Notch2-induced COX-2 expression enhancing gastric cancer progression.

Gastric carcinoma is one of the most common and mortal types of malignancy worldwide. To date, the mechanisms controlling its aggressiveness are not yet fully understood. Notch signal pathway can function as either an oncogene or a tumor suppressor in tumorigenesis.

PGC-1α mediates differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to brown adipose cells.

Aim: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a multipotent cell type that can differentiate into non-hematopoietic cells, such as adipocytes. Adipocyte tissue is central to the regulation of energy balance. Two functionally different types of fat are present in mammals.

Docosahexaenoic acid promotes dopaminergic differentiation in induced pluripotent stem cells and inhibits teratoma formation in rats with Parkinson-like pathology.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the midbrain. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have shown potential for differentiation and may become a resource of functional neurons for the treatment of PD. However, teratoma formation is a major concern for transplantation-based therapies.

Induction of insulin-producing cells derived from endometrial mesenchymal stem-like cells.

Studies have demonstrated that mesenchymal stem-like cells can be isolated from endometrium. However, the potential of endometrial-derived stem cells to differentiate into insulin-positive cells and functionally secrete insulin remains undetermined. We isolated endometrial mesenchymal stem-like cells (EMSCs) from human endometrial tissue from six donors.

Resveratrol protects human endothelium from H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress and senescence via SirT1 activation.

Aim: Silencing information regulator (SirT1), a NAD-dependent histone deacetylase, is an essential mediator of longevity in normal cells by calorie restriction. SirT1 has many biological functions, including transcription regulation, cell differentiation inhibition, cell cycle regulation, and anti-apoptosis. Resveratrol (RV)-induced SirT1 activation also improves endothelial dysfunction and suppresses vascular inflammation.

Functional improvement of focal cerebral ischemia injury by subdural transplantation of induced pluripotent stem cells with fibrin glue.

Ischemic stroke is the leading cause of disability in the world. Cell transplantation has emerged in various neurological diseases as a potential therapeutic approach in the postacute stroke phase. Recently, inducible pluripotent stem (iPS) cells showed potential for multilineage differentiation and provide a resource for stem cell-based therapies.

Medulloblastoma-derived tumor stem-like cells acquired resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis and radiosensitivity.

Objects: Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most malignant primary brain tumor in early childhood that contains cellular and functional heterogeneity. Recent evidence has demonstrated that the tumor stem cells (TSC) may explain the radiochemoresistance of brain tumors, including MB. The aim of the present study is to investigate the possible role of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in viability and tumorigenicity of MB cells and MB-derived TSC.

MafA promotes the reprogramming of placenta-derived multipotent stem cells into pancreatic islets-like and insulin+ cells.

MafA is a pancreatic transcriptional factor that controls β-cell-specific transcription of the insulin gene. However, the role of MafA in the regulation of pancreatic transdifferentiation and reprogramming in human stem cells is still unclear. In this study, we investigate the role of MafA in placenta-derived multipotent stem cells (PDMSCs) that constitutively expressed Oct-4 and Nanog.

MicroRNA as a Novel Modulator in Head and Neck Squamous Carcinoma.

MicroRNAs have emerged as important regulators of cell proliferation, development, cancer formation, stress responses, cell death, and other physiological conditions in the past decade. On the other hand, head and neck cancer is one of the top ten most common cancers worldwide. Recent advances in microRNAs have revealed their prominent role in regulating gene expression and provided new aspects of applications in diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies in head and neck squamous carcinoma.

Resveratrol promotes osteogenic differentiation and protects against dexamethasone damage in murine induced pluripotent stem cells.

Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol antioxidant that has been shown to facilitate osteogenic differentiation. A recent breakthrough has demonstrated that ectopic expression of four genes is sufficient to reprogram murine and human fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. However, the roles of resveratrol in the differentiation and cytoprotection of iPS cells have never been studied.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 is a putative marker for cancer stem cells in head and neck squamous cancer.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) has been considered to be a marker for cancer stem cells. However, the role of ALDH1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has yet to be determined. In this study, we isolated ALDH1-positive cells from HNSCC patients and showed that these HNSCC-ALDH1+ cells displayed radioresistance and represented a reservoir for generating tumors.

Evaluation of radiotherapy effect in resveratrol-treated medulloblastoma cancer stem-like cells.

Objectives: Resveratrol (RV), a natural polyphenol derived from red wine, recently showed the potential of anticancer and radiosensitizing effects. A recent study has suggested that the cancer stem cells (CSCs) may reflect the clinical refractory malignancy of brain tumors, including medulloblastoma (MB). The aim of the present study is to investigate the possible role of RV in radiosensitivity of MB cells and MB-associated CSCs.

The autonomous notch signal pathway is activated by baicalin and baicalein but is suppressed by niclosamide in K562 cells.

The Notch signaling pathway plays important roles in a variety of cellular processes. Aberrant transduction of Notch signaling contributes to many diseases and cancers in humans. The Notch receptor intracellular domain, the activated form of Notch receptor, is extremely difficult to detect in normal cells.

Oct-4 expression maintained cancer stem-like properties in lung cancer-derived CD133-positive cells.

CD133 (prominin-1), a 5-transmembrane glycoprotein, has recently been considered to be an important marker that represents the subset population of cancer stem-like cells. Herein we report the isolation of CD133-positive cells (LC-CD133(+)) and CD133-negative cells (LC-CD133(-)) from tissue samples of ten patients with non-small cell lung cancer (LC) and five LC cell lines. LC-CD133(+) displayed higher Oct-4 expressions with the ability to self-renew and may represent a reservoir with proliferative potential for generating lung cancer cells.

Positive correlations of Oct-4 and Nanog in oral cancer stem-like cells and high-grade oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), like many solid tumors, contains a heterogeneous population of cancer cells. Recent data suggest that a rare subpopulation of cancer cells, termed cancer stem cells (CSC), is capable of initiating, maintaining, and expanding the growth of tumor. Identification and characterization of CSC from OSCC facilitates the monitoring, therapy, or prevention of OSCC.

Identification of CD133-positive radioresistant cells in atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor.

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) is an extremely malignant neoplasm in the central nervous system (CNS) which occurs in infancy and childhood. Recent studies suggested that CD133 could be considered a marker for brain cancer stem-like cells (CSCs). However, the role of CD133 in AT/RT has never been investigated.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester preferentially enhanced radiosensitizing and increased oxidative stress in medulloblastoma cell line.

Objectives: Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active component of propolis, was recently reported to have radiosensitizing effects on medulloblastoma (MB) cells. However, the mechanisms of radiosensitivity involved in medulloblastoma cells are still unclear. The specific aim of this study was to investigate the role of CAPE-induced oxidative stress to influence of radiosensitivity and anti-proliferative effects in medulloblastoma cells.

2-Methoxyestradiol attenuates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway-mediated metastasis of gastric cancer.

The major obstacle for the treatment of gastric cancer is recurrence and metastasis; yet, its molecular mechanism is largely unknown. 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME), a metabolite of the estradiol-17beta, has recently been demonstrated to have multifactorial effects against tumor proliferation and angiogenesis; how these effects are interrelated and act cooperatively is the key question to be elucidated. Akt activation was shown to promote cancer cell invasiveness, and inhibition of Akt phosphorylation by 2-ME was also noted.

Culturing adult human bone marrow stem cells on gelatin scaffold with pNIPAAm as transplanted grafts for skin regeneration.

Skin tissue engineering is a possible solution for the treatment of extensive skin defect. The ultimate goal of skin tissue engineering is to restore the complete functions of native skin, but until now the structures and functions of skins are only partially restored. By negative immunoselection (CD45 and glycophorin A), we isolated and cultivated adult human bone marrow stem cells (hBMSCs) that are of multilineage differentiation potential.

Neuroprotection by Imipramine against lipopolysaccharide-induced apoptosis in hippocampus-derived neural stem cells mediated by activation of BDNF and the MAPK pathway.

Depression is accompanied by the activation of the inflammatory-response system, and increased production of proinflammatory cytokines may play a role in the pathophysiology of depressive disorders. Imipramine (IM), a tricyclic antidepressant drug, has recently been shown to promote neurogenesis and improve the survival rate of neurons in the hippocampus. However, whether IM elicits a neuroprotective or anti-inflammatory effect, or promotes the differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) remains to be elucidated.

Enhancement of insulin-producing cell differentiation from embryonic stem cells using pax4-nucleofection method.

Aim: To enhance the differentiation of insulin producing cell (IPC) ability from embryonic stem (ES) cells in vitro.

Methods: Four-day embryoid body (EB)-formatted ES cells were dissociated as single cells for the followed plasmid DNA delivery. The use of Nucleofector electroporator (Amaxa biosystems, Germany) in combination with medium-contained G418 provided a high efficiency of gene delivery for advanced selection.

Placenta-derived multipotent stem cells induced to differentiate into insulin-positive cells.

In the present study, we successfully isolated PDMSCs from human placental tissues. The RT-PCR results show that PDMSCs preserved the genetic characteristics of the primitive embryonic stage--Oct-4 and Nanog. By using serum-free medium supplemented essential growth factors and induction medium culture for 4 weeks, a monolayer of spindle-like PDMSCs gradually formed 3D spheroid bodies (SB-PDMSCs).

Antidepressant administration modulates neural stem cell survival and serotoninergic differentiation through bcl-2.

The hippocampus has long been associated with learning, memory, and modulation of emotional responses. Previous studies demonstrated that stress-induced loss of hippocampal neurons may contribute to the pathogenesis of depression. The recent observations supported that antidepressant drugs increase the production of serotoninergic neurotransmitter and they play a critical role in the initiation of neurogenesis in the hippocampus.

Evaluation of anti-Fas ligand-induced apoptosis and neural differentiation of PC12 cells treated with nerve growth factor using small interfering RNA method and sampling by microdialysis.

The small interfering RNA (siRNA) method is an effective technique for silencing gene expression and is a useful tool for screening the gene functions in drug discovery. Our study found that nerve growth factor (NGF) can increase the cell viability of PC12 cells and that NGF induction up-regulates the expression of Bcl-2 detected by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). To further investigate the role of Bcl-2 expression in NGF-treated PC12 cells, the plasmid of Bcl-2 siRNA was then transfected into PC12 cells.

Pravastatin induces thrombomodulin expression in TNFalpha-treated human aortic endothelial cells by inhibiting Rac1 and Cdc42 translocation and activity.

Expression of functionally active thrombomodulin (TM) on the luminal surface of endothelial cells is critical for vascular thromboresistance. The 3-hydroxyl-3-methyl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, pravastatin, can protect the vasculature in a manner that is independent of its lipid-lowering activity. We examined the effect of pravastatin on TM expression by human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) with subsequent tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) stimulation and investigated the signaling pathways involved.