Single-cycle immunodeficiency viruses provide strategies for uncoupling in vivo expression levels from viral replicative capacity and for mimicking live-attenuated SIV vaccines

To reduce the risks associated with live-attenuated immunodeficiency virus vaccines, single-cycle immunodeficiency viruses (SCIVs) were developed by primer complementation and production of the vaccine in the absence of vif in a vif-independent cell line. After a single intravenous injection of SCIVs into rhesus monkeys, peak viral RNA levels of 10(3) to 10(4) copies/ml plasma were observed, indicating efficient expression of SCIV in the vaccinee. After booster immunizations with SCIVs, SIV-specific humoral and cellular immune responses were observed. Although the vaccine doses used in this pilot study could not protect vaccinees from subsequent intravenous challenge with pathogenic SIVmac239, our results demonstrate that the novel SCIV approach allows us to uncouple in vivo expression levels from the viral replicative capacity facilitating the analysis of the relationship between viral expression levels or viral genes and immune responses induced by SIV.     

成年大鼠胰岛的体外基因转染

目的 探讨携带外源基因的慢病毒在体外有效感染胰岛及外源基因在胰岛中的表达，为通过移植前向胰岛细胞转入特定的免疫调节分子基因诱导胰岛移植物耐受奠定基础。方法 将目的基因CTLA4Ig导入慢病毒载体pWPTS，构建成pWPTS-CTLA4Ig载体。用磷酸钙沉淀法将pWPTS-EGFP、pWPTS-CTLA4Ig分别和其辅助载体pMD2．G、pCMVΔ8．92共转染293T细胞，收获病毒上清液，测定病毒滴度后感染新分离的胰岛。通过Western Blot测定胰岛培养上清液中CTLA4Ig蛋白的表达。结果 ①成功构建了携带CTLA4Ig基因的慢病毒载体pWPTS-CTLA4Ig；②包装产生的慢病毒Lenti-EGFP、Lenti-CTLA4Ig在体外可以感染胰岛，其中在Lenti-EGFP慢病毒感染的胰岛观察到了绿色荧光，及在Lenti-CTLA4Ig慢病毒感染的胰岛培养上清液中检测到了CTLA4Ig蛋白的表达。结论 慢病毒在体外可以有效感染大鼠胰岛，且携带的外源基因可以在胰岛细胞中稳定表达，其中Lenti-CTLA4Ig慢病毒感染的胰岛为进行胰岛移植并诱导体内特异的胰岛移植物耐受奠定了基础。     

Gene therapy of the central nervous system: General considerations on viral vectors for gene transfer into the brain

The last decade has nourished strong doubts on the beneficial prospects of gene therapy for curing fatal diseases. However, this climate of reservation is currently being transcended by the publication of several successful clinical protocols, restoring confidence in the appropriateness of therapeutic gene transfer. A strong sign of this present enthusiasm for gene therapy by clinicians and industrials is the market approval of the therapeutic viral vector Glybera, the first commercial product in Europe of this class of drug. This new field of medicine is particularly attractive when considering therapies for a number of neurological disorders, most of which are desperately waiting for a satisfactory treatment. The central nervous system is indeed a very compliant organ where gene transfer can be stable and successful if provided through an appropriate strategy. The purpose of this review is to present the characteristics of the most efficient virus-derived vectors used by researchers and clinicians to genetically modify particular cell types or whole regions of the brain. In addition, we discuss major issues regarding side effects, such as genotoxicity and immune response associated to the use of these vectors.     

Treatment of acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure in the mouse with conditionally immortalized human hepatocytes

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver failure is a life threatening condition currently treated by palliative measures and, when applicable, organ transplantation. The use of a bioartificial organ capable of fulfilling the main functions of the liver would represent an attractive alternative. However, the shortage of suitable donor cells, and their limited growth ability have impeded the development of this strategy. We investigated whether lentiviral vectors allow for conditional immortalization of human hepatocytes and whether these immortalized hepatocytes could reverse lethal acute liver failure. METHODS: We exposed primary human hepatocytes to Cre-excisable lentiviral vectors coding for SV40T Antigen, telomerase, and/or Bmi-1 and tested the functionality of the resulting cell lines. Therapeutic potential of immortalized hepatocytes were tested in a murine model of acetaminophen-induced hepatic injury. RESULTS: The immortalized hepatocytes grew continuously yet were non-tumorigenic, stopped proliferating when exposed to Cre recombinase, and conserved defining properties of primary hepatocytes, including the ability to secrete liver-specific proteins and to detoxify drugs. The implantation of encapsulated immortalized human hepatocytes rescued mice from lethal doses of acetaminophen. CONCLUSIONS: Lentiviral vectors represent tools of choice for immortalization of non-dividing primary cells, and lentivirally immortalized human hepatocytes are promising reagents for cell-based therapy of acute liver failure.     

KLF4转染对口腔鳞癌细胞侵袭能力的影响

目的 观察KLF4转染对人口腔鳞癌细胞系SCC15侵袭能力的影响.方法 培养人口腔鳞癌细胞系SCC15,构建pReceiver-Lv105/KLF4慢病毒表达载体,包装病毒颗粒,感染SCC15后,puromycin筛选KLF4稳定表达的细胞系.荧光显微镜和免疫荧光细胞化学鉴定病毒感染成功.然后通过划痕实验检测KLF4转导对细胞体外迁移能力的影响.Transwell细胞侵袭实验检测KLF4转导对细胞侵袭能力的影响.实时荧光定量PCR检测与细胞侵袭和迁移密切相关的因子MMP-9和Twist1的表达.结果 与对照载体转导组SCC15/Lv105细胞相比,SCC15/KLF4细胞中KLF4的表达明显增强.SCC15/KLF4细胞的相对迁移率显著高于SCC15/Lv105细胞(P＜0.01).SCC15/KLF4组的侵袭穿膜细胞数明显多于SCC15/Lv105组(P＜0.05).另外,SCC15/KLF4细胞中MMP-9和Twist1 RNA的表达也高于对照组SCC15/Lv105细胞,其中MMP-9 RNA的表达升高更为显著(P＜0.01).结论 KLF4转导SCC15细胞后,可能通过增强MMP-9和Twist1的表达促进细胞的迁移和侵袭能力.     

人VEGF基因慢病毒介导RNA干扰有效靶点的设计及筛选

目的:设计并筛选人血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)有效RNA干扰片段,构建VEGF慢病毒表达载体。方法:对人VEGF基因编码区分析,筛选序列3条,阴性对照序列l条,通过连接线性化的plenti6.3-MIR载体,构建miRNA慢病毒载体质粒,并转化至感受态细胞DH5α,进行测序验证。在脂质体介导下转染293T细胞,包装生产慢病毒,测定其滴度。慢病毒载体转染人肝癌细胞MHCC97L,用Real-time PCR检测干扰效果。结果:测序证实3个VEGF基因RNAi慢病毒载体质粒构建成功。慢病毒载体经293T细胞包装成功,测定病毒的滴度分别为3.23×109、3.30×109、3.73×109TU/mL。3个慢病毒载体转染人肝癌细胞MHCC97L后,VEGF基因在mRNA水平受到抑制,其中miR-200序列效果最佳,对VEGF基因表达的干扰效率可达72%。结论:成功构建并筛选了人VEGF基因RNAi慢病毒载体及有效靶点,为进一步深入研究VEGF基因与抗肿瘤药物药效关系提供实验基础。     

六个转录因子将人脐带间充质干细胞高效重编程为诱导性多能干细胞的实验研究

目的 建立人脐带间充质干细胞(HuMSCs)来源的诱导性多能干细胞(iPSC)系.方法 以慢病毒载体将OCT4、SOX2、KLF4、c-Myc、NANOG、LIN-28 6个转录因子转入HuMSCs使其重编程为iPSC.通过形态学观察、多能细胞特异性标志检测、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)染色、核型分析、拟胚体形成、体内成瘤实验鉴定获得的iPSC.结果 慢病毒感染后第4天,HuMSCs逐渐变成类圆形,第10天开始出现不规则细胞团,第14天出现较大的细胞团,约1.25％的细胞重编程为iPSC.建系后iPSC呈典型的克隆状生长,边缘清晰,内部细胞细小,排列紧密;AKP染色阳性;表达多能性相关基因及胚胎干细胞特异性蛋白;细胞核型正常(46,XY);体内外均能向3个胚层方向分化.结论 慢病毒携带OCT4、SOX2、KLF4、c-Myc、NANOG、LIN-28 6个因子能将HuMSCs高效诱导为完全重编程的iPSC.