新型脂肽类辐射防护剂H6101对小鼠骨髓细胞基因表达谱的影响

目的：脂肽类化合物具有抗辐射活性,通过研究脂肽类辐射防护剂H6101给药后小鼠骨髓细胞基因表达谱的变化,揭示其可能的辐射防护机制。方法：6只ICR雄性小鼠随机分为PBS对照组和H6101给药组,每组3只,给药后1h分离骨髓细胞提取总RNA,经反转录和荧光标记后与小鼠基因表达谱芯片杂交,杂交信号经扫描仪捕获后用Genenomestudio软件进行统计分析。结果：在测定的26766个基因中,给药组与对照组之间的2倍差异表达基因为1738个,其中1041个基因表达上调,697个基因表达下调;TLR信号通路相关基因,炎性细胞因子、造血因子和细胞凋亡相关基因等的转录水平发生明显变化。结论：用基因表达谱芯片筛选出许多不同种类的与H6101辐射防护作用有关的重要基因,这为揭示脂肽分子辐射防护机制提供了研究方向。     

γ-射线对新菠萝灰粉蚧辐照效应的转录组测序与分析

检疫辐照处理通过电离辐射来灭杀进出口货物中的检疫性害虫。明确辐照处理的分子机制,找到既能有效灭杀处理对象,而又能量消耗经济,且不会对货物质量造成损伤的合适辐射剂量是研究辐照处理的关键基础性问题。本研究对检疫性害虫——新菠萝灰粉蚧分别采用100 Gy和240 Gy两种辐照剂量处理,经饲养24 h后采用高通量测序技术来研究其基因表达水平的变化。结果表明低剂量组和高剂量组中分别有3.3%和4.4%的基因相对与对照组产生了差异表达,而且有2.4%基因在两组处理中都表现出了表达差异,占差异表达基因总量的一半以上,且这些基因的表达量大多发生下调。聚类分析显示,这些差异表达的基因主要富集在各种细胞组分、基因表达调控等功能类别中,说明检疫辐照主要通过损伤细胞结构和干扰生物的基因表达调控过程来实现害虫不育,且辐照强度越大,对处理虫体的损伤越大。     

大豆异黄酮对辐射小鼠造血系统损伤防护作用的实验研究

研究大豆异黄酮(SoybeanIsoflavone,SI)对辐射损伤小鼠造血系统功能的影响。雄性昆明小鼠照射前补充SI,经4Gyγ射线照射,观察补充SI对电离辐射损伤小鼠内源性脾结节(CFU-S)数、骨髓细胞粒、巨噬系细胞集落形成单位(CFU-GM)数、骨髓细胞DNA含量及外周血淋巴细胞DNA损伤程度的影响。结果显示SI提高了辐射损伤小鼠CFU-S数,增加了骨髓有核细胞CFU-GM数,降低外周血淋巴细胞DNA损伤程度,对骨髓细胞DNA含量也有一定的增加趋势。表明SI可以提高辐射损伤小鼠造血干祖细胞的增殖能力,减轻辐射对骨髓细胞和外周血淋巴细胞DNA的损害,SI对辐射小鼠的造血系统有一定的防护作用。     

条件性基因敲除:骨髓细胞特异性敲除Ncol2基因小鼠的建立和基因型鉴定

Ncol2是新发现的参与免疫调节的重要因子,Ncol2基因骨髓细胞特异性敲除小鼠的建立,能够有针对性的研究Ncol2基因缺失后对免疫系统的影响。根据条件性基因敲除的原理,本文利用loxp转基因小鼠和在骨髓细胞特异性表达Cre重组酶的LysMcre小鼠,繁殖建立了骨髓细胞特异性敲除Ncol2基因的小鼠,并提供了用鼠尾做基因型鉴定的简便方法。     

广泛表达人载脂蛋白E3转基因小鼠的建立

目的建立人载脂蛋白E3（apolipoprotein E3,ApoE3）转基因小鼠,研究该基因在多种组织中表达水平的变化对动物的影响,探索该基因的功能。方法RT-PCR法克隆人ApoE3基因,把该基因插入CMV启动子下游,构建转基因表达载体,通过显微注射法建立转ApoE3基因C57BL／6J小鼠。并利用特异引物PCR法鉴定转基因小鼠的基因型,Western blot检测基因表达水平。通过生化指标分析初步鉴定ApoE3基因的功能。结果建立了2个系的高表达人ApoE3转基因小鼠。结论成功建立了CMV启动子启动的高表达人ApoE3基因转基因小鼠,为进一步探索该基因的功能奠定了基础。     

Smad3基因剔除的骨髓细胞移植对小鼠的影响

目的通过小鼠骨髓细胞剔除Smad3基因,观察小鼠病理变化以及免疫T细胞状态。方法将Smad3基因剔除Smad3-/-)的小鼠骨髓细胞和野生型(Smad3+/+)小鼠骨髓细胞分别移植给60Co射线照射GFP小鼠。观察骨髓移植后GFP小鼠体征变化,第6周处死小鼠,取肠道固定,HE染色观察其病理变化,流式细胞技术检测淋巴结中T细胞变化。结果移植Smad3-/-骨髓细胞的GFP小鼠逐渐消瘦,大肠出现炎症;淋巴结中活化型的CD4+CD62LloT细胞增多。结论骨髓细胞TGF-β信号受阻,可导致小鼠患炎症疾病,引起免疫T细胞活化。     

WIF-1心脏特异表达转基因小鼠心脏功能分析

目的建立心脏特异表达WIF-1转基因小鼠,研究该基因在心脏中表达对小鼠心脏发育,形态和功能维持中的作用。方法RT-PCR法克隆人WIF-1基因,把WIF-1基因插入α-MHC启动子下游,构建转基因表达载体,通过显微注射法建立转WIF-1C57BL/6J小鼠。并利用特异引物PCR法鉴定转基因小鼠的基因表型,RT-PCR和Westernblot检测基因表达水平,超声检测不同月龄WIF-1转基因小鼠心脏结构及功能变化。结果建立了2个系的心脏特异表达WIF-1转基因小鼠。心脏超声检查证实,WIF-1转基因小鼠与对照小鼠比较,左心室重量减小,舒张期左室内径和容积变小,每搏输出量和心输出量减小。结论WIF-1基因是心脏功能的负调控因子。     

E1A激活基因阻遏子基因表达变化与颈动脉血管重塑的关系

E1A激活基因阻遏子(CREG)是一种广泛表达的小分子糖蛋白,但其生物学功能仍不完全清楚.为了探索病理性血管重塑的病理生理机制以及CREG在其中发挥的调控作用,采用颈动脉导丝损伤模型构建小鼠病理性血管重塑模型,应用小动物超声、Masson染色、免疫组织化学染色、RT-PCR、Western-blot等方法检测小鼠颈动脉内膜-中膜厚度、胶原含量、Ⅰ型胶原和CREG表达变化.结果表明,小鼠颈动脉损伤后3 d血管壁CREG m RNA和蛋白质水平迅速下降,损伤后7 d CREG表达回升,至损伤后14 d和28 d基本恢复到正常对照组水平.血管损伤后3 d血管壁中Ⅰ型胶原m RNA水平开始升高,损伤后7 d血管壁开始增厚,管壁中Ⅰ型胶原表达水平继续增高,损伤后14 d和28 d新生内膜形成,管腔严重狭窄,Ⅰ型胶原在管壁和新生内膜内大量表达.血管损伤早期CREG表达水平的变化与病理性血管重塑程度呈负相关关系,CREG的表达为先迅速降低,再逐渐回升,而胶原表达和血管重塑程度则表现为持续加重.上述研究结果提示,CREG基因表达参与血管损伤导致的病理性血管重塑过程,并可能决定了血管重塑的进程和结局.     

db/db小鼠糖尿病肾病相关基因的分析和克隆

用GM-U74A基因芯片分别检测了正常对照组（db/m小鼠）、糖尿病肾病组（db/db小鼠）、大黄酸治疗组（大黄酸150 mg/kg治疗12周）肾脏基因表达谱.发现在12 437个基因（包括表达序列标签）中,与正常对照组相比,糖尿病肾病组有1 085个基因表达下调,37个基因表达上调,其中变化幅度大于2倍,表达下调的有166个和表达上调的有29个.与糖尿病肾病组相比,大黄酸治疗组有384个基因表达下调,155个表达上调,其中变化幅度大于2倍,表达下调的有47个和表达上调的有30个.在此基础上,对其中的一个差异表达的表达序列标签(EST)进行了详细的生物信息学分析,发现它是一个未知功能基因——“REKEN cDNA 0610006H10”基因的一部分.在用RT-PCR进一步验证了其与糖尿病肾病的相关性后,对“REKEN cDNA 0610006H10”基因进行了克隆.     

尼古丁影响小鼠胚胎发育的分子机制初探

目的:探讨不同剂量的尼古丁对小鼠胚胎组织器官发育的影响及其分子机制。方法:以妊娠期雌鼠为评价模型,通过皮下注射不同浓度的尼古丁,在E18.5时解剖获取胚胎并称重,同时采集各组织器官,应用HE染色观察相关组织的病理学变化,并采用qRT-PCR检测相关基因表达水平的变化。结果:与对照组相比,尼古丁对小鼠E18.5胚胎的脑、肺、肝脏、肾脏有明显损伤;qRT-PCR分析显示血管形成相关基因(VEGF-α)、神经生长相关基因(Egr-1)及细胞生长分化相关调控基因(c-FOS)有显著的表达差异,其中VEGF-α在心脏和肾脏中表达下调,Egr-1在肺和肾脏中表达上调,c-FOS在脑、心脏和肺中表达上调。结论:妊娠期母鼠注射尼古丁会对小鼠胚胎的脑、肺、肝脏、肾脏产生明显损伤,并导致VEGF-a、Egr-1及c-FOS基因表达异常。     

Induction of central deletional T cell tolerance by gene therapy

Transgenic mice expressing an alloreactive TCR specific for the MHC class I Ag K(b) were used to examine the mechanism by which genetic engineering of bone marrow induces T cell tolerance. Reconstitution of lethally irradiated mice with bone marrow infected with retroviruses carrying the MHC class I gene H-2K(b) resulted in lifelong expression of K(b) on bone marrow-derived cells. While CD8 T cells expressing the transgenic TCR developed in control mice reconstituted with mock-transduced bone marrow, CD8 T cells expressing the transgenic TCR failed to develop in mice reconstituted with H-2K(b) transduced bone marrow. Analysis of transgene-expressing CD8 T cells in the thymus and periphery of reconstituted mice revealed that CD8 T cells expressing the transgenic TCR underwent negative selection in the thymus of mice reconstituted with K(b) transduced bone marrow. Negative selection induced by gene therapy resulted in tolerance to K(b). Thus, genetic engineering of bone marrow can be used to alter T cell education in the thymus by inducing negative selection.     

Activity of the adenosine deaminase promoter in transgenic mice.

The promoter of the human gene for adenosine deaminase (ADA) is extremely G/C-rich, contains several G/C-box motifs (GGGCGGG) and lacks any apparent TATA or CAAT boxes. These features are commonly found in promoters of genes that lack a strong tissue specificity, and are referred to as "housekeeping genes". Like other housekeeping genes, the ADA gene is expressed in all tissues. However, there is a considerable variation in the levels of expression of the ADA protein in different tissues. In order to study the activity of the ADA promoter, transgenic mice were generated that harbor a chimeric gene composed of the ADA promoter linked to a reporter gene encoding the bacterial enzyme Chloramphenicol Acetyl Transferase (CAT). These mice reproducibly showed CAT expression in all tissues examined, including the hemopoietic organs (spleen, thymus and bone marrow). However, examination of the actual cell types expressing the CAT gene revealed the ADA promoter to be inactive in the hemopoietic cells. This was substantiated by a transplantation experiment in which bone marrow from ADA-CAT transgenic mice was used to reconstitute the hemopoietic compartment of lethally irradiated mice. The engrafted recipients revealed strongly reduced CAT activity in their hemopoietic organs. The lack of expression in hemopoietic cells was further shown to be correlated with a hypermethylated state of the transgene. Combined, our data suggest that the ADA promoter sequences tested can direct expression in a wide variety of tissues as expected for a regular housekeeping gene promoter. However, the activity of the ADA promoter fragment did not reflect the tissue-specific variations in expression levels of the endogenous ADA gene. Additionally, regulatory elements are needed for expression in the hemopoietic cells.     

Effector cell expression of NK1.1, a murine natural killer cell-specific molecule, and ability of mice to reject bone marrow allografts

The rejection of Hh-1 incompatible bone marrow cells in irradiated mice is mediated by NK cells and is genetically regulated. We tested the role of the NK-specific gene, NK1.1, in regulating the rejection of allogeneic bone marrow cell grafts. NK1.1+ mice, that are known to display strong resistance against Hh-1 incompatible grafts, were crossed to H-2/Hh-1 identical NK1.1-, poor responder mice, and the progeny were backcrossed to the poor responder parent. The segregating mice were individually typed for their expression of NK1.1 and the ability to resist Hh-1 incompatible bone marrow cells (BMC). A strong correlation was noted between expression of NK1.1 and rejection of H-2d/Hh-1d BMC. Our results support the idea that NK1.1 is one of the genes responsible for strong resistance to Hh-1d (determinant 2) but not for Hh-1j (determinant 3) BMC grafts. We suggest that the NK1.1 molecule functions as an accessory molecule in the cellular interactions involving the recognition of Hh-1 determinants.     

Adeno-associated virus type 2-mediated transduction of murine hematopoietic cells with long-term repopulating ability and sustained expression of a human globin gene in vivo.

Adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV), a nonpathogenic human parvovirus, is gaining attention as a vector for potential use in human gene therapy. We and others have described AAV-mediated beta-globin gene transfer and expression in established human and murine erythroleukemia cell lines in vitro. However, successful AAV-mediated globin gene transduction of hematopoietic stem cells and long-term expression in vivo in progeny cells have not been documented. We report here that infection of murine hematopoietic bone marrow cells ex vivo with a recombinant AAV vector containing the genomic copy of a normal human globin gene followed by transplantation of these cells into lethally irradiated congenic mice resulted in efficient gene transfer into hematopoietic cells with long-term repopulating ability as detected by the presence of the human globin gene sequences in bone marrow and spleen in primary recipient mice for at least 6 months. Long-term expression of the human globin gene was also detected in bone marrow, but not in spleen, in primary recipient mice. Furthermore, in secondary-transplant experiments, we were also able to document the presence as well as expression of the transduced human globin gene in mouse bone marrow for up to 3 months. These results provide further support for potential use of the AAV-based vector system in gene therapy of human hemoglobinopathies in general and sickle-cell anemia and beta-thalassemia in particular.     

Full reconstitution of the immune deficiency in scid mice with normal stem cells requires low-dose irradiation of the recipients

Mice homozygous for an autosomal recessive mutation for the scid gene exhibit a defect that specifically impairs lymphoid differentiation but not myelopoiesis. Such mice can be cured of their lymphoid deficiency by grafts with normal bone marrow, although full reconstitution of lymphoid function is seldom obtained. Long-term bone marrow cultures (LTBMC) are devoid of all mature B and pre-B cells but contain lymphoid stem cells. We therefore reconstituted scid mice with LTBMC cells to study the kinetics of B lymphocyte reconstitution in normal and irradiated (4 Gy) scid recipients and in irradiated (9.5 Gy) co-isogenic C.B-17 mice. Detectable colony-forming B cells rapidly increased in the spleen and bone marrow of irradiated C.B-17 and irradiated scid recipients, reaching normal levels between 4 and 6 wk post-grafting. Unirradiated scid recipients showed limited reconstitution in spleen and very poor reconstitution in bone marrow. Unirradiated scid recipients also had relatively few surface Ig+ cells in spleen or bone marrow, whereas both groups of irradiated recipients had normal numbers between 4 and 6 wk post-reconstitution. Normal levels of cytotoxic T cell activity by 8 wk after reconstitution were observed only in the irradiated C.B-17 and irradiated scid recipients. Analysis of mice reconstituted with cells from LTBMC indicates that these cultures contain lymphoid stem cells with significant proliferative and self-renewal potential, and that full reconstitution of lymphoid function requires prior irradiation of the scid recipient.     

Use of electroporation for high-molecular-weight DNA-mediated gene transfer

Electroporation was used to introduce high-molecular-weight DNA into murine hematopoietic cells and NIH3T3 cells. CCRF-CEM cells were stably transfected with SV2NEO plasmid and the genomic DNA from G-418-resistant clones (greater than 65 kb) was introduced into mouse bone marrow and NIH3T3 cells by electroporation. NEO sequences and expression were detected in the hematopoietic tissues of lethally irradiated mice, with 24% of individual spleen colonies expressing NEO. The frequency of genomic DNA transfer into NIH3T3 cells was 0.25 X 10(-3). Electroporation thus offers a powerful mode of gene transfer not only of cloned genes but also of high-molecular-weight DNA into cells.     

Gene expression profile in bone marrow and hematopoietic stem cells in mice exposed to inhaled benzene

Acute myeloid leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia are associated with benzene exposure. In mice, benzene induces chromosomal breaks as a primary mode of genotoxicity in the bone marrow (BM). Benzene-induced DNA lesions can lead to changes in hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) that give rise to leukemic clones. To gain insight into the mechanism of benzene-induced leukemia, we investigated the DNA damage repair and response pathways in total bone marrow and bone marrow fractions enriched for HSC from male 129/SvJ mice exposed to benzene by inhalation. Mice exposed to 100 ppm benzene for 6h per day, 5 days per week for 2 week showed significant hematotoxicity and genotoxicity compared to air-exposed control mice. Benzene exposure did not alter the level of apoptosis in BM or the percentage of HSC in BM. RNA isolated from total BM cells and the enriched HSC fractions from benzene-exposed and air-exposed mice was used for microarray analysis and quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Interestingly, mRNA levels of DNA repair genes representing distinct repair pathways were largely unaffected by benzene exposure, whereas altered mRNA expression of various apoptosis, cell cycle, and growth control genes was observed in samples from benzene-exposed mice. Differences in gene expression profiles were observed between total BM and HSC. Notably, p21 mRNA was highly induced in BM but was not altered in HSC following benzene exposure. The gene expression pattern suggests that HSC isolated immediately following a 2 weeks exposure to 100 ppm benzene were not actively proliferating. Understanding the toxicogenomic profile of the specific target cell population involved in the development of benzene-associated diseases may lead to a better understanding of the mechanism of benzene-induced leukemia and may identify important interindividual and tissue susceptibility factors.     

In vivo expression of a nonselected gene transferred into murine hematopoietic stem cells by electroporation

Mouse bone marrow cells were subjected to electroporation in the presence of RSVCAT and SV2NEO plasmids. CAT activity was detected in the G-418 resistant granulocyte-macrophage colonies. RSVCAT electroporated into primary bone marrow cells, repopulated lethally irradiated mice as demonstrated by the persistence of CAT activity in the hematopoietic tissues showing that electroporation can offer a powerful mode of gene transfer into bone marrow cells.     

Lack of evidence that hematopoietic stem cells depend on N-cadherin-mediated adhesion to osteoblasts for their maintenance

Recent studies have proposed that bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are maintained via N-cadherin-mediated homophilic adhesion with osteoblasts. However, there is not yet any evidence that N-cadherin-expressing cells have HSC activity or that osteoblasts are required for HSC maintenance. We were unable to detect N-cadherin expression in highly purified HSCs by polymerase chain reaction, by using commercial anti-N-cadherin antibodies, or by beta-galactosidase staining of N-cadherin gene trap mice. Only N-cadherin-negative bone marrow cells exhibited HSC activity in irradiated mice. Finally, biglycan-deficient mice had significant reductions in trabecular bone and osteoblasts but showed no defects in hematopoiesis, HSC frequency, or function. Thus, reductions in osteoblasts do not necessarily lead to reductions in HSCs. Most bone marrow HSCs in wild-type and biglycan-deficient mice localized to sinusoids, and few localized within five cell diameters of the endosteum. These results question whether significant numbers of HSCs depend on N-cadherin-mediated adhesion to osteoblasts.     

Studies of congenitally immunologically mutant New Zealand mice. IX. Age-related microenvironmental effects on autoantibody production in NZB and NZB.Xid mice studied by transplantation

The mechanism of polyclonal expansion of B cells and subsequent autoantibody production in New Zealand mice remains a critical question. We have been studying the requirements for autoantibody production both in NZB mice as well as NZB mice congenic with the Xid gene of CBA/N mice. In this study, we have attempted to alter the immunologic phenotype of NZB.Xid mice by transfer of cells from young and old NZB mice. There was little difficulty in restoring normal levels of serum IgM, IgG3, splenic Lyb-5 cells, and response to DNP-Ficoll in young NZB.Xid mice that were injected with young NZB bone marrow cells. Although such animals had an almost immediate change in their immune profile to values characteristic of NZB mice, they required, much like unmanipulated NZB mice, a latency period of an additional 6 mo before autoantibodies were detected. In contrast, adult NZB.Xid mice, who likewise developed an immune profile similar to NZB after transfer of bone marrow cells from young NZB mice, began to express autoantibodies immediately without any latency period. NZB.Xid mice who were recipients of adult NZB bone marrow cells did not show sustained autoantibody production, reflecting the limited state of B cell precursors in adult NZB mice. Thus, the age of both donor cells and the age of recipient mice are critical factors for determining the latency period and the age at which autoantibodies will appear. Similarly we attempted to alter the production of autoantibodies in NZB mice that were irradiated and injected with bone marrow cells from NZB.Xid animals. NZB mice had a major amelioration of disease when they received cell transfers from young NZB.Xid mice. This amelioration, which included the acquisition of the immune profile of NZB.Xid animals, was not seen in adult NZB mice that were recipient of young NZB cells. We suggest that although Lyb-5 cells may be the effective mechanism for autoantibody production, there are other interacting influences that may selectively turn on or turn off autoantibodies and that are required and are responsible for the latency period.