Genetic contributions to Parkinson's disease

Sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by the loss of midbrain dopamine neurons and Lewy body inclusions. It is thought to result from a complex interaction between multiple predisposing genes and environmental influences, although these interactions are still poorly understood. Several causative genes have been identified in different families. Mutations in two genes [α-synuclein and nuclear receptor-related 1 (Nurr1)] cause the same pathology, and a third locus on chromosome 2 also causes this pathology. Other familial PD mutations have identified genes involved in the ubiquitin–proteasome system [parkin and ubiquitin C-terminal hydroxylase L1 (UCHL1)], although such cases do not produce Lewy bodies. These studies highlight critical cellular proteins and mechanisms for dopamine neuron survival as disrupted in Parkinson's disease. Understanding the genetic variations impacting on dopamine neurons may illuminate other molecular mechanisms involved. Additional candidate genes involved in dopamine cell survival, dopamine synthesis, metabolism and function, energy supply, oxidative stress, and cellular detoxification have been indicated by transgenic animal models and/or screened in human populations with differing results. Genetic variation in genes known to produce different patterns and types of neurodegeneration that may impact on the function of dopamine neurons are also reviewed. These studies suggest that environment and genetic background are likely to have a significant influence on susceptibility to Parkinson's disease. The identification of multiple genes predisposing to Parkinson's disease will assist in determining the cellular pathway/s leading to the neurodegeneration observed in this disease.     

大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞转染人TH基因的实验研究

目的评价酪氨酸羟化酶(tyrosine hydroxylase,TH)基因修饰骨髓间充质干细胞(mesenchymalstem cells,MSCs)后TH的表达情况及转染TH基因对MSCs的影响.方法构建含人TH基因的pCMV/hTH质粒,用脂质体转染原代培养的大鼠MSCs;Western blot及免疫细胞化学染色鉴定TH基因的表达及MSCs的分化情况;MTT比色法测定转染后的MSCs细胞活性,并与未转染的MSCs进行细胞活性比较.结果构建的pCMV/hTH质粒经ECoRI酶切后产生1.9okb和5.3kb的片段,与回收的目的基因及载体基因片段大小相符;转基因后的MSCs Western blot及免疫细胞化学染色显示TH染色阳性;转染后MSCs未见有NeuN,GFAP的表达;MTT比色法测定细胞活性,未转染与转染者差异无显著性.结论构建的TH基因能在体外培养的鼠MSCs中较好的表达,转染不会诱导MSCs向神经样细胞分化,对MSCs细胞活性无明显影响.     

等位基因特异PCR技术检测结核分支杆菌rpoB基因突变研究

目的 建立并评价等位特异多聚酶链反应检测结核分支杆菌耐利福平基因rpoB突变的方法。方法 设计与rpoB基因突变后的碱基配对的引物用于扩增突变基因，建立AS－PCR检测rpoB基因突变的方法，并对58株结核菌进行了检测。结果 AS－PCR检测结核菌耐利福平相关基因rpoB的敏感性为77.3%，特异性达91.7%。AS－PCR检测rpoB基因，有1628A→T、1657C→T，G和1673C→T突变分别占耐利福平结核菌株的18.2%，22.7%和36.4%。检测rpoB突变与MIC测定RFP耐药率和PCR－SSCP检测的总符合率分别为86.2%和74.1%。检测试验可在3－4h内完成。结论 AS－PCR方法是检测结核菌耐利福平基因突变的敏感和快速方法，可在临床实验室使用并为临床医师提供治疗依据。     

环缩酚肽抑制视网膜表达VEGF及PECAM基因和血管增生

[目的]观察两种环缩酚肽衍生物(Hep-A和Hep-B)对氧诱导的小鼠视网膜表达血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)和细胞黏附分子(PECAM;ICAM-1;VCAM-1)基因的影响及血管增生的变化.[方法]建立氧诱导的血管增殖性视网膜病变模型,12 d开始给小鼠皮下注安慰剂(第1组,n=7)、Hep-A 10 mg/kg(第2组,n=6)或者Hep-B 10 mg/kg(第3组,n=6),每天两次.5 d后取出左侧眼,分离视网膜并抽提RNA,用荧光定量PCR测出上述基因含量,并分别求出每个靶基因与标准基因S16含量的比率;右眼经心脏荧光素灌注后取眼球做视网膜平铺片,用图像分析软件定量计算视网膜新生血管的面积.[结果]视网膜中VEGF/S16的mRNA比率为:第1组(0.554±0.050),第2组(0.355±0.037),第3组(0.287±0.051);PECAM/S16为:第1组(2.050±0.249),第2组(1.228±0.153),第3组(1.027±0.210).经ANOVA分析,第2组和第3组分别与第1组比较,视网膜中VEGF基因表达分别减少36%和48.2%(P=0.001);PECAM基因表达分别减少40.1%(P＜0.05)和49.9%(P＜0.01);而VCAM-1和ICAM-1表达无明显差异.视网膜平片检测视网膜新生血管面积:第1组为(1.06±0.03)mm2/眼,第2组为(0.17±0.01)mm2/眼,第3组为(0.11±0.01)mm2/眼;经ANOVA分析,第2组和第3组分别与第1组比较,视网膜新生血管的面积明显减少(P＜0.001).[结论]两种环缩酚肽衍生物均抑制氧诱导的小鼠视网膜表达VEGF和PECAM基因,并抑制其形成视网膜新生血管.     

运动训练联合基因治疗对肾性高血压大鼠肾功能的影响

目的观察运动训练联合β1肾上腺素能受体基因治疗对肾性高血压大鼠血压、肾功能、肾脏前肾素原mRNA、肾脏β1受体mRNA和蛋白的影响，探讨其改善肾功能的机制。方法两肾一夹法制作肾性高血压模型，基因治疗采用经鼠尾静脉注射阳离子脂质体与β1反义寡核苷酸方法。检测大鼠血压、肾功能变化。半定量RT—PCR测定肾脏β1受体mRNA、前肾素原mRNA水平。Western印迹法测检肾脏β1受体的蛋白水平。结果与模型组比较，运动联合基因治疗可使血压下降并维持4周，血压下降最高达41mmHg；尿蛋白量[（45．82±6．56）比（29．12±5．22）mg／L，P〈0．01】、BUN[（13．10±2．62）比（9．05±1．84）mmol／L，P〈0．05]显著降低（P〈0．01，P〈0．05）；内生肌酐清除率显著升高（P〈0．01）；前肾素原mRNA、β1受体mRNA、蛋白表达水平显著降低（P〈0．05）。结论运动训练联合β1受体反义基因治疗可以明显地降低血压，改善肾功能；且运动训练可以增强基因治疗对β1受体mRNA和蛋白的抑制作用，在转录和翻译水平抑制过度激活的β1受体的表达。     

转化生长因子β1短发夹RNA对白蛋白刺激人肾近曲小管上皮细胞细胞因子表达的影响

目的 研究pcDU6载体质粒介导的转化生长因子β1（TGF-β1）短发夹RNA（shRNA）对人血清白蛋白（HSA）致人肾近曲小管上皮细胞（HK2细胞）增殖，TGF-β1、结缔组织生长因子（CTGF）和纤连蛋白（FN）表达的影响，并探讨有关机制。方法 构建TGF-β1shRNA的pcDU6载体质粒，体外培养HK2细胞株。采用脂质体转染将表达TGF-β1shRNA的pcDU6质粒载体（pcDU6-A1-A2和peDU6-B1-B2）分别导人实验组细胞。用HSA（5g／L）刺激HK2细胞12h或24h。四甲基偶氮唑盐（MTF）比色法测定细胞增殖水平。RT-PCR半定量分析HK2细胞中TGF-β1、CTGF和FNmRNA的表达水平；双抗夹心酶联免疫吸附法检测HK2细胞培养液中TGF-β1及FN蛋白质水平。结果 HK2细胞在HSA刺激下，其TGF-β1、CTGF及FNmRNA的表达明显上调，培养液中TGF-β1和FN的蛋白质含量亦明显升高（P〈0．05）。与pcDU6空载体组比较，pcDU6载体质粒介导的TGF-β1shRNA干扰组TGF-β1、CTGF及FNmRNA的表达明显下调（P〈0．05）。TGF-β1shRNA转染HK2细胞后12h或24h，细胞培养液中TGF-β1和FN蛋白质含量明显下降，HK2细胞增殖被部分抑制（P〈0．05）。在细胞增殖、TGF-β1、CTGF及FN基因表达方面，TGF-β1shRNA干扰组组间比较，以及pcDU6空载体转染组与HSA刺激组比较，差异均无统计学意义。结论 peDU6载体质粒介导的TGF-β1shRNA能够明显抑制HSA刺激下HK2细胞增殖、TGF-β1、CTGF和FN基因的表达。HSA刺激HK2细胞增殖及CTGF和FN基因的过表达可能通过TGF-β1介导。     

靶向DF3的白喉毒素A链基因对乳腺癌细胞的杀伤作用

目的探讨白喉毒素A链(DTA)基因在DF3/MUC1启动子调控下的杀伤作用。方法构建含人乳腺癌DF3启动子和白喉毒素A链基因的表达载体pGL3-DF3-DTA,转染DF3阳性的乳癌细胞MCF-7,逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测DTA基因的表达;噻唑蓝(MTT)比色法检测细胞生长活性;免疫组织化学法和流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡。结果酶切和测序表明获得了与预期结果相一致的pGL3-DF3-DTA真核表达载体。转染MCF-7细胞后,RT-PCR检测到了249 bp的DTA mRNA片段。与对照组比较,转染pGL3-DF3-DTA的MCF-7细胞生长受到了抑制,流式细胞术检测到的凋亡率达39.43%,而对照组仅有0.28%。结论pGL3-DF3-DTA可对DF3阳性的乳癌细胞产生特异性的杀伤,对乳腺癌的基因治疗有潜在的应用价值。     

RGD-based strategies for selective delivery of therapeutics and imaging agents to the tumour vasculature

During the past decade, RGD-peptides have become a popular tool for the targeting of drugs and imaging agents to alphavbeta3-integrin expressing tumour vasculature. RGD-peptides have been introduced by recombinant means into therapeutic proteins and viruses. Chemical means have been applied to couple RGD-peptides and RGD-mimetics to liposomes, polymers, peptides, small molecule drugs and radiotracers. Some of these products show impressive results in preclinical animal models and a RGD targeted radiotracer has already successfully been tested in humans for the visualization of alphavbeta3-integrin, which demonstrates the feasibility of this approach. This review will summarize the structural requirements for RGD-peptides and RGD-mimetics as ligands for alphavbeta3. We will show how they have been introduced in the various types of constructs by chemical and recombinant techniques. The importance of multivalent RGD-constructs for high affinity binding and internalization will be highlighted. Furthermore the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of RGD-targeted therapeutics and diagnostics reported in recent years will be reviewed.     

肝干细胞的基因治疗在肝病中的应用

1.肝干细胞是基因治疗的良好靶细胞:肝干细胞不同于其他的人体肝细胞,有两方面的特征,即具有干细胞的高度增殖的能力,又具有向肝细胞和胆管细胞双向分化的潜能。研究表明完全分化成熟的肝细胞移植入合适的宿主之后可以在肝脏中重新分群发挥功能。为什么要选择肝干细胞作为基因治疗的靶细胞呢?(1)成熟的肝细胞在肝脏中重新分群需要持续的肝损伤或内源性肝细胞增生障碍来提供选择压力,而干细胞则不需要。(2)尽管成熟的肝细胞可以在体外