Regulation of base excision repair during adipogenesis and osteogenesis of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Bone marrow-derived human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) can differentiate into various lineages, such as chondrocytes, adipocytes, osteoblasts, and neuronal lineages. It has been shown that the high-efficiency DNA-repair capacity of hMSCs is decreased during their differentiation. However, the underlying its mechanism during adipogenesis and osteogenesis is unknown. Herein, we investigated how alkyl-damage repair is modulated during adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation, especially focusing on the base excision repair (BER) pathway. Response to an alkylation agent was assessed via quantification of the double-strand break (DSB) foci and activities of BER-related enzymes during differentiation in hMSCs. Adipocytes showed high resistance against methyl methanesulfonate (MMS)-induced alkyl damage, whereas osteoblasts were more sensitive than hMSCs. During the differentiation, activities, and protein levels of uracil-DNA glycosylase were found to be regulated. In addition, ligation-related proteins, such as X-ray repair cross-complementing protein 1 (XRCC1) and DNA polymerase ß, were upregulated in adipocytes, whereas their levels and recruitment declined during osteogenesis. These modulations of BER enzyme activity during differentiation influenced DNA repair efficiency and the accumulation of DSBs as repair intermediates in the nucleus. Taken together, we suggest that BER enzymatic activity is regulated in adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation and these alterations in the BER pathway led to different responses to alkyl damage from those in hMSCs.

Immunomodulatory Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor Secreted by Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Atopic Dermatitis.

Background and Objectives: Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are emerging as a treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that affects a large number of people across the world. Treatment of AD using human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (hUCB-MSCs) has recently been studied. However, the mechanism underlying their effect needs to be studied continuously. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) secreted by hUCB-MSCs on AD. Methods and Results: To explore the mechanism involved in the therapeutic effect of MSCs for AD, a secretome array was performed using culture medium of hUCB-MSCs. Among the list of genes common for epithelium development and skin diseases, we focused on the function of EGF. To elucidate the effect of EGF secreted by hUCB-MSCs, EGF was downregulated in hUCB-MSCs using EGF-targeting small interfering RNA. These cells were then co-cultured with keratinocytes, Th2 cells, and mast cells. Depletion of EGF disrupted immunomodulatory effects of hUCB-MSCs on these AD-related inflammatory cells. In a Dermatophagoides farinae-induced AD mouse model, subcutaneous injection of hUCB-MSCs ameliorated gross scoring, histopathologic damage, and mast cell infiltration. It also significantly reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-4, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), and IL-22, as well as IgE levels. These therapeutic effects were significantly attenuated at all evaluation points in mice injected with EGF-depleted hUCB-MSCs. Conclusions: EGF secreted by hUCB-MSCs can improve AD by regulating inflammatory responses of keratinocytes, Th2 cells, and mast cells.

Antibacterial Copper-Doped Calcium Phosphate Glasses for Bone Tissue Regeneration.

Calcium phosphate glasses are a promising new generation of biomaterials that can simultaneously induce tissue regeneration and controlled release of therapeutic molecules. In this work, novel calcium phosphate glasses containing 0, 2, 4, and 6 mol % Cu2+ were synthesized via room temperature precipitation reaction in aqueous solution. The effect of Cu2+ addition on the glass properties and structure was investigated using thermal analysis, 31P solid-state MAS NMR, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. All glasses crystallize at temperature >500 °C and are mainly formed by Q1 groups. The release of P, Ca, and Cu in solution over time was monitored via inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. It was found that with increasing Cu content, the amount of P and Ca released decreases whereas the amount of Cu released increases. The effect of Cu2+ release on the antibacterial activity against S. aureus, a bacterial strain commonly found in postsurgery infections, has been investigated. The addition of copper has been shown to infer the glasses antibacterial properties. As expected, the antibacterial activity of the glasses increases with increasing Cu2+ content. Cytocompatibility was assessed by seeding human osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cells Saos-2 (HTB85) on the glass particles. A significant increase in cell number was observed in all the glasses investigated. The copper-doped calcium phosphate glasses have proven to be multifunctional, as they combine bone regenerative properties with antibacterial activity. Therefore, they have great potential as antibacterial bioresorbable materials for hard tissue regeneration.

A new s-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase-linked method for adenosine detection based on DNA-templated fluorescent Cu/Ag nanoclusters.

We herein describe a novel fluorescent method for the rapid and selective detection of adenosine by utilizing DNA-templated Cu/Ag nanoclusters (NCs) and employing s-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (SAHH). SAHH is allowed to promote hydrolysis reaction of s-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) and consequently produces homocysteine, which would quench the fluorescence signal from DNA-templated Cu/Ag nanoclusters employed as a signaling probe in this study. On the other hand, adenosine significantly inhibits the hydrolysis reaction and prevent the formation of homocysteine. Consequently, highly enhanced fluorescence signal from DNA-Cu/Ag NCs is retained, which could be used to identify the presence of adenosine. By employing this design principle, adenosine was sensitively detected down to 19nM with high specificity over other adenosine analogs such as AMP, ADP, ATP, cAMP, guanosine, cytidine, and urine. Finally, the diagnostic capability of this method was successfully verified by reliably detecting adenosine present in a real human serum sample.

An electrochemical one-step system for assaying methyltransferase activity based on transport of a quantum dot signaling tracer.

A one-step, electrochemical method for assaying methyltransferase (MTase) activity, based on the convective transport of a quantum dot (QD) signaling tracer, has been developed. The assay chip used in this system was prepared by modifying a gold matrix with CdSe/ZnS QD-tagged dsDNA, which contains a specific methylation site (5'-GATC-3') recognized by MTase. Treatment of the chip with DNA adenine methylation (Dam) MTase, generates a methylated sequence (5'-GAmTC-3') within the dsDNA. The methylated dsDNA is then subjected to a cleavage reaction, induced by DpnI, which leads to release from the gold matrix of a DNA fragment tethered to a QD. Detection of the released QD, using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode, enables the reliable quantitation of the methylated DNA. Because it is accomplished in a simple and convenient one step and does not require any complicated secondary or tedious washing steps, the new assay method holds great promise for epigenetic analysis in facility-limited environments or point-of-care testing (POCT) applications.

A nano complex of hydrophilic phthalocyanine and polyethylenimine for improved cellular internalization efficiency and phototoxicity.

To enhance the cellular internalization and phototoxicity of sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine (AlPcS), a hydrophilic photosensitizer (PS), nano complexes composed of a mixture of AlPcS (negatively charged) and polyethylenimine (PEI; positively charged) with different weight ratios of PEI to AlPcS were prepared via electrostatic interaction. The size of the PEI/AlPcS 0.6 (weight ratio=PEI/AlPcS) was below 200 nm with a monodispersed size distribution. The cellular uptake of the complex was determined using a fluorescence image test, a cell lysis test and confocal observation. The cellular internalization of AlPcS in the PEI/AlPcS 0.6 nano complex was 87 times higher than that of free AlPcS after 6h. The photoactivity of the nano complex, as measured by fluorescence intensity and singlet oxygen generation activity in PBS buffer, was completely eliminated by a self-quenching effect. After cellular uptake, the loss of the fluorescence intensity was restored by the dissociation of the nano complex. Additionally, the phototoxicity of the complex, both with and without light irradiation, was investigated using an MTT colorimetric assay. Although the free AlPcS did not exhibit phototoxicity, the nano complex showed strong phototoxicity after irradiation. Therefore, we suggest that the nano complex system has potential use in clinical photodynamic therapy and in the biological study of various cancers.