STUDY OF ACUPUNCTURE EFFECT ON NATURAL CYTOTOXICITY IN RATS

When the effects of acupuncture were compared with those of naloxone (Nx)and the control in rats,the immunoreactivity (IR) of substance P (SP),5-hydoxytryptamine (5HT),vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)and somatostatin (SOM),natural cytotoxicity,α-naphthylacetate esterase-focal pattern (ANAE-F) subpopulation and the ratio of cGMP-IR/cAMP-IR in thecirculating lymphocytes were elevated.After incubation of the lymphocytes in vitro with exogenousligends:SP,5-HT,VIP and SOM,an enhanced effect on their respective receptors,a dual regula-tion effect on NC were exhibited.The increase or decrease in NC depended on the basic level of NCprior to incubation.Both the acupuncture effect and the above incubation effect could be inhibited bynaloxone.The way in which acupuncture affected NC is discussed in this paper.

Ly49 receptors activate angiogenic mouse DBA＋ uterine natural killer cells

In humans, specific patterns of killer immunoglobulin-like receptors （KIRs） expressed by uterine natural killer （uNK） cells are linked through HLA-C with pregnancy complications （infertility, recurrent spontaneous abortion, intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia）. To identify mechanisms underpinning the associations between NK cell activation and pregnancy success, pregnancies were studied in mice with genetic knockdown （KD） of the MHC-activated Ly49 receptor gene family. B6.Ly49KD pregnancies were compared to normal control B6.Ly49z29 and C57BL/6 （B6） pregnancies. At mid-pregnancy （gestation day （gd9.5））, overall uNK cell （TCRI^-CD122＋DBA＋DX5- （DBA＋DX5-）） and TCRIβ-CD122＋DBA-DX5＋ （DBA-DX5＋）） frequencies in pregnant uterus were similar between genotypes. Ly49KD lowered the normal frequencies of Ly49＋ uNK cells from 90.3% to 47.8% in DBA-DX5＋ and 78.8% to 6.3% in DBA＋DX5- uNK cell subtypes. B6.Ly49KD matings frequently resulted in expanded blastocysts that did not implant （subfertility）. B6.Ly49KD mice that established pregnancy had gestational lengths and litter sizes similar to controls. B6.Ly49KD neonates, however, were heavier than controls. B6.Ly49KD implantation sites lagged in early （gd6.5） decidual angiogenesis and were deficient in mid-pregnancy （gd 10.5） spiral arterial remodelling. Ultrastructural analyses revealed that B6.Ly49KD uNK cells had impaired granulogenesis, while immunocytochemistry revealed deficient vascular endothelial cell growth factor （VEGFA） production. Perforin and IFNG expression were normal in B6.Ly49KD uNK cells. Thus, in normal mouse pregnancies, Ly49 receptor signaling must promote implantation, early decidual angiogenesis and mid-pregnancy vascular remodelling. Disturbances in these functions may underlie the reported genetic associations between human pregnancy complications and the inability of specific conceptus MHCs to engage activating KIR on uNK cells.

Anticancer drug screening of natural products:In vitro cytotoxicity assays,techniques,and challenges

Natural products include several diverse compounds that have been found to be effective against cancer.Discovering anticancer compounds in nature is a multistep and complex process that requires pre-clinical and clinical studies.Only a few of the available natural products are used to treat cancer since most of them have very high complexity and low bioavailability.Therefore,the process of anticancer drug discovery requires a straightforward and effective method to assess anticancer activity using in vitro assays.This review summarizes various cell-based assays and techniques used to measure cell viability,migration,and apoptosis,focusing in particular on the principles,mechanisms,advantages,and disadvantages of each assay to provide a preliminary platform for cancer drug discovery.

Effects of natural mineral-rich water consumption on the expression of sirtuin 1 and angiogenic factors in the erectile tissue of rats with fructose-induced metabolic syndrome

Consuming a high-fructose diet induces metabolic syndrome （MS）-Iike features, including endothelial dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is an early manifestation of endothelial dysfunction and systemic vascular disease. Because mineral deficiency intensifies the deleterious effects of fructose consumption and mineral ingestion is protective against MS, we aimed to characterize the effects of 8weeks of natural mineral-rich water consumption on the structural organization and expression of vascular growth factors and receptors on the corpus cavernosum （CC） in 10% fructose-fed Sprague-Dawley rats （FRUCT）. Differences were not observed in the organization of the CC either on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） or the components of the angiopoietins/Tie2 system. However, opposing expression patterns were observed for VEGF receptors （an increase and a decrease for VEGFR1 and VEGFR2, respectively） in FRUCT animals, with these patterns being strengthened by mineral-rich water ingestion. Mineral-rich water ingestion （FRUCTMIN） increased the proportion of smooth muscle cells compared with FRUCT rats and induced an upregulatory tendency of sirtuin I expression compared with the control and FRUCT groups. Western blot results were consistent with the dual immunofluorescence evaluation. Plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein and plasma testosterone levels were similar among the experimental groups, although a tendency for an increase in the former was observed in the FRUCTMIN group. The mineral-rich water-treated rats presented changes similar to those observed in rats treated with MS-protective polyphenol-rich beverages or subjected to energy restriction, which led us to hypothesize that the effects of mineral-rich water consumption may be more vast than those directly observed in this study.

Advancement of chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer cells targeting hepatocellular carcinoma

With the advance of genome engineering technology,chimeric antigen receptors(CARs)-based immunotherapy has become an emerging therapeutic strategy for tumors.Although initially designed for T cells in tumor immunotherapy,CARs have been exploited to modify the function of natural killer(NK)cells against a variety of tumors,including hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).CAR-NK cells have the potential to sufficiently kill tumor antigen-expressing HCC cells,independent of major histocompatibility complex matching or prior priming.In this review,we summarize the recent advances in genetic engineering of CAR-NK cells against HCC and discuss the current challenges and prospects of CAR-NK cells as a revolutionary cellular immunotherapy against HCC.

Natural killer reprogramming in cutaneous T-cell lymphomas: Facts and hypotheses

To better understand the pathogenesis of Sézary cells, distinguish them from reactive skin-infltrating T-cells and improve disease treatment, efforts have been made to identify molecular targets deregulated by the malignant process. From immunophenotypic analysis and subtractive differential expression experiments to pan-genomic studies, many approaches have been used to identify markers of the disease. During the last decade several natural killer （NK） cell markers have been found aberrantly expressed at the surface of Sézary cells. In particular, KIR3DL2/CD158k, expressed by less than 2% of healthy individuals CD4＋ T-cells, is an excellent marker to identify and follow the tumor burden in the blood of Sézary syndrome patients. It may also represent a valuable target for specifc im-munotherapy. Other products of the NK cluster on chromosome 19q13 have been detected on Sézary cells, raising the hypothesis of an NK reprogramming process associated with the malignant transformation that may induce survival functions.

Natural Killer Cell-Based Immunotherapy for Cancer: Advances and Prospects

Natural killer (NK) cells are key innate immune cells that provide the first line of defense against viral infection and cancer. Although NK cells can discriminate between "self" and "non-self," recognize abnormal cells, and eliminate transformed cells and malignancies in real time, tumors develop several strategies to escape from NK cell attack. These strategies include upregulating ligands for the inhibitory receptors of NK cells and producing soluble molecules or immunosuppressive factors. Various types of NK cells are currently being applied in clinical trials, including autologous or allogeneic NK cells, umbilical cord blood (UCB) or induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived NK cells, memory-like NK cells, and NK cell line NK-92 cells, for the treatment of different types of tumors. Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs)-NK cells have recently shown great potential due to their redirect specificity and effective antitumor activity. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of tumor escape from NK cell recognition, the current status and advanced progress of NK cell-based immunotherapy, ways of enhancing the antitumor capacity of NK cells in vivo, and major challenges for clinical practice in this field.

Microwave-induced Apoptosis and Cytotoxicity of NK Cells through ERK1/2 Signaling

Objective To investigate microwave-induced morphological and functional injury of natural killer（NK） cells and uncover their mechanisms. Methods NK-92 cells were exposed to 10, 30, and 50 m W/cm^2 microwaves for 5 min. Ultrastructural changes, cellular apoptosis and cell cycle regulation were detected at 1 h and 24 h after exposure. Cytotoxic activity was assayed at 1 h after exposure, while perforin and NKG2 D expression were detected at 1 h, 6 h, and 12 h after exposure. To clarify the mechanisms, phosphorylated ERK（p-ERK） was detected at 1 h after exposure. Moreover, microwave-induced cellular apoptosis and cell cycle regulation were analyzed after blockade of ERK signaling by using U0126. Results Microwave-induced morphological and ultrastructural injury, dose-dependent apoptosis（P 〈 0.001） and cell cycle arrest（P 〈 0.001） were detected at 1 h after microwave exposure. Moreover, significant apoptosis was still detected at 24 h after 50 m W/cm^2 microwave exposure（P 〈 0.01）. In the 30 m W/cm^2 microwave exposure model, microwaves impaired the cytotoxic activity of NK-92 cells at 1 h and down regulated perforin protein both at 1 h and 6 h after exposure（P 〈 0.05）. Furthermore, p-ERK was down regulated at 1 h after exposure（P 〈 0.05）, while ERK blockade significantly promoted microwave-induced apoptosis（P 〈 0.05） and downregulation of perforin（P 〈 0.01）. Conclusion Microwave dose-dependently induced morphological and functional injury in NK-92 cells, possibly through ERK-mediated regulation of apoptosis and perforin expression.

Why natural killer cells in triple negative breast cancer?

The triple-negative subtype of breast cancer(TNBC)has the bleakest prognosis,owing to its lack of either hormone receptor as well as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2.Henceforth,immunotherapy has emerged as the front-runner for TNBC treatment,which avoids potentially damaging chemotherapeutics.However,despite its documented association with aggressive side effects and developed resistance,immune checkpoint blockade continues to dominate the TNBC immunotherapy scene.These immune checkpoint blockade drawbacks necessitate the exploration of other immunotherapeutic methods that would expand options for TNBC patients.One such method is the exploitation and recruitment of natural killer cells,which by harnessing the innate rather than adaptive immune system could potentially circumvent the downsides of immune checkpoint blockade.In this review,the authors will elucidate the advantageousness of natural killer cell-based immuno-oncology in TNBC as well as demonstrate the need to more extensively research such therapies in the future.

The Search for Putative Hits in Combating Leishmaniasis:The Contributions of Natural Products Over the Last Decade

Despite advancements in the areas of omics and chemoinformatics,potent novel biotherapeutic molecules with new modes of actions are needed for leishmaniasis.The socioeconomic burden of leishmaniasis remains alarming in endemic regions.Currently,reports from existing endemic areas such as Nepal,Iran,Brazil,India,Sudan and Afghanistan,as well as newly affected countries such as Peru,Bolivia and Somalia indicate concerns of chemoresistance to the classical antimonial treatment.As a result,effective antileishmanial agents which are safe and affordable are urgently needed.Natural products from both flora and fauna have contributed immensely to chemotherapeutics and serve as vital sources of new chemical agents.This review focuses on a systematic cross-sectional view of all characterized anti-leishmanial compounds from natural sources over the last decade.Furthermore,IC_(50)/EC_(50),cytotoxicity and suggested mechanisms of action of some of these natural products are provided.The natural product classification includes alkaloids,terpenes,terpenoids,and phenolics.The plethora of reported mechanisms involve calcium channel inhibition,immunomodulation and apoptosis.Making avail-able enriched data pertaining to bioactivity and mechanisms of natural products complement current efforts geared towards unraveling potent leishmanicides of therapeutic relevance.

Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 3 and Intracellular Calcium in Natural Killer Cells in Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Natural killer (NK) cell phenotypes have reported to be implicated in the pathomechanism of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Several investigators have observed reduced peripheral numbers, reduced cytotoxic activity, and altered CD56Dim and CD56Bright NK cell phenotypes. This current project, for the first time, investigates the NK cell cytotoxicity, calcium mobilisation and transient receptor potential melastatin 3 (TRPM3) surface expression. Methods: NK cell cytotoxic activity and calcium signaling were examined in CD56Dim and CD56Bright NK cells before and after stimulation using Ionomycin, Pregnenolone sulphate, 2-Aminoethoxydiphenyl borate and Thapsigargin. Purified NK cells were labelled with antibodies to determine TRPM3, CD69 and CD107a surface expression using flow cytometry. Results: Twenty-two MS patients and 22 healthy controls were recruited for this project. Twelve of the 22 previously received Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada®) and the remaining ten reported nil medication. We report TRPM3 was significantly increased in untreated MS patients compared with healthy controls and treated MS patients (p-value 0.034). There was a significant decrease in CD69 surface expression on CD56Dim NK cell phenotype for untreated MS patients (p-value 0.031) and treated MS patients (p-value 0.036). We report altered calcium mobilisation in CD56Bright NK cells and to a lesser extent CD56Dim NK cells between healthy controls, treated and untreated MS patients. Conclusion: This investigation suggests variations in TRPM3 expression and calcium mobilisation of NK cells may be implicated in the pathogenesis of MS. Further investigation is required to determine the mechanism by which alemtuzumab alters calcium signaling in NK cells.

莫诺苯宗对肺腺癌细胞自噬和凋亡的分子机制研究

目的:探究莫诺苯宗和自然杀伤细胞激活受体基因(KLRC3)对肺腺癌(LUAD)细胞凋亡和自噬的影响,为LUAD的治疗提供理论基础。方法:分别使用不同浓度莫诺苯宗处理LUAD细胞,并采用CCK-8法检测莫诺苯宗对LUAD细胞活力的影响;随后,使用80μmol/L的莫诺苯宗、50 nmol/L的KLRC3干扰质粒(si-KLRC3)、和100 nmol/L自噬抑制剂3-甲基腺嘌呤(3-MA)1.5μg/ml KLRC3过表达载体(pcDNA-KLRC3)处理细胞后采用流式细胞术和Western blotting检测细胞凋亡以及凋亡相关蛋白和自噬相关蛋白的表达量。结果:莫诺苯宗浓度大于20μmol/L时可有效减弱LUAD细胞活力,且以剂量依赖性地促进了LUAD细胞的凋亡和自噬(均P<0.05)。KLRC3在LUAD细胞中低表达,干扰KLRC3减弱了莫诺苯宗对LUAD细胞自噬和凋亡的促进作用,比较差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。此外,过表达KLRC3也促进了LUAD细胞的凋亡和自噬,而KLRC3和莫诺苯宗对LUAD细胞凋亡和自噬的促进作用均可被3-MA所抵消,比较差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论:莫诺苯宗可能通过促进KLRC3的表达诱导自噬进而促进LUAD细胞的凋亡。

肝细胞癌过继细胞疗法研究进展

肝细胞癌是严重威胁人类生存的一类疾病,中国肝细胞癌死亡率居世界第三。由于肝细胞癌发病早期无特异性症状,晚期的治疗方案又存在复发率高等的种种弊端,因此寻找行之有效的治疗新方法迫在眉睫。过继细胞疗法是一种细胞免疫疗法,在肝脏多样化和复杂的免疫微环境中,通过结合肿瘤特异性抗原或是非特异性的调节免疫平衡,过继细胞疗法在肝细胞癌的治疗中逐渐发挥出优势。在这篇综述中我们阐述了肝细胞癌靶向治疗常用生物标志物的形态结构及信号通路,探讨总结了近年来过继细胞疗法治疗肝细胞癌的研究手段及取得的临床效果,并对接下来的研究方向进行了展望。

吉林地区朝、满、汉3个民族KIR基因的分布频率研究

目的通过分析吉林地区汉族、满族及朝鲜族的杀伤细胞免疫球蛋白样受体(KIR)基因的频率与多态性,为探究KIR基因与疾病关联提供基础数据支持。方法采用聚合酶链反应-序列特异性引物(PCR-SSP)技术对吉林地区129名满族、198名朝鲜族及201名汉族人群的KIR基因进行分型。结果KIR3DL2、KIR3DL3、KIR3DP1及KIR2DL4在所有检测对象中均为100%检出。KIR2DL1、KIR2DL3、KIR2DS4、KIR3DL1及KIR2DP1等基因在这3个民族中的检出频率较高,介于93%~98%之间。相比之下,KIR2DL2、KIR2DL5、KIR3DS1、KIR2DS1、KIR2DS2、KIR2DS3及KIR2DS5的检出率较低,分布在13%~45%。特别是满族KIR2DL5(17.83%)与KIR2DS1(17.83%)的基因检出频率显著低于吉林地区朝鲜族(42.93%、47.47%)和汉族(33.83%、33.33%);吉林地区朝鲜族KIR2DL5(42.93%)与KIR2DS1(47.47%)的检出频率显著高于汉族(33.83%、33.33%)和满族(17.83%、17.83%);吉林地区汉族单体型KIRAA的频率在吉林3个受检民族中是最高的为61.19%,显著高于朝鲜族(42.93%),以上各组差异比较P<0.05,经Bonferroni校正后,Pc<0.05。结论吉林地区的朝鲜族、满族与汉族在KIR基因分布方面既体现了中国人群KIR基因多态性,又各自展示了独特的民族遗传特性和地域性。

嵌合抗原受体T细胞免疫疗法在晚期胃癌中的应用进展

胃癌是最常见的恶性肿瘤之一,当前我国胃癌就诊患者仍以进展期为主,晚期患者就诊时多已失去手术治疗的机会,而传统的放疗、化疗和靶向治疗效果并不理想。嵌合抗原受体(CAR)-T细胞(CAR-T)免疫疗法作为一种新的治疗手段,在血液系统恶性肿瘤中疗效显著,也为胃癌的免疫治疗开辟了新途径。然而,由于胃癌的异质性、肿瘤微环境免疫抑制、肿瘤靶抗原逃逸及脱靶毒性等问题,使得CAR-T免疫疗法在胃癌治疗中的应用存在挑战。本文综述了CAR的结构及CAR-T治疗原理、CAR-T治疗晚期胃癌的主要靶点及治疗现状,并探讨了CAR-T治疗胃癌面临的挑战,旨在为晚期胃癌的临床免疫治疗提供新思路。

黄芪含药血清对NK细胞活性、NKG2A、NKG2D及细胞因子IFN-γ表达的影响

目的探讨黄芪含药血清对自然杀伤(NK)细胞的杀伤活性和NKG2D、NKG2A、细胞因子干扰素-γ(IFN-γ)表达水平的影响。方法20只SPF级SD大鼠,随机分成黄芪低、中、高剂量组(3.1、6.2、12.4 g/kg体重)和正常对照组,灌胃后制备含药血清。用NK细胞专用培养基培养NK-92MI细胞,用1640培养基培养YAC-1细胞。将NK-92MI细胞与20%不同剂量黄芪含药血清及正常对照血清孵育48 h,即分别为正常对照组、黄芪低剂量组、黄芪中剂量组以及黄芪高剂量组。通过乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)释放测定方法检测NK细胞对靶细胞YAC-1的杀伤活性,ELISA法检测IFN-γ的水平,Western blot检测NKG2D以及NKG2A蛋白表达水平。结果与正常对照组和黄芪低剂量组相比,黄芪中、高剂量组的NK细胞活性显著升高(P<0.01)。IFN-γ的表达在黄芪低、中、高剂量组中均升高,但不随浓度升高而增强。与正常对照组相比,黄芪低、中剂量组NKG2D蛋白表达水平明显升高(P<0.01),而NKG2A蛋白表达水平在各组间无明显差异(P>0.05)。结论黄芪含药血清可增强NK细胞杀伤活性、上调IFN-γ表达水平、上调NK细胞活化型受体的表达,通过调控NK细胞实现对机体的保护作用。

Revolutionizing gastric cancer treatment:The potential of immunotherapy

Gastric cancer,a prevalent malignancy worldwide,ranks sixth in terms of frequency and third in fatality,causing over a million new cases and 769000 annual deaths.Predominant in Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia,risk factors include family medical history,dietary habits,tobacco use,Helicobacter pylori,and Epstein-Barr virus infections.Unfortunately,gastric cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage,leading to a grim prognosis,with a 5-year overall survival rate below 5%.Surgical intervention,particularly with D2 Lymphadenectomy,is the mainstay for early-stage cases but offers limited success.For advanced cases,the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends chemotherapy,radiation,and targeted therapy.Emerging immunotherapy presents promise,especially for unresectable or metastatic cases,with strategies like immune checkpoint inhibitors,tumor vaccines,adoptive immunotherapy,and nonspecific immunomodulators.In this Editorial,with regards to the article“Advances and key focus areas in gastric cancer immunotherapy:A comprehensive scientometric and clinical trial review”,we address the advances in the field of immunotherapy in gastric cancer and its future prospects.

嵌合抗原受体T细胞的肿瘤杀伤作用

近年来,嵌合抗原受体T(chimeric antigen receptor T,CAR-T)细胞免疫疗法在血液恶性肿瘤的治疗中取得了重要进展,但在实体瘤方面的应用并不理想。本文对CAR-T细胞的结构、杀伤功能进行了介绍,包括非经典免疫突触的形成、分泌细胞因子、分泌穿孔素和颗粒酶、Fas-FasL(factor associated suicide-Fas ligand)途径以及组成CAR结构成分的改变等杀伤肿瘤的主要机制,比较三种CAR细胞的特点,结合CAR-T细胞治疗实体瘤的挑战,对CAR-T细胞在肿瘤免疫治疗领域未来的研究方向进行了分析。

氨基酸取代的苯基醚类截短侧耳素衍生物的合成与抗菌活性研究

目的设计合成截短侧耳素衍生物,寻找广谱、高效、安全的新化合物。方法以天然产物截短侧耳素为起始原料,合成3个氨基苯醚类截短侧耳素衍生物和8个氨基酸取代的苯基醚类截短侧耳素衍生物,并进行活性测试、初步成药性评价以及分子对接研究。结果设计合成了11个未见文献报道的新型截短侧耳素衍生物,其结构经核磁、ESI-MS和HRMS确证。大多数化合物对标准金黄色葡萄球菌和标准大肠埃希菌的抗菌活性均优于lefamulin,并且其细胞毒活性低(IC50>10μmol/L),理化性质预测良好。分子对接结果表明,化合物侧链连接的氨基苯醚与氨基酸能够与结合空腔的核苷酸形成更多的氢键相互作用。结论氨基苯酚以及氨基酸的修饰有助于提高截短侧耳素类抗生素的抗菌活性和理化性质。

颗粒酶B在自身免疫性疾病中的作用概述

自身免疫性疾病(AID)是一类由自身免疫失衡引起的,累及多系统的慢性炎症性疾病。人群广泛发病,病因未明,且对患者本身和全民健康水平有较大影响。颗粒酶B是一类丝氨酸蛋白酶,可以广泛切割细胞内外的各种底物,可能是影响AID发生发展的重要因素。目前颗粒酶B在AID中的作用仍然有待探究,本文概述了颗粒酶B的基因结构、表达调控、进入靶细胞的机制以及在细胞内和细胞外的功能,总结了颗粒酶B在系统性红斑狼疮、类风湿关节炎、系统性硬化症、血管炎和特发性炎性肌病等多种AID中的作用。旨在对AID的病因学研究进行总结,为进一步深入展开诊断、防治和预后的研究提供思路。