Induced pluripotent stem cells attenuate chronic allogeneic vasculopathy in an integrin beta-1-dependent manner.

This study aimed to determine the mechanism of isogeneic-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) homing to vascular transplants and their therapeutic effect on chronic allogeneic vasculopathy. We found that integrin ß1 (Intgß1) was the dominant integrin ß unit in iPSCs that mediates the adhesion of circulatory and endothelial cells (ECs). Intgß1 knockout or Intgß1-siRNAs inhibit iPSC adhesion and migration across activated endothelial monolayers. The therapeutic effects of the following were examined: iPSCs, Intgß1-knockout iPSCs, iPSCs transfected with Intgß1-siRNAs or nontargeting siRNAs, iPSC-derived ECs, iPSC-derived ECs simultaneously overexpressing Intgα4 and Intgß1, iPSCs precultured in endothelial medium for 3 days (endothelial-prone stem cells), primary aortic ECs, mouse embryonic fibroblasts, and phosphate-buffered saline (control). The cells were administered every 3 days for a period of 8 weeks. iPSCs, iPSCs transfected with nontargeting siRNAs, and endothelial-prone stem cells selectively homed on the luminal surface of the allografts, differentiated into ECs, and decreased neointimal proliferation. Through a single administration, we found that iPSCs trafficked to allograft lesions, differentiated into ECs within 1 week, and survived for 4-8 weeks. The therapeutic effect of a single administration was moderate. Thus, Intgß1 and pluripotency are essential for iPSCs to treat allogeneic vasculopathy.

Pre-existing interleukin 10 in cerebral arteries attenuates subsequent brain injury caused by ischemia/reperfusion.

Recurrent stroke is difficult to treat and life threatening. Transfer of anti-inflammatory gene is a potential gene therapy strategy for ischemic stroke. Using recombinant adeno-associated viral vector 1 (rAAV1)-mediated interleukin 10 (IL-10), we investigated whether transfer of beneficial gene into the rat cerebral vessels during interventional treatment for initial stroke could attenuate brain injury caused by recurrent stroke. Male Wistar rats were administered rAAV1-IL-10, rAAV1-YFP, or saline into the left cerebral artery. Three weeks after gene transfer, rats were subjected to occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery (MCAO) for 45 min followed by reperfusion for 24 h. IL-10 levels in serum were significantly elevated 3 weeks after rAAV1-IL-10 injection, and virus in the cerebral vessels was confirmed by in situ hybridization. Pre-existing IL-10 but not YFP decreased the neurological dysfunction scores, brain infarction volume, and the number of injured neuronal cells. AAV1-IL-10 transduction increased heme oxygenase (HO-1) mRNA and protein levels in the infarct boundary zone of the brain. Thus, transduction of the IL-10 gene in the cerebral artery prior to ischemia attenuates brain injury caused by ischemia/reperfusion in rats. This preventive approach for recurrent stroke can be achieved during interventional treatment for initial stroke.

Intermode beating mode-locking technique for O-band mixed-cascaded Raman fiber lasers.

A novel intermode beating mode-locking (IBML) technique combined with a cascaded Raman process is proposed to mode-lock an O-band two-cascaded Raman fiber laser. Using a 980-m-long phosphosilicate fiber pumped by a 1064 nm laser, the second-order Raman oscillation at 1319 nm is generated by the mixed-cascaded Raman shifts of P2O5 and SiO2. By precisely matching the intermode beating frequencies of the 1064 nm pump laser and the second-order Raman cavity frequency, harmonic mode-locking at 1319 nm is initiated. The dynamic process of the IBML operation in the cascaded Raman laser is experimentally investigated. The 131st-order harmonic mode-locking with a repetition rate of 27.247 MHz is very stable with the radio-frequency (RF) signal-to-noise ratio of >56 dB and the RF supermode-suppression ratio of >43 dB. The mode-locked pulses with the square profile are confirmed as the noise-like pulses by an autocorrelator. The IBML technique, in combination with the cascaded Raman process, could offer an exciting new prospect for obtaining simple, compact, and arbitrary-wavelength mode-locked laser sources.

Direct in vivo application of induced pluripotent stem cells is feasible and can be safe.

Increasing evidence suggests the consensus that direct in vivo application of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is infeasible may not be true. Methods: Teratoma formation and fate were examined in 53 normal and disease conditions involving brain, lung, liver, kidney, islet, skin, hind limb, and arteries. Results: Using classic teratoma generation assays, which require iPSCs to be congregated and confined, all mouse, human, and individualized autologous monkey iPSCs tested formed teratoma, while iPSC-derived cells did not. Intravenously or topically-disseminated iPSCs did not form teratomas with doses up to 2.5×108 iPSCs/kg and observation times up to 18 months, regardless of host tissue type; autologous, syngeneic, or immune-deficient host animals; presence or absence of disease; disease type; iPSC induction method; commercial or self-induced iPSCs; mouse, human, or monkey iPSCs; frequency of delivery; and sex. Matrigel-confined, but not PBS-suspended, syngeneic iPSCs delivered into the peritoneal cavity or renal capsule formed teratomas. Intravenously administered iPSCs were therapeutic with a dose as low as 5×106/kg and some iPSCs differentiated into somatic cells in injured organs. Disseminated iPSCs trafficked into injured tissue and survived significantly longer in injured than uninjured organs. In disease-free animals, no intravenously administered cell differentiated into an unwanted long-lasting cell or survived as a quiescent stem cell. In coculture, the stem cell medium and dominant cell-type status were critical for iPSCs to form cell masses. Conclusion: Teratoma can be easily and completely avoided by disseminating the cells. Direct in vivo iPSC application is feasible and can be safe.

Heme oxygenase-1 mediated memorial and revivable protective effect of ischemic preconditioning on brain injury.

AIMS: Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) has short-term benefits for stroke patients. However, if IPC protective effect is memorial and the role of the intracellular protective protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is not known. METHODS: Ischemic preconditioning and the corresponding sham control were achieved by blocking the blood flow of the left internal carotid artery for 20 min and 2 second, respectively, in rats. Both IPC and sham-operated animals were divided into three groups and treated with PBS, the HO-1 inducer hemin, and the HO-1 inhibitor Znpp. Three weeks after IPC, brain ischemia-reperfusion injury was achieved by left middle cerebral artery obstruction for 45 min followed by 24-h reperfusion. RESULTS: 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining and neurological dysfunction scoring showed IPC significantly reduced brain infarct area and improved neurological function occurred 3 weeks after IPC. Hemin treatment promoted whereas ZnPP blocked the benefits of IPC. Immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting showed that the expression of HO-1 was higher in the border zone than in the necrotic core zone. The memorial IPC protection is independent of adenosine receptor A1R and A2aR expressions. CONCLUSIONS: We found for the first time that the protective effect of IPC can be remembered to protect brain injury occurred after acute response disappear. The results indicate that interventional treatment can achieve protective effect for future cerebral injury not only through interventional treatment itself but also through the memorial and revivable IPC, eliminating the concern that temporary ischemia caused by interventional treatment may leave harmful effect in the brain.