A DNA vaccine co-expressing antigen and an anti-apoptotic molecule further enhances the antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell immune response

We have shown that DNA encoding the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL enhances E7-specific CD8+ T-cell responses and DNA encoding pro-apoptotic protein caspase-3 suppresses E7-specific CD8+ T-cell responses when co-administered intradermally via gene gun with DNA encoding human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) E7 linked to the sorting signal of the lysosome-associated membrane protein type 1 (LAMP-1). E7 and LAMP-1 are linked to form the chimeric Sig/E7/LAMP-1 (SEL). Because co-administration does not ensure delivery of both constructs to a single cell, we used pVITRO, a mammalian expression vector with double promoters, to ensure expression of both molecules in the same cell. We vaccinated C57BL/6 mice with pVITRO-SEL-Bcl-xL, pVITRO-SEL-mtBcl-xL, pVITRO-SEL, or pVITRO-SEL-caspase-3 intradermally via gene gun and intramuscularly via injection. We demonstrated that vaccination with pVITRO achieved similar results to a co-administration strategy: that Bcl-xL enhanced the E7-specific CTL response and caspase-3 suppressed the E7-specific CTL response. In addition, we found intradermal vaccination elicited significantly higher numbers of E7-specific CD8+ T cells compared to intramuscular vaccination. Thus, intradermal vaccination with a pVITRO vector combining an anti-apoptotic strategy (Bcl-xL) and an intracellular targeting strategy (SEL) further enhances the E7-specific CD8+ T-cell response and guarantees co-expression of both encoded molecules in transfected cells.T.W.K. and C.-F.H. contributed equally to this work.     

Suppression of ERK activation in urethral epithelial cells infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae and its isogenic minD mutant contributes to anti-apoptosis

In gonococci-infected transduced human urethral epithelial cells (THUEC), the role of ERK, a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), in apoptosis is unknown. We observed lowering of ERK activation in THUEC following infection with anti-apoptosis-inducing Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain CH811. An isogenic cell division mutant of this strain, Ng CJSD1 (minD deficient), which is large and abnormally shaped, reduced ERK phosphorylation levels even more than its parental strain in THUEC. This led to higher anti-apoptosis in mutant-infected cells as compared to the parental strain-infected cells. Our results suggest that N. gonorrhoeae infection reduces ERK activation in THUEC contributing to anti-apoptosis.     

大黄酸和迷迭香酸单用及配伍对慢性肾脏疾病的保护作用研究

目的:探讨大黄酸和迷迭香酸单用及配伍通过抗凋亡对5/6肾切除(5/6Nx)大鼠的保护作用。方法:采用5/6肾切除手术制作慢性肾损伤模型,将30只雄性SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组、大黄酸(150 mg/kg/day)治疗组、大黄酸(75mg/kg/day)+迷迭香酸(75 mg/kg/day)治疗组和迷迭香酸(150 mg/kg/day)治疗组。给药1个月后处死大鼠,测量各组大鼠血清肌酐(Scr)和尿素氮(BUN)水平,通过HE染色观察肾组织形态学变化,通过TUNEL染色和测量肾组织中Bax、Bcl-2和cleaved caspase 3的表达检测细胞凋亡。结果:与模型组相比,大黄酸和迷迭香酸单用及配伍都可显著降低血清肌酐和尿素氮(P0.05)水平,改变组织形态学的变化和抑制肾脏细胞凋亡,且配伍的效果优于单用。结论:大黄酸和迷迭香酸配伍发挥肾保护作用明显优于单用,其作用机制与抗凋亡作用相关。     

Molecular Basis of Anti-Apoptotic Effect of Immunophilin Ligands on Hydrogen Peroxide–Induced Apoptosis in Human Glioma Cells

To clarify the molecular basis of the cytoprotective properties of immunophilin ligands (IPLs), the anti-apoptotic effects of IPLs were determined in human glioma U251 cells. GPI1046 and V10367, non-immunosuppressive IPLs (NI-IPLs), as well as FK506, an immunosuppressive IPL (I-IPL), had cytoprotective effects against hydrogen peroxide (H20O)-induced apoptotic cell death in U251 cells. H2O2 increased both the ratio of bax/bcl-2 and the p53 mRNA expression. However, pre-treatment with FK506 and V10367 significantly prevented any increase in this ratio or p53 mRNA expression. GPI1046 also reduced the ratio of bax/bcl-2 to the normal level. In addition, H2O2 significantly increased activities of all three caspases, caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9, in comparison with non-H2O2 controls. However, FK506 prevented the increase of these caspase activities. On the other hand, it is well-known that glutathione (GSH) and neurotrophic factor (NTF) is related to the induction of apoptosis in neuronal cells. In U251 cells, FK506, GPI1046 and V10367 had GSH-activating and NTF-activating effects. Thus, the immunosuppressive effect is not essential for the cytoprotective properties of IPLs, and IPLs have multiple beneficial properties such as the anti-apoptotic effect, GSH-activating effect, and NTF-activating effect, although the anti-apoptotic effect of NI-IPLs is independent of the regulation of apoptotic activators such as caspase-3.     

The dual actions of angiogenesis and anti-apoptosis induced by an isolated fraction from Geum japonicum repair muscle ischemia

The fundamental improvement of muscle ischemia requires the re-establishment of sufficient vessel network. Despite many kinds of drugs have been used for ischemia, effective angiogenic drug is very limited. Here, we reported the identification and isolation of a potent angiogenic fraction (angio-T) from Geum japonicum and assessment of its therapeutic effects on muscle ischemia by reconstituting the insufficient blood supply network and enhancing cell survival potential. It was demonstrated that angio-T not only significantly enhanced the proliferation of cultured HCAECs in vitro, but also significantly enhanced the survival potential of the myofibers at risk and neovascularization in ischemic muscles leading to reconstitution of these vessel networks, significant reduction of ischemic areas, and significant myofiber regeneration in ischemic area one week post-ischemia.     

提高哺乳动物工程细胞抗凋亡能力的基因策略

利用哺乳动物细胞发酵生产重组蛋白药物具有细菌、酵母等表达系统所不具备的显著优势,因此在生物制药工程中的重要性越来越突出。哺乳动物细胞对工业生产环境下的各种应激环境耐受能力差,易发生细胞凋亡,严重阻碍了大规模生产,降低了生产效率。细胞凋亡是细胞必经的生物学过程,随着对凋亡机制的深入了解,发展出各种抗凋亡策略,并有望应用于重构更适合工业生产的工程细胞。常用的抗凋亡策略包括:下调凋亡蛋白、上调抗凋亡蛋白、增强生长因子自表达、减少有毒代谢产物生成等。以上策略虽然能在一定程度上提高细胞的抗凋亡能力,但距离满足生产的工程细胞重构还有距离,围绕提高工程细胞的抗凋亡能力,已发展出"凋亡工程"这一重要的技术领域。     

单纯疱疹病毒2型潜伏相关转录体ORF2的表达及其抗凋亡作用

本文探讨了单纯疱疹病毒2型 (HSV-2)潜伏相关转录体 (LAT)的开放读码框2 (ORF2)在细胞中的表达, 及其对5-氟尿嘧啶 (5-FU)诱导的非洲绿猴肾细胞 (Vero)凋亡的影响。通过将重组质粒pEGPF-ORF2转染Vero细胞, 绿色荧光蛋白检测转染效率, RT-PCR验证目的基因的表达, 5-FU 诱导细胞凋亡, 通过荧光显微镜观察凋亡小体, Gimesa染色检测细胞核形态, MTT法检测细胞的存活率, DNA ladder片段分析, 结果表明, 转染后绿色荧光蛋白表达效率很高, RT-PCR验证有目的基因的转录。凋亡诱导后的细胞形态正常, MTT法分析活性率与正常无差异, 而显著高于空质粒组, DNA ladder未见凋亡条带。由此我们认为HSV-2 LAT ORF2 基因在Vero细胞中得到了高效表达, 并且具有抗5-FU诱导的凋亡作用。     

Magnoflorine from Coptis chinese has the potential to treat DNCB-induced Atopic dermatits by inhibiting apoptosis of keratinocyte

AimsIn Sheng Nong’s herbal classic in China, Rhizoma coptidis ^a(RC) could be used to treat Atopic dermatits ^b(AD), but its core ingredient(s) and mechanism remains unknown. The present study aimed to find out the ingredients against AD and expound its mechanisms.Materials and methodsSeven alkaloids were isolated from RC to compare the inhibition against HaCaT cells by MTT assays and apoptosis of cells stimulated with TNF-α/IFN-γ by flow cytometry. The effects of target alkaloids against AD were evaluated on DNCB^c (2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene)-induced atopic dermatitis in mice.Key findingsSeven alkaloids were isolated from RC successfully. The results from MTT and flow cytometry indicated that among these alkaloids, only magnoflorine ^d(MAG) had no obvious toxicity on cells, but could inhibit the apoptosis of the cells stimulated with TNF-α/IFN-γ. Further animal experiments confirmed that MAG significantly attenuated the AD-like symptom and inhibited the AD-induced increases in IgE/IL-4, as compared with control (P < 0.01). Moreover, MAG reduced the low Δψ_m ^e(mitochondrial membrane potential) in HaCaT cells. The results of western blotting proved that MAG inhibited apoptosis of keratinocytes through decreasing the expressions of CTSB^f (cathepsin B), Cyte C^g (cytochrome C), Bid and caspase-3/7/8/9.SignificanceOverall, MAG inhibited apoptosis by decreasing the expression of apoptotic pathway-related proteins, and laid a foundation for the study of AD mechanisms.     

Umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells protect amyloid-β42 neurotoxicity via paracrine

AIM:To understand the neuroprotective mechanism of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells(hUCB-MSCs) against amyloid-β42(Aβ42) exposed rat primary neurons.METHODS:To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of hUCB-MSCs,the cells were co-cultured with Aβ42-exposed rat primary neuronal cells in a Transwell apparatus.To assess the involvement of soluble fac-tors released from hUCB-MSCs in neuroprotection,an antibody-based array using co-cultured media was conducted.The neuroprotective roles of the identified hUCB-MSC proteins was assessed by treating recombi-nant proteins or specific small interfering RNAs(siRNAs) for each candidate protein in a co-culture system.RESULTS:The hUCB-MSCs secreted elevated levels ofdecorin and progranulin when co-cultured with rat pri-mary neuronal cells exposed to Aβ42.Treatment with recombinant decorin and progranulin protected from Aβ42-neurotoxicity in vitro.In addition,siRNA-mediat-ed knock-down of decorin and progranulin production in hUCB-MSCs reduced the anti-apoptotic effects of hUCB-MSC in the co-culture system.CONCLUSION:Decorin and progranulin may be involved in anti-apoptotic activity of hUCB-MSCs exposed to Aβ42.