[Effects of let-7a on proliferation, osteogenic differentiation and apoptosis of human dental pulp stem cells].

Purpose: To study the effect and possible mechanism of let-7a on proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of human dental pulp stem cell (hDPSCs).

Methods: The cells were divided into four groups: overexpression control (let-7a control/let-7a agomir control), overexpression let-7a (let-7a mimics/let-7a agomir), knockdown let-7a control (let-7a inhibitor control) and knockdown let-7a (let-7a inhibitor). Cell counting kit-8 assay(CCK-8) was used to detect the proliferation of cells at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours after transfection.

Transplantation of adipocyte-derived stem cells in a hydrogel scaffold for the repair of cortical contusion injury in rats.

Adipocyte-derived stem cells have emerged as a novel source of stem cell therapy for their autologous and readily accessible and pluripotent potential to differentiate into different lineages such as neural stem cells (NSCs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Transplantation of NSCs and EPCs has been promising for the repair of brain injury. We explored using co-transplanted hydrogel scaffold to improve the survival of the transplanted cells and recovery of neurological function.

Up-regulation of the transient A-type K+ current (IA) in the differentiation of neural stem cells of the early postnatal rat hippocampus.

Background: Neural stem cells (NSCs) not only are essential to cell replacement therapy and transplantation in clinical settings, but also provide a unique model for the research into neurogenesis and epigenesis. However, little attention has been paid to the electrophysiological characterization of NSC development. This work aimed to identify whether the morphological neuronal differentiation process in NSCs included changes in the electrophysiological properties of transient A-type K(+) currents (I(A)).

Passive immunization with LINGO-1 polyclonal antiserum afforded neuroprotection and promoted functional recovery in a rat model of spinal cord injury.

LINGO-1 (leucine-rich repeat and Ig domain-containing, Nogo receptor-interacting protein) is an important component of the NgR receptor complex involved in RhoA activation and axon regeneration. The authors report on passive immunization with LINGO-1 polyclonal antiserum, a therapeutic approach to overcome NgR-mediated growth inhibition after spinal cord injury (SCI). The intrathecally administered high-titer rabbit-derived antiserum can be detected around the injury site within a wide time window; it blocks LINGO-1 in vivo with high molecular specificity.

[Prokaryotic expression, purification of human LINGO-1(aa76-319) and preparation of its polyclonal antibody].

Objective: To express and purify the fusion protein of extracellular domain of human Ig domain-containing, neurite outgrowth inhibitor (Nogo) receptor-interacting protein-1 (LINGO-1(aa76-319)) in prokaryotic cells and prepare the rabbit anti-LINGO-1 polyclonal antibody (pAb).

Methods: The 732 bp DNA sequence of hLINGO-1(aa76-319) was obtained from pCMV-SPORT6 by PCR and inserted into pET30a(+) plasmid to construct the prokaryotic expression plasmid pET30a(+)-hLINGO-1(aa76-319), which was subsequently transformed into E.coli.

[Culture and identification of neural stem cells derived from the subventricular zone of adult mice].

Objective: To establish a method for culturing and identifying neural stem cells (NSCs) derived from the subventricular zone (SVZ) in adult mice.

Methods: NSCs were isolated from the SVZ of adult mouse brain and cultured in serum-free medium. Cell cloning and BrdU incorporation were performed to identify the self-renewal and proliferative capacity of the NSCs.

Human mesenchymal stem cells-like cells as cellular vehicles for delivery of immunotoxin in vitro.

Human mesenchymal stem cells-like cells (hMSCs-like cells) were used as a tumor treatment platform for the systemic delivery of immunotoxin genes. VEGF165-PE38 recombinant immunotoxin served as the model system. hMSCs-like cells were isolated, expanded, and electroporated with the pIRES2-VEGF165PE38-EGFP plasmid.

Adenoviral-mediated interleukin-18 expression in mesenchymal stem cells effectively suppresses the growth of glioma in rats.

Glioma is the most common primary intracranial malignant tumor. Despite advances in surgical techniques and adjuvant radio- and chemotherapies, the prognosis for patients with glioma remains poor. We have explored the effects of using genetically modified mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to treat malignant glioma in rats.

Genetic analysis of interleukin-1A C(-889)T polymorphism with Alzheimer disease.

Neuroinflammation has been implicated in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Many studies have suggested that C(-889) T promoter polymorphism in one of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) encoding gene IL-1A may be associated with AD pathogenesis. To determine whether the polymorphism contributes to the risk for late-onset AD (LOAD) in Chinese, we carried out our investigation in 344 sporadic LOAD patients and 224 healthy controls.

Construction of eukaryotic expression vector with brain-derived neurotrophic factor receptor trkB gene.

Objective: To construct an eukaryotic expression vector carrying rat brain-derived neurotrophic factor receptor trkB gene.

Methods: Using the total RNA isolated from rat brain as template, the trkB gene was amplified by reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with a pair of specific primers which contained the restrictive sites of EcoR I and BamH I. The amplified fragment of trkB gene was digested with EcoR I and BamH I, and then subcloned into cloning vector pMD18-T and expression vector pEGFP-C2 respectively.

[Induced differentiation of rabbit bone marrow stromal cells into neuron-like cells].

Objective: To study whether the neuron-like cells derived from bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) may excrete amino acids with neurobiological activities and possess the biochemical characteristics of neurons.

Method: Under sterile condition, BMSCs from New Zealand rabbits were purified by gradient density centrifugation, and were induced to differentiate into neural stem cells and neuronal-like cells in the culture medium for neural stem cells containing retinoic acid (RA, 0.5 microg/ml) and glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF, 20 ng/ml).

In vitro culture and induced differentiation of adult rat neural stem cells from the corpus striatum.

Objective: To investigate the in vitro multipotential differentiation of neural stem cells from adult rat corpus striatum.

Methods: The neural stem cells isolated from adult rat corpus striatum were cultured in serum-free medium to obtain cell suspension before monoclonal subculturing and differential induction. Immunocytochemical staining and reverse transcriptional PCR (RT-PCR) were performed to identify the properties of the differentiated cells.

[Responses of neurons and astrocytes in rat hippocampus to kainic acid-induced seizures].

Objective: To investigate the time course of the responses of neurons and astrocytes in rat hippocampus (HI) to kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures in various regions.

Methods: By means immunohistochemical staining for anti-Fos protein and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the regional distribution of reactive neurons and astrocytes in the HI was observed at different time points after a unilateral stereotaxic microinjection of KA into the lateral ventricle of rats to cause limbic and generalized convulsive seizures.

Results: The injection of KA triggered limbic motor seizures including immobilization, staring, facial and jaw clonus ect.

Ultrastructrural observation of the membrane surface of kainic acid-treated hippocampal neurons by atomic force microscopy.

Objective: To observe the three-dimensional morphological changes on the membrane surface of primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons in response to kainic acid (KA) exposure.

Methods: After isolation and primary culture, Wistar rat hippocampal neurons were treated with KA at the concentrations of 0, 25, and 250 micromol/L for different durations (10 and 100 min) to observe the subsequent changes in the membrane surface structure of the neurons by nano-scale scanning with an atomic force microscope (AFM).

Results: Normal neurons displayed smooth membrane surface with even and regular undulation, while the neurons treated with KA, in contrast, presented degenerative changes characterized by cell swelling and coarse membrane surface with processes and holes.

Effect of kainate on the synaptic transmission in hippocampal CA1 region.

Objective: To investigate the effect of activated kainate receptor on both the excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in the neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region.

Method: Blind whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings were performed on the CA1 pyramidal cells in adult rat hippocampal slices to examine and analyze the effect of bath-applied kainate (10 micromol/L) on CA1 afferent fiber-evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) and inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs), respectively.

Results: Activation of kainate receptor significantly depressed both IPSCs (P <0.