Liposomal SLA co-incorporated with PO CpG ODNs or PS CpG ODNs induce the same protection against the murine model of leishmaniasis

First generation Leishmania vaccines consisting of whole killed parasites with or without adjuvants have reached phase 3 trial and failed to show enough efficacy mainly due to the lack of an appropriate adjuvant. In this study, the nuclease-resistant phosphorothioate CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (PS CpG) or nuclease-sensitive phosphodiester CpG ODNs (PO CpG) were used as adjuvants to enhance immunogenicity and rate of protection against leishmaniasis. Due to the susceptibility of PO CpG to nuclease degradation, an efficient liposomal delivery system was developed to protect them from degradation. 1, 2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) as a cationic lipid was used because of its unique adjuvanticity and electrostatic interaction with negatively charged CpG ODNs. To evaluate the role of liposomal formulation in protection rate and enhanced immune response, BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously with liposomal soluble Leishmania antigens (SLA) co-incorporated with PO CpG (Lip-SLA-PO CpG), Lip-SLA-PS CpG, SLA+PO CpG, SLA+PS CpG, SLA or buffer. As criteria for protection, footpad swelling at the site of challenge, parasite loads, the levels of IFN-γ and IL-4, and the IgG subtypes were evaluated. The groups of mice receiving Lip-SLA-PO CpG or Lip-SLA-PS CpG showed a high protection rate compared with the control groups. In addition, there was no significant difference in immune response generation between mice immunized with PS CpG and the group receiving PO CpG when incorporated into the liposomes. The results suggested that liposomal form of PO CpG might be used instead of PS CpG in future vaccine formulations as an efficient adjuvant.     

结直肠癌C-erbB-2基因启动子CpG岛甲基化状态及其与C-erbB-2蛋白表达的关系

目的了解结直肠癌组织C—erbB-2基因启动子区CpG岛甲基化状态、C-erbB-2蛋白表达水平及两者之间的关系。方法取经病理确诊的43例结直肠癌组织和相应癌旁组织，分别用甲基化特异性聚合酶链反应（MSP）和免疫组织化学法（IHC）检测C-erbB-2启动子区CpG岛的甲基化和C-erbB-2蛋白表达水平。结果癌组织和癌旁组织中C—erbB-2启动子区CpG岛甲基化率分别为44．2％和74．4％，差异具有统计学意义（P=0．004）。癌组织和癌旁组织中C—erbB-2蛋白过度表达率分别为67．4％和27．9％，差异具有统计学意义（P=0．000）。C—erbB-2蛋白表达水平与肿瘤分期相关。结直肠癌组织C—erbB-2启动子区CpG岛甲基化状态与C—erbB-2蛋白表达水平呈显著相关（r=0．331，P=0．03）。结论结直肠癌中C—erbB-2基因启动子区CpG岛的低甲基化可能在C—erbB-2蛋白过度表达中起一定作用，有望成为有用的肿瘤分子诊断标记和治疗靶点。     

Common epigenetic variation in a European population of mentally healthy young adults

DNA methylation represents an important link between structural genetic variation and complex phenotypes. The study of genome-wide CpG methylation and its relation to traits relevant to psychiatry has become increasingly important. Here, we analyzed quality metrics of 394,043 CpG sites in two samples of 568 and 319 mentally healthy young adults. For 25% of all CpGs we observed medium to large common epigenetic variation. These CpGs were overrepresented in open sea and shore regions, as well as in intergenic regions. They also showed a strong enrichment of significant hits in association analyses. Furthermore, a significant proportion of common DNA methylation is at least partially genetically driven and thus may be observed similarly across tissues. These findings could be of particular relevance for studies of complex neuropsychiatric traits, which often rely on proxy tissues.     

Therapeutic efficacy of a human papillomavirus type 16 E7 bacterial exotoxin fusion protein adjuvanted with CpG or GPI-0100 in a preclinical mouse model for HPV-associated disease

Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is causally linked to the development of several human cancers, including cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. To address the need for a therapeutic vaccine against HPV-associated diseases, here we test and compare the immunogenicity and therapeutic efficacy of a bacterial exotoxin fusion protein covalently linked to the HPV16 E7 oncoprotein adjuvanted with CpG or GPI-0100 in the C3.43 preclinical HPV16-transformed tumor model. We show that TVGV-1 protein vaccine adjuvanted with either CpG or GPI-0100 adjuvant induces a high frequency of E7-specific CD8⁺ T cells, and both adjuvants are able to assist the immune response in inducing polyfunctional cytokine-secreting lytic T cells that show therapeutic efficacy against well-established C3.43 tumors. CpG-adjuvanted TVGV-1 resulted in higher frequencies of IFNγ secreting and degranulating E7-specific T cells compared to GPI-0100-adjuvanted TVGV-1, resulting in marginally increased in vivo efficacy. Despite minor differences in immune response outcomes, we consider both CpG ODN and GPI-0100 to be promising vaccine adjuvants to increase the immunogenicity and therapeutic efficacy of the TVGV-1 protein for HPV16-driven cancers.     

散发性大肠癌CpG岛甲基子表型的基因表达

目的探讨CpG岛甲基子表型阳性的散发性大肠癌的基因表达特征。方法对71例散发性大肠癌采用甲基化特异性PCR法行p14ARF、人类mut-s同系物1(hMLH1)、p16INK4a、6-氧-甲基鸟嘌呤-DNA甲基转移酶(MGMT)和肿瘤甲基化位点1(MINT1)共5个基因启动子甲基化的检测,确定CpG岛甲基子表型;进行K-ras、APC、P53、Bax和转化生长因子βⅡ受体(TGFβRⅡ)共5个基因的免疫组化检测。分析散发性大肠癌CpG岛甲基子表型和基因表达之间的关系。结果71例散发性大肠癌中,CpG岛甲基子表型阳性率为21．1％(15／71);K-ras、APC、P53、Bax和TGFβRⅡ蛋白阳性表达率分别为43．7％(31／71)、42．3％(30／71)、47．9％(34／71)、71.4％(50／70)和59．2％(42／71)。CpG岛甲基子表型和APC、P53、Bax、TGFβRⅡ蛋白表达均无显著相关性,但与K-ras蛋白表达显著相关,CpG岛甲基子表型阳性者K-ras蛋白阳性表达率显著高于CpG岛甲基子表型阴性者(66.7％比37．5％, P=0．043)。结论CpG岛甲基子表型阳性的散发性大肠癌中K-ras蛋白呈高表达,提示多基因同时甲基化与K-ras蛋白的激活表达密切相关,两者的关系表明表遗传学机制可以间接引起遗传学改变。     

Association of JC virus T-antigen expression with the methylator phenotype in sporadic colorectal cancers

BACKGROUND & AIMS: JC virus (JCV) is a polyomavirus that ubiquitously infects humans and has been implicated in various human cancers. JCV encodes a "transforming" gene, T-antigen (T-Ag), which is believed to mediate the oncogenic potential of the virus. We have previously shown that JCV DNA sequences are usually present in human colorectal cancers (CRCs), and we have provided in vitro evidence that JCV can induce chromosomal instability (CIN) in CRC cells. This study tests the hypothesis that JCV T-Ag expression correlates with one or more forms of genomic or epigenetic instability in sporadic CRCs. METHODS: We characterized 100 sporadic CRCs for microsatellite instability (MSI) and CIN. PCR amplifications were performed for T-Ag sequences, and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed to detect T-Ag expression. De novo methylation of the promoter regions of nine putative tumor suppressor genes thought to play a role in colorectal carcinogenesis was studied by methylation-specific PCR. RESULTS: JCV T-Ag DNA sequences were found in 77% of the CRCs and 56% of these cancers (or 43% of the total) expressed T-Ag by IHC. Significant associations were observed between T-Ag expression and CIN in CRCs (P = .017) and between T-Ag expression and promoter methylation of multiple genes (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: The association between T-Ag expression and promoter methylation in CRC suggests that this viral oncogene may induce methylator phenotype and that JCV may be involved in CRC through multiple mechanisms of genetic and epigenetic instability.     

CpG island methylation in sporadic colorectal cancers and its relationship to microsatellite instability

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Methylation of CpG islands is increasingly recognized as an important event in colorectal carcinogenesis. We evaluated the extent of CpG island methylation in 426 sporadic colorectal cancers to define its relationship to microsatellite instability and to describe its clinicopathologic and genetic features. METHODS: Fresh cancer tissue was obtained from 417 consecutive individuals undergoing curative surgery for sporadic colorectal cancer. Methylation of p16 and hMLH1 promoters was determined by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), whereas methylation at MINT 1, 2, 12, and 31 loci was assessed by bisulfite PCR. Microsatellite instability and K-ras and p53 status were determined using microsatellite PCR, restriction enzyme-mediated PCR, and immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULTS: Individual loci were commonly methylated, but locus-specific phenotypic changes were not seen. CpG island methylation was associated with right-sided location, female sex, and older age, as well as high tumor grade, mucinous type, wild-type P53, microsatellite instability, and K-ras mutations. More than half of tumors showing CpG island methylation were microsatellite stable. Compared with microsatellite unstable cancers, they were more commonly left-sided, had fewer intraepithelial lymphocytes, presented later, and had a worse outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Colorectal cancers with CpG island methylation have distinct clinicopathologic features and in some cases lead to sporadic microsatellite unstable cancers.     

Spatial heterogeneity of mesopredator release within an oceanic island system

Predator–prey communities are ubiquitous in ecology, but introduced predators can drive native species to extinction within island systems, prompting the eradication of such exotics. Ecological theory predicts that elimination of top-introduced predators from islands can lead to the counterintuitive decline of native prey populations through the ecological release of smaller introduced species in a process termed “mesopredator release.” We show, in accordance with mesopredator release theory and counter to conservation goals for a New Zealand island reserve, that initial eradication of cats on Little Barrier Island led to reduced breeding success of Cook's petrels, which also are vulnerable to predation by a mesopredator, the Pacific rat. The rat's impact on prey productivity varied with elevation within the island. Rat eradication was followed by a rise in petrel productivity, in support of both ecological theory and practical conservation management goals. It appears that interactions among introduced predators, native prey, and environmental gradients can drive counterintuitive and spatially heterogeneous responses to predator eradications from islands. Location-specific, ecosystem-level understanding is essential for predicting the outcomes of such restoration management techniques.     

胰腺癌组织SPARC基因CpG岛甲基化状态及临床意义

目的 检测胰腺癌SPARC基因CpG岛的甲基化状态及其与临床病理参数的关系.方法 收集17例胰腺癌及相应癌旁组织、6例CP和6例正常胰腺组织以及6例健康成人外周血液标本,抽提DNA,进行亚硫酸氢盐修饰,然后行甲基化特异性PCR,检测SPARC基因第一外显子区CpG岛的甲基化状态,并分析与肿瘤病理参数的关系.结果 健康人外周血白细胞DNA中SPARC基因第一外显子区CpG位点均无甲基化.正常胰腺、CP、胰腺癌及相应癌旁组织SPARC基因第2、3、4、5、6、7 CpG位点的甲基化率分别为61.6%、47.1%、37.5%、24.7%;第1,8、9、10、11、12 CpG位点的甲基化率分别为52.0%、28.7%、16.7%和0.胰腺癌SPARC基因甲基化率与正常胰腺、CP比较均差别非常显著(P＜0.001),与相应癌旁组织比较差别不显著.胰腺癌SPARC基因CpG岛甲基化与患者性别、年龄、危险诱因(如长期吸烟或饮酒、CP)、肿瘤大小、分化程度、TNM分期、淋巴结转移等均无显著差异.结论 胰腺癌SPARC基因第一外显子区CpG岛为高甲基化状态,可能为胰腺癌发生、发展的早期事件.