Comparison of long-term outcomes between imatinib and dasatinib prophylaxis after allogeneic stem cell transplantation in patients with Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Although the prognosis of Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) has improved with the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and stem cell transplantation, prevention of relapse after transplantation remains a concern. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of TKI prophylaxis with imatinib and dasatinib on long-term outcomes after transplantation. METHODS: Patients with Ph+ ALL who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) at first complete remission (CR1) and received TKI prophylaxis after allo-HSCT were included in this retrospective analysis. Two cohorts were established based on the choice of TKI prophylaxis: the imatinib (Ima) and dasatinib (Das) cohorts. The survival and safety outcomes of these cohorts were compared. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients in the Ima cohort and 50 in the Das cohort were included. After a median follow-up of 50.6 months, the 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse, nonrelapse mortality rate, and overall survival in the Ima and Das cohorts were 16.1% and 12.5%, 5.2% and 9.8%, and 86.5% and 77.6%, respectively, with no statistical differences. The cumulative incidence of mild chronic graft-versus-host disease was higher in the Das cohort. The most common adverse event was neutropenia (64.7% vs. 69.5%). The Das cohort had a higher incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding (25.5% vs. 2.3%) and gastrointestinal reaction (48.9% vs. 31.4%) than the Ima cohort. The proportion of patients treated on schedule was significantly lower in the Das cohort than in the Ima cohort, and drug intolerance was the main reason for protocol violation. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with Ph+ ALL undergoing allo-HSCT in CR1, imatinib prophylaxis achieved long-term outcomes similar to those of dasatinib.

Gábor Transform-Based Signal Isolation, Rapid Deconvolution, and Quantitation of Intact Protein Ions with Mass Spectrometry.

High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is a powerful technique for the characterization and quantitation of complex biological mixtures, with several applications including clinical monitoring and tissue imaging. However, these medical and pharmaceutical applications are pushing the analytical limits of modern HRMS techniques, requiring either further development in instrumentation or data processing methods. Here, we demonstrate new developments in the interactive Fourier-transform analysis for mass spectrometry (iFAMS) software including the first application of Gábor transform (GT) to protein quantitation. Newly added automation tools detect signals from minimal user input and apply thresholds for signal selection, deconvolution, and baseline correction to improve the objectivity and reproducibility of deconvolution. Additional tools were added to improve the deconvolution of highly complex or congested mass spectra and are demonstrated here for the first time. The "Gábor Slicer" enables the user to explore trends in the Gábor spectrogram with instantaneous ion mass estimates accurate to 10 Da. The charge adjuster allows for easy visual confirmation of accurate charge state assignments and quick adjustment if necessary. Deconvolution refinement utilizes a second GT of isotopically resolved data to remove common deconvolution artifacts. To assess the quality of deconvolution from iFAMS, several comparisons are made to deconvolutions using other algorithms such as UniDec and an implementation of MaxEnt in Agilent MassHunter BioConfirm. Lastly, the newly added batch processing and quantitation capabilities of iFAMS are demonstrated and compared to a common extracted ion chromatogram approach.

Recombinant human thrombopoietin improves platelet engraftment after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with aggressive lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: To explore the efficiency and safety of recombinant human thrombopoietin (TPO) on the platelet engraftment after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with aggressive lymphoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients were enrolled in a single-center, retrospective clinical trial from July 2019 with rhTPO administration when the platelet count ≤ 75 × 109/L after the reinfusion of stem cells. The hematopoietic reconstitution, platelet transfusion dependence, the cost and length of hospitalization, side effects and survival benefit were compared between the rhTPO group and the control group of 25 historic patients without rhTPO. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment in the rhTPO group was significantly higher since d+ 13 post-transplantation. But no difference of neutrophil engraftment was found. rhTPO was considered to influence the platelet engraftment independently by multivariate analysis. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that when the patients were older than 45 years old, male, at stage-IV as diagnosed and obtained PR after previous treatment, rhTPO was more recommended to facilitate platelet early engraftment after ASCT. Although rhTPO didn't relieve the dependency of platelet transfusion, patients had the shorter length of hospitalization. And better OS was shown in the rhTPO group. CONCLUSION: rhTPO improved platelet engraftment after ASCT with aggressive lymphoma, especially the ones older than 45 years old, male, at stage-IV as diagnosed and obtained PR after previous treatment. Although rhTPO didn't lessen platelet transfusion dependence, the length and medical cost of hospitalization were reduced when rhTPO was involved. rhTPO was efficacy and safety which could be recommended after ASCT.

Mechanism of Action for an All-in-One Monoclonal Antibody Against Staphylococcus aureus Infection.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen associated with high mortality rates. The extensive use of antibiotics is associated with the rise of drug resistance, and exotoxins are not targeted by antibiotics. Therefore, monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy has emerged as a promising solution to solve the clinical problems caused by refractory S aureus. Recent research suggests that the synergistic effects of several cytotoxins, including bicomponent toxins, are critical to the pathogenesis of S aureus. By comparing the amino acid sequences, researchers found that α-toxin and bicomponent toxins have high homology. Therefore, we aimed to screen an antibody, designated an all-in-one mAb, that could neutralize α-toxin and bicomponent toxins through hybridoma fusion. We found that this mAb has a significant pharmacodynamic effect within in vivo mouse models and in vitro experiments.

miR-223-3p carried by cancer-associated fibroblast microvesicles targets SORBS1 to modulate the progression of gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) aggravate gastric cancer (GC) development. METHODS: Combined with bioinformatics analysis and literature review, miR-223-3p had high expression in microvesicles (MVs) derived from GC CAFs, and it could modulate SORBS1. miR-223-3p and SORBS1 mRNA levels were assessed by qRT-PCR. The levels of CAFs markers, MVs markers, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated proteins, and SORBS1 protein were assessed by western blot. MVs isolated from fibroblasts were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Combined with immunofluorescence and co-culture experiments, GC cells were determined to absorb MVs carrying miR-223-3p. Cell functions were measured using CCK-8, transwell, flow cytometry and colony formation assays. The binding of miR-223-3p and SORBS1 was determined by dual-luciferase assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. The cancer-promoting effect of MVs carrying miR-223-3p on experimental animals was verified in vivo by tumor-bearing experiment in nude mice. RESULTS: miR-223-3p was upregulated in the MVs secreted by GC CAFs and could be transmitted to GC cells through MVs, to boost the malignant progression of tumor cells. Additionally, it was also revealed that miR-223-3p targeted SORBS1 and accelerated progression along with EMT in GC. CONCLUSIONS: CAFs-derived MVs could carry miR-223-3p to GC cells to target SORBS1, thereby promoting the malignant progression of GC.

An eco-friendly extraction and purification method of nuciferine from Folium nelumbinis with p-sulfonatocalix[6]arenes.

INTRODUCTION: Folium nelumbinis is used as vegetable, functional food and herbal medicine in Asia. p-Sulfonatocalix[6]arene (SC6A) is a water-soluble supramolecular macrocycle and has never been applied to the extraction of herbal products. OBJECTIVE: In this study, SC6A-assisted extraction of nuciferine from Folium nelumbinis has been carried out to develop an eco-friendly extraction process with high extraction efficacy and easy operation. METHODS: Single-factor experiments were adopted to obtain the optimal conditions for the SC6A-assisted extraction of nuciferine from Folium nelumbinis, and then nuciferine and SC6A were separated easily by one-step alkalization. The host-guest complexes between nuciferine and SC6A were analyzed by competitive fluorescence titration, DSC, FT-IR and 1 H-NMR. RESULTS: The optimal SC6A/Folium nelumbinis/solution ratio for extraction was 0.4:1:20 (g/g/mL), with a granulometric fraction below 180 µm and an extraction time of 1 h with soaking. The purity and recovery of nuciferine extracted with SC6A were increased 29.24 and 35.73 times compared with extraction with aqueous solution, respectively. Moreover, a good reusability of SC6A in the extraction of nuciferine was demonstrated. Competitive fluorescence titration, DSC, FT-IR and 1 H-NMR characterization indicated that SC6A could form host-guest complexes with nuciferine at a ratio of 1:1. CONCLUSION: The study provided an eco-friendly, safe and effective nuciferine extraction method, which can be used for the development of nutrition supplements containing nuciferine.

A Rare Case of Tongue Neoplasia Treated Successfully in a Patient With B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

ABSTRACT: Abnormal change on the tongue is a potential complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The exact pathogenesis remains unclear and several risk factors include chemoradiotherapy, infection, graft-versus-host disease, disease relapse, and secondary malignancy. Our case described a 42-year-old woman with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated by allo-HSCT 2 months later followed by a rare and atypical tongue neoplasia without oral pain, dysphagia, and dysgeusia. The biopsy was operated which showed granulation tissue with no evidence on typical graft-versus-host disease or malignancy, and no specific infection had been identified. Cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil, which were used for immunosuppression after allo-HSCT accompanying with the rapid growth of the tongue neoplasia, was then replaced by sirolimus. One month later, the patient underwent a complete remission unexpectedly.

Amino acids are sensitive glucagon receptor-specific biomarkers for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor/glucagon receptor dual agonists.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate amino acids as glucagon receptor (GCGR)-specific biomarkers in rodents and cynomolgus monkeys in the presence of agonism of both glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP1R) and GCGR with a variety of dual agonist compounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary hepatocytes, rodents (normal, diet-induced obese and GLP1R knockout) and cynomolgus monkeys were treated with insulin (hepatocytes only), glucagon (hepatocytes and cynomolgus monkeys), the GLP1R agonist, dulaglutide, or a variety of dual agonists with varying GCGR potencies. RESULTS: A long-acting dual agonist, Compound 2, significantly decreased amino acids in both wild-type and GLP1R knockout mice in the absence of changes in food intake, body weight, glucose or insulin, and increased expression of hepatic amino acid transporters. Dulaglutide, or a variant of Compound 2 lacking GCGR agonism, had no effect on amino acids. A third variant with ~31-fold less GCGR potency than Compound 2 significantly decreased amino acids, albeit to a significantly lesser extent than Compound 2. Dulaglutide (with saline infusion) had no effect on amino acids, but an infusion of glucagon dose-dependently decreased amino acids on the background of GLP1R engagement (dulaglutide) in cynomolgus monkeys, as did Compound 2. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that amino acids are sensitive and translatable GCGR-specific biomarkers.

Development of Native MS Capabilities on an Extended Mass Range Q-TOF MS.

Native mass spectrometry (nMS) is increasingly used for studies of large biomolecules (>100 kDa), especially proteins and protein complexes. The growth in this area can be attributed to advances in native electrospray ionization as well as instrumentation that is capable of accessing high mass-to-charge (m/z) regimes without significant losses in sensitivity and resolution. Here, we describe modifications to the ESI source of an Agilent 6545XT Q-TOF MS that is tailored for analysis of large biomolecules. The modified ESI source was evaluated using both soluble and membrane protein complexes ranging from ~127 to ~232 kDa and the ~801 kDa protein chaperone GroEL. The increased mass resolution of the instrument affords the ability to resolve small molecule adducts and analyze collision-induced dissociation products of the native complexes.

Cynomolgus Monkey as a Clinically Relevant Model to Study Transport Involving Renal Organic Cation Transporters: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation.

Organic cation transporter (OCT) 2, multidrug and toxin extrusion protein (MATE) 1, and MATE2K mediate the renal secretion of various cationic drugs and can serve as the loci of drug-drug interactions (DDI). To support the evaluation of cynomolgus monkey as a surrogate model for studying human organic cation transporters, monkey genes were cloned and shown to have a high degree of amino acid sequence identity versus their human counterparts (93.7, 94.7, and 95.4% for OCT2, MATE1, and MATE2K, respectively). Subsequently, the three transporters were individually stably expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells and their properties (substrate selectivity, time course, pH dependence, and kinetics) were found to be comparable to the corresponding human form. For example, six known human cation transporter inhibitors, including pyrimethamine (PYR), showed generally similar IC50 values against the monkey transporters (within sixfold). Consistent with the in vitro inhibition of metformin (MFM) transport by PYR (IC50 for cynomolgus OCT2, MATE1, and MATE2K; 1.2 ± 0.38, 0.17 ± 0.04, and 0.25 ± 0.04 µM, respectively), intravenous pretreatment of monkeys with PYR (0.5 mg/kg) decreased the clearance (54 ± 9%) and increased in the area under the plasma concentration-time curve of MFM (AUC ratio versus control = 2.23; 90% confidence interval of 1.57 to 3.17). These findings suggest that the cynomolgus monkey may have some utility in support of in vitro-in vivo extrapolations (IVIVEs) involving the inhibition of renal OCT2 and MATEs. In turn, cynomolgus monkey-enabled IVIVEs may inform human DDI risk assessment.

4-Chlorbenzoyl Berbamine, a Novel Derivative of the Natural Product Berbamine, Potently Inhibits the Growth of Human Myeloma Cells by Modulating the NF-κB and JNK Signalling Pathways.

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable despite the development and the use of new agents. In our studies, we found that 4-chlorbenzoyl berbamine (BBMD9), a novel synthetic derivative of berbamine, inhibited the proliferation of MM cells in dose- and time-dependent manners. Flow cytometric (FCM) analysis revealed that MM cells were arrested in the G1 phase and that apoptotic cells increased in a time-dependent manner. Moreover, the BBMD9 treatment downregulated IKKα and IKKß, inhibited p-IκBα, and blocked p65 nuclear localization. Consistently, NF-κB downstream targets, such as cyclinD1 and survivin, were also reduced. In addition, BBMD9 phosphorylated the activity of JNK and c-Jun.

Disruption of BSEP Function in HepaRG Cells Alters Bile Acid Disposition and Is a Susceptive Factor to Drug-Induced Cholestatic Injury.

In the present study, we characterized in vitro biosynthesis and disposition of bile acids (BAs) as well as hepatic transporter expression followed by ABCB11 (BSEP) gene knockout in HepaRG cells (HepaRG-KO cells). BSEP KO in HepaRG cells led to time-dependent BA accumulation, resulting in reduced biosynthesis of BAs and altered BA disposition. In HepaRG-KO cells, the expression of NTCP, OATP1B1, OATP2B1, BCRP, P-gp, and MRP2 were reduced, whereas MRP3 and OCT1 were up-regulated. As a result, BSEP KO altered the disposition of BAs and subsequently underwent adaptive regulations of BA synthesis and homeostasis to enable healthy growth of the cells. Although BSEP inhibitors caused no or slight increase of BAs in HepaRG wild type cells (HepaRG-WT cells), excessive intracellular accumulation of BAs was observed in HepaRG-KO cells exposed to bosentan and troglitazone, but not dipyridamole. LDH release in the medium was remarkably increased in HepaRG-KO cultures exposed to troglitazone (50 µM), suggesting drug-induced cellular injury. The results revealed that functional impairment of BSEP predisposes the cells to altered BA disposition and is a susceptive factor to drug-induced cholestatic injury. In total, BSEP inhibition might trigger the processes but is not a sole determinant of cholestatic cellular injury. As intracellular BA accumulation is determined by BSEP function and the subsequent adaptive gene regulation, assessment of intracellular BA accumulation in HepaRG-KO cells could be a useful approach to evaluate drug-induced liver injury (DILI) potentials of drugs that could disrupt other BA homeostasis pathways beyond BSEP inhibition.

Polyphyllin I induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human myeloma cells via modulating ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an indolent B-cell disease characterized by clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells. Multiple myeloma remains incurable despite new targeted drugs and development of drug resistance or intolerable toxicity emerges as a major problem. Therefore, design, identification, and validation of novel chemicals with therapeutic potential are clearly needed for MM treatment. Here, we explore polyphyllin I (PPI), a major active constituent extracted from Paris polyphyllin, its inhibitory effects and its mechanisms in MM cells in vitro. We found that PPI inhibited the proliferation of myeloma cells. The combination of PPI with dexamethasone, doxorubicin, arsenic trioxide, or bortezomib enhanced the inhibition of cell growth. As analyzed by flow cytometry, MM cells were arrested at G2/M phase and apoptotic cells increased in a time-dependent manner. Morphological changes of cells undergoing apoptosis were observed under light microscope. To explore the mechanism of apoptosis induced by PPI, we next examined whether the Wingless-Int (Wnt)/ß-catenin signaling pathway played a role in the PPI-induced growth inhibition in MM cells. The canonical Wnt signaling pathway is activated in MM cells through constitutively active ß-catenin, a messenger molecule relevant to growth, survival, and migration of MM cells. Western blotting was used to measure the protein levels of ß-catenin, and PPI treatment led to downregulating the expression of ß-catenin protein and was followed by inhibition of ß-catenin nuclear localization. As a result, ß-catenin downstream targets, such as cyclin D1 and survivin, were downregulated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report identifying anti-proliferative potency of PPI against myeloma cells. PPI blocks ß-catenin nuclear translocation and decreasing expression of the downstream targets of ß-catenin. Our results suggest that PPI is a novel inhibitor of ß-catenin activity with potential anti-myeloma efficacy.

A nonradioactive approach to investigate the metabolism of therapeutic peptides by tagging with 127i and using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis.

The metabolic fate of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) fragment 4-10 (4-10) was evaluated following incorporation of a nonradioactive (127)I-tag and with selective detection of I(+) at m/z 127 by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). (127)I has all the advantages of radioactive (125)I as a metabolite tracer and, together with its detection in the femtogram range, has led to a successful metabolite profiling of (127)I-ACTH (4-10) in vitro. The observed metabolic stability of this peptide in tissue preparations from human was plasma > kidney S9 > liver microsomes > liver cytosol, liver S9. Metabolic turnover of (127)I-ACTH (4-10) was not NADPH-dependent and, together with inhibition by protease inhibitor cocktail and EDTA, is consistent with metabolism exclusively by proteases. Our preliminary studies using chemical inhibitors suggested the involvement of metalloprotease, serine peptidase, and aminopeptidase in (127)I-ACTH (4-10) metabolism. The liver is the primary site of metabolic clearance of (127)I-ACTH (4-10), with kidney S9 taking four times longer to produce a metabolite profile comparable to that produced by liver S9. A total of six metabolites retaining the (127)I-tag was detected by ICP-MS, and their structures were elucidated using a LTQ/Orbitrap. (127)I-ACTH (4-10) underwent both N- and C-terminal proteolysis to produce (127)I-Phe as the major metabolite. The (127)I-tag had minimal effect on the metabolic turnover and site of proteolysis of ACTH (4-10), which, together with ICP-MS providing essentially equimolar responses, suggests that the use of a (127)I-tag may have general utility as an alternative to radioiodination to investigate the metabolism of peptide therapeutics.

Characterization of Organic Anion Transporter 2 (SLC22A7): A Highly Efficient Transporter for Creatinine and Species-Dependent Renal Tubular Expression.

The contribution of organic anion transporter OAT2 (SLC22A7) to the renal tubular secretion of creatinine and its exact localization in the kidney are reportedly controversial. In the present investigation, the transport of creatinine was assessed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells that stably expressed human OAT2 (OAT2-HEK) and isolated human renal proximal tubule cells (HRPTCs). The tubular localization of OAT2 in human, monkey, and rat kidney was characterized. The overexpression of OAT2 significantly enhanced the uptake of creatinine in OAT2-HEK cells. Under physiologic conditions (creatinine concentrations of 41.2 and 123.5 µM), the initial rate of OAT2-mediated creatinine transport was approximately 11-, 80-, and 80-fold higher than OCT2, multidrug and toxin extrusion protein (MATE)1, and MATE2K, respectively, resulting in approximately 37-, 1850-, and 80-fold increase of the intrinsic transport clearance when normalized to the transporter protein concentrations. Creatinine intracellular uptake and transcellular transport in HRPTCs were decreased in the presence of 50 µM bromosulfophthalein and 100 µM indomethacin, which inhibited OAT2 more potently than other known creatinine transporters, OCT2 and multidrug and toxin extrusion proteins MATE1 and MATE2K (IC50: 1.3 µM vs. > 100 µM and 2.1 µM vs. > 200 µM for bromosulfophthalein and indomethacin, respectively) Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that OAT2 protein was localized to both basolateral and apical membranes of human and cynomolgus monkey renal proximal tubules, but appeared only on the apical membrane of rat proximal tubules. Collectively, the findings revealed the important role of OAT2 in renal secretion and possible reabsorption of creatinine and suggested a molecular basis for potential species difference in the transporter handling of creatinine.

Bile salt export pump is dysregulated with altered farnesoid X receptor isoform expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

UNLABELLED: As a canalicular bile acid effluxer, the bile salt export pump (BSEP) plays a vital role in maintaining bile acid homeostasis. BSEP deficiency leads to severe cholestasis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in young children. Regardless of the etiology, chronic inflammation is the common pathological process for HCC development. Clinical studies have shown that bile acid homeostasis is disrupted in HCC patients with elevated serum bile acid level as a proposed marker for HCC. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we found that BSEP expression was severely diminished in HCC tissues and markedly reduced in adjacent nontumor tissues. In contrast to mice, human BSEP was regulated by farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in an isoform-dependent manner. FXR-α2 exhibited a much more potent activity than FXR-α1 in transactivating human BSEP in vitro and in vivo. The decreased BSEP expression in HCC was associated with altered relative expression of FXR-α1 and FXR-α2. FXR-α1/FXR-α2 ratios were significantly increased, with undetectable FXR-α2 expression in one third of the HCC tumor samples. A similar correlation between BSEP and FXR isoform expression was confirmed in hepatoma Huh7 and HepG2 cells. Further studies showed that intrahepatic proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), were significantly elevated in HCC tissues. Treatment of Huh7 cells with IL-6 and TNF-α resulted in a marked increase in FXR-α1/FXR-α2 ratio, concurrent with a significant decrease in BSEP expression. CONCLUSION: BSEP expression is severely diminished in HCC patients associated with alteration of FXR isoform expression induced by inflammation. Restoration of BSEP expression through suppressing inflammation in the liver may reestablish bile acid homeostasis.

Acetylcholine-triggered cargo release from supramolecular nanovalves based on different macrocyclic receptors.

Acetylcholine (ACh), a neurotransmitter located in cholinergic synapses, can trigger cargo release from mesoporous silica nanoparticles equipped with calixarene- or pillarene-based nanovalves by removing macrocycles from the stalk components. The amount and speed of cargo release can be controlled by varying the concentration of ACh in solution or changing the type of gating macrocycle. Although this proof-of-concept study is far from a real-life application, it provides a possible route to treat diseases related to the central nervous system.

17ß-estradiol induces the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells by promoting the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

The process of hematopoiesis is associated with hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and the hematopoietic microenvironment. Osteoblasts, derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), are one of the most important components in the hematopoietic microenvironment. Osteoblasts secrete a variety of cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), thereby regulating the biological activities of HSCs. It has been shown that hematopoiesis dysfunction can be induced by estrogen-deficiency through the exhaustion of HSCs. However, the effect of estrogen on the proliferation of HSCs is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of estradiol in the process of hematopoiesis, especially regarding the proliferation of HSCs in vitro. Bone marrow-derived MSCs and HSCs were isolated from 3-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats. Mineralization ability and osteocalcin assays demonstrated that treatment with 17ß-estradiol (E2) significantly enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. HSCs and MSCs were then cocultured with or without E2 treatment. Colony forming assays demonstrated that E2 increased the number of colony forming units-granulocyte/macrophage in a dose-dependent manner when HSCs were co-cultured with MSCs in Osteogenic Medium that is suitable for the in vitro osteogenic differentiation. Further, increased concentrations of GM-CSF and IL-6 were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). These results indicate that E2 induces the proliferation of HSCs, which depends on the promotion of osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, and that process is mediated by both GM-CSF and IL-6.

Dermal Papilla Cells: From Basic Research to Translational Applications.

As an appendage of the skin, hair protects against ultraviolet radiation and mechanical damage and regulates body temperature. It also reflects an individual's health status and serves as an important method of expressing personality. Hair loss and graying are significant psychosocial burdens for many people. Hair is produced from hair follicles, which are exclusively controlled by the dermal papilla (DP) at their base. The dermal papilla cells (DPCs) comprise a cluster of specialized mesenchymal cells that induce the formation of hair follicles during early embryonic development through interaction with epithelial precursor cells. They continue to regulate the growth cycle, color, size, and type of hair after the hair follicle matures by secreting various factors. DPCs possess stem cell characteristics and can be cultured and expanded in vitro. DPCs express numerous stemness-related factors, enabling them to be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using only two, or even one, Yamanaka factor. DPCs are an important source of skin-derived precursors (SKPs). When combined with epithelial stem cells, they can reconstitute skin and hair follicles, participating in the regeneration of the dermis, including the DP and dermal sheath. When implanted between the epidermis and dermis, DPCs can induce the formation of new hair follicles on hairless skin. Subcutaneous injection of DPCs and their exosomes can promote hair growth. This review summarizes the in vivo functions of the DP; highlights the potential of DPCs in cell therapy, particularly for the treatment of hair loss; and discusses the challenges and recent advances in the field, from basic research to translational applications.