A three‐dimensional cell culture system as an in vitro canine mammary carcinoma model for the expression of connective tissue modulators

In this study, derived complex carcinoma (CC) and simple carcinoma (SC) cell lines were established and cultured under two‐dimensional (2D) and three‐dimensional (3D) conditions. The 3D was performed in six‐well AlgiMatrix? (LifeTechnologies®, Carlsbad, CA, USA) scaffolds, resulting in spheroids sized 50–125 µm for CC and 175–200 µm for SC. Cell viability was demonstrated up to 14 days for both models. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was expressed in CC and SC in both systems. However, higher mRNA and protein levels were observed in SC 2D and 3D systems when compared with CC (P < 0.005). The connective tissue modulators, metalloproteinases‐1, ‐2, ‐9 and ‐13 (MMPs), relaxin receptors 1 and 2 (RXR1 and RXR2) and E‐cadherin (CDH1) were quantitated. All were upregulated similarly when canine mammary tumour (CMT)‐derived cell lines were cultured under 3D AlgiMatrix, except CDH1 that was downregulated (P < 0.005). These results are promising towards the used of 3D system to increase a high throughput in vitro canine tumour model.     

在继代培养中贡蕉胚性悬浮细胞的分化能力和染色体数目的变化

将贡蕉[Musa acuminata cv.Mas(AA)]胚性悬浮细胞通过不同时间的培养后,对其体胚发生能力和染色体数目进行了分析。结果表明,随着培养时间的延长,贡蕉胚性悬浮细胞的体胚发生能力下降,继代培养1.5a的悬浮细胞体胚发生能力为1.76×104个/mLPCV(packed cell volume,细胞密实体积)胚性悬浮细胞,继代培养3a后下降到0.85×104个/mL PCV胚性悬浮细胞。整个胚性细胞悬浮系为混倍体,细胞的染色体数目变化从3个到70个不等,既有含染色体数目为整倍体的细胞,也含有大量染色体数目为非整倍体的细胞;继代培养1.5a时,含正常二倍体染色体数目的细胞比例为15.8%,继代培养3.0a时下降到9.7%。     

ES-D3细胞nanog基因干扰载体的构建 及其干涉效果*

选择ES细胞nanog基因中4个区域合成寡聚核苷酸,构建了4个含有小鼠U6启动子的siRNA（小分子干涉RNA）表达载体并瞬时转染小鼠ES-D3细胞.半定量RT-PCR分析显示,所构建的4个siRNA表达载体中有3个可以在细胞内转录出siRNA或shRNA（短发夹RNA）,诱发RNA干涉（RNAinterference,RNAi）,能显著抑制目的基因nanog的表达;同时发现,干扰的ES-D3细胞生长48 h后,集落形态与未干扰细胞相比差别不大,但隆起不如后者明显,形态也不如后者规则,生长速度也较慢,AKP染色阳性,与未转染细胞相比没有差别.     

Lentivirus-mediated calcitonin gene-related peptide transfection enhances endothelial differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

AIM：To study the effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) gene transfection mediated by lentivirus on the differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to endothelial cells. METHODS：Rat bone marrow MSCs were isolated by density gradient centrifugation combined with adherence method. Recombinant lentivirus vector carrying CGRP gene (Lenti-CGRP) was transfected into the MSCs. The secretion of CGRP in culture supernatants of the transfected MSCs was detected using ELISA method. The cells at passage 3 were divided into three groups: CGRP group (MSCs transfected with Lenti-CGRP), CGRP+CGRP8-37 (an antagonist of CGRP receptor) group and control group (MSCs transfected with PBS). The differentiation of the MSCs was detected by immunocytochemical staining for CD31 and factor Ⅷ-related antigen. The proliferation of the cells was measured by cell counting, and the angiogenic ability of the cells was analyzed using Matrigel assay. RESULTS：The proportion of CD31-and factor Ⅷ-related antigen-positive cells in CGRP and CGRP+CGRP8-37 groups was larger than that in control group (P<0.05). The numbers of the cells in CGRP and CGRP+CGRP8-37 groups were significantly increased compared with control group (P<0.05). Lumen-like structures were observed in CGRP and CGRP+CGRP8-37 groups. The above indexes in CGRP+CGRP8-37 group were reduced compared with CGRP group. CONCLUSION: Transfection with CGRP gene induces rat bone marrow MSCs to differentiate into endothelial cells and enhances their proliferation, suggesting that CGRP may play a role in the regulation of angiogenesis.     

FADS2基因在奶牛乳腺细胞中的过表达和干扰研究

为了研究脂肪酸脱氢酶2(fatty acid desaturases 2,FADS2)基因在奶牛乳腺细胞脂肪酸代谢中的作用,本研究在奶牛乳腺上皮细胞中对FADS2基因进行过表达和干扰,研究FADS2基因表达对脂肪酸合成相关基因的调控及对奶牛乳腺上皮细胞中甘油三酯含量的影响。针对FADS2基因的CDS序列设计siRNA和过表达载体pcDNA3.1-FADS2-EGFP,转染奶牛乳腺细胞检测FADS2基因过表达和干扰对脂肪酸代谢相关基因表达的影响及细胞中甘油三酯含量的变化。结果显示,试验成功获得过表达载体pcDNA3.1-FADS2-EGFP和干扰片段,转染细胞后具有良好的过表达和干扰效果。FADS2基因过表达后,1-酰基甘油磷酸酰基转移酶(AGPAT1)、固醇调节元件结合蛋白裂解激活蛋白(SCAP)、3-磷酸甘油转移酶(GPAM)、脂肪酸延长链5(ELOVL5)、乙酰辅酶A酰基转移酶1(ACAA1)、脂肪酸脱氢酶1(FADS1)、二酰基甘油转酰基酶1(DGAT1)和过氧化物酶体增殖激活受体α(PPARα)基因显著下调(P<0.05),脂滴蛋白2(PLIN2)基因极显著上调(P<0.01)。FADS2基因干扰过后可引起AGPAT1、GPAM、ELOVL5、ACAA1、PLIN2和FADS1基因显著上调(P<0.05),脂肪酸合成胰岛素诱导基因1(INSIG1)极显著上调(P<0.01),DGAT1和PPARα基因显著下调(P<0.05)。甘油三酯检测结果显示,FADS2基因过表达和干扰均可降低奶牛乳腺上皮细胞中甘油三酯的含量。综上所述,在奶牛乳腺上皮细胞中,FADS2基因能调控脂质合成相关基因的表达,对乳腺脂质合成具有调控作用。     

MSTN基因对牛肌动蛋白细胞骨架调节通路的影响

为探究肌肉生长抑制素（myostatin,MSTN）对牛骨骼肌生长发育的作用机制,本研究前期利用定量蛋白质组学与磷酸化蛋白质组学分析野生型蒙古牛（MG.WT）和MSTN^+/-蒙古牛（MG.MSTN^+/-）腿臀肌肌肉组织中蛋白质水平和磷酸化修饰水平的差异变化,使用已建立的牛骨骼肌卫星细胞体外诱导成肌分化模型,检测设计合成的MSTN siRNA （si-MSTN）干扰效果;采用实时荧光定量PCR和Western blotting方法检测转染si-MSTN的增殖期（GM）和分化第3天（DM3）牛骨骼肌卫星细胞中肌动蛋白细胞骨架调节通路相关基因的mRNA和蛋白水平的表达变化,研究敲低MSTN表达对肌动蛋白细胞骨架调节通路的影响。结果显示,在MSTN^+/-蒙古牛肌肉组织中共鉴定到16个肌动蛋白细胞骨架调节通路相关基因表达丰度上调;转染si-MSTN细胞中的MSTN表达水平极显著降低（P<0.01）;在转染si-MSTN的GM期牛骨骼肌卫星细胞中,肌动蛋白细胞骨架调节通路相关基因ENAH、ACTN4和Cdc42的mRNA水平均显著升高（P<0.05）,PFN1、RhoA和ACTN4的蛋白水平均显著或极显著升高（P<0.05;P<0.01）;在转染si-MSTN的DM3牛骨骼肌卫星细胞中,ENAH、CFL1、SCIN和Cdc42基因mRNA水平均显著升高（P<0.05）,RhoA基因mRNA水平极显著升高（P<0.01）,PFN1和ACTN4的蛋白水平均显著升高（P<0.05）。结果表明,干扰MSTN可以促进肌动蛋白细胞骨架调节通路相关基因的表达,探明了MSTN可能通过介导肌动蛋白细胞骨架调节通路影响牛骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖和成肌分化的分子机制,为进一步研究MSTN对牛成肌分化的调控机制提供参考。     

Construction of mouse ESC line stably expressing Pdx1 by Tet-On system

AIM To construct the mouse embryonic stem cell （ESC） line with stable pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 （Pdx1） expression by Tet-On system, which may lay a foundation for further research on the differentiation of Pdx1⁺ definitive endoderm cells into pancreatic cells. METHODS The Pdx1-overexpressing lentiviral vector with green fluorescent protein marker and puromycin resistance was constructed by Tet-On system and was used to infect the mouse ESC. The cells were divided into 3 groups： blank control group （ESC group）, empty lentivirus control group （PDX1^- ESC group） and Pdx1 lentivirus transfection group （PDX1⁺ ESC group）. Flow cytometry was used to detect the transfected cells after screening by doxycycline （DOX）. The function of Tet-On system and the expression of Pdx1 gene were detected. The transfected cells in PDX1^- ESC group and PDX1⁺ ESC group were sorted by flow cytometry, and constructed ESC line with stable expression of Pdx1 and negative control ESC line were verified. RESULTS （1） The positive rates of transfected cells in PDX1^- ESC group and PDX1⁺ ESC group were 90.72% and 94.01% after screening by DOX, respectively. The positive rates of transfected cells in PDX1^- ESC group and PDX1⁺ ESC group was 97.84% and 98.13% after sorting by flow cytometry, respectively. （2） With DOX, green fluorescence was observed in PDX1^- ESC group and PDX1⁺ ESC group. The mRNA and protein expression of Pdx1 was significantly increased in PDX1⁺ ESC group （P<0.05）. Without DOX, no green fluorescence was observed in the cells of the 3 groups, and no significant difference in the mRNA and protein expression of Pdx1 was observed （P>0.05）. （3） After 3 months of cryopreservation, the cell lines still survived in resuscitation culture and were regulated by DOX. CONCLUSION Using Tet-On system, the mouse ESC line with inducible Pdx1 expression were successfully established and could be used as an effective cell model to research the differentiation of Pdx1⁺ definitive endoderm cells into pancreatic cells.     

Bovine NK cells acquire cytotoxic activity and produce IFN-gamma after stimulation by Mycobacterium bovis BCG- or Babesia bovis-exposed splenic dendritic cells

Early interactions of innate immune cell populations, such as dendritic cells (DC) and natural killer (NK) cells, can affect the ability of the acquired immune response to control infection of intracellular microorganisms. In this study, we investigated the activation of bovine NK cells by CD13(+) splenic DC stimulated with either Mycobacterium bovis BCG or Babesia bovis merozoites. Splenic DC were used either immediately after selection (cytokine(-)) or after exposure to GM-CSF, IL-4 and Flt3L for 72 h (cytokine(+)). Phenotypic analyses showed up-regulation of MHCII, CD80 and CD86 on cytokine(+) DC when compared to cytokine(-) DC. Purified NK cells (CD335(+)CD3(-)CD2(+/-)CD8alpha(+/-)) were co-cultured with microbial-exposed cytokine(-) DC or cytokine(+) DC in either transwell or cell-to-cell format and NK cell IFN-gamma production and cytotoxicity were assessed. NK cell IFN-gamma production was dependent on cell-to-cell contact. Microbial-stimulated cytokine(+) DC induced significantly more IFN-gamma production from NK cells than cytokine(-) cells. In contrast, cytotoxicity and perforin up-regulation were more pronounced in NK cells cultured with cytokine(-) DC than cytokine(+) DC. Therefore, activation of bovine NK cells by microbial-stimulated CD13(+) splenic DC is influenced by the maturation state of the DC suggesting different roles for the splenic DC during disease-induced maturation.     

TGF β1 inhibits the maturation of dendritic cells and down-regulates TLR4 expression

AIM: To investigate the effects of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) on murine-derived dendritic cells (DC). METHODS: Murine bone marrow cells were cultured with GM-CSF and TGF-β1 to develop TGF β-DC. Then they were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Their phenotypes were assessed by flow cytometry (FCM). The allogeneic stimulating capacity of DC was measured by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) using BrdU ELISA method. IL-12 p70 protein was detected by ELISA and the expressions of Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) on DCs were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and FCM. RESULTS: Compared to immature DC (imDC) cultured with GM-CSF alone, the expressions of CD80, CD86, I-Ab and CD40 in TGF β-DC were lower. The TGF β-DC was resistant to maturation by LPS. Maturation resistance was evident from a failure to up-regulate CMs, to stimulate larger T cell proliferation and to increase secretion of IL-12 p70. Down-regulation of TLR4 expression on TGF β-DC was also found. CONCLUSION: TGF-β1 inhibits the expression of co-stimulatory molecules on DC. It is resistant to maturation stimulus (LPS) and might be linked with TLR4 down-regulation.