• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.193-199
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• 2010

We report here the production of transgenic chickens that can regulate human erythropoietin (hEPO) gene expression. The glycoprotein hormone hEPO is an essential for viability and growth of the erythrocytic progenitors. Retrovirus vector system used in this study has two features including tetracycline-controllable promoter and woodchuck hepatitis virus posttranscriptional regulator element (WPRE). The former is for to reduce the possibility of physiological disturbance due to constitutional and unregulated expression of hEPO gene in the transgenic chicken. The latter is for maximum expression of the foreign gene when we turn-on the gene expression. A replication-defective Moloney murine leukemia virus (MoMLV)-based vectors packaged with vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV-G) was injected beneath the blastoderm of non-incubated chicken embryos (stage X). Out of 325 injected eggs, 28 chicks hatched after 21 days of incubation and 16 hatched chicks were found to express the hEPO gene delivered by the vector. The biological activity of the recombinant hEPO in transgenic chicken serum was comparable to its commercially available counterpart. The recombinant hEPO in transgenic chicken serum had N- and O-linked carbohydrate simillar to that produced from in vitro cultured cells transformed with hEPO gene.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.209-218
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• 2005

We investigated effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) on profiles of mRNA transcripts in 6 male cynomolgus (M. fascicularis) monkey's spleen for 4 weeks. Six monkeys, composed of control and treatment group (Control : M1, M2, M3: Treatment : M4, M5, M6) were intravenously administered 3 times per week without or with a dose of rHuEPO 2730 IU/0.1 ml/kg. After 4 weeks rHuEPO treatment, spleen was removed for RNA isolation. Splenic gene expression was assessed using Affymetrix U133A 2.0 arrays containing 18,400 transcripts and variants, including 14,500 well-characterized human genes. Gene expression pattern was very different between individuals even in same treatment. In rHuEPO treated groups showed number of genes were up- or down-regulated (M4: 79: M5: 48; M6: 73 genes). Six genes (epidermal growth factor receptor, calgranulin A, estrogen receptor binding site associated antigen, matrix metalloproteinase 19, zinc finger and BTB domain containing 16, progestin and adipoQ receptor) were commonly expressed in rHuEPO treated group. The different individual response could be major considering factor in monkey experiment. Further study is needed to clarify the different individual response to rHuEPO in molecular level. This study will be valuable in the fundamental understanding and validation of molecular toxicology for bio-generic drugs including rHuEPO in cynomolgus monkey.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.81-85
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• 2006

This study was conducted to examine the effect of IRES controlled reporter gene on screening and production of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) proteins from cultured CHO cells. The cDNA was cloned for EPO from human liver cDNA Using site-directed mutagenesis, we generated recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) with two additional N-glycosylations (Novel erythropoiesis-stimulating protein: NESP). Wild type hEPO and NESP were cloned into expression vectors with GFP reporter gene under regulatory control of CMV promoter and IRES so that the vectors could express both rhEPO and GFP. The expression vectors were transfected to cultured CHO-K1 cells. Under microscopy, expression of GFP was visible. Using supernatant of the culture, ELISA assay, immunocytochemistry and in vitro assay using EPO dependant cell line were performed to estimate biological activity to compare the production characteristics (secretion levels, etc.) between rhEPO and NESP. The activity of NESP protein, obtained by mutagenesis, was described and compared with its rhEPO counterpart produced under same conditions. Although NESP had less secretion level in CHO cell line, the biological activity of NESP was greater than that of rhEPO. These results are consistent with previous researches. We also demonstrated that rhEPO and GFP proteins expressed simultaneously from transfected CHO cell line. Therefore we conclude that use of GFP reporter gene under IRES control could be used to screen and produce rhEPO in cultured CHO cells.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2016

Effectiveness of transgene transfer into genome is crucially concerned in mass production of the bio-pharmaceuticals using genetically modified transgenic animals as a bioreactor. Recently, the mammary gland has been considered as a potential bioreactor for the mass production of the bio-pharmaceuticals, which appears to be capable of appropriate post-translational modifications of recombinant proteins. The mammary gland tissue specific vector system may be helpful in solving serious physiological disturbance problems which have been a major obstacle in successful production of transgenic animals. In this study, to minimize physiological disturbance caused by constitutive over-expression of the exogenous gene, we constructed new retrovirus vector system designed for mammary gland-specific expression of the hEPO gene. Using piggyBac vector system, we designed to express hEPO gene under the control of mammary gland tissue specific and lactogenic hormonal inducible goat ${\beta}$-casein or mouse Whey Acidic Protein (mWAP) promoter. Inducible expression of the hEPO gene was confirmed using RT-PCR and ELISA in the mouse mammary gland cells treated with lactogenic hormone. We expect the vector system may optimize production efficiency of transgenic animal and reduce the risk of global expression of transgene.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.77-80
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• 1995

Antigenic potential of genetically-engineered human erythropoietin (EPO) was assessed in guinea pigs (active systemic anaphylaxis [ASA] ; passive cutaneous anaphylaxis [PCA]) and in vitro (hemagglutination test [PHA]). In ASA, EPO at 70~700 U/kg elicited a weak anaphylactic response tvhereas the positive control ovalbumin (OVA) did cause intensive responses leading to death in 40% animals. However, the extract of CHO cells, to which EPO gene was introduced, did not cause any symptom. In PCA and PHA tests, neither EPO nor CHO cell extract induced positive responses. OVA, in contrast, produced high titers in both PCA and PHA tests. It was concluded that, in light of the fact that EPO was slightly antigenic only in ASA but not in PCA or PHA and also that human EPO is a foreign protein to guinea pigs, the present EPO may not be antigenic in humans.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.582-586
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• 2003

There has been interest in developing gene therapy based on naked plasmid DNA for treating serum protein deficiencies and human erythropoietin (hEPO) is one of the candidate for gene therapy being Investigated most enthusiastically. We constructed novel plasmid DNA vectors pVAC-hEPOI/II/III which contain one, two, three hEPO gene(s) respectively for producing high level expression and secretion of hEPO in vitro and in vivo. NIH3T3 and COS7 cells were transfected transiently with these vectors and increase in hEPO expression in medium reached 2-5 fold in comparison with pSecTagB-hEPO. Intra muscular administrations of pVAC-hEPOI/II/III vectors into mice resulted in high level secretion of hEPO in the serum and corresponding increases in hematocrit level. In conclusion the transduction efficiency of naked plasmid vectors is one of the critical factors of a gene delivery system and these novel plasmid vectors will contribute to various gene therapy based on naked plasmid DNA.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2009

Human erythropoietin (EPO) is a leading product in the biopharmaceutical market, but functional EPO has only been produced in mammalian cells, which limits its application and drives up the production costs. Using plants to produce human proteins may be an alternative way to reduce the cost. However, a recent report demonstrated that overexpression of the human EPO gene (EPO) in tobacco or Arabidopsis rendered males sterile and retarded vegetative growth, which raises concern whether EPO might interfere with hormone levels in transgenic plants. In the present study, we demonstrated that overexpressing EPO with additional 5'-His tag and 3' ER-retention peptides in tobacco did not cause any developmental defect compared to GUS plants. With our method, all 20 transgenic plants grew on selective medium and, further confirmed by PCR, were fertile. Most of them grew similarly compared to GUS plants. Only one transgenic plant (EPO2) was shorter in plant height but had twice the life span compared to other transgenic plants. When 11 randomly selected EPO plants, along with the abnormal plant EPO2, were subjected to RT-PCR analysis, all of them had detectable EPO transcripts. However, their protein levels varied considerably; seven of them had detectable EPO proteins analyzed by western blot. Our results indicate that overexpressing human EPO protein in plants does not have detrimental effects on growth and development. Our transformation systems allow us to further explore the possibility of glycoengineering tobacco plants for producing functional EPO and its derivatives.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.158-163
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• 2004

Chlorella is a eukaryotic microalgae which shares metabolic pathways with higher plants. These charac-teristics make chlorella a potential candidate for eukaryotic overexpression systems. Recently, a foreign flounder growth hormone gene was stably introduced and expressed in transformed Chlorella ellipsoidea by using a modified plant transformation vector that contains cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S pro-moter and the phleomycin resistant Sh ble gene as a selection marker. In this study, this same vector was modified by incorporating a promoter and a 3' UTR region of the 33kDa peptide gene from a chlorella virus that was isolated in our laboratory. The 33kDa gene promoter was used to replace the 35S promoter and the 3' UTR was introduced to separate the target gene and downstream Sh ble gene. Three different chlorella transformation vectors containing human erythropoietin (EPO) gene were constructed. The mp335EPO vector consists of a promoter from the 33kDa peptide gene, whereas the mp3353EPO vector contains the same promoter from the 33kDa peptide gene and its 3' UTR. The mp35S33pEPO vector contains the 35S promoter and the 3' UTR from the 33 kDa peptide gene. There was no significant difference in the expression levels of EPO protein in chlorella cells transformed with either of three of the transformation vectors. These data indicate that the promoters from the chlorella virus are comparable to the most common CaMV 35S promoter. Furthermore, these data suggest that other promoters from this virus can be used in future construction of chlorella transformation system for higher expression of target proteins.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2002

This study was performed during the four seasons for the production of transgenic pigs containing the human erythropoietin(hEPO) transgene. Purebred Landrace gilts and sows approximately 8∼15 months of age (n=42) were used fur the collection of 1-cell zygotes for DNA microinjection and transfer. Retrospectively, estrus synchronization and superovulation schemes were evaluated to assess practicality for zygote collection. Synchronization and superovulation procedures were used that cyclic gilts were synchronized with 20mg altrenogest (ALT) per day for 9days after PG600 administration followed by superovulation with 1500IU pregnant mares serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and 500IU human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). Preparation of recombinant gene for microinjection is mice whey acidic protein promoter (mWAP) linked to human erythropoietin (hEPO) gene. After hormone treatment, 650 embryos were collected from 23 donors and 83.1% (540/650) embryos were in 1-cell stage which can be visualized the pronuclei for DNA microinjection. A total of 543 DNA microinjected embryos fiom donors were transferred to 19 synchronized recipients, seven of them maintained pregnancy and delivered 47 piglets. One of the 47 offsprings were determined to have transgene by PCR analysis. The overall rate of transgenic production was 2.13% (tansgenic/offspring). This study provides the success and useful information regarding production of transgenic pig for bioreactor research.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.317-324
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• 2003

The present study were performed to analysis the hematocrit and the red blood cells content into the blood plasma of the transgenic pigs harboring recombinent human erythropoietin gene (rhEPO). Mouse whey acidic protein (mWAP) linked to rhEPO gene was microinjected into pronuclei of porcine one-cell zygotes. After delivered of offspring, PCR analyses identified one mWAP-rhEPO transgenic founder offspring(F$_{0}$). The first generation of transgenic pig (F$_{0}$) harboring mWAP-hEPO appeared to be a male, and the second generation (F$_1$) pigs were made by natural mating of F$_{0}$ with domestic swine, and male and female transgenic pigs (F$_1$) were identified by PCR. The blood samples from transgenic and normal pigs were collected for 50 days during lactation and were counted the red blood cell (RBC) numbers and Hematocrit (HCT) content into the blood. The transgenic pigs expressing rhEPO in their blood gave rise to higher RBC numbers and HCT contents than control animals. rhEPO was secreted both in the blood and milk of genetically engineered pigs harboring rhEPO gene. Therefore, this study provides a model regarding the production of transgenic pig carrying hEPO transgene for biomedical research.earch.