Calcium Cl/OH-apatite,Cl/OH-apatite/Al2O3 and Ca3(PO4)2 fibre nonwovens: Potential ceramic components for osteosynthesis

Polycrystalline calcium phosphate ((Cl/OH)Ap = Ca₅(PO₄)₃(OH/Cl); TCP = Ca₃(PO₄)₂) fibres were prepared from aqueous solutions of calcium chloride and phosphoric acid using poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as spinning aid. Generation of nonwoven materials was accomplished via rotary jet spinning. Polycrystalline (Cl/OH)Ap fibres 10–25 μm in diameter were obtained with 37% ceramic yield by pyrolysis of the green fibres followed by sintering at 1150 °C in air. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis provided evidence for apatite formation starting at 650 °C while (Cl/OH)Ap ceramic fibres were obtained at 1100 °C via transformation through intermediate dicalcium dichloride hydrogen phosphate (Ca₂Cl₂(HPO₄)) and calcium pyrophosphate (Ca₂P₂O₇) phases. A glass-forming Al-based additive was applied to enhance the mechanical properties of the Cl/OH)Ap ceramic fibres and indeed resulted in the formation of (Cl/OH)Ap/Al₂O₃ fibres with improved mechanical stability. Finally, TCP, (Cl/OH)Ap and (Cl/OH)Ap/Al₂O₃ fibres were subjected to seeding with mesenchymal stem cells. Negligible cytotoxicity is observed.     

Stimulations of strontium-doped calcium polyphosphate for bone tissue engineering to protein secretion and mRNA expression of the angiogenic growth factors from endothelial cells in vitro

The vascularization of tissue-engineered bone is the key problem needed solving before application of tissue-engineered bone in clinical practice. Meanwhile, endothelial cells are the major and important source of seed cells in bone tissue engineering, and significant on promoting vascularization in tissue-engineered bone. Vascularization (namely angiogenesis) is a process mainly controlled by several angiogenic growth factors (VEGF, bFGF and MMP-2) which can be secreted by endothelial cells. Therefore, the research on the stimulations of SCPP to the secretion of the angiogenic growth factors from endothelial cells is very important. This study was performed to determine the ability of strontium-doped calcium polyphosphate (SCPP) to induce angiogenesis by detecting the protein secretion levels and mRNA expression of VEGF, bFGF and MMP-2 from cultured endothelial cells. As a control, we also researched the effect of HA on the mRNA expressions and protein secretion of angiogenic growth factors from cultured endothelial cells. We cultured endothelial cells with SCPP scaffolds containing various concentration of strontium and HA. The results obtained in the MTT and SEM tests indicated that endothelial cells on SCPP scaffold exhibited higher proliferation rate and were easy to get a good spread than them on CPP, the best state of growth and proliferation of cells could be observed on 8%SCPP. The results of ELISA demonstrated that the protein levels of VEGF, bFGF and MMP-2 from cultured endothelial cells increased with the increasing Sr doped in calcium polyphosphate in SCPP groups, the peaks appeared on 8%SCPP. All SCPP groups showed a better ability to stimulate the protein secretion of VEGF, bFGF and MMP-2 from endothelial cells relative to CPP group and HA group. The results of RT-PCR suggested that the 8%SCPP group exhibited a significantly higher mRNA expression of VEGF, bFGF and MMP-2 relative to CPP group and HA group. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrated that 8%SCPP had obvious promotion for secretion and mRNA expression of angiogenic growth factors from cultured endothelial cells.     

胶原三维多孔基质常用交联方法

胶原三维多孔基质在组织工程中有广泛应用,但是其降解速率快、机械性能较差,通过交联可以改善其性能。常用的有物理和化学交联方法,物理交联包括热交联、紫外交联、γ射线交联等,化学交联包括使用醛类、碳二亚胺等化学交联剂及京尼平、原花青素等天然交联剂,多种交联方式联用可有效提高交联效果。     

人参皂苷诱导骨髓间充质干细胞对急性肝功能衰竭大鼠肝组织再生及Wnt/β-catenin信号表达的影响

目的:分析人参皂苷诱导骨髓间充质干细胞（BMSC）对急性肝功能衰竭（ALF）大鼠肝组织再生及Wnt/β-catenin信号表达的影响。方法:选取SPF级Wistar雄性大鼠66只,其中1只行BMSCs培养,随机选取50只大鼠制备ALF模型,24 h后随机选取其中5只断颈处死,依据大鼠肝功能与组织病理学判别其是否成功造模。剩余15只大鼠将等剂量0.9%氯化钠溶液腹腔注入,作为正常组。成功造模的45只大鼠随机分成3组,分别为BMSCs组、模型组及人参皂苷诱导BMSCs组,每组各15只。造模后6 h,模型组和正常组大鼠由尾静脉注入1 mL细胞培养液,BMSCs组注入1 mL BMSCs悬液（细胞浓度2.0×109/L）,人参皂苷诱导BMSCs组注入1 mL人参皂苷诱导分化BMSCs悬液（细胞浓度2.0×109/L）,连续给药10 d。观察大鼠肝脏组织病理状况,血清总胆红素（TBil） 、AST、ALT、TNF-α、IL-6含量,肝组织内Wnt7b、Wnt7a及Wnt2基因表达。结果:正常组大鼠肝细胞无坏死、变性,整齐排列,肝小叶结构清晰,汇管区内没有炎性细胞浸润;模型组大鼠肝细胞表征为广泛坏死,肝小叶内全部肝细胞溶解坏死,网状的支架发生塌陷,汇管区和周边存在大量粒细胞、单核细胞与淋巴细胞的浸润,残余肝细胞变性、肿胀且伴随胆汁淤积;BMSCs组及人参皂苷诱导BMSCs组大鼠肝小叶结构趋向完整,肝细胞坏死、变性数量减少,汇管区内有少许炎性细胞浸润,人参皂苷诱导BMSCs组又优于BMSCs组。和正常组相比,模型组大鼠血清TBil、AST、ALT、IL-6及TNF-α含量上升;和模型组相比,BMSCs组、人参皂苷诱导BMSCs组大鼠血清TBil、AST、ALT、IL-6及TNF-α含量降低;和BMSCs组相比,人参皂苷诱导BMSCs组大鼠血清TBil、AST、ALT、IL-6及TNF-α含量降低,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。和正常组相比,模型组大鼠肝组织内Wnt7b、Wnt7a、Wnt2 mRNA相对表达量降低;和模型组相比,BMSCs组、人参皂苷诱导BMSCs组大鼠肝组织内Wnt7b、Wnt7a、Wnt2 mRNA相对表达量升高;和BMSCs组相比,人参皂苷诱导BMSCs组大鼠肝组织内Wnt7b、Wnt7a、Wnt2 mRNA相对表达量升高,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论:人参皂苷诱导BMSCs可显著改善ALF大鼠肝功能,其作用机制可能为激活Wnt/β-catenin信号通路加速肝脏再生。     

Importance of Kupffer Cells in the Development of Acute Liver Injuries in Mice

Kupffer cells reside within the liver sinusoid and serve as gatekeepers. They produce pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and other biologically important molecules upon the engagement of pattern recognition receptors such as Toll-like receptors. Kupffer cell-ablated mice established by in vivo treatment with clodronate liposomes have revealed many important features of Kupffer cells. In this paper, we review the importance of Kupffer cells in murine acute liver injuries and focus on the following two models: lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury, which is induced by priming with Propionibacterium acnes and subsequent challenge with LPS, and hypercoagulability-mediated acute liver failure such as that in concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatitis. Kupffer cells are required for LPS sensitization induced by P. acnes and are a major cellular source of interleukin-18, which induces acute liver injury following LPS challenge. Kupffer cells contribute to Con A-induced acute liver failure by initiating pathogenic, intrasinusoidal thrombosis in collaboration with sinusoidal endothelial cells. The mechanisms underlying these models may shed light on human liver injuries induced by various etiologies such as viral infection and/or abnormal metabolism.     

Clinical Evaluation of Extracellular ADMA Concentrations in Human Blood and Adipose Tissue

Circulating asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, has been proposed as a biomarker for clinical outcome. Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) is the main enzyme responsible for ADMA metabolism and elimination. Adipose tissue ADMA concentrations and DDAH activity and their role in diabetes and obesity have not yet been investigated. In this study, we evaluated clinical microdialysis in combination with a sensitive analytical method (GC-MS/MS) to measure ADMA concentrations in extracellular fluid. Adipose tissue ADMA concentrations were assessed before and during an oral glucose tolerance test in lean healthy subjects and subjects with diabetes (n = 4 each), and in morbidly obese subjects before and after weight loss of 30 kg (n = 7). DDAH activity was determined in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue obtained during laparoscopic surgery (n = 5 paired samples). Mean interstitial ADMA concentrations did not differ between study populations (healthy 0.17 ± 0.03 μM; diabetic 0.21 ± 0.03 μM; morbidly obese 0.16 ± 0.01 and 0.17 ± 0.01 μM before and after weight loss, respectively). We did not observe any response of interstitial ADMA concentrations to the oral glucose challenge. Adipose tissue DDAH activity was negligible compared to liver tissue. Thus, adipose tissue ADMA plays a minor role in NO-dependent regulation of adipose tissue blood flow and metabolism.     

慢性酒精中毒性疾病与泛素-蛋白酶体途径异常调节的研究简

泛素-蛋白酶体途径是细胞内蛋白质降解的主要途径,在多种细胞生命过程中发挥重要作用。目前研究证实慢性酒精中毒可导致泛素-蛋白酶体途径异常调节,主要涉及蛋白酶体活性、泛素分子合成以及相关蛋白分子表达改变等,并且与一些慢性酒精中毒性疾病的发生有关,包括酒精中毒性肝病、酒精中毒性脑病和酒精中毒性肌病。这些发现为进一步揭示酒精诱导损伤的分子机制以及研发治疗慢性酒精中毒性疾病的新型药物提供了重要的研究方向。     

Electrospun poly(aspartic acid) gel scaffolds for artificial extracellular matrix

Biocompatible synthetic polymer gel scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine were prepared by reactive electrospinning. Protein‐like nano‐ and microfibres from chemically crosslinked polysuccinimide were obtained. Fibrous poly(aspartic acid) gels with size similar to that of extracellular matrix were obtained by hydrolysis of the polysuccinimide gel fibres. The effects of process parameters on fibre morphology (diameter, swelling degree) and chemical structure were investigated. Sub‐micrometre‐sized biocompatible fibrous scaffolds from a poly(amino acid) is a novel approach with great promise in several biomedical applications due to the tailor‐made synthetic nature, extreme purity and possibility of production on a large scale. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry