OBJECTIVETo study the expression of the kallikreins-kinins system in the corpus cavernosum of rats.

METHODSThe expression of tissue kallikrein I and kinin B2 receptor gene in the corpus cavernosum and heart of adult rats was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe tissue kallikrein I and kinin B2 receptor were detected in the corpus cavernosum as well as in the heart of the rats and the contents were similar.

CONCLUSIONA kallikreins-kinins system exists in the corpus cavernosum of rats, and the content is rich, almost similar to that in the heart.

Animals ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Penis ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Bradykinin B2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tissue Kallikreins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

We studied the influence of the first intron and 3'-regulatory region of ovalbumin gene (ov) on oviduct-specific transgene expression. The 3'-regulatory region in the oviduct-specific expression vector containing human tissue kallikrein (hK1) cDNA was replaced with bovine growth hormone (BGH) poly A, and the first intron was deleted by restriction enzyme digestion, resulting in five new vectors pOV2K, pOV3K, pOV4K, pOV5K and pOV6K. After mixing with polyethylenimine, we injected same copies of the five vectors via wing vein route into laying hens and compared their expression levels by quantitative assay for enzymatic activities in the egg whites. Among the five vectors tested, the pOV2K containing both the 5'- and 3'-regulatory regions expressed highest level of rhK1 activity, followed by pOV3K with the 3'-regulatory region replaced with BGH poly A, and then by the first intron-shortened vectors pOV4K, pOV5K and pOV6K. These data suggest that both the first intron and 3'-regulatory region of ov gene have enhancing effect on transgene expression in oviduct cells, which should be included in oviduct-specific expression vectors.
Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Cattle ; Chickens ; Cloning, Molecular ; Female ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Growth Hormone ; genetics ; Humans ; Introns ; genetics ; Ovalbumin ; genetics ; Oviducts ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; genetics ; Tissue Kallikreins ; genetics ; Transgenes ; genetics

Human kallikrein-1 (hK1) gene was cloned from kidney tissues cDNA, it was inserted into the plasmid pPICZalphaA, then the yeast expression vector pPICZalpha-hK1 was constructed. After transformed into Pichia pastoris host X33, high-level expression transformants were screened by escalating the concentration of Zeocin (from 500 to 700 microg/mL) of YPD plate and medium. When temperature was 30 degrees C, pH 6.0 with induction duration of 64 hours in the 30 L fermenter, the highest yield can reach about 6500 u/L (1.25 g/L). The variation of glycosylation resulted in two kinds of molecules, i.e. rhK1-H with a heavy molecular weight and rhK1-L with a light one. rhK1 was purified from the supernatant through Phenyl hydrophobic interaction, Cu(2+)-charged Chelating and Anion-exchange chromatography. 0.28 g rhK1-H and 0.62 g rhK1-L can be purified from one liter supernatant. The yield recovery was 72% with a purity of > 96%. So far our yield of rhK1 is superior than known recombinant expression method reported by other researchers.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; methods ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Tissue Kallikreins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

To evaluate the feasibility of treating hypertension by human tissue kallikrein gene (KLK1) delivery and by enzyme (rK1) administration, two recombinant vectors expressing KLK1 cDNA were constructed for gene delivery (pcDNA-KLK1) and recombinant enzyme preparation (pOV-KLK1). Expression of the pcDNA-KLK1 vector in COS-1 cells was confirmed by immunofluorescence and in spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR) by enzymatic detection. Following intramuscular or intravenous injection with the pcDNA-KLK1 vector, systolic pressure of SHR was significantly decreased, which lasted for 20 d to two months depending on dose, route and/or time of injection. Egg white containing recombinant hK1 was prepared by injection of egg-laying hens with the oviduct-specific expression vector pOV-KLK1 and administered into SHR via oral gavage. Following administration, systolic pressure of the SHR was decreased to that of normal rats, which lasted for 3-5 d depending on the dosage used. These data suggest that both hKLK1 gene delivery and recombinant enzyme administration can be used as alternative strategies for treating human hypertension.
Animals ; Blood Pressure/physiology ; COS Cells ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Chickens ; Female ; Gene Therapy ; *Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Vectors/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Hypertension/genetics/*therapy ; Hypotension/genetics/*metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Recombinant Proteins/administration & dosage/genetics/metabolism/*therapeutic use ; Tissue Kallikreins/*genetics/metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of adenovirus-mediated human tissue kallikrein (Ad-hKLK1) gene transfer on platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-induced migration of vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats (VSMC(SHR)).

METHODSA bicistronic recombinant adenovirus vector (Ad-hKLK1) carrying the target hKLK1 gene and the reporter gene EGFP was constructed. VSMCs isolated from the thoracic aorta of male SHR were passaged, and the quiescent VSMC(SHR) in passages 3-6 seeded in 6-well plates were treated with Ad-hKLK1 and control virus. Human PDGF-BB or icatibant Hoe140, a BK B2 antagonistat, was used as the chemoattractant and placed in the bottom chamber of the Boyden chamber. The mRNA expressions of bradykinin B1 receptor and B2 receptor were detected by RT-PCR in VSMC(SHR).

RESULTShKLK1 gene transfer significantly inhibited PDGF-BB-induced migration of VSMC(SHR), with the peak inhibition rate of 34.6% (P<0.001). PDGF-BB significantly increased the mRNA expression of B2 receptor but not B1 receptor in VSMC(SHR).

CONCLUSIONShKLK1 gene transfer can inhibit the migration of VSMC(SHR) induced by PDGF-BB, and the inhibitory effects may be not mediated by bradykinin B2 receptor.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; cytology ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Humans ; Hypertension ; pathology ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Tissue Kallikreins ; biosynthesis ; genetics