Study of thrombopoietin for gene therapy of thrombocytopenia

Thrombopoietin (TPO) is likely to be a potent, specific and reliable medication in the treatment of thrombocytopenia. A TPO-highly-expressed plasmid pcDNA3-TPO was constructed and a primary study was made on the expression of TPO cDNA in vitro and gene transfer study for thrombocytopenia in vivo. rhTPO showed complete and stable bioactivity by a series of indicators. High expression of TPO was detected in plasma from healthy mice or thrombocytopenia mice model receiving direct intramuscular injection of pcDNA3-TPO. And the platelet level of healthy mice peaked to 1.9-fold of baseline. Mice with CTX-induced thrombocytopenia achieved profound nadirs, acceleration of recovery, even 1.8—2.0-fold supranormal levels of peripheral platelet counts. The results offered experimental support for clinical application of gene therapy for thrombocytopenia via direct intramuscular injection of TPO cDNA.     

In vitro and in vivo transfection and expression of plasmid-based non-viral vector for erythropoietin gene therapy

A non-viral gene therapy vector, pcDNA3-EPO, was constructed by subcloning erythropoietin (EPO) cDNA into plasmid pcDNA3. After liposome-mediated transfection of the NIH 3T3 cells in vitro, EPO expression in the culture medium was detected by ELISA and amounted to 1.25 ± 0.3 IU ml^–1. The biological activity of this EPO in the medium was detected after intramuscular injection of BALB/c mice. PCR of genomic DNA and RT-PCR of total RNA also confirmed that the plasmid pcDNA3-EPO had been transfected into the cells. A pool of pcDNA3-EPO transfectants, which stably expressed EPO, was obtained by G418 selection. When pcDNA3-EPO was combined into liposomes and intramuscularly injected into BALB/c mice, the reticulocyte ratio in the positive mice was three times higher than that in the control mice. In vivo expression was maintained in mice for at least one month.     

Protection of red snapper (Lutjanus sanguineus) against Vibrio alginolyticus with a DNA vaccine containing flagellin flaA gene

Aims: The main aims of this study were to construct a DNA vaccine containing flagellin flaA gene from Vibrio alginolyticus strain HY9901 and to explore the potential application of pcDNA‐flaA as a DNA vaccine candidate for red snapper (Lutjanus sanguineus). Methods and Results: Plasmid DNA encoding flagellin flaA gene (designated as pcDNA‐flaA) was used as a DNA vaccine to immunize red snapper. The distribution, expression and immunoprotection of the DNA vaccine were analysed in tissues of the red snapper by PCR, RT‐PCR and challenge test. PCR results indicated that pcDNA‐flaA distributed in liver, spleen, kidney, gill and injection site muscle at 7–28 days after vaccination. RT‐PCR results indicated that the flaA gene was expressed in all above tissues of vaccinated fish at 7–28 days after vaccination. In addition, fish receiving the DNA vaccine developed a protective response to live V. alginolyticus challenge 28 days post inoculation, the relative per cent survival (RPS) was 88%. Conclusions: This study showed that injection of pcDNA‐flaA induced an efficient, systemic and antigen‐specific immune response in red snapper, which makes it an effective vaccine candidate against V. alginolyticus infection. Significance and Impact of the Study: The finding that red snapper does adequately respond to pcDNA‐flaA intramuscular injection makes pcDNA‐flaA a promising candidate for DNA vaccine treatment. Furthermore, the availability of red snapper for foreign gene expression represents a useful model to develop effective prophylactic strategies and opens new perspectives for the treatment of bacterial pathogens of marine cultured fish.     

肝细胞导向的促血小板生成素基因转移对化疗后血小板减少症模型治疗的初步研究

为了探讨受体介导的基因转移技术在治疗血小板减少症方面应用的可行性,将促血小板生成素（Ｔｈｒｏｍｂｏｐｏｉｅｔｉｎ,ＴＰＯ）基因克隆入质粒型ＥＢ病毒表达载体ｐＤＲ２中,并与半乳糖化组蛋白结合,从而制备了一种为肝细胞表面特异的脱唾液酸糖蛋白受体识别并内吞的核酸－蛋白复合物。在经化疗药物卡铂诱发的血小板减少症的实验动物大鼠中,同时静脉注射该复合物,可将ＴＰＯ基因特异地导入肝细胞并在其中得到表达。从而有效地阻止了血小板减少症的发生,提示了一种以非病毒感染方式对化疗后血小板减少症进行有效基因治疗的可能前景     

Vaccination of chickens with DNA vaccine encoding Eimeria acervulina 3-1E and chicken IL-15 offers protection against homologous challenge

Eimeria acervulina 3-1E antigen gene and mature chicken interleukin 15 (mChIL-15) gene were cloned into expression vector pcDNA3.1(+) in different forms, produced DNA vaccine pcDNA3.1-3-1E, and pcDNA3.1-3-1E-linker-mChIL-15 co-expressing E. acervulina 3-1E gene and mChIL-15 gene, respectively. The expression of objective gene in vitro was detected by indirect fluorescent antibody technique and immunohistochemistry. The two DNA vaccines were administered by intramuscular leg injection. An animal challenge experiment was carried out to evaluate the immune protective efficacy of the vaccines. The results indicated that DNA vaccines were successfully constructed and the expression of objective gene could be detected in vitro. The animal experimental results showed that both DNA vaccines could provide partial protection against homologous challenge in chickens. The chimeric DNA vaccine, pcDNA3.1-3-1E-linker-mChIL-15, could significantly increase oocyst decrease ratio, reduce the average lesion score in the duodenum, improve body weight gain, and increase anti-coccidial index (ACI) compared to the DNA vaccine pcDNA3.1-3-1E. Taken together, these results demonstrate ChIL-15 enhance the immunogenicity of 3-1E DNA vaccine, and co-expression of cytokine and optimized surface antigen of Eimeria may be a promising method to enhance immunogenicity of DNA vaccines in poultry.     

TPO模拟肽与人IgG1 Fc片段的融合表达及其生物学特性研究

依据本室获得的人TPO模拟肽序列,合成了该模拟肽的DNA序列,分别连接至4种不同长度的人IgG1 Fc基因片段的5′端,并克隆至质粒表达载体pET28a( ),转化大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）,筛选获得了4种重组工程菌,其中3种分别高效表达了3种不同长度的融合蛋白,而第4种工程菌未表达,表达的3种融合蛋白的分子量分别约为28kD,12kD和12kD。表达量约占菌体蛋白总量的30％左右,纯化获得了3种TPO模拟肽融合蛋白,3种融合蛋白均有较好的体外活性,维持TPO依赖细胞Ba/F3-mp1生长的EC50分别为：13,10,10nmol/L,用血小板减少症小鼠动物模型,测定了它们的体内活性,3种融合蛋白均有升高血小板和缩短血小板恢复时间的功能,分别比TPO模拟肽活性提高了18,8,8倍,而对白细胞及红细胞无显著影响,分别用3种融合蛋白免疫BALB／c小鼠,均未刺激小鼠产生抗TPO模拟肽抗体,并显示了较好的应用潜力。     

Construction of a fusion protein between N-terminal 153 peptide of thrombopoietin and erythropoietin

Ｔｈｒｏｍｂｏｐｏｉｅｔｉｎ(ＴＰＯ)ｉｓａｈｅｍａｔｏｐｏｉｅｔｉｃｃｙｔｏｋｉｎｅｃｌｏｎｅｄｉｎｒｅｃｅｎｔｙｅａｒｓ[1—3].Ｉｔｓｆｕｎｃｔｉｏｎｉｓｔｏｒｅｇｕｌａｔｅｔｈｅｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎｏｆｐｌａｔｅｌｅｔ,ｗｈｉｃｈｐｌａｙｓａｎｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔｒｏｌｅｉｎｂｌｏｏｄｃｌｏｔｔｉｎｇ,ｂｙｓｔｉｍｕｌａｔｉｎｇｔｈｅｓｔｅｍｃｅｌｌｓｔｏｄｉｆｆｅｒｅｎｔｉａｔｅａｎｄｄｅｖｅｌｏｐｉｎｔｏｍａｔｕｒｅｍｅｇａｋａｒｙｏｃｙｔｅｓ.Ｔｈｅｒｅｓｕｌｔｓｏｆａｎｉｍａｌｅｘｐｅｒｉｍ…     

人血小板生成素cDNA转导抑制小鼠移植肉瘤(S180)的生长

以小鼠肉瘤S180为模型 ,研究人血小板生成素 (TPO)在肿瘤基因治疗方面的价值 .在小鼠接种瘤细胞前 2周 ,或在接种肿瘤细胞同时 ,给小鼠注射 10 0 μgTPO表达质粒 (pcDNA3 hTPO) ,在 2周和 4周时肿瘤平均重量明显小于单纯质粒 (pcDNA3)注射和生理盐水对照组 (提前转导组P <0 0 5 ,同时转导组P >0 0 5 ) .当肿瘤移植量为 1× 10 6时 ,2周时肿瘤的重量依次分别为 1 75 6g、3 6 37g和 3 92 6g ;当肿瘤移植量为 1× 10 5,2周时肿瘤的重量依次分别为 0 5 76g、5 6 1g和 5 84g .在转导基因 2周时 ,移植 1× 10 5肿瘤细胞组有 4 10受试鼠完全未形成肿瘤或肿瘤的生长被中止在早期阶段 .流式细胞分析发现 ,TPO转导后 ,肉瘤内浸润淋巴细胞从以CD8+为主转变为以CD4 +或CD4 +CD8+为主 .不过 ,TPO转导对瘤细胞在体外的增殖无明显改变 .TPO转导鼠的血清对S180细胞在体外的生长速度也无影响 .推测T淋巴细胞参与了TPO基因转导所产生的抗肿瘤作用     

Pathogenesis of the delayed phase of Rauscher virus-induced thrombocytopenia

BALB/c (H-2d) mice infected with Rauscher murine leukemia virus (RMuLV) developed two phases of thrombocytopenia: an acute phase, probably due to direct virus-platelet interactions, and a delayed phase, starting 2 to 3 wk after virus injection, which was associated with the infection of megakaryocytes by RMuLV and with the expression of RMuLV gp70 and p30 antigens on platelet membranes. This study was concerned with the pathogenesis of this second phase of thrombocytopenia. During this period, the number of marrow megakaryocytes was increased. A peripheral platelet destruction was further indicated by reduced platelet life span. It was shown that radiolabeled platelets, either normal or infected, were submitted to a more rapid clearance in infected recipients than in normal recipients. This might be due to the splenomegaly observed in infected recipients. However, the immediate clearance of gp70+ platelets was more accelerated in infected recipients with high titers of serum anti-gp70 antibodies than in infected recipients without detectable serum anti-gp70 antibodies. In addition, the passive transfer of anti-RMuLV serum to normal BALB/c mice induced a rapid and specific clearance of previously injected radiolabeled platelets expressing RMuLV antigens. In H-2d mice, viral gp70 antigen expression on platelets correlated with the development of delayed thrombocytopenia; but H-2k strains of mice, although susceptible to RMuLV and expressing RMuLV-related antigens on their platelets, did not develop any anti-RMuLV antibodies nor any delayed thrombocytopenia. These results suggest that specific clearance of gp70+ platelets in the presence of significant amounts of serum antiviral antibodies and nonspecific hypersplenism play a role in the development of delayed thrombocytopenia in RMuLV-infected mice.     

Large generation of megakaryocytes from serum-free expanded human CD34 cells

Ex vivo generation of megakaryocytes from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is crucial to HSC research and has important clinical potential for thrombocytopenia patients to rapid platelet reconstruction. In this study, factorial design and steepest ascent method were used to screen and optimize the effective cytokines (10.2 ng/ml TPO, 4.3 ng/ml IL-3, 15.0 ng/ml SCF, 5.6 ng/ml IL-6, 2.8 ng/ml FL, 2.8 ng/ml IL-9, and 2.8 ng/ml GM-CSF) in megakaryocyte induction medium that facilitate ex vivo megakaryopoiesis from CD34⁺ cells. After induction, the maximum fold expansion for accumulated megakaryocytes was almost 5000-fold, and the induced megakaryocytes were characterized by analysis of gene expression, polyploidy and platelet activation ability. Furthermore, the combination of megakaryocyte induction medium and HSC expansion medium can induce and expand a large amount of functional megakaryocytes efficiently, and might be a promising source of megakaryocytes and platelets for cell therapy in the future.     

Potential use of chitosan nanoparticles for oral delivery of DNA vaccine in Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) to protect from Vibrio (Listonella) anguillarum

In recent years, attention has been focused on the possibility of utilizing DNA vaccines in fish aquaculture. A successful regime for intramuscular injection of naked DNA into fish has been developed and novel methods to deliver this DNA to fish are under investigation. The potential of chitosan as a polycationic gene carrier for oral administration has been explored since 1990s. The present study examines the potential efficacy of DNA vaccine against Vibrio anguillarum through oral route using chitosan nanoparticles encapsulation. The porin gene of V. anguillarum was used to construct DNA vaccine using pcDNA 3.1, a eukaryotic expression vector and the construct was named as pVAOMP38. The chitosan nanoparticles were used to deliver the constructed plasmid. In vitro and in vivo expression of porin gene was observed in sea bass kidney cell line (SISK) and in fish, respectively by fluorescent microscopy. The cytotoxicity of chitosan encapsulated DNA vaccine construct was analyzed by MTT assay and it was found that the cytotoxicity of pVAOMP38/chitosan was quite low. Distribution of gene in different tissues was studied in fish fed with the DNA (pVAOMP38) encapsulated in chitosan by using immunohistochemistry. The results indicate that DNA vaccine can be easily delivered into fish by feeding with chitosan nanoparticles. After oral vaccination Asian sea bass were challenged with Vibrio anguillarum by intramuscular injection. A relative percent survival (RPS) rate of 46% was recorded. The results indicate that Sea bass (Lates calcarifer) orally vaccinated with chitosan-DNA (pVAOMP38) complex showed moderate protection against experimental V. anguillarum infection.     

Thrombocytopenia in an animal model of malaria is associated with an increased caspase-mediated death of thrombocytes

Infection of mice with Plasmodium Berghei Anka (PbA) leads to a thrombocytopenia, due to a reduced platelet life span, eventually associated with a syndrome of severe or cerebral malaria (CM). Thrombocytopenia was associated with an increase in the number of microparticles (mcp) in plasma. More than >60% of these mcp were of platelet origin, as seen by staining with an anti-platelet antibody. The thrombocytopenia and the amount of mcp were decreased in mice treated with anti CD40L mAb, suggesting that CD40L is the main effector of the thrombocytopenia. Caspase-1, -3, -6, -8, -9 were activated in platelets from infected mice, as seen by the binding of labeled probes or the amount of pro-caspase-3. Treatment of infected mice with the caspases inhibitor ZVAD-fmk decreased the number of mcp and the thrombocytopenia, shoving that platelet caspases are responsible for platelet fragmentation. In addition, the caspase inhibitor also caused a decrease in the mortality associated with CM, indicating a critical role of caspases in the expression of CM.     

Expression and characterization of bioactive human thrombopoietin in the milk of transgenic mice

Human thrombopoietin (hTPO) is the primary physiological regulator of platelet production and plays a pivotal role in promoting the proliferation and maturation of megakaryocytic progenitor cells and megakaryocytes. In this study, transgenic mice were produced harboring either full-length or the erythropoietin (EPO)-like amino-terminal domain of hTPO cDNA sequences fused to the regulatory elements of the bovine beta-casein gene. The transgene RNA was expressed exclusively in the mammary glands of eight transgenic mice, and a trace amount of the transgene was also found in the lungs of one mouse. The full-length form induced efficient expression of the protein with the highest expression level of 1500 microg/ml; however, the EPO-like domain alone expressed the protein at <0.1 microg/ml. The proteins from the two recombinant cDNAs have apparent molecular weights of about 74 and 17 kDa, due to glycosylation in the case of the full-length cDNA. Cell proliferation assay in vitro indicated that both of the recombinant forms stimulated proliferation of the TPO-dependent BaF3-Mpl cells. A positive correlation appeared between the amount of TPO in the milk of lactating animals and their blood platelet levels. About a twofold increase in platelet numbers in the blood was observed after direct subcutaneous injection of the recombinant hTPO at the level of 30 microg/kg of body weight. On the basis of these results, we anticipate that the recombinant hTPO produced efficiently in milk of transgenic mice will have the same activities as the native hTPO in a few in vivo as well as in vitro biochemical aspects.     

Gene suture--a novel method for intramuscular gene transfer and its application in hypertension therapy

In this report, reporter gene beta-galactosidase (LacZ) was chosen to compare two different intramuscular gene transfer methods, direct injection and gene suture. Evidence showed that gene suture can produce a higher foreign gene express efficiency in skeletal muscle compared with the direct injection method. The highly efficient eukaryotic expressing vectors of human atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) were constructed (pcD2/pAdVAntage/hANF and pcDNA3/hANF), and in vivo ANF gene delivery was performed by intramuscular gene suture. The effects of ANF gene transfer on blood pressure and renal sodium and water excretion were studied in three models of hypertensive animals. Results showed that a marked decrease of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and a significant increase of urine volume and urinary sodium excretion was produced in rats receiving the hANF construct due to the local expression of ANF and its secretion into plasma. Taken together, these results indicate that gene suture may represent a novel gene delivery modality in gene therapy.     

血小板生成素与白介素-11治疗胃癌术后辅助化疗后血小板减少症时效及安全性的比较

目的:比较血小板生成素与白介素-11治疗胃癌患者术后化疗血小板减少症的时效和安全性。方法:术后辅助化疗出现血小板计数低于75×109/L的进展期胃癌患者68例,将其分为TPO组与IL-11组,分别为35例和33例。分别皮下注射rhTPO 15000U,每日1次;rhIL-11 1.5 mg,每日1次,当血小板计数125×109/L或比用药前上升50×109/L,即停止给药,疗程最长为14天。每3天抽取外周静脉血2 m L,通过全自动血液分析仪测定血小板计数,密切观察出现的不良反应并记录。比较两组患者不同临床病理资料、血小板计数、血小板计数升至75×109/L和125×109/L的时程、药物不良反应。结果:两组患者年龄、性别、化疗方案、血小板最低值出现的化疗周期及临床病理分期的比较均没有统计学差异(P值均0.05)。TPO组与IL-11组血小板动态值的比较,第9天出现显著差异(P=0.032)。TPO组与IL-11组血小板计数恢复至75×109/L和125×109/L所需的时间,有显著差异(P=0.041,P=0.013)。TPO组中,有3例(8.6%)患者发生不良反应,IL-11组中,有13例(39.4%)患者发生不良反应,TPO组患者出现的不良反应少且较轻微(P=0.006)。结论:rhTPO治疗胃癌患者术后化疗血小板减少症时效快,安全性好。     

HIV－1载体中存在着提高转录和翻译基因的元件

目的研究HIV-1载体中的一些元件如Rev和Tat蛋白对其骨架的转录及外源基因表达水平的影响。方法将HIV-1表达GFP载体（FUGW）单独或分别与Rev蛋白表达质粒（pLP2）、Tat蛋白表达质粒（pcDNA3.1-Tat）,及表达Rev和Tat蛋白的质粒（△8．9）等摩尔共转染人293T细胞后,经实时定量RT-PCR、FACS、荧光显微镜镜检等方法检测,比较其表达量。结果Rev与RRE结合后,载体骨架及外源基因的转录是单独转染FUGW时的3倍,Tat与TAR结合后,则提高其骨架及外源基因的转录近4倍,而Rev和Tat蛋白的协同作用,其转录本则可提高至6倍。FACS和荧光显微镜镜检也显示GFP蛋白表达量明显提高。F-TPO载体（HIV-1载体乳腺特异表达促血小板生成素）与△8．9在小鼠乳腺上皮细胞HC-11共转染和表达,则TPO蛋白的表达量接近pcDNA3．1-TPO载体的8倍。结论HIV-1载体中存在着提高转录和翻译基因的元件,可提高其骨架的转录和外源基因的表达,且该现象并不依赖于细胞类型和外源基因的种类。     

流体力学注射IL-35质粒对ConA诱导小鼠肝损伤的保护作用

目的:观察流体力学注射白细胞介素35(IL-35)质粒对刀豆蛋白A(ConA)诱导的小鼠肝损伤的干预效果。方法:通过流体力学注射将pcDNA3.1-IL-35导入C57BL/6小鼠体内,对照组注射pcDNA3.1。24h后,以ConA(15mg/kg)尾静脉注射建立小鼠肝损伤模型,检测血清ALT活性和肝组织病理变化。结果:流体力学注射pcDNA3.1-IL-3524h后,肝组织有IL-35mRNA和蛋白的表达。与对照组相比,pcDNA3.1-IL-35预处理组小鼠血清ALT水平明显降低,肝组织病理损伤明显减轻。结论:流体力学注射IL-35质粒对ConA诱导的小鼠肝损伤具有保护作用。     

Thrombopoietin induces p-selectin expression on platelets and subsequent platelet/leukocyte interactions

Ligation of thrombopoietin (TPO) to the platelet c-Mpl receptor induces numerous biochemical pathways in the absence of aggregation. Two forms of recombinant TPO are currently in clinical trials for the treatment of thrombocytopenia. This study focuses on the effects of the full-length recombinant human TPO (rhTPO) on platelets in a whole blood system. Platelet-leukocyte associations (PLAs) were visualized following rhTPO stimulation as CD42b/CD 45 double positive clusters by FACS analysis. Treatment of washed platelets with rhTPO induced granule release and expression of the leukocyte adhesion receptor P-selectin (CD 62P) in the absence of aggregation and calcium mobilization. RhTPO also induced platelet-leukocyte interactions in whole blood. Following stimulation, leukocytes were recruited by platelets through P-selectin in a calcium-dependent manner. rhTPO stimulates platelet-leukocyte associations in whole blood through expression of platelet P-selectin. To our knowledge, this is the first report that identifies TPO as a promoter of platelet-leukocyte interactions.     

Relationship of thrombopoietin and interleukin-11 levels to thrombocytopenia associated with dengue disease

Thrombocytopenia is one of the main clinical findings of dengue. In this work we examined the levels of thrombopoietin (TPO) and interleukin-11 (IL-11), two of the most potent regulators of platelet production, in serum from 28 patients with dengue fever (DF). Patients with DF had increased levels of TPO, compared with healthy individuals (p<0.005). Patients with dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF, n=7), the more severe form of dengue, had higher TPO levels than patients with DF (p<0.001). Serum TPO levels and platelet counts were inversely correlated in both DF and DHF patients. IL-11 was detectable in neither DF nor DHF patients. Our results demonstrate that thrombocytopenia in dengue disease is associated with changes in the serum levels of TPO, but not IL-11, suggesting that this cytokine could be a potential early clinical marker of the severity of dengue disease.