ABSTRACT
Objective To study on the role of histone methylation enzyme enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EHZ2) and vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165) in momymoya disease. Methods The animal model of moyamoya disease was established by ear vein injection of horse serum in New Zealand rabbits. VEGF165 was over-expressed in situ by packaging lentivirus. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western Blot were used to detect the expression of VEGF165, EZH2 and H3K27me3 in the brain tissues of the animal models. Results Compared with the normal control group, the expression levels of mRNA and protein of EZH2 in the moyamoya disease model group were increased (EZH2 mRNA:P<0.01), and the level of histone H3K27me3 was increased. After overexpression of VEGF165 in the moyamoya disease model group, the expression levels of mRNA and protein of EZH2 was further increased (EZH2 mRNA: P<0.01), and the level of histone H3K27me3 was also increased. Conclusions EZH2 plays a certain role in the pathogenesis of moyamoya disease, and the expression of EZH2 is regulated by VEGF 165, which provides a theoretical basis for the study of the pathogenesis of moyamoya disease.
ABSTRACT
Objective To construct a human renal epithelial cell line HEK293T by CRISPR-Cas9-based site-directed knock-in of vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165) gene, and avoid the off-target effect caused by lentivirus infection. Methods The VEGF165 expression vector with homologous arm (pUCm-T-VEGF165 plasmid) and the sgRNA expression vector [pSpCas9(BB)-2A-Puro-sgRNA plasmid] were designed and constructed based on the DNA sequence of the EZH2 gene, and then co-transfected into HEK293T cells. The expression of VEGF165 mRNA was detected by qPCR and the expressions of VEGF165 proteins were detected by Western Blot. Results The qPCR and Western Blot results showed that, comparing with the control, the pUCm-T-VEGF165 plasmid and pSpCas9(BB)-2A-Puro-sgRNA plasmid, the expression of the co-transfection plasmid were significantly increased, i.e. 3.42±0.30 vs. 1.02±0.21, 1.13±0.16 and 0.98±0.18 for the VEGF165 mRNA level (all P<0.01), and 1.13±0.16 vs. 1.02±0.06, 0.88±0.03 and 0.80±0.05 for the VEGF165 protein level (all P<0.01), respectively. Besides, the expression of EZH2 was significantly down-regulated, i.e. 0.14±0.06 vs. 1.08±0.11, 1.02±0.12 and 1.13±0.16 for the EZH2 mRNA level (all P<0.01), and 0.23±0.03 vs. 1.05±0.13, 0.91±0.04 and 0.81±0.06 for the EZH2 protein level (all P<0.01), respectively. This result showed that the VEGF165 was successfully inserted into the EZH2 genome, interfering the EZH2 expression. Conclusions VEGF165 gene can be successfully knocked into HEK293T cells by CRISPR/Cas9 system.
ABSTRACT
Objective To detect the transferred vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)165 gene expression in rhesus autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and to explore the functional viability of transgenic MSCs. Methods MSCs from rhesus bone were isolated by Ficoll, which were used to detect the phenotype. After the culturing, the expression vector pcDNA-eGFP-VEGF165 was transfected into bone marrow MSCs. Fluorescence microscope and flow cytometry were used to detect the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) expression. At the same time, the phenotype in transfected MSCs was also indentified. The VEGF165 expression level was detected by RT-PCR. Results The highly purified MSCs were collected successfully. The transfected MSCs and daughter cells showed expressions of eGFP and VEGF165, which also remained the characteristics of MSCs. Conclusion The VEGF165 gene that is transfected into MSCs can maintain characteristics of MSCs, and stably express foreign genes.