Amidine-bearing lipoplex targeting to hepatocyte cells

A lipoplex （i.e., pDNA#1/lipid complex and transfection reagent for pDNA delivery） containing galactosylceramide （GalCer） and an amidine-bearing lipid （TRX） was examined whether the bound pDNA was specifically ingested by hepatocyte via asialoglycoprotein receptor （ASGPR） and then expressed protein. Gel electrophoresis and small-angle X-ray scattering （SAXS） confirmed that the TRX-GalCer liposome#2 complexed with pDNA and the resultant lipoplex took a hexagonally packed inverted cylinder structure when the GalCer composition was less than 20 wt.% of the total lipid. When the lipoplex carrying pGL3 （luciferase-cording pDNA） was administrated to HepG2, the luciferase activity was increased with increasing the GalCer composition until it reached 3 wt.% and then decreased upon further addition of GalCer. When we added galactose itself as a competitor, the luciferase activity was decreased, while glucose did not show such decrease, suggesting that HepG2 ingested the lipoplex via ASGPR-mediated endocytosis. This paper indicated that the hexagonally packed inverted cylinder structures of lipoplex may not always provide excellent transfection and presented a possibility that the TRX lipoplex#3 can obtain a cellulartargeting ability through the receptors for oligosaccharide.

Mapping and Prevalence of Malaria Falciparum Patients with ACT Failed Therapy, in Hanura Public Health Center, Pesawaran, Lampung, Indonesia

Malaria is a public health issue that can cause death. According to the Indonesian Health Profile, in the year 2010, an estimated 45% of Indonesia’s population live in malaria-endemic areas. Pesawaran District is one of the malaria-endemic areas in Lampung province, whose Annual Parasite Incidence in 2010 and 2011 were 2.77 and 4.76 respectively. One of the factors that may inhibit the malaria control is Plasmodium resistance to antimalarial drugs. This study aims to conduct a mapping study and see the prevalence of ACT treatment failure, in Pesawaran District, Lampung Province, Indonesia. Data collection was performed at the Primary Health Centers (PHC) Hanura. A total of 69 samples according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the microscopic examination serially for 28 days was done. Microscopic examination performed on D0, D1, D2, D3, D7, D14, D28, and a complaint is found outside the schedule. Coordinates of patient house, determined using GPS. Based on observations, microscopic examination and spatial analysis, the prevalence of ACT treatment failure in patients with falcipaum malaria was 11.59%. The malaria falcifarum patient spread around the coast, that were near vector breeding places. There were five clusters of malaria falciparum patients and one cluster of malaria falciparum patient with treatment failure that were formed. Only one significant cluster of malaria falciparum patient (P = 0.0027, radius 0 km) is found, while the other cluster is not statistically significant. The cluster of malaria falciparum patient with treatment failure was not statistically significant (P = 1.000, radius 0.15 km), but this cluster is located in the area of the suspected vector breeding place. The cluster formation means that people living within a radius of these clusters have a greater risk to get malaria infection.

New insights of T cells in the pathogenesis of psoriasis

Psoriasis is one of the most common immune-mediated chronic, inflammatory skin diseases characterized by hyperproliferative keratinocytes and infiltration of T cells, dendritic cells, macrophages and neutrophils. Although the pathogenesis of psoriasis is not fully understood, there is ample evidence suggesting that the dysregulation of immune cells in the skin, particularly T cells, plays a critical role in psoriasis development. In this review, we mainly focus on the pathogenic T cells and discuss how these T cells are activated and involved in the disease pathogenesis. Newly identified ＇professional＇ IL-17-producing dermal γδ T cells and their potential role in psoriasis will also be included. Finally, we will briefly summarize the recent progress on the T cell and its related cytokine-targeted therapy for psoriasis treatment.