scholarly journals Conditional Expression of a Glucocorticoid Receptor Transgene in Thymocytes Reveals a Role for Thymic-Derived Glucocorticoids in Thymopoiesis in Vivo

Endocrinology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 146 (6) ◽  
pp. 2501-2507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Pazirandeh ◽  
Mikael Jondal ◽  
Sam Okret
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Organ Culture ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Thymic Epithelial Cells ◽  
Inducible Expression System ◽  
Conditional Expression ◽  
Thymocyte Apoptosis ◽  
Antagonist Ru486

Abstract We and others have previously reported that thymic epithelial cells produce glucocorticoids (GCs). In vitro studies have also suggested that thymic-derived GCs play a role in the development of thymocytes. However, until now it has not yet been established whether thymic-derived GCs play a role in thymopoiesis in vivo. To investigate this, we conditionally overexpressed the GC receptor (GR) in thymocytes using transgenic mice with a tetracycline-inducible expression system. The influence of systemic GCs was excluded by adrenalectomizing the transgenic mice before the GR induction. Conditional expression of transgenic GR in the thymocytes of adrenalectomized transgenic mice led to a decrease in the thymocyte number. This was associated with increased thymocyte apoptosis. The effect of thymic-derived GCs on the thymocytes was confirmed after transgenic GR induction in a thymic organ culture system. Finally, the GR antagonist RU486 increased thymocyte number in adrenalectomized mice in vivo and prevented a reduction in thymocyte number in thymic organ culture after transgenic GR induction. These observations further confirmed a role for the thymic-derived GCs in regulating thymocyte homeostasis in vivo.

In vivo and in vitro apoptosis of human thymocytes are associated with nitrotyrosine formation

Blood ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 97 (11) ◽  
pp. 3521-3530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Moulian ◽  
Frédérique Truffault ◽  
Yvette Morot Gaudry-Talarmain ◽  
Alain Serraf ◽  
Sonia Berrih-Aknin
Keyword(s):  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Thymic Epithelial Cells ◽  
Tyrosine Nitration ◽  
No Donor ◽  
Human Thymocyte ◽  
Nitrite Production ◽  
Tunel Reaction ◽  
Thymocyte Apoptosis

Most thymocytes are deleted by thymic selection. The mechanisms of cell death are far from being clear. Peroxynitrite is a powerful oxidant produced in vivo by the reaction of superoxide (O2•−) with nitric oxide (NO•) and is able to mediate apoptosis. The aim of this study was to analyze whether NO and peroxynitrite could play a role in human thymocyte apoptosis. The results indicate that 3-(4-morpholinyl)-sydnonimine (SIN-1, an O2•− and NO• donor) and chemically synthesized peroxynitrite, but not S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP, an NO• donor), have a strong apoptotic effect on human thymocytes (annexin V staining and TUNEL reaction). This effect was inhibited by exogenous superoxide dismutase (SOD), which interacts with O2•− and inhibits the formation of peroxynitrite. Because peroxynitrite formation requires NO•, thymic stromal cells were investigated to determine if they produced NO•. Inducible NOS was synthesized in cultured thymic epithelial cells in certain conditions of cytokine stimulation, as shown by messenger RNA levels, protein analysis, and nitrite production in the supernatants. SIN-1–treated thymocytes had high levels of tyrosine nitration, abolished by the addition of exogenous SOD. Tyrosine nitration was also detected in thymus extracts and sections, suggesting the presence of peroxynitrite in situ. In thymus sections, clusters of nitrotyrosine-positive cells were found in the cortex and corticomedullary areas colocalized with cells positive in the TUNEL reaction. These data indicate an association between human thymocyte apoptosis and nitrotyrosine formation. Thus, the results support the notion of a physiologic role for peroxynitrite in human thymocyte apoptosis.

scholarly journals Conditional Cytomegalovirus Replication In Vitro and In Vivo

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 486-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brigitte Rupp ◽  
Zsolt Ruzsics ◽  
Torsten Sacher ◽  
Ulrich H. Koszinowski
Keyword(s):  
Capsid Protein ◽  
Viral Genome ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Dominant Negative Mutant ◽  
Conditional Expression ◽  
Regulated Expression ◽  
Negative Mutant

ABSTRACT We have established a conditional gene expression system for cytomegalovirus which allows regulation of genes independently from the viral replication program. Due to the combination of all elements required for regulated expression in the same viral genome, conditional viruses can be studied in different cell lines in vitro and in the natural host in vivo. The combination of a self-sufficient tetracycline-regulated expression cassette and Flp recombinase-mediated insertion into the viral genome allowed fast construction of recombinant murine cytomegaloviruses carrying different conditional genes. The regulation of two reporter genes, the essential viral M50 gene and a dominant-negative mutant gene (m48.2) encoding the small capsid protein, was analyzed in more detail. In vitro, viral growth was regulated by the conditional expression of M50 by 3 orders of magnitude and up to a millionfold when the dominant-negative small capsid protein mutant was used. In vivo, viral growth of the dominant-negative mutant was reduced to detection limits in response to the presence of doxycycline in the organs of mice. We believe that this conditional expression system is applicable to genetic studies of large DNA viruses in general.

scholarly journals In Vitro and In Vivo Validation of ligA and tarI as Essential Targets in Staphylococcus aureus

2008 ◽  
Vol 52 (12) ◽  
pp. 4470-4474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Streker ◽  
Tina Schäfer ◽  
Christoph Freiberg ◽  
Heike Brötz-Oesterhelt ◽  
Jörg Hacker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Essential Genes ◽  
Conditional Expression ◽  
In Vivo Validation

ABSTRACT A conditional expression system has been developed using the isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG)-inducible Pspac promoter to validate essential genes of Staphylococcus aureus in vivo. The system has been applied to prove the essentiality of ligA and to evaluate the function of tarI, which was found to be essential in vitro but not in vivo.

Non-Viral Vectors for Gene Delivery

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aparna Bansal ◽  
Himanshu
Keyword(s):  
Gene Therapy ◽  
Viral Vectors ◽  
Transfection Efficiency ◽  
Gene Transfection ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Naked Dna

Introduction: Gene therapy has emerged out as a promising therapeutic pave for the treatment of genetic and acquired diseases. Gene transfection into target cells using naked DNA is a simple and safe approach which has been further improved by combining vectors or gene carriers. Both viral and non-viral approaches have achieved a milestone to establish this technique, but non-viral approaches have attained a significant attention because of their favourable properties like less immunotoxicity and biosafety, easy to produce with versatile surface modifications, etc. Literature is rich in evidences which revealed that undoubtedly, non–viral vectors have acquired a unique place in gene therapy but still there are number of challenges which are to be overcome to increase their effectiveness and prove them ideal gene vectors. Conclusion: To date, tissue specific expression, long lasting gene expression system, enhanced gene transfection efficiency has been achieved with improvement in delivery methods using non-viral vectors. This review mainly summarizes the various physical and chemical methods for gene transfer in vitro and in vivo.

scholarly journals Effect of Coxsackievirus B4 Infection on the Thymus: Elucidating Its Role in the Pathogenesis of Type 1 Diabetes

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1177
Author(s):  
Abdulaziz Alhazmi ◽  
Magloire Pandoua Nekoua ◽  
Hélène Michaux ◽  
Famara Sane ◽  
Aymen Halouani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Lymphoid Organ ◽  
Thymic Epithelial Cells ◽  
Central Tolerance ◽  
Coxsackievirus B4

The thymus gland is a primary lymphoid organ for T-cell development. Various viral infections can result in disturbance of thymic functions. Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) are important for the negative selection of self-reactive T-cells to ensure central tolerance. Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is the dominant self-peptide of the insulin family expressed in mTECs and plays a crucial role in the intra-thymic programing of central tolerance to insulin-secreting islet β-cells. Coxsackievirus B4 (CVB4) can infect and persist in the thymus of humans and mice, thus hampering the T-cell maturation and differentiation process. The modulation of IGF2 expression and protein synthesis during a CVB4 infection has been observed in vitro and in vivo in mouse models. The effect of CVB4 infections on human and mouse fetal thymus has been studied in vitro. Moreover, following the inoculation of CVB4 in pregnant mice, the thymic function in the fetus and offspring was disturbed. A defect in the intra-thymic expression of self-peptides by mTECs may be triggered by CVB4. The effects of viral infections, especially CVB4 infection, on thymic cells and functions and their possible role in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) are presented.

scholarly journals Synthesis and physiological activity of heterodimers comprising different splice forms of vascular endothelial growth factor and placenta growth factor

1996 ◽  
Vol 316 (3) ◽  
pp. 703-707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralf BIRKENHÄGER ◽  
Bernard SCHNEPPE ◽  
Wolfgang RÖCKL ◽  
Jörg WILTING ◽  
Herbert A. WEICH ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Vascular Endothelial Cells ◽  
Physiological Activity ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Placenta Growth Factor ◽  
Splice Forms

Vascular endothilial growth factor (VEGF) and placenta growth factor (PIGF) are members of a dimeric-growth-factor family with angiogenic properties. VEGF is a highly potent and specific mitogen for endothelial cells, playing a vital role in angiogenesis in vivo. The role of PIGF is less clear. We expressed the monomeric splice forms VEGF-165, VEGF-121, PIGF-1 and PlGF-2 as unfused genes in Escherichia coli using the pCYTEXP expression system. In vitro dimerization experiments revealed that both homo- and hetero-dimers can be formed from these monomeric proteins. The dimers were tested for their ability to promote capillary growth in vivo and stimulate DNA synthesis in cultured human vascular endothelial cells. Heterodimers comprising different VEGF splice forms, or combinations of VEGF/PlGF splice forms, showed mitogenic activity. The results demonstrate that four different heterodimeric growth factors are likely to have as yet uncharacterized functions in vivo.

Development of embryonic rat eyes in organ culture

Development ◽  
1968 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-414
Author(s):  
R. Christy Armstrong ◽  
Joel J. Elias
Keyword(s):  
Organ Culture ◽  
Culture Medium ◽  
Folic Acid Deficiency ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Acid Deficiency ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Development In Vitro ◽  
Ocular System

Abnormalities of the ocular system which appear in organ culture in Waymouth's medium with freshly added glutamine (Armstrong & Elias, 1968) resemble those caused by transitory pteryolglutamic acid (PGA or folic acid) deficiency in vivo (Armstrong & Monie, 1966). The configurations of such malformations as lens herniations, retinal diverticula, and rosette-like formations of the retina are remarkably similar in both cases. The experiments reported in this paper were undertaken in an effort to understand the mechanisms involved in the production of similar abnormalities by two very different experimental conditions: the addition of glutamine in vitro and the transitory deficiency of PGA in vivo. One series of experiments involved the effects of manipulation of the PGA and glutamine content of the culture medium on eye development in vitro. Parallel studies on PGA-deficiency in vivo were undertaken in conjunction with organ-culture experiments in order to compare the effects on abnormal eye morphogenesis.

scholarly journals Bcl-2 antagonist apogossypol (NSC736630) displays single-agent activity in Bcl-2–transgenic mice and has superior efficacy with less toxicity compared with gossypol (NSC19048)

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 111 (6) ◽  
pp. 3211-3219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinichi Kitada ◽  
Christina L. Kress ◽  
Maryla Krajewska ◽  
Lee Jia ◽  
Maurizio Pellecchia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Parent Compound ◽  
Single Agent ◽  
Maximum Tolerated Dose ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Altered Expression ◽  
Cell Counts

Abstract Altered expression of Bcl-2 family proteins plays central roles in apoptosis dysregulation in cancer and leukemia, promoting malignant cell expansion and contributing to chemoresistance. In this study, we compared the toxicity and efficacy in mice of natural product gossypol and its semisynthetic derivative apo-gossypol, compounds that bind and inhibit antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins. Daily oral dosing studies showed that mice tolerate doses of apogossypol 2- to 4-times higher than gossypol. Hepatotoxicity and gastrointestinal toxicity represented the major adverse activities of gossypol, with apogossypol far less toxic. Efficacy was tested in transgenic mice in which Bcl-2 is overexpressed in B cells, resembling low-grade follicular lymphoma in humans. In vitro, Bcl-2–expressing B cells from transgenic mice were more sensitive to cytotoxicity induced by apogossypol than gossypol, with LD50 values of 3 to 5 μM and 7.5 to 10 μM, respectively. In vivo, using the maximum tolerated dose of gossypol for sequential daily dosing, apogossypol displayed superior activity to gossypol in terms of reducing splenomegaly and reducing B-cell counts in spleens of Bcl-2–transgenic mice. Taken together, these studies indicate that apogossypol is superior to parent compound gossypol with respect to toxicology and efficacy, suggesting that further development of this compound for cancer therapy is warranted.

Angiopoietin-related growth factor (AGF) promotes angiogenesis

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 103 (10) ◽  
pp. 3760-3765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuichi Oike ◽  
Yasuhiro Ito ◽  
Hiromitsu Maekawa ◽  
Tohru Morisada ◽  
Yoshiaki Kubota ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Vascular Endothelial Cells ◽  
Direct Injection ◽  
Angiogenic Factor ◽  
Epidermal Keratinocytes ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Novel Therapeutic Strategies

Abstract We report here the identification of angiopoietin-related growth factor (AGF) as a positive mediator for angiogenesis. To investigate the biologic function of AGF in angiogenesis, we analyzed the vasculature in the dermis of transgenic mice expressing AGF in mouse epidermal keratinocytes (K14-AGF). K14-AGF transgenic mice were grossly red, especially in the ears and snout, suggesting that hypervascularization had occurred in their skin. Histologic examination of ear skin from K14-AGF transgenic mice revealed increased numbers of microvessels in the dermis, whereas the expression of several angiogenic factors, such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs), and angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), was decreased. We showed that AGF is a secreted protein and does not bind to tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin and EGF-homology domain (Tie1) or Tie2 receptors. An in vitro chamber assay revealed that AGF directly promotes chemotactic activity of vascular endothelial cells. Both mouse corneal and matrigel plug assays showed that AGF induces neovascularization in vivo. Furthermore, we found that plasma leakage occurred after direct injection of AGF into the mouse dermis, suggesting that AGF directly induces a permeability change in the local vasculature. On the basis of these observations, we propose that AGF is a novel angiogenic factor and that handling of its biologic functions could lead to novel therapeutic strategies for control of angiogenesis.

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