地高辛标记HBV DNA探针的应用

按随机引物法以地高辛标记HBV DNA探针,与按缺口翻译法以~(32)P标记的探针进行了比较。这两种探针与乙肝血源疫苗及患者血清标本中HBV DNA进行杂交,结果两种探针均可要出1pg同源序列DNA,而地高辛标记的探针,在0.1Pg水平仍可呈现弱着色反应。该探针在一20℃储存6个月,其敏感性不减弱。这种探针在常规诊断实验室更易推广使用。     

Liver-Resident Memory CD8+ T Cells: Possible Roles in Chronic HBV Infection

Achieving a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection or complete elimination of HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) has been challenging in the treatment of patients with chronic HBV infection. Although novel antivirals are being investigated, improving HBV-specific adaptive immune responses is also important for durable viral clearance. Tissue-resident memory CD8⁺ T (T_RM) cells were recently reported as a T-cell population that resides in peripheral tissues and does not recirculate. T_RM cells have been studied in the livers of mice and humans. Liver T_RM cells have distinct characteristics compared to T cells in peripheral blood or other tissues, which may be associated with the unique microenvironment of the liver. In this review, we describe the characteristics of liver T_RM cells and their implications in chronic HBV infection. We emphasize that liver T_RM cells can be an immunotherapeutic target for the treatment of chronic HBV infection.     

Therapeutic Potential of Cell Penetrating Peptides (CPPs) and Cationic Polymers for Chronic Hepatitis B

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major health problem worldwide. Because current anti-HBV treatments are only virostatic, there is an urgent need for development of alternative antiviral approaches. In this context, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) and cationic polymers, such as chitosan (CS), appear of particular interest as nonviral vectors due to their capacity to facilitate cellular delivery of bioactive cargoes including peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) or DNA vaccines. We have investigated the ability of a PNA conjugated to different CPPs to inhibit the replication of duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV), a reference model for human HBV infection. The in vivo administration of PNA-CPP conjugates to neonatal ducklings showed that they reached the liver and inhibited DHBV replication. Interestingly, our results indicated also that a modified CPP (CatLip) alone, in the absence of its PNA cargo, was able to drastically inhibit late stages of DHBV replication. In the mouse model, conjugation of HBV DNA vaccine to modified CS (Man-CS-Phe) improved cellular and humoral responses to plasmid-encoded antigen. Moreover, other systems for gene delivery were investigated including CPP-modified CS and cationic nanoparticles. The results showed that these nonviral vectors considerably increased plasmid DNA uptake and expression. Collectively promising results obtained in preclinical studies suggest the usefulness of these safe delivery systems for the development of novel therapeutics against chronic hepatitis B.     

慢性乙型肝炎患者血清前S_1抗原与HBV DNA的相关性及临床意义

目的 探讨慢性乙型肝炎患者血清前S_1抗原与HBV DNA的相关性。方法 采用ELISA及荧光定量PCR法检测180例慢性乙型肝炎患者血清前S_1抗原及HBV DNA含量。结果 前S_1抗原阳性者108例,HBVDNA阳性者130例,130例,HBV DNA阳性率显著高于前S_1抗原阳性率(P<0.05);130例HBV DNA阳性者中,前S_1抗原阳性者80例;108例前S_1抗原阳性者中,HBV DNA阳性者80例。结论 前S_1抗原与HBV DNA的联合检测及动态观察慢性乙型肝炎患者血清HBV DNA水平的变化,有助于临床诊断、疗效观察及预后判断。     

重组乙型肝炎痘病毒载体疫苗与DNA疫苗免疫原性比较

目的比较重组乙型肝炎痘病毒载体疫苗与DNA疫苗的免疫原性。方法用载体疫苗和DNA疫苗分别免疫BALB/c小鼠,采用ELISA和ELISPOT法检测小鼠的体液免疫和细胞免疫水平。结果两种疫苗的血清抗体水平分别为135和104 mIU/ml,百万淋巴细胞中SFC数目分别为550和314,载体疫苗均优于DNA疫苗。结论重组乙型肝炎痘病毒载体疫苗较DNA疫苗具有更高的免疫原性。     

The Establishment of an Assay to Measure DNA Polymerase-Catalyzed Repair of UVB-Induced DNA Damage in Skin Cells and Screening of DNA Polymerase Enhancers from Medicinal Plants

An in vitro assay method was established to measure the activity of cellular DNA polymerases (Pols) in cultured normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) by modifying Pol inhibitor activity. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation enhanced the activity of Pols, especially DNA repair-related Pols, in the cell extracts of NHEKs. The optimal ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure dose and culture time to upregulate Pols activity was 100 mJ/cm² and 4-h incubation, respectively. We screened eight extracts of medicinal plants for enhancement of UVB-exposed cellular Pols activity using NHEKs, and found that rose myrtle was the strongest Pols enhancer. A Pols’ enhancement compound was purified from an 80% ethanol extract of rose myrtle, and piceatannol was isolated by spectroscopic analysis. Induction of Pol activity involved synergy between UVB irradiation and rose myrtle extract and/or piceatannol. Both the extract and piceatannol reduced UVB-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer production, and prevented UVB-induced cytotoxicity. These results indicate that rose myrtle extract and piceatannol, its component, are potential photo-protective candidates for UV-induced skin damage.     

治疗性双质粒HBV DNA疫苗的纯化与检定

目的研究双质粒HBVDNA疫苗(pS2.S和pFP)的纯化工艺,并建立质控标准。方法首先对两工程菌(DH5α/pS2.S和DH5α/pFP)的高效发酵菌体采用碱裂解法进行质粒初提;然后通过三步柱层析(依次为分子筛层析、亲和层析、阴离子层析)进行质粒纯化,并检测质粒含量、超螺旋比例、内毒素等,最后对终产品质粒溶液进行全面质量检定。结果质粒初提液通过分子筛层析后,去除了大量的RNA、宿主DNA、内毒素等,再经亲和柱纯化后获得了高比例的超螺旋质粒DNA,达95%,最后经阴离子柱层析有效去除内毒素,并浓缩了质粒,质粒得率为0.9～1.1mg/g菌,质粒总回收率达78%。三批终产品全面质量检定均符合规定。结论建立了稳定的双质粒HBVDNA疫苗(pS2.S和pFP)的纯化工艺及质量控制标准,为进一步研究奠定基础。     

治疗性双质粒HBV DNA疫苗工程菌的中试发酵工艺研究

目的研究双质粒HBV DNA疫苗工程菌的中试发酵工艺。方法首先通过计算质粒拷贝数,检测工程菌DH5α/pS2.S和DH5α/pFP在传代过程中的遗传稳定性,通过摇瓶培养确定培养基组成,再在30L发酵罐内,通过改变培养基成分、培养时间、补料方式,确定最佳发酵参数。并将确定的最佳发酵参数应用于50L发酵罐连续3批中试规模的发酵,同时考察在发酵培养过程中质粒稳定性和超螺旋质粒DNA的比例。结果工程菌DH5α/pS2.S和DH5α/pFP在连续传代30次后,质粒拷贝数保持稳定。确定最佳发酵参数为以甘油为碳源的培养基培养,梯度恒速流加方式补料,培养时间为10h。通过3批稳定发酵,最终可获得湿菌58.0~71.8g/L,质粒含量可达到1.11~1.58mg/g菌,超螺旋质粒DNA的比例达93%以上。结论已建立了稳定的双质粒HBV DNA疫苗工程菌中试发酵工艺,为进一步规模化生产奠定了基础。     

HCV/HBV联合抗原免疫原性研究

目的 探讨HCV/HBV联合抗原PCX/S免疫原性。方法 将纯化的HCV复合多表位抗原蛋白PCX与HBV的S蛋白按一定比例混合并免疫小鼠,用ELISA的方法检测抗-HBs和抗-HCVAb;~3H-TdR掺入法检测免疫小鼠T淋巴细胞增殖;~(51)Cr释放法检测免疫小鼠特异性CTL杀伤作用。结果 免疫后5、10及15μg的3组均能诱导抗-HBsAb和抗-HCVAb,但抗HCVAb水平明显低于抗-HBsAb水平。免疫小鼠可诱发针对PCX或S蛋白的CTL反应,前者更明显,并刺激T细胞增殖。结论 HCV/HBV联合抗原PCX/S蛋白可诱导特异性免疫应答,为HCV/HBV双价疫苗的研究提供一定实验基础。     

Blood-Based Biomarkers in Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma,Including the Viral Genome and Glycosylated Proteins

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development and is a global public health issue. High performance biomarkers can aid the early detection of HCC development in HBV-infected individuals. In addition, advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of HBV infection and in clinical laboratory techniques have enabled the establishment of disease-specific tests, prediction of the progression of liver diseases, including HCC, and auxiliary diagnosis of HCC, using blood-based methods instead of biopsies of liver or HCC tissues. Viral factors such as the HBV genotype, HBV genetic mutations, HBV DNA, and HBV-related antigens, as well as host factors, such as tumor-associated proteins and post-translational modifications, especially glycosylated proteins, can be blood-based, disease-specific biomarkers for HCC development in HBV-infected patients. In this review, we describe the clinical applications of viral biomarkers, including the HBV genome and glycosylated proteins, for patients at a risk of HBV-related HCC, based on their molecular mechanisms. In addition, we introduce promising biomarker candidates for practical use, including colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R), extracellular vesicles, and cell-free, circulating tumor DNA. The clinical use of such surrogate markers may lead to a better understanding of the risk of disease progression and early detection of HCC in HBV-infected patients, thereby improving their prognosis.     

Functionalized Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Enhance Transfection and Expression Efficiency of Plasmid DNA in Fish Cells

DNA vaccines are considered to be the most promising method against infectious diseases in the aquaculture industry. In the present study, we investigated the potency of ammonium group-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in enhancing the transfection and expression efficiency of plasmid DNA (pEGFP-vp5) in Ctenopharyngodon idellus kidney (CIK) cells. Agarose gel shift assay results show that ammonium group-functionalized carbon nanotubes are able to condense DNA in varying degrees. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images shows that CIK cells show a great affinity for MWCNTs-NH₃⁺ and the CNTs covering the cell surface tend to orient their tips perpendicularly to the cell surface, and appear to be “needle-pricking the cells”. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images confirmed that MWCNTs-NH₃⁺ penetrate the cell membranes and are widely dispersed in the CIK cell. Real-time PCR was used to detect the transfection efficiency through the expression of the outer capsid protein (VP5). The results showed that the MWCNTs-NH₃⁺:DNA complexes are able to transfect CIK cells effectively at different charge ratio than naked DNA. Subsequent studies confirmed that both functional groups and charge ratio are important factors that determine the transfection efficiency of plasmid DNA. All these results indicated that MWCNTs-NH₃⁺:DNA complexes could be suitable for developing DNA vaccine for the control of virus infection in the aquaculture industry.     

DC-Chol脂质体DNA复合物体外对HBV的抑制作用

目的观察DC-Chol脂质体DNA复合物(DLDC)体外抗乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)的作用。方法制备DLDC,HepG2.2.15细胞经不同浓度的DLDC作用后,检测其对细胞的毒性作用;提取细胞质DNA,用化学发光Southern blot法检测DLDC对细胞内HBV DNA复制的抑制作用。结果DLDC可抑制HepG2.2.15细胞增殖,其TC0为78.13 ng/ml,TC50为421.86 ng/ml;DLDC可抑制HepG2.2.15细胞HBV DNA复制,其IC50为45 ng/ml,SI为9.37。结论DLDC对胞内HBV DNA的复制有明显的抑制作用。     

A Histone-Like Protein Induces Plasmid DNA to Form Liquid Crystals in Vitro and Gene Compaction in Vivo

The liquid crystalline state is a universal phenomenon involving the formation of an ordered structure via a self-assembly process that has attracted attention from numerous scientists. In this study, the dinoflagellate histone-like protein HCcp3 is shown to induce super-coiled pUC18 plasmid DNA to enter a liquid crystalline state in vitro, and the role of HCcp3 in gene condensation in vivo is also presented. The plasmid DNA (pDNA)-HCcp3 complex formed birefringent spherical particles with a semi-crystalline selected area electronic diffraction (SAED) pattern. Circular dichroism (CD) titrations of pDNA and HCcp3 were performed. Without HCcp3, pUC18 showed the characteristic B conformation. As the HCcp3 concentration increased, the 273 nm band sharply shifted to 282 nm. When the HCcp3 concentration became high, the base pair (bp)/dimer ratio fell below 42/1, and the CD spectra of the pDNA-HCcp3 complexes became similar to that of dehydrated A-form DNA. Microscopy results showed that HCcp3 compacted the super-coiled gene into a condensed state and that inclusion bodies were formed. Our results indicated that HCcp3 has significant roles in gene condensation both in vitro and in histone-less eukaryotes in vivo. The present study indicates that HCcp3 has great potential for applications in non-viral gene delivery systems, where HCcp3 may compact genetic material to form liquid crystals.     

乙型肝炎病毒X基因DNA竞争子的构建及鉴定

目的构建乙型肝炎病毒X基因DNA(xDNA)竞争子L180,为竞争PCR定量分析xDNA打下基础。方法以扩增的xDNA片段为模板,用引物1434和Lx PCR扩增竞争子DNA,并将扩增产物克隆到pUCm-T载体,转化感受态大肠杆菌DH5α,酶切鉴定和测序,筛选阳性竞争子质粒,并建立竞争PCR定量分析xDNA的方法。结果所构建xDNA竞争子L180,经测序及PCR定量分析证实,PCR扩增的产物即为目的xDNA。初步建立了竞争PCR定量分析xDNA的方法。结论已成功构建乙肝病毒xDNA竞争子。     

shRNA-Mediated XRCC2 Gene Knockdown Efficiently Sensitizes Colon Tumor Cells to X-ray Irradiation in Vitro and in Vivo

Colon cancer is one of the most common tumors of the digestive tract. Resistance to ionizing radiation (IR) decreased therapeutic efficiency in these patients’ radiotherapy. XRCC2 is the key protein of DNA homologous recombination repair, and its high expression is associated with enhanced resistance to DNA damage induced by IR. Here, we investigated the effect of XRCC2 silencing on colon tumor cells’ growth and sensitivity to X-radiation in vitro and in vivo. Colon tumor cells (T84 cell line) were cultivated in vitro and tumors originated from the cell line were propagated as xenografts in nude mice. The suppression of XRCC2 expression was achieved by using vector-based short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in T84 cells. We found that the knockdown of XRCC2 expression effectively decreased T84 cellular proliferation and colony formation, and led to cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrested in G2/M phase induced by X-radiation in vitro. In addition, tumor xenograft studies suggested that XRCC2 silencing inhibited tumorigenicity after radiation treatment in vivo. Our data suggest that the suppression of XRCC2 expression rendered colon tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy in vitro and in vivo, implying XRCC2 as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of radioresistant human colon cancer.     

X-Ray Induced DNA Damage and Repair in Germ Cells of PARP1?/? Male Mice

Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 (PARP1) is a nuclear protein implicated in DNA repair, recombination, replication, and chromatin remodeling. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible differences between PARP1^−/− and wild-type mice regarding induction and repair of DNA lesions in irradiated male germ cells. Comet assay was applied to detect DNA damage in testicular cells immediately, and two hours after 4 Gy X-ray irradiation. A similar level of spontaneous and radiation-induced DNA damage was observed in PARP1^−/− and wild-type mice. Conversely, two hours after irradiation, a significant level of residual damage was observed in PARP1^−/− cells only. This finding was particularly evident in round spermatids. To evaluate if PARP1 had also a role in the dynamics of H2AX phosphorylation in round spermatids, in which γ-H2AX foci had been shown to persist after completion of DNA repair, we carried out a parallel analysis of γ-H2AX foci at 0.5, 2, and 48 h after irradiation in wild-type and PARP1^−/− mice. No evidence was obtained of an effect of PARP1 depletion on H2AX phosphorylation induction and removal. Our results suggest that, in round spermatids, under the tested experimental conditions, PARP1 has a role in radiation-induced DNA damage repair rather than in long-term chromatin modifications signaled by phosphorylated H2AX.     

Combinatorial Measurement of CDKN1A/p21 and KIF20A Expression for Discrimination of DNA Damage-Induced Clastogenicity

In vitro mammalian cytogenetic tests detect chromosomal aberrations and are used for testing the genotoxicity of compounds. This study aimed to identify a supportive genomic biomarker could minimize the risk of misjudgments and aid appropriate decision making in genotoxicity testing. Human lymphoblastoid TK6 cells were treated with each of six DNA damage-inducing genotoxins (clastogens) or two genotoxins that do not cause DNA damage. Cells were exposed to each compound for 4 h, and gene expression was comprehensively examined using Affymetrix U133A microarrays. Toxicogenomic analysis revealed characteristic alterations in the expression of genes included in cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A/p21)-centered network. The majority of genes included in this network were upregulated on treatment with DNA damage-inducing clastogens. The network, however, also included kinesin family member 20A (KIF20A) downregulated by treatment with all the DNA damage-inducing clastogens. Downregulation of KIF20A expression was successfully confirmed using additional DNA damage-inducing clastogens. Our analysis also demonstrated that nucleic acid constituents falsely downregulated the expression of KIF20A, possibly via p16 activation, independently of the CDKN1A signaling pathway. Our results indicate the potential of KIF20A as a supportive biomarker for clastogenicity judgment and possible mechanisms involved in KIF20A downregulation in DNA damage and non-DNA damage signaling networks.     

Protective Roles of Gadd45 and MDM2 in Blueberry Anthocyanins Mediated DNA Repair of Fragmented and Non-Fragmented DNA Damage in UV-Irradiated HepG2 Cells

Growth Arrest and DNA Damage-inducible 45 (Gadd45) and MDM2 proteins, together with p21 and p53, play important roles in cell cycle checkpoints, DNA repair, and genome integrity maintenance. Gadd45 and MDM2 were activated and transcribed instantly by UV irradiation, whereas blueberry anthocyanins (BA) decreased the gene and protein expression levels in HepG2 cells for up to 24 h, and gradually restored the UV-induced fragmented and non-fragmented DNA damage of the nucleus at a time point of 12 h. Nevertheless, UV-irradiated HepG2 cell arrests occurred mainly in the G1 phase, which indicated G1 as a checkpoint. The proteins, p21 and p53, retain cellular integrity, suppressing the oncogenic transformation by interruption of the G1 phase of the cellular cycle, giving time for repairing the damage to DNA, or apoptosis induction if the damage is too severe to be repaired, while MDM2 and Gadd45 concomitantly ensure the presence of p53 and p21. Thus, we conclude that repair, together with Gadd45 and MDM2 genes, were involved in light and dark reaction mechanisms, however, BA could interfere and assist the repair through restoration, although further studies of the complex of the gene cascades triggered and responded to in BA-assisted DNA repair are needed.     

蛋白对HCV/HBV DNA疫苗的免疫增强作用

目的探讨蛋白对HCV/HBV DNA疫苗的免疫增强作用。方法将构建的HCV/HBV真核表达载体pcDNA-PCXS和蛋白分别免疫BALB/c小鼠,用ELISA的方法检测抗-HBs和抗-HCV Ab;3H-TdR掺入法检测免疫小鼠T淋巴细胞增殖;51Cr释放法检测免疫小鼠特异性CTLs杀伤作用。结果DNA-蛋白组抗-HBs和抗-HCV抗体均较DNA组出现早,且抗体水平明显高,DNA-蛋白组的CTL应答水平也明显高于DNA组。结论蛋白能提高DNA疫苗的特异性体液和细胞免疫功能,为DNA疫苗的实际应用提供了一种新的策略。