封面说明

正小鼠是最广泛使用的模式生物,构建基因改造的小鼠模型是研究基因功能和疾病发生机制的重要手段。近年来随着CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术的发现,加速了整个基因改造领域的发展,小鼠资源库的全球格局也在发生变化,呈现出小鼠模型标准化、精准化、供应规模化的特点。如何利用我国科学家自主研发的全新小鼠基因改造技术——"人造精子细胞"介导的半克隆技术,来摆脱我国小鼠实验动物"卡脖子"风险,     

小鼠SOX基因的扩增及序列分析

用特异扩增人SRY基因保守区的一对引物研究了小鼠雌性和雄性个体基因组中的SRY盒基因 ,结果表明 ,该引物可以在小鼠雌雄个体中扩增出一条 2 3 5bp的带。经序列分析 ,雌雄之间没有差异 ,且与已知的人SRY基因的HMG box区及小鼠和家兔雄性特异的SRY同源基因进行比较 ,同源性均在 60 %以上。本文结果支持SOX基因在进化上十分保守的结论。     

家兔精子膜蛋白rsp10基因的克隆和特征分析

 sp10基因在精卵识别过程中起着重要作用 .从家兔睾丸cDNA文库中克隆了家兔的sp10基因 (rsp10 ) ,cDNA序列全长 12 82bp ,包含 10 0 5bp开放阅读框 .由开放阅读框推测出的氨基酸序列与人、狒狒、狐和小鼠的SP10氨基酸序列之间存在较高水平的同源性 ,同源性分别为 70 %、69%、68%和 61% .在大肠杆菌中表达rsp10基因 ,获得重组rSP10 .用重组rSP10免疫雌性母兔 ,得到rSP10专一性多抗 .对精子膜蛋白进行免疫印迹分析发现 ,rsp10基因在家兔睾丸中的表达呈现多态性 .rsp10基因在GenBank的登录号为 :AF2 51558.     

Cramp基因敲除对小鼠骨髓造血干细胞的影响

目的研究Cramp基因敲除在衰老过程中对小鼠造血干细胞的作用。方法应用流式细胞仪分析3月龄及12月龄Cramp基因敲除小鼠及同窝野生型小鼠的骨髓造血干细胞的比例及不同发育阶段B淋巴细胞的比例。结果与野生型小鼠相比,12月龄Cramp基因敲除小鼠的骨髓长期造血干细胞增多,多潜能造血祖细胞减少;前体B淋巴细胞和未成熟B淋巴细胞减少,成熟B淋巴细胞增多。结论在衰老过程中,Cramp基因敲除对骨髓造血干细胞及B淋巴细胞发育有重要影响。     

转基因家兔模型制作方法

作为生物医学研究重要的实验动物模型,转基因家兔已经被广泛应用在人类心脑血管疾病、艾滋病以及癌症等生物医学研究领域,特别是利用转基因家兔模型在人类动脉粥样硬化实验研究中已经取得了令人注目的成绩。本文结合我们自己制作转基因家兔的经验、研究成果以及文献资料,详细介绍了利用原核显微注射法、直接将外源基因注入受精卵雄原核中的转基因家兔制作技术,回顾了利用转基因家兔模型在生物医学研究中取得的重要进展。     

金黄仓鼠在临床医学中的研究进展

动物模型是临床医学和新药研究的重要支撑条件。尽管小鼠模型应用广泛,但近年来的研究显示,小鼠并不能完全模拟人类疾病,亟需新的动物模型弥补小鼠在各类研究中的不足。相比于小鼠,金黄仓鼠(golden hamster, Syrian hamster),在生殖、肿瘤、病毒学、脂代谢及心血管疾病等研究领域均显示,其基因表达与人具有较高的相似性。随着基因编辑技术的进步,金黄仓鼠在临床研究中的应用得以进一步拓展。该综述重点探讨基因编辑金黄仓鼠在生殖医学、脂代谢及心血管疾病、传染病、肿瘤等研究领域的最新进展,阐明基因编辑金黄仓鼠模型在医学研究的应用,以助于更好地理解基因在人类健康和疾病中的作用。     

CRISPR-Cas介导的基因编辑工具

近年来,随着人们对CRISPR-Cas系统研究的不断深入和改造,CRISPR-Cas系统已成为一项新的基因靶向修饰技术,能够定向对靶基因进行定向沉默,目前该项技术已经成功地用于HEK293、小鼠及斑马鱼的细胞并产生了稳定的基因敲除细胞株,在小鼠、果蝇等模式动物上成功构建了基因敲除模型。CRISPR-Cas以其设计简单,耗时短、效率高等优点使其成为一项具有广阔应用前景的基因靶向敲除技术。就CRISPR-Cas的发现、结构、作用机理以及Cas9/gRNA目前的一些应用进行综述。     

HCV多表位抗原基因重组减毒口服活菌苗的研究

把丙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis C virus,HCV)复合多表位抗原基因PCX与β半乳糖苷酶基因(GZ)融合后,构建重组减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌口服活菌苗SL3261(pWR/PCX),免疫小鼠及家兔后,于第6周始可检测到低水平的抗GZPCX IgG(1∶200),至3月时最高滴度分别达1∶800及1∶25 600,均显著高于宿主菌SL3261组及空白对照组。在免疫小鼠的肠道灌洗液中可检测到抗GZPCX sIgA\.GZPCX抗原可促进免疫小鼠及家兔淋巴细胞增殖,诱发明显的迟发性超敏反应(DTH)。口服免疫后小鼠体重出现一过性下降,但未见其它明显的毒性作用,安全性较好。本研究从新的角度探讨了HCV复合多表位重组口服活菌苗的可行性,为HCV疫苗的研究提供新的实验依据。     

利用Red重组系统快速构建基因打靶载体

基因敲除小鼠模型是在哺乳动物体内研究基因功能最可靠的方法之一。利用常规的分子克隆的方法构建基因打靶载体往往工作周期长,对于难度特别大的基因有时甚至无法完成打靶载体的构建。通过合理应用Red重组系统和低拷贝中间载体,利用50bp的同源重组序列直接从BAC载体中克隆了长片段的小鼠基因组序列;将得到的基因组序列再次通过重组和改造,构建了Gpr56等基因的完全敲除并带有报告基因的打靶载体,实现了打靶载体的快速构建。     

人DDX36和小鼠Ddx36基因在成年睾丸组织中的表达研究

果蝇是结构基因组学和功能基因组学研究的最为理想的一种模式生物,采用同源克隆的策略,应用生物信息学分析和实验技术相结合的方法分别从人和小鼠中克隆了同源于果蝇MLE蛋白的新基因DDX36和Ddx36。为进一步研究DDX36和Ddx36基因与精子发生的关系,再应用Northrn blotting,RT-PCR和组织原位杂交技术探讨了DDX36和Ddx36基因的表达情况,结果发现人DDX36和小鼠Ddx36基因在成年睾丸组织中高表达。初步证明DDX36和Ddx36基因在精子发生中亦可能发挥重要作用。     

Rat embryonic stem cells create new era in development of genetically manipulated rat models

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are isolated from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst, and are used for the generation of gene-modified animals. In mice, the transplantation of gene-modified ES cells into recipient blastocysts leads to the creation of gene-targeted mice such as knock-in and knock-out mice; these gene-targeted mice contribute greatly to scientific development. Although the rat is considered a useful laboratory animal alongside the mouse, fewer gene-modified rats have been produced due to the lack of robust establishment methods for rat ES cells. A new method for establishing rat ES cells using signaling inhibitors was reported in 2008. By considering the characteristics of rat ES cells, recent research has made progress in improving conditions for the stable culture of rat ES cells in order to generate gene-modified rats efficiently. In this review, we summarize several advanced methods to maintain rat ES cells and generate gene-targeted rats.     

Efficacy of bioactive compounds from extra virgin olive oil to modulate atherosclerosis development

As olive oil is the main source of calories in the Mediterranean diet, a great deal of research has been devoted to characterizing its role in atherosclerosis. Virgin olive oil is an oily matrix that contains hydrocarbons, mainly squalene; triterpenes such as uvaol, erythrodiol, oleanolic, and maslinic acid; phytosterols; and a wide range of phenolic compounds comprising simple phenols, flavonoids, secoiridoids, and lignans. In this review, we analyze the studies dealing with atherosclerosis and olive oil in several species. A protective role of virgin olive oil against atherosclerosis has been shown in ApoE-deficient mice and hamsters. In the former animal, sex, dose, and dietary cholesterol are modulators of the outcome. Contradictory findings have been reported for rabbits, a circumstance that could be due to the profusion of experimental designs, differing in terms of doses and animal strains, as well as sources of olive oils. This role has yet to be fully validated in humans. Minor components of olive oil have been shown to be involved in atherosclerosis protection. Nevertheless, evidence of the potential of isolated compounds or the right combination of them to achieve the antiatherosclerotic effect of virgin olive oil is inconclusive and will undoubtedly require further experimental support.     

Analysis of the variable effect of dietary vitamin E supplements on experimental atherosclerosis

Vitamin E inhibits processes thought to be important in the development of atherosclerosis but clinical trials to determine its effect on cardiovascular disease have given variable results, the majority being negative. The reasons for this are unclear. Animal trials can be better controlled and use more rigorous measures of lesion progression than human trials. The present study reviewed trials using rabbits and mice to determine whether they also are variable and, if so, to uncover methodological differences that may account for the different outcomes. A large number of trials examining the effect of vitamin E supplements on experimental atherosclerosis were identified. Using rigorous selection criteria, a well-defined group was selected for further investigation. Almost all the mice trials showed a significant effect of vitamin E, but only around one-third of the rabbit trials did so. When the rabbit trials were divided into those that did and those that did not observe significant effects, no single factor was found that could account for the dichotomy. However, when the percentage reduction in disease was considered, rather than the within-trial significance level, there were clear dose-dependent effects of vitamin E on disease severity in heritable hyperlipidaemic rabbits, and in genetically normal rabbits made hyperlipidaemic with cholesterol alone; the dose dependence was different in the two groups, the heritable hyperlipidaemic rabbits showing a near ten-fold lower sensitivity. The high doses required to affect experimental atherosclerosis may, if applicable to other species, help explain the absence of effects in many human trials.     

The Transgenic Rabbit as Model for Human Diseases and as a Source of Biologically Active Recombinant Proteins

Until recently, transgenic rabbits were produced exclusively by pronuclear microinjection which results in additive random insertional transgenesis; however, progress in somatic cell cloning based on nuclear transfer will soon make it possible to produce rabbits with modifications to specific genes by the combination of homologous recombination and subsequent prescreening of nuclear donor cells. Transgenic rabbits have been found to be excellent animal models for inherited and acquired human diseases including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, perturbed lipoprotein metabolism and atherosclerosis. Transgenic rabbits have also proved to be suitable bioreactors for the production of recombinant protein both on an experimental and a commercial scale. This review summarizes recent research based on the transgenic rabbit model.     

Transgenic rabbits as models for atherosclerosis research

Several characteristics of the rabbit make it an excellent model for the study of lipoprotein metabolism and atherosclerosis. New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits have low plasma total cholesterol concentrations, high cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity, low hepatic lipase (HL) activity, and lack an analogue of human apolipoprotein (apo) A-II, providing a unique system in which to assess the effects of human transgenes on plasma lipoproteins and atherosclerosis susceptibility. Additionally, rabbit models of human lipoprotein disorders, such as the Watanabe Heritable Hyperlipidemic (WHHL) and St. Thomas' Hospital strains, models of familial hypercholesterolemia and familial combined hyperlipidemia, respectively, allow for the assessment of candidate genes for potential use in the treatment of dyslipoproteinemic patients. To date, transgenes for human apo(a), apoA-I, apoB, apoE2, apoE3, HL, and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), as well as for rabbit apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic poly-peptide 1 (APOBEC-1), have been expressed in NZW rabbits, whereas only those for human apoA-I and LCAT have been introduced into the WHHL background. All of these transgenes have been shown to have significant effects on plasma lipoprotein concentrations. In both NZW and WHHL rabbits, human apoA-I expression was associated with a significant reduction in the extent of aortic atherosclerosis, which was similarly the case for LCAT in rabbits having at least one functional LDL receptor allele. Conversely, expression of apoE2 in NZW rabbits caused increased susceptibility to atherosclerosis. These studies provide new insights into the mechanisms responsible for the development of atherosclerosis, emphasizing the strength of the rabbit model in cardiovascular disease research.     

Mechanisms of leukocyte recruitment to atherosclerotic lesions: future prospects

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Leukocyte invasion in the arterial wall is critical in the development of atherosclerotic lesions. This review describes recent advances in the understanding of leukocyte recruitment in atherogenesis and in the development of vulnerable plaque. It also discusses limitations in the current knowledge of this process and how these limitations may be addressed. RECENT FINDINGS: The adhesive function of platelets has recently been highlighted as an important recruitment mechanism in atherosclerosis. For example, targeted deficiency of P-selectin in platelets reduces atherosclerosis in mice. Platelets also increase monocyte recruitment in atherosclerosis by secreting chemokines such as platelet factor 4 (CXCL4) or RANTES (CCL5), which trigger monocyte arrest in atherosclerotic arteries. A causal role for RANTES in atherosclerosis was shown by a protective effect of the blockage of RANTES receptors in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. A similar effect was also demonstrated for the fractalkine receptor CX3CR1. Moreover, the classic chemoattractant LTB4 plays important roles in atherosclerosis, inasmuch as the absence of the principal LTB4 receptor (BLT1) reduces early atherosclerosis in mice. Novel data have also shown that many types of cells in lesions express 5-lipoxygenase, which indicates a rich source of leukotrienes in plaque. SUMMARY: Recent data provide evidence for the involvement of several adhesive and signalling mechanisms in leukocyte recruitment in atherosclerosis. However, the specific mechanisms that are responsible for the accumulation of proatherogenic leukocytes in lesions are unclear. Detailed study of certain subclasses of leukocytes in the recruitment process will be important in future studies in this field.     

慢性炎症、自身免疫和动脉粥样硬化

动脉粥样硬化是一种炎症性疾病。在粥样斑块中存在许多免疫细胞,而且在不稳定斑块中尤为丰富。近年来对动脉粥样硬化中免疫细胞的聚集,分化和激活有了更深入的了解。流行病研究发现了多种与其相关的病毒和细菌感染。通过研究初步研究了几个自身性抗原,并提出了自身免疫假说。根据这些新的认识,提出了免疫调节和预防接种等心血管疾病的预防和治疗策略。这必将极大地提高对动脉粥样硬化的研究和防治水平。     

Macrophage-derived MMP-9 enhances the progression of atherosclerotic lesions and vascular calcification in transgenic rabbits

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), or gelatinase B, has been hypothesized to be involved in the progression of atherosclerosis. In the arterial wall, accumulated macrophages secrete considerable amounts of MMP-9 but its pathophysiological functions in atherosclerosis have not been fully elucidated. To examine the hypothesis that macrophage-derived MMP-9 may affect atherosclerosis, we created MMP-9 transgenic (Tg) rabbits to overexpress the rabbit MMP-9 gene under the control of the scavenger receptor A enhancer/promoter and examined their susceptibility to cholesterol diet-induced atherosclerosis. Tg rabbits along with non-Tg rabbits were fed a cholesterol diet for 16 and 28 weeks, and their aortic and coronary atherosclerosis was compared. Gross aortic lesion areas were significantly increased in female Tg rabbits at 28 weeks; however, pathological examination revealed that all the lesions of Tg rabbits fed a cholesterol diet for either 16 or 28 weeks were characterized by increased monocyte/macrophage accumulation and prominent lipid core formation compared with those of non-Tg rabbits. Macrophages isolated from Tg rabbits exhibited higher infiltrative activity towards a chemoattractant, MCP-1 in vitro and augmented capability of hydrolysing extracellular matrix in granulomatous tissue. Surprisingly, the lesions of Tg rabbits showed more advanced lesions with remarkable calcification in both aortas and coronary arteries. In conclusion, macrophage-derived MMP-9 facilitates the infiltration of monocyte/macrophages into the lesions thereby enhancing the progression of atherosclerosis. Increased accumulation of lesional macrophages may promote vascular calcification.