Mucosal modulation of immune responses to heat shock proteins in autoimmune arthritis

Induction of oral tolerance to antigens that are targets of self-reactive immune responses is an attractive approach to antigen-specific immune therapy of autoimmune diseases. Oral tolerization has indeed proven to be safe and effective in amelioration of autoimmune diseases in animal models. In humans, results have been somewhat controversial. The emphasis given to clinical outcome rather than to immunomodulation, and the difficulty in identifying appropriate candidate antigens contribute to the controversy. Heat shock proteins are promising targets for immune intervention. Immune reactivity to heat shock proteins has indeed been correlated with autoimmune arthritis in animal models, and abnormal immune responses to heat shock proteins have been described in human arthritis as well. Despite significant recent progress, little is known at a molecular level regarding the mechanisms which are responsible for a switch from autoimmunity to tolerance in humans. This is particularly true with respect to sequential analysis of several molecular and immunologic markers during both the course and treatment of disease. Novel approaches are currently under way to fill the gaps. We will briefly detail here the experience gained to date, and identify some of the avenues which future research will explore.     

Nasal administration of arthritis-related T cell epitopes of heat shock protein 60 as a promising way for immunotherapy in chronic arthritis

Adjuvant Arthritis (AA) can be induced in Lewis rats by immunisation with mycobacterial antigens. The disease can be passively transferred with T cell clone A2b, which recognises the 180–188 amino acid sequence in mycobacterial heat shock protein 60 (hsp60) and which crossreacts with crude cartilage proteoglycans. We succeeded to induce peripheral tolerance to this AA-associated T cell epitope following nasal administration of a peptide containing this epitope (mycobacterial hsp60 176–190). In rats treated nasally with 176–190 and immunised with mycobacterial hsp60, proliferative responses to 176–190 were reduced. AA was inhibited nasally with 176–190 treated rats and not in rats nasally treated with a control mycobacterial hsp60 peptide (211–225). Moreover, nasal 176–190 led to similar arthritis protective effects in a non-microbially induced experimental arthritis (avridine induced arthritis). In a subsequent study we tried to prevent and to treat AA through nasal administration of mycobacterial hsp60 peptide 180–188 and a peptide analogue of 180–188, 180–188_L183->A (Alanine 183), which has been shown to have an increased MHC-binding affinity for rat RT1 B¹ and an increased capacity to inhibit the proliferative A2b responsein vitro. We found that nasal administration of 180–188 had a moderate arthritis suppressive effect in AA, whereas its analogue peptide Alanine 183, had a strong suppressive effect. This strong arthritis suppressive effect was only partly due to the higher MHC-binding affinity for rat RT1 B¹. Furthermore, it was possible to passively transfer nasal Alanine 183 induced disease protection. The present findings may in our view offer novel prospects for immunotherapy through nasal administration of (analogue) peptides, with a mimicry relationship with joint specific cartilage proteoglycan epitopes.     

Sex‐biased gene expression during the adult stage of the Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella

Sexual dimorphisms are primary regulated by sex‐biased gene expression. In the present study, using real‐time polymerase chain reaction, we determined the expression profiles of nine genes associated with development, metabolism, stress, and defense throughout adulthood of the Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella, a global pest of stored food products. Most genes were differentially expressed in a sex‐biased manner during the adult lifespan of the moth. Expression of the heat shock protein genes hsp25 and hsp90 and the antioxidant gene thioredoxin peroxidase (Tpx) was highly female biased, whereas the expression of a gene related to host development (ecdysone receptor [EcR]) and two genes associated with immunity (β‐glycan recognition protein [βgrp] and prophenoloxidase [ProPO]) was male biased. In contrast, the expression of hsp70, glucose‐regulated protein 78 (grp78) and ultraspiracle (USP) was not sex biased. The results of the present study provide important insights into the role of sex‐biased genes in the physiology and behavior of P. interpunctella.     

机械点样DNA微点阵技术及其在基因表达分析上的应用(II)

从芯片制作、芯片杂交、芯片扫读与图像分析、基因表达数据分析等方面,详细介绍了机械点样DNA微点阵技术及其应用于多基因表达分析的基本步骤与原理。     

机械点样DNA微点阵技术及其在基因表达分析上的应用(I)

从芯片制作、芯片杂交、芯片扫读与图像分析、基因表达数据分析等方面,详细介绍了机械点样DNA微点阵技术及其应用于多基因表达分析的基本步骤与原理。     

Normalization and quantification of differential expression in gene expression microarrays

Array-based gene expression studies frequently serve to identify genes that are expressed differently under two or more conditions. The actual analysis of the data, however, may be hampered by a number of technical and statistical problems. Possible remedies on the level of computational analysis lie in appropriate preprocessing steps, proper normalization of the data and application of statistical testing procedures in the derivation of differentially expressed genes. This review summarizes methods that are available for these purposes and provides a brief overview of the available software tools.     

Effects of cadmium on gene expression in cadmium-tolerant and cadmium-sensitiveDatura innoxia cells

The effect of Cd on gene expression in suspension cultures of twoDatura innoxia cell lines with differing Cd tolerance was studied.In vivo labeling experiments using [³H] leucine showed that Cd induced the synthesis of a similar range of proteins in both cell lines at a concentration which will kill the sensitive but not the tolerant cells. Corresponding changes in levels of translatable mRNA were also observed. The induction of the synthesis of proteins by Cd was transient since Cd-tolerant cells growing continuously in 250 M CdCl₂ contained a similar set ofin vitro translation products to cells growing in the absence of Cd. Although Cd had a similar effect on gene expression in both cell lines, Cd-tolerant cells possess two abundant mRNAs which are constitutively produced. These mRNAs encode proteins of low molecular weight (about 11 kDa) and are either absent or present at a low level in Cd-sensitive cells. The functions of these proteins are not known but they may be involved in the tolerance mechanism. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis ofin vitro translation products showed that many of the Cd-induced proteins are also induced by heat shock. A 42°C heat shock resulted in agreater range and more intense induction of translatable mRNAs than 4 h exposure to 250 M CdCl₂. However a subset of mRNAs were induced specifically by Cd while other mRNAs were heat shock-specific. There was no difference in the ability of the two cell lines to tolerate heat shock. This was also reflected by the same pattern of major proteins induced by heat shock in the two cell lines.     

Genome-wide integrative analysis revealed a correlation between lengths of copy number segments and corresponding gene expression profile

Microarray analysis has been applied to comprehensively reveal the abnormalities of DNA copy number (CN) and gene expression in human cancer research during the last decade. These analyses have individually contributed to identify the genes associated with carcinogenesis, progression, metastasis of tumor cells and poor prognosis of cancer patients. However, it is known that the correlation between profiles of CN and gene expression does not highly correlate. Factors which determine the degree of correlation remain largely unexplained. To investigate one such factor, we performed trend analyses between the lengths of CN segments and corresponding gene expression profiles from microarray data in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Significant correlations were observed in CN gain of HCC and CRC (p<0.05). The trend of the CN loss showed a significant correlation in HCC although there was no correlation between the length of CN loss segments and gene expression in CRC. Our findings suggest that the influence of CN on gene expression highly depends on the length of CN region, especially in the case of CN gain. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study describing the correlation between lengths of CNA segments and expression profiles of corresponding genes.     

大鼠成长期左心室基因表达谱的变化

为观察大鼠发育成熟过程中心脏生长与其基因表达谱变化的关系 ,应用超声心动术检测 8、10、12周龄Wistar大鼠的心脏结构和功能指标 ,应用cDNA基因芯片技术观察心脏基因表达水平的变化。大鼠从 8周龄生长至12周龄 ,体重增加约 45 7% ( 2 87± 13 gvs 197± 10g) ,前 2周和后 2周增加幅度相近。心脏左心室重量和室壁厚度分别增加约 2 7 7% ( 0 60± 0 0 3 gvs 0 47± 0 0 2 g)和 2 3 6% ( 2 0 4± 0 0 4mmvs 1 65± 0 13mm) ,前 2周增加幅度明显大于后 2周。基因表达谱的改变涉及细胞结构、代谢、氧化应激及信号转导等多方面的基因。 10周龄和 8周龄大鼠比较 ,变化的基因多数上调 ;12周龄和 10周龄大鼠比较 ,基因表达谱基本又返转至 8周龄水平。结果表明 ,大鼠在成长期的 4周内 ( 8- 12周龄 ) ,左心室基因表达谱发生的变化适应生理性心肌生长需要     

人热休克蛋白70的原核高效表达

将人热休克蛋白基因hsp70片段克隆到高效原核表达载体pMAL-c2X中,酶切鉴定并进行DNA测序。将该重组表达载体转化大肠杆菌DH50α,用IPTG在不同温度及时间下进行诱导表达。收集细菌,菌体裂解后进行SDS-PAGE及Western blot检测,并以凝胶薄层扫描分析表达水平。结果表明,成功地构建了含人hsp70基因的表达载体pMAL-c2X／hsp70,该载体能在大肠杆菌中表达相对分子质量为110000并具有抗原活性的融合蛋白;改变诱导温度和时间,目的蛋白表达总量及可溶性部分所占比例不同。对人hsp70基因的克隆、表达,并对其进行表达条件的优化,为研究HSP70的结构、功能与临床应用提供了必要条件。     

Altered profile of gene expression in rat hearts induced by chronic nicotine consumption

Using a cDNA microarray technique, we analyzed the expression profile of 1081 genes in the whole heart tissue of rats. The expressions of three classes of genes encoding cellular energy metabolism enzymes, transmembrane receptors, and intracellular kinase network members were reduced by more than 2.5-fold in cardiac tissues from the rats fed with nicotine (3mg/kg/day) for 3 months. The down-regulated 11 genes included mitochondrial ATP synthase beta subunit, mitochondrial H(+) transporting ATP synthase F1 complex alpha subunit isoform 1, liver mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2, glutathione-S-transferase mu type 2, corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 2, metabotropic glutamate receptor 2, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subtype 2B, muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M3, transmembrane receptor Unc5H1, glycogen synthase kinase 3alpha, and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II beta subunit. It appears that chronic nicotine treatment affects cardiac function by modulating the expressions of genes involved in energy metabolism and signal transduction.     

Diverse RNA viruses elicit the expression of common sets of genes in susceptible Arabidopsis thaliana plants

Systemic infections of plants by viruses require that viruses modify host cells in order to facilitate infections. These modifications include induction of host factors required for replication, propagation and movement, and suppression of host defense responses, which are likely to be associated with changes in host gene expression. Past studies of the effects of viral infection on gene expression in susceptible hosts have been limited to only a handful of genes. To gain broader insight into the responses elicited by viruses in susceptible hosts, high-density oligonucleotide probe microarray technology was used. Arabidopsis leaves were either mock inoculated or inoculated with cucumber mosaic cucumovirus, oil seed rape tobamovirus, turnip vein clearing tobamovirus, potato virus X potexvirus, or turnip mosaic potyvirus. Inoculated leaves were collected at 1, 2, 4, and 5 days after inoculation, total RNA was isolated, and samples were hybridized to Arabidopsis GeneChip microarrays (Affymetrix). Microarray hybridization revealed co-ordinated changes in gene expression in response to infection by diverse viruses. These changes include virus-general and virus-specific alterations in the expression of genes associated with distinct defense or stress responses. Analyses of the promoters of these genes further suggest that diverse RNA viruses elicit common responses in susceptible plant hosts through signaling pathways that have not been previously characterized.     

黄粉虫热休克蛋白70基因的克隆、序列分析与表达（英文）

为给黄粉虫Tenebrio molitor抗逆机理研究提供理论依据, 本研究采用PCR和RACE法从黄粉虫幼虫中克隆出一个热休克蛋白70基因Tmhsp70, 并运用半定量RT-PCR法检测其在黄粉虫不同发育阶段的mRNA表达水平。结果表明： 克隆出的Tmhsp70 序列全长2 282 bp, 具有一个富含A的115 bp 5′ 非翻译区和一个1 935 bp的开放阅读框及一个富含A、 T的232 bp 3′-非翻译区。5′-非翻译区含有7个热休克元件nGAAn, 3′-非翻译区末端有长22 bp的Poly(A)尾。Tmhsp70编码的黄粉虫热休克蛋白（TmHSP70）具有3个典型的HSP70特征基序（IDLGTTYS, IFDLGGGTFDVSIL和IVLVGGSTRIPKIQQ）和1个胞质HSP70末端特征基序（EEVD）, 无信号肽和跨膜区域, 包含2个主要的结构域, 即： N-端42 kDa的高度保守ATPase功能域和C-端18 kDa的保守多肽结合功能域。ATPase功能域的三级结构由2个大球形亚功能域组成, 具有1个核苷酸结合中心; 多肽结合功能域形成1个双层4股β-折叠片样的三明治结构和2个α-螺旋, 内含1个多肽结合通道。此外, 黄粉虫Tmhsp70 mRNA的表达具有热激诱导和发育调控的特征。半定量RT-PCR分析表明, 42℃热激1 h的黄粉虫各发育阶段Tmhsp70 mRNA的表达量上升了1.4~26.9倍。25℃下1日龄黄粉虫蛹中的Tmhsp70 mRNA 表达量要高于其余各发育阶段的累积表达量; 42℃热激1 h 后90日龄幼虫中的Tmhsp70 mRNA 表达量最丰富, 既高于30日龄和60日龄幼虫中的累积表达量, 也高于15日龄和30日龄成虫中的累积表达量。这些结果为进一步研究黄粉虫热休克蛋白的结构、 功能和表达调控及其与抗逆性的关系奠定了基础。     

Pollen Embryogenesis - The Stress Mediated Switch from Gametophytic to Sporophytic Development. Current Status and Future Prospects

Embryogenesis can be initiated directly from microspores or pollen grains. This is known as androgenesis and refers to the process of redirection of normal pollen development (gametophytic pathway) towards the embryo formation (sporophytic). This review mainly deals with the current knowledge of stress and developmental aspects of induction of androgenesis. The crucial role of stress inductive treatment together with changes in cell polarity are discussed in relation to other relevant biological systems. The intriguing speculations are made on the basis of these comparisons which may point out the direction of future investigations.     

Identification of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase gene expression in stellate ganglia and its modulation by stress

Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT, EC 2.1.1.28) is the terminal enzyme of the catecholaminergic pathway converting noradrenaline to adrenaline. Although preferentially localized in adrenal medulla, evidence exists that PNMT activity and gene expression are also present in the rat heart, kidney, spleen, lung, skeletal muscle, thymus, retina and different parts of the brain. However, data concerning PNMT gene expression in sympathetic ganglia are still missing. In this study, our effort was focused on identification of PNMT mRNA and/or protein in stellate ganglia and, if present, testing the effect of stress on PNMT mRNA and protein levels in this type of ganglia. We identified both PNMT mRNA and protein in stellate ganglia of rats and mice, although in much smaller amounts compared with adrenal medulla. PNMT gene expression and protein levels were also increased after repeated stress exposure in stellate ganglia of rats and wild-type mice. Similarly to adrenal medulla, the immobilization-induced increase was probably regulated by glucocorticoids, as determined indirectly using corticotropin-releasing hormone knockout mice, where immobilization-induced increase of PNMT mRNA was suppressed. Thus, glucocorticoids might play an important role in regulation of PNMT gene expression in stellate ganglia under stress conditions.     

Molecular genetics of heat tolerance and heat shock proteins in cereals

Heat stress is common in most cereal-growing areas of the world. In this paper, we summarize the current knowledge on the molecular and genetic basis of thermotolerance in vegetative and reproductive tissues of cereals. Significance of heat stress response and expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in thermotolerance of cereal yield and quality is discussed. Major avenues for increasing thermotolerance in cereals via conventional breeding or genetic modification are outlined.     

The effect of genetic and environmental variation on metabolic gene expression

What is the relationship between genetic or environmental variation and the variation in messenger RNA (mRNA) expression? To address this, microarrays were used to examine the effect of genetic and environmental variation on cardiac mRNA expression for metabolic genes in three groups of Fundulus heteroclitus: (i) individuals sampled in the field (field), (ii) field individuals acclimated for 6 months to laboratory conditions (acclimated), or (iii) individuals bred for 10 successive generations in a laboratory environment (G10). The G10 individuals have significantly less genetic variation than individuals obtained in the field and had a significantly lower variation in mRNA expression across all genes in comparison to the other two groups (P = 0.001). When examining the gene specific variation, 22 genes had variation in expression that was significantly different among groups with lower variation in G10 individuals than in acclimated individuals. Additionally, there were fewer genes with significant differences in expression among G10 individuals vs. either acclimated or field individuals: 66 genes have statistically different levels of expression vs. 107 or 97 for acclimated or field groups. Based on the permutation of the data, these differences in the number of genes with significant differences among individuals within a group are unlikely to occur by chance (P < 0.01). Surprisingly, variation in mRNA expression in field individuals is lower than in acclimated individuals. Relative to the variation among individual within a group, few genes have significant differences in expression among groups (seven, 2.3%) and none of these are different between acclimated and field individuals. The results support the concept that genetic variation affects variation in mRNA expression and also suggests that temporal environmental variation associated with estuarine environments does not increase the variation among individuals or add to the differences among groups.