Objective To elucidate the role of the transcription factor liver activator protein (LAP, a member of the C/EBP family) in the expression of α1(I) collagen gene in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Methods Rat HSCs were prepared from SD rats by in situ perfusion and singlestep density Nycodenz gradient. Two chimeric luciferase reporter gene plasmids containing the human collagen α1(I) gene promoter fragments (-804～+1 452 or -804～+222) were constructed. Culture-activated HSCs were co-transfected with the reporter gene contructs and mammalian vector expressing LAP using the cationic-liposome mediated method, and the promoter activity was determined by measuring luciferase activity. Results The luciferase reporter gene construct containing the first intron of α1(I) collagen gene (-804～+1 452, was called as PGL3-col) had a higher level of gene expression, as compared with the construct lacking the first intron 〔was called as PGL3-col (△intron)-in activated HSCs (315±45 U/mg protein vs 220±70 U/mg protein, Ｐ＜0.05). Transient transfection of the vector expressing LAP significantly increased basal transcription from PGL3-col and PGL3-col (△intron) reporter gene vectors (587±62 U/mg protein vs 315±45 U/mg protein and 326±52 U/mg protein vs 220±70 U/mg protein respectively, both Ｐ＜0.05). Conclusion The transcription factor LAP transactivates collagen α1(I) gene in activated HSCs, and the first intron is important for α1(I) collagen gene transcription activity in activated HSCs.
Collagen is a kind of natural biomedical material and collagen based three-dimensional porous scaffolds have been widely used in skin tissue engineering. However, these scaffolds do not meet the requirements for artificial skin substitutes in terms of their poor mechanical properties, short supply, and rejection in the bodies. All of these factors limit their further application in skin tissue engineering. A variety of methods have been chosen to meliorate the situation, such as cross linking and blending other substance for improving mechanical properties. The highly biomimetic scaffolds either in structure or in function can be prepared through culturing cells and loading growth factors. To avoid the drawbacks of unsafety attributing to animals, investigators have fixed their eyes on the recombinant collagen. This paper reviews the the progress of research and application of collagen-based 3-dimensional porous scaffolds in skin tissue engineering.
Objective To analyze the contents of collagen type Ⅰ, type Ⅲ and the ratio of collagen type Ⅰ to collagen type Ⅲ in posterior rectus sheath of different person. Methods One hundred and four tissues specimen of posterior rectus sheath were obtained during patients’ abdominal operation. The contents of collagen type Ⅰand type Ⅲ were detected by using immunohistochemistry methods. The differences of collagen contents between male and female, physical work group and non-physical work group, smoking group and non-smoking group were observed. The relationships between the contents of collagen and age, body mass index (BMI), and height were analyzed, respectively. Results ① The content of collagen typeⅠand the ratio of collagen type Ⅰ／Ⅲ were both lower in male than those in female （Plt;0.01）； there were no obvious differences in the content of collagen type Ⅲ and the total amount of collagen （Pgt;0.05）. ② There were no differences between physical work group and non-physical work group with the amount and the ratio of collagens （Pgt;0.05）. ③ When compared with non-smoking group, less collagen typeⅠ(Plt;0.01) and lower ratio of collagen Ⅰ／Ⅲ （Plt;0.05） were found in smoking group； but there was no difference with content of collagen Ⅲ（Pgt;0.05）, as well as the total amount of collagen （Pgt;0.05）. ④ The total amount of collagen, the content of collagen type Ⅰand the ratio of collagen Ⅰ／Ⅲ all decreased as age increases （r=0.341, 0.392, 0.212， P＜0.001, Plt;0.05）； no obvious change was observed in the content of collagen Ⅲ （r=0.089， Pgt;0.05）. ⑤ The content and ratio of collagen had no obvious relationships with BMI and height （Pgt;0.05）. Conclusion Smoking, gender and age are all influential factors of the content and ratio of collagens in the tissue.
The aim of this article is to study how andrographolide-releasing collagen scaffolds influence rabbit articular chondrocytes in maintaining their specific phenotype under inflammatory environment. Physical blending combined with vacuum freeze-drying method was utilized to prepare the andrographolide-releasing collagen scaffold. The characteristics of scaffold including its surface morphology and porosity were detected with environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) and a density instrument. Then, the release of andrographolide from prepared scaffolds was measured by UV-visible spectroscopy. Rabbit chondrocytes were isolated and cultured in vitro and seeded on andrographolide-releasing collagen scaffolds. Following culture with normal medium for 3 d, seeded chondrocytes were cultured with medium containing interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) to stimulate inflammation in vitro for 7 d. The proliferation, morphology and gene transcription of tested chondrocytes were detected with Alamar Blue assay, fluorescein diacetate (FDA) staining and reverse-transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) test respectively. The results showed that the collagen scaffolds prepared by vacuum freeze-dry possess a high porosity close to 96%, and well-interconnected chambers around (120.7±17.8) μm. The andrographolide-releasing collagen scaffold continuously released andrographolide to the PBS solution within 15 d, and collagen scaffolds containing 2.22% andrographolide significantly inhibit the proliferation of chondrocytes. Compared with collagen scaffolds, 0.44% andrographolide-containing collagen scaffolds facilitate chondrocytes to keep specific normal morphologies following 7 d IL-1β induction. The results obtained by RT-qPCR confirmed this effect by enhancing the transcription of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), collagen II (COL II), aggrecan (Aggrecan) and the ratio of COL II/ collagen I(COL I), meanwhile, reversing the promoted transcription of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13). In conclusion, our research reveals that andrographolide-releasing (0.44%) collagen scaffolds enhance the ability of chondrocytes to maintain their specific morphologies by up-regulating the transcription of genes like COL II, Aggrecan and TIMP-1, while down-regulating the transcription of genes like MMP-1 and MMP-13 which are bad for phenotypic maintenance under IL-1β simulated inflammatory environment. These results implied the potential use of andrographolide-releasing collagen scaffold in osteoarthritic cartilage repair.
Objective To review the lately new progress of fish collagen as biomedical materials, and then analyze feasibility and risk management of its application as a substitute of collagen originated from mammals in clinical practice. Methods Based on extensive research on new application and investigation of fish collagen, the paper was prepared to bring comprehensive analysis of its research and application status, and then several key points were focused on. Results Fish collagen has been proved to be a novel collagen of rich source, low risk of virus transmission, low biological risk, less religious barrier, and high biocompatibility. Fish collagen has promising prospect when applied in clinical practice as novel collagen especially as a substitute of collagen derived from mammals. However, very few related translational medicine research of fish collagen has been reported up to now in China. Conclusion As a novel potential substitute of collagen source derived from mammals, fish collagen is concerned to be clinical feasible and necessary in translational medicine. However, massive applied basic researches should be focused on in the further investigations.
Objective To study the influence of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1), dentin non-collagen proteins(dNCPs) and their complexon tissue engineering pulp system. Methods Collagen I and dentin powder were used to construct the system of pulp cells in 3dimensional culture, dentin powder was added in the gel. The tissue engineering pulp were divided TGF-β1 group, dNCPs group, TGF-β1/dNCPsgroup and control group.After3, 6 and 14 days, the appearance and the differentiation of pulp cells were observed by HE staining and immunohistochemical staining -respectively. Results Collagen I could form netted collagen gel construction. Growing condition of pulp cells in gel was similar to that of pulp cells in vivo. After the TGF-β1 and dNCPswere added, the pulp cells had some characteristics of odontoblasts and had unilateral cell process after culture 6 days. Pulp cells arranged with parallel columnar and form dentin-pulp-like complex after 14 days. Immunohistochemical staining showed dentin salivary protein(DSP) began to express in some cells.The number of positive cell was most in the TGF-β1 group. No positive cells were detected in the control group. Conclusion The transforming growth factor-β1 and noncollagen proteins can stimulate the pulp cells to transform into odontoblasts to some extent, which promote the formation of tissue engineering pulp.
Riboflavin-ultraviolet A (UVA) collagen cross-linking has not only achieved good clinical efficacy in the treatment of corneal diseases such as dilatation keratopathy, bullae keratopathy, infectious keratopathy, and in the combined treatment of corneal refractive surgeries, but also its efficacy and safety in scleral collagen cross-linking have been initially confirmed. To better promote the application of cross-linking in the clinical treatment of corneal and scleral diseases, exploring controllability and predictability of the surgical efficacy are both important for evaluating the surgical efficacy and personalized precision treatment. In this paper, the progress on the cross-linking depth of riboflavin-UVA collagen cross-linking, and its relationship with the cross-linking effect will be reviewed. It will provide the reference for further application of this procedure in ophthalmology clinics.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of the combination of collagen scaffold and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on the repair of transected spinal cord injury in rats.MethodsThirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: group A (sham operation group), T9, T10 segments of the spinal cord was only exposed; group B, 4-mm T9, T10 segments of the spinal cord were resected; group C, 4-mm T9, T10 segments of the spinal cord were resected and linear ordered collagen scaffolds (LOCS) with corresponding length was transplanted into lesion site; group D, 4-mm T9, T10 segments of the spinal cord were resected and LOCS with collagen binding domain (CBD)-BDNF was transplanted into lesion site. During 3 months after operation, Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor score assessment was performed for each rat once a week. At 3 months after operation, electrophysiological test of motor evoked potential (MEP) was performed for rats in each group. Subsequently, retrograde tracing was performed for each rat by injection of fluorogold (FG) at the L2 spinal cord below the injury level. One week later, brains and spinal cord tissues of rats were collected. Morphological observation was performed to spinal cord tissues after dehydration. The thoracic spinal cords including lesion area were collected and sliced horizontally. Thoracic spinal cords 1 cm above lesion area and lumbar spinal cords 1 cm below lesion area were collected and sliced coronally. Coronal spinal cord tissue sections were observed by the laser confocal scanning microscope and calculated the integral absorbance (IA) value of FG-positive cells. Horizontal tissue sections of thoracic spinal cord underwent immunofluorescence staining to observe the building of transected spinal cord injury model, axonal regeneration in damaged area, and synapse formation of regenerated axons.ResultsDuring 3 months after operation, the BBB scores of groups B, C, and D were significantly lower than those of group A (P<0.05). The BBB scores of group D at 2-12 weeks after operation were significantly higher than those of groups B and C (P<0.05). Electrophysiological tests revealed that there was no MEP in group B; the latencies of MEP in groups C and D were significantly longer than that in group A (P<0.05), and in group C than in group D (P<0.05). Morphological observation of spinal cord tissues showed that the injured area of the spinal cord in group B extended to both two ends, and the lesion site was severely damaged. The morphologies of spinal cord tissues in groups C and D recovered well, and the morphology in group D was closer to normal tissue. Results of retrograde tracing showed that the gray matters of lumbar spinal cords below the lesion area in each group were filled with FG-positive cells; in thoracic spinal cords above lesion sites, theIA value of FG-positive cells in coronal section of spinal cord in group A was significantly larger than those in groups B, C, and D (P<0.05), and in groups C and D than in group B (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between groups C and D (P>0.05). Immunofluorescence staining results of spinal cord tissue sections selected from dorsal to ventral spinal cord showed transected injured areas of spinal cords which were significantly different from normal tissues. The numbers of NF-positive axons in lesion center of group A were significantly larger than those of groups B, C, and D (P<0.05), and in groups C and D than in group B (P<0.05), and in group D than in group C (P<0.05).ConclusionThe combined therapeutic approach containing LOCS and CBD-BDNF can promote axonal regeneration and recovery of hind limb motor function after transected spinal cord injury in rats.
OBJECTIVE The effect of platelet-derived wound healing factor (PDWHF) on wound healing in diabetic rats was studied. METHODS Forty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups. Thirty-two rats of experimental group accepted intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (1.5 mg/10 g body weight). Within one or two days after injection, while the blood sugar of the rats was higher than 180 mg/dl, the animal model of diabetic rat should have been established. Then a dorsal incision was given to every rat. After the addition of PDWHF (the experimental group) or bovine albumin (the control group), the incision was sutured up. Seven, ten and fourteen days after operation, the breaking strength of the wound was measured. On another hand, specimen from the wound was taken for the culture of fibroblasts. When the cultured fibroblasts have been incubated with 10% PDWHF for 4, 8 and 12 hours, the procollagen I (alpha 1) mRNA levels were examined respectively, and compared with those of control. RESULTS Significant difference in wound breaking strength had been observed between PDWHF-treated incisions and the control on 7, 10 and 14 days after wounding (P lt; 0.01). Experiment in vitro demonstrated that the procollagen I (alpha 1) mRNA levels in wound fibroblasts incubated with 10% PDWHF for 4, 8 and 12 hours were 0.9, 3.7 and 2.2 folds higher than those in fibroblasts in control. CONCLUSION It was suggested that direct stimulation of procollagen I (alpha 1) gene expression was one of the ways that PDWHF played its role in accelerating wound healing.
Objective To retrospectively analyze the cl inical effect of l ightbulb operation with nano-hydroxyapatite/ collagen in a consecutive series of patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Methods From January 2001to July 2005, 26 patients (35 hips) were treated, 16 males and 10 females, aged 19-54 years old (33.5 on average). The course of disease was 12-36 months (18 months on average). Based on the etiology, 15 cases (22 hips) were steroid induced type, 10 (12 hips) were alcohol induced type and the other one (1 hip ) was idiopathic type. According to the system of Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO), there were 6 hi ps of stage IIB, 16 hi ps of stage IIC, 9 hi ps of stage IIIA, 3 hi ps of stage IIIB and 1 hip of stage IIIC. The Harris score was 62.2 ± 7.5. All the patients who had undergone l ightbulb operation with nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen were evaluated both cl inically and radiographically. The bone graft mixture rate of nanohydroxyapatite/ collagen and autogenous bone was 1 ∶ 1, and the mixed bone graft was 6 times of the scraped osteonecrosis volume (30-48 mL). Results The incisions of all 26 patients (35 hi ps) obtained heal ing by first intention. The 2 cases, which got lateral femoral cutaneous nerve injury during the operation, recovered 3-6 months after the operation without any treatment. Another 2 cases got heterotopic ossification 3 months after operation, with no special treatment. All the 26 patients (35 hips) were followed up for 2-7 years (3.5 on average). The patients’ bone heal ing began from the 3rd month after operation. The postoperative Harris score was 85.1 ± 16.2, and there was significant difference compared with the preoperative one (P lt; 0.001). There were 15 hips of excellent, 11 of good, 5 of fair, and 4 of poor which received total hip arthroplasty at the end of the follow-up. According to imaging, 5 hips were progressed from preoperative IIC to IIIA, while the other hips were radiologically stable, with no progress of ONFH. Conclusion Lightbulb operation with nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen provides a surgical treatment to treat early ONFH with satisfactory cl inical outcomes. Nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen is beneficial for the repair and reconstruction of ONFH and suitable for femoral-head-preserving operation for the patients with ONFH of stage II.