Characterization and gene transfer in mesenchymal stem cells derived from human umbilical-cord blood

It has been shown that the stromal-cell population found in bone marrow can be expanded and differentiated into cells with the phenotypes of bone, cartilage, muscle, neural, and fat cells. However, whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are present in human umbilical-cord blood (UCB) has been the subject of ongoing debate. In this study, we report on a population of fibroblastlike cells derived from the mononuclear fraction of human UCB with osteogenic and adipogenic potential, as well as the presence of a subset of cells that have been maintained in continuous culture for more than 6 months. These cells were found to express CD29, CD44, CD90, CD95, CD105, CD166, and MHC class, but not CD14, CD34, CD40, CD45, CD80, CD86, CD117, CD152, or MHC class II. We also compared gene expression after gene transfer using lenti- and adenoviral vectors carrying the green fluorescence protein to the MSCs derived from UCB because a reliable gene-delivery system is required to transfer target genes into MSCs, which have attracted attention as potential platforms for the systemic delivery of therapeutic genes. The lentiviral vectors can transduce these cells more efficiently than can adenoviral vectors, and we maintained transgene expression for at least 5 weeks. This is the first report showing that UCB-derived MSCs can express exogenous genes by way of a lentivirus vector. These results demonstrate that human UCB is a source of mesenchymal progenitors and may be used in cell transplantation and a wide range of gene-therapy treatments.     

Trafficking of non-regulated secretory proteins in insulin secreting (INS-1) cells

Aims/hypothesis. Sorting of proinsulin to the regulated secretory pathway of pancreatic beta cells and retention of insulin in dense-core granules of this pathway is remarkably efficient. To monitor the specificity of these events, the secretion of two exogenous secretory proteins not known to carry information for sorting or retention in the regulated pathway was investigated in INS-1 cells. Methods. SEGFP, a fusion protein consisting of a signal peptide N-terminal to EGFP (mutant green fluorescent protein with enhanced fluorescence) and secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) were expressed in INS-1 cells by transfection and by infection with recombinant adenovirus, respectively. Secretion of SEGFP was monitored by quantitative western blotting and that of SEAP by its activity. Results. Secreted alkaline phosphatase showed high basal secretion (6.6 % total) but only modest (3.6-fold) stimulation of secretion by secretagogues, in keeping with secretion largely through the constitutive pathway. By contrast SEGFP had a secretory pattern similar to insulin, with low basal secretion (0.8 % total) and 16-fold stimulation by secretagogues. Granular localization of SEGFP was confirmed by high resolution electron microscopy immunocytochemistry. Pulse-chase experiments indicated retention of SEGFP in granules at least 24 h after synthesis. The secretory SEGFP, but not cytosolic EGFP, formed disulphide-linked oligomers. This could be implicated in its regulated secretion. Conclusion/interpretation. These data indicate that in INS-1 cells SEGFP, but not SEAP, is unexpectedly handled as a regulated secretory protein and stored along with insulin in granules. This raises questions about the specificity and mechanism of the sorting of proteins to granules in INS-1 cells or their retention therein or both. [Diabetologia (2000) 43: 1157–1164] Received: 13 December 1999 and in final revised form: 8 May 2000     

不同转染方式对GFP表达质粒在小鼠肝脏的表达影响

目的 研究经流体力学注射、门静脉和腹腔常规注射3种不同途径注射GFP表达质粒后,目的基因在小鼠肝脏的表达情况及其转基因效率.方法 将裸质粒或脂质体包裹的质粒DNA分别应用流体力学注射、门静脉及腹腔常规注射法注入同种异体小鼠体内,48h后分别取血和肝组织,通过荧光显微镜观察3种转染途径对质粒DNA在小鼠肝脏的表达影响.结果 流体力学注射组及门静脉常规注射组均可见大量绿色荧光蛋白表达,两组的荧光表达量差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),腹腔注射组小鼠的肝脏仅见少量的绿色荧光表达,但3组内脂质体/质粒DNA复合物组绿色荧光表达量均明显高于裸质粒组(P<0.05).结论 应用流体力学注射及门静脉常规注射脂质体/质粒DNA复合物途径,目的基因均在小鼠肝脏高效表达,两种途径无明显差异,流体力学注射可广泛用于肝靶向性的活体基因转染.     

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.