肿瘤坏死因子受体生物学功能及其临床应用研究进展

肿瘤坏死因子（Tumor necrosis factor,TNF）的生物学功能是由其受体（TNF receptor,TNFR）介导的,可溶性TNF受体（Soluble TNF receptor,sTNRF）从膜上脱萍下来,不再负责信号传递,但能与TNF结合,中和TNF的生物学活性。sTNFR与IgG Fc组成的嵌合蛋白能有效治疗成人类风湿性关节炎和几童多发性关节炎,对其他与TNF相关免疫性疾病的治疗目前正在处于临床研究阶段。     

Ad-sTNFRI-IgGFc腺病毒载体的构建及其转染人气道平滑肌细胞

TNF-a是一种具有广泛生物学活性的前炎症细胞因子, 参与哮喘整个病理生理过程。可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体(sTNFR)可以拮抗肿瘤坏死因子活性, 已被用来治疗与TNF相关的炎性疾病。将sTNFRI-IgGFc基因插入腺病毒穿梭质粒pDC316, 与辅助质粒pBHGloxΔE1, 3Cre共转染HEK293细胞, 重组产生Ad-sTNFRI-IgGFc, PCR鉴定毒种正确后, 进行扩增、纯化和滴度测定, 转染人气道平滑肌细胞, 利用RT-PCR、免疫组化方法, 流式细胞仪, ELISA检测转染后细胞中sTNFRI-IgGFc的转录和表达。实验结果证明成功构建了Ad-sTNFRI-IgGFc腺病毒载体, 感染性滴度达3×1010 TCID50/mL, 200 moi转染气道平滑肌细胞阳性率达99.32%, 转染后气道平滑肌细胞在mRNA和蛋白水平均有sTNFRI-IgGFc表达。转染上清稀释64倍后仍对TNF有拮抗活性。为将表达sTNFRI-IgGFc腺病毒基因治疗哮喘的实验研究提供了基础。     

Ad-sTNFRI-IgGFc腺病毒载体的构建及其转染人气道平滑肌细胞

TNF-a是一种具有广泛生物学活性的前炎症细胞因子, 参与哮喘整个病理生理过程。可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体(sTNFR)可以拮抗肿瘤坏死因子活性, 已被用来治疗与TNF相关的炎性疾病。将sTNFRI-IgGFc基因插入腺病毒穿梭质粒pDC316, 与辅助质粒pBHGloxΔE1, 3Cre共转染HEK293细胞, 重组产生Ad-sTNFRI-IgGFc, PCR鉴定毒种正确后, 进行扩增、纯化和滴度测定, 转染人气道平滑肌细胞, 利用RT-PCR、免疫组化方法, 流式细胞仪, ELISA检测转染后细胞中sTNFRI-IgGFc的转录和表达。实验结果证明成功构建了Ad-sTNFRI-IgGFc腺病毒载体, 感染性滴度达3×1010 TCID50/mL, 200 moi转染气道平滑肌细胞阳性率达99.32%, 转染后气道平滑肌细胞在mRNA和蛋白水平均有sTNFRI-IgGFc表达。转染上清稀释64倍后仍对TNF有拮抗活性。为将表达sTNFRI-IgGFc腺病毒基因治疗哮喘的实验研究提供了基础。     

嵌合蛋白sTNFR II-IgG Fc的克隆、表达与活性分析

肿瘤坏死因子是一种重要的炎性细胞因子,目前已知许多免疫疾病与之相关,为了抑制TNF的生物学活性,将可溶性TNFR Ⅱ(sTNFR Ⅱ）和人IgG Fc分子通过柔性短肽相连,构建成一个嵌合蛋白,在大肠杆菌中进行表达,并获得了纯化蛋白。实验证明该嵌合蛋白能够自发形成聚合体,识别并结合TNF蛋白,同单体sTNFR Ⅱ相比,对TNF的中和活性得到了较大的提高。     

sTNFRⅡ和VIP融合蛋白的基因克隆表达、纯化及活性检测

可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体Ⅱ（sTNFRⅡ）和血管活性肠肽（VIP）对类风湿性关节炎（RA）均有治疗作用,但两者的作用机制不同。制备两者融合表达蛋白,可能具有更好的防治类风湿关节炎的作用。用含有VIP全基因序列的上游引物和sTNFRⅡ的下游引物,用PCR扩增出由连接序列将VIP和sTNFRⅡ基因连接的片段,再亚克隆到原核表达载体pET32a,在大肠杆菌DH5α内诱导表达。表达的产物经离子交换、疏水层析纯化,并用体外中和试验检测其活性。结果显示：构建的pET32a-VIP-sTNFRⅡ表达载体在大肠杆菌DH5α内包涵体表达,离子交换层析纯化后的融合蛋白有较强的生物活性,为将来应用打下基础。     

肿瘤坏死因子第59位酪氨酸对其细胞毒活性的意义

肿瘤坏死因子(Tumor Necrosis Factor,TNF)的基因克隆表达成功后,已进行了广泛的实验室研究,并进入Ⅰ期及Ⅱ期临床试验。但关于肿瘤坏死因子结构与功能关系人们尚所知甚少,阻碍了对肿瘤坏死因子各种生物活性的机制研究,也影响了肿瘤坏死因子的临床应用。本研究为肿瘤坏死因子结构与功能关系研究的一部分。肿瘤坏死因子不仅有广泛的生物学活性,也可引起严重的毒副作用。本文用寡核苷酸诱导的体外基因定点突变法,选择位于肿瘤坏死因子分子中央保守区第59位酪氨酸,将其改变为门冬氨酸。所选用的琥珀突变选择性突变系统,造成肿瘤坏死因子基因突变,获得较高的突变效率(约80％)。DNA序列分析证实第59位酪氨酸密码子TAC突变为门冬氨酸密码子GAT。将突变体肿瘤坏死因子基因于同一原核表达载体进行表达,结果表明,突变后不影响表达量及表达产物分子量,但其细胞毒比活性下降724倍,表明Tyr59对于维持肿瘤坏死因子细胞毒活性非常重要。     

应用酵母双杂交系统筛选hTNFα特异性结合肽

肿瘤坏死因子（TNFα）是一种多功能细胞因子,目前已知许多病理性反应与之有关,如类风湿性关节炎、脓毒性休克、慢性心衰等。TNF的生物学功能是通过结合到细胞表面相应的受体（TNFR）来实现的,因此在炎症区引入可溶性TNF受体或TNF抗体,与膜上受体竞争性结合TNF,可以抑制TNF介导的生物学活性。在临床上,Enbrel、Infliximab和eralizumab等TNF拮抗剂,     

采用定位基因缺失突变技术在大肠杆菌中高效表达肿瘤坏死因子

肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF)为157个氨基酸组成的细胞因子,在克隆的全良cDNA的5’端有480bp的非编码区包括76个氨基酸信号肽编码区。本文采用寡核苷酸指导下的定位基因缺失突变方法,删除了这一非编码区及信号肽序列,并在成熟TNF分子第一个氨基酸密码前插入一个翻译起始密码(ATG),形成一个限制酶NcoI的识别位点ccATGG。然后取出含有成熟TNF全基因的Nc0I—Pst I片段,插入到原核表达载体pBv220中,获得了肿瘤坏死因子的高效表达菌株。活性检测结果表明,肿瘤坏死因子的表达量可达3．42×10。Μ／L菌液。sDs－PAGE电泳凝胶扫描结果显示,肿瘤坏死因子在大肠杆菌的表达量可占细菌可溶性总蛋白量的22．8％。抗呻瘤坏死因子单克隆抗体可以中和大肠杆菌表达的肿瘤坏死因子对L929细胞的细胞毒性。sD和ATG间插入31个核苷酸可使TNF表达量降低约10倍。     

一种新型人TNF表达质粒的构建及在大肠杆菌中的高表达

在详细分析TNF结构及前人有关TNF结构与功能关系研究的基础上,应用PCR技术构建了一种新型人肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)分子的编码基因,并将该编码基因插入表达质粒,转化大肠杆菌,通过温度诱导获得了高表达.活性测定的结果表明,新型人TNF对L929细胞的细胞毒活性较原型人TNF升高了10³数量级.     

重组腺相关病毒2型/人肿瘤坏死因子受体:Fc(rAAV2/hTNFR:Fc)的构建和生物学活性研究

为研究腺相关病毒2型载体应用于类风湿性关节炎进行基因治疗的可行性,首先构建携带人肿瘤坏死因子Ⅱ型受体胞外区和人免疫球蛋白IgG1Fc段融合基因的重组2型腺相关病毒(rAAV2／hTNFR：Fc),并对其生物学活性进行研究。以RT—PCR分别从U937和人淋巴细胞总RNA中扩增人肿瘤坏死因子Ⅱ型受体胞外区和人免疫球蛋白IgG1Fc段基因,并以重叠延伸PCR的方法将二者融合后克隆入pSNAV1载体质粒进行重组病毒生产,在进行重组病毒理化分析后,以TNFa细胞毒中和试验来研究该重组病毒的生物学活性。结果显示：所构建的重组病毒rAAV2／hTNFR：Fc基因结构与预期一致;病毒在体外感染BHK-21细胞后,含TNFR：Fc融合蛋白的表达上清可以有效中和人、大鼠、小鼠TNFα对L929的细胞毒性。所研究构建的重组腺相关病毒可以用来作为阻断TNFα的手段,进行类风湿性关节炎的基因治疗研究。     

Construction and delivery of gene therapy vector containing soluble TNFalpha receptor-IgGFc fusion gene for the treatment of allergic rhinitis

Tumor necrosis factor alpha plays primary role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. TNFalpha is essential for antigen-specific IgE production and for the induction of Th2-type cytokines. The lack of TNFalpha inhibited the development of allergic rhinitis. In this study, the chimeric gene of soluble TNF receptor and IgGFc fragment (sTNFR-IgGFc) was cloned into the EBV-based plasmid pGEG. When the plasmid pGEG.sTNFR-IgGFc was transferred to endothelium cell, a considerable expression of the sTNFR-IgGFc fusion protein was detected. Moreover, the expression product in the supernatant could antagonize the cytolytic activity of TNFalpha on L929 cells. Then the plasmid was delivered into nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitis mice to determine its effect on this animal model. Results showed that symptoms in treated group were improved. Pathological examination showed the numbers of eosinophil, mast cell and IL-5(+) cells in treated groups were reduced compared with placebo group. These data showed that pGEG.sTNFR-IgGFc expression plasmid is potential for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, and suggest that the antagonist of TNFalpha may provide a new approach for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.     

Anti-tumor effect of intravenous TNFalpha gene delivery naked plasmid DNA using a hydrodynamics-based procedure

High levels of foreign gene expression in mouse hepatocytes can be achieved by the rapid injection of a large volume of naked plasmid (pDNA) into animals via the tail vein, the so-called hydrodynamics-based procedure. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of hydrodynamics-based tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) transfer for tumor treatment, in which the naked pDNA encoding TNFalpha was administered into the tail vein following an intravenous injection of B16 melanoma cells. The mice treated with TNFalpha-expressing pDNA displayed a profound reduction in lung metastasis. These results suggest that the hydrodynamics-based transfer of naked pDNA is a convenient and efficient method of TNFalpha gene therapy against metastatic tumors.     

Kidney-targeted naked DNA transfer by retrograde injection into the renal vein in mice

We recently developed a novel kidney-targeted gene transfer technique in rats, using the retrograde renal vein injection of naked plasmid DNA. Many animal disease models are created in mice by transgenic or knockout technologies. However, it is much harder to perform renal vein injection in mice than in rats because they have a thin and short vein. Here we transferred the mouse interleukin (IL)-10 gene into mice by retrograde renal vein injection, using an IL-10 and immunoglobulin fusion protein (IL-10/Fc) (96-kDa) expression plasmid, pCAGGS-IL10/Fc. We observed a dose-response relationship between serum IL-10 levels and the amount of injected DNA. The serum IL-10 levels peaked at day 1 and then were sustained for at least 2 weeks. These results demonstrate that the kidney-targeted naked plasmid DNA transfer of mice by retrograde renal vein injection can be achieved, and the kidney serves as a depot organ for the production of large proteins.     

ANTI-TUMOR EFFECT OF INTRAVENOUS TNFα GENE DELIVERY NAKED PLASMID DNA USING A HYDRODYNAMICS-BASED PROCEDURE

High levels of foreign gene expression in mouse hepatocytes can be achieved by the rapid injection of a large volume of naked plasmid (pDNA) into animals via the tail vein, the so-called hydrodynamics-based procedure. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of hydrodynamics-based tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) transfer for tumor treatment, in which the naked pDNA encoding TNFα was administered into the tail vein following an intravenous injection of B16 melanoma cells. The mice treated with TNFα-expressing pDNA displayed a profound reduction in lung metastasis. These results suggest that the hydrodynamics-based transfer of naked pDNA is a convenient and efficient method of TNFα gene therapy against metastatic tumors.     

PhiC31 integrase mediates integration in cultured synovial cells and enhances gene expression in rabbit joints

BACKGROUND: Gene transfer to synovium in joints has been shown to be an effective approach for treating pathologies associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and related joint disorders. However, the efficiency and duration of gene delivery has been limiting for successful gene therapy for arthritis. The transient gene expression that often accompanies non-viral gene delivery can be prolonged by integration of vector DNA into the host genome. We report a novel approach for non-viral gene therapy to joints that utilizes phage phiC31 integrase to bring about unidirectional genomic integration. METHODS: Rabbit and human synovial cells were co-transfected with a plasmid expressing phiC31 integrase and a plasmid containing the transgene and an attB site. Cells were cultured with or without G418 selection and the number of neo-resistant colonies or eGFP cells determined, respectively. Plasmid rescue, PCR query, and DNA sequence analysis were performed to reveal integration sites in the rabbit and human genomes. For in vivo studies, attB-reporter gene plasmids and a plasmid expressing phiC31 integrase were intra-articularly injected into rabbit knees. Joint sections were used for histological analysis of beta-gal expression, and synovial cells were isolated to measure luciferase expression. RESULTS: We demonstrated that co-transfection of a plasmid expressing phiC31 integrase with a plasmid containing the transgene and attB increased the frequency of transgene expression in rabbit synovial fibroblasts and primary human RA synoviocytes. Plasmid rescue and DNA sequence analysis of plasmid-chromosome junctions revealed integration at endogenous pseudo attP sequences in the rabbit genome, and PCR query detected integration at previously characterized integration sites in the human genome. Significantly higher levels of transgene expression were detected in vivo in rabbit knees after intra-articular injection of attB-reporter gene plasmids and a plasmid expressing phiC31 integrase. CONCLUSION: The ability of phiC31 integrase to facilitate genomic integration in synovial cells and increase transgene expression in the rabbit synovium suggests that, in combination with more efficient DNA delivery methods, this integrase system could be beneficial for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other joint disorders.     

Protamine Sulfate Provides Enhanced and Reproducible Intravenous Gene Transfer by Cationic Liposome/DNA Complex

Abstract

A novel lipid/polycation/DNA (LPD) formulation has been developed for in vivo gene transfer. It involves the condensation of plasmid DNA with protamine sulfate, a cationic polypeptide, followed by the addition of DOTAP cationic liposomes. Compared with DOTAP/DNA complex, LPD offers greater protection of plasmid DNA against enzymatic digestion and gives consistently higher gene expression in mice via tail vein injection. The in vivo efficiency of LPD was dependent upon charge ratio and was also affected by the lipid used. Increasing the amount of DNA delivered induced an increase in gene expression. The optimal dose was approximately 50 μg per mouse, at which concentration approximately 10 ng luciferase protein per mg extracted tissue protein could be detected in the lung. Gene expression in the lung was detected as early as 1 h after injection, peaked at 6 h, and declined thereafter. Using LacZ as a reporter gene, it was shown that endothelial cells were the primary locus of transgene expression in both lung and spleen. No sign of inflammation in these organs was noticed. Since protamine sulfate has been proven to be non-toxic and only weakly immunogenic in humans, this novel vector may be useful for the clinical use of gene therapy.     

Rat liver-targeted naked plasmid DNA transfer by tail vein injection

High levels of foreign gene expression in mouse hepatocytes can be achieved by "hydrodynamics-based transfection," the rapid injection of a large volume of a naked deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) solution into the tail vein. Rats are more tolerant of the frequent phlebotomies required for monitoring blood parameters than mice and, thus, are more suitable for some biomedical research. Recently, we demonstrated that hydrodynamics-based transfection can also be used to deliver naked plasmid DNA into the normal rat, which is more than 10 times larger than the mouse. We performed the tail vein injection using a syringe with a winged needle equipped with an external tube. Injection of a lac Z expression plasmid, pCAGGS-lac Z by this technique resulted in the exclusive detection of beta-galactosidase in the liver. We also injected a rat erythropoietin (Epo) expression plasmid, pCAGGS-Epo (800 microg). Maximal Epo gene expression was achieved when a 25-mL injection volume (approx 100 mL/kg body wt) was transferred within 15 s.     

静脉注射41BBLGFP融合表达质粒体内表达及其生物学活性

通过RTPCR方法扩增小鼠41BBLcDNA,以pEGFPN1为载体,构建融合蛋白41BBLGFP重组表达质粒p41BBLGFP.采用基于流体力学原理建立的裸DNA体内转染技术,从小鼠尾静脉快速(15s)注射质粒p41BBLGFP进行体内转染.荧光显微镜观察组织切片,见小鼠肝、脾、肾及肺中均有报告基因GFP表达,尤以肝细胞中荧光最强.进一步用Western印迹和免疫组织化学染色法确定肝细胞表面表达41BBL,用Hsp70H22细胞抗原肽皮下免疫小鼠,同时尾静脉注射质粒p41BBLGFP,检测血清中IL2和IFNγ的分泌.结果显示,质粒注射联合免疫组小鼠血清IL2和IFNγ的浓度分别较生理盐水对照组增加了3倍和4倍;脾细胞对H22细胞的杀伤率则由单独免疫组的45.74%±3.27%增至86.74%±9.36%.结果表明,体内(主要在肝脏)转染质粒p41BBLGFP可以成功表达,表达产物具有41BBL的生物学活性,为进一步研究体内转染41BBL用于基因治疗奠定了基础.     

Delivery and long-term expression of a 135 kb LDLR genomic DNA locus in vivo by hydrodynamic tail vein injection

BACKGROUND: The delivery of a complete genomic DNA locus in vivo may prove advantageous for complementation gene therapy, especially when physiological regulation of gene expression is desirable. Hydrodynamic tail vein injection has been shown to be a highly efficient means of non-viral delivery of plasmid DNA to the liver. Here, we apply hydrodynamic tail vein injection to deliver and express large genomic DNA inserts > 100 kb in vivo. METHODS: Firstly, a size series (12-172 kb) of bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) plasmids, carrying human genomic DNA inserts, episomal retention elements, and the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter gene, was delivered to mice by hydrodynamic tail vein injection. Secondly, an episomal BAC vector carrying the whole genomic DNA locus of the human low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene, and an expression cassette for the LacZ reporter gene, was delivered by the same method. RESULTS: We show that the efficiency of delivery is independent of vector size, when an equal number of plasmid molecules are used. We also show, by LacZ reporter gene analysis, that BAC delivery within the liver is widespread. Finally, BAC-end PCR, RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry demonstrate plasmid retention and long-term expression (4 months) of human LDLR in transfected hepatocytes. CONCLUSION: This is the first demonstration of somatic delivery and long-term expression of a genomic DNA transgene > 100 kb in vivo and shows that hydrodynamic tail vein injection can be used to deliver and express large genomic DNA transgenes in the liver.