Fabrication of stents with endothelial function in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to fabricate stents with rabbit outgrowth endothelial progenitor cells (OECs) to facilitate their endothelial function in vitro. METHODS: Rabbit OECs were isolated from peripheral blood and identified by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Cells proliferation and migration were measured by growth curve and modified Boyden chamber assay. Adhesion assay was performed by replating cells on fibronectin-coated dishes. VEGF, G-CSF and NO in supernatant were tested. OECs were poured on fibronectin-coated or uncoated stents. After six days, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and inverted fluorescent microscopy observation were performed. RESULTS: About three to four weeks after culture, OECs were characterized as adherent cells which were double positive for Dil-acLDL uptake and FITC-UEA-I binding, with high expression of CD34. They also showed high ability of proliferation, adhesion and migration properties. Compared with uncoated stents, more OECs migrated and adhered onto fibronectin-coated stents. OECs seeding onto the fibronectin coated stents could secret more cytokine and NO. Endothelialization of coated stents was visible both under the SEM and inverted fluorescent microscope. CONCLUSIONS: OECs can differentiate to endothelial lineage and possess high ability of proliferation, migration and adhesion. It is feasible to fabricate OECs-seeded stents in vitro, while the stents coated with fibronectin facilitate this endothelialization process.

Beneficial Effects of Glycyrrhizin in Chronic Periodontitis Through the Inhibition of Inflammatory Response.

Elevated inflammatory cytokines and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) production are associated with chronic periodontitis (CP). Glycyrrhizin is the major constituent of Glycyrrhiza glabra. L. (Fabaceae) root with anti-inflammation activities. This study evaluated the effects of glycyrrhizin on CP. TNF-α-treated human periodontal ligament stem cell (hPDLSC) model was established, and was administrated with 1, 2 or 5 mM glycyrrhizin for 24 h. After treatment, the expression of HMGB1and inflammatory cytokines was monitored. Significantly increased HMGB1 (median: 5646.4, range: 1918.2-8233.7 vs median: 204.5, range: 98.7-283.6, pg/mL), TNF-α (median: 345.5, range: 161.0-567.9 vs median: 93.5, range: 58.1-159.3, pg/mL), IL-1ß (median: 2014.6, range: 209.5-4308.1 vs median: 224.5, range: 48.8-335.8, pg/mL) and IL-6 (median: 1223.6, range: 398.2-2183.8 vs median: 240.4, range: 105.2-400.5, pg/mL) were detected in gingival crevicular fluid from CP patients. Glycyrrhizin significantly prevented TNF-α-induced expression of HMGB1 (691.5 ± 136.4 vs 142.8 ± 57.3 pg/mL), IL-6 (388.1 ± 85.2 vs 189.4 ± 61.2 pg/mL) and IL-1ß (176.3 ± 47.2 vs 53.9 ± 25.7 pg/mL) in hPDLSC. In CP rats, glycyrrhizin significantly decreased HMGB1 (5795.6 ± 1121.5 vs 586.4 ± 436.8 pg/mL), TNF-α (421.8 ± 93.7 vs 87.9 ± 21.6 pg/mL), IL-6 (1423.8 ± 235.2 vs 622.6 ± 176.1 pg/mL) and IL-1ß (1562.8 ± 334.3 vs 733.5 ± 265.1 pg/mL) in gingival crevicular fluid. Glycyrrhizin suppresses inflammatory activities in CP rats and represents a promising molecule for controlling CP.

Noninvasive detection of macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions by computed tomography enhanced with PEGylated gold nanoparticles.

Macrophages are becoming increasingly significant in the progression of atherosclerosis (AS). Molecular imaging of macrophages may improve the detection and characterization of AS. In this study, dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles (Au DENPs) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FI) coatings were designed, tested, and applied as contrast agents for the enhanced computed tomography (CT) imaging of macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions. Cell counting kit-8 assay, fluorescence microscopy, silver staining, and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the FI-functionalized Au DENPs are noncytotoxic at high concentrations (3.0 µM) and can be efficiently taken up by murine macrophages in vitro. These nanoparticles were administered to apolipoprotein E knockout mice as AS models, which demonstrated that the macrophage burden in atherosclerotic areas can be tracked noninvasively and dynamically three-dimensionally in live animals using micro-CT. Our findings suggest that the designed PEGylated gold nanoparticles are promising biocompatible nanoprobes for the CT imaging of macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions and will provide new insights into the pathophysiology of AS and other concerned inflammatory diseases.