• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.406-414
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• 2023

Dedifferentiated fat cells (DFATs) isolated from mature adipocytes have a multilineage differentiation capacity similar to mesenchymal stem cells and are considered as promising source of cells for tissue engineering. Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) and low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) have been reported to stimulate bone formation both in vitro and in vivo. However, the combined effect of BMP9 and LIPUS on osteoblastic differentiation of DFATs has not been studied. After preparing DFATs from mature adipose tissue from rats, DFATs were treated with different doses of BMP9 and/or LIPUS. The effects on osteoblastic differentiation were assessed by changes in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineralization/calcium deposition, and expression of bone related genes; Runx2, osterix, osteopontin. No significant differences for ALP activity, mineralization deposition, as well as expression for bone related genes were observed by LIPUS treatment alone while treatment with BMP9 induced osteoblastic differentiation of DFATs in a dose dependent manner. Further, co-treatment with BMP9 and LIPUS significantly increased osteoblastic differentiation of DFATs compared to those treated with BMP9 alone. In addition, upregulation for BMP9-receptor genes was observed by LIPUS treatment. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, significantly inhibited the synergistic effect of BMP9 and LIPUS co-stimulation on osteoblastic differentiation of DFATs. LIPUS promotes BMP9 induced osteoblastic differentiation of DFATs in vitro and prostaglandins may be involved in this mechanism.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.575-581
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• 2018

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is a common systemic skeletal disease characterized by reduced bone mass and microarchitecture deterioration. Although differentially expressed SOX5 has been found in bone marrow from ovariectomized mice, its role in osteogenic differentiation in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) from bone marrow in PMOP remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the biological function of SOX5 and explore its molecular mechanism in hMSCs from patients with PMOP. Our findings showed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of SOX5 were upregulated in hMSCs isolated from bone marrow samples of PMOP patients. We also found that SOX5 overexpression decreased the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the gene expression of osteoblast markers including Collagen I, Runx2 and Osterix, which were increased by SOX5 knockdown using RNA interference. Furthermore, $TNF-{\alpha}$ notably upregulated the SOX5 mRNA expression level, and SOX5 knockdown reversed the effect of $TNF-{\alpha}$ on osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs. In addition, SOX5 overexpression increased Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) gene expression, which was decreased by SOX5 silencing. KLF4 knockdown abrogated the suppressive effect of SOX5 overexpression on osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs. Taken together, our results indicated that $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced SOX5 upregulation inhibited osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs through KLF4 signal pathway, suggesting that SOX5 might be a novel therapeutic target for PMOP treatment.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2015

Neural stem cells (NSCs), with self-renewal and neuronal differentiation capacity, are a feasible resource in cell-based therapies for various neurodegenerative diseases and neural tissue injuries. In this study, we investigated the effects of Schisandrae Fructus (SF) on proliferation and differentiation of human embryonic NSCs. Treatment with 70% ethanol extract of SF increased the viability of NSCs derived from human embryonic stem cells, which was accompanied by increased mRNA expression of cyclin D1. Whereas 70% ethanol extract of SF also decreased the mRNA expression of nestin, it increased class III ${\beta}$-tublin (Tuj-1) and MAP2 in both growth and differentiation media. Lastly, we found increased mRNA expression of BDNF in SF-treated NSCs. In conclusion, our study demonstrates for the first time that SF induced proliferation and neuronal differentiation of NSCs and increased mRNA expression of BDNF, suggesting its potential as a regulator of NSC fate in NSC-based therapy for neuronal injuries from various diseases.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.919-933
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• 2021

We hypothesized that the unsaturated fatty acid palmitoleic acid (POA) could promote the expression of adipogenic/lipogenic genes in bovine skeletal muscle satellite cells (BSCs). The BSCs were cultured in a growth medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. When the cells reached 80%-90% confluence, we used the differentiation medium with 5% horse serum for differentiation for 96 h. The differentiation medium contained 50 µM, 100 µM and 200 µM POA. Control BSC were cultured only in differentiation media. Compared with the control BSC, the POA BSC significantly up-regulated the expression of paired box 3 (Pax3) and paired box 7 (Pax7) and down-regulated myogenin gene expression (p < 0.01), which indicates a depression in muscle fiber development. However, all POA treatments up-regulated the expression of the adipocyte transcription factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha and beta (C/EBP α and C/EBP β), and other genes (p < 0.01) and increased the expression of PAT-family proteins and the concentration of adiponectin in the media. These results indicate that POA can convert part of BSCs into adipocytes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.1244-1249
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• 2002

Myostatin (growth differentiation factor (GDF)-8), is one member of the transforming growth factor $\beta$ superfamily. Investigations of GDF-8 null mice and double-muscled cattle revealed that GDF-8 has a profound influence upon skeletal muscle growth. Therefore, the GDF-8 effect upon the productive performance of pigs is worth exploring. In the present study, the nucleotide sequences and expression levels of GDF-8 genes in European pigs (Landrace and Duroc) and Asian pigs (Taoyuan and Small-ear) were evaluated. Based upon their genetic background these breeds possess significantly distinct growth rate and muscle productionphenotypes. Our sequence data showed that the nucleotide sequences of European and Asian pigs were 100% similar. Postnatal expression of GDF-8 gene in skeletal muscles, from birth to 12 mo of age, among different breeds was measured. GDF-8 expression levels in the longissimus muscle of neonatal European breed littermates were the highest, however it declined significantly (p<0.05) at 1 and 3 mo, and then increased gradually at 6 to 12 mo. The Asian breeds, however, GDF-8 expression level increased markedly at 3 mo and maintained a constant level thereafter. The results indicate that rather than polymorphism within the GDF-8 functional sequence between European and Asia breeds, it was relative to the gene regulation in postnatal muscle growth.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2019

Telomeres are known as a specialized region in the end of chromosomes to protect DNA destruction, but their lengths are shortened by repetition of cell division. This telomere shortening can be preserved or be elongated by telomerase and TERT expression. Although a certain condition in the cells may affect to the cellular and molecular characteristics, the effect of differentiation induction to telomere length and telomerase activity in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been less studied. Therefore, the present study aimed to uncover periodical alterations of telomere length, telomerase activity and TERT expression in the dental pulp-derived MSCs (DP-MSCs) under condition of differentiation inductions into adipocytes and osteoblasts on a weekly basis up to 3 weeks. Shortening of telomere was significantly (p < 0.05) identified from early-middle stages of both differentiations in comparison with undifferentiated DP-MSCs by non-radioactive chemiluminescent assay and qRT-PCR method. Telomere length in undifferentiated DP-MSCs was 10.5 kb, but the late stage of differentiated DP-MSCs which can be regarded as the adult somatic cell exhibited 8.1-8.6 kb. Furthermore, the relative-quantitative telomerase repeat amplification protocol or western blotting presented significant (p < 0.05) decrease of telomerase activity since early stages of differentiations or TERT expression from middle stages of differentiations than undifferentiated state, respectively. Based on these results, it is supposed that shortened telomere length in differentiated DP-MSCs was remained along with prolonged differentiation durations, possibly due to weakened telomerase activity and TERT expression. We expect that the present study contributes on understanding differentiation mechanism of MSCs, and provides standardizing therapeutic strategies in clinical application of MSCs in the animal biotechnology.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2016

Purpose: Wnt signaling plays an essential role in the dental epithelium and mesenchyme during tooth morphogenesis. Deletion of the Wntless (Wls) gene in odontoblasts appears to reduce canonical Wnt activity, leading to inhibition of odontoblast maturation. However, it remains unclear if autonomous Wnt ligands are necessary for differentiation of dental pulp cells into odontoblast-like cells to induce reparative dentinogenesis, one of well-known feature of pulp repair to form tertiary dentin. Materials and Methods: To analyze the autonomous role of Wls for differentiation of dental pulp cells into odontoblast-like cells, we used primary dental pulp cells from unerupted molars of Wls-floxed allele mouse after infection with adenovirus for Cre recombinase expression to knockout the floxed Wls gene or control GFP expression. The differentiation of dental pulp cells into odontoblast-like cells was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Result: Proliferation rate was significantly decreased in dental pulp cells with Cre expression for Wls knockout. The expression levels of Osterix (Osx), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and nuclear factor I-C (Nfic) were all significantly decreased by 0.3-fold, 0.2-fold, and 0.3-fold respectively in dental pulp cells with Wls knockout. In addition, the expression levels of Bsp, Col1a1, Opn, and Alpl were significantly decreased by 0.7-fold, 0.3-fold, 0.8-fold, and 0.6-fold respectively in dental pulp cells with Wls knockout. Conclusion: Wnt ligands produced autonomously are necessary for proper proliferation and odontoblastic differentiation of mouse dental pulp cells toward further tertiary dentinogenesis.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.159-165
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• 2013

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) belong to the transforming growth factor (TGF-${\beta}$) superfamily and are involved in osteoblastic differentiation. The largest TGF-${\beta}$ superfamily subgroup shares genetic homology with human BMPs (hBMPs) and silkworm decapentaplegic (dpp). In addition, hBMPs are functionally interchangeable with Drosophila dpp. Bombyx mori dpp may induce bone formation in mammalian cells. To test this hypothesis, we synthesized the 1,285-base pairs cDNA of full-length B. mori dpp using total RNAs obtained from the fat body of 3-day-old of the $5^{th}$ instar larvae and cloned the cDNA into the pCEP4 mammalian expression vector. Next, B. mori dpp was expressed in C3H10T1/2 cells. The target cells transfected with the pCEP4-Bm dpp plasmid showed biological functions similar to those of osteogenic differentiation induction growth factors such as hBMPs. We determined the relative mRNA expression rates of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), osterix, osteocalcin, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) to validate the osteoblast-specific differentiation effects of B. mori dpp by performing quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Interestingly, mRNA expression levels of the 3 marker genes except RUNX2, in cells expressing B. mori dpp were much higher than those in control cells and C3H10T1/2 cells transfected with pCEP4. These results suggested that B. mori dpp signaling regulates osterix expression during osteogenic differentiation via RUNX2-independent mechanisms.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.143-150
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• 1997

Transcription factor CP2 was identified initially to bind the promoter region of the murine a-globin gene and its activity was shown to increase 2 to 3 fold during the induced differentiation of murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells. To get further insight into the role of CP2 during development and differentiation, steady-state levels of CP2 message were monitored by using reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR and in situ hybridization assays in the cultured MEL cells and differentiating embryonic stem (ES) cells in vitro, and in fetal and adult mouse tissues. The amount of CP2 messages increased 3 to 5 fold during induced differentiation of MEL cells, suggesting that the increment of CP2 activity during induced differentiation of MEL cells is originated from the increase of transcription initiation. On the other hand, CP2 expression is not restricted to the erythroid lineage cells; CP2 expressed ubiquitously from the undifferentiated ES cells to adult tissue cells. CP2 transcript was observed even in the undifferentiated ES cells and the level of expression increased from day 8 of the differentiating embryoid bodies. RT-PCR assay in the total RNAs prepared from several tissues of the adult mouse also showed ubiquitous expression profile, although the levels of expression were variable among tissues. When non-radioactive in situ hybridization assay was performed to the paraffin-sectioned whole body mouse embryos at days 11.5, 13.5, and 16.5 after fertilization, variable amounts of positive signals were also detected in different tissues.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.507-514
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• 2004

Gamma irradiation ($\gamma$-IR) is reported to have diverse effects on immune cell apoptosis, survival and differentiation. In the present study, the immunomodulatory effect of a low dose $\gamma$-IR (5~10 Gy) was investigated, focusing on the role of NF-${\kappa}B$ in the induction of the B cell differentiation molecule, CD23/FceRII. In the human B cell line Ramos, $\gamma$-IR not only induced CD23 expression, but also augmented the IL-4-induced surface CD23 levels. While $\gamma$-IR did not cause STAT6 activation in these cells, it did induce both DNA binding and the transcriptional activity of NF-${\kappa}B$ in the $I{\kappa}B$ degradation-dependent manner. It was subsequently found that different NF-${\kappa}B$ regulating signals modulated the $\gamma$-IR-or IL-4-induced CD23 expression. Inhibitors of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation, such as PDTC and MG132, suppressed the $\gamma$-IR-mediated CD23 expression. In contrast, Ras, which potentiates $\gamma$-IR-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activity in these cells, further augmented the $\gamma$-IR- or IL-4-induced CD23 levels, The induction of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and the subsequent up-regulation of CD23 expression by $\gamma$-IR were also observed in monocytic cells. These results suggest that $\gamma$-IR, at specific dosages, can modulate immune cell differentiation through the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$, and this potentially affects the immune inflammatory response that is mediated by cytokines.