Mouse single-cell embryos exhibit robust Regulatory Volume Decrease (RVD). In what manner the very early mammalian embryo following zygote stage is appreciably altered by the anisotonic extracellular solution is, as yet, totally unclear. Little attention was paid to this direction since there was no way to determine the blastomere volume. This work has served to quantitatively investigate the osmotic response of bicellular mouse embryos employing Laser Scanning Microtomography (LSM) followed with three-dimensional reconstruction (3 DR). We have shown that bicellular mouse embryos in hypotonic Dulbecco's experience RVD. Embryonic cells subjected to hyposmolar exhibit rapid osmotic swelling followed by gradual shrinking back toward their original volume. The van't Hoff law defines swelling phase with the effective hydraulic conductivity of 0.3 micron x min(-1) x atm(-1). Water release during RVD in bicellular mouse embryos is abolished by Cytochalasin B (Cyto B) and the volume recovery is insensitive to ouabain treatment.

The cultivation of multipotent mesenchymal stromal bone marrow cells and cells of A-431, MDCK, Vero, 3T3 and Hep-G2 was performed on polymeric films (PVA) with different hydrophobic fatty acid residues. The cells of different types grew on these films with different intensity, but in the most cases comparable with the cultivation control on usual plastic. The examined films were nontoxic to cells and sufficiently adhesive. They did not changed pH of cultural media, were optically transparent under microscope and comfortable in the experimental work. These films can be used as a model for the artificial organ construction. The covalent binding of different fatty acids to PVA shows possibility of the adaptable changes of films properties (hydrophobity and adhesiveness), and therefore possibility of the creation of optimal conditions for different cell types attachement and growth.

Spreading mesenchymal cells of human embryo on plastic and type I collagens (from rat, sheep and bull) was studied. Spreading of the cells on collagens was stronger than that in the control but no differences between the different collagens were revealed. The cell perimeter, the spreading coefficient and the cell projection area on the substrate were used as morphometric parametres. The spreading of cells was monitored for 0.5-2 h after plating. During the spreading both on plastic and on collagen, the groups of small cells were revealed as separate subpopulations. As a whole, such cells comprehend 9 % of the cell population in the control and 2% in experiment. We assume that this cell type is associated with a special independent functional state of the cells that precedes cell spreading.

Gap junctions (GJs) are composed of membrane proteins that form channels connecting the cytoplasm of adjacent cells and permeable to ions and small molecules. They are considered to be the main or only type of intercellular channels and a universal feature of all multicellular animals (Metazoa). Till recently, sea anemones and corals (Anthozoa, Cnidaria) appeared to be an exception from this rule. There were no structural or physiological data supporting the presence of GJ in Anthozoa. For some time no genes homologous to GJ proteins (connexins or pannexins) were detected in sea anemone Nematostella vectensis (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) or other Anthozoa genomes. Recently, pannexin homolog was found in Nematostella. Our intracellular recordings demonstrate electrical coupling between blastomeres in embryos at the 8-cells stage. At the same time, carboxyfluorescein fluorescent dye did not diffuse between electrically coupled cells, which excludes the possibility that the observed electrical coupling is mediated by incomplete cytoplasm separation during the cleavage. These data support the idea that GJ are ubiquitous for Metazoa, and pannexins are universal GJ proteins.

New nonimmortalized fibroblast-like cell lines SC5-MSC and SC3a-MSC, FetMSC, FRSN were obtained from human embryonic stem cells (ESC), bone marrow of a 5-6-days embryo and foreskin of a 3-years-old boy, respectively. All the lines are successfully used as the feeder at human ESC cultivation. It is determined that the average cell population doublings time varies from 25.5 h for ISC5-MSC to 38.8 h for SC3a-MSC. Active proliferation of all the lines is also shown by the corresponding growth curves. Numerical and structural karyotypic analysis showed that these lines had normal karyotype: 46,XX (SC5-MSC and SC3a-MSC) and 46,XY (FetMSC and FRSN). To determine the status of the lines, their cell surface markers were analyzed by flow cytometry. This analysis revealed the presence of surface antigens CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105 and HLA-ABC, characteristic of human MSC, and the absence of CD34 and HLA-DR. Different lines were found to express CD117(c-kit) to a different level. Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry analysis did not detect TRA-1-60 and Oct-4, characteristic of human embryonic stem cells, and revealed interlinear variations in the level of SSEA, which did not depend on the cell origin. It is not clear yet whether these interlinear variations affect functional MSC status. In all the lines, immunofluorescence analysis showed the presence of the markers of early differentiation in the derivates of three germ layers which may allow MSC to be useful, in corresponding microenvironments, for reparation of tissue injures. Adipogenic and osteogenic differentiatiation of all cell lines has been shown.

This report contains authors own data about hyperglycemia impact on main functional properties of endothelial cells, mesenchymal stem cells and circulating progenitor cells, which define their participation in angiogenesis. Obtained data shows that cultivation of endothelial cells in hyperglycemic conditions leads to decrease of their ability for targeted migration and vascular-like structures formation on matrigel, and to suppression of VEGF receptors expression in these cells. Mesenchymal stem cells cultivated in hyperglycemic conditions have altered expression profile, decreased ability to stimulate angiogenesis via paracrine activity. Hyperglycemia in CHD patients with concomitant diabetes mellitus type II most probably lead to circulating bone marrow progenitor cells mobilisation distortion in response to tissue ischemia and damage to the endothelium, that can infringe upon their participation in endothelium reparation and angio- and vasculogenesis in the ischemic conditions. Found distortions can be used as targets for the treatment aimed at cardiovascular complications prevention in diabetic patients.

This article deals with peculiarities of development and clinical course of heart failure (HF) in diabetic patients, influence of diabetic cardiopathy on HF formation., role of genetic predictors of diabetes mellitus (DM) and HF formation, also the importance of treatment response predictors, the significance of a more "personalized" exposure in order to optimize treatment. The role of stationary and dynamic genomics was analyzed, especially molecular visualization that allows the earliest possible intervention. The article also includes examples of molecular visualization use in diagnosis of myocardial dysfunction, disease monitoring, and treatment efficacy assessment. Authors give an analysis of targeted treatment methods on the example of targeted delivery of medications to the target-organ (myocard). Discuss means of anti-ischemic myocardial protection, perspectives of metformin use in order to enhance efficacy of myocardial ischemic pre- and postconditioning mechanisms. Presented perspectives of study of molecular and genetic mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of HF in diabetic patients, in particular, study of key biological features of stem cells, cell interactions, stem cell plasticity (in vitro direction of differentiation) and their paracrine function evaluation. Given information about identification of genes with partly altered expression due to chronic exposure of mesenchymal stem cells to the high concentration of glucose, and upon decreased ability of mesenchymal stem cells of proangiogenic factors with simultaneous increase of inflammatory markers production (IL8). In whole this article reviews modern state of HF in diabetic patients development mechanisms study with the use of molecular and genetic technologies, and of perspectives of development of this area.

The authors show that the strategy of parasites, which is to preserve and continue its species is accomplished mainly by providing of a trophic substrate. Opisthorichiasis is used as an example to show that the nutriceutic biomass of cholangiocytes may be increased due to gene mutations, induced proliferation of liver stem cells, their differentiation to committed ones and cholangiocellular differon elements; moreover, the proliferative processes of mesenchymal components become active in other organs of a host. During their ontogenesis in the intermediate and final hosts, the parasites work out the mechanisms for prolonging their life span to complete a full development cycle (Margaritifera margaritifera glochidia); however, predominantly the parasite-host symbiosis is attended by the latter's lameness. Predation is one of the types of symbiotic relations.

Blood levels of stem cell marker proteins CD34 and osteonectin were studied in male patients with coronary atherosclerosis by direct biomagnetic separation of proteins with magnetic microspheres using the PureProteome Protein A and Protein G Magnetic Beads proteomic technology. High concentration of osteonectin in the blood was detected, particularly in men with stenosing atherosclerosis and coronary artery calcinosis. Blood osteonectin concentration correlated significantly with some key biomarkers of atherosclerosis and with stenosing atherosclerosis and calcinosis of coronary arteries. The results indicate that osteonectin as a marker of stromal stem cells with osteogenic potential presumably plays an important role in atherogenesis and can serve as a new biomarker of stenosing atherosclerosis and calcinosis of coronary arteries.

The concentration of O(2) during coculturing practically did not affect the subpopulation composition of T lymphocytes (CD3(+)/CD4(+), CD3(+)/CD8(+), CD3(+)/CD16(+)/CD56(+) T cells) under conditions of PHA-induced activation. Coculturing with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) led to a significant decrease in the ratio of lymphocytes carrying activation markers (CD3(+)/CD25(+) and CD3(+)/HLA-DR(+)) and increase in the number of CD3(+)/CD16(+)/CD56(+) T cells. The percent of activated HLA-DR(+) T cells in a heterotypic culture with MSC at 5% O(2) was much lower than that observed under normal conditions of culturing (20% O(2)). Our results suggest that antigen presentation by T lymphocytes due to HLA-DR expression can be reduced in the target tissues at low concentration of O(2), while the interaction between allogeneic MSC probably contributes to more significant inhibition of the immune response.

We evaluated whether immobilized hyaluronidase can modify the hematotropic effect of immobilized granulocyte CSF (G-CSF). The preparation of immobilized hyaluronidase (50 arb. units per mouse) potentiated the specific effect of immobilized G-CSF on granulomonocytopoiesis. The preparation was shown to facilitate the indirect effect of immobilized G-CSF on hemopoiesis (stimulation of the erythroid and lymphoid hemopoietic stems). These changes were accompanied by an increase in functional activity of hemopoietic precursor cells, secretion of humoral factors by bone marrow myelokaryocytes, and concentration of hemopoietins in the serum.

The influence of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been studied on a model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. It is established that G-CSF significantly increases infiltration of alveolar and alveolar duct interstitium by inflammation cells (lymphocytes, neutrophils, plasmocytes) and increases collagen deposition in lung under conditions of bleomycin introduction. Simultaneously with profibrotic and anti-inflammation effects, G-CSF increased the content of granulocyte cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood, which was related to the stimulation of committed granulocyte precursors in the bone marrow.

An obvious correlation between the type of reaction manifested by peripheral blood lymphocytes to low dose irradiation in vitro (adaptive potential), the RBM cell composition (during the period of the major exposure), and the peripheral blood cell composition (at a late time period coincident with the studies of induced radioresistance) has been found in the Techa riverside residents in the later periods after the onset of a long-term low-dose rate radiation exposure (55-60 years later) within a range of individual red bone marrow doses from 0.01 to 1.79 Gy. The nature of these dependences observed in chronically exposed individuals differs from that revealed in the controls. It can be suggested based on the results of the study that the capacity for the adaptive response shown by peripheral blood lymphocytes donated by exposed persons in the remote period after exposure can be regarded as a biological marker of the functional state of the hemopoietic stem cell pool.

Before using MSC transplantation in the clinic to conduct preclinical studies MSCs to animals with acute and chronic pancreatitis. Work out the timing and dose of MSCs. The rationale of MSCs transplantation for the regeneration of damaged pancreatic tissue. The essence of the experiments is to establish the existence of common pathogenetic mechanisms for the development of pathological processes and sanogenesis toxic damage of pancreatic tissue. The study was work out in the rat model of acute and chronic pancreatitis, to explore beneficial and adverse effects of allogeneic stem cells for regenerative-reduction processes. For cell transplantation using allogenic stromal cell fraction of bone marrow, the cell suspension was injected at a dose of 2 x 10(6) and 5 x 10(6) cells.

This paper examines the structural and mechanical properties of composite materials based on chitosan and micro- and nanoparticles of Na-montmorillonite and possibility of application for cultivation and targeted delivery of mesenchymal stem cells and regenerative cells. It's have been shown by addition of Na-montmorillonite biomaterial acquires stability of structural and mechanical properties in the sterilization process the handling of liquid media in cell culture. In vitro studies using dermal fibroblasts and adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells demonstrated that this material has a set of properties to ensure matrix biocompatibility.

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are derived from somatic cells reprogrammed to the pluripotent state by the induced expression of defined transcription factors, achieved for the first time by the seminal work of Takahashi and Yamanaka. This new type of pluripotent cells has offered new exciting options in regenerative medicine allowing the replacement of cells and organs with the patient's own cells thereby avoiding immunological complications. In order to develop such technologies in approved animal models, iPS cells were also generated from rodents. Of course, the most important model for studying of different diseases is rat. In this study, we present a method suitable for rat iPS cells genetic modification by stable transfection and show necessary conditions for the first stages of direct differentiation.

The rat represents very important, superior in many respects to the mous, animal model for studying pharmacology, physiology, ageing, cardiovascular etc. However, numerous attempts to derive rat ES cells necessary to carry out loss-of-gene-function studies have not been successful thus far. Therefore rat induct pluripotent stem cells (or riPS) should provide a notable alternative to ES cell, allowing to study gene functions in this valuable animal model. Here we report an improved lentivirus-based riPS derivation protocol that makes use of small inhibitors of MEK and GSK3. We show that the excision of proviruses does not affect neither karyotype and pluripotency state of these cells. Also, we propose genetic tool for an improvement of the quality of riPS cells in culture. These data may prompt further iPS-based gene targeting in rat as well as the development iPS-based gene therapies, using this animal model.

In this study, we characterize new multipotent human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) lines derived from desquamated (shedding) endometrium in menstrual blood. The isolated endometrial MSC (eMSC) is an adhesive to plastic heterogeneous population composed mainly of endometrial glandular and stromal cells. The established cell lines meet the criteria of the International Society for Cellular Therapy for defining multipotent human MSC of any origin. The eMSCs have positive expression of CD73, CD90, CD105, CD13, CD29, CD44 markers and the absence of expression of the hematopoietic cell surface antigens CD19, CD34, CD45, CD117, CD130 and HLA-DR (class II). Multipotency of the established eMSC is confirmed by their ability to differentiate into other mesodermal cell types such as osteocytes and adipocytes. Besides, the isolated eMSC lines partially (over 50%) express the pluripotency marker SSEA-4, but do not express Oct-4. Immunofluorescent analysis of the derived cells revealed the expression of the neural precursor markers nestin and beta-III-tubulin. This suggests a neural predisposition of the established eMSC. These cells are characterized by high rate of cell proliferation (doubling time 22-23 h) and high cloning efficiency (about 60%). In vitro the eMSCs undergo more than 45 population doublings revealing normal karyotype without karyotipic abnormalilies. We demonstrate, that the mititotically inactivated eMSCs are perfect feeder cells for human embryonic stem cell lines (hESC) C612 and C910. The eMSC being a feeder culture maintain the pluripotent status of the hESC, which is revealed by the expression of Oct-4, alkaline phosphatase and SSEA-4. When co-culturing, hESC retain their morphology, proliferative rate for more than 40 passages and capability for spontaneous differentiation into embryoid bodies comprising the three embryonic germ layers. Thus, an easy and non-invasive extraction of the eMSC in menstrual blood, their multipotency and high proliferative activity in vitro without karyotypic abnormalities demonstrate the potential of use of these stem cells in regenerative medicine. Using the derived eMSCs as the feeder culture eliminates the risks associated with animal cells while transferring hESC to clinical setting.

Effective treatment of bums is one of effective in present medicine. Using cellular technology is one of the perspective directions for restoration of the integrity of the skin after burn injury an overview of the commercial preparations, presented at the European and American markets, and technologies developed by leading institutions in Russia.

Methods of proteomics were used to show the influence of parathyroid hormone (PTH, fragment 1-34) on osteoblasts as a major component of the hematopoietic stem cell niche. It was found that a number of proteins are changing in response to PTH treatment for 4, 8 and 32 hours. The experimental work-flow has been optimised for the systematic identification of protein level changes upon cellular exposure to different environments.