荧光定量PCR检测土拨鼠肝炎病毒核酸方法的建立

目的建立土拨鼠肝炎病毒（woodchuck hepatitis virus,WHV）核酸的荧光定量PCR（Real-time PCR）检测方法,应用于土拨鼠肝炎病毒模型的研究。方法分别根据土拨鼠肝炎病毒核心抗原（WHcAg）和表面抗原（WHsAg）的DNA序列设计13对扩增引物,从中筛选无非特异性扩增及引物二聚体且灵敏度高的引物,用于土拨鼠血清中WHV DNA的Real-time PCR检测。建立感染土拨鼠肝炎病毒的土拨鼠血清中WHV核酸的Real-timePCR检测方法。结果根据WHsAg基因的5＇端设计的一对引物WHVSF1与WHVSR1,检测灵敏度可达1×101拷贝/μL,病毒拷贝数与Real-time PCR Ct值的标准曲线的R2值为0.997,且电泳未见明显非特异性条带及引物二聚体。结论建立了土拨鼠血清中WHV DNA的Real-time PCR检测方法,该方法为进一步研究土拨鼠肝炎病毒模型奠定了基础。     

中国西伯利亚幼獭肝内接种美国土拨鼠肝炎病毒的实验研究

研究肝炎和肝癌关系的实验动物中,唯有土拨鼠感染土拨鼠肝类病毒(WoodchuckHepatitis Virus,WHv)后,其病程、结局与人类感染乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)相似,WHV DNA可与宿主肝细胞DNA整合并产生肝癌。中国旱獭(Marmota marmota)在     

p16在HBsAg和HBx转基因小鼠肝脏肿瘤中的表达

目的:探讨p16基因在由乙型肝炎病毒基因整合引起的小鼠肝细胞癌发生发展中的表达变化规律。方法:以乙肝病毒表面抗原基因(HBsAg)及X基因(HBx)定位整合转基因小鼠及对照小鼠的肝脏组织为标本,利用North-ern印迹、Western印迹及免疫组织化学检测p16在乙肝病毒基因定位整合转基因小鼠肝脏正常组织与肿瘤组织中的差异表达。结果:p16主要在小鼠胚胎期的肝脏中表达,在新生小鼠和成年小鼠的肝脏组织中几乎检测不到其表达;在HBsAg转基因小鼠和HBx转基因小鼠的肝脏肿瘤中,p16的表达明显升高。结论:p16基因在HBsAg或HBx诱导的肝细胞癌发生过程中被重新激活,也许发挥重要的作用。     

中国青海地区喜马拉雅旱獭嗜肝病毒自然感染的组织学研究

应用原位杂交技术、免疫组化技术以土拨鼠肝炎病毒(Woodchuck hepatitis virus,WHV)的检测系统检测50份 喜马拉雅旱獭肝组织可能存在的嗜肝病毒c基因、s抗原及c抗原的表达,同时检测肝脏组织病理学改变。结果显示 旱獭肝组织中嗜肝病毒s抗原、c抗原的阳性率分别为26％(13／50)、36％(18／50);在抗原双阳性的10份肝组织标本 中有c基因的阳性表达,阳性率为50％。c抗原定位于肝细胞胞浆和／或胞核,呈散在、片簇状分布,c基因定位于肝细 胞的细胞核,阳性细胞散在分布。50份标本中5份出现肝炎的病理改变,与抗原检出间无明显相关性。使用WHV 的病毒检测系统证实青海地区喜马拉雅旱獭可能存在类似WHV的嗜肝病毒感染,从组织学的角度为中国青海地区 喜马拉雅旱獭嗜肝病毒自然感染提供证据,此种动物有可能用于建立嗜肝病毒感染的动物模型。     

BXSB小鼠肝脏可诱导共刺激因子的表达

目的观察可诱导共刺激因子（inducible co—Stimulator factor,ICOS）在BXSB狼疮小鼠肝脏的表达,探索这种共刺激分子在狼疮肝损害中的可能作用机制。方法以8周龄正常C57BL／6雄性小鼠作对照,用免疫组化及实时PCR方法,检测ICOS在8、16周周龄雄性BXSB小鼠肝脏的表达。结果①正常组鼠肝组织未见明显ICOS染色,8、16周龄BXSB4,鼠肝组织ICOS阳性细胞位于肝小叶的肝血窦或／和窦周隙内,较平均分布;8周BXSB组、16周BXSB组ICOS mRNA表达水平（4．39±0．89,5．24±0．74）均较正常对照组（1．07±0．08）明显升高（P〈0．01）,16NBXSB组的ICOS mRNA表达水平与8周BXSB组无显著性差异（P〉0．05）;结论BXSB小鼠肝损害的发病、疾病的活动可能与ICOS的分布及在肝脏的表达增加有关。     

乙型肝炎表面抗原阳性转基因小鼠肝组织基因表达谱及蛋白组学的初步研究

目的 利用与乙型肝炎病毒(ItBV)携带者相类似的#59系HBV转基因小鼠动物模型研究乙型肝炎表面抗原(HBsAg)蛋白对肝组织生理、代谢状态的影响,以了解HBsAg持续表达对肝细胞影响的机制。方法 用Affmertix基因芯片观察转基因小鼠肝组织基因表达谱的改变。用蛋白组学方法鉴定部分代谢相关酶类在转基因小鼠肝组织内的丰度改变。结果 基因芯片实验显示43个基因在转基因小鼠肝组织内显著(≥2倍)上调表达,104个基因显著下调表达。蛋白组学实验检出18个代谢相关酶在转基因小鼠肝组织内丰度高于对照鼠1．5倍以上,9个代谢相关酶低于对照鼠1．5倍以上。结论 HBV蛋白的存在对宿主肝组织代谢状态产生显著影响。推测其表现为胆固醇合成增强、胆汁酸合成减弱。糖异生作用增强、糖酵解减弱。氨基酸分解代谢增强、尿素合成减弱。     

PI3K活性与BHA诱导小鼠胎肝细胞表达神经组织细胞特异基因有关

目的：了解丁羟回醚（BHA）对小鼠胎肝（FL）细胞神经组织特异基因表达的影响及其信号途径。方法：小鼠胎肝细胞,以DMEM／F12＋10％胎牛血清培养液培养;第4d后,去悬浮细胞,留黏附细胞,加入或者不加入磷酸肌醇3羟基激酶（PI3K）抑制剂LY294002（20μmol／L）处理24h,再加入BHA至终浓度0．2mmol／L,然后继续培养5d。用Western blot和半定量RT—PCR方法分析BHA处理前后神经组织细胞特异基因表达。结果：胎肝细胞本身表达神经组织特异基因水平较低或者不表达。BHA则促进了胎肝细胞内神经组织特异基因表达：NF-L mRNA增加5．8倍、NF—H mRNA增加8．0倍、TH mRNA增加30倍、BF-1 mRNA增加2．68倍;NF-L蛋白增加11．29倍、NF—H蛋白增加5,5倍、BF-1蛋白增加2．53倍、TH蛋白增加4．76倍。而LY294002能明显抑制BHA诱导的神经组织细胞特异蛋白NF—L、NF-H、BF-1和TH的表达。结论：PI3K活性与BHA诱导小鼠胎肝细胞表达神经组织细胞特异结构和功能基因有关。     

Fv-4基因杂合子小鼠对Fr.MuLV感染的敏感性差异的分析

目的 :探讨新生和成年的Fv 4基因杂合子小鼠 (BALB/C小鼠×G小鼠 )对Friend小鼠白血病病毒 (Fr.MuLV)感染的敏感性差异及其与小鼠淋巴细胞表面Fv 4基因产物的表达量的关系。方法 :经腹腔接种Fr.MuLV分别感染新生和成年的杂合子小鼠 ,观察小鼠对Fr.MuLV感染的敏感性差异 ;并用间接免疫荧光标记 FACS测定法 ,分别对小鼠脾脏淋巴细胞表面的Fv 4基因产物进行定量检测与分析。结果 :接种病毒后 ,新生杂合子小鼠可被病毒感染并出现脾脏肿大等症状 ,而成年杂合子小鼠则不发病 ;但是 ,在新生和成年的杂合子小鼠脾脏淋巴细胞表面均可以检测出Fv 4基因产物 ,其表达量基本相同。结论 :新生和成年的Fv 4基因杂合子小鼠对Friend小鼠白血病病毒感染的敏感性不同 ,但该敏感性差异与小鼠细胞表面Fv 4基因产物的表达量无关。提示Fv 4基因杂合子的抗Fr.MuLV感染可能还有其他机制或因素的参与。     

1型糖尿病小鼠肝脏的口服葡萄糖代谢及差异表达基因

目的：观察口服葡萄糖在1型糖尿病小鼠肝脏的代谢,比较1型糖尿病小鼠与正常小鼠口服葡萄糖后肝组织基因表达的差异。方法：链脲霉素（STZ）诱导C57雄性小鼠1型糖尿病模型为实验组（n=8）,正常C57雄性小鼠为对照组（n=8）。每组随机取2只,按50ml／kg给予4％葡萄糖生理盐水溶液灌胃,2h取肝组织检测基因表达谱（Mouse Genome 430 2．0Array）。每组另6只．同样剂量给予含14C标记葡萄糖。结果：糖尿病小鼠口服14C标记葡萄糖2h后,肝组织同位素水平是正常对照组的4倍。以正常对照组为参比,共有舛条基因的表达变化差异在2倍以上,其中上调基因61个,下调基因33个。根据功能基因组分析,11条差异表达基因与脂代谢、胆固醇代谢相关,其中7条上调基因与脂、胆固醇合成相关,1条下调基因与脂肪酸分解相关。结论：SIZ诱导的1型糖尿病小鼠口服葡糖后2h,肝脏脂、胆固醇合成相关基因表达增高。     

GS、E—cadherin和β-catenin在肝细胞癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的探讨谷氨酰胺合成酶（glutamine synthetaseGS）、E-钙粘蛋白（E—cadherin）和β-连环蛋白（β-catenin）在肝细胞癌中的表达及其与临床病理特征和预后的关系。方法采用免疫组织化学Envision法检测182例肝细胞癌和92例癌旁肝组织中GS、E-cadherin和β-catenin的表达情况,并分析其与临床病理特征和预后的关系。结果GS在肝细胞癌阳性表达率为77．5％,明显高于癌旁肝组织（4．3％）,差异显著（P〈0．05）;肝细胞癌E—cadherin和β-catenin异常表达率分别为59．3％和58．8％,亦高于癌旁肝组织（30．4％和26．1％）,差异显著（P〈0．05）。肝细胞癌中GS的表达与TNM分期、转移和术后复发显著相关（P〈0．05）;E—cadherin和β-catenin异常表达与脉管内瘤栓、TNM分期、转移和术后复发显著相关（P〈0．05）。肝细胞癌中GS表达与E-cadherin、β-catenin异常表达正相关。结论肝细胞癌中GS的高表达,与E-cadherin和β-catenin表达的下调,可能是肝细胞癌侵袭和转移的重要机制之一,联合检测GS、E-cadherin和β-catenin可能有助于判断肝细胞癌的恶性程度、转移潜能及预后分析。     

Molecular characterization of woodchuck interleukin 15 (wIL-15) and detection of its expression in liver samples of woodchucks infected with woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV)

Interleukin 15 (IL-15) is a member of the four-helix bundle cytokine family and has T cell growth factor activity. IL-15 plays a unique role in both innate and adaptive immune cell homeostasis, particularly for the development of NK cells and CD8+memory cells. It may be useful for stimulation of specific immune responses in chronic viral infection such as hepatitis B virus infection. The woodchuck model is an informative animal model for studies on hepadnavirus infection and therapeutic interventions. Here, the complete coding sequence of woodchuck IL-15 (wIL-15) was cloned and sequenced. wIL-15 shows a high homology (>70%) to its counterparts of other mammalian species. His-tagged recombinant wIL-15 protein was expressed and purified and showed the ability to promote the proliferation of activated mouse splenocytes and woodchuck peripheral blood lymphocytes. Further, examination of mRNA amounts in liver samples of woodchucks by semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed a slightly increased expression of wIL-15 in woodchuck livers during chronic woodchuck hepatitis virus infection. This available information will provide a basis for further studies on the function of IL-15 in the context of acute and chronic hepadnavirus infection and its potential therapeutic use for chronic hepatitis B virus infection in the woodchuck model.     

The precore gene of the woodchuck hepatitis virus genome is not essential for viral replication in the natural host.

A number of naturally occurring hepatitis B virus mutants that cannot synthesize the virus precore protein have been identified. Such mutants have been associated with more severe forms of hepatitis, including fulminant hepatitis. The most common mutation observed is a substitution of G to A in the distal precore gene that converts a codon specifying Trp (TGG) to a termination codon (TAG). Using oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, we have produced the same point mutation in the precore gene of an infectious clone of woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV). Transfection of mutant WHV DNA into the livers of adult woodchucks resulted in replication of the mutant in three of three susceptible animals. Levels of virus replication and transient elevations in liver enzymes in serum were similar to those of adult animals infected with wild-type WHV. Virions, found to possess mutant precore genes by polymerase chain reaction amplification and DNA sequencing, were recovered from the serum of one of the animals and inoculated subcutaneously into neonatal woodchucks. They produced infection in all five animals studied. The level of virus replication in neonatal animals infected with this mutant virus was comparable to that found in neonatal woodchucks infected with wild-type WHV, but none of five woodchucks infected with the precore mutant virus as neonates became chronic virus carriers. It was concluded that the precore gene of the WHV genome is not essential for virus replication in the natural host but may be important for chronic infection.     

Core antigen and antibody in woodchucks after infection with woodchuck hepatitis virus

The woodchuck hepatitis virus is a naturally occurring hepatitis B-like virus that infects the eastern woodchuck. Direct immunofluorescence staining for woodchuck hepatitis virus core antigen in liver biopsies demonstrated the presence of this antigen in 14 of 17 chronically infected woodchucks, and in 8 of 10 woodchucks undergoing acute infections. Fluorescent localization of woodchuck hepatitis virus core antigen was typically cytoplasmic, and this was confirmed further by electron microscopy. Experimental infection with woodchuck hepatitis virus was achieved in four of four woodchucks inoculated with serum from chronic carrier woodchucks. All infected animals developed a self-limited disease characterized by seroconversion to antibodies against the major viral antigens (core and surface antigens); naturally acquired acute infection demonstrated a similar course. A chimpanzee seronegative for all markers of hepatitis B virus developed a subclinical infection after inoculation with woodchuck hepatitis virus.     

Monitoring of early events of experimental woodchuck hepatitis infection: Studies of peripheral blood mononuclear cells by cytofluorometry and PCR

Abstract The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of woodchucks experimentally infected by woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) were examined simultaneously for the presence of membrane associated WHV antigens by cytofluorometry, and for WHV DNA and RNA sequences by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Four woodchucks were inoculated: two with a well-defined infectious inoculum and two with an inoculum obtained from an animal at the late incubation phase, which was positive for WHV DNA by PCR but still devoid of WHV markers. Infection was demonstrated in all four inoculated woodchucks by the appearance at different times of WHV DNA and WHV antigens in both leucocytes and serum. WHV DNA was first detected by PCR either in the serum (two cases) or in leucocytes (two cases). The mean percentage of cells positive for membrane associated WHsAg or WHcAg detected by cytofluorometry were 37%±25 and 17%±15 respectively. After 8 weeks, all inoculated animals were WHsAg positive in serum. These data suggest that PBMC are involved in the early events of hepadnavirus infection. They also show that sera which are positive by PCR for WHV DNA may transmit viral infection even while still seronegative for WHV markers and for WHV DNA by dot blot.     

Immunization of Woodchucks with Plasmids Expressing Woodchuck Hepatitis Virus (WHV) Core Antigen and Surface Antigen Suppresses WHV Infection

DNA vaccination can induce humoral and cellular immune response to viral antigens and confer protection to virus infection. In woodchucks, we tested the protective efficacy of immune response to woodchuck hepatitis core antigen (WHcAg) and surface antigen (WHsAg) of woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) elicited by DNA-based vaccination. Plasmids pWHcIm and pWHsIm containing WHV c- or pre-s2/s genes expressed WHcAg and WHsAg in transient transfection assays. Pilot experiments in mice revealed that a single intramuscular injection of 100 μg of plasmid pWHcIm DNA induced an anti-WHcAg titer over 1:300 that was enhanced by boost injections. However, two injections of 100 μg of pWHcIm did not induce detectable anti-WHcAg in woodchucks. With an increase in the dose to 1 mg of pWHcIm per injection, transient anti-WHcAg response and WHcAg-specific proliferation of peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PMBCs) appeared in woodchucks after repeated immunizations. Four woodchucks vaccinated with pWHcIm were challenged with 10⁴ or 10⁵ of the WHV 50% infective dose. They remained negative for markers of WHV replication (WHV DNA and WHsAg) in peripheral blood and developed anti-WHs in week 5 after challenge. In contrast, woodchucks not immunized or immunized with the control vector pcDNA3 developed acute WHV infection. Two woodchucks immunized with 1 mg of pWHsIm developed WHsAg-specific proliferative response of PBMCs but no measurable anti-WHsAg response. A rapid anti-WHsAg response developed during week 2 after virus challenge. Neither woodchuck developed any signs of WHV infection. These data indicate that DNA-based vaccination with WHcAg and WHsAg can elicit immunity to WHV infection.     

Molecular characterization of woodchuck type I interferons and their expression by woodchuck peripheral blood lymphocytes

Interferon (IFN)-alpha and -beta are important antiviral mediators. IFN-alpha is widely used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. In our previous studies, a subtype of woodchuck IFN-alpha (wIFN-alpha) was characterized and has been shown to be active in suppressing the replication of woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) in vitro and vivo. Here, we refined the analysis of the IFN-alpha/beta system of the woodchuck and studied the expression of wIFN-alpha/beta in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from na?ve and WHV-infected woodchucks. A number of wIFN-alpha genes were sequenced and could be classified into 10 subtypes and 3 pseudotypes. The biological activity of different subtypes of wIFN-alpha was demonstrated by their ability to protect woodchuck cells against encephalomyocarditis virus infection and to induce MxA expression in woodchuck cells. Additionally, a partial sequence of wIFN-beta was characterized. A subtyping method for wIFN-alpha based on restriction length polymorphism analysis was developed. Further, the expression of wIFN by woodchuck PBLs after stimulation with polyI/C was investigated. The maximal production of wIFN by woodchuck PBLs occurred within the first 48 h after addition poly I/C. The wIFN-alpha subtypes 1, 4, and 5 were found to be produced by poly I/C-stimulated woodchuck PBLs, indicating a selective expression of wIFN-alpha subtypes. PBLs from chronically WHV-infected woodchucks showed a reduced ability to produce wIFN when stimulated with poly I/C. The results suggest that woodchucks with chronic WHV infection have impaired immunological responses to poly I/C.     

Combination of an antiviral drug and immunomodulation against hepadnaviral infection in the woodchuck model

The essential role of multispecific immune responses for the control of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection implies the need of multimodal therapeutic strategies for chronic HBV infection, including antiviral chemotherapy and immunomodulation. This hypothesis was tested in the woodchuck model by a combination of lamivudine pretreatment and subsequent immunizations of woodchucks chronically infected with woodchuck hepatitis virus. The immunizations were performed with DNA vaccines or antigen-antibody immune complexes (IC)/DNA vaccines. Immunizations with IC/DNA vaccines led to an anti-woodchuck hepatitis virus surface antibody response and significant reductions of viral load and antigenemia, suggesting that such a strategy may be effective against chronic HBV infection.     

Woodchuck hepatitis virus is a more efficient oncogenic agent than ground squirrel hepatitis virus in a common host.

Chronic infection with hepatitis B viruses (hepadnaviruses) is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the incubation time varies from 1 to 2 years to several decades in different host species infected with indigenous viruses. To discern the influence of viral and host factors on the kinetics of induction of HCC, we exploited the recent observation that ground squirrel hepatitis virus (GSHV) is infectious in woodchucks (C. Seeger, P. L. Marion, D. Ganem, and H. E. Varmus, J. Virol. 61:3241-3247, 1987) to compare the pathogenic potential of GSHV and woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) in chronically infected woodchucks. Chronic GSHV infection in woodchucks produces mild to moderate portal hepatitis, similar to that observed in woodchucks chronically infected with WHV. However, HCC developed in GSHV carriers about 18 months later than in WHV carriers. Thus, although both viruses are oncogenic in woodchucks, GSHV and WHV differ in oncogenic determinants that can affect the kinetics of appearance of HCC in chronically infected animals.