鼠TNF家族的B细胞活化因子ORF基因的克隆及原核表达

目的克隆鼠TNF家族的B细胞活化因子(Bcell activating factor of TNF family,BAFF)ORF基因,并进行原核表达及纯化。方法提取鼠新鲜脾脏组织总RNA,经RT-PCR扩增BAFF ORF基因,测序后,克隆入载体pMAL-c2x,构建重组表达质粒pMAL-c2x/BAFF ORF,转化大肠杆菌Rosseta(DE3),IPTG诱导表达,表达产物经亲和层析纯化后,进行Western blot分析。结果 RT-PCR扩增得到约930bp的cDNA,其序列与GenBank中登录的鼠BAFF ORF cDNA序列的同源性达99.9%;重组表达质粒pMAL-c2x/BAFF ORF经酶切鉴定构建正确;表达的重组蛋白相对分子质量约为76500,IPTG终浓度为0.9mmol/L,诱导时间为4h,目的蛋白的表达量最高,破菌上清和沉淀中均可见目的蛋白条带,可溶性蛋白的表达量占全菌总蛋白的49%;纯化的重组蛋白纯度可达90%,含量为0.9mg/ml,且具有良好的反应原性。结论已成功克隆了鼠BAFF ORF基因,并进行了原核表达及纯化,为进一步研究其生物功能奠定了基础。     

Tfh Cells in Health and Immunity: Potential Targets for Systems Biology Approaches to Vaccination

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are a specialised subset of CD4+ T cells that play a significant role in the adaptive immune response, providing critical help to B cells within the germinal centres (GC) of secondary lymphoid organs. The B cell receptors of GC B cells undergo multiple rounds of somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation within the GC response, a process dependent on cognate interactions with Tfh cells. B cells that receive sufficient help from Tfh cells form antibody-producing long-lived plasma and memory B cells that provide the basis of decades of effective and efficient protection and are considered the gold standard in correlates of protection post-vaccination. However, the T cell response to vaccination has been understudied, and over the last 10 years, exponential improvements in the technological underpinnings of sampling techniques, experimental and analytical tools have allowed multidisciplinary characterisation of the role of T cells and the immune system as a whole. Of particular interest to the field of vaccinology are GCs and Tfh cells, representing a unique target for improving immunisation strategies. Here, we discuss recent insights into the unique journey of Tfh cells from thymus to lymph node during differentiation and their role in the production of high-quality antibody responses as well as their journey back to the periphery as a population of memory cells. Further, we explore their function in health and disease and the power of next-generation sequencing techniques to uncover their potential as modulators of vaccine-induced immunity.     

人sΔBAFF的高效原核表达及纯化

目的克隆TNF家族B细胞激活因子(BcellactivatingfactortotheTNFfamily,BAFF)胞外区134~285(sBAFF134-285)氨基酸残基段缺失突变体(sΔBAFF)的cDNA,并进行表达及纯化。方法以构建的重组质粒pUC19/sBAFF为模板,采用一步反向PCR法,扩增缺失编码sBAFF的142~160位氨基酸的核苷酸序列。经测序证实后,克隆入原核表达载体pQE-80L。经IPTG诱导表达,SDS-PAGE和Westernblot检测表达产物,Ni2+-NTA柱层析纯化目的蛋白。结果经一步反向PCR扩增后得到401bp的DNA片段,该片段序列与GenBank报道的编码人ΔBAFF的胞外区(sΔBAFF)cDNA序列一致。含sΔBAFF的表达载体在大肠杆菌中可表达出相对分子质量为18000的蛋白质并以包涵体的形式存在,经Ni2+-NTA柱层析纯化后得到高纯度的目的蛋白。结论已成功地制备出人sΔBAFF蛋白,为其功能的研究创造了条件。     

Expression and Function of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Induced Regulatory T Cells

A contribution of the cholinergic system to immune cell function has been suggested, though the role of nicotine and its receptors in T cells, especially regulatory T (Treg) cells, is unclear. We herein investigated the expression and function of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in murine-induced Treg (iTreg) cells. Upon differentiation of naive BALB/c T cells into iTreg cells and other T-cell subsets, the effect of nicotine on cytokine production and proliferation of iTreg cells was examined. The expression of nAChRs and its regulatory mechanisms were comparatively analyzed among T-cell subsets. Stimulation-induced transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) production of iTreg cells was suppressed by nicotine, whereas interleukin (IL)-10 production and proliferation was not affected. α2-, α5-, α9-, and β2-nAChRs were differentially expressed in naive, Th1, Th2, Th9, Th17, and iTreg cells. Among these cell types, the α9-nAChR was particularly upregulated in iTreg cells via its gene promoter, but not through tri-methylation at the 4th lysine residue of the histone H3-dependent mechanisms. We conclude that the immunoregulatory role of Treg cells is modified by the cholinergic system, probably through the characteristic expression of nAChRs.     

LFA-1基因对胶原诱导小鼠关节炎关节局部引流淋巴结T细胞活性的影响

目的探讨淋巴细胞功能相关抗原1(LFA-1)在类风湿性关节炎形成中的作用。方法采用Ⅱ型胶原诱导小鼠关节炎模型,观察LFA-1基因敲除小鼠引流淋巴结T细胞增殖和细胞因子水平。结果LFA-1基因敲除小鼠在应用Ⅱ型胶原免疫后,引流淋巴结和关节局部Th1型细胞因子IFN-γ和IL-12p40mRNA水平明显低于野生型对照小鼠,Th2型细胞因子IL-4mRNA水平无明显变化。LFA-1基因敲除小鼠引流淋巴结来源的CD4+T细胞在体外受Ⅱ型胶原刺激后,其特异性增殖和细胞因子IFN-γ的产生也明显低于野生型对照小鼠。结论LFA-1基因缺失抑制了辅助性T细胞的活化和向Th1方向的分化,进而抑制关节炎的发生。     

小鼠B淋巴细胞活化刺激因子可溶性片段在毕赤酵母中的表达、纯化及其生物学活性的初步鉴定

目的在毕赤酵母中表达小鼠B淋巴细胞活化刺激因子(B cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family,BAFF)可溶性片段(msBAFF),纯化后检测其生物学活性。方法采用RT-PCR法从BALB/c小鼠外周血单核细胞中扩增msBAFF基因,插入表达载体pPICZαA中,构建重组表达质粒pPICZαA-msBAFF,转化巴斯德毕赤酵母GS115,甲醇诱导表达。表达的重组msBAFF蛋白经硫酸铵沉淀及Q Sepharose XL阴离子交换柱纯化后,分别单独及与anti-IgM共同作用于BALB/c小鼠脾脏B淋巴细胞,检测其对B淋巴细胞活力的影响。结果重组表达质粒pPICZαA-msBAFF经双酶切鉴定构建正确;表达的重组msBAFF蛋白相对分子质量约为20 000,诱导60 h表达量较高;经硫酸铵沉淀、透析除盐及Q Sepharose XL阴离子交换柱纯化,获得了较纯的msBAFF,BCA法测定纯化蛋白的产率为20 mg/L;重组BAFF蛋白具有促进小鼠B淋巴细胞活力的作用。结论成功在毕赤酵母中表达了重组msBAFF蛋白,纯化的重组蛋白具有良好的生物学活性,为进一步研究小鼠BAFF基因的功能及基于BAFF的佐剂与单克隆抗体的制备奠定了物质基础。