These results suggest that Dlx3 and Dlx5 exert a stimulatory effect on osteogenic differentiation of stem cells through the inhibition of adipogenic differentiation as well as direct stimulation.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.227-237
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• 2009

최근 골수와 혈액으로 유래된 중간엽 줄기세포와 비슷한 능력을 가지는 것으로 알려진 지방 유래 중간엽줄기세포가 새로운 세포 치료제로 떠오르고 있다. 하지만 줄기세포를 이용하여 치료하려는 질병은 나이가 들어감에 따라 발병하는 퇴행성 질환들이 대부분인데, 노화가 진행됨에 따라 줄기세포의 능력이 차이가 있다고 알려져 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 노화가 일어남에 따라 발생되는 신경성 질환을 자가 유래 지방 중간엽 줄기세포를 이용하여 치료함에 있어서 노화가 진행됨에 따라 얻어진 지방줄기세포가 세포학적으로 변화는 없는지에 대해 줄기세포 성장능, 생존율과 신경세포로의 분화유도 능력을 비교하였다. 30대, 40대, 50대에서 사람 지방 유래 줄기세포를 분리 배양하여 연령별 계대에 따른 세포수와 생존율을 측정하고, 줄기세포 성장능력을 비교 분석하였고, 지방 줄기세포를 신경세포 배양 조건 하에서 10일 동안 배양하여 신경 분화능력을 연령별로 비교하였다. 실험결과, 세포수와 생존율, 세포 모양이 연령과 계대별에 의해 차이가 없다는 것을 확인하였다. 신경 분화 후 면역형광염색법을 통해 분석한 결과, 연령에 따른 신경 분화능력의 차이가 관찰되지 않았다. 분자 유전적학으로 신경세포 마커의 발현을 mRNA 수준에서 분석한 결과, 연령별 간의 차이가 몇 개의 유전자 발현을 제외하고는 차이가 발견되지 못했다. 하지만 계대가 진행될수록 50대군의 줄기세포에서 MAP2와 Sox2의 mRNA 발현이 30대군의 줄기세포에 비해 상대적으로 낮게 발현됨이 확인되었다. 결론적으로 자가 지방 중간엽 줄기세포의 신경세포 분화능력이 연령에 상관없이 차이가 없음이 관찰되었으며, 이는 나이 든 사람으로부터 얻어진 지방 줄기세포도 젊은 사람에서 얻어진 세포와 마찬가지 능력으로 자가 세포 치료제로 사용될 수 있다는 점을 말해주고 있다.