Objective To investigate the feasibility of dendritic cells ( DCs ) as vector of immunotherapy through intratracheal injection. Methods The DCs obtained from the bone marrow of BALB/ c mice were cultured and isolated with CD11c-positive magnetic beads. Then DCs were overloaded with ovalbumin peptide 323-339 ( OVA 323-339) for 24 hours. The mice in the DC-OVA group were intratrachelly injected DCs overloaded with OVA 323-339 in dose of 2 ×106 cells per mouse. The mice in thenegative control group were intratracheally injected with DCs untreated by OVA 323-339. On the second day,all mice were challenged with 1% OVA in PBS lasting for five days. The asthma animal model established by classic method was used for the positive control. Pathologic changes in lung and cell numbers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BALF) were assayed 24 hours after challenged. Results Just like the lung tissues from the mice asthma models, the lung tissues from the mice instilled with DCs overloaded with allergen OVA 323-339 showed extensive inflammatory cells infiltration, most of which were eosinophils, neutrophils and lymphocytes. The lung tissues in the DC group showed no obvious inflammation. There were more cells in BALF in the DC-OVA group than that in the DC group. OVA-specific IgE in serum from the DC-OVA group was not significantly different from that in the mice asthma models [ ( 48. 22 ±4. 76) U/mL vs. ( 52. 75 ±4. 03) U/mL, P gt;0. 05] . Conclusion DCs overloaded antigen has the ability of transferring of antigen effectively and may be used as vectors of immunotherapy.
ObjectiveTo observe the effects of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) on the proliferation and migration of endothelial progenitor-endothelial progenitor cells (EPC).MethodsBone marrow cells of AQP1 wild-type (WT) (n=6) and knockout-type (KO) mice (n=6) were isolated and differentiated into EPC in vitro. Immunofluorescence was used to detect cell surface antigens to identify EPC. Live cell kinetic imaging and quantification technology, transwell migration assays, as well as scratch test were used to compare the function of EPC between AQP1 WT and KO mice.ResultsEPC culture showed that cells were initially suspended and gradually adhered to typical mesenchymal stem cells within 7 days. After cultured on special medium for endothelial cells they were adhered and differentiated, and fusiform or polygonal, paving stone-like EPC were observed around 14 days. When cultured by special medium of EPC, CD133 and CD31 were positively detected after 7 days, and CD34 and Flk-1 were positively detected after 14 days. Positive expression of AQP1 was only detected in EPC of AQP1 WT mice. Functional studies of EPC revealed there was no significant difference in the proliferation of EPC between AQP1 WT and KO group mice. Transwell assay showed that EPC migration ability of AQP1 KO mice was significantly weaker than that of WT mice. The scratch healing ability of EPC in AQP1 KO mice was significantly lower than that of WT mice.ConclusionsEPC initially shows the characteristics of stem cells and with the prolongation of culture time, EPC gradually shows the characteristics of endothelial cells. AQP1 affects the EPC migration rather than proliferation.
