Human liver chimeric mouse model based on diphtheria toxin-induced liver injury

AIM To establish an inducible liver injury mouse model and transplant human hepatocytes to obtain liverhumanized mice.METHODS We crossed three mouse strains,including albumin(Alb)-cre transgenic mice,inducible diphtheria toxin receptor(DTR) transgenic mice and severe combined immune deficient(SCID)-beige mice,to create Alb-cre/DTR/SCID-beige(ADSB) mice,which coincidentally harbor Alb-cre and DTR transgenes and are immunodeficient. As the Cre expression is driven by the liver-specific promoter Alb(encoding ALB),the DTR stop signal flanked by two lox P sites can be deleted in the ADSB mice,resulting in DTR expression in the liver. ADSB mice aged 8-10 wk were injected intraperitoneally(i.p.) with diphtheria toxin(DT) and liver damage was assessed by serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT) level. Two days later,mouse livers were sampled for histological analysis,and human hepatocytes were transplanted into the livers on the same day. A human ALB enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed 7,14,21 and 28 d after transplantation. Human CD68 immunohistochemistry was performed 30 and 90 d after transplantation.RESULTS We crossed Alb-cre with DTR and SCID-beige mice to obtain ADSB mice. These mice were found to have liver damage 4 d after i.p. injection of 2.5 ng/g bodyweight DT. Bodyweight began to decrease on day 2,increased on day 7,and was lowest on day 4(range,10.5%-13.4%). Serum ALT activity began to increase on day 2 and reached a peak value of 289.7 ± 16.2 IU/m L on day 4,then returned to background values on day 7. After transplantation of human liver cells,peripheral blood human ALB level was 1580 ± 454.8 ng/m L(range,750.2-3064.9 ng/m L) after 28 d and Kupffer cells were present in the liver at 30 d in ADSB mice.CONCLUSION Human hepatocytes were successfully repopulated in the livers of ADSB mice. The inducible mouse model of humanized liver in ADSB mice may have functional applications,such as hepatocyte transplantation,hepatic regeneration and drug metabolism.

Secretory Expression of Recombinant Diphtheria ToxinMutants in B. Subtilis

Three diphtheria toxin (DT) mutants CRM-197, DT-del (148) and DT-El48S-K516A-F530A were cloned in B- Subtilis plasmid PSM604 under the subtilisin signal sequence. The expression was effective in both SMS300 and SMS118, but higher yield of 7. 1 mg/L was observed in SMS300 compared with 2. 1 mg/L in SMS118. Western blot showed that the recombinant protein could be effectively secreted into the culture medium as a 58 ku peptide, and could be de-graded into two peptides of 37ku and 21ku.

Diphtheria Toxin/Human B-Cell Activating Factor Fusion Protein Kills Human Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia BALL-1 Cells: An Experimental Study

Objective： This study aimed to express a fusion protein of diphtheria toxin and human B cell-activating factor （DT388sBAFF） in Escherichia coli （E. coli） and investigate its activity in human B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia 1 cells （BALL-1）. Methods： A fragment of DT388sBAFF fusion gene was separated from plasmid pUC57-DT388sBAFF digested with Nde I and Xho I, and inserted into the expression vector pcold II digested with the same enzymes. Recombinants were screened by the colony polymerase chain reaction （PCR） and restriction map. The recombinant expression vector was transformed into BL21 and its expression was induced by isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside （IPTG）. The recombinant protein was identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis （SDS-PAGE） and Western blot, and then purified by Ni2＋-NTA affinity chromatography. The expression level of B cell-activating factor receptor （BAFF-R） on BALL-1 cells was assessed by real-time PCR. The receptor binding capacity of recombinant protein was determined by cell fluorescent assay. The specific cytotoxicity of recombinant protein on BALL-1 cells was detected by 3-（4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2）-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide （MTT） assay. Results： The expression level of recombinant protein was 50% of total bacterial proteins in E. coli, and the recombinant protein could bind to BAFF-R-positive BALL-1 cells and thereby produce a cytotoxic effect on the cells. Conclusion： The fusion protein expression vector DT388sBAFF was successfully constructed and the recombinant protein with selective cytotoxicity against BALL-1 cells was obtained, providing foundation for further study of the therapy of human B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Specific killing effect of diphtheria toxin A fragment under control of DF3 promotor on human breast cancer cells

Objective: To study the effects of recombinant expression vector containing human breast cancer DF3 promotor and diphtheria toxin A fragment on human breast cancer cells. Methods: Constructing recombinant expression vector PGL3-DF3-DTA and transfecting it into human breast cancer cells of DF3 positive and negative. By means of RT-PCR to measure the expression of DTA in human breast cancer cells. MTT color-imetry was used to examine the effect of PGL3-DF3-DTA on growth of human breast cancer cells. By experiment on nude mice to observe the killing effect of PGL3-DF3-DTA on human breast cancer cells. Results: Recombinant expression vector PGL3-DF3-DTA was highly expressed in human breast cancer cell line of DF3 positive, and it could kill the human breast cancer cells not only in vitro but also in vivo. Conclusion: Recombinant expression vector PGL3-DF3-DTA could produce specific killing effect on human breast cancer cell line of DF3 positive.

Mycobacterium bovis BCG as a Delivery System for the dtb Gene Antigen from Diphtheria Toxin

Diphtheria is a fulminant bacterial disease caused by toxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae whose local and systemic manifestations are due to the action of the diphtheria toxin (DT). The vaccine which is used to prevent diphtheria worldwide is a toxoid obtained by detoxifying DT. Although associated with high efficacy in the prevention of disease, the current anti-diphtheria vaccine, one of the components of DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis triple vaccine), may present post vaccination effects such as toxicity and reactogenicity resulting from the presence of contaminants in the vaccine that originated during the process of production and/or detoxification. Therefore, strategies to develop a less toxic and at the same time economically viable vaccine alternatives are needed to improve existing vaccines in use worldwide. In this study, the Moreau substrain of BCG which is used in Brazil as a live vaccine against human tuberculosis was genetically modified to carry and express the gene encoding for the diphtheria toxin fragment B (DTB). As such, the DNA sequence encoding the dtb gene was cloned into the pUS977 shuttle vector for cytoplasmic expression and successfully introduced into BCG cells by electroporation. Mice immunized with recombinant BCG expressing DTB showed seroconversion with the detection of specific antibodies against DTB. Also, rBCGs stably expressing DTB persisted up to 60 days in the absence of selective pressure in mice and cell viability did not change significantly during the period tested. Finally, immune sera from BALB/c mice vaccinated with rBCGpUS977dtbPW8 were preliminarily tested for their capacity of neutralizing the diphtheria toxin in the Vero Cells assay.

Plasmid instability when the hsp60 gene promoter is used to express the protective non-toxic fragment B of the diphtheria toxin in recombinant BCG

The genetic modification of the live attenuated Mycobacterium bovis BCG to deliver a protective Corynebacterium diphtheriae antigen in vivo could be a safer and less costly alternative to the new and more expensive DTP vaccines available today, in particular to third world-countries. The stability of expression of heterologous antigens in BCG, however, is a major challenge to the use of live recombinant bacteria in vaccine development and appears to be dependent to a certain extent, on a genetic compatibility between the expression cassette within the plasmid construct and the mycobacterium host. In the quest for the best recombinant BCG transformant to express the dtb gene of C. diphtheriae we generated two new rBCG strains by transforming the Moreau substrain of BCG with the mycobacterial expression vectors pUS973 and pUS977, each one carrying a different promoter to drive the expression of the target antigen. After transformation recombinant BCG clones were selected on Middlebrook 7H10 kanamycin Agar plates, expanded in Middlebrook 7H9 kanamycin Broth and analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. rBCGs transformed with the construct carrying the weak PAN promoter from M. paratuberculosis stably expressed the dtb gene. Conversely, rBCGs transformed with the construct carrying the strong mycobacterium hsp60 promoter were unstable and consequently unfit for the expression of the C. diphtheriae gene.

Cell-specific expression of the diphtheria toxin A-chain coding sequence induces cancer cell suicide

OBJECTIVE: To test whether the diphtheria toxin A (DT-A) chain coding sequence linked to murine immunoglobulin Kappa light chain (IgKappa) promoter and enhancer have selective cytocidal effects on IgKappa producing cells. METHODS: The diphtheria toxin A gene or beta galactosidase (beta-gal) gene were linked to a murine IgKappa promoter and enhancer to construct pcDNA3IgKappaDTA or pcDNA3IgKappaLacZ plasmids. These plasmids were transfected into IgKappa producing or non-producing cells by the liposome coated DNA method. Expression of beta-gal activity and effects on cell growth of transfected cells were assessed. RESULTS: The beta-gal gene, under the control of cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter, can express in all cell lines. Expression of beta-gal under the control of the IgKappa promoter was detected only in the IgKappa producing cell line, CA46. Expression of beta-gal was greatly suppressed when cotransfected with pcDNA3IgKappaDTA in CA46 cells.Cell growth of CA46 cells transfected with pcDNA3IgKappaDTA plasmid was significantly inhibited compared with CA46 cells transfected with pcDNA3IgKappaLacZ. CONCLUSION: Selective killing of IgKappa producing cells can be attained by introducing the diphtheria toxin A gene under the control of IgKappa promoter and enhancer.

Gene therapy for human colorectal carcinoma using human CEA promoter controlled bacterial ADP-ribosylating toxin genes:PEA and DTA gene transfer

AIM To establish a tissue-specific gene therapy for colorectal carcinoma using bacterial ADP-ribosylating toxin genes.METHODS Pseudomonas exotoxin A domain Ⅱ+Ⅲ (PEA) was cloned from genomic DNA of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PEA and diphtheria toxin A chain gene (DTA) were modified to express eukaryotically. After sequencing, the toxin genes under the control of human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) promoter were cloned into retroviral vectors to construct CEAPEA and CEADTA respectively. In vitro cotransfection of the constructs with luciferase vectors and in vivo gene transfer in nude mice were subsequently carried out.RESULTS Both CEAPEA and CEADTA specifically inhibited the reporter gene expression in the CEA positive human colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells in vitro. Direct injection of CEAPEA and CEADTA constructs into the established human tumors in BALB/c nude mice led to significant and selective reductions in CRC tumor size as compared with that in control groups.CONCLUSION The toxin genes, working as therapeutic genes, are suitable for the tissue-specific gene therapy for colorectal carcinoma.

高纯度白喉毒素突变体CRM197的制备及鉴定

为了制备高纯度的白喉毒素无毒突变体CRM197,可作为载体蛋白用于细菌性结合疫苗开发,对CRM197基因进行大肠杆菌密码子优化,并克隆至表达载体pET28a(+)中,将鉴定正确的重组质粒pET28a-CRM197转化到大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),经IPTG诱导表达,并分析其表达形式及表达条件的优化。再对表达的重组CRM197蛋白进行纯化,最后对纯化的CRM197进行WB、纯度、分子量和圆二色谱等检测项目的初步鉴定分析。PCR酶切和测序鉴定结果表明重组质粒pET28a-CRM197构建成功,将其转化到大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中,获得重组工程菌(E.coli(DE3/p28a/197))。该重组工程菌发酵的最佳接种量为5%~10%(v/v),且主要以包涵体形式表达,收获的菌体在高压均质机破碎压力为1000 bar的条件下进行破碎,然后利用6 mol/L盐酸胍进行溶解变性,复性及经30 kD超滤膜包超滤后上纯化系统AKTA pure150 M,经一步阴离子交换层析进行纯化,其纯度可达98%以上,WB、分子量及圆二色谱等鉴定结果均与标准品一致。综上所述,成功建立大肠菌表达系统CRM197制备方法,具有无标签、产量高及纯度高等特点,可用于该蛋白的规模化生产。

DT/VEGF系统对胃癌细胞的杀伤效应

目的 研究ＤＴ３９０基因与ＶＥＧＦ人外显子７基因晤后对胃癌细胞的杀伤作用，探索毒素晤基因治疗胃癌的有效途径，方法 构建携带ＤＴ９０－ＶＥＧＦ１６５或ＤＴ３９０－ＶＥＧＦｅｘｏｎ７融合基因的真核表达载体，用脂质体介导转染胃癌细胞ＳＧＣ７９０１，观察胃癌细胞的形态变化，结果 ５μｇ趑 核表达构的转染５×１０＾５个胃癌细胞／孔（２４孔板）９６ｈ后发现，转素融合基因的细胞９０％死亡，而对照细胞形态正常。

白喉毒素无毒变异体CRM_(197)的表达及其载体作用

目的表达白喉毒素无毒变异体CRM197,并考察其载体作用。方法利用基因工程技术在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中表达CRM197,用金属镍离子亲和层析纯化;以重组CRM197为蛋白载体,在EDAC的作用下,与活化的A群脑膜炎球菌荚膜多糖(GAMP)结合,制备GAMP-rCRM197结合物,免疫BALB/c小鼠,间接ELISA法测定血清中A群脑膜炎球菌多糖特异性IgG抗体,并分析其免疫原性。结果重组CRM197在大肠杆菌中主要以包涵体形式表达,表达量占菌体总蛋白的25%左右;Western blot证明重组CRM197具有良好的反应原性;各针接种后,结合物诱生的多糖特异性IgG水平均显著高于GAMP组和GAMP+rCRM197混合物组,具有较强的免疫原性;多次接种产生了免疫增强效应,重组CRM197具有载体蛋白的作用。结论已在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中成功表达了重组CRM197,以纯化的重组CRM197作为载体制备的GAMP-rCRM197结合物具有良好的免疫原性,为以重组CRM197为蛋白载体制备其他结合疫苗奠定了实验基础。

DAB389-Linker-LHRH重组毒素的构建及生物活性的初步测定

采用基因工程方法,将白喉毒素的毒性部分(DAB389)通过柔性连接肽(Linker)与促黄体激素释放素(LHRH)基因连接起来,克隆到高效表达载体pET28a(+)中,并在大肠杆菌中表达该融合蛋白(DAB389-Linker-LHRH).通过三步层析纯化目的蛋白,获得了纯度达95%的重组毒素DAB389-Linker-LHRH.用MTT法检测其对过度表达LHRH受体的人宫颈癌HeLa细胞的毒性作用,探讨其对HeLa细胞的特异杀伤情况.实验结果显示DAB389-Linker-LHRH对HeLa细胞具有很强的生长抑制作用,其IC50为12.93μg/mL.表明该免疫重组毒素在体外对人宫颈癌HeLa细胞具有明显的杀伤作用,为进一步研制对宫颈癌有特异治疗作用的靶向抗癌药物奠定了基础.

四环素tet-off系统调控的DT/VEGF融合基因对肝细胞癌的杀伤效应

目的研究四环素 tet-off 调控系统对 DT_(390)-VEGF_(165)及DT_(390)-VEGF_(exon7)融合基因的调控作用,探索毒素融合基因在调控状态下治疗肝癌的有效途径。方法构建四环素 tet-off 调控的 DT_(390)-VEGF_(165)或 DT_(390)-VEGF_(exon7)融合基因真核表达载体,用脂质体介导转染肝细胞癌 HepG2,在四环素有或无的情况下观察肝癌细胞的形态变化,用质粒直接注射法观察构建物对荷肝癌裸鼠的治疗效果,结果 3μg真核表达构建物转染5×10~5个肝癌细胞/孔(24孔板)96h 后发现,无四环素时转毒素融合基因的细胞存活率为20%,对照细胞存活率为77%;四环素存在时转毒素融合基因的细胞存活率为68%,对照细胞存活率为74%;转染细胞在四环素有或无的情况下经免疫荧光抗体染色均呈现黄绿色荧光,表明融合基因在细胞中得到了表达,且四环素调控系统存在基础量的漏表达;用质粒直接注射瘤体虽可观察到质粒被吸收和表达,但由于表达效率低下,没有明显的治疗效果,结论四环素调控系统基本上可以控制毒素基因在肝癌细胞中的表达。

靶向毒素DT-VEGF的构建、表达与活性分析

肿瘤的快速生长依赖于新生血管的形成。血管内皮生长因子 (VEGF)是血管发生和形成过程中的主要介质 ,其特异性受体在正常组织和肿瘤组织的表达率存在数个数量级的差异 ,因此可以将毒素分子转运至增生的肿瘤上皮组织中抑制肿瘤血管增生 ,从而抑制肿瘤的生长。将白喉毒素的前 3 89个氨基酸基因片段与VEGF165通过一短肽相连构建为融合蛋白基因 ,在大肠杆菌中表达 ,获得纯化蛋白。实验证实该融合蛋白对血管内皮细胞有特异性杀伤作用 。

杀伤血管内皮生长因子受体1阳性细胞的靶向毒素

白喉毒素(diphtheria toxin DT) 是棒状白喉杆菌被茁噬菌体感染后分泌的一种外毒素. 它可以阻断真核细胞的蛋白质合成,杀死细胞. 血管内皮生长因子(VEGF) 的R82A,K84A,H86A突变体可以和肿瘤血管上高表达的VEGF受体1 (VEGFR-1) 特异性结合. 首先从白喉杆菌中提取基因组DNA,扩增出白喉毒素C区、T区基因. 并运用点突变技术,制成VEGF的R82A,K84A,H86A突变体. 利用这个可以和肿瘤血管上特异性受体相结合的VEGF的突变体,代替白喉毒素上的受体结合区,制成了针对VEGFR-1的靶向融合毒素——DT391-mVEGF. 以去除了受体结合区的DT391为阴性对照,细胞实验表明,融合毒素对VEGFR-1阳性的肿瘤细胞有特异性杀伤作用.

含人乳癌DF3/MUC1启动子转录调控序列和白喉毒素A链基因表达载体的构建

目的:构建含人乳癌DF3/MUC1启动子转录调控序列和白喉毒素A链(DTA)基因的重组表达载体。方法:利用PCR技术从人乳癌细胞MCF7中扩增出DF3/MUC1启动子的转录调控序列并克隆入pMD18T载体中,再从pMD18T-DF3重组质粒中切下DF3/MUC1启动子的转录调控序列并亚克隆入pGL3Basic载体,构建重组质粒pGL3-DF3。从质粒pIBI30DTA中切下DTA片断,以DTA基因替换重组质粒pGL3-DF3中的虫荧光素酶基因,构建重组质粒pGL3DF3DTA。结果:构建了含人乳癌DF3/MUC1启动子转录调控序列和DTA的表达载体,酶切和测序结果与预期完全相符。结论:重组质粒pGL3-DF3-DTA构建成功。

白喉毒素活性中心的量子化学计算与149位突变体的酶学动力学

通过量子化学计算确定白喉毒素分子催化区活性中心的关键氨基酸残基,评价其取代后的酶活性的改变,为导向性抗癌药物研究提供高效杀伤细胞工具.结合目前关于白喉毒素结构与功能的研究状况和量子化学计算结果,将白喉毒素催化区的第149位酪氨酸突变为苯丙氨酸,对其酶活性和与底物的结合能力进行评价.Y149位酪氨酸位于正电中心,起受电子作用,与野生白喉毒素相比,苯丙氨酸突变体的酶催化活性增加约一倍,而与底物结合能力没有变化.Y149是酶活性中心的关键氨基酸残基,对其取代能够影响蛋白质的生物活性.

白喉毒素E154位突变及生物活性评价

在量子化学计算的基础上,结合目前关于白喉毒素结构与功能的研究状况,选择把白喉毒素催化区的第154位谷氨酸分别突变为天冬氨酸和精氨酸,研究此处电荷性质的改变对生物活性的影响.通过基因定点突变方法制备这两个突变体基因,并在大肠杆菌表达系统中获得高效表达,在此基础上对它们的生物活性进行了评价.结果表明,与重组野生型白喉毒素相比,突变体E154D的整体动物毒性和细胞毒性略有增加,而E154R的毒性下降.

携带尤文肉瘤EWS-FLI-1结合序列的DTA表达载体构建及其对尤文肉瘤细胞杀伤作用的研究

目的 研究尤文氏肉瘤EWS FLI 1融合蛋白的特异结合序列与DTA基因融合后的表达及对尤文肉瘤细胞的杀伤作用 ,为肿瘤基因治疗探索新的治疗方法。方法 构建含有EWS FLI 1特异结合序列和白喉毒素A链基因的表达载体pS2 DTA。转染尤文肉瘤细胞以及对照细胞后检测DTA表达及其对细胞的杀伤作用。结果 表达载体pS2 DTA在尤文肉瘤细胞系中高表达并产生强烈的杀伤作用。结论 pS2 DTA可以对尤文肉瘤细胞产生选择性杀伤作用 ,抑制其生长 。

DF3调控下的白喉毒素A片段对人乳腺癌细胞的特异性杀伤作用

目的:研究新构建的含人乳腺癌DF3启动子和白喉毒素A片段的重组表达载体PGL3-DF3-DTA对人乳腺癌细胞的影响。方法:构建重组表达载体PGL3-DF3-DTA,并用其转染DF3阴性和阳性的乳腺癌细胞。采用RT-PCR法检测DTA在乳腺癌细胞中的表达,通过MTT法测定PGL3-DF3-DTA在体外对乳腺癌细胞生长的影响。建立裸鼠动物模型观察PGL3-DF3-DTA在体内对乳腺癌细胞的杀伤效应。结果:重组表达载体PGL3-DF3-DTA在DF3阳性的乳腺癌细胞中高表达,并在体内外均能发挥特异性杀伤作用。结论:重组表达载体PGL3-DF3-DTA能对DF3阳性的乳腺癌细胞产生特异性杀伤作用。