巢式PCR-HRM法在点突变模式小鼠基因分型中的应用

目的 利用巢式PCR结合高分辨率熔解曲线(HRM)技术，改进点突变模式小鼠的基因分型方法。方法 以ob/ob鼠和db/db鼠为样本，剪小鼠脚趾编号并提取基因组DNA。根据突变位点参考序列设计巢式PCR引物并进行两轮扩增后，对产物进行HRM分析，获得基因分型结果。同时，通过PCR-SBT法和PCR-RFLP法对分型结果的准确性进行验证。结果 对80只ob/ob鼠和65只db/db鼠进行了检测，巢式PCR-HRM法能够准确地分辨出3种基因型。在ob/ob鼠中，鉴定得到的纯合子、杂合子和野生型分别为21、47和12只。而在db/db鼠中，纯合子、杂合子和野生型分别为23、33和9只。巢式PCR-HRM法的分型结果与PCR-SBT法和PCR-RFLP法的结果高度一致，且分型结果与小鼠表型一致。结论 建立的巢式PCR-HRM法是一种快速、简便、准确度高的基因分型方案，适用于大批量点突变模式小鼠的基因分型鉴定。     

Bag3 P215L基因突变小鼠的繁殖与基因型鉴定

BAG3是一种多功能蛋白,在多种疾病的发生发展中起决定性作用.临床研究表明,BAG3蛋白的第209位残基脯氨酸到亮氨酸p. Pro209Leu (c. 626C T)的杂合子突变能够引起一种罕见的肌原纤维肌病.为进一步研究BAG3 P209L突变引起的相关疾病,建立了Bag3 P215L突变的小鼠模型(小鼠的Bag3蛋白序列中对应突变的脯氨酸位于第215位残基上).将Bag3 P215L杂合突变的雄鼠和雌鼠进行繁殖交配,将得到纯合子、杂合子及野生型3种基因型小鼠.出生后3～4周龄的小鼠剪尾,采用了NaOH法、KCl法和改良SDS法共3种方法提取基因组DNA,然后进行PCR扩增、琼脂糖凝胶电泳和DNA测序.用改良SDS法能更为稳定有效地提取DNA,从而成功进行Bag3 P215L小鼠的繁育和基因型鉴定.为进一步研究BAG3 P209L突变引起的相关疾病提供了理想的动物模型.     

突变无毛小鼠F_2代的免疫学特性研究

目的　进一步研究BALB/c突变无毛小鼠突变基因的免疫功能。方法　选择杂交F2 代二周龄和二月龄小鼠及突变无毛二周龄小鼠 ,应用流式细胞仪对其细胞免疫 (T细胞 -CD3+ 、T细胞亚群 -CD4 + 、CD8+ )和体液免疫 (B细胞 -CD19+ )进行检测 :并且采用ELISA方法对IgG抗体的吸光度进行测定。结果　二周龄突变稀毛小鼠的CD19+ 、CD4 + /CD8+ 雄性高于雌性 ,而CD8+ 雌性高于雄性 ;F2 代稀毛小鼠的CD4 + /CD8+ 雄性高于雌性 ;突变无毛小鼠的CD19+ 、IgG雄性高于雌性。二月龄F2 代稀毛小鼠的CD8+ 雌性高于雄性 ,F2 代无毛小鼠的CD4 + 雌性高于雄性。二周龄和二月龄F2 代无毛小鼠的特异性细胞免疫指标均低于稀毛小鼠 ,而体液免疫高于稀毛小鼠。结论突变无毛小鼠的各项指标均低于稀毛小鼠 ,表明突变小鼠的免疫功能降低。进一步证明了该突变基因对小鼠的免疫功能有一定的影响 ,为该小鼠的应用奠定基础     

三例眼部突变小鼠的培育及特征分析

摘要: 目的 筛选培育眼部突变表型小鼠,为人类相关疾病的研究提供材料。方法 采用 N-乙基-N-亚硝基脲 ( N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea,ENU) 诱变处理 G0 代小鼠,繁育获得 G1 代,筛选眼部突变表型个体,进行遗传力试验、临床 诊断及病理学观察。结果 本实验繁殖 G1 代小鼠 2782 只,经筛查获得眼部突变表型小鼠 65 只,可稳定遗传小鼠 3 例,分别表现为: 角膜混浊、小眼球和虹膜异常等特征。角膜混浊者其角膜症状严重程度差异较大,角膜病变部位 明显增厚,部分伴有新生血管; 小眼球者睑裂较小,甚至上下眼睑粘连,外观眼球不可见,病理学检查可见内有发育 异常的小眼球; 虹膜异常者可见瞳孔偏大,明显偏离中心位置,偏向位置不定,对光无反射,病理学观察可见虹膜晶 状体粘连、虹膜缺损,严重者伴有视网膜异常等。结论 本实验成功培育了 3 例眼部突变表型小鼠,为人类相关疾 病的研究提供良好的材料。     

LIM结构域蛋白KyoT基因剔除小鼠的建立和表型分析

KyoT为一LIM结构域蛋白,可与转录因子RBP-Jk相互作用而调节其转录活性.构建了KyoT基因剔除载体,转染小鼠胚胎干细胞(ES细胞)后得到同源重组的ES细胞克隆.将此ES细胞注射入小鼠的囊胚泡得到嵌合小鼠,再经小鼠培育得到KyoT基因被剔除的小鼠.纯合子KyoT基因剔除小鼠不能表达有功能的KyoT蛋白.表型分析表明纯合子KyoT基因剔除小鼠腹腔B1B细胞数增加,提示KyoT可能参与B淋巴细胞的发育.     

FGFR2IIIc及其突变型腺病毒对小鼠乳腺癌作用的研究

目的：研究FGFR2IIIc及其突变型腺病毒对小鼠乳腺癌的作用。方法：确定腺病毒颗粒Ad、Ad-FGFR2IIIc及Ad-FGFR2IIIcS252W感染4T1细胞的最佳MOI,并通过RT-PCR检测外源目的基因的表达。建立BALB/c小鼠的4T1乳腺癌模型,在此模型上原位注射重组腺病毒颗粒治疗17天,观察其对小鼠肿瘤的作用。结果：当MOI=60时腺病毒对4T1细胞的感染率可达到95%以上,RT-PCR结果显示,FGFR2IIIc和FGFR2IIIcS252W可在4T1细胞中成功表达。与对照组和Ad组比较,Ad-FGFR2IIIc对小鼠肿瘤无明显作用,Ad-FGFR2IIIcS252W能显著减缓小鼠肿瘤体积和质量的增长。结论：FGFR2IIIc对BALB/c小鼠4T1乳腺癌无显著作用,FGFR2IIIcS252W能够显著抑制BALB/c小鼠4T1乳腺癌的生长。     

BALB／c突变无毛小鼠血清IgG含量的测定

对本中心发现并培育成群的一种新的BALB／c突变无毛小鼠血清IgG含量进行测定，同时与其它二种表型进行比较。结果表明，小鼠IgG含量随日龄的增大而增大，雌雄间无显著性差异。1月龄无毛小鼠IgG含量低于其它两种表型，但2－3月龄间无差异，表明该突变未引起成年小鼠正常血清IgG含量的变化。此外，试验中还发现，BALB／c突变小鼠三种表型2月龄时血清IgG含量比文献报导的BALB／c小鼠低，其原因有待进一步探讨。     

无毛突变基因对无毛小鼠免疫器官结构及功能的影响

摘要: 目的探讨无毛突变基因的作用,对无毛小鼠、有毛小鼠的免疫器官结构及功能进行了对比研究。方法比 较无毛小鼠和有毛小鼠主要免疫器官组织学变化,以及血清白介素－ 2 受体、淋巴细胞亚群、淋巴细胞增殖等方面 的差别。结果发现无毛小鼠和有毛小鼠免疫器官结构及功能均有一定的差异。结论研究结果提示无毛突变 基因不仅影响被毛结构,对免疫器官及功能也有一定的影响。该基因在杂合状态时也有一定的作用,表明该突变 基因具有一定的共显性。     

不同日龄Smad3基因剔除小鼠的脏器重量及脏器指数

实验选用不同年龄雌雄小鼠各 2 0只 ,剖检Smad3基因剔除小鼠 ,观察其大体解剖特征 ,测定其体重、脏器重量、脏器指数 ,统计比较结果。其结果是 35日龄Smad3基因剔除纯合型小鼠的体重及各脏器重量均低于其它两种表型 ,而心、肝、脾、胸腺的脏器指数高 ;70日龄Smad3基因剔除纯合型小鼠的体重、肝脏、脾脏、肾脏、卵巢、睾丸和附睾均低于其它两种基因型 ,而脏器指数是肝脏低 ,脾脏和胸腺高 ;Smad3基因剔除纯合型小鼠与野生型小鼠比较 ,具有其独特的特性 ,为该小鼠的应用提供一定的参考。     

基于Cre-LoxP系统的条件性定点敲入人源hRas基因小鼠的建立

目的 构建基于Cre- LoxP系统的条件性定点敲入人源hRas基因(c-Ha-ras)的小鼠,以获得hRas基因在特定组织器官条件性表达的小鼠模型,用于药物的临床前致癌性安全评价及相关机制研究。方法 首先构建hRas打靶载体,电击法转染入小鼠胚胎干细胞(ES细胞),用正负法筛选阳性ES细胞,通过PCR、 Southern鉴定后,将正确重组hRas基因的ES细胞导入C57BL/6 J小鼠囊胚,移入同步发育的受体鼠子宫,妊娠足月出生的嵌合体小鼠与C57BL/6 J小鼠交配获得杂合子hRasfl/+小鼠。再将杂合子hRasfl/+小鼠间交配获得纯合子小鼠hRasfl/fi,然后与全身组织细胞表达Cre重组酶的Tg (EIIa-cre)小鼠进行交配,获得全身细胞表达hRas基因的hRas-EIIa-cre小鼠,并通过荧光定量PCR方法检测不同日龄胚胎期仔鼠的hRas基因表达水平。结果 成功构建了基于Cre- LoxP系统的人源hRas基因条件性定点敲入小鼠模型的载体,筛选得到的一个正确克隆,电转ES细胞后进行Southern blot鉴定,经过初筛和复筛,共获得12个阳性克隆,挑选A11号克隆ES细胞进行囊胚注射,移植了48枚胚胎,出生9只小鼠,其中6只为嵌合鼠,将嵌合率>50%的雄鼠与野生型C57BL /6 J雌鼠进行交配,出生21只后代,其中鉴定有4只hRasfl/+小鼠;hRasfl/+小鼠间交配出生29只小鼠,其中有14只纯合子hRasfl/fi小鼠;hRasfl/fl小鼠与Tg (EIIa-cre)工具鼠交配6次,未有仔鼠出生;跟踪不同发育时期胚胎中hRas基因的表达发现,E10.5～15.5 d胚胎中检测到hRas基因表达。结论 成功建立运用Cre- LoxP系统建立了带有hRas基因敲入的纯合子小鼠hRasfl/fl,未能得到全身细胞高效表达人源hRas基因的hRas-EIIa-cre小鼠,但为进一步利用hRasfl/fl小鼠模型建立其他组织特异性的条件性基因敲入小鼠模型做好技术储备。     

Phenotypic differences between alpha beta versus beta T-cell receptor transgenic mice undergoing negative selection

T-cell differentiation in the thymus is thought to involve a progression from the CD4-CD8- phenotype through CD4+CD8+ intermediates to mature CD4+ or CD8+ cells. There is evidence that during this process T cells bearing receptors potentially reactive to 'self' are deleted by a process termed 'negative selection' One example of this process occurs in mice carrying polymorphic Mls antigens, against which a detectable proportion of T cells are autoreactive. These mice show clonal deletion of thymic and peripheral T-cell subsets that express the autoreactive V beta 3 segment of the T-cell antigen receptor, but at most a two-fold depletion of thymic cells at the CD4+CD8+ stage. By contrast, transgenic mice bearing both alpha and beta chain genes encoding autoreactive receptors recognizing other ligands, show severe depletion of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes as well, suggesting that negative selection occurs much earlier. We report here the Mls 2a/3a mediated elimination of T cells expressing a transgene encoded V beta 3-segment, in T-cell receptor alpha/beta and beta-transgenic mice. Severe depletion of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes is seen only in the alpha/beta chain transgenic mice, whereas both strains delete mature V beta 3 bearing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells efficiently. We conclude that severe CD4+CD8+ thymocyte deletion in alpha/beta transgenic mice results from the premature expression of both receptor chains, and does not reflect a difference in the timing or mechanism of negative selection for Mls antigens as against the allo- and MHC class 1-restricted antigens used in the other studies.     

Inefficient positive selection of T cells directed by haematopoietic cells.

Intrathymic differentiation of alpha beta TCR+ T cells depends on positive selection of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes by thymic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Positive selection allows the maturation of only those T cells capable of restricted antigen recognition in the context of the hosts' MHC alleles. Studies of normal or T-cell receptor-transgenic mice engrafted with MHC-different bone marrow or thymuses support the conclusion that positive selection is directed by MHC molecules expressed on non-haematopoietic cells, presumably thymic epithelial cells. Here we, present contrary evidence that class I MHC molecules expressed by haematopoietic cell types direct positive selection of CD8+ T cells, though at a reduced rate compared with positive selection directed by thymic epithelial cells. The identity of cell types that direct positive selection bears directly on mechanistic models of the process, including the idea that thymic epithelial cell MHC molecules uniquely present specialized peptides that mediate positive selection, and the notion that thymic epithelial cells express unique differentiation-inducing cell surface molecules.     

Positive selection of CD4+ T cells mediated by MHC class II-bearing stromal cell in the thymic cortex

T lymphocytes differentiate in the thymus, where functionally immature, CD4+CD8+ (double positive) thymocytes develop into functionally mature CD4+ helper cells and CD8+ cytotoxic (single positive) T cells. The thymus is the site where self-reactive T cells are negatively selected (clonally deleted) and where T cells with the capacity to recognize foreign antigens in association with self-proteins encoded by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are positively selected. The net result of these developmental pathways is a T-cell repertoire that is both self-tolerant and self-restricted. One unresolved issue is the identity of the thymic stromal cells that mediate the negative and positive selection of the T-cell repertoire. Previous work has pointed to a bone-marrow-derived macrophage or dendritic cell as the inducer of tolerance, whereas a radiation-resistant, deoxyguanosine-resistant thymic cell seems to mediate the positive selection of self-MHC restricted T cells. Thymic stromal cells in the cortex interact with the T-cell antigen receptor on thymocytes. Using several strains of transgenic mice that express the class II MHC molecule I-E in specific regions of the thymus, we show directly that the positive selection of T cells is mediated by an I-E-bearing cell in the thymic cortex.     

Susceptibility of beta 2-microglobulin-deficient mice to Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

The beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) protein associates with the products of the class I major histocompatibility (MHC) loci; this combination functions in the thymic development of and antigen presentation to CD8+ T cells. Mice in which the beta 2m gene has been disrupted by homologous recombination fail to express class I MHC gene products, and therefore lack CD8+ T cells and measurable cytotoxic T-cell responses. However, beta 2m- mice appear to have normal development of both CD4+ alpha/beta T-cell receptor (TCR+) and gamma/delta TCR+ T cells and are not overtly more susceptible than beta 2m+ mice to potential environmental agents of infection or to experimental viral infection. Here we show that beta 2m- mice suffer high parasitaemias and early death when infected with the obligate cytoplasmic protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Despite this increased susceptibility, the beta 2m- mice are more responsive than their beta 2m+ littermates in terms of lymphokine production, making higher levels of both interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma in response to mitogen stimulation. In addition, the beta 2m- mice show essentially no inflammatory response in parasite-infected tissues. These results confirm previous experiments on mice depleted of CD8+ cells using antibody treatment in demonstrating the importance of CD8+ T cells in immune protection in T. cruzi infection. They also implicate CD8+ T cells and/or class I MHC molecules in regulation of lymphokine production and recruitment of inflammatory cells.     

Recovery from autoimmunity of MRL/lpr mice after infection with an interleukin-2/vaccinia recombinant virus

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a T-cell derived molecule implicated in the clonal expansion of antigen-activated T cells and in T-cell development. IL-2 is also implicated in autoimmune disease, although its role is still controversial. Murine systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a good model for human SLE as most of the immunological abnormalities in the human disease also seem to be operative in the mouse. Among SLE mice, the MRL/lpr strain develops early in life autoimmune diseases such as immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis, arthritis and arteritis. Lymphoid abnormalities associated with those diseases in this strain are thymic atrophy and abnormal proliferation of CD3+ CD4- CD8- 'double-negative' T cells, resulting in massive generalized lymph node enlargement. We have therefore now examined the effects of IL-2 on the disease progression in MRL/lpr mice using live vaccinia recombinant viruses expressing the human IL-2 gene. Vaccinated mice showed prolonged survival, decreased autoantibody and rheumatoid factor titres, marked attenuation of kidney interstitial infiltration and intraglomerular proliferation, as well as clearance of synovial mononuclear infiltrates. Inoculation with the IL-2/vaccinia recombinant virus led, in addition, to drastic reduction of the double-negative T-cell population, improved thymic differentiation and restoration of normal values of mature cells in peripheral lymphoid organs.     

Positive selection of antigen-specific T cells in thymus by restricting MHC molecules

Thymus-derived lymphocytes (T cells) recognize antigen in the context of class I or class II molecules encoded by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) by virtue of the heterodimeric alpha beta T-cell receptor (TCR). CD4 and CD8 molecules expressed on the surface of T cells bind to nonpolymorphic portions of class II and class I MHC molecules and assist the TCR in binding and possibly in signalling. The analysis of T-cell development in TCR transgenic mice has shown that the CD4/CD8 phenotype of T cells is determined by the interaction of the alpha beta TCR expressed on immature CD4+8+ thymocytes with polymorphic domains of thymic MHC molecules in the absence of nominal antigen. Here we provide direct evidence that positive selection of antigen-specific, class I MHC-restricted CD4-8+ T cells in the thymus requires the specific interaction of the alpha beta TCR with the restricting class I MHC molecule.     

Normal development and function of CD8+ cells but markedly decreased helper cell activity in mice lacking CD4

T cells express T-cell antigen receptors (TCR) for the recognition of antigen in conjunction with the products of the major histocompatibility complex. They also express two key surface coreceptors, CD4 and CD8, which are involved in the interaction with their ligands. As CD4 is expressed on the early haemopoietic progenitor as well as the early thymic precursor cells, a role for CD4 in haemopoiesis and T-cell development is implicated. Thymocytes undergo a series of differentiation and selection steps to become mature CD4+8- or CD4-8+ (single positive) T cells. Studies of the role of CD4+ T cells in vivo have been based on adoptive transfer of selected or depleted lymphocytes, or in vivo treatment of thymectomized mice with monoclonal antibodies causing depletion of CD4+ T cells. In order to study the role of the CD4 molecule in the development and function of lymphocytes, we have disrupted the CD4 gene in embryonic stem cells by homologous recombination. Germ-line transmission of the mutation produces mutant mouse strains that do not express CD4 on the cell surface. In these mice, the development of CD8+ T cells and myeloid components is unaltered, indicating that expression of CD4 on progenitor cells and CD4+ CD8+ (double positive) thymocytes is not obligatory. Here we report that these mice have markedly decreased helper cell activity for antibody responses, although cytotoxic T-cell activity against viruses is in the normal range. This differential requirement for CD4+ helper T cells is important to our understanding of immune disorders including AIDS, in which CD4+ cells are reduced or absent.     

Thymic major histocompatibility complex antigens and the alpha beta T-cell receptor determine the CD4/CD8 phenotype of T cells

T-cell receptors and T-cell subsets were analysed in T-cell receptor transgenic mice expressing alpha and beta T-cell receptor genes isolated from a male-specific, H-2Db-restricted CD4-8+ T-cell clone. The results indicate that the specific interaction of the T-cell receptor on immature thymocytes with thymic major histocompatibility complex antigens determines the differentiation of CD4+8+ thymocytes into either CD4+8- or CD4-8+ mature T cells.     

Hassall's corpuscles instruct dendritic cells to induce CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in human thymus

Hassall's corpuscles-first described in the human thymus over 150 years ago-are groups of epithelial cells within the thymic medulla. The physical nature of these structures differs between mammalian species. Although Hassall's corpuscles have been proposed to act in both the removal of apoptotic thymocytes and the maturation of developing thymocytes within the thymus, the function of Hassall's corpuscles has remained an enigma. Here we report that human Hassall's corpuscles express thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). Human TSLP activates thymic CD11c-positive dendritic cells to express high levels of CD80 and CD86. These TSLP-conditioned dendritic cells are then able to induce the proliferation and differentiation of CD4(+)CD8(-)CD25(-) thymic T cells into CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) (forkhead box P3) regulatory T cells. This induction depends on peptide-major histocompatibility complex class II interactions, and the presence of CD80 and CD86, as well as interleukin 2. Immunohistochemistry studies reveal that CD25(+)CTLA4(+) (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4) regulatory T cells associate in the thymic medulla with activated or mature dendritic cells and TSLP-expressing Hassall's corpuscles. These findings suggest that Hassall's corpuscles have a critical role in dendritic-cell-mediated secondary positive selection of medium-to-high affinity self-reactive T cells, leading to the generation of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells within the thymus.     

Tolerance induction in double specific T-cell receptor transgenic mice varies with antigen

The crucial role of the thymus in immunological tolerance has been demonstrated by establishing that T cells are positively selected to express a specificity for self major histocompatibility complex (MHC), and that those T cells bearing receptors potentially reactive to self antigen fragments, presumably presented by thymic MHC, are selected against. The precise mechanism by which tolerance is induced and the stage of T-cell development at which it occurs are not known. We have now studied T-cell tolerance in transgenic mice expressing a T-cell receptor with double specificities for lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)-H-2Db and for the mixed-lymphocyte stimulatory (MIsa) antigen. We report that alpha beta TCR transgenic mice tolerant to LCMV have drastically reduced numbers of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes and of peripheral T cells carrying the CD8 antigen. By contrast, tolerance to MIsa antigen in the same alpha beta TCR transgenic MIsa mice leads to deletion of only mature thymocytes and peripheral T cells and does not affect CD4+CD8+ thymocytes. Thus the same transgenic TCR-expressing T cells may be tolerized at different stages of their maturation and at different locations in the thymus depending on the antigen involved.