Human cell lines for biopharmaceutical manufacturing: history,status, and future perspectives

Biotherapeutic proteins represent a mainstay of treatment for a multitude of conditions, for example, autoimmune disorders, hematologic disorders, hormonal dysregulation, cancers, infectious diseases and genetic disorders. The technologies behind their production have changed substantially since biotherapeutic proteins were first approved in the 1980s. Although most biotherapeutic proteins developed to date have been produced using the mammalian Chinese hamster ovary and murine myeloma (NS0, Sp2/0) cell lines, there has been a recent shift toward the use of human cell lines. One of the most important advantages of using human cell lines for protein production is the greater likelihood that the resulting recombinant protein will bear post-translational modifications (PTMs) that are consistent with those seen on endogenous human proteins. Although other mammalian cell lines can produce PTMs similar to human cells, they also produce non-human PTMs, such as galactose-α1,3-galactose and N-glycolylneuraminic acid, which are potentially immunogenic. In addition, human cell lines are grown easily in a serum-free suspension culture, reproduce rapidly and have efficient protein production. A possible disadvantage of using human cell lines is the potential for human-specific viral contamination, although this risk can be mitigated with multiple viral inactivation or clearance steps. In addition, while human cell lines are currently widely used for biopharmaceutical research, vaccine production and production of some licensed protein therapeutics, there is a relative paucity of clinical experience with human cell lines because they have only recently begun to be used for the manufacture of proteins (compared with other types of cell lines). With additional research investment, human cell lines may be further optimized for routine commercial production of a broader range of biotherapeutic proteins.     

Distinctive roles of receptor‐interacting protein kinases 1 and 3 in caspase‐independent cell death of L929

Upon tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) stimulation, cells respond actively by way of cell survival, apoptosis or programmed necrosis. The receptor‐interacting proteins 1 (RIP1) and 3 (RIP3) are responsible for TNFα‐mediated programmed necrosis. To delineate the differential contributions of RIP3 and RIP1 to programmed necrosis, L929 cells were stimulated with TNFα, carbobenzoxy‐valyl‐alanyl‐aspartyl‐[O‐methyl]‐fluoromethylketone (zVAD) or zVAD along with TNFα following RNA interference against RIP1 and RIP3, respectively. RIP1 silencing did not protect cells from TNFα‐mediated cell death, while RIP3 down‐regulation made them refractory to TNFα. The heat shock protein 90 inhibitor geldanamycin (GA) down‐regulated both RIP1 and RIP3 expression, which rendered cells resistant to zVAD/TNFα‐mediated cell death but not to TNFα‐mediated cell death alone. Therefore, the protective effect of GA on zVAD/TNFα‐stimulated necrosis might be attributed to RIP3, not RIP1, down‐regulation. Pretreatment of L929 cells with rapamycin mitigated zVAD‐mediated cell death, while the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine did not affect necrotic cell death. Meanwhile, necrotic cell death by zVAD and TNFα was caused by reactive oxygen species generation and effectively diminished by lipid‐soluble butylated hydroxyanisole. Taken together, the results indicate that RIP1 and RIP3 can independently mediate death signals being transduced by two different death stimuli, zVAD and TNFα. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

木瓜三萜对吲哚美辛致胃黏膜损伤小鼠胃酸分泌及胃黏膜屏障的影响

观察木瓜三萜对吲哚美辛致胃黏膜损伤小鼠胃酸分泌及胃黏膜屏障的影响,在此基础上探讨其可能的机制。实验时,将小鼠随机分为正常组、模型组、木瓜三萜(50、100mg/kg)和奥美拉唑(20mg/kg)组。将给药组灌胃给予相应的药物,正常组和模型组灌胃给予0.5%羧甲基纤维素钠溶液,给药6小时后,除正常组外,灌胃给予20mg/kg的吲哚美辛,每天一次,连续7天。末次给药次日,小鼠用水合氯醛麻醉后,固定,剪开腹腔,进行胃黏膜血流量的测定,然后取胃检测胃液量、胃液酸度和胃结合黏液量;检测胃黏膜中表皮生长因子基因(EGF)和三叶因子1基因(TFF1)的mRNA和蛋白表达。研究发现:吲哚美辛致胃黏膜损伤模型组小鼠胃液分泌量,胃液酸度、胃黏膜血流量、胃结合黏液量及胃黏膜组织中EGF和TFF1的mRNA和蛋白表达明显降低,与正常组比较均具有统计学差异(P<0.01);用木瓜三萜预处理后,上述异常的变化均得到了有效逆转,与模型组比较具有显著性差异(P<0.05,P<0.01)。实验结果表明木瓜三萜(50、100mg/kg)对吲哚美辛致小鼠胃黏膜损伤具有较好的保护作用,通过上调EGF和TFF1的表达水平,增加胃液分泌量、胃液酸度、胃黏膜血流量、胃结合黏液量,恢复胃黏膜防御屏障的功能可能是其治疗吲哚美辛致胃黏膜损伤的机制之一。     

Intraband optical activity of semiconductor nanocrystals

Here we review our three recently developed analytical models describing the intraband optical activity of semiconductor nanocrystals, which is induced by screw dislocations, ionic impurities, or irregularities of the nanocrystal surface. The models predict that semiconductor nanocrystals can exhibit strong optical activity upon intraband transitions and have large dissymmetry of magnetic‐dipole absorption. The developed models can be used to interpret experimental circular dichroism spectra of nanocrystals and to advance the existing techniques of enantioseparation, biosensing, and chiral chemistry.     

Genome‐wide analysis of TNF‐alpha response in pigs challenged with porcine circovirus 2b

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) is a pro‐inflammatory cytokine with a role in activating adaptive immunity to viral infections. By inhibiting the capacity of plasmacytoid dendritic cells to produce interferon‐α and TNF‐α, porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) limits the maturation of myeloid dendritic cells and impairs their ability to recognize viral and bacterial antigens. Previously, we reported QTL for viremia and immune response in PCV2‐infected pigs. In this study, we analyzed phenotypic and genetic relationships between TNF‐α protein levels, a potential indicator of predisposition to PCV2 co‐infection, and PCV2 susceptibility. Following experimental challenge with PCV2b, TNF‐α reached the peak at 21 days post‐infection (dpi), at which time a difference was observed between pigs that expressed extreme variation in viremia and growth (P < 0.10). A genome‐wide association study (n = 297) revealed that genotypes of 56 433 SNPs explained 73.9% of the variation in TNF‐α at 21 dpi. Major SNPs were identified on SSC8, SSC10 and SSC14. Haplotypes based on SNPs from a SSC8 (9 Mb) 1‐Mb window were associated with variation in TNF‐α (P < 0.02), IgG (P = 0.05) and IgM (P < 0.13) levels at 21 dpi. Potential overlap of regulatory mechanisms was supported by the correlations between genomic prediction values of TNF‐α and PCV2 antibodies (21 dpi, r > 0.22), viremia (14–21 dpi, P > 0.29) and viral load (r = 0.31, P < 0.0001). Characterization of the QTL regions uncovered genes that could influence variation in TNF‐α levels as well as T‐ and B‐cell development, which can affect disease susceptibility.     

SOCS2 Balances Metabolic and Restorative Requirements during Liver Regeneration

After significant injury, the liver must maintain homeostasis during the regenerative process. We hypothesized the existence of mechanisms to limit hepatocyte proliferation after injury to maintain metabolic and synthetic function. A screen for candidates revealed suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2), an inhibitor of growth hormone (GH) signaling, was strongly induced after partial hepatectomy. Using genetic deletion and administration of various factors we investigated the role of SOCS2 during liver regeneration. SOCS2 preserves liver function by restraining the first round of hepatocyte proliferation after partial hepatectomy by preventing increases in growth hormone receptor (GHR) via ubiquitination, suppressing GH pathway activity. At later times, SOCS2 enhances hepatocyte proliferation by modulating a decrease in serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) that allows GH release from the pituitary. SOCS2, therefore, plays a dual role in modulating the rate of hepatocyte proliferation. In particular, this is the first demonstration of an endogenous mechanism to limit hepatocyte proliferation after injury.     

Speciation of Phlebotomus sandflies of the subgenus Larroussius coincided with the late Miocene-Pliocene aridification of the Mediterranean subregion

The phylogcny and mode of speciation of Mediterranean Phlebotomus of the subgenus Larroussius were inferred by comparative sequence analyses of a fragment of mitochondrial DNA (Cytochrome b) and of a nuclear gene (Elongation factor alpha). The molecular phytogenies were congruent basally, where their clades matched the species complexes defined by a few genitalic characters of each sex. Reticulate evolution was suggested for the most derived species complex [Phlebotomus perniciosus): the molecular phytogenies were incongruent, and mitochondrial-marker distribution was consistent with introgressive hybridizations not between sister species but between species whose ranges now overlap or abut. By considering the molecular phytogenies, the mitochondrial molecular clock and the ecological niches of the species, as well as the historical biogeography and palaeoecology of the Mediterranean subregion, we propose that the derived lineages arose from a sequential series of speciation events associated with habitat shifts promoted by progressive aridification. This 'taxon pulse'-like speciation occurred in the Pliocene, later than previously proposed in a vicariance hypothesis that invoked only tectonic events, but too early for Pleistocene Ice-age refugia to have played any role other than the isolation of geographical races. Speciation occurred before the proposed divergence of members of the Leishmania donovani complex and this helped to rule out any vector-parasite co-speciation or co-cladogenesis.     

siRNA介导的NFBD1表达沉默对HeLa细胞增殖与凋亡的影响

NFBD1，也称MDC1，是1个参与细胞内DNA损伤后细胞应答反应的重要分子．为探讨NFBD1在细胞增殖和凋亡中的作用及其作为分子靶点用于肿瘤治疗的潜在价值，本研究采用siRNA技术抑制NFBD1的表达，并观察了其对人宫颈癌细胞HeLa细胞增殖和细胞凋亡的影响．半定量RT-PCR和蛋白质印迹分析结果表明，筛选到的短链NFBD1 siRNA能有效抑制内源NFBD1的表达，抑制程度约100％．细胞生长曲线分析结果表明，siRNA介导的NFBD1表达沉默导致HeLa细胞生长增殖的显著抑制．FACS分析结果表明，NFBD1表达抑制导致sub-G₁峰的出现，同时蛋白质印迹分析观察到了caspase 3和PARP（poly-ADP-ribose polymerase）的剪接激活，表明NFBD1表达抑制诱发了细胞凋亡．在该凋亡过程中，P-53及其下游靶分子Bax和Puma的表达水平均没有发生明显变化，但Noxa的表达在mRNA和蛋白质水平上均显著上调，强烈提示该凋亡过程很可能是1个不依赖P53的凋亡途径，且Noxa的转录激活在该凋亡过程中可能起着重要作用．这些结果表明，NFBD1参与细胞生长增殖和凋亡的调节，是一个潜在的肿瘤治疗新靶点．     

DREB1A类转录调控域中对转录激活功能起关键作用的氨基酸

从烟草品种k326中克隆到2个干旱应答元件结合蛋白类(DREB-Like)转录因子基因,命名为NtDREBI和NtDREB1A.序列分析发现，NtDREBI和NtDREB1A编码的蛋白质具有典型的AP2/EREBP转录因子家族EREBP亚族A类特征.酵母单杂交结果显示，NtDREBI具有激活功能, 而NtDREB1A不能激活下游基因，但可以与DRE元件结合.将NtDREBI、NtDREB1A与其它AP2/EREBP类转录因子序列比对，发现在C末端第148位氨基酸有显著差别.采用定点突变方法进一步研究表明，DREB1A类转录因子的第148位氨基酸残基与其邻近氨基酸残基的相互作用对调控转录激活功能起关键作用.