Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Delivery System Modulates Ischemic Cardiac Remodeling With an Increase of Coronary Artery Blood Flow.

Ways for extending the longevity of stem cells are imperative to attain diverse expected therapeutic effects. Here, we constructed a three-dimentional (3D) scaffold system for human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) delivery. Intramyocardial injections of porous PEI1.

VEGF therapeutic gene delivery using dendrimer type bio-reducible polymer into human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs).

The therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has garnered great attention in the expansive diversity of biomedical research. Despite this broad interest in stem cells, limited incorporation and poor viability are major disadvantages for accomplishing therapeutic success in the field of hMSC-based cell therapy, and an optimal approach for hMSC-based cell therapy using non-viral vectors has not been established. Hence, we examined the possibility of performing gene therapy using the biodegradable polymeric non-viral vector Arginine-grafted poly (cystaminebisacrylamide-diaminohexane) (ABP)-conjugated poly (amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer (PAM-ABP) in hMSCs.

Development of porous PLGA/PEI1.8k biodegradable microspheres for the delivery of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) promise a therapeutic alternative for many debilitating and incurable diseases. However, one of the major limitations for the therapeutic application of human MSC (hMSC) is the lengthy ex vivo expansion time for preparing a sufficient amount of cells due to the low engraftment rate after transplantation. To solve this conundrum, a porous biodegradable polymeric microsphere was investigated as a potential scaffold for the delivery of MSCs.

Polymeric delivery of therapeutic RAE-1 plasmid to the pancreatic islets for the prevention of type 1 diabetes.

The activating receptor NKG2D plays an important role in the development of type-1 diabetes. Exploiting a natural phenomenon observed in tumors, plasmid DNA encoding for a soluble ligand to NKG2D (sRAE-1γ) was isolated and engineered into a plasmid expression system. A polymeric gene delivery system was developed to deliver the soluble RAE-1 plasmid to the pancreatic islets.

The activation of ERK1/2 via a tyrosine kinase pathway attenuates trail-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) serves as an extracellular signal that triggers apoptosis in tumor cells. To characterize the molecular events involved in TRAIL-induced apoptotic signaling, we investigated the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in HeLa cell death. Here we show that TRAIL-activated ERK1/2 through a tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway, subsequently elevated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein levels.

Baicalein prevents 6-hydroxydopamine-induced dopaminergic dysfunction and lipid peroxidation in mice.

The effects of baicalein on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced neurotoxicity were evaluated. Intracerebroventricularly (i.c.

Melatonin protects against neuronal damage induced by 3-nitropropionic acid in rat striatum.

In this study, the protective effects of melatonin were evaluated against 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP)-induced striatal neuronal damage in rats. Lesions were induced in the right striatum of Sprague-Dawley rats by stereotaxic injection with 3-NP and melatonin was intraperitoneally administered both 30 min before and 60 min after 3-NP injection. And rats continuously received melatonin daily for 3 days.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase attenuates 3-hydroxykynurenine-induced neuronal cell death.

3-Hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), an endogenous tryptophan metabolite, is known to have toxic effects in brain. However, the molecular mechanism of the toxicity has not been well identified. In this study, we investigated the involvement of MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in the 3-HK-induced neuronal cell damage.

Genetically modified human embryonic stem cells relieve symptomatic motor behavior in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have great potential as a cell source for cell replacement therapy. To investigate the possibility of using ES cells as a carrier of therapeutic gene(s), human ES cells (MB03) were co-transfected with cDNAs coding for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH I), then bulk-selected in the presence of neomycin and hygromycin-B. Successful transfection was confirmed by Western immunoblotting and RT-PCR.

General pharmacology of indole [2',3':3,4]pyrido[2,1-b]quinazolinium- 5,7,8,13-tetrahydro-14-methyl-5-oxo-chloride, a new anti-dementia agent.

The general pharmacological properties of indolo[2',3':3,4]pyrido[2,1-b]quinazolinium-5,7,8,13-tetrahydro-14- methyl-5-oxo-chloride (dehydroevodiamine-HCl, DHED, CAS 67909-49-3), a new potential anti-dementia agent, were studied to investigate side effects using various experimental animals. Both oral and intraperitoneal administration of DHED had no effects on the central nervous system except that they showed an analgesic activity. DHED had no significant effect on heart rate, blood pressure and coronary flow in isolated rat hearts.

Acupuncture prevents 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neuronal death in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system in the rat Parkinson's disease model.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder, and it has been suggested that treatments promoting survival and functional recovery of affected dopaminergic neurons could have a significant and long-term therapeutic value. In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of acupuncture on the nigrostriatal system in rat unilaterally lesioned with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 4 microg/microl, intrastriatal injection) using tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, trkB, immunohistochemistries. Two weeks after the lesions were made, rats presented with asymmetry in rotational behavior (118.