Therapeutic Vaccines for Cervical Cancer

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with transformation and clonal expansion of infected epithelial cells, resulting in the production of a benign growth, i.e. a wart. Recently, however, HPV has emerged as the primary causative agent of cervical carcinoma, malignancy being associated with the presence of the viral genome (predominantly genotypes 16 and 18) in cancerous cells. The only HPV proteins reliably expressed in neoplastic lesions are the 'oncogenic' E6 and E7 proteins, that serve both as tumour-specific markers and potential targets for immunotherapeutic intervention. As intracellular (nuclear) proteins, the E6 and E7 gene products may be hidden from the humoral immune response. Attention has thus focused on the generation of a vaccine capable of inducing or stimulating a cellular immune response to HPV 16 and HPV 18 E6 and E7. Vaccine development has been constrained by the absence of an appropriate animal model, the oncogenic nature of E6 and E7 and technical difficulties associated with detection of cytotoxic T cell responses to these antigens. Despite these difficulties, vaccine strategies have now been devised based on immunisation with synthetic peptide, whole protein and a vaccinia virus recombinant. Phase I/II human clinical trials have been initiated, and preliminary results have demonstrated the induction of specific cellular immune responses after immunisation. The HPV-associated neoplasia in cervical cancer represents an excellent target for therapeutic intervention because the tumour-associated antigens are so clearly defined. As such, it provides an appropriate model for establishing the general principles of cancer immunotherapy in humans.     

A novel dystrophin isoform is required for normal retinal electrophysiology

Dystrophin is present in the outer plexiform layer of the retinaand is required for normal retinal function as measured by electroretinography.We describe the identification of a novel isoform of dystrophln(Dp260) present in the mouse retina. The unIque 5' terminusof the mRNA originates from a newly identified exon and is splicedin frame to exon 30 of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)gene. The retinal isoform of dystrophln has 13 novel amino acidsas its N-terminus followed by most of the dystrophin rod domainand the cysteine-rich C-terminal domains. Analysis of mousetissues indicated this isoform of dystrophin Is expressed inretina, brain and cardiac tissue. Comparison of retinal electrophysiologyin mdx and mdx^cv3 mouse suggests that Dp260 is required fornormal retinal function.     

磁转联合脂质体实现高效细胞转染

目的优化体外培养细胞的外源基因转染方案。方法采用磁性微粒联合脂质体，将重组人绿色荧光蛋白表达载体（pAAV-IRES-GFP）外源DNA定向转染COS-7细胞，荧光显微镜下观察外源基因的表达，比较不同转染条件及DNA载量的细胞转染效果。结果DNA与Combimag按1：1的比例混合转染可以得到很高的转染效率，过高的DNA载量使转染效率减低。结论利用磁转结合脂质体可使低剂量的DNA达到快速、简便和高水平的转染。     

新型抗蝰蛇毒血清对不同喹蛇毒作用的实验研究

目的　探讨新型抗蝰蛇毒血清对国产圆斑蝰蛇毒及缅甸蝰蛇毒的作用 .方法　采用免疫电泳、SDS -聚丙烯酰胺电泳及动物实验等方法 .结果　国产圆斑蝰蛇毒的LD50 (腹腔注射 )为 0 .3 0 6± 0 .0 0 3mg/kg ,缅甸蝰蛇毒的LD50 (腹腔注射 )为 0 .2 90± 0 .0 0 3mg/kg .免疫电泳结果表明国产圆斑蝰蛇毒和缅甸蝰蛇毒均和新型抗蝰蛇毒血清产生明显的免疫沉淀线 .体外中和实验表明抗蝰蛇毒血清对国产圆斑蝰蛇毒的中和抗体效价为 2 75 0 μg/ml(约45 0LD50 ) ,对缅甸蝰蛇毒的中和抗体效价为 2 490 μg/ml(约 43 0LD50 ) .体内保护实验表明给予 0 .0 5ml抗蝰蛇毒血清可抵御 2 5 4μg(约41 5LD50 )国产圆斑蝰蛇毒或 116μg(约 2 0LD50 )缅甸蝰蛇毒的攻击 ,使小鼠全部存活 .结论　新型抗蝰蛇毒血清对国产圆斑蝰蛇毒及缅甸蝰蛇毒的中和抗体效价均较高 ,有较大的应用价值 .     

Phenotypically different cells with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 overexpression show similar genetic alterations

Immunocytochemical studies have revealed that overexpression of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A2/ B1 in exfoliated epithelial cells is a potentially useful marker of early lung cancer. This study analyzed the correlation of hnRNP A2/B1 expression with molecular alterations in phenotypically different epithelial cells of paraffin-embedded pulmonary tissues. Sections from 20 human subjects were analyzed immunohistochemically for expression of hnRNP A2/B1. Normal-appearing, hyperplastic, and malignant epithelial cells with and without hnRNP A2/B1 expression (n = 78) were microdissected and assessed for microsatellite alterations (MA) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) (n = 14 markers) as well as for clonality. Results showed that (1) hnRNP A2/B1 immunoreactive cells contained a significantly higher frequency of MA and LOH than did comparable cells that lacked detectable hnRNP A2/B1; (2) over 80% of MA and LOH seen in hnRNP A2/B1 immunoreactive normal-appearing and hyperplastic cells persisted in malignant cells; (3) preliminary analysis of methylation status of the androgen receptor gene in non-neoplastic cells was suggestive of hnRNP A2/B1-expressing cells being of clonal origin; and (4) cells with cytoplasmic hnRNP A2/B1 immunoreactivity had a 3-fold higher frequency of MA and LOH than did cells with nuclear hnRNP A2/B1 immunoreactivity. These findings suggest that phenotypically different respiratory epithelial cells with hnRNP A2/B1 overexpression might be clonally derived, and that the subcellular localization of hnRNP A2/B1 might be an important factor associated with tumor progression.     

Mutations in Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and their effects on emerin protein expression

Seventeen families with Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) have been studied both by DNA sequencing and by emerin protein expression. Fourteen had mutations in the X-linked emerin gene, while three showed evidence of autosomal inheritance. Twelve of the 14 emerin mutations caused early termination of translation. An in-frame deletion of six amino acids from the C-terminal transmembrane helix caused almost complete absence of emerin from muscle with no localization to the nuclear membrane, although mRNA levels were normal. This shows that mutant emerin proteins are unstable if they are unable to integrate into a membrane. A 22 bp deletion in the promoter region was expected to result in reduced emerin production, but normal amounts of emerin of normal size were found in leucocytes and lymphoblastoid cell lines. This shows that DNA analysis is necessary to exclude emerin mutations in suspected X-linked EDMD. Emerin levels in female carriers often deviated from the expected 50% and this was due, in at least two families, to skewed emerin mRNA expression from the normal and mutated alleles. In one family with a novel deletion of the last three exons of the emerin gene, a carrier had a cardiomyopathy and very low emerin levels (<5% of normal) due to skewed X-inactivation. In the three autosomal cases of EDMD, emerin was normal on western blots of blood cells, which suggests that autosomal EDMD is not caused by indirect reduction of emerin levels.      

Evaluation and Validation of an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and an Immunochromatographic Test for Serological Diagnosis of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

A newly developed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was further validated to confirm cutoff values and evaluate its diagnostic performance with clinical samples. In parallel, an immunochromatographic test was also evaluated. A total of 227 clinical serum specimens collected from SARS patients were used in the study, together with 385 samples from healthy donors. By use of an immunofluorescent (IF) test as the “gold standard, ” both the ELISA and the immunochromatographic test were able to detect immunoglobulin G antibodies to SARS not only from late-convalescent-stage samples (>21 days from the onset of clinical symptoms), as previously established, but also from early-acute-phase samples (1 to 10 days from onset). The ELISA, using an optical density (OD) of 0.25 as its cutoff value, produced the best sensitivity while maintaining high specificity. It detected SARS-specific antibodies in 58, 70, 75, and 95%, respectively, of the four groups of samples collected from patients 1 to 10 days, 11 to 20 days, 21 to 30 days, and more than 30 days after the onset of clinical symptoms. Similarly, the immunochromatographic test detected SARS-specific antibodies in 55, 68, 81, and 79% of the four groups, respectively. The overall specificities for the ELISA and the rapid test were 99.5 and 97.7%, respectively. Although the positive correlation observed between the ELISA OD values and the IF titers was moderate (r = 0.6915; P < 0.001), the detection rates of both the ELISA and the rapid test were found well in agreement with the IF titers.     

Alternative therapy of Alzheimer's disease via supplementation with choline acetyltransferase

Much evidence indicates that the memory and cognitive deficits of patients with Alzheimer's disease are closely associated with dysfunction of central cholinergic system. The degree of reduction of choline acetyltransferase activity in cerebral cholinergic neurons is significantly correlated with the severity of dementia or cognitive impairments observed in Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, Alzheimer's disease may be slowed by supplementation of exogenous choline acetyltransferase. Here we show that choline acetyltransferase mediated by TAT protein transduction domain passes through the blood-brain barrier and enters the neurons in mice, increasing choline acetyltransferase and neurotransmitter acetylcholine contents. The recombination TAT-choline acetyltransferase fusion protein injected intravenously improves the memory and cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease model mice induced by amyloid-beta peptide. Our results imply a novel and potentially effective way for Alzheimer's disease therapy.     

二十碳五烯酸联合视黄酸对HL-60细胞凋亡相关基因表达的影响

目的 研究二十碳五烯酸(EPA)是否协同视黄酸(RA)影响HL-60细胞的凋亡及相应分子机制。方法 流式细胞仪(FCM)检测细胞周期相分布以测定细胞增殖和凋亡功能；Western blot法分析bcl-2和caspase—3表达。结果 与单独应用相比，EPA和RA联合应用可增强HL-60细胞的调亡效应，以及下调节bcl—2和增强caspase-3基因表达。结论 EPA和RA联合应用对HL-60细胞凋亡的增强效应，可能与它们增强caspase-3和降低bcl—2基因表达相关。