Effect of thyrocytes from transgenic mice expressing thyroid specific MHC class Ⅱ on autologous T lymphocyte in vitro

Thyrocytes expressing MHC class Ⅱ molecules were separated from transgenic mice and were co-cultured with autologous spleen T lymphocytes. T cells did not proliferate and were not activated, but CD4+ T cells were promoted into apoptosis.     

Effect of thyrocytes from transgenic mice expressing thyroid specific MHC class Ⅱ on autologous T lymphocyte in vitro

Thyrocytes expressing MHC class Ⅱ molecules were separated from transgenic mice and were co-cultured with autologous spleen T lymphocytes. T cells did not proliferate and were not activated, but CD4+ T cells were promoted into apoptosis.     

Effect of thyrocytes from transgenic mice expressing thyroid specific MHC class Ⅱ on autologous T lymphocyte in vitro

Thyrocytes expressing MHC class Ⅱ molecules were separated from transgenic mice and were co-cultured with autologous spleen T lymphocytes. T cells did not proliferate and were not activated, but CD4+ T cells were promoted into apoptosis.     

Effect of thyrocytes from transgenic mice expressing thyroid specific MHC class Ⅱ on autologous T lymphocyte in vitro

Thyrocytes expressing MHC class Ⅱ molecules were separated from transgenic mice and were co-cultured with autologous spleen T lymphocytes. T cells did not proliferate and were not activated, but CD4+ T cells were promoted into apoptosis.     

Effect of thyrocytes from transgenic mice expressing thyroid specific MHC class Ⅱ on autologous T lymphocyte in vitro

Thyrocytes expressing MHC class Ⅱ molecules were separated from transgenic mice and were co-cultured with autologous spleen T lymphocytes. T cells did not proliferate and were not activated, but CD4+ T cells were promoted into apoptosis.     

Effect of thyrocytes from transgenic mice expressing thyroid specific MHC class Ⅱ on autologous T lymphocyte in vitro

Thyrocytes expressing MHC class Ⅱ molecules were separated from transgenic mice and were co-cultured with autologous spleen T lymphocytes. T cells did not proliferate and were not activated, but CD4+ T cells were promoted into apoptosis.     

Effect of thyrocytes from transgenic mice expressing thyroid specific MHC class Ⅱ on autologous T lymphocyte in vitro

Thyrocytes expressing MHC class Ⅱ molecules were separated from transgenic mice and were co-cultured with autologous spleen T lymphocytes. T cells did not proliferate and were not activated, but CD4+ T cells were promoted into apoptosis.     

Effect of thyrocytes from transgenic mice expressing thyroid specific MHC class Ⅱ on autologous T lymphocyte in vitro

Thyrocytes expressing MHC class Ⅱ molecules were separated from transgenic mice and were co-cultured with autologous spleen T lymphocytes. T cells did not proliferate and were not activated, but CD4+ T cells were promoted into apoptosis.     

Effect of thyrocytes from transgenic mice expressing thyroid specific MHC class Ⅱ on autologous T lymphocyte in vitro

Thyrocytes expressing MHC class Ⅱ molecules were separated from transgenic mice and were co-cultured with autologous spleen T lymphocytes. T cells did not proliferate and were not activated, but CD4+ T cells were promoted into apoptosis.     

Effect of Hejie decoction on T cell immune state of chronic hepatitis B patients

AIM: To explore the effect of Hejie decoction (HJD) (mediation decoction) on T cellular immune state of chronic hepatitis B patients.METHODS: Sixty-five patients with chronic hepatitis B were randomly divided into 2 groups. Forty patients in the treatment group were treated by HJD, and 25 patients in the control group were treated by routine Western medicine. The TCRVβ7 gene expression, T lymphocyte subsets (CD3^+, CD4^+, CD8^+,CD4^+/CD8^+) levels were observed before and after treatment.RESULTS: The level of CD4^+ cells was lower whereas the level of CD8^+ cells was higher in patients than in the normal group. There was no significant difference between the levels of CD3^+ cells in patients and normal persons. After 6 months of treatment, ALT, AST, TB levels of the 2 groups were obviously decreased, and the level of CD4^+ cells was increased whereas the level of CD8^+ cells was decreased in the treatment group. However, the level of CD4^+ cells and CD8^+ cells had no significant difference in the control group. TCRVβ7 expressions were detected in 6 patients of the treatment group, whose HBV-DNA and HBeAg turned negative and ALT became normal. HBeAg in another 3 patients turned negative while HBV-DNA did not, and TCRVβ7 expressions were not detectable. TCRVβ7 expression could not be detected in the control group, HBV-DNA of the control group did not turn negative. HBeAg in 1 patient turned negative while HBV-DNA did not, and TCRVβ7 expressions were not detectable. The total effective rate was not significantly different between the 2 groups and the markedly effective rate was significantly different(P<0.01).CONCLUSION: H3D is effective for treating chronic hepatitis B, and its effect seems to relate with the improvement of the TCRVβ7 expression of chronic hepatitis B patients, thus activating T cells and eliminating HBV. T cellular immune function plays an important role in HBV infection and virus elimination.     

Mechanism of T cell hyporesponsiveness to HBcAg is associated with regulatory T cells in chronic hepatitis B

AIM: To study the mechanisms of hyporesponsiveness of HBV-specific CD4 T cells by testing TH1 and TH2 commitment and regulatory T cells. METHODS: Nine patients with chronic hepatitis B were enrolled. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with HBcAg or HBsAg to evaluate their potential to commit to TH1 and TH2 differentiation. HBcAg-specific activity of regulatory T cells was evaluated by staining with antibodies to CD4, CD25, CTLA-4 and interleukin-10. The role of regulatory T cells was further assessed by treatment with anti-interleukin-10 antibody and depletion of CD4 CD25 cells. RESULTS: Level of mRNAs for T-bet, IL-12R p2 and IL-4 was significantly lower in the patients than in healthy subjects with HBcAg stimulation. Although populations of CD4 CD25highCTLA-4 T cells were not different between the patients and healthy subjects, IL-10 secreting cells were found in CD4 cells and CD4 CD25 cells in the patients in response to HBcAg, and they were not found in cells which were stimulated with HBsAg. Addition of anti-IL-10 antibody recovered the amount of HBcAg-specific TH1 antibody compared with control antibody (P < 0.01, 0.34%±0.12% vs 0.15%±0.04%). Deletion of CD4 CD25 T cells increased the amount of HBcAg-specific TH1 antibody when compared with lymphocytes reconstituted using regulatory T cells (P < 0.01, 0.03%±0.02% vs 0.18%±0.05%). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the mechanism of T cell hype-responsiveness to HBcAg includes activation of HBcAg-induced regulatory T cells in contrast to an increase in TH2-committed cells in response to HBsAg.     

Analysis of tumor-infiltrating gamma delta T cells in rectal cancer

AIM: To investigate the regulatory effect of Vδ1 T cells and the antitumor activity of Vδ2 T cells in rectal cancer.METHODS: Peripheral blood, tumor tissues and paracarcinoma tissues from 20 rectal cancer patients were collected. Na?ve CD4 T cells from the peripheral blood of rectal cancer patients were purified by negative selection using a Naive CD4+ T Cell Isolation Kit Ⅱ(Miltenyi Biotec). Tumor tissues and para-carcinoma tissues were minced into small pieces and digested in a triple enzyme mixture containing collagenase type Ⅳ, hyaluronidase, and deoxyribonuclease for 2 h at room temperature. After digestion, the cells were washed twice in RPMI1640 and cultured in RPMI1640 containing 10% human serum supplemented with L-glutamine and 2-mercaptoethanol and 1000 U/m L of IL-2 for the generation of T cells. Vδ1 T cells and Vδ2 T cells from tumor tissues and para-carcinoma tissues were expanded by anti-TCR gδ antibodies. The inhibitory effects of Vδ1 T cells on na?ve CD4 T cells were analyzed using the CFSE method. The cytotoxicity of Vδ2 T cells on rectal cancer lines was determined by the LDH method.RESULTS: The percentage of Vδ1 T cells in rectal tumortissues from rectal cancer patients was significantly increased, and positively correlated with the T stage. The percentage of Vδ2 T cells in rectal tumor tissues from rectal cancer patients was significantly decreased, and negatively correlated with the T stage. After culture for 14 d with 1 mg/m L anti-TCR gδ antibodies, the percentage of Vδ1 T cells from para-carcinoma tissues was 21.45% ± 4.64%, and the percentage of Vδ2 T cells was 38.64% ± 8.05%. After culture for 14 d, the percentage of Vδ1 T cells from rectal cancer tissues was 67.45% ± 11.75% and the percentage of Vδ2 T cells was 8.94% ± 2.85%. Tumor-infiltrating Vδ1 T cells had strong inhibitory effects, and tumor-infiltrating Vδ2 T cells showed strong cytolytic activity. The inhibitory effects of Vδ1 T cells from para-carcinoma tissues and from rectal cancer tissue were not significantly different. In addition, the cytolytic activities of Vδ2 T cells from para-carcinoma tissues and from rectal cancer tissues were not significantly different.CONCLUSION: A percentage imbalance in Vδ1 and Vδ2 T cells in rectal cancer patients may contribute to the development of rectal cancer.     

Effect of Hejie decoction on T cell immune state of chronic hepatitis B patients

AIM: To explore the effect of Hejie decoction (HJD) (mediationdecoction) on T cellular immune state of chronic hepatitisB patients.METHODS: Sixty-five patients with chronic hepatitis B wererandomly divided into 2 groups.Forty patients in the treatmentgroup were treated by HJD,and 25 patients in the controlgroup were treated by routine Western medicine.The TCRVβ_7gene expression,T lymphocyte subsets (CD_3~ ,CD_4~ ,CD_8~ ,CD_4~ /CD_8~ ) levels were observed before and after treatment.RESULTS: The level of CD_4~ cells was lower whereas thelevel of CD_8~ cells was higher in patients than in the normalgroup.There was no significant difference between thelevels of CD_3~ cells in patients and normal persons.After 6months of treatment,ALT,AST,TB levels of the 2 groupswere obviously decreased,and the level of CD_4~ cells wasincreased whereas the level of CD_8~ cells was decreasedin the treatment group.However,the level of CD_4~ cellsand CD_8~ cells had no significant difference in the controlgroup.TCRVβ_7 expressions were detected in 6 patients ofthe treatment group,whose HBV-DNA and HBeAg turnednegative and ALT became normal.HBeAg in another 3patients turned negative while HBV-DNA did not,andTCRVβ_7 expressions were not detectable.TCRVβ_7 expressioncould not be detected in the control group,HBV-DNA of thecontrol group did not turn negative.HBeAg in 1 patientturned negative while HBV-DNA did not,and TCRVβ_7expressions were not detectable.The total effectiverate was not significantly different between the 2 groupsand the markedly effective rate was significantly different(P<0.01).CONCLUSION: HJD is effective for treating chronic hepatitisB,and its effect seems to relate with the improvement ofthe TCRVβ_7 expression of chronic hepatitis B patients,thusactivating T cells and eliminating HBV.T cellular immunefunction plays an important role in HBV infection and viruselimination.     

Bone marrow-derived dendritic cells pulsed with tumor lysates induce anti-tumor immunity against gastric cancer ex vivo

AIM： To investigate whether bone marrow-derived denritic cells pulsed with tumor lysates induce immunity against gastric cancer ex vivo. METHODS： c-kit＋ hematopoietic progenitor cells were magnetically isolated with a MiniMACS separator from BALB/c mice bone marrow cells. These cells were cultured with cytokines GM-CSF, IL-4, and TNFα to induce their maturation. They were analysed by morphological observation, phenotype analysis, and mixed lymphocyte reaction （MLR）. Bone marrowderived DCs （BM-DCs） were pulsed with tumor cell lysate obtained by rapid freezing and thawing at a 1：3 DC：tumor cell ratio. Finally, cytotoxic T lymphocyte （CTL） activity and interferon gamma （IFNγ） secretion was evaluated ex vivo. RESULTS： c-kit^＋ hematopoietic progenitor cells from mice bone marrow cells cultured with cytokines for 8 d showed the character of typical mature DCs.Morphologically, observed by light microscope, these cells were large with oval or irregularly shaped nuclei and with many small dendrites. Phenotypically, FACS analysis showed that they expressed.high levels of la, DEC-205, CD11b, CD80 and CD86 antigen, moderate levels of CD40, and negative for F4/80. Functionally, these cells gained the capacity to stimulate allogeneic T cells in MLR assay. However, immature DCs cultured with cytokines for 5 d did not have typical DCs phenotypic markers and could not stimulate allogeneic T cells. Ex vivo primed T cells with SGC-7901 tumor cell lysate-pulsed （TP） DCs were able to induce effective CTL activity against SGC-7901 tumor cells （E：T = 100：1, 69.55% ± 6.05% specific lysis）, but not B16 tumor cells, and produced higher levels of IFNγ, when stimulated with SGC-7901 tumor cells but not when stimulated with B16 tumor cells （1575.31 ± 60.25 pg/mL in SGC-7901 group vs 164.11± 18.52 pg/mL in B16 group, P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： BM-derived DCs pulsed with tumor lysates Can induce anti-tumor immunity specific to gastric cancer ex vivo.     

Study on biological characters of SGC7901 gastric cancer cell-dendritic cell fusion vaccines

AIM: To detect the biological characters of the SGC7901 gastric cancer cell-dendritic cell fusion vaccines. METHODS: The suspending living SGC7901 gastric cancer cells and dendritic cells were induced to be fusioned by polyethylene glycol. Pure fusion cells were obtained by selective culture with the HAT/HT culture systems. The fusion cells were counted at different time points of culture and their growth curves were drawn to reflect their proliferative activities. The fusion cells were also cultured in culture medium to investigate whether they could grow into cell clones. MTT method was used to test the stimulating abilities of the fusion cells on T lymphocytes' proliferations. Moreover, the fusion cells were planted into nude mice to observe whether they could grow into new planted tumors in this kind of immunodeficiency animals. RESULTS: The fusion cells had weaker proliferative activity and clone abilities than their parental cells. When they were cultured, the counts of cells did not increase remarkably, nor could they grow into cell clones in culture medium. The fusion cells could not grow into new planted tumors after planted into nude mice. The stimulating abilities of the fusion cells on T lymphocytes' proliferations were remarkably increased than their parental dendritic cells. CONCLUSION: The SGC7901 gastric cancer cell-dendritic cell fusion vaccines have much weaker proliferative abilities than their parental cells, but they keep strong abilities to irritate the T lymphocytes and have no abilities to grow into new planted tumors in immunodeficiency animals. These are the biological basis for their anti-tumor biotherapies.     

CD4+CXCR5+ T cells activate CD27+IgG+ B cells via IL-21 in patients with hepatitis C virus infection

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes the skewing and activation of B cell subsets, but the characteristics of IgG+ B cells in patients with chronic hepa-titis C (CHC) infection have not been thoroughly elucidated. CD4+CXCR5+ follicularhelperT(Tfh)cells,viainterleukin (IL)-21 secretion, activate B cells. However, the role of CD4+CXCR5+T cellsintheactivationof IgG+ BcellsinCHCpatientsis not clear.
METHODS: The frequency of IgG+ B cells, including CD27?IgG+B and CD27+IgG+ B cells,the expression of the activation markers (CD86 and CD95) in IgG+ B cells, and the percentage of circu-lating CD4+CXCR5+ T cells were detected by flow cytometry in CHC patients (n=70) and healthy controls (n=25). The con-centrations of serum IL-21 were analyzed using ELISA. The role of CD4+CXCR5+ T cells in the activation of IgG+ B cells was investigated using a co-culture system.
RESULTS: A significantly lower proportion of CD27+IgG+ B cells with increased expression of CD86 and CD95 was observed in CHC patients.The expression of CD95 was negatively correlated with the percentage of CD27+IgG+ B cells, and it contributed to CD27+IgG+ B cell apoptosis. Circulating CD4+CXCR5+ T cells and serum IL-21 were significantly increased in CHC patients. Moreover, circulating CD4+CXCR5+ T cells from CHC patients induced higher expressions of CD86 and CD95 in CD27+IgG+B cells in a co-culture system; the blockade of the IL-21 decreased the expression levels of CD86 and CD95 in CD27+IgG+ B cells.
CONCLUSIONS: HCV infection increased the frequency of CD4+CXCR5+ T cells and decreased the frequency of CD27+IgG+B cells. CD4+CXCR5+ T cells activated CD27+IgG+ B cells via the secretion of IL-21.     

系统性红斑狼疮患儿外周血辅助性T17细胞表达的初步研究

Objective To investigate the Th17 cell expression in peripheral blood of childron with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and explore the role of Th17 cells and the cytokines in the pathogenesis of SLE. Methods Twenty-five children with SLE were enrolled and 15 healthy children were controls. Flow cytometry (FCM) was employed to detect the expression of Th17 cells in peripheral blood of SLE children (SLE group, n=25), and IL-17, IL-21 levels in plasma were detected by ELISA. Two-independent sample t-test and Spearmen's test were used for correlation analysis. Results Compared with that of the control, the frequencies of CD3+CD8-IL-17+T[(1.24±0.64)% vs (0.59±0.21)%], CD3+CD8-IL-21+T cells[(1.5±0.6)%vs (0.8±0.4)% ] increased significantly in SLE patients (P＜0.01) and the plasma concentrations of IL-17, IL-21 were significantly higher (P＜0.01). The SLE activity was positively correlated with the frequencies of CD3+CD8-IL-17+T cells, but not with CD3+CD8-IL-21+T cells. Conclusion Th17 cells and the related cytokinesplay an important role in the pathogenesis of childhood SLE.     

Selective decrease in colonic CD56^＋ T and CD161^＋ T cells in the inflamed mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis

AIM： To investigate the role of local colonic mucosal NK receptor-positive T （NKR＋ T） cells in the regulation of intestinal inflammation, we analyzed the population and function of these cells in ulcerative colitis （UC）. METHODS： Colonic mucosal tissues were obtained from colonoscopic biopsies of the descending colon from 96 patients with UC （51 endoscopically uninflamed, 45 inflamed） and 18 normal controls. Endoscopic appearance and histologic score at the biopsied site were determined by MaLts＇ classification. A single cell suspension was prepared from each biopsy by collagenase digestion. Two NKR^＋ T cell subsets, CD56^＋ （CD56^＋CD3^＋） T cells and CD161＋ （CD161^＋CD3^＋） T cells, were detected by flow cytometric analysis. Intracellular cytokine analysis for anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 （IL-10） was performed by in vitro stimulation with phorbol-myristateacetate （PMA） and ionomycin. RESULTS： CD56^＋ T cells and CD161^＋ T cells are present in the normal human colon and account for 6.7% and 21.3% of all mononuclear cells, respectively. The populations of both CD56＋ T cells and CD161^＋ T cells were decreased significantly in the inflamed mucosa of UC. In contrast, the frequency of conventional T cells （CD56 CD3^＋ cells and CD161CD3^＋ cells） was similar among the patient and control groups. The populations of NKR^＋ T cells were correlated inversely with the severity of inflammation, which was classified according to the endoscopic and histologic Marts＇ criteria. Interestingly, approximately 4% of mucosal NKR＋ T cells expressing IL-10 were detected by in vitro stimulation with PMA and ionomycin.CONCLUSION： Selective reduction in the population of colonic mucosal NKR＋T cells may contribute to the development of intestinal inflammation in UC.     

Narrow line between benefit and harm: Additivity of hyperthermia to cisplatin cytotoxicity in different gastrointestinal cancer cells

AIM To investigate the response to hyperthermia and chemotherapy, analyzing apoptosis, cytotoxicity, and cisplatin concentration in different digestive system cancer cells.METHODS AGS(gastric cancer cell line), Caco-2(colon cancer cell line) and T3M4(pancreatic cancer cell line) were treated by cisplatin and different temperature setting(37 ℃ to 45 ℃) either in isolation, or in combination. Treatment lasted for one hour. 48 h after the treatment viability was evaluated by MTT, cell apoptosis by Annexin V-PE and 7 ADD flow cytometry. Intracellular cisplatin concentration was measured immediately after the treatment, using mass spectrometry. Isobologram analysis was performed to evaluate the mathematical combined effect of temperature and cisplatin.RESULTS AGS cells were the most sensitive to isolated application of hyperthermia. Hyperthermia, in addition to cisplatin treatment, did not provoke a synergistic effect at intervals from 37 ℃ to 41 ℃ in neither cancer cell line. However, a temperature of 43 ℃ enhanced cisplatin cytotoxicity for Caco-2 cells. Moreover, isobologram analysis revealed mathematical antagonistic effects of cisplatin and temperature combined treatment in AGS cells; variations between synergistic, additive, and antagonistic effects in Caco-2 cells; and additive and antagonistic effects in T3 M4 cells. Combined treatment enhanced initiation of cell apoptosis in AGS, Caco-2, and T3 M4 cells by 61%, 20%, and 19% respectively. The increase of intracellular cisplatin concentration was observed at 43 ℃ by 30%, 20%, and 18% in AGS, Caco-2, and T3 M4 cells, respectively.CONCLUSION In addition to cisplatin, hyperthermia up to 43 ℃ does not affect the viability of cancer cells in a synergistic manner.