Intraarticular gene delivery of CTLA4-FasL suppresses experimental arthritis

T lymphocytes are key inflammatory cells contributing significantly to the pathogenesis of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Biological treatments targeting T lymphocytes may provide an efficient approach for treatment of RA. CTLA4-FasL, a fusion product of extracellular domains of CTLA4 and FasL, integrating two inhibitory elements against T cells into one molecule, might be a desirable derivative of engineered soluble FasL or CTLA4 and have therapeutic potential in RA. The aim of this study was to investigate whether simultaneous induction of Fas-mediated apoptosis and blockade of co-stimulation signal by CTLA4-FasL gene delivery has a suppressive effect on adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in Lewis rats. Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors encoding rat CTLA4-FasL fusion gene (rAAV.CTLA4-FasL) or enhanced green fluorescent protein (rAAV.EGFP) were injected intraarticularly into both ankle joints after immunization. The ankles were monitored by measures of clinical, histological and inflammatory cytokines' changes. Treatment using rAAV.CTLA4-FasL resulted in a significant suppression of AIA compared with rAAV.EGFP control, as reflected in the mainly clinical signs including articular index, ankle joint thickness and paw swelling and typically histological characters of arthritic joints including synovial hyperplasia, inflammatory cells infiltration and cartilage degradation. Treatment with rAAV.CTLA4-FasL also significantly decreased the levels of key proinflammatory cytokines in AIA joints. Moreover, local productions of transgene mRNA and protein of CTLA4-FasL were found in injected joints without systemic distribution. Our results indicate that rAAV.CTLA4-FasL profoundly suppressed experimental model of RA, implicating the potential therapeutic applications for suppression of RA by local joint delivery of CTLA4-FasL.     

肌肉注射CTLA4-FasL重组腺相关病毒抑制大鼠关节炎的实验研究

目的观察CTLA4-FasL融合基因能否有效抑制大鼠关节炎。方法在动物造模免疫第2天,以肌肉注射方式导入CTLA4-FasL和EGFP(对照)重组腺相关病毒(rAAV),持续观察和测量2组动物的临床指标包括关节指数、踝关节厚度和体质量等,并对踝关节的组织学表现如滑膜增生和炎性细胞浸润等进行了检测。结果应用大鼠佐剂诱导关节炎动物模型,明确了重组AAV病毒可介导目的基因CTLA4-FasL于体内表达;与rAAV.EGFP对照组相比,rAAV.CTLA4-FasL处理组在临床学和组织学表现上均有效抑制了大鼠关节炎。结论 CTLA4-FasL融合分子很可能是具有潜在研究价值的类风湿性关节炎治疗分子。     

周期性机械拉伸对类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞增殖的影响

目的探讨周期性机械拉伸对类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞(RA-FLSs)增殖能力的影响。方法实验组细胞在周期性机械拉伸频率为1.0 Hz、拉伸幅度为3%、6%和9%的条件下,分别对RA-FLSs加载2、6和12 h。对照组细胞在保持与实验组培养条件一致的情况下不进行拉伸刺激。机械拉伸后,用流式细胞术和MTS检测细胞的增殖和活性。RT-PCR检测加载后细胞周期调控因子(CyclinD1、CyclinE1、CDK2、P27)在基因水平上的表达变化。结果 6%和9%的拉伸刺激持续作用6、12 h使RA-FLSs增殖和活性显著降低(P<0.05),同时CDK2和CyclinE1的mRNA表达降低,P27 mRNA的表达增高(P<0.05),周期性机械拉伸对CyclinD1表达的影响相对较小。结论周期性机械拉伸对RA-FLSs增殖能力的影响与拉伸强度以及持续的时间有关,6%和9%的机械拉伸刺激可以抑制RA-FLSs的增殖,而这种增殖抑制作用可能是通过调控CyclinE1,CDK2和P27的表达来实现的。本研究对于探讨力学刺激在类风湿性关节炎的发病机制以及临床防治中的作用具有一定意义。     

大鼠CTLA4-FasL融合基因重组腺相关病毒载体的构建、制备及表达

目的检测大鼠CTLA4-FasL重组腺相关病毒载体感染大鼠关节炎性成纤维样滑膜细胞后目的基因的表达。方法构建大鼠CTLA4-FasL融合基因重组腺相关病毒载体,制备重组病毒,体外感染从佐剂诱导关节炎的大鼠关节中分离的炎性成纤维样滑膜细胞,利用Flag标签纯化目的蛋白,ELISA和Western blot等方法检测目的蛋白的表达。结果获得含有大鼠CTLA4-FasL融合基因的重组腺相关病毒,感染炎性成纤维样滑膜细胞后能够分泌性表达目的蛋白。结论构建并制备的CTLA4-FasL重组腺相关病毒能够有效感染炎性成纤维样滑膜细胞并促使期表达CTLA4-FasL融合蛋白,为今后关节炎治疗的体内实验研究奠定了基础。     

Fractalkine对类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞增殖的影响

目的明确fractalkine(CX3CL1)对人类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞(RA-FLS)增殖的影响。方法通过组织块法培养RA-FLS。分别用0、50、100ng/mL重组人fractalkine刺激RA-FLS24h,用四唑盐(MTT)法检测其吸光度值,比较各组间增殖率。结果 50ng/ml及100ng/ml fractalkine均可促进RA-FLS增殖(P=0.005,P=0.022)。结论 Fractalkine可促进RA-FLS的增殖,可部分解释RA-FLS自主增殖的特性。     

CTLA4-FasL双功能融合蛋白分子抑制混合淋巴细胞反应及促进淋巴细胞凋亡

目的 构建人CTLA4-FasL融合蛋白真核表达载体，表达CTLA4-FasL融合蛋白，通过体外实验初步研究其生物学特性。方法 通过特异引物分别扩增出CLTA4和FasL胞外区的cDNA，将它们拼接后，克隆入真核表达载体pcDNA3．1( )中，体外表达纯化。Western blot分析CTLA4-FasL融合蛋白的抗原性。体外细胞结合试验研究其结合特异性配体作用。混合淋巴细胞反应研究其抑制免疫应答的效应。结果 测序证实所扩增的PCR产物分别是CLTA4和FasL胞外区的cDNA，其序列与文献报道相符。成功构建了pcDNA3．1-CTLA4-FasL真核表达载体。Western blot分析结果显示，表达获得的蛋白具有CTLA4和FasL的抗原性。体外细胞结合试验显示，CTLA4-FasL融合蛋白可以分别与Jurkat细胞表面的Fas受体和Raji细胞表面的町分子结合。混合淋巴细胞反应结果显示，该融合蛋白可以有效抑制异基因淋巴细胞的刺激作用及诱导淋巴细胞凋亡，并显示了显著的协同效应。结论 成功构建了CTLA4-FasL融合蛋白真核表达载体，体外表达并纯化了CTLA4-FasL融合蛋白，体外实验证实CTLA4-FasL融合蛋白是一个可以有效抑制免疫应答的双功能分子。     

Cyr61促进RA滑膜细胞增殖及炎症因子调控研究

目的:采用类风湿性关节炎(RA)患者滑膜细胞的体外培养,研究基质蛋白Cyr61在RA滑膜细胞增殖中的作用及其机制。方法:通过Real-time PCR、Western blot和免疫组化检测RA病人的滑膜组织和细胞中Cyr61的表达情况;用3H-TdR掺入法检测滑膜液(SF)对滑膜细胞增殖的影响;用ELISA方法检测RA患者滑膜液中Cyr61蛋白的水平。结果:RA病人的滑膜组织和细胞中高表达Cyr61;SF能刺激滑膜细胞发生明显增殖;且RA患者滑膜液中含高浓度的Cyr61蛋白。用SiRNA干扰技术抑制滑膜细胞中Cyr61基因表达,再加入滑膜液后,则滑膜细胞增殖明显降低。同时,将SF与anti-Cyr61抗体共同孵育后再刺激滑膜细胞,FLS也不再发生明显增殖。进一步研究滑膜液中与上调Cyr61表达有关的炎症细胞因子,发现SF中IFNγ-和TNFα-具有上调Cyr61蛋白表达的作用。结论:Cyr61蛋白是促进滑膜细胞增殖的重要调控基因;RA患者滑膜液中含有高浓度的炎症因子IFNγ-和TNFα-,通过上调Cyr61蛋白表达而促进滑膜细胞增殖,可能是促进RA病理性滑膜增生的重要因素之一。     

Piperlongumine inhibits the proliferation,migration and invasion of fibroblast-like synoviocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives

Recent studies have indicated that piperlongumine (PLM) may exert anti-inflammatory effects. In the present study, we determined the effect of PLM on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (referred to herein as RA FLS). We further explored the mechanisms by which the studied compound inhibits the functions of RA FLS.

Methods

RA FLS viability and apoptosis were tested using MTT and Annexin V/PI assays, respectively. We performed an EDU assay to examine the proliferation of RA FLS. The migration and invasion of these cells were measured using a transwell chamber method and wound closure assay. The MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13 levels in the culture supernatants of RA FLS were detected using a Luminex Assay kit. The intracellular ROS levels were detected using DCFH-DA. The expression levels of signal transduction proteins were measured using western blot.

Results

We found that PLM induced apoptosis in RA FLS at concentrations of 15 and 20 μM. The proliferation of RA FLS was downregulated by PLM at concentrations of 1, 5 and 10 μM. Migration and invasion of RA FLS were reduced by PLM at concentrations of 1, 5 and 10 μM. PLM also inhibited cytoskeletal reorganization in migrating RA FLS and decreased TNF-α-induced intracellular ROS production. Moreover, we demonstrated the inhibitory effect of PLM on activation of the p38, JNK, NF-κB and STAT3 pathways.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that PLM can inhibit proliferation, migration and invasion of RA FLS. Moreover, these data suggests that PLM might have therapeutic potential for the treatment of RA.

     

PTEN在类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞中的表达及意义

目的:探讨第10号染色体缺失的磷酸酶及张力蛋白同源基因(PTEN)在人类风湿关节炎(RA)成纤维样滑膜细胞(FLS)中的表达水平及意义。方法:利用组织块法获得并体外培养人RA-FLS、骨关节炎(OA)-FLS及关节创伤-FLS;采用实时荧光定量PCR法检测各组FLS中PTEN mRNA表达水平的差异;采用Western blotting法检测各组FLS的PTEN蛋白表达水平以及Akt Thr308位点磷酸化水平的差异。结果:(1)RA-FLS中的PTEN mRNA表达水平显著低于OA-FLS及关节创伤-FLS(P0.01),而OA-FLS与关节创伤-FLS之间的PTEN mRNA表达水平无统计学差异。(2)RA-FLS的PTEN蛋白表达水平显著低于OA-FLS及关节创伤-FLS(P0.05),而OA-FLS与关节创伤-FLS之间的PTEN蛋白表达水平无统计学差异。(3)RA-FLS中的Akt蛋白Thr308位点磷酸化水平显著高于OA-FLS及关节创伤-FLS(P0.01),且OA-FLS中该位点的磷酸化水平显著低于关节创伤-FLS(P0.01)。(4)RA-FLS中的PTEN蛋白水平与Akt Thr308位点磷酸化水平呈显著负相关(P0.01)。结论:RAFLS中PTEN基因呈低水平表达,可能与Akt Thr308位点磷酸化水平异常增高相关。     

IL-22对类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞的作用

目的:探究白细胞介素(IL)-22对类风湿关节炎(RA)成纤维样滑膜细胞(FLSs)功能的影响及机制。方法:组织块法培养RA-FLSs。将不同浓度(0、1、10、100μg/L)的重组人源性IL-22(rhIL-22)与RA-FLSs共培养24 h、48 h、72 h,CCK-8法检测细胞活力的改变;利用10μg/L的rhIL-22作用于RA-FLSs 24 h,流式细胞术检测细胞周期改变。rhIL-22和/或信号转导和转录因子3(STAT3)特异性抑制剂STA-21以不同浓度作用RA-FLSs 24h,Western blot法检测Bcl-2和p-STAT3蛋白水平的变化。结果:不同浓度的rhIL-22作用于RA-FLSs 24 h、48 h、72h后,RA-FLSs细胞活力明显增高,均显著高于对照组(P0.05)。rhIL-22刺激RA-FLSs后,S期和G_2/M期细胞明显增多,G_0/G_1期细胞减少。Western blot法检测结果提示rhIL-22可上调RA-FLSs中Bcl-2、p-STAT3的蛋白水平,而STA-21单用或联用rhIL-22均可抑制RA-FLSs中Bcl-2及p-STAT3的表达(P0.05)。结论:IL-22在RA-FLSs细胞活力和周期调节中起重要作用,且STAT3在IL-22促RA-FLSs细胞Bcl-2表达的过程中起关键作用,提示IL-22可能对RA-FLSs凋亡有一定的影响。     

TRIM32 promotes inflammatory responses in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a worldwide autoimmune disease. The study of its aetiology and mechanism has always been a focus topic in medicine. This research was designed to investigate the effect of E3 ubiquitin ligase tripartite motif protein 32 (TRIM32) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We found in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) of RA patients, the expression of TRIM32 was significantly increased compared with its expression in osteoarthritis (OA) patients FLS. A widely used pro-inflammatory stimuli tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was found to promote TRIM32 expression in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, we observed that overexpression of TRIM32 aggravated the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in FLS, silencing of TRIM32 showed the consistent results. In addition, TRIM32 was found to activate nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signalling pathway, and TRIM32 could interact with TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) to promote the K63-linked polyubiquitination of TRAF2 in RA-FLS. In conclusion, we suggested that TRIM32 as a positive regulator of inflammatory responses in RA-FLS.     

TRPC6在IL-1β诱导类风湿关节炎成纤维细胞样滑膜细胞增殖中的作用

目的:应用RNA干扰技术研究瞬时受体电位通道6(TRPC6)对IL-1β诱导的类风湿关节炎(RA)成纤维细胞样滑膜细胞(RA-FLS)增殖的影响。方法:RT-qPCR法检测RA和骨关节炎(OA)患者滑膜组织中TRPC6 mRNA的表达水平。组织块联合酶消化法培养RA-FLS。流式细胞术鉴定RA-FLS。将不同浓度(0、0.25、0.5、1、2、4、8、16μg/L)的重组人IL-1β与RA-FLS共培养36 h,CCK-8法检测细胞活力的改变;16μg/L的IL-1β作用RA-FLS不同时间(12、24、36、48、60、72 h),CCK-8法检测细胞活力的改变。特异性TRPC6-siRNA转染RA-FLS后,采用RT-qPCR和Western blotting检测沉默效率。在IL-1β存在和不存在的条件下,CCK-8法、Ed U标记法和流式细胞术检测TRPC6干扰组与对照组的细胞活力、Ed U阳性细胞比率和(G_2/M+S)期比率的差异。结果:RA患者滑膜组织中TRPC6的mRNA表达水平相对于OA患者明显增加(P0.05)。TRPC6-siRNA能显著降低RA-FLS中TRPC6 mRNA和蛋白的表达(P0.05)。IL-1β能诱导RA-FLS增殖(P0.05)。沉默TRPC6后,在IL-1β的诱导环境下,特异性干扰组RA-FLS的活力、Ed U阳性细胞比率和(G_2/M+S)期比率与空白组和对照组相比均明显降低(P0.05),而在不含IL-1β的条件下,干扰组与空白组和对照组相比差异均无统计学显著性。结论:TRPC6参与IL-1β诱导的RA-FLS增殖过程,沉默TRPC6能降低IL-1β诱导的RA-FLS增殖水平。     

氯化锂对人滑膜成纤维细胞增殖影响

目的:研究Wnt/β-catenin通路激活剂氯化锂(LiCl)对成纤维样滑膜细胞(FLS)增殖的影响。方法:收集关节创伤患者行关节腔镜或关节置换术膝关节滑膜标本3例,采用酶消化法进行关节滑膜FLS的原代细胞培养,应用LiCl对细胞进行刺激,应用MTT法检测关节创伤患者FLS细胞增殖的改变。结果:MTT法检测显示,10 mmol/L LiCl刺激后,关节FLS的吸光度较非刺激状态下增高,差异显著(P0.05)。20-40 mmol/L LiCl抑制FLS细胞增殖(P0.05)。结论:低浓度LiCl可能通过激活Wnt/β-catenin通路促进关节创伤患者FLS细胞增殖,高浓度LiCl抑制FLS细胞增殖。     

佐剂性关节炎大鼠成纤维样滑膜细胞的体外培养与鉴定

目的:建立佐剂性关节炎(AA)大鼠成纤维样滑膜细胞(FLS)的体外培养及鉴定方法,为进一步的实验研究奠定基础。方法:制备AA大鼠模型,用组织块培养法培养AA大鼠滑膜细胞,并通过形态学和流式细胞仪(FCM)进行鉴定。结果:培养的滑膜细胞具有成纤维细胞的形态和特征,呈长梭形极向生长,FCM检测VCAM-1表达率94%以上。结论:成功地培养出了AA大鼠滑膜细胞,可作为进一步实验研究的靶细胞。     

RICTOR对类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞活力的影响

 目的：通过siRNA介导的RNA干扰技术沉默类风湿关节炎（RA）成纤维样滑膜细胞（FLS）mTORC2的特异组成蛋白RICTOR的表达,观察其对细胞活力的影响。方法：组织块法培养RA-FLS。应用阳离子脂质体转染的方法,把化学合成的特异性RICTOR siRNA转染RA-FLS,并以转染非特异性siRNA作为阴性对照。利用荧光定量PCR法分析转染24 h后细胞RICTOR mRNA表达水平的变化;Western blotting法分析转染48和72 h后细胞RICTOR蛋白表达水平的变化;以噻唑蓝（MTT）比色法检测转染成纤维样滑膜细胞不同时间（24、48和72 h）RICTOR siRNA对细胞活力的影响。结果：荧光定量PCR结果显示特异性RICTOR siRNA转染组与对照组相比,细胞中RICTOR的mRNA表达水平显著下调,24 h干扰效率达78.3%±63.71%（P<0.01）。Western blotting结果显示与对照组相比,RICTOR siRNA转染组48 h和72 h后RICTOR蛋白表达水平明显降低,沉默效率分别为92.48%±6.14%和98.57%±1.40%（均P<0.01）。MTT结果显示,早期（24和48 h）RICTOR siRNA转染组与阴性对照组细胞存活率比较无显著差异;72 h后,RICTOR siRNA转染组与阴性对照相比,细胞活力明显降低,抑制率为90.14%±1.90%（P<0.01）。结论：转染特异性RICTOR siRNA可降低RA-FLS的活力,提示mTORC2可能与RA-FLS的生长有关。     

肿瘤坏死因子样凋亡的微弱诱导剂在类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞的表达

目的:通过对影响肿瘤坏死因子样凋亡的微弱诱导剂(TWEAKR/Fn14)在类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞(RAFLS)表达因素的研究,探讨TWEAK诱导RAFLS活化及导致关节炎性破坏的相关机制。方法:将rhTWEAK与FLS共培养,同时加入TNF-α或IL-1β,应用免疫组化法定位检测TWEAKR/Fn14在RAFLS的表达,应用Western blot半定量检测TWEAKR/Fn14在RAFLS的表达。应用反转录-聚合酶链反应检测fn14基因mRNA的表达。结果:TWEAKR/Fn14表达在RAFLS的胞膜及胞质内,100μg/L的TWEAK增加TWEAKR/Fn14在RAFLS的表达及fn14mRNA的表达,TNF-α和IL-1β能够显著增强TWEAK对RAFLS的诱导作用。结论:RAFLS的质膜存在TWEAKR/Fn14表达,在重组TWEAK存在时TWEAKR/Fn14表达增加;TNF-α和IL-1β通过增加RAFLS的TWEAKR/Fn14表达,发挥对TWEAK生物学活性的协同作用。