OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of RNA interference targeting human cytomegalovirus immediate early gene 1 (HCMV- IE1) on the gene expression in vitro.

METHODSAccording to the sequence of HCMV-IE1 gene, the small interfering RNA (siRNA) sequences were designed and introduced into the eukaryotic expression vector containing the U6 promoter. After verification by sequence analysis, the recombinant eukaryotic plasmid (pHCMV-IE1i) was transfected into HEL HCMVAD169 cells. The effectiveness of HCMV-IE1 gene silencing was investigated by fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and RT-PCR.

RESULTSSequence analysis confirmed successful construction of the recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid pHCMV-IE1i. The expression of HCMV-IE1 was effectively suppressed by pHCMV-IE1i transfection in HEL cells as shown by fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry (P < 0.05) and RT-PCR (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of HCMV-IE1 can be effectively suppressed by RNA interference technique in vitro, which provides experimental data for prevention and treatment of HCMV infection.

Antigens, Viral ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Genes, Immediate-Early ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Animals ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Genetic Therapy ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Liver Cirrhosis ; therapy ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Co-infection of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is not uncommon in immunocompromised hosts. Importantly, organ transplant recipients concurrently infected with HSV-1 and HCMV have a worse clinical outcome than recipients infected with a single virus. However, factors regulating the pathologic response in HSV-1, HCMV co-infected tissues are unclear. We investigated the potential biologic role of HCMV gene product immediate early 1 (IE1) protein in HSV-1-induced syncytial formation in U373MG cells. We utilized a co-infection model by infecting HSV-1 to U373MG cells constitutively expressing HCMV IE1 protein, UMG1-2. Syncytial formation was assessed by enumerating nuclei number per syncytium and number of syncytia. HSV-1-induced syncytial formation was enhanced after 24 hr in UMG1-2 cells compared with U373MG controls. The amplified phenotype in UMG1-2 cells was effectively suppressed by roscovitine in addition to inhibitors of viral replication. This is the first study to provide histological evidence of the contribution of HCMV IE1 protein to enhanced cytopathogenic responses in active HSV-1 infection.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Giant Cells/*virology ; Herpesvirus 1, Human/*growth & development ; Humans ; Immediate-Early Proteins/biosynthesis/*metabolism ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Purines/pharmacology ; Transfection ; Virus Replication/drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on actin and microfilament in human embryo fibroblast cells (HF) and its relationship with CMV replication.

METHODSCell morphology was observed after the infection of CMV. Western-blot was used to measure the expression levels of beta-actin, G-actin and F-actin proteins. CMV immediately early antigen (CMV IE) in HF cells was analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Microfilament alteration was determined by cytoskeleton fluorescence probe.

RESULTCMV IE was demonstrated in more than 95% of HF cells after infection, which was primarily located in nucleus. The shape of HF cells changed from thin shuttle like to round and thick ball like, even escaping from wall after infection by CMV. Compared with control group, the expression of G-actin protein increased at 24 h of CMV infection (0.941 +/-0.061 compared with 0.714 +/-0.119, P <0.05), then decreased at 72 h, 96 h respectively(0.218 +/-.035, 0.230 +/-0.055 compared with 0.714 +/-0.119, P <0.05). The levels of F-actin in infected cells gradually decreased at 24 h, 72 h and 96 h compared with control HF cells (0.256 +/-0.021, 0.127 +/-0.032, 0.026 +/-0.008 compared with 0.373 +/-0.050, P<0.05). In infected HF cells, microfilaments were found ruptured, arranged turbulently. Cells fused and fluorescence density of microfilament markedly reduced.

CONCLUSIONCytomegalovirus can induce alteration of actins and microfilament, which may be associated with its infection, replication and reactivity in host cells.

Actin Cytoskeleton ; metabolism ; Actins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Antigens, Viral ; analysis ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytomegalovirus ; Cytoskeleton ; metabolism ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; virology ; Humans ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of c-fos in rats' skin during wound healing. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was conducted on paraffin section from incised wounding model of rat skin. RESULTS: Fos protein improved from the time of 10 min after wounding in the wound edge, then it reached peak at 3 h. 24 h after injury, the quantity of Fos expression had no difference with that of normal skin. CONCLUSION Fos is sensitive after wound, but should be used with other criteria in wounding interval estimation as it's unstediness.
Animals ; Genes, Immediate-Early ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/biosynthesis* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin/metabolism* ; Time Factors ; Wounds and Injuries/metabolism*

To investigate the mechanism and the suppressive effect of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) on colony forming unit-megakaryocyte (CFU-MK), semi-solid culture system was used to observe the effect of HCMV AD169 strain on CFU-MK's growth of 18 cord blood samples. HCMV DNA and immediate early (IE) protein mRNA in CFU-MK was detected by PCR and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Our results showed that HCMV AD169 significantly suppressed the formation of CFU-MK in vitro. Compared with the mock group, the CFU-MK colonies decreased by 21.6%, 33.8% and 46.3%, respectively, in all the 3 infected groups (P<0.05), suggesting the suppression and the titer of the virus was dose-dependent. Both HCMV DNA and the expression of HCMV IE protein mRNA were positively detected in the colony cells of viral infected group. It is concluded that HCMV AD169 strain could inhibit the differentiation and proliferation of CFU-MK by directly infecting their progenitors. There was early transcription of HCMV IE protein in CFU-MK infected by virus.
Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Antigens, Viral ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; physiology ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; DNA, Viral ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology ; virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; virology

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Rats ; Transfection

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of exogenous connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the collagen III synthesis of human renal tubular epithelial cell line HK2 in vitro.

METHODSCultured HK2 cells were randomly assigned to three groups: placebo-control, low-dose CTGF-treated (2.5 ng/mL) and high-dose CTGF-treated groups (20 ng/mL). Cell morphological changes were observed under an inverted microscope. Collagen III alpha mRNA expression was detected using RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to assess the levels of intracellular collagen III alpha protein.

RESULTSAfter 48 hrs of low- or high- dose CTGF treatment, the appearances of HK2 cells were changed from oval to fusiform. High-dose CTGF treatment increased collagen III alpha mRNA expression (0.4461+/-0.0274 vs 0.2999+/-0.0115; P<0.05) as well as the protein expression of collagen III alpha (0.4075+/-0.0071 vs 0.3503+/-0.0136; P<0.05) compared with the placebo-control group.

CONCLUSIONSCTGF can induce morphological changes of human renal tubular epithelial cells in vitro. High concentration of CTGF may increase the synthesis of collagen III alpha.

Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type III ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; pharmacology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; pharmacology ; Kidney Tubules ; drug effects ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of connective tissue growth factor on the pathogenesis of human hypertrophic scar.

METHODSNormal skin and hypertrophic scar fibroblasts were cultured in vitro. The collagen synthesis of fibroblasts were measured by H3-proline incorporation method. The expression of connective tissue growth factor protein and mRNA of fibroblasts were detected with immunocytochemistry staining and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction methods.

RESULTSCompared with normal skin fibroblast, the collagen synthesis and the expression of connective tissue growth factor protein and mRNA in the hypertrophic scar fibroblast was higher (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONConnective tissue growth factor may play an important role in promoting the fibrotic process of hypertrophic scar.

Cells, Cultured ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Collagen ; biosynthesis ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; genetics ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction