ABSTRACT
Polycations have high DNA condensing ability, low immunogenicity, and great adaptability, which make them promising for gene delivery. However, low transfection efficiency and inevitable toxicity are challenges of cationic polymers. In this study, we prepared a novel Janus dendritic polymer via a one-step Michael addition reaction of branched low-molecular-weight polyethylenimine (PEI, 1800 Da) and dendritic polythioether. The amphiphilic dendritic polymer can self-assemble into stable nanomicelles with high surface charge potential (+91.8 mV). The obtained nanomicelles can be used as a gene delivery vector, which exhibits a higher gene transfection efficiency and much lower cytotoxicity as compared with gold standard PEI (branched, 25 kDa).
ABSTRACT
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is causally related to Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and a proportion of cases of multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD). The ORF73 protein was cloned into pQE80L-orf73 and expressed in E.coli and purified. The expressed recombinant ORF73 was identified by sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). A protein of about 27 kDa was expressed as expected. Western Blotting showed that the purified recombinant ORF73 reacted with KSHV positive serum. The immunogenicity of the recombinant ORF73 was further analysed by ELISA and the optimal conditions were determined. The ORF73 ELISA was used to compare the KSHV seroprevalence between Hubei and Xinjiang Han people. The Han people in Xinjiang have significantly higher KSHV seroprevalence than their counterparts in Hubei (6.7% vs 2.9%, P = 0.005).
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/blood , Antigens, Viral , Herpesviridae Infections/diagnosis , Herpesviridae Infections/epidemiology , Herpesvirus 8, Human/isolation & purification , Viral Proteins , Virology/methods , Antigens, Viral/chemistry , Antigens, Viral/genetics , Blotting, Western , China/epidemiology , Cloning, Molecular , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods , Escherichia coli/genetics , Gene Expression , Genetic Vectors , Herpesviridae Infections/virology , Herpesvirus 8, Human/immunology , Humans , Molecular Weight , Plasmids , Recombinant Proteins/chemistry , Recombinant Proteins/genetics , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Viral Proteins/chemistry , Viral Proteins/geneticsABSTRACT
Tumor angiogenesis is the uncontrolled growth of blood vessels in tumors, serving to supply nutrients and oxygen, and remove metabolic wastes. Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), a multifocal angioproliferative disorder characterized by spindle cell proliferation, neo-angiogenesis, inflammation, and edema, is associated with infection by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Recent studies indicate that KSHV infection directly promotes angiogenesis and inflammation through an autocrine and paracrine mechanism by inducing pro-angiogenic and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Many of these cytokines are also expressed in KS lesions, implicating a direct role of KSHV in the pathogenesis of this malignancy. Several KSHV genes are involved in KSHV-induced angiogenesis. These studies have provided insights into the pathogenesis of KS, and identified potential therapeutic targets for this malignancy.
ABSTRACT
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in eukaryotes, plants and some viruses. It is increasingly clear that miRNAs-encoded by viruses can affect the viral life cycle and host physiology. Viral miRNAs could repress the innate and adaptive host immunity, modulate cellular signaling pathways, and regulate the expression of cellular and viral genes. These functions facilitate viral acute and persistent infections, and have profound effects on the host cell survival and disease progression. Here, we discuss the miRNAs encoded by herpesviruses, and their regulatory roles involved in virus-host interactions.
