四种TRAIL受体在隐球菌性脑膜炎中的表达及临床意义

目的 研究建立实时荧光定量(RFQ)-PCR法测定四种TRAIL受体DcR1,DcR2,DR4,DR5 mRNA含量的方法 ,探讨其在隐球菌性脑膜炎患者外周血单个核细胞中表达的检测价值,并分析隐球菌性脑膜炎患者免疫指标与四种TRAIL受体的相关性.方法 设计特异性的引物和探针,以人基因GAPDH为内参照,用实时定量PCR的方法 检测35例健康人和35例隐球菌性脑膜炎患者外周血单个核细胞中TRAIL受体mRNA的表达水平,采用全自动特定蛋白分析仪检测IgG,IgA,IgM,C3,C4.结果 与健康人比较,隐球菌性脑膜炎患者外周血单个核细胞中TRAIL受体DcR1 mRNA的表达显著升高(P<0.01),受体DcR2,DR4,DR5 mRNA的变化无统计学意义.隐球菌性脑膜炎患者血清中的C3和IgG显著下降(P<0.01),且与DcR1的变化成负相关,结论 隐球菌性脑膜炎患者TRAIL受体DcR1 mRNA的表达明显升高,提示TRAIL受体DcR1可能参与隐球菌性脑膜炎的疾病进程,这为有效治疗隐球菌性脑膜炎提供了新的线索.     

隐球菌性脑炎患者颗粒酶B、颗粒溶素、穿孔素的表达及临床意义

目的研究颗粒酶B（grmazymeB,GrB）、颗粒溶素（granulysin,GNLY）及穿孔素（pefforin,又称pore-formingpro—tein,PFP）三种免疫效应分子在隐球菌性脑膜炎（cryptococcalmeningitis）外周血单个核细胞中的表达及其临床意义。方法首先用密度梯度离心法分离得到25例隐球菌性脑膜炎患者和30例健康人外周血单个核细胞（peripheral blood monotmclearcells,PBMC）,其次用免疫印迹（western blot）的方法检测其中的GrB、GNLY、及PFP的蛋白含量,用实时荧光定量（RVQ）-PCR方法测定其中GrB、GNLY、及PFP的mRNA含量。并分析隐球菌性脑膜炎患者蛋白含量与一些免疫指标的相关性。结果与健康对照组比较,隐球菌性脑膜炎患者PBMC中GNLY、PFP蛋白含量和mRNA均明显降低,而GrB无明显变化。隐球菌性脑膜炎患者中GNLY蛋白表达水平与血清IgG、IFN-γ水平成正相关（r=0．477,P〈0．05;r=0．534,P〈0．05）,与IL-10水平成负相关（r=-0．505,P〈0．05）。结论GNLY、PFP）可能参与隐球菌性脑膜炎的疾病进程,这为探讨隐球菌性脑膜炎的病情监控和有效治疗提供了新的线索。     

哮喘患者单个核细胞Th1／Th2和IFN-γ及IL-4 mRNA表达

目的探讨外周血单个核细胞Th1／Th2在哮喘发病中的作用和IFN-γ及IL-4 mRNA表达的情况。方法分别用流式细胞仪及RT-PCR方法检测97例哮喘患者及20例健康人外周血单个核细胞（PBMCs）Th1／Th2水平和IFN-γ及IL-4 mRNA表达。结果哮喘组外周血Th1细胞百分比低于对照组（P〈0．01），而Th2百分比高于对照组（P〈0.01）；哮喘组PBMCS IFN-γ的mRNA表达水平与对照组差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05），而IL-4 mRNA的表达显著高于对照组（P〈0．01）。结论哮喘患者体内存在Th1／Th2的失衡，并提示哮喘属于Th2优势疾病。     

穿孔素在隐球菌性脑膜炎患者外周血单个核细胞的表达及临床意义

目的 研究隐球菌性脑膜炎(cryptococcal meningitis)患者外周血单个核细胞中穿孔素(perforin,又称pore-form-ing protein,PFP)表达及其与细胞因子的关系.方法 首先用密度梯度离心法分离得到25例隐球菌性脑膜炎患者和30例健康人外周血单个核细胞(peripheral blood mononuclear cells,PBMC),其次用免疫印迹(western blot)的方法检测其中的PFP的蛋白含量,用实时荧光定量(RFQ)-PCR方法测定其中PFP的mRNA含量,并分析隐球菌性脑膜炎患者蛋白含量与细胞因子浓度的相关性.结果 与健康对照组比较,隐球菌性脑膜炎患者PBMC中PFP蛋白含量和mRNA均明显降低,PFP蛋白表达水平与IL-10,IFN-γ水平均无相关性.结论 PFP可能参与隐球菌性脑膜炎的疾病进程,这为探讨隐球菌性脑膜炎的病情监控和有效治疗提供了新的线索.     

隐球菌性脑膜炎患者外周血中TLR4的表达以及血清中TNF-α,IL-10的水平研究

目的探讨Toll样受体4（TLR4）在隐球菌性脑膜炎患者外周血中的表达,以及研究血清中TNF—α,IL-10的变化情况。方法收集25例隐球菌性脑膜炎患者和25例健康体检者全血,采用荧光定量PCR（FQ—PCR）检测TLR2,TLR4的mRNA表达。ELISA法检测血清中TNF—α,IL-10的表达。结果隐球菌性脑膜炎患：者TLR4 mRNA的表达显著低于对照组（0．35&#177;0．18）（P〈0．05）,TLR2均无显著变化（0．87&#177;0．23）（P〉0．05）。血清中的IL-10显著升高（4．25&#177;1．30）pg／ml（P〈0．05）,TNF—α的变化不显著（1．49&#177;0．87）pg／ml（P〉0．05）。结论隐球菌性脑膜炎患者TLR4 mRNA表达显著下降,可能在隐球菌性脑膜炎的发病过程中起一定的作用。     

隐球菌脑膜炎患者外周血单个核细胞中microRNA-31表达及相关免疫分子水平研究

目的 探讨隐球菌脑膜炎患者外周血单个核细胞中micorRNA-31表达情况及与疾病的相关性.方法 收集2007年9月-2012年8月期间,在上海长海医院和上海长征医院确诊的隐球菌脑膜炎患者和同期健康对照各30例,使用密度梯度离心法,分离30例隐球菌脑膜炎患者和30例健康对照外周血单个核细胞（peripheral blood mononuclear cells,PBMCs）,采用实时荧光定量PCR检测microRNA-31（miR-31）的表达,并分析其与患者临床特征（血清中IgG,IgA,IgM）和细胞因子（IL-4,IL-10,IFN-γ,TNF-α）的相关性.结果 与健康对照相比,隐球菌脑膜炎患者PBMCs中miR-31表达（0.856±0.231 vs 0.470±0.242）增高,差异有统计学意义（t=6.320,P＜0.001）且与血清IL-4水平正相关（r=0.644,P＜0.001）,与IgG,IFN-γ负相关（r=0.645, 0.671;P值均＜0.001）.结论 提示miR-31可能通过调节炎症性细胞因子的产生,参与了隐球菌脑膜炎的发病机制,这为进一步研究隐球菌脑膜炎患者的表观遗传学调控提供了新的线索.     

隐球菌性脑膜炎患者中Th17细胞相关细胞因子的高表达及其临床意义

目的研究Th17细胞相关细胞因子IL-17A、IL-17F、IL-22在隐球菌性脑膜炎患者发病机制中的作用。方法收集了2011年2月至2013年2月期间来院就诊的免疫功能正常的隐球菌患者22例以及同期来院体检的健康个体20例,收集外周抗凝血,分离了外周血单个核细胞,采用RT-PCR以及ELISA检测了隐球菌性脑膜炎患者和健康对照者外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)中Th17相关细胞因子1L-17A、IL-17F以及IL-22的mRNA表达以及血浆中各蛋白水平的表达。并分析其与脑脊液蛋白浓度、颅内压、脑脊液隐球菌抗原滴度、脑脊液葡萄糖浓度的关系。结果隐球菌性脑膜炎患者外周血单个核细胞中IL-17A、IL-22的mRNA水平以及血浆中IL-17A、IL-22水平较健康对照组显著增高(P0.01),且与隐球菌性脑膜炎患者的预后因子脑脊液蛋白浓度、颅内压、脑脊液隐球菌抗原滴度、脑脊液葡萄糖浓度相关。结论 Th17细胞相关细胞因子IL-17A、IL-22可能参与了隐球菌性脑膜炎的发病机制,可能是潜在的评价隐球菌性脑膜炎病情的指标。     

急性冠脉综合征患者外周血白介素-18蛋白和基因表达的变化

目的探讨白介素-18（IL-18）在急性心肌梗死发生、发展中的作用。方法采用RT—PCR和ELISA方法分别测定了急性心肌梗死组（AMI）、不稳定性心绞痛组（UAP）、稳定性心绞痛组（SAP）和健康对照组的IL-18血浆水平和外周血单个核细胞IL-18mRNA的表达量。结果急性心肌梗死组IL-18血浆水平和外周血单个核细胞IL-18mRNA表达量显著高于不稳定性心绞痛组（P〈0．01，P〈0．05）、稳定性心绞痛组（P〈0．01，P〈0．01）和健康对照组（P〈0．01，P〈0．01）。结论外周血IL-18蛋白水平、IL-18mRNA表达量与急性冠脉综合征（ACS）的发展及严重程度密切相关。     

慢性HCV感染者外周血单个核细胞IL-18和IFNAR1检测的临床意义

目的 分析慢性丙肝（CHC）患者外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）白细胞介素18（IL-18）mRNA的诱导表达及α干扰素受体1（IFN-α receptor1，IFNAAR1）表达，评价慢性丙肝患者PBMC细胞免疫功能。方法 脂多糖（LPS）体外刺激正常对照组和慢性丙型肝炎病毒（Hepatitis C virus，HCV）感染组病人PBMC，RT-PCR检测干扰素治疗前后PBMC IL-18mRNA水平的变化。同时RT-PCR检测不同组PBMC IFNAR1mRNA水平的差异。结果 治疗前干扰素应答组病人（n=12）和无应答组病人（n=26）PBMC IL-18mRNA诱导表达水平显著低于正常对照组（P〈0．01；P〈0．01）；治疗后，应答组病人IL-18mRNA水平随治疗时间延长而升高，1个月时显著高于无应答组病人（P〈0．01），无应答组病人IL18mR-NA水平始终较低。IFN-α2b治疗期间，干扰素应答组病人PBMCIFNAR1mRNA水平从治疗前的高表达而逐渐减少，正常对照和干扰素无应答组病人PBMCIFNAR1mRNA的表达始终较低（治疗前与应答组相比P〈0．01）。结论 慢性HCV感染病人的细胞免疫功能受损，不能正常表达IL-18和IFNAR1，但应答组病人经干扰素治疗后表达能力逐渐恢复。慢性丙肝患者PBMCIL18mRNA和IFNAR1mRNA水平检测也许可以作为干扰素治疗预后的判断指标。     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病和阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征患者外周血单个核细胞TNF—α、IL-8mRNA表达的研究

目的分析慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）、阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征（OSAHS）及重叠综合征（overlap syndrome）患者单个核细胞TNF-α和IL-8mRNA表达的特点,从炎症反应方面探讨重叠综合征的发病机制。方法选取已确诊为COPD11例、OSAHS15例和重叠综合征4例各为一组,所有研究对象均行夜间多导睡眠图监测和肺功能检查,用半定量RT-PCR法检测外周血单个核细胞TNF-α、IL-8的mRNA水平。结果外周血单个核细胞在TNF-α的mRNA表达水平中,OSAHS组〈COPD组〈重叠组,差异均具有统计学意义（P均〈0．05）;在IL-8的mRNA表达水平中,COPD组和重叠组均高于OSAHS组,差异具有统计学意义（P均〈0．05）,而COPD组和重叠组之间无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。COPD患者单个核细胞TNF—αmRNA表达水平与第一秒用力呼气容积（FEVI／Pre％）呈负相关（r=-0．894,P〈0．01）,与低氧时间呈正相关（r=0．781,P〈0．01）;IL-8mRNA表达水平与FEVI／Pre％呈负相关（r=-0．859,P〈0．01）,与低氧时间呈正相关（r=0．862,P〈0．01）。OSAHS患者单个核细胞TNF-αmRNA表达水平与呼吸暂停和低通气指数（AHI）、低氧时间均呈正相关（r=0．833、0．742,P均〈0．01）;IL-8mRNA表达水平与AHI、低氧时间均呈正相关（r=0．825、0．882,P均〈0．01）。结论COPD患者和重叠综合征患者的IL-8和TNF-α的mRNA表达高于OSAHS患者,且IL-8和TNF-α的mRNA表达与FEVI／Pre％、AHI和低氧时间均有较好的相关性,提示炎症反应也可能在重叠综合征的发病机制和发展中起着较为重要的作用。     

The TRAIL to arthritis

Antigen-specific lymphocytes are involved in synovial proliferation within inflamed joints. Activated lymphocytes and synoviocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis express receptors that can bind TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). A new study demonstrates that DCs pulsed with collagen and transduced with an adenovirus-based vector able to express TRAIL limit the incidence of arthritis in a model of collagen-induced arthritis and joint inflammation. These results suggest that gene-modified cell therapy represents a therapeutic option for systemic rheumatic diseases.     

The long and winding TRAIL to weight loss

TRAIL [TNF (tumour necrosis factor)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand] is in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. In the present issue of Clinical Science, Bernardi and co-workers report that the administration of TRAIL in mice fed on a high-fat diet resulted in reduced adiposity and improved metabolic responses to a glucose and insulin tolerance test compared with mice without TRAIL. The metabolic improvements were associated with a higher rate of apoptotic fat cells and with a reduction in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These results suggest that TRAIL could be an exciting new therapeutic for treating obesity, but further studies are required to determine its major mechanisms of action.     

Cloning and apoptosis-inducing activities of canine and feline TRAIL

The apoptosis process is crucial to various biological processes including embryo development and organism homeostasis. Inducing apoptosis of cancer cells has become a very attractive field for cancer therapy in the recent years. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL; also called Apo2L, TNFSF10, CD253, or TL2) is a member of tumor necrosis factor family. Preclinical studies showed that human TRAIL induced apoptosis of various tumor cell lines, whereas nontransformed normal cell lines were not affected. We have cloned both canine and feline TRAIL full-length genes by using Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends-PCR technology. Truncated soluble versions of the canine and feline TRAIL genes were also constructed. The degree of identity between canine TRAIL protein and the human, mouse, chicken, porcine, and rat homologues is 81.3%, 61.7%, 54.3%, 82.9%, and 63.2%, respectively. The degree of identity between the feline TRAIL protein and the human, mouse, chicken, porcine, and rat homologues is 84.2%, 64.2%, 54.4%, 86.8% and 65.7%, respectively. The identity between the canine and feline TRAIL proteins is 93.2%. The canine and feline soluble TRAIL proteins were expressed in both mammalian and bacterial expression systems. Western immunoblot assays with TRAIL-specific antibody confirmed the identity of expressed protein. Both canine and feline TRAIL proteins were shown to specifically induce apoptosis and inhibit cell growth of cancer cells at a level comparable with their human counterpart.     

TRAIL signaling and synergy mechanisms used in TRAIL-based combination therapies

TRAIL and agonistic antibodies raised against TRAIL death receptors are highly promising new anticancer agents. In this brief review, we describe the recent advances in the molecular understanding of TRAIL signaling and the progress made in using TRAIL or agonistic antibodies clinically in mono- and combination therapies. Synergies have been reported in various scenarios of TRAIL-based multidrug treatments, and these can be used to potentiate the efficacy of therapies targeting TRAIL death receptors. We pay particular attention to structure the current knowledge on the diverse molecular mechanisms that are thought to give rise to these synergies and describe how different signaling features evoking synergies can be associated with distinct classes of drugs used in TRAIL-based combination treatments.     

Depsipeptide (FR901228) enhances the cytotoxic activity of TRAIL by redistributing TRAIL receptor to membrane lipid rafts.

TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) induces apoptosis in various tumor cell types and is under investigation as a cancer therapeutic. The development of a recombinant adenovirus encoding the full-length human TRAIL gene (Ad5-TRAIL) replaces the need for large quantities of soluble TRAIL protein in tumor suppressive therapies. However, the full potential of Ad5-TRAIL has not yet been maximized. Recent investigation of a histone deacetylase inhibitor, depsipeptide (FR901228), has demonstrated that it increases cellular susceptibility to adenovirus infection and augments adenoviral transgene expression. Thus, studies were initiated to evaluate the ability of depsipeptide to enhance the cytotoxic activity of Ad5-TRAIL against human prostate tumor cells. In vitro, depsipeptide increased expression of coxsackie-adenovirus receptor, leading to increased adenoviral infection and transgene expression. Additionally, tumor cell killing by Ad5-TRAIL was higher following depsipeptide pretreatment. More surprisingly, depsipeptide also increased prostate tumor cell sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Investigation into the mechanism responsible for increased TRAIL responsiveness revealed increased levels of TRAIL-R1 and -R2 in membrane lipid rafts following depsipeptide treatment. These results indicate that depsipeptide is a potent agent for enhancing the activity of Ad5-TRAIL by multiple mechanisms, allowing for a more efficient use of Ad5-TRAIL as an antitumor therapy.     

Gene therapy with TRAIL against renal cell carcinoma

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis in cancer cells. However, TRAIL is not toxic against most normal cells. We have accordingly examined by in vivo electroporation whether TRAIL induces apoptosis in renal cell carcinoma. In addition, combination treatment with TRAIL and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) against renal cell carcinoma was also investigated. The NC65 renal cell carcinoma line was used as a target. pCAGGS TRAIL was injected into the NC65 tumors in the right flanks of severe combined immunodeficient mice. Tumors were pulsed with the CUY21 electroporator. Electroporation was done once on day 0 or thrice on days 0, 2, and 4. Apoptosis was determined by terminal deoxyribonucleotide transferase-mediated nick-end labeling assay. When TRAIL gene therapy using in vivo i.t. electroporation was done once only, the growth of NC65 tumors was not inhibited. However, when TRAIL gene therapy was done thrice, growth suppression of the NC65 tumors was observed. Transfection of the TRAIL gene by in vivo electroporation induced apoptosis in NC65 tumors. When NC65 cells were treated with TRAIL gene therapy in combination with 5-FU, stronger growth suppression was obtained. TRAIL gene therapy did not induce liver dysfunction in severe combined immunodeficient mice. This study shows that TRAIL gene therapy induced growth suppression and apoptosis in NC65 tumors without severe side effects, and that combination treatment of NC65 cells with TRAIL gene therapy and 5-FU resulted in higher antitumor activity. These findings suggest that TRAIL gene therapy and/or 5-FU may be effective against renal cell carcinoma without harmful toxic effects.     

Blazing a new TRAIL in hematopoietic cell transplantation

There is a ying/yang to most biological therapies, and the balance of efficacy versus toxicity is delicate and sometimes difficult to achieve in favor of the patients. When the therapeutic window is wide, these therapies can be used in the majority of patients, but when the therapeutic window is narrow, the decision to proceed must be carefully balanced with a thoughtful risk-benefit analysis. In this issue of the JCI, Ghosh et al. tackle one of the major obstacles in hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) technology: balancing the beneficial antitumor effect with the harmful anti-host effect. HCT describes the process of introducing new donor cells into a host, most often to treat hematological malignancy. The aim of treatment is to replace the damaged hematopoietic cells with normal stem cells, and requires the rebuilding of a new immune system, since the original needs to be destroyed to allow for donor engraftment. The new immune system can recognize virulent microbial agents, alloantigens, and tumor-specific antigens, leading to the beneficial graft-versus-tumor/leukemia (GVL) effect. On the other hand, donor T cell recognition of host antigens can result in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (1). The occurrence of GVHD is the single greatest obstacle to successful allogeneic stem cell transplantation, and the prevention of GVHD while preserving GVL is the holy grail of research in this field.