Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2014, Vol. 9 ›› Issue (5): 504-512.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.130074

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Recombinant adenovirus-mediated overexpression of 3β-hydroxysteroid-Δ24 reductase

Xiuli Lu 1, Dan Jia 1, Chenguang Zhao 1, Weiqi Wang 1, Ting Liu 1, Shuchao Chen 1, Xiaoping Quan 1, Deliang Sun 1, Bing Gao 2   

  1. 1 Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, School of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
    2 Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
  • Received:2014-01-10 Online:2014-03-12 Published:2014-03-12
  • Contact: Bing Gao, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang 110034, Liaoning Province, China, gaobing_cn@yahoo.com.cn. Xiuli Lu, Ph.D., Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, School of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, Liaoning Province, China, luxiuli@yahoo.com.cn.
  • Supported by:

    This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program), No. 31271494; Excellent Talent Support Program of Liaoning Province, No. LJQ2011004.

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Abstract:

3β-Hydroxysteroid-Δ24 reductase (DHCR24) is a multifunctional enzyme that localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum and has neuroprotective and cholesterol-synthesizing activities. DHCR24 overexpression confers neuroprotection against apoptosis caused by amyloid β deposition. The present study aimed to construct two recombinant adenoviruses driving DHCR24 expression specifically in neurons. Two SYN1 promoter DNA fragments were obtained from human (h) and rat (r). Recombinant Ad-r(h)SYN1-DHCR24 was transfected into AD-293, N2A (mouse neuroblastoma), and MIN6 (mouse pancreatic carcinoma) cells. Western blot analysis showed DHCR24 was specially expressed in 293 and N2A cells, but no specific band was found in MIN6 cells. This demonstrates that the recombinant adenoviruses successfully express DHCR24, and no expression is observed in non-neuronal cells. TUNEL assay results showed apoptosis was inhibited in adenovirus-transfected neurons. Detecting reactive oxygen species by immunofluorescence, we found that adenovirus transfection inhibits apoptosis through scavenging excess reactive oxygen species. Our findings show that the recombinant DHCR24 adenoviruses induce neuron-specific DHCR24 expression, and thereby lay the foundation for further studies on DHCR24 gene therapy for Alzheimer’s disease.

Key words: nerve degeneration, 3β-hydroxysteroid-Δ24 reductase, recombinant adenovirus, neuron, oxidative stress, synapsin-1, gene therapy, neuroprotection, NSFC grant, neural regeneration