Dual Transgene Expression in Murine Cerebellar Purkinje Neurons by Viral Transduction In Vivo

Viral-vector mediated gene transfer to cerebellar Purkinje neurons in vivo is a promising avenue for gene therapy of cerebellar ataxias and for genetic manipulation in functional studies of animal models of cerebellar disease. Here, we report the results of experiments designed to identify efficient methods for viral transduction of adult murine Purkinje neurons in vivo. For these analyses, several lentiviral and an adeno-associated virus (AAV), serotype 1, vector with various promoter combinations were generated and compared for in situ transduction efficiency, assayed by fluorescent reporter protein expression in Purkinje neurons. Additional experiments were also conducted to identify the optimal experimental strategy for co-expression of two proteins in individual Purkinje neurons. Of the viruses tested, AAV1 with a CAG promoter exhibited the highest specificity for Purkinje neurons. To deliver two proteins to the same Purkinje neuron, several methods were tested, including: an internal ribosome entry site (IRES), a 2A sequence, a dual promoter vector, and co-injection of two viruses. Efficient expression of both proteins in the same Purkinje neuron was only achieved by co-injecting two AAV1-CAG viruses. We found that use of an AAV1-CAG virus outperformed similar lentivirus vectors and that co-injection of two AAV1-CAG viruses could be used to efficiently deliver two proteins to the same Purkinje neuron in adult mice. AAV1 with a CAG promoter is highly efficient and selective at transducing adult cerebellar Purkinje neurons and two AAV-CAG viruses can be used to efficiently express two proteins in the same neuron in vivo.     

Transgene Expression Is Associated with Copy Number and Cytomegalovirus Promoter Methylation in Transgenic Pigs

Transgenic animals have been used for years to study gene function, produce important proteins, and generate models for the study of human diseases. However, inheritance and expression instability of the transgene in transgenic animals is a major limitation. Copy number and promoter methylation are known to regulate gene expression, but no report has systematically examined their effect on transgene expression. In the study, we generated two transgenic pigs by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) that express green fluorescent protein (GFP) driven by cytomegalovirus (CMV). Absolute quantitative real-time PCR and bisulfite sequencing were performed to determine transgene copy number and promoter methylation level. The correlation of transgene expression with copy number and promoter methylation was analyzed in individual development, fibroblast cells, various tissues, and offspring of the transgenic pigs. Our results demonstrate that transgene expression is associated with copy number and CMV promoter methylation in transgenic pigs.     

Kainate-Induced Apoptosis in Cultured Murine Cerebellar Granule Cells Elevates Expression of the Cell Cycle Gene Cyclin D1

Abstract: Recent evidence suggests that neuronal apoptosis is the consequence of an inappropriate reentry into the cell cycle. Expression of the cell cycle gene cyclin D1, a G1-phase cell cycle regulator, was examined in primary cultures of murine cerebellar granule cells (CGCs) during kainate (KA)-mediated apoptosis. Using cultures of CGCs, we found that a 24-h exposure to KA (1–3,000 µ M ) induced a concentration-dependent cell death with neurons exhibiting characteristic apoptotic morphology and extensive labeling using the terminal transferase-mediated nick end-DNA labeling (TUNEL) method. KA induced a time- and concentration-dependent increase in expression of cyclin D1 as determined by immunocytochemistry and western blot analysis. KA-induced apoptosis and cyclin D1 expression exhibited a similar concentration dependence and were significantly attenuated by the non-NMDA receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (50 µ M ), indicating a KA receptor-mediated effect. Here we present evidence for the first time that KA-induced apoptosis in cultured CGCs involves the induction of cyclin D1, suggesting its involvement in excitotoxic receptor-mediated apoptosis.     

慢性酒精中毒对成年小鼠小脑浦肯野细胞超微结构的影响

目的观察慢性酒精中毒所致的成年小鼠小脑皮质浦肯野细胞(Purkinje cell,PC)胞体的超微结构变化,探讨其对神经元超微结构的影响方式及生理意义。方法用15%酒精饲喂3月龄小白鼠3个月,经行为学检测后,取小脑前叶做电镜包埋,切片,染色,透射电镜下观察并拍照。结果酒精中毒组PC核周质中线粒体膨解,基质囊泡化;高尔基复合体扁平囊扩张;粗面内质网碎裂,核糖体颗粒减少;空泡变性出现;双层核膜界限不清;染色质边集等变化。结论慢性酒精中毒可导致小脑浦肯野细胞多种细胞器出现异常改变,推测这些变化可引起胞内物质合成减少,空间构筑紊乱,神经元死亡,最终导致小脑功能损伤。     

Identification and Transgenic Analysis of a Murine Promoter that Targets Cholinergic Neuron Expression

Abstract : Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) is a specific phenotypic marker of cholinergic neurons. Previous reports showed that different upstream regions of the ChAT gene are necessary for cell type-specific expression of reporter genes in cholinergic cell lines. The identity of the mouse ChAT promoter region controlling the establishment, maintenance, and plasticity of the cholinergic phenotype in vivo is not known. We characterized a promoter region of the mouse ChAT gene in transgenic mice, using β-galactosidase ( LacZ ) as a reporter gene. A 3,402-bp segment from the 5'-untranslated region of the mouse ChAT gene (from -3,356 to +46, +1 being the translation initiation site) was sufficient to direct the expression of LacZ to selected neurons of the nervous system ; however, it did not provide complete cholinergic specificity. A larger fragment (6,417 bp, from -6,371 to +46) of this region contains the requisite regulatory elements that restrict expression of the LacZ reporter gene only in cholinergic neurons of transgenic mice. This 6.4-kb DNA fragment encompasses 633 bp of the 5'-flanking region of the mouse vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), the entire open reading frame of the VAChT gene, contained within the first intron of the ChAT gene, and sequences upstream of the start coding sequences of the ChAT gene. This promoter will allow targeting of specific gene products to cholinergic neurons to evaluate the mechanisms of diseases characterized by dysfunction of cholinergic neurons and will be valuable in design strategies to correct those disorders.     

The Use of Genetically Modified Embryonic Stem Cells to Generate Transgenic Mice

Targeted genetic modification of embryonic stem cells (ESC) was used to obtain nondifferentiated cell clones containing the foreign genetic material in the genome. It was demonstrated that transgenic animals may be obtained by ESC injection in preimplantation embryos and subsequent transplantation of the embryos into a recipient female. Using this method, we constructed chimeric animals with a modified genome.     

Differentiation and Selection of Hepatocyte Precursors in Suspension Spheroid Culture of Transgenic Murine Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem cell-derived hepatocyte precursor cells represent a promising model for clinical transplantations to diseased livers, as well as for establishment of in vitro systems for drug metabolism and toxicology investigations. This study aimed to establish an in vitro culture system for scalable generation of hepatic progenitor cells. We used stable transgenic clones of murine embryonic stem cells possessing a reporter/selection vector, in which the enhanced green fluorescent protein- and puromycin N-acetyltransferase-coding genes are driven by a common alpha-fetoprotein gene promoter. This allowed for “live” monitoring and puromycin selection of the desired differentiating cell type possessing the activated alpha-fetoprotein gene. A rotary culture system was established, sequentially yielding initially partially selected hepatocyte lineage-committed cells, and finally, a highly purified cell population maintained as a dynamic suspension spheroid culture, which progressively developed the hepatic gene expression phenotype. The latter was confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR analysis, which showed a progressive up-regulation of hepatic genes during spheroid culture, indicating development of a mixed hepatocyte precursor-/fetal hepatocyte-like cell population. Adherent spheroids gave rise to advanced differentiated hepatocyte-like cells expressing hepatic proteins such as albumin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, cytokeratin 18, E-cadherin, and liver-specific organic anion transporter 1, as demonstrated by fluorescent immunostaining. A fraction of adherent cells was capable of glycogen storage and of reversible up-take of indocyanine green, demonstrating their hepatocyte-like functionality. Moreover, after transplantation of spheroids into the mouse liver, the spheroid-derived cells integrated into recipient. These results demonstrate that large-scale hepatocyte precursor-/hepatocyte-like cultures can be established for use in clinical trials, as well as in in vitro screening assays.     

The Influence of Matrix Attachment Regions on Transgene Expression in Transgenic Tobaccos

To investigate the effect of matrix attachment regions (MARs) on levels of transgene expression in transgenic plants, β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene ( uidA ) was flanked by the MARs isolated from the genome of pea ( Pisum sativum L.) to form plant expression vector. The plant expression vectors with and without MARs were transferred into tobaccos ( Nicotiana tabacum L.) via Agrobacterium -mediated transformation procedure. The results of GUS activity showed that MARs could increase levels of uidA gene expression, the mean GUS activity could be increased two fold compared with that of transformants without MARs, the highest GUS activity of transformant could arrive at five fold.     

核基质结合区在转基因烟草中对转基因表达的影响

为研究核基质结合区 (matrixattachmentregions,MARs)在转基因植物中对外源转基因 (transgene)表达的影响 ,将来源豌豆 (PisumsativumL .)的MARs序列构建在报告基因 β_葡糖醛酸酶 (β_glucuronidase ,GUS)基因 (uidA)的两侧形成植物表达载体。将此载体与不包含MARs序列的植物表达载体经根癌土壤杆菌 (Agrobacteriumtumefaciens(SmithetTownsend)Conn)介导转化烟草 (NicotianatabacumL .)。GUS活性检测表明 ,MARs可以提高外源uidA基因的表达水平。和不包含MARs的转化植株相比 ,MARs序列的存在可以使uidA基因的平均表达水平提高 2倍 ,最高的可达 5倍     

从鼠黑色素瘤细胞系中分离和鉴定癌干细胞样细胞

目的：从鼠黑色素瘤BL6F10细胞系中分离与鉴定癌干细胞（CSC）样细胞,为今后对CSC的鉴定及靶向治疗奠定基础。方法：用不同免疫磁珠标记的单克隆抗体,从BL6F10细胞系中分离有特征性CD表型的瘤细胞,体外观察不同CD表型瘤细胞在软琼脂培养基上形成克隆的能力;将这些瘤细胞皮下注射到C57BL/6小鼠,比较其致瘤性。结果：从BL6F10细胞系中分离出不同CD表型的特征性瘤细胞;在软琼脂培养基上,CD133^＋、CD44^＋和CD44^＋CD133^＋细胞克隆形成率分别高于CD133^-、CD44^-和CD44^＋CD133^-细胞;CD133^＋、CD44^＋、CD44^＋CD133^＋和CD44^＋CD133^＋CD24＋细胞在小鼠体内的致瘤性分别强于CD133^-、CD44^-、CD44^＋CD133^-和CD44^＋CD133^＋CD24^-细胞。结论：CD44^＋CD133^＋CD24＋表型的BL6F10细胞的某些生物学特性与CSC样细胞相似,具有CSC特征,这些实验结果为进一步鉴定BL6F10细胞系中的CSC提供了重要的实验资料。     

Molecular Characteristics of Transgenic Wheat and the Effect on Transgene Expression

A population of R0 transgenic wheat plants, generated by particle bombardment, was analyzed to define molecular, genetic and phenotypic properties resulting from transformation with a cointegrate vector, or cotransformation with two separate plasmids. By evaluating the progeny of 70 independently-derived transgenic plants, we also identified rare events such as chimerism and transgene elimination, which provide valuable information concerning the development of transgenic cereal plants following bombardment experiments. The frequency of chimerism in our transgenic wheat plants was very low. Furthermore, while transgene elimination did occur, this was also a very rare event. We determined the copy numbers of integrated transgenes and the levels of transgene expression. Comparisons to transgenic rice plants generated in the same manner demonstrated some similarities, but also important differences in transgene behavior. Whereas in rice there is no evidence for any direct relationship between transgene copy number and transgene expression or stability, multicopy populations in wheat demonstrated a bias towards higher levels of expression for the two genes and the maize ubiquitin promoter evaluated in the present study.     

小脑浦肯野细胞动作电位传输保真度在大鼠出生后发育期间的变化

小脑浦肯野细胞的轴突是小脑皮层唯一的传出通路,研究其动作电位传输能力对于了解小脑的生理功能具有重要意义.大鼠在出生后第2周到第3周,小脑浦肯野细胞的形态及功能都有显著变化,产生动作电位的能力明显增强.而轴突上动作电位传输能力的变化还有待研究.运用胞体以及轴突的双电极膜片钳技术,研究了出生8天以及15天的Wistar大鼠小脑浦肯野细胞轴突上动作电位的传输.与8天组相比,15天组大鼠小脑浦肯野细胞轴突上动作电位的传输能力明显增强.后超极化可以增强8天组轴突上动作电位的传输能力.研究表明,随着发育的成熟,动作电位的产生能力以及轴突上动作电位的传输能力同步增强.     

The Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Transgenic Mice Carrying Human Coagulation Factor VIII Can Correct Phenotype in Hemophilia A Mice

Hemophilia A （HA） is an inherited X-linked recessive bleeding disorder caused by coagulant factor VIII （FVIII） deficiency. Previous studies showed that introduction of mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） modified by FVIll-expressing retrovims may result in phenotypic correction of HA animals. This study aimed at the investigation of an alternative gene therapy strategy that may lead to sustained FVIII transgene expression in HA mice. B-domain-de/eted human FVIll （hFVHIBD） vector was microinjected into single-cell embryos of wild-type mice to generate a transgenic mouse line, from which hFVIIIBD-MSCs were isolated, followed by transplantation into HA mice. RT-PCR and real-time PCR analysis demonstrated the expression of hFVlllBD in multi-organs of recipient HA mice. Immunohistochemistry showed the presence of hFVIIIBD positive staining in multi-organs of recipient HA mice. ELISA indicated that plasma hFVIIIBD level in recipient mice reached its peak （77 ng/ mL） at the 3rd week after implantation, and achieved sustained expression during the 5-week observation period. Plasma FVIII activities of recipient HA mice increased from 0% to 32% after hFVIIIBD-MSCs transplantation. APTT （activated partial thromboplastin time） value decreased in hFVIIIBD-MSCs transplanted HA mice compared with untreated HA mice （45.5 s vs. 91.3 s）. Our study demonstrated an effective phenotypic correction in HA mice using genetically modified MSCs from hFVIIIBD transgenic mice.