Enhancement of sciatic nerve regeneration by adenovirus-mediated expression of dominant negative RhoA and Rac1

It is known that Rho family small GTPases activate a number of signal transduction pathways involved in cell cycle progression, gene expression, and cell survival. These small G proteins play an important role in neuronal survival and axon regeneration in neural injury. In this study, we tested whether the activity of RhoA or Rac1 regulates neurite extension in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) in vitro and nerve regeneration in injured sciatic nerves. Regeneration of neurites from explanted DRGs was accelerated by combined suppression of RhoA and Rac1 activity using adenoviruses expressing dominant negative (DN) forms of both RhoA and Rac1 (Ad-Rho/RacDN) in vitro. Rat sciatic nerves were cut and Ad-Rho/RacDN was injected into the proximal stumps. After bridge grafting with chitosan mesh tubes, muscle evoked potentials induced by transcranial electrical stimulation were recorded eight weeks postoperatively. The terminal latencies were shorter in the Ad-Rho/RacDN group than in the control group. Histological analysis revealed extensive regrowth of neurofilament-positive and myelinated axons within the tubes in the group that received Ad-Rho/RacDN. These findings suggest that combined regulation of RhoA and Rac1 using DN adenoviral transgenic methods has the potential to modify injured peripheral nerve tissues directly.     

Overexpression of GRP78 protects glial cells from endoplasmic reticulum stress

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induces apoptotic cell death by causing the accumulation of structurally abnormal proteins. The 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) is an ER chaperone that regulates protein folding in the ER and has been suggested to contribute to cell survival. Using the rat C6 glioma cell line and flow cytometry, we assessed GRP78 expression following tunicamycin- and glutamate-induced ER stress. The results showed that GRP78 expression is upregulated following ER stress and has protective effects on injured glial cells. Annexin V and propidium iodide labeling revealed cells transiently expressing GRP78 prior to injury were protected against high-concentrations of tunicamycin and glutamate within 72 h. Our findings support the hypothesis that GRP78 inhibits cell death associated with ER stress.     

Efficient and stable expression of GFP through Wheat streak mosaic virus-based vectors in cereal hosts using a range of cleavage sites: formation of dense fluorescent aggregates for sensitive virus tracking

A series of Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV)-based expression vectors were developed by engineering a cycle 3 GFP (GFP) cistron between P1 and HC-Pro cistrons with several catalytic/cleavage peptides at the C-terminus of GFP. WSMV-GFP vectors with the Foot-and-mouth disease virus 1D/2A or 2A catalytic peptides cleaved GFP from HC-Pro but expressed GFP inefficiently. WSMV-GFP vectors with homologous NIa-Pro heptapeptide cleavage sites did not release GFP from HC-Pro, but efficiently expressed GFP as dense fluorescent aggregates. However, insertion of one or two spacer amino acids on either side of NIb/CP heptapeptide cleavage site or deletion in HC-Pro cistron improved processing by NIa-Pro. WSMV-GFP vectors were remarkably stable in wheat for seven serial passages and for 120 days postinoculation. Mite transmission efficiencies of WSMV-GFP vectors correlated with the amount of free GFP produced. WSMV-GFP vectors infected the same range of cereal hosts as wild-type virus, and GFP fluorescence was detected in most wheat tissues.     

绿色荧光蛋白转基因小鼠骨髓基质细胞体外诱导分化为神经元样细胞

目的 研究绿色荧光蛋白转基因小鼠骨髓基质细胞(GFP-GM-BMSCs)在体外无血清培养基+神经细胞因子诱导条件下,向神经细胞分化的能力。方法 用贴壁法体外培养GFP-GM-BMSCs,取第3代GFP-GM-BMSCs,用含浓度均为20μg/L的表皮生长因子(EGF)和碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）的无血清培养基（neurobasal-A+2%B27）诱导分化。第5天用免疫细胞荧光方法检测巢蛋白(nestin)的表达,第10天用神经元烯醇化酶 (NSE)、神经胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)免疫细胞化学方法鉴定阳性细胞。结果 GFP-GM-BMSCs经无血清培养基+神经细胞因子诱导后,细胞胞体变圆,伸出细长突起, 有的突起连接成网,呈神经元样形态。诱导第5天,nestin阳性表达的细胞为40.24%+5.09%;第10天,NSE阳性、GFAP阳性的细胞分别为36.43%+5.27%和49.73%+6.28%。 结论 GFP-GM-BMSCs在体外含EGF、bFGF的无血清培养基中,能分化成神经元样细胞。     

流体力学注射介导的重组pcDNA-IFN-λ3-EGFP质粒在小鼠体内的表达

目的研究流体力学尾静脉注射对目的基因器官靶向性的影响。方法将BALB/c小鼠按随机数字表分组法分为流体力学注射组和空质粒对照组。流体力学注射组将100μg/只带有增强型绿色荧光蛋白（EGFP）基因的表达质粒pcDNA-IFN-λ3-EGFP溶液2ml在5s内快速注入尾静脉,对照组在5s内注入空质粒pcDNA3.1的生理盐水2ml。注射后在不同时间内用过量麻醉剂处死小鼠,取肝、肺、肾、心、脑等组织作冰冻切片,于荧光显微镜下观察。结果流体力学注射pcDNA-IFN-λ3-EGFP质粒在肝组织中表达IFN-λ3-EGFP融合蛋白,注射8h后即有较强的表达,24h后表达最强,2d后明显减弱,1周后消失。其他组织及对照组未检测到绿色荧光蛋白表达。结论流体力学注射方法是肝靶向性的活体基因转移方法,绿色荧光蛋白可作为该方法进行目的基因研究的一个可靠和方便的示踪剂。     

Neurons of the ascidian larval nervous system in Ciona intestinalis: I. Central nervous system

The tadpole larva of ascidians, basal living relatives of vertebrates, has a chordate body plan. The CNS has many homologies with that of vertebrates yet only about 100 neurons. These few, possibly fixed in number and composition, nevertheless govern a diverse repertoire of behaviors. To elucidate the circuits of the CNS first requires that we recognize each neuron type, for which we used electroporation to transfect precleavage embryos with a plasmid containing green fluorescent protein (GFP) driven by the promoter of the synaptotagmin gene. Hatched larvae were fixed and GFP 3-D reconstructions of confocal image stacks compiled into images of 31 whole or partial larvae, either with many GFP-labelled neurons or with few, each clearly visible. Neuron counts in the sensory vesicle (SV) and visceral ganglion (VG) indicated that between 75% (SV) and 69% (VG) of previously reported numbers of neurons were transfected. Based on their position, shape, and projections, the following neurons were identified in the SV: a prominent eminens neuron, possibly with direct input from papillar neurons, a large ventroposterior interneuron, photoreceptors of the ocellus, and putative antenna cells of the otolith. In the VG, we identified at least four subtypes of motor neuron, including an ovoid cell that may innervate distal tail muscle cells and contrapelo cells with ascending projections, unique among VG neurons. The caudal nerve cord contained the first reported neurons, the somata of planate neurons. These neurons are the first identified types, and will be used to construct a map of the nervous system for this model basal chordate.     

Dynamic Stokes shift in green fluorescent protein variants

Solvent reorganization around the excited state of a chromophore leads to an emission shift to longer wavelengths during the excited-state lifetime. This solvation response is absent in wild-type green fluorescent protein, and this has been attributed to rigidity in the chromophore's environment necessary to exclude nonradiative transitions to the ground state. The fluorescent protein mPlum was developed via directed evolution by selection for red emission, and we use time-resolved fluorescence to study the dynamic Stokes shift through its evolutionary history. The far-red emission of mPlum is attributed to a picosecond solvation response that is observed at all temperatures above the glass transition. This time-dependent shift in emission is not observed in its evolutionary ancestors, suggesting that selective pressure has produced a chromophore environment that allows solvent reorganization. The evolutionary pathway and structures of related fluorescent proteins suggest the role of a single residue in close proximity to the chromophore as the primary cause of the solvation response.     

Pin1 interacts with a specific serine-proline motif of hepatitis B virus X-protein to enhance hepatocarcinogenesis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The peptidyl prolyl isomerase Pin1 frequently is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the most common etiologic agent in HCC, and its encoded X-protein (HBx) is oncogenic and possesses a serine-proline motif that may bind Pin1. The role of Pin1 in hepatocarcinogenesis, particularly in HBV-related HCC, was investigated. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate the prevalence of Pin1 overexpression in HCCs of different etiologies. Glutathione S-transferase pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation experiments were used to validate the physical interaction between Pin1 and HBx. Reporter assay, cell proliferation assay, and xenotransplantation experiments were used to show the functional consequence and importance of Pin1-HBx interaction in hepatocarcinogenesis. RESULTS: We showed preferential Pin1 overexpression in HBV-related tumors and confirmed the interaction between Pin1 and HBx at the specific serine-proline motif. Pin1 overexpression increased the protein stability of HBx. Furthermore, HBx-mediated transactivation was enhanced by co-expression of Pin1. HepG2 expressing Pin1 and HBx showed a synergistic increase in cellular proliferation, as compared with cells expressing Pin1 or HBx alone. Furthermore, concomitant expression of Pin1 and HBx in the nontumorigenic human hepatocyte cell line MIHA led to a synergistic increase in tumor growth. Finally, in Hep3B cells with suppressed Pin1 expression, HBx-enhanced tumor growth in nude mice was abrogated. CONCLUSIONS: Pin1 binds HBx to enhance hepatocarcinogenesis in HBV-infected hepatocytes. The discovery of an interaction between Pin1 and HBx will further our understanding of the molecular pathogenic mechanism of HBV-related HCC in human beings.     

人SYNOVIOLIN基因真核表达载体的构建及表达

目的：构建携EGFP的人SYNOVIOLIN基因真核表达载体。方法：应用基因重组技术,根据人SYNOVIOLIN基因序列和表达载体pIRES2-EGFP质粒上的多克隆位点设计引物,对含有SYNOVIOLIN基因的质粒pCDNA3-syno扩增,得到约1900 bp的目的片段,进行T-A克隆。SalⅠ/BamHⅠ双酶切测序正确的重组质粒,回收SYNOVIOLIN cDNA片段,将其亚克隆于pIRES2-EGFP载体的多克隆位点内得到质粒pIRES2-EGFP-syno。脂质体法转染HEK293细胞, 用激光共聚焦显微镜和Western blot检测EGFP和SYNOVIOLIN在HEK293细胞的表达。结果：PCR,酶切及测序结果表明pIRES2-EGFP-syno真核表达载体构建成功,激光共聚焦显微镜和Western blot显示EGFP和SYNOVIOLIN蛋白在HEK293细胞中成功表达。结论：成功构建pIRES2-EGFP-syno真核表达载体并在HEK293细胞表达,为抗肌腱粘连的　SYNOVIOLIN基因治疗研究奠定基础。     

坐骨神经横断伤后远侧段组织的形态学及相关因子表达变化

目的:通过制备GFP小鼠和B6小鼠坐骨神经横断伤模型,应用免疫组化技术以及RealTime-PCR技术观察和分析周围神经损伤后远侧段组织的形态学及相关因子表达变化。方法:制备GFP小鼠坐骨神经横断伤模型,应用免疫组化技术分别染色S100蛋白以显示施万细胞,染色NF蛋白以显示轴突;结合GFP小鼠的自发荧光以及Hoechst核染观察横断伤后不同时间点远侧段组织的形态学变化。制备B6小鼠坐骨神经横断伤模型,应用RealTime-PCR技术检测横断伤后远侧段组织中相关营养因子BDNF、NGF、CNTF及抗凋亡因子Bcl-2 mRNA的表达变化。结果:坐骨神经横断伤后,远侧段施万细胞S100蛋白的表达第7天时达到高峰,第14天时下降,形成狭长细胞索带;第21～28天时仅少数细胞S100蛋白阳性。远侧段NF免疫组化产物于横断伤后第7天时断裂呈碎片状,第28天时碎片亦基本消失不见。远侧段非特异核染数目随损伤时间延长而增加。同时,在远侧段整个溃变过程中,神经基膜管结构仍然可见。坐骨神经横断伤后,BDNF mRNA表达第1～3周内逐渐上调,其中第3周时达到高峰(P<0.01),第4周时下降到与正常值相比无统计学意义的水平。NGF mRNA表达第1周时达到高峰(P<0.01),第2周时比第1周有小幅下降,但仍然具有统计学意义(P<0.01),第二周以后下降到与正常值相似的水平。CNTF mRNA表达则在损伤后第1周时下降了35%,第2周时继续下降到正常水平的42.7%,其下降均具有统计学意义(P<0.01),第3周时有所回升,第4周时下降到低点。Bcl-2 mRNA表达在损伤后第1周时下降,第2、3周时上升,第3周时达到高峰,并且上升具有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论:坐骨神经横断伤后4周,远侧段神经组织中神经基膜管结构仍然存在。神经营养因子BDNF、NGF、CNTF mRNA的表达时相不同,提示其表达调控机制不同。Bcl-2 mRNA表达变化与施万细胞凋亡相关。