EGFP-Luc-Hepa1-6细胞系的构建及其在小鼠肝癌模型中的应用

目的:构建带有增强型绿色荧光蛋白EGFP及荧光素酶luciferase的真核表达载体p CMVLuciferase-IRES2-EGFP,对肝癌细胞系Hepa1-6转染后进行稳定筛选,并将表达该载体的细胞系应用于小鼠原位肝癌模型构建,以对小鼠肝癌细胞进行稳定标记与活体示踪。方法:对p GL3-Basic质粒进行Xba I酶切、Klenow片段补平黏端、Xho I酶切获得luciferase小片段,与Xho I/Sma I酶切p IRES2-EGFP质粒获得的载体大片段连接,获得重组质粒p CMV-Luciferase-IRES2-EGFP。酶切鉴定、测序比对确认序列完全正确后,以重组载体转染Hepa1-6细胞进行稳定筛选,以荧光显微镜观察EGFP表达,报告基因实验与LuminaⅡ成像系统检测荧光素酶活性。确认该细胞系中的质粒得到表达后,以该细胞系进行C57BL/6小鼠肝脏原位接种构建肝癌模型,以LuminaⅡ成像系统连续活体监测肝癌的生长,取离体的肝癌组织制备石蜡切片(HE染色)和冰冻切片(免疫荧光染色)分别观察离体肿瘤组织病理学特征及其中肝癌细胞绿色荧光蛋白表达情况。结果:成功构建表达p CMV-Luciferase-IRES2-EGFP载体的Hepa1-6细胞系(EGFP-Luc-Hepa1-6),并以该细胞系成功构建C57BL/6小鼠原位肝癌模型,实现小鼠肝癌细胞的活体示踪与体外标记。结论:成功构建EGFP-Luc-Hepa1-6细胞系,且以此细胞系构建的小鼠原位肝癌模型可以同时实现小鼠肝癌生长的连续活体监测与离体组织检测。     

人星状病毒非结构蛋白基因nsP1a/1真核表达载体构建及其

目的 将人星状病毒非结构蛋白nsP1 a./1基因连接到真核表达载体上,转染人胚肾上皮细胞48 h后检测其表达.方法 设计特异性引物PCR扩增人星状病毒非结构蛋白nsP1 a/1片段,分别插入真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(+)和pEGFP-N2载体,构建重组表达质粒pcDNA3.1(+)-nsP1a/1-His和pEGFP-N2-nsP1a/1.在转染试剂PEI的介导下将重组表达质粒分别转染293T细胞,转染48 h后分别在荧光显微镜下观察EGFP的表达以及通过Western blot检测nsP1a/1基因的表达.结果 重组表达质粒pcDNA3.1(+)-nsP1a/1-His和pEGFP-N2-nsP1a/1构建成功;转染pEGFP-N2-nsP1a/1后48 h能够在荧光显微镜蓝色激发光下观察到较强的黄绿色荧光;转染pcDNA3.1(+)-nsP1a/1-His后48 h收集细胞进行Western blot检测,能够检测到nsP1a/1-His融合报告基因的表达.结论 成功构建了人星状病毒非结构蛋白nsP1a/1基因真核表达质粒,并在人胚肾上皮细胞293T细胞获得表达,为进一步深入研究nsP1a/1在人星状病毒抵御宿主细胞抗病毒天然免疫中是否发挥作用奠定了基础.     

广西巴马小型猪miR-181b慢病毒表达载体的构建和鉴定

本试验旨在构建广西巴马小型猪miR-181b慢病毒表达载体,以广西巴马小型猪基因组DNA为模板,利用PCR扩增miR-181b前体序列,构建重组质粒p LV-miR-181b,经PCR和测序鉴定,阳性重组质粒转染C2C12细胞,荧光倒置显微镜下检测转染效率。结果显示,miR-181b前体序列长度为377 bp,与预期片段序列长度一致。将鉴定为阳性的miR-181b重组质粒转染C2C12细胞48 h后,在荧光显微镜下检测到较强的绿色荧光蛋白的表达,说明重组miR-181b质粒在C2C12细胞中具有较高的表达活性。本研究成功构建了具有高表达活性的miR-181b重组慢病毒表达载体,为研究miRNA-181b调控骨骼肌生长发育的功能机制提供实验基础。     

腺相关病毒载体介导siRNA抑制HBV的表达与复制

目的：构建并制备能够有效抑制HBV mRNA表达的siRNA重组腺相关病毒。 方法：将筛选到的siRNA片段克隆入骨架质粒pAAVMCS中,与pAAVRC和pHelper质粒共转染人胚肾293T细胞,包装出重组腺相关病毒,将纯化后的重组病毒直接感染Hep G 2.2.15细胞,通过酶联免疫法和荧光定量PCR法检测重组腺相关病毒的抑制效果。结果：重组腺相关病毒显著降低HBV 分泌的相关抗原蛋白以及DNA和RNA水平。结论：重组腺相关病毒载体介导的siRNA能够有效抑制HBV的表达与复制。     

含分泌型萤光素酶和绿色荧光蛋白双报告基因的慢病毒载体的制备与表达分析

目的:制备含分泌型萤光素酶和绿色荧光蛋白双报告基因的慢病毒载体,为慢病毒载体的进一步广泛应用奠定基础。方法:克隆构建含分泌型萤光素酶和绿色荧光蛋白双报告基因的转基因载体pCS-gluc-2A-eGFP,酶切与序列分析鉴定其正确后,与包装质粒pCMVHR’Δ8.2、包膜质粒pVSV-G共转染293FT细胞,获得含分泌型萤光素酶和绿色荧光蛋白双报告基因的重组慢病毒载体;重组慢病毒载体感染A549、Huh7细胞后,用荧光显微镜直接观察报告基因GFP的表达,或取细胞上清实时检测分泌型萤光素酶的表达。结果:制备了含双报告基因的重组慢病毒载体,感染细胞后可以活体观察绿色荧光蛋白的表达,也可以快速灵敏地检测到分泌型萤光素酶的表达。结论:所获含分泌型萤光素酶和绿色荧光蛋白双报告基因的重组慢病毒载体感染效率高,表达易于活体实时检测,灵敏度高。本研究为慢病毒载体的广泛应用奠定了基础。     

含RGD修饰的病毒样颗粒递送ICG靶向肿瘤的研究

目的:获取含RGD靶向肽的乙肝核心病毒样颗粒,为药物靶向纳米递送系统提供一种新型载体。方法:将实验室前期构建测序正确的含RGD修饰的乙肝核心病毒重组质粒转化入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中,单因素分析及正交试验探究重组蛋白最适表达条件。在最适表达条件下扩培,收集菌体超声破碎后离心,采用凝胶过滤层析、离子交换和蔗糖密度梯度离心进行纯化,利用透射电镜对形成的RGD-HBc VLPs的形态及稳定性进行鉴定。纯化的RGD-HBc VLPs利用其体外自组装的特性,将光敏剂ICG装载到颗粒的内部,通过静脉注射到4T1乳腺癌荷瘤小鼠,探究重组RGD-HBc VLPs作为纳米递送系统的靶向性。结果:RGD-HBc VLPs在温度32℃、IPTG0.5mmol/L、诱导4h时以可溶性蛋白的形式得到高效表达。经蔗糖密度梯度离心纯化后纯度到达95%以上。透射电镜下观察纯化的RGD-HBc VLPs形态、大小均一,直径约为32nm,通过近红外荧光活体成像证实了RGD-HBc作为纳米载体的靶向性。结论:经表达和纯化后,RGD-HBc VLPs具有较高的表达量和大小均一的形态外貌,近红外荧光活体成像证实具有较好的靶向性,这不仅为肿瘤的可视化诊断提供一种快速、精准、方便的方法,而且为今后靶向免疫治疗提供一种新型载体。     

高表达Snail蛋白诱导黑色素瘤EMT细胞模型的构建及鉴定

目的:构建稳定表达Snail蛋白的可用于肿瘤上皮-间质化研究的肿瘤细胞模型.方法:采用亚克隆方法从质粒pCMV6-mSnail中PCR扩增小鼠Snail基因,连接至表达质粒pL-tdTomato-Neo,筛选重组质粒并经双酶切及测序鉴定.构建成功的重组质粒pL-tdTomato-mSnail转染小鼠黑色素瘤B16细胞,G418筛选稳定细胞株.采用荧光定量PCR和Western blot技术检测胞内Snail及上皮/间质标志物的变化.建立裸小鼠皮下移植瘤模型,活体成像系统观测移植瘤.结果:重组质粒pL-tdTomato-mSnail成功构建,其稳定转染株B16/dT-mSN胞体发出强烈红色荧光.胞内Snaill水平显著上调,E-钙粘蛋白下调,波形蛋白表达上调,呈现典型的上皮-间质化表型.结论:成功获得稳定高表达小鼠Snail蛋白的EMT细胞模型,且可用于体内外荧光成像观测,为研究Snail蛋白在介导肿瘤EMT过程中的生物作用提供了重要的实验工具.     

近红外荧光蛋白标记乳腺癌细胞外泌体的构建及鉴定

外泌体(Exosomes)是一种大小为30~100 nm的细胞外膜囊泡,与细胞的生物学功能及细胞间的信号传递有着密切的关系,尤其在癌症的诊断及治疗等领域发挥重要作用。为将外泌体更好地应用于乳腺癌肿瘤传递机制的研究,本文首先通过分子克隆手段将近红外荧光蛋白iRFP682基因和外泌体标记蛋白CD63基因克隆到含腺相关病毒(Adeno-associated virus,AAV)末端倒置重复序列(Inverted repeat terminal,ITR)的质粒载体上,构建融合表达近红外荧光蛋白和CD63蛋白的重组真核表达载体。然后再与辅助质粒共转染AAV-293细胞,包装重组腺相关病毒、纯化测量滴度后用于感染乳腺癌细胞,最后通过荧光筛选出稳定表达近红外荧光蛋白的乳腺癌细胞株。通过对乳腺癌稳定株的分离、纯化及鉴定,最终得到一个新型生物标记物：iRFP682标记的乳腺癌细胞来源的外泌体,为后续研究外泌体在乳腺癌肿瘤微环境中的分布及信号传递提供保障。     

腺相关病毒与人多药耐药基因重组载体的构建及在NIH3T3细胞中的表达

腺相关病毒 (adeno- associated virus,AAV)属细小病毒科 ,是一种最小的动物病毒 .具有其他病毒载体所没有的优点 ,在基因治疗中日益受到瞩目 .以 AAV的一种多克隆载体为基础 ,构建了携带 MDR1基因的重组腺相关病毒载体 (r AAV- MDR1 ) ,经 2 93细胞包装成重组病毒 .将重组质粒、重组病毒分别转染和感染 NIH3T3细胞 ,用 PCR和 MTT法检测了人 MDR1基因的转导及表达 .为 MDR1基因用于临床和腺相关病毒载体在基因治疗中的应用提供了依据     

人星状病毒非结构蛋白基因nsP1a/1真核表达载体构建及其在293T细胞中的表达

目的将人星状病毒非结构蛋白ns P1a/1基因连接到真核表达载体上,转染人胚肾上皮细胞48 h后检测其表达。方法设计特异性引物PCR扩增人星状病毒非结构蛋白ns P1a/1片段,分别插入真核表达载体pc DNA3.1(+)和p EGFP-N2载体,构建重组表达质粒pc DNA3.1(+)-ns P1a/1-His和p EGFP-N2-ns P1a/1。在转染试剂PEI的介导下将重组表达质粒分别转染293T细胞,转染48 h后分别在荧光显微镜下观察EGFP的表达以及通过Western blot检测ns P1a/1基因的表达。结果重组表达质粒pc DNA3.1(+)-ns P1a/1-His和p EGFP-N2-ns P1a/1构建成功;转染p EGFP-N2-ns P1a/1后48 h能够在荧光显微镜蓝色激发光下观察到较强的黄绿色荧光;转染pc DNA3.1(+)-ns P1a/1-His后48 h收集细胞进行Western blot检测,能够检测到ns P1a/1-His融合报告基因的表达。结论成功构建了人星状病毒非结构蛋白ns P1a/1基因真核表达质粒,并在人胚肾上皮细胞293T细胞获得表达,为进一步深入研究ns P1a/1在人星状病毒抵御宿主细胞抗病毒天然免疫中是否发挥作用奠定了基础。     

Development of Lactococcus lactis encoding fluorescent proteins,GFP, mCherry and iRFP regulated by the nisin-controlled gene expression system

Fluorescent proteins are useful reporter molecules for a variety of biological systems. We present an alternative strategy for cloning reporter genes that are regulated by the nisin-controlled gene expression (NICE) system. Lactoccocus lactis was genetically engineered to express green fluorescent protein (GFP), mCherry or near-infrared fluorescent protein (iRFP). The reporter gene sequences were optimized to be expressed by L. lactis using inducible promoter pNis within the pNZ8048 vector. Expression of constructions that carry mCherry or GFP was observed by fluorescence microscopy 2 h after induction with nisin. Expression of iRFP was evaluated at 700 nm using an infrared scanner; cultures induced for 6 h showed greater iRFP expression than non-induced cultures or those expressing GFP. We demonstrated that L. lactis can express efficiently GFP, mCherry and iRFP fluorescent proteins using an inducible expression system. These strains will be useful for live cell imaging studies in vitro or for imaging studies in vivo in the case of iRFP.     

In Vivo image Analysis Using iRFP Transgenic Mice

Fluorescent proteins with light wavelengths within the optical window are one of the improvements in in vivo imaging techniques. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent protein (iRFP) is a stable, nontoxic protein that emits fluorescence within the NIR optical window without the addition of exogenous substrate. However, studies utilizing an in vivo iRFP model have not yet been published. Here, we report the generation of transgenic iRFP mice with ubiquitous NIR fluorescence expression. iRFP expression was observed in approximately 50% of the offspring from a matings between iRFP transgenic and WT mice. The serum and blood cell indices and body weights of iRFP mice were similar to those of WT mice. Red fluorescence with an excitation wavelength of 690 nm and an emission wavelength of 713 nm was detected in both newborn and adult iRFP mice. We also detected fluorescence emission in whole organs of the iRFP mice, including the brain, heart, liver, kidney, spleen, lung, pancreas, bone, testis, thymus, and adipose tissue. Therefore, iRFP transgenic mice may therefore be a useful tool for various types of in vivo imaging.     

Assessing in vitro stem‐cell function and tracking engraftment of stem cells in ischaemic hearts by using novel iRFP gene labelling

Near‐infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging by using infrared fluorescent protein (iRFP) gene labelling is a novel technology with potential value for in vivo applications. In this study, we expressed iRFP in mouse cardiac progenitor cells (CPC) by lentiviral vector and demonstrated that the iRFP‐labelled CPC (CPC^iRFP) can be detected by flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy. We observed a linear correlation in vitro between cell numbers and infrared signal intensity by using the multiSpectral imaging system. CPC^iRFP injected into the non‐ischaemic mouse hindlimb were also readily detected by whole‐animal NIRF imaging. We then compared iRFP against green fluorescent protein (GFP) for tracking survival of engrafted CPC in mouse ischaemic heart tissue. GFP‐labelled CPC (CPC^GFP) or CPC labelled with both iRFP and GFP (CPC^{iRFP GFP}) were injected intramyocardially into mouse hearts after infarction. Three days after cell transplantation, a strong NIRF signal was detected in hearts into which CPC^{iRFP GFP}, but not CPC^GFP, were transplanted. Furthermore, iRFP fluorescence from engrafted CPC^{iRFP GFP} was detected in tissue sections by confocal microscopy. In conclusion, the iRFP‐labelling system provides a valuable molecular imaging tool to track the fate of transplanted progenitor cells in vivo.     

Noninvasive optical imaging of staphylococcus aureus bacterial infection in living mice using a Bis-dipicolylamine-Zinc(II) affinity group conjugated to a near-infrared fluorophore

Optical imaging of bacterial infection in living animals is usually conducted with genetic reporters such as light-emitting enzymes or fluorescent proteins. However, there are many circumstances where genetic reporters are not applicable, and there is a need for exogenous synthetic probes that can selectively target bacteria. The focus of this study is a fluorescent imaging probe that is composed of a bacterial affinity group conjugated to a near-infrared dye. The affinity group is a synthetic zinc (II) coordination complex that targets the anionic surfaces of bacterial cells. The probe allows detection of Staphylococcus aureus infection (5 x 10 (7) cells) in a mouse leg infection model using whole animal near-infrared fluorescence imaging. Region of interest analysis showed that the signal ratio for infected leg to uninfected leg reaches 3.9 +/- 0.5 at 21 h postinjection of the probe. Ex vivo imaging of the organs produced a signal ratio of 8 for infected to uninfected leg. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed that the probe targeted the bacterial cells in the infected tissue. Optimization of the imaging filter set lowered the background signal due to autofluorescence and substantially improved imaging contrast. The study shows that near-infrared molecular probes are amenable to noninvasive optical imaging of localized S. aureus infection.     

Synthesis and evaluation of near-infrared fluorescent sulfonamide derivatives for imaging of hypoxia-induced carbonic anhydrase IX expression in tumors

A series of human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) IX inhibitors conjugated to various near-infrared fluorescent dyes was synthesized with the aim of imaging hypoxia-induced hCA IX expression in tumor cells in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo. The resulting compounds were profiled for inhibition of transmembrane hCA IX showing a range of potencies from 7.5 to 116 nM and up to 50-fold selectivity over the cytosolic form hCA II. Some of the compounds also showed inhibition selectivity for other transmembrane forms hCA XII and XIV as well. Compounds incubated in vitro with HeLa cells cultured under normoxic and hypoxic conditions detected upregulation of hCA IX under hypoxia by fluorescence microscopy. A pilot in vivo study in HT-29 tumor bearing mice showed significant accumulation of a fluorescent acetazolamide derivative in tumor tissue with little accumulation in other tissues. Approximately 10% of injected dose was non-invasively quantified in tumors by fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT), demonstrating the promise of these new compounds for quantitative imaging of hCA IX upregulation in live animals.     

Fluorescence imaging in vivo: recent advances

In vivo fluorescence imaging uses a sensitive camera to detect fluorescence emission from fluorophores in whole-body living small animals. To overcome the photon attenuation in living tissue, fluorophores with long emission at the near-infrared (NIR) region are generally preferred, including widely used small indocarbocyanine dyes. The list of NIR probes continues to grow with the recent addition of fluorescent organic, inorganic and biological nanoparticles. Recent advances in imaging strategies and reporter techniques for in vivo fluorescence imaging include novel approaches to improve the specificity and affinity of the probes and to modulate and amplify the signal at target sites for enhanced sensitivity. Further emerging developments are aiming to achieve high-resolution, multimodality and lifetime-based in vivo fluorescence imaging.     

2-Nitroimidazole-tricarbocyanine conjugate as a near-infrared fluorescent probe for in vivo imaging of tumor hypoxia

We developed a novel near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe, GPU-167, for in vivo imaging of tumor hypoxia. GPU-167 comprises a tricarbocyanine dye as an NIR fluorophore and two 2-nitroimidazole moieties as exogenous hypoxia markers that undergo bioreductive activation and then selective entrapment in hypoxic cells. After treatment with GPU-167, tumor cells contained significantly higher levels of fluorescence in hypoxia than in normoxia. In vivo fluorescence imaging specifically detected GPU-167 in tumors 24 h after administration. Ex vivo analysis revealed that fluorescence showed a strong correlation with hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1 active hypoxic regions. These data suggest that GPU-167 is a promising in vivo optical imaging probe for tumor hypoxia.     

A comparison of the emission efficiency of four common green fluorescence dyes after internalization into cancer cells

In vivo optical imaging to enhance the detection of cancer during endoscopy or surgery requires a targeted fluorescent probe with high emission efficiency and high signal-to-background ratio. One strategy to accurately detect cancers is to have the fluorophore internalize within the cancer cells permitting nonbound fluorophores to be washed away or absorbed. The choice of fluorophores for this task must be carefully considered. For depth of penetration, near-infrared probes are ordinarily preferred but suffer from relatively low quantum efficiency. Although green fluorescent protein has been widely used to image tumors on internal organs in mice, green fluorescent probes are better suited for imaging the superficial tissues because of the short penetration distance of green light in tissue and the highly efficient production of signal. While the fluorescence properties of green fluorophores are well-known in vitro, less attention has been paid to their fluorescence once they are internalized within cells. In this study, the emission efficiency after cellular internalization of four common green fluorophores conjugated to avidin (Av-fluorescein, Av-Oregon green, Av-BODIPY-FL, and Av-rhodamine green) were compared after each conjugate was incubated with SHIN3 ovarian cancer cells. Using the lectin binding receptor system, the avidin-fluorophore conjugates were endocytosed, and their fluorescence was evaluated with fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. While fluorescein demonstrated the highest signal outside the cell, among the four fluorophores, internalized Av-rhodamine green emitted the most light from SHIN3 ovarian cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. The internalized Av-rhodamine green complex appeared to localize to the endoplasmic vesicles. Thus, among the four common green fluorescent dyes, rhodamine green is the brightest green fluorescence probe after cellular internalization. This information could have implications for the design of tumor-targeted fluorescent probes that rely on cellular internalization for cancer detection.     

Fluorescence molecular imaging of small animal tumor models

In vivo imaging of molecular events in small animals has great potential to impact basic science and drug development. For this reason, several imaging technologies have been adapted to small animal research, including X-ray, magnetic resonance, and radioisotope imaging. Despite this plethora of visualization techniques, fluorescence imaging is emerging as an important alternative because of its operational simplicity, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Fluorescence imaging has recently become particularly interesting because of advances in fluorescent probe technology, including targeted fluorochromes as well as fluorescent "switches" sensitive to specific biochemical events. While past biological investigations using fluorescence have focused on microscopic examination of ex vivo, in vitro, or intravital specimens, techniques for macroscopic fluorescence imaging are now emerging for in vivo molecular imaging applications. This review illuminates fluorescence imaging technologies that hold promise for small animal imaging. In particular we focus on planar illumination techniques, also known as Fluorescence Reflectance Imaging (FRI), and discuss its performance and current use. We then discuss fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT), an evolving technique for quantitative three-dimensional imaging of fluorescence in vivo. This technique offers the promise of non-invasively quantifying and visualizing specific molecular activity in living subjects in three dimensions.