Yuemao Zheng

Development of cloned embryos from porcine neural stem cells and amniotic fluid-derived stem cells transfected with enhanced green fluorescence protein gene

We assessed the developmental ability of embryos cloned from porcine neural stem (NS) cells, amniotic fluid-derived stem (AFS) cells, fetal fibroblast cells, adult fibroblast, and mammary gland epithelial cells. The five cell lines were transfected with enhanced green fluorescence protein gene respectively using lipofection. NS and AFS cells were induced to differentiate in vitro. Stem cells and their differentiated cells were harvested for analysis of the markers using RT-PCR. The five cell lines were used for nuclear transfer. The two-cell stage-cloned embryos derived from each cell line were transferred into the oviducts of surrogate mothers. The results showed that both NS and AFS cells expressed POU5F1, THY1 and SOX2, and they were both induced to differentiate into astrocyte (GFAP+), oligodendrocyte (GalC+), neuron (NF+, ENO2+, and MAP2+), adipocyte (LPL+ and PPARG-D+), osteoblast (osteonectin+ and osteocalcin+), myocyte (MYF6+ and MYOD+), and endothelium (PECAM1+, CD34+, CDH5+, and NOS3+) respectively. Seven cloned fetuses (28 days and 32 days) derived from stem cells were obtained. The in vitro developmental ability (morula-blastocyst rate was 28.26-30.07%) and in vivo developmental ability (pregnancy rate were 1.67-2.17%) of the embryos cloned from stem cells were higher (P<0.05) than that of the embryos cloned from somatic cells (morula-blastocyst rate was 16.27-19.28% and pregnancy rate was 0.00%), which suggests that the undifferentiated state of the donor cells increases cloning efficiency.

Characteristics and EGFP Expression of Goat Mammary Gland Epithelial Cells

The aims of this study were (i) to establish a goat mammary gland epithelial (GMGE) cell line, and (ii) to determine if these GMGE cells could be maintained long-term in culture by continuous subculturing following transfection with a reporter gene, enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP). Primary culture of GMGE cells was achieved by outgrowth of migrating cells from the fragments of the mammary gland tissue of a lactating goat. The passage 16 GMGE cells were transfected with EGFP gene using lipofection. The expression of Cell keratins of epithelial cells in GMGE cells was test by immunofluorescence. Βeta-Casein gene mRNA was test for GMGE cells by RT-PCR. The results showed that when grown at low density on a plastic substratum, the GMGE cells formed islands, and when grown to confluency, the cells formed a monolayer and aggregated with the characteristic cobble-stone morphology of epithelial cells. GMGE cells could form dome-like structure which looked like nipple, and the lumen-like structures formed among the cells. Several blister-like structures appeared in the appearance of the cells. The GMGE cells contained different cell types, majority of the cells were short shuttle-like or polygon which were beehive-like. A part of cells were round and flat, a small number of cells were elongated. Some of the GMGE cells contained milk drops. The cell nuclei were round which had 2-4 obvious cores. The expression of Cell keratins demonstrated the property of epithelial cells in GMGE cells by immunofluorescence. The GMGE cells could express transcript encoding a Βeta-Casein protein. EGFP gene was successfully transferred into the GMGE cells, and the transfected cells could be maintained long-term in culture by continuous subculturing. In conclusion, we have established a EGFP gene transfected GMGE (ET-GMGE) cell line and maintained it long-term in culture by continuous subculturing.

Neurogenic differentiation of EGFP gene transfected amniotic fluid-derived stem cells from pigs at intermediate and late gestational ages.

The aims of this study were (i) to determine whether amniotic fluid-derived stem cells (amniotic fluid-derived stem; AFS cells) could be isolated from pigs at intermediate and late gestational ages, and (ii) to determine if these AFS cells could be differentiated in vitro into neural lineages following transfection with a reporter gene, enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP). Amniotic fluid-derived stem cells were isolated from embryonic day 60 and day 110 porcine amniotic fluid respectively, and transfected with EGFP gene using lipofection. The transfected AFS cells were induced to differentiate into cells of neuronal lineages. Markers associated with undifferentiated AFS cells and their neural derivatives were tested by polymerase chain reaction. The results demonstrated that porcine AFS cells could be isolated at intermediate and late gestational ages and that transfected AFS expressed EGFP and could be induced to differentiate in vitro. Undifferentiated AFS cells expressed POU5F1, THY1 and SOX2, while following differentiation cells expressed markers for astrocytes (GFAP), oligodendrocytes (GALC) and neurons (NF, ENOS and MAP2).

Characteristics and EGFP expression of porcine mammary gland epithelial cells

The aims of this study were to establish a porcine mammary gland epithelial (PMGE) cell line, and to determine if these PMGE cells could be maintained long-term in culture by continuous subculturing following transfection with a reporter gene, enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP). Primary culture of PMGE cells was achieved by outgrowth of migrating cells from the fragments of the mammary gland tissue of a lactating pig. The passage sixteen PMGE cells were transfected with EGFP gene using lipofection. The expression of Cell keratins of epithelial cells in PMGE cells was tested by immunofluorescence. Βeta-Casein gene mRNA was tested for PMGE cells by RT-PCR. The results showed that PMGE cells could form dome-like structure which looked like nipple, and the cells contained different cell types. The expression of Cell keratins demonstrated the property of epithelial cells, and the PMGE cells could express transcript encoding a Βeta-Casein protein. EGFP gene was successfully transferred into the PMGE cells, and the transfected cells could be maintained long-term in culture by continuous subculturing. In conclusion, we have established a EGFP gene transfected porcine mammary gland epithelial (ET-PMGE) cell line.

Recombinant adenovirus-mediated human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene can stimulate cell proliferation and maintain primitive characteristics in bovine mammary gland epithelial cells.

The human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene has been used to stimulate the proliferation of most types of human cells. The present study was designed to evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of adenovirus‐mediated hTERT in the proliferation of bovine mammary gland epithelial cells (bMGEs). A plasmid and an adenovirus vector that carried hTERT, namely pEGFP‐ hTERT and Ad‐ hTERT, were constructed and transfected into bMGEs, respectively. In order to select the best strategy for stimulating cell proliferation, the adenovirus‐ and plasmid‐mediated hTERT were compared in terms of the positive cloning and transgenic efficiency. The results showed that only Ad‐ hTERT had high infection efficiency and produced a positive polyclone population (hTERT‐bMGEs). The characteristics of the hTERT‐bMGEs were investigated with further analysis by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR), western blotting, proliferation assays, and flow cytometry, which showed that hTERT facilitated strong cell proliferation. Real‐time quantitative PCR showed a normal level of expression of beta‐casein, the caspase‐8 and c‐myc proto‐oncogene, and immunofluorescence demonstrated the properties of the epithelial cells. In conclusion, the adenovirus‐mediated hTERT gene could not only extend the cell lifespan, but also maintained the primary characteristics of the cells. It may be possible to extend the use of a wide variety of non‐human mammalian cells in this way. This study has provided additional insight into the mechanism of cell proliferation by demonstrating the lack of integration of the adenovirus‐mediated hTERT gene into the mammalian genome.

Adipogenic differentiation and EGFP gene transfection of amniotic fluid-derived stem cells from goat fetus at terminal gestational age.

The aims of this study were to determine whether stem cells could be isolated from amniotic fluid of goat fetus at terminal gestational age and to determine if these stem cells could differentiate into adipogenic cells and be transfected with a reporter gene, EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein). The stem cells were isolated from amniotic fluid of goat fetus at terminal gestational age, induced to differentiate into adipogenic cells in vitro and transfected with the EGFP gene using lipofection. Markers associated with undifferentiated AFS (amniotic fluid‐derived stem) cells were tested by RT (reverse transcription)‐PCR. The results demonstrated that AFS cells could be isolated from amniotic fluid of goat fetus at terminal gestational age and could differentiate into adipogenic cells. The EGFP gene was transfected into AFS cells successfully. EGFP gene transfection efficiency of the three groups of transgenic AFS cells were 26.0, 29.9 and 30.5%, respectively. Both transgenic and wild‐type AFS cells could express Hes1 (hairy and enhancer of split 1), Oct4 (octamer‐binding protein 4) and Nanog.

Comparation of enhanced green fluorescent protein gene transfected and wild-type porcine neural stem cells.

The aim of this study was to transfect and express the enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) gene into porcine neural stem cells (NSCs) to determine whether EGFP can be used as a marker to monitor NSCs. NSCs were isolated from embryonic day 30 fetal pig brain and transfected with EGFP gene using lipofection. Transfected and wild-type NSCs were induced to differentiate into cells of neuronal and myogenic lineages. Markers of passage three NSCs and their differentiated cells were tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that EGFP could be expressed in NSCs and the differentiated cells. NSCs expressed Nestin, NogoA, DCX, Hes1, Oct4, CD-90 and Sox2. NSCs could differentiated into astrocyte (GFAP(+)), oligodendrocyte (GalC(+)), neuron (NF(+), NSE(+) and MAP2(+)) and myocyte (myf-6(+) and myoD(+)). We concluded that EGFP can be used as a marker in monitoring NSCs.

Differentiation and characteristics of the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene transgenic goat neural stem cells cultured in attached and non-attached plates.

The aims of this study were (i) to determine whether NSCs (neural stem cells) could be isolated from the brain of embryonic day 98 fetal goat, (ii) to determine if these stem cells have the capability of multipotent differentiation following transfection with a reporter gene, EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) and (iii) to study the characteristics of the stem cells cultured in attached and non‐attached plates. NSCs were isolated from embryonic day 98 fetal goat brain, transfected with EGFP gene using lipofection, and subcultured in attached and non‐attached plates respectively. The transgenic stem cells were induced to differentiate into osteogenic and endothelial cells in vitro respectively. Markers associated with undifferentiated NSCs and their differentiated cells were tested by RT—PCR (reverse transcription—PCR). The results demonstrated that stem cells could be isolated from embryonic day 98 fetal goat brain, and EGFP gene could be transfected into the cells. The transgenic NSCs were capable of self‐renewal, a defining property of stem cells, and were grown as free‐floating neurospheres in non‐attached plates. When the neurospheres were transferred and cultured in attached plates, cells migrate from the neurospheres and are grown as spindle cells. The stem cells were grown as quasi‐circular cells when the single stem cells were cultured in attached plates. Both the NSCs cultured in non‐attached and attached plates could express Hes1 (hairy and enhancer of split 1), Oct4 (octamer‐binding protein 4), Nanog, Sox2 [SRY (sex‐determining region Y)‐box 2] and Nestin, while following differentiation cells expressed markers for osteogenic cells (Osteocalcin+ and Osteonectin+) and endothelium (CD34+ and eNOS+). The results demonstrated that the goat EGFP gene transgenic NSCs have the capability of multipotent differentiation, which means that the transgenic NSCs may be useful in cell transplantation studies in future.

Inducible expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein by interleukin-1α, interleukin-1β and Toll-like receptor 2 promoters in goat mammary epithelial cells in response to bacterial challenges

The development of a bacteria-inducible expression system has several advantages compared with persistent expression of anti-bacterial proteins in milk to prevent and treat mastitis. The present study determined whether mastitis responsive promoters could regulate enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression in goat mammary epithelial cells (GMECs) in response to challenges with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus agalactiae. The level of expression of interleukin (IL)-1α was significantly increased in GMECs challenged with E. coli, S. aureus or S. agalactiae compared with untreated GMECs. IL-1β was induced by E. coli and S. aureus, while Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) was induced by E. coli only. GMECs were transfected with IL-1α, IL-1β and TLR2 promoter-EGFP reporter gene lentiviral expression vectors and the levels of expression of EGFP were measured by flow cytometry and Western blot analysis after bacterial challenge. EGFP expression driven by the IL-1α and IL-1β promoters was higher in GMECs challenged with E. coli, S. aureus or S. agalactiae than in untreated GMECs. There were no differences in EGFP expression driven by the TLR2 promoter between GMECs challenged with S. aureus or S. agalactiae and untreated GMECs, but EGFP expression was significantly increased in GMECs challenged with E. coli. Overall, these results indicate that the promoters of some bacteria-inducible genes can regulate EGFP expression in GMECs in response to bacterial challenges. This bacteria-inducible expression strategy could be used for production of mastitis resistant animals by regulating the expression of anti-bacterial proteins in the mammary gland.