High-level expression of naked DNA delivered to rat liver via tail vein injection

Background

High levels of foreign gene expression in mouse hepatocytes can be achieved by rapid tail vein injection of a large volume of a naked DNA solution, the ‘hydrodynamics‐based procedure’. Rats are more tolerant of the frequent phlebotomies required for monitoring blood parameters than mice, and thus are better for some biomedical research.

Methods

We tested this technique for the delivery of a therapeutic protein in normal rats, using a rat erythropoietin (Epo) expression plasmid vector, pCAGGS‐Epo.

Results

We obtained maximal Epo expression when the DNA solution was injected in a volume of 25 ml (approximately 100 ml/kg body weight) within 15 s. We observed a dose‐response relationship between serum Epo levels and the amount of injected DNA up to 800 µg. Using quantitative real‐time PCR, the vector‐derived Epo mRNA expression was mainly detected in the liver. When a lacZ expression plasmid was injected similarly, β‐galactosidase was exclusively detected in the liver, mainly in hepatocytes. Toxicity attributable to the technique was mild and transient, as assessed by histochemical analysis. Epo gene expression and erythropoiesis occurred with Epo gene transfer in a dose‐dependent manner, and persisted for at least 12 weeks, the last time point examined. Repeated administration of the plasmid DNA also effectively led to erythropoiesis.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that gene transfer into the liver via rapid tail vein injection can easily be achieved in the rat, which is more than 10 times larger than the mouse, and has significant value for gene function analysis in rats. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

     

Gastropathy and defense mechanisms in common bile duct ligated portal hypertensive rats

Portal hypertensive gastropathy is associated with a broad spectrum of gastric mucosal damage inspite of decreased gastric acid secretion, suggestive of compromised endogenous protective mechanisms. To determine the mechanisms of damage in portal hypertensive gastropathy we measured lipid peroxidation, glutathione, antioxidant and lysosomal enzymes in gastric mucosal homogenates from male Wistar rats with elevated intrasplenic pulp pressure, eighteen days after common bile duct ligation. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and lysosomal enzymes (-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase) were increased in the common bile duct ligated group as compared to the sham-operated group. The levels of antioxidant defense enzymes, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and glutathione were decreased as compared to the sham-operated controls. Pre-operative vitamin E administration decreased mucosal lipid peroxidation increased the levels of antioxidant defense enzymes and lowered the lysosomal enzymes. The plasma vitamin E levels in this group were lower when compared to animals receiving it post-operatively. In conclusion, free radical and lysosomal enzyme mediated damage may play a role in portal hypertensive gastropathy.     

Minor vein structure and sugar transport in Arabidopsis thaliana

Leaf and minor vein structure were studied in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. to gain insight into the mechanism(s) of phloem loading. Vein density (length of veins per unit leaf area) is extremely low. Almost all veins are intimately associated with the mesophyll and are probably involved in loading. In transverse sections of veins there are, on average, two companion cells for each sieve element. Phloem parenchyma cells appear to be specialized for delivery of photoassimilate from the bundle sheath to sieve element-companion cell complexes: they make numerous contacts with the bundle sheath and with companion cells and they have transfer cell wall ingrowths where they are in contact with sieve elements. Plasmodesmatal frequencies are high at interfaces involving phloem parenchyma cells. The plasmodesmata between phloem parenchyma cells and companion cells are structurally distinct in that there are several branches on the phloem parenchyma cell side of the wall and only one branch on the companion cell side. Most of the translocated sugar in A. thaliana is sucrose, but raffinose is also transported. Based on structural evidence, the most likely route of sucrose transport is from bundle sheath to phloem parenchyma cells through plasmodesmata, followed by efflux into the apoplasm across wall ingrowths and carrier-mediated uptake into the sieve element-companion cell complex. Received: 5 October 1999 / Accepted: 20 November 1999     

甜菜坏死黄脉病毒内蒙分离物RNA3序列分析及编码25kD蛋白基因在大肠杆菌中的表达

以甜菜坏死黄脉病毒（ＢＮＹＶＶ）内蒙分离物的总ＲＮＡ为模板,通过反转录－ＰＣＲ扩增获得ＢＮＹＶＶＲＮＡ３全长ｃＤＮＡ。将其克隆到ｐＧＥＭ－７Ｚｆ（＋）上,得到重组质粒ｐＧＢＹ５６。序列分析结果表明,内蒙分离物ＲＮＡ３基因组全长为１７７５ｎｔ,其中包含３个开放阅读框架,分别编码２５ｋＤ蛋白、４．６ｋＤ蛋白和一种由５９个氨基酸组成的Ｎ蛋白。与法国Ｆ２分离物、德国Ｇ１分离物和日本Ｓ分离物相比,其核苷酸序列的同源性分别为９６．４％、９６．８％和９７．３％。将２５ｋＤ蛋白编码基因克隆到ｐＪＷ２上,构建了该基因的原核表达载体。ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ和Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎｂｌｏｔｉｎｇ分析结果表明,２５ｋＤ蛋白基因在Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉＢＬ２１（ＤＥ３）中经温度（４２℃）诱导后,可特异地表达２５ｋＤ蛋白     

Evaluation of two-dimensional electronic portal imaging device using integrated images during volumetric modulated arc therapy for prostate cancer

BackgroundThe aim of the study was to evaluate analysis criteria for the identification of the presence of rectal gas during volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for prostate cancer patients by using electronic portal imaging device (EPID)-based in vivo dosimetry (IVD).Materials and methodsAll measurements were performed by determining the cumulative EPID images in an integrated acquisition mode and analyzed using PerFRACTION commercial software. Systematic setup errors were simulated by moving the anthropomorphic phantom in each translational and rotational direction. The inhomogeneity regions were also simulated by the I’mRT phantom attached to the Quasar phantom. The presence of small and large air cavities (12 and 48 cm³) was controlled by moving the Quasar phantom in several timings during VMAT. Sixteen prostate cancer patients received EPID-based IVD during VMAT.ResultsIn the phantom study, no systematic setup error was detected in the range that can happen in clinical (< 5-mm and < 3 degree). The pass rate of 2% dose difference (DD2%) in small and large air cavities was 98.74% and 79.05%, respectively, in the appearance of the air cavity after irradiation three quarter times. In the clinical study, some fractions caused a sharp decline in the DD2% pass rate. The proportion for DD2% < 90% was 13.4% of all fractions. Rectal gas was confirmed in 11.0% of fractions by acquiring kilo-voltage X-ray images after the treatment.ConclusionsOur results suggest that analysis criteria of 2% dose difference in EPID-based IVD was a suitable method for identification of rectal gas during VMAT for prostate cancer patients.     

Weekly osimertinib dosing prevents EGFR mutant tumor cells destined to home mouse lungs

The recently conducted ADAURA trial concludes daily dosing of adjuvant osimertinib, a third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), improves disease-free survival with stage IB/II/IIIA EGFR -mutated non-small cell lung cancer patients in comparison to placebo. We have developed a preclinical orthotopic mouse model, using luciferase tagged lung adenocarcinoma cells harboring EGFR TKI sensitive exon 19 deletion to model and extend trial implications comparing a weekly vs daily dosing outcome of osimertinib to a first-generation TKI- erlotinib. We find that 100% of mice in both the groups receiving osimertinib daily or weekly before injection of cells show a complete absence of homing of cells in mice''s lungs from day three until day 18 post-injection of cells. On the other hand, 25% and 75% of mice receiving erlotinib daily and weekly before injecting cells show homing of cells to the lungs. The tumors observed in the lungs, when dissected at day 30, confirmed the colonization of the injected cells homing to the organ. Thus, our study establishes the efficacy of pretreatment with osimertinib in reducing tumor cells'' homing to mouse lungs in an in vivo mouse model.     

长链非编码RNA(lncRNA)在氧化型低密度脂蛋白诱导血管内皮细胞损伤中表达谱的变化

目的:探讨长链非编码RNA(long noncoding RNA,lnc RNA)在氧化型低密度脂蛋白(oxidized low-density lipoprotein,ox-LDL)诱导的损伤人脐静脉内皮细胞(human umbilical vein endothelial cells,HUVEC)与正常HUVEC中表达谱的差异。方法:采用lnc RNA芯片检测ox-LDL诱导的损伤HUVEC与正常HUVEC中lncRNA及mRNA的表达差异,筛选出HUVEC损伤相关的lncRNA。结果:相对于正常HUVEC,在ox-LDL诱导的损伤HUVEC中表达上调和下调超过2倍的lncRNAs和m RNAs分别有139种和113种,上调和下调超过4倍的lncRNAs和mRNAs分别有35种和28种。结论:与正常HUVEC比较,ox-LDL诱导的损伤HUVEC中lncRNA的表达谱显著变化,lncRNA可能在血管内皮细胞损伤过程中发挥一定作用。     

选择性冠状静脉动脉化搭桥术中不同移植物的应用疗效比较

目的:对比选择性冠状静脉动脉化(SCVBG)搭桥治疗弥漫性右冠状动脉狭窄病变中选择乳内动脉和大隐静脉作为桥血管的治疗效果。方法:选择2008年10月到2014年10月在我院行SCVBG搭桥的84例患者资料,其中选择大隐静脉作为桥血管进行冠状静脉动脉化搭桥患者46例(大隐静脉桥组),选择乳内动脉作为桥血管进行冠状静脉动脉化搭桥患者38例(乳内动脉桥组)。随访记录两组患者的生存情况、近期复查超声心动图、冠状动脉CTA及心绞痛复发率。结果:乳内动脉桥组患者总生存率(100%)明显高于大隐静脉桥组(82.6%)(P0.05)。乳内动脉桥组患者桥血管和心中静脉通畅率(100%)明显大于大隐静脉桥组(54.35%)(P0.05)。两组患者左心室射血分数(LVEF)较治疗前明显增加,左心室舒张期末内径(LVEDD)较治疗前明显减小(P0.05)。治疗后,乳内动脉桥组患者心绞痛复发率明显小于大隐静脉桥组(P0.05)。结论:SCVBG搭桥治疗弥漫性右冠状动脉狭窄病变中,选择乳内动脉桥效果优于大隐静脉桥,能明显提高桥血管和心中静脉通畅率,降低心绞痛复发率。     

去自主神经效应对环肺静脉消融房颤疗效的影响

目的：探讨去自主神经效应对环肺静脉消融(CPVA)治疗心房颤动(房颤)的远期成功率的影响。方法：选择104 例药物治疗无 效的、有临床症状的阵发性房颤患者作为研究对象,所有患者均接受CPVA 术。分别于术前、术后进行动态心电图检查,术后每3 个月复查一次动态心电。随访房颤消融成功率(术后3个月无房颤被定义为无复发);并记录动态心电心率变异性(HRV)以反映自 主神经功能。结果：本组研究共104 例患者完成了CPVA术,平均手术次数为(1.35术次数为。变次,成功率为77.9%,共随访(24.27 次数为。变异性个月。根据术后是否发生房颤,将患者分为成功组(81例)和复发组(23 例),所有患者CPVA术后的时域和频域各项 参数均显著降低(P<0.01),两组术后心率变异性(HRV) 各项参数均较术前明显降低,成功组患者的SNDD、SDANN、rMSSD、 PNN50、HF、TF、LF、VLF 较对照组患者呈现不同程度的降低。结论：CPVA术可使心房出现去自主神经效应,进而增加去神经化 效应,有利于提高其治疗房颤的远期成功率。     

一种动态检测小鼠微量血中T细胞受体重排删除环含量的方法

目的:通过检测比较外周血(颈动脉大量采血和微量隐静脉采血)、胸腺组织和脾脏组织等不同成分或组织中T细胞受体重排删除环(T cell receptor rearrangement excision circles,TREC)的含量,并建立一种通过微量外周血PCR预扩增的方法,评估胸腺输出功能。方法:采用C57BL/6小鼠作为实验对象,分成幼年组(5周龄,n=10)和成年组(15周龄,n=10)。经过隐静脉采血及颈动脉采血后处死小鼠,取小鼠胸腺器官和脾脏器官,提取基因组DNA(g DNA),隐静脉微量血g DNA通过PCR预扩增,提纯后再和颈动脉血、胸腺组织和脾脏组织g DNA一起进行实时定量PCR,分析各组织成分TREC的表达水平及差别。结果:幼年组胸腺组织及外周血中TREC的含量比成年组高,且二者趋势基本一致;而脾脏组织结果与其相反;幼年组小鼠胸腺组织中TREC的含量比脾脏组织中高,成年组小鼠结果与之相反;微量外周血经过预扩增后再进行实时定量PCR的结果与直接定量PCR结果一致,且更高效。结论:研究提供了一种新型高效的动态检测T细胞受体重排删除环和检测胸腺输出功能的方法。