HCMV IE86蛋白与转录激活因子的相互作用

将人巨细胞病毒IE86 cDNA克隆入pGEX-2T表达载体, 在大肠杆菌中表达出GST-IE86融合蛋白. SDS-PAGE和Western blot分析表明, GST-IE86融合蛋白存在于细胞裂解上清中, 为可溶性蛋白, 分子量为92 ku. 通过亲和层析柱纯化, 分别获得纯化的GST和GST-IE86融合蛋白. 采用特异性亲和层析共分离技术研究HCMV IE86 蛋白与转录调控蛋白及转录因子相互作用, 表明IE86能与直接结合启动子DNA的转录激活因子SP1, AP1, AP2及转录因子TFⅡB相互作用而形成异源蛋白复合物. 该转录激活因子及转录因子与IE86蛋白同时被吸留在亲和层析柱中, 但IE86蛋白不能与NF-κB相互作用. 提示IE86蛋白与转录激活因子及转录因子相互作用的活性与IE86蛋白的糖基化无关;IE86蛋白激活多种基因转录是由于IE86蛋白具有两个蛋白质结合位点, 它们与激活转录的调控蛋白和转录因子结合, 这种相互作用加速了转录起始复合物的装配.     

HCMV IE86对恶性胶质瘤细胞凋亡及p53表达活性的影响

人巨细胞病毒(human cytomegalovirus,HCMV)能诱导肿瘤细胞恶性转化且抑制肿瘤细胞凋亡,但HCMV编码的主要即刻早期调控蛋白IE86在这一过程中是否发挥关键作用仍然未知。为探究IE86对基因修饰荷胶质瘤小鼠p53表达水平及恶性胶质瘤细胞凋亡情况的影响,本研究通过PCR技术鉴定基因修饰小鼠IE86表达情况;实时定量PCR技术检测IE86和p53mRNA表达水平变化;免疫组织化学方法检测p53和p21蛋白的表达水平;TUNEL检测肿瘤组织细胞凋亡情况。结果显示,成功构建了IE86基因修饰小鼠模型;与IE86阴性组相比IE86阳性组p53表达水平上升(P0.05),但p21表达水平下降(P0.05);IE86阳性组细胞抗凋亡能力增强(P0.05)。以上结果表明,在基因修饰的小鼠中IE86持续表达但p53转录活性的指示标志p21下调,且IE86可提高恶性胶质瘤细胞抗凋亡能力。     

肾移植术后HCMV感染与淋巴细胞亚群及肾功能的相关性

目的：肾移植患者由于术前透析及术后服用免疫抑制剂,显著增加了人巨细胞病毒（Humancytomegalovirus,HCMV）原发感染和潜伏感染被激活的机会。观察HCMV感染情况与血T淋巴细胞亚群及肾功能的变化,以探讨其相关性及临床意义。方法：跟踪收集40例肾移植患者术前、术后血标本,应用RT-PCR技术检测HCMV,流式细胞术检测淋巴细胞亚群,结合肾功能判断是否发生急性排斥或移植肾功能恢复延迟。结果：肾移植术后HCMV感染率为52．5％,10例出现症状性感染（25％）,出现阳性时间35．7±15．3天。症状性感染组CD3-bCD4＋的水平和CD4＋／CD8＋的比值较无活动性感染组和正常对照组均降低,CD8＋水平较其他组升高,差异有显著性意义（P〈0．05）。无症状性活动感染者与无活动性感染者各指标比较差异无显著性。活动性感染组急性排斥或移植肾功能恢复延迟发生8例（38．1％）,无活动性感染组发生1例（5．2％）,差异具有统计学意义（x^2=6．15,P〈0．05）。结论：肾移植术后HCMV感染能显著引起T淋巴细胞亚群变化,尤其是CD4＋／CD8＋。并与急性排斥或移植肾功能恢复延迟密切相关联,在其发生发展中可能起着重要的作用。三者相互联系、相互作用、互为因果,对进一步机制的研究及临床诊断治疗、预后方面有一定意义。     

细胞周期抑制因子p19ARF对人二倍体细胞衰老的影响

为了探讨细胞周期抑制因子p19ARF对人二倍体细胞复制性衰老的影响, 构建了重组p19ARF真核表达载体, 并通过脂质体的介导将p19ARF基因转染到人二倍体成纤维细胞WI-38中过表达, 观察其对WI-38细胞衰老的影响. 结果发现与对照细胞相比, 在p19ARF基因导入后, 细胞中p53和p21的表达水平明显上调, 细胞传代数减少10~12代, 生长速率降低, 细胞周期阻滞于G₁期, 衰老标志物SA-β-gal染色阳性率上升, 线粒体膜电位下降, 细胞形态呈衰老细胞样变化, 这些结果表明p19ARF高表达可促进人二倍体细胞的衰老进程.     

RNA沉默抑制子p19调控细胞周期相关蛋白表达

番茄丛矮病毒的P19蛋白不仅是一个重要的病毒致病因子,而且还可作为RNA干扰(RNAi)的抑制子．这种作用是通过限制细胞内的小RNA,比如小干扰RNA(siRNAs)和微RNA(miRNAs)来实现．但是目前对P19蛋白在哺乳动物细胞上的作用还未见报道．构建了一株p19稳定表达的293细胞系,即293-p19．流式细胞仪分析发现在293细胞中过量表达P19蛋白可显著引发细胞周期的G2/M阻滞．细胞增殖实验显示,293-p19细胞的DNA复制及细胞生长均受到显著的抑制． 此外,研究还发现p19可使人胚肾293细胞内的细胞周期调控子的表达谱发生改变． 其中包括上调cyclin A1,CDK2,CDK4,CDK6,p18,cyclin D2,p19INK4d和E2F1,及下调p15,cyclin A,cyclin B1和cyclin E1的表达．上述研究结果提示,p19有可能靶向多个G2/M调控蛋白从而引发细胞的G2/M阻滞．     

人巨细胞病毒IE1蛋白功能研究进展

人巨细胞病毒(HCMV)在人群中多数呈隐性感染,但对免疫功能低下者可引起严重的疾病甚至死亡。HC-MV IE1蛋白为一种多功能调节蛋白,是HCMV感染后表达最早且表达量最丰富的蛋白,它可影响病毒和细胞启动子的转录活性,调控HCMV基因的时序性表达,并通过参与不同的信号转导通路,在细胞中发挥促进凋亡或抑制凋亡作用,IE1蛋白与HCMV在体内持续性感染以及肿瘤的形成密切相关。     

p^19ARF：INK4α编码的另一种细胞周期蛋白

ＩＮＫ４α的重叠编码框架编码产生出两个不同的蛋白ｐ１６＾ＩＮＫ４ａ和ｐ＾１９ＡＲＦ。ｐ１９＾ＡＲＦ在最近的研究中表明有细胞周期阻滞作用，它发挥作用时依赖于ｐ５３。     

BST-2参与HCMV感染诱导的恶性胶质瘤细胞增殖和迁移

为探讨BST-2蛋白是否参与人巨细胞病毒(HCMV)感染导致的恶性胶质瘤细胞增殖和迁移,以HCMV AD169株感染U251细胞,通过细胞划痕愈合实验检测HCMV感染对U251迁移的影响;通过Western-blot方法检测HCMV感染对BST-2蛋白表达的影响;通过CCK-8、细胞划痕愈合和transwell方法检测HCMV感染后下调BST-2对U251细胞增殖和迁移能力的影响。结果显示,HCMV感染可促进U251细胞迁移并高表达BST-2,沉默BST-2后可抑制由HCMV感染诱导的细胞增殖和迁移。结果证实HCMV感染可促进胶质瘤细胞U251增殖迁移,BST-2参与了HCMV感染导致的恶性胶质瘤细胞增殖和迁移。     

病毒感染对细胞周期调控影响的研究进展

大量研究表明,病毒感染细胞时,病毒编码的蛋白或DNA可以扰乱细胞周期通路:促进细胞向S期转化或者使细胞静息于G2/M期。在细胞内,细胞周期的调控机制十分复杂,其包含了由DNA损伤导致的细胞通路活化及其他方式。关于病毒对细胞周期的调控方式及细胞周期的改变对于病毒感染的研究已取得一定进展。对于病毒的此类研究可以揭示细胞活动中的关键调控因子及细胞周期检查点的具体分子机理。对病毒调控宿主细胞周期以达到自身最大化复制的机理进行综述。     

Sim2基因对PC12细胞周期的影响

观察Sim2基因对PC12细胞周期及细胞周期调控蛋白表达水平影响,初步阐明Sim2基因在Down综合征发病机制中的作用.以脂质体法将pcDNA3-mSim2真核表达载体瞬时转染PC12细胞;以RT-PCR方法检测mSim2基因在PC12细胞的表达;流式细胞仪观察细胞周期分布的变化;RT-PCR和免疫组织化学方法分别检测细胞周期调节蛋白Ｅ（cyclin E）和p27 mRNA和蛋白水平的表达变化.RT-PCR结果显示,瞬时转染pcDNA3-mSim2的PC12细胞中有明显的mSim2 mRNA表达;流式细胞仪检测发现,与对照组和空载体组相比,转染mSim2后,处于G₀/G₁期的PC12细胞百分比明显升高（Ｐ<0.01）,而G₂/M期的细胞百分比明显降低 (Ｐ<0.01);在mRNA和蛋白水平上,转染mSim2的细胞细胞周期蛋白E表达较对照组明显降低;而p27的表达明显升高(Ｐ<0.01).以上结果表明,mSim2基因可能通过影响神经元前体细胞的增殖在Down综合征发病机制中发挥了重要作用.     

Identification and HLA-Tetramer-Validation of Human CD4+ and CD8+ T Cell Responses against HCMV Proteins IE1 and IE2

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an important human pathogen. It is a leading cause of congenital infection and a leading infectious threat to recipients of solid organ transplants as well as of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants. Moreover, it has recently been suggested that HCMV may promote tumor development. Both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell responses are important for long-term control of the virus, and adoptive transfer of HCMV-specific T cells has led to protection from reactivation and HCMV disease. Identification of HCMV-specific T cell epitopes has primarily focused on CD8⁺ T cell responses against the pp65 phosphoprotein. In this study, we have focused on CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell responses against the immediate early 1 and 2 proteins (IE1 and IE2). Using overlapping peptides spanning the entire IE1 and IE2 sequences, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 16 healthy, HLA-typed, donors were screened by ex vivo IFN-γ ELISpot and in vitro intracellular cytokine secretion assays. The specificities of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell responses were identified and validated by HLA class II and I tetramers, respectively. Eighty-one CD4⁺ and 44 CD8⁺ T cell responses were identified representing at least seven different CD4 epitopes and 14 CD8 epitopes restricted by seven and 11 different HLA class II and I molecules, respectively, in total covering 91 and 98% of the Caucasian population, respectively. Presented in the context of several different HLA class II molecules, two epitope areas in IE1 and IE2 were recognized in about half of the analyzed donors. These data may be used to design a versatile anti-HCMV vaccine and/or immunotherapy strategy.     

Cell cycle arrest by human cytomegalovirus 86-kDa IE2 protein resembles premature senescence

Primary human embryo lung fibroblasts and adult diploid fibroblasts infected by the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) display beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal) activity at neutral pH (senescence-associated beta-Gal [SA-beta-Gal] activity) and overexpression of the plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) gene, two widely recognized markers of the process designated premature cell senescence. This activity is higher when cells are serum starved for 48 h before infection, a process that speeds and facilitates HCMV infection but that is insufficient by itself to induce senescence. Fibroblasts infected by HCMV do not incorporate bromodeoxyuridine, a prerequisite for the formal definition of senescence. At the molecular level, cells infected by HCMV, beside the accumulation of large amounts of the cell cycle regulators p53 and pRb, the latter in its hyperphosphorylated form, display a strong induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (cdki) p16(INK4a), a direct effector of the senescence phenotype in fibroblasts, and a decrease of the cdki p21(CIP1/WAF). Finally, a replicative senescence state in the early phases of infection significantly increased the number of cells permissive to virus infection and enhanced HCMV replication. HCMV infection assays carried out in the presence of phosphonoformic acid, which inhibits the virus DNA polymerase and the expression of downstream genes, indicated that immediate-early and/or early (alpha) genes are sufficient for the induction of SA-beta-Gal activity. When baculovirus vectors expressing HCMV IE1-72 or IE2-86 proteins were inoculated into fibroblasts, the increase of p16(INK4a) (observed predominantly with IE2-86) was similar to that observed with the whole virus, as was the induction of SA-beta-Gal activity, suggesting that the viral IE2 gene leads infected cells into senescence. Altogether our results demonstrate for the first time that HCMV, after arresting the cell cycle and inhibiting apoptosis, triggers the cellular senescence program, probably through the p16(INK4a) and p53 pathways.     

Afatinib Reduces STAT6 Signaling of Host ARPE-19 Cells Infected with Toxoplasma gondii

Specific gene expressions of host cells by spontaneous STAT6 phosphorylation are major strategy for the survival of intracellular Toxoplasma gondii against parasiticidal events through STAT1 phosphorylation by infection provoked IFN-γ. We determined the effects of small molecules of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) on the growth of T. gondii and on the relationship with STAT1 and STAT6 phosphorylation in ARPE-19 cells. We counted the number of T. gondii RH tachyzoites per parasitophorous vacuolar membrane (PVM) after treatment with TKIs at 12-hr intervals for 72 hr. The change of STAT6 phosphorylation was assessed via western blot and immunofluorescence assay. Among the tested TKIs, Afatinib (pan ErbB/EGFR inhibitor, 5 µM) inhibited 98.0% of the growth of T. gondii, which was comparable to pyrimethamine (5 µM) at 96.9% and followed by Erlotinib (ErbB1/EGFR inhibitor, 20 µM) at 33.8% and Sunitinib (PDGFR or c-Kit inhibitor, 10 µM) at 21.3%. In the early stage of the infection (2, 4, and 8 hr after T. gondii challenge), Afatinib inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT6 in western blot and immunofluorescence assay. Both JAK1 and JAK3, the upper hierarchical kinases of cytokine signaling, were strongly phosphorylated at 2 hr and then disappeared entirely after 4 hr. Some TKIs, especially the EGFR inhibitors, might play an important role in the inhibition of intracellular replication of T. gondii through the inhibition of the direct phosphorylation of STAT6 by T. gondii.     

神经胶质瘤细胞ATF5表达水平对HCMV复制的影响

人巨细胞病毒(human cytomegalovirus,HCMV)在神经胶质瘤细胞中的复制水平不一,其机制尚不清楚。本研究通过下调转录激活因子5(ATF5)在神经胶质瘤细胞中的表达,检测HCMV感染神经胶质瘤细胞后病毒复制水平的变化。首先用HCMV AD169(MOI=5)分别感染U87、SY5Y及A172细胞,观察细胞形态变化,分别在24、48、72、96、120 h取各时间点上清液检测病毒滴度;Real-time PCR检测HCMV即刻早期基因(IE2)、早期基因(UL44)、晚期基因(UL99)及ATF5的表达情况;Western-blot检测病毒基因编码蛋白及ATF5表达的情况。结果显示HCMV在U87、SY5Y细胞中复制水平与病毒在A172细胞中复制水平相比,U87、SY5Y细胞组明显高于A172细胞组(P0.05),ATF5表达在U87、SY5Y细胞组与A172细胞组相比,U87、SY5Y细胞组ATF5表达明显高于A172组(P0.05);利用慢病毒介导的RNA干扰技术下调ATF5在U87、SY5Y细胞的表达,用HCMV感染细胞检测病毒基因及蛋白的表达,结果ATF5表达下调可抑制HCMV的复制(P0.05)。以上结果表明,在胶质瘤细胞中下调ATF5表达水平可以抑制HCMV的复制水平。     

HCMV感染对胶质瘤细胞U87自噬的影响

研究人巨细胞病毒(HCMV)感染对神经胶质瘤U87细胞自噬的影响。通过观察微管相关蛋白1轻链3(LC3)、自噬相关基因Beclin1及其蛋白表达的变化,从而探讨HCMV与神经胶质瘤发生、发展的关系及意义。用HCMV AD169(MOI=5)感染神经胶质瘤U87细胞,同时将未感染HCMV的U87细胞作为对照组。分别在6、12、24、48 h用RT-PCR检测Beclin1的表达,Western-blot和免疫荧光检测Beclin1和LC3编码蛋白的表达,最后用CCK-8检测细胞的增殖活性。结果显示,HCMV感染的U87细胞LC3-II蛋白表达水平逐渐下降(P<0.05);同时,HCMV感染的U87细胞Beclin1基因及蛋白的表达水平也逐渐下降(P<0.01),且HCMV感染U87细胞增殖显著(P<0.01)。以上结果表明,HCMV感染抑制胶质瘤U87细胞自噬,并会引起Beclin1表达水平下调,进而导致胶质瘤细胞增殖。     

Computational Model of Ca2+ Wave Propagation in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial ARPE-19 Cells

Objective

Computational models of calcium (Ca²⁺) signaling have been constructed for several cell types. There are, however, no such models for retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Our aim was to construct a Ca²⁺ signaling model for RPE based on our experimental data of mechanically induced Ca²⁺ wave in the in vitro model of RPE, the ARPE-19 monolayer.

Methods

We combined six essential Ca²⁺ signaling components into a model: stretch-sensitive Ca²⁺ channels (SSCCs), P₂Y₂ receptors, IP₃ receptors, ryanodine receptors, Ca²⁺ pumps, and gap junctions. The cells in our epithelial model are connected to each other to enable transport of signaling molecules. Parameterization was done by tuning the above model components so that the simulated Ca²⁺ waves reproduced our control experimental data and data where gap junctions were blocked.

Results

Our model was able to explain Ca²⁺ signaling in ARPE-19 cells, and the basic mechanism was found to be as follows: 1) Cells near the stimulus site are likely to conduct Ca²⁺ through plasma membrane SSCCs and gap junctions conduct the Ca²⁺ and IP³ between cells further away. 2) Most likely the stimulated cell secretes ligand to the extracellular space where the ligand diffusion mediates the Ca²⁺ signal so that the ligand concentration decreases with distance. 3) The phosphorylation of the IP₃ receptor defines the cell’s sensitivity to the extracellular ligand attenuating the Ca²⁺ signal in the distance.

Conclusions

The developed model was able to simulate an array of experimental data including drug effects. Furthermore, our simulations predict that suramin may interfere ligand binding on P₂Y₂ receptors or accelerate P₂Y₂ receptor phosphorylation, which may partially be the reason for Ca²⁺ wave attenuation by suramin. Being the first RPE Ca²⁺ signaling model created based on experimental data on ARPE-19 cell line, the model offers a platform for further modeling of native RPE functions.     

Host-viral effects of chromatin assembly factor 1 interaction with HCMV IE2

Chromatin assembly factor 1 (CAF1) consisting of p150, p60 and p48 is known to assemble histones onto newly synthesized DNA and thus maintain the chromatin structure. Here, we show that CAF1 expression was induced in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-infected cells, concomitantly with global chromatin decondensation. This apparent conflict was thought to result, in part, from CAF1 mislocalization to compartments of HCMV DNA synthesis through binding of its largest subunit p150 to viral immediate-early protein 2 (IE2). p150 interaction with p60 and IE2 facilitated HCMV DNA synthesis. The IE2Q548R mutation, previously reported to result in impaired HCMV growth with unknown mechanism, disrupted IE2/p150 and IE2/histones association in our study. Moreover, IE2 interaction with histones partly depends on p150, and the HCMV-induced chromatin decondensation was reduced in cells ectopically expressing the p150 mutant defective in IE2 binding. These results not only indicate that CAF1 was hijacked by IE2 to facilitate the replication of the HCMV genome, suggesting chromatin assembly plays an important role in herpesviral DNA synthesis, but also provide a model of the virus-induced chromatin instability through CAF1.