StemCellGateway

Stem Cell Reviews and Reports: SCF Promotes Dental Pulp Progenitor Migration, Neovascularization, and Collagen Remodeling – Potential Applications as a Homing Factor in Dental Pulp Regeneration

Pan; Dangaria; Gopinathan; Yan; Lu; Kolokythas; Niu; Luan — 2013-05-24

Type: Original Paper

Stem cell factor (SCF) is a powerful chemokine that binds to the c-Kit receptor CD117 and has shown promise as a homing agent capable of progenitor cell recruitment. In the present study we have documented high levels of both SCF and its receptor c-Kit in differentiating dental pulp (DP) cells and in the sub-odontoblastic layer of Höhl. In vitro studies using human DP progenitors revealed a significant increase in cell proliferation after100 nM SCF application, explained by a 2-fold upregulation in cyclin D3 and FGF2 cell cycle regulators, and a 7-fold increase in CDK4 expression. DP cell migration in the presence of SCF was up-regulated 2.7-fold after a 24 h culture period, and this effect was accompanied by cytoskeletal rearrangement, a 1.5-fold increase in polymeric F-actin over G-actin, and a 1.8-fold increase in RhoA expression. Explaining the signaling effect of SCF on DP migration, PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK pathway inhibitors were demonstrated to significantly reduce DP cell migration, while SCF alone doubled the number of migrated cells. ERK and AKT phosphorylation were dramatically upregulated already 3–5 min after SCF addition to the culture medium and declined thereafter, classifying SCF as a fast acting chemokine. When applied as an agent to promote tissue regeneration in subcutaneously implanted collagen sponges, SCF resulted in a 7-fold increase in the cell number in the implanted tissue construct, a more than 9-fold increase in capillaries, as well as collagen sponge remodeling and collagen fiber neogenesis. Together, these studies demonstrate the suitability of SCF as a potent aid in the regeneration of dental pulp and other mesenchymal tissues, capable of inducing cell homing, angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling.

Stem Cell Reviews and Reports: The Impact of Commercialisation on Public Perceptions of Stem Cell Research: Exploring Differences Across the Use of Induced Pluripotent Cells, Human and Animal Embryos

Critchley; Bruce; Farrugia — 2013-05-22

Type: Original Paper

The development of pluripotent cells that enable stem cell research (SCR) without destroying human embryos is now a leading priority for science. Public and political controversies associated with human embryonic SCR experienced in the recent past should be alleviated if scientists no longer need to harvest cells from human embryos. This research suggests however additional issues needing attention in order to gain the public’s trust and support: the use of mouse embryos and the commercialisation of research. Using a representative sample of 2,800 Australians, and an experimental telephone survey design, this research compared levels and predictors of public support for stem cell research across three cell source conditions: human embryo (HE), mouse embryo (ME) and induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs). The results revealed that the public were significantly more likely to support research using iPSCs than HE and ME cells and public compared to private research (regardless of the cell source). There was no significant difference in support for HE compared to ME research, but the former was viewed as more likely to lead to accessible health care benefits and to be associated with more trustworthy scientists. The results of a multimediation structural equation model showed that the primary reason support for SCR significantly dropped in a private compared to public context (i.e., the commercialisation effect) was because public scientists were trusted more than private scientists. This effect was consistent across all three SCR materials, suggesting that the use of mouse embryos or even iPSCs will not reduce the publics’ concern with commercialised science. The implications these results have for public acceptance of stem cell and animal research are discussed in relation to possible solutions such as increasing public awareness of the regulation of animal research and benefit sharing.

Stem Cell Reviews and Reports: Progress in Stem Cell Therapy for Major Human Neurological Disorders

Martínez-Morales; Revilla; Ocaña; González; Sainz; McGuire; Liste — 2013-05-17

Type: Original Paper

Human neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease, stroke or spinal cord injury are caused by the loss of neurons and glial cells in the brain or spinal cord in the Central Nervous System (CNS). Stem cell technology has become an attractive option to investigate and treat these diseases. Several types of neurons and glial cells have successfully been generated from stem cells, which in some cases, have ameliorated some dysfunctions both in animal models of neurological disorders and in patients at clinical level. Stem cell-based therapies can be beneficial by acting through several mechanisms such as cell replacement, modulation of inflammation and trophic actions. Here we review recent and current remarkable clinical studies involving stem cell-based therapy for AD and stroke and provide an overview of the different types of stem cells available nowadays, their main properties and how they are developing as a possible therapy for neurological disorders.

Stem Cell Reviews and Reports: Erratum to: Telomeres and Tissue Engineering: The Potential Roles of TERT in VEGF-mediated Angiogenesis

Hartwig; Nedel; Collares; Tarquinio; Nör; Demarco — 2013-05-09

Type: Erratum
No abstract available.

Stem Cell Reviews and Reports: Tbx3 and Nr5α2 Play Important Roles in Pig Pluripotent Stem Cells

2013-04-27

Type: Original Paper

Pigs are valuable animal models in pre-clinical research due to their anatomical and similarity to human-beings. Little is known about porcine embryonic development and porcine pluripotent stem cells. Recently, porcine-induced pluripotent stem cells (piPSCs) have been generated with Oct4 (Pou5f1), Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc (termed OSKM, 4 F). Here, we found two other factors (Tbx3 and Nr5α2, termed TN), with important roles in piPSCs induction. They could improve the generation of piPSCs by supplementing these two factors on the basis of OSKM (OSKMTN, 6 F) orientated to mouse ESCs-like. Surprisingly, Nr5α2 alone could induce piPSCs formation in the presence or absence of c-Myc. These results suggested that Tbx3 and Nr5α2 may have vital roles in Sus scrofa and proposed new insights into pig pluripotent stem cells.

Stem Cell Reviews and Reports: Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation into Authentic Striatal Projection Neurons

2013-04-27

Type: Original Paper

Here we present the principles and steps of a protocol that we have recently developed for the differentiation of hES/iPS cells into the authentic human striatal projection medium spiny neurons (MSNs) that die in Huntington’s Disease (HD). Authenticity is judged by the convergence of multiple features within individual cells. Our procedure lasts 80 days and couples neural induction via BMP/TGF-β inhibition with exposure to the developmental factors sonic hedgehog (SHH) and dickkopf1 (DKK-1) to drive ventral telencephalic specification, followed by terminal differentiation [1]. Authenticity of the resulting neuronal population is monitored by the appearance of FOXG1⁺/GSX2⁺ progenitor cells of the lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE) at day 15–25 of differentiation, followed by appearance of CTIP2-, FOXP1- and FOXP2-positive cells at day 45. These precursor cells then mature into MAP2⁺/GABA⁺ neurons with 20 % of them ultimately co-expressing the DARPP-32 and CTIP2 diagnostic markers and carrying electrophysiological properties expected for fully functional MSNs.

The protocol is characterized by its replicability in at least three human pluripotent cell lines. Altogether this protocol defines a useful platform for in vitro developmental neurobiology studies, drug screening, and regenerative medicine approaches.

Stem Cell Reviews and Reports: Optimised Protocols for the Identification of the Murine Cardiac Side Population

Meeson; Fuller; Breault; Owens; Richardson — 2013-04-26

Type: Original Paper

Cardiac side population (CSP) cells, defined by their ability to efflux the vital dye Hoechst 33342, have been identified as putative cardiac stem cells based on their potential to give rise to both cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells. The CSP phenotype relies on an active metabolic pathway and cell viability to identify a rare population of cells and therefore technical differences in the CSP staining protocol can lead to inconsistent results and discrepancies between studies. Here we describe an established protocol for CSP identification and have optimised a protocol for CSP analysis utilizing an automated cardiac digestion procedure using gentleMACs dissociation and Hoechst 33342 staining followed by dual wavelength flow cytometric analysis.

Alert: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Biology by Kondo, Motonari

2010-05-14

Type: Alert

Alert: Stem Cell Reviews and Reports Impact Factor 3.766

2009-07-20

Type: Alert