THE SENSITIVITY OF EHRLICH ASCITIC CARCINOMA CELLS TO THE EMPERIPOLESIS OF THYMUS LYMPHOCYTES

In mixed lymphocyte-tumor all culture in vitro, the ability of thymus lymphocytes adhering to tumor cells was found to be essentially consistent with its emperipolesis index, though not synchronous. Tumor cells at different progressive stages and in the mixed cultures with or without Con A stimulation also varied in the sensitivity to lymphocyte adhesion and emperipolesis. Tumor adhesiveness anl emperipolesis of theymus lymphocytes and their PNA-, PNA+ subgroups were shown to be different significantly from splenic lymphocytes. Thymosin exhibited certain promotive effect on lymphocyte-tumor adhesion and emperipolesis.

An Effective Method for Depleting MatureT Lymphocytes from Bone Marrow Cells──Two－step Percoll Centrifugation

In the present paper we have observed the effect of discontinuous gradient two-step Percoll centrifugation on depleting mature T lymphocytes from normal bone marrow. The pre-/post-Percoll percentage of CD34+, and Leu4+ cells in MNC was counted by using APAAP technique. As the two-step Percoll centrifugation is simple,and time saving, and decreases the incidence of contamination of cultured cells as well,This technique may be of value in serum-free culture of hematopoietic cells and immunological studies.

INVESTIGATION OF REGULATORY T CELLS IN PATIENTS WITH NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

Objective To evaluate the prevalence of CD4 ^＋ CD25^high regulatory T cells （ Treg cells） in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMC） and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes （TIL） of patients with non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） and to investigate immunosuppression to the progression of cancer. Methods Peripheral blood and tumor tissues were collected from 20 patients with NSCLC at the time of surgery. None of the patients received surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or other medical interventions before this study. Cancer stages of the patients were Ⅰ-Ⅲ A. Venous blood samples were obtained from 20 health donors. PBMC were isolated from blood samples by differential centrifugation over Ficoll-Hypaque. TILs were isolated from tumors by differential centrifugation over Ficoll-Hypaque and Percoll. Percentage of CD4^＋ CD25^highTr/CD4＋T in PBMC and TIL was assessed by the flow cytometry. Results The percentage of CD4^ ＋ CD25high Tr/ CD4 ^＋T in PBMC [ （4. 87 ± 1.22 ） % ] of NSCLC patients was significantly higher than that in healthy donors [ （ 2.36 ± 0. 72 ） % ] （ P 〈 0.01 ）. The percentage of CD4^＋ CD25^highTr/ CD4^＋ T in PBMC [ （5.40 ± 1.20） % ] of NSCLC patients in stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ A was significantly higher than that in stage Ⅰ [ （3. 87 ± 0. 22 ） % ] （ P 〈 0. 01 ）. The percentage of CD4 ＋ CD25hiShTr/ CD4 ＋ T in TIL[ （ 8. 66 ±0. 76） % ] of NSCLC patients in stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ A was significantly higher than that in stage Ⅰ [ （ 7. 04 ± 0. 80） % ] （ P 〈 0. 01 ）. Conclusion The prevalence of CD4 ^＋ CD25^highTreg cells in PBMC and TIL of NSCLC patients was significantly higher than that in healthy donors. These Treg cells may be preventing appropriate antitumor immune responses. The population of CD4^ ＋ CD25^highTreg cells in PBMC and TILs of NSCLC patients with Ⅱ-Ⅲ A stage was significantly higher than that of NSCLC patients with Ⅰ stage. These Treg cells may facilitate development of tumors.

Impairment of innate immune responses in cirrhotic patients and treatment by branched-chain amino acids

It has been reported that host defense responses, such as phagocytic function of neutrophils and natural killer (NK) cell activity of lymphocytes, are impaired in cirrhotic patients. This review will concentrate on the impairment of innate immune responses in decompensated cirrhotic patients and the effect of the treatment by branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) on innate immune responses. We already reported that phagocytic function of neutrophils was significantly improved by 3-mo BCAA supplementation. In addition, the changes of NK activity were also significant at 3 mo of supplementation compared with before supplementation. Also, Fisher’s ratios were reported to be significantly increased at 3 mo of BCAA supplementation compared with those before oral supplementation. Therefore, administration of BCAA could reduce the risk of bacterial and viral infection in patients with decompensated cirrhosis by restoring impaired innate immune responses of the host. In addition, it was also revealed that BCAA oral supplementation could reduce the risk of development of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients. The mechanisms of the effects will also be discussed in this review article.

Inflammation-related indicators to distinguish between gastric stromal tumors and leiomyomas:A retrospective study

BACKGROUND Gastric leiomyomas and gastric stromal tumors are the most common types of gastric tumors encountered.In recent years,the incidence of the two types of tumors has been increasing,but the differential diagnosis is still a challenge in clinical work.However,as there are many reports on stromal tumors and inflammation-related indicators are gradually being paid attention to as important factors in predicting tumor prognosis,the two main purposes of this study were to explore the inflammation-related differences between the two types of tumors and to develop a nomogram as a predictive model.AIM To explore the differences in platelet-lymphocyte ratio(PLR),neutrophillymphocyte ratio(NLR),lymphocyte mononuclear cell ratio(LMR),and SII between the two types of tumors,and simultaneously create the nomogram model.METHODS This study enrolled 88 patients in the gastric stromal tumor group and 56 patients in the gastric leiomyoma group,and the relevant data of the two groups were entered into the system for an integrated analysis.The primary objective of this study was to identify the differences in the inflammation index between the two types of tumors.RESULTS There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in sex,age,and tumor location.In comparison,gastric leiomyomas seem to be more common in women,young patients,and gastric cardia,which is in line with our previous research;the groups showed the following statistical differences:PLR(158.2%vs 134.3%,P=0.028),NLR(2.35 vs 1.68,P=0.000),LMR(5.75 vs 10.8,P=0.004),and SII(546.2 vs 384.3,P=0.003).The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that sex,age,tumor location,and LMR were independent risk factors for the identification of the two types of tumors.After considering the risk factors selected by the above analysis into the predictive model,a predictive model for distinguishing gastrointestinal stromal tumors from gastric leiomyomas was established as the nomogram.CONCLUSION Gastric leiomyomas and gastric stromal tumors are not only different in factors such as age of the patient,but also in inflammatory indicators such as LMR and PLR.We have established a predictive model related to the laboratory indicators and are looking forward to further research conducted in this clinical area.

A STUDY OF THE CYTOTOXICITY OF MALIGNANT PLEURAL EFFUSION LYMPHOCYTES AND LAK CELLS AGAINST AUTOLOGOUS TUMOR CELLS

The cytotoxicity of malignant pleural effusion lymphocytes (MPEL) against autologous tumor cells (ATC) were compared with that of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). It was demonstracted that the cytotoxicity of PBL was higher than that of MPEL (P< 0.001), but the cytotoxicity and expansion of MPEL-activated by rIL-2 was much higher than that of PBL activated by rIL-2 (LAK cells) (P< 0.001). This shows that local immune reaction of the pleural cavity of patients with malignant pleural effusion was in the state of suppression. MPEL activated are better effector cells than LAK cells in tumor adoptive immunotherapy.

Construction,Expression and In Vitro Biological Behaviors of Ig scFv Fragment in Patients with Chronic B Cell Leukemia

The expression vector of SmIg scFv fragment was constructed in patient with B cell chronic lymphocyte leukemia （B-CLL） and expressed in E. coli to obtain scFv fragment, and the effect of the protein on the proliferation of stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMC） was investigated in vitro. Two pairs of primers were designed, and variable region genes of light chain and heavy chain were amplified by PCR respectively from the pGEM-T vectors previously constructed in our laboratory which containing light chain gene or Fd fragment of heavy chain gene. The PCR product was digested, purified and inserted into pHEN2 vector to construct the soluble expression vector pHEN2-scFv. After the induction by IPTG, the scFv protein was identified by SDS- PAGE electrophoresis and purified by Ni-NTA-Chromatography. MTT was used to determine the effect of purified protein on the proliferation of stimulated PBMC in vitro. Plasmid PCR and restriction enzyme digestion of pHEN2-scFv revealed the pHEN2-scFv vector was constructed successfully. Id-scFv protein was expressed in positive clone after induced by IPTG. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the relative molecular weight of fusion protein was about 30 kD （1 kD= 0. 9921 ku）, which was consistent with the theoretically predicted value. Proliferation of PBMC could be induced by purified Id-scFv. It was suggested that the expression vector of SmIg scFv fragment was constructed successfully, and scFv protein was expressed and secreted from E. coil, which could induce proliferation of PBMC. This may lay an experimental foundation for further research of Id- HSP complex vaccine for B-CLL.

Mutation Analysis of IgVH Gene in B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Summary: The variable heavy chain region (VH) genes of 3 untreated patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B CLL) were cloned and analyzed. The VH family used was VH3 11, VH3 72 and VH3 33. More than 2 % difference from the corresponding germline gene was detected in all the 3 obtained potential functional genes (average 16.7). Mutation pattern analysis indicated evidence of antigen selective pressure observed in 1 of 3 cases. Our findings suggested that the tumor cells originate from post GC cells.

Immunomodulation of polypeptides fromChlamys farreri in vitro

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of polypeptides from Chlamys farreri （PCF） on immunoeytes or immunocytes treated with dexamethasone （DEX） in vitro. After incubating immunoeytes with 25 mg/L PCF or/and DEX for a given time, the proliferative response of thymocytes and splenoeytes to ConA were measured bv MTF assay; the subpopulations of thymocytes and splenic T lymphoeytes was analyzed by flow cytomety; the cytotoxicity of natural killer cells was measured by Llactate dehydrogenase （LDH） assay; the phagocytosis of rat peritoneal macrophages was measured by Neutral red assay and the Bel-2 protein expression of macrophages was detected by imrnunocytoehemical stain. The proliferative ability of rat thymocytes and splenocytes induced with ConA was enhanced and the depression of lymphoproliferation caused by DEX was reversed by PCF. The percentages of mouse thymic L3 T4^- Lyt-2^- and Lyt-2^＋ subpopulations and splenic Lyt-2 ^＋ cells were decreased and the percentage of splenic L3 T4^ ＋ cells was increased by PCF. The NK cytotoxicity, phagocytosis of macraphages and Bcl-2 protein expression of macrophages were enhanced and the decrease of NK cytotoxicity and Bel-2 protein expression of maerophages caused by DEX were reversed by PCF. PCF could not only enhance the normal immunity function, but also reverse the imrnunosuppression induced by DEX.

EFFECT OF ELECTROACUPUNCTURE ON RED BLOOD CELL IMMUNE AND T-CELL SUBGROUP IN THE RAT

In the present study, the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on immune system was observed in the rat by using micro- whole blood direct immunofluorescence staining assay to detect changes of the peripheral blood T lymphocyte subgroup and employing red blood cell (RBC) C 3b receptor- yeast rosette test and red blood cell-IC rosette test to analyze erythrocytic immune function. Results showed that after EA of “Zusanli" (ST 36), CD+ 4, RBC-C 3bRR and RBC-ICR in the peripheral blood of the normal rats increased significantly while CD+ 8 had no any considerable changes and a positive correlation between CD+ 4 and RBC-C 3bRR was found. In immunosuppression model rats, the values of CD+ 4 and RBC-C 3bRR were obviously lower than those of the normal control group while CD+ 8 had no any striking changes; but after EA treatment, there were no evident differences between EA group and normal control group in the above-mentioned indexes. There were also no any significant differences between non-acupoint group and normal control group in those indexes. Results suggest that EA of “Zusanli" (ST 36) can raise T cell immune function and RBC adhesion function in both normal rats and immunosuppression model rats, both of which present a positive correlation.

Application of donor dendric cell mediated recipieut lymphocyte reaction after related kidney transplantation in individualized immunosuppressive therapy

Objective To explore the feasibility of mediating recipient lymphocyte reaction with donor dendritic cells ( Dcs) in renal allograft recipients to guide individualized immunosuppressive therapy. Methods From Jan. 2008 to Jan. 2010,30 recipients received living related kidney transplantation were successively and divided into

Efficiency of adenoviral vector mediated CTLA4Ig gene delivery into mesenchymal stem cells

Objective To prevent Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in rat model, we evaluated the feasibility of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a gene transfer target and studied the efficiency of recombinant adenovirus mediated gene therapy.Methods We constructed the recombinant adenovirus containing CTLA4lg gene. Rat MSCs of passages 3-5 were infected by the adenovirus, and the transfection efficiency was monitored by GFP markers. We performed flow cytometric analysis, immunohistochemical and Western blotting analysis to identify the CTLA4lg expression. The gene transferred MSCs were tested for their ability to inhibit the allogeneic lymphocyte response in vitro and to prevent GVHD in a rat model.Results Recombinant adenovirus pAd-CTLA4lg was correctly constructed and confirmed. After MSCs were infected by the adenovirus, the CTLA4lg protein was detected not only in transgenic MSCs, but also in the culture medium. In a mixed lymphocytes response (MLR) test, the transgenic MSCs could significantly inhibit the allogeneic lymphocyte response compared with the control groups (P < 0. 05) . A model of GVHD was developed by transplanting bone marrow cells and spleen lymphocytes of F344 rats to lethally irradiated SD rats. The onset of GVHD could be ameliorated or prevented by co-administration of transgenic MSCs. All the rats in the control groups suffered severe acute GVHD. CTLA4lg expression was observed in the liver, intestine, kidney and spleen 30 days post- transplantation.Conclusions Our results indicate that adenoviral vectors could efficiently transfer CTLA4lg gene into MSCs and sustain long-term stable expression in vitro and in vivo.

An improved anti-leukemic effect achieved with donor progenitor cell infusion for relapse patients after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Objective To observe the antileukemic effect in relapse patients by infusion of donor immunocompetent cells with or without granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilization.Methods Twenty patients with leukemia in relapse after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) were treated with chemotherapy followed by donor-derived lymphocytes (DDL) without G-CSF mobilization (Group A, n=11), or donor peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) with G-CSF mobilization (Group B, n=9).Results Five patients in Group A were in hematologic relapse. After DDL infusion, 3 of 5 patients had a temporary complete remission (CR) and relapsed after 3, 7 and 10 months, respectively. One achieved partial remission and died of interstitial pneumonia; and the other one showed no response. Another 6 patients in Group A were in cytogenetic relapse or central nerve system (CNS) leukemia, and all achieved CR and remained in disease free survival (DFS) for 10 to 98 months after DDL infusion. All 9 patients in group B were in hematologic relapse. Three patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) had cytogenetic and molecular remission for 16, 35 and 51 months, respectively after PBPC infusion; and 5 patients with acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) had CR and were still in CR for 10 to 18 months except 1 patient relapsed soon. And the other one with AML showed no response to the therapy.Conclusion Donor immunocompetent cells infusion is an effective therapy for relapsed leukemia after allo-BMT, especially for the patients with early (molecular and cytogenetic) or CNS relapse. Infusion of donor PBPC mobilized by G-CSF seems to have more potentiated graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect than DDL infusion.

A risk score system for stratifying the risk of relapse in B cell acute lymphocytic leukemia patients after allogenic stem cell transplantation

Background:For patients with B cell acute lymphocytic leukemia(B-ALL)who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation(allo-SCT),many variables have been demonstrated to be associated with leukemia relapse.In this study,we attempted to establish a risk score system to predict transplant outcomes more precisely in patients with B-ALL after allo-SCT.Methods:A total of 477 patients with B-ALL who underwent allo-SCT at Peking University People’s Hospital from December 2010 to December 2015 were enrolled in this retrospective study.We aimed to evaluate the factors associated with transplant outcomes after allo-SCT,and establish a risk score to identify patients with different probabilities of relapse.The univariate and multivariate analyses were performed with the Cox proportional hazards model with time-dependent variables.Results:All patients achieved neutrophil engraftment,and 95.4%of patients achieved platelet engraftment.The 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse(CIR),overall survival(OS),leukemia-free survival(LFS),and non-relapse mortality were 20.7%,70.4%,65.6%,and 13.9%,respectively.Multivariate analysis showed that patients with positive post-transplantation minimal residual disease(MRD),transplanted beyond the first complete remission(≥CR2),and without chronic graft-versus-host disease(cGVHD)had higher CIR(P<0.001,P=0.004,and P<0.001,respectively)and worse LFS(P<0.001,P=0.017,and P<0.001,respectively),and OS(P<0.001,P=0.009,and P<0.001,respectively)than patients without MRD after transplantation,transplanted in CR1,and with cGVHD.A risk score for predicting relapse was formulated with the three above variables.The 5-year relapse rates were 6.3%,16.6%,55.9%,and 81.8%for patients with scores of 0,1,2,and 3(P<0.001),respectively,while the 5-year LFS and OS values decreased with increasing risk score.Conclusion:This new risk score system might stratify patients with different risks of relapse,which could guide treatment.

Anti-T-lymphocyte globulin-based non-myeloablative stem cell transplantation followed by HLA-identical donor lymphocyte infusion for hematologic malignancies

Objective To evaluate the application of anti-T-lymphocyte globulin (ATG) based nonmyeloablative but profoundly immunosuppressive regimens followed by donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) for the treatment of hematologic malignancies.Methods The protocol was designed to minimize the intensity of the conditioning regimen to the range of nonmyeloablative therapies based on ATG with low-dose busulfan (Bu) and Cytoxan (CTX) (15-19.5 mg/kg, 8 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg, respectively). The patients received the first lymphocytic infusion from HLA-identical sibling donors on days 28-30 after transplant, and the first T cell dosage of 10 6/kg followed by the escalated dosage in the range of (0.5-1.5)×10 8/kg. The total number of procedures were performed at a median of 4.2 procedures (range of 2-8 procedures).Results Engraftment was documented in all six patients in the form of donor-recipient hematopoietic cells mixed chimera at early-stage posttransplant, which was converted gradually into complet chimera by DLI in four patients. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) developed in three of six cases, only one of which was severe. To date,four patients are disease free and alive.Conclusions Allogeneic donor stem cell engraftment into host can be achieved by nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen based on ATG. Transient mixed donor-recipient hematopoietic cell mixed with chimeras may be successfully converted into complete chimerism by DLI posttransplant. GVHD remains major clinical concern in our study.