Multilayer scaffold of electrospun PLA-PCL-collagen nanofibers as a dural substitute.

Dural closure after the neurosurgery can prevent postoperative complications. Although many types of dural substitute have been developed, most of them lack functional and structural characteristics compared with the natural dura mater. In this study, we used electrospinning method to fabricate a multilayer scaffold to promote dural repair.

Piezoelectric PU/PVDF electrospun scaffolds for wound healing applications.

Previous studies have shown that piezoelectric materials may be used to prepare bioactive electrically charged surfaces. In the current study, polyurethane/polyvinylidene fluoride (PU/PVDF) scaffolds were prepared by electrospinning. The mechanical property and piezoelectric property of the scaffolds were evaluated.

MicroRNA-145 regulates chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells by targeting Sox9.

Chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is accurately regulated by essential transcription factors and signaling cascades. However, the precise mechanisms involved in this process still remain to be defined. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate various biological processes by binding target mRNA to attenuate protein synthesis.

The microRNA expression profiles of mouse mesenchymal stem cell during chondrogenic differentiation.

MicroRNAs are potential key regulators in mesenchymal stem cells chondrogenic differentiation. However, there were few reports about the accurate effects of miRNAs on chondrogenic differentiation. To investigate the mechanisms of miRNAs-mediated regulation during the process, we performed miRNAs microarray in MSCs at four different stages of TGF-β3-induced chondrogenic differentiation.

Liver X receptor agonist treatment promotes the migration of granule neurons during cerebellar development.

Liver X receptor α (LXRα) and β (LXRβ) are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors, and expressed in the CNS. We have previously demonstrated that LXRβ is essential for migration of later-born neurons during cerebral cortex development, although the underlying mechanism is not clear. The cerebellum is organized in an exquisitely foliated structure with a simple layered cytoarchitecture and considered to be a good model to study morphogenesis of lamination and neuronal migration.

Upregulation of endogenous HMOX1 expression by a computer-designed artificial transcription factor.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is well known as a cytoprotective factor. Research has revealed that it is a promising therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases. In the current study, an HMOX1 (HO-1 gene) enhancer-specific artificial zinc-finger protein (AZP) was designed using bioinformatical methods.

The promotion of endothelial progenitor cells recruitment by nerve growth factors in tissue-engineered blood vessels.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) mobilization and homing are critical to the development of an anti-thrombosis and anti-stenosis tissue-engineered blood vessel. The growth and activation of blood vessels are supported by nerves. We investigated whether nerve growth factors (NGF) can promote EPCs mobilization and endothelialization of tissue-engineered blood vessels.

Bone regeneration using an acellular extracellular matrix and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells expressing Cbfa1.

To treat bone defects, tissue-engineering methods combine an appropriate scaffold with cells and osteogenic signals to stimulate bone repair. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from adult bone marrow are an ideal source of cells for tissue engineering, in particular for applications in skeletal and hard tissue repair. Core binding factor alpha1 (Cbfa1) is an essential transcription factor for osteoblast differentiation.

A20 overexpression inhibits low shear flow-induced CD14-positive monocyte recruitment to endothelial cells.

Objective: To determine if A20, a zinc finger protein that mediates the inflammatory response, affects monocyte-endothelial cell-cell interactions induced by low shear flow.

Methods: Primary cultured endothelial cells (EC) were transfected with an A20 expression vector, and the VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and IL-8 mRNA, and protein expression levels in A20-transfected EC lysates were checked by PCR array and ELISA, respectively. CD14-positive monocyte migration toward and adhesion to EC were measured using a parallel plate flow chamber.

Stereoscopic study on capillary density of early brain oedema in a dog postburn model.

Background: After severe burn, the effective circulating blood volume decreases drastically due to massive body fluid loss, and blood redistribution occurs to maintain sufficient blood supply to vital organs. Blood perfusion of brain tissue changes and the permeability of the blood brain barrier increases due to ischaemia and hypoxia, which results in brain oedema. The goal of this study was to explore the changes of cerebral blood flow during the brain oedema at the early stage of severe burn.

[Engineering and expression of sequence-specific DNA-binding zinc finger protein].

This experiment was aimed to create A20 gene site-specific zinc finger DNA-binding protein. The sequence of A20 gene promoter was analyzed with bioinformatics means and submitted to ZF Tools Server at TSRI. Using the database of the web site, we determined the A20 gene valid target sites and designed the amino acid sequence of zinc finger protein predicted to be bound to the target site.

Development of anti-atherosclerotic tissue-engineered blood vessel by A20-regulated endothelial progenitor cells seeding decellularized vascular matrix.

To investigate whether decellularized vascular tissues and A20-regulated endothelial progenitor cells can be used for constructing a transgenic tissue-engineered blood vessel with anti-atherosclerotic vascular stenotic properties. A20 gene-transfected endothelial progenitor cells differentiated endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells attached to and migrated into the decellularized porcine vascular scaffolding in a bioreactor. The histology of the conduits revealed viable and layered tissue.

Design of a zinc finger protein binding a sequence upstream of the A20 gene.

Background: Artificial transcription factors (ATFs) are composed of DNA-binding and functional domains. These domains can be fused together to create proteins that can bind a chosen DNA sequence. To construct a valid ATF, it is necessary to design suitable DNA-binding and functional domains.

[Study on the biomechanical behavior of human intestine].

To investigate the biomechanical behavior of human intestines. The tensile test human intestine was performed with the electronic tension machine in this paper. The results indicate that the exponential relationship for the stress-strain of the human intestine was obtained, and the exponential coefficient a of each segment of the intestine is almost the same although the constant C is different.

[Triplex-forming oligonucleotide inhibits the expression of tissue factor gene in endothelial cells induced by the blood flow shear stress in rats].

Aim: To study the effect of antiparallel phosphorothioate triplex-forming oligonucleotide (apsTFO) matching with the shear stress response element (SSRE) of tissue factor (TF) gene promoter region on the expression of TF in endothelial cells (ECs) of rat common carotid artery stenosis.

Methods: The model of common carotid artery middle segment stenosis was established by silica gel pipe loop ligation in SD rats. The mRNA expression and protein synthesis of TF, early growth response-1 (Egr-1) and specificity protein 1 (Sp1) were measured by in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) technique.

[Antigen measurement and biomechanical characteristics of the inbred-line Banna mini-pig acellular bone matrix].

In this study, we prepared the acellular bone matrix of the inbred-line Banna mini-pig by using tissue engineering method and evaluated its possible application in bone tissue engineering. Histological analysis, xenoantigen expression and biomechanical measurement were performed on the matrix. HE staining and scanning electron microscopy showed the cellular components were almost removed.

[Core-binding factor alpha1 gene modified marrow mesenchymal stem cells for repairing radial defects].

Objective: To study the feasibility of core-binding factor alpha1 (Cbfal) gene modified marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) composed with porcine acellular bone extracellular matrix in repairing the radial defects.

Methods: Radial defects of 1.2 cm in length were created in 40 Japanese white rabbits and they were divided into four groups.

[Effect of core-binding factor alpha1 on the expression of osteoblast gene marker mesenchymal stem cells].

Objective: To study the effect of core-binding factor alpha1 (Cbfa1) on the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) osteoblastic differentiation.

Methods: The MSCs were isolated from Japan white rabbits and cultured in vitro. The 3rd generation MSCs were infected with Cbfa1 recombinant adenovirus.

[Study of human smooth muscle cells seeding in biologic blood vessel matrix].

To explore the human smooth muscle cells seeding in blood vessel of minor pig after trypsin treatment and provide data for xenotransplantation and for using pig vessel in tissue engineering. HE and silver stain were used for checking the smooth muscle cells seeding in acellular blood vessel. The results showed that the smooth muscle cells seeding succeeded and the smooth muscle cells were in normal morphological distribution.

[Overexpression of TGFbeta1 increases ECM expression and adhesion of endothelial cells on matrix].

This study was aimed to examine the effectiveness of a gene transfer of human TGFbeta1 gene into endothelial cells and to determine whether TGFbeta1 increases ECM expression of endothelial cells. With the help of DOTAP, endothelial cells were transfected with pMAMneoTGFbeta1. The positive cell clones were selected with G418.

Expression of TGF-beta1 in smooth muscle cells regulates endothelial progenitor cells migration and differentiation.

Objective: Endothelial angiogenesis in the intima of the arterial wall is one of key events in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis. The molecular mechanisms by which transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFbeta1) and endothelial progenitor cells may be responsible for angiogenesis of arteriosclerosis lesions are poorly understood.

Materials And Methods: Primary culture smooth muscle cells were transfected with pMAMneoTGFbeta1.

[Polymorphism analysis for DYS19 and DYS287 of three Li populations in Haina Island, China].

The distribution of Y-chromosome specific microsatellite DYS19, in 289 males of three ethnic populations in Hainan Island was studied with the method of PCR followed by denatured polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining. The three ethnic populations are Bendi Li, Qi Li and Ha Li. The results showed that four alleles (190bp, 194bp, 198bp, 202bp designated as alleles B, C, D and E respectively), were observed in DYS19, the frequency ranged from 0.

Necrosis, apoptosis and hybrid death in the cortex and thalamus after barrel cortex ischemia in rats.

Focal ischemia in the cerebral cortex results in acute and delayed cell death in the ischemic cortex and non-ischemic thalamus. We examined the hypothesis that neurons in ischemic and non-ischemic regions died from different mechanisms; specifically, we tested whether a mixed form of cell death containing both necrotic and apoptotic changes could be identified in individual cells. Focal barrel cortex ischemia in rats was induced by occlusion of small branches of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) corresponding to the barrel cortex, local blood flow was measured by quantitative autoradiography.

Low shear stress regulates monocyte adhesion to oxidized lipid-induced endothelial cells via an IkappaBalpha dependent pathway.

In regions of a vessel that experience low shear stress and reversing flow patterns, early features in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis include the accumulation of oxidized LDL (OxLDL) and adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells (EC). Here we investigated the hypothesis that low shear stress (2 dyn/cm2) and OxLDL are synergistic for enhanced expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) and human aortic endothelial cell (HAEC)-monocyte adhesion. This study shows low shear stress can significantly reduce IkappaBalpha levels, activate NF-kappaB, increase the expression of VCAM-1 in HAEC and binding of monocytes.

[Antigen expression and the endothelization of biologic blood vessel matrix].

This study sought to explore the change of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen expression and the endothelization of blood vessel in minor pig after trypsin treatment, and to provide data for xenotransplantation and pig vessel for use in tissue engineering. Western blot assays were conducted for detecting the expression of MHC xenoantigens. Scanning electron microscopy was used for checking the endothelization of decellularized blood vessel.