• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제35권1호
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2011

Techniques to evaluate gene expression profiling, such as sufficiently sensitive cDNA microarrays or real-time quantitative PCR, are efficient methods for monitoring human pluripotent stem cell (hESC/iPSC) cultures. However, most of these high-throughput tests have a limited use due to high cost, extended turn-around time, and the involvement of highly specialized technical expertise. Hence, there is an urgency of rapid, cost-effective, robust, yet sensitive method development for routine screening of hESCs/hiPSCs. A critical requirement in hESC/hiPSC cultures is to maintain a uniform undifferentiated state and to determine their differentiation capacity by showing the expression of gene markers representing all three germ layers, including ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. To quantify the modulation of gene expression in hESCs/hiPSC during their propagation, expansion, and differentiation via embryoid body (EB) formation, we developed a simple, rapid, inexpensive, and definitive multimarker, semiquantitative multiplex RT-PCR platform technology. Among the 9 gene primers tested, 5 were pluripotent markers comprising set 1, and 3 lineage-specific markers were combined as set 2, respectively. We found that these 2 sets were not only effective in determining the relative differentiation in hESCs/hiPSCs, but were easily reproducible. In this study, we used the hES/hiPS cell lines to standardize the technique. This multiplex RT-PCR assay is flexible and, by selecting appropriate reporter genes, can be designed for characterization of different hESC/hiPSC lines during routine maintenance and directed differentiation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제27권1호
• /
• pp.78-84
• /
• 2019

Cell therapeutic agents for treating degenerative brain diseases using neural stem cells are actively being developed. However, few systems have been developed to monitor in real time whether the transplanted neural stem cells are actually differentiated into neurons. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a technology capable of specifically monitoring neuronal differentiation in vivo. In this study, we established a system that expresses cell membrane-targeting red fluorescent protein under control of the Synapsin promoter in order to specifically monitor differentiation from neural stem cells into neurons. In order to overcome the weak expression level of the tissue-specific promoter system, the partial 5' UTR sequence of Creb was added for efficient expression of the cell surface-specific antigen. This system was able to track functional neuronal differentiation of neural stem cells transplanted in vivo, which will help improve stem cell therapies.

• 한국동물학회지
• /
• 제33권4호
• /
• pp.446-453
• /
• 1990

본 실험은 레티노익산에 의해 F9 Teratocarcinoma Stem Cell의 분화를 유도하고 이분화과정에서 세포형태의 변화와 라미닌유전자의 발현을 조사 하였다. 분화되지 않은 F9 Stem Cell은 지속적으로 증식을 하며 세포간의 간격을 구분하기 어령루 뿐만 아니라 불규칙적인 모양을 하고 있으나,레티노익산과 dibutyryl cyclic AMP처리후의 분화된 F9세포는 둥글고 평평한 모양을 나타내며 세포성장은 중지되었다. Northern blot분석에 의하여 레티노익산과 cyclic AMP처리 후의 F9세포내에서 라미닌 유전자의 발현은 현저하게 증가하였다. 즉, 라미닌 B1유전자 발현은 분화과정 동안 최소한 30배, 라미닌 B2 유전자의 발현은 약 20배 증가하였다. 또한 라미닌 항체를 이용한 면역형광 분석결과는 Northern 분석결과와 일치하게 분화 후에 라미닌 단백질 합성이 크게 증가되었으며, 생성된 라미닌 단백질은 거의 세포표면에 분포된 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 결과로부터, 레티노익산에 의해 F9 Stem Cell의 분화가 유도되며 이 분화과정에서의 형태적인 변화와 진행은 라미닌의 생성과 밀접한 관련이 있다고 추측된다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제28권5호
• /
• pp.423-433
• /
• 2024

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are a type of adult stem cell present in the dental pulp tissue. They possess a higher proliferative capacity than bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Their ease of collection from patients makes them well-suited for tissue engineering applications, such as tooth and nerve regeneration. Chios gum mastic (CGM), a resin extracted from the stems and leaves of Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia, has garnered attention for its potential in tissue regeneration. This study aims to confirm alterations in cell proliferation rates and induce differentiation in human DPSCs (hDPSCs) through CGM treatment, a substance known for effectively promoting odontogenic differentiation. Administration of CGM to hDPSC cells was followed by an assessment of cell survival, proliferation, and odontogenic differentiation through protein and gene analysis. The study revealed that hDPSCs exhibited low sensitivity to CGM toxicity. CGM treatment induced cell proliferation by activating cell-cycle proteins through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Additionally, the study demonstrated that CGM enhances alkaline phosphatase activation by upregulating the expression of collagen type I, a representative matrix protein of dentin. This activation of markers associated with odontogenic and bone differentiation ultimately facilitated the mineralization of hDPSCs. This study concludes that CGM, as a natural substance, fosters the cell cycle and cell proliferation in hDPSCs. Furthermore, it triggers the transcription of odontogenic and osteogenic markers, thereby facilitating odontogenic differentiation.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제38권9호
• /
• pp.806-813
• /
• 2015

Gaucher disease (GD) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the glucocerebrosidase gene (GBA), which encodes the lysosomal enzyme glucosylceramidase (GCase). Deficiency in GCase leads to characteristic visceral pathology and lethal neurological manifestations in some patients. Investigations into neurogenesis have suggested that neurodegenerative disorders, such as GD, could be overcome or at least ameliorated by the generation of new neurons. Bone marrowderived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are potential candidates for use in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders because of their ability to promote neurogenesis. Our objective was to examine the mechanism of neurogenesis by BM-MSCs in GD. We found that neural stem cells (NSCs) derived from a neuronopathic GD model exhibited decreased ability for self-renewal and neuronal differentiation. Co-culture of GBA-deficient NSCs with BM-MSCs resulted in an enhanced capacity for self-renewal, and an increased ability for differentiation into neurons or oligodendrocytes. Enhanced proliferation and neuronal differentiation of GBA-deficient NSCs was associated with elevated release of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) from BM-MSCs. Our findings suggest that soluble M-CSF derived from BM-MSCs can modulate GBA-deficient NSCs, resulting in their improved proliferation and neuronal differentiation.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• 제26권1호
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2009

Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a rare population of undifferentiated cells that have the capacity of self renewal and the ability to differentiate into mesodermal phenotypes, including osteocytes, chondrocytes, and adipocytes in vitro. Recently, MSCs have been shown to reside within the connective tissue of most organs, and their surface phenotype has been well analyzed. Many reports showed that transplanted MSCs enhanced regeneration as well as functional improvement of damaged organs and tissues. The wide differentiation plasticity of MSCs was expected to contribute to their demonstrated efficacy in a wide variety of experimental animal models and in human clinical trials. However, new findings suggest that the ability of MSCs to alter the tissue microenvironment via secretion of soluble factors may contribute more significantly than their capacity for differentiation in tissue repair. This review describes what is known about the cellular characteristics and differentiation potential of MSCs, which represent a promising stem cell population for further applications in regenerative medicine.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제26권4호
• /
• pp.380-388
• /
• 2018

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have the ability to self-renew and differentiate into multiple nervous system cell types. During embryonic development, the concentrations of soluble biological molecules have a critical role in controlling cell proliferation, migration, differentiation and apoptosis. In an effort to find optimal culture conditions for the generation of desired cell types in vitro, we used a microfluidic chip-generated growth factor gradient system. In the current study, NSCs in the microfluidic device remained healthy during the entire period of cell culture, and proliferated and differentiated in response to the concentration gradient of growth factors (epithermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor). We also showed that overexpression of ASCL1 in NSCs increased neuronal differentiation depending on the concentration gradient of growth factors generated in the microfluidic gradient chip. The microfluidic system allowed us to study concentration-dependent effects of growth factors within a single device, while a traditional system requires multiple independent cultures using fixed growth factor concentrations. Our study suggests that the microfluidic gradient-generating chip is a powerful tool for determining the optimal culture conditions.

• 대한의생명과학회지
• /
• 제19권1호
• /
• pp.32-40
• /
• 2013

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have enormous potential in the biomedical sciences because they can grow continuously and differentiate into any kind of cell in the body. However, for future application in regenerative medicine, it is still a challenge to control the differentiation of PSCs without using genetic materials. To control the differentiation of PSCs, small molecules might be the best substitute for genetic materials considering the following advantages: small size, which enables penetration of plasma membrane; easy-to-modify structure; and low chance of genetic recombination in treated cells. Herein, we introduce small molecules that induce the neuroectodermal differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The small molecules were identified via ESC-based consecutive screenings of small-molecule libraries composed of 324 natural compounds or 93 selected drugs. The natural compounds discovered in the first screening were used to select 93 structurally similar drugs out of 1,200 approved drugs. In the second screening, among the 93 compounds, we found 4 drugs that induced the neuroectodermal differentiation of ESCs. These drugs were progesteroneor corticoid-derivatives. Our results suggest that small molecules targeting the progesterone receptor or glucocorticoid receptor could be used as chemical tools to induce the differentiation of PSCs into a specific germ lineage.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
• /
• 제15권2호
• /
• pp.65-72
• /
• 2012

목적: 세가지 기원의 줄기 세포 분화능과 면역표현형을 평가하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 견봉하 점액낭과 골수, 탯줄 혈액 세 개의 군에서 세포를 채취하였다. 견봉하 점액낭과 골수는 견관절 수술 환자군에게 임상적 동의 하에 수술중 채취하였다. 각각의 채취된 세포 및 탯줄 혈액에 대하여 계대 배양을 시행하여 신경 분화군, 지방 분화군, 골 분화군을 평가하였으며 세포 표면 항체를 밝히기 위해 유동세포분석법을 이용하였다. 결과: 견봉하 점액낭 유래 세포에서는 신경분화와 지방 분화는 8예 모두 (100%)에서, 골분화는 8례 중 5예 (62.5%)에서 성공할 수 있었으며 골수 유래 세포의 경우 신경 및 지방 분화 유도한 6례 및 5예 모두 (100%) 분화에 성공하였으나 골분화 유도는 5예 중 4예 (80%)에서 얻을 수 있었다. 반면 탯줄 유래 세포 분화 연구의 경우 신경 분화 유도 67례 중 65예 (97%)에서 지방 분화 연구 54예 중 29예 (53.7%)에서 골 분화 연구 57예 중 39예 (68.4%)에서 성공할 수 있었다. 결론: 탯줄 유래 줄기세포의 분화능과 비교하였을 때 견봉하 점액낭 및 골수 유래 줄기세포의 분화능이 우수함을 알 수 있으며 이는 향후 세포 치료에 있어서 안정성 있는 치료 제공자가 될 수 있을 것으로 보이며 향후 생체 실험 연구의 참고 자료로서도 가치가 있을 것으로 보인다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제33권4호
• /
• pp.263-271
• /
• 2009

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the most cause of death around the world and fields of interest for cardiac stem cells. Also, current use of terminally differentiated adult cardiomyocytes for CVDs has limited regenerative capacity therefore any significant cell loss may result in the development of progressive heart failure. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) derived from blastocyst-stage embryos spontaneously have ability to differentiate via embryo-like aggregates (endoderm, ectoderm and mesoderm) in vitro into various cell types including cardiomyocyte. However, most effective molecule or optimized condition which can induce cardiac differentiation of hESCs is rarely studied. In this study, we developed both spontaneous and inductive cardiomyocyte-like cells differentiation from hESCs by treatment of induced-factors, 5-azacytidine, BMP-4 and cardiogenol C. On the one hand, spontaneous and inductive cardiomyocyte-like cells showed that cardiac markers are expressed for further analysis by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. Interestingly, BMP-4 greatly improved homogeneous population of the cardiomyocyte-like cells from hESCs CHA15 and H09. In conclusion, we verified that spontaneously differentiated cells showed cardiac specific markers which characterize cardiac cells, treated extrinsic factors can manage cellular signals and found that hESCs can undergo differentiation into cardiomyocytes better than spontaneous group. This finding offers an insight into the inductive factor of differentiated cardiomyocytes and provides some helpful information that may offer the potential of cardiomyocytes derived from hESCs using extrinsic factors.