人IA-2基因的部分区段克隆表达及其在1型糖尿病诊断中的应用价值评估

目的:构建人IA-2基因不同区段原核表达载体,诱导表达获得重组蛋白,并初步验证其在1型糖尿病蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶自身抗体检测中的价值。方法:用RT-PCR方法调取目的基因,构建相应的原核表达质粒,转化大肠杆菌HB101,诱导表达获得纯化重组蛋白;以重组蛋白为包被抗原,初步建立检测蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶自身抗体的ELISA方法,评价各片段在1型糖尿病诊断中的价值。结果:获得了2种可被1型糖尿病患者血清识别的重组人蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶抗原区段IA-2(601～979)和IA-2(683～979),检测敏感性和特异性相当,但IA-2(683～979)检测的阳性D450nm值明显高于IA-2(601～979),成为首选的抗原区段。结论:所选重组人IA-2(683～979)抗原区段具有良好的抗原性,可作为1型糖尿病患者辅助诊断试剂的候选抗原。     

人源跨膜蛋白43(TMEM43)的检测、细胞内定位及体外真核表达

为探究人源跨膜蛋白43(TMEM43)基因含量、定位分布及体外真核表达情况,利用RT-PCR及Western blot方法分别检测内源MRC-5和HEK293细胞内TMEM43基因及其蛋白表达情况,采用间接免疫荧光实验进一步分析其在MRC-5细胞内的分布;构建重组表达载体pcDNA3.1-EGFP-TMEM43,转染至HEK293细胞内检测外源TMEM43在HEK293细胞内的基因和蛋白表达情况。结果显示,基因水平TMEM43在MRC-5细胞内的表达明显高于HEK293细胞,蛋白水平仅能检测到MRC-5细胞内TMEM43的表达。重组表达质粒pcDNA3.1-EGFP-TMEM43转染HEK293细胞后,基因水平TMEM43表达显著升高, Western blot可检测到转染后细胞内TMEM43蛋白成功表达。结果表明,不同细胞表达TMEM43含量存在差异,肺来源细胞内TMEM43的表达明显高于肾来源的细胞;构建的重组载体pcDNA3.1-EGFP-TMEM43可成功转染HEK293细胞并表达。该研究为TMEM43结构及功能、与疾病相关机理的进一步探究提供了实验依据。     

埃博拉病毒重组膜蛋白Gp-Fc表达及免疫原性研究

本研究利用HEK293F细胞表达了埃博拉病毒重组膜蛋白,并通过免疫小鼠初步研究了其免疫原性。按照人密码子使用频度优化编码埃博拉病毒膜蛋白胞外区基因,合成后将其插入到真核表达载体pXG-Fc中,构建埃博拉病毒糖蛋白和人IgG Fc片段融合蛋白表达质粒pXG-modGP-Fc。利用瞬时转染技术,将融合蛋白表达质粒转染到高密度培养的悬浮HEK293F细胞中,实现了分泌表达。通过Protein A亲和层析,得到了纯化的重组蛋白。将纯化的融合蛋白免疫小鼠,并通过间接ELISA对小鼠抗体效价进行评价。蛋白纯化及分析结果表明,本研究构建的真核表达系统能够有效表达埃博拉重组蛋白GP-Fc,细胞培养上清中重组蛋白以二聚体形式存在。通过间接ELISA分析,纯化的重组蛋白免疫实验动物后,可以在血清中检出高滴度的抗原特异性IgG,显示该重组蛋白具有良好的免疫原性。通过该研究,我们得到了具有良好免疫原性的重组蛋白,同时,该工作为研制基于重组蛋白的埃博拉疫苗以及筛选单克隆抗体打下基础。     

真核细胞表达单纯疱疹病毒I型包膜糖蛋白B及其抗原性与免疫原性分析

为在真核细胞中表达并纯化I型单纯疱疹病毒（HSV I）包膜糖蛋白gB,并分析其抗原性和免疫原性,化学合成了包膜糖蛋白gB1胞外区基因片段,构建真核表达载体,并转染至HEK293细胞,表达的蛋白用羊抗HSV1+HSV2血清作为一抗,用ELISA检测其抗原性;用纯化的gB1蛋白免疫昆明小鼠,观察诱发抗体产生的时间及其效价,并用ELISA和Western blot检测小鼠抗gB1多克隆抗体特异性识别重组gB1抗原的能力,评价其免疫原性。结果显示在HEK293细胞中成功表达重组gB1蛋白,ELISA证实羊抗HSV1+HSV2多抗能够识别重组gB1蛋白;重组gB1蛋白免疫小鼠7周后,小鼠血清中多克隆抗体效价达到5×103,表明在真核细胞中高效表达并纯化的重组gB1蛋白具有良好的抗原性和免疫原性,为HSV检测试剂和疫苗研究提供了理论基础。     

一种新型广谱流感病毒亚单位疫苗的表达与纯化

通过引物设计,利用重叠延伸PCR（OE-PCR）和搭桥PCR方法扩增得到A型流感病毒M2蛋白缺失跨膜区基因以及HA多表位基因,分别克隆测序后以pET28a+为表达载体构建重组质粒pET28a+-M2d-HA。将重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）,筛选获得了高效表达流感病毒缺失跨膜区M2蛋白和HA多表位蛋白片段重组融合蛋白的工程菌,表达的重组蛋白约占菌体总蛋白总量的45%左右。表达的蛋白以包涵体形式存在,包涵体经亲和层析和阴离子交换层析纯化后复性,得到纯度在90%以上的目的蛋白。Western blot结果显示纯化的重组蛋白具有较好的抗原性和特异性。此项工作为进一步研究广谱型流感病毒亚单位疫苗奠定了基础。     

人P2X7真核表达载体的构建及稳定转染细胞株的建立

目的：构建人P2X7基因的真核表达载体,并通过转染获得稳定表达P2X7分子的HEK293细胞株。方法：以人脑组织P2X7cDNA为模板扩增出P2X7基因,插入到真核表达载体pEGFP-N1中,构建重组质粒pEGFP-N1/P2X7。用X-fect试剂盒将重组质粒转染HEK293细胞,通过G418辅助荧光筛选建立稳定表达P2X7-EGFP细胞株。经流式细胞仪、Western blot和激光共聚焦显微镜检测,了解人P2X7在HEK293细胞中的表达水平及细胞内定位。结果：重组质粒pEGFP-N1/P2X7构建正确,建立了稳定表达人P2X7的HEK293细胞系。Western blot和流式细胞仪检测证实,P2X7在HEK293细胞系中成功表达,激光共聚焦显微镜检测显示P2X7-EGFP定位在细胞膜上。结论：重组载体pEGFP-N1/P2X7构建成功并建立了稳定表达人P2X7的HEK293细胞系,为进一步研究P2X7离子通道结构和功能奠定基础。     

真核细胞表达单纯疱疹病毒Ⅰ型包膜糖蛋白B及其抗原性与免疫原性分析

为在真核细胞中表达并纯化I型单纯疱疹病毒(HSV I)包膜糖蛋白gB,并分析其抗原性和免疫原性,化学合成了包膜糖蛋白gB1胞外区基因片段,构建真核表达载体,并转染至HEK293细胞,表达的蛋白用羊抗HSV1+HSV2血清作为一抗,用ELISA检测其抗原性;用纯化的gB1蛋白免疫昆明小鼠,观察诱发抗体产生的时间及其效价,并用ELISA和Western blot检测小鼠抗gB1多克隆抗体特异性识别重组gB1抗原的能力,评价其免疫原性。结果显示在HEK293细胞中成功表达重组gB1蛋白,ELISA证实羊抗HSV1+HSV2多抗能够识别重组gB1蛋白;重组gB1蛋白免疫小鼠7周后,小鼠血清中多克隆抗体效价达到5×103,表明在真核细胞中高效表达并纯化的重组gB1蛋白具有良好的抗原性和免疫原性,为HSV检测试剂和疫苗研究提供了理论基础。     

敲减单纯疱疹病毒Ⅱ型（HSV-2）UL30蛋白表达可抑制HSV-2复制

按照shRNA（small hairpin RNA）设计要求,选择编码单纯疱疹病毒Ⅱ型DNA多聚酶催化亚单位的U_L30（unique long 30,U_L30）基因序列保守区域,设计、合成并构建表达U_L30序列特异性siRNA（short interfering RNA）的质粒载体pUL30．通过磷酸钙转染法将其转染入HEK（human embryonic kidney）293细胞中,用蛋白印迹法检测对HSV-2 UL30蛋白表达的影响,观察受染细胞病变效应（cytopathic effect,CPE）,终点滴定法测定细胞上清液中病毒感染滴度（50% tissue culture infective dose,TCID₅₀）．结果表明,针对U_L30基因的siRNA能有效抑制UL30蛋白表达,同时显著抑制受染细胞的CPE,降低上清液中病毒感染滴度．提示本研究建立的针对U_L30基因特异性siRNA能有效阻断HSV-2在HEK293细胞内的复制,U_L30基因是一个潜在的抗HSV-2复制的药物靶标．     

融合表达新冠病毒S1与N蛋白的非复制型重组腺病毒的构建与鉴定

体外构建融合表达新型冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)S1抗原与N抗原的复制缺陷型重组腺病毒疫苗,为深入开展该疫苗免疫原性的研究提供基础。利用Overlap PCR和同源重组方法构建插入SARS-CoV-2的S1-N基因的重组腺病毒质粒pKAd5-S1-N,通过琼脂糖凝胶电泳、多酶切、测序等方法鉴定重组质粒正确性;重组质粒转染HEK293A细胞获得病毒毒种AdV5-S1-N并扩增,氯化铯密度梯度离心法纯化病毒,有限稀释分析法测病毒滴度,Western blot方法验证AdV5-S1-N重组腺病毒S1-N融合蛋白表达情况;将AdV5-S1-N疫苗通过肌肉注射途径免疫BALB/c小鼠,第14d采集颌下静脉血,ELISA法检测血清针对S1和N蛋白抗原的特异性抗体滴度。成功获得滴度为9.45×10¹¹IU/mL的重组腺病毒AdV5-S1-N。Western blot结果发现：AdV5-S1-N感染细胞后,融合蛋白可正常表达,与抗S1蛋白及抗N蛋白抗体均有特异结合。ELISA结果显示免疫重组腺病毒的小鼠可产生针对S1和N蛋白的特异性IgG抗体。应用复制缺陷型腺病毒载体成功获得...     

锌转运蛋白8在酿酒酵母中的重组表达及其抗原性分析北大核心CSCD

锌转运蛋白8(zinc transporter 8,ZnT8)是Ⅰ型糖尿病的重要候选抗原,基于ZnT8所开发的自身抗体检测试剂盒可用于帮助诊断Ⅰ型糖尿病,相关产品已在欧美国家上市。目前,国内正在积极开发Ⅰ型糖尿病检测试剂盒,由于国内尚未建立活性ZnT8的重组生产体系,因此这一关键原料严重依赖进口。本研究主要利用酿酒酵母系统开展了ZnT8的重组表达研究。首先,设计了ZnT8的多种抗原形式,分别为C端单倍体蛋白(C)、C端二倍体(C-C)以及N端和C端串联体蛋白(N-C),并使用酿酒酵母系统对上述蛋白进行了重组表达与纯化。随后,通过桥连法ELISA对纯化蛋白进行了抗原性测试,检测13位Ⅰ型糖尿病病人血清及16位健康志愿者血清后发现:C、N-C、C-C蛋白具有相似的检出率,分别为53.8%(7/13)、61.5%(8/13)及53.8%(7/13);3组的特异性均为100%(16/16);N-C蛋白相对其他2个蛋白而言,其在P3、P4、P8阳性样本上的检测值提高90%以上,表明具有更好的血清抗体识别能力。最后,选取N-C蛋白做进一步的血清样本测试,并将测试结果用ROC曲线进行敏感性及特异性表征,结果表明,与进口金标抗原相比,本方法敏感性无明显差异,特异性有待提高。综上可见,本研究基于酿酒酵母表达生产的ZnT8 N-C串联体蛋白有潜力作为Ⅰ型糖尿病体外诊断试剂开发中的国产替代原料。     

Detection of autoantibodies to the diabetes-associated antigen IA-2 by a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

The tyrosine phosphatase like protein IA-2 is an important autoantigen in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 1 diabetes). Autoantibodies to IA-2 (IA-2A) are present in the serum of patients with type 1 diabetes even before the onset of the disease. Previously, we reported on a radioimmune assay to detect IA-2A, using E. coli-derived 125I-labelled IA-2 as antigen. Although this assay could be shown to be equivalent to the common reference method for IA-2A detection (radioligand assays using in vitro synthesised 35S-methionine labelled antigen), the disadvantages of both assays with respect to synthesis and handling of the radioactive antigen limit their use in routine laboratories. In this study, we have evaluated a non-radioactive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the simple detection of IA-2A. We report on an ELISA where the biotinylated intracytoplasmic part of IA-2 (IA-2ic) is captured on streptavidin-coated plates. The sensitivity of the ELISA was similar to the validated radioligand assay, as it detected 47 of 69 (69%) patients with type 1 diabetes as compared to 46 of 68 (67 %) with the reference method for IA-2A detection (radioligand assays using in vitro synthesised 35S-methionine labelled antigen). Only 2 of 50 (4%) patients with autoimmune thyroid disease and 1 of 114 (1 %) healthy controls were detected in the ELISA, confirming specificity. There was a significant correlation between the ELISA and the radioligand assay (r = 0.64, p<0.001). We conclude that this ELISA is suitable to detect IA-2A in the serum of patients with type 1 diabetes with a similar sensitivity and specificity to the radioligand assay. This ELISA will allow rapid and simple measurement of IA-2A where the radioligand assay is inconvenient or not available.     

IA-2 autoantibodies restricted to the IgG4 subclass are associated with protection from type 1 diabetes.

The tyrosine phosphatase-like protein IA-2 is a major target antigen for autoantibodies in the preclinical period of type 1 diabetes. In this study, we examined whether immunoglobulin isotypes and IgG subclass specific autoantibodies directed at IA-2 discriminate between children at risk of type 1 diabetes who progressed to diabetes vs. those who remained diabetes-free. IgG1-4, IgA and the IgE-specific IA-2 antibody (IA-2A) were measured by radioligand assays in 50 patients with type 1 diabetes and 41 ICA-positive siblings of patients with type 1 diabetes who were followed for diabetes development. Of 41 siblings, 32 were positive for IA-2A; of these, 59 % had IA-2 IgG1, 59 % IgG4, 16 % IgG3, 9 % IgG2, 16 % IgA and 13 % IgE antibodies. IA-2 IgG1 was the dominant isotype in prediabetic children (n = 14, 86 % positive) and patients with type 1 diabetes (98 % positive) whereas only 7 of 18 (39 %) non-progressors had antibodies of this isotype. In subjects that remained diabetes-free, a significantly higher frequency of IA-2 IgG4 in the absence of IgG1 was observed (50 %) compared to progressors (7 %) and patients with type 1 diabetes (0 %). Life-table analysis revealed that IA-2A restricted to IgG4 correlated with protection from type 1 diabetes (p < 0.003). In contrast, IA-2 IgG2, IgG3, IgE and IgA did not differ significantly between study groups. Our findings suggest that the measurement of IA-2 IgG1 and IgG4 subclass antibodies can serve as surrogate marker to discriminate between antibody positive subjects at high or low risk for rapid development of diabetes.     

Targeting of fluorescent Lactococcus lactis to colorectal cancer cells through surface display of tumour-antigen binding proteins

Development of targeted treatment for colorectal cancer is crucial to avoid side effects. To harness the possibilities offered by microbiome engineering, we prepared safe multifunctional cancer cell-targeting bacteria Lactococcus lactis. They displayed, on their surface, binding proteins for cancer-associated transmembrane receptors epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and co-expressed an infrared fluorescent protein for imaging. Binding of engineered L. lactis to tumour antigens EpCAM and HER2 was confirmed and characterised in vitro using soluble receptors. The proof-of-principle of targeting was demonstrated on human cell lines HEK293, HT-29 and Caco-2 with fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry. The highest L. lactis adhesion was seen for the HEK293 cells with the overexpressed tumour antigens, where colocalisation with their tumour antigens was seen for 39% and 67% of EpCAM-targeting and HER2-targeting bacteria, respectively. On the other hand, no binding was observed to HEK293 cells without tumour antigens, confirming the selectivity of the engineered L. lactis. Apart from cell targeting in static conditions, targeting ability of engineered L. lactis was also shown in conditions of constant flow of bacterial suspension over the HEK293 cells. Successful targeting by engineered L. lactis support the future use of these bacteria in biopharmaceutical delivery for the treatment of colorectal cancer.     

A natural dominant negative P2X1 receptor due to deletion of a single amino acid residue

The P2X1 receptor belongs to a family of oligomeric ATP-gated ion channels with intracellular N and C termini and two transmembrane segments separating a large extracellular domain. Here, we describe a naturally occurring dominant negative P2X1 mutant. This mutant lacks one leucine within a stretch of four leucine residues in its second transmembrane domain (TM2) (amino acids 351-354). Confocal microscopy revealed proper plasma membrane localization of the mutant in stably transfected HEK293 cells. Nevertheless, voltage-clamped HEK293 cells expressing mutated P2X1 channels failed to develop an ATP or ADP-induced current. Furthermore, when co-expressed with the wild type receptor in Xenopus oocytes, the mutated protein exhibited a dose-dependent dominant negative effect on the normal ATP or ADP-induced P2X1 channel activity. These data indicate that deletion of a single apolar amino acid residue at the inner border of the P2X1 TM2 generates a nonfunctional channel. The inactive and dominant negative form of the P2X1 receptor may constitute a new tool for the study of the physiological role of this channel in native cells.     

A human glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor polymorphism results in reduced agonist responsiveness

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and its cognate receptor play an important physiological role in maintaining blood glucose homeostasis. A GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) polymorphism in which threonine 149 is substituted with a methionine residue has been recently identified in a patient with type 2 diabetes but was not found in non-diabetic control subjects. We have functionally assessed the recombinant GLP-1R variant after transient expression in COS-7 and HEK 293 cells. Compared to the wild type receptor, the variant GLP-1R showed (i) similar expression levels, (ii) 60-and 5-fold reduced binding affinities, respectively, for two GLP-1R full agonists, GLP-1 and exendin-4, and (iii) markedly decreased potencies of these peptides in triggering cAMP-mediated signaling (despite conserved efficacies). In contrast to full agonists, the efficacy of the primary GLP-1 metabolite/GLP-1R partial agonist, GLP-1 (9-36) amide, was essentially abolished by the T149M substitution. By hydropathy analysis, the polymorphism localizes to transmembrane domain 1, suggesting this receptor segment as a novel determinant of agonist affinity/efficacy. These findings reveal that naturally occurring sequence variability of the GLP-1R within the human population can result in substantial loss-of-function. A genetic link between the T149M variant and increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes remains to be established.     

Comparison of two eukaryotic systems for the expression of VP6 protein of rotavirus specie A: transient gene expression in HEK293-T cells and insect cell-baculovirus system

The VP6 protein of rotavirus A (RVA) is a target antigen used for diagnostic assays and also for the development of new RVA vaccines. We have compared the expression of VP6 protein in human embryonic kidney (HEK293-T) cells with results obtained using a well-established insect cell-baculovirus system. The recombinant VP6 (rVP6) expressed in HEK293-T cells did not present degradation and also retained the ability to form trimers. In the insect cell-baculovirus system, rVP6 was expressed at higher levels and with protein degradation as well as partial loss of ability to form trimers was observed. Therefore, HEK293-T cells represent a less laborious alternative system than insect cells for expression of rVP6 from human RVA.     

Expression and physicochemical characterization of an extracellular segment of the receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase IA-2

The receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase superfamily (RPTP) includes proteins with a single transmembrane, one or more intracellular phosphatase, and a variety of extracellular domains. The 106-kDa insulinoma-associated protein (IA-2, ICA512) receptor is unique among RPTP members because: (a) it has a single, phosphatase-like intracellular domain identified as one of the most prominent self antigens in autoimmune diabetes; (b) its extracellular region bears no sequence similarity to known domains; (c) it is present in the membrane of secretory granules in neurons and pancreatic beta-cells where it suffers a complex processing; and (d) it has very poorly understood biological properties. In this work, we describe the expression, purification, and physicochemical characterization of residues 449-576 of IA-2 (IA-2ec(449-576)). Judging from CD, fluorescence, hydrodynamic, and thermal unfolding analyses, this fragment forms an autonomously folding unit with tight packing and well-defined secondary and tertiary structure. CD analysis suggests that about 25% of IA-2ec(449-576) residues are alpha-helical, whereas about the same amount are in beta-sheet structure. The availability of soluble and folded IA-2ec(449-576) is a step forward toward the characterization of a part of IA-2 at atomic detail, which may provide new insight in the biology of diabetes, the neurotransmission process, and the dynamic of secretory granules.     

Glycan-Dependent Immunogenicity of Recombinant Soluble Trimeric Hemagglutinin

Recombinant soluble trimeric influenza A virus (IAV) hemagglutinin (sHA₃) has proven an effective vaccine antigen against IAV. Here, we investigate to what extent the glycosylation status of the sHA₃ glycoprotein affects its immunogenicity. Different glycosylation forms of subtype H5 trimeric HA protein (sH5₃) were produced by expression in insect cells and different mammalian cells in the absence and presence of inhibitors of N-glycan-modifying enzymes or by enzymatic removal of the oligosaccharides. The following sH5₃ preparations were evaluated: (i) HA proteins carrying complex glycans produced in HEK293T cells; (ii) HA proteins carrying Man₉GlcNAc₂ moieties, expressed in HEK293T cells treated with kifunensine; (iii) HA proteins containing Man₅GlcNAc₂ moieties derived from HEK293S GnTI(−) cells; (iv) insect cell-produced HA proteins carrying paucimannosidic N-glycans; and (v) HEK293S GnTI(−) cell-produced HA proteins treated with endoglycosidase H, thus carrying side chains composed of only a single N-acetylglucosamine each. The different HA glycosylation states were confirmed by comparative electrophoretic analysis and by mass spectrometric analysis of released glycans. The immunogenicity of the HA preparations was studied in chickens and mice. The results demonstrate that HA proteins carrying terminal mannose moieties induce significantly lower hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers than HA proteins carrying complex glycans or single N-acetylglucosamine side chains. However, the glycosylation state of the HA proteins did not affect the breadth of the antibody response as measured by an HA1 antigen microarray. We conclude that the glycosylation state of recombinant antigens is a factor of significant importance when developing glycoprotein-based vaccines, such as recombinant HA proteins.