Selenium Regulation of Selenium-dependent Glutathione Peroxidases in Animals and Transfected CHO Cells

Glutathione peroxidase (GPX1) was the first identified selenium-dependent enzyme, and this enzyme has been most useful as a biochemical indicator of selenium (Se) status and the parameter of choice for determining Se requirements. We have continued to study Se regulation of GPX1 to better understand the underlying mechanism and to gain insight into how cells themselves regulate nutrient status. In progressive Se deficiency in rats, GPX1 activity,protein and mRNA all decrease in a dramatic, coordinated and exponential fashion such that Se-deficient GPX1 mRNA levels are 6-15% of Sexadequate levels. mRNA levels for other Sedependent proteins are far less decreased in the same animals. The mRNA levels for a second Se-dependent peroxidase, phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (GPX4 ), are little affected by Se deficiency, demonstrating that Se regulation of GPX1 is unique. Se regulation of GPX1 activity in growing male and female rats shows that the Se requirernent is 100 ng/g diet, based on liver GPX1 activity; use of GPX1 mRNA as the parameter indicates that the Se requirement is nearer to 50 ng Se/g diet in both male and female rats. This approach will readily detect an altered dietary Se requirement, as shown by the incremental increases in dietary Se requirement by 150, 100 or 50 ng Se/g diet in Seudeficient rat pups repleted with Se for 3, 7 or 14 d, respectively. Studies with CHO cells stably transfected with recombinant GPX1 also show that overexpression of GPX1 does not alter the minimum level of media Se necessary for Se-adequate levels of GPX1 activity or mRNA. We hypothesize that classical GPX1 has an integral biological role in the mechanism used by cells to regulate Se status,making GPX1 an especially useful and effective parameter for determining Se requirements in animals

BEHAVIOR OF CHO CELLS ON MODIFIED POLYPROPYLENE BY LOW TEMPERATURE AMMONIA PLASMA

The surface of polypropylene (PP) membrane was modified by low temperature plasma with ammonia. The effect of exposure time was investigated by means of contact angle measurement. The results show that low temperature ammonia plasma treatment can enhance its hydrophilicity. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells attachment on the modified membrane was enhanced and the growth rate on the membrane was faster than unmodified one.

Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-7 expressed from CHO cells possessing the activity of bone-induced in vitro

Objective To express the recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-7 (rhBMP-7) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and to establish the in vitro biological activity assay of rhBMP-7. Methods Human BMP-7 cDNA was subcloned into pcDNA3.1 mammalian expression vector and transfected to CHO cells by using the lipofectin transfection method. BMP-7 expression cell culture supernatants were harvested and purified for target protein. To analyze the bioactivity of the secreted rhBMP-7, a novel in vitro assay was established by measuring its alkaline phosphatase (ALP) stimulating of osteoblast cell line, W-20-17. Results BMP-7 stably expressing cell clone was selected, which secreted mature disulfide-linked homodimer form of hBMP-7 and had an apparent molecular weight of 36kDa. rhBMP-7 with >95% purity was obtained using 3 step chromatography method. Bioactivity assay showed that the purified protein specifically stimulated W-20-17 cell producing ALP, with a 4-fold increase of ALP activity at 100ng/ml or more, and the EC50 of 15.6ng/ml. Conclusion Purified rhBMP-7 from this CHO expression system has significant biological activity in induction of osteoblast phenotype, which demonstrates potential bone regeneration activity.

Gene Cloning of Murine α-Fetoprotein Gene and Construction of Its Eukaryotic Expression Vector and Expression in CHO Cells

To clone the murine α fetoprotein (AFP) gene, construct the eukaryotic expression vector of AFP and express in CHO cells, total RNA were extracted from Hepa 1 6 cells, and then the murine α fetoprotein gene was amplified by RT PCR and cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1. The recombinant of vector was identified by restriction enzyme analysis and sequencing. After transient transfection of CHO cells with the vector, Western blotting was used to detect the expression of AFP. It is concluded that the 1.8kb murine α fetoprotein gene was successfully cloned and its eukaryotic expression vector was successfully constructed.

Induction of mitochondrion-mediated apoptosis of CHO cells by tripchloro lide

Tripchlorolide (TC) is a potent antitumor reagent purified from a Chinese herb Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook. f.. However, its cellular effects and mechanism of action are unknown. We showed here that TC induced apoptosis of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells in time- and dose-dependent manners. TC resulted in the degradation of Bcl-2, the translocation of Bax from the cytosol to mitochondria, and the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. Stable overexpression of human Bcl-2 could reduce the apoptosis of TCtreated cells by blocking the translocation of Bax and the release of cytochrome c. These results indicate that TC induces apoptosis of CHO cell by activating the mitochondrion-mediated apoptotic pathway involving the proteins of Bcl-2 family and cytochrome c.

Deregulated c-myc expression in quiescent CHO cellsinduces target gene transcription and subsequent apoptotic phenotype

Human c-myc cDNA was fused with the hormonebinding domain (HBD) cDNA of murine estrogen receptorgene and the chimeric gene was introduced into the CHOcells. The fusion protein, c-MycER, becomes activatedwhen the synthetic steroid, 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen (OHT),binds HBD. Activated c-MycER, likely c-Myc, can inducequiescent CHO cells reentry into S phase and subsequentcell death under serum-free condition. In addition, theexpression of some proposed c-myc target genes such asODC, MrDb, cad, rcc1 and rc1 were found to increase uponOHT induction before S, phase entry and apoptosis, indicating that these target genes are involved in cell cycleregulation and/or apoptosis control. However, the mutantD106-143c-MycER protein does not have above activities.

Heterologous Expression of Rat Testis GABA_A Receptor β3t Splicing Variant in CHO Cells

Objective To characterize a possible retention function of unique sequence in the 5＇end of rat testis GABAA receptor β3t splicing variant Methods Rat testis GABAA receptor β3t splicing variant cDNA was cloned and two eukaryotic expression recombinant plasmids of pEGFP-N1 and pEGFP-C1 were constructed respectively by fusing green fluorescent protein to the N or C-terminus of β3t isoform. The recombinant plasmids were transfected into CHO cells by calcium phosphate co-precipitation method Fluorescence microscope and laser confocal microscope were used to analyze localization of β3t in the transfected cells. ConA-Texas-Red was used to label cell ER and the localization of rat testis β3t splicing variant in CHO cells was determined. Results When rat testis β3t splicing variant was expressed in CHO cells, two expression patterns were delineated, the distributions of uniform and mainly discrete intracellular compartments respectively, The chimera product failed to be translocated into the cell surface when expressed in ClIO cells; whereas the β3 subunit of rat brain was incorporated into the plasma membrane. Conclusion The inability of β3t to target into the ER may be a consequence of the unique 25 specific amino acid segments in the N terminus.

Promoting the production of challenging proteins via induced expression in CHO cells and modified cell-free lysates harboring T7 RNA polymerase and mutant eIF2α

Chinese hamster ovary(CHO)cells are crucial in biopharmaceutical production due to their scalability and capacity for human-like post-translational modifications.However,toxic proteins and membrane proteins are often difficult-to-express in living cells.Alternatively,cell-free protein synthesis can be employed.This study explores innovative strategies for enhancing the production of challenging proteins through the modification of CHO cells by investigating both,cell-based and cell-free approaches.A major result in our study involves the integration of a mutant eIF2 translation initiation factor and T7 RNA polymerase into CHO cell lysates for cell-free protein synthesis.This resulted in elevated yields,while eliminating the necessity for exogenous additions during cell-free production,thereby substantially enhancing efficiency.Additionally,we explore the potential of the Rosa26 genomic site for the integration of T7 RNA polymerase and cell-based tetracycline-controlled protein expression.These findings provide promising advancements in bioproduction technologies,offering flexibility to switch between cell-free and cell-based protein production as needed.

HIGH DENSITY CULTIVATION OF GENETICALLY－ENGINEERED CHO CELL LINES WITH MICROCARRIER CULTURE SYSTEMS

Genetically-engineered CHO cell lines, rβ- 13 and CLF-8B2, were cultivated with the MC- 1 microcarrier culture system. The cell density could be enhanced by increasing the concentration of microcarrier. At a microcarrier concentration of 10 mg/ml. the cell density could reach 4 to 5 × 106 cells/ml. It was shown that these cell lines would spontaneously release from the microcarrier to attach to and proliferate on fresh microcarriers. We were thus able to scale up cultivation using a simple method. i. e. by adding fresh microcarriers and medium directly into the culture system to about 2, 4 or 8 times the original volume. Using a perfusion culture system. we have successfully cultivated CLF-8B2 cells in a 2 L bioreactor for several weeks at medium perfusion rates of 0. 5 to 3working volumes. Prourokinase was stably secreted.

Expression of Porcine Growth Hormone Gene in CHO Cell

An expressive plasmid pSMTPCH was constructed from porcine growth hormone gene,sheep metallothionein promoter (MT-011)and the vector,pUC19. The linear pSMTPGH and circular pSV2-dhfr were cotransfected into CHO-dhfr cell by calcium phosphate coprecipitation. Positive clones made up 74% of total clones, which were identified with ELISA. The expression of pSMTPGH was induced by 0.5 μM of Cd￣++. The clone 1-C-3 was found to secrete hGH at the level of 3800 μg/10￣6 cells/24 hrs in media containing 10 μMTX. After 20 generations in culture, the clone was still stable with hGH expression.The molecular weight of secreted protein was the same as that of the natural pGH, 22KD;the identity was further supported by Western blot.

The Binding Ability Analysis of the Normal VLDL Receptor and Its Mutant

The ligand-binding domain of VLDL receptor contains eight imperfectly similar repeats. To discuss the contribution of each repeat to ligand binding, the RT-PCR technique was used to clone the VLDLR-cDNA from the heart muscle of Chinese people. Two recombinants were further constructed, which contained the full-length cDNA of VLDLR and the mutant lacking repeats 1-5. CHO cell line was transfected with two recombinants. The expression of VLDLR gene could be detected by RT-PCR from the CHO cells transfected with pCD-VR. The results of binding experiments showed that the ability of the CHO cells transfected with the full-length cDNA of VLDL-R binding DiI-labeled β-VLDL was higher than that of the CHO cells transfected with the mutant. Our findings indicated that human VLDL-R gene could be expressed effectively on CHO cells, and the receptor was almost inactivated when repeats1-5 were deleted.

The Human PsB-ATPase ATP13A2 Is Not a Ca2＊ Transporting Pump

The human gene ATP 13A2 has been proposed to code for an ATP powered ion transporter of the PsB subfamily. Mutations of the human gene ATP1 3A2 were found to underlie an autosomal recessive form of early-onset parkinsonism （PD） with pyramidal degeneration and dementia. The ion transported by the ATP13A2 pump is not known, but several studies have shown that the Ps-ATPases influence the homeostasis of intracellular Ca2＋, and thus it has been suggested that they transport Ca2＋. In order to evaluate this possibility Chinese hamster ovary （CHO） cells stably expressing the human ATP13A2 protein have been obtained and the Ca2＋ transport activity of ATP 13A2 was assessed by measuring the ATP-dependent uptake of Ca2＋ into microsomal vesicles. As a positive control vesicles containing the human plasma membrane Ca2＋ pump （PMCA） were used. No significant differences were found between vesicles containing the ATP 13A2 protein and the control. Moreover, Ca2＋ was unable to induce the formation of the P-ATPase acylphosphate intermediate in vesicles containing the expressed ATPl3A2. These results favor the idea that the ATPI3A2 does not transport Ca2＋.

Role of natural killer T cells in Graves' disease

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of natural killer T (NK T) cells in the pathogenesis of Graves' disease. METHODS: NK T cell deficient mice and wild BALB/c mice were immunized with cells expressing TSH receptor once every two weeks 6 times. Two weeks after the final immunization, the mice were killed and serum thyroxine levels, anti-TSH receptor antibodies and thyroid pathological changes were examined. RESULTS: The mean levels of TT(4) and TRAb in the immunized NK T cell deficient group were slightly elevated but significantly different from those of the non-immunized control group, while comparable to those in the immunized wild group. There were no significant changes of the activity levels of TSAb or TSBAb in the immunized NK T cell deficient mice compared to those in immunized wild control mice. Thyroids from immunized NK T cell deficient mice showed mild hypertrophy of some follicles as compared with non-immunized control mice. This change was comparable to immunized wild control mice. CONCLUSION: NK T cells may not be involved in the pathogenesis of Graves' disease.

TIC-Tox: A preliminary discussion on identifying the forcing agents of DBP-mediated toxicity of disinfected water

The disinfection of drinking water is a major public health achievement; however, an unintended consequence of disinfection is the generation of disinfection by-products（DBPs）. Many of the identified DBPs exhibit in vitro and in vivo toxicity, generate a diversity of adverse biological effects, and may be hazards to the public health and the environment.Only a few DBPs are regulated by several national and international agencies and it is not clear if these regulated DBPs are the forcing agents that drive the observed toxicity and their associated health effects. In this study, we combine analytical chemical and biological data to resolve the forcing agents associated with mammalian cell cytotoxicity of drinking water samples from three cities. These data suggest that the trihalomethanes（THMs） and haloacetic acids may be a small component of the overall cytotoxicity of the organic material isolated from disinfected drinking water. Chemical classes of nitrogen-containing DBPs, such as the haloacetonitriles and haloacetamides, appear to be the major forcing agents of toxicity in these samples. These findings may have important implications for the design of epidemiological studies that primarily rely on the levels of THMs to define DBP exposure among populations. The TIC-Tox approach constitutes a beginning step in the process of identifying the forcing agents of toxicity in disinfected water.