• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.304-314
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Ear cartilage malformations are commonly encountered problems in reconstructive surgery, since cartilage has low self-regenerating capacity. Malformations that impose psychological and social burden on one's life are currently treated using ear prosthesis, synthetic implants or autologous flaps from rib cartilage. These approaches are challenging because not only they request high surgical expertise, but also they lack flexibility and induce severe donor-site morbidity. Through the last decade, tissue engineering gained attention where it aims at regenerating human tissues or organs in order to restore normal functions. This technique consists of three main elements, cells, growth factors, and above all, a scaffold that supports cells and guides their behavior. Several studies have investigated different scaffolds prepared from both synthetic or natural materials and their effects on cellular differentiation and behavior. Methods and Results: In this study, we investigated a natural scaffold (alginate) as tridimensional hydrogel seeded with progenitors from different origins such as bone marrow, perichondrium and dental pulp. In contact with the scaffold, these cells remained viable and were able to differentiate into chondrocytes when cultured in vitro. Quantitative and qualitative results show the presence of different chondrogenic markers as well as elastic ones for the purpose of ear cartilage, upon different culture conditions. Conclusions: We confirmed that auricular perichondrial cells outperform other cells to produce chondrogenic tissue in normal oxygen levels and we report for the first time the effect of hypoxia on these cells. Our results provide updates for cartilage engineering for future clinical applications.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.180-190
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) are a research hotspot in the endodontic field. One of the biggest problems of REPs is that it is difficult to realize regeneration of pulp-dentin complex and functional reconstruction. The reason is still not clear. We hypothesize that the migration may be different in different dental stem cells. Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) may migrate faster than stem cells of apical papilla (SCAPs), differentiating into cementum-like tissue, bone-like tissue and periodontal ligament-like tissue and, finally affecting the outcomes of REPs. Hence, this study aimed to explore the mechanism that regulates the migration of PDLSCs. Methods and Results: After isolating and culturing PDLSCs and SCAPs from human third molars, we compared the migration of PDLSCs and SCAPs. Then we investigated the role of SDF-1𝛼-CXCR4/CXCR7 axis in PDLSC migration. We further investigated the impact of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on PDLSC migration and the potential mechanism. PDLSCs showed better migration under both noninflammatory and inflammatory conditions than SCAPs. SDF-1𝛼 can promote the migration of PDLSCs by elevating the expression of CXCR4 and CXCR7, increasing the interaction between them, promoting expression of 𝛽-arrestin1 and activating the ERK signaling pathway. P. gingivalis LPS can promote the migration of PDLSCs toward SDF-1𝛼 through increasing the expression of CXCR4 via the NF-𝜅B signaling pathway, promoting the expression of 𝛽-arrestin1, and activating the ERK signaling pathway. Conclusions: This study helped elucidate the potential reason for the difficulty in forming pulp-dentin complex.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.54.1-54.16
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to synthesize nanocrystals (NCs) of zinc oxide (ZnO) and calcium ion (Ca²⁺)-doped ZnO with different percentages of calcium oxide (CaO), to evaluate cytotoxicity and to assess the effects of the most promising NCs on cytotoxicity depending on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Materials and Methods: Nanomaterials were synthesized (ZnO and ZnO:xCa, x = 0.7; 1.0; 5.0; 9.0) and characterized using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and methylene blue degradation. SAOS-2 and RAW 264.7 were treated with NCs, and evaluated for viability using the MTT assay. NCs with lower cytotoxicity were maintained in contact with LPS-stimulated (+LPS) and nonstimulated (-LPS) human dental pulp cells (hDPCs). Cell viability, nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were evaluated. Cells kept in culture medium or LPS served as negative and positive controls, respectively. One-way analysis of variance and the Dunnett test (α = 0.05) were used for statistical testing. Results: ZnO:0.7Ca and ZnO:1.0Ca at 10 ㎍/mL were not cytotoxic to SAOS-2 and RAW 264.7. +LPS and -LPS hDPCs treated with ZnO, ZnO:0.7Ca, and ZnO:1.0Ca presented similar NO production to negative control (p > 0.05) and lower production compared to positive control (p < 0.05). All NCs showed reduced ROS production compared with the positive control group both in +LPS and -LPS cells (p < 0.05). Conclusions: NCs were successfully synthesized. ZnO, ZnO:0.7Ca and ZnO:1.0Ca presented the highest percentages of cell viability, decreased ROS and NO production in +LPS cells, and maintenance of NO production at basal levels.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.631-646
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• 2011

중간엽 줄기 세포는 다분화능을 가지고 있으며 골수, 지방, 태반, 치아속질, 윤활막, 편도 및 가슴샘 등 인체의 다양한 조직에서 분리된다. 중간엽 줄기세포는 조직의 항상성을 조절하며 다분화능, 분리와 조작의 용이함, 암세포로의 화학주성 및 면역 반응 조절 등의 특징을 가지고 있어서 재생 의학, 암 치료 및 식대주 질환(GVHD) 등에 이용할 수 있는 세포치료제로 주목 받고 있다. 하지만 주위 세포와 조직을 지지하고 조절하는 특징과 관련하여 중간엽 줄기세포가 혈관 생성을 촉진하고 성장인자를 분비하며 암세포를 공격하는 면역 반응을 억제함으로써 암의 진행을 촉진시킨다는 사실 또한 보고 되고 있다. 이러한 사실들로 인해 중간엽 줄기세포의 임상 적용이 제한되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 어떠한 기전을 통해서 중간엽 줄기세포가 암의 진행을 촉진하는 지지 세포로 기능하는지를 밝히기 위해서 인체 지방 조직에서 유래한 중간엽 줄기세포를 두 개의 암세포주(H460, U87MG)와 각각 공동 배양하고 microarray를 이용해서 암세포와 공동 배양되지 않은 중간엽 줄기세포와 유전자의 발현을 비교하였다. 두 암세포주와 공동배양에서 공통적으로 2배 이상 차이 나는 유전자를 DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery)와 PANTHER (Protein ANalysis THrough Evolutionary Relationships)를 이용해 분석하였으며 생물학적 과정, 분자적 기능, 세포의 구성 성분, 단백질의 종류, 질병과 인체 조직 그리고 신호전달에 관련된 정보를 획득하였다. 이를 통해서 암세포는 중간엽 줄기세의 분화, 증식, 에너지 대사, 세포의 구조 및 분비기능을 조절하여 유전자의 발현 양상을 암 연관 섬유모세포(cancer associated fibroblast)와 유사한 세포로 변형 시킨다는 사실을 알 수 있었다. 본 연구의 결과는 중간엽 줄기세포를 이용한 임상 치료제의 효과와 안정성을 개선하는데 응용될 수 있을 것이다.