EFFECTS OF PSEUDOFYPE RETROVIRUS CONTAINING HUMAN N-RAS ANTISENSE GENE ON THE GROWTH OF HUMAN LIVER CANCER LTNM4 TRANSPLANTED IN NUDE MICE

An amphotropic pseudotype retrovirus containing human N-ras antisense gene was constructed and packaged with helper cells. It has been previously demonstrated that the virus did inhibit the growth of human hepatocarcinoma cell line PLC PRF/5 in vitro accompanied with the blockage of p21 expression. Based on these results, further study was carried on to examine the effect of these viruses on the growth of human hepatoma transplanted LTNM4 in nude mice. It has been shown that the retrovirus containing human antisense N-ras gene could inhibit the hepatoma in nude mice at a rate of 78% (P<0.05) as compared with saline control. No inhibition was observed in group treated with retrovirus which contained no N-ras sequence. These results in vivo lend further support that human N-ras antisense gene mediated by retrovirus could block the expression of the relevant oncogene and lead to the inhibition of cancer growth. It also provided the basis for further approaches of gene therapy for human cancer.

Determination of Amylose Content and Its Relationship with RVA Profile Within Genetically Similar Cultivars of Rice(Oryza sativa L.ssp.japonica)

Anther culture pure lines with antisense Wx gene were generated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated co-transformation followed by anther culture in transgenic rice （Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica）. The antisense Wx transgenic pure lines were used to analyze the differences and the relationship between RVA eigenvalues among the lines with different amylose contents. 77 pure lines of anther culture having antisense Wx gene were studied for the amylose content of its offspring cultivar, Wuyunjing 7. It was found that levels ofamylose content were similar to the control in 19 lines （16.0%）; 1-5% lower than control in 50 lines, of which, within 11.0-13.9% in 40 lines; and 3.1-4.0% in 8 lines. The effect of the amylose content on RVA eigenvalue was analyzed through the RVA profile graphic comparison and test of significance for RVA eigenvalues. The analysis of RVA profiles with different amylose contents indicated that there were two kinds of RVA profiles within genetically similar cultivars. The lines with 3.1-4.0% of amylose content were distinctly different from other lines and conventional glutinous rice. The comparison of the similarity curve of RVA profile of the lines with different amylose contents showed that the lines with lower amylose content had a distinguished RVA profile with the curve increasing gradually, but not exceeding the first apex. The test of significance for eigenvalues of the RVA profile in the lines with different amylose contents indicated that there were five eigenvalues remarkably different among the lines with 3.1-4.0% of amylose content compared with other two groups. Further, there were three eigenvalues remarkably different among the lines with 11.0-13.5% of amylose content compared with control group. An optimized mathematical model, which characterizes the relationships between the amylose content and RVA eigenvalue, has been established in this study. From this model, it was clearly indicated that the parameters PeT and SBV were more related to amylose content. It was concluded that the differences in amylose content not only affected the eigenvalues of RVA but also caused different RVA profiles within genetically similar cultivars. The introduction of antisense Wx gene could lead to reduce the amylose content and lay theoretical foundation for quality improvement in rice breeding programs.

Local Delivery of C-myc Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotide by Gelatin Coated Platinium-Iridium Stent to Prevent Restenosis in a Normal Rabbit Carotid Artery

Objectives To investigate the feasibility and effect of local deliveryof c-myc antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) by gelatin coated Platinium-Iridium stent to prevent restenosis in a normal rabbit carotid artery. Methods Gelatin coated Platinium-Iridium stent were implanted in the right carotid arteries of 32 rabbits under vision. Animals were randomized to the control group and the treated group receiving c-myc ASODN (n=16 respectively).7, 14, 30,90 days following the stenting procedure, morphometry for caculation of neointimal area and mean neointimal thickness were performed.The expression of c-myc protein was detected by immunohistochemical methods. Results 32 stents were successfully implanted into the right carotid arteries in 32 animals.Morphometric analysis showed that neointimal area and mean neointimal thickness siginificantly increased continuously up to 12 weeks after stent implantation,and at each time point , neointimal area and mean neointimal thickness were siginificantly smaller in the treated group than control group. (P<0.001,respectively).c-myc protein expression was weak positive or negative in treated group and positive in control group. Conclusions Gelatin coated Platinium-Iridium stent mediated local delivery of c- myc ASODN is feasibility , and it can inhibit neointimal hyperplasia to prevent restenosis in a normal rabbit carotid artery.

A Rice Panicle Mutant Created by Transformation with an Antisense cDNA Library

A rice （Oryza sativa L.） mutant displaying defects in panicle development was identified among transformants in a transgenic mutagenlzed experiment using an antlsense cDNA library prepared from young rice panicles. In the mutant, the average splkelet number was reduced to 59.8 compared with 104.3 in wild-type plants. In addition, the seed-setting rate of the mutant was low （39.3%） owing to abnormal female development. Genetic analysis of T1 and T2 progeny showed that the traits segregated In a 3 （mutant） ： 1 （wild type） ratio and the mutation was cosegregated with the transgene. Southern blot and thermal asymmetric interlaced polymerase chain reaction analyses showed that the mutant had a single T-DNA insertion on chromosome 5, where no gene was tagged. Sequencing analysis found that the transgenic antisense cDNA was derived from a gene encoding an F-box protein in chromosome 7 with unidentified function. This and another four homologous genes encoding putative F-box proteins form a gene cluster. These results indicate that the phenotyplc mutations were most likely due to the silencing effect of the expressed transgenic antisense construct on the member（s） of the F-box gene cluster.

Inhibitory effect of retroviral vector containing anti-sense Smad_4 gene on Ito cell line, LI90

Background Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) exerts strong fibrogenic potential in culture-activated HSCs Smad 4 is a key intracellular mediator for the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily of growth factors The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the antisense Smad 4 gene on Ito cell line, LI90 Methods The recombinant retroviral vector pLXSN-Smad 4 was constructed by cloning the rat antisense Smad 4 cDNA into the retroviral vector pLXSN Retroviruses with or without the antisense gene were obtained by transfecting pLXSN-Smad 4 and pLXSN vectors into PA317 cells Human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) LI90 were infected with these retroviruses followed by selection with G418 The expression of Smad 4 was detected by Northern and Western blots Cell biological characteristics, including cell growth curve, 3H-TdR and 3H-proline uptake by HSCs and the production of extracellular matrix were assessed Results mRNA and protein expressions of Smad 4 in LI90 cells transfected with retrovirus containing the antisense Smad 4 gene were much lower than those in LI90 cells transfected with empty vector or parental LI90 cells Cells hypoexpressing the Smad 4 gene exhibited a slower rate of growth, a lower uptake of 3H-TdR and 3H-proline ( P <0 01), and smaller production of th extracellular matrix, compared with parental LI90 cells and cells transfected with empty retrovirus Conclusions The antisense Smad 4 gene can suppress the expression of the Smad 4 gene, reduce endogenous production of Smad 4 mRNA and protein, block TGF-β1 signaling pathway, inhibit activation of Ito cells, obstruct the growth of Ito cells, decrease the production of the extracellular matrix (ECM) Our results may provide a basis for the development of antifibrotic gene therapy

Effect of WT1 gene expression on cell growth and proliferation in myeloidleukemia celllines

Objective To investigate the effects and mechanism of Wilms' tumor (WT1) antisense oligonucleotides (AS oligomers) on proliferation and apoptosis in meyloid leukemia cell lines Methods K562 and HL 60 cells were cultured in presence of WT1 oligomers Both cell lines express WT1 gene with no p53 protein expression Cells growth, apoptosis and expression of WT1, bcl 2 genes were analysed using 3 [4,5 dimethylthiazol 2 yl] 2,5 diphenylmetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay, flow cytometry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) methods Results WT1 antisense oligonucleotides inhibited cellular proliferation of K562 cells and the effect was concentration dependent When cultured at concentration of 200?μg/ml oligomers, growth inhibition was 46 2% for antisense oligonucleotide cultivated group and 28 1% for sense oligonucleotide cultured group (P=0 008) respectively WT1 antisense oligonucleotide can induce apoptosis of K562 and HL 60 cells Percentages of apoptotic cells in antisense oligonucleotide and sense oligonucleotide treated groups were 30 88% versus 13 62% for K562 cells and 40 15% versus 4 23% for HL 60 cells However the growth of HL 60 cells and expression of bcl 2 gene were unaffected Conclusions The WT1 gene is related with proliferation and apoptosis of leukemic cells Effect of anti apoptosis may be independent of the cellular p53 status and bcl 2 expression WT1 gene may play an important role in leukemogenesis