Cytokines as an adjuvant to tumor vaccines: Efficacy of local methods of delivery

Background: We examined alternative methods of delivering cytokines as an adjunct for priming lymph node (LN) cells draining sites of vaccine inoculation for the purpose of generating immune cells for adoptive immunotherapy. Methods: Using syngeneic murine tumors we examined the ability of IL-2, IL-4, or GM-CSF delivered locally to a site of tumor inoculum to induce antitumor reactive draining LN cells. Mice were inoculated subcutaneously with tumor cells transduced to secrete cytokine; tumor cells admixed with fibroblasts transduced to secrete cytokine; or intralesional inoculation of cytokine in established tumor to induce sensitized LN cells capable of mediating tumor regression in adoptive transfer. Results: Both IL-4 and GM-CSF cytokines were effective in enhancing the antitumor reactivity of vaccine-primed LN cells compared to IL-2, which was ineffective. The local delivery of GM-CSF by autocrine or paracrine secretion of genetically engineered cells, as well as direct intratumoral delivery was capable of upregulating LN sensitization compared to systemic administration, which did not. Conclusions: The local delivery of GM-CSF as an adjuvant for tumor vaccination can be accomplished by various methods, including direct injection, which avoids the need for gene transfer.     

心血管疾病基因治疗的基础研究Ⅵ．一种新的体内基因转移方法

将医用缝合线浸泡在质粒ＤＮＡ溶液中，然后缝合在大鼠股四头肌上，可以观察到外源基因在肌肉组织中高效、稳定地表达，其表达量高于磷酸钙共沉淀和ＤＮＡ沉淀块埋植法，较肌肉直接注射法表达量高１０倍左右。     

正常人及胃癌患者胃蛋白酶原C基因多态性研究

以ＰＧＣ３０１为探讨，对１０例胃癌组织及１１例正常人体组织基因组ＤＮＡ中胃蛋白酶原Ｃ基因的ＥｃｏＲ Ｉ限制性片段长度多态性作了观察分析。发现在正常人体有三种常见等位片段，分别为２０ｋｂ、５．７ｋｂ及３．６ｋｂ；一种稀有片段，３．５ｋｂ。在胃癌患者，未发现与正常人体不同的等位片段。但是，稀有片段及稀有杂交带型的出现频率高于正常组。这一结果对深入探讨胃蛋白酶原Ｃ基因稀有片段及稀有杂交带型对胃癌的诊断价     

P物质对肉芽组织成纤维细胞表皮生长因子的表达调控及其意义

目的 探讨感觉神经肽P物质(SP)对离体培养的肉芽组织成纤维细胞表皮生长因子(EGF)表达的调控作用及特点。方法 采用甲醛注射的方法造成Wistar大鼠局部无菌性炎性反应，提取肉芽组织进行成纤维细胞原代培养；采用逆转录—聚合酶链反应(RT—PCR)方法检测SP对肉芽组织成纤维细胞EGF基因表达的调控作用，观察时间及剂量—效应关系；采用Western-blotting方法检测EGF蛋白表达情况，观察时间及剂量—效应关系。结果 10^-7mol/L SP可诱导成纤维细胞EGF mRNA的表达，在作用后6h与对照组比，差异有显著性(P＜0．01)；SP在10^-8-10^-6mol/L范围内可以显著促进成纤维细胞EGF mRNA表达，在10^-7mol/L达到峰值，10^-5mol/L时与对照组差异无显著性(P＞0．05)。10^-7mol/L SP作用12h后可检测到EGF蛋白明显表达增强(P＜0．01)，24h达高峰，48h后逐渐有所回落。SP在在10^-8--10^-5mol/L范围可诱导EGF蛋白的表达，均在10^-7mol/L剂量点达到峰值(P＜0．01)。结论 SP可诱导肉芽组织成纤维细胞EGF基因和蛋白的表达，且呈现出一定的时间和剂量特点，在SP调控创伤愈合的作用中具有重要意义。     

Analysis of differentially expressed genes in fetal skin of scarless and scar-forming periods of gestational rats

Objective: To study the differences of gene expression between earlier gestational skin and later gestational skin of rats with the aids of single primer amplification (SPA) and high-density oligonucleotide DNA array to understand the molecular mechanism of scarless healing. Methods: Total RNAs were isolated from fetal rat skin of the scarless (E15) and scar-forming (E18) periods of gestation (term =21.5 days). The RNAs from earlier gestational skin (EGS) and later gestational skin (LGS) were both reversely transcribed to cDNAs, then labeled with the incorporation of fluorescent dCTP for preparing the hybridization probes by SPA method. The mixed probes were then hybridized to the oligonucleotide DNA arrays which contained 5 705 probes representing 5 705 rat genes. After highly stringent washing, these DNA arrays were scanned for fluorescent signals to display the differentially expressed genes between the 2 groups of skin. Results: Among 5 705 rat genes, there were 53 genes (0.93%) with differentially expressed levels between EGS and LGS groups, 27 genes, including fibroblast growth factor 2 ( FGF2 ) and follistatin were up-regulated (0.47%) and 26 genes were down-regulated (0.46%) in fetal skin during scarless period versus scar-forming period. Higher expressions of FGF2 and follistatin in EGS than those in LGS were also revealed by RT-PCR method. Conclusions: High-density oligonucleotide DNA array provided a powerful tool for investigating differential gene expression in earlier and later gestational fetal skins. This technology validates that the mechanism of fetal scarless healing is very complicate and the change of many gene expressions is associated with fetal scarless healing.     

α<Subscript>2β</Subscript> adrenoreceptor 301–303 deletion polymorphism in polycystic ovary syndrome

α_2β adrenoreceptor 301–303 deletion polymorphism does not influence basal metabolic rate, insulin resistance or weight gain in Greek women with polycystic ovary syndrome.     

rhTPO在大肠杆菌中的表达、纯化及生物活性分析

目的：探讨人促血小板生成素(human thromlbopoietin，hTPO)在大肠杆菌中表达、分离纯化及生物学活性初步鉴定。方法：利用RT-PCR法从人胎肝细胞中扩增目的基因片段，将其定向插入pQE30表达质粒T5启动子下游的多克隆区，转化大肠杆菌M15，得到pQE30-TPO的工程菌，诱导目的蛋白表达、纯化。将表达产物给血小板减少模型小鼠尾静脉注射，观察注射后不同时间血小板量的改变。结果：经异丙基硫代-β-D-半乳糖苷(isopropylthio-β-D-galactoside IPTG)诱导培养，该工程菌可以产生单一特异性的高表达蛋白条带。将纯化后的表达蛋白注射小鼠，结果显示对实验性小鼠血小板减少症具有一定的治疗作用。结论：在大肠杆菌中成功地高效表达了重组hTPO，该产物具有促血小板生成的活性。     

重组逆转录病毒pLNCX2-GDNF转染许旺细胞及其表达

目的 利用基因转染技术将胶质细胞源性神经营养因子(GDNF)基因转入许旺细胞(SC)以提高其分泌该因子的水平。方法 应用逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT—PCR)方法合成GDNFcD—NA片段，以逆转录病毒pLNCX2为载体导入许旺细胞内，并运用RT—PCR、免疫细胞化学染色、ELISA及运动神经元联合培养法检测外源性基因在mRNA和蛋白水平的表达及其产物的活性。结果 RT—PCR检测结果示GDNF—SCs表达GDNFmRNA的水平明显优于SCs；免疫细胞化学检测发现GDNF—SCs抗GDNF蛋白染色呈强阳性，正常SCs呈弱阳性；ELISA法检测结果示转染后4周GDNF—SCs分泌GD—NF蛋白的水平升至正常SCs的5．1倍；运动神经元联合培养法结果显示GDNF—SCs分泌的外源性基因产物具有生物学活性。结论 GDNF基因转染SC在mRNA和蛋白水平表达GDNF明显优于正常SCs，外源性基因表达产物具有神经生物学活性。     

Novel multi-probe RNase protection assay set for detection of endotoxin associated receptors gene expression

Objective: To construct the multi-probe ribonuclease protection assay (RPA) template set to be used for detecting expression patterns of MD-2, TLR4, CD14 mRNAs in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Methods : The designed cDNA fragments of the three genes were generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)using specific primers and directionally cloned into EcoR I and Hind III sites of expression plasmid pSP72 containing the T7/ promoter, the linearized plasmids was used as template to synthesize anti-sense RNA probes. Then we extracted total RNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and detected the dynamic expression patterns of the three genes with RPA method. Results: The proper sequence and orientation of the template set were confirmed by sequencing and the template set was successfully used to assay TLR4, MD-2 and CD14 mRNAs in human PBMC. The results showed that the three detected genes decreased transiently 1-3 hours after 100 ng/ml LPS stimulation. Conclusions: These new RPA multi-probe set provided valuable tool for the simultaneous quantitative determination of expression of TLR4, CD14 and MD-2 mRNAs in both constitutive and inducible types.