酸敏阿霉素脂质纳米粒的制备及其体外抗肿瘤活性研究

目的:本研究旨在制备具有被动靶向和酸敏特性的脂质混合纳米粒,以期提高阿霉素(doxorubicin,DOX)的靶向递药效率,降低DOX的毒副作用,提高抗肿瘤活性。方法:采用微乳法制备磷酸钙纳米粒核,薄膜分散法制备脂质混合纳米粒,硫酸铵梯度法包封DOX。采用透射电镜观察外观形态,用zeta电位及纳米粒度分析仪测定纳米粒的粒径及zeta电位,透析法评价阿霉素脂质纳米粒体外释药特征。用MTT方法研究阿霉素脂质混合纳米粒对A549细胞的细胞毒性。采用流式细胞仪和激光共聚焦显微镜观察A549细胞对阿霉素脂质纳米粒的摄取。结果:体外释药结果显示阿霉素脂质纳米粒具有酸敏特性。流式结果说明A549细胞对阿霉素脂质纳米粒的摄取具有明显的时间依赖性,激光共聚焦显示阿霉素脂质纳米粒能将阿霉素递送至细胞核中。结论:阿霉素脂质体对A549细胞有明显的细胞毒性,为进一步进行体内实验提供了基础。     

Monitoring lysosomal fusion in electrofused hybridoma cells

Dendritic and tumor cells are fused to produce hybridoma cells, which are considered to be used as cellular vaccines to treat cancer. Previous strategies for hybridoma cell production were based on the quantification of the electrofusion yield by labeling the cytoplasm of both parental cell types. However, a better physiological strategy would be to label subcellular structures related directly to the antigen presentation process. Therefore, we here electrofused the same amount of CHO cells stained with red and green fluorescent dextrans and have monitored the yield of hybridoma cell formation by measuring the fusion of red and green late endocytic organelles that are involved in antigen presentation. By using confocal microscopy, the level of fused, fluorescently labelled late endocytic compartments in a single hybridoma cell was determined. The results demonstrate that organellar fusion occurs in hybridomas, which is time- and temperature-dependent. This approach therefore provides a new method for the hybridoma cell vaccine evaluation, which is based on the intracellular physiological mechanism of antigen presentation.     

Monitoring lysosomal fusion in electrofused hybridoma cells

Dendritic and tumor cells are fused to produce hybridoma cells, which are considered to be used as cellular vaccines to treat cancer. Previous strategies for hybridoma cell production were based on the quantification of the electrofusion yield by labeling the cytoplasm of both parental cell types. However, a better physiological strategy would be to label subcellular structures related directly to the antigen presentation process. Therefore, we here electrofused the same amount of CHO cells stained with red and green fluorescent dextrans and have monitored the yield of hybridoma cell formation by measuring the fusion of red and green late endocytic organelles that are involved in antigen presentation. By using confocal microscopy, the level of fused, fluorescently labelled late endocytic compartments in a single hybridoma cell was determined. The results demonstrate that organellar fusion occurs in hybridomas, which is time- and temperature-dependent. This approach therefore provides a new method for the hybridoma cell vaccine evaluation, which is based on the intracellular physiological mechanism of antigen presentation.     

多聚精氨酸融合增强型绿色荧光蛋白制备方法及穿膜效果

为了方便细胞穿膜肽R9融合蛋白的可溶性表达及功能上的研究,构建了pSUMO (小分子泛素样修饰蛋白) -R9-EGFP (增强型绿色荧光蛋白) 原核表达载体。分别纯化EGFP及R9-EGFP蛋白后,作用于HepG2,细胞经流式细胞仪及激光共聚焦检测R9细胞穿膜肽的作用效果。实验结果显示在SUMO分子伴侣的作用下,R9-EGFP融合蛋白获得可溶性表达。经流式细胞仪检测,R9细胞穿膜肽可以快速有效的携带目的蛋白进入细胞内部且呈时间、剂量依赖性,大约1.5 h以后荧光强度进入平台期。共聚焦显微镜检测结果表明R9细胞穿膜肽可以有效携带EGFP进入HepG2细胞,并显示主要聚集在细胞浆内。同时体外经肝素抑制实验显示,肝素抑制R9-EGFP穿膜的效率达到50％。这些结果表明,可以利用pSUMO-R9/Ni-NTA表达纯化系统,快速、有效地表达出可溶性多聚精氨酸融合蛋白,同时R9细胞穿膜肽可以有效地携带目的蛋白进入细胞内,为进一步研究多聚精氨酸的穿膜机制提供了基础。     

Simultaneous detection of apoptosis and mitochondrial superoxide production in live cells by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy

Annexin V and Sytox Green are widely used markers to evaluate apoptosis in various cell types using flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy. Recently, a novel fluoroprobe MitoSOX Red was introduced for selective detection of superoxide in the mitochondria of live cells and was validated for confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. This protocol describes simultaneous measurements of mitochondrial superoxide generation with apoptotic markers (Annexin V and Sytox Green) by both flow cytometry and confocal microscopy in endothelial cell lines. The advantages of the described flow cytometry method over other cell-based techniques are the tremendous speed (1-2 h), exquisite precision and the possibility of simultaneous quantitative measurements of mitochondrial superoxide generation and apoptotic (and other) markers, with maximal preservation of cellular functions. This method combined with fluorescent microscopy may be very useful to reveal important spatial-temporal changes in mitochondrial superoxide production and execution of programmed cell death in virtually any cell type.     

Intracellular delivery of antibodies using TAT fusion protein A

Internalization of antibodies into mammalian cells is a useful method for analyzing and regulating cellular function. In this study, we developed a novel method for the delivery of antibodies into cells using the TAT-fused protein. This fusion protein consists of two functional domains, the protein transduction domain of HIV-1 TAT and the B domain of staphylococcal protein A (SpA), which has an ability to bind to the IgG. The TAT-SpA fusion protein was mixed with fluorescence-labeled rabbit IgG and added to cells. The internalization of antibody was analyzed using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry in living cells. As a result, fluorescence-labeled IgG with the TAT-SpA fusion protein was observed intracellularly. Flow cytometry results demonstrated time course and dose dependence relationships of antibody internalization. These results suggest that the TAT-SpA fusion protein can be a useful reagent for the delivery of antibody into cells.     

Spontaneous formation of tumorigenic hybrids between human omental adipose-derived stromal cells and endometrial cancer cells increased motility and heterogeneity of cancer cells

Recent reports indicate that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can fuse with cancer cells to promote cancer progression. Omental adipose-derived stromal cells (O-ASCs) are similar to MSCs, which could be recruited to the stroma in endometrial cancer. The aim of our study was to investigate whether O-ASCs can fuse with endometrial cancer cells to influence cancer cells biological characteristics. We isolated O-ASCs from patients with endometrial cancer. O-ASCs and endometrial cancer cells were labeled with different fluorescent tags and directly co-cultured in an Opera high-throughput spinning-disk confocal microscopy system to observe the processes involved in the fusion, division and migration of hybrid cells. Immunofluorescence and high-throughput imaging analyzes were performed to evaluate proteins related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).We found O-ASCs could spontaneously fuse with endometrial cancer cells, including cytomembrane and nuclear fusion. After fusion, endometrial cancer cells assume an elongated and fibroblast-like appearance that exhibit mesenchymal phenotypes. The hybrid cells proliferated through bipolar and multipolar divisions and exhibited more rapid migratory speeds than were observed in the parental cells (P < 0.01), potentially because of their EMT-associated changes, including the down-regulation of E-cadherin and up-regulation of Vimentin. Our results collectively suggest that tumorigenic hybrids spontaneously formed between human O-ASCs and endometrial cancer cells, and that the resulting cells enhanced cancer mobility and heterogeneity by accelerated migration and undergoing multipolar divisions. These data provide a new avenue for investigating the roles of O-ASCs in endometrial cancer.     

Biotinylation and characterization of Cryptococcus neoformans cell surface proteins

AIMS: To develop a novel procedure for isolating and characterizing cryptococcal cell-surface proteins using biotinylation, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-streptavidin, flow cytometry and associated ligand-receptor analysis, confocal microscopy and electrophoretic separation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cell proteins of both acapsulate and encapsulated Cryptococcus neoformans cells were labelled using sulfo-NHS-biotin which, in turn, was complexed with FITC-streptavidin. Resulting cell population fluorescence supported visualization of cell-surface protein distribution by confocal microscopy, as well as evaluation of protein exposure by flow cytometry and the calculation of the ligand-binding determinants EC(50), F(max) and H(n). Biotinylation of cell-surface proteins also supported their isolation by affinity chromatography and characterization by SDS/PAGE. Ligand-binding determinants, such as EC(50) values, indicated that acapsulate and stationary phase cells have greatest affinity for biotin. F(max) values demonstrated greatest protein exposure among stationary phase cells; in turn, encapsulated cells expose more protein than acapsulate counterparts. H(n) values of below unity potentially confirm the complex multi-receptor nature of biotin binding to cryptococcal cell surfaces under investigation. Fluorescence visualization showed marked but localized fluorescence indicative of protein exposure around sites of cell division. In turn, biotinylation of cell-surface proteins and their release under reducing conditions demonstrated at least two noncovalently linked proteinaceous entities, of 43 and 57 kDa, exposed on acapsulate cryptococcal cell walls. CONCLUSIONS: A novel method for identifying, in situ, cell-surface proteins exposed by C. neoformans was established. This novel technique was successfully implemented using both acapsulate and encapsulated C. neoformans cells, both were found to have dynamic and markedly localized protein distribution around sites of cell division and associated cell wall trauma. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: A novel procedure, employing a versatile combination of flow cytometry, ligand-receptor analysis, confocal microscopy and biotinylation, supported the characterization and isolation of cryptococcal cell-surface proteins.     

BTI基因转染诱导EC9706细胞凋亡及G_1阻滞

为了研究荞麦胰蛋白酶抑制剂(buckwheat trypsin inhibitor,BTI)对肿瘤细胞凋亡与细胞周期的影响,构建增强型绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)与BTI融合蛋白真核表达质粒.将BTI基因成功克隆至pEGFP-N1中转染食管癌EC9706细胞后,激光共聚焦显微镜镜检显示,BTI-EGFP获得良好表达.表达的融合蛋白大部分分布于细胞核,在细胞质中有少量分布.Western印迹检测可见约27kD和36 kD的特异性条带.流式细胞术分析结果显示,BTI能够诱导EC9706细胞发生凋亡,并使细胞停滞于G0/G1期.     

Diphtheria toxin-epidermal growth factor fusion protein and Pseudomonas exotoxin-interleukin 13 fusion protein exert synergistic toxicity against human glioblastoma multiforme cells

The cytotoxicity of combinations of a diphtheria toxin-human epidermal growth factor fusion protein (DAB(389)EGF) and a Pseudomonas exotoxin-human interleukin 13 fusion protein (IL13PE38QQR) was tested against 14 human glioma cell lines. After cells were cultured for 48 h with various concentrations of the fusion proteins, the percentage reductions in thymidine incorporation were determined. Seven of fourteen cell lines were highly sensitive to DAB(389)EGF alone, and six cell lines were highly sensitive to IL13PE38QQR alone with IC(90)'s < 100 pM. When combined, synergistic cell killing was observed for seven of the cell lines based upon concave isobolograms and combination indices (CI's) of 0.2 to 0.7. Supraadditive cytotoxicity was confirmed by measurements of induction of apoptosis. Receptor expression was assessed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Marked heterogeneity of expression of EGFR and IL13Ralpha2 was seen on all the glioma cell lines. This heterogeneity may contribute to incomplete cell killing with the individual fusion proteins and synergistic cell kill with the combination. These results suggest that both fusion proteins may yield antitumor effects in patients with recurrent gliomas and that combination fusion protein intracranial therapy of malignant gliomas may yield an improved therapeutic index.     

Synthesis of a dual functional anti-MDR tumor agent PH II-7 with elucidations of anti-tumor effects and mechanisms

Multidrug resistance mediated by P-glycoprotein in cancer cells has been a major issue that cripples the efficacy of chemotherapy agents. Aimed for improved efficacy against resistant cancer cells, we designed and synthesized 25 oxindole derivatives based on indirubin by structure-activity relationship analysis. The most potent one was named PH II-7, which was effective against 18 cancer cell lines and 5 resistant cell lines in MTT assay. It also significantly inhibited the resistant xenograft tumor growth in mouse model. In cell cycle assay and apoptosis assay conducted with flow cytometry, PH II-7 induced S phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis even in resistant cells. Consistently revealed by real-time PCR, it modulates the expression of genes related to the cell cycle and apoptosis in these cells, which may contributes to its efficacy against them. By side-chain modification and FITC-labeling of PH II-7, we were able to show with confocal microscopy that not only it was not pumped by P-glycoprotein, it also attenuated the efflux of Adriamycin by P-glycoprotein in MDR tumor cells. Real-time PCR and western blot analysis showed that PH II-7 down-regulated MDR1 gene via protein kinase C alpha (PKCA) pathway, with c-FOS and c-JUN as possible mediators. Taken together, PH II-7 is a dual-functional compound that features both the cytotoxicity against cancer cells and the inhibitory effect on P-gp mediated drug efflux.     

TPA-induced multinucleation of a mesenchymal stem cell-like clone is mediated primarily by karyokinesis without cytokinesis, although cell-cell fusion also occurs

The 5F9A cell, which is a mesenchymal stem cell-like clone established from rat bone marrow substrate adherent cells, can differentiate into adipocytes and osteoblasts in vitro under the appropriate conditions. Multinucleated cells could be also induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) in 5F9A cells. This effect was mediated by protein kinase C. Possible mechanisms of multinucleation by TPA were hypothesized to be either karyokinesis without cytokinesis or cell-cell fusion. By observation using time-lapse phase-contrast microscopy, we determined that the multinucleated cells were generated mainly by karyokinesis without cytokinesis. Cell fusion was studied using time-lapse photography, and confocal laser scanning microscopy using two differentially labeled cells. These techniques demonstrated that multinucleated 5F9A cells could be produced by cell fusion, albeit at a low frequency. We conclude that multinucleated 5F9A cells are formed primarily by karyokinesis without cytokinesis, although some cells are also formed by cell-cell fusion.     

Enhanced uptake of a heterologous protein with an HIV-1 Tat protein transduction domains (PTD) at both termini

Poor membrane permeability of proteins is a major limitation of protein therapy. In a previous study, we showed that the minimal sequence required for efficient transduction of Tat-GFP is the basic domain from 49-57 of HIV-1 Tat called the protein transduction domain (PTD. Here we have generated HIV-1 Tat PTD GFP fusion proteins in which HIV-1 Tat PTD is fused with the N- and/or C-termini of GFP. The various GFP fusion proteins were purified from Escherichia coli and characterized for their ability to enter mammalian cells using Western blot analysis, confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. The GFP fusion protein with Tat PTD at its C-terminus was taken up as efficiently as the GFP fusion protein with Tat PTD at its N-terminus. However, the same protein with PTDs at its both termini was taken up even more efficiently. All the GFP fusion proteins were present in both the nucleus and cytosol of the transduced cells. Uptake was lower at 4 degrees C than at 37 degrees C. The availability of the expression vectors developed in this study may help to devise novel strategies in the rational development of protein-based drugs.     

转铁蛋白修饰磁性纳米粒的制备及其体外抗肿瘤活性研究

目的:本研究旨在构建一种转铁蛋白修饰负载阿霉素(DOX)的磁纳米粒靶向递药系统,以提高阿霉素作用的靶向性。方法:采用化学共沉淀法制备转铁蛋白修饰负载阿霉素的磁性纳米粒(DOX@MNP),采用zeta电位及纳米粒度分析仪测定DOX@MNP的粒径及其zeta电位,透析法评价DOX@MNP的体外释药特征。通过MTT实验,研究DOX@MNP与游离DOX对A549细胞的细胞毒性,通过激光共聚焦显微镜和流式细胞仪观察A549细胞对DOX@MNP与游离DOX的摄取情况。结果:DOX@MNP的释药具有p H依赖性。MTT实验结果显示,DOX@MNP与游离DOX具有相当的细胞毒性;激光共聚焦显微镜和流式细胞仪检测结果显示A549细胞对DOX和DOX@MNP的摄取没有明显差异。结论:本文构建了一种转铁蛋白修饰包载阿霉素的磁纳米粒,体外结果显示其具有与游离DOX相当的细胞毒性,为进一步进行体内实验奠定了基础。     

Cutting edge: the tumor counterattack hypothesis revisited: colon cancer cells do not induce T cell apoptosis via the Fas (CD95, APO-1) pathway

The counterattack hypothesis, suggesting that cancer cells express Fas ligand (FasL) and are able to kill Fas-expressing tumor-infiltrating activated T cells, was supported by reports of the killing of Jurkat cells by FasL-expressing human colon cancer cell lines. Through the use of an improved cytotoxic assay in which soluble FasL and FasL-transfected KFL9 cells were used as positive controls, we show that none of seven human colon cancer cell lines induce apoptosis of two Fas-expressing target cell lines, Jurkat and L1210-Fas cells. Moreover, in coculture experiments, cancer cell monolayers do not inhibit the growth of Fas-expressing lymphoid cells. Although FasL mRNA and protein were detected in the extracts of the colon cancer cell lines, flow cytometry and confocal microscopy failed to detect the protein on the surface of tumor cells. These results suggest that the counterattack of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes by cancer cells may not account for immune tolerance toward tumor cells.     

Folate-functionalized unimolecular micelles based on a degradable amphiphilic dendrimer-like star polymer for cancer cell-targeted drug delivery

A folate-functionalized degradable amphiphilic dendrimer-like star polymer (FA-DLSP) with a well-defined poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) star polymer core and six hydrophilic polyester dendrons based on 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl) propionic acid was successfully synthesized to be used as a nanoscale carrier for cancer cell-targeted drug delivery. This FA-DLSP hybrid formed unimolecular micelles in the aqueous solution with a mean particle size of ca. 15 nm as determined by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. To study the feasibility of FA-DLSP micelles as a potential nanocarrier for targeted drug delivery, we encapsulated a hydrophobic anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX), in the hydrophobic core, and the loading content was determined by UV-vis analysis to be 4 wt %. The DOX-loaded FA-DLSP micelles demonstrated a sustained release of DOX due to the hydrophobic interaction between the polymer core and the drug molecules. The hydrolytic degradation in vitro was monitored by weight loss and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to gain insight into the degradation mechanism of the FA-DLSP micelles. It was found that the degradation was pH-dependent and started from the hydrophilic shell gradually to the hydrophobic core. Flow cytometry and confocal microscope studies revealed that the cellular binding of the FA-DLSP hybrid against human KB cells with overexpressed folate-receptors was about twice that of the neat DLSP (without FA). The in vitro cellular cytotoxicity indicated that the FA-DLSP micelles (without DOX) had good biocompatibility with KB cells, whereas DOX-loaded micelles exhibited a similar degree of cytotoxicity against KB cells as that of free DOX. These results clearly showed that the FA-DLSP unimolecular micelles could be a promising nanosize anticancer drug carrier with excellent targeting property.     

Human tumour and dendritic cell hybrids generated by electrofusion: potential for cancer vaccines

Hybrid cells created by fusion of antigen presenting and tumour cells have been shown to induce potent protective and curative anti-tumour immunity in rodent cancer models. The application of hybrid cell vaccines for human tumour therapy and the timely intervention in disease control are limited by the requirement to derive sufficient autologous cells to preserve homologous tumour antigen presentation. In this study, the efficiency of various methods of electrofusion in generating hybrid human cells have been investigated with a variety of human haemopoietic, breast and prostate cell lines. Cell fusion using an electrical pulse is enhanced by a variety of stimuli to align cells electrically or bring cells into contact. Centrifugation of cells after an exponential pulse from a Gene Pulser electroporation apparatus provided the highest yield of mixed cell hybrids by FACS analysis. An extensive fusogenic condition generated in human cells after an electrical pulse contradicts the presumption that prior cell contact is necessary for cell fusion. Alignment of cells in a concurrent direct current charge and osmotic expansion of cells in polyethylene glycol also generated high levels of cell fusion. Waxing of one electrode of the electroporation cuvette served to polarize the fusion chamber and increase cell fusion 5-fold. Optimisation of a direct current charge in combination with a fusogenic pulse in which fusion of a range of human cells approached or exceeded 30% of the total pulsed cells. The yield of hybrid prostate and breast cancer cells with dendritic cells was similar to the homologous cell fusion efficiencies indicating that dendritic cells were highly amenable to fusion with human tumour cells under similar electrical parameters. Elimination of unfused cells by density gradient and culture is possible to further increase the quantity of hybrid cells. The generation and purification of quantities of hybrid cells sufficient for human vaccination raises the possibility of rapid, autologous tumour antigen presenting vaccines for trial with common human tumours.     

Investigation of fullerenol-induced changes in poroelasticity of human hepatocellular carcinoma by AFM-based creep tests

In this study, atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used to investigate the alterations of the poroelastic properties of hepatocellular carcinoma (SMMC-7721) cells treated with fullerenol. The SMMC-7721 cells were subject to AFM-based creep tests, and a corresponding poroelastic indentation model was used to determine the poroelastic parameters by curve fitting. Comparative analyses indicated that the both permeability and diffusion of fullerenol-treated cells increased significantly while their elastic modulus decreased by a small amount. From the change in the trend of the determined parameter, we verified the corresponding alternations of cytoskeleton (mainly filaments actin), which was reported by the previous study using confocal imaging method. Our investigation on SMMC-7721 cell reveals that the poroelastic properties could provide a better understanding how the cancer cells are affected by fullerenol or potentially other drugs which could find possible applications in drug efficacy test, cancer diagnosis and secure therapies.