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Studies osteoblasts and stromal cells isolated from femora in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis patients. Expression of interleukin-11, leukemia inhibitory factor and oncostatin M; Process of bone remodelling.

Osteogenesis of large segmental radius defects in a rat model was studied by implanting a biodegradable non-woven hyaluronic acid-based polymer scaffold (Hyaff®11) alone or in combination with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). These cells had been previously grown in vitro in mineralising medium either supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or unsupplemented. The healing of bone defects was evaluated at 40, 80, 160 and 200 days and the repair process investigated by radiographic, histomorphometric (assessment of new bone growth and lamellar bone) and histological analyses (toluidine blue and von Kossa staining). Mineralisation of bone defects occurred in the presence of the Hyaff® 11 scaffold alone or when combined with BMSCs grown with or without bFGF, but each process had a different timing.In particular, bFGF significantly induced mineralisation from day 40, whereas 160 days were necessary for direct evidence that a similar process was developing under the other two conditions tested (scaffold alone or with BMSCs).Radiographic score, new bone growth and lamellar bone percentage were highly correlated. The present outcomes were further confirmed by toluidine blue and von Kossa staining. According to these in vivo findings, the Hyaff® 11 scaffold is an appropriate carrier vehicle for the repair of bone defects; additionally, it can significantly accelerate bone mineralisation in combination with BMSCs and bFGF. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The present study compares the in vitro effect of (±)-2'-deoxy-3'-thiacytidine (BCH 189) a new synthetic anti-HIV-1 dideoxynucleoside, with 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) on the immune function of lymphocytes from 10 normal and 12 HIV-1+ patients (CDC II and III). The effect of different doses of BCH 189 and AZT was analysed in vitro on: (i) T cell proliferation after stimulation with concanavalin A (Con A) or anti-CD3 MoAb; (ii) B cell proliferation and immunoglobulin production after stimulation with pokeweed mitogen (PWM); (iii)cytokine production (IL-2, IL-6, GM-CSF, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)) from lymphocytes stimulated with anti-CD3 MoAb or phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). BCH 189 inhibited the proliferation of B and T lymphocytes from normal and HIV+ subjects less than AZT; even if lymphocytes from HIV+ (CDC III) subjects produced higher levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, neither BCH 189 nor AZT molecule interfered with cytokine release. Immunoglobulin production from B lymphocytes was inhibited only by a high concentration (50 μM) of BCH 189 or AZT. These results show that BCII 189 affects lymphocyte proliferation in vitro less then AZT, and support its use in clinical trials in HIV-infected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]