The expression of Nesprin-1 increased in aortic dissection: why?

Background: To detect the expression of Nesprin-1 in aortic dissection (AD) in patients and to investigate the role of Nesprin-1 in the pathogenesis of AD in a mouse model.

Methods: Blood and tissue specimens from AD patients were collected. The expression of Nesprin-1 in tissues from AD patients and non-AD patients with heart disease was studied by western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Mesenchymal stem cells were affected by up-regulation of miRNA-21 in vitro.

Background: The expression of miRNA-21 was high in cells that were derived from MSCs, but, the role of miRNA-21in the MSCs was unknown.

Material/methods: In this study, flow cytometry, which was used to identify the surface-associated antigens of MSCs. The 10 μmol/l 5-azacytidine was used to induce MSCs to differentiate to cardiomyocyte-like cells.