双特异性抗体对LAK细胞增殖和细胞毒作用影响的体外研究

将抗ＣＤ３与抗ＨＢｓ的单克隆抗体经化学偶联得到双特异性抗体，观察该双特异性抗体对ＬＡＫ细胞增殖和增强细胞毒性的作用。结果显示双特异性抗体显著提高ＬＡＫ细胞与２．２．１５细胞结合率；促进淋巴细胞增殖。１２５Ｉ－ＵｄＲ释放试验检测发现双特异性抗体增强ＬＡＫ细胞对２．２．１５细胞的细胞毒性且与抗体浓度呈正相关。进一步对抗体的特异性研究表明，加入双特异性抗体后ＬＡＫ细胞对２．２．１５细胞毒性作用显著高于对照组。     

Effectiveness of combined GnRH analogue plus raloxifene administration in the treatment of uterine leiomyomas: a prospective,randomized, single-blind,placebo-controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Raloxifene hydrochloride is a synthetic non-steroidal drug used for the prevention and treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis. Pre-clinical and clinical data have shown that raloxifene may have a beneficial effect on leiomyomas. The aim of this prospective single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of the addition of raloxifene to GnRH analogues on uterine, leiomyoma, and non-leiomyoma sizes, and on the occurrence of leiomyoma-related symptoms. METHODS: After randomization using a computer-generated list, 100 pre-menopausal women with symptomatic uterine leiomyomas received either leuprolide acetate depot plus raloxifene 60 mg daily (group A) or leuprolide plus placebo tablet (group B) for six cycles of 28 days. At baseline and after treatment, uterine, leiomyoma and non-leiomyoma sizes, and leiomyoma-related symptoms were evaluated for each woman. Analysis was by intention-to-treat method. RESULTS: After six cycles of treatment, a significant decrease in uterine, leiomyoma, and non-leiomyoma sizes was detected in both groups in comparison with baseline. At the same time, no significant difference in uterine and non-leiomyoma sizes was observed between the groups. Leiomyoma sizes were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in group A than in group B. No difference was observed in leiomyoma-related symptoms between groups throughout the study period. CONCLUSIONS: In women treated with GnRH analogue, the raloxifene administration induces a higher reduction of leiomyoma sizes.     

Retroviral gene therapy of collagen-induced arthritis by local delivery of IL-4

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune arthritis, for which treatment options remain limited. This study investigated the potential role of adoptive cellular gene therapy as a novel means for treating the RA animal model collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Adoptive transfer of antigen-specific T-cell hybridomas retrovirally transduced to express IL-4 1 day before booster immunization significantly reduced the number of inflamed joints. Cell transfer after clinical onset of disease had no therapeutic effect. Bioluminescence imaging showed that the hybridomas migrated to the inflamed joints, thus delivering the regulatory protein locally at the site of inflammation. The homing was, at least in part, due to chemotaxis in response to proinflammatory chemokines that are expressed in inflamed joints. There were no significant changes in the cytokine milieu of the draining lymph nodes, nor in the systemic levels of anti-collagen antibodies in treated mice. We conclude that the beneficial clinical effects observed in our model were most likely based on the local action(s) of IL-4 in the inflamed joints and that the local delivery (and effects) of regulatory cytokines, like IL-4, constitutes a novel and effective method of preventing organ-specific autoimmune disease and of minimizing systemic adverse effects.     

Anti-CD2 (OX34) MoAb treatment of adjuvant arthritic rats: attenuation of established arthritis, selective depletion of CD4+ T cells, and CD2 down-modulation

Anti-CD2 MoAbs have previously been shown to induce tolerance and to block B cell differentiation, T cell and monocyte activation. Since these immune functions are important in joint inflammation, we asked whether administration of the anti-CD2 MoAb OX34 has a beneficial effect on established rat adjuvant arthritis, a model of human rheumatoid arthritis, and how it affects CD2-bearing leucocyte subsets. Female Lewis rats with established adjuvant arthritis received a total of 5 mg OX34 or isotype-matched control MoAb starting on day 15 after adjuvant injection. Weight and arthritis score (AS) were measured in a blinded fashion. Peripheral blood cells were analysed for numbers of leucocyte subsets at various time points. Animals were killed on day 30 and lymphatic organs were processed for immunohistology. Clinically, OX34 treatment led to increased body weight and reduced AS. Although OX34 binds to CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in a comparable fashion, OX34 treatment reduced CD4⁺ T cells, but not CD8⁺ T cells. Among CD4⁺ T cells CD45RC⁺ (‘naive’) T cells virtually disappeared; CD45RC⁻ (‘recently activated’) T cells were slightly reduced. A reduction of CD4⁺ T cells was also found in the lung, liver, bone marrow, spleen and lymph nodes. Down-modulation of the CD2 molecule by OX34, again, affected CD4⁺ T cells, suggesting a specific signal for CD4⁺ but not CD8⁺ T cells. In conclusion, the anti-CD2 MoAb OX34 attenuates established rat adjuvant arthritis. In spite of similar binding to CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, OX34 depletes only CD4⁺ T cells and down-modulates the CD2 molecule on these cells. These results suggest a therapeutic benefit from CD2-directed therapy for chronic types of arthritis.     

Inhibition of human adrenal androgen secretion by ketoconazole

Summary The effect of ketoconazole on adrenal androgen secretion was examined in 15 patients with elevated serum androgens. In a dose of 600 mg per day orally ketoconazole inhibited the biosynthesis of all measured androgens. The mean reduction in serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate was 32%, of dehydroepiandrosterone 54%, of androstenedione 52%, and of testosterone 43%; mean serum levels of cortisol only fell by 19%. The reduction in serum androgen levels was first significant 24 h after beginning of treatment and persisted as long as the drug was administered. We conclude that ketoconazole inhibits adrenal androgen biosynthesis more pronouncedly than cortisol biosynthesis. This might be of clinical benefit in the treatment of hirsutism and other states of androgen hypersecretion.Abbreviations CV coefficient of variation - MV mean value - SEM standard error of the mean - f female - m male - K ketoconazole - ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone - DHEA dehydroepiandrosterone - DHEAS dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate - A androstenedione - T testosterone - F cortisol - P progesterone - H hirsutism - C Cushing's disease - EAS ectopic ACTH syndrome - ATU adrenal tumor     

Hemodynamic factors in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy

Summary The pathogenesis of the diabetic glomerular lesion is unknown. However, cumulative indirect evidence favors hemodynamic factors associated with the abnormal endocrine environment as the cause of diabetic angiopathy. Experimental evidence suggests that the increased hydrostatic pressures in capillary beds, a hallmark of the early stages of insulin-dependent diabetes, are associated with macromolecular leakage leading to the typical thickening of glomerular capillary basement membrane and increased glomerular mesangial matrix even prior to the occurrence of systemic hypertension. Patients with renal or carotid artery stenosis seem to be protected against diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy on the stenosed side. The first signal of diabetic nephropathy even before deterioration of the renal function is microalbuminuria detected by sensitive methods such as radioimmunoassay. Not only in hypertensive, but even in normotensive diabetic patients with microalbuminuria antihypertensive therapy has been shown to reduce albumin excretion rate and to slow the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Once overt diabetic nephropathy has been established, hypertension is a constant accompaniment of the disease. Thus, hypertension may be a cause as well as a result of diabetic nephropathy. Tight control of blood sugar in close association with antihypertensive treatment reducing blood pressure to a lower normal limit, possibly with agents that specifically decrease glomerular capillary hydraulic pressure are the corner stone in protection against progression of the diabetic angiopathy.Abbreviations ECF extracellular fluid - ESRD end-stage renal disease     

Gene Therapy: The Potential Applicability of Gene Transfer Technology to the Human Germline

The theoretical possibility of applying gene transfer methodologies to the human germline is explored. Transgenic methods for genetically manipulating embryos may in principle be applied to humans. In particular, microinjection of retroviral vector appears to hold the greatest promise, with transgenic primates already obtained from this approach. Sperm-mediated gene transfer offers potentially the easiest route to the human germline, however the requisite methodology is presently underdeveloped. Nuclear transfer (cloning) offers an alternative approach to germline genetic modification, however there are major health concerns associated with current nuclear transfer methods. It is concluded that human germline gene therapy remains for all practical purposes a future possibility that must await significant and important advances in gene transfer technology.     

Modulation of osteopontin in proteinuria-induced renal interstitial fibrosis

Proteinuria is associated with macrophage-dependent interstitial fibrosis (IF). Osteopontin (OPN), a macrophage chemoattractant, may be involved in the transition of proteinuria to IF but protective properties have also been reported. To elucidate whether OPN may be involved in the proteinuria-induced cascade of tubulointerstitial damage, renal expression of OPN was studied during the development of proteinuria-induced renal damage and during anti-proteinuric intervention with ACE inhibition (ACEi). First, the temporal relationships between proteinuria, interstitial OPN induction, and IF in adriamycin nephrosis (AN), a model of chronic proteinuria-induced renal damage, were studied. Second, the effect of anti-proteinuric treatment on OPN expression was investigated. The time course of OPN induction and markers of renal damage was studied in rats with unilateral AN at 6-week intervals until week 30. In a second study, a renal biopsy was taken 6 weeks after induction of bilateral AN; subsequently, rats were treated with ACEi until termination (week 12). In unilateral AN, proteinuria developed gradually and stabilized at week 10. In proteinuric kidneys, OPN expression was induced from week 12 onwards. Simultaneously, a progressive increase in interstitial macrophages, alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), collagen type III, and focal glomerulosclerosis (FGS) was observed. In bilateral AN, ACEi reduced proteinuria and OPN protein and stabilized fibrosis. In untreated animals, OPN mRNA increased, with stable OPN protein and fibrosis and increased FGS. Thus, in AN, development of proteinuria is followed by up-regulation of OPN along with markers of renal damage. The up-regulation of OPN is reversible by anti-proteinuric treatment without a corresponding reduction in fibrosis. Whereas these data are consistent with a role for OPN in the cascade of transition from proteinuria to fibrosis, intervention with ACEi showed that reduction of OPN does not attenuate established fibrosis.     

Inhibition of HIV-1 expression by HIV-2

HIV-1 and HIV-2 are co-endemic in certain geographic areas. HIV-2 is more weakly pathogenic than HIV-1, and progression to AIDS occurs less frequently and over a longer period of time. Recent epidemiologic studies suggest that individuals infected with HIV-2 have a lower risk of HIV-1 infection. Both immune mechanisms and various modes of viral interference have been proposed to account for these results. Our findings, described in this paper, suggest that HIV-2 inhibits HIV-1 replication. To study the molecular interactions between HIV-1 and HIV-2, proviral clones were transfected alone or in combination into the human T cell line CEM. LTR-CAT indicator constructs were included for the purpose of monitoring viral promoter activity. Viral replication in transfected cells was monitored by p24 antigen capture assay of cell culture supernatants and Western blot analysis of cell extracts. HIV-2 inhibited HIV-1 replication as determined by intracellular and extracellular p24 antigen levels. Similar results were obtained with simultaneous virus infection using HIV-1 and HIV-2, rather than transfections of proviral DNA. Using cotransfection of HIV-1 and HIV-2 LTR indicator gene constructs, the mechanism of inhibition was found to be suppression of the HIV-1 LTR by HIV-2. The inhibitory effect of HIV-2 is not due to Tat-2, but appears to discriminate between the HIV-1 and HIV-2 LTRs based on differences in the Tat activation response element, TAR. These results suggest both a molecular mechanism for HIV-2 interference with HIV-1 replication and a potential molecular approach to therapy.     

VEGF基因特异性siRNA转染后对人乳腺癌细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

目的：探讨利用干扰RNA（RNAi）抑制血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）基因表达对乳腺癌细胞MCF-7增殖和凋亡的影响。方法：设计针对VEGF基因的小干扰RNA（siRNA）,合成DNA模板,体外转录siRNA。以脂质体转染法将双链siRNA导入MCF-7细胞后,用MTT比色法检测siRNA对MCF-7细胞增殖的影响。通过Hoechst33258染色观察MCF-7细胞的凋亡。用流式细胞术检测细胞周期的改变,RT-PCR检测VEGF mRNA表达的变化,免疫细胞化学法检测VEGF蛋白的表达。结果：所设计的两个靶位点siRNA,均能有效地抑制MCF-7细胞的增殖,诱导细胞凋亡,使细胞周期阻滞于G0/G1期,VEGFmRNA及其蛋白的表达明显减少;而作为阴性对照的错义序列组siRNASCR则没有上述效应。结论：体外转录合成的siRNA可抑制MCF-7细胞中VEGF基因的表达,抑制细胞增殖,促进细胞凋亡。