Isolation of human epidermal stem cells by adherence and the reconstruction of skin equivalents

The isolation of human epidermal stem cells is critical for their clinical applications. In the present study, we isolated three populations of epidermal keratinocytes according to their ability to adhere to collagen type IV: i.e., rapidly adhering (RA), slowly adhering (SA), and non-adhering (NA) cells. The aim of this study was to characterize RA cells and to investigate the possibility of using these cells for epidermis reconstruction. To identify RA cells, flow cytometric analysis was performed using anti-₆ integrin and anti-CD71 antibodies. RA cells express high levels of ₆ integrin and low levels of CD71, which are considered as markers of an epidermal stem cell nature. Furthermore, electron microscopy showed that RA cells are small and have a high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, whereas SA and NA cells have well-developed cellular organelles and abundant tonofilaments. Western blot analysis showed that RA cells are slow cycling and express p63, a putative epidermal stem cell marker, whereas SA and NA cells express c-Myc, which is known to regulate stem cell fate. To compare epidermal regenerative abilities, skin equivalents (SEs) were made using RA, SA, and NA cells. The epidermis constructed from RA cells was well formed compared to those formed from SA or NA cells. In addition, only SEs with RA cells expressed ₆ integrin and ₁ integrin at the basal layer. These results indicate that RA cells represent epidermal stem cells and are predominately comprised of stem cells. Therefore, the isolation of RA cells using a simple technique offers a potential route to their clinical application, because they are easily isolated and provide a high yield of epidermal stem cells.Received 2 July 2004; received after revision 20 August 2004; accepted 10 September 2004     

Congenital muscular dystrophy: molecular and cellular aspects

The congenital muscular dystrophies are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of neuromuscular disorders. Each form has a characteristic phenotype, but there is overlap between some entities and their classification is based on a combination of clinical features and the primary or secondary protein defect. Recent studies have identified the genetic basis of a number of congenital muscular dystrophies (11 genes in total) and have recognised a novel pathological mechanism that highlights the importance of the correct posttranslational processing of proteins, in particular -dystroglycan. Diagnosis of these conditions has been aided by the availability of specific antibodies for each protein and a better understanding of the protein changes that accompany each condition. In this review we present the major molecular, clinical and diagnostic aspects of each group of congenital muscular dystrophy with an emphasis in the more recent developments.Received 11 December 2004; accepted 15 December 2004     

Tetraspanins

The first tetraspanins were discovered on surface of human leucocytes, but it was rapidly demonstrated that they had a wider tissue expression. Twenty-six molecules display sufficient homology to belong to the same superfamily. Their function is not precisely known, but data coming from biochemical studies or knockout mice suggest that they play a major role in membrane biology. One of their outstanding properties is their ability to form a network of multimolecular complexes, the 'tetraspanin web', in which integrins are included. The structure of these complexes is under investigation, but some of the rules that govern their organization have already been unraveled. The challenge is to determine how the organization of the 'tetraspanin web' modifies the function of its constitutive molecules and consequently influences cellular behaviour. The implications may be considerable for the understanding of basic cellular processes such as migration and also of diseases related to loss or mutation of a single tetraspanin. Received 29 December 2000; received after revision 26 February 2001; accepted 19 March 2001     

功能化氧化石墨烯的靶向肿瘤成像与光热治疗

整合素α_vβ₃是一种跨膜糖蛋白, 高表达于多种肿瘤细胞表面, 如人恶性胶质瘤(U87-MG). 它能够作为一类肿瘤标志物, 为肿瘤类型的诊断提供依据, 并为肿瘤治疗提供潜在作用靶点. 本文以人恶性胶质瘤细胞(U87-MG)为治疗模型, 利用靶向配体——整合素α_vβ₃单克隆抗体(integrin α_vβ₃ monoclonal antibody), 偶联新型纳米材料——氧化石墨烯(nano-graphene oxide, NGO), 构建成一种新型纳米探针(NGO-mAb-FITC)用于靶向成像及光热治疗. 这种纳米探针具有主动靶向功能, 可识别α_vβ₃阳性表达细胞U87-MG, 但不被α_vβ₃阴性表达的人乳腺癌细胞(MCF-7)摄取. 通过异硫氰酸荧光素(FITC)共价修饰靶向配体, 使纳米探针(NGO-mAb-FITC)获得对肿瘤细胞的靶向成像作用. 同时, 利用氧化石墨烯在808 nm近红外激光照射下的光热转化性能, 使得特异性摄取NGO-mAb-FITC纳米探针的肿瘤细胞内部产生过高热(hyperthermia), 从而诱导肿瘤细胞热损伤及细胞凋亡. 实验结果表明, NGO-mAb-FITC能有效识别靶细胞, 为肿瘤诊断提供依据, 而利用氧化石墨烯的高光热转换性能, 为肿瘤治疗提供新途径, 并有望成为一种有潜力的新型靶向光热转换探针而用于肿瘤的成像诊断与光热治疗.     

整合素CD29/CD49/CD90在天然性逆转黄鳝雌雄生殖腺中的表达状况

整合素是细胞黏附分子家族中的一员,参与调节细胞的生长、增殖与分化.黄鳝是一种雌性先熟的雌雄同体鱼类,其性逆转发育机制亟待研究.应用免疫组化方法探讨CD29,CD49,CD90 3种整合素分子在黄鳝雌、雄性发育中的表达状况.研究结果表明,CD29,CD49,CD90在雌性生殖腺各级卵母细胞中均不表达,位于生殖褶边缘的性原细胞中可见表达;在雄性生殖腺的初级精原细胞中表达,但在成团分布的次级精原细胞、各级精母细胞中均未表达.     

人整合素β3亚基毕赤酵母表达载体的构建及鉴定

目前研究表明整合素岛亚基是多种病毒的细胞表面受体,然而整合素岛亚基与不同病毒受体结合蛋白VAP相互作用的分子机制还不完全清楚。为此,设计引物,采用RT-PCR方法扩增人岛亚基包膜外区约2．1kb片段,克隆入毕赤酵母表达载体pPIC3．5K中。双酶切鉴定挑取阳性克隆pPIC3．5Kβ3,测序证实目的基因序列正确。将pPIC3．5K-β3,转化毕赤酵母X-程菌GS115,在浓度为3．0mg／mL的G418选择培养基上,筛选出含有多拷贝目的基因的阳性菌株,PCR可扩增出约2．1kb的目的条带。阳性菌株经1％甲醇诱导表达,Western—blot可在酵母菌体中检测到约80kDa的目的蛋白条带。上述结果表明,成功构建了人整合素角亚基毕赤酵母表达载体,筛选获得多拷贝阳性菌株并成功表达,为进一步研究人整合素岛在病毒感染中的作用及其单克隆抗体的制备奠定基础。     

人血小板多态性抗原HPA-1a/HPA-1b在CHO细胞中的表达及功能研究

为了在体外研究HPA-1抗原的多态性,同时建立一种更简便灵敏的检测抗HPA-1同种(异型)抗体的方法,将含有HPA-1a和HPA-1b的DNA质粒分别转染CHO细胞(中国仓鼠卵巢细胞)并获得稳定表达β3HPA-1a和β3HPA-1b的细胞株.流式细胞分析结果表明,CHO细胞结合抗HPA-1a同种(异型)抗体的能力与细胞表面β3整合素表达量直接相关.同时,针对HPA-1a表位的单克隆抗体SZ21仅能抑制CHOβ3HPA-1a细胞的粘附,对CHOβ3HPA-1b细胞却没有影响.抗HPA-1a参照血清能阻断CHOβ3HPA-1a细胞的粘附,但对CHOβ3HPA-1b细胞却影响甚微.结果表明,CHO细胞模型可以成功地用来表达并研究HPA-1a的多态性及其抗原特性,同时可以作为用于临床检测抗HPA-1a同种(异型)抗体的一种替代方法.     

Preliminary study on human fibroblasts as feeder layer for human embryonic stem cells culture in vitro

To avoid the direct contact with mouse cells and possible heterogeneous pathogen in future application ,we need to replace mouse embryonic fibroblasts with human fibroblasts as the feeder layer to maintain human embryonic stem cells growth in the undifferentiated state,We Success-fully use human fibroblasts derved from aborted fetus and adult prepuces as feeder layer to maintain human embryonic stem cells growth ,During the passage and growth on this feeder layer,the human embryonic stem cells can keep their undifferentiated state.     

TGFβ-induced protein mediates lymphatic endothelial cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix under low oxygen conditions

TGFbeta-induced protein (TGFBI) is an extracellular protein that mediates cell adhesion to collagen, laminin and fibronectin through its interaction with different beta integrins. We had previously reported that hypoxia-induced TGFBI mRNA expression in lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC). Here, we demonstrate that TGFBI can contribute to hypoxia-induced increases in LEC adhesion to the ECM. We show that while there are no changes in alpha1, alpha4, alphav, beta1, beta2, beta3, alpha5beta1, alphavbeta3, alphavbeta5 integrin expression on the LEC surface after hypoxia exposure, there exists an accumulation of TGFBI adaptor protein in LEC supernatants. We also demonstrate that hypoxia driven TGBFI expression is dependent on TGFbeta production by LEC. Furthermore, we show that TGFBI mediated LEC adhesion and migration through the ECM by its binding to the beta3 integrin. The identification of the specific mechanisms regulating LEC-ECM interactions may help us design new therapeutic applications for diseases in which lymphatic vessel function is compromised.     

Matrix metalloproteinase 19 processes the laminin 5 gamma 2 chain and induces epithelial cell migration

In this study we analyzed the proteolytic activity of MMP-19 and its impact on keratinocyte migration. In the HaCaT keratinocyte cell line overexpressing wild-type MMP-19 (HaCaT-WT), transmigration through fibrin and type IV collagen matrices was significantly increased compared to cells harboring a catalytically inactive mutant (HaCaT-EA). Studying the expression of MMP-19 in early stages of squamous cell cancer (SCC), we found co-localization of MMP-19 and laminin 5 at the invading tumor front but not in suprabasal epidermis of the tumor. Examination of laminin 5 processing revealed increased processing of the 2 chain in the medium and matrix of HaCaT-WT cells and degradation by recombinant human MMP-19 to 105-kDa and 80-kDa fragments. Parental HaCaT grown on the matrix of HaCaT-WT and HaCaT-EA cells displayed differential tyrosine phosphorylation. Using integrin blocking and stimulating antibodies we could attribute these differences to a shift from 4-integrin-dependent signaling on the HaCaT-EA matrix toward 3-integrin-dependent signaling on the HaCaT-WT matrix. As a consequence, parental HaCaT showed increased migration on the matrix of HaCaT-WT cells. These data suggest that the MMP-19-dependent processing of the 2 chains leads to the integrin switch favoring epithelial migration and that MMP-19 actively participates in the early stages of SCC invasion.Received 29 October 2004; received after revision 7 December 2004; accepted 17 January 2005