Dr. Long Jun Dai

Dong-Sheng Li, Ya-Hong Yuan, Hang-Jun Tu, Qing-Le Liang, Long-Jun Dai: A protocol for islet isolation from mouse pancreas. Nature Protocols. 4:1649-1652, 2009.

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Abstract The recent era of islet transplantation research began more than four decades ago. In 1967, Lacy’s group described a new collagenase-based method to isolate islets, paving the way for future islet experiments both in vitro and in vivo, and eventually leading to a successful islet transplantation to treat patients with type 1 diabetes; since then it has been referred to as the Edmonton protocol. Islet isolation has been a fundamental technique in the field of diabetic research for almost half a century. Achieving good islet isolation is one of the most important factors for reliable islet transplantation studies.

Dong-Sheng Li, Garth L. Warnock, Han-Jun Tu, Ziliang Ao, Zehua He, Hong Lu,  Long-Jun Dai: Do immunotherapy and β cell replacement play a synergistic role in the treatment of type 1 diabetes? Life Sciences. 85:549-556, 2009.

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Abstract Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is the result of the autoimmune response against pancreatic insulin-producing ß-cells. Its ultimate consequence is β-cell insufficiency-mediated dysregulation of blood glucose control. In terms of T1D treatment, immunotherapy addresses the cause of T1D, mainly through re-setting the balance between autoimmunity and regulatory mechanisms. Regulatory T cells play an important role in this immune intervention. An alternative T1D treatment is β-cell replacement, which can reverse the consequence of the disease by replacing destroyed β-cells in the diabetic pancreas. The applicable insulin-producing cells can be directly obtained from islet transplantation or generated from other cell sources such as autologous adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells. In this review, we summarize the recent research progress and analyze the possible advantages and disadvantages of these two therapeutic options especially focusing on the potential synergistic effect on T1D treatment. Exploring the optimal combination of immunotherapy and β-cell replacement will pave the way to the most effective cure for this devastating disease.

Zhen-Xing Zhang, Yan-Zhen Zhang, Li-Xue Guan, Yan-Ju Zhou, Xin-Xiang Zhao, Yao-Hong Cai, Li-Mei Zhao, Feng-Qi Li, Long-Jun Dai:  Autotransplantation of purified mesenchymal stem cells in a patient with acute myocardial infarction: A case study. Journal of Stem Cells 2(3):185-189, 2007.

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Abstract Purified bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were autotransplanted to a patient with acute myocardial infarction. The employment of the sub-population of bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells was nitended to clarify some disputable outcomes in hetrogeneous mononuclear cell therapy. The improvement of myocardial perfusion and cardiac function was observed after delivery of mesenchymal stem cells through a combined procedure of primary intracoronary infusion and secondary intraveneous infusion. This procedure is expected to enhance the engraftment efficacy of transplanted cells at infarcted myocardium.

Zhen-Xing Zhang, Li-Xue Guan, Kun Zhang, Shouxian Wang, Pei-Cheng Cao, Yong-He Wang,     Zhe Wang, Long-Jun Dai: Cytogenetic analysis of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells passaged in vitro. Cell Biology International. 31:645-648, 2007.

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Abstract This study concerns the cytogenetic stability of in vitro human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in primary culture and after passaging. Bone marrow samples were collected from seven brain malfunction patients involved in autologous MSC transplantation trials. Chromosome preparations from primary MSC cultures and after 3 passages were analyzed by conventional staining and G-banding techniques. All MSCs showed normal diploid karyotypes, 46 XY or 46 XX, without aneuploidy or polyploidy; chromosome structural abnormalities were not detected. The results indicate that the in vitro cultured MSCs retained normal cytogenetics before being transplanted back into the patients.

Z-X Zhang, L-X Guan, K Zhang, Q Zhang, L-J Dai: A combined procedure to deliver  autologous mesenchymal stromal cells to patients with traumatic brain injury.  Cytotherapy 10:134-139, 2008.

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Abstract There is increasing evidence of therapeutic benefits from bone marrow (BM)-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) in various animal models with neurologic disorders. It is of great interest to apply the approach to clinical patients, i.e. to take the investigations from laboratory bench to the patient’s bedside. This clinical trial was performed to assess the safety and feasibility of a combined procedure to deliver autologous MSC to patients with traumatic brain injury.

Long-Jun Dai, Hong-Ying Li, Li-Xue Guan, Gordon Ritchie, Jeff X. Zhou: The therapeutic potential of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on hepatic cirrhosis. Stem Cell Research 2:16-25, 2009.

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Abstract Hepatic cirrhosis is the end-stage of chronic liver diseases. The majority of patients with hepatic cirrhosis die from life-threatening complications occurring at their earlier ages. Liver transplantation has been the most effective treatment for these patients. Since liver transplantation is critically limited by the shortage of available donor livers, searching for an effective alternative therapy has attracted great interest in preclinical studies. The transplantation of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells holds great potential for treating hepatic cirrhosis. Mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate to hepatocytes, stimulate the regeneration of endogenous parenchymal cells, and enhance fibrous matrix degradation. Experimental and clinical studies have shown promising beneficial effects. This review is intended to translate the bench study results to the patients’ bedside. The potential interventions of mesenchymal stem cells on cirrhosis are illustrated in terms of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of hepatic fibrogenesis.