Improved Tribological Performance of MOF@MXene/PI under High Temperature.

High-temperature-resistant and self-lubricating polymer composites with long life and high reliability are increasingly indispensable in the aerospace field. Herein, ZIF-67 grown on the MXene lamella was successfully prepared, and ZIF-67@MXene/PI composites with a regular layered structure were obtained by a hot-pressing three-dimensional network aerogel. It was revealed that incorporating ZIF-67@MXene into PI dramatically reduced the friction and abrasion with elevated temperatures.

Repair of Retinal Degeneration by Human Amniotic Epithelial Stem Cell-Derived Photoreceptor-like Cells.

The loss of photoreceptors is a major event of retinal degeneration that accounts for most cases of untreatable blindness globally. To date, there are no efficient therapeutic approaches to treat this condition. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether human amniotic epithelial stem cells (hAESCs) could serve as a novel seed cell source of photoreceptors for therapy.

Human Amniotic Epithelial Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells Repair Retinal Degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), featured with dysfunction and loss of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), is lacking efficient therapeutic approaches. According to our previous studies, human amniotic epithelial stem cells (hAESCs) may serve as a potential seed cell source of RPE cells for therapy because they have no ethical concerns, no tumorigenicity, and little immunogenicity. Herein, trichostatin A and nicotinamide can direct hAESCs differentiation into RPE like cells.

3D bioprinting and in vitro study of bilayered membranous construct with human cells-laden alginate/gelatin composite hydrogels.

Extrusion-based 3D bioprinting of cell-laden hydrogels is a potential technology for regenerative medicine, which enables the fabrication of constructs with spatially defined cell distribution. However, the limited assessment of rheological behaviors of hydrogel before printing is still a major issue for the advancement of 3D bioprinting. In this work, we systematically investigated the rheological behaviors (i.

Human amniotic epithelial cell transplantation promotes neurogenesis and ameliorates social deficits in BTBR mice.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interactions and communication and stereotypical patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities. Even with the increased prevalence of ASD, there is no defined standard drug treatment for ASD patients. Currently, stem cells, including human amniotic epithelial cell (hAEC) transplantation, seem to be a promising treatment for ASD, but the effectiveness needs to be verified, and the mechanism has not been clarified.

Therapeutic effect of human amniotic epithelial cells in murine models of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background Aims: The chronic inflammation of autoimmune diseases develops repetitive localized destruction or systemic disorders, represented by Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) respectively. Currently, there are no efficient ways to treat these autoimmune diseases. Therefore, it is critically important to explore new therapeutic strategies.

Subretinal Transplantation of Human Amniotic Epithelial Cells in the Treatment of Autoimmune Uveitis in Rats.

As a featured ocular inflammatory disease, autoimmune uveitis is the major cause of blindness in the clinic. Although current immunosuppressive regimens can alleviate the progression of autoimmune uveitis, they have serious side effects. Therefore, an alternative therapeutic strategy is urgently required.

Δ,2-Hydroxybakuchiol Attenuates Depression in Multiple Rodent Models Possibly by Inhibition of Monoamine Transporters in Brain.

Δ,2-Hydroxybakuchiol is isolated from , which has therapeutic applications in traditional Chinese medicine. Our previous studies have showed that Δ,2-hydroxybakuchiol inhibited the decreased activity of reserpinized mice, suggestive of its antidepressive potential. In this study, we explored the antidepressant profile of Δ,2-hydroxybakuchiol in various rodent models and its possible monoamine-modulating mechanism.

Biological characterization of human amniotic epithelial cells in a serum-free system and their safety evaluation.

Human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs), derived from the innermost layer of the term placenta closest to the fetus, have been shown to be potential seed cells for allogeneic cell therapy. Previous studies have shown a certain therapeutic effect of hAECs. However, no appropriate isolation and culture system for hAECs has been developed for clinical applications.

SPION-mediated miR-141 promotes the differentiation of HuAESCs into dopaminergic neuron-like cells via suppressing lncRNA-HOTAIR.

In this study, a bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay revealed that microRNA-141 could silence the expression of lncRNA-HOTAIR by binding to specific sites on lncRNA-HOTAIR. We used superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) to mediate the high expression of microRNA-141 (SPIONs@miR-141) in human amniotic epithelial stem cells (HuAESCs), which was followed by the induction of the differentiation of HuAESCs into dopaminergic neuron-like cells (iDNLCs). qPCR, western blot, immunofluorescence staining and HPLC all suggested that SPION-mediated overexpression of miR-141 could promote an increased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), DAT and 5-TH in HuAESC-derived iDNLCs.

MicroRNA‑32 silences WWP2 expression to maintain the pluripotency of human amniotic epithelial stem cells and β islet‑like cell differentiation.

Human amniotic epithelial stem cells (HuAECs) exhibit pluripotent characteristics, which are similar to those of embryonic stem cells, and can differentiate into various adult tissues and cells through directed induction. However, in culture, HuAECs tend to lose their pluripotency, and their directed differentiation capability declines with increasing passage number. The stem cell pluripotency factor octamer‑binding protein 4 (Oct4) is an important transcription factor that promotes stem cell self‑proliferation and maintains their pluripotency.

Amniotic fluid-derived stem cells mixed with platelet rich plasma for restoration of rat alveolar bone defect.

Stem cells isolated from the amniotic fluid have been shown as a promising candidate for cell therapy and tissue engineering. However, the experimental and preclinical applications of amniotic fluid-derived stem cells (AFSCs) in the very field of maxillofacial bone tissue engineering are still limited. In this study, rat AFSCs were successfully harvested and characterized in vitro.

Human amniotic epithelial cells inhibit CD4+ T cell activation in acute kidney injury patients by influencing the miR-101-c-Rel-IL-2 pathway.

In the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI), the release of multiple interleukins can lead to increased kidney damage. Human amniotic epithelial cells (HuAECs) can inhibit immune cell activation in vivo and in vitro. We hypothesized that HuAECs could weaken patient-derived peripheral blood CD4+ T-cell activation and decreasing the ability of these cells to express and release IL-2.

Growth hormone treatment of premature ovarian failure in a mouse model via stimulation of the Notch-1 signaling pathway.

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a condition affecting 1% of women in the general population, causing amenorrhea, hypergonadotropism and hypoestrogenism before the age of 40. Currently, POF cannot be reversed and, although treatments are available, there is an urgent need for improved treatment strategies. Growth hormone (GH) is a pleiotropic hormone that affects a broad spectrum of physiological functions, from carbohydrate and lipid metabolism to the immune response.

miR-145 modulates lncRNA-ROR and Sox2 expression to maintain human amniotic epithelial stem cell pluripotency and β islet-like cell differentiation efficiency.

In this study, we observed a great reduction in the expression of the endogenous long noncoding RNA ROR (lncRNA-ROR) and the stem cell transcription factor Sox2, in contrast to a marked increase in miR-145 expression, during the course of in vitro induced differentiation of human amniotic epithelial stem cells (HuAECs). Bioinformatics analysis and the luciferase reporter assay revealed binding of miR-145 to specific sites in lncRNA-ROR and Sox2, silencing their expression. Overexpression of a lncRNA-ROR-specific siRNA effectively downregulated the expression levels of Sox2 and other stem cell markers in HuAECs while weakening the efficiency of HuAEC differentiation into β islet-like cells.

Derivation and characterization of human embryonic stem cells on human amnion epithelial cells.

Culture conditions that support the growth of undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have already been established using primary human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) as an alternative to traditional mitotically inactivated mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). In the present work, inner cell masses (ICM) were isolated from frozen embryos obtained as donations from couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment and four new hESC lines were derived using hAECs as feeder cells. This feeder system was able to support continuous growth of what were, according to their domed shape and markers, undifferentiated naïve-like hESCs.

Comparative investigation of human amniotic epithelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells for application in bone tissue engineering.

Emerging evidence suggests amniotic epithelial cells (AECs) as a promising source of progenitor cells in regenerative medicine and bone tissue engineering. However, investigations comparing the regenerative properties of AECs with other sources of stem cells are particularly needed before the feasibility of AECs in bone tissue engineering can be determined. This study aimed to compare human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs), human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs), and human amniotic fluid derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAFMSCs) in terms of their morphology, proliferation, immunophenotype profile, and osteogenic capacity in vitro and in vivo.

Osteogenic differentiation of human amniotic epithelial cells and its application in alveolar defect restoration.

The present study investigated the detailed in vitro osteogenic differentiation process and in vivo bone regenerative property of human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs). The in vitro osteogenic differentiation process of hAECs was evaluated by biochemical staining, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescence. Next, β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds alone or loaded with hAECs were implanted into the alveolar defects of rats.

Characterization of a micro-roughened TiO2/ZrO2 coating: mechanical properties and HBMSC responses in vitro.

Previous studies have shown that using ZrO2 as a second phase to bioceramics can significantly increase the bonding strength of plasma-sprayed composite material. In the present study, micro-roughened titanium dioxide/zirconia (TiO2/ZrO2) (30 wt% ZrO2) coating and TiO2 coating were plasma-sprayed onto Ti plates. The micro-structural characteristics and mechanical properties of both coatings were investigated.

Human amniotic epithelial cells can differentiate into granulosa cells and restore folliculogenesis in a mouse model of chemotherapy-induced premature ovarian failure.

Introduction: Ovarian dysfunction frequently occurs in female cancer patients after chemotherapy, but human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) that can differentiate into cell types that arise from all three germ layers may offer promise for restoration of such dysfunction. Previous studies confirmed that hAECs could differentiate into cells that express germ cell-specific markers, but at this time hAECs have not been shown to restore ovarian function.

Methods: To model premature ovarian failure, hAECs infected with lenti-virus carrying green fluorescent protein were injected into the tail vein of mice sterilized with cyclophosphamide and busulphan.

[Protective effect of cotransfection of A20 and HO-1 gene against the apoptosis induced by TNF-α in rat islets in vitro].

Objective: To establish the method for cotransferring human A20 gene and human heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene into the isolated rat islets using lentiviral transfection system, and to study the protective effect of A20 and HO-1 protein against the apoptosis induced by cycloheximide (CHX) and TNF-α, and finally to explore the underlying mechanism.

Method: The A20 gene and HO-1 gene were cloned and inserted into the lentiviral transfection system. The efficacy of gene transfer was measured by the intensity of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fluorescence-positive islets.

MicroRNA-122 influences the development of sperm abnormalities from human induced pluripotent stem cells by regulating TNP2 expression.

Sperm abnormalities are one of the main factors responsible for male infertility; however, their pathogenesis remains unclear. The role of microRNAs in the development of sperm abnormalities in infertile men has not yet been investigated. Here, we used human induced pluripotent stem cells to investigate the influence of miR-122 expression on the differentiation of these cells into spermatozoa-like cells in vitro.