Construction of the vector for fusion protein gene driven by IGF-Ⅱ P3 promoter and its expression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

AIM:To construct the shuttle plasmid vector for thymidine kinase(tk) and EGFP fusion protein gene driven by IGF-Ⅱ P3 promoter,and investigate the specific killing effect of the HSV-tk/GCV system on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) cells in vitro.METHODS:Recombinant shuttle plasmid vector was constructed by techniques of genetic recombination and screening,and identified by restriction digestion and sequencing analysis. Then the recombinant shuttle plasmid was transfected into HepG2 and HeLa cells by techniques of lipofectamine transfection and its expression was detected by fluorescence microscope and RT-PCR. Cell killing after ganciclovir(GCV) application was determined by MTT.RESULTS:Identification of pDC316-tkEGFP-P3 by enzyme digestion and sequencing analysis showed that the length,inserted location and direction of the target genes which were inserted into the recombinant were correct. It was found that enhanced green fluorescence protein could only be seen in HepG2 cells,but not in HeLa cells. The results of RT-PCR showed that only two bands could be seen in the samples of pDC316-tkEGFP-P3 transfected HepG2 cells. The MTT test showed the selective cytotoxicity of GCV to the transfected HepG2 cells.CONCLUSION:The shuttle plasmid vector carrying the tkEGFP fusion protein gene driven by IGF-Ⅱ P3 promoter has been constructed successfully and its specific expression in HepG2 cells provided a sound basis for targeted gene therapy for HCC.     

Antitumor effects of HSV-tk and cytosine deaminase double suicide gene mediated by adenovirus on cholangiocarcinoma cells in vitro

AIM: To study the antitumor effects of HSV-tk and cytosine deaminase double suicide gene system on cholangiocarcinoma cells in vitro. METHODS: Recombinant adenovirus vector carring HSV-tk and cytosine deaminase double suicide gene was constructed and was transfected into QBC939 huamn cholangiocarcinoma cells. The antitumor effects were observed in vitro in comparison with a single suicide gene system. RESULTS: By transfection, HSV-tk and (or) cytosine deaminase double suicide gene gained high expression in tumor cells. Compared with single suicide gene system, this double gene system presented higher sensitivity, stronger antitumor effect and bystander effect. CONCLUSION: HSV-tk and cytosine deaminase double suicide gene system has a powerful antitumor effect on cholangiocarcinoma cells.     

Activated NK cells against human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo

AIM: To evaluate the role of natural killer(NK) cells against a variety of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines in vitro and in vivo, and to investigate the expression of MHC class I chain-related protein (MIC protein) in these HCC cell lines. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from 50 mL peripheral blood donored by a healthy volunteer and cultured in the NK cell kit followed by amplification and cytokine activation. The release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was detected by lysis experiment. Animal experiments were performed following vaccination with HCC cell lines (BEL7402, HepG2 and SMMC7721) in BALB/c-nu/nu mice. The diameters of the tumors were measured and the growth curves of difference cell lines were delineated. Three weeks later, these mice were sacrificed and the weight of the transplanted tumors was also detected. Furthermore, the expression of MIC protein was determined. RESULTS: The obvious differences of lysis effects of NK cells on different cell lines were observed, in which the lysis effect of NK cells on K562 cells was the strongest, the effect on BEL7402 cells was in the middle and the effect on SMMC7721 cells was the weakest. In animal experiments, NK cells also showed obvious and different restraining effects on a variety of HCC cell line-transplanted tumors in nude mice. The tumor inhibitory rates of NK cells were 43.5% in BEL-7402 cell-transplanted tumor, 40.7% in HepG2 cell-transplanted tumor and 36.0% in SMMC-7721 cell-transplanted tumor. The protein expression of MIC was 48.7%, 32.8% and 0.9% in the 3 cell lines,respectively. CONCLUSION: The lysis effects of NK cells on a variety of human HCC cell lines are different. The expression of MIC in the tumor cells may play distinct role in evaluating these differences.     

The in vitro immune effects of dendritoma formed by mouse hepatocellular carcinoma cells and lymphotactin gene modified dendritic cells

AIM: To investigate the in vitro antitumor immune responses of dendritoma formed by mouse hepatocellular carcinoma cells and lymphotactin gene modified dendritic cells (DCs). METHODS: DCs prepared from mouse bone marrow were genetically modified by lymphotactin adenovirus, and fused with H22 cells by polyethylene glycol. RT-PCR and ELISA were employed to identify lymphotactin expression at mRNA and protein levels. The phenotypes and fusion efficiency were detected by FACS. The stimulatory capacity of DC to T cells was detected by mixed leukocyte reaction. The cytotoxicity activity against H22 cells was assayed by LDH method. RESULTS: Lymphotactin effectively expressed by DCLptn/H22 hybridoma. DCLptn/H22 cells induced potent T cell proliferation effect and generated strong CTL reaction against allogenic H22 cells. CONCLUSION: Lymphotactin genetic modification enhanced the in vitro immune activity of dendritoma.     

香蕉果实特异表达启动子驱动下的乙肝表面抗原基因植物表达载体的构建

研制经济方便的新型乙肝植物口服疫苗是全球控制乙型肝炎的现实要求。研制乙肝植物口服疫苗遇到的一个主要的困难是HBsAg基因在受体植物中的表达量低。香蕉是植物口服疫苗理想的受体。因此,以香蕉为受体,进一步提高HBsAg基因表达量的研究非常必要。从pBIL2载体上克隆了香蕉果实特异表达的BanLec启动子,并引入了HindⅢ、BamHⅠ酶切位点;利用EcoRⅠ和BamHⅠ双酶切YEPFLAG-HBS获得了HBsAg基因;通过BamHⅠ酶切位点,利用T4DNA连接酶连接了BanLec启动子和HBsAg基因,形成BanLec-HBsAg连接片段;再把该片段通过EcoRⅠ、HindⅢ酶切位点插入pCAMBIA2300植物表达载体,成功构建香蕉果实特异表达启动子驱动下的乙肝表面抗原基因表达载体。     

Recent advances in nm-23 gene and hepatocellular carcinoma

nm-23 gene is the first antimetastatic gene which was found to have close relationship with metastasis and prognosis of many malignant carcinoma. This review briefly summarizes the development of nm-23 gene and hepatocellular carcinoma in recent years.     

Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with CIK cell therapy combined with mini-invasive TACE

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has become an important way to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). TACE can kill HCC cells directly. Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapy improves immunity. CIK sequential therapy combined with TACE improves treatment safety, efficacy, the quality of life and long-term outcome for the HCC patients. This review summarizes the status and latest progress of CIK cell therapy combined with TACE in the treatment of HCC.     

Expression of GFP and Luc reporter genes driven by human myocardial myosin light chain gene promoter in human cardiomyocytes

AIM:To construct the lentiviral vectors with green fluorescent protein(GFP) and luciferase(Luc) reporter genes driven by human myosine light chain 2v gene promoter(pMLC2v) and to investigate their expression in human cardiomyocyte(HCM) cell line and human lung cancer cell line A549. METHODS:Human pMLC2v-specific lentiviral vectors with GFP(pMLC2v-GFP) or Luc(pMLC2v-Luc) were constructed and transfected into HCM and A549 cell lines. The expression characteristics of the reporter genes were observed by confocal fluorescent microscopy and bioluminescence detection. Common(nonspecific) promoter-driven GFP(GFP_C) or red fluorescent protein(RFP_C) lentiviral vectors were used as controls. RESULTS:Both cell lines expressed GFP and RFP 3 days after transfected with the nonspecific vectors. HCM specifically expressed GFP and Luc 3 weeks after transfected with the pMLC2v-GFP or pMLC2v-Luc vectors. However, A549 cells didn't show the similar expression pattern. CONCLUSION:The pMLC2v-GFP and pMLC2v-Luc lentiviral vectors are specific for newly proliferative cardiomyocytes, indicating that they can be used as reliable tools for tracking the differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes in vivo.     

韧皮部特异启动子驱动密码子优化的抗菌肽D基因的植物表达载体构建

根据177个GenBank中登录的柑橘编码蛋白密码子用法的分析结果,优化并重新设计和合成了含柑橘偏爱密码子、对柑橘黄龙病有杀灭作用的柞蚕抗菌肽D基因(命名为CAPD),克隆入pUC19克隆载体并经测序验证后,获得了含新抗病基因的重组质粒pUC19-CAPD。用限制性内切酶BamHI和SacI双酶切pUC19-CAPD克隆载体和pBI121植物表达载体的质粒DNA,回收pUC19-CAPD克隆载体中的CAPD基因小片段和pBI121植物表达载体中去掉GUS报告基因的大片段,经连接、转化和鉴定后,构建了由CaMV35S组成型启动子(35SP)驱动CAPD目的基因的新植物表达载体(命名为pHZ05);用限制性内切酶BamHI和HindIII双酶切含笋瓜韧皮部特异启动子(PSP)的pUCm-PSP克隆载体和pHZ05植物表达载体的质粒DNA,分别回收pUCm-PSP克隆载体中的PSP小片段和pHZ05植物表达载体中去掉CAPD目的基因上游35SP的大片段,经连接、转化和鉴定后,构建了由PSP驱动CAPD目的基因的新植物表达载体(命名为pHZ06)。利用细胞感受态法直接将2个由不同启动子驱动的含CAPD目的基因的新重组植物表达载体分别导入根癌农杆菌LBA4404、GV3101、EHA105和发根农杆菌Ri15834等4个农杆菌菌株中,为利用农杆菌介导的遗传转化技术培育抵抗由韧皮部传导的毁灭性和检疫性病害柑橘黄龙病的新种质奠定了基础。     

Expression of Glypican-3 gene and its regulating mechanism in hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM:To investigate the expression of Glypican-3 gene and its regulating mechanism in hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS:The expression of GPC3 mRNA and its gene mutation in 48 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues, 39 paracarcinomatous tissues and 31 normal liver tissues were detected by using RT-PCR and PCR-SSCP. The expressions of GPC3 protein, P53 and PCNA protein were detected by using immunohistochemistry S-P. RESULTS:The positive expressive rate of GPC3 mRNA was 77.1% in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue. No expression of GPC3 mRNA in paracarcinomatous tissues and normal liver tissues was observed. No gene mutation of GPC3 in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue was found. No correlation was found between GPC3 and P53 (r=-0.12574, P>0.05). The mean index of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) in positive and negative GPC3 expression were (46.32±27.54)% and (39.83±21.47)%, respectively (P>0.05). CONCLUSION:The high expression of GPC3 mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma is independent to the gene mutation, and to the expression of P53 and PCNA protein.     

Role of bcl-2 gene expression in inhabition of hepatocellular carcinoma by genistein in nude mice

AIM:To probe into the role of 1, 4, 5 - trisphosphate inositol (IP3) and bcl-2 gene expression in inhibiting hepatocellular carcinoma of nude mice by genistein. METHODS:Animals with hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with genistein 1 mg·kg-1·d-1 (ip) for 3 weeks. The volume and weight of tumaor were measured. IP3, bcl-2 mRNA, Bcl-2 protein were assayed by IP3-［3H］ Birtrak assay, RT-PCR, Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS:The tumor volume and weight of animals treated with genistein were lower than those in control (42.7mm3±27.8mm3 vs 52.3mm3±26.5mm3, 42.7mg±27.8 mg vs 91.3mg±31.4 mg). IP3 content was lower than that in control ［(13.4±1.4)nmol/g protein vs (35.3±6.6)nmol/g protein］. bcl-2 mRNA expression was lower in group treated with genistein than that in control (RI which was the gray degree multiply area of bcl-2 / the gray degree multiply area of β-actin 0.48±0.02 vs 0.56±0.15). Bcl-2 protein expression was lower in group treated with genistein than that in control (RI 1.69±0.52 vs 1.37±0.48). CONCLUSION:Genistein inhibits growth of transplanted hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mouse liver by reducing IP3 production and down-regulating bcl-2 gene expression.     

Dendritic cells transfected with tumor total RNA induce specific immune responses against hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro

AIM: To observe the ability of dendritic cells (DC) vaccine transfected with human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) total RNA induce specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte(CTL) response in vitro. METHODS: DCs generated from HCC patient’s peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were incubated with recombinant human granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulationg factor (GM-CSF) and human interleukin (IL-4). Tumor total RNA was isolated from Hep G-2 cells and HCC cells. DCs transfected with tumor total RNA were used to induce specific CTL proliferation. Specific cytotoxicity was measured using MTT method. RESULTS: DC transfected with HepG-2 cell RNA and HCC RNA exhibited increased expression of CD83, CD86 and HLA-DR. The CTL from DCs transfected with HepG-2 cell RNA killed 5.84％， 14.26％， 25.19％, or 35.78％ of HepG-2 cells, and 5.26％， 11.67％， 14.68％, or 23.24％ of HCC cells, respectively, at an E/T ratio of 2.5, 5, 10, or 20. The CTL from DCs transfected with HCC cells RNA killed 4.65％， 12.23％， 15.61％, or 19.15％ of HepG-2 cells, and 7.20％， 12.83％， 27.21％, or 31.15％ of HCC cells,respectively, at an E/T ratio of 2.5, 5, 10, and 20. These CTL did not kill allogeneic malignant cells as human gastric carcinoma cells SGC-7901. CONCLUSION: DC transfected with tumor-derived total RNA could induce specific antitumor immune CTL response. These results suggest that CTL generation is applicable to adoptive immunotherapy of HCC.     

Role of multidrug resistance gene 1 polymorphism in prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with liver transplantation

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between three multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1) polymorphisms (C1236T, G2677A/T, C3435T) and the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Chinese liver transplantation (LT) patients.METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis was applied to determine the genotypes of MDR1 gene in 50 HCC patients treated with LT. The tumor-free survival and overall survival were compared among these patients according to the polymorphisms of MDR1 by Kaplan-Meier method, multivariate regression analysis was also performed.RESULTS: No significant association was found between C1236T, G2677T, C3435T and prognosis of these patients. But interestingly, 2677A carrier group had significantly higher tumor-free survival rate than 2677A noncarrier group (P<0.05). The multivariate regression analysis revealed that 2677A carrier genotype was one of the independent factors for predicting tumor-free survival (RR=0.143, P<0.01).CONCLUSION: MDR1 2677A carrier genotype is correlated with the tumor-free survival. MDR1 2677A carrier genotype may be a useful independent prognostic factor in HCC patients treated with LT.     

Genistein downregulates survivin gene expression and induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells

AIM: To probe into the role of 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate inositol (IP3) and survivin protein in apoptosis of HepG2 cells induced by genistein. METHODS: HepG2 cells were treated with 60 μmol/L genistein for 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. IP3, survivin and apoptosis rate were assayed by IP3-［3H］ Birtrak assay, Western blotting and flow cytometry, respectively. RESULTS: IP3 in groups incubated for 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h with 60 μmol/L genistein were significantly lower than that in control (P<0.01) ［(12.0±1.4) pmol/106cells, (7.5±0.8) pmol/106 cells, (5.6±0.5) pmol/106cells, (3.3±0.6) pmol/106 cells， vs (29.2±0.6) pmol/106 cells］. V-survivin/ V-β-actin, which was the gray degree multiply area of survivin/the gray degree multiply area of β-actin in groups incubated for 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h with 60 μmol/L genistein, were significantly lower than that in control (P<0.01) ［（0.36±0.13, 0.33±0.03, 0.23±0.04, 0.18±0.04）， vs 0.63±0.06］. The apoptosis rate in groups incubated with 60 μmol/L genistein for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h was significantly higher than that in control （P<0.01） ［(7.4%±0.5%, 20.5%±2.0%, 30.7%±1.6%) vs 2.6%±0.1%］. CONCLUSION: Genistein induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells by reducing IP3 production and survivin protein expression.     

Effect of 5Aza-dc on demethylation of TIMP-3 gene promoter in carcinoma cells

AIM: To observe the effect of 5Aza-dc on demethylation of TIMP-3 gene promoter in carcinoma cells. METHODS: Both hepatocellular carcinoma cells (H2M) and epidermoid carcinoma cells (A431) with methylation of TIMP-3 promoter gene were treated with 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5Aza-dc). Invasion ability and motility of the cells were detected by Transwell experiments. Expressions of TIMP-3 protein and mRNA were detected by Western blotting and RT-PCR, respectively. TIMP-3 gene promoter methylation was detected by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). RESULTS: ① Invasion ability and motility of H2M and A431 cells were declined after treatment with 5Aza-dc; ② After treatment with 5Aza-dc, the expression of TIMP-3 protein and mRNA were increased in H2M and A431 cells; ③ After treatment with 5Aza-dc, methylation of TIMP-3 promoter gene was not detectable in the cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: 5Aza-dc induces demethylation in TIMP-3 promoter gene, restores TIMP-3 gene and protein expression, and inhibits invasion ability and motility of the carcinoma cells.