Expression of hsa-MIR-204, RUNX2, PPARγ, and BCL2 in Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Multiple Myeloma Patients and Normal Individuals

Blood cancer diagnosis using ensemble learning based on a random subspace method in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

There are two main challenges in the diagnosis of blood cancer. The first is to diagnose cancer from healthy control, and the second is to identify the types of blood cancer. The chemometrics method combined with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) can be used for cancer detection. However, chemometrics methods were easily influenced by the spectral feature redundancy and noise, resulting in low accuracy rate because of their simple structure. We proposed an approach using LIBS combined with the ensemble learning based on the random subspace method (RSM). The serum samples were dripped onto a boric acid substrate for LIBS spectrum collection. The complete blood cancer sample set include leukemia [acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)], multiple myeloma (MM), and lymphoma. The results showed that the accuracy rates using k nearest neighbors (kNN) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) only were 88.14% and 94.45%, respectively, while using RSM with LDA (RSM-LDA), the average accuracy rate was improved from 94.45% to 98.34%. Furthermore, the variable importance of spectral lines (Na, K, Mg, Ca, H, O, N, C-N) were evaluated by the RSM-LDA model, which can improve the recognition ability of blood cancer types. Comparing the RSM-LDA model and only with LDA, the results showed that the average accuracy rate for cancer type identification was improved from 80.4% to 91.0%. These results demonstrate that LIBS combined with the RSM-LDA model can discriminate the blood cancer from the health control, as well as the recognition the types for blood cancers.

miR‑204 inhibits the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells by targeting bone morphogenetic protein 2

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are used to investigate regeneration and differentiation. MicroRNA-204 (miR-204) in involved in the Runt-related transcription factor 2/alkaline phosphatase/bone morphogenic protein 2 (Runx2/ALP/BMP2) signaling pathway that regulates bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) differentiation; however, the mechanisms underlying the effects of miR-204 are yet to be determined. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of miR-204 on BMSC differentiation. BMSCs were derived from rat bone marrow. The expression levels of Runx2, ALP and BMP2 were measured via reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses following transfection of BMSCs with miR-204 agomir or BMP2 expression vector. The ability of the miR-204 gene to directly bind BMP2 mRNA was assessed using dual-luciferase assays. Ossification was measured via alizarin red stain assays. It was observed that the expression levels of Runx2 and ALP increased over time, whereas those of miR-204 decreased; additionally, miR-204 agomir upregulation inhibited the expression of Runx2, ALP and BMP2 in BMSCs. It was revealed that miR-204 directly interacted with BMP2 mRNA, and that transfection with miR-204 agomir suppressed ossification in BMSCs by targeting the BMP2/Runx2/ALP signaling pathway.

Identification of the xenograft and its ascendant sphere-forming cell line as belonging to EBV-induced lymphoma, and characterization of the status of sphere-forming cells

BACKGROUND

We have characterized the human cell line arised from the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive multiple myeloma aspirate subjected to the long-term cultivation. This cell line has acquired the ability to form free-floating spheres and to produce a xenograft upon transplantation into NOD/SCID mice.

METHODS

Cells from both in vitro culture and developed xenografts were investigated with a number of analytical approaches, including pathomorphological analysis, FISH analysis, and analysis of the surface antigens and of the VDJ locus rearrangement.

RESULTS

The obtained results, as well as the confirmed presence of EBV, testify that both biological systems are derived from B-cells, which, in turn, is a progeny of the EBV-transformed B-cellular clone that supplanted the primordial multiple myeloma cells. Next we assessed whether cells that (i) were constantly present in vitro in the investigated cell line, (ii) were among the sphere-forming cells, and (iii) were capable of internalizing a fluorescent TAMRA-labeled DNA probe (TAMRA+ cells) belonged to one of the three types of undifferentiated bone marrow cells of a multiple myeloma patient: CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells, CD90+ mesenchymal stem cells, and clonotypic multiple myeloma cell.

CONCLUSION

TAMRA+ cells were shown to constitute the fourth independent subpopulation of undifferentiated bone marrow cells of the multiple myeloma patient. We have demonstrated the formation of ectopic contacts between TAMRA+ cells and cells of other types in culture, in particular with CD90+ mesenchymal stem cells, followed by the transfer of some TAMRA+ cell material into the contacted cell.