用聚乙烯亚胺反向转染siRNA表达盒进行RNA干扰的研究

目的:建立适用于大规模RNA干扰(RNAi)筛选的siRNA生成与导入技术。方法:以绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)为模型,用PCR方法生成了包含U6启动子、互补的反义链和正义链以及终止序列的特异性siRNA表达盒(SEC),对聚乙烯亚胺(PEI)介导的转染SEC的方法及其效率进行研究。结果:PEI对细胞的毒性呈剂量依赖关系,当PEI与DNA的N/P=7.53,即PEI与DNA等量时,转染效率达到最高。PEI与脂质体LipofectAMINETM2000的转染效率无显著差异(P>0.05),对SEC的转染效率显著高于质粒载体(P<0.01)。反向转染的转染效率显著高于常规转染(P<0.01)。利用PEI将表达GFP特异性siRNA的SEC反向转染可稳定表达GFP的HeLa细胞株(HeLa-EGFP),荧光染色和Western印迹检测均表明可显著抑制GFP的表达。结论:PEI介导的SEC反向转染具有简便、快捷、经济的优点,可满足大规模RNAi筛选的需要。     

重组抗狂犬病病毒抗体在HEK293 EBNA1细胞中的瞬时表达优化

目的:优化重组抗体在悬浮无血清培养的HEK293 EBNA1瞬时表达,提高重组抗体表达量。方法:将HEK293 EBNA1细胞适应于无血清悬浮培养,筛选适宜的无血清培养基。使用PEI转染质粒进入细胞,瞬时表达重组抗体;使用Modde软件进行实验设计(DOE),优化转染质粒量、轻重链比例、PEI量等影响瞬时表达的条件。培养上清经亲和纯化,获得目标抗体,用快速免疫荧光灶抑制试验(RFFIT)测定抗体活性,用BCA法测定纯化抗体浓度。结果:293SFMII为适宜的HEK293 EBNA1细胞无血清悬浮培养基。对抗体表达影响最大的因素是轻重链比例(P=0.00000),其次为质粒浓度(P=0.00086),最后为PEI(P=0.00257)。优化的转染条件为:质粒用量0.61μg/106细胞,轻重链比例2:1,PEI 2.67μg/106细胞,优化后抗体表达量有显著提高(P=0.007)。结论:通过DOE优化获得了重组抗狂犬病病毒抗体的高水平表达,抗体表达量提高了至少50倍。     

pEGFP-HPV16E7重组融合蛋白质粒的构建及其表达

应用基因重组技术,构建增强绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)与人乳头瘤病毒16型E7(HPV16E7)的重组融合表达质粒,经限制性内切酶酶切鉴定和PCR分析后,用基因转染技术将其导入小鼠肝癌细胞,荧光显微镜下观察融合蛋白的表达.酶切鉴定和PCR分析证实重组质粒中插入目的基因片段的大小、方向和插入位点均正确,在转染的小鼠肝癌细胞中观察到绿色荧光蛋白的表达.构建的pEGFP-HPV16E7融合表达质粒能直观地反映转染细胞中EGFP-HPV16E7融合蛋白的表达.由于转化率与表达率融为一体,故有利于对转染细胞的筛选,缩短转染细胞在体外的筛选的时间适用于对HPV16E7分子生物学特性、致瘤机理及APC提呈等的研究.为建立表达HPV16E7的实体瘤动物模型奠定了基础.     

pEGFP—HPV16E7重组融合蛋白质粒的构建及其表达

应用基因重组技术,构建增强绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)与人乳头瘤病毒16型E7(HPV16E7)的重组融合表达质粒,经限制性内切酶酶切鉴定和PCR分析后,用基因转染技术将其导入小鼠肝癌细胞,荧光显微镜下观察融合蛋白的表达。酶切鉴定和PCR分析证实重组质粒中插入目的基因片段的大小、方向和插入位点均正确,在转染的小鼠肝癌细胞中观察到绿色荧光蛋白的表达。构建的pEGFP-HPV16E7融合表达质粒能直观地反映转染细胞中EGFP-HPV16E7融合蛋白的表达。由于转化率与表达率融为一体,故有利于对转染细胞的筛选,缩短转染细胞在体外的筛选的时间适用于对：HPV16E7分子生物学特性．致瘤机理及APC提呈等的研究。为建立表达HPV16E7的实体瘤动物模型奠定了基础。     

瞬时基因表达可溶性的VEGFR2: I-IV

通过RT-PCR的方法从三个月的流产绒毛组织中克隆目的基因VEGFR2 (Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, 血管内皮细胞生长因子受体2) 胞外I-IV区, 连接到真核表达载体上构建了重组表达载体。首先在无血清悬浮培养的HEK293细胞中, 使用报告基因GFP(Green fluorescence protein, 绿色荧光蛋白)优化转染条件, 发现在转染时DNA: PEI=1:2 (W/W)、1.5 mg DNA/106 cells及开始转染4 h内使用无血清、摇床(120 r/min)时可以达到最佳的转染效率和细胞数量。在确定转染条件之后, 将构建的表达载体分别在HEK293细胞、COS-7细胞和CHO-K1细胞中进行瞬时转染表达, 结果发现仅在CHO-K1细胞的培养上清中检测到目的蛋白的表达。瞬时转染CHO-K1细胞至总体积约为1.5 L, 由于目的蛋白的羧基端有8-His标签, 通过Ni2+-IDA柱纯化得到5 mg左右的目的蛋白。     

瞬时基因表达可溶性的VEGFR2: I-IV

通过RT-PCR的方法从三个月的流产绒毛组织中克隆目的基因VEGFR2 (Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, 血管内皮细胞生长因子受体2) 胞外I-IV区, 连接到真核表达载体上构建了重组表达载体。首先在无血清悬浮培养的HEK293细胞中, 使用报告基因GFP(Green fluorescence protein, 绿色荧光蛋白)优化转染条件, 发现在转染时DNA: PEI=1:2 (W/W)、1.5 mg DNA/106 cells及开始转染4 h内使用无血清、摇床(120 r/min)时可以达到最佳的转染效率和细胞数量。在确定转染条件之后, 将构建的表达载体分别在HEK293细胞、COS-7细胞和CHO-K1细胞中进行瞬时转染表达, 结果发现仅在CHO-K1细胞的培养上清中检测到目的蛋白的表达。瞬时转染CHO-K1细胞至总体积约为1.5 L, 由于目的蛋白的羧基端有8-His标签, 通过Ni2+-IDA柱纯化得到5 mg左右的目的蛋白。     

哺乳动物细胞中重组蛋白瞬时表达技术(TGE)的研究进展

近年来越来越多的重组蛋白,尤其是单克隆抗体,作为生物药应用于医疗。临床及实验室研究中,经常要求在短时间内生产一定量的候选蛋白供应研究需求。经典的建立稳定细胞系生产重组蛋白过程复杂冗长,而作为替代方法,瞬时基因表达技术在数周内即可生产数十至数百毫克重组蛋白,得到广泛应用。本文将总结近年来工业及学术上,在哺乳动物细胞尤其是人胚胎肾细胞(HEK293)及中国仓鼠卵巢细胞(CHO)中瞬时表达重组蛋白的一系列研究,概述瞬时表达技术在宿主细胞改造、表达载体最优化设计、瞬时转染条件等方面的研究进展,并展望其未来发展方向。     

035严重急性呼吸道综合征冠状病毒S蛋白可介导病毒进入肝癌细胞系

本文作者利用重组带有严重急性呼吸道综合征冠状病毒(SARS-CoV)S蛋白的慢病毒属假病毒颗粒,研究了SAILS-COV的嗜性及介导的病毒感染。首先用瞬时转染,SARS-CoV的S蛋白可以在转染细胞表面表达,随后用S蛋白的表达质粒和缺少env基因但带有报告基因的HIV质粒共转染293T细胞,     

低分子量聚乙亚胺介导的基因转染系统及动物皮肤组织基因转染试验

将带有绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)报告基因的真核表达质粒与阳离子聚合物聚乙亚胺(PEI)结合,用肝癌细胞株CM7221实验,研究其转染效率及可能引起的细胞毒性;进一步用此PEI/DNA复合物转染小鼠皮肤组织,通过报告基因检测,研究转染基因的表达位置及持续表达时间。结果发现,低分子量PEI介导的细胞转染效率最高可达55%,转染效率与PEI结构无关,但是随着分子量的增加,转染活性略有下降。同时,随着分子量的增加,PEI对细胞的毒性也相应的加大;动物皮肤转染实验显示,转染24h后,GFP基因在皮肤组织的毛囊、汗腺、皮脂腺等处高效表达,表达可持续7天。表明低分子量PEI是低毒性、高转染效率的有用非病毒转染载体,能够在动物皮肤组织中进行基因转移,这对皮肤疾病的基因治疗具有潜在的应用价值。     

重组人骨桥蛋白在哺乳动物细胞中的表达、纯化和活性研究

旨在运用哺乳动物表达载体的瞬时转染技术,转染人类胚胎肾细胞(Human Embryonic Kidney 293E,HEK293E),分泌性表达和纯化带His标签的重组人骨桥蛋白(Recombinant Human Osteopontin,rhOPN),并研究其促结肠癌以及非小细胞肺癌细胞增殖功能。合成和构建OPN融合6×His标签重组蛋白的表达载体pcDNA3.1-OPN,利用聚醚酰亚胺(Polyetherimide,PEI)瞬时转染法将pcDNA3.1-OPN转染到HEK293E细胞中,并用镍亲和层析柱对rhOPN进行纯化。SDS-PAGE电泳和Western Blot被用来检测纯化后的rhOPN蛋白在凝胶上的迁移率和纯度。此外,ELISA方法被用于测定rhOPN与抗OPN抗体间的结合能力,并用CCK-8(Cell Counting Kit-8)方法初步研究rhOPN蛋白对结肠癌及非小细胞肺癌细胞增殖的影响。结果显示,通过将pcDNA3.1-OPN瞬时转染HEK293E细胞,成功表达和纯化出纯度达95%的rhOPN,且rhOPN可以被抗OPN抗体很好的识别。rhOPN被证实在36μg/ml浓度时即可显著促进体外培养的HT29细胞增殖,在20μg/mL时能够促进体外培养的非小细胞肺癌H1299及HCC827细胞增殖。运用哺乳动物细胞瞬时转染技术,在HEK293E细胞中成功表达并纯化出高纯度的rhOPN蛋白,并发现rhOPN可以显著促进结肠癌及非小细胞肺癌细胞增殖,具有良好的生物学活性。     

Optimizing the generation of stable neuronal cell lines via pre-transfection restriction enzyme digestion of plasmid DNA

Transfection of mammalian cell lines is a widely used technique that requires significant optimization, including transfection method or product used, DNA vector, cell density, media composition and incubation time. Generation and isolation of stable transfectants from the large pool of untransfected or only transiently transfected cells can be laborious and time-consuming. Transfection of DNA is usually performed with a non-linearized plasmid, since it is assumed that cutting the plasmid beforehand leads to a lower efficiency of transfection or the degradation of linearized DNA by cytosolic nucleases. However, the transfected circular plasmid will be linearized by a random cut within the cell and it might be possible that sensitive parts of the plasmid such as the resistance gene or the gene of interest are destroyed upon linearization. On the other hand, linearizing a plasmid before transfection by a single, defined cut with a selected restriction enzyme in a non-coding area of the gene has the advantage of ensuring the integrity of all necessary gene elements of the plasmid. In this study, we have compared these different methods in order to increase both transient and stable transfection efficiency in mammalian cells. We report that linearization of plasmid DNA prior to transfection can increase both the efficiency of stable clone generation and target gene expression, but is dependant on the site of linearization within the vector.     

Advancements in mammalian cell transient gene expression (TGE) technology for accelerated production of biologics

Transient gene expression (TGE) in animal cell cultures has been used for almost 30 years to produce milligrams and grams of recombinant proteins, virus-like particles and viral vectors, mainly for research purposes. The need to increase the amount of product has led to a scale-up of TGE protocols. Moreover, product quality and process reproducibility are also of major importance, especially when TGE is employed for the preparation of clinical lots. This work gives an overview of the different technologies that are available for TGE and how they can be combined, depending on each application. Then, a critical assessment of the challenges of large-scale transient transfection follows, focusing on suspension cell cultures transfected with polyethylenimine (PEI), which is the most widely used methodology for transfection. Finally, emerging opportunities for transient transfection arising from gene therapy, personalized medicine and vaccine development are reviewed.     

Simple and reliable system for transient gene expression for the characteristic signal sequences and the estimation of the localization of target protein in plant cell

The efficiency of transient gene expression in plants credibly demonstrated characteristics of gene functions in numerous studies. Two key strategies of transient expression became favorites among researchers: protoplast transfection and agroinfiltration. Each of them, alongside the advantages, has its own constraints. In this work, an easy, rapid, and reliable system for characterization of the signal sequences and determinations of target protein localization in a plant cell is proposed and tested. This system—called the AgI–PrI—implies production of protoplasts from plant tissues after agroinfiltration. Reliability of the proposed system for transient gene expression has been proved using characterized signal sequences in Nicotiana benthamiana cells. The corresponding protocol is less expensive and depends to a lesser degree on the professional skills in the area of protoplast isolation and transfection; furthermore, it may be applicable to other plant species with either available efficient methods of agroinfiltration and protoplast isolation or with the potential for one of the protocols to be supplemented. Thus, the AgI–PrI technique makes it possible to combine the advantages of two widely used methods for the transient gene expression in plants—agroinfiltration and protoplast isolation and transfection—and concurrently avoids their critical points.     

Use of flow cytometry to rapidly optimize the transfection of animal cells

Plasmid transfection is the first step in the generation of stably transformed animal cells and is also a useful tool for analyzing transient gene expression. Maximizing the transfection efficiency and expression level from the introduced plasmid is critical to the success of these processes. By means of lipid-mediated transfection, a plasmid vector expressing the green fluorescence reporter protein has been coupled with flow cytometry to conveniently investigate those parameters that impact the efficacy of transfection of lepidopteran insect cells. The key feature of this technique is the rapid and simultaneous quantification of transfection efficiency and heterologous protein expression level per cell. Using this technique, we developed an optimized transfection protocol for insect cells by investigating the following parameters: lipid incubation time, lipid/DNA mixture incubation time, lipid and DNA concentration, incubation vessel and transfection duration. Following optimization, transfection efficiencies of 37%-40% were obtained for Bombyx mori Bm5 and Spodoptera frugiperda Sf-21 cells.     

Electroporated intact BY-2 tobacco culture cells as a model of transient expression study

Transfer of foreign genes into plant cells can be accomplished by several methods: agrobacterium-mediated, microinjection, biolistic particle bombardment and electroporation. The last one is frequently used for transfection of plant protoplasts for transient gene expression. Electroporation is a simple procedure and allows transfecting a large number of cells at one time. Square wave-modulated porators are the most efficient for introducing expression cassettes into plant protoplasts. Based on a protocol developed by Wu & Feng (Plant Cell Reports, 1999, 18, 381-386), we optimized conditions for transfection of intact Nicotiana tabacum BY-2 cells using square wave-modulated electroporator. To simplify screening for transfected gene expression we used constructs with a GFP marker gene.     

Demethylation using the epigenetic modifier, 5-azacytidine, increases the efficiency of transient transfection of macrophages

This study was aimed at developing a method for high-efficiency transient transfection of macrophages. Seven methods were evaluated for transient transfection of murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. The highest transfection efficiency was achieved with DEAE-dextran, although the proportion of cells expressing the reporter gene did not exceed 20%. It was subsequently found that the cytomegalovirus plasmid promoter in these cells becomes methylated. When cells were treated with the methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine, methylation of the plasmid promoter was abolished and a dose-dependent stimulation of reporter gene expression was observed with expression achieved in more than 80% of cells. Treatment of cells with 5-azacytidine also caused increased efficiency of transfection of macrophages with plasmids driven by RSV, SV40, and EF-1alpha promoters and transient transfection of human HepG2 cells. Inhibition of methylation also increased the amount and activity of sterol 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) detected in RAW 264.7 cells transfected with a CYP27A1 expression plasmid. Treatment of cells with 5-azacytidine alone did not affect either cholesterol efflux from nontransfected cells or expression of ABCA1 and CYP27A1. However, transfection with CYP27A1 led to a 2- to 4-fold increase of cholesterol efflux. We conclude that treatment with 5-azacytidine can be used for high-efficiency transient transfection of macrophages.     

High-density transfection with HEK-293 cells allows doubling of transient titers and removes need for a priori DNA complex formation with PEI

Recombinant proteins are of great commercial and scientific interest. Yet, most production methods in mammalian cells involve the time- and labor-consuming step of creating stable cell lines. Production methods based on transient gene expression are advantageous in terms of speed and versatility; yet, depending on the transfection protocol, transient transfection faces some bottlenecks such as a priori complex formation, limitations in terms of transfection and production media used and the need for medium exchange prior to and/or after transfection. Published protocols for transfection of suspension-adapted HEK-293 cells with polyethyleneimine have shown great promise in overcoming some of these bottlenecks, but still require a priori complex formation for optimal yields and limit the choice of transfection and production media. Here, we report successful in situ transfection of suspension-adapted HEK-293 cells with 25-kDa linear polyethyleneimine at densities up to 20 x 10(6) cells/mL in complex media followed by production at lower cell densities (1 x 10(6) cells/mL). After concentrating cells to such high densities, transfection of HEK-293 cells becomes possible in most commonly used media and is not restricted to a specific medium. Furthermore, there is no need to make transfection complexes a priori, a step that prevents inline sterile filtration of the DNA bulk for transfection, an important consideration when scaling processes up to 100 or 1,000 L. Finally, transfecting HEK-293 cells at high density in complex media is superior to existing transfection protocols and doubles yields of recombinant protein obtainable by transient gene expression.     

Effects of pCIneo and pCEP4 expression vectors on transient and stable protein production in human and simian cell lines

To support and meet the demand for recombinant proteins early in the drug discovery process, much work has been directed toward improving the methods used for transient gene transfection and expression. A factor which could potentially affect the outcome of experiments is the choice of the expression vector. Conventional vectors such as pCIneo and pcDNA3 have been used frequently. Each of these places the gene of interest under the control of the CMV promoter. An interesting alternative is provided by episomal vectors. For example, the pCEP4 vector contains the gene coding for the Epstein Barr nuclear antigen as well as the EBNA ori P sequence. This combination allows for the episomal replication of the plasmid. In preliminary experiments, we compared transient secreted placental alkaline phosphatase production in 8 cell lines from 3 different species using the pCIneo vs. pCEP4 vectors and found the utility of the pCEP4 vector to be limited to the human 293 EBNA cell line. In this paper, we have compared the two vectors in six cell lines of simian and human origin, measuring the transient production of secreted placental alkaline phosphatase and human hepatocyte growth factor. In general, the pCEP4 vector produced higher amounts of both proteins in transient transfections. Results were particularly pronounced in the HEK 293 and 293 EBNA cell lines. Stable pools of cells (uncloned) expressing human hepatocyte growth factor were isolated using pCIneo and pCEP4 and protein production levels were compared to those seen in transient transfections. Stable expression with pCEP4 was found to produce the highest levels of human hepatocyte growth factor in 3 of 4 cell lines. Finally, electroporation and FuGENE^TM6(Roche, Indianapolis IN) as transfection methods were compared measuring transient production of secreted placental alkaline phosphatase, human hepatocyte growth factor, and green fluorescent protein. FuGENE produced higher protein concentrations in less time than electroporation for all 3 proteins. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.