Anti-Human Nuclear Antigen Antibody [235-1] (A250966)

Human dental pulp cells have been known to have the stem cell features such as self-renewal and multipotency. These cells are differentiated into hard tissue by addition of proper cytokines and biomaterials. Hydroxyapatite-tricalcium phosphates (HA-TCPs) are essential components of hard tissue and generally used as a biocompatible material in tissue engineering of bone. Demineralized dentin matrix (DDM) has been reported to increase efficiency of bone induction. We compared the efficiencies of osteogenic differentiation and in vivo bone formation of HA-TCP and DDM on human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). DDM contains inorganic components as with HA-TCP, and organic components such as collagen type-1. Due to these components, osteoinduction potential of DDM on hDPSCs was remarkably higher than that of HA-TCP. However, the efficiencies of in vivo bone formation are similar in HA-TCP and DDM. Although osteogenic gene expression and bone formation in immunocompromised nude mice were similar levels in both cases, dentinogenic gene expression level was slightly higher in DDM transplantation than in HA-TCP. All these results suggested that in vivo osteogenic potentials in hDPSCs are induced with both HA-TCP and DDM by osteoconduction and osteoinduction, respectively. In addition, transplantation of hDPSCs/DDM might be more effective for differentiation into dentin.

The field of tissue engineering entered a new era with the development of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), which are capable of unlimited expansion whilst retaining the potential to differentiate into all mature cell populations. However, these cells harbor significant risks, including tumor formation upon transplantation. One way to mitigate this risk is to develop expandable progenitor cell populations with restricted differentiation potential. Here, we used a cellular microarray technology to identify a defined and optimized culture condition that supports the derivation and propagation of a cell population with mesodermal properties. This cell population, referred to as intermediate mesodermal progenitor (IMP) cells, is capable of unlimited expansion, lacks tumor formation potential, and, upon appropriate stimulation, readily acquires properties of a sub-population of kidney cells. Interestingly, IMP cells fail to differentiate into other mesodermally-derived tissues, including blood and heart, suggesting that these cells are restricted to an intermediate mesodermal fate.

Background: Ozone is well known as an important component of ambient air pollutants. Ozone can aggravate respiratory symptoms in patients with bronchial asthma, but, not in healthy person. We hypothesized asthma itself may show different response to ozone compared to nonasthma.

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the differences of response to ozone between normal and asthmatic mice model in terms of status of oxidant injury and antioxidant activity.

Methods: Three parts per million of ozone was exposed to ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine asthma model for 3 hours at 3, 7, 14, 21 days after completion of asthma model. Airway responsiveness to methacholine was measured after completion of asthma model. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), protein extraction from lung for Western blot and immunohistochemistry of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), NF-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf-2), and activity of glutathione were performed at before and each ozone exposure day.

Results: Airway hyper-responsiveness and increased eosinophils in BAL fluid were observed in asthma model. In asthma model, the expression of 4-HNE already more increased at baseline (without ozone) compared to those in sham model. This increased expression is more enhanced at 3 days after ozone exposure. The expression of PCNA was significantly increased in OVA-model compared to those in sham model. The expression of Nrf-2 was observed at baseline, and 3 and 7 days after exposure ozone in asthma model, but not in sham model. The activity of glutathione increased significantly after exposure of ozone, but not in sham model.

Conclusion: Murine asthma model has enhanced oxygen toxicity and antioxidant activity response to ozone.