Polymorphisms of IL-4, IL-4Rα, and AICDA Genes in Adult Allergic Asthma

The relationship between 3 polymorphisms sites [interleulin-4 (IL-4), IL-4 receptor (IL-4R)α chain and activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AICDA)] and adult allergic asthma in China was studied. By using case-control method, DNA and clinical data were obtained from allergic asthmatic patients and compared with those in the control subjects. The subjects were genotyped for the IL-4 C-589T promoter polymorphism, the IL-4Rα chain Q576R and the AICDA C8408T by poly-merase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The results showed that the IL-4 C-589T was not associated with adult allergic asthma in China. However, the IL-4Rα chain 576R/R and AICDA 8408T/T frequency was significantly increased in allergic asthma group as compared with that in the control group [odd ratio (OR) = 3. 797 and 9. 127, respectively; P<0. 01)] and was correlated with the increased plasma total IgE. These data suggested that the IL-4Rα chain 576R/R and AICDA 8408T/T genotypes confer genetic susceptibility to adult allergic asthma in China.

Association of polymorphisms of cytosine arabinoside- metabolizing enzyme gene with therapeutic efficacy for acute myeloid leukemia

Background The cytosine arabinoside （Ara-C）-based chemotherapy is the major remedial measure for acute myeloid leukemia （AML）. Deoxycytidine kinase （DCK） and cytidine deaminase （CDA） are the key enzymes in the metabolism of Ara-C. Many single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） and haplotypes of DCK and CDA, which contribute to susceptibility to Ara-C, have been identified in Africans and Europeans. However, there has been no report about the relation among three SNPs in DCK （rs115543896, rs72552079, and rs111454937） and two SNPs in CDA （rs2072671 and rs60369023）, and their clinical response to Ara-C for a Chinese population. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether these five SNPs are associated with the therapeutic outcomes of Ara-C-based chemotherapy regimens in patients with AML. Methods A total of 151 Chinese patients with AML were enrolled in our study. SNPs genotyping were performed using the MassARRAY system by means of the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOF-MS） method. Results The results illustrated that DCKrs111454937 AA genotype was more frequent in patients with higher platelet count, and A allele frequency was significantly higher in the group 〈40 years, lower white blood cell （WBC） count patients group and the group with platelet counts 〉60xl0e/L. Meanwhile, both DCKrs72552079 TC （OR=1.225, 95% C1=1.225-9.851, P=0.0192） and CDArs60369023 GA （OR=9.851,95% C1=1.31-77.93, ,~=-0.0263） significantly improved Ara-C-based chemotherapy response. While DCKrs11554389 AA （OR=0.147, 95% CI=0.027-0.801, P=0.0267） was associated with the decrease of Ara-C-based chemotherapy response. Conclusion It is evident that the DCK and CDA polymorphisms might be the important markers for the AML patients＇ therapy outcomes in a Chinese population.

A Novel DT40 Antibody Library for the Generation of Monoclonal Antibodies

Early etiological diagnosis is very important for the control of sudden viral infections,and requires antibodies with both high sensitivity and high specificity.Traditional antibody preparation methods have limitations,such as a long and arduous cycle,complicated operation,and high expenses.A chicken lymphoma cell line,DT40,is known to produce IgM-type antibodies and undergo gene conversion and somatic mutation in the variable region of the immunoglobulin gene during culture.Here,the DT40 cell line was developed to produce antibody libraries and prepare antibody rapidly in vitro.Since hypermutation in DT40 cells was regulated by the activation-induced cytidine deaminase(AID)gene,AID expression needs to be controlled to either fix the Ig sequence by stopping mutation or improve affinity by resuming mutation after the antibodies have been selected.In this study,we generated a novel AID-inducible DT40 cell line(DT40-H7),in which the endogenous AID gene was knocked out using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system,and an inducible AID gene,based on the Tet-Off expression system,was stably transfected.AID expression was controlled in DT40-H7 cells in a simple and efficient manner;gene conversion and point mutations were observed only when AID was expressed.Using the antibody library generated from this cell line,we successfully obtained monoclonal antibodies against the NS1 protein of Zika virus.The DT40-H7 cell line represents a useful tool for the selection and evolution of antibodies and may also be a powerful tool for the rapid selection and generation of diagnostic antibodies for emerging infectious diseases.

Development of gemcitabine-resistant patient-derived xenograft models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Aim:Gemcitabine is a frontline agent for locally-advanced and metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC),but neither gemcitabine alone nor in combination produces durable remissions of this tumor type.We developed three PDAC patient-derived xenograft(PDX)models with gemcitabine resistance(gemR)acquired in vivo,with which to identify mechanisms of resistance relevant to drug exposure in vivo and to evaluate novel therapies.Methods:Mice bearing independently-derived PDXs received 100 mg/kg gemcitabine once or twice weekly.Tumors initially responded,but regrew on treatment and were designated gemR.We used immunohistochemistry to compare expression of proteins previously associated with gemcitabine resistance[ribonucleotide reductase subunit M1(RRM1),RRM2,human concentrative nucleoside transporter 1(hCNT1),human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1(hENT1),cytidine deaminase(CDA),and deoxycytidine kinase(dCK)]in gemR and respective gemcitabine-naïve parental tumors.Results:Parental and gemR tumors did not differ in tumor cell morphology,amount of tumor-associated stroma,or expression of stem cell markers.No consistent pattern of expression of the six gemR marker proteins was observed among the models.Increases in RRM1 and CDA were consistent with in vitro-derived gemR models.However,rather than the expected decreases of hCNT1,hENT1,and dCK,gemR tumors expressed no change in or higher levels of these gemR marker proteins than parental tumors.Conclusion:These models are the first PDAC PDX models with gemcitabine resistance acquired in vivo.The data indicate that mechanisms identified in models with resistance acquired in vitro are unlikely to be the predominant mechanisms when resistance is acquired in vivo.Ongoing work focuses on characterizing unidentified mechanisms of gemR and on identifying agents with anti-tumor efficacy in these gemR models。

Attempts to remodel the pathways of gemcitabine metabolism: Recent approaches to overcoming tumours with acquired chemoresistance

Gemcitabine is a cytidine analogue frequently used in the treatment of various cancers.However,the development of chemoresistance limits its effectiveness.Gemcitabine resistance is regulated by various factors,including aberrant genetic and epigenetic controls,metabolism of gemcitabine,the microenvironment,epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition,and acquisition of cancer stem cell properties.In many situations,results using cell lines offer valuable lessons leading to the first steps of important findings.In this review,we mainly discuss the factors involved in gemcitabine metabolism in association with chemoresistance,including nucleoside transporters,deoxycytidine kinase,cytidine deaminase,and ATP-binding cassette transporters,and outline new perspectives for enhancing the efficacy of gemcitabine to overcome acquired chemoresistance.

Affinity maturation of anti-TNF-alpha scFv with somatic hypermutation in non-B cells

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase(AID)is required for the generation of antibody diversity through initiat-ing both somatic hypermutation(SHM)and class switch recombination.A few research groups have success-fully used the feature of AID for generating mutant li-braries in directed evolution of target proteins in B cells in vitro.B cells,cultured in suspension,are not con-venient for transfection and cloning.In this study,we established an AID-based mutant accumulation and sorting system in adherent human cells.Mouse AID gene was first transfected into the human non-small cell lung carcinoma H1299 cells,and a stable cell clone(H1299-AID)was selected.Afterwards,anti-hTNF-αscFv(ATscFv)was transfected into H1299-AID cells and ATscFv was displayed on the surface of H1299-AID cells.By 4-round amplification/flow cytometric sorting for cells with the highest affinities to hTNF-alpha,two ATscFv mutant gene clones were isolated.Compared with the wild type ATscFv,the two mutants were much more efficient in neutralizing cytotoxicity of hTNF-alpha.The results indicate that directed evolution by somatic hypermutation can be carried out in adherent non-B cells,which makes directed evolution in mammalian cells easier and more efficient.