Distinct myeloid population phenotypes dependent on TREM2 expression levels shape the pathology of traumatic versus demyelinating CNS disorders.

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell 2 (TREM2) signaling often drives opposing effects in traumatic versus demyelinating CNS disorders. Here, we identify two distinct phenotypes of microglia and infiltrating myeloid populations dependent on TREM2 expression levels at the acute stage and elucidate how they mediate the opposing effects of TREM2 in spinal cord injury (SCI) versus multiple sclerosis animal models (experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis [EAE]). High TREM2 levels sustain phagocytic microglia and infiltrating macrophages after SCI.

Human acellular amniotic membrane scaffolds encapsulating juvenile cartilage fragments accelerate the repair of rabbit osteochondral defects.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to explore a simple and effective method of preparing human acellular amniotic membrane (HAAM) scaffolds, and explore the effect of HAAM scaffolds with juvenile cartilage fragments (JCFs) on osteochondral defects.

Methods: HAAM scaffolds were constructed via trypsinization from fresh human amniotic membrane (HAM). The characteristics of the HAAM scaffolds were evaluated by haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, picrosirius red staining, type II collagen immunostaining, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Fibroblast growth factor 2-induced human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells combined with autologous platelet rich plasma augmented tendon-to-bone healing.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) on collagenous fibre formation and the osteogenic differentiation of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) in vitro, as well as the effect of FGF-2-induced hAMSCs combined with autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on tendon-to-bone healing in vivo.

Methods: In vitro, hAMSCs were induced by various concentrations of FGF-2 (0, 10, 20, and 40 ​ng/ml) for 14 days, and the outcomes of ligamentous differentiation and osteogenic differentiation were detected by quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence, and picrosirius red staining. In addition, a lentivirus carrying the FGF-2 gene was used to transfect hAMSCs, and transfection efficiency was detected by quantitative real time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot.

Enhanced tenogenic differentiation and tendon-like tissue formation by Scleraxis overexpression in human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells.

Tendon and ligament injuries are not uncommon in clinics and have poor self-healing capacity due to their bloodless and slow-proliferative nature. Promoting the repair or reconstruction of an injured structure is an urgent problem. While Scleraxis (Scx) is a highly specific tendon cell marker, its function has not been explored to a large extent.

Enhancement of in vitro proliferation and bioactivity of human anterior cruciate ligament fibroblasts using an in situ tissue isolation method and basic fibroblast growth factor culture conditions: A pilot analysis.

Background: Previous studies have reported poor proliferation and bioactivity of human anterior cruciate ligament fibroblasts (hACLFs) after injury. As hACLFs are one of the most significant and indispensable source of seed cells in constructing tissue-engineered ligament, enhancing hACLF proliferation would offer favorable cellular-biological ability and induce the extracellular matrix secretion of hACLFs after loading on multiple types of scaffolds. Enhancing the bioactivity of hACLFs would improve tissue repair and functional recovery after tissue-engineered ligament transplantation.

Arthroscopically Assisted Anterior Treatment of Symptomatic Large Talar Bone Cyst.

Symptomatic cystic lesions of the talus are rare. The traditional operations usually do not provide visualization to reveal the deep structure of the lesion and could cause cartilage damage or other severe traumatic injury. We report an operative technique to reach the cystic lesion without talar cartilage damage, remove the lesion, and fill defect with a bone graft assisted by anterior arthroscopy and evaluate its safety and reliability for future study.

All-arthroscopic release for treating severe knee extension contractures could improve the knee range of motion and the mid-term functional outcomes.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of an all-arthroscopic technique for the intra- and extraarticular release of severe knee extension contractures.

Methods: From 2012 to 2016, 25 patients with severe knee extension contractures (less than 45° range of flexion) were treated with an all-arthroscopic release technique. The patients underwent intra- and extraarticular arthroscopic release and arthroscopic-assisted mini-incision quadriceps plasty.

[differentiation of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells into ligament fibroblasts after induced by transforming growth factor β and vascular endothelial growth factor].

Objective: To investigate whether human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) have the characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and the differentiation capacity into ligament fibroblasts .

Methods: The hAMSCs were separated through trypsin and collagenase digestion from placenta, the phenotypic characteristics of hAMSCs were detected by flow cytometry, the cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) and vimentin expression of hAMSCs were tested through immunofluorescence staining. The hAMSCs at the 3rd passage were cultured with L-DMEM/F12 medium containing transforming growth factor β (TGF-β ) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as the experimental group and with single L-DMEM/F12 medium as the control group.

Differentiation of Human Amniotic Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Human Anterior Cruciate Ligament Fibroblast Cells by In Vitro Coculture.

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are common in humans, though cellular components of the knee have little regenerative or proliferation potential. This study investigated the differentiation of human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) into human anterior cruciate ligament fibroblasts (hACLFs) in vitro through induction with bFGF and TGF-1 with coculture systems. Groups A and B comprised hAMSCs at the 3rd passage cultured with and without bFGF and TGF-1, respectively; Groups C and D consisted of hAMSCs and hACLFs in monolayer coculture with and without bFGF and TGF-1, respectively; Groups E and F were composed of hAMSCs and hACLFs in Transwell coculture with and without bFGF and TGF-1, respectively.