抑制MTM1表达促进胚胎干细胞分化

应用随机RNAi文库,筛选了与胚胎干细胞自我更新和分化调控相关基因,发现了多个阳性候选基因,对其中的1个阳性候选基因肌管素1（myotubularin, MTM1）基因进行了深入研究．MTM1是属于蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶（PTPase）蛋白家族的蛋白,其基因突变导致肌管性肌病．MTM1在胚胎干细胞中的功能到目前为止还不清楚．研究证实,MTM1在小鼠胚胎干细胞系CCE和R1均有表达．应用RNA干扰及集落形成实验证明,MTM1表达抑制后,处于自我更新状况胚胎干细胞集落的比例显著增加,提示MTM1在胚胎干细胞自我更新和分化的调控中起了重要的作用．     

MicroRNAs与胚胎干细胞研究

MicroRNAs(miRNAs)是一种大小约20～25个碱基的非编码小分子RNA,一般通过特异性抑制靶蛋白翻译或降解靶基因mRNA发挥负调控基因表达的作用.胚胎干细胞(embryonic stem cells,ES细胞)是从植入前早期胚胎内细胞团或原始生殖细胞中分离得到并能在体外长期培养的高度未分化的多能细胞系,在揭示胚胎早期发育机理、药物筛选、临床再生医学等领域具有广泛的应用前景.最近研究发现miRNAs在ES细胞自我更新和分化过程中均发挥着重要的调控作用,但具体调控机制尚未完全阐明.进一步深入研究miRNAs在ES细胞中的作用,全面了解ES细胞自我更新和定向分化的机制是实现ES细胞广阔临床应用前景的基础.     

Id2诱导Myc表达促进小鼠胚胎干细胞自我更新

小鼠胚胎干细胞(mouse embryonic stem cells,m ESCs)分离自小鼠的囊胚内细胞团,在体外具有无限的自我更新能力和多向分化的潜能,因此拥有重大的社会和经济效益.前期人们发现,DNA结合抑制因子1(inhibitor of DNA binding 1,Id1)在含血清培养条件下,可以促进m ESCs自我更新,但其家族成员,如Id2和Id3,在m ESCs中的作用尚不清楚.本课题在m ESCs里分别上调Id2和Id3基因的表达,发现它们在含血清的培养条件下均具有促进m ESCs自我更新的能力,但Id2促进自我更新的能力大于Id3.通过转录组测序技术发现Id2上调c-Myc和n-Myc基因的表达水平.最后功能性验证实验证实,只有同时干扰c-Myc和n-Myc基因的表达才能够极大地削弱Id2维持m ESCs未分化状态的作用,表明Id2主要通过诱导Myc家族成员的表达来促进m ESCs的自我更新.本研究结果将扩大人们对干细胞多能性调控网络的认识,利于干细胞未来的基础研究和安全应用.     

利用人U6 snRNA启动子构建RNA干扰质粒载体

RNA干扰技术已经成为基因功能研究等领域的有力工具,构建带有筛选标记的siRNA载体可以在细胞中持续抑制靶基因的表达.为了利用RNAi技术开展生物学研究,在克隆载体pUC19的基础上改造构建了人类细胞小干扰RNA（small interference RNA,siRNA）表达质粒pUC19NU.该质粒具有新霉素抗性标记和真核细胞复制起点,利用连入的人U6 snRNA启动子起始siRNA的转录.以EGFP 和p53为靶基因的干扰实验证明,所构建的siRNA表达质粒可以显著抑制细胞外源性增强绿色荧光蛋白（enhanced green fluorescent protein,EGFP）及细胞内源性p53蛋白的表达,而且抑制效果具有特异性.     

小鼠Smad6基因RNAi慢病毒载体的构建与鉴定

构建小鼠Smad6基因RNA干扰（RNAi）慢病毒载体,有效沉默骨髓树突状细胞（BMDC）的Smad6基因表达,为构建骨髓致耐受DC用于哮喘等自身免疫疾病的研究。设计小鼠Smad6 shRNA序列,合成、退火,得到双链DNA,与经酶切后的Psih1-H1-copGFP shRNA Vector载体连接产生LV-shSmad6慢病毒载体,并测序鉴定。转染293TN细胞,包装产生慢病毒,测定滴度。感染小鼠骨髓树突细胞,检测Smad6基因的表达状况成功构建Smad6 shRNA的慢病毒载体LV-shSmad6。包装慢病毒,并显著抑制Smad6 mRNA水平及蛋白水平的表达。成功构建出小鼠Smad6基因shR-NA慢病毒载体,为后期研究Smad6基因在哮喘发病机制及新治疗方法提供了稳定的转染细胞载体。     

慢病毒介导Nanog基因在小鼠ES细胞的表达

试验尝试构建小鼠Nanog基因慢病毒表达载体,培养表达外源Nanog基因的小鼠ES细胞。结果显示通过RT-PCR扩增出918bp的小鼠Nanog基因,测序正确的小鼠Nanog基因通过慢病毒介导在小鼠ES细胞表达后,表达外源Nanog基因的小鼠ES细胞生长状态同普通ES细胞无明显差异,在无LIF的ES细胞培养液培养条件下,表达外源Nanog基因的小鼠ES细胞保持正常的ES细胞集落,碱性磷酸酶、Oct4和SSEA-1免疫细胞化学检测为阳性,相同情况下未表达外源Nanog基因的小鼠ES细胞集落退化消失。试验证实了通过慢病毒载体介导培养了表达外源Nanog基因的小鼠ES细胞。试验尝试构建小鼠Nanog基因慢病毒表达载体,培养表达外源Nanog基因的小鼠ES细胞。根据小鼠Nanog基因m RNA序列设计Nanog基因引物,引物两端带有Nhe I和Xho I酶切位点。Trizol试剂处理小鼠ES细胞,通过RT-PCR扩增出小鼠Nanog基因,小鼠Nanog基因用Nhe I和Xho I酶切后连入pcDNA3.1载体中,PCR检测阳性的细菌克隆进行测序,测序正确的Nanog基因片段连接入PLL-IRES-Neo慢病毒表达载体中,包装含有Nanog基因的慢病毒感染小鼠ES细胞,在SNL细胞饲养层上G418筛选2周后,添加普通ES细胞培养液在普通小鼠胎儿成纤维细胞饲养层上培养。结果显示通过RT-PCR扩增出918 bp的小鼠Nanog基因,测序正确的小鼠Nanog基因通过慢病毒介导在小鼠ES细胞表达后,表达外源Nanog基因的小鼠ES细胞生长状态同普通ES细胞无明显差异,在无LIF的ES细胞培养液培养条件下,表达外源Nanog基因的小鼠ES细胞保持正常的ES细胞集落,碱性磷酸酶、Oct4和SSEA-1免疫细胞化学检测为阳性,相同情况下未表达外源Nanog基因的小鼠ES细胞集落退化消失。试验证实了通过慢病毒载体介导培养了表达外源Nanog基因的小鼠ES细胞。     

同源域蛋白Nanog与胚胎干细胞的自我更新研究进展

胚胎干细胞作为一种具有自我更新能力的细胞,可以在体外无限对称性分裂,同时保持未分化状态,具有向各种类型细胞分化的潜能.基于这一特性,胚胎干细胞（embryonic stem cell,ES细胞）有着极其广阔的应用前景。维持ES细胞自我更新的机制至今尚未阐明,推测ES细胞的自我更新机制是一个包括细胞外刺激、细胞内多种因子共同参与的复杂的网络调节系统。近年来发现同源域蛋白Nanog在这个网络调节系统中处于中心地位,对ES细胞自我更新的维持起着关键作用。本文就近年来关于Nanog在ES细胞自我更新维持中的作用,以及它与其他信号通路之间的对话,阐明ES细胞自我更新的维持机制。     

具高效种系嵌合能力的C57BL／6J 小鼠ES细胞系的建立

采用小鼠原代成纤维细胞作为饲养层,在含1×103单位白血病抑制因子（LIF）的DMEM高糖培养基中,建成了11个C57BL／6J小鼠的ES细胞系,成系率为9．6％。所建的11个ES细胞系中有5个核型正常率大于70％。这些细胞具早期胚胎细胞的特征,呈碱性磷酸酶阳性,具表达0014基因的特性5进行体内分化实验时能发生广泛的分化。通过嵌合体制作实验证明其中3个系具嵌合能力,并从中筛选出具高效种系嵌合能力的MESPU35细胞系,MESPU35细胞的克隆能达到种系传递,经过基因操作的细胞克隆,也保留了高效的嵌合能力。因此,MESPU35细胞可作为制作突变小鼠的有效载体。     

小鼠2-细胞胚胎ATP合成酶6基因特异表达分析及鉴定

合子基因组活化是小鼠胚胎早期发育由细胞质调控向核调控转变的关键 .小鼠合子基因组活化发生在 2 细胞胚胎阶段 ,通过对 2 细胞胚胎阶段特异性表达基因的分析 ,可以从分子水平上揭示早期小鼠胚胎的发育机理 .用DD RTPCR技术 ,从单个小鼠 2 细胞胚胎与成熟卵母细胞 (MII细胞 )中分离了 2个差异片段 ,片段 2同小鼠睾丸中表达的一个未知片段具有高度同源性 .经过cDNA文库构建、筛选 ,分离到其全长cDNA .序列分析结果表明 ,该基因为小鼠ATP合成酶亚单位 6基因 .ATP合成酶亚单位 6基因由线粒体DNA编码 ,与细胞内ATP的合成相关 .小鼠 2 细胞胚胎特异表达的ATP合成酶亚单位 6基因可能与胚胎正常发育相关     

利用ES细胞建立可诱导的白血病模型

胚胎干细胞（embryonic stem cells,ESCs）是从囊胚的内细胞团分离出来的多潜能干细胞,具有多向分化的能力。将外源基因导入ES细胞建立转基因动物,对于研究外源基因的功能和调控具有一定的价值。载有外源性基因的病毒在感染ES细胞后,可通过囊胚注射获得具有胚系遗传的该转基因动物,并且这一外源基因可以稳定遗传和表达。该研究主要是利用携带hPML-RARα基因的慢病毒感染小鼠ES细胞系（R1）,获得携带该基因的ES细胞,感染后的ES细胞核型正常。在此基础上,将感染后的ES细胞经囊胚注射,获得了携带有hPML-RARα基因的3只嵌合小鼠,其中,有1只具有遗传特性。对嵌合体小鼠与C57杂交的后代给予强力霉素（doxycycline）处理,3天以后骨髓细胞hPML-RARα基因开始表达,这证明了在小鼠体内该外源基因表达的可诱导性。以上证实,已经成功利用ES细胞建立了可诱导的白血病转基因小鼠模型。     

Cdk1 is required for the self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells

Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1) is indispensible for the early development of the embryo. However, its role in maintaining the undifferentiated state of the embryonic stem (ES) cells remains unknown. In this study, we dissected the function of Cdk1 in mouse ES cells by RNA-interference and gene expression analyses. Cdk1 expression is tightly correlated with the undifferentiated state of the ES cells. Upon differentiation, Cdk1 expression reduced drastically. Cdk1 knock-down by RNA interference resulted in the loss of proliferation and colony formation potential of the ES cells. Consequentially, expression of self-renewal genes was reduced while differentiation markers such as Cdx2 were induced. Our results suggest a role for Cdk1 in maintaining the unique undifferentiated and self-renewing state of the mouse ES cells.     

Synergistic action of Wnt and LIF in maintaining pluripotency of mouse ES cells

Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) was the first soluble factor identified as having potential to maintain the pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. Recently, a second factor, Wnt, with similar activity was found. However, the relationship between these completely different signals mediating the overlapping functions is still unclear. Here, we report that the conditioned medium of L cells expressing Wnt3a maintains ES cells in the undifferentiated state in feeder-free culture, followed by expression of stem cell markers and their ability to generate germline chimaeras. However, although the activity of this conditioned medium is dependent on Wnt3a, recombinant Wnt3a protein cannot maintain ES cells in the undifferentiated state. As supplementation with Wnt3a to the sub-threshold level of LIF alone was not sufficient to maintain ES self-renewal, the results of maintenance of the undifferentiated state indicated the synergistic action of Wnt and LIF. Induction of constitutively activated beta-catenin alone is unable to maintain ES self-renewal but shows a synergistic effect with LIF. These observations indicate that the Wnt signal mediated by the canonical pathway is not sufficient but enhances the effect of LIF to maintain self-renewal of mouse ES cells.     

wnt3a but not wnt11 supports self-renewal of embryonic stem cells

wnt proteins (wnts) promote both differentiation of midbrain dopaminergic cells and self-renewal of haematopoietic stem cells. Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells can be maintained and self-renew on mouse feeder cell layers or in media containing leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). However, the effects of wnts on ES cells self-renewal and differentiation are not clearly understood. In the present study, we found that conditioned medium prepared from L cells expressing wnt3a can replace feeder cell layers and medium containing LIF in maintaining ES cells in the proliferation without differentiation (self-renewal) state. By contrast, conditioned medium from NIH3T3 cells expressing wnt11 did not. Alkaline phosphatase staining and compact colony formation were used as criteria of cells being in the undifferentiated state. ES cells maintained in medium conditioned by Wnt3a expressing cells underwent freezing and thawing while maintaining properties seen with LIF maintained ES cells. Purified wnt3a did not maintain self-renewal of ES cells for prolonged intervals. Thus, other factors in the medium conditioned by wnt3a expressing cells may have contributed to maintenance of ES cells in a self-renewal state. Pluripotency of ES cells was determined with the use of embryoid bodies in vitro. PD98059, a MEK specific inhibitor, promoted the growth of undifferentiated ES cells maintained in conditioned medium from wnt3a expressing cells. By contrast, the P38 MAPK inhibitor SB230580 did not, suggesting a role for the MEK pathway in self-renewal and differentiation of ES cells maintained in the wnt3a cell conditioned medium. Thus, our results show that conditioned medium from wnt3a but not wnt11 expressing cells can maintain ES cells in self-renewal and in a pluripotent state.     

CD9 is associated with leukemia inhibitory factor-mediated maintenance of embryonic stem cells

Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells can proliferate indefinitely in an undifferentiated state in the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), or differentiate into all three germ layers upon removal of this factor. To determine cellular factors associated with self-renewal of undifferentiated ES cells, we used polymerase chain reaction-assisted cDNA subtraction to screen genes that are expressed in undifferentiated ES cells and down-regulated after incubating these cells in a differentiation medium without LIF for 48 h. The mRNA expression of a tetraspanin transmembrane protein, CD9, was high in undifferentiated ES cells and decreased shortly after cell differentiation. An immunohistochemical analysis confirmed that plasma membrane-associated CD9 was expressed in undifferentiated ES cells but low in the differentiated cells. Addition of LIF to differentiating ES cells reinduced mRNA expression of CD9, and CD9 expression was accompanied with a reappearance of undifferentiated ES cells. Furthermore, activation of STAT3 induced the expression of CD9, indicating the LIF/STAT3 pathway is critical for maintaining CD9 expression. Finally, addition of anti-CD9 antibody blocked ES cell colony formation and reduced cell viability. These results indicate that CD9 may play a role in LIF-mediated maintenance of undifferentiated ES cells.     

A novel role for P2X7 receptor signalling in the survival of mouse embryonic stem cells

The growth of a pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cell population is dependent on cell survival, proliferation and self-renewal. The nucleotide ATP represents an important extracellular signalling molecule that regulates the survival of differentiated cells, however, its role is largely undefined in embryonic stem cells. Here we report a role for ATP-gated P2X7 receptors in ES cell survival. The functional expression of P2X7 receptors in undifferentiated mouse ES cells is demonstrated using a selective P2X7 antagonist and small interfering RNA knockdown of these receptors. Our data illustrate a key role for the P2X7 receptor as an essential pro-survival signal required for optimal ES cell colony growth in the presence of leukemia inhibitor factor (LIF). However, chronic exposure to exogenous ATP leads to rapid P2X7-dependent cell death via necrosis. Together, these data demonstrate a novel role for P2X7 receptors in regulation of ES cell behaviour where they can mediate either a pro-survival or pro-death signal depending on the mode of activation.