1.Construction of HPV18E7 recombinant plasmid and exploration of its optimization expression condition in Escherichia coli
Renjian HU ; Jiali CAI ; Li LIU ; Manyu TU ; Tao XU ; Cuirong DU ; Jia LUO ; Sen DING
Chongqing Medicine 2013;(30):3647-3649
Objective To construct recombinant plasmids containing HPV18E7 gene ,and explore the optimization condition of its expression in Escherichia coli .Methods The genomic DNA extracted from HeLa cell line which served as a template to the HPV18 E7 gene was amplified using PCR method ;and the amplified product of HPV18E7 gene was connected to the pET-32a(+ ) vector ,which composed the pET-32a(+ )-HPV18E7 recombinant plasmid ;the positive recombinant plasmids were transformed into BL21-DE3-pLysS competent cells and the optimized expression condition was explored in order to obtain a large amount of HPV18E7 oncogenic protein .Results The fragment length of PCR products of HeLa cell genomic DNA was consistent with that of HPV18 E7 gene .In LB medium ,the expression level of the target protein was not high under such conditions as different concentra-tion of IPTG and lactose ,different temperatures and different induction starting amount .Therefore the ZYM-5052 auto-induction medium was tried in this experiment ,and the expression amount of the fusion protein was much higher than that induced with IPTG and lactose .Conclusion The amount of HPV18E7 fusion protein in ZYM-5052 automatic induction medium is much higher than that induced with IPTG and lactose .
2.Comparative Study of Two Common In Vitro Models for the Pancreatic Islet with MIN6
Xinxin CHAO ; Furong ZHAO ; Jiawei HU ; Yanrong YU ; Renjian XIE ; Jianing ZHONG ; Miao HUANG ; Tai ZENG ; Hui YANG ; Dan LUO ; Weijie PENG
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine 2023;20(1):127-141
BACKGROUND:
Islet transplantation is currently considered the most promising method for treating insulin-dependent diabetes. The two most-studied artificial islets are alginate-encapsulated b cells or b cell spheroids. As three-dimensional (3D) models, both artificial islets have better insulin secretory functions and transplantation efficiencies than cells in twodimensional (2D) monolayer culture. However, the effects of these two methods have not been compared yet. Therefore, in this study, cells from the mouse islet b cell line Min6 were constructed as scaffold-free spheroids or alginate-encapsulated dispersed cells.
METHODS:
MIN6 cell spheroids were prepared by using Agarose-base microwell arrays. The insulin secretion level was determined by mouse insulin ELISA kit, and the gene and protein expression status of the MIN6 were performed by Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunoblot, respectively.
RESULTS:
Both 3D cultures effectively promoted the proliferation and glucose-stimulated insulin release (GSIS) of MIN6 cells compared to 2D adherent cells. Furthermore, 1% alginate-encapsulated MIN6 cells demonstrated more significant effects than the spheroids. In general, three pancreatic genes were expressed at higher levels in response to the 3D culture than to the 2D culture, and pancreatic/duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX1) expression was higher in the cells encapsulated in 1% alginate than that in the spheroids. A western blot analysis showed that 1% alginate-encapsulated MIN6 cells activated the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/serine/threonine protein kinase (AKT)/forkhead transcription factor FKHR (FoxO1) pathway more than the spheroids, 0.5% alginate-, or 2% alginate-encapsulated cells did. The 3D MIN6 culture, therefore, showed improved effects compared to the 2D culture, and the 1% alginate-encapsulated MIN6 cells exhibited better effects than the spheroids. The upregulation of PDX1 expression through the activation of the PI3K/AKT/FoxO1 pathway may mediate the improved cell proliferation and GSIS in 1% alginate-encapsulated MIN6 cells.
CONCLUSION
This study may contribute to the construction of in vitro culture systems for pancreatic islets to meet clinical requirements.
3.Immunogenicity, protective efficacy and preliminary protective mechanism of KPC-2, a drug resistance target from Klebsiella pneumoniae
Xiaoqiong WANG ; Guangyang MING ; Zhifu CHEN ; Qiang GOU ; Yue YUAN ; Liqun ZHAO ; Jinyong ZHANG ; Renjian HU
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2024;44(1):2-10
Objective:To develop a recombinant protein vaccine based on KPC-2, a drug resistance target in Klebsiella pneumoniae, and evaluate its immunogenicity, protective efficacy and mechanism in a mouse model of pneumonia. Methods:KPC-2 was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified using GST affinity chromatography. A recombinant protein vaccine was prepared with KPC-2 and used to immunize New Zealand rabbits through subcutaneous injection. Serum samples were isolated from cardiac blood and Protein G chromatography was used to purify polyclonal antibodies against KPC-2. Opsonophagocytic killing assay was used to assess the bactericidal activity of the polyclonal antibodies in vitro. Female BALB/c mice were immunized three times with the recombinant protein vaccine, and the titers of specific IgG antibodies in serum were measured by indirect ELISA. One week after the last vaccination, the mice were infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae strain SRT through tracheal intubation, and received a single intravenous dose of meropenem (0.1 mg) 1 h later. The protective efficacy of the KPC-2 recombinant protein vaccine was evaluated by comparing the survival rates, bacterial colonization and histopathological changes between vaccine group and adjuvant group as well as the survival rates between meropenem group and normal saline group. Moreover, the protective efficacy of polyclonal antibodies against KPC-2 was evaluated through passive immunization. Results:The level of specific IgG antibodies in serum was significantly higher in the vaccine group than in the adjuvant group ( t=4.325, P<0.05). The survival rate in the vaccine group was also higher than that of the adjuvant group [70% (7/10) vs 10% (1/10), P<0.05]. Furthermore, lung inflammation was less severe and bacterial burden was reduced in the vaccine group as compared with those of the control group ( t=3.127, P<0.05). Both active and passive vaccination strategies demonstrated strong protective efficacy against Klebsiella pneumoniae infection, and had a synergistic effect when used in combination with antibiotic therapy. The polyclonal antibodies against KPC-2 had bactericidal activity in vitro ( t=5.427, P<0.05). Conclusions:The prepared KPC-2 vaccine has better immunogenicity and protective efficacy. It can induce strong humoral immune responses. This study suggest that drug resistance target may be used as a candidate antigen for future vaccine development.