• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.479-494
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• 2022

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that have been intensively studied as therapeutic tools for a variety of disorders. To enhance the efficacy of MSCs, therapeutic genes are introduced using retroviral and lentiviral vectors. However, serious adverse events (SAEs) such as tumorigenesis can be induced by insertional mutagenesis. We generated lentiviral vectors encoding the wild-type herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene and a gene containing a point mutation that results in an alanine to histidine substitution at residue 168 (TK(A168H)) and transduced expression in MSCs (MSC-TK and MSC-TK(A168H)). Transduction of lentiviral vectors encoding the TK(A168H) mutant did not alter the proliferation capacity, mesodermal differentiation potential, or surface antigenicity of MSCs. The MSC-TK(A168H) cells were genetically stable, as shown by karyotyping. MSC-TK(A168H) responded to ganciclovir (GCV) with an half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value 10-fold less than that of MSC-TK. Because MSC-TK(A168H) cells were found to be non-tumorigenic, a U87-TK(A168H) subcutaneous tumor was used as a SAE-like condition and we evaluated the effect of valganciclovir (vGCV), an oral prodrug for GCV. U87-TK(A168H) tumors were more efficiently ablated by 200 mg/kg vGCV than U87-TK tumors. These results indicate that MSC-TK(A168H) cells appear to be pre-clinically safe for therapeutic use. We propose that genetic modification with HSV-TK(A168H) makes allogeneic MSC-based ex vivo therapy safer by eliminating transplanted cells during SAEs such as uncontrolled cell proliferation.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 1996

본 연구에서는 $CD4^+$ T 세포를 일회성으로 감염시킬 수 있고 $CD4^+$ T 세포에 HIV-1 envelope 유전자를 전달할 수 있는 바이러스 입자를 생산하는 HIV-1 complementation system을 개발하였고 이 system을 이용하여 $CD4^+$ T 세포에 선택적으로 HIV-1 envelope 당단백질을 발현시켰다. 이 system은 Gag/Gag-Pol expressor와 Env expressor로 구성되어있다. Gag/Gag-Pol expressor는 바이러스 입자 생산에 필요한 구조단백질과 기능단백질을 발현시키지만 packaging signal이 결핍되어 바이러스 입자로 유전자가 들어가지 못하도록 제조되었다. Env expressor는 Tat, Rev와 envelope 당단백질을 발현시키고 packaging signal을 갖고 있어 바이러스 입자로 envelope 유전자가 들어가도록 제조되었다. Gag/Gag-Pol expressor로부터 Gag와 Gag-Pol의 발현은 Rev 단백질을 요구하였고 Env expressor로부터 Rev 단백질 이 제공될 때 Gag와 Gag-Pol 단백질은 효율적으로 발현되었다. Gag/Gag-Pol과 Env expressor로 cotransfection된 COS-1 세포에서 $CD4^+$ T 세포를 일회성으로 감염시킬 수 있는 바이러스 입자가 생산되었다. 생산된 바이러스 입자는 $CD4^+$ T 세포에 HIV-1 envelope 유전자를 전달하여 envelope 당단백질을 발현시켰고 복제 가능한 자손 바이러스의 생성을 유도하지 못하였다. 본 연구에서 개발된 방법은 $CD4^+$ T 세포에서 envelope 당단백질의 기능을 분석하고 관심 있는 유전자를 $CD4^+$ T 세포에 전달하는 바이러스 입자의 생산에 이용할 수 있다.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2010

We developed a novel dicistronic system for the expression of target cDNA sequences in the milk of transgenic animals using goat beta-casein/hGH fusion construct, pGbc5.5hGH (Lee, 2006) and internal ribosome entry site (IRES) sequences of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (hG-CSF) cDNA was linked to 3' untranslated region of hGH gene in the pGbc5.5hGH via EMCV IRES sequences. Transgenic mice were generated by microinjection and transgene expression was examined in the milk and mammary gland of transgenic mice at 10 days of lactation. Northern blot analysis showed that hGH gene and hG-CSF cDNA were transcribed as a single dicistronic mRNA. The hG-CSF and hGH proteins were independently translated from the dicistronic mRNA and secreted into the milk of transgenic mice. The highest concentration of hG-CSF and hGH in the milk of transgenic mice were $237{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and $8,990{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, respectively. In contrast, another hG-CSF expression cassette, in which hG-CSF genomic sequences were inserted into a commercial milk-specific expression vector (pBC1), generated a lower level ($91{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) of hG-CSF expression in the milk of transgenic mice. These results demonstrated that the novel pGbc5.5hGH-based dicistronic construct could be useful for an efficient cDNA expression in the milk of transgenic animals.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 1998

To study the usefulness of Se301 cells, which is originated from Spodoptera exigua and has susceptibility to the Autographa californica NPV (AcNPV), as a host for the AcNPV-based expression vector system, we compared the characteristics of AcNPV in Se301 and Sf-21 cells. The symptom by viral infection was similar in both of cells, but the ratio of polyhedra released from the cell was higher in Se301 cells than in Sf-21 cells. The overall PIB productivity of AcNPV was similar in both cells but the size of polyhedra was larger in Se301 cells. While the polyhedrin expression efficiency was about 2.4 times higher in Se301 cells than in Sf-21 cells, the viral growth was higher in Sf-21 cells. These results suggested that Se301 cell is very useful in the AcNPV-based expression system as a host.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.231-235
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• 2012

Indian citrus ring spot virus (ICRSV) is known to cause a serious disease to citrus, especially to Kinnow mandarin, the popular cultivated citrus species in India. In this study, we developed diagnostic systems based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In order to generate antibodies against ICRSV coat protein, we overexpressed the coat protein in Escherichia coli using the pET15b expression vector containing an optimized ICRSV coat protein gene. The recombinant ICRSV coat protein was overexpressed as soluble form at $37^{\circ}C$ upon IPTG induction. The protein was purified to 95% in purity by Ni-NTA column chromatography. The purified protein was immunized to rabbit for the generation of polyclonal antibody (PAb). The PAb showed a specific immunoreaction to recombinant ICRSV coat protein in western blot analysis and ELISA. Diluted rabbit antisera (10,000 fold) could detect less than 10 ng and 5 ng of the target protein in western blot and ELISA analysis, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.295-300
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• 2002

Previously, we reported induced expression of developmentally regulated CTP-binding protein 2 (DRG2) in fish cells at the late stage of rhabdovirus infection. To investigate the biological role of fish DRG2 (fDRG2), we transfected CHSE-214 cells with an expression vector containing complete fDRG2 fused to the N-terminal end of an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Low level expression of fDRG2-EGFP did not induce morphological change or cell death. However, a high level expression of fDRG2-EGFP induced cell rounding and caused depletion of the cell population in FACS analysis. Several truncated fragments were fused to EGFP. FACS analysis was conducted to determine the presence of cells expressing high levels of the resulting chimera. While cells expressing a high level of N-terminus were detected, those expressing high levels of the C-terminal fragment 243-290 containing the G4 motif were absent in FACS analysis. Based on these observations, we propose that overexpression of fDRG2 may induce cell rounding, a representative cytopathic effect of virus-infected cells in the late stage of infection and the C-terminus of the fDRG2 is essential for this function.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.579-589
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• 2020

Objective : No optimum genetic rat Huntington model both neuropathological using an adeno-associated virus (AAV-2) vector vector has been reported to date. We investigated whether direct infection of an AAV2 encoding a fragment of mutant huntingtin (AV2-82Q) into the rat striatum was useful for optimizing the Huntington rat model. Methods : We prepared ten unilateral models by injecting AAV2-82Q into the right striatum, as well as ten bilateral models. In each group, five rats were assigned to either the 2×10¹² genome copies (GC)/mL of AAV2-82Q (×1, low dose) or 2×10¹³ GC/mL of AAV2-82Q (×10, high dose) injection model. Ten unilateral and ten bilateral models injected with AAV-empty were also prepared as control groups. We performed cylinder and stepping tests 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after injection, tested EM48 positive mutant huntingtin aggregates. Results : The high dose of unilateral and bilateral AAV2-82Q model showed a greater decrease in performance on the stepping and cylinder tests. We also observed more prominent EM48-positive mutant huntingtin aggregates in the medium spiny neurons of the high dose of AAV2-82Q injected group. Conclusion : Based on the results from the present study, high dose of AAV2-82Q is the optimum titer for establishing a Huntington rat model. Delivery of high dose of human AAV2-82Q resulted in the manifestation of Huntington behaviors and optimum expression of the huntingtin protein in vivo.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2016

In this work, major outer capsid protein (P10) encoded by genome segment S10 of Rice black-streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) was expressed in Escherichia coli. Genomic dsRNA was extracted from RBSDV-miryang isolate infected rice plants. Based on the sequence of S10 (RBSDV-miryang, GenBank JX994211), a pair of S10 specific primers were designed and used to amplify the fragment encoding the N-part of P10. We amplified the partial gene (S10 1-834 nt) of RBSDV P10 (1-278 aa) by RT-PCR. Amplified RBSDV S10 (1-834 nt) was cloned into the expression vector pET32a (+). Recombinant RBSDV S10 (1-834 nt) was expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) and purified by nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) affinity column. We successfully obtained P10 partial protein of RBSDV and the purified protein was used to immunize rabbits. The resulting polyclonal antiserum specifically recognized RBSDV from infected plant in both Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In this study, we provide purified RBSDV P10 (1-278 aa), which would be good material for the serological study of RBSDV-miryang isolates.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2006

In year 2003, a soybean(Glycine max) sample showing severe dwarfing symptom was collected from a farmers' field in Cheongsong in Korea. The results from the diagnosis of the sample by RT-PCR revealed that it was infected by Soybean dwarf virus(SbDV), SbDV-L81. This study could be the first report of the occurrence of the virus in Korea. To further characterize the virus, the partial nucleotide sequence of the genomic RNA of SbDV-L81 was determined by RT-PCR using species-specific primers. The sequences were analyzed and subsequently compared to previously characterized strains of SbDV based on the pattern of symptom expression and vector specificities. The intergenic region between ORF 2 and 3 and the coding regions of ORF 2, 3 and 4 were relatively similar to those of dwarfing strains(SbDV-DS and DP) rather than those of yellowing strains(SbDV-YS and YP). Likewise, the result from the analysis of 5'-half of the coding region of ORF5 indicated that SbDV-L81 was closely related to strains(SbDV-YP and DP) transmitted by Acyrthosiphon pisum. These data from the natural symptom and the comparisons of five regions of nucleotide sequences of SbDV suggested that SbDV-L81 might be closely related SbDV-DP.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.783-793
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• 2019

When endoplasmic reticulum (ER) functions are perturbed, the ER induces several signaling pathways called unfolded protein response to reestablish ER homeostasis through three ER transmembrane proteins: inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), PKR-like ER kinase (PERK), and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6). Although it is important to measure the activity of ATF6 that can indicate the status of the ER, no specific cell-based reporter assay is currently available. Here, we report a new cell-based method for monitoring ER stress based on the cleavage of $ATF6{\alpha}$ by sequential actions of proteases at the Golgi apparatus during ER stress. A new expressing vector was constructed by using fusion gene of GAL4 DNA binding domain (GAL4DBD) and activation domain derived from herpes simplex virus VP16 protein (VP16AD) followed by a human $ATF6{\alpha}$ N-terminal deletion variant. During ER stress, the GAL4DBD-VP16AD(GV)-$hATF6{\alpha}$ deletion variant was cleaved to liberate active transcription activator encompassing GV-$hATF6{\alpha}$ fragment which could translocate into the nucleus. The translocated GV-$hATF6{\alpha}$ fragment strongly induced the expression of firefly luciferase in HeLa Luciferase Reporter cell line containing a stably integrated 5X GAL4 site-luciferase gene. The established double stable reporter cell line HLR-GV-$hATF6{\alpha}$(333) represents an innovative tool to investigate regulated intramembrane proteolysis of $ATF6{\alpha}$. It can substitute active pATF6(N) binding motif-based reporter cell lines.