Efficient transfer and expression of human clotting factor IX cDNA in neonatal hemophilia B mice mediated by VSV-G pseudotyped retrovirus

The feasibility of in vivo gene therapy for hemophilia B by VSV-G pseudotyped retroviral vector was introduced. The novel packaging cell line 293GPG was used to produce VSV-G/G1NaBAIX pseudotyped virus with the highest titers up to 8.5×10⁸ cfu·mL^-1. In contrast to the conventional retrovirus, VSV-G pseudotyped virus was more resistant to inactivation by serum complements (P＜0.001). Our results also demonstrated that VSV-G pseudotyped virus was more stable in neonatal mice serum than in adult mice serum (P＜0.01). After intraperitoneal injection of different doses of virus, hFIX antigen was detected and lasted for more than 120 d, the highest level reached (72.5±6.1) ng·mL^-1. Moreover, the functional activity was improved to some extent in all hFIX-treated mice, the most remarkable improvement was observed in the mice treated with higher dose of virus whose clotting activity increased to (3.4±1.5)% and APTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) reduced to (43.2±7.2) s. The anti-hFIX antibody was not detected by the method of Bethesda, no germ line transmission and any side effects associated with gene transfer were found. Our results indicated that neonatal gene therapy for hemophilia B mice by VSV-G pseudotyped retrovirus is promising.     

The oligodendrocyte-type-2 astrocyte cell lineage is specialized for myelination

Astrocytes are one of the most numerous cell types in the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS) and yet their functions are largely unknown. In the rat optic nerve there are two distinct types of astrocyte: type-1 astrocytes develop from one type of precursor cell, and type-2 astrocytes develop from bipotential, oligodendrocyte-type-2 astrocyte (O-2A) progenitor cells, that initially give rise to oligodendrocytes (which make myelin in the CNS), and then to type-2 astrocytes. Type-1 astrocytes form the glial limiting membrane at the periphery of the optic nerve and are probably responsible for glial scar formation following nerve transection. The functions of type-2 astrocytes, which, like oligodendrocytes, are found mainly in tracts of myelinated axons throughout the CNS, are unknown. In this report we provide evidence that processes from type-2 astrocytes contribute to the structure of nodes of Ranvier, suggesting that the O-2A cell lineage is specialized for constructing myelin sheaths and nodes in the mammalian CNS.     

Introduction of antisensewaxy gene into main parent lines ofindica hybrid rice

Amylose content in rice endosperm is one of the key determinants of rice eating and cooking quality, and the poor quality ofindica hybrid rice is closely related to the high amylose level in rice grains. In order to improve the grain quality of theindica hybrid rice by genetic engineering, an antisense fragment of ricewaxy gene, driven by the 5′-franking sequences of the ricewaxy gene, was successfully introduced into three major parent lines ofindica hybrid rice, all contain a high amylose level in the grains, viaAgrobacterium, and more than 100 hygromycinresistant plants were regenerated. The analysis of PCR amplification and Southern blots indicated that the T-DNA containing the antisensewaxy gene had been integrated into the genome of transgenic rice plants. Most of the primary transgenic rice plants grew normally, and the mature seeds from these transgenic plants were performed for analysis of the amylose content. The results showed that the amylose content in the endosperm of some grains was reduced and the lowest reached 7.02% in one homozygous transgenic line, 72.4% lower than that of the wild type. The influence of the altered amylose content on the gelatinization temperature and gel consistency was also observed in several homozygous transgenic rice plants. The two authors contributed equally to this work.     

Effect of ciliary neurotrophic factor on the reactive astrogliosis of cultured astrocytes from newborn rat brain

The effect of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on reactive astrogliosis was studied on a mechanical scratch model of the confluent astrocytic cultures from newborn rat brain. Following injury, the astrocytes at the edge of the injured area displayed a typical process of the reactive astrogliosis. This process included apparently hyperplastic change and significantly increased GFAP expression of the flat astrocytes, and migration to the injured area of the O-2A progenitor cells and their differentiation into process-bearing astrocytes. Exogenous CNTF applied to the cell cultures significantly promoted the hyperplasia and GFAP expression of the flat astrocytes. The results suggest that CNTF can enhance the reactive astrogliosis in the injured area.     

Platelet-derived growth factor promotes division and motility and inhibits premature differentiation of the oligodendrocyte/type-2 astrocyte progenitor cell

The mitogens which modulate cell-cell interactions during development of the central nervous system are unknown. One of the few interactions sufficiently well understood to allow identification of such molecules involves the two glial lineages which make up the rat optic nerve. One population of glial cells in this tissue, the type-1 astrocytes, secrete a soluble factor(s) which promotes division of a second population of bipotential oligodendrocyte/type-2 astrocyte (O-2A) progenitor cells; these progenitors give rise to oligodendrocytes, which myelinate large axons in the CNS, and type-2 astrocytes, which enwrap bare axons at nodes of Ranvier. Type-1 astrocytes also promote progenitor motility, and inhibit the premature differentiation of progenitors into oligodendrocytes which occur when these cells are grown in the absence of type-1 astrocytes. We have now found that platelet-derived growth factor mimics the effects of type-1 astrocytes on O-2A progenitor cells, and antibodies to PDGF block the effects of type-1 astrocytes.     

A tumor suppressor genefhit prokaryotic expression and identification

The recombinant expression vector pGEMD-fhit which contains full encoding region offhit gene was constructed. The recombinant was introduced into the BL21 (DE3) strain ofE. coli and induced by 1 mmol/L IPTG to express a 29×10³ polypeptide offhit fusion protein. And the 29×10³ protein was sensitive and specific in reaction with anti-fhit antibody in Western blot. Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (39770373) Biography: SUN Yan (1975−), female, Master of science, Research direction: gene engineering     

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 improves patellar tendon healing by promoting migration and proliferation of tenocytes

The repair of injured tendons remains a great challenge because of the poor intrinsic healing capacity of tendons. In this study, we examined the spatiotemporal expression pattern of the bone morphogenetic protein 2 (bmp-2) gene in normal and experimentally injured rat patellar tendons. We also investigated the ability of exogenously applied BMP-2 to promote patellar tendon healing. In situ hybridization with bmp-2 and alk-6 (bmp-2 receptor) antisense riboprobes revealed that both genes were normally expressed at low levels in intact rat tendons. However, bmp-2 expression was significantly upregulated in tenocytes found in the wound site at 7 d and later following tendon injury. In addition, it was found that bmp-2 was expressed in cultured patellar tenocytes. Appli- cation of exogenous BMP-2 to the tendon wound site significantly enhanced tendon repair. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo studies further demonstrated that BMP-2 enhanced tenocyte proliferation and migration to the wound site. The detectable amount of BMP-2 in normal tendons suggests that a basal level of bmp-2 expression was likely present to maintain the normal functions of the patellar tendon. Injury to the tendon induced increased bmp-2 expression intrinsically, but the expression level was insufficient for proper tendon repair. Our findings indicate that it is possible to significantly improve tendon healing by applying exogenous BMP-2 to the wound site, inferring that this protein could be developed as a potential therapeutic reagent for the treatment of damaged tendons.     

Platelet-derived growth factor from astrocytes drives the clock that times oligodendrocyte development in culture

The various cell types in a multicellular animal differentiate on a predictable schedule but the mechanisms responsible for timing cell differentiation are largely unknown. We have studied a population of bipotential glial (O-2A) progenitor cells in the developing rat optic nerve that gives rise to oligodendrocytes beginning at birth and to type-2 astrocytes beginning in the second postnatal week. Whereas, in vivo, these O-2A progenitor cells proliferate and give rise to postimitotic oligodendrocytes over several weeks, in serum-free (or low-serum) culture they stop dividing prematurely and differentiate into oligodendrocytes within two or three days. The normal timing of oligodendrocyte development can be restored if embryonic optic-nerve cells are cultured in medium conditioned by type-1 astrocytes, the first glial cells to differentiate in the nerve: in this case the progenitor cells continue to proliferate, the first oligodendrocytes appear on the equivalent of the day of birth, and new oligodendrocytes continue to develop over several weeks, just as in vivo. Here we show that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) can replace type-1-astrocyte-conditioned medium in restoring the normal timing of oligodendrocyte differentiation in vitro and that anti-PDGF antibodies inhibit this property of the appropriately conditioned medium. We also show that PDGF is present in the developing optic nerve. These findings suggest that type-1-astrocyte-derived PDGF drives the clock that times oligodendrocyte development.     

Cloning and functional research of renal cell carcinoma related novel gene—— GYLZ-RCC18

After the renal cell carcinoma related novel gene fragmentGYLZ-RCC18 was cloned by using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH), we used the SMART RACE technology to clone the full length ofGYLZ-RCC18 and performed chromosome location by the FISH method. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of the first reading frame ofGYLZ-RCC18 in different stages and grades of renal cell carcinoma tissue and other tissues. Also we transfected the antisense oligonucleotide ofGYLZ-RCC18 to renal cell carcinoma cell line GRC-1, and analyzed the proliferation activity, growth speed, apoptosis and mortality changes in GRC-1. The results show that the full length ofGYLZ-RCC18 (GenBank accession No.: BE825133) cDNA is about 3.5 kb long which is located at No. 14 chromosome.GYLZ-RCC18 has a higher expression in higher grades and stages of renal cell carcinoma than in the lower ones. The expression ofGYLZ-RCC18 in renal cell carcinoma was much higher than that in normal kidney and other tissues. After transfection ofGYLZ-RCC18 antisense oligonucleotide, the mortality of GRC-1 increases evidently, the proliferation activity and growth speed were inhibited remarkably at the same time. Also the antisense oligonucleotide can induce the apoptosis of GRC-1 all through the observation time. Our results indicated thatGYLZ-RCC18 is an important novel gene related to renal cell carcinoma. Its overexpression would stimulate the growth and proliferation activity and plays an antidead and antiapoptosis effect in renal cell carcinoma. Transfection of antisense oligonucleotide could inhibit the generation and development of renal cell carcinoma. The study provides a new clue for the research of renal cell carcinoma, and also provides an instruction for special genetic diagnosis and the therapy of renal cell carcinoma.     

Construction of the glucose isomerase deficient strain ofStreptomyces M1033 by homologous recombination

After the establishment of the transformation conditions ofStreptomyces diastaticus No.7 Strain M1033, the integration plasmid pXW for homologous recombination, which contains a 600 bp fragment of incompleteGI (G138P. G247D) gene, has been constructed in order to realize the stable overexpression of theGI (G138P. G247D) which is valuable for large-scale industrial production. The Gigene’s disruption has been realized by pXW’s integration into M1033 chromosomes via homologous recombination andGI deficient strain ofStreptomyces M1033 has been obtained. The reliability of introduction of mutation has been proved by analysis of recombinant fragment and affirmance of existence of the mutation, as well as detection of the stability of the deficient strain.     

^99mTc complex conjugated to insulin： CNS radiopharmaceuticals design based on principles of blood-brain barrier transport vector

Hydrophilic ^99mTc-EC and nonlipophilic ^99mTc- MAMA＇-BA complexes, owing to the existing of intact blood-brain barrier （BBB） in vivo, cannot cross from blood to brain. Previous studies showed that insulin is selectively transported by receptor-mediated transcytosis through the brain capillary endothelial wall that makes up the BBB. In this paper, based on the characteristic of the insulin receptor enriched in brain capillary, the complexes of hydrophilic ^99mTc-EC and nonlipophilic ^99mTc-MAMA＇-BA are conjugated to insulin respectively. After purification, the radiochemical purity of ^99mTc-EC-insulin and ^99mTc-MAMA＇-BA-insulin was 〉 90% and the stability in vitro was good. Expectation for the special formulation can be internalized and endocytosed into the capillary membrane by the vector-mediated brain delivery system, and transported ^99mTc-labeled conjugate through the BBB in vivo, thus enhancing brain uptake in mice. The biodistribution results of ^99mTc-EC-insulin and ^99mTc-MAMA＇-BA-insulin in mice in- dicated that the brain uptake was higher than ^99mTc-EC and ^99mTc-MAMA＇-BA to some extent. The ratios of brain uptake of ^99mTc-EC-insulin to ^99mTc-EC, ^99mTc-MAMA＇-BA-insulin to ^99mTc-MAMA＇-BA were 4-6 at 2 and 3 h post-injection respectively. In conclusion, the given results have illustrated a new way of brain uptake enhancing for nonlipophilic like complexes that have BBB delivery problems. It has a potential value for the ongoing development of ^99mTc-labeled radiopharmaceuticals for CNS receptors imaging.     

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation: state of the art and future prospect

Great progress has been made in recent years in studies on the mechanism ofAgrobacterium-medicated transformation and its application. Many details of the key molecular events within the bacterial cells involved in T-DNA transfer have been elucidated, and it is notable that some plant factors which were elusive before are purified and characterized. Vast kinds of species, which were either recalcitrant to or not included in the host range ofAgrobacterium, can now be transformed by this bacterium, and they include the very important cereal species, gymnosperms, yeast and many filamentous fungi. The simplein vivo transformation of tissue in intact plants and the “agrolistic” methods to transform recalcitrant plants are the two novel technical achievements. Combined with other powerful techniques such as bacterial artificial chromosome, very large DNA fragment can be transformed into the plant genome byAgrobacterium. Further studies will elucidate more plant-encoded factors involved in T-DNA transformation and there is a need to develop more powerfulAgrobacterium-based transformation systems to meet different needs in basic research and crop improvement practice.     

Preliminary animal studies on observation of injured spinal cord with intraoperative ultrasound backscatter microscopy

Many studies have shown that strategies of nerve regeneration and cell-based transplantation are valid based on animal models of spinal cord injury (SCI).To apply these strategies and bridge spinal cord defects,the identification and precise localization of lesions during spinal cord surgery is necessary.The aim of the present experiment was to evaluate the capabilities of ultrasound backscatter microscopy (UBM) in identifying morphologic changes after SCI.After laminectomy,high-resolution ultrasound images of the spinal cord were obtained in one normal and seven spinal cord-injured adult Wistar rats using a UBM system with a 55-MHz center frequency scanner.Comparison between histoanatomic and UBM images was also performed.The results showed that UBM can identify cysts after the experimental SCI is removed in adult rats.In addition,the glial scar formed in secondary injury showed obvious hyperechoic speckle in the UBM image and correlated with the histoanatomic image.UBM has obvious clinical value in nerve regeneration and cell-based transplantation strategies in injured spinal cords.     

Effect ofP15 INK4b/MTS2 on the proliferation of human hepatoma cells SMMC-7721

The full length cDNA coding forP15 ^INK4b, which is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, was cloned to plasmid PXJ41-neo (Eco R I /Xho I site) and the new constructed plasmid pXJp15 was obtained. pXJp15 was transferred into the human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cetls by lipofectine reagent. After G418 setection, a series of cetl lines stably expressing high levets ofP15 (named SHT) and the clone containing vector PXJ41-neo only (named SVXJ) were obtained by Northern and Western analysis. The results showed that the proliferation of SHT cells is inhibited compared with that of SVXJ cetls. Cell cycle analysis indicated that overexpressing ofP15 inhibited the growth of SHT cetls by decreasing progrssion of cetls from G1 to S and G2 to M phases. The levets ofc-Myc andc-Fos were obviously decreased in SHT cells compared with control cetls by Western blotting. The decreased expression of oncogene may be one of the molecular mechanisms of the effect ofP15 on the proliferation of in SHT cetls.     

Construction and characterization of partiallyntrC-deleted mutants inAlcaligenes faecalis

To study the effect of ntrC gene product on the expression and regulation of other important nitrogen-fixing genes in Alcaligenes faecalis, partially ntrC-deleted mutants of A. faecalis have been generated. To start with, the ntrC gene of A. faecalis was cloned into a suicide plasmid pSUP202 to create a recombinant plasmid pSUM1. The ntrC gene in pSUM1 was then replaced by a lacZ-Km^r fragment resulted in the generation of a plasmid pSUM2. The lacZ fragment in pSUM2 was further removed and a plasmid pSUM3 produced. As a second step, the plasmid pSUM2 or pSUM3 was introduced into the wild type of A. faecalis A1501 by conjugation and two partially ntrC-deleted mutants A15CM1 (ntrC∷lacZ) and A15CM2 (ntrC ^- ) were obtained. To understand the regulatory effect of the NtrC on the expression of nifH and nifA, a nifH-lacZ gene or a nifH-lacZ gene was introduced into the ntrC^- mutant by conjugation. The results indicated that: (ⅰ) although the ntrC^-mutant was nif ⁺ , its nitrogen fixation activity was only 20% that of the wild type; (ⅱ) the ntrC^- mutant failed to grow on the medium containing nitrate as a sole nitrogen source; (ⅲ) the regulation of ntrC gene expression did not require its own product; (ⅳ) the expression of nifH in A . faecalis was positively regulated by the ntrC. Deletion of the ntrC resulted in the reduction of nifH expression or even totally inactivated nitrogen fixation; (ⅴ) there was no obvious influence on the expression of nifA in A. faecalis if the ntrC gene was deleted.     

Structure, expression and function of a schwannoma-derived growth factor

During the development of the nervous system, cells require growth factors that regulate their division and survival. To identify new growth factors, serum-free growth-conditioned media from many clonal cell lines were screened for the presence of mitogens for central nervous system glial cells. A cell line secreting a potent glial mitogen was established from a tumour (or 'schwannoma') derived from the sheath of the sciatic nerve. The cells of the tumour, named JS1 cells, were adapted to clonal culture and identified as Schwann cells. Schwann cells secrete an autocrine mitogen and human schwannoma extracts have mitogenic activity on glial cells. Until now, neither mitogen has been purified. Here we report the purification and characterization of a mitogenic molecule, designated schwannoma-derived growth factor (SDGF), from the growth-conditioned medium of the JS1 Schwann cell line. SDGF belongs to the epidermal growth factor family, and is an autocrine growth factor as well as a mitogen for astrocytes, Schwann cells and fibroblasts.     

Expression ofbcl-2 gene increases in apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells induced by rattlesnake venom

Apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells (VEC) has been induced by deprivation of survival factors (aFGF and serum) and by rattlesnake venom. The expression ofbcl-2 gene has been examined by Northern blotting in the two apoptosis inducing systems. Our results show that the expression ofbcl-2 has not been detected in normal culture cells and in apoptotic cells induced by deprivation of survival factors. But in apoptotic cells induced by rattlesnake venom (10 ng/mL), the expression ofbcl-2 increases, and its mRNA exhibits two bands. The data first suggest that increasing expression and splitting ofbcl-2 mRNA may play an important role in apoptosis of VEC induced by rattlesnake venom, and this finding is helpful to understanding the role ofbcl-2 in regulation of apoptosis.     

Generation of a recombinant herpes simplex virus which can provide packaging function for recombinant adeno-associated virus

The generation of a recombinant HSV (rHSV) that can provide packaging function for rAAV production is described. A set of cosmids including cos48, cos28, cos6, cosl4 and cos56, which represents the HSV-1 genome was used for generation of this rHSV.Rep andcap genes of AAV-2 were inserted intoXba I site ofUL2 gene on cod, generating cos6rcΔUL2. After being digested withPac I, cos6-rcΔUL2 and the other 4 cosmids were cotransfected into BHK-21 cells. The recombinant virus HSV1-rc/ΔUL2 carryingrep andcap genes was generated due to the homologous recombination of the 5 cosmids. The results showed that the existence ofrep andcap genes on this rHSV was stable from passage to passage and the rHSV could support the packaging of rAAV either in cells transiently transfected with AAV vector or in stable cell line harboring AAV vector. Further modification of this rHSV and optimization of conditions involved in rAAV preparation may lead to a large-scale production of rAAV in the near future.     

Local generation of glia is a major astrocyte source in postnatal cortex

Glial cells constitute nearly 50% of the cells in the human brain. Astrocytes, which make up the largest glial population, are crucial to the regulation of synaptic connectivity during postnatal development. Because defects in astrocyte generation are associated with severe neurological disorders such as brain tumours, it is important to understand how astrocytes are produced. Astrocytes reportedly arise from two sources: radial glia in the ventricular zone and progenitors in the subventricular zone, with the contribution from each region shifting with time. During the first three weeks of postnatal development, the glial cell population, which contains predominantly astrocytes, expands 6-8-fold in the rodent brain. Little is known about the mechanisms underlying this expansion. Here we show that a major source of glia in the postnatal cortex in mice is the local proliferation of differentiated astrocytes. Unlike glial progenitors in the subventricular zone, differentiated astrocytes undergo symmetric division, and their progeny integrate functionally into the existing glial network as mature astrocytes that form endfeet with blood vessels, couple electrically to neighbouring astrocytes, and take up glutamate after neuronal activity.