Adenovirus-delivered antisense RNA and shRNA exhibit different silencing efficiencies for the endogenous transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) type II receptor

Gene silencing is an essential tool in gene discovery and gene therapy. Traditionally, viral delivery of antisense RNA and, more recently, small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules in the form of small hairpin RNAs (shRNA) has been used as a strategy to achieve gene silencing. Nevertheless, the enduring challenge is to identify molecules that specifically and optimally silence a given target gene. In this study, we tested a set of adenovirus-delivered antisense RNA fragments and adenovirus-delivered shRNA molecules for their ability to target human transforming growth factor-beta type II receptor (TGFbetaRII). We used a dicistronic reporter, consisting of the coding sequences for TGFbetaRII and green fluorescent protein (GFP) to screen for optimal silencing agents targeting TGFbetaRII. Our results show, for both antisense RNA and shRNA molecules, that their effectiveness in the GFP screen correlated directly with their ability to reduce exogenously expressed TGFbetaRII. Unexpectedly, the antisense RNAs were unable to silence endogenous TGFbetaRII. In contrast, the shRNAs were able to silence endogenous TGFbetaRII. The shRNA that demonstrated the most pronounced effect on the dicistronic TGFbetaRII/GFP reporter reduced endogenous TGFbetaRII protein expression by 70% in A549 cells and reduced TGFbeta signaling by >80% in HeLa cells.     

Lentiviral delivery of a shRNA sequence analogous to miR-4319/miR-125-5p induces apoptosis in NSCLC cells by arresting G2/M phase

In this study, we explored the therapeutic potential of microRNA (miR) analogs against non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using lentiviral delivery of short hairpin RNA (shRNA). By using A549 as a model cell line, we used analogs and mimics of miR-4319/miR-125-5p to target the tumorigenic RAF1 gene. Lentiviral vectors carrying shRNA of a highly efficient miRNA analog of miR-4319/miR-125-5p, Analog2, were constructed to infect A549 cells. Our results showed that, compared with the noncancerous bronchial epithelial cell line 16HBE, lentivirus delivering Analog2 shRNA induced significant G2/M arrest and subsequent apoptosis in A549 cells, but not in 16HBE cells. Western blot analysis revealed that key factors regulating cell cycle were downregulated following RAF1 inhibition. In vivo xenograft experiments showed that lentivirus carrying Analog2 shRNA markedly decreased tumor size. Therefore, lentiviral delivery of Analog2 shRNA is a valid RNA interference-based treatment against NSCLC with high potency and specificity.     

Sweet taste receptor interacting protein CIB1 is a general inhibitor of InsP3-dependent Ca2+ release in vivo

In a search for sweet taste receptor interacting proteins, we have identified the calcium- and integrin-binding protein 1 (CIB1) as specific binding partner of the intracellular carboxyterminal domain of the rat sweet taste receptor subunit Tas1r2. In heterologous human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells, the G protein chimeras Gα_16gust44 and Gα_15i3 link the sweet taste receptor dimer TAS1R2/TAS1R3 to an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP₃)-dependent Ca²⁺ release pathway. To demonstrate the influence of CIB1 on the cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration, we used sweet and umami compounds as well as other InsP₃-generating ligands in FURA-2-based Ca²⁺ assays in wild-type HEK293 cells and HEK293 cells expressing functional human sweet and umami taste receptor dimers. Stable and transient depletion of CIB1 by short-hairpin RNA increased the Ca²⁺ response of HEK293 cells to the InsP₃-generating ligands ATP, UTP and carbachol. Over-expression of CIB1 had the opposite effect as shown for the sweet ligand saccharin, the umami receptor ligand monosodium glutamate and UTP. The CIB1 effect was dependent on the thapsigargin-sensitive Ca²⁺ store of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and independent of extracellular Ca²⁺. The function of CIB1 on InsP₃-evoked Ca²⁺ release from the ER is most likely mediated by its interaction with the InsP₃ receptor. Thus, CIB1 seems to be an inhibitor of InsP₃-dependent Ca²⁺ release in vivo .     

PolⅡ型启动子K14实现组织特异RNAi

RNAi(RNA interference,RNAi)是继基因打靶技术后的一种高效的研究基因功能的方法。细胞学实验和小鼠模型的研究结果表明,PolⅡ型启动子可以实现组织特异的RNA干扰,从而为鉴定基因在特定组织中的功能及作用机理提供了一个强有力的研究方法。为了能将这种方法用于转基因绵羊生产,探讨基因与绵羊毛囊发育的关系及其作用机制等,文章利用PolⅡ型CMV启动子和毛囊组织特异表达的人角蛋白14(K14)基因的启动子驱动eGFP-shRNA融合转录本的生成,从而实现敲低目的基因的表达。体外基因表达沉默效率分析(pEGFP-C1-shRNA和psiCHECK-BMP4双质粒共转染Hela细胞)结果表明,6个干扰序列均能有效地抑制BMP4基因的表达,抑制效率达到60%以上;体内表达沉默分析(只转染pEGFP-K14-shRNA质粒转染小鼠皮肤细胞系JB6-C41)的实验结果与体外分析结果相似,除3#序列外,其余干扰序列对BMP4基因的抑制效率都在60%以上,其中5#序列的效率达到80%以上。siRNA诱导的目标基因沉默中mRNA和蛋白水平的下降显著正相关。结果表明,设计构建的由PolⅡ型启动子K14驱动eGFP-shRNA融合转录本的形成,从而实现RNAi的研究方法是可行的,利用这种方法可以实现在特定细胞中敲低目的基因的表达水平。为在大家畜特别是绵羊中应用RNAi的方法分析目的基因在毛囊发育、对不同类型毛囊生长发育的诱导和调节等作用机理的研究提供一个参考方法。     

慢病毒shRNA表达载体介导人肿瘤细胞基因稳定沉默的影响因素

目的 探讨慢病毒载体介导人肿瘤细胞RNA干扰的影响因素。方法 以乏氧诱导因子-1α（Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, HIF-1α）和乏氧诱导因子-1β（Hypoxia-inducible factor-1β, HIF-1β）基因为靶基因,采用Invitrogen公司的BLOCK-iT Lentiviral RNAi Expression System生产表达靶基因shRNA的慢病毒载体,转导Hela、SPCA1和A549,采用定量RT-PCR技术检测靶基因mRNA表达水平。结果 用此系统生产慢病毒,每一10cm培养皿可收获6.3×1010个病毒颗粒。浓度为2×1010copies/ml的Lenti6-HIF1α和Lenti6-HIF1β转导SPCA1、A549和Hela细胞的功能滴度分别为：1.8×106TU/ml、1.2×106TU/ml、1.75×106TU/ml和1.76×106TU/ml、1.21×106TU/ml和1.79×106TU/ml。延长病毒的吸附时间可以提高转导效率, 8小时以内转导效率与吸附时间呈正比,12小时开始进入平台期。1/4、1/2、1、2、4、8倍MOI的Lenti6-HIF1α病毒转导SPCA1和Hela细胞48小时后,RNAi效果与病毒量呈正相比。用筛选的转导细胞证实,RNAi长期效果与细胞类型无关,但与shRNA表达结构整合到靶细胞基因组的拷贝数呈正相关。结论 慢病毒载体介导人肿瘤细胞RNA干扰,短期基因抑制效果取决于细胞类型、病毒量和病毒的吸附时间,稳定基因沉默效果与病毒整合到靶细胞基因组的拷贝数密切相关。     

Knockdown of human p53 gene expression in 293-T cells by retroviral vector-mediated short hairpin RNA

RNA interference （RNAi） is an evolutionarily conserved process of gene silencing in multiple organisms, which has become a powerful tool for investigating gene function by reverse genetics. Recently, many groups have reported to use synthesized oligonucleotides or siRNA encoding plasmids to induce RNAi in mammalian cells by transfection, but this is still limited in its application, especially when it is necessary to generate long-term gene silencing in vivo. To circumvent this problem, retrovirus- or lentivirus-delivered RNAi has been developed. Here, we described two retroviral systems for delivering short hairpin RNA （shRNA） transcribed from the H1 promoter. The results showed that retroviral vector-mediated RNAi can substantially downregulate the expression of human p53 in 293-T cells. Furthermore, the retroviral vectormediated RNAi in our transduction system can stably inactivate the p53 gene for a long time. Compared to shRNAs transcribed from the U6 promoter, HI-driven shRNA also dramatically reduced the expression of p53. The p53 downregulation efficiencies of H1- and U6-driven shRNAs were almost identical. The results indicate that retroviral vector-delivered RNAi would be a useful tool in functional genomics and gene therapy.     

Silence of lncRNA UCA1 rescues drug resistance of cisplatin to non–small-cell lung cancer cells

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) urogenital carcinoma antigen 1 (UCA1) on drug resistance in A549/DDP cell and explore its underlying mechanism. The inhibition rate and IC ₅₀ of DDP were detected in A549 and A549/DDP cells by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. The expression of lncRNA UCA1 was measured in A549 and A549/DDP cells by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The expressions of N-cadherin, E-cadherin, vimentin, and Snail were detected in A549 and A549/DDP cells by Western blot analysis. Results showed that the IC ₅₀ of DDP was 16.20 ± 2.27 μmol/L and 69.72 ± 4.83 μmol/L in A549 and A549/ DDP cells, respectively. Compared with the A549 group, the expressions of N-cadherin, vimentin, and Snail was significantly upregulated in A549/DDP group, but E-cadherin was significantly downregulated. Compared with the shCon group, the abundance of N-cadherin, vimentin, and Snail was significantly downregulated in short hairpin RNA UCA1 (shUCA1) group, while E-cadherin was significantly upregulated. Cell migration and invasion were significantly suppressed and IC ₅₀ was reversed to 16.20 ± 2.27 μmol/L in the shUCA1 group. Silencing lncRNA UCA1 inhibited the migration and invasion of A549/DDP cells and reversed the resistance of A549/DDP cells to DDP. The mechanism might be related to downregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which will provide a new direction for the treatment of non–small-cell lung cancer with cisplatin.     

miR-126增加非小细胞肺癌细胞A549对顺铂的敏感性

miR-126在多种恶性肿瘤中存在表达下调并显示抑癌基因的功能,然而其在肿瘤敏感性中的作用仍不明确.为了探讨miR-126在非小细胞肺癌细胞A549对顺式铂氨(cis-diammine dichloroplatoum, cisplatin, CDDP)敏感性中的作用及可能机制,本研究用MTS法检测非小细胞肺癌细胞A549及其衍生的CDDP耐受细胞A549/DDP对CDDP的敏感性.结果表明,A549/DDP细胞对CDDP的耐受性是A549细胞的4.05倍(P=0.0078)|用qRT-PCR检测发现,相比于A549细胞,A549/DDP细胞中miR-126的表达下调了8.45倍(P=0.0063),而survivin和Bcl-2的表达明显上调|通过MTS、qRT-PCR及Western印迹实验发现,miR-126 mimics使A549/DDP细胞中miR-126的表达上调了12.63倍(P=0.0013),并明显增加A549/DDP细胞对CDDP的敏感性及下调survivin和Bcl-2的表达;相反,miR-126 inhibitor能明显增加A549细胞对CDDP的耐受性及增加survivin和Bcl-2的表达.本研究结果提示,miR-126在非小细胞肺癌CDDP耐受细胞中的表达下调,上调miR-126的表达能增加耐药细胞对CDDP的敏感性. miR-126是逆转肺癌CDDP耐受的可能潜在靶标.     

沙利度胺抑制肿瘤细胞分泌VEGF/bFGF机制的探讨*

目的: 探讨Cereblon(CRBN)对沙利度胺抑制人肺癌A549细胞及人肝癌HepG2细胞分泌VEGF/bFGF的影响。方法: 采用慢病毒介导的短发夹RNA(shRNA)干扰技术建立稳定敲低CRBN的A549细胞系(A549_CRBN)及HepG2细胞系(HepG2_CRBN)并通过实时定量PCR(Real-time PCR)和蛋白质印记(Western blot)实验验证。将A549细胞分为阴性对照组(A549_luciferase)、CRBN低表达组(A549_CRBN);HepG2细胞分为阴性对照组(HepG2_luciferase)、CRBN低表达组(HepG2_CRBN),以上细胞按照 3×10⁵ cells/well接种到6孔板中,放入37℃,5%CO2的培养箱中培养24 h,分别加入1 ml含100 μmol/L沙利度胺(thalidomide组)和1 ml 1‰ DMSO(control组)的培养液,继续培养24 h再行后续实验,每组设计3个复孔。MTS法检测沙利度胺对细胞增殖的影响;Real-time PCR检测VEGF、bFGF、c-jun mRNA表达,ELISA法检测VEGF、bFGF蛋白表达。结果: 与对照组比较,沙利度胺在浓度为1、10、50、100 μmol/L 时对A549 及HepG2细胞的增殖能力无显著影响(P＞0.05)。与A549_CRBN或HepG2_CRBN组比较,A549_luciferase及HepG2_luciferase组分泌的VEGF及bFGF均显著降低(P＜0.05)。与A549_luciferase或HepG2_luciferase细胞的对照组比较,沙利度胺可抑制A549_luciferase和HepG2_luciferase细胞的VEGF和bFGF的表达(P＜0.05),而对A549_CRBN和HepG2_CRBN细胞中VEGF和bFGF的表达无显著抑制作用;与HepG2_luciferase细胞的对照组比较,沙利度胺可抑制HepG2_luciferase细胞的c-Jun表达(P＜0.01),而对HepG2_CRBN细胞的c-Jun表达无显著抑制作用。结论: 沙利度胺对A549和HepG2细胞VEGF和bFGF表达的抑制作用可能是通过CRBN介导的,而c-Jun可能是抑制作用的关键转录因子之一。     

miR-146b Reverses epithelial-mesenchymal transition via targeting PTP1B in cisplatin-resistance human lung adenocarcinoma cells

Epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) is associated with drug resistance in human lung adenocarcinoma cells, but its specific mechanism has not been clarified. In this study, we investigated the effect of miRNA-146b on EMT in cisplatin (DDP) resistant human lung adenocarcinoma cells and the corresponding mechanism. Cisplatin resistant (CR) human lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549/DDP and H1299/DDP) were established, and the EMT characteristics and invasion and metastasis ability of CR cells were determined by tumor cell-related biological behavior experiments. The role of miR-146b in EMT of CR cells was determined by in vitro functional test. The targeted binding of miR-146b to protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) was verified by biological information and double luciferin gene reporting experiments. The effect of miR-146b on tumor growth and EMT phenotype in vivo was investigated by establishing the xenotransplantation mouse model. Compared with the control group, H1299/DDP and A549/DDP cells showed the enhanced EMT phenotypes, invasion and migration ability. Besides, miR-146b was lowly expressed in H1299/DDP and A549/DDP cells. More importantly, overexpressed miR-146b could specifically bind to PTP1B, thus inhibiting the EMT process and ultimately reducing CR in H1299/DDP and A549/DDP cells. Finally, overexpressed miR-146b observably inhibited tumor growth in xenograft model mice and inhibited the EMT phenotype of A549/DDP cells in vivo by regulating the expressions of EMT-related proteins. Overexpressed miR-146b could reverse the EMT phenotype of CR lung adenocarcinoma cells by targeting PTP1B, providing new therapeutic directions for CR of lung adenocarcinoma cells.     

Multipotent human stromal cells improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction in mice without long-term engraftment

Signaling via the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R) confers resistance to EGF receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. It is plausible that reciprocal EGFR compensation could mediate resistance to IGF1R inhibition, prompting us to investigate effects of IGF1R depletion on EGFR signaling in breast cancer cells expressing relatively high (MDA-MB-468) or low (MCF7) EGFR. Transient IGF1R knockdown induced enhanced phosphorylation of the EGFR and its effectors JNK, ERKs and STAT5, but this did not prevent apoptosis induction and inhibition of clonogenic survival following IGF1R knockdown. We used IGF1R shRNA to induce chronic IGF1R depletion, and achieved stable gene silencing in MCF-7 cells; here, EGFR overexpression led to EGFR hyperphosphorylation, again without abrogating survival inhibition after IGF1R knockdown. In both cell lines, dual receptor knockdown prevented EGFR hyperphosphorylation, but induced no greater inhibition of clonogenic survival than IGF1R knockdown alone. These results suggest that the EGFR cannot compensate for IGF1R depletion, and are encouraging for the strategy of IGF1R targeting.     

Effect of separase depletion on ionizing radiation-induced cell cycle checkpoints and survival in human lung cancer cell lines

Abstract.   Objectives : This study is to evaluate the effect of separase depletion on cell cycle progression of irradiated and non-irradiated cells through the G₂/M phases and consecutive cell survival. Materials and methods : Separase was depleted with siRNA in two human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines. Cell cycle progression, mitotic fraction, DNA repair, apoptotic and clonogenic cell death were determined. Results : By depletion of endogenous separase with siRNA in NSCLCs, we showed that separase affects progression through the G₂ phase. In non-irradiated exponentially growing cells, separase depletion led to an increased G₂ accumulation from 17.2% to 29.1% in H460 and from 15.7% to 30.9% in A549 cells and a decrease in mitotic cells. Depletion of separase significantly ( P <  0.01) increased the fraction of radiation-induced G₂ arrested cells 30–56 h after irradiation and led to decrease in the mitotic fraction. This was associated with increased double-strand break repair as measured by γ-H2AX foci kinetics in H460 cells and to a lesser extent in A549 cells. In addition, a decrease in the expression of mitotic linked cell death after irradiation was found. Conclusions : These results indicate that separase has additional targets involved in regulation of G₂ to M progression after DNA damage. Prolonged G₂ phase arrest in the absence of separase has consequences on repair of damaged DNA and cell death.     

Activation of a novel calcineurin-mediated insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor pathway, altered metabolism, and tumor cell invasion in cells subjected to mitochondrial respiratory stress

We have previously shown that disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential by depletion of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) or treatment with a mitochondrial ionophore, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, initiates a stress signaling, which causes resistance to apoptosis, and induces invasive behavior in C2C12 myocytes and A549 cells. In the present study we show that calcineurin (Cn), activated as part of this stress signaling, plays an important role in increased glucose uptake and glycolysis. Here we report that, although both insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor levels (IR and IGF1R, respectively) are increased in response to mitochondrial stress, autophosphorylation of IGF1R was selectively increased suggesting a shift in receptor pathways. Using an approach with FK506, an inhibitor of Cn, and mRNA silencing by small interference RNA we show that mitochondrial stress-activated Cn is critical for increased GLUT 4 and IGF1R expression and activation. The importance of the IGF1R pathway in cell survival under mitochondrial stress is demonstrated by increased apoptosis either by IGF1R mRNA silencing or by treatment with IGF1R inhibitors (AG1024 and picropodophyllin). This study describes a novel mechanism of mitochondrial stress-induced metabolic shift involving Cn with implications in resistance to apoptosis and tumor proliferation.     

Coupling of the Human Y2 Receptor for Neuropeptide Y and Peptide YY to Guanine Nucleotide Inhibitory Proteins in Permeabilized SMS-KAN Cells

Abstract: Using guanine nucleotides, pertussis toxin, and specific antisera against the COOH-terminals of the α-subunits of G_i1/2, G_i3, and G_o, the binding and biological response of the Y2 receptor (Y2R) for peptide YY (PYY) was probed in SMS-KAN neuroblastoma cells. The specific binding of radiolabeled PYY exhibited a single apparent dissociation constant, K _D = 76 p M for intact cells and K _D = 906 p M for permeabilized cells. However, other data suggested existence of multiple receptor affinity states. A shift in K _D and a decrease in apparent number of binding sites ( B _max) was observed in permeabilized cells when incubated with guanine nucleotides. By contrast, in membrane preparations guanine nucleotides induced only a decrease in B _max. In intact cells, agonist exposure inhibited the intracellular accumulation of forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP by 80% (IC₅₀ = 420 n M ) compared with 94% inhibition (IC₅₀ = 380 n M ) in permeabilized cells. In permeabilized cells, preincubation with antisera against α_i1/2 and α_i3 blocked the functional response of PYY, with anti-α_i3 being the most potent; whereas anti-α_o failed to affect the cyclic AMP levels. These results suggest that permeabilized SMS-KAN cells serve as a good model system for analysis of Y2R binding kinetics and functional response and that the Y2R interacts directly with several different G_is (but not G_o).     

LncRNA XIST promotes human lung adenocarcinoma cells to cisplatin resistance via let-7i/BAG-1 axis

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as oncogenes or tumor suppressors that are involved in tumorigenesis and chemoresistance. LncRNA XIST expression is upregulated in several cancers, however, its biologic role in the development of the chemotherapy of human lung adenocarcinoma (LAD) has not been elucidated. This study aimed to observe the expression of LncRNA XIST in LAD and to evaluate its biologic role and clinical significance in the resistance of LAD cells to cisplatin. LncRNA XIST expression was markedly increased in cisplatin-resistant A549/DDP cells compared with parental A549 cells as shown by qRT-PCR. LncRNA XIST overexpression in A549 cells increased their chemosensitivity to cisplatin both in vitro and in vivo by protecting cells from apoptosis and promoting cell proliferation. By contrast, LncRNA XIST knockdown in A549/DDP cells decreased the chemoresistance. We revealed that XIST functioned as competing endogenous RNA to repress let-7i, which controlled its down-stream target BAG-1. We proposed that XIST was responsible for cisplatin resistance of LAD cells and XIST exerted its function through the let-7i/BAG-1 axis. Our findings suggested that lncRNA XIST may be a new marker of poor response to cisplatin and could be a potential therapeutic target for LAD chemotherapy.     

Activation of rainbow trout macrophages

Rainbow trout peritoneal macrophages were stimulated in vitro using Concanavalin A (Con A) and in vivo using formalin-killed Aeromonas salmonicida in Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA). Whether these cells had been activated was determined by the measurements of oxygen anions (NBT reduction), H₂O₂ production (oxidation of phenol red), RNA synthesis (³H-uridine incorporation), acid phosphatase activity and bactericidal activity.
In vitro -stimulated macrophages showed an increased NBT reduction and ³H-uridine incorporation over a range of Con A concentrations, compared with untreated control macrophages, but no detectable increases in H₂O₂ production or bactericidal activity were observed. On the other hand, in vivo -stimulated peritoneal cells showed increases in all the assays compared with FIA-elicited control cells, and were considered to have been activated.