vWF-ΔPro改善基于蛋白质剪接的双载体BDD-FVIII基因转移

多聚体von Willebrand因子(vWF)的功能之一是保护凝血Ⅷ因子(FⅧ)免受蛋白水解引起的快速清除．前肽缺失突变体vWF (vWF-ΔPro)不能形成多聚体,但可以结合FⅧ蛋白．为探讨vWF-ΔPro对基于蛋白质反式剪接作用介导的双载体转FⅧ基因后连接的FⅧ蛋白的分泌和活性的影响,将vWF-ΔPro基因和融合Ssp DnaB内含肽的B结构域缺失型FⅧ(BDD-FⅧ)断裂基因共转染293细胞进行转基因的瞬时表达,用Western印迹检测了单独转染vWF-ΔPro基因细胞的vWF-ΔPro表达量和蛋白形式,并检测了其对FⅧ的结合力;用ELISA法观察分泌至培养上清中的剪接的BDD-FⅧ,并用Coatest法检测由其产生的生物活性．结果显示,vWF-ΔPro转基因细胞呈现二聚体蛋白表达形式,其结合FⅧ的能力与转野生型vWF基因细胞相近;vWF-ΔPro共转染细胞上清中剪接BDD-FⅧ蛋白浓度为198±21 ng/mL,活性为1.78±0.18 IU/mL,明显高于未转染vWF-ΔPro基因的细胞对照(91±12 ng/mL和1.05±0.13 IU/mL),与共转染野生型vWF基因细胞对照相近(221±19 ng/mL和1.95±0.22 IU/mL),表明vWF-ΔPro可显著改善内含肽剪接的BDD-FⅧ蛋白的分泌和生物活性．为vWF-ΔPro转基因的基于蛋白质剪接技术双AAV载体转BDD-FⅧ基因动物体内实验提供了依据．     

亮氨酸拉链提高小鼠血浆中剪接的凝血因子Ⅷ凝血活性

培养细胞实验表明,亮氨酸拉链通过改善内含肽(intein)的蛋白质剪接效率,提高双载体转B区缺失型凝血因子Ⅷ(BDD-FⅧ)基因细胞剪接FⅧ蛋白的分泌量和活性.本文从C57BL/6小鼠门静脉注射含亮氨酸拉链和Ssp DnaB内含肽融合的BDD-FⅧ的重链和轻链基因双表达载体,48 h后,检测到血浆的重链分泌量和FⅧ活性分别为(298±67)μg/L和(1.15±0.29)U/mL,明显高于不含亮氨酸拉链的双载体转BDD-FⅧ基因对照小鼠((179±59)μg/L和(0.58±0.19)U/mL).结果表明,亮氨酸拉链通过改善蛋白质反式剪接,提高基于蛋白质剪接的双载体转BDD-FⅧ基因小鼠血浆的凝血活性,为进一步双腺相关病毒(AAV)载体转BDD-FⅧ基因的甲型血友病基因治疗研究提供了依据.     

vWF-△Pro改善基于蛋白质剪接的双载体BDD-FⅧ基因转移

多聚体von Willebrand因子(vWF)的功能之一是保护凝血Ⅷ因子(FⅧ)免受蛋白水解引起的快速清除.前肽缺失突变体vWF(vWF-ΔPro)不能形成多聚体,但可以结合FⅧ蛋白.为探讨vWF-ΔPro对基于蛋白质反式剪接作用介导的双载体转FⅧ基因后连接的FⅧ蛋白的分泌和活性的影响,将vWF-ΔPro基因和融合SspDnaB内含肽的B结构域缺失型FⅧ(BDD-FⅧ)断裂基因共转染293细胞进行转基因的瞬时表达,用Western印迹检测了单独转染vWF-ΔPro基因细胞的vWF-ΔPro表达量和蛋白形式,并检测了其对FⅧ的结合力;用ELISA法观察分泌至培养上清中的剪接的BDD-FⅧ,并用Coatest法检测由其产生的生物活性.结果显示,vWF-ΔPro转基因细胞呈现二聚体蛋白表达形式,其结合FⅧ的能力与转野生型vWF基因细胞相近;vWF-ΔPro共转染细胞上清中剪接BDD-FⅧ蛋白浓度为198±21ng/mL,活性为1.78±0.18IU/mL,明显高于未转染vWF-ΔPro基因的细胞对照(91±12ng/mL和1.05±0.13IU/mL),与共转染野生型vWF基因细胞对照相近(221±19ng/mL和1.95±0.22IU/mL),表明vWF-ΔPro可显著改善内含肽剪接的BDD-FⅧ蛋白的分泌和生物活性.为vWF-ΔPro转基因的基于蛋白质剪接技术双AAV载体转BDD-FⅧ基因动物体内实验提供了依据.     

双Intein介导3片段vWF的反式剪接

von Willebrand因子(vWF)基因突变导致血管性血友病(VWD),由于其基因过大在基因治疗研究中难以为多数病毒载体携带.利用双内含肽(intein)的蛋白质反式剪接功能研究断裂成3段的vWF基因分别表达后在蛋白水平的连接,旨在为vWF基因的3载体联合转移应用于VWD基因治疗研究提供依据.将vWF cDNA于满足剪接所需的保守性氨基酸Cys1099、Ser2004的密码子前断裂为3段(N、M和C),分别与splitSspDnaE intein的N端(En)、C端(Ec)和splitSspDnaB intein的N端(Bn)、C端(Bc)编码序列融合,构建到原核表达载体pET-28a(+)中的His-Tag的下游,得到3种表达载体pET-NEn、pET-EcMBn和pET-BcC.分别转化感受态大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)细胞,经IPTG诱导表达后,以SDS-PAGE分析融合蛋白的表达,并进一步用His-Tag的特异性抗体进行分析;亲和层析纯化分别表达的带His-Tag标签的3段蛋白,复性后体外混合进行剪接实验以观察3片段vWF的连接.结果显示,3段预期大小的融合intein的vWF蛋白均有表达,用His-Tag抗体进行的Western印迹得到进一步证实;3段纯化的蛋白混合后可见明显的剪接条带形成,与vWF的预期分子量大小一致,表明双intein通过蛋白质反式剪接可有效连接3个片段的vWF,为进一步应用蛋白质剪接技术的3重载体真核细胞转vWF基因奠定了基础.     

基于蛋白质剪接的BHK细胞Ser~(660)前断裂的CFTR基因转移

利用内含肽(intein)的蛋白质反式剪接技术,研究双载体真核细胞转囊性纤维化跨膜电导调节体(CFTR)基因,通过翻译后连接成为完整的功能性CFTR蛋白.应用基因重组技术,将人CFTRcDNA于剪接反应所需保守残基Ser660前断裂为N端和C端两部分,分别与split Ssp DnaB intein编码序列融合,构建到真核表达载体pEGFP-N1和pEYFP-N1.用脂质体将这对载体共转染至幼年仓鼠肾细胞(BHK),48h后Western印迹观察CFTR蛋白质的连接,并用全细胞和单通道膜片钳技术记录Cl-通道电流.基因共转染细胞可观察到明显的由蛋白质反式剪接形成的完整CFTR蛋白,膜片钳记录到较高的全细胞Cl-电流和与转野生型CFTR基因细胞相似的单Cl-通道开放活性,提示CFTR功能的恢复.内含肽可作为一种技术策略用于双载体转CFTR基因,为应用双腺相关病毒载体(AAV)转基因的囊性纤维化疾病(CF)基因治疗提供了依据.     

基于蛋白质反式剪接的双载体凝血Ⅷ因子基因转移

以intein的蛋白反式剪接为工具,研究了运用双载体的真核细胞凝血Ⅷ因子（FⅧ）基因转移,通过翻译后剪接得到完整的功能性FⅧ蛋白.将B结构域大部分缺失（Δ761~1639）的人功能性FⅧ（BDD-FⅧ）cDNA于剪接所需保守残基Ser1657前断裂为重链和轻链,分别与106和48个氨基酸的mini Ssp DnaB intein的N端（IntN）和C端（IntC）编码序列融合,构建一对在质粒pcDNA3.1的强启动子CMV驱动下的真核表达载体.用脂质体共转染至293细胞和COS-7细胞,培养48h后,收集细胞上清,用ELISA检测培养上清中剪接形成的BDD-FⅧ蛋白水平,用Coatest法检测上清的功能性FⅧ生物活性,并用Western blot观察细胞内的BDD-FⅧ蛋白质剪接.结果显示,两种细胞培养上清中有较高水平的剪接BDD-FⅧ蛋白形成,分别达到（137±23）和（109±22）ng/mL,由细胞内和细胞外（培养上清）的剪接共同组成 并检测到培养上清中较高水平的FⅧ生物活性,分别为（1.05±0.16）和（0.79±0.23）IU/mL,包括细胞内、外剪接产物BDD-FⅧ共同形成 细胞总蛋白的Western blot进一步显示共转染后细胞内高效剪接形成的BDD-FⅧ蛋白.表明intein可用于双载体系统真核细胞FⅧ基因转移,并不完全依赖细胞内的剪接产生具有高FⅧ生物活性的BDD-FⅧ蛋白,为进一步在甲型血友病基因治疗研究中应用双腺相关病毒载体（AAV）转运FⅧ基因,克服AAV载体的容量限制提供了依据.     

A1区替换提高人BDD-FⅧ重链的分泌并缓解其与轻链共转基因细胞链分泌的不均衡性

双载体转凝血Ⅷ因子基因(FⅧ)可有效克服腺相关病毒(AAV)载体容量限制,但FⅧ重链分泌的低效性导致重、轻链分泌的不均衡。重链分泌的低效性源自其A1区存在与内质网蛋白质分子伴侣结合的位点。本文在我们最近运用蛋白质剪接的双载体共转B区缺失型FⅧ(BDD-FⅧ)重链和轻链基因研究的基础上,将重链的A1区替换为猪FⅧ的A1区,用融合蛋白内含子的重链和轻链转基因实验,定量分析了重链的分泌及其对共转重链和轻链基因细胞分泌剪接BDD-FⅧ蛋白和活性的影响。结果显示,变构体重链单独转基因时其分泌得到明显改善,达到89±12 ng/ml,明显高于人BDD-FⅧ重链的分泌(25±9 ng/ml);该变构体重链与轻链共转基因细胞分泌的剪接变构体BDD-FⅧ和活性分别为219±51 ng/ml和1.47±0.22 U/ml,明显高于剪接的人BDD-FⅧ的分泌量和活性(1 16±32 ng/ml和0.8±0.11 U/ml)。单独变构体重链和轻链转基因细胞合并培养后,其培养上清中检测到剪接的变构体BDD-FⅧ和活性,分别为38±7 ng/ml和0.22±0.05 U/ml,提示为不依赖细胞机制的蛋白质剪接所产生。结果表明,A1区替换后重链分泌的增强,可促进基于蛋白质剪接技术的双载体共转重链和轻链基因细胞分泌的剪接BDD-FⅧ水平和活性,并可缓解链分泌的不均衡性,为动物体内应用双AAV载体共转BDD-FⅧ重链和轻链基因研究奠定了实验基础。     

TMD2前断裂CFTR翻译后的连接及氯离子通道功能

CFTR基因突变导致一种常染色体隐性遗传疾病——囊性纤维化(CF)。利用split Ssp DnaB intein的蛋白质反式剪接技术的真核细胞双载体转CFTR基因,旨在研究翻译后水平CFTR的连接,以及由其建立的氯离子通道功能。于CFTR膜内第2个跨膜结构域(TMD2)前的Glu838密码子后将其cDNA断裂为N端和C端两部分,与具有蛋白质反式剪接作用的split Ssp DnaB intein编码序列融合,分别插入到载体pEGFP-N1和pEYFP-N1,构建一对真核表达载体pEGFP-NInt和pEYFP-IntC。用脂质体将这对载体共转染至幼年仓鼠肾细胞(BHK),瞬时表达实验用Western blotting观察CFTR蛋白质的连接,并用膜片钳技术记录Cl-通道电流。结果显示,基因共转染细胞呈现完整的CFTR蛋白条带,膜片钳记录到全细胞Cl-电流和单个Cl-通道开放活性。结果表明split Ssp DnaB intein的蛋白质反式剪接技术可用于双载体共转移CFTR基因,为CF基因治疗应用双腺相关病毒载体(AAV)转运CFTR基因,克服AAV的容量限制提供了依据。     

Ssp DnaB intein大肠杆菌中介导FVIII重链和轻链的连接

研究利用intein的蛋白质反式剪接功能在大肠杆菌中对凝血VIII因子(FVIII)重链和轻链的连接作用,将B结构域大部分缺失型FVIII(BDD-FVIII)于满足剪接所需的保守性氨基酸Ser1657前断裂为重链和轻链,分别与split mini Ssp DnaB intein的106个氨基酸的N端(Int-N)和48个氨基酸的C端(Int-C)融合,构建到原核表达载体pBV220。诱导表达后SDS-PAGE分析可见预期大小的BDD-FVIII蛋白条带,Western blotting用FVIII特异性抗体证明其为剪接所产生的BDD-FVIII蛋白,表明intein可有效连接BDD-FVIII的重链和轻链。为进一步甲型血友病基因治疗研究应用intein以双腺相关病毒载体(AAV)携带FVIII基因,克服单个AAV载体的容量限制提供了依据。     

内含肽介导的氯离子通道蛋白CFTR的反式剪接

研究利用内含肽(intein)的蛋白质反式剪接功能在大肠杆菌中对囊性纤维化跨膜传导调节因子(cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator, CFTR)的反式剪接作用.CFTR基因突变导致一种常染色体隐性遗传疾病囊性纤维化(cystic fibrosis, CF).将CFTR的cDNA于剪接反应所需的保守性氨基酸残基Ser-660前断裂为N端和C端,分别与split mini Ssp DnaB 内含肽的106个氨基酸残基的N端和48个氨基酸残基的C端编码序列融合,构建到原核表达载体pBV220 诱导表达后SDS-PAGE可见预期大小剪接形成的CFTR蛋白条带,Western印迹用CFTR特异性抗体进一步证明为剪接所产生的CFTR蛋白,表明内含肽可有效催化CFTR的反式剪接.     

Molecular characterization of the human delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase 2 (ALAD2) allele: implications for molecular screening of individuals for genetic susceptibility to lead poisoning.

Reports of families with members affected with both von Willebrand disease (vWD) and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) suggest a possible relationship between these two disorders. vWD, the most common inherited bleeding disorder in humans, is due to either a quantitative or qualitative defect in von Willebrand factor (vWF). The gene for vWF has been cloned and mapped to chromosome 12 (12p12----12pter). HHT, an uncommon inherited bleeding disorder, is characterized by malformed, dilated, fragile blood vessels. The chromosomal location of the gene for HHT is unknown. We studied two families by RFLP analysis to determine whether there is a molecular basis for the association of vWD and HHT. Family A is affected with both type IIA vWD and HHT; family B is affected with HHT alone. Linkage of HHT to the vWF gene was not detected, and vWF was ruled out as a candidate gene for HHT. The vWF gene was found to be tightly linked to type IIA vWD in family A (lod score 3.61 at recombination fraction .00). By PCR and DNA sequence analysis of vWF exon 28, a single T----C transition resulting in the substitution of Thr for Ile865 was identified. This substitution is located immediately adjacent to two previously identified type IIA vWD mutations.     

Identification and functional analysis of a novel von Willebrand factor mutation in a family with type 2A von Willebrand disease

von Willebrand factor (VWF) is essential for normal hemostasis. VWF gene mutations cause the hemorrhagic von Willebrand disease (VWD). In this study, a 9-year-old boy was diagnosed as type 2A VWD, based on a history of abnormal bleeding, low plasma VWF antigen and activity, low plasma factor VIII activity, and lack of plasma high-molecular-weight (HMW) VWF multimers. Sequencing analysis detected a 6-bp deletion in exon 28 of his VWF gene, which created a mutant lacking D1529V1530 residues in VWF A2 domain. This mutation also existed in his family members with abnormal bleedings but not in >60 normal controls. In transfected HEK293 cells, recombinant VWF ΔD1529V1530 protein had markedly reduced levels in the conditioned medium (42±4% of wild-type (WT) VWF, p<0.01). The mutant VWF in the medium had less HMW multimers. In contrast, the intracellular levels of the mutant VWF in the transfected cells were significantly higher than that of WT (174±29%, p<0.05), indicating intracellular retention of the mutant VWF. In co-transfection experiments, the mutant reduced WT VWF secretion from the cells. By immunofluorescence staining, the retention of the mutant VWF was identified within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Together, we identified a unique VWF mutation responsible for the bleeding phenotype in a patient family with type 2A VWD. The mutation impaired VWF trafficking through the ER, thereby preventing VWF secretion from the cells. Our results illustrate the diversity of VWF gene mutations, which contributes to the wide spectrum of VWD.     

Identification of a candidate missense mutation in a family with von Willebrand disease type IIC

A screening project to identify candidate molecular defects causing von Willebrand disease type IIC (VWD IIC) in a German family was carried out using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of all 52 exons of the von Willebrand factor (VWF) gene, subsequent electrophoresis of single and double stranded DNA and direct sequencing of PCR products with aberrant electrophoretic patterns. Only one candidate mutation, G550R, caused by a GA transition, was detected in exon 14 of the pro-VWF gene sequence. This mutation was not found on 200 chromosomes of normal individuals. The propositus was homozygous for the mutation and for an extended intragenic haplotype, composed of eight polymorphic markers. Further family members were heterozygous for the mutation and were phenotypically normal or only mildly affected, in accordance with the recessive pattern of inheritance for VWD type IIC. The mutation could influence one of the presumed active centers for the suspected multimerizing enzymatic activity of pro-VWF localized in the D1 and D2 domain, which corresponds to exon 5 and exon 14 of the VWF gene.     

Von Willebrand factor and von Willebrand disease

von Willebrand disease (vWD) is caused by quantitative and/or qualitative defects of the von Willebrand factor (vWF), a multimeric high molecular weight glycoprotein. Typically, it affects the primary hemostatic system, which results in a mucocutaneous bleeding tendency simulating a platelet function defect. The vWF promotes its function in two ways: (i) by initiating platelet adhesion to the injured vessel wall under conditions of high shear forces, and (ii) by its carrier function for factor VIII in plasma. Accumulating knowledge of the different clinical phenotypes and the pathophysiological basis of the disease translated into a classification that differentiated between quantitative and qualitative defects by means of quantitative and functional parameters, and by analyzing the electrophoretic pattern of vWF multimers. The advent of molecular techniques provided the opportunity for conducting genotype-phenotype studies which have recently helped, not only to elucidate or confirm important functions of vWF and its steps in post-translational processing, but also many disease causing defects. Acquired von Willebrand syndrome (avWS) has gained more attention during the recent years. An international registry was published and recommendation by the Scientific and Standardization Committee of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis in 2000. It concluded that avWS, although not a frequent disease, is nevertheless probably underdiagnosed. This should be addressed in future prospective studies. The aim of treatment is the correction of the impaired hemostatic system of the patient, ideally including the defects of both primary and secondary hemostasis. Desmopressin is the treatment of choice in about 70% of patients, mostly with type 1, while the others merit treatment with concentrates containing vWF.     

Comparison of the primary structure of the functional domains of human and porcine von Willebrand factor that mediate platelet adhesion.

Porcine von Willebrand factor (vWF) directly aggregates human platelets in vitro indicating a conformational difference between the human and porcine molecules. We amplified and directly sequenced 1242 nucleotides of porcine vWF cDNA that encodes functional domains which mediate the binding of vWF to platelets and subendothelium. The deduced amino acid sequence corresponds to residues 473-891 of the human mature vWF subunit and is 79% homologous with the human protein. Significant differences are found in two discontinuous segments thought to be involved in the binding of vWF to platelet glycoprotein Ib. Porcine vWF lacks four contiguous residues in the first segment and has two positively charged arginine residues in the second. Three point mutations associated with human type IIB von Willebrand disease in the first segment of a botrocetin binding site are at the same position as mismatches between the pig and human. The second segment of the botrocetin site is highly conserved while the third segment shows only a 60% homology.     

Effects of the mutant von Willebrand factor gene in von Willebrand disease

Von Willebrand disease (vWD) is a common inherited bleeding disorder in humans, and can be divided into a mild (type 1) and severe (type 3) form. Previous linkage studies identified one subject with vWD type 1 who transmitted different alleles of the von Willebrand factor (vWF) gene to his two affected children, one having vWD type 3 and the other having type 1. By screening the promoter and coding sequence (52 exons) of the vWF gene, three missense mutations were detected in this family. The type 1 individual who transmitted different alleles of the gene to his two sick children carries two substitutions, one in exon 5 and the other in exon 18 on the respective alleles. The relationship between the genotype (mutations) and the phenotype in this family is complex. In order further to correlate the relationship in vWD type 1 individuals, fifty-five subjects who carry one null allele of the vWF gene were collected. All these subjects are from vWD type 3 families with known mutations. Biochemical data of these 55 subjects indicate that gene dosage and other factors, such as blood group, age, and environment factors, play a critical role in the development of the phenotype of the disease.     

Nonsense mutations of the von Willebrand factor gene in patients with von Willebrand disease type III and type I.

von Willebrand disease (vWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder in humans. The disease is caused by qualitative and quantitative abnormalities of the von Willebrand factor (vWF). Genomic DNA from 25 patients with vWD type III, the most severe form of the disease, was studied using PCR followed by restriction-enzyme analysis and direct sequencing of the products. Nonsense mutations (CGA----TGA) were detected in exons 28, 32, and 45 by screening of all the 11 CGA arginine codons of the vWF gene. Two patients were found to be homozygous and five heterozygous for the mutation. Both parents and some of the relatives of the homozygous patients carry the mutation. These are the first reported examples of homozygous point mutations associated with the severe form of vWD. In the three heterozygous probands, one of the parents carried the mutation and had vWD type I. Family studies including parents and family members with or without vWD type I indicated that these three heterozygous patients are likely to be compound heterozygous. Twenty-one individuals from these seven families with vWD type I were found to be heterozygous for the mutation.     

Acquired von Willebrand's disease in the course of severe primary hypothyroidism in a patient with autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 3

The case of a 20-year old female, who had been followed because of von Willebrand disease (vWD) was presented in this paper . She had a past history of menorrhagia and bleeding after dental procedures and the activity of von Willebrand factor (vWF) was decreased. Because of suggestive clinical features, the workup for hypothyroidism was performed and the patient was found to have severe hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto thyroiditis. After the institution of replacement therapy with levothyroxine, von Willebrand factor activity returned to normal range and symptoms of von Willebrand disease disappeared. Based on these findings, the diagnosis of acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AvWS) due to hypothyroidism was made. The development of myasthenia led to the final diagnosis of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 3 (APS) with myasthenia gravis and vitiligo.     

Structural Basis of Regulation of von Willebrand Factor Binding to Glycoprotein Ib

Activation by elongational flow of von Willebrand factor (VWF) is critical for primary hemostasis. Mutations causing type 2B von Willebrand disease (VWD), platelet-type VWD (PT-VWD), and tensile force each increase affinity of the VWF A1 domain and platelet glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbα) for one another; however, the structural basis for these observations remains elusive. Directed evolution was used to discover a further gain-of-function mutation in A1 that shifts the long range disulfide bond by one residue. We solved multiple crystal structures of this mutant A1 and A1 containing two VWD mutations complexed with GPIbα containing two PT-VWD mutations. We observed a gained interaction between A1 and the central leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) of GPIbα, previously shown to be important at high shear stress, and verified its importance mutationally. These findings suggest that structural changes, including central GPIbα LRR-A1 contact, contribute to VWF affinity regulation. Among the mutant complexes, variation in contacts and poor complementarity between the GPIbα β-finger and the region of A1 harboring VWD mutations lead us to hypothesize that the structures are on a pathway to, but have not yet reached, a force-induced super high affinity state.