E-box元件修饰端粒酶核心启动子序列及体外转录活性分析

人类端粒酶启动子(hTERT启动子)在肿瘤基因治疗中的有效性已经得到了证实. 然而,hTERT启动子有限的肿瘤靶向转录活性困扰着它的临床应用.早期研究已经揭示,核心hTERT启动子上的-34位E-box元件与该启动子的肿瘤靶向转录活性有关.为进一步探索核心hTERT启动子序列3′端富余E-box元件是否能提高启动子的肿瘤靶向转录能力,用化学合成方法在野生型hTERT(WT-hTERT)核心启动子片段(编码蛋白起始子ATG上游-268 bp～-10 bp)的3′端接入3个E-box序列, 构建成修饰型hTERT(Mod-hTERT)启动子. 然后,分别用WT-hTERT和Mod-hTERT启动子去调控增强型绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)及荧光素酶报告基因在293FT、HepGⅡ、SGC7901、U2OS、以及原代培养人成纤维细胞(PHF)中表达. 结果表明, 在Mod-hTERT启动子的各实验组细胞中,能够在端粒酶阳性的293FT、HepGⅡ及 SGC7901细胞组中观测到EGFP的表达,而在端粒酶阴性的U2OS及PHF细胞组中没有观测到EGFP的表达;在端粒酶阳性的293FT、HepGⅡ和SGC7901细胞株中,Mod-hTERT启动子调控下的荧光素酶活性要高于WT-hTERT启动子组（P＜0.01）; 而在端粒酶阴性的U2OS细胞组中,Mod-hTERT启动子调控下的荧光素酶活性则低于WT-hTERT启动子组（P＜0.01); 在PHF细胞组中,Mod-hTERT启动子组与WT-hTERT启动子组的荧光素酶活性差异不显著(P＞0.05).研究提示,在3′端增加E-box元件可以提高核心hTERT启动子序列的肿瘤靶向转录活性.     

人端粒酶催化亚单位启动子调控自杀基因HSV-TK肿瘤细胞特异性表达载体的构建

将自杀基因形插入质粒pGL3-hTp和pGL3-Control中,取代其上的荧光素酶基因,分别构建hTERT启动子和SV40启动子调控的TK基因表达质粒pGL3-hWp-TK和pGL3-SV40-TK,酶切和PCR鉴定结果显示重组质粒pGL3-hTp-TK和pGL3-SV40-TK构建成功;用脂质体法将pGL3-hTp-TK和pGL3-SV40-TK瞬时转染端粒酶阳性的人肺腺癌细胞株A549及端粒酶阴性的人胚肺成纤维细胞株MRC-5,RT-PCR显示转染pGL3-SV40-TK的细胞A549和MRC-5均有TK mRNA表达,转染pGL3-hTp-TK的A549细胞中也有形mRNA表达,但转染pGL3-hTp-TK的MRC-5细胞无TK mRNA表达,提示hTERT启动子可以调控自杀基因HSV-TK在肺癌细胞中靶向表达,可能是肿瘤靶向性基因治疗中比较理想的转录调控元件．     

hTERT基因片段的克隆、表达和抗hTERT抗体用于端粒酶及hTERT检测的研究

端粒酶是一种重要的肿瘤生物学标志,其活性在生殖细胞、绝大多数肿瘤细胞和体外培养的永生细胞可以测知,但在大多数体细胞中不易测出。人端粒酶由两部分组成,包括hTERC和hTERT,hTERC在正常细胞和肿瘤细胞中均有表达,而hTERT的表达似乎受到严格的调控且和端粒酶活性一致。为了检测肿瘤细胞中端粒酶及hTERT的表达,我们制备了抗hTERT蛋白的特异性多克隆抗体。首先用RT-PCR方法克隆了hTERTcDNA的一个片段,将其连接到GST融合表达载体pGEX-5X-3后在大肠杆菌中融合表达。将纯化的融合蛋白抗原免疫动物,制备抗hTERT蛋白的多克隆抗体。不同的细胞抽提物用该抗体进行了Westernblot分析,结果表明该抗体可特异识别端粒酶阳性细胞株中的hTERT及端粒酶,为端粒酶及hTERT的检测初步提供了一个简单有效的检测手段。     

靶向端粒酶逆转录酶（hTERT）RNAi载体的构建及活性评价

RNA干涉是由与特定基因同源互补的双链RNA,在体内以序列特异的方式引发靶基因的mRNA降解,从而导致转录后基因沉默的过程.为研究内源性的siRNA对靶基因的抑制效果,用pPUR/U6载体构建用于细胞内转录靶向hTERT基因的短发夹状siRNA表达质粒,并评价其对hTERT基因的抑制效果.将hTERT cDNA 3 565～3 583一段19 bp的DNA序列及其反向重复序列,用9 bp的连接序列连接后再接上5个T碱基,将此段DNA序列克隆至pPUR/U6载体U6启动子的下游,形成能在体内合成hTERT特异性短发夹状RNA的重组质粒载体pPUR/U6/hTERT.将pPUR/U6/hTERT与对照质粒pPUR/U6分别转染HepG2细胞.采用嘌呤霉素筛选和富集转染具有抗性的细胞.收集存活的细胞接种12孔板、提取RNA和蛋白质.以细胞计数法测定细胞的生长速度,RT-PCR和蛋白质印迹分析hTERT基因的表达,端粒重复放大测定法检测端粒酶活性,蛋白质印迹检测p53蛋白水平.与转染对照质粒pPUR/U6的细胞相比,转染pPUR/U6/hTERT的细胞其hTERT基因表达水平显著下降,端粒酶活性降低,细胞生长速度变慢,p53蛋白表达明显升高.以上结果表明,以DNA质粒为载体产生的内源性短发夹状siRNA能高效抑制hTERT基因的表达,有望成为基因功能研究的有力工具.     

外源性端粒酶基因对人脐静脉内皮细胞的影响

为了观察外源性端粒酶逆转录酶基因(hTERT)在人脐静脉血管内皮细胞(HUVEC)的表达及对细胞功能和生长的影响。采用逆转录病毒载体转导的方法,将hTERT基因转入HUVEC,检测基因转导后内皮细胞端粒酶的活性和生物学特性。结果发现hTERT转导后细胞端粒酶表达阳性,未转导的亲代细胞为阴性;转导细胞的体外生存时间延长但未永生化,而内皮细胞黏附分子表达的功能未受影响。     

FLT-1启动子在血管内皮细胞中特异生物活性的检测及其意义

目的:构建带有组织特异性 FLT-1 启动子的真核表达栽体,检测其在转染的人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVEC)中对荧光素酶报告基因表达的驱动能力.方法:采用PCR扩增FLT-1启动子,插入到pGL3-Basic-luc载体中,构建携带FLT-1启动子的真核表达载体pGL3-FLT-Basic-luc,经脂质体法转染HUVEC、HepG2、NIH3T3和HEK293 细胞,于转染48h后采用双荧光报告系统检测荧光素酶表达活性.结果:酶切及测序证实构建的pGL3-FLT-Basic-luc栽体中含有序列正确的FLT-1基因启动子,双荧光报告系统检测显示,转染的HUVEC细胞其荧光素酶活性明显高于HEK293细胞(P<0.01),而转染的HepG2和NIH3T3细胞中未检测出荧光素酶表达.结论:克隆的FLT-1启动子具有较高的血管内皮特异性转录活性,可作为血管疾病靶向基因治疗的启动子来源.     

FLT-1启动子在血管内皮细胞中特异生物活性的检测及其意义

目的:构建带有组织特异性FLT-1启动子的真核表达载体,检测其在转染的人脐静脉内皮细胞（HUVEC）中对荧光素酶报告基因表达的驱动能力。方法：采用PCR扩增FLT-1启动子,插入到pGL3-Basic-luc载体中,构建携带FLT-1启动子的真核表达载体pGL3-FLT-Basic-luc,经脂质体法转染HUVEC、HepG2、NIH3T3和HEK293细胞,于转染48h后采用双荧光报告系统检测荧光素酶表达活性。 结果:酶切及测序证实构建的pGL3-FLT-Basic-luc载体中含有序列正确的FLT-1基因启动子,双荧光报告系统检测显示,转染的HUVEC细胞其荧光素酶活性明显高于HEK293细胞（P<0.01）,而转染的HepG2和NIH3T3细胞中未检测出荧光素酶表达。结论:克隆的FLT-1启动子具有较高的血管内皮特异性转录活性,可作为血管疾病靶向基因治疗的启动子来源。图     

Activity of the human telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT) gene promoter could be increased by the SV40 enhancer

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein complex of which the function is to add telomeric repeats to chromosomal ends. Telomerase consists of two essential components, the telomerase RNA template (hTR) and the catalytic subunit (hTERT). hTERT is expressed only in cells and tissues positive for telomerase activity, i.e., tumor and fetal cells. The aim of this study is to test the increased telomerase promoter activity for cancer gene therapy in adenovirus vector. We cloned the hTERT promoter in place of the SV40 promoter in the pGL3-contol vector to be increased by the SV40 enhancer sequences, resulting in strong expression of luc+ only in telomerase positive cancer cells. Then we transfected the constructed plasmid into a normal human cell line and several cancer cell lines. Through these experiments, we identified the selective and increased expression of the luciferase gene controlled by the hTERT promoter and the SV40 enhancer in the telomerase positive cancer cell lines. To investigate the possibility of utilizing the hTERT promoter and the SV40 enhancer in targeted cancer gene therapy, we constructed an adenovirus vector expressing HSV-TK controlled by the hTERT promoter and the SV40 enhancer for the induction of specific telomerase positive cancer cell death. NSCLC cells infected by Ad-hT-TK-enh were more significantly suppressed and induced apoptosis than those infected by Ad-hT-TK. Telomerase is activated in 80 approximately 90% of cancers, so adenovirus with increasing telomerase promoter activity might be used for targeted cancer gene therapy using suicide genes. These results show that the hTERT promoter and the SV40 enhancer might be used for targeted cancer gene therapy.     

Activity of the Human Telomerase Catalytic Subunit (hTERT) Gene Promoter Could Be Increased by the SV40 Enhancer

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein complex of which the function is to add telomeric repeats to chromosomal ends. Telomerase consists of two essential components, the telomerase RNA template (hTR) and the catalytic subunit (hTERT). hTERT is expressed only in cells and tissues positive for telomerase activity, i.e., tumor and fetal cells. The aim of this study is to test the increased telomerase promoter activity for cancer gene therapy in adenovirus vector. We cloned the hTERT promoter in place of the SV40 promoter in the pGL3-contol vector to be increased by the SV40 enhancer sequences, resulting in strong expression of luc+ only in telomerase positive cancer cells. Then we transfected the constructed plasmid into a normal human cell line and several cancer cell lines. Through these experiments, we identified the selective and increased expression of the luciferase gene controlled by the hTERT promoter and the SV40 enhancer in the telomerase positive cancer cell lines. To investigate the possibility of utilizing the hTERT promoter and the SV40 enhancer in targeted cancer gene therapy, we constructed an adenovirus vector expressing HSV-TK controlled by the hTERT promoter and the SV40 enhancer for the induction of specific telomerase positive cancer cell death. NSCLC cells infected by Ad-hT-TK-enh were more significantly suppressed and induced apoptosis than those infected by Ad-hT-TK. Telomerase is activated in 80～90% of cancers, so adenovirus with increasing telomerase promoter activity might be used for targeted cancer gene therapy using suicide genes. These results show that the hTERT promoter and the SV40 enhancer might be used for targeted cancer gene therapy.     

Adenovirus-mediated suicide SCLC gene therapy using the increased activity of the hTERT promoter by the MMRE and SV40 enhancer

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein complex of which the function is to add telomeric repeats to chromosomal ends. Telomerase consists of two essential components, the telomerase RNA template (hTR) and the catalytic subunit (hTERT). hTERT is expressed only in cells and tissues positive for telomerase activity, i.e., tumor or stem cells. The aim of this study was to use increased telomerase promoter activity in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) gene therapy. The hTERT promoter and Myc-Max response elements (MMRE) in pGL3-Control vector containing SV40 enhancer resulted in strong expression of the luciferase gene only in telomerase positive and myc overexpressing SCLC cell line but not in normal human cell line. To investigate the possibility of the utilization of the MMRE, hTERT promoter, and SV40 enhancer in targeted SCLC gene therapy, adenovirus vector expressing HSV-TK controlled by the MMRE, hTERT promoter, and SV40 enhancer for the induction of telomerase positive and myc-overexpressing cancer specific cell death was constructed. SCLC cells infected with Ad-MMRE-hT-TK-enh were significantly suppressed and induced apoptosis more than those of Ad-hT-TK or Ad-hT-TK-enh infected cells. Telomerase and c-myc are activated in 60 approximately 80% of SCLC, so the increased activity of telomerase promoter can be used for targeted SCLC gene therapy. These results show that the MMRE, hTERT promoter, and SV40 enhancer can be used in SCLC targeted cancer gene therapy.