Construction and Expression of Recombinant Plasmid pCD-rbFGF in Osteoblasts

Summary: To construct basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) eukaryotic expression vector and to evaluate the possibility of bFGF gene therapy in orthopedic disease, the pCD-rbFGF recombinant plasmid was constructed by cloning rat basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) cDNA into an eukaryotic expression vector, pcDNA 3. Rat osteoblasts were transfected with pCD-rbFGF plasmid by lopofectin mediated gene transfer, the transient expression was detected by streptavidin-biotin-enzyme complex (SABC) method. It was observed that the expression of rat bFGF gene was detected 72 h after transfected distinctly. Basic fibroblast growth factor gene therapy is a method of potential for a wide array of orthopedic diseases.

Construction and Expression of Recombinant Ghrelin Plasmid and Effects on Growth Performance and Gastric Acid Secretion of Rats

The paper was to study construction and expression of rGhrelin （pcDNA3 -Ghrelin） and its effect on growth performance and gastric acid secretion of rats. Ghrelin amplified from gastric mucosa of weaned piglets was cloned into the expression vector pcDNA3 to get recombinant plasmid pcDNA3 - Ghrelin. Twelve weaning rats were randomly divided into two groups, six rats each group. The rats in each treatment group were individually injected with 100pg of naked plasmid pcDNA3 -Ghrelin, and the rats in control group were injected with empty plasmid. The weights and feed consumption of rats were measured after injection for 7, 14 and 29 d, respectively. The rats were sacrificed at the end of the experiment, and their stomach was separated and weighed, the pH value of gastric juice was measured as well. The results showed that the average daily gain of rats at 7 and 29 d were significantly higher than that in control group, respectively （P〈0.05）, and feed consumption did not have significant chan- ges; the feed meat ratio of rats in the treatment groups was significantly lower than that in control group （ P 〈0.05） ; the gastric relative weight and gastric weight did not change significantly, while the pH value of gastric juice of rats in treatment groups was significantly lower than that in control group （P 〈 0.05）. This indicated that after transfected expression of muscle tissue, ghrelin played an important regulatory role in growth and gastric acid secretion of rats.

A novel recombinant DNA vaccine encodingMycobacterium tuberculosis ESAT-6 and FL protects againstMycobacterium tuberculosis challenge in mice

Mycobacterium tuberculosis 6-kDa early secretory antigenic target （ESAT-6） is a dominant target antigen for cell-mediated immunity in the early phase of tuberculosis. The fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand （FL） that induces potent immune response has been used as an adjuvant in vaccine development. In this study, a new recombinant plasmid （plRES-epitope-peptides-FL） encoding three T cell epitopes of ESAT-6 and FL was constructed, and the immunogenicity of the DNA vaccine was assessed in C57BL/6 mice immunized with the plasmid DNA vaccine. Additionally, a strategy of intramuscular injection with the DNA vaccine （prime） and intranasal administration of the epitope peptides （boost） was employed to induce higher immune reaction of the mice. The results showed that mice vaccinated with the recombinant plasmid DNA vaccine and boosted with the peptides not only increased the levels of Thl cytokines （IFN-γ and IL-12）, the number of IFN-γ＋ T cells and activities of cytotoxic T lymphocytes as well as IgG, but also enhanced protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis challenge. In conclusion, these data indicate that the novel recombinant plRES-epitope-peptides-FL plasmid is a useful DNA vaccine for pre- venting Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Construction of Prokaryotic Expression Plasmid of Fusion Protein Including Porin A and Porin B of Neisseria Gonorrhoeae and Its Expression in E.coli

In order to provide a rational research basis for clinical detection and genetic engineering vaccine, plasmid pET-28a (+) encoding both Porin gene PIA and PIB of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was constructed and a fusion protein in E.coli DE3 expressed. The fragments of PIA and PIB gene of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were amplified and cloned into prokaryotic expression plasmid pET-28a(+) with double restriction endonuclease cut to construct recombinant pET-PIB-PIA. The recombinant was verified with restriction endonuclease and sequenced and transformed into E.coli DE3 to express the fusion protein PIB-PIA after induced with IPTG. The results showed PIA-PIB fusion DNA fragment was proved correct through sequencing. A 67 kD (1 kD=0 992 1 ku) fusion protein had been detected by SDS-PAGE. It was concluded that the fusion protein was successively expressed.

Overexpression of cytoglobin gene inhibits hypoxic injury to SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells

A plasmid for cytoglobin expression, pAcGFP1-Cl-cytoglobin, was transfected into SH-SY5Y cells. Cobalt chloride was used to establish a model of hypoxia. Western blotting indicated that cytoglobin was overexpressed and there was low expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-la in SH-SY5Y cells after transfection. Following cobalt chloride-induced hypoxia, cytoglobin and hypoxia-inducible fac- tor-la expression gradually increased in SH-SY5Y cells. Flow cytometry showed that with increas- ing duration of hypoxia, the proportion of normal cells significantly diminished in the transfected and non-transfected groups. The proportion of cells in the early stages of apoptosis increased. However, the proportion of apoptotic cells was significantly lower in the transfected group compared with the non-transfected group. These results demonstrate that cytoglobin and hypoxia-inducible factor-la are strongly up-regulated by hypoxia, and that there is a strong relationship between hy- poxia-inducible factor-la and cytoglobin during hypoxic injury.

Overexpression of the neuroglobin gene delivered by ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction protects SH-SY5Y cells against cobalt chloride induced hypoxia

In this study, we examined the effects of neuroglobin gene （Ngb） transfection into SH-SY5Y cells, using ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction （UTMD）, on cobalt chloride-induced hypoxia. With an ultrasound intensity of 0.8 W/cm2, a 60-second exposure duration, 50% duty cycle, and 20% microbubble concentration, pAcGFP1-C1-Ngb-transfected cells exhibited the highest cell viability and transfection efficiency. The efficiency of plasmid delivery was significantly higher with UTMD than transfection with plasmid alone, transfection with plasmid using microbubbles, or transfection of plasmid by ultrasound. In addition, during cobalt chloride-induced hypoxia, caspase-3 activity in pAcGFP1-C1-Ngb-transfected cells was significantly lower than in untransfected cells. Ngb protein and mRNA expression were significantly higher in cells transfected by UTMD than in cells transfected with the other methods. These results demonstrate that UTMD can very efficiently mediate exogenous gene delivery, and that Ngb overexpression protects cells against cobalt chloride-induced hypoxia.

Hepatocyte growth factor gene transfer effects on the femoral and intramuscular nerve in a canine model of lower limb ischemia

BACKGROUND： Recent advancements in gene therapy have provided new methodology for treating ischemia in lower extremities. Gene transfer of angiogenic factors to ischemic tissues may promote local proliferation of new vessels and form collateral circulation. OBJECTIVE： To observe histopathological changes in the femoral and intramuscular nerve three months after intramuscular injection of hepatocyte growth factor （HGF） into the peripheral skeletal muscle in a canine model of lower limb ischemia. DESIGN： Randomized occlusion modelled and verification animal study. SETTING： Experimental Center, Lanzhou General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA. MATERIALS： This study was performed at Animal Experimental Center, Lanzhou General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA from September to November 2006. A total of eight male mongrel dogs, weighing 12–15 kg and 1.5–3 years of age, were selected for this study. This experimental study was in accordance with local ethics standards. Recombinant plasmid carrying HGF （pUDKH） and occlusion model plasmid （pUDK） were provided by the Third Laboratory of Radiation Medical Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences of PLA. METHODS： Grouping and model establishment： under anesthesia, complete vascular occlusion models were established on the left lower extremities. The experimental dogs were randomly divided into a model group and a pUDKH treatment group, with four dogs in each group. Dogs in the pUDKH group were injected with 0.15 mg/kg pUDKH. Ten minutes later, intramuscular injections were performed at three spots into the peripheral skeletal muscle of the left hind limb, as well as lateral injections at two spots. The injection volume at each spot was 0.2 mL. Dogs in the model group were injected with pUDK, and dosage and injection method were identical to the treatment group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Histopathological changes in the femoral nerve, as well as internal and external intramuscular nerve tissues in the hind limb of dogs three months after plasmid injection under optic microscope. RESULTS： （1） Histopathological changes in the femoral nerve： tiny nerves from the femoral nerve to the intramuscular nerve exhibited marked degeneration in the model group. The degenerating features included neurites, myelin sheaths, and Schwann cell nuclei. Neuropathy in the pUDKH treatment group was not detected. （2） Histopathological changes of the intramuscular nerve： large and irregular vacuoles were present on several longitudinal sections of intramuscular nerve fibers in the model group, as well as annular-shaped blank regions on transverse sections of peripheral neurites. In the pUDKH treatment group, large, blank regions were present in several segments of partial nerve fibers of the longitudinal intramuscular nerve region, but only a few nerve fibers exhibited annular-shaped blank regions on the transverse section of peripheral neurites. CONCLUSION： Local pUDKH injection may relieve or block femoral and intramuscular nerve tissue injury in a canine mocel of lower limb ischemia.