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Biomedical subjects

Sai Chuen Fu

Publications and source records attributed to Sai Chuen Fu.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

The roles of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 12 in stimulating the proliferation and matrix production of human patellar tendon fibroblasts.

Recombinant human (rh) bone morphogenetic protein 12 (BMP12) is proved to induce the formation of tendon and ligament tissues in animal experiments. But the roles of BMP12 on tissue regeneration in human tendons remain unexplored. In the present study, healthy human patellar tendon samples were collected for histological examination and preparation of tendon fibroblast culture. Immunohistochemical staining showed that BMP12 was detected on healthy patellar tendon samples, only located on active tenoblasts and perivascular mesenchymal cells but not in interstitial tenocytes. The expression of PCNA and procollagen type I also exhibited a similar distribution. It indicates that BMP12 may be involved in matrix remodeling process in adult tissues. In vitro studies showed that rhBMP12 could increase proliferation of tendon fibroblasts and increase the gene expression of procollagen type I and type III, but decrease the gene expression of decorin in tendon fibroblasts culture. Our findings suggest that BMP12 may play a role in early phases of tissue regeneration in tendons.

Adolescent↗

Regular moderate exercise training prevents decrease of CD4+ T-lymphocytes induced by a single bout of strenuous exercise in mice.

The biphasic effects of exercise training on the immune system have been studied extensively and represented by the well-known J-shaped curve with respect to training intensity. However, the relationship and interactions between "beneficial" exercise training and "harmful" strenuous exercise have not been researched. This study was designed to determine whether regular moderate exercise training could affect the changes of percentage of T-lymphocytes induced by a single bout of strenuous exercise. A protocol to run uphill on a 10 degrees tilted treadmill for 4 weeks was employed as moderate exercise training in mice, while a sedentary control group of mice was exposed to the same handling stress without training. The trained and untrained mice were then exposed to a single bout of strenuous exercise until exhaustion. Total leukocytes were collected from spleen and peripheral blood at 0 hr, 3 hrs, and 24 hrs postexhaustion, as well as from the control groups. Flow cytometric analyses were conducted to determine the percentages of selected leukocyte populations. It was demonstrated that moderate exercise training prevented the decrease of CD4+ but stimulated the increase of CD25+ CD8+ T-lymphocytes induced by a single bout of strenuous exercise, indicating an adaptive response that can affect changes of leukocyte subpopulations.

Animals↗

Increased expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 in patellar tendinosis.

Patellar tendinosis is characterized by longstanding localized and activity-related pain, swelling and tenderness on palpation, and characteristic features on magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography and during surgical excision. Histologic examination of tendinosis tissues shows disrupted collagen matrix, increased cellularity, and increased proteoglycan stainability, but lack of inflammatory cell infiltration despite the clinical signs resembling inflammation. Disturbances in inflammatory response may be associated with the development of tendinosis. Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and transforming growth factor-beta1 were detected in tendinosis, and the in vitro production of prostaglandin E2 by tendinosis and healthy tendon fibroblast cultures also was observed. Eleven patients with patellar tendinosis and 12 control subjects with healthy patellar tendons, but deficient anterior cruciate ligaments, were included in the current study. The percentages of immunopositive cells in tendinosis samples for cyclooxygenase-2 and transforming growth factor-beta1 were 66.75 and 56.40, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the control subjects (25.15 and 23.06 respectively). Tendinosis fibroblast culture also produced more prostaglandin E2 and active transforming growth factor-beta1. These findings indicate the involvement of prostaglandins and cytokines that may explain the clinical symptoms and nonhealing features of tendinosis.

Adolescent↗