Bean Yellow Dwarf Virus replicons for high-level transgene expression in transgenic plants and cell cultures

A novel stable transgenic plant expression system was developed using elements of the replication machinery of Bean Yellow Dwarf Virus (BeYDV). The system contains two transgenes: 1) The BeYDV replicon vector with an expression cassette flanked by cis-acting DNA elements of BeYDV, and 2) The viral replication initiator protein (Rep) controlled by an alcohol-inducible promoter. When Rep expression was triggered by treatment with ethanol, it induced release of the BeYDV replicon from stably integrated T-DNA and episomal replication to high copy number. Replicon amplification resulted in substantially increased transgene mRNA levels (up to 80-fold) and translation products (up to 10-fold) after induction of Rep expression by ethanol treatment in tobacco NT1 cells and leaves of whole potato plants. Thus, the BeYDV stable transformant replicon system is a powerful tool for plant-based production of recombinant proteins.     

Establishment and characterization of a normal melanocyte cell line derived from pig skin

Several minipig strains develop spontaneous malignant melanoma. As a first step toward the analysis of genes involved in the tumoral progression of melanoma in these animal models, we developed culture conditions for pig melanocytes whereby melanocytes from normal epidermis can be isolated directly onto mitotically inactivated keratinocytes in Eagle's minimal essential medium supplemented with fetal calf serum, tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) and cholera toxin. We also derived an immortal line of pigmented melanocytes from the epidermis of a healthy Meishan pig. This cell line, designated PigMel, retains differentiation function in culture, dependence on TPA and cholera toxin and a diploid chromosome number. PigMel melanocytes exhibit morphological and molecular characteristics common to normal mammalian skin melanocytes.     

Establishment of a porcine cell line from in vitro-produced blastocysts and transfer of the cells into enucleated oocytes

The present study was conducted to establish a porcine cell line from blastocysts produced in vitro and to examine the developmental ability of nuclear transfer embryos reconstituted with the cells and enucleated mature oocytes. When hatched blastocysts were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium with supplements, no colonies of embryo-derived cells were observed. In contrast, 56% of embryos that were attached to feeder layers of STO cells formed colonies in NCSU-23 with supplements. When the colonies were subcultured in the absence of feeder cells, a cell line with an epithelial-like cell morphology was obtained. This cell morphology was stable up to at least passage 30. Although no fused embryos were observed when a pulse of 100 V/mm was applied, the fusion rate increased significantly at 150 V/mm (28%) and 200 V/mm (64%). At 200 V/mm, 39% of fused embryos cleaved, but no embryos developed beyond the 3-cell stage. When cocultured with electro-activated oocytes, percentages of reconstructed embryos cleaved (65%) and developed to the 4-cell stage (23%) were significantly higher than percentages for those (cleavage: 38%; 4-cell stage: 3%) in the absence of activated oocytes. At 7 days after culture, one reconstructed embryo successfully developed to the blastocyst stage in the presence of activated oocytes. When green fluorescent protein-expressing cells and enucleated oocytes were fused and the fused embryos were cultured with electro-activated oocytes, 3 of 102 reconstructed embryos developed to the blastocyst stage. All of the blastocysts were positive for fluorescent green under ultraviolet light. The results of the present study indicate that a porcine cell line can be established from the hatched blastocyst and maintained in vitro for a long period, and that reconstructed embryos obtained by transferring the blastocyst-derived cells into enucleated oocytes have the ability to develop to the blastocyst stage in vitro.     

Establishment of a cell line from long-term primary embryonic house fly cell cultures.

Thirty days after primary cultures were made of dispersed embryonic cells of the housefly, Musca domestica, large numbers of dividing undifferentiated cells were present. The cells were subcultured. After three passages, the doubling time had stabilized so that subcultures could be made at 7 to 10 day intervals. When subcultured, the cells attached and grew on the surface of the flasks and formed dense cell sheets and clumps. The derived cell line has been maintained for over 2 years, and the nutritional requirements have been studied. Cytogenic studies of the line at passages 14, 27, and 48 showed that the line has a chromosome count of 11 (2n = 12) and the missing chromosome is probably the Y chromosome. Thus we believe that the line is fundamentally diploid.     

Constitutive and inducible expression of a transgene directed by heterologous promoters in a trout liver cell line

Activities of heterologous promoters and enhancers in cultured rainbow trout liver cells were examined employing the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene as the reporter. SV40 promoter-enhancer and Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat directed constitutive expression at high levels. Moloney murine leukemia virus long terminal repeat and SV40 promoter combined with Adenovirus type 2 enhancer were also constitutively expressed. Drosophila Hsp70 promoter was activated when the transformed cells were cultured at 25 degrees C, a higher temperature than the temperature normally used, in faithful response to heat shock.     

Inheritance and expression of a transgene insert in an aneuploid tobacco line

A T-DNA locus comprising nptII, uidA and nos genes — all under the control of the nos promoter (this locus was designated K because it encodes resistance to Kanamycin) - was found to be inherited erratically in a transgenic tobacco line. This anomalous behavior was partially explained following a karyotype analysis of plants representing several generations: these plants were aneuploids, presumably for the K-containing chromosome. During four generations of sexual propagation, transgenic plants that were either trisomic or tetrasomic for the K-containing chromosome (i.e. 2n=49 or 2n=50, respectively) were obtained. The trisomic plants (2n=48+1) were virtually indistinguishable phenotypically from normal euploids (2n=4x=48), whereas the tetrasomic plants (2n=48+2) were smaller, had somewhat misshapen leaves and exhibited reduced fertility. Although the amount of NPTH protein in different trisomic (K--, KK-, KKK) and tetrasomic (KK--, KKK-) plants was generally consistent with a K dosage effect, the genetic behavior of each trisomic — with respect to segregation of Kan^R and marker gene activity in progeny — was unique and not completely explicable by invoking aneuploidy. Specifically, unexpected gains or losses of K could occur, suggesting the formation of double reductional gametes and/or frequent gene conversion at this locus. The susceptibility of K locus marker genes to trans-inactivation in the trisomic and tetrasomic lines was tested by crossing in partially homologous silencing loci. In all transgenotypes tested, the three K marker genes were sensitive to trans-silencing, which was accompanied by methylation in all copies of the nos promoter. In addition to this directed inactivation/methylation, the K locus could also undergo infrequent, spontaneous partial methylation, which produced stable epialleles. In most plants, however, the multiple copies of the nos promoter at this locus remained unmethylated and active through four generations in all transgenotypes examined. The significance of these results for irregular inheritance patterns, aneuploid syndromes and homology-dependent gene silencing is discussed.     

Establishment of a novel factor-dependent myeloid cell line from primary cultures of mouse bone marrow

We describe here a novel myelomonocytic cell line (OTT1) obtained from primary cultures of mouse bone marrow cells infected with a retroviral vector carrying the mouse interleukin (IL)-1 alpha gene. OTT1 cells are dependent for their survival and proliferation on IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or, unexpectedly, IL-5. Despite their IL-5 dependency, OTT1 cells form colonies showing predominantly monocyte maturation when plated in methylcellulose. It is suggested that constitutive expression of the exogenous IL-1 alpha gene may predispose to a monocytic phenotype. OTT1 cells should be a useful experimental model to investigate the molecular mechanisms of IL-5 signal transduction and the possible interrelationships between this signal pathway and those utilized by IL-3 and GM-CSF.     

Establishment of a canine monocyte cell line

A canine monocyte cell line was established from the peripheral blood sample collected from a healthy young male Beagle dog. The cloned cells grew easily and were serially passaged in vitro in the medium, a slight modification further made on Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium, supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. The morphology of single cell was shown in triangular or round form, however, it became epithelioid in a densely grown monolayer. Non-specific esterase was detected in all cells by a cytochemical examination. The cells reacted rapidly to the addition of a small amount of LPS and differentiated to the cells of morphologically typical macrophages. Both complement receptor (CD35) and Fc gamma receptor (CD64) were demonstrated on the cell membrane.     

Establishment of a swine monocyte cell line

A swine monocyte cell line was established from peripheral blood sample collected from a healthy adult male pig. The cloned cells grow actively in forming monolayers in both glass and plastic cell culture flasks with the growth medium reported previously (Kadoi, 2000) at 36.5 degrees C incubation. The plating efficiency is more than 95%. Densely grown cells in flasks show an epithelioid morphology. The fundamental properties of the cells were examined for cytological definition as monocytes. A positive property detected was guinea pig complement receptor, porcine IgG receptor, non-specific esterase, and acid phosphatase. A significant phagocytic activity proved by the inoculation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is also one of the characteristics observed in the LPS-activated cells.     

一株高水平表达重组蛋白昆虫细胞系的建立

报道了一株来自粉纹夜蛾Trichoplusiani脂肪体的传代细胞系 ,在辅以 5%胎牛血清的商品无血清培养基Excell 4 0 0中 ,细胞群体倍增时间为 2 2 9h ,最高密度可达 2 2× 10 6 mL ,该细胞对苜蓿丫纹夜蛾多粒包埋型多角体病毒 (AcMNPV)极为敏感 ,增殖AcMNPV多角体平均每个细胞达86个 ,表达由AcMNPV构建的重组蛋白的水平较高 ,β 半乳糖苷酶的表达水平为 ( 2 2 5 5± 13 4 )IU mL ;碱性磷酸酶的表达水平为 ( 4 7± 0 61)IU mL ,是一株高水平表达重组蛋白的传代细胞系 ,命名为HNU Tn FB1。     

Dynamics of transgene expression in a neural stem cell line transduced with lentiviral vectors incorporating the cHS4 insulator

Transplantation of genetically manipulated cells to the central nervous system holds great promise for the treatment of several severe neurological disorders. The success of this strategy relies on sufficient levels of transgene expression after transplantation. This has been difficult to achieve, however, due to transgene silencing. In this study, we transduced the neural stem cell line RN33B with self-inactivating lentiviral vectors and analyzed transgenic expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in several different settings both in vitro and after transplantation to the brain. We found that the transgene was affected of silencing both when transduced cells were proliferating and after differentiation. To prevent silencing, the cHS4 insulator was incorporated into the lentiviral vector. We found that a vector carrying the cHS4 insulator was partially protected against differentiation-dependent downregulation in vitro and in vivo. However, in proliferating cells, we found evidence for variegation and positional effects that were not prevented by the cHS4 insulator, suggesting that the mechanism behind silencing in proliferating cells is not the same mechanism influencing differentiation-dependent silencing. Taken together, these findings favor vector optimization as a strategy for achieving efficient ex vivo gene transfer in the central nervous system.     

Characterization of a tobacco Bright Yellow 2 cell line expressing the tetracycline repressor at a high level for strict regulation of transgene expression

Manipulating the expression of a transgene in transient and stable transformed cells is a requirement for many functional analyses. We have investigated the use of the tetracycline-dependent gene expression system developed by Gatz et al. (1992) in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Bright Yellow 2 [BY2]) cells, the most widely used plant cell culture. We have selected a BY2 cell line, named BY2-tetracycline repressor (tetR) 17, which expresses the tetR at a high level, and have evaluated the capacity of this cell line to suppress the expression of a green fluorescent protein reporter gene under the control of the "Triple-Op" promoter in the absence of tetracycline in a large number of independent transformants. The ability to induce the expression of green fluorescent protein after treatment by anhydrotetracycline in the same transformants was also analyzed. BY2-tetR17 cells were demonstrated to be excellent recipient cells for recovery of clonal cell lines with a highly controlled regulation of the introduced transgene.     

Dichloroacetate increases cell and antibody yields in batch cultures of a hybridoma cell line

We have studied the effect of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activator, dichloroacetate (DCA), on the growth, metabolism, and productivity of the PQXB (1/2) hybridoma cell line. In control batch cultures, cessation of growth and the onset of decline phase coincided with the time at which the media became exhausted of glutamine. Supplementation of the media with DCA (1 mM) extended the growth phase of this cell line by approximately 20 h without affecting its growth rate. This prolonged period of growth resulted in an increased maximum cell density (16%) and final antibody yield (55%). Repeat experiments showed these effects to be reproducible, with the increases in antibody yield being between 50 and 60%. DCA did not affect the specific rates of glucose utilization and lactate production. However, it decreased the specific glutamine consumption rate. This characteristic of DCA action appeared, at least in part, to provide an explanation for the extended growth phase exhibited by DCA-treated cultures, since it delayed the time at which the media became depleted of glutamine. The consumption and production kinetics for various nutrients and their metabolites in both control and DCA-treated cultures suggested that: (1) glutamine catabolism proceeded by a pathway involving conversion to glutamate by glutaminase followed by subsequent transamination by alanine aminotransferase, and (2) DCA decreased the specific glutamine consumption rate by directly or indirectly inhibiting the transamination. It is expected that the routine inclusion of DCA in media used for hybridoma cultivation will be valuable for enhancement of monoclonal antibody (Mab) yields on a laboratory scale. (c) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Establishment of a persistent baculovirus infection in a lepidopteran cell line

The paper describes the first overt attempt to establish an insect cell line (Spodoptera frugiperda), persistently infected with its homologous baculovirus. The persistently infected cells were morphologically different and grew to a higher density than the noninfected parent line. The parent line, however, had a shorter doubling time. Persistently infected cells were passaged 40 times over 10 months; they still continued to produce infectious virus and polyhedral inclusion bodies. However, the infectious viral titer was ca. 100 times lower in the persistently infected line than in the parent line; also, the number of inclusion bodies was reduced ca. 98%. Interference with both homologous and heterologous baculoviruses was demonstrated in the persistently infected cell line. Sevently percent of the persistently infected cells contained antigens for S. frugiperda nuclear polyhedrosis virus, ca. 1% of the cells showed infectious viral centers, and ca. 3% of the cells contained inclusion bodies. Although the inclusion bodies from the persistently infected cells were infectious for S. frugiperda larvae, they were about 3 times less infectious than the inclusion bodies produced in the parent line.     

Establishment and characterization of a human cholangiocellular carcinoma cell line

A cell line, HuH-28 was established in vitro from a patient with cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC). This cell line has been in continuous culture over 10 month period with slow growth potential. HuH-28 was composed of spindle-shaped cells as major population besides a small percentage of polygonal-shaped cells. Chromosome number of the cells were distributed near the hypotriploid region on the 3rd passage. HuH-28 cells were not transplantable into nude mice, but secreted some tumor markers including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), beta 2-microglobulin (BMG), ferritin, elastase-1 and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA). This HuH-28 cell line will represent a good model for the investigation of carcinogenesis, histogenesis+ and diagnosis of CCC.