鸡白细胞介素18与其受体复合物的表达、纯化与初步晶体学研究北大核心CSCD

白细胞介素18(interleukin-18,IL-18)是IL-1家族中一种重要的细胞因子,在增强免疫、抗肿瘤等方面具有潜在应用价值。鸡IL-18(chicken interleukin-18,chIL-18)的cDNA于2000年被克隆,后续研究证明鸡IL-18与哺乳动物IL-18具有类似的生物学功能。IL-18可与靶细胞上的IL-18受体(IL-18R,包括IL-18Rα和IL-18Rβ)特异性结合形成受体复合物,介导细胞膜上的信号从胞外向胞内传递。作者在大肠杆菌中成功表达和纯化了chIL-18,利用昆虫细胞表达系统获得了chIL-18Rα和chIL-18Rβ的胞外结构域;他们还在体外重组并纯化了chIL-18/18Rα二元复合物与chIL-18/18Rα/18Rβ三元复合物,并生长出二元复合物晶体。这些工作为进一步测定chIL-18与其受体复合物的晶体结构,从而深入探讨chIL-18信号转导机制奠定了基础。     

白介素18结合蛋白研究进展

白介素18结合蛋白（IL-18BP）是一种新近发现的蛋白因子,具有胞外Ig样受体结构特征,并与某些病毒编码的蛋白有较高的同源性,它能与IL-18特异性结合并阻断其相关的生物学功能。由于其在免疫调控及免疫预防方面的特殊作用而受到广泛关注。     

白介素18结合蛋白研究进展

白介素18结合蛋白（IL-18BP）是新近发现的一种糖蛋白,属免疫球蛋白超家族成员,目前已发现有6种IL-18BP的同工蛋白,IL-18BP可以在体内外有效抑制IL-18的作用。因而被认为是IL-18的天然拮抗剂,另外发现几种痘病毒编码的蛋白质与IL-18BP有高度同源性,其病毒产物可减弱IL-18诱导的Th1反应,利用IL-18BP拮抗IL-18的作用进行基因治疗将为某些自身免疫性疾病的治疗开辟一条新的途径。     

重组IL-18BP拮抗重组鸡IL-18刺激外周血单核细胞产生IFN-γ的作用

【目的】白细胞介素-18通过激活Th1细胞和NK细胞产生IFN-γ而发挥关键的免疫调节作用。人和小鼠分泌的白细胞介素-18结合蛋白(IL-18BP)可以拮抗其活性。推测在鸡痘病毒基因组中也含有IL-18BP基因的同源物,对其表达的蛋白质进行了活性鉴定,为拮抗IL-18主导的疾病提供理论依据。【方法】根据鸡痘疫苗病毒的基因组序列设计特异性引物,使用PCR方法从中分离cIL-18BP基因,将该基因克隆到酵母表达载体pPICZαA中,甲醇诱导后在酵母GS115中进行表达。对表达的重组蛋白进行了活性鉴定。【结果】从鸡痘病毒中克隆到cIL-18BP基因,SDS-PAGE鉴定了该基因在酵母系统中的高效表达。ELISA检测表明纯化后的cIL-18BP与重组鸡(c)IL-18发生特异性结合;通过测定IFN-γ的浓度,表明该蛋白具有拮抗IL-18刺激外周血单核细胞(PBMCs)和MSB1细胞分泌IFN-γ的活性。【结论】实验表明,cIL-18BP通过抑制cIL-18刺激相关免疫细胞分泌IFN-γ而发挥对IL-18的拮抗作用,敲除该基因可能有助于研制更安全和高效的鸡痘疫苗。     

IL-37b在炎症及其相关疾病中的作用

白细胞介素-1(IL-1)家族成员IL-1F7(IL-1 family 7)最近被命名为IL-37,它共有五种不同的亚型(IL-37a-e)。研究表明,IL-37b(IL-1F7b)可以与IL-18受体的α链结合,但并不影响IL-18的生理功能;IL-37b与IL-18结合蛋白(IL-18BP)结合后,可以增强IL-18BP对IL-18的抑制作用。IL-37b的主要作用是抑制炎症反应,它在多种炎症相关性疾病中起重要作用。     

鸡IL-18成熟蛋白基因的克隆及分子进化分析

根据已发表的鸡白介素18(IL-18)基因序列设计合成引物,以植物凝集素(PHA)和脂多糖(LPS)激活的AA肉鸡脾细胞mRNA为模板,通过RT-PCR扩增出编码鸡IL-18成熟蛋白的eDNA。将该eDNA克隆于pUCm-T载体,并对其进行测序,结果表明所克隆的核苷酸片段包含了全部成熟蛋白编码基因,成熟蛋白编码区507个核苷酸,编码169个氧基酸。把该基因编码的鸡成熟IL-18蛋白氨基酸序列与已公布的禽及哺乳动物IL-8成熟蛋白基因氧基酸序列进行比较,其同源性分别在96．5％～100％和20．1％～26．6％之间,分子系统进化树分析表明鸡IL-18与哺乳动物IL-18有共同的祖先,亲源关系较近,但在免疫系统选择性压力下,形成独特的种族特异性。鸡IL-18基因的克隆为体外表达鸡IL-18蛋白及作为免疫佐剂应用于预防接种的研究奠定了基础。     

IL-4Rα胞外段的真核表达及鼠源单克隆抗体的制备与鉴定

目的表达IL-4Rα胞外段蛋白(IL-4 receptor α extracellular domain, IL-4Rα ECD),并制备对IL-4及IL-13与IL-4R结合具有阻断能力的抗IL-4Rα鼠源单克隆抗体(单抗)。方法构建含IL-4Rα ECD DNA序列的真核表达质粒,转染Expi293F细胞,对上清中的IL-4Rα ECD进行纯化。采用SDS-PAGE及Western blot对该蛋白进行纯度分析及鉴别;将其免疫小鼠后,筛选相应的鼠源单抗;分别采用SDS-PAGE、Western blot、ELISA、流式细胞法及细胞抑制法对单抗的纯度、特异性、结合活性、阻断活性进行鉴定。结果酶切及测序结果表明,IL-4Rα ECD重组表达质粒构建正确;蛋白成功表达,相对分子质量为43 000～48 000,纯度在95%以上;免疫后小鼠血清效价在10~7以上;制备的1株鼠源单抗6-G2与IL-4Rα的ELISA半最大效应质量浓度(concentration for 50%of maximal effect, EC_(50))为10.4 ng/mL;竞争ELISA检测结果显示,6-G2单抗对IL-4与IL-4Rα结合的最大抑制率为27.3%;流式细胞法检测结果显示,6-G2单抗能阻断IL-13与相应受体的结合;细胞增殖抑制法检测结果显示,6-G2单抗几乎能完全抑制细胞的增殖。结论成功表达并纯化了IL-4Rα ECD,制备的抗IL-4Rα鼠源单抗6-G2单抗能同时阻断IL-4及IL-13与IL-4R的结合,为后续开发针对抗IL-4Rα的治疗性抗体药物奠定了基础。     

白细胞介素2亲和性配体的筛选

白细胞介素2(IL-2)及其受体拮抗剂的研究对免疫抑制药物的研制具有重要作用.抗白细胞介素2受体α链中和性单克隆抗体5G1(抗Tac型抗体)能够特异性地阻断IL-2与其受体的结合.因此,5G1可作为目标分子被用来在噬菌体展示肽库中筛选白细胞介素2的亲和性配体.经过4轮亲和性筛选以及5G1亲和活性的测定,6个具有明显5G1亲和活性的噬菌体克隆被发现.DNA序列分析结果显示出,所得到的肽序列具有明显的保守性,即SSFT(L/P)I.该序列与IL-2受体α链没有同源性.因此,SSFT(L/P)I可能模拟了IL-2受体α链上的一个不连续表位(mimotope),为白细胞介素2亲和性配体片段.     

干扰素-λ的生物学作用

Ⅲ型干扰素（Interferon,IFN）,即IFN-λ,是一种新型干扰素,其家族包括IFN-λ1,IFN-λ2和IFN-λ3（也可分别称作IL-29,IL-28α和IL-28β）.IFN-λ的功能性受体复合物是由IL-28Rα（又称IFN-λR1或CRF2-12）和IL-10Rβ（又称CRF2-4）链组成的异二聚体,IFN-λ结合到受体上诱导受体异二聚体化,导致Jak-STAT信号转导途径的激活,从而发挥与Ⅰ型IFN相似的生物学效应.IFN-λ的生物学效应包括抗病毒、抗肿瘤和调节免疫活性等方面.IFN-λ很多生物学活性与临床上应用广泛的 IFN-α/β十分相似,但其受体表达局限,毒副作用相对较小,因此在抗病毒和抗肿瘤方面具有广阔的应用前景.     

胰岛素样生长因子受体Ⅰ序列结构的生物信息学分析

胰岛素样生长因子受体Ⅰ的3'UTR长度大于7 kb,结构复杂,有多种mi RNAs的结合位点,参与信号通路中MAPK及PI3K/AKT的调节和多种肿瘤的形成和发展,通过生物信息学分析知道其结构特点,为后续研究提供思路。分析表明儿童神经胶质瘤中IGF1R的3'UTR与mi RNAs结合位点突变率最高。分析IGF1R序列3'UTR的结构,mi RNAs结合位点,氨基酸序列的理化性质,亲疏水性,糖基化和磷酸化位点,二级结构和三级结构建模。IGF1R三级结构与配体IGF1的三级结构模拟分子对接,得到2种蛋白相互作用的氨基酸位置及名称。因此,通过对IGF1R 3'UTR突变,降低与mi RNAs的结合,IGF1R表达上调,同时改变与IGF1的氨基酸结合位点,降低2种蛋白的相互作用,从而抑制IGF1R的作用。     

A poxvirus protein that binds to and inactivates IL-18, and inhibits NK cell response

IL-18 induces IFN-gamma and NK cell cytotoxicity, making it a logical target for viral antagonism of host defense. We demonstrate that the ectromelia poxvirus p13 protein, bearing homology to the mammalian IL-18 binding protein, binds IL-18, and inhibits its activity in vitro. Binding of IL-18 to the viral p13 protein was compared with binding to the cellular IL-18R. The dissociation constant of p13 for murine IL-18 is 5 nM, compared with 0.2 nM for the cellular receptor heterodimer. Mice infected with a p13 deletion mutant of ectromelia virus had elevated cytotoxicity for YAC-1 tumor cell targets compared with control animals. Additionally, the p13 deletion mutant virus exhibited decreased levels of infectivity. Our data suggest that inactivation of IL-18, and subsequent impairment of NK cell cytotoxicity, may be one mechanism by which ectromelia evades the host immune response.     

Molluscum contagiosum virus interleukin-18 (IL-18) binding protein is secreted as a full-length form that binds cell surface glycosaminoglycans through the C-terminal tail and a furin-cleaved form with only the IL-18 binding domain

Some poxviruses and their mammalian hosts encode homologous proteins that bind interleukin-18 (IL-18) with high affinity and inhibit IL-18-mediated immune responses. MC54L, the IL-18 binding protein of the human poxvirus that causes molluscum contagiosum, is unique in having a C-terminal tail of nearly 100 amino acids that is dispensable for IL-18 binding. When recombinant MC54L was expressed and purified via a C-terminal six-histidine tag, a shorter fragment was detected in addition to the full-length protein. This C-terminal fragment resulted from the cleavage of MC54L by cellular furin, as it was greatly diminished when furin was specifically inhibited or when a furin-deficient cell line was used for expression. Furthermore, the N- and C-terminal fragments of MC54L were generated by cleavage of the recombinant protein with furin in vitro. The furin cleavage site was mapped within a 32-amino-acid segment that is C terminal to the IL-18 binding domain. Full-length MC54L, but not the N-terminal IL-18 binding fragment, bound to cells and to purified heparin and other glycosaminoglycans that are commonly found on the cell surface and in the extracellular matrix. MC54L bound to heparin with a nanomolar K(d) and could simultaneously bind to IL-18. Their different glycosaminoglycan and cell binding properties may allow the long and short forms of MC54L to inactivate IL-18 near the site of infection and at more distal locations, respectively.     

Cloning and expression of MyoG gene from Hu sheep and identification of its myogenic specificity

This experiment was conducted to explore the biological functions of myogenin (MyoG) gene. MyoG gene was cloned from genome of Hu sheep by overlap extension PCR. Then, pEGFP-C1–MyoG and pcDNA3.0–MyoG fusion expression vectors was constructed and pEGFP-C1–MyoG vector had been transfected into NIH-3T3 cells by liposomes-mediated method, and MyoG was detected in vitro by RT-PCR,western blotting and its subcellular localization by EGFP marker. pcDNA3.0–MyoG was transfected into goat embryonic fibroblasts (GEF) cells in order to detect the myogenic function of MyoG in vitro. Then pEGFP-C1–MyoG plasmid was injected into the testes of sheep and goat, respectively, to produce the transgenic generation. The results showed that the length of MyoG coding region of Hu sheep was 675 bp, encoding 224 amino acids. Compared with goat, cattle, pig and rat, the sequence homology of sheep MyoG cDNA was 99.26, 97.04, 92.00, and 87.70 %, respectively. The bioinformatics prediction showed that MyoG protein contained a typical bHLH structure, but without a short signal peptide, revealing that MyoG protein might be a non-secretory protein. The result of RT-PCR and western blotting demonstrated that MyoG could be expressed successfully in the transfected cells in vitro and the MyoG protein was located in nucleus. The positive transfected GEF cells with pcDNA3.0–MyoG were found to express desmin protein. The positive rates of transgenic sheep and transgenic goat were 7.1 and 7.4 % in F1 generation, respectively. Conclusively, MyoG cDNA from Hu sheep had been cloned successfully. The subcellular localization and myogenic activity of MyoG were exactly detected on the basis of multiple biological analyses, which expanded our understanding of the biological function of MyoG.     

Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica: comparison of cellular response to experimental infection in sheep

Cellular responses to Fasciola gigantica and to Fasciola hepatica infection in sheep were compared. Eosinophil numbers increased more quickly and strongly in F. gigantica-infected sheep than in F. hepatica-infected sheep. In both groups, peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation in response to the parasitic excretory-secretory products (ESP) showed similar kinetics. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by ESP-stimulated PBMC was early and showed similar kinetics in both groups. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) production by FhESP-stimulated PBMC was very high throughout infection even at 0 weeks post-infection (WPI) in F. hepatica-infected sheep, while in F. gigantica-infected sheep, IL-10 production by FgESP-stimulated PBMC increased between 1 and 4 WPI. IL-10 production in F. gigantica-infected sheep was significantly lower than in F. hepatica-infected sheep during infection. The lower susceptibility to F. gigantica infection in sheep could be explained by the more intense cellular response induced by the parasite and the weaker capacity of F. gigantica to evade the immune response.     

绒山羊和绵羊KAP6.1基因CDS区克隆与分析

目的:克隆绒山羊、绵羊KAP6.1基因CDS全序列,分析序列特征和蛋白结构。方法:RT-PCR法克隆基因并测序,生物信息学软件分析序列特征和结构。结果:绒山羊、绵羊KAP6.1基因CDS序列全长252 bp,编码83个氨基酸;绒山羊、绵羊KAP6.1蛋白在基本理化特性、二级结构以及空间三维结构上的差异较小。结论:绒山羊与绵羊KAP6.1蛋白结构上的差异将会在一定程度上影响其功能。     

突变型人IL-18的肿瘤靶向性改造及真核表达

为了构建肿瘤靶向性的人突变型IL-18新基因并进行真核表达,以重组PCR技术构建EGF-IL-18融合基因,利用 Bac-to-Bac杆状病毒表达系统和Sf 9昆虫细胞株（来自秋天草地夜蛾）表达融合基因,纯化表达产物,并以IFN-γ诱导实验和EGFR竞争结合实验初步评价融合蛋白的生物活性。测序证明构建的融合基因为原设计EGF-IL-18融合基因。SDS-PAGE和Western blot证明EGF-IL-18融合基因在昆虫细胞中获得表达,表达的融合蛋白的Mr约为20 000,与理论值相符,纯化后融合蛋白具有特异的IL-18单抗结合活性。IFN-γ诱导实验和EGFR竞争结合实验显示,该融合蛋白具有肿瘤导向性和抗肿瘤活性。表明对突变型IL-18成功地进行了肿瘤导向性改造并使其在真核细胞获得表达。     

Conservation of the cellular gene encoding the scrapie prion protein.

The major protein, PrP 27-30, in purified preparations of hamster scrapie prions is encoded within the genome of the experimental host. DNA sequences related to a PrP cDNA clone can be detected in a wide variety of organisms under relatively stringent conditions where the only signal generated by hamster or mouse DNA corresponds to the PrP gene. Three hosts for scrapie, goat, sheep and rat gave strong hybridization signals. In addition, three invertebrate DNAs reacted with the PrP probe, in the order nematode-Drosophila much greater than yeast. Thus, the sequences detected in goat, sheep, rat, nematode, Drosophila and possibly yeast DNA may arise from authentic PrP genes. This evolutionary conservation is consistent with the notion that PrP proteins participate in essential cellular processes.