AIM: To assess if a specific cytotoxic T cell response can be induced in patients with malignant liver tumors treated with radio-frequency ablation (RFA). METHODS: Six Patients with liver metastases of colorectal ...AIM: To assess if a specific cytotoxic T cell response can be induced in patients with malignant liver tumors treated with radio-frequency ablation (RFA). METHODS: Six Patients with liver metastases of colorectal cancer and 6 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) underwent RFA. Blood was sampled before, 4 and 8 wk after RFA. Test antigens were autologous liver and tumor lysate obtained from each patient by biopsy. Peripheral T cell activation was assessed by an interferon gamma (IFNγ) secretion assay and flow cytometry. T cells were double-stained for CD4/CD8 and IFNγ to detect cytotoxic T cells. The ratio of IFNγ positive and IFNγ negative T cells was determined as the stimulation index (SI). To assess cytolytic activity, T cells were co-incubated with human CaCo colorectal cancer and HepG2 HCC cells and release of cytosolic adenylate kinase was measured by a luciferase assay. RESULTS: Before RFA SI was 0.021 (±0.006) for CD4^+ and 0.022 (± 0.004) for CD8^+T cells against nonmalignant liver tissue and 0.018 (± 0.005) for CD4^+ and 0.021 (± 0.004) for CD8^+ cells against autologous tumor tissue. Four weeks after RFA SI against tumor tissue increased to 0.109 (± 0.005) for CD4+ and 0.11 (± 0.012) for CD8+ T cells against HCC, and to 0.115 (± 0.031) for CD4^+ and 0.15 (± 0.02) for CD8^+ cells for colorectal metastases (P 〈 0.0001). No increased SI was observed with nonmalignant tumor tissue at all time points. Before RFA cytolytic activity against the respect(ve cancer cells was low with 2.62 (± 0.37) relative luminescence units (RLU), but rose more than 100 fold 4 and 8 wk after RFA. Spontaneous release was 〈 2% of maximum release in all experiments. CONCLUSION: Patients with primary and secondary tumors of the liver show a significant tumor-specific cytotoxic T-cell stimulation with a dramatically increased tumor specific cytolytic activity of CD8^+ T cells after RFA.展开更多
AIM: TO investigate the effect of interaction between enteric epithelial cells and lymphocytes of Peyer's patch on the release of nitric oxide (NO) and IL-6 in response to Shigella lipopolysaccharide (LPS). METH...AIM: TO investigate the effect of interaction between enteric epithelial cells and lymphocytes of Peyer's patch on the release of nitric oxide (NO) and IL-6 in response to Shigella lipopolysaccharide (LPS). METHODS: Human colonic epithelial cells (Caco-2) were mixed cocultured with lymphocytes of Peyer's patch from wild-type (C57 mice) and inducible NO synthase knockout mice, and challenged with Shigella F2a-12 LPS. Release of NO and raiL-6 was measured by Griess colorimetric assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. RESULTS: In the absence of LPS challenge, NO was detected in the culture medium of Caco-2 epithelial cells but not in lymphocytes of Peyer's patch, and the NO release was further up-regulated in both cocultures with lymphocytes from either the wild-type or iNOS knockout mice, with a significantly higher level observed in the coculture with iNOS knockout lymphocytes. After Shigella F2a-12 LPS challenge for 24-h, NO production was significantly increased in both Caco-2 alone and the coculture with lymphocytes of Peyer's patch from the wild-type mice but not from iNOS knockout mice. LPS was found to stimulate the release of mIL-6 from lymphocytes, which was suppressed by coculture with Caco-2 epithelial cells. The LPS-induced mIL-6 production in lymphocytes from iNOS knockout mice was significantly greater than that from the wild-type mice. CONCLUSION: Lymphocytes of Peyer's patch maintain a constitutive basal level of NO production from the enteric epithelial cell Caco-2. LPS-induced mIL-6 release from lymphocytes of Peyer's patch is suppressed by the cocultured epithelial cells. While no changes are detectable in NO production in lymphocytes from both wild-type and iNOS knockout mice before and after LPS challenge, NO from lymphocytes appears to play an inhibitory role in epithelial NO release and their own mIL-6 release in response to LPS.展开更多
Sympathetic neuronal differentiation is associated with favorable prognosis of neuroblastoma (NB), the most common extra-cranial solid tumor of early childhood. Differentiation agents have proved useful in clinical ...Sympathetic neuronal differentiation is associated with favorable prognosis of neuroblastoma (NB), the most common extra-cranial solid tumor of early childhood. Differentiation agents have proved useful in clinical protocols of NB treatment, but using them as a sole treatment is not sufficient to induce tumor elimination in patients. Therefore, complementary approaches, such as immunotherapy, are warranted. Here we demonstrate that differentiation of NB cell lines and ex vivo isolated tumor cells in response to physiological or pharmacological stimuli is associated with acquisition of increased antigenicity. This manifests as increased expression of surface major histocompatibility class I complexes and ICAM-1 molecules and translates into increased sensitivity of NB cells to lysis by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells. The latter is paralleled by enhanced ability of differentiated cells to form immune conjugates and bind increased amounts of granzyme B to the cell surface. We demonstrate, for the first time, that, regardless of the stimulus applied, the differentiation state in NBs is associated with increased tumor antigenicity that enables more efficient elimination of tumor cells by cytotoxic lymphocytes and paves the way for combined application of differentiation-inducing agents and immunotherapy as an auxiliary approach in NB patients.展开更多
The goal of this study was to determine the content of such biological active metals as Se, Hg, AI, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb, Mg, Ca and Fe in Boletus Edulis mushrooms and to study the effect of mushrooms as inhibitors of b...The goal of this study was to determine the content of such biological active metals as Se, Hg, AI, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb, Mg, Ca and Fe in Boletus Edulis mushrooms and to study the effect of mushrooms as inhibitors of blood serum copper-initiated lipid peroxidation. The metals content was determined by ICP-OES technique and blood lipids peroxidation in vitro was assessed by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances measurement. The dependency between quality and content of the determined biological active metals has been traced. Samples were analyzed of wild growing mushrooms Boletus Edulis from two mountain regions in Bulgaria. On the average the content of Se in Boletus Edulis was found to be 25 mg/kg dried mushroom, this content being higher in tubules than in fleshy part. We found that Boletus Edulis mushrooms inhibited lipid peroxidation in the concentration dependent manner. The effective concentration of Boletus Edulis is in 5 times lower compared to the concentration of Cantharellus Cibarius resulting in similar lipid peroxidation inhibition. This effect can be explained by 56 times higher content of Se and by 1.5 and 3 times lower content of such initiators of lipid peroxidation as Cu and Fe in Boletus Edulis compared to Cantharellus Cibarius. A system with a source of infrared radiation heating, developed by authors, was used for the mushroom mineralization. We conclude that Boletus Edulis is an effective inhibitor of blood lipid peroxidation and in 5 times stronger rather than Cantharellus Cibarius.展开更多
Objective: To investigate DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) expression,and its relationship with lymphat-ic metastasis in colorectal cancer. Methods: Tumor tissues from 60 patients,divided into two groups accordin...Objective: To investigate DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) expression,and its relationship with lymphat-ic metastasis in colorectal cancer. Methods: Tumor tissues from 60 patients,divided into two groups according to lymphatic metastasis,were immunohistochemically stained to detect the DNA-PK expression including Ku70,Ku80 and PKcs proteins. Results: Positivity of both Ku70 and Ku80 in colorectal cancer was negatively correlated with lymphatic metastasis with an r value of -0.57 and -0.38,respectively. Similar correlation was found between Ku expression,especially Ku70,and long-term survival. PKcs,however,displayed no significant correlation. Statistical analysis failed to detect any correlation between DNA-PK expression,and clinical characteristics,such as age,sex,tumor location,tumor thickness and distant metastasis (P>0.05). Conclusion: DNA-PK expression,especially Ku70 expression,is negatively correlated with lymphatic metastasis,and the survival of patients with colorectal cancer. Ku70 expression may be a potential indicator for the preoperative evaluation,and prognosis in colorectal cancer.展开更多
Protein-protein interactions represent an important mechanism for posttranslational modifications of protein expression and function.In brain cells,surface-expressed and membrane-bound neurotransmitter receptors are c...Protein-protein interactions represent an important mechanism for posttranslational modifications of protein expression and function.In brain cells,surface-expressed and membrane-bound neurotransmitter receptors are common proteins that undergo dynamic protein-protein interactions between their intracellular domains and submembranous regulatory proteins.Recently,the Gφi/o -coupled muscarinic M4 receptor(M4R)has been revealed to be one of these receptors.Through direct interaction with the intracellular loops or C-terminal tails of M4Rs,M4R interacting proteins(M4RIPs)vigorously regulate the efficacy of M4R signaling.A synapse-enriched protein kinase,Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII),exemplifies a prototype model of M4RIPs,and is capable of binding to the second intracellular loop of M4Rs. Through an activity-and phosphorylation-dependent mechanism,CaMKII potentiates the M4R/Gφi/o-mediated inhibition of M4R efficacy in inhibiting adenylyl cyclase and cAMP production.In striatal neurons where M4Rs are most abundantly expressed,M4RIPs dynamically control M4R activity to maintain a proper cholinergic tone in these neurons.This is critical for maintaining the acetylcholine-dopamine balance in the basal ganglia,which determines the behavioral responsiveness to dopamine stimulation by psychostimulants.展开更多
基金Supported by the Bavarian Ministry of Economy (Leitprojekt Medizintechnik) and the Hans L(o|¨)wel Foundation, Bamberg,Germany
文摘AIM: To assess if a specific cytotoxic T cell response can be induced in patients with malignant liver tumors treated with radio-frequency ablation (RFA). METHODS: Six Patients with liver metastases of colorectal cancer and 6 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) underwent RFA. Blood was sampled before, 4 and 8 wk after RFA. Test antigens were autologous liver and tumor lysate obtained from each patient by biopsy. Peripheral T cell activation was assessed by an interferon gamma (IFNγ) secretion assay and flow cytometry. T cells were double-stained for CD4/CD8 and IFNγ to detect cytotoxic T cells. The ratio of IFNγ positive and IFNγ negative T cells was determined as the stimulation index (SI). To assess cytolytic activity, T cells were co-incubated with human CaCo colorectal cancer and HepG2 HCC cells and release of cytosolic adenylate kinase was measured by a luciferase assay. RESULTS: Before RFA SI was 0.021 (±0.006) for CD4^+ and 0.022 (± 0.004) for CD8^+T cells against nonmalignant liver tissue and 0.018 (± 0.005) for CD4^+ and 0.021 (± 0.004) for CD8^+ cells against autologous tumor tissue. Four weeks after RFA SI against tumor tissue increased to 0.109 (± 0.005) for CD4+ and 0.11 (± 0.012) for CD8+ T cells against HCC, and to 0.115 (± 0.031) for CD4^+ and 0.15 (± 0.02) for CD8^+ cells for colorectal metastases (P 〈 0.0001). No increased SI was observed with nonmalignant tumor tissue at all time points. Before RFA cytolytic activity against the respect(ve cancer cells was low with 2.62 (± 0.37) relative luminescence units (RLU), but rose more than 100 fold 4 and 8 wk after RFA. Spontaneous release was 〈 2% of maximum release in all experiments. CONCLUSION: Patients with primary and secondary tumors of the liver show a significant tumor-specific cytotoxic T-cell stimulation with a dramatically increased tumor specific cytolytic activity of CD8^+ T cells after RFA.
基金Supported by Strategic Program of Chinese University of Hong KongDistinguished Young Investigator Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30029002
文摘AIM: TO investigate the effect of interaction between enteric epithelial cells and lymphocytes of Peyer's patch on the release of nitric oxide (NO) and IL-6 in response to Shigella lipopolysaccharide (LPS). METHODS: Human colonic epithelial cells (Caco-2) were mixed cocultured with lymphocytes of Peyer's patch from wild-type (C57 mice) and inducible NO synthase knockout mice, and challenged with Shigella F2a-12 LPS. Release of NO and raiL-6 was measured by Griess colorimetric assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. RESULTS: In the absence of LPS challenge, NO was detected in the culture medium of Caco-2 epithelial cells but not in lymphocytes of Peyer's patch, and the NO release was further up-regulated in both cocultures with lymphocytes from either the wild-type or iNOS knockout mice, with a significantly higher level observed in the coculture with iNOS knockout lymphocytes. After Shigella F2a-12 LPS challenge for 24-h, NO production was significantly increased in both Caco-2 alone and the coculture with lymphocytes of Peyer's patch from the wild-type mice but not from iNOS knockout mice. LPS was found to stimulate the release of mIL-6 from lymphocytes, which was suppressed by coculture with Caco-2 epithelial cells. The LPS-induced mIL-6 production in lymphocytes from iNOS knockout mice was significantly greater than that from the wild-type mice. CONCLUSION: Lymphocytes of Peyer's patch maintain a constitutive basal level of NO production from the enteric epithelial cell Caco-2. LPS-induced mIL-6 release from lymphocytes of Peyer's patch is suppressed by the cocultured epithelial cells. While no changes are detectable in NO production in lymphocytes from both wild-type and iNOS knockout mice before and after LPS challenge, NO from lymphocytes appears to play an inhibitory role in epithelial NO release and their own mIL-6 release in response to LPS.
文摘Sympathetic neuronal differentiation is associated with favorable prognosis of neuroblastoma (NB), the most common extra-cranial solid tumor of early childhood. Differentiation agents have proved useful in clinical protocols of NB treatment, but using them as a sole treatment is not sufficient to induce tumor elimination in patients. Therefore, complementary approaches, such as immunotherapy, are warranted. Here we demonstrate that differentiation of NB cell lines and ex vivo isolated tumor cells in response to physiological or pharmacological stimuli is associated with acquisition of increased antigenicity. This manifests as increased expression of surface major histocompatibility class I complexes and ICAM-1 molecules and translates into increased sensitivity of NB cells to lysis by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells. The latter is paralleled by enhanced ability of differentiated cells to form immune conjugates and bind increased amounts of granzyme B to the cell surface. We demonstrate, for the first time, that, regardless of the stimulus applied, the differentiation state in NBs is associated with increased tumor antigenicity that enables more efficient elimination of tumor cells by cytotoxic lymphocytes and paves the way for combined application of differentiation-inducing agents and immunotherapy as an auxiliary approach in NB patients.
文摘The goal of this study was to determine the content of such biological active metals as Se, Hg, AI, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb, Mg, Ca and Fe in Boletus Edulis mushrooms and to study the effect of mushrooms as inhibitors of blood serum copper-initiated lipid peroxidation. The metals content was determined by ICP-OES technique and blood lipids peroxidation in vitro was assessed by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances measurement. The dependency between quality and content of the determined biological active metals has been traced. Samples were analyzed of wild growing mushrooms Boletus Edulis from two mountain regions in Bulgaria. On the average the content of Se in Boletus Edulis was found to be 25 mg/kg dried mushroom, this content being higher in tubules than in fleshy part. We found that Boletus Edulis mushrooms inhibited lipid peroxidation in the concentration dependent manner. The effective concentration of Boletus Edulis is in 5 times lower compared to the concentration of Cantharellus Cibarius resulting in similar lipid peroxidation inhibition. This effect can be explained by 56 times higher content of Se and by 1.5 and 3 times lower content of such initiators of lipid peroxidation as Cu and Fe in Boletus Edulis compared to Cantharellus Cibarius. A system with a source of infrared radiation heating, developed by authors, was used for the mushroom mineralization. We conclude that Boletus Edulis is an effective inhibitor of blood lipid peroxidation and in 5 times stronger rather than Cantharellus Cibarius.
基金a grant from the Scientific Research Project of the Bureau of Health of Jiading in Shanghai (No KYXM-2004-11-07)
文摘Objective: To investigate DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) expression,and its relationship with lymphat-ic metastasis in colorectal cancer. Methods: Tumor tissues from 60 patients,divided into two groups according to lymphatic metastasis,were immunohistochemically stained to detect the DNA-PK expression including Ku70,Ku80 and PKcs proteins. Results: Positivity of both Ku70 and Ku80 in colorectal cancer was negatively correlated with lymphatic metastasis with an r value of -0.57 and -0.38,respectively. Similar correlation was found between Ku expression,especially Ku70,and long-term survival. PKcs,however,displayed no significant correlation. Statistical analysis failed to detect any correlation between DNA-PK expression,and clinical characteristics,such as age,sex,tumor location,tumor thickness and distant metastasis (P>0.05). Conclusion: DNA-PK expression,especially Ku70 expression,is negatively correlated with lymphatic metastasis,and the survival of patients with colorectal cancer. Ku70 expression may be a potential indicator for the preoperative evaluation,and prognosis in colorectal cancer.
基金supported by thegrants from the Saint Luke’s Hospital Foundation(Kansas City,MO,USA)the National Institute of Health(Bethesda,MD,USA)(No.R01-DA010355-16,R01-MH061469-10)
文摘Protein-protein interactions represent an important mechanism for posttranslational modifications of protein expression and function.In brain cells,surface-expressed and membrane-bound neurotransmitter receptors are common proteins that undergo dynamic protein-protein interactions between their intracellular domains and submembranous regulatory proteins.Recently,the Gφi/o -coupled muscarinic M4 receptor(M4R)has been revealed to be one of these receptors.Through direct interaction with the intracellular loops or C-terminal tails of M4Rs,M4R interacting proteins(M4RIPs)vigorously regulate the efficacy of M4R signaling.A synapse-enriched protein kinase,Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII),exemplifies a prototype model of M4RIPs,and is capable of binding to the second intracellular loop of M4Rs. Through an activity-and phosphorylation-dependent mechanism,CaMKII potentiates the M4R/Gφi/o-mediated inhibition of M4R efficacy in inhibiting adenylyl cyclase and cAMP production.In striatal neurons where M4Rs are most abundantly expressed,M4RIPs dynamically control M4R activity to maintain a proper cholinergic tone in these neurons.This is critical for maintaining the acetylcholine-dopamine balance in the basal ganglia,which determines the behavioral responsiveness to dopamine stimulation by psychostimulants.