Publications (29) View all
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Article: Bone marrow stromal cells can cause subcutaneous fibroblasts to differentiate into osteocytes in a physically stable spatial microenvironment in rats.
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ABSTRACT: In this study, we investigated how rat bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) under a physically stable microenvironment influenced the subcutaneous fibroblasts. The model for this study involved setting up a space made up of a titanium mesh cage inserted into the subcutaneous region in rats and filled with a collagen matrix seeded with (1) BMSCs, (2) fibroblasts or (3) a combination of BMSCs and fibroblasts. Fibroblasts for transplantations were taken from enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) transgenic "green rats" which enabled us to trace the fate of the cells in vivo. A series of X-ray computed tomographic (CT) images were taken of each implant over a period of 8 weeks, and the implants were then removed and examined histologically. As a result, while generated bone was observed in each case that included BMSCs (the BMSCs and combination group), there was no generated bone observed in the group using fibroblasts only. Interestingly, EGFP-positive osteocytes were observed in the generated bone of the combination group, indicating that the transplanted fibroblasts differentiated into osteocytes during the bone formation. Thus, we demonstrated that genuine intrinsic fibroblasts are able to become osteocytes as a result of the influence of BMSCs.Acta histochemica 01/2013; · 1.23 Impact Factor -
Article: Contribution of bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells to the generation of donor-marker(+) cardiomyocytes in vivo.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Definite identification of the cell types and the mechanism relevant to cardiomyogenesis is essential for effective cardiac regenerative medicine. We aimed to identify the cell populations that can generate cardiomyocytes and to clarify whether generation of donor-marker(+) cardiomyocytes requires cell fusion between BM-derived cells and recipient cardiomyocytes. METHODOLOGYPRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Purified BM stem/progenitor cells from green fluorescence protein (GFP) mice were transplanted into C57BL/6 mice or cyan fluorescence protein (CFP)-transgenic mice. Purified human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from cord blood were transplanted into immune-compromised NOD/SCID/IL2rγ(null) mice. GFP(+) cells in the cardiac tissue were analyzed for the antigenecity of a cardiomyocyte by confocal microscopy following immunofluorescence staining. GFP(+) donor-derived cells, GFP(+)CFP(+) fused cells, and CFP(+) recipient-derived cells were distinguished by linear unmixing analysis. Hearts of xenogeneic recipients were evaluated for the expression of human cardiomyocyte genes by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In C57BL/6 recipients, Lin(-/low)CD45(+) hematopoietic cells generated greater number of GFP(+) cardiomyocytes than Lin(-/low)CD45(-) mesenchymal cells (37.0+/-23.9 vs 0.00+/-0.00 GFP(+) cardiomyocytes per a recipient, P = 0.0095). The number of transplanted purified HSCs (Lin(-/low)Sca-1(+) or Lin(-)Sca-1(+)c-Kit(+) or CD34(-)Lin(-)Sca-1(+)c-Kit(+)) showed correlation to the number of GFP(+) cardiomyocytes (P<0.05 in each cell fraction), and the incidence of GFP(+) cardiomyocytes per injected cell dose was greatest in CD34(-)Lin(-)Sca-1(+)c-Kit(+) recipients. Of the hematopoietic progenitors, total myeloid progenitors generated greater number of GFP(+) cardiomyocytes than common lymphoid progenitors (12.8+/-10.7 vs 0.67+/-1.00 GFP(+) cardiomyocytes per a recipient, P = 0.0021). In CFP recipients, all GFP(+) cardiomyocytes examined coexpressed CFP. Human troponin C and myosin heavy chain 6 transcripts were detected in the cardiac tissue of some of the xenogeneic recipients. CONCLUSIONSSIGNIFICANCE: Our results indicate that HSCs resulted in the generation of cardiomyocytes via myeloid intermediates by fusion-dependent mechanism. The use of myeloid derivatives as donor cells could potentially allow more effective cell-based therapy for cardiac repair.PLoS ONE 01/2013; 8(5):e62506. · 4.09 Impact Factor -
Article: PEDF inhibits AGE-induced podocyte apoptosis via PPAR-gamma activation.
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ABSTRACT: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formed at an accelerated rate under diabetes, elicit oxidative and pro-apoptotic reactions in various types of cells, including podocytes, thus being involved in the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy. Recently, we, along with others, have found that pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), a glycoprotein with potent neuronal differentiating activity, inhibits AGE-elicited mesangial and tubular cell damage through its anti-oxidative properties. However, the effects of PEDF on podocyte loss, one of the characteristic features of diabetic nephropathy remain unknown. In this study, we investigated whether and how PEDF could protect against AGE-elicited podocyte apoptosis in vitro. AGEs decreased PEDF mRNA level in podocytes, which was blocked by neutralizing antibody raised against receptor for AGEs (RAGE-Ab). PEDF or RAGE-Ab was found to inhibit the AGE-induced up-regulation of RAGE mRNA level, oxidative stress generation and resultant apoptosis in podocytes. All of the beneficial effects of PEDF on AGE-exposed podocytes were blocked by the treatment of GW9662, an inhibitor of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ). Further, although PEDF did not affect protein expression levels of PPARγ, it significantly restored the PPARγ transcriptional activity in AGE-exposed podocytes. The present results demonstrated for the first time that PEDF could block the AGE-induced apoptotic cell death of podocytes by suppressing RAGE expression and subsequent ROS generation partly via PPARγ activation. Our present study suggests that substitution of PEDF proteins may be a promising strategy for preventing the podocyte loss in diabetic nephropathy.Microvascular Research 10/2012; · 2.83 Impact Factor -
Article: The effect of the microenvironment created by a titanium mesh cage on subcutaneous experimental bone formation and inhibition of absorption.
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ABSTRACT: We attempted to form ectopic bone under the skin of rats without adding any extrinsic bone-inducing growth factors or cytokines using bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), a collagen scaffold and a titanium mesh cage. We set up a space made up of a cage inserted into the subcutaneous region of rats' backs, where we could eliminate the possible influence of residual bone tissue on bone induction. We filled this space with a collagen matrix containing BMSCs. At week 8 and month 6 after implantation, the specimens were removed and observed histologically, histochemically and enzyme histochemically. As a result, bone tissue was identified in each case within the titanium cages, even though we had not used bone-inducing chemical substances. Bone generation was not found in test cases without a cage. Enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) labeling of the implanted BMSCs clearly showed that these cells differentiated into osteoblasts and subsequently into osteocytes in the formed bone tissue. Host cells without EGFP labeling were also confirmed to be involved in bone formation. Six months after transplantation, the implanted cells were still present in the generated bone, and no significant resorption of the generated bone was observed. These results indicate that the physically stable spatial microenvironment created by the cage in vivo plays an important role in bone formation and inhibition of its resorption, which we refer to as the 'cage effect'.Cells Tissues Organs 04/2012; 196(3):221-30. · 2.20 Impact Factor -
Article: Pravastatin inhibits advanced glycation end products (AGEs)-induced proximal tubular cell apoptosis and injury by reducing receptor for AGEs (RAGE) level.
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ABSTRACT: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their receptor (RAGE) axis play a role in diabetic nephropathy. Statins have been shown to ameliorate renal function and reduce proteinuria in patients with chronic kidney disease. However, the effects of statin on AGEs-induced tubular cell damage remain unknown. We examined here whether and how pravastatin could block the AGEs-RAGE-elicited tubular cell injury in vitro. Gene expression level was evaluated by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reactions. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was measured with dihydroethidium staining. Apoptosis was analyzed in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) expression was evaluated by immunostaining. Pravastatin dose-dependently inhibited the AGEs-induced up-regulation of RAGE mRNA level, ROS generation and apoptosis in human renal proximal tubular cells. Further, AGEs decreased mRNA level of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase-2, an enzyme that mainly degrades asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase and subsequently increased ADMA generation in tubular cells, both of which were also prevented by pravastatin. Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) treatment blocked all of the effects of pravastatin on tubular cells. We found that rosuvastatin also significantly blocked the AGEs-induced increase in RAGE mRNA level and ROS generation, both of which were prevented by GGPP. Our present study suggests that pravastatin could inhibit the AGEs-induced apoptosis and ADMA generation in tubular cells by suppressing RAGE expression probably via inhibition of GGPP synthesis. Pravastatin may exert beneficial effects on tubular damage in diabetic nephropathy by blocking the AGEs-RAGE axis.Metabolism: clinical and experimental 03/2012; 61(8):1067-72. · 2.59 Impact Factor
