• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2008

Objectives : Showing that Bong-Han corpuscles(BHC) are suppliers of the stem cells in adulthood, and the Bong-Han ducts(BHD) are transportation routes of stem cells. Methods : BHC and BHD were obtained from the internal organ-surfaces of rats. The sliced BHC and BHD were immunostained with various stem cell markers. Extracellular matrices were also analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Result : The presence of mesenchymal stem cells was confirmed by the expression of Integrin beta 1, Collagen type 1 and Fibronectin. But CD54 was not expressed. The hematopoietic stem cell marker, Thy 1 was strongly expressed. BHDs showed Collagen type 1, Fibronectin, and vWF expression. Conclusion : Both hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cell markers were expressed strongly in BHC similarly as in bone marrow. An endothelial cell marker(vWF) demonstrated the possibility of the stem cell transportation routes of BHD.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.261-266
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• 2014

Environmental pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been implicated in cancer development and progression. However, the effects of PAHs on carcinogenesis are still poorly understood. Here, we characterized a mouse cancer cell line BNL 1ME A. 7R.1 (1MEA) derived by transformation of non-tumorigenic liver cell line BNL CL.2 (BNL) using 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC), a carcinogenic PAH. RT-PCR and immunoblot analysis were used to determine the expression level of mRNA and proteins, respectively. To determine functionality, cell motility was assessed in vitro using a transwell migration assay. Both mRNA and protein levels of E-cadherin were significantly decreased in 1MEA cells in comparison with BNL cells. While the expression levels of mesenchymal markers and related transcription factors were enhanced in 1MEA cells, which could lead to increase in cell motility. Indeed, we found that 7-day exposure of BNL cells to 3-MC reduced the level of the adhesion molecule and epithelial marker E-cadherin and increased reciprocally the level of the mesenchymal marker vimentin in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results indicate that the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) may be activated during premalignant transformation induced by 3-MC. A mechanism study to elucidate the relation between 3-MC exposure and EMT is underway in our laboratory.

• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.143-157
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• 2015

Successful integration of cementless femoral stems using porous surfaces relies on effective periimplant bone healing to secure the bone-implant interface. The initial stages of the healing process involve protein adsorption, fibrin clot formation and cell osteoconduction onto the implant surface. Modelling this process in vitro, the current work considered the effect of fibrin deposition on the responses of human mesenchymal stromal cells cultured on ferritic fibre networks intended for magneto-mechanical actuation of in-growing bone tissue. The underlying hypothesis for the study was that fibrin deposition would support early stromal cell attachment and physiological functions within the optimal regions for strain transmission to the cells in the fibre networks. Highly porous fibre networks composed of 444 ferritic stainless steel were selected due to their ability to support human osteoblasts and mesenchymal stromal cells without inducing untoward inflammatory responses in vitro. Cell attachment, proliferation, metabolic activity, differentiation and penetration into the ferritic fibre networks were examined for one week. For all fibrin-containing samples, cells were observed on and between the metal fibres, supported by the deposited fibrin, while cells on fibrin-free fibre networks (control surface) attached only onto fibre surfaces and junctions. Initial cell attachment, measured by analysis of deoxyribonucleic acid, increased significantly with increasing fibrinogen concentration within the physiological range. Despite higher cell numbers on fibrin-containing samples, similar metabolic activities to control surfaces were observed, which significantly increased for all samples over the duration of the study. It is concluded that fibrin deposition can support the early attachment of viable mesenchymal stromal cells within the inter-fibre spaces of fibre networks intended for magneto-mechanical strain transduction to in-growing cells.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.490-497
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• 2019

Owing to the recent advances in biological knowledge on stem cells, many efforts are being made to apply them to clinical practice. Although mesenchymal stem cells were first found in bone marrow aspirates, they are understood to be multipotent stromal cells that can be extracted from a variety of tissues, such as adipose, dermal, skeletal muscle, and umbilical-cord tissues. The osteogenicity of mesenchymal stem cells has been verified through various experiments and animal studies. Some successful bone regenerations have also been reported in difficult clinical situations, such as large bone defects, osteonecrosis, and nonunion. On the other hand, there are no standardized indications or application methods for each clinical situation, and convincing evidence of its efficacy and safety is still lacking. Bone regeneration therapies using mesenchymal stem cells are likely to expand further in the future, but there are some issues that need to be addressed in order for them be recognized as standard treatments.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.319-323
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• 2015

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells capable of differentiating into adipocytes, osteoblasts, or chondrocytes. A mutually inhibitory relationship exists between osteogenic and adipogenic lineage commitment and differentiation. Such cell fate decision is regulated by several signaling pathways, including Wnt and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP). Accumulating evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) act as switches for MSCs to differentiate into either osteogenic or adipogenic lineage. Different miRNAs have been reported to regulate a master transcription factor for osteogenesis, such as Runx2, as well as molecules in the Wnt or BMP signaling pathway, and control the balance between osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation. Here, we discuss recent advancement of the cell fate decision of MSCs by miRNAs and their targets. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(6): 319-323]

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.572-577
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• 2017

In most clinical applications, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are expanded in large scale before their administration. Prolonged culture in vitro results in cellular senescence-associated phenotypes, including accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased cell viabilities. Profiling of stem cell-related genes during in vitro expansion revealed that numerous canonical pathways were significantly changed. To determine the effect of selenocysteine (Sec), a rare amino acid found in several antioxidant enzymes, on the replicative senescence in hMSCs, we treated senescent hMSCs with Sec. Supplementation of Sec in the culture medium in late-passage hMSCs reduced ROS levels and improved the survival of hMSCs. In addition, a subset of key antioxidant genes and Sec-containing selenoproteins showed increased mRNA levels after Sec treatment. Furthermore, ROS metabolism and inflammation pathways were predicted to be downregulated. Taken together, our results suggest that Sec has antioxidant effects on the replicative senescence of hMSCs.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.268-272
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• 2020

Amniotic membrane stem cells are considered as a good alternative to embryonic stem cells, but their use in clinical studies is still not common. Here, exosomes from canine amniotic membrane mesenchymal stem cells (cAmMSC-exo) were used for dog sperm cryopreservation. Upon cryopreserved straws using cryoprotectant containing 0, 0.5, 1, or 2 ㎍/mL of cAmMSC-exo were thawed, motility and membrane integrity were analyzed. However, results showed no significant differences between the groups. We concluded that cAmMSC-exo with lower than 2 ㎍/mL have no effects on sperm cryopreservation, and further studies to get higher concentrations of cAmMSC-exo should be conducted for clinical application.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.302-305
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• 2016

A 16-year-old girl was transferred to the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery because of a spontaneous pneumothorax with prolonged air leakage. Chest computed tomography demonstrated a cystic lesion measuring $2{\times}3cm$ and involving the left upper lobe. Left upper lobectomy was performed via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. A pathologic examination of the specimen revealed a mesenchymal cystic hamartoma. Despite the rarity of pulmonary mesenchymal cystic hamartoma, it should be considered a potential cause of pneumothorax for patients with a large pulmonary cyst. Further, surgical resection must be considered because serious complications such as hemothorax, hemoptysis, and malignant transformation have been reported.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2008

Bone marrow (BM) cell harvesting is a crucial element in the isolation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). A simple method for harvesting cat BM cells is described. The results show that a large number of BM cells can rapidly be harvested from the cat by this simple procedure. MSCs prepared by density-gradient method were spindle-shaped morphology with bipolar or polygonal cell bodies and strongly positive for CD9 and CD44 and negative for CD18 and CD45-like. They were capable of differentiation to adipocytic and osteocytic phenotypes when exposed to appropriate induction media. The advantages of this method are its rapidity, simplicity, low invasiveness, and low donor attrition and good outcome.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.187-195
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• 2007

The cord blood serves as a vehicle for the transportation of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. In the past, the human cord blood has generally been discarded after birth. However, numerous studies have described the regenerative ability of the cord blood cells in various incurable diseases. The umbilical cord blood (UCB)-derived stem cells are obtained through non-invasive methods that are not harmful to both the mother and the fetus. Furthermore, the cord blood stem cells are more immature than the adult stem cells and expand readily in vitro. The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the capacity to differentiate in vitro into various mesodermal (bone, cartilage, tendon, muscle, and adipose), endodermal (hepatocyte), and ectodermal (neurons) tissues. This review describes the immunological properties of the human UCB-MSCs to assess their potential usefulness in the allogeneic transplantation for the regenerative medicine.