Perforin and Granzyme B Have Separate and Distinct Roles during Atherosclerotic Plaque Development in Apolipoprotein E Knockout Mice

The granzyme B/perforincytotoxic pathway is a well established mechanism of initiating target cell apoptosis. Previous studies have suggested a role for the granzyme B/perforin cytotoxic pathway in vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque formation. In the present study, granzyme B deficiency resulted in reduced atherosclerotic plaque development in the descending aortas of apolipoprotein E knockout mice fed a high fat diet for 30 weeks while perforindeficiency resulted in greater reduction in plaque development with significantly less plaque area than granzyme Bdeficient mice. In contrast to the descending aorta, no significant change in plaque size was observed in aortic roots from either granzyme Bdeficient or perforindeficient apolipoprotein E knockout mice. However, atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic roots did exhibit significantly more collagen in granzyme B, but not perforin deficient mice. Together these results suggest significant, yet separate roles for granzyme B and perforin in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis that go beyond the traditional apoptotic pathway with additional implications in plaque development, stability and remodelling of extracellular matrix.     

粒酶B与细胞凋亡

粒酶B（GrB)是杀伤性T淋巴细胞（CTL）和自然杀伤细胞（NK）颗粒（granule)中最重要的丝氨酸蛋白酶,通过caspases依赖途径。直接入核途径及不依赖caspases的胞浆途径。启动CTL介导的靶细胞凋亡。     

Stably Transfected Human Cells Overexpressing Rat Brain Endopeptidase 3.4.24.16: Biochemical Characterization of the Activity and Expression of Soluble and Membrane-Associated Counterparts

Abstract: We recently cloned endopeptidase-24.16 (neurolysin; EC 3.4.24.16), a neurotensin-degrading peptidase likely involved in the physiological termination of the neurotensinergic signal in the central nervous system and in the gastrointestinal tract. We stably transfected human kidney cells with the pcDNA3-λ7aB1 construction bearing the whole open reading frame encoding the rat brain peptidase. Transfectants displayed endopeptidase-24.16 immunoreactivity and exhibited QFS- and neurotensin-hydrolyzing activities, the biochemical and specificity properties of which fully matched those observed with the purified murine enzyme. Cryoprotection experiments and substrate degradation by intact plated cells indicated that transfectants exhibited a membrane-associated form of endopeptidase-24.16, the catalytic site of which clearly faced the extracellular domain. Transfected cells were unable to secrete the enzyme. Overall, our experiments indicate that we have obtained stably transfectant cells that overexpress an enzymatic activity displaying biochemical properties identical to those of purified endopeptidase-24.16. The membrane-associated counterpart and lack of secretion of the enzyme were clearly reminiscent of what was observed with pure cultured neurons, but not with astrocytes. Therefore, the transfected cell model described here could prove useful for establishing, by a mutagenesis approach, the structural elements responsible for the "neuronal" phenotype exhibited by the enzyme in transfected cells.     

High Yield of Human Monoclonal Antibody Produced by Stably Transfected Drosophila Schneider 2 Cells in Perfusion Culture Using Wave Bioreactor

Since it was first introduced in late 1990s Wave bioreactor has been used for protein production by mammalian and insect cell lines. However, using Wave bioreactor to produce human monoclonal antibody by stable Drosophila Schneider 2 (S2) cell transfectants has not been reported before. In this study, S2 cells were co-transfected with an inducible vector expressing human monoclonal antibody heavy and light chains, respectively, specific for hemagglutinin (HA) of H5N1 influenza virus. Stable S2 transfectant clone was selected by limiting dilution assay. Stable S2 transfectant clone that produce the highest amount of human monoclonal antibody was inoculated into two 2-l disposable cellbags, where cell growth and antibody production were compared between batch and perfusion cultures using Wave bioreactor. Here, we report that maximum viable cell density reached 1.06?×?10(7) cells/ml in batch culture; whereas 1.04?×?10(8)?cells/ml was achieved in perfusion culture. The maximum volumetric antibody productivity in batch culture was 52?mg/l/day; while perfusion culture yielded 1,437?mg/l/day. As a result, the total antibody production was 201?mg in batch culture and 8,212?mg in perfusion culture. The antibody produced by both cultures displays full neutralizing activity. Thus, our results provide strong support for using Wave bioreactor in perfusion culture for a large-scale production of human monoclonal antibody by stable S2 cell transfectants.     

Granzyme B in skin inflammation and disease

Granzyme B (GzmB) is a serine protease emerging as an important mediator of skin injury, inflammation and repair. Found at low levels in healthy skin, GzmB is dramatically elevated in chronic disease and inflammatory skin disorders, including diabetic ulcers, hypertrophic scarring, autoimmune skin disorders, cutaneous leishmaniasis and aging skin. Traditionally known for its pro-apoptotic function, the role of GzmB in disease has been redefined due to the discovery of additional activities involving the cleavage of extracellular matrix proteins, epithelial barrier disruption, fibrosis, vascular permeability, anoikis, inflammation and autoimmunity. In addition to the accumulation of GzmB⁺ cells in diseased tissue, and critical to the mechanistic redefinition, is the realization that GzmB often accumulates in the extracellular milieu, retains its activity in plasma, and is expressed by both immune and non-immune cells that may or may not express perforin, the pore-forming protein required for GzmB internalization into target cells. As GzmB is not normally found in the extracellular milieu, and does not appear to be regulated, GzmB-mediated proteolysis can impact processes such as tissue remodelling, barrier function, autoantigen generation and angiogenesis. The present review will summarize and critically examine the current knowledge regarding GzmB in inflammatory skin disease, providing an overview of both apoptotic and extracellular mechanisms, but with a focus on the extracellular roles of GzmB in skin health and disease.     

Ag85A真核表达重组体的构建及稳定转染细胞系的建立

构建结核杆菌抗原85A（AgS5A）的真核表达重组体,转染L929细胞,建立稳定转染细胞系。从质粒V1 Jns．tPA—Ag85A中经PCR扩增出Ag85A基因,利用DNA重组技术将其插入到真核表达载体peDNA3．1／myc—HisA中,经酶切和测序鉴定后,脂质体转染法转染L929细胞,通过G418选择培养,建立稳定转染细胞系,Western Blot检测Ag85A的表达。成功构建pcDNA3．1／mye—HisA—Ag85A真核表达载体并稳定转染L929细胞,成功表达了目的基因。为进一步研究Ag85ADNA疫苗对结核杆菌的免疫防护作用奠定了基础。     

两种人粒酶B嵌合基因的表达及对肿瘤细胞的杀伤作用

通过重组PCR构建了抗HER2单链抗体基因、绿脓杆菌外毒素 (PE)转位肽序列和活性型粒酶B(GrBa)基因相融合的sFv2 3e PEⅡ GrBa基因 ,以及N端包含PE部分转位肽序列的PEⅡ GrBa基因 .将这 2种粒酶B嵌合蛋白基因瞬时转染或稳定转染HeLa细胞及SKBR 3细胞 .通过间接免疫荧光、细胞计数、MTT、ELISA等方法 ,观察到细胞浆中表达的PEⅡ GrBa蛋白直接杀伤其表达细胞 ;而sFv2 3e PEⅡ GrBa表达后被分泌至细胞外 ,对产生它的细胞没有杀伤性 ,但能够特异识别并杀伤HER2阳性肿瘤细胞 .结果表明 ,抗肿瘤表面抗原的抗体能够介导靶向识别 ,转位结构域可以辅助效应分子活化、转位至细胞液并杀伤细胞 ,为肿瘤的靶向治疗提供了新的策略 .     

抗siRNA的GFP-Plk1同义突变表达载体及其稳定细胞系的构建

目的:构建GFP-Plk1同义突变表达载体及其稳定转染细胞系。方法:设计Polo样激酶1(Plk1)si RNA序列及相对应的同义突变引物,并利用二次PCR方法扩增Plk1基因,定向克隆到p Rex-EGFP-IRES-Hygro载体中,构建p Rex-EGFP-r Plk1-IRES-Hygro表达载体;利用逆转录病毒感染的方法,构建He La/GFP-r Plk1稳定细胞系;利用免疫印迹及激光共聚焦显微镜,验证Plk1 si RNA的干扰效果及稳定细胞系的构建。结果:双酶切鉴定和测序结果表明构建的p Rex-EGFP-r Plk1-IRES-Hygro正确;免疫印迹实验证明Plk1 si RNA序列可以有效抑制He La/GFP-r Plk1细胞中内源性Plk1蛋白的表达,但不能干扰掉外源GFP-r Plk1蛋白;在荧光共聚焦显微镜下,观察到有丝分裂的前中期和末期,GFP-r Plk1分别定位于着丝粒和中间体上。结论:构建了Plk1同义突变表达载体p Rex-EGFP-r Plk1-IRES-Hygro和He La/GFP-r Plk1稳定细胞系,为下一步研究Plk1在有丝分裂期的调控机制提供了模型。     

shRNA沉默CBS基因的慢病毒载体构建及稳定转染PC12细胞系的建立

目的:硫化氢是一种重要的气体信号分子,作为一种神经调质在神经系统中起重要作用。胱硫醚-β-合成酶(CBS)是脑内硫化氢合成的主要酶。构建针对大鼠CBS基因的shRNA干扰载体,稳定转染PC12细胞,观察该载体对PC12细胞CBS基因的沉默效应。方法:构建三条针对大鼠CBS基因的shRNA,经前期实验筛序一条最有效靶点与载体GV248(h U6-MCS-Ubiquitin-EGFP-IRES-puromycin)连接,经转化及PCR阳性克隆筛选及测序鉴定。将LV-CBS-ShRNA慢病毒载体连同包装载体经脂质体2 000共转染到293T细胞,慢病毒包装后用荧光法进行滴度测定。将包装好的慢病毒转染到PC12细胞,用嘌呤霉素进行筛选,得到稳定转染LV-CBS ShRNA的PC12细胞。实时荧光定量PCR检测CBSmRNA的表达,Western-blot检测CBS蛋白的表达。结果:PCR扩增和测序结果证明,成功构建大鼠LV-CBS ShRNA慢病毒载体,经包装产生的慢病毒滴度为1×109TU/m L。与转染阴性对照慢病毒(LV-NC-ShRNA)的细胞比较,LV-CBS ShRNA慢病毒转染可使PC12的CBSmRNA和CBS蛋白表达分别下降51.2%和48%。成功构建CBS基因ShRNA干扰的PC12细胞株,为后续研究CBS在神经系统中的作用奠定基础。     

Repression of Hybrid Dysgenesis in Drosophila Melanogaster by Heat-Shock-Inducible Sense and Antisense P-Element Constructs

Sets of sense and antisense P-element constructs controlled by a heat-shock-inducible promoter were tested for their ability to repress manifestations of P-element activity in vivo. As a group, the antisense constructs repressed pupal lethality, a somatic manifestation of P activity, and this repression was significantly enhanced by heat shock. Three of the 11 antisense constructs also repressed gonadal dysgenesis, a manifestation of P activity in the female germ line; however, none had any effect on P-element-mediated mutability in the male germ line. Among the 13 different heat-shock-inducible sense constructs that were tested, those containing the KP and DP elements were strong repressors of pupal lethality, gonadal dysgenesis and P-element-mediated mutability; however, individual lines carrying these constructs varied in their ability to repress each of these traits, presumably because of genomic position effects. With the exception of the sense construct that contained a complete P element, none of the sense or antisense constructs repressed a lacZ reporter gene driven by the P-element promoter. Overall, the experimental results suggest that in nature, P-element activity could be regulated by P-encoded polypeptides and by antisense P RNAs.     

Perforin and granzyme B induce apoptosis in FasL-resistant colon carcinoma cells

 Cytotoxic lymphocytes may induce apoptosis in their target cells by the FasL (Fas ligand) pathway or the perforin/granzyme B pathway. It has been shown that Fas-expressing colon carcinoma (CC) cells are resistant to FasL-mediated apoptosis. The aims of this study were to determine whether CC cells are also resistant to perforin/granzyme B and whether the FasL resistance lies upstream of caspase-3 activation. The resistance of the Fas-expressing rat CC531s cells to the FasL pathway was confirmed by treating them with recombinant human soluble FasL, using rat hepatocytes as a positive control. The intracellular delivery of granzyme B by sublytic concentrations of perforin, on the other hand, resulted in many features of apoptosis (chromatin condensation, nucleus fragmentation, loss of microvilli and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation) within 3 h. Since both the FasL and perforin/granzyme B pathways converge at caspase-3, we measured caspase-3 activity to learn whether the FasL resistance was due to failure to activate this crucial executioner. Caspase-3 activation occurred in CC531s cells after perforin/granzyme B treatment, but not after the addition of recombinant FasL. Furthermore, we showed that caspase-3 activity is involved in the execution of perforin/granzyme-B-induced apoptosis in CC531s cells, since the cell-permeable caspase-3 inhibitor Z-DEVD-FMK abrogated DNA fragmentation. Together, these results suggest that CC cells are sensitive to perforin/granzyme-B-induced apoptosis by activating caspase-3 and FasL resistance lies upstream of this executioner caspase. Received: 20 November 2000 / Accepted: 8 March 2001     

hERG shRNA 表达载体构建及其稳定转染骨肉瘤细胞系MG-63、 SOSP-9607 的建立

目的:构建hERG钾离子通道蛋白(human ether-a-go-go-related gene potassium channel)shRNA表达载体质粒,获得稳定转染干扰质粒的人骨肉瘤细胞系MG-63、SOSP-9607。方法:将4对合成的寡核苷酸链退火形成双链,连接入pGPU6/GFP/Neo表达载体,并测序鉴定。使用脂质体法将重组的质粒转染至MG-63、SOSP-9607,通过G418筛选建立稳定转染的两种细胞系,采用免疫印迹(Western blot)技术检测hERG蛋白的表达。结果:测序结果证实shRNA与载体连接正确,免疫印迹实验证实hERG蛋白表达显著降低。结论:成功构建了hERG shRNA真核表达载体,获得了稳定表达hERG shRNA的人骨肉瘤细胞系MG-63和SOSP-9607。     

Antisense Morpholino Oligonucleotides Reduce Neurofilament Synthesis and Inhibit Axon Regeneration in Lamprey Reticulospinal Neurons

The sea lamprey has been used as a model for the study of axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury. Previous studies have suggested that, unlike developing axons in mammal, the tips of regenerating axons in lamprey spinal cord are simple in shape, packed with neurofilaments (NFs), and contain very little F-actin. Thus it has been proposed that regeneration of axons in the central nervous system of mature vertebrates is not based on the canonical actin-dependent pulling mechanism of growth cones, but involves an internal protrusive force, perhaps generated by the transport or assembly of NFs in the distal axon. In order to assess this hypothesis, expression of NFs was manipulated by antisense morpholino oligonucleotides (MO). A standard, company-supplied MO was used as control. Axon retraction and regeneration were assessed at 2, 4 and 9 weeks after MOs were applied to a spinal cord transection (TX) site. Antisense MO inhibited NF180 expression compared to control MO. The effect of inhibiting NF expression on axon retraction and regeneration was studied by measuring the distance of axon tips from the TX site at 2 and 4 weeks post-TX, and counting the number of reticulospinal neurons (RNs) retrogradely labeled by fluorescently-tagged dextran injected caudal to the injury at 9 weeks post-TX. There was no statistically significant effect of MO on axon retraction at 2 weeks post-TX. However, at both 4 and 9 weeks post-TX, inhibition of NF expression inhibited axon regeneration.     

Establishment of Stably Transfected Cells Constitutively Expressing the Full-Length and Truncated Antigenic Proteins of Two Genetically Distinct Mink Astroviruses

Astroviruses are becoming a growing concern in veterinary and public health. To date there are no registered vaccines against astrovirus-induced disease, mostly due to the difficulty to cultivate astroviruses to high titer for vaccine development using conventional techniques. As means to circumvent this drawback, we have developed stably transfected mink fetal cells and BHK21 cells constitutively expressing the full-length and truncated capsid proteins of two distinct genotypes of mink astrovirus. Protein expression in these stably transfected cells was demonstrated by strong signals as evaluated by in-situ PLA and IFA, and confirmed by Western blotting. The recombinant full-length and truncated proteins induced a high level of antibodies in mink, evaluated by ELISA, demonstrating their immunogenicity. In a challenge experiment in mink, a reduction in presentation clinical signs and virus shedding was observed in mink kits born from immunized females. The gene integration and protein expression were sustained through cell passage, showing that the used approach is robust and reliable for expression of functional capsid proteins for vaccine and diagnostic applications.     

HIV-1 Tat蛋白对人类疱疹病毒8型复制的影响

用HindⅢ将HIV-1Tat101蛋白编码基因从pEV质粒中切出,BamHI、NotⅠ将绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)编码基因从表达质粒pcDNA3．1 ／GFP中切出,分别插入到质粒LZRSpBMN-Z中,构建成重组反转录病毒表达质粒LZRS—Tat101和LZRS—GFP。采用磷酸钙转染法将两重组质粒转染到含反转录病毒env,gal和pol编码基因的包装细胞Phoenix(φNX)中,嘌呤霉素筛选获得稳定细胞系。分别收集稳定细胞系分泌的病毒上清,并感染体外培养的原发性渗出性淋巴瘤(PEL)BC2BL-1细胞。收集LZRS—GFP重组病毒感染的BCBL-1细胞进行流式细胞计数,检测GFP表达水平。收集LZRS—Tat101重组病毒感染的BCBL-1细胞,提取蛋白作Western blot,检测Tat蛋白表达状况;取细胞总RNA作Northem blot和定量PCR,检查HHV-8次要衣壳蛋白ORF26 mRNA转录水平。重组LZRS—Tat101病毒进一步感染HL3T1细胞(HeLa细胞包含HIV-1-LTR／CAT报告基因),收集感染细胞提取蛋白,检测CAT活性,评价Tat生物学功能。PCR扩增HHV-8复制和转录激活蛋白Rta启动子区上游序列,并克隆至pGL-3载体中,构建Rta启动子 虫荧光素酶(Luciferase)报告基因重组质粒。此重组质粒进一步电转染预先感染了LZRS—Tat101病毒的BC-3细胞,TPA刺激后收集细胞,检测Luciferase活性。结果显示：①重组反转录病毒感染BCBL-1细胞,一次感染效率达56％;②重组LZRS—Tat101毒能够在其感染的BCBL-1细胞中表达Tat蛋白,且表达蛋白具有转录激活功能;③Tat蛋白不能有效上调HHV-8Rta启动子活性;④细胞内HIV-1Tat蛋白诱导HHV-8可溶性周期复制的能力较弱。提示,单纯HIV-1Tat蛋白并不能激活潜伏感染的HHV-8。     

Granzyme B induces BID-mediated cytochrome c release and mitochondrial permeability transition

Many cell death pathways converge at the mitochondria to induce release of apoptogenic proteins and permeability transition, resulting in the activation of effector caspases responsible for the biochemical and morphological alterations of apoptosis. The death receptor pathway has been described as a triphasic process initiated by the activation of apical caspases, a mitochondrial phase, and then the final phase of effector caspase activation. Granzyme B (GrB) activates apical and effector caspases as well as promotes cytochrome c (cyt c) release and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. We investigated how GrB affects mitochondria utilizing an in vitro cell-free system and determined that cyt c release and permeability transition are initiated by distinct mechanisms. The cleavage of cytosolic BID by GrB results in truncated BID, initiating mitochondrial cyt c release. BID is the sole cytosolic protein responsible for this phenomenon in vitro, yet caspases were found to participate in cyt c release in some cells. On the other hand, GrB acts directly on mitochondria in the absence of cytosolic S100 proteins to open the permeability transition pore and to disrupt the proton electrochemical gradient. We suggest that GrB acts by two distinct mechanisms on mitochondria that ultimately lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular demise.     

14-3-3σ 干扰逆转录病毒载体的构建及其稳定转染HaCat 细胞系的建立

目的:构建14-3-3σ干扰逆转录病毒载体,建立稳定转染的HaCat细胞系。方法:人工合成14-3-3σ基因干扰序列并定向插入到pSuper-retro-neo-EGFP质粒,并在STBL3菌内进行质粒扩增,刷选阳性克隆,酶切测序鉴定,转染293FT细胞进行病毒包装、扩增、纯化、获取逆转录病毒载体,将逆转录病毒载体感染HaCat细胞后Western免疫印迹法、Real-timePCR法检测14-3-3σ的表达情况。结果:连接重组后经酶切和测序筛选出pSuper-retro-neo-EGFP-si14-3-3σ;干扰质粒稳定转染的HaCat细胞系在倒置荧光显微镜下呈绿色荧光,Western免疫印迹法和Real-timePCR法表明14-3-3σ表达明显抑制。结论:成功构建了14-3-3σ干扰的逆转录病毒载体,并构建了其稳定转染的HaCat细胞系。     

Identification of Serpinb6b as a Species-specific Mouse Granzyme A Inhibitor Suggests Functional Divergence between Human and Mouse Granzyme A

The granzyme family serine proteases are key effector molecules expressed by cytotoxic lymphocytes. The physiological role of granzyme (Gzm) A is controversial, with significant debate over its ability to induce death in target cells. Here, we investigate the natural inhibitors of GzmA. We employed substrate phage display and positional proteomics to compare substrate specificities of mouse (m) and human (h) GzmA at the peptide and proteome-wide levels and we used the resulting substrate specificity profiles to search for potential inhibitors from the intracellular serpin family. We identified Serpinb6b as a potent inhibitor of mGzmA. Serpinb6b interacts with mGzmA, but not hGzmA, with an association constant of 1.9 ± 0.8 × 10⁵ m⁻¹ s⁻¹ and a stoichiometry of inhibition of 1.8. Mouse GzmA is over five times more cytotoxic than hGzmA when delivered into P815 target cells with streptolysin O, whereas transfection of target cells with a Serpinb6b cDNA increases the EC₅₀ value of mGzmA 13-fold, without affecting hGzmA cytotoxicity. Unexpectedly, we also found that Serpinb6b employs an exosite to specifically inhibit dimeric but not monomeric mGzmA. The identification of an intracellular inhibitor specific for mGzmA only indicates that a lineage-specific increase in GzmA cytotoxic potential has driven cognate inhibitor evolution.