Pancreatic tissue engineering as a therapeutic option for restoring and maintenance of damaged pancreas function has a special focus to using synthetic Scaffolds. This study was designed to evaluate pancreatic differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) on poly-L-lactic acid and polyvinyl alcohol (PLLA/PVA) scaffolds as 3 D matrix. During differentiation process, morphology of cells gradually changed and iPSCs derived insulin producing cells (iPSCs-IPCs) formed spherical shaped cell aggregation that was the typical shape of islets of pancreas. The highly efficient differentiation of iPSCs into a relatively homogeneous population of IPCs was shown by immunostaining. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results demonstrated that iPSCs-IPCs expressed pancreas-specific transcription factors (Pdx1, insulin, glucagon and Ngn3). The expressions of these transcription factors in PLLA/PVA scaffold were significantly higher than 2 D groups. Furthermore, we showed that concentration of insulin and C-peptide in PLLA/PVA scaffold and/or 2 D culture in response to various concentrations of glucose increased but the difference between them were not significant. Altogether the current results demonstrated that PLLA/PVA scaffold could provide the microenvironment that promotes the pancreatic differentiation of iPSCs, up-regulate pancreatic-specific transcription factors and improved metabolic activity.

Transplantation of islet is a promising method in treatment of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), however, is limited by islet shortage. The aim of this study was to prepare a polyethersulfone (PES) nanofibrous scaffolds to evaluate the pancreatic differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). The differentiation process in tissue culture dishes and PES scaffolds was evaluated at mRNA and protein level by RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence assay, respectively. The functionality of differentiated cells was determined by insulin and C-peptide release in response to glucose challenges. The results of this study showed that cells cultured on PES nanofibrous scaffolds exhibit more pancreatic b-cell characteristics as they express more pancreatic tissue-specific genes and proteins. Furthermore, the immunoassay showed that differentiated cells in both culture plates and PES scaffolds groups are functional and secrete C-peptide and insulin in response to glucose challenges. Altogether, the results of this study demonstrated that PES nanofibrous scaffold could provide the microenvironment that promotes the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into insulin producing cells.

The interplay between H2S and nitric oxide (NO) is thought to contribute to renal functions. The current study was designed to assess the role of NO in mediating the renoprotective effects of hydrogen sulfide in the 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 Nx) animal model. Forty rats were randomly assigned to 5 experimental groups: (a) Sham; (b) 5/6 Nx; (c) 5/6Nx+sodium hydrosulfide‐a donor of H 2S, (5/6Nx+sodium hydrosulfide [NaHS]); (d) 5/6Nx+NaHS+ L‐NAME (a nonspecific nitric oxide synthase [NOS] inhibitor); (e) 5/6Nx+NaHS+aminoguanidine (a selective inhibitor of inducible NOS [iNOS]). Twelve weeks after 5/6 Nx, we assessed the expressions of iNOS and endothelial NOS (eNOS), oxidative/antioxidant status, renal fibrosis, urine N‐acetyl‐b‐glucosaminidase (NAG) activity as the markers of kidney injury and various markers of apoptosis, inflammation, remodeling, and autophagy. NaHS treatment protected the animals against chronic kidney injury as depicted by improved oxidative/antioxidant status, reduced apoptosis, and autophagy and attenuated messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of genes associated with inflammation, remodeling, and NAG activity. Eight weeks Nω‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester ( L‐NAME) administration reduced the protective effects of hydrogen sulfide. In contrast, aminoguanidine augmented the beneficial effects of hydrogen sulfide. Our finding revealed some fascinating interactions between NO and H 2S in the kidney. Moreover, the study suggests that NO, in an isoform‐dependent manner, can exert renoprotective effects in 5/6 Nx model of CKD.

Enderami (2018) Collagen coated electrospun polyethersulfon nanofibers improved insulin producing cells differentiation potential of human induced pluripotent stem cells, Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 46:sup3, S734-S739,

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem worldwide and is associated with spatial learning deficits. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on CKD-mediated behavioral deficits with emphasis to the role of nitric oxide (NO) in these effects. Fifty rats were randomly allocated to five experimental groups including: sham, Five-sixth (5/6) nephrectomy (Nx), 5/6Nx + NaHS, 5/6Nx + NaHS+L-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and 5/6Nx + NaHS+aminoguanidine (AMG). Twelve weeks after 5/6Nx, we evaluated proteinuria, creatinine clearance (CrCl), oxidative/antioxidant status, and hippocampus neuro-inflammation and NO synthase genes in all groups. Furthermore, training trials of all animals were conducted in the Morris water maze (MWM) task one day before animal euthanizing. As predicted, 5/6Nx induced several injuries, including enhancement of proteinuria and reduction of CCr, oxidant/antioxidant imbalance and up-regulation of TNF-α and IL-1β gene expressions in the hippocampus tissues. As predicted, 5/6Nx resulted in learning and memory impairments, and increased escape latency during acquisition trials in the MWM task. Interestingly, NaHS (H2S donor) improved behavioral deficits, renal dysfunction, accelerated anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory responses and increased eNOS and decreased iNOS. Moreover, these effects of NaHS were prevented by L-NAME but not AMG co-administration. In conclusion, H2S ameliorates CKD-mediated brain dysfunctions, through interaction with NO signaling in the hippocampus.

Human‐induced pluripotent stem cells‐derived hepatocyte‐like cells (hiPSCs‐HLCs) holds considerable promise for future clinical personalized therapy of liver disease. However, the low engraftment of these cells in the damaged liver microenvironment is still an obstacle for potential application. In this study, we explored the effectiveness of decellularized amniotic membrane (dAM) matrices for culturing of iPSCs and promoting their differentiation into HLCs. The DNA content assay and histological evaluation indicated that cellular and nuclear residues were efficiently eliminated and the AM extracellular matrix component was maintained during decelluarization. DAM matrices were developed as three‐dimensional scaffolds and hiPSCs were seeded into these scaffolds in defined induction media. In dAM scaffolds, hiPSCs‐HLCs gradually took a typical shape of hepatocytes (polygonal morphology). HiPSCs‐HLCs that were cultured into dAM scaffolds showed a higher level of hepatic markers than those cultured in tissue culture plates (TCPs). Moreover, functional activities in term of albumin and urea synthesis and CYP3A activity were significantly higher in dAM scaffolds than TCPs over the same differentiation period. Thus, based on our results, dAM scaffold might have a considerable potential in liver tissue engineering, because it can improve hepatic differentiation of hiPSCs which exhibited higher level of the hepatic marker and more stable metabolic functions.

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Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) now offers an effective therapeutic option for men with male infertility and is believed to allow transmission of genetically determined infertility to the male offspring. Transmission of DAZ (Deleted in Azoospermia) microdeletion is one of the major concerns for oligo and severe oligozoospermia patients. Screening of the Y chromosome microdeletion in the diagnostic work-up of infertile men is mainly done using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on blood leukocytes. However, there are evidences showing that presence of DAZ in somatic cells might not be indicative of its presence in germ cell lineage. In this report we are going to describe a combined Primed in situ labeling (PRINS) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique to show the localization of DAZ gene as well as Y chromosome centromere on sperm nuclei. PRINS is a combination of FISH and in situ polymerization provides another approach for in situ chromosomal detection. In the present study the PRINS primers specific for DAZ genes and traditional direct labeled centromere FISH probes for Y and X chromosomes were used in order to simultaneously detect DAZ genes and sex chromosome aneuploidy in sperm samples.