Anti-tumor and Phenotypic Regulation Effect of Matrine on Dendritic Cells through Regulating TLRs Pathway

Objective: To investigate the effects of matrine on antigen presentation of dendritic cells (DCs), and to explore the pharmacological mechanism of matrine on anti-tumor effect. Methods: Different concentrations (0, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 μ g/mL) of matrine were co-cultured with DCs, the harvested DCs were co-cultured with antigens of Lewis lung cancer (LLC) cells, and then DCs and T cells were co-cultured to produce DCs-activated killer (DAK) cells, which have significant tumor-killing activity. The expression of cytokines, mRNA and protein of toll-like receptors (TLRs) in DCs were detected by enzyme linked immunosobent assay, polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. And the killing effect of DAK were measured by MTT assay. Results: Matrine significantly increased the mRNA expression of TLR7, TLR8, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF-6) and Iκ B kinase (IKK), as well as the protein expression of TLR7 and TLR8, and up-regulated the levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α ), meanwhile, it also increased the expressions of MHC-Ⅱ , CD54, CD80 and CD86 in DCs. DCs-activated effector T cells had significant tumor-killing activity. When the concentration of matrine was more than 4 μ g/mL, all indices had significant difference (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Conclusion: Matrine plays an anti-tumor role by regulating TLRs signal transduction pathway, promoting the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and enhancing immune function.     

M-MDSC在非霍奇金淋巴瘤中表达及临床意义

目的 探讨单核细胞型髓系来源抑制性细胞(M-MDSC)在非霍奇金淋巴瘤(NHL)患者中的表达水平以及临床意义.方法 选取2017年9月至2020年1月解放军第九○一医院和安徽医科大学第二附属医院35例初诊NHL患者作为试验组,同期选取20例健康志愿者作为对照组.比较两组研究对象M-MDSC、精氨酸酶-1(Arg-1)mRNA及诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iN-OS)mRNA的表达水平.分析M-MDSC与NHL患者年龄、性别、临床分期、病理分型、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)以及IPI评分等临床指标的相关性.结果 试验组患者M-MDSC表达水平为(32.64±11.23)％,高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).Ⅲ～Ⅳ期、LDH升高及IPI评分为3～5分的NHL患者,M-MDSC水平升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).试验组患者Arg-1水平为(18.12±5.25)ng/mL,iNOS mRNA相对水平为(12.36±3.68),均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 M-MDSC参与NHL患者发病过程,与疾病进展密切相关,可能成为治疗NHL的新靶点.     

Therapeutic applications of dental pulp stem cells in regenerating dental,periodontal and oral-related structures

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) have emerged as a promising tool with great potential for use in tissue regeneration and engineering. Some of the main advantages of these cells are their multifaceted differentiation capacity, along with their high proliferation rate, a relative simplicity of extraction and culture that enables obtaining patient-specific cell lines for their use in autologous cell therapy. PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases were searched for relevant articles related to the use of DPSCs in regeneration of dentin-pulp complex (DPC), periodontal tissues, salivary gland and craniomaxillofacial bone defects. Few studies were found regarding the use of DPSCs for regeneration of DPC. Scaffold-based combined with DPSCs isolated from healthy pulps was the strategy used for DPC regeneration. Studies involved subcutaneous implantation of scaffolds loaded with DPSCs pretreated with odontogenic media, or performed on human tooth root model as a root slice. Most of the studies were related to periodontal tissue regeneration which mainly utilized DPSCs/secretome. For periodontal tissues, DPSCs or their secretome were isolated from healthy or inflamed pulps and they were used either for preclinical or clinical studies. Regarding salivary gland regeneration, the submandibular gland was the only model used for the preclinical studies and DPSCs or their secretome were isolated only from healthy pulps and they were used in preclinical studies. Likewise, DPSCs have been studied for craniomaxillofacial bone defects in the form of mandibular, calvarial and craniofacial bone defects where DPSCs were isolated only from healthy pulps for preclinical and clinical studies. From the previous results, we can conclude that DPSCs is promising candidate for dental and oral tissue regeneration.     

多发性骨髓瘤免疫治疗进展

嵌合抗原受体T细胞(CAR-T)和新型靶向治疗等生物免疫疗法的临床应用开辟了多发性骨髓瘤(MM)治疗的新领域。靶向B细胞成熟抗原(BCMA)、同种异体CAR-T、抗体偶联药物(ADC)及靶向BCMA的双特异性抗体在多项临床研究中获得了令人瞩目的疗效及较好的安全性。文章结合第62届美国血液学会(ASH)年会的相关报道对MM免疫治疗进展进行介绍。     

Stem cell therapy: A promising treatment for COVID-19

Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus and has a glycosylated spike (S) protein used for genome encoding. COVID-19 can lead to a cytokine storm and patients usually have early respiratory signs and further secondary infections, which can be fatal. COVID-19 has entered an emergency phase, but there are still no specific effective drugs for this disease. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stromal cells, which cause antiapoptosis and can repair damaged epithelial cells. Many clinical trials have proved that MSC therapy could be a potential feasible therapy for COVID-19 patients, especially those with acute respiratory distress syndrome, without serious adverse events or toxicities. However, more studies are needed in the future, in order to confirm the effect of this therapy.     

Shenling Baizhu Powder (参苓白术散) Ameliorates Pi (Spleen)-Deficiency-Induced Functional Diarrhea in Rats

Objective To explore the mechanism of Pi(Spleen)-deficiency-induced functional diarrhea(FD)model rats treated by Shenling Baizhu Powder(参苓白术散,SBP).Methods Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups including control,model,low-,medium-,and high-dose SBP groups(SBPLDG,SBPMDG,SBPHDG),6 rats in each group,respectively.Pi-deficiency-induced FD rats model was developed through Radix et Rhizoma Rhei gavage for 7 days.After modeling,the rats were treated with 3 doses of SBP[0.93,1.86,and 3.72 g/(kg·d)],and the rats in the control and model groups were given pure water for 7 days.The diarrhea index was calculated.On the 7th and 14th days,the traveled distance of rat was measured by the open field test.Serum D-xylose content was determined by the phloroglucinol method and interleukin(IL)-10 and IL-17 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.The content of Treg cells was determined by flow cytometry.Results Compared with the control group,the diarrhea index and IL-17 level in the model group were significantly higher and the total exercise distance and D-xylose content significantly decreased(P>0.05).The expression of IL-10 in the SBPHDG group was significantly up-regulated,and serum D-xylose level and Treg cells increased significantly compared with the model group(P>0.05).Conclusion High-dose SBP exhibited ameliorating effects against Pi-deficiency induced FD,which might be attributed to its modulations on intestinal absorption function as well as adaptive immunity in mesenteric lymph nodes of rat.     

Variable immunogenicity of a vivax malaria blood-stage vaccine candidate

Relapsing malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax is a neglected tropical disease and an important cause of malaria worldwide. Vaccines to prevent clinical disease and mosquito transmission of vivax malaria are needed to overcome the distinct challenges of this important public health problem. In this vaccine immunogenicity study in mice, we examined key variables of responses to a P. vivax Duffy binding protein vaccine, a leading candidate to prevent the disease-causing blood-stages. Significant sex-dependent differences were observed in B cell (CD80+) and T cell (CD8+) central memory subsets, resulting in significant differences in functional immunogenicity and durability of anti-DBP protective efficacy. These significant sex-dependent differences in inbred mice were in the CD73+CD80+ memory B cell, H2KhiCD38hi/lo, and effector memory subsets. This study highlights sex and immune genes as critical variables that can impact host responses to P. vivax antigens and must be taken into consideration when designing clinical vaccine studies.     

Advances in stem cell treatment for sciatic nerve injury

Introduction: The sciatic nerve is one of the peripheral nerves that is most prone to injuries. After injury, the connection between the nervous system and the distal organs is disrupted, and delayed treatment results in distal organ atrophy and total disability. Regardless of great advances in the fields of neurosurgery, biological sciences, and regenerative medicine, total functional recovery is yet to be achieved.

Areas covered: Cell-based therapy for the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) has brought a new perspective to the field of regenerative medicine. Having the ability to differentiate into neural and glial cells, stem cells enhance neural regeneration after PNIs. Augmenting axonal regeneration, remyelination, and muscle mass preservation are the main mechanisms underlying stem cells’ beneficial effects on neural regeneration.

Expert opinion: Despite the usefulness of employing stem cells for the treatment of PNIs in pre-clinical settings, further assessments are still needed in order to translate this approach into clinical settings. Mesenchymal stem cells, especially adipose-derived stem cells, with the ability of autologous transplantation, as well as easy harvesting procedures, are speculated to be the most promising source to be used in the treatment of PNIs.     

Oocytes from stem cells

Folliculogenesis describes the process of activating an oocyte-containing primordial follicle from the ovarian reserve and its development to the mature ovulatory stage. This process is highly complex and is controlled by extra- and intra-ovarian signaling events. Oocyte competence and capacity for fertilization to support a viable pregnancy are acquired during folliculogenesis. Cancer and cancer-based therapies can negatively affect this process, compromising fertility. Currently, preservation of fertility in these patients remains limited to surrogacy, oocyte freezing, oocyte donation, or in vitro maturation (IVM). Recent reports of stem cells being used to produce fully competent oocytes and subsequently healthy offspring in mice have opened up a novel avenue for fertility preservation. However, translating these findings into human health first relies on enhancing our understanding of follicle growth and mimicking its intricacies in vitro. Indeed, the future of oocytes from stem cells in humans comes with many possibilities but currently faces several technical and ethical obstacles.