Transfection of primary brain capillary endothelial cells for protein synthesis and secretion of recombinant erythropoietin: a strategy to enable protein delivery to the brain

Treatment of chronic disorders affecting the central nervous system (CNS) is complicated by the inability of drugs to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Non-viral gene therapy applied to brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) denotes a novel approach to overcome the restraints in this passage, as turning BCECs into recombinant protein factories by transfection could result in protein secretion further into the brain. The present study aims to investigate the possibility of transfecting primary rat brain endothelial cells (RBECs) for recombinant protein synthesis and secretion of the neuroprotective protein erythropoietin (EPO). We previously showed that 4% of RBECs with BBB properties can be transfected without disrupting the BBB integrity in vitro, but it can be questioned whether this is sufficient to enable protein secretion at therapeutic levels. The present study examined various transfection vectors, with regard to increasing the transfection efficiency without disrupting the BBB integrity. Lipofectamine 3000? was the most potent vector compared to polyethylenimine (PEI) and Turbofect. When co-cultured with astrocytes, the genetically modified RBECs secreted recombinant EPO into the cell culture medium both luminally and abluminally, and despite lower levels of EPO reaching the abluminal chamber, the amount of recombinant EPO was sufficient to evolve a biological effect on astrocytes cultured at the abluminal side in terms of upregulated gene expression of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF). In conclusion, non-viral gene therapy to RBECs leads to protein secretion and signifies a method for therapeutic proteins to target cells inside the CNS otherwise omitted due to the BBB.     

Cell penetrating peptides: overview and applications to the delivery of oligonucleotides

Crossing biological barriers represents a major limitation for clinical applications of biomolecules such as nucleic acids, peptides or proteins. Cell penetrating peptides (CPP), also named protein transduction domains, comprise short and usually basic amino acids-rich peptides originating from proteins able to cross biological barriers, such as the viral Tat protein, or are rationally designed. They have emerged as a new class of non-viral vectors allowing the delivery of various biomolecules across biological barriers from low molecular weight drugs to nanosized particles. Encouraging data with CPP-conjugated oligonucleotides have been obtained both in vitro and in vivo in animal models of diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Whether CPP-cargo conjugates enter cells by direct translocation across the plasma membrane or by endocytosis remains controversial. In many instances, however, endosomal escape appears as a major limitation of this new delivery strategy.     

Erythropoietin but not VEGF has a protective effect on auditory hair cells in the inner ear

It has recently been shown that the oxygen-regulated factors erythropoietin (Epo) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) confer protection on different cells, including neuronal-derived ones. The receptors for Epo and VEGF are widely expressed in different organs. Since mammalian auditory hair cells can irreversibly be damaged by different agents, we aimed to identify otoprotective compounds. We focused on the role of Epo and VEGF in the inner ear and review the recent studies. Epo and its receptor are expressed in the inner ear. In vitro experiments on auditory hair cells showed a protective effect of Epo in ischemia- and gentamicin-induced hair cell damage. In contrast, an in vivo study using an animal model of noise-induced hearing loss showed a negative effect of Epo. Also VEGF and its receptors are expressed in the inner ear. Changes in the expression of VEGF or its receptors have been found in the cochlea after noise exposure, transcranial vibration and diabetic or aged animals. Until now, there are no studies about a direct effect of VEGF on auditory hair cells in vitro or in vivo. We could exclude a protective effect of VEGF on gentamicin-induced auditory hair cell damage in vitro. Thus, we conclude that Epo but not VEGF has a protective effect on auditory hair cell damage at least in vitro. (Part of a multi-author review.)     

稳定表达绿色荧光蛋白的B16细胞株的建立及其生物学特性研究

目的建立稳定表达绿色荧光蛋白的B16黑色素瘤细胞株,并研究其生物学特性。方法转染增强型绿色荧光蛋白基因入B16细胞,经G418联合单克隆培养,筛选阳性细胞。激光共聚焦荧光显微镜观察EGFP阳性细胞形态;流式细胞仪检测细胞内EGFP基因的蛋白表达;RT-PCR检测EGFP基因的mRNA表达;皮下接种及MTF法评价细胞在体内外的生长特性。结果流式细胞仪检测表达绿色荧光蛋白的细胞阳性率为99．81％,RT-PCR检测到EGFP基因的mRNA阳性表达。生长曲线显示其体外增殖趋势与B16相似,EGFP—B16体内成瘤速度较B16慢（P〈0．05）。结论稳定表达绿色荧光蛋白的EGFP—B16细胞株成功建立,可作为作为进一步研究恶性黑色素瘤的材料。     

si—DNMT1对肝门部胆管癌细胞抑癌基因甲基化的作用

目的研究RNA干扰对肝门部胆管癌细胞株QRC939抑癌基因甲基化的影响,初步探谤其在胆管癌治疗中的价值。方法构建靶向hDNMT1的发夹式siRNA表达载体;运用脂质体介导法将其转染人胆管癌细胞QBC939;RT-PCR法检测不同时间点hDNMT1、CDH1、p15的表达水平;MSP方法检测转染前后抑癌基因CDH1、p15的甲基纯状态;MTT检测各组细胞的增殖能力。结果1）hDNMT1的基因沉默恢复了抑癌基因CDH1、p15的表达水平;2）CDH1、p15的表达沉默是由启动子高甲基亿导致的;3）转染靶向hDNMT1的发夹式siRNA表达载体能有效地抑制QBC939的增殖能力。结论靶向hDNMT1的发夹式siRNA表达载体能有效、持续、稳定发挥对hDNMT1的基因沉默作用,恢复抑癌基因CDH1、p15的表达水平,从而抑制QBC939肿瘤细胞增殖。     

Cell transformation in vitro by transfer of isolated metaphase chromosomes]

Human and murine cells can be transformed in vitro following transfer of chromosomes (transfection) isolated from tumour (HeLa) or SV40-transformed (WI98VaD) human cells. An abortive transformation of Mouse cells is observed in soft-agar medium. An instability of the transformed phenotype is exhibited by the transfected human cells, following the isolation of colonies growing in soft-agar or low-serum medium. Nevertheless, two transformed cell lines (809 ch. VaD, Cl.5P and Cl.6P) could be established in culture.     

Cathepsin A/protective protein: an unusual lysosomal multifunctional protein

Cathepsin A/protective protein [3.4.16.5], carboxypeptidase A, is a lysosomal serine protease with structural homology to yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) carboxypeptidase Y. Cathepsin A is a member of the alpha/beta hydrolase fold family and has been suggested to share a common ancestral relationship with other alpha/beta hydrolase fold enzymes, such as cholinesterases. Several lines of evidence indicate that cathepsin A is a multicatalytic enzyme with deamidase and esterase in addition to carboxypeptidase activities. Cathepsin A was recently identified in human platelets as deamidase. In vitro, it hydrolyzes a variety of bioactive peptide hormones including tachykinins, suggesting that extralysosomal cathepsin A plays a role in regulation of bioactive peptide functions. Recent reports emphasize the lysosomal protective function of cathepsin A rather than its protease function. The protective function of cathepsin A is distinct from its catalytic function. Human lysosomal beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase exist as a high molecular weight enzyme complex, in which there is a 54-kDa glycoprotein termed 'lysosomal protective protein'. Based on cell culture studies, protective protein was found to protect both beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase from intralysosomal proteolysis by forming a multienzyme complex and was shown to be deficient in patients with galactosialidosis, a combined deficiency of beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase. Molecular cloning and gene expression studies have disclosed that protective protein is cathepsin A. The cathepsin A precursor has the potential to restore both beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase activities in fibroblasts from patients with galactosialidosis. Cathepsin A knockout mice showed a phenotype similar to human galactosialidosis and the deficient phenotype found in the mutant mice was corrected by transplanting erythroid precursor cells overexpressing cathepsin A. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the significance of cathepsin A as a key molecule in the onset of galactosialidosis and also highlight the therapeutic potential of the cathepsin A precursor for patients with galactosialidosis.     

Chemotaxis of rabbit macrophages in vitro: Inhibition by drugs

Summary Chemotaxis of rabbit macrophages was inhibited in vitro by phenylbutazone and sodium salicylate, but not by other antiinflammatory agents. Other inhibitory compounds were colchicine, vincristine, PHA, Con A, iodoacetic acid, cytochalasin B, and EDTA. Some of these in vitro results contrast apparently with in vivo effects.     

Viability of rabbit bone marrow after cryopreservation (in vitro and in vivo)

Summary A technique for preservation of rabbit bone marrow is described, which preserves viability of stem cells in all 22 animals as tested by autologous bone marrow transplantation and in vitro growth. Erythroid precursors survived better than myeloid precursors as observed by in vitro and in vivo recovery.Supported by the Swiss Science Fondation 3.846.0.79.     

Neurodegeneration changes in primary central nervous system neurons transfected with the Alzheimer-associated neuronal thread protein gene

The AD7c-NTP gene is over-expressed in brains with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and increased levels of the corresponding protein are detectable in cortical neurons, brain tissue extracts, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine beginning early in the course of AD neurodegeneration. In the present study, we utilized a novel method to transfect post-mitotic primary neuronal cell cultures, and demonstrated that over-expression of the AD7c-NTP gene causes cell death and neuritic sprouting, two prominent abnormalities associated with AD. These results provide further evidence that aberrantly increas-ed AD7c-NTP expression may have a role in AD-type neurodegeneration. In addition, we demonstrate that primary post-mitotic neurons can be efficiently transfected with conventional recombinant plasmid DNA to evaluate the effects of gene over-expression in relevant in vitro models. Received 31 January 2001; received after revision 31 March 2001; accepted 4 April 2001     

Synthesis of dinucleoside tetraphosphates in transfected cells by a firefly luciferase reporter gene

The firefly luciferase gene is widely used as a reporter gene and its expression is generally considered to be non-toxic. In addition to its light-producing reaction, luciferase can synthesise dinucleoside polyphosphates, intracellular signalling molecules, in vitro. Here we show that COS-7 cells transfected with a luciferase expression vector accumulate up to 0.5 mM adenine-containing dinucleoside tetraphosphates (Ap₄N) during the 24 h following luciferin addition. The optimal external concentration of luciferin was 0.4–0.6 mM. In agreement with its poor ability to synthesise adenine-containing dinucleoside triphosphates in vitro, the level of these compounds did not increase after transfection. Consequently, the results of experiments involving luciferase-mediated light production by live cells should now be viewed in the light of the possible effects of an increased intracellular Ap₄N concentration on the properties of the system under investigation. This observation also points to a useful non-invasive procedure for the specific enhancement of intracellular Ap₄N for studies directed at understanding the functions of these compounds.Received 12 November 2003; received after revision 10 December 2003; accepted 12 December 2003     

The protective effect of thiola against the genotoxic action of benzo(a)pyrene

Summary The protective effect of Thiola against the genotoxicity, induced by benzo(a)pyrene, in vitro and in vivo, was investigated. By association of Thiola to benzo(a)pyrene a significant decrease of the numerical and structural chromosome aberrations and a reduction of the incidence of c-mitoses has been obtained in human diploid cells, i.e. human embryonic lung fibroblasts of the cell-line ICP-23, and C₅₆Bl/6 mouse bone marrow cells.     

Circadian rhythm of apical Na-channels and Na-transport in rabbit distal colon

In vivo and in vitro studies showed that electrogenic sodium transport in rabbit distal colon is modulated by aldosterone. It varies in a circadian rhythm; the external synchronizer is the light-dark cycle. The site of regulation was found to be in the apical membrane of colonic epithelial cells, in which the number of conducting sodium-channels is increased by aldosterone.     

The protective effect of Thiola against the genotoxic action of benzo(a)pyrene

The protective effect of Thiola against the genotoxicity, induced by benzo(a)pyrene, in vitro and in vivo, was investigated. By association of Thiola to benzo(a)pyrene a significant decrease of the numerical and structural chromosome aberrations and a reduction of the incidence of c-mitoses has been obtained in human diploid cells, i.e. human embryonic lung fibroblasts of the cell-line ICP-23, and C56B1/6 mouse bone marrow cells.     

Detection of the H-RAS oncogene in human thyroid anaplastic carcinomas

We have transfected high-molecular-weight DNA from human thyroid carcinomas into murine 3T3 cells. As a result we identified several foci of morphologically distinct transformed cells in each of the tumour DNA transfected cultures. After a total of three rounds of transfection, the transformed cells were shown to form tumours in nude mice. Southern blot analysis of DNA prepared from third-round transfectants demonstrated the presence of human Alu repetitive sequences and, after hybridization with probes for known oncogenes, indicated the presence of the human H-RAS oncogene in 3T3 cells transfected with three out of four anaplastic carcinoma DNA samples. It appears therefore that activation of RAS genes may be an important event in the development of the anaplastic thyroid tumours.     

Circadian rhythm of apical Na-channels and Na-transport in rabbit distal colon

Summary In vivo and in vitro studies showed that electrogenic sodium transport in rabbit distal colon is modulated by aldosterone. It varies in a circadian rhythm; the external synchronizer is the light-dark cycle. The site of regulation was found to be in the apical membrane of colonic epithelial cells, in which the number of conducting sodium-channels is increased by aldosterone.     

Detection of theH-RAS oncogene in human thyroid anaplastic carcinomas

Summary We have transfected high-molecular-weight DNA from human thyroid carcinomas into murine 3T3 cells. As a result we identified several foci of morphologically distinct transformed cells in each of the tumour DNA transfected cultures. After a total of three rounds of transfection, the transformed cells were shown to form tumours in nude mice. Southern blot analysis of DNA prepared from third-round transfectants demonstrated the presence of human Alu repetitive sequences and, after hybridization with probes for known oncogenes, indicated the presence of the humanH-RAS oncogene in 3T3 cells transfected with three out of four anaplastic carcinoma DNA samples. It appears therefore that activation ofRAS genes may be an important event in the development of the anaplastic thyroid tumours.     

Synthetic oligonucleotides as RNA mimetics: 2'-modified Rnas and N3'-->P5' phosphoramidates

Significant interest in synthetic DNA and RNA oligonucleotides and their analogues has marked the past two decades of research in chemistry and biochemistry. This attention was largely determined by the great potential of these compounds for various therapeutic applications such as antisense, antigene and ribozyme-based agents. Modified oligonucleotides have also become powerful molecular biological and biochemical research tools that allow fast and efficient regulation of gene expression and gene functions in vitro and in vivo. These applications in turn are based on the ability of the oligonucleotides to form highly sequence-specific complexes with nucleic acid targets of interest. This review summarizes recent advances in the design, synthesis, biochemical and structural properties of various RNA analogues. These comprise 3'-modified oligonucleotide N3'-->P5' phosphoramidates, analogues with modifications at the 2'-position of nucleoside sugar rings, or combinations of the two. Among the properties of the RNA minetics reviewed here are the thermal stability of their duplexes and triplexes, hydrolytic resistance to cellular nucleases and biological activity in in vitro and in vivo systems. In addition, key structural aspects of the complexes formed by the RNA analogues, including interaction with water molecules and ions, are analyzed and presented.     

Lumican基因对人肺腺癌细胞株A549体外增殖和侵袭的影响

目的 观察基膜聚糖(Lumican)基因过度表达对人肺腺癌细胞株A549体外增殖和侵袭的影响.方法 以携带人Lumican基因的重组慢病毒感染A549细胞,用嘌呤霉素(puromycin)筛选法建立稳定细胞株.分别用Real-time PCR和Western blotting方法检测A549细胞组、空载体组及Lumican感染组目的基因mRNA和蛋白的表达.运用MTT法研究Lumican基因对A549细胞增殖的影响.运用Transwell法检测Lumican基因对A549细胞侵袭的影响.结果 ①各组Lumican mRNA表达差异显著(x2=21.60,P＜0.01),Lumican感染组明显高于其它两组(F=102.86,P＜0.000 1),Lumican感染组的蛋白表达水平高于其它两组.②Lumican感染组在不同时间(1、2、3、4、5 d)OD(吸光度)值与A549细胞组和空载体组差异不显著(P＞0.05).③各组穿膜细胞数差异显著(x2=23.49,P＜0.01),Lumican感染组明显高于其它两组(F=73.92,P＜0.001).结论 成功构建了Lumican高表达的人肺腺癌A549稳定细胞株,Lumican基因对人肺腺癌细胞的体外增殖能力无影响,但能增强人肺腺癌细胞的体外侵袭能力.