Inhibition of Protein Kinase CK2 Prevents Adipogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Like C3H/10T1/2 Cells.

Protein kinase CK2 as a holoenzyme is composed of two catalytic α- or α'-subunits and two non-catalytic β-subunits. Knock-out experiments revealed that CK2α and CK2β are required for embryonic development. Little is known about the role of CK2 during differentiation of stem cells.

Effective, safe nonviral gene transfer to preserve the chondrogenic differentiation potential of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Background: Genetic modification of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) comprises a promising tool to generate cell- and gene-based platforms for regenerative approaches of articular cartilage repair. In the present study, we systematically screened a panel of 15 nonviral compounds for their ability to promote safe, efficient and durable gene expression in human bone marrow-derived MSCs (hMSCS) without impeding their commitment towards chondrogenic differentiation.

Methods: Primary hMSCs were transfected with plasmid vectors carrying sequences for the Photinus pyralis luciferase Escherichia coli β-galactosidase, or human insulin-like growth factor I via 15 nonviral formulations.

rAAV Vectors as Safe and Efficient Tools for the Stable Delivery of Genes to Primary Human Chondrosarcoma Cells In Vitro and In Situ.

Treatment of chondrosarcoma remains a major challenge in orthopaedic oncology. Gene transfer strategies based on recombinant adenoassociated viral (rAAV) vectors may provide powerful tools to develop new, efficient therapeutic options against these tumors. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that rAAV is adapted for a stable and safe delivery of foreign sequences in human chondrosarcoma tissue by transducing primary human chondrosarcoma cells in vitro and in situ with different reporter genes (E.

Metabolic activities and chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells following recombinant adeno-associated virus-mediated gene transfer and overexpression of fibroblast growth factor 2.

The genetic manipulation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is an attractive approach to produce therapeutic platforms for settings that aim at restoring articular cartilage defects. Here, we examined the effects of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-mediated overexpression of human fibroblast growth factor 2 (hFGF-2), a mitogenic factor also known to influence MSC differentiation, upon the proliferative and chondrogenic activities of human MSCs (hMSCs) in a three-dimensional environment that supports chondrogenesis in vitro. Prolonged, significant FGF-2 synthesis was noted in rAAV-hFGF-2-transduced monolayer and aggregate cultures of hMSCs, leading to enhanced, dose-dependent cell proliferation compared with control treatments (rAAV-lacZ transduction and absence of vector administration).

Immunologically defined subclasses of the protein kinase CK2 beta-subunit in prostate carcinoma cell lines.

Both, the activity as well as the expression of protein kinase CK2 is enhanced in various cancer types and in established tumour cell lines. This phenomenon is not due to an increase in the CK2 message but rather to posttranscriptional and posttranslational mechanisms. In order to get an insight into these posttranslational modifications we analyzed CK2 in prostate cancer cell lines, which differ by their hormone-sensitivity.