传统DNA疫苗载体与Semliki森林病毒复制子对HIV-1 Pr55gag表达与体液免疫原性的比较性研究

为探索Semliki森林病毒(SFV)衍生的复制型DNA载体可否用于HIV疫苗的候选载体,对该载体与传统DNA疫苗载体对HIV-1Pr55gag的表达与体液免疫原性进行了系统比较研究.将野生型(wtgag)及密码子改造(syngag)的HIV-1 ⅢB gag基因分别克隆于SFV DNA载体及传统DNA疫苗载体[pCDNA3.1(+)],对其Pr55gag细胞内表达水平、Pr55gag病毒样颗粒释放、以及在BALB/c鼠的体液免疫原性进行了比较.在293T、H1299、C2C12和BHK细胞系中,SFV-wtgag可以Rev非依赖方式有效表达Pr55gag,而pC-wtgag转染的细胞不能有效表达Pr55gag,从而不能诱导小鼠产生免疫反应.虽然SFV质粒的细胞转化效率明显低于pCDNA载体,SFV-wtgag和SFV-syngag在细胞内Pr55gag的表达量与pC-syngag相似,而Pr55gag病毒样颗粒的释放明显低于pC-syngag.在肌内注射免疫的小鼠中,低剂量(0.1和1.0μg)的SFV及pCDNA gag表达质粒均未诱导出GAG特异性免疫反应.在高剂量(10,30,100μg)免疫组中,与SFV gag表达质粒相比,pC-syngag可诱导出较高水平的TH1型GAG特异性抗体.SFV-syngag较SFV-wtgag可诱导出高水平的体液免疫反应.结果提示,SFV衍生的复制子单独使用不能在小鼠诱导出优于传统DNA疫苗载体的HIV-1 GAG特异性体液免疫反应,其原因可能与病毒样颗粒的释放有关.密码子改造的gag基因的优势在SFV载体系统中得到了进一步证实.     

Soluble, high-affinity dimers of T-cell receptors and class II major histocompatibility complexes: biochemical probes for analysis and modulation of immune responses

T cell receptors (TCR) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules are integral membrane proteins that have central roles in cell-mediated immune recognition. Therefore, soluble analogs of these molecules would be useful for analyzing and possibly modulating antigen-specific immune responses. However, due to the intrinsic low-affinity and inherent solubility problems, it has been difficult to produce soluble high-affinity analogs of TCR and class II MHC molecules. This report describes a general approach which solves this intrinsic low-affinity by constructing soluble divalent analogs using IgG as a molecular scaffold. The divalent nature of the complexes increases the avidity of the chimeric molecules for cognate ligands. The generality of this approach was studied by making soluble divalent analogs of two different classes of proteins, a TCR (2C TCR2Ig) and a class II MHC (MCCI-Ek2Ig) molecule. Direct flow cytometry assays demonstrate that the divalent 2C TCR2Ig chimera retained the specificity of the native 2C TCR, while displaying increased avidity for cognate peptide/MHC ligands, resulting in a high-affinity probe capable of detecting interactions that heretofore have only been detected using surface plasmon resonance. TCR2IgG was also used in immunofluorescence studies to show ER localization of intracellular peptide-MHC complexes after peptide feeding. MCCI-Ek2Ig chimeras were able to both stain and activate an MCC-specific T cell hybridoma. Construction and expression of these two diverse heterodimers demonstrate the generality of this approach. Furthermore, the increased avidity of these soluble divalent proteins makes these chimeric molecules potentially useful in clinical settings for probing and modulating in vivo cellular responses.     

Concerted action of multiple cis-acting sequences is required for Rev dependence of late human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gene expression

Based on the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gag gene, subgenomic reporter constructs have been established allowing the contributions of different cis-acting elements to the Rev dependency of late HIV-1 gene products to be determined. Modification of intragenic regulatory elements achieved by adapting the codon usage of the complete gene to highly expressed mammalian genes resulted in constitutive nuclear export allowing high levels of Gag expression independent from the Rev/Rev-responsive element system and irrespective of the absence or presence of the isolated major splice donor. Leptomycin B inhibitor studies revealed that the RNAs derived from the codon-optimized gag gene lacking AU-rich inhibitory elements are directed to a distinct, CRM1-independent, nuclear export pathway.     

A common temperature-sensitive allelic form of human tyrosinase is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum at the nonpermissive temperature

Oculocutaneous albinism type 1TS is caused by mutations that render the melanocyte-specific enzyme tyrosinase temperature-sensitive (ts); the enzyme is inactive in cells grown at 37 degrees C but displays full activity in cells grown at 31 degrees C. To distinguish whether the ts phenotype of the common R402Q variant of human tyrosinase is due to altered enzymatic activity or to misfolding and a defect in intracellular trafficking, we analyzed its localization and processing in transiently transfected HeLa cells. R402Q tyrosinase accumulates in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) at 37 degrees C but exits the ER and accumulates in endosomal structures in cells grown at 31 degrees C. The inability of the R402Q variant to exit the ER is confirmed by the failure to acquire endoglycosidase H resistance at 37 degrees C and cannot be accounted for solely by enhanced proteasome-mediated degradation. ER retention at 37 degrees C is mediated by the lumenal domain of R402Q tyrosinase, is not dependent on tethering to the membrane, and is irreversible. Finally, a wild-type allelic form of tyrosinase is partially ts in transiently transfected HeLa cells. The data show that human tyrosinase expressed in non-melanogenic cells folds and exits the ER inefficiently and that R402Q tyrosinase exaggerates this defect, resulting in a failure to exit the ER at physiologic temperatures.     

Modulation of MHC Binding by Lateral Association of TCR and Coreceptor

The structure of a T cell receptor (TCR) and its affinity for cognate antigen are fixed, but T cells regulate binding sensitivity through changes in lateral membrane organization. TCR microclusters formed upon antigen engagement participate in downstream signaling. Microclusters are also found 3–4 days after activation, leading to enhanced antigen binding upon rechallenge. However, others have found an almost complete loss of antigen binding four days after T cell activation, when TCR clusters are present. To resolve these contradictory results, we compared binding of soluble MHC-Ig dimers by transgenic T cells stimulated with a high (100 μM) or low (100 fM) dose of cognate antigen. Cells activated by a high dose of peptide bound sixfold lower amounts of CD8-dependent ligand K^b-SIY than cells activated by a low dose of MHC/peptide. In contrast, both cell populations bound a CD8-independent ligand L^d-QL9 equally well. Consistent with the differences between binding of CD8-dependent and CD8-independent peptide/MHC, Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurements of molecular proximity reported little nanoscale association of TCR with CD8 (16 FRET units) compared to their association on cells stimulated by low antigen dose (62 FRET units). Loss of binding induced by changes in lateral organization of TCR and CD8 may serve as a regulatory mechanism to avoid excessive inflammation and immunopathology in response to aggressive infection.     

Sperm ultrastructure in honeycomb (foam) oysters (Mollusca,Bivalvia, Gryphaeidae,Pycnodontinae): comparison with other Ostreoidea and taxonomic implications

Sperm ultrastructural features of the honeycomb (foam) oysters Hyotissa hyotis, H. sinensis, and H. mcgintyi (Gryphaeidae) are described and compared with other Ostreoidea and more generally with other pteriomorphian Bivalvia. Spermatozoa of H. sinensis and H. mcgintyi (the type species of Parahyotissa Harry 1985) exhibit (1) a broad, low‐conical acrosomal vesicle; (2) subacrosomal material (very electron‐dense granular material and an almost electron‐lucent axial rod); (3) a spheroidal nucleus with a wide anterior invagination (filled with subacrosomal components); (4) a midpiece composed of four spherical mitochondria surrounding a pair of centrioles (rootlet associated with proximal centriole); and (5) a flagellum. Sperm of Hyotissa hyotis (type species of Hyotissa Stenzel 1971) differ markedly from those of H. sinensis and H. mcgintyi, in having (1) a conical acrosomal vesicle showing coarse granular texture anteriorly; (2) a very electron‐dense axial rod; (3) a barrel‐shaped nucleus with a long, narrow anterior invagination (filled with both subacrosomal components) and a basal invagination partly housing the proximal centriole; and (4) five midpiece mitochondria and no proximal centriolar rootlet. Results indicate that H. sinensis should be relocated to another genus, possibly a revised genus Parahyotissa, and also show that the sperm of H. sinensis and H. mcgintyi show many similarities to those of the Ostreidae, with the exception that the ‘axial rod’ component of the subacrosomal material is less electron‐dense than the surrounding substance (more dense in Ostreidae, as in H. hyotis). No family defining sperm features of the Gryphaeidae can be identified.