Lentivirus-delivered stable gene silencing by RNAi in primary cells

Genome-wide genetic approaches have proven useful for examining pathways of biological significance in model organisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Drosophila melanogastor, and Caenorhabditis elegans, but similar techniques have proven difficult to apply to mammalian systems. Although manipulation of the murine genome has led to identification of genes and their function, this approach is laborious, expensive, and often leads to lethal phenotypes. RNA interference (RNAi) is an evolutionarily conserved process of gene silencing that has become a powerful tool for investigating gene function by reverse genetics. Here we describe the delivery of cassettes expressing hairpin RNA targeting green fluorescent protein (GFP) using Moloney leukemia virus-based and lentivirus-based retroviral vectors. Both transformed cell lines and primary dendritic cells, normally refractory to transfection-based gene transfer, demonstrated stable silencing of targeted genes, including the tumor suppressor gene TP53 in normal human fibroblasts. This report demonstrates that both Moloney leukemia virus and lentivirus vector-mediated expression of RNAi can achieve effective, stable gene silencing in diverse biological systems and will assist in elucidating gene functions in numerous cell types including primary cells.     

Post-transcriptional gene silencing by double-stranded RNA

Imagine being able to knock out your favourite gene with only a day's work. Not just in one model system, but in virtually any organism: plants, flies, mice or cultured cells. This sort of experimental dream might one day become reality as we learn to harness the power of RNA interference, the process by which double-stranded RNA induces the silencing of homologous endogenous genes. How this phenomenon works is slowly becoming clear, and might help us to develop an effortless tool to probe gene function in cells and animals.     

N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖转移酶干扰慢病毒载体系统的建立及应用

目的构建针对N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖转移酶（GnT）Ⅲ、Ⅳa和Ⅴ的RNA干扰（RNAi）慢病毒系统,并检测干扰慢病毒在体外小鼠肝癌细胞中对不同GnT表达的抑制作用。方法针对三种基因序列设计合成特异的shRNA序列,并构建干扰慢病毒表达载体,利用病毒包装细胞293T包装生产病毒,感染靶细胞Hca-F后,应用RT-PCR和免疫印迹检测干扰慢病毒对三种N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖转移酶表达的抑制。结果经测序证实三种干扰慢病毒表达载体构建成功,并获得高滴度的感染慢病毒。干扰慢病毒感染靶细胞后能够有效下调三种N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖转移酶的表达。结论干扰慢病毒可有效地抑制三种N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖转移酶GnT-Ⅲ、GnT-Ⅳa和GnT-Ⅴ的表达。     

RNA interference: the story of gene silencing in plants and humans

RNA interference is an exciting field of functional genomics that can silence viral genes. This property of interfering RNA can be used to combat viral diseases of plants as well as animals and humans. It is a short sequence of nucleic acid that can bind to the mRNA of the gene and interferes the process of its expression. It is diverse in occurrence as well as in applications. It occurs from nematodes to fungi and can cause gene silencing in plants, animals and human beings. Small interfering RNAs are used to silence plant viral genes and in production of therapeutic drugs against Hepatitis or Immuno-deficiency viruses in human. In this review, we will discuss the history, mechanism and applications of RNA interference in plant, animal and human research.     

Lentivirus vector-mediated hematopoietic stem cell gene transfer of common gamma-chain cytokine receptor in rhesus macaques

Nonhuman primate model systems of autologous CD34+ cell transplant are the most effective means to assess the safety and capabilities of lentivirus vectors. Toward this end, we tested the efficiency of marking, gene expression, and transplant of bone marrow and peripheral blood CD34+ cells using a self-inactivating lentivirus vector (CS-Rh-MLV-E) bearing an internal murine leukemia virus long terminal repeat derived from a murine retrovirus adapted to replicate in rhesus macaques. In vitro cytokine stimulation was not required to achieve efficient transduction of CD34+ cells resulting in marking and gene expression of the reporter gene encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) following transplant of the CD34+ cells. Monkeys transplanted with mobilized peripheral blood CD34+ cells resulted in EGFP expression in 1 to 10% of multilineage peripheral blood cells, including red blood cells and platelets, stable for 15 months to date. The relative level of gene expression utilizing this vector is 2- to 10-fold greater than that utilizing a non-self-inactivating lentivirus vector bearing the cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter. In contrast, in animals transplanted with autologous bone marrow CD34+ cells, multilineage EGFP expression was evident initially but diminished over time. We further tested our lentivirus vector system by demonstrating gene transfer of the human common gamma-chain cytokine receptor gene (gamma(c)), deficient in X-linked SCID patients and recently successfully used to treat disease. Marking was 0.42 and.001 HIV-1 vector DNA copy per 100 cells in two animals. To date, all EGFP- and gamma(c)-transplanted animals are healthy. This system may prove useful for expression of therapeutic genes in human hematopoietic cells.     

DNA vector-based RNA interference to study gene function in cancer

RNA interference (RNAi) inhibits gene expression by specifically degrading target mRNAs. Since the discovery of double-stranded small interference RNA (siRNA) in gene silencing, RNAi has become a powerful research tool in gene function studies. Compared to genetic deletion, RNAi-mediated gene silencing possesses many advantages, such as the ease with which it is carried out and its suitability to most cell lines. Multiple studies have demonstrated the applications of RNAi technology in cancer research. In particular, the development of the DNA vector-based technology to produce small hairpin RNA (shRNA) driven by the U6 or H1 promoter has made long term and inducible gene silencing possible. Its use in combination with genetically engineered viral vectors, such as lentivirus, facilitates high efficiencies of shRNA delivery and/or integration into genomic DNA for stable shRNA expression. We describe a detailed procedure using the DNA vector-based RNAi technology to determine gene function, including construction of lentiviral vectors expressing shRNA, lentivirus production and cell infection, and functional studies using a mouse xenograft model. Various strategies have been reported in generating shRNA constructs. The protocol described here employing PCR amplification and a 3-fragment ligation can be used to directly and efficiently generate shRNA-containing lentiviral constructs without leaving any extra nucleotide adjacent to a shRNA coding sequence. Since the shRNA-expression cassettes created by this strategy can be cut out by restriction enzymes, they can be easily moved to other vectors with different fluorescent or antibiotic markers. Most commercial transfection reagents can be used in lentivirus production. However, in this report, we provide an economic method using calcium phosphate precipitation that can achieve over 90% transfection efficiency in 293T cells. Compared to constitutive shRNA expression vectors, an inducible shRNA system is particularly suitable to knocking down a gene essential to cell proliferation. We demonstrate the gene silencing of Yin Yang 1 (YY1), a potential oncogene in breast cancer, by a Tet-On inducible shRNA system and its effects on tumor formation. Research using lentivirus requires review and approval of a biosafety protocol by the Biosafety Committee of a researcher's institution. Research using animal models requires review and approval of an animal protocol by the Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC) of a researcher's institution.     

siRNA沉默socs3对红系发育的影响

为了研究细胞因子信号转导分子3(suppressor of cytokine signals-3,SOCS-3)对造血发育的影响,构建了SOCS-3慢病毒siRNA干涉载体,并转染人红白血病细胞株K562.根据绿色荧光蛋白的表达进行流式分选后,获得了高表达慢病毒干涉载体的细胞.实时荧光定量PCR和Western-blot检测了转染细胞中SOCS-3基因的干涉效率,结果显示,与对照组相比,siRNA干涉后K562细胞SOCS-3基因的表达量仅为其相对表达量的22.1%,干涉效率77.9%;Western-blot结果显示,SOCS-3在蛋白质水平表达也明显受抑制.进一步对SOCS-3基因沉默后的K562细胞进行了诱导分化,并采用联苯胺染色法检测K562细胞向红系分化比例变化,免疫荧光染色检测细胞表面抗原的变化,RT-PCR检测造血相关基因的变化.结果发现,SOCS-3沉默后K562细胞向红系的发育能力显著提高.研究结果证明,SOCS-3在造血发育中有重要调控作用,而对其表达进行干涉或沉默将在规模化的红细胞诱导研究中发挥重要作用.     

靶向ADAM17基因RNA干扰慢病毒载体的构建及慢病毒包装

目的构建靶向ADAM17基因RNA干扰（RNAi）慢病毒载体及包装慢病毒。方法根据人ADAM17mRNA序列设计4个靶序列,合成4对寡核苷酸序列,同时合成1对阴性对照寡核苷酸序列;将以上5对寡核苷酸序列退火后连入pLVTHM质粒,经酶切和测序鉴定。将重组慢病毒质粒转染至A549细胞,以Real-time PCR检测A549细胞中ADAM17 mRNA表达。将干扰效果最佳的质粒载体和包装质粒共转染至293T细胞,包装产生病毒颗粒。以流式细胞术检测重组慢病毒的滴度。结果酶切和测序证实干扰靶序列已被准确克隆到pLVTHM质粒载体。pLVTHM-ADAM17-siRNA1-4均可显著抑制A549细胞ADAM17 mRNA的表达,其中pLVTHM-ADAM17-siRNA4的抑制效果最佳。LV-ADAM17-siRNA4重组慢病毒的滴度为2.16×108TU/ml。结论成功构建了靶向人ADAM17基因RNAi慢病毒载体及包装了重组慢病毒。     

用慢病毒转染RNAi技术沉默胆固醇7α羟化酶的基因表达，降低肝细胞中胆汁酸的分泌

为了降低生物人工肝(bioartificial liver system)中肝细胞胆汁酸的分泌,构建了胆固醇7α羟化酶慢病毒RNA干涉载体,并转染人肝脏细胞(L-02).根据绿色荧光蛋白的表达评估转染效率后进行流式分选,获得高表达慢病毒干涉载体的细胞,并以野生型L-02细胞和仅转染pSicoR空载体的L-02细胞作对照,观察肝细胞胆固醇7α羟化酶的表达以及培养上清中总胆汁酸含量.利用半定量PCR、实时荧光定量PCR及Western-blot等实验方法检测了转染细胞中基因的干涉效果,结果显示:与对照组相比,在mRNA水平,转染慢病毒siRNA载体的L-02细胞,其胆固醇7α羟化酶基因的表达量仅为野生型L-02细胞表达量的31.2%,为转染pSicoR空载体的L-02细胞的34.1%,干涉效率分别为68.8%和65.9%,均具有显著差异(P＜0.05);Western-blot结果显示胆固醇7α羟化酶在蛋白质水平表达也明显受到抑制,表明转染慢病毒siRNA下调了肝细胞中胆固醇7α羟化酶基因的表达,减少了胆汁酸的分泌.以上研究结果表明,利用RNAi技术可以获得低表达胆固醇7α羟化酶基因的肝细胞,并有效降低肝细胞中胆汁酸的分泌,为临床上生物人工肝的构建及应用奠定基础.     

慢病毒介导的大鼠肝BRL-3A 细胞Tmub1 基因沉默及稳定感染细胞 系的建立

目的:构建Tmub1基因慢病毒干扰载体,建立稳定转染细胞系,检测大鼠肝BRL-3A细胞中Tmub1基因表达的干扰效果。方法:设计并构建4对针对大鼠Tmub1基因的特异性shRNA干扰质粒,酶切鉴定、DNA测序所得质粒。将由pRSV-Rev、pMDLg-pRRE、pMD2G和pll3.7干扰质粒组成的包装系统共转染293T细胞,产生慢病毒。所得慢病毒感染大鼠正常肝细胞BRL-3A,Western Blot检测不同靶点RNAi后Tmub1蛋白表达情况,确定有效靶点。针对有效靶点大量包装慢病毒。测定病毒滴度并以最适感染复数(multiplicity of infection,MOI)感染BRL-3A细胞后,G418抗生素筛选稳定感染细胞系BRL-3A/256。RT-PCR和Western Blot检测各组细胞Tmub1 mRNA和蛋白质的表达差异。结果:结果显示Tmub1 RNAi慢病毒载体构建成功,C0020Sh2-Hops-256干扰靶点RNAi效果最强。成功包装Tmub1基因RNAi慢病毒,测定病毒滴度为2.3×108TU/ml,对293T细胞的最适感染复数为60。成功建立Tmub1 RNAi慢病毒载体稳定感染细胞系BRL-3A/256,且在该细胞系中Tmub1 mRNA和蛋白质表达明显降低。结论:成功构建Tmub1 RNAi慢病毒载体,有效干扰BRL-3A细胞中Tmub1 mRNA和蛋白表达;成功筛选出Tmub1RNAi慢病毒稳定感染细胞系BRL-3A/256。     

Genome-scale loss-of-function screening with a lentiviral RNAi library

The discovery that RNA interference (RNAi) is functional in mammalian cells led us to form The RNAi Consortium (TRC) with the goal of enabling large-scale loss-of-function screens through the development of genome-scale RNAi libraries and methodologies for their use. These resources form the basis of a loss-of-function screening platform created at the Broad Institute. Our human and mouse libraries currently contain >135,000 lentiviral clones targeting 27,000 genes. Initial screening efforts have demonstrated that these libraries and methods are practical and powerful tools for high-throughput lentivirus RNAi screens.     

慢病毒载体与造血干细胞介导的基因治疗

慢病毒载体不仅能感染造血干细胞 (HSCs) ,使携带的目的基因整合至HSCs基因组内 ,且能利用病毒携带的调控元件 ,使目的基因随HSCs细胞特异性表达 ,因此是一种有效的感染HSCs和进行基因治疗的工具。主要对慢病毒载体基因组特点、改建过程、慢病毒对干细胞的感染能力、慢病毒携带的目的基因在HSCs内的表达及调控等方面做了简要的综述     

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。     

Stable suppression of myostatin gene expression in goat fetal fibroblast cells by lentiviral vector‐mediated RNAi

Myostatin (MSTN) is a secreted growth factor that negatively regulates skeletal muscle mass, and therefore, strategies to block myostatin‐signaling pathway have been extensively pursued to increase the muscle mass in livestock. Here, we report a lentiviral vector‐based delivery of shRNA to disrupt myostatin expression into goat fetal fibroblasts (GFFs) that were commonly used as karyoplast donors in somatic‐cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) studies. Sh‐RNA positive cells were screened by puromycin selection. Using real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we demonstrated efficient knockdown of endogenous myostatin mRNA with 64% down‐regulation in sh2 shRNA‐treated GFF cells compared to GFF cells treated by control lentivirus without shRNA. Moreover, we have also demonstrated both the induction of interferon response and the expression of genes regulating myogenesis in GFF cells. The results indicate that myostatin‐targeting siRNA produced endogenously could efficiently down‐regulate myostatin expression. Therefore, targeted knockdown of the MSTN gene using lentivirus‐mediated shRNA transgenics would facilitate customized cell engineering, allowing potential use in the establishment of stable cell lines to produce genetically engineered animals. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:452–459, 2015     

分泌包载ANXA2-MS2 RNA外泌体的稳转细胞株的构建

摘要 目的：基于MCP-MS2示踪系统构建能稳定分泌含有标签的膜联蛋白A2（ANXA2）RNA的外泌体的供体细胞株。方法：利用慢病毒载体构建稳定表达MCP-EGFP的HEK293细胞株,采用流式细胞技术筛选具有较好荧光特性的单克隆细胞株。然后再次通过慢病毒稳定表达系统构建出能分泌结合有MCP-EGFP标记的ANXA2 RNA外泌体的供体细胞株。通过透射电镜、NTA、NanoFCM、共聚焦显微镜等仪器对供体细胞所产生的外泌体进行表征。结果：通过慢病毒载体成功构建了MCP-EGFP稳定表达细胞株,然后利用该细胞株通过慢病毒载体成功导入含有MS2标签的ANXA2基因。实验结果表明,构建的供体细胞与正常细胞所分泌的外泌体形态相似,实实施时荧光定量PCR的结果显示分泌的外泌体中含有MS2特殊序列,而同时Western blot的结果显示分泌的外泌体中含有EGFP蛋白。结论：通过慢病毒法成功建立了能分泌含有MS2标记的ANXA2 RNA的外泌体供体细胞株,为高效、稳定的装载特定RNA外泌体的供体细胞株的构建提供了新的方法和理论基础。