Immolina, a high-molecular-weight polysaccharide fraction of Spirulina, enhances chemokine expression in human monocytic THP-1 cells.

Introduction: Spirulina (Spirulina platensis) is a dietary supplement valued for its immune-enhancing properties. We previously reported that the immunostimulatory effect of spirulina can be traced to a high-molecular- weight polysaccharide fraction. This fraction, labeled Immolina, activates nuclear factor kappa-B in human monocytic THP-1 cells and increases expression of proinflammatory cytokines.

Nickel and vanadium metal ions induce apoptosis of T-lymphocyte Jurkat cells.

Metal alloys are used as prosthetic components in the orthopaedic and dental field. However, there is growing concern over the reported leaching of metal ions from implants. Ions released from metals have been thought to be associated with local immune dysfunction, inflammation, and tissue cell death.

Ginger extract components suppress induction of chemokine expression in human synoviocytes.

Introduction: Ginger has a long history of medicinal use, particularly as an anti-inflammatory agent for a wide variety of diseases such as arthritis. Suppression of inflammation in arthritis is attributed to suppression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines produced by synoviocytes, chondrocytes, and leukocytes.

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the effect of a combination ginger extract and its individual components on chemokine expression in human synoviocytes.

Ginger extract inhibits beta-amyloid peptide-induced cytokine and chemokine expression in cultured THP-1 monocytes.

Introduction: Neuritic plaques, a neuropathologic hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, are extracellular deposits of beta-amyloid peptides (Abeta). In the central nervous system neuritic plaques are surrounded by activated microglial cells expressing proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and neurotoxic mediators. Long-term activation of microglial cells is suspected to contribute to the neuron loss in Alzheimer's disease.

Cyclic strain stimulates proliferative capacity, alpha2 and alpha5 integrin, gene marker expression by human articular chondrocytes propagated on flexible silicone membranes.

Chondrocytes comprise less than 10% of cartilage tissue but are responsible for sensing and responding to mechanical stimuli imposed on the joint. However, the effect of mechanical signals at the cellular level is not yet fully defined. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that mechanical stimulation in the form of cyclic strain modulates proliferative capacity and integrin expression of chondrocytes from osteoarthritic knee joints.

An in vitro screening assay for inhibitors of proinflammatory mediators in herbal extracts using human synoviocyte cultures.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and prostaglandin (PG)E-2 play a critical role in the pathophysiology of arthritis. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha mediates induction of other cytokines, COX-2, PGs, and metalloproteinases, which leads to cartilage degradation. We developed an in vitro human synoviocyte assay system for screening inhibitors of proinflammatory mediators in herbal extracts.

Induction of osteoblast aggregation, detachment, and altered integrin expression by bear serum.

Animal models have long been used to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for osteoporosis in humans. The American black bear, an animal that does not experience extensive bone loss normally associated with long-term immobilization (when hibernating), may provide an insight into the nature of the pathogenesis of the disease. Circulating growth and differentiation factors present in the serum may facilitate continued proliferation of bone-forming cells.

Propagation of human nasal chondrocytes in microcarrier spinner culture.

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of nasal septal chondrocytes, propagated in microcarrier spinner culture, as an alternative tissue source of chondrocytic cells for cartilage grafts for head and neck surgery and for articular cartilage repair.

Methods: We harvested chondrocytes from 159 patients, ranging in age from 15 to 80 years and undergoing repair of a deviated nasal septum, and propagated the cells in a microcarrier spinner culture system. The nasal chondrocytes proliferated and produced extracellular matrix components similar to that produced by articular chondrocytes.

Evaluation of thermoreversible polymers containing fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF-9) for chondrocyte culture.

We previously evaluated a thermoreversible polymer gel composed of N-isopropylacrylamide and acrylic acid as a cell culture substrate and cell-delivery vehicle. The copolymer promoted phenotype expression and amplification of chondrocytes. In this study, we determined whether addition of fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF-9), which is mitogenic for chondrocytes, would further enhance cell proliferation and phenotype expression in the polymer.

Thermally reversible polymer gel for chondrocyte culture.

We have evaluated a biomaterial to serve as a scaffold for the propagation and amplification of chondrocytes that promotes the original cellular phenotype of these cells. The goal of the present study was to investigate the use of thermally reversible polymer gels poly(NiPAAm-co-AAc), as a biocompatible supporting scaffold for the propagation of chondrocytic cells. The polymer gels at temperatures above its lower critical solution temperature whereas liquefying at temperatures below its lower critical solution temperature of 34.

Collagen microcarrier spinner culture promotes osteoblast proliferation and synthesis of matrix proteins.

In vitro propagation of osteoblasts in three-dimensional culture has been explored as a means of cell line expansion and tissue engineering purposes. Studies investigating optimal culture conditions are being conducted to produce bone-like material. This study demonstrates the use of collagen microcarrier beads as a substrate for three-dimensional cell culture.

The effect of silica-containing calcium-phosphate particles on human osteoblasts in vitro.

There is an ongoing need for more effective and less costly bone substitutes. It has previously been proposed that silica-containing bioactive glass would be more effective as a bone repair material because of its physiochemical properties. Three newly synthesized silica-containing bioactive glass formulations, HA-31 (25%), HA-11 (50%), and HA-13 (75%), were tested as biocompatible substrates for the continued proliferation and phenotype expression of human bone cells in vitro.

Enhancement of osteoblast proliferative capacity by growth factor-like molecules in bear serum.

The use of animal serum in cell culture is vital for providing the nutrient factors required to promote proliferation and function. Fetal calf serum has become the preferred choice because of its abundance, reasonable cost, and ability to sustain human cells in vitro. Although a wide variety of serum sources have been tested and used, little is known about the ability of serum obtained from the American black bear (Ursus americanus) to support human cell growth in culture.