• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.123-134
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• 2023

Objective: The heart contains a pool of c-kit⁺ progenitor cells which is believed to be able to regenerate. The differentiation of these progenitor cells is reliant on different physiological cues. Unraveling the underlying signals to direct differentiation of progenitor cells will be beneficial in controlling progenitor cell fate. In this regard, the role of the mitochondria in mediating cardiac progenitor cell fate remains unclear. Specifically, the association between changes in mitochondrial morphology with the differentiation status of c-kit⁺ CPCs remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the relationship between mitochondrial morphology and the differentiation status of c-kit⁺ progenitor cells. Methods and Results: c-kit⁺ CPCs were isolated from 2-month-old male wild-type FVB mice. To activate differentiation, CPCs were incubated in α-minimal essential medium containing 10 nM dexamethasone for up to 7 days. To inhibit Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fragmentation, either 10 μM or 50 μM mdivi-1 was administered once at Day 0 and again at Day 2 of differentiation. To inhibit calcineurin, either 1 μM or 5 μM ciclosporin-A (CsA) was administered once at Day 0 and again at Day 2 of differentiation. Dexamethasone-induced differentiation of c-kit⁺ progenitor cells is aligned with fragmentation of the mitochondria via a calcineurin-Drp1 pathway. Pharmacologically inhibiting mitochondrial fragmentation retains the undifferentiated state of the c-kit⁺ progenitor cells. Conclusions: The findings from this study provide an alternative view of the role of mitochondrial fusion-fission in the differentiation of cardiac progenitor cells and the potential of pharmacologically manipulating the mitochondria to direct progenitor cell fate.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.151-162
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• 2014

The technique of stem cells or hepatocytes transplantation has recently improved in order to bridge the time before whole-organ liver transplantation. In the present study, unfractionated bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) were harvested from the tibial and femoral marrow compartments of male mice, which were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) with and without hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and then transplanted into Schistosoma mansoni- infected female mice on their 8th week post-infection. Mice were sacrificed monthly until the third month of bone marrow transplantation, serum was collected, and albumin concentration, ALT, AST, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were assayed. On the other hand, immunohistopathological and immunohistochemical changes of granuloma size and number, collagen content, and cells expressing OV-6 were detected for identification of liver fibrosis. BMSCs were shown to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells. Serum ALT, AST, and ALP were markedly reduced in the group of mice treated with BMSCs than in the untreated control group. Also, granuloma showed a marked decrease in size and number as compared to the BMSCs untreated group. Collagen content showed marked decrease after the third month of treatment with BMSCs. On the other hand, the expression of OV-6 increased detecting the presence of newly formed hepatocytes after BMSCs treatment. BMSCs with or without HGF infusion significantly enhanced hepatic regeneration in S. mansoni-induced fibrotic liver model and have pathologic and immunohistopathologic therapeutic effects. Also, this new therapeutic trend could generate new hepatocytes to improve the overall liver functions.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2016

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have been routinely cultured on mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder layers with a medium containing animal materials. For clinical application of hESCs, animal-derived products from the animal feeder cells, animal substrates such as gelatin or Matrigel and animal serum are strictly to be eliminated in the culture system. In this study, we performed that SNUhES32 and H1 were cultured on human amniotic fluid cells (hAFCs) with KO-SR XenoFree and a humanized substrate. All of hESCs were relatively well propagated on hAFCs feeders with xeno-free conditions and they expressed pluripotent stem cell markers, alkaline phosphatase, SSEA-4, TRA1-60, TRA1-81, Oct-4, and Nanog like hESCs cultured on STO or human foreskin fibroblast feeders. In addition, we observed the expression of nonhuman N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5GC) molecules by flow cytometry, which was xenotransplantation components of contamination in hESCs cultured on animal feeder conditions, was not detected in this xeno-free condition. In conclusion, SNUhES32 and H1 could be maintained on hAFCs for humanized culture conditions, therefore, we suggested that new xeno-free conditions for clinical grade hESCs culture will be useful data in future clinical studies.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2009

Purpose: Gelatin-hydroxyapatite nanocomposite is similar to inorganic nanostructure of bone. To make a scaffold with osteoinductivity, bone marrow derived stem cells from rabbit femur were impinged into the nanocomposite. This vitro study was to test osteogenic differentiation of the stem cells in the nanocomposite, which was made by authors. Material & Methods: Gel-HA nanocomposite with 10g of HA, 3 g of Gel has been made by co-precipitation process. Bone marrow was obtained from femur of New Zealand White rabbits and osteogenic differentiation was induced by culturing of the BMSCs in an osteogenic medium. The BMSCs were seeded into the Gel-HA nanocomposite scaffold using a stirring seeding method. The scaffolds with the cells were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), colorimetry assay, biochemical assay with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) diagnostic kit, osteocalcin ELISA kit. Results: Gel-HA nanocomposite scaffolds were fabricated with relatively homogenous microscale pores ($20-40{\mu}m$). The BMSCs were obtained from bone marrow of rabbit femurs and confirmed with flow cytometry, Alizarin red staining. Attachment and proliferation of BMSCs in Gel-HA nanocomposite scaffold could be identified by SEM, ALP activity and osteocalcin content of BMSCs. Conclusion: The Gel-HA nanocomposite scaffold with micropores could be fabricated and could support BMSCs seeding, osteogenic differentiation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.565-574
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• 2021

Astrocytes are activated in response to brain damage. Here, we found that expression of Kir4.1, a major potassium channel in astrocytes, is increased in activated astrocytes in the injured brain together with upregulation of the neural stem cell markers, Sox2 and Nestin. Expression of Kir4.1 was also increased together with that of Nestin and Sox2 in neurospheres formed from dissociated P7 mouse brains. Using the Kir4.1 blocker BaCl₂ to determine whether Kir4.1 is involved in acquisition of stemness, we found that inhibition of Kir4.1 activity caused a concentration-dependent increase in sphere size and Sox2 levels, but had little effect on Nestin levels. Moreover, induction of differentiation of cultured neural stem cells by withdrawing epidermal growth factor and fibroblast growth factor from the culture medium caused a sharp initial increase in Kir4.1 expression followed by a decrease, whereas Sox2 and Nestin levels continuously decreased. Inhibition of Kir4.1 had no effect on expression levels of Sox2 or Nestin, or the astrocyte and neuron markers glial fibrillary acidic protein and β-tubulin III, respectively. Taken together, these results indicate that Kir4.1 may control gain of stemness but not differentiation of stem cells.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.281-289
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to investigate the effective cryoprotectants for the cryopreservation of porcine mesenechymal stem cells (pMSCs). In order to understand the effectiveness of various cryoprotectants on pMSCs, we studied the most commonly used cryoprotectants; dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethylene glycol (EG), DMSO and EG. pMSCs were isolated from bone marrow matrix of piglet (2 month) and characterized by alkaline phopshatase (AP) activity, colony forming, and differentiation to adipocyte. In slow cooling cryopreservation, the pMSCs were exposed to cell medium containing Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% DMSO, 1.5M EG and 5% DMSO/0.75M EG, respectively, and freezed to $-1^{\circ}C$/min from $25^{\circ}C$ up to $-80^{\circ}C$ in a cryo-container. The proportion of viable cells and the growing rates in fresh pMSCs were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of other groups, but did not differ between the cryopreserved groups. The expression of Sox-2 and Nanog gene was increased by extending culture time in cryopreserved groups. The expression of Bax gene in cryopreserved groups was similar with fresh pMSCs. Moreover, the gene expression of adipocyte-specific marker as well as chondrogenic/osteogenic factors in cryopreserved groups was similarly to fresh pMSCs. Taken together, our results suggested that all these cryoprotectants of 10% DMSO, 1.5M EG and 5% DMSO/0.75M EG could be used for cryopreservation of the pMSCs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.331-337
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• 2016

Although fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is exclusively produced in osteoblasts and osteocytes, its main target is the kidney, where it decreases phosphate reabsorption by suppressing Na-phosphate cotransporters. Independently of its action on phosphate homeostasis, FGF23 also inhibits bone formation in vivo. In a calvarial osteoblastic cell model, FGF23 was shown to negatively affect extracellular matrix mineralization. This study investigated whether FGF23 had similar effects on osteoblast maturation, including differentiation and mineralization of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). D1 MSCs were cultured in an osteogenic medium containing β-glycerophosphate, ascorbic acid, and dexamethazone. Osteoblastic differentiation was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase (Alp) staining, and matrix mineralization was evaluated by alizarin red staining and calcium deposition. The expression of differentiation-stimulating genes Runx2, Alp, and osteocalcin and mineralization-inhibiting genes Enpp1 and Ank was analyzed using semiquantitative RT-PCR. Supraphysiological doses of FGF23 did not stimulate proliferation or osteoblastic differentiation of MSCs. Matrix mineralization 1, 2, and 3 weeks after the FGF23 treatment did not vary between control and FGF23 groups, although time-dependent enhancement of mineralization was obvious. Calcium deposition was also unchanged after the FGF23 treatment. mRNA expression levels of differentiation- and mineralization-related genes were also similar between the groups. Despite these negative findings, FGF23 signaling through FGF receptors seemed to function normally, with phosphorylation of the Erk protein more evident in the FGF23 group than in controls. These findings suggest that unlike calvarial osteoblasts, FGF23 is not likely to affect osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization of MSCs.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.350-357
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference of differentiation potential in each passage of dental pulp stem cells from supernumerary tooth (sDPSCs). The sDPSCs were obtained from a healthy 6-year-old male patient under the guidelines and got the informed consent. Cells were cultured until passage number 16 and divided into two groups; 1 - 8 passages as a young group and 9 - 16 passages as an old group. It was taken $2.25{\pm}0.46days$ in a young group and $3.25{\pm}0.46days$ in an old group to propagate cells of each passage until confluence and there were statistically significant differences between two groups (p < 0.05). In every passage, cell morphology was observed with microscope and evaluated the capacity to form high levels of minerals by alizarin red solution staining after treating differentiation medium. Fibroblast-like, spindle shaped, elongated cells and a few nodules were found in uninduced cultures of passage number 1, 8 and 9. But at 16 passage culture, cell size became larger and broader and observed with more nodules. After inducing differentiation, mineralized nodules were detected at the first passage of 7th day culture whereas at the 8 passage culture, nodules were seen clearly at 14th day culture. In addition, the amount of mineralized nodules were remarkably decreased after passage 9. From the data presented in this study, it is recommended to use sDPSCs of passage number within 8 for utilizing as stem cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.11-14
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• 2010

Human tumors, including those of the hepatobiliary system, express a number of specific antigens that can be recognized by T cells, and may provide potential targets for cancer immunotherapy. Dendritic cells (DCs) are rare leucocytes that are uniquely potent in their ability to capture, process and present antigens to T cells. The ability to culture sufficient numbers of DCs from human bone marrow or blood progenitors has attracted a great deal of interest in their potential utilization in human tumor vaccination. $CD34^+$ peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) were obtained from a patient with a hepatocellular carcinoma. The PBSCs were cultured in the X-VIVO 20 medium supplemented with the Flt-3 Ligand (FL), GM-CSF, IL-4 and TNF-$\alpha$ for 12 days. The morphology and functions of the cells were examined. The generated cells had the typical morphology of DCs. When the DCs were reinjected into the same patient, an augmentation of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity was observed. Concomitantly, an increase in the natural killer (NK) cell activity was also detected in the patient. These results suggest that DCs-based cancer immunotherapy may become an important treatment option for cancer patients in the future.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.261-271
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• 2004

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the possibility of prolonged culture of human embryonic stem cells (hESC; SNUhES2) on human amniotic fluid cells (hAFC), which had been storaged after karyotyping. Method: The hAFC was prepared for feeder layer in the presence of Chang's medium and STO medium (90% DMEM, 10% FBS) at $37^{circ}C$ in a 5% $CO_2$ in air atmosphere. Prior to use as a feeder layer, hAFC was mitotically inactivated by mitomycin C. The hESCs on hAFC were passaged mechanically every seven days with ES culture medium (80% DMEM/F12, 20% SR, bFGF). Results: The hAFC feeder layer support the growth of undifferentiated state of SNUhES2 for at least 59 passages thus far. SNUhES2 colonies on hAFC feeder appeared slightly angular and flatter shape as compared with circular and thicker colonies observed with STO feeder layer and showed higher level with complete undifferentiation in seven days. Like hESC cultured on STO feeders, SNUhES2 grown on hAFC expressed normal karyotype, positive for alkaline phosphatase activity, high telomerase activity, Oct-4, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, Tra-1-60 and Tra-1-81 and formed embryoid bodies (EBs). Conclusion: The hAFC supports undifferentiated growth of hESC. Therefore, these results may help to provide a clinically practicable method for expansion of hESC for cell therapies.