Role of Wnt5a in the proliferation of human glioblastoma cells.

Wnt5a operates as either a tumor suppressor or a tumor stimulator, according to tumor type. The functions of Wnt5a in human glioblastoma (GBM) have yet to be determined. We initially evaluated the expression of Wnt5a in human glioma. The results of immunohistochemical analyses have revealed that Wnt5a expression was higher in human GBM than in normal brain tissue and low-grade astrocytoma. In order to assess the role of Wnt5a on proliferation in human glioblastoma cells, we employed U87MG and GBM-05, a newly established GBM cell line. GBM-05 was established from a patient diagnosed with GBM. GBM-05 cells were shown to express Nestin, but did not express GFAP and Map2ab. GBM-05 cells formed infiltrating brain tumors after being intracerebrally transplanted into nude mice, and xenotransplanted GBM-05 cells were observed to differentiate into neuronal and astrocyte lineages. Wnt5a expression in the xenotransplanted tumors was higher than that detected in the surrounding brain tissues. The overexpression of Wnt5a increased the proliferation of GBM-05 and U87MG in vitro. By way of contrast, the downregulation of Wnt5a expression as the result of RNA interference reduced proliferation from GBM-05 and U87MG cells in vitro, and reduced tumorigenicity in vivo. Our data indicate that Wnt5a signaling is an important regulator in the proliferation of human glioma cells.

Differentiation of human adipose stromal cells into hepatic lineage in vitro and in vivo.

Embryonic stem cells (ES cells), bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and hepatic stem cells in liver have been known as a useful source that can induce to differentiate into hepatocytes. In this study, we examined whether human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (hADSC) can differentiate into hepatic lineage in vitro. hADSC, that were induced to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells by the treatment of HGF and OSM, had morphology similar to hepatocytes. Addition of DMSO enhanced differentiation into hepatocytes. RT-PCR and immunocytochemical analysis showed that hADSC express albumin and alpha-fetoprotein during differentiation. Differentiated hADSC showed LDL uptake and production of urea. Additionally, transplanted hADSC to CCl4-injured SCID mouse model were able to be differentiated into hepatocytes and they expressed albumin in vivo. Mesenchymal stem cells isolated from human adipose tissue are immunocompatible and are easily isolated. Therefore, hADSC may become an alternative source to hepatocyte regeneration or liver cell transplantation.

Expression of telomerase extends longevity and enhances differentiation in human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells.

Human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs) are defined as pluripotent progenitor cells with the ability to differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrochytes, adipocytes, muscle cells, and neural cells. Recently, it has been shown that telomerase expression not only extends the replicative life-span and maintains their bone-forming capability of hBMSCs. We previously reported that human adipose tissue stromal cells (hATSCs) have similar characteristics with hBMSCs. In this study, hATSCs were stably tranduced by a retrovirus containing the gene for the catalytic subunit of human telomerase (hTERT) and MSCV-neo retrovirus, and 12 clones for hTERT-hATSCs and 6 clones for MSCV-hATSCs were isolated. The tranduced clones (hATSC-TERTs) had high telomerase activity, which was maintained during subsequent subcultivation. The transduced cells of two representative clones have undergone more than 100 population doublings (PD) and continue to proliferate, whereas control cells underwent senescence-associated proliferation arrest after 36-40 PD. The cells had a normal karyotype, and increased differentiation potential, especially osteogenic lineage. Intraventricular injection of hATSC-TERTs in ischemic rat brain showed enhancement of functional recovery as like hATSC-MSCVs. The tissue engraftment of hATSCs and hTERT-hATSCs in NOD/SCID mice after intravenous administration was identical. These results further support a similarity between hBMSCs and hATSCs. hATSCs can be used as an alternative of pluripotent stromal cells for cell replacement therapy as like hBMSCs.