The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of vi tamin D3 and 1'etinoic acid(RA) on the human mesenchymal stem ce!ls(MSC) g1'owth and osteogenic differentiations. Cell proliferation, mineralization, cell cycle, expression of cell cycle regu l atOJγ proteins and markers fo1' osteogenic differenatiaiton were determined by MTI assay, mineralization assay, flow cytomet1'Y‘ and Western blot analysis, respectively. Cell viability was dec1'ease by each vitamin D3 and RA added to MSC. it was more decrease by vitamin D3 and RA. Mineralized nodule formation revealed similar expression pattern with positive cont rol group at vitamin D3 and RA mixed add to MSC. At vitamin D3 and RA mixed add to MSC after 7 days of incubation was increase G1 s tage. after 21 days of incubation was inhibit cell cycle prog1'ess by inc1'ease of sub-G1 Treatment vitamin D3 to MSC inhibits p53 and p21, but inc1'ease pRb. RA inhibit p53, but increase p21 and pRb, vitamin D3 plus RA group was same as added RA group. so two vitamin was effect to inhibited cell growth each different mechanism. Expression of BMP-2 protein was prominent in osteogonic supplement treated g1'oup of MSC at 2 weeks cultivation days, but vi tamin D3 treatment decreased BMP-2 expression rather than in (+) control group. BSP protein was notably increased in the OS compa red to positive controls at 2 weeks cultivation, but similar to that of vitamin D3 group t1'eatment group and was least expressed in plus RA mixed group, at 3 weeks, BSP expression was similar to 1'esult of 2 weeks Collectively, these results shows that vitamin D3 and RA have diffe1'ential effects on the MSCs g1'owth and differ entia tion 211

The present study was conducted to investigate gelatinolytic activities in HAM and to determine whether there are any changes in gelatinolytic activity profiles when the cells are cultured in hepatogenic medium. Placenta was obtained during caesarean section of the volunteers, with informed consent. HAM were isolated from amniotic membrane using collagenase type A HAM were cultured in hepatogenic medium for 3 weeks and the conditioned media were obtained at day 7, 14 and 21. The zymographic pattern of gelatinolytic activity of the HAM did not undergo a change during passages. When the HAM were cultured in a fibronectin-coated dishes in a hepatogenic medium, there was no significant difference of the gelatinase pattern between before and after culture. However, when bFGF was added to the culture, a dramatic increase of 62kDa and 59kDa gelatinases was observed. Interestingly, when ITS instead of FN was present, HAM-conditioned medium also showed a similar increase of both gelatinases. Immunoblotting analysis demonstrated that both 62kDa and 59kDa gelatinases were the active form of MMP-2 resulting from the turnover of MMP-2 proform. Futher study will be necessary to determine the relationship between bFGF and active MMP-2 during hepatogenesis of HAM.

Ovarian function and implantation of embryo are critical factors in pregnancy. So, their optimal conditions and tightly regulated networks are necessary in pregnancy as well as fetal development. However, there are limit approach to cure ovarian dysfunction or improve implantation rate despite of the development of associated reproductive technologies. Recently, translational studies have been explored the therapeutic effect of stem cells in reproductive medicine. Placenta derived mesenchymal stem cells (PD-MSCs) have been reported as alternative cell source capable of overcoming the limitation of bone marrow derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) and adipose-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs), which have stemness dependent by donor age as well as invasive procedure. In addition, their activities for self-renewal and immunomodulation were higher than those of others. In this section, we will review the stem cell therapy in reproductive medicine and introduce feasibilities of PD-MSCs on a rat model with ovarian failure as well as on trophoblast invasion activity. Finally, we introduce new insights into further understanding of stem cell-based therapeutic mechanisms for reproductive system as well as new avenues to develop more efficient therapies in degenerative medicine.

The use of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in cell-based therapy has attracted extensive interest in the field of regenerative medicine, and it shows applications to numerous incurable diseases. hMSCs show several superior properties for therapeutic use compared to other types of stem cells. Different cell types are discussed in terms of their advantages and disadvantages, with focus on the characteristics of hMSCs. hMSCs can proliferate readily and produce differentiated cells that can substitute for the targeted affected tissue. To maximize the therapeutic effects of hMSCs, a substantial number of these cells are essential, requiring extensive ex vivo cell expansion. However, hMSCs have a limited lifespan in an in vitro culture condition. The senescence of hMSCs is a double-edged sword from the viewpoint of clinical applications. Although their limited cell proliferation potency protects them from malignant transformation after transplantation, senescence can alter various cell functions including proliferation, differentiation, and migration, that are essential for their therapeutic efficacy. Numerous trials to overcome the limited lifespan of mesenchymal stem cells are discussed.

Biological resources including proteins, cells, and tissues were confronted with both safe and stable preservation for practical use in biotechnological industry. Particularly, cell therapy for regenerative engineering is needed to restricted regulation and accurate preservation. Therefore, this study was investigated improved conditions of mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord (hUCs) or aspirated adipose tissues (hATs) for clinical cell banks. Both cells were isolated according to standard operation procedure of Hurim BioCell Inc. and analyzed the inherent characteristics in passage 4. To compare the ability of experimental groups after cryopreservation, proliferation ability using calculated values and cytomorphological patterns of each experimental step were analyzed. Also proteins such as ice-binding protein or caspase inhibitor were applied to add the preservation medium of hUCs or hATs. Result of preservation solution with 20% serum was considered a positive group. Recovery rate and expansion results showed specific dosage and cell type-dependent differences in the experimental group. Chromosomal stability and multipotency of hUCs or hATs were expressed stable pattern after cryopreservation using advanced medium. As a result, these additives could be substituted for xenogenic sources in banking of hUCs or hATs.

One of the most effective and safe therapeutic methods for treating vitiligo, mixed autologous keratinocytes (KCs) and melanocytes (MCs) cultures have been used for autologous cell transplantation. However, the present transplantation method is faced with a problem that may require a large amount of skin tissue and keratinocytes have limited culture potency. We have found previously that human adipose derived stromal cells (hASCs) from aspirated fat tissue could be used in place of KCs and sufficient amounts of hASCs for transplantation could be obtained by small amount of aspirated fat tissue. The present investigation was determined the effect of ASCs on ex vivo expansion MCs for transplantation. In addition, we examined for a preservation conditions of MCs which have reported low recovery rates and a slowdown in growth after cryopreservation. Various conditions including ASCs ratio, incubation period, and additive materials for MCs cultivation was determined to improve the expansion ability of MCs. The growth rate of MCs colony was elevated 6.85 folds compared the previous conditions. These MCs showed a specific expression of immature melanocyte protein, Trp-2, but did not express the mature melanocyte proteins and markers (c-kit, CD133, and etc.) of mesenchymal stem cells that represents in ASCs feeder. Results in cryopreservation experiments were determined a preservation medium for MCs showing an increased recovery rates after thawing. The characteristics of MCs after cryopreservation using a designed medium were indicated consistent morphology and immunophenotype. In conclusion, ASCs as a feeder could be used in place of keratinocytes for ex vivo expansion of MCs. For clinical trial for vitiligo patients, efficiency experiments in preclinical state should be followed.

Recently, human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are attracting attention as a useful source for regenerative therapy. Controlled production of cell therapy requires the establishment and management of an accurate isolation, characterization and monitoring for quality assurance of developing MSCs mediated. In this study, we were confirmed maintenance of potency of isolated and cultured human umbilical cord (hUC)-MSCs during ex vivo expansion or after cryopreservation. Expression of their cell specific marker was analyzed by flow cytometry and the differentiation potency was confirmed by guided differentiation of adipocyte, osteocyte, chondrocyte and hepatocyte after expanding over 15 doublings in vitro. Safe production of developing a cell therapy was proved by testing for microbial, mycoplasma, endotoxin, and adventitious agents. Also stability of cells in cultivation, preservation and/or differentiation was determined chromosomal assay. In developing using hUC-MSCs, cells showed an accurate isolation and stable expansion in ex vivo condition. The results of several management assay showed that the stem cell marker expression of CD31, CD34 and CD45 were under 10%, however CD90 was over 90% by FACS analysis. Any contamination and mutation in all tests weren't detected in specific points for safe or stable production of hMC-MSCs. Also the proliferation and differentiation potency maintains during in vitro culture and after cryopreservation of hUC-MSCs. These results could be used as standard methods of maintenance of hUC-MSCs for cell therapy products and clinical application.

The proliferation of embryonic cells or adult stem cells in tissue is critically regulated during development and repair. How limited the proliferation of cells, so far, is not much explored. Cell-cell contact proliferation inhibition is known as a crucial mechanism regulating cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. In this study we examined the characters of mouse subcutaneous adipose derived stem cells (msADSC) whether they lost or get contact inhibition during in vitro culture. The characters of msADSC growth after confluence were analyzed using confocal microscope and the expression profiles of contact inhibition related genes were analyzed according to the morphological changes using real-time PCR method. msADSC showed overlapping growth between them but not after passage 14. The cell shapes were also changed after passage 14. The expression profiles of genes which are involved in contact inhibition were modified in the msADSC after passage 14. The differentiation ability of msADSCs to adipocyte, chondrocyte and osteocyte was not changed by such changes of gene expression profiles. Based on these results, it is revealed that smADSC were characterized by getting of strong cell-cell contact inhibition after passage 14 but the proliferation and developmental ability were not blocked by the change of cell-cell contact proliferation inhibition. These finding will help to understand the growth of adipose tissue, although further studies are needed to evaluate the physiological meaning of the cell-cell contact proliferation inhibition during in vitro culture of msADSC.