人干扰素α1b突变体IFNα1b/31K的构建及其生物学评价

目的:构建干扰素α1b突变体IFNα1b/31K,以期获得高效低毒的新型药物分子。方法:根据合理药物设计,采用定点突变技术,将干扰素α1b第31位氨基酸残基突变为K,并构建表达IFNα1b/31K重组蛋白。纯化后,对其抗病毒活性、抗肿瘤细胞增殖活性和动物体内急性毒性进行考察。结果:IFNα1b/31K表达量占菌体总蛋白的30%以上。纯化后的IFNα1b/31K纯度大于95%,比活性约为IFNα1b的1.7倍,抗肿瘤增殖活性比IFNα1b降低,未见对实验动物的急性毒性作用。结论:成功设计构建并表达了高效低毒的IFNα1b突变蛋白分子。     

干扰素-λ的生物学作用

Ⅲ型干扰素（Interferon,IFN）,即IFN-λ,是一种新型干扰素,其家族包括IFN-λ1,IFN-λ2和IFN-λ3（也可分别称作IL-29,IL-28α和IL-28β）.IFN-λ的功能性受体复合物是由IL-28Rα（又称IFN-λR1或CRF2-12）和IL-10Rβ（又称CRF2-4）链组成的异二聚体,IFN-λ结合到受体上诱导受体异二聚体化,导致Jak-STAT信号转导途径的激活,从而发挥与Ⅰ型IFN相似的生物学效应.IFN-λ的生物学效应包括抗病毒、抗肿瘤和调节免疫活性等方面.IFN-λ很多生物学活性与临床上应用广泛的 IFN-α/β十分相似,但其受体表达局限,毒副作用相对较小,因此在抗病毒和抗肿瘤方面具有广阔的应用前景.     

干扰素调节因子新剪接异构体IRF7-e的结构及功能

干扰素调节因子7是诱导玉型干扰素表达的最主要的转录因子。寻找IRF7新的剪接异构体,研究其结构及功能,为探索IRF7参与调控玉型干扰素机制的多样性提供基础。通过PCR和Sanger测序获得了IRF7一种新的剪接形式IRF7-e,并通过RACE获取了IRF7-e 基因全长。IRF7-e全长为1994 bp,含5'-UTR 410 bp,3'-UTR 120 bp,开放阅读框1464 bp,编码487个氨基酸的蛋白,预测其等电点为6.659,蛋白分子量为52.8 kD。双荧光素酶报告分析表明过表达IRF7-e能够提高玉型干扰素IFNα和IFNβ启动子的活性,其中对IFNα启动子活性提高了12.18倍,对IFNβ的启动子活性提高了2.99倍。表明IRF7-e可能参与玉型干扰素的调控。     

β-干扰素及其重组产品的基础和临床应用

β干扰素(IFNβ)是一种具有广泛抗病毒、抗肿瘤及免疫调节功能的细胞因子,随着基因工程技术的应用,已获得两种重组β干扰素并用于临床。如何对重组β干扰素进一步优化,提高其临床应用价值仍是研究的重点。本文不仅对β干扰素的结构、基因、受体、信号传导途径及生物学效应等方面,而且对目前市场上重组β干扰素的种类、来源、优缺点、临床应用及其优化方面的研究进展作一综述。     

人β干扰素-血清白蛋白融合蛋白在毕赤酵母中的分泌表达

利用重叠PCR技术在体外拼接IFN β和HSA基因,将得到的融合基因插入到毕赤酵母分泌型表达载体pPIC9K中,置于启动子AOX1和α交配因子信号肽的作用下,分泌表达融合蛋白IFNβ-HSA。重组质粒pPIC9K-IFNβ-HSA经SalI线性化,电击转化毕赤酵母KM71,经G418筛选得到高拷贝转化子。PCR鉴定后,用甲醇诱导表达,SDS-PAGE和Western blot分析表达的融合蛋白IFNβ-HSA表明该蛋白分子量约为90kDa且具有HSA的抗原性;用细胞病变抑制法测定发酵液上清中融合蛋白的干扰素活性约为640IU/ml。     

树鼩干扰素家族的基本构成及分子特征分析

干扰素(IFN)是在"危险信号"刺激下,由细胞分泌的具有抗病毒、抗肿瘤、抑制细胞增殖和免疫调节等多重作用的糖蛋白家族,在机体免疫系统中具有重要地位。树鼩作为多种人类疾病研究模型的前景已受到广泛关注,但对其IFN家族的研究尚属空白。该研究在现有的树鼩全基因组数据基础上,应用大片段核酸序列比对、基因预测等方法,对树鼩IFN家族的基本构成和分子特征进行预测和分析。结果显示,树鼩具有I型IFN:α(5个亚型)、β、ω、κ、ε、δ;II型IFN-γ;III型IFN:IFN-λ1、λ2/3,所编码的氨基酸序列及蛋白空间结构与其它哺乳动物具有较高的相似性,但在半胱氨酸位置和N糖基化个数上具有部分差异。该研究以全基因组数据对树鼩IFN家族信息进行系统挖掘和分析,为树鼩IFN的基因克隆以及其在感染免疫学中的作用和机理研究奠定了基础。     

聚乙二醇化干扰素的抗病毒和抗肿瘤活性的研究

观察聚乙二醇化干扰素 (PEG IFNα2b)抗病毒和抗肿瘤的生物学活性 ,并与干扰素 (IFNα2b)进行比较。结果表明 :PEG IFNα2b抗病毒活性约下降 15倍 ,但抗人肿瘤细胞增殖的活性明显增强。     

干扰素系统与病毒的相互作用

干扰素是最早发现的细胞因子之一,不同类型的IFN生物活性基本相同,具有抗病毒、抗肿瘤和免疫调节等作用。病毒侵染细胞,诱导细胞产生IFN,IFN通过不同的作用机制启动宿主防御系统,激活酶和作用因子来拮抗病毒的侵染、复制和转录过程。正因为干扰素在抗病毒防御过程中的关键作用,因此病毒已经衍生出了有效的方式能够成功的侵染宿主。病毒通过表达一些拮抗蛋白来干扰IFN的诱导产生、IFN的信号转导或效应蛋白的作用,从而终止干扰素的产生并破坏干扰素诱导的其它因子的作用来逃避干扰素的作用。     

不同型别的基因工程干扰素抗病毒活性的比较

对大肠杆菌生产的不同型别的基因工程干扰素rIFN-α1(α1)、rIFN-αA(αA)、rIFN-β17ser(β17ser)和rIFN-γ(γ),以及自然人白细胞干扰素nIFN-αco,在不同细胞上对不同病毒的抗病毒活性做了比较研究。证明:①α1抗病毒作用的细胞谱较广,尤其在牛肾MDBK细胞和猪肾PK细胞上有很高的活性,分别为在人细胞上的29倍和7倍。β17ser和γ在异种细胞上活性极低,在鼠、猪和牛肾细胞上的活性为人细胞上的1～2％以下。②5种干扰素对麻疹、CoxB1、Sindbis、腺病毒7型和Ⅰ、Ⅱ型单纯疱疹病毒的抗病毒活性无明显差异。但不同病毒对干扰素的敏感性有明显差别,以Sindbis病毒为最敏感,7型腺病毒最不敏感。③5种干扰素对流行性出血热病毒均有明显的抗病毒作用,尤以人α1型和β干扰素作用最强,α1对出血热病毒的抗病毒活性是对滤泡性口膜炎病毒(VSV)的1/2.85,人β干扰素是对VSV的1/4.1。上述结果为人基因工程干扰素的临床应用提供了实验依据。     

检测人I型干扰素生物学活性的新方法

为建立一种更简便、安全、有效的检测I型干扰素（IFN）的方法,将可被I型IFN诱导的人6－16基因启动子与表达产物容易被检测的β－半乳糖苷酶基因相连,构建成重组质粒,然后转染人羊膜传代细胞系,筛选阳性克隆,最终建立了一种适用于检测I型IFN的简便、快速、敏感、特异和重复性好的新型方法,其敏感性同标准的细胞病变抑制法相同。     

Tyrosine phosphorylation of protein kinase D2 mediates ligand-inducible elimination of the Type 1 interferon receptor

Type 1 interferons (including IFNα/β) activate their cell surface receptor to induce the intracellular signal transduction pathways that play an important role in host defenses against infectious agents and tumors. The extent of cellular responses to IFNα is limited by several important mechanisms including the ligand-stimulated and specific serine phosphorylation-dependent degradation of the IFNAR1 chain of Type 1 IFN receptor. Previous studies revealed that acceleration of IFNAR1 degradation upon IFN stimulation requires activities of tyrosine kinase TYK2 and serine/threonine protein kinase D2 (PKD2), whose recruitment to IFNAR1 is also induced by the ligand. Here we report that activation of PKD2 by IFNα (but not its recruitment to the receptor) depends on TYK2 catalytic activity. PKD2 undergoes IFNα-inducible tyrosine phosphorylation on specific phospho-acceptor site (Tyr-438) within the plekstrin homology domain. Activated TYK2 is capable of facilitating this phosphorylation in vitro. Tyrosine phosphorylation of PKD2 is required for IFNα-stimulated activation of this kinase as well as for efficient serine phosphorylation and degradation of IFNAR1 and ensuing restriction of the extent of cellular responses to IFNα.     

Herpesviruses and the Type Ⅲ Interferon System

Type Ⅲ interferons (IFNs) represent the most recently discovered group of IFNs.Together with type Ⅰ IFNs (e.g.IFN-α/β),type Ⅲ IFNs (IFN-λ) are produced as part of the innate immune response to virus infection,and elicit an anti-viral state by inducing expression of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs).It was initially thought that type Ⅰ IFNs and type Ⅲ IFNs perform largely redundant functions.However,it has become evident that type Ⅲ IFNs particularly play a major role in antiviral protection of mucosal epithelial barriers,thereby serving an important role in the first-line defense against virus infection and invasion at contact areas with the outside world,versus the generally more broad,potent and systemic antiviral effects of type Ⅰ IFNs.Herpesviruseses are large DNA viruses,which enter their host via mucosal surfaces and establish lifelong,latent infections.Despite the importance of mucosal epithelial cells in the pathogenesis of herpesviruses,our current knowledge on the interaction of herpesviruses with type Ⅲ IFN is limited and largely restricted to studies on the alphaherpesvirus herpes simplex virus (HSV).This review summarizes the current understanding about the role of IFN-λ in the immune response against herpesvirus infections.     

Space and time: New considerations about the relationship between Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and type I interferons (IFNs)

The Toll like receptors (TLRs) and the type I interferons have critical roles to play in innate immunity. In this review we will discuss new developments relating to the important area of TLR/IFN cross regulation.     

Excess type I interferon signaling in the mouse seminiferous tubules leads to germ cell loss and sterility

Type I (α and β) interferons (IFNs) elicit antiproliferative and antiviral activities via the surface receptor IFNAR. Serendipitous observations in transgenic mice in 1988 strongly suggested that IFNα/β overexpression in the testis disrupts spermatogenesis. Here, we compare a new mouse strain transgenic for IFNβ (Tg10) and a sister strain lacking the IFNAR1 subunit of IFNAR (Tg10-Ifnar1(-/-)), both strains expressing the transgene in the testis. The main source of IFNβ RNA was the spermatid population. Importantly, the Tg10 mice, but not the double mutant Tg10-Ifnar1(-/-), showed altered spermatogenesis. The first IFNAR-dependent histological alteration was a higher apoptosis index in all germ cell categories apart from non-dividing spermatogonia. This occurred 3 weeks after the onset of IFNβ production at postnatal day 20 and in the absence of somatic cell defects in terms of cell number, expression of specific cell markers, and hormonal activities. Several known interferon-stimulated genes were up-regulated in Tg10 Sertoli cells and prepachytene germ cells but not in pachytene spermatocytes and spermatids. In concordance with this, pachytene spermatocytes and spermatids isolated from wild-type testes did not display measurable amounts of IFNAR1 and phosphorylated STAT1 upon IFNβ challenge in vitro, suggesting hyporesponsiveness of these cell types to IFN. At day 60, Tg10 males were sterile, and Sertoli cells showed increased amounts of anti-Mullerian hormone and decreased production of inhibin B, both probably attributable to the massive germ cell loss. Type I interferon signaling may lead to idiopathic infertilities by affecting the interplay between germ cells and Sertoli cells.     

Enhancement of intravesical delivery with Syn3 potentiates interferon-α2b gene therapy for superficial bladder cancer

Intravesical administration of interferon alpha-2b protein (IFN) has been successfully used in the treatment of patients with superficial bladder tumors. Local dosing of IFN minimizes well-known systemic side effects of the drug, but exposure to bladder tumors is limited by the duration of instillation and transient concentrations achieved in the urothelium. Intravesical delivery of the gene encoding interferon results in an alternative strategy for IFN-based therapy of the disease, enabling sustained exposure of IFN protein that results from production by tumor and non-tumor cells in the urothelium. Efficient gene delivery and expression of IFN has been achieved using a recombinant adenovirus gene delivery system (rAd-IFN) in conjunction with the novel small molecule excipient Syn3. Studies with rAd-IFN/Syn3 in animal models result in urine concentrations of IFN that persisted for weeks and correlated with potent anti-tumor effects. The objective of this review is to communicate the rationale and preclinical findings that support ongoing clinical investigation of intravesical rAd-IFN/Syn3 in superficial bladder cancer.     

The role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of cutaneous lupus erythematosus

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is an inflammatory disease with a broad range of cutaneous manifestations that may be accompanied by systemic symptoms. The pathogenesis of CLE is complex, multifactorial and incompletely defined. Below we review the current understanding of the cytokines involved in these processes. Ultraviolet (UV) light plays a central role in the pathogenesis of CLE, triggering keratinocyte apoptosis, transport of nucleoprotein autoantigens to the keratinocyte cell surface and the release of inflammatory cytokines (including interferons (IFNs), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-17). Increased IFN, particularly type I IFN, is central to the development of CLE lesions. In CLE, type I IFN is produced in response to nuclear antigens, immune complexes and UV light. Type I IFN increases leukocyte recruitment to the skin via inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules, thereby inducing a cycle of cutaneous inflammation. Increased TNFα in CLE may also cause inflammation. However, decreasing TNFα with an anti-TNFα agent can induce CLE-like lesions. TNFα regulates B cells, increases the production of inflammatory molecules and inhibits the production of IFN-α. An increase in the inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17 and IL-18 and a decrease in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-12 also act to amplify inflammation in CLE. Specific gene mutations may increase the levels of these inflammatory cytokines in some CLE patients. New drugs targeting various aspects of these cytokine pathways are being developed to treat CLE and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).