Zbyněk Tonar

Optimized conditions for mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into osteoblasts on a collagen/hydroxyapatite matrix.

Collagen/hydroxyapatite (HA) composite scaffolds are known to be suitable scaffolds for seeding with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiated into osteoblasts and for the in vitro production of artificial bones. However, the optimal collagen/HA ratio remains unclear. Our study confirmed that a higher collagen content increased scaffold stiffness but that a greater stiffness was not sufficient for bone tissue formation, a complex process evidently also dependent on scaffold porosity. We found that the scaffold pore diameter was dependent on the concentration of collagen and HA and that it could play a key role in cell seeding. In conclusion, the optimal scaffold for new bone formation and cell proliferation was found to be a composite scaffold formed from 50 wt % HA in 0.5 wt % collagen I solution.

Collagen/hydroxyapatite scaffold enriched with polycaprolactone nanofibers, thrombocyte-rich solution and mesenchymal stem cells promotes regeneration in large bone defect in vivo

A three-dimensional scaffold of type I collagen and hydroxyapatite enriched with polycaprolactone nanofibers (Coll/HA/PCL), autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in osteogenic media, and thrombocyte-rich solution (TRS) was an optimal implant for bone regeneration in vivo in white rabbits. Nanofibers optimized the viscoelastic properties of the Coll/HA scaffold for bone regeneration. MSCs and TRS in the composite scaffold improved bone regeneration. Three types of Coll/HA/PCL scaffold were prepared: an MSC-enriched scaffold, a TRS-enriched scaffold, and a scaffold enriched with both MSCs and TRS. These scaffolds were implanted into femoral condyle defects 6 mm in diameter and 10-mm deep. Untreated defects were used as a control. Macroscopic and histological analyses of the regenerated tissue from all groups were performed 12 weeks after implantation. The highest volume and most uniform distribution of newly formed bone occurred in defects treated with scaffolds enriched with both MSCs and TRS compared with that in defects treated with scaffolds enriched by either component alone. The modulus of elasticity in compressive testing was significantly higher in the Coll/HA/PCL scaffold than those without nanofibers. The composite Coll scaffold functionalized with PCL nanofibers and enriched with MSCs and TRS appears to be a novel treatment for bone defects.

Abdominal closure reinforcement by using polypropylene mesh functionalized with poly-ε-caprolactone nanofibers and growth factors for prevention of incisional hernia formation

Incisional hernia affects up to 20% of patients after abdominal surgery. Unlike other types of hernia, its prognosis is poor, and patients suffer from recurrence within 10 years of the operation. Currently used hernia-repair meshes do not guarantee success, but only extend the recurrence-free period by about 5 years. Most of them are nonresorbable, and these implants can lead to many complications that are in some cases life-threatening. Electrospun nanofibers of various polymers have been used as tissue scaffolds and have been explored extensively in the last decade, due to their low cost and good biocompatibility. Their architecture mimics the natural extracellular matrix. We tested a biodegradable polyester poly-ε-caprolactone in the form of nanofibers as a scaffold for fascia healing in an abdominal closure-reinforcement model for prevention of incisional hernia formation. Both in vitro tests and an experiment on a rabbit model showed promising results.

Heterogenous changes in neuropeptide Y, norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations in the hearts of diabetic rats

The changes in concentrations of neuropeptide Y (NPY), norepinephrine and epinephrine were investigated in the rat hearts 1, 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months after administration of streptozotocin (STZ; 65 mg/kg i.v.). About 30% of diabetic animals displayed symptoms of partial spontaneous recovery, i.e. decreasing blood glucose levels and increasing insulin concentrations in the plasma and pancreas. NPY concentrations in the atria of diabetic rats did not differ from those in age-matched control rats 1, 2, 4, 6 months in the right atria and even 9 months after STZ in the left atria. However, uncompensated diabetes led to a significant decrease in NPY levels 9 and 12 months after STZ administration in the right and left atria, respectively. In the ventricles, NPY concentrations were significantly decreased 6 months after the onset of diabetes. Interestingly, partial spontaneous recovery of diabetes was associated with increased NPY levels in the atria. Myocardial norepinephrine concentrations increased 1 month after STZ and then declined reaching approximately 60% of the respective control values 12 months after the onset of the disease. Partial spontaneous recovery of diabetes had no effect on norepinephrine concentrations. Myocardial epinephrine concentrations did not differ from those found in controls till month 9 of the disease and they became significantly lower at month 12. Partial recovery of diabetes resulted in epinephrine concentrations not differing from the control values at month 12 of diabetes. Regarding to preferential localization of norepinephrine in the sympathetic postganglionic fibers and that of NPY also in intrinsic ganglion neurons, intrinsic neuronal circuits seem to be less susceptible to STZ-induced damage than extrinsic nerves and they might be able to recover after amelioration of diabetes.

The contribution of vascular smooth muscle, elastin and collagen on the passive mechanics of porcine carotid arteries

The main components responsible for the mechanical behavior of the arterial wall are collagen, elastin, and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the medial layer. We determined the structural and mechanical changes in porcine carotid arteries after administration of Triton® X-100, elastase, and collagenase using the inflation-deflation test. The arteries were intraluminarly pressurized from 0 to 200 mmHg, and the outer diameter of the artery was measured. The pressure-strain elastic modulus was determined based on the pressure/diameter ratio. The intima-media thickness, wall thickness, thickness of the tunica adventitia layer, and the area fractions of SMCs, elastin, and collagen within the arterial wall (A(A)(SMC/elastin/collagen, wall)) were measured using stereological methods. The relative changes in the relevant components of the treated samples were as follows: the decrease in A(A)(SMC, wall) after administration of Triton® X-100 was 11% ± 7%, the decrease in A(A)(elastin, wall) after administration of elastase was 40% ± 22%, and the decrease in A(A)(collagen, wall) after the application of collagenase was 51% ± 22%. The Triton® X-100 treatment led to a decrease in the SMC content that was associated with enlargement of the arterial wall (outer diameter) for pressures up to 120 mmHg, and with mechanical stiffening of the arterial wall at higher pressures. Elastase led to a decrease in the elastin content that was associated with enlargement of the arterial wall, but not with stiffening or softening. Collagenase led to a decrease in collagen content that was associated with a change in the stiffness of the arterial wall, although the exact contribution of mechanical loading and the duration of treatment (enlargement) could not be quantified.

The tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib decreases cell number and induces apoptosis in a canine osteosarcoma cell line

Canine osteosarcoma, an aggressive cancer with early distant metastasis, shows still despite good chemotherapy protocols poor long term survival. The aim of our study was to determine whether sorafenib, a novel multikinase inhibitor, has any effect on D-17 canine osteosarcoma cells. A cell proliferation kit was used for detecting surviving cells after treatment for 72 h with sorafenib or carboplatin or their combination. A significant decrease of neoplastic cells was observed after incubation with 0.5-16 microM sorafenib or with 80-640 microM carboplatin. Using immunocytochemistry for activated caspase 3 to evaluate apoptosis, we found significantly more positive cells in the sorafenib treated groups. Paradoxically, expression of the nuclear proliferation marker Ki-67 was also significantly higher in sorafenib treated cells. The drug sorafenib showed potent antitumour activity against D-17 canine osteosarcoma cells in vitro, suggesting a potential as a therapeutic tool in the treatment of bone cancer in dogs.

Simian immunodeficiency virus vector pseudotypes differ in transduction efficiency and target cell specificity in brain

Lentiviral vectors have proven to be promising tools for transduction of brain cells in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we have examined the central nervous system (CNS) transduction efficiencies and patterns of a self-inactivating simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVmac)-derived lentiviral vector pseudotyped with glycoproteins from the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G), the amphotropic murine leukemia virus (MLV4070Aenv), the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV-GP), the Ross River virus (RRV-GP) and the rabies virus (RV-G). All glycoproteins were efficiently incorporated into SIV virions, allowing efficient transduction of neuronal cell lines as well as of primary dissociated mouse brain cell cultures. After injection of highly concentrated vector stocks into the striatum of adult mice, quantitative analyses revealed high transduction efficiency with VSV-G pseudotypes, while LCMV-GP and RV-G pseudotypes exhibited moderate transduction efficiencies. MLV4070Aenv and RRV-GP pseudotypes, however, showed only weak levels of transduction after stereotactic injection into the brain. Regarding cell tropism in vivo, VSV-G-pseudotyped SIV vectors transduced neuronal as well as glial cells, whereas all other pseudotypes preferentially transduced neuroglial cells. In addition, we analyzed the influence of the central polypurine tract (cPPT) in context of the VSV-G-pseudotyped SIV transfer vector for infection of brain cells. Deletion of the cPPT sequence from the transfer vector decreased the in vivo transduction efficiency by fourfold, and, more importantly, this modification changed the transduction pattern, since these vectors were no longer able to infect neuronal cells in vivo. Vector injection into the brain did elicit a humoral immune response in the injected hemisphere; however, no gross signs of inflammation could be detected. Analysis of the biodistribution of the vector revealed that, besides the injected brain region, no vector-specific sequences could be detected in any of the organs evaluated. These data indicate SIV vectors as efficient gene delivery vehicles for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Angiogenic markers in canine lymphoma tissues do not predict survival times in chemotherapy treated dogs

Angiogenesis, which is essential for malignancies to progress, depends on various signalling proteins including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1 and 2 (VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2). Microvessel density (MVD) is frequently used to evaluate angiogenesis. This study assessed the relationship between expression of VEGF, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2, MVD and the survival time in dogs with lymphoma. VEGF, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 expression was evaluated immunohistochemically and microvessel profiles were counted in 34 lymphoma samples. Seventy-nine percent of the samples showed high VEGF expression and 62% were highly positive for VEGFR-1; VEGFR-2 immunoreactivity was mostly negative. Dogs treated with chemotherapy had a median survival time of 266days, but no significant relationships were found between overall survival time, MVD and expression of VEGF, VEGFR-1 or VEGFR-2. In this study, VEGF its receptors and the MVD were no prognostic factors in dogs with lymphoma.

Asymptomatic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Show Histological Signs of Progression: A Quantitative Histochemical Analysis

Objective: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a serious disease due to its covert nature, relatively high prevalence and fatal prognosis in the case of rupture. To obtain new insights into AAA pathogenesis, we examined the relationships between histopathology, multiplex in vitro immunoassay data, diameter and symptomatology. Methods: In a prospective, non-randomised study, we evaluated samples from 6 normal infrarenal aortae and 65 AAA patients (65 walls, 55 thrombi). The AAA patients were either asymptomatic (n = 44), symptomatic (n = 7) or with ruptured AAA (n = 14). The AAA diameter was classified as small (<5 cm, n = 18), medium (5–7 cm, n = 26) and large (>7 cm, n = 21). We quantified the histopathology of the AAA wall and the adjacent thrombus. We assessed the expression of proteins in the same samples. Results: Asymptomatic AAAs had walls with more abundant inflammatory infiltrates, lower amounts of PAI-1, a higher number of tPA-positive elements, a tendency towards decreased collagen content, whereas the adjacent thrombi had a greater concentration of VCAM-1 and MMP-2 when compared with symptomatic AAAs. Compared with the aneurysmatic aorta, the normal aorta contained less collagen and more elastin, actin, desmin and PAI-1-positive elements; in addition, it was more vascular. Medium-sized AAAs were the most actin and vimentin rich, and large AAAs were the most vascular. Conclusion: Our results show that asymptomatic AAA walls often have more potentially deleterious histopathological alterations than symptomatic AAA walls. This result indicates that a progression from an asymptomatic AAA to rupture can be expected and screening patients who are at risk of rupture could be beneficial.

Quantification of microvessels in canine lymph nodes

Quantification of microvessels in tumors is mostly based on counts of vessel profiles in tumor hot spots. Drawbacks of this method include low reproducibility and large interobserver variance, mainly as a result of individual differences in sampling of image fields for analysis. Our aim was to test an unbiased method for quantifying microvessels in healthy and tumorous lymph nodes of dogs. The endothelium of blood vessels was detected in paraffin sections by a combination of immunohistochemistry (von Willebrand factor) and lectin histochemistry (wheat germ agglutinin) in comparison with detection of basal laminae by laminin immunohistochemistry or silver impregnation. Systematic uniform random sampling of 50 image fields was performed during photo‐documentation. An unbiased counting frame (area 113,600 μm2) was applied to each micrograph. The total area sampled from each node was 5.68 mm2. Vessel profiles were counted according to stereological counting rules. Inter‐ and intraobserver variabilities were tested. The application of systematic uniform random sampling was compared with the counting of vessel profiles in hot spots. The unbiased estimate of the number of vessel profiles per unit area ranged from 100.5 ± 44.0/mm2 to 442.6 ± 102.5/mm2 in contrast to 264 ± 72.2/mm2 to 771.0 ± 108.2/mm2 in hot spots. The advantage of using systematic uniform random sampling is its reproducibility, with reasonable interobserver and low intraobserver variance. This method also allows for the possibility of using archival material, because staining quality is not limiting as it is for image analysis, and artifacts can easily be excluded. However, this method is comparatively time‐consuming. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2008.