Intensive RNAi with lentiviral vectors in mammalian cells

RNAi is a powerful technology for analyzing gene function in human cells. However, its utility can be compromised by inadequate knockdown of the target mRNA or by interpretation of effects without rigorous controls. We review lentiviral vector-based methods that enable transient or stable knockdowns to trace mRNA levels in human CD4+ T cell lines and other targets. Critical controls are reviewed, including rescue of the pre-knockdown phenotype by re-expression of the targeted gene. The time from thinking about a potential knockdown target to analysis of phenotypes can be as short as a few weeks.     

基因治疗慢病毒载体的转导增强策略*

基于慢病毒载体的体外基因治疗已在临床试验中取得良好的效果,有望治愈一些造血系统的单基因遗传病。通过提高靶细胞转导效率和减少转导中病毒载体量,基因治疗有效性、安全性和成本都可以得到改善。不同包膜糖蛋白伪型慢病毒载体通过与细胞膜表面的不同受体结合,促进病毒黏附和入胞,增强不同靶细胞的病毒转导效率。此外病毒转导增强剂可以在病毒进入细胞过程或进入后发挥作用,在提高转导效率的同时使靶转导基因在体内长期稳定表达。通过对这两类方法的总结回顾,旨在为慢病毒载体的转导效率提供新的优化策略,使基因治疗得到更广泛的应用。     

Silencing of HIV-1 Gene Expression by Sirnas in Transduced Cells

The RNA interference (RNAi) phenomenon is a recently observed process in which the introduction of a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into cells causes the specific degradation of an mRNA containing the same sequence. To study dsRNA-mediated gene interference targeted to the env gene (NL4-3: 7490-7508) in HIV-1 infected cells, we constructed tandem-type and hairpin-type siRNA expression vectors, which were under the control of two U6 promoters. We also constructed lentiviral-based siRNA expression vectors for further assessment of their antiviral activity in transduced cells. At both the transient plasmid and lentiviral-mediated RNA expression levels, the siRNA encoding the env fragment exhibited sequence-specific suppression of target gene expression and strongly inhibited (≥90%) HIV-1 infection in the cells, as compared to the antisense RNA expression vector. Targeting the HIV-1 env gene with siRNAs encoding the env gene fragment (7490–7508) might be an effective strategy for gene therapy applications in HIV-1/AIDS treatment and management.     

Lentiviral-mediated transfer of CDNF promotes nerve regeneration and functional recovery after sciatic nerve injury in adult rats

Peripheral nerve injury is often followed by incomplete and unsatisfactory functional recovery and may be associated with sensory and motor impairment of the affected limb. Therefore, a novel method is needed to improve the speed of recovery and the final functional outcome after peripheral nerve injuries. This report investigates the effect of lentiviral-mediated transfer of conserved dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) on regeneration of the rat peripheral nerve in a transection model in vivo. We observed notable overexpression of CDNF protein in the distal sciatic nerve after recombinant CDNF lentiviral vector application. We evaluated sciatic nerve regeneration after surgery using light and electron microscopy and the functional recovery using the sciatic functional index and target muscle weight. HE staining revealed better ordered structured in the CDNF-treated group at 8 weeks post-surgery. Quantitative analysis of immunohistochemistry of NF200 and S-100 in the CDNF group revealed significant improvement of axonal and Schwann cell regeneration compared with the control groups at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after injury. The thickness of the myelination around the axons in the CDNF group was significantly higher than in the control groups at 8 weeks post-surgery. The CDNF group displayed higher muscle weights and significantly increased sciatic nerve index values. Our findings suggest that CDNF gene therapy could provide durable and stable CDNF protein concentration and has the potential to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration, morphological and functional recovery following nerve injury, which suggests a promising strategy for peripheral nerve repair.     

Human extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) expression in transgenic chicken

Extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) is a metalloprotein and functions as an antioxidant enzyme. In this study, we used lentiviral vectors to generate transgenic chickens that express the human EC-SOD gene. The recombinant lentiviruses were injected into the subgerminal cavity of freshly laid eggs. Subsequently, the embryos were incubated to hatch using phases II and III of the surrogate shell ex vivo culture system. Of 158 injected embryos, 16 chicks (G0) hatched and were screened for the hEC-SOD by PCR. Only 1 chick was identified as a transgenic bird containing the transgene in its germline. This founder (G0) bird was mated with wild-type hens to produce transgenic progeny, and 2 transgenic chicks (G1) were produced. In the generated transgenic hens (G2), the hEC-SOD protein was expressed in the egg white and showed antioxidant activity. These results highlight the potential of the chicken for production of biologically active proteins in egg white. [BMB Reports 2013; 46(8): 404-409]     

小鼠RNA干扰基因RelA慢病毒载体的构建与鉴定

目的：构建小鼠RelA 基因的RNA 干扰慢病毒载体,转染小鼠成骨样细胞并鉴定。方法：针对小鼠RelA 基因序列,设计特异 性的shRNA 序列,应用基因重组技术插入慢病毒载体GV-248。得到的重组质粒转化感受态大肠杆菌DH5-alpha,筛选得到阳性克隆 并扩大培养。所得质粒进行测序分析确定载体构建成功。重组质粒载体及包装辅助质粒转染293T 细胞,得到目的病毒并测定相 应病毒滴度。慢病毒转染MC3T3-E1 细胞后,Real-time PCR 及Western blot 检测MC3T3-E1 细胞RelA 基因及成骨相关基因 ALP、OCN、RANKL的表达。结果：成功构建小鼠RelA 基因的RNA干扰慢病毒载体,感染MC3T3-E1 细胞后,RelA 基因的表达 明显受到抑制,同时RANKL基因表达水平明显下降,ALP、OCN基因表达水平明显上升。结论：成功构建了小鼠RelA 基因的 RNA 干扰慢病毒载体。当小鼠成骨细胞RelA基因表达被干扰,NF-资B 通路被抑制后,小鼠成骨细胞成骨相关基因ALP、OCN的 表达明显上升,成骨功能增强;同时RANKL 的表达明显下降,其介导的破骨细胞骨吸收功能减弱。     

Germ line transmission and expression of an RNAi cassette in mice generated by a lentiviral vector system

We have used a lentiviral delivery system (LentiLox3.7) to generate transgenic mice harbouring RNA interference (RNAi) against the hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 gamma (HNF4γ). HNF4γ is a nuclear receptor with unknown function. Our analyses performed on founder (F₀) and first generation (F₁) mice revealed mosaicism in F₀ founders and a low efficiency of transgenesis (6%) in F₁ mice. These data, together with the observation of multiple silenced transgenes, do not favour the use of LentiLox3.7 lentivirus for transgenesis. Despite the low efficiency of transgenesis, we achieved a tissue-dependent knockdown of HNF4γ expression in some mice. Milen Kirilov and Minqiang Chai contributed equally to this work.     

Gene delivery by lentivirus vectors

The capacity to efficiently transduce nondividing cells, shuttle large genetic payloads, and maintain stable long-term transgene expression are attributes that have brought lentiviral vectors to the forefront of gene delivery vehicles for research and therapeutic applications in a clinical setting. Our discussion initiates with advances in lentiviral vector development and how these sophisticated lentiviral vectors reflect improvements in safety, regarding the prevention of replication competent lentiviruses (RCLs), vector mobilization, and insertional mutagenesis. Additionally, we describe conventional molecular regulatory systems to manage gene expression levels in a spatial and temporal fashion in the context of a lentiviral vector. State of the art technology for lentiviral vector production by transient transfection and packaging cell lines are explicitly presented with current practices used for concentration, purification, titering, and determining the safety of a vector stock. We summarize lentiviral vector applications that have received a great deal of attention in recent years including the generation of transgenic animals and the stable delivery of RNA interference molecules. Concluding remarks address some of the successes in preclinical animals, and the recent transition of lentiviral vectors to human clinical trials as therapy for a variety of infectious and genetic diseases.     

慢病毒介导的RNAi对大鼠SOCS3基因表达的抑制作用

目的研究慢病毒表达载体介导的RNA于扰（RNAi）对大鼠下丘脑细胞中细胞因子信号转导抑制因子3（SOCSB）的抑制作用。方法根据大鼠SOCS3基因（NM053565）,用Ambion在线软件选择3个靶序列,设计并合成包含各正反义靶序列的互补单链寡核苷酸,与经BamHI和XhoI酶切后的慢病毒载体质粒pRNA-1enti-GFP连接产生pRNA-Lenti-SOCS3-GFP慢病毒重组质粒,与慢病毒包装混合物共转染293T细胞,包装产生慢病毒,收集病毒上清,采取逐孔稀释滴度法测定病毒滴度,然后转染大鼠下丘脑细胞,通过荧光显微镜观察细胞转染情况,利用荧光实时定量PCR方法检测RNAi组（siRNAl,siRNA2,siRNA3）、空白细胞组和阴性序列组（siRNA—Negtive）中SOCS3的表达情况。结果将目的序列成功连接到载体上,并经测序分析证实载体构建成功。系列稀释法检测慢病毒悬液的滴度为1．0×10^10TU／L。荧光实时定量PCR检测显示慢病毒感染大鼠下丘脑细胞后,与空白细胞组相比,3个RNAi组都有不同程度的抑制SOCS3表达,其中siRNAI组的抑制效果最好,可使SOCS3mRNA表达下调达80％。结论构建的pRNA-Lemi-SOCS3-GFP慢病毒载体可有效地抑制大鼠SOCS3的表达,为以SOCS3基因为靶点的相关疾病的基因治疗研究奠定基础。     

慢病毒介导的GFP-Hsp90αE47A基因在HepG2细胞表达及对细胞增殖性影响的研究

目的：建立真核细胞表达的GFP-Hsp90αE47A基因重组慢病毒载体三质粒包装细胞系统,并检测其对细胞增殖性的影响,为进一步研究HSP90分子伴侣功能奠定基础。方法：制备完整的重组慢病毒载体三质粒系统：转移质粒（Hsp90αE47A/psin-GFP）,包装质粒（ΔNRF）及包膜蛋白质粒（VSV-G）。磷酸钙法将三质粒共转染293T包装细胞,48h后收集病毒上清。将制备好的慢病毒颗粒感染HepG2细胞,在荧光显微镜下观察报告基因GFP的表达情况,Westernblot检测HepG2细胞GFP-Hsp90α表达。MTT法检测细胞增殖情况。结果：转染后的293T和感染后的HepG2细胞能观察到较强的绿色荧光,培养液上清病毒滴度约为3.0×103ifu/μl,HepG2细胞中有GFP-Hsp90α蛋白的表达。内源性Hsp90α表达无明显上升（为对照组的1.05±0.15倍,P〈0.05,t检验）,有明显外源性GFP-Hsp90αE47A蛋白的表达,为对照组内源性Hsp90α的0.68±0.12倍。外源性GFP-Hsp90αE47A蛋白的表达HepG2细胞增殖活性于第4d有明显抑制。（1.051±0.03vs1.349±0.05,P〈0.05,t检验）。结论：成功建立重组慢病毒载体的三质粒包装细胞系统,并将GFP-Hsp90αE47A基因在HepG2细胞中稳定表达,且并未引起细胞明显的热休克反应而导致的内源性Hsp90α增高;且能明显抑制细胞增殖,为后期Hsp90α分子伴侣功能进行研究奠定基础。