Ectopic expression of OCT4B1 Decreases Fertility Rate and Changes Sperm Parameters in Transgenic Mice.

Background: The octamer-binding transcription factor-4 (OCT4) is known as an established important regulator of pluripotency, as well as a genetic "master switch" in the self-renewal of embryonic stem and germ cells. , one of the three spliced variants of human OCT4, plays crucial roles in the regulation of pluripotency and stemness.

Objectives: The present study developed a transgenic mouse model containing an -expressing construct under the transcriptional direction of mouse mammary tumor virus promoter (pMMTV) to evaluate the role of OCT4B1 in the function of male germ cells in terms of fertility potential.

Synergistic impact of platelet rich plasma-heparin sulfate with hydroxyapatite/zirconia on the osteoblast differentiation potential of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

3D porous hydroxyapatite (HA) has been reinforced by zirconia (ZrO) coating and impregnation with a combination of platelet rich plasma (PRP) as a source of growth factors (GFs) and Heparin sulfate (HS) to sustain the release of GFs. Adipose mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) were characterized by flow cytometry for CD (cluster of differentiation) 44, CD105, CD106, CD34 and CD144, along with checking the multipotency by differentiation into the adipocytes and osteoblasts. Then, they were cultured on the scaffold treated with and without osteogenic media on days 7, 14 and 21.

Evaluation of Fibroblast Viability Seeded on Acellular Human Amniotic Membrane.

Background: Investigating the viability and proliferative rates of fibroblast cells on human amniotic membrane (HAM) as a scaffold will be an important subject for further research. The aim of this study was to assess the fibroblast viability seeded on acellular HAM, since foreskin neonatal allogenic fibroblasts seeded on HAM accelerate the wound healing process.

Methods: Fibroblasts were retrieved from the foreskin of a genetically healthy male infant, and we exploited AM of healthy term neonates to prepare the amniotic scaffold for fibroblast transfer.

A VHH-Based Anti-MUC1 Chimeric Antigen Receptor for Specific Retargeting of Human Primary T Cells to MUC1-Positive Cancer Cells.

Objective: Immunotherapy with redirected T cells that express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) is a promising prospect in cancer treatment. Most CARs use murine-derived single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) as an antigen targeting moiety, which may lead to host immunogenic responses and engineered T cell disappearance. It seems that development of less immunogenic CARs, such as CARs composed of the camelid variable domain of heavy chain antibodies (VHHs) may likely overcome this obstacle.