Development of induced glioblastoma by implantation of a human xenograft in Yucatan minipig as a large animal model.

Background: Glioblastoma is the most common and deadliest primary brain tumor for humans. Despite many efforts toward the improvement of therapeutic methods, prognosis is poor and the disease remains incurable with a median survival of 12-14.5 months after an optimal treatment.

Expression of CYP2R1 and VDR in human brain pericytes: the neurovascular vitamin D autocrine/paracrine model.

1,25 Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D) is a hormone produced from vitamin D through two hydroxylating steps catalyzed successively in the liver by the vitamin D 25-hydroxylase Cyp2R1 and in the kidney by the 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1α-hydroxylase Cyp27B1. 1,25D behaves like a steroid hormone. It regulates gene transcription by interacting with a nuclear receptor named vitamin D receptor (VDR) for the vitamin D receptor.

Brain mesenchymal stem cells: The other stem cells of the brain?

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), have the potential to differentiate into cells of the mesenchymal lineage and have non-progenitor functions including immunomodulation. The demonstration that MSCs are perivascular cells found in almost all adult tissues raises fascinating perspectives on their role in tissue maintenance and repair. However, some controversies about the physiological role of the perivascular MSCs residing outside the bone marrow and on their therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine exist.