[Problems and prospects of cell therapy for critical ischaemia of lower limbs]

BACKGROUND

Cell therapy was proposed as a procedure of indirect revascularization for patients with critical ischaemia of lower extremities for whom endovascular and surgical revascularization is impossible. We present herein a review of the state of the art of studies in the field of cell therapy of this cohort of patients.

BASIC PROVISIONS

Cell therapy has proved safe, however, the results of studies of efficacy are relatively ambiguous and unconvincing. The number of patients in separately taken clinical trials is minimal. The reviewed studies differed not only by heterogeneity of the cell types used but by the routes of administration of cells (cells were delivered either intramuscularly (predominantly) or intraarterially) and the duration of follow up (time of assessment and duration of follow up varied from 1 month to 2 years). One of the problems became the lack of the routine study of the angiogenic potential of stem cells prior to their clinical application. It is known that the angiogenic activity of multipotent cells of apparently healthy patients may differ from that of patients suffering from atherosclerosis, chronic renal failure, diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

It is supposed that treatment with stem cells or precursor cells is more efficient as compared to protein or gene therapy not only owing to direct vasculogenic properties but a paracrine action through excretion of proangiogenic biologically active substances. More studies with larger cohorts are necessary to provide stronger safety and efficacy data on cell therapy. Besides, a promising trend in the field of cellular approaches is modulation of regenerative capability of stem cells, which may help overcome difficulties in understanding the place of cell therapy in therapeutic angiogenesis.

[Functional analysis of the Xist promoter region in mouse Mus musculus]

X-chromosome inactivation which takes place in early embryogenesis of all higher mammals is largely determined by the Xist gene activity. This gene encodes long untranslated RNA, which provides transcriptional silencing of the genes on chromosome. In the present study, three enhancer and three silencing transcriptional elements were identified in the Xist promoter region. In these regions, location of putative transcription factors was demonstrated, including the ER site, which was discovered in two positions. The effect of estradiol and retinoic acid on the promoter activity was investigated. The estradiol-induced increase of the promoter activity was demonstrated. A model of the estrogen effect on X chromosome inactivation was suggested.

[Investigation of the Tsix gene regulatory region in vole Microtus rossiaemeridionalis]

The Tsix regulatory region was examined in vole Microtus rossiaemeridionalis. The minimal promoter region, three potential enhancer regulatory elements and one transcription suppressor element were identified. The enhancer regions contained potential binding sites of transcription activators, while in the region of putative silencer contained potential binding site of the ARP1 (NR2F2) protein. This protein can play the role of either activator or repressor depending on the promoter context.

[Role of G(-43)A polymorphism in the promoter region of the Xist gene in non-random X-chromosome inactivation in intraspecific hybrid voles]

Interaction of transcription factor CTCF with the minimal promoter of Xist gene was investigated in intraspecific hybrids ofcommon voles. CTCF was shown to bind with the minimal promoter region in vivo. However, the experiments of the delay in gel resulted in the absence of interaction between the CTCF factor and its potential binding site. Probably, G(-43)A substitution influences binding efficacy of another transcription factor such as activator protein 2, AP2.

[Comparative analysis of the DXPas34 regulatory region in rodents]

Mouse X chromosome inactivation center contains the DXPas34 minisatellite locus which plays an important role in expression regulation of the Tsix and Xist genes, involved into female dosage compensation. Comparative analysis of the DXPas34 locus from mouse, rat, and four common vole species revealed similar organization of this region in the form of tandem repeat blocks. A search for functionally important elements in this locus showed that all the species examined carried the conservative motif monomers, which could be involved in regulation of X inactivation.

[Expression of early developmental genes in vole Microtus rossiaemeridionalis]

The expression of genes Sox2, Klf4, Myc, Sall4, Gata6, Foxa2, Hnf4a, Cdx2, Esrrb, Hand1 in cultivated cells, embryos and organs of adult voles Microtus rossiaemeridionalis was studied. High resemblance of the expression patterns of these genes in the organs of adult voles, mice and humans was demonstrated. It was established that genes Gata6, Foxa2 and Hnf4a were specifically expressed in vole extraembryonic endoderm cells, while Cdx2 and Handl genes, in trophoblast stem cells. This shows that these genes can be used markers for corresponding vole cell lines. Indirect confirmation pointing to the fact that Oct4 gene is a marker gene for epiblast cells both in the vole and mouse was obtained.

[Induced pluripotent stem cells]

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) result from a reprogramming of somatic cells via transduction with viral vectors expressing the Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, Klf4, Nanog, and Lin28 genes, which are essential for the establishment and maintenance of the pluripotent state. In properties, iPS are almost fully similar to embryonic stem cells (ESC). To date, iPS have been obtained from various differentiated cells of mice and humans. Along with ESC, iPS are highly promising for research and medicine.

[OCT4 and NANOG are the key genes in the system of pluripotency maintenance in mammalian cells]

Embryonic stem cells are able to give rise after differentiation to derivatives of three germinal layers (ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm) and to functional gametes. This property of cells is referred to as pluripotency. The pluripotent status of preimplantation embryo cells and embryonic stem cells is maintained by a complicated system of molecular signaling pathways and transcription factors. The key regulators in this system are the transcription factors OCT4 and NANOG. The role and place of these factors in the pluripotency-sustaining system and their interaction with other factors are considered in the review. Data are presented on the structure, chromosomal location, expression, and regulation of the Oct4 and Nanog genes in mammals.

[Extraembryonic endoderm stem cell lines from common voles of the genus Microtus]

Twenty-eight independent extraembryonic endoderm (XEN) stem cell lines have been obtained from morula and blastocyst cells of common voles. Most cell lines form very few cell-cell contacts when growing and morphologically correspond to the XEN that were earlier described in mice. In addition, XEN cell lines with atypical morphology forming colonies have been obtained for the first time. Both types of XEN lines rapidly proliferate, retain their morphology and karyotype during more than 25 passages in cell culture, and express genes characteristic of XEN. One of two X chromosomes in XEN lines with karyotype XX has been shown to be inactive and associated with the Xist gene transcript. It has been demonstrated that the paternal X chromosome is inactive.

[The structure and evolution of the MaSMC4 gene of common vole Microtus arvalis (Arvicolidae, Rodentia)]

In eukaryotes, the SMC (Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes) gene family is represented by at least six genes. Some of these genes have tissue-specific homologs. Eukaryotic SMC structural proteins are the members of biochemical complexes responsible for cohesion of sister chromatids, recombination, repair, regulation of gene expression, and formation of mitotic chromosomes. In the present study, the structure of the SMC4 sub-family gene was examined in common vole Microtus arvalis. Comparative analysis of rodent (M. arvalis, Mus musculus. and Rattus norvegicus), human, and Xenopus SMC4 orthologous genes was carried out, and the main patterns of their organization and regulation were established. The SMC4 genes contain 24 exons; open reading frame starts at exon 2. The SMC4 5' regions contain the CpG islands, extending in the region of exon-intron I and exon 2. The SMC4 genes are characterized by the presence of multiple transcription startpoints. The region of the major transcription startpoint contains the INR CCA,1TTTT element. The SMC4 5' region is characterized by the presence of putative binding site for basal transcription factor Sp and factor E2F, typical of the genes induced in the G I/S phase of the cell cycle. The divergence level of the SMC4 coding region was examined. The mean Ka/Ks ratio for the SMC4 genes examined was 0. 123. The region of exon 2 was found to be the most variable (Ka/Ks = 0.715), while the most conservative was the region coding for the C-globular domain, which contained the DA box (Ka/Ks = 0.024).

[Chromatin modifications during X-chromosome inactivation in female mammals]

In female mammals, the process of dosage compensation occurs during early embryonic development. As a result of this, one of X-chromosomes becomes transcriptionally inactive. This process is accompanied by chromatin remodeling on inactivated X-chromosome, providing transcriptional silencing of the genes and maintenance of their inactive state. In the present review, the dynamics of modifications occurring during embryonic inactivation, their distribution over the inactive X-chromosome, interaction, and the role in establishing and maintening the inactive state are discussed. As an illustration, modifications on the inactive X-chromosome of the Microtus common vole are presented.

[Evolution of mammalian sex chromosomes: cooperation of genetic and epigenetic factors]

The X and Y chromosomes of mammals, which significantly differ in structure and genetic composition, are thought to originate from a pair of autosomes. During evolution of sex chromosomes in placental mammals, the degradation of the Y chromosome and inactivation spreading along the X chromosome occurred gradually and in concert. Thus, at the molecular level, the genetic and epigenetic factors interacted toward greater differentiation of the X/Y pair. In this review, in context of a comparison permitting to trace this evolutionary pathway, we consider the structural features of mammalian sex chromosomes focusing on the X-chromosomal genes and the unique epigenetic mechanism of their regulation. Possible causes and consequences of the genes skipping inactivation and aspects of molecular mechanism of X-chromosome inactivation are discussed. A number of hypotheses are considered on evolutionary relationships of X-chromosome inactivation and other molecular processes in mammals.

[SMC (structural maintenance of chromosomes) structural protein family and their role in chromatin reorganization]

Structural chromatin proteins of the SMC (Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes) family play an important role in structural DNA reorganization in pro- and eukaryotes. Eukaryotic SMC proteins are the core components of the cohesin and condensin complexes. The cohesin complex is responsible for sister chromatid and homolog cohesion in mitosis and meiosis. The condensin complex uses ATP energy to induce positive coiled-coils in DNA, which results in compaction of the latter and formation of mitotic chromosome scaffold. In addition, the SMC proteins constitute recombination and recombination repair complexes. In hermaphrodites of nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the SMC protein-containing complex controls dosage compensation and inactivation of the X chromosome genes.

[Isolation of ES-like lines of common voles of the genus Microtus from blastocysts and germ cells and as a result of the fusion of somatic cells with mouse embryonic stem cells]

Three and four independent cell lines with limited pluripotency were obtained from the inner cell mass cells of blastocysts and primordial germ cells of common voles, respectively. The results of cytogenetic analysis suggest that all these lines originated from the embryos of F1 Microtus rossiaemeridionalis x M. arvalis males and had a great number of near-triploid cells already during the early passages. The cells of these lines, like those of the inner cell mass, were characterized by the alkaline phosphatase activity. Nine independent cell lines were obtained as a result of hybridization of the mouse embryonic stem cells and vole splenocytes: eight lines and one line from hybridization with the M. kirgisorum and M. rossiaemeridionalis splenocytes, respectively. The cells of these lines expressed some properties of embryonic stem lines had a chromosome complement similar to the sum of two initial diploid sets of the mouse and vole.

[Gene for structural proteins of the SMC family in the common vole Microtus arvalis]

Genes for four subfamilies of SMC (structural maintenance of chromosomes) proteins have been isolated from the genome of a common vole Microtus arvalis. The high degree of homology between representatives of each SMC protein subfamily of different classes of organisms has been demonstrated. The full-sized copy of a mammalian gene encoding SMC4 protein has been isolated and analyzed for the first time. The SMC proteins enter into the composition of complexes responsible for cohesion of sister chromatids, formation of mitotic chromosomes, recombination, DNA repair, and regulation of gene expression. We discuss the possible participation of the SMC proteins in inactivation of the X chromosome in mammalian females. Common voles of genus Microtus group "arvalis" serve a unique model for the study of the inactivation process.

[Organization of extended repeats in heterochromatin in sex chromosomes in the common vole species Microtus group "arvalis"]

Two long repeats, MS3 and MS4, are predominantly located in sex-chromosomal heterochromatin in common vole species. Their tandem arrangement was revealed by means of the PCR analysis of genomic DNAs of four Microtus species and by restriction mapping of clones selected from a M. rossiaemeridionalis genomic library. Several mobile elements proved incorporated in a monomeric unit of each repeat and amplified together with its other components. In addition, LINE inserts were found in MS4 tandem arrays. The copy number of both repeats per haploid genome was estimated at 100-300 for euchromatin and 20,000-40,000 for the M. rossiaemeridionalis genome. The repeats were assumed to be the major component of sex-chromosomal heterochromatin DNA.

[High-resolution GTG-banding and nucleolar organizer regions of chromosomes of two vole species: Microtus rossiaemeridonionalis and M. transcaspicus (Rodentia, Arvicolidae)]

With the use of the GTG-banding of prometaphase chromosomes, 503 and 402 segments were revealed in haploid chromosome sets of voles Microtus rossiaemeridionalis and M. transcaspicus, respectively. Based on a detailed study of chromosomes at different condensation levels, idiograms of M. rossiaemeridionalis and M. transcaspicus chromosomes were constructed. Sequential Ag-staining and GTG-banding allowed nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) to be localized in 16 and 11 chromosome pairs of M. rossiaemeridionalis and M. transcaspicus, respectively.

[High resolution GTG banding and nucleolus organizer regions of chromosomes from the vole Microtus kirgisorum]

The use of GTG-banding of chromosomes in combination with the pipette method of chromosome preparation at the early metaphase made it possible to distinguish about 520 segments in the haploid chromosome set of vole Microtus kirgisorum. The ideogram of M. kirgisorum chromosomes was obtained on the basis of detailed investigation of chromosomes at different condensation levels. Data of the localization and the number of nucleolus-organizer regions are given.

[Prospects for obtaining a mapping panel for somatic cell marsupial-rodent hybrids for the short-tailed opossum Monodelphis domestica]

A possibility of obtaining a panel of marsupial-rodent somatic cell hybrid clones has been explored, with a view to mapping the genome of the opossum (Monodelphis domestica). Fusion of opossum cells (splenocytes, bone marrow cells, and fibroblasts) with fibroblasts of Chinese hamster or vole (HGPRT- and TK- mutants, respectively) produced 146 hybrid clones. The majority of marsupial-mammalian somatic cell hybrids were characterized by pronounced fragmentation and segregation of marsupial chromosomes. To overcome this difficulty, a method for rapid screening was developed, which allowed the early selection of clones rich in chromosomal material of opossum. Based on the screening results, 25 clones of independent origin were selected. A detailed genetic analysis, which included chromosome G-banding and in situ hybridization of biotin-labeled opossum DNA on metaphase chromosomes, allowed further selection of seven hybrid clones containing one to six intact chromosomes of M. domestica. Opossum chromosomes were present in various combinations against the background of Chinese hamster or vole chromosomes. The clones will be included in the panel of opossum-rodent somatic cell hybrids, which is currently being created.

[Mapping the silver fox genome. IV. Determination of chromosomal location of genes for ornithine carbamoyltransferase and prion protein]

The location in chromosomes of genes encoding ornithine carbamoyltransferase (ornithine transcarbamylase, OTC) and prion protein (PrP) was determined by Southern blotting of DNAs obtained from a panel of hybrid (for x Chinese hamster) somatic cell clones, with human OTC and Chinese hamster PrP DNA fragments used as probes. The gene OTC was located in the X-chromosome and PrP was located in chromosome 14 of the fox.

[X chromosome inactivation in mammals]

The most important results of the last 30 years of studies on mammalian X-chromosome inactivation are reviewed. The data on X-chromosome inactivation in cells of embryonic and extraembryonic tissues and in male and female germ cell lines are discussed. Special attention is paid to data on mapping and functioning of the X-inactivation center and of recently discovered gene XIST. The main hypotheses concerning the mechanisms responsible for X-chromosome inactivation are considered. A new model of X-inactivation is proposed, which regards heterochromatin as a nonspecific activator of nucleation of the X-chromosome on which it is located.

[Rapid karyotyping of mammalian cells]

The use of "pipette" method ensures rapid preparation of standardized whole metaphase spreads. Experiments with human, murine, Chinese hamster, American mink, green African monkey, dog, and vole cells demonstrated that G-banded whole metaphase spreads can be obtained in less than two hours after the beginning of work with cell or tissue culture. Due to that, it became possible to start karyotyping of animal tissue explants, as well as fetal cells present in human amniotic fluid, on day 3 to 4 after their receiving.

[Establishment of linkage and the order of the genes GALA, G6PD, HPRT and PGK on the X-chromosome in two species of voles of the genus Microtus]

Localization of genes GALA, G6PD, HPRT and PGK on X-chromosome of Microtus subarvalis has been proved. Using the radiation hybrid mapping technique of Goss and Harris, the order of these genes for two species M. subarvalis and M. Kirgisorum was established. Statistical methods (program package RHMAP) result in the only gene order PKG--HPRT--G6PD--GALA for M. subarvalis. The same order was found to be the most probable for M. kirgisorum. Relative distances between these genes in two species appeared to be practically equal. A conservatism of a linear order of the X-linked genes in various mammalian taxons is discussed.

[Statistical validation of a radiation mapping method]

Correct statistical treatment of results of Goss and Harris experiments on radiation hybrid mapping is proposed. Using stochastic simulation a problem of an optimal sample size is investigated. Reasons for a repetition of experiments with different doses of radiation are discussed.

[Construction of a mapping panel of human-rodent hybrid cells]

A clone panel of 27 human-Chinese hamster and 4 human-mouse somatic cell hybrids which contained as minimum five discriminating clones for any chromosome pairs was set up. Segregation analysis of 45 human chromosome-specific isoenzymes and PCR markers in hybrid clones allowed to demonstrate a possibility to apply the obtained panel for chromosome mapping of human genes.

[Use of isoenzyme and PCR markers for analyzing human chromosomes in human-rodent hybrid cells]

The possibility of using isozyme and PCR markers for estimation of preservation of human chromosomes in human.rodent somatic cell hybrids is considered. Methods of electrophoretic separation of 33 isozymes and 11 PCR markers for 22 human autosomes and X chromosome are described. Using these isozymes and PCR primers as markers of known regions and arms of human chromosomes, one can avoid errors in typization of chromosomes with complicated rearrangements which simulate similar patterns of G-banding. The method proposed in the paper not only facilitates considerably the analysis of hybrid clones, but is also an easy and reliable tool in selection of somatic cell hybrid clones for further investigation.

[Comparative analysis of the level of heterozygosity for glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI) locus in silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes) of domesticated and control populations]

This communication is the first step of the studies on the correlation between protein polymorphism and the level of phenotypic diversity. The level of heterozygosity for glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI) locus was analysed in two populations of silver foxes. One of them has been selected for domestic behaviour during many years. This selection vector gave rise to many phenotypic novelties; 46% of the foxes analyzed has aberrant phenotypes. Another population was control bred under the same conditions of experimental farm of Siberian Dept. Russian Sci. with a commercial purpose. All the foxes analyzed from this population, except one, had a standard phenotype. Among 96 domestic foxes under analysis, only one heterozygotes for the GPI locus was detected. Among 112 control foxes, six were heterozygotes. In other words the data obtained indicate no correlation between the level of morphological diversity and the state of heterozygosity of the GPI locus.

[Evaluation of the degree of genetic divergence in the twin species of the common vole Microtus arvalis and Microtus subarvalis (Rodentia)]

By means of starch electrophoresis, 52 proteins and enzymes of Microtus arvalis and M. subarvalis were studied to establish the extent of their similarity. Out of 52 markers studied, 7 proteins and enzymes had different electrophoretic mobility: glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD), diaphorase (DP), adenylate kinase (AK), lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB), alpha-galactosidase (GAL) and hemoglobin (Hb), which make up to 13% of all the enzymes and proteins studied. The differences found between the two species studied by electrophoretic mobility of G6PD, AK, GAL and Hb, as well as the absence of intraspecific polymorphism for the above proteins permit to consider these proteins as species-specific markers, with the help of which M. arvalis and M. subarvalis can be distinguished. It should be emphasized that intraspecific polymorphism was found for PGD, LDHB and DP in M. arvalis, while in M. subarvalis these proteins were monomorphic and identical, in their electrophoretic mobility, to one of electrophoretic variants of M. arvalis. Therefore, only one of allelic variants of PGD, LDHB and DP is species-specific. Estimation of the extent of genetic similarity based on analysis of distribution of gene frequencies for polymorphic loci of M. arvalis and M. subarvalis by means of Nei's method gave the value of 0.312, the genetic distance being 1.164. The data obtained, together with the known cytogenetic data, point to a species rank of the species studied. Moreover, in spite of the morphological similarity between M. arvalis and M. subarvalis, the estimation of genetic similarity proved to be close to that for morphologically contrasting species.

[Use of marker genes located on X-chromosomes to analyze lens development in Arctic fox/fox hybrids]

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) isozymes were studied in the lens and some tissues of Arctic fox x fox female hybrids at different developmental stages. During the embryonic and early postnatal (till the 2nd day of life) development the lens is characterized by a high degree of individual variation of the ratio between parental G6PD forms. The number of stem cells for the lens was determined to be equal to six by means of binomial method of description of this variation. Taking into account the similarity of G6PD spectra in the right and left lenses, a suggestion was put forward that both the lenses develop from the common pool of stem cells. After the 4th day of postnatal life a hemizygote-like phenotype of maternal type was observed in the lenses of all hybrid females. It is suggested that the formation of pseudohemizygote phenotype is due to the posttranslation chemical modification of G6PD isozymes.