小鼠脂联素与绿色荧光蛋白融合基因表达载体的构建及在COS-7细胞中的表达

以绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)基因(gfp)为报告基因,构建小鼠脂联素(mADPN)基因(mAd)与gfp的融合基因mAd/gfp表达载体pCI-neo-apoEHCR-hAATp-mAd-gfp,脂质体法转染体外培养的COS-7细胞,荧光显微镜观察GFP在细胞中的表达可间接反映mADPN的表达,并通过RT-PCR在核酸水平进一步确证mAd的表达.荧光显微镜观察及RT-PCR结果均证明mADPN在COS-7细胞中获得了高效表达,表明mADPN重组表达载体pCI-neo-apoEHCR-hAATp-mAd可以在真核细胞COS-7中高效表达mADPN,为进一步探讨mAd在小鼠体内的表达提供了可行性依据.     

Overexpression of oxidized protein hydrolase protects COS-7 cells from oxidative stress-induced inhibition of cell growth and survival

Oxidized protein hydrolase (OPH) preferentially degrades oxidatively damaged proteins in vitro and is widely distributed in various cells and tissues. The role of OPH in intact cells exposed to oxidative stress was examined. For this purpose, using COS-7, a cell line derived from African green monkey kidney, COS-7-OPH cells that stably overexpressed OPH were established. When COS-7-OPH cells were exposed to oxidative stress induced by H(2)O(2) and paraquat, accumulation of protein carbonyls in the cells was apparently lower than that of parental COS-7 cells, and COS-7-OPH cells were significantly resistant to the oxidative stress compared with parental COS-7 cells. The majority of overexpressed OPH in the cells was found to be located uniformly in cytosol, and its location was not altered by H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress. Above results indicate that OPH in intact cells plays a preventive role against oxidative stress and suggest that OPH relieves cells from accumulation of oxidatively damaged proteins.     

Generation of polyclonal antiserum against the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R): evidence that the GHS-R exists in the hypothalamus, pituitary and stomach of rats

Growth hormone (GH) secretagogues (GHSs), which stimulate GH secretion, are synthetic compounds that act through the GHS receptor (GHS-R) which has been recently cloned. We raised an antiserum in a rabbit against a synthetic peptide corresponding to amino acid residues 248-260 of the third intracellular loop of the rat GHS-R. A competitive immunoassay showed that the antiserum had a specific affinity for the target peptide. To confirm the specificity of the antiserum, the GHS-R cDNA was stably expressed in COS-7 cells. In Western blot analysis, the band was detected at 44 kDa in the extracts from COS-7 cells expressing GHS-R (COS-7/tf3-2) but not in those from wild-type COS-7 cells. Furthermore, while COS-7/tf3-2 cells were strongly immunostained for GHS-R, no GHS-R-like immunoreactivity was observed in wild-type COS-7 cells. Immunoreactive bands were also observed at approximately 46 kDa in the extracts from rat hypothalamus, pituitary and stomach by Western blot analysis. These studies are the first to show the existence of GHS-R protein in the stomach. The antiserum for the GHS-R is sensitive and specific, and it would be useful for clarifying the roles of GHS/ghrelin.     

Quantitative analysis of SR-BI-dependent HDL retroendocytosis in hepatocytes and fibroblasts

Previous studies have suggested that HDL retroendocytosis may play a role in scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI)-dependent selective lipid uptake in a cell-specific manner. To investigate this possibility, we developed methods to quantitatively measure HDL uptake and resecretion in fibroblast (COS-7) and hepatocyte (HepG2) cells expressing exogenous SR-BI. Approximately 17% and 24% of HDL associated in an SR-BI-dependent manner with COS-7 and HepG2 cells, respectively, accumulates intracellularly after a 10 min incubation. To determine whether this intracellular HDL undergoes retroendocytosis, we developed a pulse-chase assay whereby internalized biotinylated (125)I-HDL(3) secreted from cells is quantitatively precipitated from cell supernatants using immobilized streptavidin. Our results show a rapid secretion of a portion of intracellular HDL from both cell types (representing 4-7% of the total cell-associated HDL) that is almost complete within 30 min (half-life approximately 10 min). In COS-7 cells, the calculated rate of HDL secretion ( approximately 0.5 ng HDL/mg/min) was >30-fold slower than the rate of SR-BI-dependent selective cholesteryl ester (CE) uptake ( approximately 17 ng HDL/mg/min), whereas the rate of release of HDL from the cell surface ( approximately 19 ng HDL/mg/min) was similar to the rate of selective CE uptake. Notably, the rate of SR-BI-dependent HDL resecretion in COS-7 and HepG2 cells was similar. BLT1, a compound that inhibits selective CE uptake, does not alter the amount of SR-BI-mediated HDL retroendocytosis in COS-7 cells. From these data, we conclude that HDL retroendocytosis in COS-7 and HepG2 cells is similar and that the vast majority of SR-BI-dependent selective uptake occurs at the cell surface in both cell types.     

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in the extracellular space inhibits cell spreading

The occurrence and the novel function of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) in the extracellular space were studied. The extracellular GAPDH with the same molecular mass as the intracellular GAPDH was detected in the conditioned medium of mammalian cultured cell lines such as COS-7, HEK293, MCF-7, HepG2, PC-12, and Neuro-2a cells. Western blot analysis represented the occurrence of GAPDH, but not alpha-tubulin (an intracellular marker protein), in the conditioned medium of COS-7 cells. Furthermore, GAPDH was found in rat serum. These results indicate that GAPDH was secreted outside of the cells. Addition of GAPDH to the cultured medium of COS-7, HEK293, and HepG2 cells allowed cells to undergo morphological changes. In COS-7 cells, the extracellular GAPDH inhibited cell spreading without influencing the cell growth. Western blot and immunofluorescent microscopy analyses revealed that the extracellular GAPDH bound to COS-7 cells in time- and dose-dependent manners. However, a mutant substituting Ser for Cys at position 151 of GAPDH resulted in no binding to the cells, no decreased cell-spreading efficiency and no cell morphological changes. These results indicate that the Cys151 was involved in the binding of GAPDH to cells and the GAPDH-inhibited cell spreading.     

Archetype JC Virus Efficiently Replicates in COS-7 Cells, Simian Cells Constitutively Expressing Simian Virus 40 T Antigen

JC polyomavirus (JCV), the causative agent of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), is ubiquitous in humans, infecting children asymptomatically and then persisting in the kidney. Renal JCV is not latent but replicates to excrete progeny in the urine. The renal-urinary JCV DNAs carry the archetype regulatory region that generates various rearranged regulatory regions occurring in JCVs derived from the brains of PML patients. Tissue cultures that support the efficient growth of archetype JCV have not been reported. We studied whether archetype JCV could replicate in COS-7 cells, simian cells transformed with an origin-defective mutant of simian virus 40 (SV40). Efficient JCV replication, as detected by a hemagglutination assay, was observed in cultures transfected with five of the six archetype DNAs. The progeny JCVs could be passaged to fresh COS-7 cells. However, when the parental cells of COS-7 not expressing T antigen were transfected with archetype JCV DNAs, no viral replication was detected, indicating that SV40 T antigen is essential for the growth of JCV in COS-7 cells. The archetype regulatory region was conserved during viral growth in COS-7 cells, although a small proportion of JCV DNAs underwent rearrangements outside the regulatory region. We then attempted to recover archetype JCV from urine by viral culture in COS-7 cells. Efficient JCV production was observed in COS-7 cells infected with five of the six JCV-positive urine samples examined. Thus, COS-7 cells should be of use not only for the production of archetype JCV on a large scale but also for the isolation of archetype JCV from urine.     

Desensitization of melanotropin receptors in COS-7 cells

Non-transfected COS-7 cells have been found to possess functional melanotropin receptors on their cell surface. These receptors, and the properties of the melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) peptides can be characterized by measuring melanotropin stimulation of cAMP accumulation in the cells. In these cells we studied the ultra-long lasting super agonist [Nle⁴-D-Phe⁷]-α-MSH (NDP-α-MSH), and compared it with the endogenous MSH peptides with respect to potency, maximal activity, duration of action, and rate of desensitization. Surprisingly, NDP- α-MSH did not act as a full agonist in COS-7 cells. In multiple experiments, it could stimulate cAMP accumulation to approximately 50% of the level of α-MSH, β-MSH and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The MSH receptor mediating this activity is unknown. The time course of cAMP accumulation, and the duration of receptor activation was also investigated. In contrast to other systems, NDP-α-MSH did not induce prolonged activity, with respect to cAMP accumulation, in COS-7 cells. The MSH receptors present in COS-7 were found to desensitize rapidly subsequent to pretreatment by any of the MSH peptides. As expected for a partial agonist, the activity of NDP-α-MSH desensitized more rapidly than any of the full agonists. Surprisingly, desensitization induced by pretreatment with NDP-α-MSH also occurred more rapidly than desensitization induced by the other MSH analogs.     

The Src homology 2 domain containing inositol 5-phosphatase SHIP2 is recruited to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and dephosphorylates phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate in EGF-stimulated COS-7 cells

The lipid phosphatase SHIP2 (Src homology 2 domain containing inositol 5-phosphatase 2) has been shown to be expressed in nonhemopoietic and hemopoietic cells. It has been implicated in signaling events initiated by several extracellular signals, such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin. In COS-7 cells, SHIP2 was tyrosine-phosphorylated at least at two separated tyrosine phosphorylation sites in response to EGF. SHIP2 was coimmunoprecipitated with the EGF receptor (EGFR) and also with the adaptor protein Shc. A C-terminal truncated form of SHIP2 that lacks the 366 last amino acids, referred to as tSHIP2, was also precipitated with the EGFR when transfected in COS-7 cells. The Src homology 2 domain of SHIP2 was unable to precipitate the EGFR in EGF-stimulated cells. Moreover, when transfected in COS-7 cells, it could not be detected in immunoprecipitates of the EGFR. When the His-tagged full-length enzyme was expressed in COS-7 cells and stained with anti-His6 monoclonal antibody, a signal was observed at plasma membranes in EGF-stimulated cells that colocalize with the EGFR by double staining. Upon stimulation by EGF, phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate and protein kinase B activity were decreased in SHIP2-transfected COS-7 cells as compared with the vector alone. SHIP2 appears therefore in a tyrosine-phosphorylated complex with at least two other proteins, the EGFR and Shc.     

Vertebrate nonmuscle myosin II isoforms rescue small interfering RNA-induced defects in COS-7 cell cytokinesis

RNA interference (RNAi) treatment of monkey COS-7 cells, a cell line that lacks nonmuscle myosin heavy chain II-A (NMHC II-A) but contains NMHC II-B and II-C, was used to investigate the participation of NMHC isoforms in cytokinesis. We specifically suppressed the expression of NMHC II-B or II-C using 21 nucleotide small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes. Down-regulation of NMHC II-B protein expression to 10.2 +/- 0.7% inhibited COS-7 cell proliferation by 50% in the RNAi-treated cells compared with control cells. Moreover, whereas 8.7 +/- 1.0% of control cells were multinucleated, 62.4 +/- 8.8% of the NMHC II-B RNAi-treated cells were multinucleated 72 h after transfection. The RNAi-treated cells had increased surface areas and, unlike control cells, lacked actin stress fibers. Treatment of the COS-7 cells with NMHC II-C siRNA decreased NMHC II-C expression to 5.2 +/- 0.1% compared with the endogenous content of II-C; however, down-regulation of NMHC II-C did not cause increased multinucleation. Immunoblot analysis using a pan-myosin antibody showed that the content of NMHC II-C was less than one-twentieth the amount of NMHC II-B, thereby explaining the lack of response to II-C siRNA. Introducing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged NMHC II isoforms into II-B siRNA-treated cells resulted in reduction of multinucleation from 62.4 +/- 8.8% to 17.8 +/- 2.2% using GFP-NMHC II-B, to 29.8 +/- 7.4% using GFP-NMHC II-A, and to 34.1 +/- 8.6% using NMHC II-C-GFP. These studies have shown that expression of endogenous NMHC II-C in COS-7 cells is insufficient for normal cytokinesis and that exogenous NMHC II-A and NMHC II-C can, at least partially, rescue the defect in cytokinesis due to the loss of NMHC II-B.     

Comparison of lipid-mediated and adenoviral gene transfer in human monocyte-derived macrophages and COS-7 cells

Lipid-mediated transfection was compared to adenoviral-mediated gene transfer in COS-7 cells as well as human monocyte-derived macrophages (HMDM). For this purpose, we monitored enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression by fluorescence microscopy and quantified gene transfer by competitive PCR. Transfection of COS-7 cells with a novel lipid formulation for DNA transfer was highly effective in COS-7 cells. On average, 30% of the cells were fluorescent 48 h after transfection. In HMDM, the same formulation resulted in the expression of EGFP in less than 0.5% of cells. We measured plasmid DNA by quantitative PCR in lipid-transfected macrophages and found that each macrophage contained on average 2 fg of plasmid DNA 24 h after transfection, that is, more than 400 molecules of plasmid DNA entered each cell. Despite the high level of reporter DNA in lipid transfected cells, expression of the fluorescent protein was suppressed in more than 99.5% of the macrophages. We also used adenoviral gene transfer to introduce the foreign DNA into both COS-7 cells and HMDM. Even though the multiplicity of infection was less than 30, expression of EGFP was observed in nearly all COS-7 cells and in more than 80% of HMDM 48 h after transfection. Despite major advances in the field of lipid-mediated transfection of HMDM, the lipid formulations that are available commercially cannot compete with the efficiency of adenoviral gene transfer.     

Recombinant λ-phage nanobioparticles for tumor therapy in mice models

Lambda phages have considerable potential as gene delivery vehicles due to their genetic tractability, low cost, safety and physical characteristics in comparison to other nanocarriers and gene porters. Little is known concerning lambda phage-mediated gene transfer and expression in mammalian hosts. We therefore performed experiments to evaluate lambda-ZAP bacteriophage-mediated gene transfer and expression in vitro. For this purpose, we constructed recombinant λ-phage nanobioparticles containing a mammalian expression cassette encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and E7 gene of human papillomavirus type 16 (λ-HPV-16 E7) using Lambda ZAP- CMV XR vector. Four cell lines (COS-7, CHO, TC-1 and HEK-239) were transduced with the nanobioparticles. We also characterized the therapeutic anti-tumor effects of the recombinant λ-HPV-16 E7 phage in C57BL/6 tumor mice model as a cancer vaccine. Obtained results showed that delivery and expression of these genes in fibroblastic cells (COS-7 and CHO) are more efficient than epithelial cells (TC-1 and HEK-239) using these nanobioparticles. Despite the same phage M.O.I entry, the internalizing titers of COS-7 and CHO cells were more than TC-1 and HEK-293 cells, respectively. Mice vaccinated with λ-HPV-16 E7 are able to generate potent therapeutic antitumor effects against challenge with E7- expressing tumor cell line, TC-1 compared to group treated with the wild phage. The results demonstrated that the recombinant λ-phages, due to their capabilities in transducing mammalian cells, can also be considered in design and construction of novel and safe phage-based nanomedicines.     

Identification and functional characterization of hCLS1, a human cardiolipin synthase localized in mitochondria

In eukaryotic cells, CLS (cardiolipin synthase) is involved in the final step of cardiolipin synthesis by catalysing the transfer of a phosphatidyl residue from CDP-DAG (diacylglycerol) to PG (phosphatidylglycerol). Despite an important role of cardiolipin in regulating mitochondrial function, a gene encoding the mammalian CLS has not been identified so far. We report in the present study the identification and characterization of a human cDNA encoding the first mammalian CLS [hCLS1 (human CLS1)]. The predicted hCLS1 peptide sequence shares significant homology with the yeast and plant CLS proteins. The recombinant hCLS1 enzyme expressed in COS-7 cells catalysed efficiently the synthesis of cardiolipin in vitro using CDP-DAG and PG as substrates. Furthermore, overexpression of hCLS1 cDNA in COS-7 cells resulted in a significant increase in cardiolipin synthesis in intact COS-7 cells without any significant effects on the activity of the endogenous phosphatidylglycerophosphate synthase of the transfected COS-7 cells. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the recombinant hCLS1 protein was localized to the mitochondria when transiently expressed in COS-7 cells, which was further corroborated by results from subcellular fractionation analyses of the recombinant hCLS1 protein. Northern-blot analysis showed that the hCLS1 gene was predominantly expressed in tissues that require high levels of mitochondrial activities for energy metabolism, with the highest expression in skeletal and cardiac muscles. High levels of hCLS1 expression were also detected in liver, pancreas, kidney and small intestine, implying a functional role of hCLS1 in these tissues.     

Dehydroepiandrosterone and its 7-hydroxylated metabolites do not interfere with the transactivation and cellular trafficking of the glucocorticoid receptor

The human brain is a target tissue for glucocorticoids (GC). Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a neurosteroid produced in the brain where it is transformed into 7alpha-hydroxy-DHEA and 7beta-hydroxy-DHEA. The antiglucocorticoid effects of both 7-hydroxylated metabolites have been investigated with evidence in mice that neither form of DHEA interfered with the binding of GC to its glucocorticoid receptor (GR), but contributed to a decreased nuclear uptake of the activated GR. Our objective was to use COS-7 cell culture to research DHEA, 7alpha-hydroxy-DHEA and 7beta-hydroxy-DHEA interferences with GR trafficking. These cells did not carry out the 7alpha-hydroxylation of DHEA and the oxidation of cortisol into cortisone. The cDNA of the human GR was inserted into pcDNA3 for a transient transfection of COS-7 cells. Human GR transactivation activity was measured from a luciferase-MMTV reporter gene. The transfected COS-7 cells were cultured using 10(-12) to 10(-5) M dexamethasone (DEX) or cortisol, which triggered the reporter expression. Treatment with 10(-12) to 10(-5) M DHEA, 7alpha-hydroxy-DHEA and 7beta-hydroxy-DHEA caused no change in the GC-induced GR transactivation. A reconstruction of the process associated EGFP to the human GR cDNA. Confocal microscopic examination of COS-7 cells transiently expressing the fusion protein EGFP-GR showed nuclear fluorescence 60 min after incubation with 10(-8) M DEX or cortisol. The addition of 10(-5) M DHEA, 7alpha-hydroxy-DHEA or 7beta-hydroxy-DHEA did not change its kinesis and intensity. These results contribute to the knowledge of DHEA, 7alpha-hydroxy-DHEA and 7beta-hydroxy-DHEA, in relation to antiglucocorticoid activity. We conclude that direct interference with GR trafficking can be discounted in the case of these hormones, therefore proposing new possibilities of investigation.     

Molecular Cloning of a Rat Brain cDNA,with Homology to a Tyrosine Kinase Substrate,that Induces Galactosylceramide Expression in COS-7 Cells

Abstract: A rat brain cDNA clone has been isolated, using a eukaryotic cell transient expression system in conjunction with an anti-galactosylceramide (anti-GalCer) monoclonal antibody that induces GalCer expression in COS-7 cells. The protein was designated as GalCer expression factor-1 (GEF-1). A good correlation between GalCer expression and the level of the enzyme activity of UDP-galactose:ceramide galactosyltransferase (CGT) was demonstrated. The cDNA insert encoded a polypeptide of 771 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 85,787 Da. The cDNA hybridized to a single mRNA of 3.1 kb in all rat organs examined, including brain, testis, and skeletal muscle. The cDNA product was determined to be a tyrosine-phosphorylated protein with a molecular mass of 110 kDa in transfected COS-7 cells and adult rat brain. COS-7 cells transfected with the cDNA clone showed dramatic morphological changes: The transfected cells appeared to be fibroblast-like cells, whereas the parent COS-7 cells were typical epithelial-like cells. The deduced amino acid sequences revealed a strikingly high homology to a mouse hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate but no homology to CGT. Taking these results together, it is suggested that GEF-1 may play an important role in regulating GalCer expression in the brain.     

Expression of c-met proto-oncogene in COS cells induces the signal transducing high-affinity receptor for hepatocyte growth factor.

By transfection of the expression plasmid containing a human c-met cDNA into COS-7 cells, high-affinity binding sites specific for HGF with a Kd value of 30 pM were newly detected. Furthermore, only in the c-met transfected COS-7 cells, but not in the control COS-7 cells, DNA synthesis was markedly induced in response to HGF. Thus, transient expression of exogenous c-met cDNA resulted in the appearance of high-affinity receptor for HGF and conversion of the normally non-responsive COS-7 cells into the HGF-responsive cells. These results provide evidence for identifying the c-met product as a signal transducing high-affinity receptor for HGF.     

Connexin 43 is localized with actin in tenocytes

Varieties of cell-matrix or cell-cell adhesions are associated with the actin cytoskeleton. However, for gap junctions, which are both channels and adhesions, there has been little evidence for such an association. The purpose of this study was to determine if connexin 43 (Cx43) associates with actin and to determine if this association is altered under mechanical load in tenocytes, a mechanically sensitive cell. Avian tenocytes were subjected to multiple cyclic strain regimens and then fixed and examined immunohistochemically at various times poststrain to determine where Cx43 protein was localized within the cells in relation to actin filaments. Four percent of tenocytes had colocalization of actin filaments and Cx43, which was significantly increased with 5% cyclic strain. To confirm this phenomenon, human tenocytes and COS-7 cells were also subjected to cyclic strain and then fixed at the same times after strain. As with avian tenocytes, Cx43 was colocalized with actin in human tenocytes and COS-7 cells. The colocalization increased significantly after cyclic strain in human tenocytes but not in COS-7 cells. The lack of detectable changes in COS-7 cells may indicate that they are less mechanosensitive than tenocytes perhaps due to the less robust actin cytoskeleton seen in the COS-7 cells when compared to the tenocytes. Furthermore, inhibiting myosin II activity greatly reduced the immunohistochemically-detectable Cx43 on actin filaments. Connexins may associate with actin to stabilize gap junctions at the plasma membrane, ensuring that tenocytes remain coupled during periods of prolonged or intense mechanical loading.     

Differential effects on cAMP on the MAP kinase cascade: evidence for a cAMP-insensitive step that can bypass Raf-1.

Because cAMP exerts opposite effects on cell proliferation in different cell types, we undertook to study its effect on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in three cell lines (Rat-1, Swiss-3T3, and COS-7) chosen for their different mitogenic responses to cAMP. We measured the effect of cAMP on MAPK, MEK, and Raf-1 activities after stimulation by agonists acting through a tyrosine kinase receptor (epidermal growth factor) or a G protein-coupled receptor (lysophosphatidic acid). In Rat-1 cells we found that cAMP strongly inhibited all three activities (MAPK, MEK, and Raf-1), in good agreement with its effect on cell proliferation in these cells. In Swiss-3T3 and COS-7 cells, on the contrary, cAMP did not inhibit epidermal growth factor- and lysophosphatidic acid-induced stimulation of MAPK and MEK activities, and even stimulated MAPK activity slightly on its own. Again these results are in good agreement with the proliferative effect of cAMP in Swiss-3T3 cells. Raf-1 activity on the hand, was inhibited by cAMP in Swiss-3T3 and COS-7 as it was in Rat-1 cells. This result indicates that signaling pathways in Swiss-3T3 and COS-7 cells can activate MEK and MAPK in a Raf-1-independent and cAMP-insensitive manner. Our results add to growing evidence for the existence of Ras- and/or Raf-1-independent pathways leading to MEK and MAPK activation.     

新型聚乙烯亚胺衍生物在COS-7 细胞中转染和毒性的研究

目的:研究以乙二醛为连接剂的聚乙烯亚胺(Polyethyleneimine,PEI)衍生物Polyimine-PEI对非洲绿猴肾癌细胞COS-7的转染活性和细胞毒性的影响。方法:以荧光素酶质粒为报告基因,研究高分子与DNA的复合物在COS-7细胞的转染活性,用MTT方法研究高分子对COS-7细胞的毒性。结果:COS-7细胞实验显示,Polyimine-PEI具有很低细胞毒性,其毒性显著低于PEI25kDa,同时也具有高效输送质粒的能力。结论:Polyimine-PEI是一种新型的高效,低毒在基因治疗领域有相当前景的非病毒载体。     

Delivery of genes encoding cardiac K(ATP) channel subunits in conjunction with pinacidil prevents membrane depolarization in cells exposed to chemical hypoxia-reoxygenation

Metabolic injury is a complex process affecting various: tissues with membrane depolarisation recognised as a common trigger event leading to cell death. To examine whether, under metabolic challenge, membrane potential homeostasis can be maintained by an activator of channel proteins, we here delivered Kir6.2 and SUR2A genes, which encode cardiac K(ATP) channel subunits, into a somatic cell line lacking native K(ATP) channels (COS-7 cells). Chemical hypoxia-reoxygenation was simulated in COS-7 cells by addition and removal of the mitochondrial poison 2,4 dinitrophenol (DNP). The membrane potential of COS-7 cells at rest was -31 +/- 3 mV. This value did not change following 3 min-long exposure to DNP (-32 +/- 4 mV). In contrast, washout of DNP induced significant membrane depolarisation (-17 +/- 2 mV). Delivery of Kir6.2/SUR2A genes did not change cellular response to hypoxia-reoxygenation. Similarly, pinacidil, potassium channel opener, did not have effect on hypoxia-reoxygenation-induced membrane depolarisation in cells lacking recombinant K(ATP) channel subunits. However, gene delivery combined with pinacidil prevented membrane depolarisation induced by hypoxia-reoxygenation. This effect of pinacidil, in cells expressing Kir6.2/SUR2A, was observed regardless of whether pinacidil was added only during hypoxia or reoxygenation. The present study demonstrates that combined use of K(ATP) channel subunits gene delivery and pharmacological targeting of recombinant proteins can be used to efficiently control membrane potential under hypoxia-reoxygenation.