The ability of stem cells to self-renew as well as their multilineage differentiation potential makes them ideal candidates for skin regeneration strategies. Mesenchymal stem cells residing in human adult dermis, in contrast to adipose tissue, have not yet been described. The objective of this study was to determine the stemness and chemokine-mediated homing potential of dermal stromal cells (DSC) and to compare this with adipose stem cells (ASC). DSC have a less stellate form than ASC, confirming that DSC and ASC are two different types of mesenchymal cell populations. However, DSC display a mesenchymal stem cell phenotype (CD31(-), CD34(+), CD45(-), CD54(+), CD90(+), CD105(+), and CD166(+) similar to ASC and are also multipotent in their ability to differentiate into adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts. Both ASC and DSC display a similar set of chemokine receptors (CCR3, CCR4, CCR6, CCR10, CXCR1, and CXCR2). Several ligands for these receptors, with CCL5/RANTES being the most potent, can induce migration of ASC and DSC in an in vitro wound-healing assay. Taken together, these results show that a population of mesenchymal stem cells resides in the dermis of human adult skin and these dermal-derived stem cells have a phenotypic and chemokine-mediated homing potential similar to adipose stem cells, which to our knowledge is previously unreported.

Changes in the GAG/Hyp ratio of chemically induced degeneration in goat IVD resemble the changes seen in humans. Gene expression profiles match the pattern of degeneration, suggesting that the injection of chondroitinase ABC might mimic the onset of human disc degeneration.

Maintaining the native pericellular matrix of chondrocytes prevents collagen-induced up-regulation of MMP-13. Both ITGα1 and DDR2 modulate MMP-13 expression after direct contact between chondrocytes and collagen. PKC, FAK, MEK and JNK are involved in collagen-stimulated expression of MMP-13.

We investigated the distribution and diurnal variation of TR(beta)1 protein expression in liver with specific antibodies against TR(beta)1. Immunohistochemistry showed a zonal distribution of TR(beta)1 with maximum expression in the pericentral zone matching some known T(3)-responsive enzyme activities in the liver, such as glutamine synthetase, cholesterol 7alpha- hydroxylase, and spot 14. Combining immunohistochemistry and image analysis we found and quantified the same zonal distribution for 5'-deiodinase type 1 as for TR(beta)1. Western blot analysis revealed a profound diurnal variation for TR(beta)1 protein expression, with highest levels at the beginning of the dark period. TR(beta)1 diurnal variation partly overlaps with the T(3)-responsive genes, cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase and spot 14. Furthermore, TR(beta)1 distribution along the porto-central axis does not change during the day, indicating that the zonal expression of TR(beta)1 is stable. This is the first time that zonal distribution in liver has been demonstrated for a member of the nuclear receptor family. This finding together with the observed diurnal rhythm has major implications for interpreting and timing experiments concerning the TR and its downstream actions in liver.

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