Abstract
To develop a cost-effective molecular regulator to improve growth metabolism and immunity of animals, a recombinant plasmid co-expressing fatty acid desaturase (mFat-1) and pig insulin growth like factor 1 (IGF-1) genes was constructed by the 2 A self-cleavage technique. After entrapment within modified chitosan nanoparticles (chitosan modified with polyethyleneglycol–polyethylenimine, CPP), the recombinant plasmid was injected intramuscularly into mice. Compared with controls, co-expression of mFat-1 and IGF-1 significantly raised the level of serum IGF-1, and increased the liver and muscle docosa hexaenoic acid (DHA) content. Th and Tc cell levels were also elevated, as were expression levels of serum IL-4 and IL-6 genes. These results demonstrate that the immunity and metabolism of an animal can be effectively improved by co-expression of mFat-1 and IGF-1 genes in vivo, which may contribute to further development of novel immunomodulators with beneficial effects on growth metabolism and immunity.
Highlights
The fat-1 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans encodes an n-3polyunsaturated fatty acid desaturase that adds a double bond to unsaturated fatty acid hydrocarbon chains
Since the bioactivity of a single recombinant gene may not be sufficient to achieve adequate effects, as a first step in the development of an effective immunoregulator of pigs, we investigated the synergistic activity between these two genes when simultaneously expressed in mouse cells in vivo
Studies have shown that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can prevent diabetes and tumors[19,20], offering potential treatment of insulin resistance and diabetes[21], and suppression of liver tumorigenesis by down regulating TNF-α22
Summary
The fat-1 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans encodes an n-3polyunsaturated fatty acid desaturase that adds a double bond to unsaturated fatty acid hydrocarbon chains. It convertsn-6 to n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are absent in most mammals[1,2]. Well recognized for their health benefits, cann-3 PUFAs serve as an energy source and a substrate of biochemical reactions, it exerts effects on inflammatory and autoimmune diseases[3]. Since the bioactivity of a single recombinant gene may not be sufficient to achieve adequate effects, as a first step in the development of an effective immunoregulator of pigs, we investigated the synergistic activity between these two genes when simultaneously expressed in mouse cells in vivo
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