Combined transfer of human VEGF165 and HGF genes renders potent angiogenic effect in ischemic skeletal muscle

Increased interest in development of combined gene therapy emerges from results of recent clinical trials that indicate good safety yet unexpected low efficacy of "single-gene" administration. Multiple studies showed that vascular endothelial growth factor 165 aminoacid form (VEGF165) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) can be used for induction of angiogenesis in ischemic myocardium and skeletal muscle. Gene transfer system composed of a novel cytomegalovirus-based (CMV) plasmid vector and codon-optimized human VEGF165 and HGF genes combined with intramuscular low-voltage electroporation was developed and tested in vitro and in vivo. Studies in HEK293T cell culture, murine skeletal muscle explants and ELISA of tissue homogenates showed efficacy of constructed plasmids. Functional activity of angiogenic proteins secreted by HEK293T after transfection by induction of tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) culture. HUVEC cells were used for in vitro experiments to assay the putative signaling pathways to be responsible for combined administration effect one of which could be the ERK1/2 pathway. In vivo tests of VEGF165 and HGF genes co-transfer were conceived in mouse model of hind limb ischemia. Intramuscular administration of plasmid encoding either VEGF165 or HGF gene resulted in increased perfusion compared to empty vector administration. Mice injected with a mixture of two plasmids (VEGF165+HGF) showed significant increase in perfusion compared to single plasmid injection. These findings were supported by increased CD31+ capillary and SMA+ vessel density in animals that received combined VEGF165 and HGF gene therapy compared to single gene therapy. Results of the study suggest that co-transfer of VEGF and HGF genes renders a robust angiogenic effect in ischemic skeletal muscle and may present interest as a potential therapeutic combination for treatment of ischemic disorders.     

IRES/polyA-promoter介导的Ang-1与VEGF165双基因表达效率的对比分析

目的:构建IRES及polyA-promoter介导人血管生成素-1(Angiogenin-1,Ang-1)和人血管内皮生长因子165(vascular endothelial growth factor165,VEGF165)双基因共表达的腺病毒载体,比较IRES与polyA-promoter不同表达模式及其对位于二者前后基因的表达效率和诱导兔角膜新生血管的形成功能,为今后构建双基因或多基因高效共表达载体提供实验依据。方法:以pAdTrack-CMV-Ang-1-IRES-VEGF165质粒为模板,PCR扩增人VEGF165及Ang-1基因片段,分别将其亚克隆至改建的 pAdTrack-CMV-PolyA-promoter及pAdTrack-CMV-IRES转移质粒中,构建pTrack-CMV-Ang-1-polyA-promoter-VEGF165、pTrack-CMV- VEGF165-polyA-promoter-Ang-1、pTrack-CMV-VEGF165-IRES-Ang-1基因重组转移质粒,再与腺病毒骨架质粒pAdeasy-1在BJ5183细菌中同源重组,然后经PacI线性化后转染QBI-293A人胚肾成纤维细胞(简称293A细胞),收获腺病毒重组病毒子Ad-Ang-1-polyA-promoter-VEGF165及Ad-VEGF165-polyA-promoter-Ang-1,Ad-VEGF165-IRES-Ang-1,RT-PCR检测Ang-1和VEGF165在QBI-293A细胞中的转录,ELISA法分别检测不同腺病毒载体目的基因的表达量,比较分析Ang-1与VEGF165基因在IRES和polyA-promoter介导的不同腺病毒表达载体中的表达能力,及在同一腺病毒表达载体中前后不同位置的表达效率。并进一步于兔角膜缘注射Ad-Ang-1-polyA-promoter-VEGF165,Ad-VEGF165-polyA-promoter-Ang-1,Ad-VEGF165-IRES-Ang-1,Ad-Ang-1-IRES-VEGF165,检测角膜新生血管的面积,并比较其诱导血管形成能力的差异。结果:测序显示Ang-1和VEGF165序列正确,不同重组腺病毒载体均获得成功包装,病毒效价可达2~5×10¹⁰pfu/ml,RT-PCR检测Ang-1和VEGF165均能有效转录,ELISA法检测结果表明Ang-1、VEGF165基因不仅均能在细胞中有效表达,而且IRES介导的Ang-1及VEGF165基因,无论在IRES上游或下游,其表达量均低于polyA-promoter相同位置的Ang-1及VEGF165基因表达量,大约降低60%~70%左右,同时Ang-1/VEGF165在同一载体上、下游不同位置,其下游基因的表达量均明显低于上游基因表达量,大约降低30%~40%左右。角膜血管形成动物实验的结果表明Ad-VEGF165-PolyA-promoter-Ang-1及Ad-VEGF165-IRES-Ang-1诱导角膜新生血管形成面积和血管密度的能力相对较强,且前者比后者效果更为显著。结论:在腺病毒表达载体中,由IRES/polyA-promoter介导的Ang-1与VEGF165双基因均能在细胞中成功表达,并具血管诱导性,但polyA-promoter比IRES介导的双基因表达效率高,诱导血管形成能力强;同时两者下游基因的表达量及血管诱导性能均明显低于上游基因。     

人TNF-α双顺反子逆转录病毒载体的构建及其在成纤维细胞中的表达

利用脑炎心肌炎病毒的内核糖体进入位点连接人ＴＮＦ－αｃＤＮＡ和选择基因ＮｅｏＲ基因,使ＴＮＦ－α及ＮｅｏＲ基因均受控于病毒ＬＴＲ启动子,将两基因同时转录至同一ｍＲＮＡ,从而构建成人ＴＮＦ－α双顺反子逆转录病毒载体ｐＧＣＥＮ／ＴＮＦ－α．在ＬｉｐｏｆｅｃｔＡＭＩＮＥ介导下将其导入包装细胞ＰＡ３１７,Ｇ４１８筛选得单克隆,病毒滴度为１０６ＣＦＵ／ｍｌ重组病毒分泌的细胞株．经ＰＣＲ证明外源基因已整合至细胞基因组,Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ印迹显示出单一ＬＲＴ转录本．持续Ｇ４１８筛选能明显促进目的基因ＴＮＦ－α的表达．用重组病毒上清感染小鼠成纤维细胞ＮＩＨ３Ｔ３,Ｇ４１８筛选获得的混合抗性克隆持续高表达ＴＮＦ－α,４０Ｇｙγ线照射后能维持高效表达至７ｄ．实验结果表明,含ＩＲＥＳ的双顺反子逆转录病毒载体将是一个很好的基因转移载体．     

The use of IRES-based bicistronic vectors allows the stable expression of recombinant G-protein coupled receptors such as NPY5 and histamine 4

Stable expression of G protein coupled receptors in cell lines is a crucial tool for the characterization of the molecular pharmacology of receptors and the screening for new antagonists. However, in some instances, many difficulties have been encountered to obtain stable cell lines expressing functional receptors. Here, we addressed the question of vector optimization to establish cell lines expressing the human neuropeptide Y receptor 5 (NPY5-R) or histamine receptor 4 (HH4R). We have compared bicistronic vectors containing viral or cellular internal ribosome entry sites (IRES), co-expressing the receptor and the neomycine resistance gene from a single mRNA, to a bigenic vector containing two distinct promoters upstream each different genes. This study is the first one to validate the use of three cellular IRESs for long-term transgene expression. Our results demonstrate for both NPY5-R and HH4R that the bicistronic vectors with EMCV, VEGF, FGF1A or FGF2 IRES provide clones expressing functional receptors with yields between 25% and 100%. In contrast, the bigenic vector provided no functional clones, related to a low expression of NPY5R mRNA. The cell lines expressing active receptor were stable after more than 50 passages. These data indicate that IRES-based bicistronic vectors are particularly appropriate to establish cell clones expressing active G-coupled protein receptors with a high yield. In the case of NPY5, it was a new way to produce such a stable cell line. Furthermore, the characteristics-presented herein-of this receptor pharmacological property are perfectly in line with those reported in the literature.     

Construction of a bicistronic vector for the co-expression of two genes in Caenorhabditis elegans using a newly identified IRES

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an important model animal for biological research. Currently, transgenic C. elegans strains are mainly generated by injecting DNA encoding a gene of interest, in combination with a reporter gene, into the gonad. With this approach, the interpretation of negative results, such as the failure to observe reporter expression, is frequently required. Single, selectable vectors are urgently required. Internal ribosome entry site (IRES) elements are known to bind the eukaryotic ribosomal translation initiation complex and independently promote translation initiation. Bioinformatic analysis predicted an IRES motif upstream of the start codon of the C. elegans Hsp-3 gene. While this sequence has a Y-shaped double-hairpin secondary structure characteristic of IRES elements, it was unclear if it could function as an IRES. In the present study, this predicted Hsp-3 IRES was incorporated into a bicistronic vector driven by the myo-3 promoter, which allowed co-expression of RFP and GFP genes in the muscle tissue of C. elegans and thereby demonstrated that this IRES element is functional. This vector provides a novel, powerful tool for C. elegans research.     

低氧提高肿瘤细胞反义VEGF165基因表达

为了探讨反义VEGF1 65基因对食管癌的抑制作用 ,并初步探讨利用肿瘤低氧微环境改善基因治疗的效果 ,采用PCR技术和DNA重组技术构建了含低氧反应元件的真核表达载体 ,并用此载体构建了含荧光素酶报告基因和反义VEGF1 65基因的重组载体。用脂质体将重组载体导入食管癌细胞 ,体外用化学发光光度计测定低氧对报告基因表达的调节和ELISA法间接测定低氧对反义VEGF基因表达的调节作用。体内利用裸鼠皮下移植实验研究低氧对反义VEGF1 65基因抑瘤作用的影响。体外实验表明 ,用带低氧反应元件的重组真核表达载体转染食管癌细胞 ,在低氧培养下可以使报告基因的表达提高 3 780 % ,并可以显著提高反义VEGF1 65基因的表达 ,体内用带低氧反应元件的载体将反义VEGF1 65基因导入食管癌细胞中 ,其抑瘤效果显著优于不含该元件的载体 ,抑瘤率分别为 71 .7%和 5 6 .1 %。反义VEGF1 65基因能显著抑制食管癌的生长 ;利用肿瘤低氧可以实现治疗基因的自主调节 ,改善基因治疗的效果     

基于FMDV IRES的双顺反子载体的构建及体外表达分析

利用RT-PCR扩增出口蹄疫病毒小核糖体进入位点（IRES）序列,并定向克隆进pcDNA3.1(+)载体,构建成双顺反子真核表达载体。为了验证该载体是否能够转录出双顺反子mRNA,在IRES起始密码（ATG）下游正确插入增强型的绿色荧光蛋白基因（egfp）,把重组质粒转染BHK-21细胞,培养20～48 h,在紫外显微镜下观察,能够看到典型的绿色荧光,表明载体能够体能够利用FMDV的IRES能够介导非帽依赖性表达外源基因。并通过流式细胞仪,与同样是CMV启动转录egfp的pGFPN1质粒在细胞中的表达的水平进行了比较。该载体的成功构建为体外表达双基因、双顺反子逆转录载体构建以及相关应用奠定基础,并有作为基因疫苗和标记定位基因治疗载体的潜力。     

脂质体介导含IL-2及IFN-γ cDNA腺相关病毒质粒的转基因及抗肿瘤作用

h IL- 2基因和 m IFN- γ基因经 IRES连接后克隆入腺相关病毒质粒表达载体 p AC中 ,构建得双基因质粒表达载体 p AC- FRI.体外经阳离子脂质体 Dosper介导转染小鼠肝癌细胞 MM45T.Li,Northern印迹及生物活性检测分别从 RNA水平和蛋白质水平证明了 2个基因的表达 .直接瘤内注射 Dosper- DNA复合物后 ,与对照组 ( Lac Z)相比 ,双基因组及 IL- 2或 IFN-γ单基因组均产生了较明显的抗瘤作用 ,并诱发了较高的特异 CTL活性 .     

乙型肝炎病毒核心抗原及Flt3配体双表达核酸疫苗的小鼠免疫应答研究

目的 构建乙型肝炎病毒核心抗原(HBcAg)和Flt3配体(FL)胞外段双表达核酸疫苗,并观察其免疫原性。方法 分别将HBcAg、FL基因克隆入pJW4303载体,获得双表达核酸疫苗,体外转染293T细胞检测目的基因的表达。分组免疫BABL／c小鼠,酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测小鼠血清抗-HBc IgG效价,酶联免疫斑点试验(ELISPOT)检测HBcAg特异性Th1／Th2型细胞因子的分泌水平。结果 所构建疫苗在体外均能表达HBcAg和FL,当基因位于内部核糖体切入位点(IRES)元件上游时表达水平明显较优。pJW4303／C／FL免疫组产生的抗-HBc IgG效价和Th1／Th2型细胞因子的分泌水平均显著优于pJW4303／C和pJW4303／FL／C组。结论 成功构建双表达核酸疫苗,基因位于上游时表达水平高于下游。FL基因的引入明显增强了HBcAg核酸疫苗的免疫原性。     

Effects of repeated in vivo inhalant nitrite exposure on gene expression in mouse liver and lungs.

Exposure to inhalant organic nitrites (drugs of abuse commonly known as "poppers") has been reported to enhance tumor growth in mice, but the mechanism is not fully defined. This study examined the effect of repeated in vivo nitrite exposures on gene expression in the mouse liver and lungs using a gene array panel of 94 cancer- and angiogenesis-related genes. Using 2-fold change as a threshold criterion, repeated nitrite exposure was found to alter the expression of 65 and 23 genes in the liver and lungs, respectively. Six genes were significantly upregulated (p相似文献   

Quantitative comparison of gene co-expression in a bicistronic vector harboring IRES or coding sequence of porcine teschovirus 2A peptide

In biotechnology, simultaneous expression of more than one target gene is often required. Multicistronic vectors encoding several proteins are being actively developed for this purpose. Most often, the commercially available vectors utilize various types of internal ribosomal entry site of the encephalomyocarditis virus (IRES EMCV). However, many researchers consider bicistronic vectors on the basis of sequences that encode self-cleaving 2A peptides more promising. In the work, we compare the efficiency of gene expression in cells transfected with bicistronic constructs bearing either IRES EMCV or the P2A nucleotide sequence corresponding to the porcine teschovirus-1 2A peptide. Efficiency of gene expression was determined in three mammalian cell lines by measurement of co-expression levels of genes coding for RFP and EGFP proteins linked by IRES or P2A sequence. A higher level of the transgene expression was detected in cells transfected with P2A sequence-based genetic constructs.     

HCVIRES介导萤火虫荧光素酶翻译的双顺反子载体的构建与在小鼠体内的表达

将HCVIRES插入双报告基因海肾荧光素酶 (Rluc)基因和萤火虫荧光素酶 (Fluc)基因之间 ,建立了“依赖帽子的扫描机制”翻译表达Rluc ,HCVIRES调控Fluc翻译的双顺反子表达载体pCI Rluc HCVIRES Fluc ,通过酶切反应及转染HepG2细胞鉴定双荧光素酶瞬间表达活性等试验 ,证实获得了表达双荧光素酶的双顺反子载体 .并应用水压转染法将双顺反子表达质粒导入小鼠体内 ,在小鼠肝脏检测到高水平表达的Rluc和Fluc .该研究成功构建一种HCVIRES介导萤火虫荧光素酶基因表达的双顺反子载体 ,并在HepG2细胞及小鼠体内进行了瞬时表达 ,为进一步建立稳定评价靶向HCVIRES药物作用的细胞及小动物模型研究奠定了基础     

应用绿色荧光蛋白研究外源基因在造血细胞的表达调控

以增强型绿色荧光蛋白为报道分子,研究双基因逆转录病毒载体介导小鼠骨髓细胞的基因转移中,SV(simianvirus)40启动子和内部核糖体进入位点(internalribosomeentrysite,IRES)对双基因共表达的影响。构建双基因中间序列分别为SV40启动子和IRES的载体pLESN和pLEIN。经包装获得较高滴度的病毒上清,以共培养的方式感染5-氟尿嘧啶预刺激的小鼠骨髓细胞。流式细胞仪检测表明转染效率约25%,PCR证明EGFP基因整合至骨髓细胞基因组。半固体培养转基因细胞7d,LEIN组获得具有G418抗性的集落中98%表达绿色荧光,而LESN组54%。结果表明:在双基因逆转录病毒载体介导的小鼠骨髓细胞的基因转导中,IRES与内部SV40启动子相比,更能保证双基因的共同表达。     

The endothelial-specific microRNA miR-126 governs vascular integrity and angiogenesis

Endothelial cells play essential roles in maintenance of vascular integrity, angiogenesis, and wound repair. We show that an endothelial cell-restricted microRNA (miR-126) mediates developmental angiogenesis in vivo. Targeted deletion of miR-126 in mice causes leaky vessels, hemorrhaging, and partial embryonic lethality, due to a loss of vascular integrity and defects in endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. The subset of mutant animals that survives displays defective cardiac neovascularization following myocardial infarction. The vascular abnormalities of miR-126 mutant mice resemble the consequences of diminished signaling by angiogenic growth factors, such as VEGF and FGF. Accordingly, miR-126 enhances the proangiogenic actions of VEGF and FGF and promotes blood vessel formation by repressing the expression of Spred-1, an intracellular inhibitor of angiogenic signaling. These findings have important therapeutic implications for a variety of disorders involving abnormal angiogenesis and vascular leakage.     

VEGF重组质粒pcDNA/V的构建及其在大鼠急性心肌缺血模型中的表达

构建人血管内皮细胞生长因子(VEGF165)真核表达载体,并研究其在细胞水平和大鼠急性心肌梗死动物模型中的表达。利用RT-PCR方法,从人扁桃体组织中扩增人VEGF165基因,构建真核表达载体pcDNA/V。应用脂质体介导的基因转移技术,将pcDNA/V转染至人胚肾细胞(293细胞)中,经G418筛选获得稳定表达的重组质粒细胞克隆。ELISA、Westernblot检测证实重组质粒pcDNA/V能在293细胞中高效表达外源VEGF基因,鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜血管生成实验证实表达产物具有促血管生成的活性。进一步的体内表达研究,建立大鼠急性心肌梗死模型,将重组质粒pcDNA/V、空质粒pcDNA3.1( )分三点注射于梗死交界处心肌内,四周后取材。经免疫组化染色检测,pcDNA/V组在梗死交界区有VEGF阳性表达;电镜观察显示,pcDNA/V组在梗死交界处心肌细胞间有大量毛细血管内皮细胞增生。实验结果表明成功克隆了人VEGF165基因,构建了其真核表达载体。体内、外表达研究证实重组质粒的表达产物具有促血管生成的生物学活性,为VEGF基因治疗缺血性心肌病的研究提供实验基础。     

New anti angiogenesis developments through electro-immunization: optimization by in vivo optical imaging of intradermal electro gene transfer

Direct application of high voltage electric pulses of milliseconds duration to the skin of a mouse enhances in vivo intradermal delivery of injected therapeutic molecules such as DNA. The efficacy of gene transfer and expression is dependent on electrical parameters. DNA electrotransfer in tissues increases the associated DNA expression vaccine potency. This protocol is called "electro-immunization". In the present study, we report a new strategy for optimizing electro-immunization. In vivo fluorescence imaging was used to detect the expression of a fluorescent protein (DsRed) and therefore allowed rapid optimization of the protocol. In vivo electrogenetransfer in the skin was well tolerated and DsRed expression was followed for over 2 weeks. Expression was voltage dependent under our conditions. Parameters were selected giving the highest level of expression. Under these optimized conditions, electrotransfer of a plasmid encoding VEGF was evaluated for its immune response as a gene therapy of interest involved in anti-angiogenic strategies. Anti VEGF 165 antibodies in sera of mice were evaluated by ELISA and compared to those obtained after conventional immunization. Comparable titres of antibodies were obtained in both groups. An IgG2a predominance was found in mice immunized with the plasmid whereas a IgG1 predominance was observed in mice immunized classically. Skin electro-immunization is therefore shown as a good route for DNA immunization for anti-angiogenesis concern.     

A new generation of pPRIG-based retroviral vectors

Background  

Retroviral vectors are valuable tools for gene transfer. Particularly convenient are IRES-containing retroviral vectors expressing both the protein of interest and a marker protein from a single bicistronic mRNA. This coupled expression increases the relevance of tracking and/or selection of transduced cells based on the detection of a marker protein. pAP2 is a retroviral vector containing eGFP downstream of a modified IRES element of EMCV origin, and a CMV enhancer-promoter instead of the U3 region of the 5'LTR, which increases its efficiency in transient transfection. However, pAP2 contains a limited multicloning site (MCS) and shows weak eGFP expression, which previously led us to engineer an improved version, termed pPRIG, harboring: i) the wild-type ECMV IRES sequence, thereby restoring its full activity; ii) an optimized MCS flanked by T7 and SP6 sequences; and iii) a HA tag encoding sequence 5' of the MCS (pPRIG HAa/b/c).     

Specific interference between two unrelated internal ribosome entry site elements impairs translation efficiency

Internal ribosome entry site (IRES) elements allow simultaneous synthesis of multiple proteins in eukaryotic cells. Here, two unrelated IRESs that perform efficiently in bicistronic constructs, the picornavirus foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and the cellular immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein (BiP) IRES, were used to generate a tricistronic vector. Functional analysis of the tricistronic RNA evidenced that the efficiency of protein synthesis under the control of BiP IRES was lower than that of the FMDV IRES, relative to the efficiency measured in bicistronic vectors. A specific competition between these elements was verified using two separate mono- or bicistronic constructs in vivo and in vitro. In contrast, no interference was detected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) IRES. The interference effect of FMDV IRES was observed in cis and trans, in support of competition for common transacting factors different than those used in cap- and HCV-dependent initiation.     

双基因真核表达载体pIRES-BMP2-TGFβ3 的构建与鉴定

目的:构建与鉴定骨形态发生蛋白BMP2和转化生长因子TGFβ3双基因真核表达载体pIRES-BMP2-TGFβ3。方法:首先,用PCR方法从质粒pGEMT/BMP2中扩增出BMP2基因全长,并将其连入双基因真核表达载体pIRES,得到质粒pIRES-BMP2,其次,从人胚胎组织提取总RNA,反转录成cDNA,以反转录的cDNA为模板,PCR扩增出TGFβ3基因全长,将TGFβ3基因连入质粒pIRES-BMP2;用酶切的方法筛选出阳性重组质粒,并进行测序鉴定。结果:酶切鉴定证明已将BMP2和TGFβ3两个基因连入载体中,测序结果完全正确。结论:成功构建PIRES-BMP2/TGFβ3双基因真核表达载体。