OBJECTIVE To probe the possibility of direct transfer of exogenous gene into peripheral nerve and its following expression in vivo. METHODS The PCMV beta plasmid containing cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter and Escherichia Coli (E. Coli), beta-Galactosidease (beta-Gal) structural gene (lacZ gene) was constructed and injected into the rabbit sciatic nerve. The control group was injected PBS solution. The injected nerves were sampled and tested by beta-Gal enzyme activity assay of the 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactoside and beta-Gal histochemical stain. RESULTS In the control group, no beta-Gal enzyme activity was detected in the different stages after operation, and beta-Gal histochemical stains showed positive. In the experimental group, enzyme activity could be detected from 2 days to 30 days after operation, and the histochemical stains showed negative. CONCLUSION The exogenous gene can be transferred into peripheral nerve and expressed with bioactivity, thus the gene therapy to accelerate the recovery of nerve is practical.
Objective To investigate the mRNA expression of ciliary neurotrophic factor on the retina during injury and repair of optic nerves in rats. Methods Thirty-five healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: 5 in the control group, 15 in the simply transected optic nerve group and 15 in the optic nerve-sciatic nerve anastomosis group. The simply transected and optic nerve-sciatic nerve anastomosed models were set up, and the retinal tissues of all of the rats were taken out after 3, 7 and 14 days, respectively; and the mRNA expression of CNTF in the 3 groups were observed by semiquantitative reversal transcription-polymerase chain reaction method. Results A minimum expression of CNTF mRNA was found in the retinae of the control group, and the increased rates of expression were found in the retinae of the simple transection of optic nerve group with the increase rate of 100%, 594%, and 485% on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day respectively after the operation, while in optic nerve-sciatic nerve anastomosis group, the increase rates were found to be 258%, 752% and 515% on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day respectively after the operation. Conclusion Retinal neurons can respond to axonal reaction of retinal ganglion cells by up-regulate endogenous CNTF after the injury of the optic nerves, which may provide a theoretic base for the application of the exogenous CNTF. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：355-357)
OBJECTIVE To study the biocompatibility of skin reproductive membrane. METHODS According to ISO’s standards, the extractions of the skin reproductive membrane were prepared, and the acute systematic toxicity test, primary skin irritant test, cytotoxicity test, gene expression of type I collagen and fibronectin were detected to evaluate the biocompatibility of skin reproductive membrane. RESULTS All of those tests showed negative results. CONCLUSION The skin reproductive membrane has excellent biocompatibility in the level of the systematic, cellular and molecular biology.
ObjectiveTo observe the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in injured model of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and the promoting effect of CTGF on migration of RPE cells.MethodsCultured monolayer-confluent human RPE cells were scraped with a trephine and a cotton stick, and set up the injured model of RPE cells with round scraped area. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization(ISH) were used to detect the expression of CTGF protein and mRNA in injured RPE cells at distinct time points after injury. The number of RPE cells migrated to injured area was measured and the effect of CTGF on migration of RPE cells and the effect of dexamethasone (DEX) on the promoting process of CTGF were observed.ResultsThe results of immunohstochemistry and ISH indicated the weak positive expression of CTGF in RPE cells at the edge of scrape 6 hours after injury, and the positive expression increased gradually as time goes by after the injury. Strong positive expression of CTGF in RPE cells at the edge of scrape was found 24 and 48 hours after injury. Rebuilt human CTGF stimulated migration of RPE cells in a dose-depended manner, and DEX significantly inhabited the migration.ConclusionCTGF involves in the procedure of repair of injury of RPE cells, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of intraocular proliferative diseases such as proliferative vitreoretinaopathy.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005,21:306-309)
Objective To investigate the expression of T cell receptor (TCR) Vβ8.3 gene on CD4+ T lymphocytes in the rats with experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU). Methods Eighteen Lewis rats were divided into EAU, complete Freund′s adjuvant, and the control group. Inter photoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) R16 peptide was synthesized using Fmoc procedure for induction of EAU. Magnetic absorption cell sorting (MACS) me thod was used to isolate the CD4+T lymphocytes from the spleen of the rats. Flow cytometry was used to monitor the efficiency of isolation. The expression of TCR Vβ8.3 gene segment on CD4+T lymphocytes was determined by fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results EAU was successfully induced in the Lewis rats immunized with IRBP R16 peptide. The proportion of CD4+T lymphocytes isolated by means of MACS was statistically higher than that before isolation (P＜0.001). The expression of TCR Vβ8.3 gene segment on CD4+ T lymphocytes in EAU rats was significantly higher than that in the control (P＜0.05). Conclusions There is a predominant usage of antigen-specific TCR Vβ 8.3 gene in EAU rats induced by IR BP R16 peptide, which may serve as a target for immunotherapy of EAU. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：165-167)
Purpose To study the proteins expression of genes related to apoptosis of retinal cells in development of human fetus． Methods Fifty cases of retinas of human fetus aged from 12 to 38 we eks were collected and paraffin embedded sections were made． Immunohistochemical method was used． Results Fas protein was expressed by cells of ganglion cell layer, inner and outer nuclear later, which were just formed on 16th week． It was not expressed until 38th week, Fas(+) staining appeared in layers of retina． Fas-L(+) staining was detected in cells of layers of retina on 26th week and the positive staining located in ganglion cell layer on 32th week． Neuronal fiber layer was Fas-L positive． Bax positive staini ng was detected on 8th week． Bax positive nucleus were observed mainly in GCL and ONL on 16th week． It was in INL on 24th week and in Muuml;ller cells inner terminates on 26th week． After this time, all cells of retina were bax immune ne gative staining． Bcl-2(+) staining appeared in differentiating neuroblastic layer on 16th week． Beginning on 24th week, bcl-2 (+) staining was observed in glial cells of GCL and inner terminates of Muuml;ller cell． Conclusion Apoptosis of developing retinal cell may be Fas/Fas-L independent and bax may be involved in apoptosis of the cells． (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2001,17:55-57)
Objective To construct the responsive plasmid PTRE-HIF-1αof Tet-on gene expression system and examine its expression. Methods RT-nested PCR was performed on the total RNA extracted from hypoxia HepG2 cells to obtain the cDNA of HIF-1α, which was inserted into the responsive plasmid PTRE2hyg. DNA sequencing was performed after the recombinant of responsive plasmid PTRE-HIF-1α was identified by endonuclease digestion. This recombinant vector was transfected into HepG2Tet-on cells by means of liposome and its expression was examined by RT-PCR and Western blot under the control of deoxycycline. Results The amplified products were confirmed as the cDNA of HIF-1α by DNA sequencing. The responsive plasmid PTRE-HIF-1α verified by edonuclease digestion, was capable of expression in HepG2Tet-on cells and could be controlled by deoxycycline. Conclusion The responsive plasmid PTRE-HIF-1α of Tet-on expression system is constructed successfully, and it can express under the regulation of deoxycycline in the HepG2Tet-on cells.