[Research advances on hypolipidemic effect of polysaccharides].

Hyperlipidemia is a systemic chronic metabolic disease caused by dyslipidemia in the body. It is an important risk factor of accelerating atherosclerosis, which will cause coronary heart disease, thrombus and other cardiovascular diseases, so it is a "invisible killer" for human health. Controlling and lowering blood lipids can reduce the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

[Relationship between hepatitis B virus X protein and hepatic cellular cancer].

Hepatic cellular cancer (HCC) is one of the most common cancers in the world, which is a serious threat to human health and life quality. More than 700,000 people die of HCC each year on average, and its incidence increases in many countries. Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been identified as a dominant risk factor for HCC.

[Interaction of E3 ligase HUWE1 and eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E].

To explore the regulation of eIF4E, we screened the protein interacting with eIF4E from human cDNA library by using yeast two-hybrid system. Several clones interacting with eIF4E were identified. One of them was homologous with HUWE1 (HECT, UBA and WWE domain containing 1, also named as ARF-BP1, HECTH9 or HUWE1).

[Expression, purification, and characterization of fusion protein TAT-cytoglobin].

he aim of this study was to obtain a cell-penetrating cytoglobin (Cygb), which combines the transmembrane function of cell-penetrating peptides TAT with the anti-aging and anti-fibrotic role of cytoglobin. The Cygb gene was complexed with TAT gene by overlapping PCR, inserted into the vector pET22b to construct the recombinant expression plasmid (pET22b-TAT-Cygb) and then transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The fusion protein TAT-Cygb, whose expression was induced by lactose, was purified by CM Sepharose Fast Flow Protocol and verified by Western blotting.

[Adeno-associated vector mediated intracellular biological activity of human Kallistatin].

Human tissue kallikrein-binding protein (Kallistatin, KAL), a secretory protein that participates in the regulation of multiple signaling pathways by binding to the extracellular receptor, however, at present has not been reported about the intracellular activity, and whether it has the similar biological activity with extracellular activity. Here we constructed no signal peptide KAL (NSK) into the adeno-associated virus vector to explore the intracellular activity of KAL. Both the endothelial cell and lung cancer cells could express KAL, but not secreted after rAAV2-NSK transfection.

Cytotoxic activity of the alkaloids from Broussonetia papyrifera fruits.

Context: Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent. (Moraceae), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has been extensively applied for many years to treat various diseases.

Luciferase assay to screen tumour-specific promoters in lung cancer.

Objective: Specific promoters could improve efficiency and ensure the safety of gene therapy. The aim of our study was to screen examples for lung cancer.

Methods: The firefly luciferase gene was used as a reporter, and promoters based on serum markers of lung cancer were cloned.

[Strategy for keeping efficient expression and pharmacodynamics in reducing rAAV gene medicine immune response based on the decrease of vector dosage].

How to reduce immune response is an unprecedented challenge for rAAV gene medicine. Recent studies suggested that lowering dosage of the vector used could reduce immune response caused by rAAV gene medicine. Nevertheless, it would also decrease the transgene expression, leading to failure of gene treatment.

[Ubiquitination of recombinant adeno-associated viral vector and its application].

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) has been widely used as vector for gene therapy. However, the effectiveness of gene therapy based on rAAV needs to be further improved. Enhancement of the transduction efficiency is one of the most important fields for rAAV-based gene therapy.

[Research progresses of plant polysaccharides on cell adhesion].

Cell adhesion mediated by cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) constitutes essential life phenomenon. In inflammation, immunity, infection, thrombosis, tumor metastasis and wound healing, cell adhesion comes into being the basic physiological and pathological process. Intervening with cell adhesion has been the important therapeutic and prophylactic strategies for diseases.

[Combinatorial RNAi and its application in cancer gene therapy].

RNA interference (RNAi) has been proved as a novel approach for gene therapy. However, RNAi mono-therapy only aims at single gene, it therefore may ultimately fail to cure cancers caused by polygene variation. To overcome the deficiency of RNAi mono-therapy, "combinatorial RNA interference" (coRNAi) was put forward as a new strategy.

[Engineering and screening of artificial riboswitch as a novel gene control element].

Various artificial riboswitches have been constructed by utilization of designed aptamers or by modification of natural riboswitch systems, because they can regulate gene expression in a highly efficient, precise and fast way, and promise to supply simple cis-acting, modular, and non-immunogenic system for use in future gene therapy applications. In this review, we present an overview of currently available technologies to design and select engineered riboswitches, and discuss some possible technologies that would allow them highly responsive to non-natural ligands, and dynamic control of gene expression in mammalian cells. Though how to bring custom-designed riboswitches as a novel and versatile tool box to gene control system is still a great challenge, the combination of structure-activity relationship information, computer based molecular design, in vitro selection, and high-through screening will serve as powerful tools for further development of riboswitch based gene regulatory systems.

[Selection and anti-cancer effects of siRNAs targeting HMGA2 gene].

High mobility group A2 protein (HMGA2), an architectural factor, is highly expressed in various cancer types including lung cancers. It is a candidate target for cancer therapy. RNAi is an effective gene silencing method with low cost and less time-consuming.

[Role of cytoglobin in protecting hepatic stellate cells against oxidation induced damage].

The aim of this study was to reveal the protection role and the related mechanism of cytoglobin on the oxidation induced hepatic stellate cell damage. We applied siRNA to interfere the endogenous cytoglobin gene, used recombinant cytoglobin protein to treat the completely activated human hepatic stellate cell line LX-2 and the incompletely activated primary rat hepatic stellate cells, or over-expressed cytoglobin protein in LX-2 cells. We used two different oxidative-stress related models, the hydrogen peroxide model and the iron-overload model in our experiments and investigated the proliferation status and the intracellular superoxide level of the cells.

[Capsid assembly and DNA encapsidation of adeno-associated virus].

Recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (rAAV) have been widely used as gene therapy vectors in clinical trials. Here, we reviewed the genomic structures and replication mechanisms of wt-AAV. Then, the assembly of capsid and the encapsidation of genomic DNA, two major events during AAV pakaging, was discussed in detail.

[Recombinant adeno-associated virus vector related impurities].

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-based vectors that can stably express therapeutic genes in vivo without detectable side-effect have shown great promise for human gene therapy. A major challenge for translation of promising research to clinical development is how to establish clinically compatible purification methods in separating rAAV from potentially pathogenic impurities, especially rAAV vector-related impurities, a class of impurities corresponding to AAV particles that closely resemble bona fide vectors and are difficult to remove. In this review we summarize the assembly process of rAAV vector-related impurities and their characteristics differed with rAAV vectors, and evaluate several current technologies to prevent their formation or separate them from rAAV stocks.

[Cellular immunotoxicity of rAAV gene medicine and possible solutions].

Gene medicine based on recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector has rapidly become the prior-choose reagent for gene therapy, since it had been shown that the rAAV was able to stably express many genes in vivo without detectable side-effect. However, recent findings of CTL immune responses to AAV capsid in a clinical trial highlighted a new issue regarding safety that previously was not identified in animal studies. Obviously it is so important to understand the interaction of rAAV with the immune system in details for the safety and success of rAAV gene medicine.

Protection of the liver against CCl4-induced injury by intramuscular electrotransfer of a kallistatin-encoding plasmid.

Aim: To investigate the effect of transgenic expression of kallistatin (Kal) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver injury by intramuscular (im) electrotransfer of a Kal-encoding plasmid formulated with poly-L-glutamate (PLG).

Methods: The pKal plasmid encoding Kal gene was formulated with PLG and electrotransferred into mice skeletal muscle before the administration of CCl4. The expression level of Kal was measured.

The asymmetric division and tumorigenesis of stem cells.

Stem cells use asymmetric and symmetric cell division to generate progeny. Symmetric cell division is defined as the generation of daughter cells that are destined to acquire the same fate. Stem cells divide asymmetrically to generate one daughter with a stem-cell fate and one daughter with different fate.

[Oral recombinant adeno-associated virus gene medicine].

The efficacy of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector-mediated gene delivery to the gastrointestinal tract has been paid a considerable attention over the last 10 years, since our first report on the oral gene pill strategy in Nature Medicine, even though there are still several potential obstacles for this route to overcome in order to obtain efficient gene delivery. The preclinical results of oral rAAV gene medicine are summarized in this review, and special attention is paid on its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic aspects with an emphasis on drug delivery, absorption, distribution and transduction. The rAAV based vectors have been shown promising results in human clinical trials with fewer safety concerns over other gene medicines.

[Trends in development of self-complementary adeno-associated virus vector].

Numerous studies and clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of recombinant adeno-associated virus gene delivery vectors. However, prior to expression, it is necessary to convert the single-stranded DNA genome into double-stranded DNA, which hinders the efficiency of these vectors. We can entirely circumvent this step through the use of self-complementary recombinant adeno-associated virus vector (scrAAV).

Correlation between the expression of thrombospondin-1 and neovascularization in mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

Background: Researchers have recently demonstrated that thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) has an important function in regulating neovascularization. Whether it inhibits or accelerates neovascularization, however, is still controversial. We found few reports about the correlation between TSP-1 and vascularization in mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

Inhibition of angiogenesis and HCT-116 xenograft tumor growth in mice by kallistatin.

Aim: To investigate the inhibitory effect of kallistatin (KAL) on angiogenesis and HCT-116 xenograft tumor growth.

Methods: Heterotopic tumors were induced by subcutaneous injection of 2 multiply 10(6) HCT-11 cells in mice. Seven days later, 2 multiply 10(11) rAAV-GFP or rAAV-KAL was injected intratumorally (n = 5 for each group).

Adeno-associated virus mediated interferon-gamma inhibits the progression of hepatic fibrosis in vitro and in vivo.

Aim: To investigate the effects of adeno-associated virus (AAV) mediated expression of human interferon-gamma for gene therapy in experimental hepatic fibrosis in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: We constructed the recombinant AAV encoding human INF-gamma (rAAV- INF-gamma) and took the primary rat hepatic stellate cells and carbon tetrachloride induced rats as the experimental hepatic fibrosis model in vitro and in vivo. Immunocytochemistry analysis was used to reveal the expression of alpha-SMA, the marker protein expressed in hepatic stellate cells.

[Expression of TRAIL(114-281) mediated by adeno-associated virus and its tumoricidal activity].

Objective: To investigate the expression of the soluble tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) mediated by adeno-associated virus (AAV) and its tumoricidal activity in vitro and vivo.

Methods: The recombinant AAV expression vector encoding the extracellular domain (114-281aa peptide, TRAIL(114-281)) of TRAIL was constructed and transfected into human embryotic kidney cells HEK293 for virus package. The human tumor cell lines of T lymphocyte leukemia Jurkat, liver cancer HepG2 and SMMC-7721, and cervical cancer HeLa were transduced by using the recombinant virus particles respectively.