Haematopoietic stem cells do not asymmetrically segregate chromosomes or retain BrdU

Stem cells are proposed to segregate chromosomes asymmetrically during self-renewing divisions so that older ('immortal') DNA strands are retained in daughter stem cells whereas newly synthesized strands segregate to differentiating cells. Stem cells are also proposed to retain DNA labels, such as 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU), either because they segregate chromosomes asymmetrically or because they divide slowly. However, the purity of stem cells among BrdU-label-retaining cells has not been documented in any tissue, and the 'immortal strand hypothesis' has not been tested in a system with definitive stem cell markers. Here we tested these hypotheses in haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which can be highly purified using well characterized markers. We administered BrdU to newborn mice, mice treated with cyclophosphamide and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and normal adult mice for 4 to 10 days, followed by 70 days without BrdU. In each case, less than 6% of HSCs retained BrdU and less than 0.5% of all BrdU-retaining haematopoietic cells were HSCs, revealing that BrdU has poor specificity and poor sensitivity as an HSC marker. Sequential administration of 5-chloro-2-deoxyuridine and 5-iodo-2-deoxyuridine indicated that all HSCs segregate their chromosomes randomly. Division of individual HSCs in culture revealed no asymmetric segregation of the label. Thus, HSCs cannot be identified on the basis of BrdU-label retention and do not retain older DNA strands during division, indicating that these are not general properties of stem cells.     

Haematopoietic stem cells adopt mature haematopoietic fates in ischaemic myocardium

Under conditions of tissue injury, myocardial replication and regeneration have been reported. A growing number of investigators have implicated adult bone marrow (BM) in this process, suggesting that marrow serves as a reservoir for cardiac precursor cells. It remains unclear which BM cell(s) can contribute to myocardium, and whether they do so by transdifferentiation or cell fusion. Here, we studied the ability of c-kit-enriched BM cells, Lin- c-kit+ BM cells and c-kit+ Thy1.1(lo) Lin- Sca-1+ long-term reconstituting haematopoietic stem cells to regenerate myocardium in an infarct model. Cells were isolated from transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) and injected directly into ischaemic myocardium of wild-type mice. Abundant GFP+ cells were detected in the myocardium after 10 days, but by 30 days, few cells were detectable. These GFP+ cells did not express cardiac tissue-specific markers, but rather, most of them expressed the haematopoietic marker CD45 and myeloid marker Gr-1. We also studied the role of circulating cells in the repair of ischaemic myocardium using GFP+-GFP- parabiotic mice. Again, we found no evidence of myocardial regeneration from blood-borne partner-derived cells. Our data suggest that even in the microenvironment of the injured heart, c-kit-enriched BM cells, Lin- c-kit+ BM cells and c-kit+ Thy1.1(lo) Lin- Sca-1+ long-term reconstituting haematopoietic stem cells adopt only traditional haematopoietic fates.     

骨髓间质干细胞横向分化为心肌细胞的机制和诱导因素

心血管疾病严重威胁着人类的健康，近年来，随着对干细胞多向分化潜能研究的进展，其在心血管疾病方面的应用也引起了关注，而骨髓间质干细胞（MSC）以其横向分化潜能在治疗心血管疾病方面显示了巨大潜力。不少研究已证实MSC在体内、外均可分化为心肌细胞，然而其分化为心肌细胞的机制，诱导分化的相关因素和如何定向诱导，如何提高其分化效率等均为人们所关注，本文就此作一综述。     

诱导多能干细胞与心脏再生

诱导多能干细胞(induced pluripotent stem cells, iPSCs)研究的快速发展为心血管转化医学研究领域提供了新的策略. 诱导多能干细胞不仅具有与胚胎干细胞类似的多能性, 且巧妙地回避了胚胎干细胞面临的伦理学问题和免疫排斥反应. 心肌细胞等成体心血管细胞在发生心血管疾病后增殖能力有限, 而iPSCs 来源的心血管细胞在心脏再生治疗中颇具应用前景,是理想的细胞来源, 因此在基础医学和转化医学研究领域受到广泛关注. 就iPSCs 的发展过程及其在心脏再生中的应用作一综述, 并探讨目前iPSCs 在心脏再生临床转化中亟待解决的问题.     

Navigating the signalling network in mouse cardiac myocytes

Cardiac myocytes have a complex network of signals that regulates their essential role in the rhythmic pumping of the heart. This network is an appealing model system in which to study the basic principles underlying cellular signalling mechanisms. Progress in this effort has come through the establishment of standardized myocyte isolation and culture procedures and characterization of important signalling responses.     

Anion channels activated by adrenaline in cardiac myocytes

In heart cells, the catecholamine-activated cyclic AMP system regulates calcium and potassium channels. We report here a novel class of chloride channels that can be activated by adrenaline in mammalian ventricular cells. Like the agonist-activated Cl- channel currents of airway and colonic epithelial cells, the cardiac Cl(-)-channel current shows outward rectification. But the unit conductance of cardiac Cl- channels is smaller than that of epithelial Cl- channels. The cardiac Cl- channel is functionally voltage-independent, in contrast to the Cl- channel in colonic epithelial cells. This channel could be responsible for the beta-catecholamine-induced increase in cardiac membrane conductance that has been attributed to activation of a Cl- current. Thus, sympathetic control of cardiac electrical activity involves not only the voltage-dependent, excitation-related cation channels, but also anion channels that generate a steady current.     

人早孕蜕膜组织子宫内膜间质干细胞向子宫内膜上皮细胞定向分化的研究

目的:探讨早孕蜕膜组织分离子宫内膜间质干细胞及子宫内膜间质干细胞向子宫内膜分化的方法.方法:胶原酶Ⅰ法消化早孕人流子宫蜕膜组织,贴壁法分离子宫内膜间质干细胞,传代纯化至第2代,流式细胞仪检测其表面抗原.细胞免疫组织化学法检测角蛋白(CK)、波形蛋白(VIM)的表达.取第2代细胞,接种于24孔培养板爬片.实验分两组:单纯培养基组,细胞因子组即分别加入质量浓度均为10 ng/mL TGF-β、EGF与PDGF-BB.培养至第6天,采用免疫细胞化学法检测子宫内膜上皮标记物CK18和间质标记物VIM的表达.结果:胶原酶Ⅰ酶消化后贴壁培养法能稳定从人早孕蜕膜组织中分离出子宫内膜间质干细胞;子宫内膜间质干细胞不表达CD34、CD45、CK,强表达CD73、CD90、HLA-I;细胞免疫化学法检测干细胞CK阴性,VIM阳性.细胞免疫化学染色提示生长因子组CK阳性,VIM阳性,而对照组CK阴性,VIM阳性.结论:胶原酶法能有效从早孕蜕膜组织中分离出子宫内膜间质干细胞,且子宫内膜间质干细胞能向子宫内膜上皮细胞分化.     

Identification of Na-Ca exchange current in single cardiac myocytes

In cardiac muscle the exchange of intracellular Ca2+ for extracellular Na+ is an important transport mechanism for regulation of the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration [( Ca]i) and hence the contractile strength of the heart. Due to its stoichiometry of greater than or equal to 3:1 Na+/Ca2+ (refs 3,5), Na-Ca exchange is supposed to generate a current across the cell membrane. It is thought that such a current may contribute to cardiac action potential and physiological or pathological pacemaker activity. Although the occurrence of Na-Ca exchange is well documented, a membrane current generated by this transport has not been identified unequivocally. Previous attempts to detect such a current in multicellular preparations, for example, by measuring small current differences after varying the extracellular ionic composition, although providing evidence, did not rule out other possible interpretations. Here we demonstrate that a transient rise in [Ca]i caused by release of Ca from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) generates a membrane current in cardiac myocytes. The dependence of this current on the transmembrane gradients for Na+ and Ca2+ and on membrane potential meets the criteria for a current produced by electrogenic Na-Ca exchange. Cyclic activation of this current by release of Ca from the SR can cause maintained spontaneous activity, suggesting that Na-Ca exchange contributes to certain forms of cardiac pacemaking.     

Differentiating germ cells can revert into functional stem cells in Drosophila melanogaster ovaries

Many tissues including blood, skin, gut and germ cells are continuously maintained by tissue stem cells. Under certain conditions, however, other organs can undergo repair using stem-cell-like progenitors generated by cell de-differentiation. Cell fates have been broadened experimentally, but mechanisms allowing de-differentiation to a stem cell state are poorly known. Germline stem cells begin to differentiate by forming interconnected germ cell cysts (cystocytes), and under certain conditions male mouse cystocytes have been postulated to revert into functional progenitors. Here we report that four- and eight-cell Drosophila germline cystocytes generated either in second instar larval ovaries or in adults over-producing the BMP4-like stem cell signal Decapentaplegic efficiently convert into single stem-like cells. These de-differentiated cells can develop into functional germline stem cells and support normal fertility. Our results show that cystocytes represent a relatively abundant source of regenerative precursors that might help replenish germ cells after depletion by genotoxic chemicals, radiation or normal ageing. More generally, Drosophila cystocytes now provide a system for studying de-differentiation and its potential as a source of functional stem cells.     

Selective responses of visual cortical cells do not depend on shunting inhibition

Theoretical analyses of the electrical behaviour of the highly branched processes of nerve cells has focused attention on the possibility that single cells perform complex logical operations rather than simply summing their synaptic inputs. In particular, it has been suggested that the orientation and direction selectivity of cells in the visual cortex results from the action of a nonlinear 'shunting' inhibition that emulates an AND-NOT logical operation. The characteristic biophysical feature of this proposed inhibitory mechanism is that it evokes a large and relatively sustained increase in the conductance of the neuronal membrane while leaving the membrane potential unaffected. This shunting mechanism contrasts with linear 'summative' inhibition in which conductance changes are less prominent, and inhibition is achieved by hyperpolarization of the membrane potential. In a direct experimental test of the hypothesis that the selectivity of visual cortical neurons depends on shunting inhibition we found no evidence for the large conductance changes predicted by the theory.     

Using induced pluripotent stem cells to investigate cardiac phenotypes in Timothy syndrome

Individuals with congenital or acquired prolongation of the QT interval, or long QT syndrome (LQTS), are at risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. LQTS is commonly genetic in origin but can also be caused or exacerbated by environmental factors. A missense mutation in the L-type calcium channel Ca(V)1.2 leads to LQTS in patients with Timothy syndrome. To explore the effect of the Timothy syndrome mutation on the electrical activity and contraction of human cardiomyocytes, we reprogrammed human skin cells from Timothy syndrome patients to generate induced pluripotent stem cells, and differentiated these cells into cardiomyocytes. Electrophysiological recording and calcium (Ca(2+)) imaging studies of these cells revealed irregular contraction, excess Ca(2+) influx, prolonged action potentials, irregular electrical activity and abnormal calcium transients in ventricular-like cells. We found that roscovitine, a compound that increases the voltage-dependent inactivation of Ca(V)1.2 (refs 6-8), restored the electrical and Ca(2+) signalling properties of cardiomyocytes from Timothy syndrome patients. This study provides new opportunities for studying the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias in humans, and provides a robust assay for developing new drugs to treat these diseases.     

In vitro differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells into endothelial-like cells

The neovascularization of ischemic tissue is a crucial initial step for the functional rehabilitation and wound healing. However, there is lack of a potential source of cells for the foundation of a vascular network. The re- cent studies indicate that hum…     

Chloride conductance regulated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in cardiac myocytes

In heart cells, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) regulates calcium- and potassium-ion current by phosphorylating the ion channels or closely associated regulatory proteins. We report here that isoprenaline induced large chloride-ion currents in voltage-clamped, internally-dialysed myocytes from guinea-pig ventricles. The Cl- current could be activated by intracellular dialysis with cAMP or the catalytic subunit of PKA, indicating regulation by phosphorylation. In approximately symmetrical solutions of high Cl- concentration, the macroscopic cardiac Cl- current showed little rectification, unlike the single-channel current in PKA-regulated Cl- channels of airway epithelial cells. But, like epithelial Cl- -channel currents, the cardiac Cl- current was sensitive to the distilbene,4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DNDS). In the absence of kinase activation, cardiac sarcolemmal Cl- conductance was negligible. During beta-adrenergic stimulation of the heart, this novel Cl- conductance should accelerate action-potential repolarization and so protect impulse propagation in the face of the possibly arrhythmogenic increases in heart rate and in calcium entry into the cells.     

Small G proteins are expressed ubiquitously in lymphoid cells and do not correspond to Bcl-2

The bcl-2 gene is consistently associated with t(14; 18) chromosomal translocations observed in a large fraction of human B-cell lymphomas. The t(14; 18) translocation results in deregulated expression of the bcl-2 gene and synthesis of inappropriately high levels of the Bcl-2 protein. Gene transfer studies suggest a role for Bcl-2 in cell survival, growth enhancement and oncogenic transformation. To test the suggestion that GTP-binding by Bcl-2 may mediate its biological effects we characterized the GTP-binding proteins in lymphoid cells expressing Bcl-2. Expression of several small GTP-binding proteins was found to be ubiquitous and did not vary with levels of Bcl-2. By using immunological, electrophoretic and cell-fractionation techniques, we separated Bcl-2 from G proteins of small relative molecular mass (Mr) and showed that it is incapable of binding GTP. Our results show that small Mr G proteins are widely expressed in lymphoid cells and that Bcl-2 is not a novel member of this GTP-binding protein family.     

胚胎干细胞向心肌细胞分化研究进展(综述)

胚胎干细胞(embryonic stem cells,ES)在体外分化培养条件下可以分化出各种组织细胞，其中包括心肌细胞。ES细胞在体外向心肌细胞分化与体内完整胚胎心肌发育过程相符合。该细胞在体外分化过程中顺序表达心肌细胞特有结构蛋白和离子通道，如肌球蛋白轻链和重链、特异性肌动蛋白、电压依赖性Ca^2 通道、K^ 通道等。ES细胞分化来源的心肌细胞具有体内心肌细胞的生理学特点，如产生的动作电位、表现自发性收缩等。因此，ES细胞是研究心肌细胞发育分化机制及鉴定其关键基因的理想模型。