Objective To investigate the results of human amniotic membrane(HAM) which are loaded with marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) and epidermis cells in treating fullthickness skin defect combined with radiation injury. Methods Eight minipigs were used in this study. Three round fullthickness wounds（Ф3.67cm）, which combined with radiation injury, were created on the dorsum of each side close to the vertebral column in each animal. Among 48 wounds, 24 left side wounds were treated with HAM loaded with MSCs and epidermis cells as experimental group (group A), 16 right side wounds with simple HAM (HAM group, group B) and 8 right side wounds with oil gauze as control (group C). The granulation tissue, reepithelization and wound area were observed after 1,2 and 3 weeks. Immunohistochemistry was performed using vWF as a marker for blood vessels.Image analysis was employed to test new area of wound at different interval time and healing rate of wound.Results The healing time of group A was 6 to 7 days faster than that of group C and 5 to 6 days faster than that of group B. After 15-17 days of graft, there were significant differences in new area of wound and healing rate between group A and groups B,C(Plt;001). New epidermis fully covered whole wound surface in group A, and their granulation tissue, which contained a lot of vWF, fibroblasts, capillaries and collagen, grew well. Many inflammatory cells still were seen in groups B and C, and their contents of vWF, fibroblasts, capillaries and collagen in granulation tissue were smaller than that in group A.Conclusion The graft of HAM loaded with MSCs and epidermis cells played an effective role in promoting healing of wound combined radiation injury with high quality.
Objective To observe the effects of culture medium of amniotic cells on NO and NOS in retinal tissues of rabbits in vitro in order to provide a protective method for antioxidation in retina transplantation. Methods Thirty adult healthy rabbits (30 right eyes) were divided into 3 groups. Group I: fresh retinal tissue; group II: routine culture medium; group III: culture medium of amniotic cells. The retinal tissues in group II and III were cultured in the corresponding culture medium for 1 week. The content of NO and NOS in retinal tissues in the 3 groups were determined. Results Compared with group I, the content of NO and NOS of group II increased obviously (t=3.821, 3.854; P＜0.001). There was no statistical difference of content of NO and NOS between group I and III (t=1.657, 1.745; P＞0.05). Conclusion Culture medium of amniotic cells may remove free radicals and enhance the ability of antioxidation. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：366-368)
ObjectiveTo discuss whether human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) possesses the characteristic of mesenchymal stem cells, and could differentiate into ligament cells in vitro after induction.
MethodsThe hAMSCs were separated through enzyme digestion, and the phenotypic characteristics of hAMSCs were tested through flow cytometry. The cells at passage 3 were cultured with L-DMEM/F12 medium containing transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)+basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) (group A), containing hyaluronic acid (HA) (group B), containing TGF-β1+bFGF+HA (group C), and simple L-DMEM/F12 medium (group D) as control group. The morphology changes of cells in each group were observed by inverted phase contrast microscope at 21 days after induction; the cellular activities and proliferation were examined by sulforhodamine (SRB) colorimetric method; and specific mRNA and protein expressions of ligament including collagen type I, collagen type III, and tenascin C (TNC) were measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical staining.
ResultsThe flow cytometry result indicated that hAMSCs expressed mesenchymal stem cell phenotype. After 21 days of induction, the cells in groups A, B, and C grew like spindle-shaped fibroblasts under inverted phase contrast microscope, and cells showed single shape, obvious directivity, and compact arrangement in group C. The SRB result indicated that the cells in each group reached the peak of growth curve at 6 days; the cellular activities of groups A, B, and C were significantly higher than that of group D at 6 days after induction. Also, the immunohistochemical staining results showed that no expressions of TNC were detected in 4 groups at 7 days; expressions of collagen type I in groups A, B, and C were significantly higher than that in group D at 7, 14, and 21 days (P<0.001); the expressions of collagen type III in groups A, B, and C were significantly higher than that in group D at 14 and 21 days (P<0.001). There was an increasing tendency with time in collagen type I of group B, in collagen type III and TNC of groups A and C, showing significant difference among different time points (P<0.001). The real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR results revealed that the mRNA expressions of collagen type I and TNC in group C were significantly higher than those in groups A and B (P<0.05), and the mRNA expression of collagen type III in group B were significantly higher than that in groups A and C at 21 days (P<0.05). The mRNA expressions of collagen type I and TNC in groups A and C and mRNA expression of collagen type III in group C had an increasing tendency with time, showing significant difference among different time points (P<0.001).
ConclusionThe hAMSCs possesses the characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells and excellent proliferation capacity. After in vitro induction, the expressions of ligament specific genes can be up-regulated and the synthesis of ligament specific proteins can be also strengthened. As a result, it can be used as one of ligament tissue engineering seed cell sources.
Objective To observe the effect of amniotic homogenate on closing holes in experimental rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and investigate its mechanism. Methods Forty rabbits were randomly divided into group A, B, C and D with 10 rabbits in each group. Group A and C were the treatment groups, and group B and D were the control groups. All eyes of rabbits underwent pars plana vitrectomy, retinectomy, and fluidair exchange. The surface of the breaks was treated with 01 ml amniotic homogenate in experimental groups and 0.1 ml PBS in control groups. At the end of operation, 20% SF6 was tamponaded and the retina reattaced. The animals were executed 14 (group A and B) and 28 days (group C and D) after the surgery. The tissue sections were observed by light microscope, electron microscope and immunocytochemistry method. Results Fourteen days after the surgery, the retina reattached in 6 eyes in group A (60%) and 2 eyes in group B (20%) （P=0.021）. Twenty-eight days after the surgery, the retina reattached in 8 eyes in group C (80%) and 3 eyes in group D (30%) (P=0.046). The difference of the rate of retinal reattachment among the 4 groups were statistical significant (Plt;0.05). Light postoperative inflammation of ocular anterior segment was observed, which was controlled 3-5 days after treated with topical steroids. The result of light microscopy showed that the eyes in treatment groups had multilayer of fibroblastlike cells around the retinal breaks, adhering to the choroid and retinal pigment epithelial cells. The proliferative cells around the retinal breaks obvious less in control groups than that in the treatment groups, and the retina could not adhere to the choroid. The results of electron microscopy were the same as that of light microscopy. Immunohistochemistry staining of the fibroblastlike cells revealed positve glial fibrillary acidic protein, which suggested that the proliferative cells around the retinal breaks were retinal glial cells. Conclusions Amniotic homogenate helps to seal retinal breaks and promote retinal reattachment by stimulating the proliferation of retinal glial cells around the breaks.
Objective
To investigate the feasibility of human amniotic membrane-living skin equivalent (AM-LSE) in repairing the skin defect.
Methods
A 5-year-old boy with giant nevus at neck, shoulder, and back was admitted in July 2016. Normal skin tissue of the patient was harvested and keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts were separated and expanded in vitro. Human AM was donated from a normal delivery and de-epithelialized for constructing an LSE as a matrix. Keratinocytes were seeded on the epithelial side of the AM which was previously seeded with fibroblasts on the stromal side and then the complex was lifted for air-liquid surface cultivation for 10 days and observed under naked eyes and sampled for histological study. The nevus was excised to deep fascia and the skin defect in size of 20 cm×15 cm was covered with artificial skin of collagen sponge for 2 weeks to enhance granulation tissue formation, and then the AM-LSE grafts of stamp size were grafted on. The dressing was changed until the wound healed.
Results
After 10 days of air-liquid surface cultivation, the AM-LSE developed a multilayered and differentiated epidermis with the fibroblasts-populated amnion as the dermal matrix. The LSE stamps survived and expanded to cover the whole wound. The grafted area showed normal skin color and soft contexture at 6 months after operation, and histological study showed well developed epidermis with compactly aligned basal cells, stratified and well differentiated squamous, granular layers and stratum corneum and well vascularized dermal compartment without inflammatory cells infiltration.
Conclusion
The cultivated AM-LSE with autologous cells can repair skin defect and survive for a long term without rejection.
Objective To investigate the clinical therapeutic effects of two types of vaginoplasty. Methods From January 1996 to March 2005, 63 patients wih the congenital absence of the vagina were treated by two types of vaginoplasty. Of the 63 patients, 37 underwent vaginoplasty using the amnion and 26 underwent an improved laparoscopic Vecchitti operation. The durations ofthe operation and hospitalization, as well as the blood loss were compared between the two types of vaginoplasty. The vaginal moulds were improved during the operations. Results According to the follow-up for 2 months to 4 years in the 35 patients. Compared with vaginoplasty using the amnion, vaginoplasty by an improved laparoscopic Vecchitti operation had advantages of significantly shorter surgical duration, shorter hospitalization, and less blood loss (Plt;0.05). After the operations, the artificial vagina of all the 63 patients could hold a speculum and the mucosa appeared so soft and smooth with normal lubrication. The married patients were satisfied with the intercourse. However, after vaginoplasty using the amnion, an infection of the amnion occurred in 3 patients, scar contracture in 2 patients, one of whom underwent scar incision 13 months after operation with a success; but the other refuse to accept another operation. But the improved laparoscopic Vecchitti operation achieved a success in the patients without any infectionor scar contracture, according to the 2 month-2.5 years follow-up. Conclusion The improved laparoscopic Vecchitti operation is a preferred procedure of constructing a vagina for the patients suffering from the congenital absence of the vagina.
Application research on human amniotic membrane has been carried out for nearly a hundred years and people found that there were more than dozens of kinds bioactive substances in the amniotic membrane. It has been proved that the amniotic membrane has a lot of functions, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-virus, anti-angiogenic and promoting cell apoptosis, and so on. As effective treatments, amniotic membrane has been used for adjunctive therapy of burns, trauma, ophthalmic damage, dermatopathya. Recent advances of amniotic membrane and amniotic membrane-derived cells research have led to enormous progress in skin tissue engineering, vascular tissue engineering, biological scaffold material, and biological sustained-release materials. Amniotic membrane and amniotic membrane derived cells have a significant advantage and unique charm in medical field. Therefore, they have higher research value and broad prospects in the applications.
Objective The human amniotic epithel ial cells (hAECs) are a recently identified new type of stem cells.It has previously been shown that hAECs express hepatocyte-related gene and possess intracellular features and functional properties of hepatocytes. The hAECs may be a candidate seed cell for l iver regeneration. To research the survival and migrationin vivo of hAECs via adeno-associated virus-mediated the green fluorescent protein gene (AAV-GFP) transfection, and toexplore the expression of hepatocyte-l ike function. Methods Thirty nude mice (aging 6-8 weeks, half males and females, and weighing 20-22 g) were randomly divided into 3 groups (groups A, B, and C, n=10). The mice of groups A and C were made the 2/3 partial hepatectomy model, and the mice of group B underwent open abdominal operation without hepatectomy. The hAECs transfected by AAV-GFP were transplanted into the inferior end of the spleen in groups A and B with a cell density of 5 × 106/mL and a volume of 0.2 mL; the same volume of normal sal ine was injected in group C. At 4 hours, the nude mice were sacrificed and the samples of l iver, spleen, heart, lung, brain, and kidney were harvested and the general observation, histological observation, and immunofluorescence detection were performed for the hAECs survival, migration, and the functional properties of hepatocytes. Results No tumor tissue was found in l iver and spleen of 3 groups, and HE staining showed no tumor cells. There were a lot of roundl ike and deeply-stained cells with less cytoplasm and large nucleus in the spleen and the l iver of group A; no abnormal cells were found in l iver and spleen of groups B and C and in kidney, heart, bung, and brain of groups A, B, and C. The GFP+ cells were detected in the spleen and l iver of group A with expressing human albumin, but no GFP+ cells was found in l iver and spleen of groups B and C and in heart, kidney, lung, and brain of groups A, B, and C. Conclusion AAV-GFP infected hAECs transplanted into SCID nude mice with hepatectomy can keep the hepatocyte-l ike function. It will be beneficial to further identify their biological characteristics.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of amniotic membrane patching in the treatment of recurrent macular hole associated with retinal detachment of high myopia (MHRD). MethodsA prospective study. From March 2018 to January 2020, 11 patients (11 eyes) of recurrent macular hole associated with MHRD at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were enrolled. Among them, there were 3 males (3 eyes), and 8 females (8 eyes). The average age was 63.64±5.82. The axis length (AL) was 29.10±0.59 mm, and the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best corrected visual acuity (logMAR BCVA) was 2.23±0.57. Patients previously received pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with internal limiting membrane stripping surgery, which was more than 1 time. All eyes underwent standard pars plana three-channel 23G PPV combined with amniotic membrane covering and silicone oil filling. The silicone oil was removed 6 months after surgery. Follow-up time was up to 3 months after silicone oil removal surgery. 1, 3, and 6 months after the operation, the same equipment and methods were used to conduct relevant examinations before the operation to observe the closure of the macular hole, retinal reattachment and changes in logMAR BCVA. The logMAR BCVA before and after surgery was compared by paired t test. ResultsAt 1, 3, and 6 months after the operation, the retinas of all eyes were anatomically repositioned, the macular holes were well closed, and the amniotic membrane was attached to the retina. At 3 months after the silicone oil removal operation, there was no recurrence of macular hole in all eyes; logMAR BCVA was 1.35±0.32. No serious complications occurred during and after surgery in all eyes. ConclusionAmniotic membrane patching is a safe and effective method for recurrent macular hole associated with MHRD.
