• Medical Lasers
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.134-141
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• 2020

The use of stem cell therapy to treat various diseases has become a promising approach. The ability of stem cells to self-renew and differentiate can contribute significantly to the success of regenerative medical treatments. In line with these expectations, there is a great need for an efficient research methodology to differentiate stem cells into their specific targets. Photobiomodulation (PBM), formerly known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT), is a relatively non-invasive technique that has a therapeutic effect on damaged tissue or cells. Recent advances in adapting PBM to stem cell therapy showed that stem cells and progenitor cells respond favorably to light. PBM stimulates different types of stem cells to enhance their migration, proliferation, and differentiation in vitro and in vivo. This review summarizes the effects of PBM on targeted differentiation across multiple stem cell lineages. The analytical expertise gained can help better understand the current state and the latest findings in PBM and stem cell therapy.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.9
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• pp.661-671
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• 2019

Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) are promising for regenerating degenerated intervertebral discs (IVDs), but the low efficiency of nucleus pulposus (NP)-specific differentiation limits their clinical applications. The Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway is important in NP-specific differentiation of ADSCs, and Smoothened Agonist (SAG) is a highly specific and effective agonist of Shh signaling. In this study, we proposed a new differentiation strategy with the use of the small molecule SAG. The NP-specific differentiation and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis of ADSCs were measured in vitro, and the regenerative effects of SAG pretreated ADSCs in degenerated IVDs were verified in vivo. The results showed that the combination of SAG and transforming growth factor-${\beta}3$ ($TGF-{\beta}3$) is able to increase the ECM synthesis of ADSCs. In addition, the gene and protein expression levels of NP-specific markers were increased by treatment with SAG and $TGF-{\beta}3$. Furthermore, SAG pretreated ADSCs can also improve the disc height, water content, ECM content, and structure of degenerated IVDs in vivo. Our new differentiation scheme has high efficiency in inducing NP-specific differentiation of ADSCs and is promising for stem cell-based treatment of degenerated IVDs.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.78-92
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: This study aims to clarify the systems underlying regulation and regulatory roles of hydrogen combined with 5-Aza in the myogenic differentiation of adipose mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs). Methods and Results: In this study, ADSCs acted as an in vitro myogenic differentiating mode. First, the Alamar blue Staining and mitochondrial tracer technique were used to verify whether hydrogen combined with 5-Aza could promote cell proliferation. In addition, this study assessed myogenic differentiating markers (e.g., Myogenin, Mhc and Myod protein expressions) based on the Western blotting assay, analysis on cellular morphological characteristics (e.g., Myotube number, length, diameter and maturation index), RT-PCR (Myod, Myogenin and Mhc mRNA expression) and Immunofluorescence analysis (Desmin, Myosin and 𝛽-actin protein expression). Finally, to verify the mechanism of myogenic differentiation of hydrogen-bound 5-Aza, we performed bioinformatics analysis and Western blot to detect the expression of p-P38 protein. Hydrogen combined with 5-Aza significantly enhanced the proliferation and myogenic differentiation of ADSCs in vitro by increasing the number of single-cell mitochondria and upregulating the expression of myogenic biomarkers such as Myod, Mhc and myotube formation. The expressions of p-P38 was up-regulated by hydrogen combined with 5-Aza. The differentiating ability was suppressed when the cells were cultivated in combination with SB203580 (p38 MAPK signal pathway inhibitor). Conclusions: Hydrogen alleviates the cytotoxicity of 5-Aza and synergistically promotes the myogenic differentiation capacity of adipose stem cells via the p38 MAPK pathway. Thus, the mentioned results present insights into myogenic differentiation and are likely to generate one potential alternative strategy for skeletal muscle related diseases.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.287-295
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• 1998

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae MGMT gene encodes a O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase that protects cells from mutation or death by DNA alkylating agents. Using an in vitro transcription system, we analyzed its promoter region to find regulatory elements for transcription initiation. DNase I footprinting and a transcription assay showed that a functional TATA box, 5'-TGATATAGCA-3', is located in the region spanning from -25 to -34. We also found one upstream repressing sequence (URS), -333 to -213, by promoter deletion and competition analysis. Gel mobility shift assays and Southwestern blot analysis using URS region indicate specific complex formations. These results indicate that several cis-acting and trans-acting elements might be involved in the transcriptional regulation of the S. cerevisiae MGMT gene.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2001

It has been demonstrated that multipotent neuronal progenitor cells can be isolated from the developing or adult CNS and proliferated in vitro in response to epidermal growth factor. The present study was undertaken to investigate the differentiation of neuronal progenitor cells after transplantation into the neonatal rat forebrain striatum. Primary cultured progenitor cells were labeled with 3,3'-dioctadecycloxacarbonyl- amine perchlorate (DiO). DiO labeled progenitor cells were implanted into neonatal rat striatum. Implanted DiO labeled progenitor cells were differentiated into astrocytes and GABAergic neurons. These results suggest that implanted progenitor cells can be differentiated into neurons in host forebrain striatum. In addition, our data show that DiO labeling is a useful technique for tracing implanted progenitor cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.747-752
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• 2013

Oncostatin M (OSM) is a multifunctional cellular regulator acting on a wide variety of cells, which has potential roles in the regulation of gene activation, cell survival, proliferation and differentiation. Previous studies have shown that OSM can induce morphological and/or functional differentiation and maturation of many tumor cells. However, the action of OSM on the induction of differentiation of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been reported. Here, we investigated the effects of different concentrations of OSM on human HCC cell line SMMC-7721 growth, proliferation, cell cycling, apoptosis and differentiation in vitro. Cell growth was determined via MTT assay, proliferation by cell cycle analysis, apoptosis by flow cytometry, morphology by transmission electronic microscopy, and cell function by detection of biochemical markers. Our results demonstrated that OSM strongly inhibited the growth of SMMC-7721 cells in a dose-dependent manner, associated with decreased clonogenicity. Cell cycle analysis revealed a decreased proportion of cells in S phase, with arrest at G0/G1. The apotosis rate was increased after OSM treatment compared to the control. These changes were associated with striking changes in cellular morphology, toward a more mature hepatic phenotype, accompanied by significant reduction of the expression of AFP and specific activity of ${\gamma}$-GT, with remarkable increase in secretion of albumin and ALP activity. Taken together, our findings indicate that OSM could induce the differentiation and reduce cell viability of SMMC-7721 cells, suggesting that differentiation therapy with OSM offers the opportunity for therapeutic intervention in HCC.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.209-215
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• 2004

Objective: Embryonic stem (ES) cells could be differentiated into the specific cell types by alternation of culture condition and modification of gene expression. This study was performed to evaluate the differentiation protocol for mouse and human ES cells to insulin secreting cells. Methods: Undifferentiated mouse (JH-I) and human (Miz-hESI) ES cells were cultured on STO feeder layer, and embryoid bodies (EBs) were formed by suspension culture. For the differentiation, EBs were cultured by sequential system with three stage protocol. The differentiating ES cells were collected and marker gene expressions were analyzed by seIni-quantitative RT-PCR in each stage. Amount of secreted insulin levels in culture media of human ES cells were measured by human insulin specific RIA kit. Results: During the differentiation process of human ES cells, GATA-4, a-fetoprotein, glucose transporter-2 and Ngn-3 expression were increased whereas OctA was decreased progressively. Insulin and albuInin mRNAs were expressed from stage IT in mouse ES cells and from stage III in human ES cells. We detected 3.0~7.9 IlU/rnl secretion of insulin from differentiated human ES cells by in vitro culture for 36 days. Conclusion: The sequential culture system could induce the differentiation of mouse and human ES cells into insulin secreting cells. This is the fIrst report of differentiation of human ES cells into insulin secreting cells by in vitro culture with serum and insulin free medium.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.251-256
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• 2009

Previous observations suggest that Bis, a Bcl-2-binding protein, may playa role the neuronal and glial differentiation in vivo. To examine this further, we investigated Bis expression during the in vitro differentiation of P19 embryonic carcinoma cells induced by retinoic acid (RA). Western blotting and RT-PCR assays showed that Bis expression was temporarily decreased during the free floating stage and then began to increase on day 6 after the induction of differentiation. Double immunostaining indicated that Bis-expressing cells do not express several markers of differentiation, including NeuN, MAP-2 and Tuj-1. However, some of the Bis-expressing cells also were stained with GFAP-antibodies, indicating that Bis is involved glial differentiation. Using an shRNA strategy, we developed bis-knock down P19 cells and compared them with control P19 cells for the expression of NeuroD, Mash-1 and GFAP during RA-induced differentiation. Among these, only GFAP induction was significantly attenuated in Pl9-dnbis cells and the population showing GFAP immunoreactivity was also decreased. It is noteworthy that distribution of mature neurons and migrating neurons was disorganized, and the close association of migrating neuroblasts with astrocytes was not observed in P19-dnbis cells. These results suggest that Bis is involved in the migration-inducing activity of glial cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.343-350
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• 2007

Mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MPCs) were isolated from porcine umbilical cord blood (UCB) and their morphology, proliferation, cell cycle status, cell-surface antigen profile and expression of hematopoietic cytokines were characterized. Their capacity to differentiate in vitro into osteocytes, adipocytes and chondrocytes was also evaluated. Primary cultures of adherent porcine MPCs (pMPCs) exhibited a typical fibroblast-like morphology with significant renewal capacity and proliferative ability. Subsequent robust cell growth was indicated by the high percentage of quiescent (G0/G1) cells. The cells expressed the mesenchymal surface markers, CD29, CD49b and CD105, but not the hematopoietic markers, CD45 and CD133 and synthesized hematopoietic cytokines. Over 21 days of induction, the cells differentiated into osteocytes adipocytes and chondrocytes. The expression of lineage specific genes was gradually upregulated during osteogenesis, adipogenesis and chondrogenesis. We conclude that porcine umbilical cord blood contains a population of MPCs capable of self-renewal and of differentiating in vitro into three classical mesenchymal lineages.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.303-311
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• 2013

In this study, we compared the efficiency of osteoblast differentiation media (ODM) containing three distinct reagent combinations in osteoblastic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) in monolayer culture. In addition, we analyzed growth and differentiation of hBMSCs on silk scaffolds and examined the bone-forming activity of a nanofibrous silk scaffold in a tibia diaphysis defect model of a rat hind limb with intramedullary nailing. Although all three ODM increased alkaline phosphatase activity to a comparable extent, the ODM containing bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) was found to be significantly less effective in promoting mineral deposition than the others. Growth of hBMSCs on sponge-form silk scaffolds was faster than on nanofibrous ones, while osteoblastic differentiation was apparent in the cells grown on either type of scaffold. By contrast, bone formation was observed only at the edge of the nanofibrous scaffold implanted in the tibia diaphysis defect, suggesting that use of the silk scaffold alone is not sufficient for the reconstitution of the long bone defect. Since silk scaffolds can support cell growth and differentiation in vitro, loading MSCs on scaffolds might be necessary to improve the bone-forming activity of the scaffold in the long bone defect model.