Humoral and cellular immune response induced by rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP vaccine among frontline workers during the 2013–2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak in Guinea

BackgroundAs part of a Phase III trial with the Ebola vaccine rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP in Guinea, we invited frontline workers (FLWs) to participate in a sub-study to provide additional information on the immunogenicity of the vaccine.MethodsWe conducted an open‐label, non‐randomized, single-arm immunogenicity evaluation of one dose of rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP among healthy FLWs in Guinea. FLWs who refused vaccination were offered to participate as a control group. We followed participants for 84 days with a subset followed-up for 180 days. The primary endpoint was immune response, as measured by ELISA for ZEBOV-glycoprotein–specific antibodies (ELISA-GP) at 28 days. We also conducted neutralization, whole virion ELISA and enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay for cellular response.ResultsA total of 1172 participants received one dose of vaccine and were followed-up for 84 days, among them 114 participants were followed-up for 180 days. Additionally, 99 participants were included in the control group and followed up for 180 days. Overall, 86.4% (95% CI 84.1–88.4) of vaccinated participants seroresponded at 28 days post-vaccination (ELISA- GP) with 65% of these seroresponding at 14 days post-vaccination. Among those who seroresponded at 28 days, 90.7% (95% CI 82.0–95.4) were still seropositive at 180 days. The proportion of seropositivity in the unvaccinated group was 0.0% (95% CI 0.0–3.8) at 28 days and 5.4% (95% CI 2.1–13.1) at 180 days post-vaccination. We found weak correlation between ELISA-GP and neutralization at baseline but significant pairwise correlation at 28 days post-vaccination. Among samples analysed for cellular response, only 1 (2.2%) exhibited responses towards the Zaire Ebola glycoprotein (Ebola GP ≥ 10) at baseline, 10 (13.5%) at day 28 post-vaccination and 27 (48.2%) at Day 180.ConclusionsWe found one dose of rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP to be highly immunogenic at 28- and 180-days post vaccination among frontline workers in Guinea. We also found a cellular response that increased with time.     

Quantitative application of flow cytometry for the analysis of circulating human T cells: A preclinical pharmacokinetic study

As the application of flow cytometry to a quantitative pharmacokinetic study with adoptive T cell therapy is new, we aimed to investigate the quantitativity of flow cytometry-based analysis for the pharmacokinetic assessment of circulating human T cells in a preclinical study.We evaluated the selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, and sensitivity of flow cytometry-based analysis for human CD8⁺ T cells in immunodeficient mouse blood. The CD3/8/45-positive cell population was successfully distinguished from the negative population. Linear regression analysis for the calibration curve showed good linearity and recovery was approximately 100%. Acceptable inter- and intra-day precision and accuracy were observed and the lower limit of quantification (30 cells/50 μL) was validated with acceptable precision and accuracy. Blood concentrations of human CD8⁺ T cells in immunodeficient mice were then evaluated after administration using this method and the time-concentration profile of human T cells in mice was successfully assessed.The present study is the first to clarify the quantitativity of flow cytometry-based analysis for circulating human T cells in animals. The concept of the present study would be applicable to quantitative pharmacokinetics/efficacy or safety analysis of adoptive T cell therapy.     

基于蛋白质组学分析色胺酮抑制小鼠乳腺癌的作用机制

目的:采用非标记定量(Label-free)蛋白质组学技术研究色胺酮抗小鼠体内乳腺癌的作用机制。方法:采用超高效液相色谱-质谱联用技术检测色胺酮抗小鼠乳腺癌的表达蛋白,选择Ionoptics nano UPLC C18色谱柱(0.075 mm×250 mm,1.6μm),流动相0.1%甲酸水溶液-0.1%甲酸乙腈溶液梯度洗脱,正离子模式,扫描范围m/z 100～1 700,使用MaxQuant 1.6.5.0进行数据库检索。采用Label-free高分辨质谱的蛋白质组学技术筛选4T1乳腺癌小鼠模型组与色胺酮(100 mg·kg~(-1))口服给药组之间的差异表达蛋白,进行色胺酮抗乳腺癌的蛋白质组学研究。结果:共鉴定出3 997个蛋白质,其中有2 911个蛋白可定量。模型组与色胺酮组共750个差异表达蛋白,其中286个蛋白上调,464个蛋白下调。基因本体分析表明,这些差异表达蛋白主要参与增殖、细胞迁移、凋亡、免疫、血管生成和炎症调节等生物学过程。京都基因与基因组百科全书通路分析进一步表明,这些蛋白主要集中于T细胞受体,B细胞受体,Toll样受体,核转录因子-κB(NF-κB),Ras蛋白,白细胞介素-17,肿瘤坏死因子,磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶/蛋白激酶B(PI3K-Akt)和丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)等信号通路。结论:与色胺酮抗4T1乳腺癌作用密切相关的差异表达蛋白包括上调蛋白白细胞分化抗原14(CD14),前列腺素G/H合酶2(PTGS2),泛素蛋白连接酶E3和下调蛋白CD44,70 kDa热休克蛋白1A(HSPA1A),巨噬细胞移动抑制因子(MIF),NF-κB,核糖体蛋白S6激酶α-4(RPS6KA4)和高迁移率族蛋白B1(HMGB1),提示色胺酮主要通过调节肿瘤炎症微环境来达到抑制小鼠乳腺癌的作用。     

体液免疫和细胞免疫在不同巴塞罗那分期肝细胞癌患者中的差异及临床意义

目的 分析体液免疫和细胞免疫与肝细胞癌（hepatocellular carcinoma，HCC）患者巴塞罗那（Barcelona clinic liver cancer，BCLC）分期的相关性。方法 回顾性分析2014年1月至2017年12月在广西医科大学附属肿瘤医院入院治疗的1 164例HCC初治患者的体液免疫状况。采用免疫透射比浊法测定体液免疫因子的水平，采用流式细胞术检测患者细胞免疫因子的水平。结果 HCC患者体液免疫中IgG、IgA、C3、C4和C-反应蛋白（c-reaction protein，CRP）在不同BCLC分期中的水平差异有统计学意义（均P<0.05），其中C/D期患者中IgG、IgA、C3、C4和CRP水平均高于A期或B期。总T淋巴细胞在不同BCLC分期患者中的水平差异有统计学意义（P=0.040），其中C/D期患者中的总T淋巴细胞水平低于B期（P<0.05）。Spearman相关分析显示，IgG、IgA、C3、C4和CRP水平与BCLC分期均呈正相关（均P<0.05）。进一步分层分析发现IgG、IgA水平与BCLC分期的相关性受到性别因素的影响，而T淋巴细胞总数与BCLC的相关性受到性别和肝硬化背景的影响。结论 随着BCLC分期的增加，HCC患者的体液免疫功能增强，而细胞免疫功能受到抑制，尤其是男性和有肝硬化的患者。 【关键词】 肝细胞癌；细胞免疫；体液免疫；BCLC分期     

加味甘草干姜汤联合维生素B12治疗复发性口腔溃疡的临床效果

目的：探讨加味甘草干姜汤联合维生素B12治疗复发性口腔溃疡（ROU）的临床效果。方法：选取2016年8月至2018年8月重庆市人民医院收治的ROU患者124例作为研究对象，随机分成观察组和对照组，每组62例。对照组口服维生素B12治疗，观察组在此基础上内服加味甘草干姜汤治疗，疗程均为14 d。比较2组疗效及安全性。结果：观察组总有效率达96.8%（60/62），显著高于对照组85.5%（53/62），差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。与治疗前比较，2组治疗后疼痛指数、溃疡面积和平均溃疡期均显著改善，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05），外周血CD3+、CD4+水平和CD4+/CD8+比值及唾液中链球菌、韦荣菌数量均显著上升，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05），外周血CD8+水平均显著下降，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；且观察组比对照组对以上指标的改善更显著，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。2组均未见明显不良反应。随访6个月，观察组复发率为11.3%（7/62），较对照组的25.8%（16/62）显著降低，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论：加味甘草干姜汤联合维生素B12治疗ROU的整体疗效确切，可能与其显著纠正外周血T淋巴细胞亚群免疫失衡、维持口腔微环境稳态有关。     

趋化因子CCL8与肿瘤发生发展的研究进展

趋化因子CCL8是趋化因子CC家族中的一员，可以在炎症反应和肿瘤免疫等方面发挥重要作用。近来许多研究数据表明，CCL8与人类肿瘤的发生发展密切相关，它在肿瘤微环境中扮演了不可或缺的角色，一方面CCL8可以促进肿瘤细胞的浸润转移，另一方面又可以抑制肿瘤的发生发展。本文主要阐述了目前研究发现的CCL8在肿瘤中的作用，包括肿瘤的发生发展、浸润转移等，以上研究不仅可以帮助我们更加深入的了解肿瘤形成的机制，而且对于寻找更加有效的肿瘤新疗法有着重要的意义。     

五色培元固本膏对维持性血液透析患者细胞免疫功能的影响

目的:探讨五色培元固本膏对维持性血液透析(MHD)患者细胞免疫功能的影响。方法:90例MHD患者随机分为对照组和治疗组,两组血透方法相同。对照组给予一般治疗及血透治疗,治疗组在对照组基础上口服五色培元固本膏,连续治疗3个月; 20例健康志愿者作为正常组,三组观察时间均为3个月。治疗前后用流式细胞技术检测各组T细胞亚群表达水平,酶联免疫吸附法检测各组白介素-2(IL-2)和可溶性白介素-2受体(sIL-2R)蛋白表达水平。结果:治疗前与正常组比较,对照组与治疗组CD₄⁺、CD₄⁺/CD₈⁺和IL-2表达水平均明显下降,CD₈⁺和sIL-2表达水平均上升,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后,与对照组相比较,治疗组CD₄⁺、CD₄⁺/CD₈⁺、IL-2表达水平明显升高,CD₈⁺和sIL-2表达水平均降低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗组相较正常组CD₄⁺T淋巴细胞、CD₄⁺/CD₈⁺、IL-2表达水平,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),CD₈⁺、sIL-2表达水平升高。结论:五色培元固本膏调节T淋巴细胞和IL-2表达改善MHD的细胞免疫功能。     

基于PD-1/PD-L1信号通路中医药改善肿瘤免疫抑制微环境研究进展

抑制性共刺激分子程序性死亡因子(PD-1)/程序性死亡因子配体(PD-L1)是重要的免疫负调节因子,在肿瘤免疫逃逸中发挥重要作用。中医药是我国治疗肿瘤的重要手段之一,其主要优势在于增强机体免疫力,重塑肿瘤免疫微环境。本文综述了PD-1/PD-L1信号通路、中医与肿瘤免疫的相关性及中医药干预PD-1/PD-L1信号通路的相关研究,揭示了中医药调节肿瘤免疫多系统、多靶点、多环节、整体性等特点,为中医药防治肿瘤的理论和机制研究提供新的思路。     

Tumor microenvironment characterization identifies two lung adenocarcinoma subtypes with specific immune and metabolic state

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a vital component of tumor tissue. Increasing evidence suggests their significance in predicting outcomes and guiding therapies. However, no studies have reported a systematic analysis of the clinicopathologic significance of TME in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Here, we inferred tumor stromal cells in 1184 LUAD patients using computational algorithms based on bulk tumor expression data, and evaluated the clinicopathologic significance of stromal cells. We found LUAD patients showed heterogeneous abundance in stromal cells. Infiltration of stromal cells was influenced by clinicopathologic features, such as age, gender, smoking, and TNM stage. By clustering stromal cells, we identified 2 clinically and molecularly distinct LUAD subtypes with immune active and immune repressed features. The immune active subtype is characterized by repressed metabolism and repressed proliferation of tumor cells, while the immune repressed subtype is characterized by active metabolism and active proliferation of tumor cells. Differentially expressed gene analysis of the two LUAD subtypes identified an immune activation signature. To diagnose TME subtypes practically, we constructed a TME score using principal component analysis based on the immune activation signature. The TME score predicted TME subtypes effectively in 3 independent datasets with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of 0.960, 0.812, and 0.819, respectively. In conclusion, we proposed 2 clinically and molecularly distinct LUAD subtypes based on tumor microenvironment that could be valuable in predicting clinical outcome and guiding immunotherapy.