Variegation and silencing in a lentiviral-based murine transgenic model

Lentiviral based constructs represent a recent development in the generation of transgenic animals. The ease of use, and the fact that the same backbone vectors can be used to down-modulate endogenous gene expression and to produce transgenic animals overexpressing a gene of interest, have fuelled growing interest in this technology. In this study, we have used a lentiviral delivery system to generate transgenic mice expressing altered levels (up or downregulated) of a gene of interest. Although this lentiviral-based approach led to high levels of transgenesis and germ line transmission, a wide variation in transgene expression was observed in most first and second generation mouse lines. In particular, despite the segregation of integrants into single-copy expressing mouse lines, transgene expression appeared to be the target of epigenetic regulatory mechanism, often causing the coexistence of high and low transgene expressing cells within a given tissue such as blood peripheral lymphocytes. The establishment and analysis of large number of mouse lines may therefore be required to select a stable transgenic line with pancellular expression of a gene of interest using this lentiviral-based approach.     

Phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate modulation in SHIP2-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts

SHIP2, the ubiquitous SH2 domain containing inositol 5-phosphatase, includes a series of protein interacting domains and has the ability to dephosphorylate phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate [PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3)]in vitro. The present study, which was undertaken to evaluate the impact of SHIP2 on PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) levels, was performed in a mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) model using SHIP2 deficient (-/-) MEF cells derived from knockout mice. PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) was upregulated in serum stimulated -/- MEF cells as compared to +/+ MEF cells. Although the absence of SHIP2 had no effect on basal PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) levels, we show here that this lipid was significantly upregulated in SHIP2 -/- cells but only after short-term (i.e. 5-10 min) incubation with serum. The difference in PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) levels in heterozygous fibroblast cells was intermediate between the +/+ and the -/- cells. In our model, insulin-like growth factor-1 stimulation did not show this upregulation. Serum stimulated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) activity appeared to be comparable between +/+ and -/- cells. Moreover, protein kinase B, but not mitogen activated protein kinase activity, was also potentiated in SHIP2 deficient cells stimulated by serum. The upregulation of protein kinase B activity in serum stimulated cells was totally reversed in the presence of the PI 3-kinase inhibitor LY-294002, in both +/+ and -/- cells. Altogether, these data establish a link between SHIP2 and the acute control of PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) levels in intact cells.     

Developmental defects and rescue from glucose intolerance of a catalytically-inactive novel Ship2 mutant mouse

The function of the phosphoinositide 5-phosphatase Ship2 was investigated in a new mouse model expressing a germline catalytically-inactive Ship2^?/? mutant protein. Ship2^?/? mice were viable with defects in somatic growth and in development of muscle, adipose tissue and female genital tract. Lipid metabolism and insulin secretion were also affected in these mice, but glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and insulin-induced PKB phosphorylation were not. We expected that the expression of the catalytically inactive Ship2 protein in PI 3′-kinase-defective p110α^D933A/+ mice would counterbalance the phenotypes of parental mice by restoring normal PKB signaling but, for most of the parameters tested, this was not the case. Indeed, often, the Ship2^?/? phenotype had a dominant effect over the p110α^D933A/+ phenotype and, sometimes, there was a surprising additive effect of both mutations. p110α^D933A/+Ship2^?/? mice still displayed a reduced PKB phosphorylation in response to insulin, compared to wild type mice yet had a normal glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, like the Ship2^?/? mice. Together, our results suggest that the Ship2^?/? phenotype is not dependent on an overstimulated class I PI 3-kinase–PKB signaling pathway and thus, indirectly, that it may be more dependent on the lack of Ship2-produced phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate and derived phosphoinositides.     

The Spinner-IBMM mouse is a new spontaneous mutant in the Tmie gene

A recessively inherited, spontaneous mutation named Spinner-IBMM (SI) was identified in a transgenic mouse colony in our institute. SI mutant mice displayed hyperactivity, including a severe circling behavior, ataxia and inability to swim. Gene mapping revealed that the causative gene was located on a 35 Mb DNA fragment on chromosome 9. Candidate genes sequencing in this DNA fragment identified a new mutant allele in the Tmie gene. The identified mutant is characterized by a nucleotide deletion in exon 5, leading to a frameshift and a premature STOP codon. It has been reported that inactivating mutations in the mouse Tmie gene result in an identical phenotype, probably resulting from defects in the inner ear. However, the exact function of the Tmie protein in the ear and other organs is still unknown. The analysis of this new mouse mutant could contribute to a better understanding of Tmie functions in vivo in the ear and other organs.     

Transient T and B cell activation after neonatal induction of tolerance to MHC class II or Mls alloantigens.

The neonatal injection of semiallogeneic F1 spleen cells into newborn parental mice results in the induction of tolerance to the corresponding alloantigen (alloAg) and chimerism. In these F1 cell-injected mice, we have previously observed that this state of specific tolerance is associated with the development of a transient lupus-like autoimmune syndrome. In this study, we show that neonatal injection of mice with spleen cells differing from the host at major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I, class II, class (I + II), or minor lymphocyte stimulating (Mls) alloAg induced a state of specific tolerance characterized by the absence of alloreactive CTL and/or Th cell responses in the spleen and the thymus of 6- to 12-week-old injected mice. However, in mice rendered tolerant to MHC class II or class (I + II) alloAg, the presence of high levels of IgG1 antibodies, of circulating immune complexes, of anti-ssDNA autoantibodies, and of tissue lesions were transiently observed. In these mice, an increased Ia Ag expression on lymphoid spleen cells was also detected at 1 wk. The elevated production of IgG1 and the overexpression of Ia Ag were almost completely prevented by treatment with an anti-IL-4 mAb. Such manifestations of B cell activation and autoimmunity were not observed in mice neonatally injected with F1 cells differing from the host only at MHC class I Ag. In mice neonatally tolerized to Mls Ag, a transient increase in IgG2a production and an overexpression of Ia Ag were detected without features of autoimmunity, and were prevented by anti-INF-gamma mAb treatment. In mice rendered tolerant to MHC class II, class (I + II), or Mls alloAg at birth, the manifestations of B cell activation were associated with the presence of in vivo-activated alloreactive CD4+ T cells in the spleen--but not the thymus--of 1-wk-old injected mice. Together, these results suggest that in mice neonatally injected with semiallogeneic F1 cells, the process of tolerance induction is not efficient during the early postnatal period, and could allow the maturation and peripheralization of some alloreactive CD4+ T cells, leading to transient B cell activation and, depending on the alloAg, to autoimmunity.     

Apolipoprotein C3 SstI polymorphism and triglyceride levels in Asian Indians

Background  

A close association between Sst I polymorphism in the 3' untranslated region of the apolipoproteinC3 (APOC3 ) gene and levels of plasma triglycerides (TG) had been reported by different investigators. Hypertriglyceridemia(HTG) is a known risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) in the context of Asian Indians. We conducted a study on the relationship between APOC3 SstI polymorphism (S1S1, S1S2 and S2S2 genotypes) and plasma TG levels in a group of 139 male healthy volunteers from Northern India.     

The absence of expression of the three isoenzymes of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase does not prevent the formation of inositol pentakisphosphate and hexakisphosphate in mouse embryonic fibroblasts

The activation of phospholipase C leads to the formation of both I(1,4,5)P(3) and diacylglycerol (DAG). I(1,4,5)P(3) can be metabolized by dephosphorylation catalyzed by Type I I(1,4,5)P(3) 5-phosphatase and by enzymatic phosphorylation to various inositol phosphates. This last step is catalyzed by three mammalian isoenzymes that specifically phosphorylate the 3-phosphate position of the inositol ring Itpka, Itpkb and Itpkc and a less specific enzyme Ipmk (or inositol multikinase) that phosphorylates I(1,4,5)P(3) at the D-3 and D-6 positions. This study was performed in mice cells in order to understand the synthetic pathway of IP5 and IP6 following PLC stimulation and possible link with Itpk activity. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) were prepared from Itpkb(-/-) Itpkc(-/-) mice. Western blot and RT-PCR analysis show that the cells do not express Itpka. In contrast, they do express Ipmk. The cells still produce IP5 and IP6. Our data show that the absence of expression of the three isoenzymes of Itpk does not prevent the formation of IP5 and IP6, at least in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. The nuclear Ipmk plays therefore a critical role in the metabolism of I(1,4,5)P(3) and production of highly phosphorylated IP5 and IP6.     

Molecular dynamics of synthetic leucine-serine ion channels in a phospholipid membrane

Molecular dynamics calculations were carried out on models of two synthetic leucine-serine ion channels: a tetrameric bundle with sequence (LSLLLSL)(3)NH(2) and a hexameric bundle with sequence (LSSLLSL)(3)NH(2). Each protein bundle is inserted in a palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer membrane and solvated by simple point charge water molecules inside the pore and at both mouths. Both systems appear to be stable in the absence of an electric field during the 4 ns of molecular dynamics simulation. The water motion in the narrow pore of the four-helix bundle is highly restricted and may provide suitable conditions for proton transfer via a water wire mechanism. In the wider hexameric pore, the water diffuses much more slowly than in bulk but is still mobile. This, along with the dimensions of the pore, supports the observation that this peptide is selective for monovalent cations. Reasonable agreement of predicted conductances with experimentally determined values lends support to the validity of the simulations.