Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, non-coding RNA are reversible, heritable alterations which are induced by environmental stimuli. Major risk factors of diabetes and diabetic complications including hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products, can lead to abnormal epigenetic modifications in retinal vascular endothelial cells and retinal pigment epithelium cells. Epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of macular edema and neovascularization of diabetic retinopathy (DR), as well as diabetic metabolic memory. The heritable nature of epigenetic marks also playsakey role in familial diabetes mellitus. Further elucidation of epigenetic mechanisms in DR can open the way for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets to prevent DR progression.
Objective To construct inducible lentiviral vector containing human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (hBMP-2) gene and to study its expression in human umbil ical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs). Methods hBMP-2 gene was ampl ified by PCR from a plasmid and was cloned into pDown by BP reaction. pLV/EXPN2-Neo-TRE-hBMP-2 and pLV/EXPN2-Puro-EF1A-reverse transactivator (rtTA) were obtained with GATEWAY technology, and then were sequenced and analyzed by PCR. The recombinant vectors were transfected into 293FT cells respectively through l ipofectamine, and the lentiviral viruses were harvested from 293FT cells, then the titer was determined. Viruses were used to infect HUMSCs in tandem. In order to research the influence of induction time and concentration, one group of HUMSCs was induced by different doxycl ine concentrations (0, 10, 100 ng/mL, and 1, 10, 100 μg/mL) in the same induction time (48 hours), and the other by the same concentration (10 μg/mL) in different time points (12, 24, 48, and 72 hours). The expression of target gene hBMP-2 was indentified by ELISA method. After 2-week osteogenic induction of transfected HUMSCs, the mineral ization nodes were detected with Al izarin bordeaux staining method. Results Therecombinant inducible lentiviral vectors (pLV/EXPN2-Neo-TRE-hBMP-2 and pLV/EXPN2-Puro-EF1A-rtTA) were successfully constructed. The lentiviruses were also obtained and mediated by 293FT cells, and the virus titers were 3.5 × 108 TU/mL and 9.5 × 107 TU/mL respectively. HUMSCs could expression hBMP-2 by induction of doxycycl ine. The expression of hBMP-2 reached the peak at 10 μg/mL doxycl ine at 48 hours of induction. After 2-week osteogenic induction, a lot of mineral ization nodes were observed. Conclusion The recombinant inducible lentiviral vectors containing hBMP-2 gene can be successfully constructed, which provide an effective and simple method for the further study of stem cells and animal experiment in vivo.
Thirteen patients with intractable nonunions of fractures of long bones were sucessfully treated by a combination of internal fixation and implantation of bBMP. There was an average of 1.5 operative procedures per patient in an attempting to establish reunion prior to bBMP implantation. Union was obtained in 12 of the 13 patients exapt in one who gained success from establish the second attempt. The average time requited to union was 4.7 months. No complication was seen.
ObjectiveTo investigate the difference of DNA methylation before and after bariatric surgery.MethodThe relevant literatures of the research on the changes of DNA methylation level and gene expression regulation in blood and tissues before and after bariatric surgery were retrieved and reviewed.ResultsDNA methylation was an important method of epigenetic regulation in organisms and its role in bariatric surgery had been paid more and more attention in recent years. Existing studies had found that there were changes of DNA methylation in blood and tissues before and after bariatric surgery. The degree of methylation varies with different follow-up time after bariatric surgery and the same gene had different degrees of methylation in different tissues, and some even had the opposite results.ConclusionsDNA methylation levels before and after bariatric surgery are different in different tissues. And studies with larger sample size and longer follow-up time are needed, to further reveal relationship among DNA methylation, obesity, and bariatric surgery.
ObjectiveTo observe the disease-causing genes and the inheritance in sporadic retinitis pigmentosa (sRP) in Ningxia region. Methods49 sRP patients and 128 family members were recruited for this study. All the patients and family members received complete ophthalmic examinations including best corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp microscope, indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus color photography, visual field, optic coherence tomography, full view electroretinogram. DNA was extracted from patients and family members. Using exon combined target region capture sequencing chip to screen the 230 candidate disease-causing gene mutations, polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing were used to confirm the disease-causing mutations. Results24/49 patients (49.0%) had identified disease-causing genes, totally 16 genes were involved. There were 41 mutation sites were found, including 32 new mutations (78.0%). The disease-causing genes include USH2A, C2orf71, GNGA1, RPGR1, IFT140, TULP1, CLRN1, RPE65, ABCA4, GUCA1, EYS, CYP4V2, GPR98 and ATXN7. Based on pedigree analysis, 20 patients were autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa, 3 patients were autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa and 1 patient was X linked retinitis pigmentosa. 3/7 patients with USH2A mutations were identified as Usher syndrome. ConclusionsUSHZA is the main disease-causing of sRP patients in Ningxia region. 83.3% of sRP in this cohort are autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa.
The rotation center of traditional hip disarticulation prosthesis is often placed in the front and lower part of the socket, which is asymmetric with the rotation center of the healthy hip joint, resulting in poor symmetry between the prosthesis movement and the healthy lower limb movement. Besides, most of the prosthesis are passive joints, which need to rely on the amputee’s compensatory hip lifting movement to realize the prosthesis movement, and the same walking movement needs to consume 2–3 times of energy compared with normal people. This paper presents a dynamic hip disarticulation prosthesis (HDPs) based on remote center of mechanism (RCM). Using the double parallelogram design method, taking the minimum size of the mechanism as the objective, the genetic algorithm was used to optimize the size, and the rotation center of the prosthesis was symmetrical with the rotation center of the healthy lower limb. By analyzing the relationship between the torque and angle of hip joint in the process of human walking, the control system mirrored the motion parameters of the lower on the healthy side, and used the parallel drive system to provide assistance for the prosthesis. Based on the established virtual prototype simulation platform of solid works and Adams, the motion simulation of hip disarticulation prosthesis was carried out and the change curve was obtained. Through quantitative comparison with healthy lower limb and traditional prosthesis, the scientificity of the design scheme was analyzed. The results show that the design can achieve the desired effect, and the design scheme is feasible.
Objective To study the biological activity of recombinant adeno-associated virus vector (rAAV) coexpressing human vascular endothel ial growth factor165 (hVEGF165) and human bone morphogenetic protein 7 (hBMP-7) genes in vitro so as to provide a new method for the therapeutics of osteonecrosis. Methods The 3rd passage rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were transfected with rAAV-hVEGF165-internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-hBMP-7(experimental group) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) labeled rAAV-IRES-GFP (control group). The expressions ofhVEGF165 and hBMP-7 were detected by ELISA assay at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 14th days and Western blot assay at the14th day after transfection. The expression consistencies of hVEGF165 and hBMP-7 were observed by immunofluorescence assay at the 14th day after transfection. The biological activity of hVEGF165 was assessed by angiopoiesis experiment of the 3rd passage human umbil ical vein endothel ial cells (HUVEC). The biological activity of hBMP-7 was assessed by mineral ization of BMSCs detected by ALP staining and al izarin red staining. Results With infecting time, the hVEGF165 and hBMP-7 expressions increased gradually in two groups, showing significant difference between two groups (P lt; 0.05). The expressions of hVEGF165 and hBMP-7 were positive in experimental group and negative in control group, respectively. Immunofluorescence assay showed positive expressions of hVEGF165 and hBMP-7 in the exprimental group and negative expression in the control group, the expression of hVEGF165 and hBMP-7 had good consistencies. hVEGF165 secreted from BMSCs enhanced HUVEC migration, prol iferation and tube formation in experimental group. There was significant difference in the number of blood vessel between two groups (P lt; 0.05). The ALP staining showed more bly stained granules in experimental group than in control group. There was significant difference in the number of the mineral ized nodules between two groups (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The rAAV-hVEGF165-IRES-hBMP-7 has good biological activity in vitro.
OBJECTIVE To investigate the ectopic osteogenesis of bone marrow stromal cells (MSC) induced by bone morphogenetic protein(BMP) in vitro and in vivo, providing the experimental evidence for making an artificial bone with its own capacity of bone formation. METHODS MSC were separated and cultured from bone marrow of Wistar rats, MSC were co-cultured with BMP in vitro (cultured in plate and diffuse chamber). Artificial coral hydroxyapatites (CHA) with MSC and BMP were implanted into dorsal muscles of Wistar rats, their bone formation were observed by morphological examination, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Only cartilaginous matrix were produced by MSC in vitro (cultured in plate and diffuse chamber), and both cartilaginous and bone matrix production within the combined grafts were seen. The bone formation of experimental groups (CHA + BMP + MSC) was ber than that of control A(CHA + MSC) and control B(CHA). CONCLUSION It may be possible to produce an artificial bone with its own capacity of bone formation by combined graft (CHA + BMP + MSC). There may be multiple factors as well as BMP inducing bone formation both in the whole body and the location of the implantation. Further research on these factors will have the significance for making the ideal artificial bone.
To study the effect of autogeneic PRP on prol iferation and osteogenetic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in vitro. Methods ADSCs were isolated from adipose tissue obtained from donor undergoing l iposuction and were cultured, and growth condition of the cells was observed by inverted microscope. ADSCs at passage 3 were cultured in adipogenic or chondrogenic medium and underwent identification, immunofluorescence staining observations for CD29 and CD44 were performed. ADSCs at passage 3 were divided into 2 groups: PRP group cultured by osteogenic induction culture medium containing 10 mL/L PRP, and control group cultured by osteogenic induction culture medium without PRP. Then growth condition of the cells was observed by inverted microscope. MTT method was used to observe cell prol iferation activity 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days after culture. ALP activity detection was conducted 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after culture. ALP staining was performed on PRP group 7 and 14 days after culture. Al izarin red staining was performed on PRP group 14 days after culture to detect the formation of calcium nodule. Results Under the inverted microscope, most ADSCs at passage 3 were spindle-shaped and the doubl ing time was about 35 hours. Adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation were confirmed, and the cells were positive for CD29 and CD44 immunofluorescence staining. MTT method revealed the absorbance value of PRP group at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days was 0.137 ± 0.015, 0.219 ± 0.023, 0.367 ± 0.031, 0.586 ± 0.039 and 0.948 ± 0.046, respectively, and in the control group, it was 0.081 ± 0.009, 0.115 ± 0.012, 0.162 ± 0.017, 0.242 ± 0.025 and 0.356 ± 0.032, respectively, suggesting there were significant differences between two groups (P lt; 0.01). At 7 days after osteogenic induction, PRP group was positive for ALP staining, grey-black cell plasm and black precipitate were evident; the positive cells increased
ObjectiveTo compare the osteogenic effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transfected by adenovirus-bone morphogenetic protein 2-internal ribosome entry site-hypoxia inducible factor 1αmu (Ad-BMP-2-IRES-HIF-1αmu) and by Ad-cytomegalovirus (CMV)-BMP-2-IRES-human renilla reniformis green fluorescent protein 1 (hrGFP-1) single gene so as to optimize the source of osteoblasts. MethodsBMSCs were separated and cultured from 1-month-old New Zealand white rabbit. The BMSCs at passage 3 were transfected by virus. The experiment was divided into 4 groups (groups A, B, C, and D) according to different virus: BMSCs were transfected by Ad-BMP-2-IRES-HIF-1αmu in group A, by Ad-CMV-BMP-2-IRES-hrGFP-1 in group B, by Ad-CMV-IRES-hrGFP-1 in group C, and BMSCs were not transfected in group D. The optimum multiplicity of infection (MOI) (50, 100, 150, and 200) was calculated and then the cells were transfected by the optimum MOI, respectively. The expression of BMP-2 gene was detected by immunohistochemistry staining after transfected, the expressions of BMP-2 protein and HIF-1α protein were detected by Western blot method. The osteogenic differentiation potential was detected by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and Alizarin red staining. ResultsThe optimum MOI of groups A, B, and C was 200, 150, and 100, respectively. The expression of BMP-2 was positive in groups A and B, and was negative in groups C and D by immunohistochemistry staining; the number of positive cells in group A was more than that in group B (P ﹤ 0.05). The expression of BMP-2 protein in groups A and B was significantly higher than that in groups C and D (P ﹤ 0.05), group A was higher than group B (P ﹤ 0.05). The expression of HIF-1α protein in group A was significantly higher than those in the other 3 groups (P ﹤ 0.05), no significant difference was found among the other 3 groups (P ﹥ 0.05). ALP activity in groups A and B was significantly higher than that in groups C and D (P ﹤ 0.05), group A was higher than group B (P ﹤ 0.05). Calcium nodules could be seen in groups A and B, but not in groups C and D; the number of calcium nodules in group A was higher than that in group B (P ﹤ 0.05). ConclusionThe expression of BMP-2 and osteogenic effect of BMSCs transfected by Ad-BMP-2-IRES-HIF-1αmu (double genes in single carrier) are higher than those of BMSCs transfected by Ad-CMV-BMP-2-IRES-hrGFP-1 (one gene in single carrier).