Study of the mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion treatmentfor ulcerative colitis ratsinview of the gene expression of cytokines

AIM To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the expression of IL 1β and IL 6 mRNA in ulcerative colitis rats. METHODS The SD rat ulcerative colitis model was created by immunological method associated with local stimulation. Colonic mucosa was prepared from human fresh surgical colonic specimens, homogenized by adding appropriate amount of normal saline and centrifuged at 3000*!r/*!min . The supernatant was collected for measurement of protein conentration and then mixed with Freund adjuvant. This antigen fluid was first injected into the plantae of the model group rats, and then into their plantae, dorsa, inguina and abdominal cavities (no Freund adjuvant for the last injection) again on the 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st day. When a certain titer of serum anti colonic antibody was reached, 2% formalin and antigen fluid (no Freund adjuvant) were administered separately by enema. The ulcerative colitis rat model was thus set up. The animals were randomly divided into four groups: model control group (MC, n =8), electro acupuncture group (EA, n =8), herbs partition moxibustion group (HPM 8), normal control group (NC, n =8). HPM: Moxa cones made of refined mugwort floss were placed on the medicinal pad (medicinal pad dispensing: Radix Aconiti praeparata, cortex Cinnamomi, etc ) for Qihai (RN 6) and Tianshu (ST 25, bilateral) and ignited. Two moxa cones were used for each acupoint once a day and 14 times in all. EA: Tianshu (bilateral) and Qihai were stimulated by the intermittent pulse with 2Hz frequency, 4mA intensity for 20 minutes once a day and 14 times in all. After treatment, rats of all four groups were killed simultaneously. The spleen was separated and the distal colon was dissected. Total tissue RNA was isolated by the guanidinium thiocyanate phenol chloroform extraction method. RT PCR technique was used to study the expression of IL 1β and IL 6 mRNA. RESULTS IL 1β and IL 6 mRNAs were not detected in the spleen and colonic mucosa of the NC rats, whereas they were significantly expressed in that of the MC rats. IL 1β and IL 6 mRNAs were markedly lower in the EA and HPM rats than that in MC rats. There was no significant difference between the levels of IL 1β and IL 6 mRNAs in the EA and HPM rats. The expressions of IL 1β and IL 6 mRNAs were nearly the same in the spleen and colon of all groups. CONCLUSION Acupuncture and moxibustion greatly inhibited the expression of IL 1β and IL 6 mRNA in the experimental ulcerative colitis rats.

Advances in gene therapy of liver cirrhosis: a review

INTRODUCTIONLiver fibrosis or cirrhosis is a common progressively pathological lesion of chronic liver diseases in response to various liver-damaging factors. The main mechanisms of fibrotic or cirrhotic initiation and progression at the level of cellular and molecular events have been elucidated in the past two decades[1,2].

Design,delivery and efficacy testing of therapeutic nucleic acids used to inhibit hepatitis C virus gene expression in vitro and in vivo

Despite major achievements in the treatment ofchronic hepatitis C with the combination ofinterferons and the nucleoside analog ribavirin themajority of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection cannot be treated effectively.Toimprove this response rate we used antisensetechnologies to inhibit HCV translation as possibleadditional option for experimental treatment.Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides(ODN) are

Inhibiting effect of antisense oligonucleotides phosphorthioate on gene expression of TIMP-1 in rat liver fibrosis

AIM To observe the inhibition of antisenseoligonucleotides (asON) phosphorthioate to thetissue inhibitors metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1)gene and protein expression in the liver tissue ofimmunologically induced hepatic fibrosis rats.The possibility of reversing hepatic fibrosisthrough gene therapy was observed.METHODS Human serum albumin (HSA) wasused to attack rats, as hepatic fibrosis model, inwhich asONs were used to block the gene andprotein expressing TIMP-1. According to theanalysis of modulator, structure protein, codingseries of TIMP-1 genome, we designed fourdifferent asONs. These asONs were injected intothe hepatic fibrosis models through coccygealvein. The results was observed by RT-PCR formeasuring TIMP-1 mRNA expression,immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridizationfor collagen Ⅰ, Ⅲ, special staining of collagenfiber, and electron microscopic examination.RESULTS Hepatic fibrosis could last within 363days in our modified model. The expressinglevel of TIMP-1 was high during hepatic fibrosisprocess. It has been proved by theimmunohistochemical and the electronmicroscopic examination that the asONphosphorthioate of TIMP-1 could exactly expressin vivo. The effect of colchicine wasdemonstrated to inhibit the expressing level ofmRNA and the content of collagen Ⅰ, Ⅲ in theliver of experimental hepatic fibrosis rats.However, the electron microscopy research andthe pathologic grading of hepatic fibrosisshowed that there was no significant differencebetween the treatment group and the modelgroup (P>0.05).CONCLUSION The experimental rat model ofhepatic fibrosis is one of the preferable modelsto estimate the curative effect of anti-hepaticfibrosis drugs. The asON phosphorthioate ofTIMP-1 could block the gene and proteinexpression of TIMP-1 in the liver of experimentalhepatic fibrosis rats at the mRNA level. It ispossible to reverse hepatic fibrosis, and it isexpected to study a new drug of anti-hepaticfibrosis on the genetic level. Colchicine has verylimited therapeutic effect on hepatic fibrosis,furthermore, its toxicity and side effects areobvious.

表达大鼠脑源性神经营养因子腺相关病毒(rAAV-BDNF)对体外培养海马神经元保护作用的研究

目的:研究表达大鼠脑源性神经营养因子腺相关病毒(rAAV-BDNF)对体外培养海马神经元的保护机制。方法:通过去血清培养诱导神经元凋亡后转染rAAV-BDNF,通过DAPI、PI及Actin染色来统计rAAV-BDNF对血清饥饿引起的细胞凋亡的数量及形态的影响。结果:rAAV-BDNF病毒能够有效地抑制血清饥饿引起的细胞凋亡,其保护效率在65左右,并可以有效地保护血清饥饿引起的细胞形态损伤。结论:rAAV-BDNF可通过抑制凋亡的途径保护体外培养的海马神经元。

Adeno-associated virus mediated endostatin gene therapy in combination with topoisomerase inhibitor effectively controls liver tumor in mouse model

rAAV mediated endostatin gene therapy has beenexamined as a new method for treating cancer. However,a sustained and high protein delivery is required to achievethe desired therapeutic effects. We evaluated the impactof topoisomerase inhibitors in rAAV delivered endostatingene therapy in a liver tumor model.

Reduction of tumorigenicity of SMMC-7721 hepatoma cells by vascular endothelial growth factor antisense gene therapy

AIM To test the hypothesis to block VEGFexpression of SMMC-7721 hepatoma cells mayinhibit tumor growth using the rat hepatomamodel.METHODS Amplifiy the 200 VEGF cDNAfragment and insert it into human U6 genecassette in the reverse orientation transcribingsmall antisense RNA which could specificallyinteract with VEGF165, and VEGF121 mRNA.Construct the retroviral vector containing thisantisense VEGF U6 cassette and package thereplication-deficient recombinant retrovirus.SMMC-7721 cells were transduced with thesevirus and positive clones were selected withG418. PCR and Southern blot analysis wereperformed to determine if U6 cassette integratedinto the genomic DNA of positive clone.Transfected tumor cells were evaluated for RNAexpression by ribonuclease protection assays.The VEGF protein in the supernatant of parentaltumor cells and genetically modified tumor cellswas determined with ELISA. In vitro and in vivogrowth properties of antisense VEGF cell clonein nude mice were analyzed.RESULTS Restriction enzyme digestion andPCR sequencing verified that the antisense VEGFRNA retroviral vector was successfullyconstructed. After G418 selection, resistantSMMC-7721 cell clone was picked up. PCR andSouthern blot analysis suggested that U6cassette was integrated into the cell genomicDNA. Stable SMMC-7721 cell clone transducedwith U6 antisense RNA cassette could express200bp small antisense VEGF RNA and secretereduced levels of VEGF in culture condition.Production of VEGF by antisense transgeneexpressing cells was 65 ± 10 ng / L per 106 cells,420 ± 45 ng/L per 106 cells in sense group and 485± 30 ng/L per 106 cells in the negative control group, (P＜0.05). The antisense-VEGF cell clone appeared phenotypically indistinguishable from SMMC-7721 cells and SMMC-7721 cells transfected sense VEGF. The growth rate of the antisense-VEGF cell clone was the same as the control cells. When S. C. was implanted into nude mice, growth of antisense-VEGF cell lines was greatly inhibited compared with control cells.CONCLUSION Expression of antisense VEGFRNA in SMMC-7721 cells could decrease thetumorigenicity, and antisense-VEGF genetherapy may be an adjuvant treatment forhepatoma.

Retrovirus-mediated herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene therapy approach for hepatocellular carcinoma

The therapeutic effect of herpes simplex virus thymi-dine kinase/ganciclovir (HSV-tk/GCV) system on hepa-tocellular carcinoma was studied in this experimeflt. Thetk-containing retroviral recombinants were used to infecthepatoma cells (BEL-7402) and the cells were treated withganciclovir (0-1000 pg/ml). The results showed that HSV-tk gene could be efficielltly transferred in Vitro into hep-atoma cells and stably expressed. The growth potentialof the tk-containing cells was significantly inhibited byGCV (P<0.01) as compared to the non-tk-containing cells.The antitumor effect of HSV-tk/GCV system was also pro-duced ex vivo in tk-containing tumor of nude mice as char-acterized by a marked decrease in tumor growth after GCVtreatment contrary to a progressive enlargement of non-tk-containing tumors. Although the histological examinationdemonstrated that the efficiency of the gene transfer wasless than 30%, the killing effect of HSV-tk/GCV systemon hepatocellular carcinoma was still significantIy gener-ated. The proper mechanism of HSV-tk gene therapy onhepatic tumor referred as "bystander effect" in therapeu-tic approach has not been found in this study and requiredto be explored further.

携带人肝癌细胞CDK2基因的rAAV载体的构建与鉴定

目的构建携带人肝癌细胞CDK2基因的重组腺相关病毒(rAAV)载体;方法设计能表达CDK2特异性的小干扰RNA(siRNA),构建pAKD-shRNA-CDK2重组质粒,采用磷酸钙共转染法将重组质粒pAKD-shRNACDK2、包装质粒pAAV-RC和辅助质粒pHelper共转染AAV-293细胞,采用定量PCR方法对病毒进行滴度测定;结果三质粒共转染AAV-293细胞48h后,荧光显微镜下检测到GFP绿色荧光,表明共转染成功,测定病毒平均滴度为3.56×1012v.g/ml。结论成功构建携带人肝癌细胞CDK2基因的重组腺相关病毒rAAV-shRNA-CDK2。

rAAV-IGF-I诱导大鼠下颌髁突生长发育的实验研究

目的评价局部注射重组腺相关病毒介导胰岛素样生长因子-I(rAAV-IGF-I)对大鼠下颌髁突生长发育的影响。方法选用5周龄Sprague-Daw ley(SD)大鼠20只,随机分为4组。在每只大鼠的左侧颞下颌关节腔内注射rAAV-IGF-I,右侧关节腔内注射生理盐水。手术后2周、4周、8周及12周后分别处死并取出下颌骨,拍摄两侧下颌骨的数码照片进行测量比较。结果实验组下颌髁突长度、髁突头宽度、髁突头中点及髁突头下点到下颌平面的距离从实验4周时出现明显差异。实验组下颌骨的长度及髁突前点到下颌平面的距离在实验8周及12周中明显长于对照组。4周及8周时实验组髁突长轴与下颌平面的夹角均大于对照组。结论局部注射rAAV-IGF-I能够促进大鼠下颌骨长度及高度的增加,为治疗下颌发育不足提供了新的方法。

侧脑室注射rAAV-HIF-1α基因治疗AD模型大鼠的研究

目的在体观察侧脑室注射缺氧诱导因子-1α(hypoxia-inducible factor-1α,HIF-1α)腺相关病毒rAAV-HIF-1α对阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer's disease,AD)模型大鼠海马神经细胞凋亡的影响。方法健康雄性SD大鼠32只随机分为4组,每组8只:①正常组(normal组):未作任何特殊处理;②AD模型组(AD组):右侧脑室注射2μlβ-淀粉样蛋白(β-amyloid protein,Aβ)25-35(10mg/m1);③假手术组(sham组):右侧脑室注射2μl生理盐水;④AD模型+rAAV-HIF-1a组(AD+rAAV-HIF-1a组):右侧脑室注射2μl Aβ25-35后1周右侧脑室注射10μl rAAV-HIF-1a(1×1012v.g/.m1)。以上各组动物于注射Aβ25-35或生理盐水后5周取材检测海马神经细胞HIF-1a蛋白表达及凋亡百分率。结果 Western blot检测表明rAAV-HIF-1α组海马神经细胞HIF-1α蛋白表达明显增强(P<0.05),同时可显著降低Aβ25-35诱导海马神经细胞凋亡百分率。结论侧脑室注射rAAV-HIF-1α能够在AD模型大鼠海马高效表达HIF-1α蛋白并抑制海马神经细胞凋亡。

重组rAAV2/eGFP、rAAV2/NGF病毒转染神经干细胞的研究

目的 观察重组rAAV2 /eGFP(含报告基因 )和rAAV2 /NGF(含目的基因 )病毒转染神经干细胞的转染效率 ;探讨神经干细胞治疗神经系统疾病的新途径。方法 分离、培养和鉴定神经干细胞后 ,用重组rAAV2 /eGFP和rAAV2 /NGF病毒转染神经干细胞 ,用荧光显微镜和免疫细胞化学检测GFP和NGF在体外的表达。结果 GFP和NGF于 2 4h后在体外开始表达 ;5d后表达效率高达 89% ,并可持续稳定表达 35d以上 ;MOI(v g/cell)不同 ,表达效率不同。 结论 重组rAAV2 /eGFP和rAAV2 /NGF病毒可转染神经干细胞 ,神经干细胞可稳定表达GFP和NGF ,可用于基因治疗神经系统疾病。

The Pathogenesis and Treatment Progress of Androgenic Alopecia

Androgenic alopecia, also known as seborrheic alopecia, is the most common hair loss disorder in dermatology clinics, mainly characterized by hair follicle miniaturization and progressive hair loss. The etiology and pathogenesis of androgenic alopecia are not clear, but may be related to heredity and androgen metabolism. Currently, minoxidil and finasteride are the only two drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for AGA treatment, other treatments include oral minoxidil, hair transplantation, low energy laser therapy (LLLT), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), Chinese medicine microneedles, and combination therapy. With the development of medicine and science, we have ushered in the era of biologics and targeted therapy. In recent years, a variety of signaling pathways for androgenic alopecia have been found, which may provide a basis for targeted therapy for androgenic alopecia.

不同途径导入rAAV-VEGF_(165)基因对大鼠缺血性脑保护的比较研究

目的比较不同途径(直接注射、脑脊液及静脉内)导入重组腺相关病毒介导的血管内皮细胞生长因子基因(recombinant adeno-associated virus mediated vascular endothelial growth factor165 gene,rAAV-VEGF165)治疗大鼠局灶性脑缺血的疗效,寻找出适合临床、安全、有效的基因导入方法。方法用线栓加环扎法建立SD大鼠大脑中动脉持续性闭塞(MCAO)模型。30只雄性SD大鼠随机分为直接注射组、脑脊液导入组、静脉导入组、MCAO组和假手术组,其中治疗组于术后24h内将rAAV-VEGF165基因从大鼠脑缺血边缘区、小脑延髓池或股静脉内注入。术后14d取脑,免疫组织化学染色检测脑缺血边缘区VEGF的表达和微血管的密度、HE染色观察脑组织坏死情况、4%TTC染色检测脑梗死体积。结果与单纯梗死组和假手术组相比较,治疗组脑缺血边缘区VEGF表达水平明显升高、微血管密度显著增高(P<0.01),脑组织坏死情况明显减轻,脑梗死体积明显缩小(P<0.05);其中以前2个指标在直接注射和脑脊液导入组比静脉导入组更为显著(P<0.05)。结论直接注射和脑脊液导入比静脉内导入rAAV-VEGF165基因转染到大鼠缺血脑组织的效果更优,而且通过脑脊液导入可能是较为合适有效的途径。

rAAV规模化包装系统的研究进展

重组腺相关病毒(r AAV)作为唯一一种通过欧盟FDA认证的基因治疗载体,具有宿主范围广、转染效率高、非致病性、免疫原性低、能够长期表达外源基因的优点。随着以r AAV基因治疗临床试验的深入与扩大,传统r AAV包装系统产能不足的缺点逐渐凸显出来,急需可放大、易规模化的r AAV包装系统来解决现有的供需矛盾。鉴于此,在介绍传统r AAV包装系统的基础之上,着重阐述了杆状病毒昆虫细胞系法、酵母法以及痘苗病毒-腺病毒法,尤其对后者寄予厚望。旨在介绍几种较好的r AAV规模化包装方案,探讨其规模化制备的发展趋势。

Gene Therapy of HSV-TK Transferred by the EBV based Expression Vector on Experimental Hepatocellular Carcinoma

To study the therapeutic effects of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene transferred by the EBV based expression vector on experimental hepatocellular carcinoma, pDR2 TK gene was delivered into human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC 7721 by using liposome mediated transfection technique,and then gene expression was detected by RT PCR, and the killing effects were examined through MTT method. In the nude mice hepatoma model,the antitumor effects of pDR2 TK /GCV system was evaluated in terms of tumor growth. MTT results showed that the pDR2 TK /GCV had cytotoxic effect and about 70 % SMMC 7721 cells were killed when GCV was at 1000 μmol/L. In vivo experiment showed that the tumor size in nude mice with transferred pDR2 TK gene was significantly smaller than that in control group . On the 10th day the tumor in 3 mice (60 %) disappeared completely after GCV treatment. It is concluded that the pDR2 TK/GCV system has marked killing effects on the experimental hepatocellular carcinoma.

Effect of Pricking Blood Therapy on Behavior and Gene Expression in a Rat Model of Migraine

目的:观察刺血法对偏头痛大鼠行为学及脑干组织c-fos、c-jun基因表达的影响。方法:以硝酸甘油造模偏头痛大鼠模型并予以刺血治疗,观察大鼠行学改变,应用免疫组化技术观察脑干组织c-fos及c-jun基因表达的变化。结果:与模型组及空白组比较,治疗组在刺血治疗后耳红、挠头次数显著减少(P<0.05),c-fos、c-jun表达明显降低(P<0.01)。结论:刺血治疗可以改善大鼠偏头痛行为学指标,抑制大鼠c-fos及c-jun阳性表达。

Selective gene therapy for human lung adenocarcinoma by tumor-specific expression of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene

According to the fact that CEA gene expressed only in lung adenocarcinoma but not in normal lung cells, a retroviral expression vector (pCEATK) of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene regulated by CEA promoter was constructed and introduced into CEA-producing human lung adenocarcinoma cells GL and non-CEA-producing HeLa cells. The expression of pCEATK and Ganciclovir (GCV) sensitivity of the transfected cells were tested in vitro and in vivo . pCEATK expressed only in CEA-producing GL cells but not in non-CEA-producing HeLa cells. The sensitivity to GCV of pCEATK-transfected GL was 992 times higher compared with that of the parental cell line and there was obvious "bystander effect" in vitro. HeLa cells transfected wtih pCEATK were still resistant to GCV. Injection of GCV resulted in significant regression of pCEATK-transfected GL tumors in nude mice. In addition, all mice with any fraction of GL cells expressing HSV-TK exhibited a significant reduction in tumor growth, including

Recombinant adeno-associated virus-based gene therapy combined with tissue engineering for musculoskeletal regenerative medicine

Recombinant adeno-associated viral(rAAV)vector-mediated gene delivery is a novel molecular therapeutic approach for musculoskeletal disorders which achieves tissue regeneration by delivering a transgene to the impaired tissue.In recent years,substantial scientific progress in rAAV gene therapy has led to several clinical trials for human musculoskeletal diseases.Nevertheless,there are still limitations in developing an optimal gene therapy model due to the low transduction efficiency and fast degradation of the gene vectors.To overcome the challenges of rAAV gene therapy,tissue engineering combined with gene therapy has emerged as a more promising alternative.An rAAV viral vector incorporated into a biomaterial has a more controlled gene expression,lower immune response,and higher efficiency.A number of biomaterials and architectures have been combined with rAAV viral vectors,each having its own advantages and limitations.This review aims to give a broad introduction to combinatorial therapy and the recent progress this new technology has offered.