Hypoxia increases Sca-1/CD44 co-expression in murine mesenchymal stem cells and enhances their adipogenic differentiation potential.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are usually cultured under normoxic conditions (21% oxygen). However, in vivo, the physiological "niches" for MSCs have a much lower oxygen tension. Because of their plasticity, stem cells are particularly sensitive to their environments, and oxygen tension is one developmentally important stimulus in stem cell biology and plays a role in the intricate balance between cellular proliferation and commitment towards differentiation. Therefore, we investigated here the effect of hypoxia (2% oxygen) on murine adipose tissue (AT) MSC proliferation and adipogenic differentiation. AT cells were obtained from the omental fat and AT-MSCs were selected for their ability to attach to the plastic dishes, and were grown under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Prior exposure of MSCs to hypoxia led to a significant reduction of ex vivo expansion time, with significantly increased numbers of Sca-1(+) as well as Sca-1(+)/CD44(+)double-positive cells. Under low oxygen culture conditions, the AT-MSC number markedly increased and their adipogenic differentiation potential was reduced. Notably, the hypoxia-mediated inhibition of adipogenic differentiation was reversible: AT-MSCs pre-exposed to hypoxia when switched to normoxic conditions exhibited significantly higher adipogenic differentiation capacity compared to their pre-exposed normoxic-cultured counterparts. Accordingly, the expression of adipocyte-specific genes, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (Ppargamma), lipoprotein lipase (Lpl) and fatty acid binding protein 4 (Fabp4) were significantly enhanced in hypoxia pre-exposed AT-MSCs. In conclusion, pre-culturing MSCs under hypoxic culture conditions may represent a strategy to enhance MSC production, enrichment and adipogenic differentiation.

TRPA1 receptor localisation in the human peripheral nervous system and functional studies in cultured human and rat sensory neurons.

TRPA1 is a receptor expressed by sensory neurons, that is activated by low temperature (<17 degrees C) and plant derivatives such as cinnamaldehyde and isoeugenol, to elicit sensations including pain. Using immunohistochemistry, we have, for the first time, localised TRPA1 in human DRG neurons, spinal cord motoneurones and nerve roots, peripheral nerves, intestinal myenteric plexus neurones, and skin basal keratinocytes. TRPA1 co-localised with a subset of hDRG neurons positive for TRPV1, the heat and capsaicin receptor. The number of small/medium TRPA1 positive neurons (< or =50 microm) was increased after hDRG avulsion injury [percentage of cells, median (range): controls 16.5 (7-23); injured 46 (34-55); P<0.005], but the number of large TRPA1 neurons was unchanged [control 19.5 (13-31); injured 21 (11-35)]. Similar TRPA1 changes were observed in cultured hDRG neurons, after exposure to a combination of key neurotrophic factors NGF, GDNF and NT-3 (NTFs) in vitro. We used calcium imaging to examine responses of HEK cells transfected with hTRPA1 cDNA, and of human and rat DRG neurons cultured with or without added NTFs, to cinnamaldehyde (CA) and isoeugenol (IE). Exposure to NTFs in vitro sensitized cultured human sensory neuronal responses to CA; repeated CA exposure produced desensitisation. In rDRG neurons, low (225 microM) CA preincubation enhanced capsaicin responses, while high (450 microM and 2mM) CA caused inhibition which was partially reversed in the presence of 8 bromo cAMP, indicating receptor dephosphorylation. While TRPA1 localisation is more widespread than TRPV1, it represents a promising novel drug target for the treatment of chronic pain and hypersensitivity.

The cellular origin and proliferative status of regenerating renal parenchyma after mercuric chloride damage and erythropoietin treatment.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we have sought to establish the cellular origin and proliferative status of the renal parenchyma as it regenerates after damage induced by mercuric chloride, with or without erythropoietin treatments, that might alter the response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female mice were irradiated and male whole bone marrow was transplanted into them. Six weeks later recipient mice were assigned to one of four groups: control, mercuric chloride treated, erythropoietin treated and treated with mercuric chloride plus erythropoietin. RESULTS: Tubular injury scores were high 3 days after mercuric chloride and had recovered partially after 14 days, in line with serum urea nitrogen levels. Confocal microscopy confirmed the tubular location of bone marrow-derived cells. A 'four-in-one' analytical technique (identifying cell origin, tubular phenotype, tubular basement membranes and S-phase status) revealed that tubular necrosis increased bone marrow derivation of renal tubular epithelium from a baseline of approximately 1.3% to approximately 4.0%. Erythropoietin increased the haematocrit, but no other effects were detected. CONCLUSION: As 1 in 12 proximal tubular cells in S-phase was derived from bone marrow, we conclude that in the kidney, the presence of bone marrow-derived cells makes a minor but important regenerative contribution after tubular necrosis.

The effect of neurotrophic factors on morphology, TRPV1 expression and capsaicin responses of cultured human DRG sensory neurons.

We have studied the effect of key neurotrophic factors (NTFs) on morphology, levels of the vanilloid receptor-1 (TRPV1) and responses to capsaicin in adult human sensory neurons in vitro. Avulsed dorsal root ganglia (DRG, n = 5) were cultured with or without a combination of nerve growth factor (NGF), glial cell (line)-derived growth factor (GDNF) and neurotrophin3 (NT3) for 5 days. In the absence of NTFs, the diameter of neurons ranged from 20 to 100 microm (mean 42 +/- 4 microm). Adding NTFs caused a significant increase in neuronal sizes, up to 120 microm (mean diameter 62 +/- 5 microm, P < 0.01, t-test), an overall 35% increase of TRPV1-positive neurons (P < 0.003), and notably of large TRPV1-positive neurons > 80 microm (P < 0.05). Responses to capsaicin were significantly enhanced with calcium ratiometry (P < 0.0001). Short duration (1h) exposure of dissociated sensory neurons to NTFs increased numbers of TRPV1-positive neurons, but not of TRPV3, Nav 1.8 and IK1 and the morphological size-distribution remained similar to intact post-mortem DRG neurons. NTFs thus increase size, elevate TRPV1 levels and enhance capsaicin responses in cultured human DRG neurons; these changes may relate to pathophysiology in disease states, and provide an in vitro model to study novel analgesics.

12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) does not stimulate proliferation of human neonatal keratinocytes.

We have developed an assay to study the effect of drugs on the proliferation of neonatal human skin-derived keratinocytes in vitro. Expanding populations of neonatal keratinocytes were cultured in low concentrations (0.5%) of fetal calf serum for up to 12 d. Growth of the cultures was determined by measurement of DNA using a sensitive fluorimetric assay. Addition of 10(-9)-10(-6) M 12(RS)-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12(RS)-HETE) neither stimulated keratinocyte proliferation nor enhanced the incorporation of [3H]thymidine. The ability of neonatal keratinocytes in low serum medium to respond to exogenous factors was demonstrated by increased growth in response to a mixture of cholera toxin, hydrocortisone, and epidermal growth factor. Confluent keratinocyte cultures in 10% human AB serum exposed to 12(S)-HETE for 72 h also showed no changes in DNA, [3H]thymidine incorporation, or labeling index. Metabolism of 12(S)-[3H]HETE was greater in cultures containing low concentrations of serum but there was no evidence for the formation of 12,20-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid.

Circulating mesenchymal stem cells.

Mesenchymal precursor cells (MPCs) are multipotent cells capable of differentiating into various mesenchymal tissues, such as bone, cartilage, fat, tendon and muscle. They are present within both mesenchymal tissues and the bone marrow (BM). If marrow-derived MPCs are to have a role in repair and fibrosis of mesenchymal tissues, transit of these cells through the peripheral blood is to be expected. Although there is evidence for the existence of MPCs within the peripheral blood, results are debated and are not always reproducible. Variations in the methods of cell purification, culture and characterisation may explain the inconsistent results obtained in different studies.

Tomorrow's skeleton staff: mesenchymal stem cells and the repair of bone and cartilage.

Stem cells are regenerating medicine. Advances in stem cell biology, and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in particular, are demonstrating that many clinical options once thought to be science fiction may be attainable as fact. The extra- and intra-cellular signalling used by stem cells as they differentiate into lineages appropriate to their destination are becoming understood. Thus, the growth stimuli afforded by LIF, FGF-2 and HGF, as well as the complementary roles of Wnt and Dickkopf-1 in stem cell proliferation are evident. The ability to direct multi-lineage mesenchymal stem sell (MSC) potential towards an osteogenic phenotype by stimulation with Menin and Shh are important, as are the modulatory roles of Notch-1 and PPARgamma. Control of chondrocytic differentiation is effected by interplay of Brachyury, BMP-4 and TGFbeta3. Smads 1, 4 and 5 also play a role in these phenotypic expressions. The ability to culture MSC has led to their use in tissue repair, both as precursor and differentiated cell substitutes, and with successful animal models of bone and cartilage repair using MSC, their clinical use is accelerating. However, MSC also suppress some T-cell functions in transplanted hosts, and could facilitate tumour growth, so a cautious approach is needed.

Rolling in the clover: trefoil factor family (TFF)-domain peptides, cell migration and cancer.

Trefoil factor family (TFF)-domain peptides 1-3 are mucin-associated molecules, largely found in epithelia of gastrointestinal tissues. Structurally similar, resistant to enzymatic degradation, they are up-regulated around areas of epithelial damage such as ulcers. Transgenic expression or exogenous peptide ameliorates or prevents gastric mucosal damage due to indomethacin and some are rapidly up-regulated after cryogenic burns. A role in promoting cell migration is strongly suggested. Knockout mice lacking TFF1 or TFF3 show significant pathology, with the former developing gastric tumours. A recent Conference Philippe Laudat agreed upon a new nomenclature for these peptides.

Recipes for adult stem cell plasticity: fusion cuisine or readymade?

A large body of evidence supports the idea that certain adult stem cells, particularly those of bone marrow origin, can engraft at alternative locations, particularly when the recipient organ is damaged. Under strong and positive selection pressure these cells will clonally expand/differentiate, making an important contribution to tissue replacement. Similarly, bone marrow derived cells can be amplified in vitro and differentiated into many types of tissue. Despite seemingly irrefutable evidence for stem cell plasticity, a veritable chorus of detractors has emerged, some doubting its very existence, motivated perhaps by more than a little self interest. The issues that have led to this situation include the inability to reproduce certain quite startling observations, and extrapolation from the behaviour of embryonic stem cells to suggest that adult bone marrow cells simply fuse with other cells and adopt their phenotype. Although these issues need resolving and, accepting that cell fusion does appear to allow reprogramming of haemopoietic cells in special circumstances, criticising this whole new field because some areas remain unclear is not good science.

Trefoil factor family (TFF)-domain peptides in the mouse: embryonic gastrointestinal expression and wounding response.

Trefoil factor family (TFF)-domain peptides are mucin-associated molecules that play a role in maintaining gastrointestinal (GI) epithelial integrity. They are expressed in specific patterns in adult mammals, but their embryonic expression has not been clarified. Developmental TFF mRNA in mice was studied by non-isotopic whole mount in situ hybridization. All TFF's (1-3) were seen in the stomach from E13 to E16. TFF1 was gastric at E13, then spread to the small intestine (E15) and caecum on E16. Froin E19 TFF1 expression was gastric. TFF2 was gastric at E13, and absent in lower intestines till E17 when duodenal, small intestinal and caecal expression was seen. Afterwards, TFF2 was confined to the gastric region. TFF3 was in the stomach at E13. On E15 and 16 TFF3 was ubiquitous, except for E15 caecum. From E17, TFF3 was confined to small intestine and the distal gut. WOUNDS: E17 and 18 GI tissues were subjected to incisional wounds in vitro. TFF1 induction was seen only in stomach, after as short as 30 min incubation. TFF2 was only induced at E18 in the stomach. TFF3 was induced within 5 min in the rectum. No change in overall expression patterns were seen after wounding. CONCLUSIONS: TFF expression is developmentally controlled in the GI tract, and appears before mucous cell differentiation in several tissues. Gene regulation is predicted to be under different control(s) in utero compared with post-natal life. The response to incisional wounding of fetal GI tissue shows differences to the adult.

Molecular and cellular analysis of embryonic avian tongue development.

Signalling cascades first described in Drosophila have been found to regulate patterning and outgrowth in a number of structures in higher vertebrates. We sought to determine whether the evolutionarily conserved genes were important during the development of the tongue. In situ hybridisation was used to determine the temporo-spatial expression of a panel of conserved genes. Histological examination and incorporation of BrdU were used to determine the mechanism by which the tongue develops. We show that evolutionarily conserved genes were expressed in distinct dynamic patterns during tongue development. Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) and Patched (Ptc) were found only in the dorsal tongue epithelium. Shh expression was only observed in the suprabasal layers, whereas Ptc was observed in both basal and suprabasal layers. Cell division in the epithelium was concentrated in regions devoid of Shh. Expression of bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP) was identical to that of Shh. Shh and Ptc expression were never detected in the mesenchyme. Ectopic expression of Noggin (a potent antagonist of the BMPs) caused severe abnormalities in tongue morphology, including swelling of the mesenchymal component and a thickening of the epithelial layer. Data from this study suggests that the epithelium and mesenchyme express quite different genes during development. However BMP activity acts to inhibit growth in both tissues.

Allogeneic skin substitutes applied to burns patients.

Early re-surfacing of burn wounds remains the ideal but is limited by the availability of skin graft donor sites. Cultured grafts overcome these problems and autologous keratinocytes can be grown in culture and placed on a dermal substitute, but this results in delay and requires two operations. We developed an organotypic skin substitute, which achieves cover in one procedure, and have previously found allogeneic cell survival up to 2.5 years after grafting onto clean elective wounds (tattoo removal). Here, we report a short series using the same model applied to burns patients with less than 20% total body surface area affected. The skin substitutes consisted of allogeneic dermal fibroblasts embedded in a collagen gel overlain with allogeneic epidermal keratinocytes, and were grafted to patients with tangentially excised burns. A side-by-side comparison with meshed split-thickness autografts was performed. No grafts became infected. The allogeneic skin substitute showed little effective take at 1 week, and by 2 weeks only small islands of keratinocytes survived. These sites were subsequently covered with meshed split-thickness autograft, which took well. It is concluded that further development of this model is needed to overcome the hostile wound bed seen in burns patients.

Cytotoxicity of wound dressing materials assessed using cultured skin equivalents.

An in vitro system, based on the Bell model of cultured composite skin equivalents, was used to assess the effect of a number of wound dressing materials on DNA synthesis. DNA synthesis was quantified using immunocytohistochemical identification of incorporated bromodeoxy-uridine and the percentage of labelled cells measured, following 7 days' exposure to the dressing material. Differences in labelling index were observed from replica gels covered by different dressing materials and between dressings of the same type of material, but made by different manufacturers.

Survival of allogeneic cells in cultured organotypic skin grafts.

Organotypic cultures of human skin were made using dermal fibroblasts seeded into a type I collagen gel overlaid with epidermal keratinocytes. Full-thickness excision of tattoos was performed on five patients, three of whom received sex-mismatched allografts. Patients were not immunosuppressed. Biopsies were obtained up to 3.5 years later. In situ hybridization of the PHY2.1 repetitive Y chromosome sequence revealed male fibroblasts and keratinocytes at 11 weeks and 2.5 years in the two female patients grafted with male cells. Structural components in the dermal substitute matured with time, and elastic fibers formed an interlacing meshwork by 18 months. Electron microscopy of the dermal-epidermal junction of an organotypic allograft revealed anchoring fibrils that had normal features at this time. Hyperemia of early grafts settled and contour correction was maintained, while repigmentation was variable. Hypertrophic scars did not occur, and graft contracture was never more than 20 percent. We conclude that this organotypic skin graft shows potential toward the goal of allogeneic skin replacement in a one-step procedure.

Pre-culturing human adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells under hypoxia increases their adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation potentials.

OBJECTIVES: Hypoxia is an important factor in many aspects of stem-cell biology including their viability, proliferation, differentiation and migration. We evaluated whether low oxygen level (2%) affected human adipose tissue mesenchymal stem-cell (hAT-MSC) phenotype, population growth, viability, apoptosis, necrosis and their adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation potential. MATERIALS AND METHODS: hAT-MSCs from four human donors were cultured in growth medium under either normoxic or hypoxic conditions for 7 days and were then transferred to normoxic conditions to study their differentiation potential. RESULTS: Hypoxia enhanced hAT-MSC expansion and viability, whereas expression of mesenchymal markers such as CD90, CD73 and endothelial progenitor cell marker CD34, remained unchanged. We also found that pre-culturing hAT-MSCs under hypoxia resulted in their enhanced ability to differentiate into adipocytes and osteocytes. CONCLUSIONS: This protocol could be useful for maximizing hAT-MSC potential to differentiate in vitro into the adipogenic and osteogenic lineages, for use in plastic and reconstructive surgery, and in tissue engineering strategies.

In vitro mesenchymal stem cell differentiation after mechanical stimulation.

OBJECTIVES: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are multipotent cells capable of differentiating into adipocytic, chondrocytic and osteocytic lineages on suitable stimulation. We have hypothesized that mechanical loading may influence MSC differentiation and alter their phenotype accordingly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mouse bone marrow-derived MSC were established in vitro by differential adherence to plastic culture plates and grown in low glucose medium with 10% foetal calf serum and growth factors. Cells grew out and were subcultured up to 20 times. Differentiation protocols were followed for several cell lineages. Clones with trilineage potential were seeded in type I collagen gels and incubated in a tensioning force bioreactor and real-time cell-derived forces were recorded. Gels were fixed and sectioned for light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: Cell monolayers of parent and cloned mouse bone marrow-derived MSC differentiated into adipocytes, osteocytes and chondrocytes, but not into cardiomyocytes, myotubes or neuronal cells. When cast into type I collagen gels and placed in tensioning bioreactors, MSC differentiated into fibroblast-like cells typical of tissue stroma, and upregulated α-smooth muscle actin, but rarely upregulated desmin. Electron microscopy showed collagen and elastin fibre synthesis into the matrix. CONCLUSIONS: These experiments confirmed that MSC cell fate choice depends on minute, cell-derived forces. Applied force could assist in commercial manufacture of cultured bio-engineered prostheses for regenerative medicine as it mimics tissue stresses and constitutes a good model for development of tissue substitutes.

Side populations of gastrointestinal cancers are not enriched in stem cells.

The side population (SP) phenotype, defined as the reserpine-blockable ability to efflux the nucleic acid dye Hoechst 33342, has been claimed to be enriched for stem cells in several human normal tissues, cancers and cell lines, and thus may be useful for the identification and isolation of cancer stem cells. We demonstrated the presence of SP fractions in all of seven tested gastrointestinal cancer cell lines. Four cell lines were selected (HT29, HGT101, Caco2 and HRA19a1.1) for detailed phenotypic and behavioural analysis with respect to stem cell characteristics. Cell surface marker analysis showed that, contrary to non-SP cells, the SPs entirely lack the expression of CD34. This difference, however, disappeared when the cells were cultured, rendering both populations CD34-positive. Expression of other putative stem cell markers (CD133, CD44, Hes-1, beta-catenin, Musashi-1, Oct-4 and CD117) was identical on SP and non-SPs before and after culturing. Sorted SP and non-SP cells were similarly clonogenic in vitro, tumourigenic in vivo, and displayed similar multipotential differentiation potential in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, culturing cytometrically-sorted SP and non-SP cells showed that the populations are interconvertible, each giving rise to the other. Expression of ABCG2 and Mdr-1, two membrane transporter proteins that have been suggested to be responsible for the drug-effluxing capacities of SP cells, including Hoechst 33342, was identical in non-SP and SP cells, indicating that there may be additional factors responsible for the Hoechst effluxing property in gastrointestinal cancer SP cells. Here, we show that the SP and non-SP fractions, albeit phenotypically distinct populations, do not differ with respect to stem cell-like cell number or behaviour. We thus conclude that the concept of the SP phenotype as a universal marker for stem cells does not apply to gastrointestinal cancer cells. These findings stand in contrast to the observations made in many other tissues and harbour important implications for the future search for intestinal cancer stem cell markers.

Exogenous bone marrow cells do not rescue non-irradiated mice from acute renal tubular damage caused by HgCl2, despite establishment of chimaerism and cell proliferation in bone marrow and spleen.

OBJECTIVE: Various studies have shown that bone marrow stem cells can rescue mice from acute renal tubular damage under a conditioning advantage (irradiation or cisplatin treatment) favouring donor cell engraftment and regeneration; however, it is not known whether bone marrow cells (BMCs) can contribute to repair of acute tubular damage in the absence of a selection pressure for the donor cells. The aim of this study was to examine this possibility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten-week-old female mice were assigned into control non-irradiated animals having only vehicle treatment, HgCl(2)-treated non-irradiated mice, HgCl(2)-treated non-irradiated mice infused with male BMCs 1 day after HgCl(2), and vehicle-treated mice with male BMCs. Tritiated thymidine was given 1 h before animal killing. RESULTS: Donor BMCs could not alleviate non-irradiated mice from acute tubular damage caused by HgCl(2), deduced by no reduction in serum urea nitrogen combined with negligible cell engraftment. However, donor BMCs could home to the bone marrow and spleen and display proliferative activity. This is the first report to show that despite no preparative myeloablation of recipients, engrafted donor BMCs can synthesize DNA in the bone marrow and spleen. CONCLUSIONS: Exogenous BMCs do not rescue non-irradiated mice from acute renal tubular damage caused by HgCl(2), despite establishment of chimerism and cell proliferation in bone marrow and spleen.