hhlim对心肌肥大的影响及其作用机制探讨

hhlim是从胎儿心脏中新近分离和克隆得到的与心脏发生相关的基因,其表达产物作为转录因子参与多种基因的转录调控和细胞的发育与分化过程.用细胞转染方法将外源性hhlim基因导入原代心肌细胞,发现该基因强制性表达可使心肌细胞体积明显增大.RT-PCR和蛋白质印迹结果表明,hhlim促心肌细胞肥大与诱导α-肌动蛋白(α-actin)过表达及重新启动胚胎期表达基因脑钠肽（BNP）表达有关.用可表达hhlim反义RNA的真核表达载体转染心肌细胞后,致心肌细胞肥大因子ET-1对BNP和α-actin表达的诱导受到显著抑制.这些结果表明,ET-1促进BNP和α-actin表达及引发心肌肥大的效应可能由hhlim所介导,提示hhlim表达与心肌细胞肥大的启动有关.单独或共转染转录因子hhlim、Nkx2.5、GATA-4表达质粒和BNP转录调控区指导的报告基因结果显示,hhlim强制性表达不仅能直接激活BNP基因表达,而且与NKx2.5具有协同作用.结果表明,hhlim可以通过直接或与Nkx2.5协同作用激活BNP基因的表达.     

hhlim促进DMSO诱导的P19细胞向心肌分化

为了确定hhlim是否参与胚胎期的心肌分化和发育过程,用可表达hhlim蛋白和hhlim反义RNA的真核表达质粒转染P19胚胎干细胞,经G418筛选得到稳定表达hhlim和hhlim反义RNA的P19细胞克隆后,观察hhlim对P19细胞向心肌分化和发育的影响.结果显示,Nkx2.5和GATA-4在未被外源性hhlim基因转染的P19细胞中不表达.DMSO刺激细胞2天后,GATA-4开始表达,3天后Nkx2.5的表达活性显著升高.hhlim的过表达不但有利于P19细胞的存活和生长,而且还可以使Nkx2.5和GATA-4的表达比对照细胞提前1天.反义hhlim细胞株被DMSO诱导5天后,细胞仍呈集落化生长.同时,Nkx2.5和GATA-4开始表达的时间明显延滞.结果表明,hhlim能促进P19细胞向心肌细胞分化,其作用是通过促进转录因子GATA-4和Nkx2.5的表达而实现的.     

细胞肥大过程中hhLIM的亚细胞定位变化及其对细胞骨架的影响

hhlim (humanheartlim)是从人胎心cDNA文库中筛选克隆的一个新基因 ,作为LIM家族的新成员参与心肌肥大的发生发展过程 .为了进一步研究hhLIM在心肌肥大发生过程中的作用 ,以C2C12细胞为研究对象 ,以心肌肥大强效刺激因子内皮素 1(ET 1)为诱导因素 ,探讨hhLIM与肌动蛋白的相互作用及其影响细胞骨架的分子机制 .RT PCR、Western印迹和细胞免疫荧光分析结果表明 ,心肌肥大刺激因子ET 1在诱导心肌肥大标志基因BNP和肌动蛋白表达的同时 ,使hhLIM蛋白在C2C12细胞胞核与胞质之间进行重新定位 .激光共聚焦显微镜观察结果显示 ,hhLIM与肌动蛋白在胞质中共定位 .蛋白分步提取、鉴定及hhLIM与F肌动蛋白结合与沉降实验证明 ,hhLIM多存在于细胞骨架及其相关蛋白部分 ,在体外可与F肌动蛋白共结合 .这些结果表明 ,胞质中的hhLIM作为细胞骨架相关蛋白与肌动蛋白相互作用 .进一步研究hhLIM与细胞骨架的关系时发现 ,hhLIM过表达可使C2C12细胞的骨架变成致密网状纤维并使其对细胞松弛素导致的细胞骨架解聚产生一定的抵抗作用 ,抑制hhLIM表达则使细胞骨架稀疏 ,结构模糊 .提示hhLIM参与细胞骨架组织及重构的机制与其结合并稳定F肌动蛋白有关 .     

高血压相关基因hrg-1在血管平滑肌细胞再分化过程中的表达及功能

研究高血压相关基因hrg 1表达与血管平滑肌细胞 (VSMC)再分化的关系及其在细胞生物学行为调节方面的作用 .采用血清饥饿培养和全反式维甲酸诱导使处于增殖状态的去分化型VSMC再分化 ,观察细胞再分化过程中HRG 1表达变化 ,并探讨其功能 .在血清饥饿和维甲酸诱导VSMC再分化过程中 ,hrg 1基因表达显著上调 ,其表达活性在诱导 2 4h达高峰之后 ,一直维持在较高水平上 ,且其表达量和变化规律与细胞收缩蛋白SMα肌动蛋白和SM2 2α相类似 .免疫共沉淀和免疫双荧光染色结果证实 ,HRG 1抗体可与SMα肌动蛋白共沉淀 ,且两者在同一细胞共定位 .用HRG 1表达质粒转染去分化型VSMC可显著抑制其迁移能力 .结果提示 ,HRG 1在胞质中以与SMα肌动蛋白相互缔合的方式存在 ,其表达与VSMC分化有关 ,该蛋白通过参与细胞骨架构成而调节VSMC收缩与迁移     

转录因子E2F1抑制CREG表达调控体外培养的人血管平滑肌细胞分化

为探讨转录因子E2F1在血管平滑肌细胞(vascular smooth muscle cells,VSMCs)表型转化中的作用及其对E1A激活基因阻遏子(cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes,CREG)表达调控的分子机制,应用生物信息学方法,定位人CREG(hCREG)基因启动子并确定转录因子E2F1在hCREG启动子区的结合位点,PCR方法克隆并构建hCREG基因启动子绿色荧光报告基因载体,以hCREG启动子区E2F1结合位点为模板,化学合成E2F1寡聚脱氧核苷酸(ODN)和错配E2F1ODN,利用转录因子"诱骗(Decoy)"策略,用E2F1ODN转染体外培养的VSMCs以阻断E2F1与hCREG基因启动子区的结合,蛋白质印迹(Western blot)分析检测阻断前后细胞内hCREG蛋白、报告基因绿色荧光蛋白(green fluorescent protein,GFP)和平滑肌细胞分化标志蛋白SMα-actin表达变化.结果显示:分化表型HITASY细胞中E2F1表达下调伴出核转位,而增殖表型的HITASY细胞中E2F1蛋白表达明显增加且定位于核内.进一步应用FuGene6瞬时转染E2F1ODN和错配E2F1ODN于体外培养HITASY细胞中,蛋白质印迹分析发现,转染E2F1ODN后,HITASY细胞中hCREG、SMα-actin和GFP表达均较未阻断组及错配组细胞明显增加.上述研究结果证实,E2F1是hCREG基因转录的重要调控因子,能够直接结合于hCREG启动子区阻遏hCREG表达,参与hCREG蛋白对VSMCs表型转化的调控作用.     

hhlim基因转录调控区域鉴定及表达调控的初步研究

为了研究hhlim基因表达调控机制,对该基因5′上游－2 537 bp序列从5′端依次进行缺失后,利用荧光素酶报告基因检测各种不同长度片段在C2C12细胞中驱动荧光素酶表达的活性.结果表明,在hhlim基因5′上游－2 537～－1 537 bp之间存在负调控元件,在－253～－157 bp之间含有增强子样序列.用含有增强子样序列的DNA片段做探针,对未分化型和分化型C2C12细胞的核蛋白进行电泳迁移率改变分析(electrophoretic mopility shift assay, EMSA).分析的结果显示,两种表型细胞中的核蛋白与探针结合所形成滞后带的谱型明显不同.结果还发现内皮素-1(ET-1)和碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)既能显著诱导C2C12细胞对hhlim的表达,也能刺激含增强子样序列的调控区域所驱动的报告基因表达.提示hhlim基因转录起始点至－2 537 bp的区域内含有负调控元件及增强子样序列,该基因的表达受ET-1和bFGF的调节.     

绿色荧光蛋白在草鱼肾细胞中的表达

应用阳离子脂质体介导法,将含绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）基因的质粒pEGFP-N1转染到培养成单层的草鱼肾细胞（CIK）中,通过荧光倒置显微镜和特异性RT-PCR方法检测GFP的表达.在荧光倒置显微镜下可见CIK细胞的胞质和胞核均呈现绿色荧光,且细胞核的绿色荧光强度强于细胞质.转染细胞中的转录产物经RT-PCR扩增后,凝胶电泳鉴定出与GFP基因片段分子量大小一致的条带,经测序证明其为GFP基因序列.结果表明,GFP基因可以在草鱼CIK细胞内高效率成功表达,为构建以GFP为报告基因的真核重组质粒及研究草鱼出血病DNA疫苗奠定了重要的基础.     

PPARγ基因真核表达载体的构建及其在乳腺癌MDA—MB-231细胞中的表达

目的：构建以绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）为报告基因的重组表达质粒pEGFP—C1—PPARγ,观察小鼠PPARγ基因在MDA-MB-231细胞中的表达及定位。方法：采用克隆和亚克隆技术构建小鼠PPARγ基因真核表达载体,脂质体Lip2000介导转染MDA—MB-231细胞,real—time PCR和western—blot验证其mRNA和蛋白的表达,荧光显微镜观察该基因亚细胞定位。结果：酶切和测序结果证实重组质粒含有PPAIh编码区序列且插入方向正确,转染后观察该基因亚细胞定位于胞核,胞质有弥散分布。结论：成功构建了小鼠PPARγ基因真核表达载体,该基因在MDA—MB-231细胞中成功表达,PPARγ基因主要集中表达于胞核。     

PPARγ基因真核表达载体的构建及其在乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞中的表达

目的:构建以绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)为报告基因的重组表达质粒pEGFP-C1-PPARγ,观察小鼠PPARγ基因在MDA-MB-231细胞中的表达及定位.方法:采用克隆和亚克隆技术构建小鼠PPARγ基因真核表达栽体,脂质体Lip2000介导转染MDA-MB-231细胞,real-time PCR和western-blot验证其mRNA和蛋白的表达,荧光显微镜观察该基因亚细胞定位.结果:酶切和测序结果证实重组质粒含有PPARγ编码区序列且插入方向正确,转染后观察该基因亚细胞定位于胞核,胞质有弥散分布.结论:成功构建了小鼠PPARγ基因真核表达载体,该基因在MDA-MB-231细胞中成功表达,PPARγ基因主要集中表达于胞核.     

KLHL31促进C2C12细胞的肌原分化

人类KLHL31基因是本实验室已克隆的基因,其蛋白质含有保守的BTB和串连重复的Kelch结构域,已有报道表明其在人类成体骨骼肌和心肌组织中特异表达。RT-PCR分析表明在C2C12细胞肌原分化过程中过表达KLHL31能够提高肌原分化标志基因MyoD与Myogenin的转录水平;荧光报告系统分析发现过表达KLHL31能够增强肌原分化相关基因MCK启动子的活性,表明KLHL31能够促进C2C12细胞的肌原分化。     

颌下腺导管细胞与胶原海绵细胞相容性的实验研究

为探讨胶原海绵对颌下腺 (submandibulargland ,SMG)导管细胞的细胞相容性 ,采用HE染色光镜观察及免疫组化观察SMG导管细胞接种于胶原海绵后 ,细胞的生长情况。光镜下可见接种后第 1d细胞数量较少 ,分散于胶原海绵支架中间 ,第 7d细胞数量明显增加 ,免疫组织化学染色抗IV型胶原抗体染色呈阳性 ,说明细胞与支架材料之间已经有细胞外基质产生。胶原海绵具有良好的细胞相容性 ,是一种理想的支架材料。与胶原海绵复合培养 ,颌下腺导管细胞仍可保持良好的增殖能力。     

Determining Cell Number During Cell Culture using the Scepter Cell Counter

Counting cells is often a necessary but tedious step for in vitro cell culture. Consistent cell concentrations ensure experimental reproducibility and accuracy. Cell counts are important for monitoring cell health and proliferation rate, assessing immortalization or transformation, seeding cells for subsequent experiments, transfection or infection, and preparing for cell-based assays. It is important that cell counts be accurate, consistent, and fast, particularly for quantitative measurements of cellular responses.Despite this need for speed and accuracy in cell counting, 71% of 400 researchers surveyed¹ who count cells using a hemocytometer. While hemocytometry is inexpensive, it is laborious and subject to user bias and misuse, which results in inaccurate counts. Hemocytometers are made of special optical glass on which cell suspensions are loaded in specified volumes and counted under a microscope. Sources of errors in hemocytometry include: uneven cell distribution in the sample, too many or too few cells in the sample, subjective decisions as to whether a given cell falls within the defined counting area, contamination of the hemocytometer, user-to-user variation, and variation of hemocytometer filling rate².To alleviate the tedium associated with manual counting, 29% of researchers count cells using automated cell counting devices; these include vision-based counters, systems that detect cells using the Coulter principle, or flow cytometry¹. For most researchers, the main barrier to using an automated system is the price associated with these large benchtop instruments¹.The Scepter cell counter is an automated handheld device that offers the automation and accuracy of Coulter counting at a relatively low cost. The system employs the Coulter principle of impedance-based particle detection³ in a miniaturized format using a combination of analog and digital hardware for sensing, signal processing, data storage, and graphical display. The disposable tip is engineered with a microfabricated, cell- sensing zone that enables discrimination by cell size and cell volume at sub-micron and sub-picoliter resolution. Enhanced with precision liquid-handling channels and electronics, the Scepter cell counter reports cell population statistics graphically displayed as a histogram.     

Cell Physician: Reading Cell Motion

Cell motility is an essential phenomenon in almost all living organisms. It is natural to think that behavioral or shape changes of a cell bear information about the underlying mechanisms that generate these changes. Reading cell motion, namely, understanding the underlying biophysical and mechanochemical processes, is of paramount importance. The mathematical model developed in this paper determines some physical features and material properties of the cells locally through analysis of live cell image sequences and uses this information to make further inferences about the molecular structures, dynamics, and processes within the cells, such as the actin network, microdomains, chemotaxis, adhesion, and retrograde flow. The generality of the principals used in formation of the model ensures its wide applicability to different phenomena at various levels. Based on the model outcomes, we hypothesize a novel biological model for collective biomechanical and molecular mechanism of cell motion.     

细胞提取物重编程研究进展

体细胞重编程是在特定的条件下使已分化的细胞转变成为另一种细胞.体细胞重编程的方式主要有体细胞核移植技术、细胞融合技术、细胞提取物处理技术及特定转录因子转染技术.现有研究表明,细胞提取物重编程技术在体细胞重编程中发挥着一定的作用,为此,就该技术的最新研究进展和可能机制作一综述.     

Tuning Cell Motility via Cell Tension with a Mechanochemical Cell Migration Model

Cell migration is orchestrated by a complicated mechanochemical system. However, few cell migration models take into account the coupling between the biochemical network and mechanical factors. Here, we construct a mechanochemical cell migration model to study the cell tension effect on cell migration. Our model incorporates the interactions between Rac-GTP, Rac-GDP, F-actin, myosin, and cell tension, and it is very convenient in capturing the change of cell shape by taking the phase field approach. This model captures the characteristic features of cell polarization, cell shape change, and cell migration modes. It shows that cell tension inhibits migration ability monotonically when cells are applied with persistent external stimuli. On the other hand, if random internal noise is significant, the regulation of cell tension exerts a nonmonotonic effect on cell migration. Because the increase of cell tension hinders the formation of multiple protrusions, migration ability could be maximized at intermediate cell tension under random internal noise. These model predictions are consistent with our single-cell experiments and other experimental results.     

Cell Cycle Markers for Live Cell Analyses

Many cellular processes are regulated by cell cycle dependent changes in protein dynamics and localization. Studying these changes in vivo requires methods to distinguish the different cell cycle stages. Here we demonstrate the use of DNA Ligase I fused to DsRed1 as an in situ marker to identify S phase and the subsequent transition to G2 in live cells. Using this marker, we observed changes in the nuclear distribution of Dnmt1 during cell cycle progression. Based on the different nuclear distribution of DNA Ligase I and Dnmt1 in G2 and G1, we demonstrate that the combination of both proteins allows the direct discrimination of all cell cycle phases using either immunostainings or fusions with fluorescent proteins. These markers are new tools to directly study cell cycle dependent processes in both, fixed and living cells.