Clonal Heterogeneity in the Neuronal and Glial Differentiation of Dental Pulp Stem/Progenitor Cells.

Cellular heterogeneity presents an important challenge to the development of cell-based therapies where there is a fundamental requirement for predictable and reproducible outcomes. Transplanted Dental Pulp Stem/Progenitor Cells (DPSCs) have demonstrated early promise in experimental models of spinal cord injury and stroke, despite limited evidence of neuronal and glial-like differentiation after transplantation. Here, we report, for the first time, on the ability of single cell-derived clonal cultures of murine DPSCs to differentiate in vitro into immature neuronal-like and oligodendrocyte-like cells.

Isolation of distinct progenitor stem cell populations from dental pulp.

The present study compared the cellular characteristics of progenitor stem cell populations present in adult dental pulp, isolated by different methods utilizing 2 different features of stem cell biology. One population expressing high levels of beta1 integrin was isolated by preferential selection of adherent cells to fibronectin over 20 min. In an alternative approach, cells expressing the embryonic neural crest cell marker, low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor (LANGFR), were selected by magnetic-activated cell sorting.

Lipopolysaccharide alters decorin and biglycan synthesis in rat alveolar bone osteoblasts: consequences for bone repair during periodontal disease.

A prime pathogenic agent associated with periodontitis is lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from Porphyromonas gingivalis. This study investigated the effects of P. gingivalis LPS on osteoblasts, which are responsible for alveolar bone repair.

HPV16 E6 29-38-specific T cells kill cervical carcinoma cells despite partial evasion of T-cell effector function.

Persistent human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) infection is associated with the development of more than 50% of cervical cancers. The HPV16 E6 and E7 oncoproteins are constitutively expressed in cervical carcinomas and are attractive targets for cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-based immunotherapy. However, cervical carcinomas may possess multiple evasion mechanisms for HPV16 E6/E7-specific CTL.

Definition of an HPV18/45 cross-reactive human T-cell epitope after DNA immunisation of HLA-A2/KB transgenic mice.

Although human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 are the most common types associated with cervical cancer worldwide, other related HPV types such as HPV 35, 45 and 58 have significant prevalence in geographically distinct populations. For development of global prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine strategies, it is important to study immune responses against these viruses and to define the degree of cross-reactivity between related HPV types. To investigate the potential for T cell cross-reactivity after vaccination, HLA-A2/Kb transgenic mice were immunised with DNA plasmid constructs containing HPV18 and 45 E6 and E7.

Activation of CD40 in cervical carcinoma cells facilitates CTL responses and augments chemotherapy-induced apoptosis.

In this study, we describe the expression and function of CD40, a TNF receptor family member, in cervical carcinomas. CD40 was present at very low levels in normal cervical epithelium but was overexpressed in human papillomavirus-infected lesions and advanced squamous carcinomas of the cervix. The stimulation of CD40-positive cervical carcinoma cell lines with soluble CD40L (CD154) resulted in activation of the NF-kappaB and MAPK signaling pathways and up-regulation of cell surface markers and intracellular molecules associated with Ag processing and presentation.

Cross-typic specificity and immunotherapeutic potential of a human HPV16 E7-specific CTL line.

Cervical cancer (CaCx) is strongly associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, particularly HPV types 16 and 18. The constitutive expression of HPV E6 and E7 proteins in CaCx makes them attractive targets for CTL based immunotherapy. However cervical carcinomas may have features, e.