Immunotherapy in Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: Innate,adaptive and targeted immunological strategies

Since the clinical introduction of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies into lymphoma treatment, immunologic approaches in lymphoma have made substantial progress. Advances in our understanding of tumor immunology have led to the development of strategies to overcome immunologic barriers responsible for an ineffective immune response. Specifically, therapeutic agents have been developed and tested against molecules that are responsible for T-cell exhaustion. The use of monoclonal antibodies against immune checkpoints in the adaptive immune system, such as programmed cell death-1 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4, has changed the landscape of cancer therapy including the treatment of lymphoma. This achievement has recently been accompanied by the development of novel immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the innate immune system, including the CD47-SIRPα signaling pathway, and this approach has yielded promising results. To overcome impaired antigen presentation, antibody-based cytotoxic strategies, namely antibody-drug conjugates (polatuzumab vedotin and brentuximab vedotin) and bispecific T-cell or NK-cell engagers (blinatumomab, REGN1979, RG6206, and AFM13), have rapidly evolved with promising clinical activity. As additional tools become available for lymphoma treatment, formulation of safe, rational combination strategies to combine them with standard therapy will be of paramount importance. A successful approach to the treatment of lymphoma may require both an optimized anti-tumor immune response as well as effective depletion of malignant lymphoid cells.     

Nonspecific immunity in pregnancy: monocyte surface Fcγ receptor expression and function

The state of pregnancy is an immunological enigma during which the body must prevent rejection of the antigenically foreign fetus while at the same time maintain sufficient maternal host defense mechanisms to combat infection. Although most studies on the immunology of pregnancy focus on immune suppression, several studies have shown an increase in nonspecific host defense, which is postulated to be a compensatory mechanism for decreased specific immunity during pregnancy. Studies in this laboratory have shown that monocyte surface FcγRI (CD64) and FcγRII (CD32) expression progressively increase throughout pregnancy, while surface MHC class II expression remains unchanged. Functional studies revealed that the number of phagocytic monocytes which could be isolated from pregnant women was increased. These cells exhibited an increased capacity to ingest IgG-opsonized human erythrocytes. This study shows for the first time that monocyte surface FcγR expression and FcγR-mediated functions are increased during pregnancy. These results support the hypothesis that nonspecific immunity as represented by FcγR expression and function is increased during pregnancy.     

A semi-quantitative direct contact assay using fluorescein diacetate and L929 mouse fibroblasts in monolayer culture

Summary A semi-quantitative procedure is described for measuring cell viability after short-term exposure to a test substance using a monolayer culture. Test substances are placed in direct contact with cell monolayers for various time intervals. The substances are removed and the monolayers are incubated in the presence of fluorescein diacetate. Monolayers are viewed under a fluorescent microscope and the percentage of fluorescing (viable) cells is estimated. The method is suitable for examining cytotoxic effects at short times of exposure and for discriminating between test substances that give similar, low toxicity endpoints in standard 24-h assays.     

Antiparasitic properties of homoallylamines and related compounds

A study of some antiparasitic properties of several homoallylamines and related tetrahydroquinolines and quinolines, previously described, was carried out using in vitro activity assays against the epimastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi and against Trichomonas vaginalis. Unspecific cytotoxicity against murine macrophages was also studied. Although the antichagasic and trichomonacidal activities are not comparable to those of the standard drugs, nifurtimox and metronidazole, some of the compounds exhibit an interesting specific antiparasitic activity.     

Arsenic trioxide–loaded, microemulsion-enhanced cytotoxicity on MDAH 2774 ovarian carcinoma cell line

The antiproliferative effect of As(2)O(3)-loaded microemulsion (As(2)O(3)-M) on human MDAH 2774 ovarian cancer cells was compared with a regular solution of the As(2)O(3). We used MDAH 2774 as model cell lines for ovarian cancer. The (2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide) (XTT) and trypane blue dye exclusion tests were used to evaluate cytotoxicity. Apoptotic effect of solutions was evaluated using cell death detection kit. Standard microemulsion formulation used in this experiment contains 5 x 10(-6) M As(2)O(3). It was clearly demonstrated that As(2)O(3)-M had a significant cytotoxic effect on MDAH 2774 cell line, and the cytotoxic effect of As(2)O(3)-M was significantly higher than that of regular As(2)O(3) solutions. Even approximately 6000 times diluted microemulsion formulation loaded with 5 x 10(-6) M As(2)O(3) showed a cytotoxic effect. As a result, this diluted concentration (approximately 8 x 10(-10) M) was found to be approximately 6000 times more effective than regular As(2)O(3) solutions (5 x 10(-6) M). Moreover, this diluted concentration resulted in 1.5-fold enhancement of apoptosis. According to the in vitro cytotoxicity studies, we concluded that by incorporating As(2)O(3) into the microemulsion (As(2)O(3)-M), which is a new drug carrier system, it is possible to increase antiproliferative effect of regular As(2)O(3) on MDAH 2774 cells. Translating these results to in vivo conditions would open new windows in the treatment of ovarian cancer.     

HLA-G突变分子对NK细胞抑制作用的研究

目的探索可溶性HLAG1分子结构对功能的影响,为其临床应用打下基础。方法通过分子克隆技术,去掉HLAG1重链分子α1功能区氨基端24肽,然后与轻链蛋白在体外与九肽共折叠复性形成复合物,并检测复合物对NK细胞杀伤活性的影响。结果成功构建突变的HLAG1重链分子的原核表达载体,表达的重链蛋白与轻链蛋白形成复合物,经Westernblot鉴定可与HLAⅠ类分子的单抗W6/32结合,并且可明显抑制NK细胞对K562细胞的细胞毒作用。结论α1功能区氨基端缺失24肽的HLAG1分子,可抑制NK细胞的细胞毒作用。     

5种稀土粉尘的细胞毒性研究

本研究应用荧光偏振测量技术测定了豚鼠肺泡巨噬细胞膜流动性,用原子吸收分光光度仪测定细胞钾,并通过测定细胞培养液中乳酸脱氢酶的活性、细胞死亡率及扫描电镜观察巨噬细胞形态学变化,研究了CeO_2、包钢混合稀土、硅铁合金、Y_2O_3及富钇5种粉尘对细胞的毒作用。结果表明,5种粉尘对细胞均产生一定毒性,并有明显的剂量-反应关系。经毒性大小比较,CeO_2毒性较轻,接近TiO_2,包钢混合稀土与硅铁合金相近,毒性居中,Y_2O_3和富钇毒性较大,但轻于SiO_2。     

长柄梭罗细胞毒活性部位的化学成分研究

目的 对长柄梭罗Reevesia longipetiolata树皮具细胞毒活性的醋酸乙酯部分化学成分进行研究。方法 采用常压、加压硅胶柱色谱、Sephadex LH-20凝胶柱色谱、高效液相色谱进行分离和纯化，通过理化和波谱分析方法鉴定化合物结构。结果 从其醋酸乙酯部分分离得到5个化合物，分别鉴定为β-谷甾醇(β-sitosterol，I)、胡萝卜苷(daucosterol，Ⅱ)、白桦脂酸(betulinic acid，Ⅲ)、羽扇豆醇(lupeol，Ⅳ)和( )-儿茶素[( )-catechin，V]。结论 5个化合物均为首次从该属植物中分得，并分别讨论了它们的细胞毒活性。     

多抗甲素对人NK细胞活性的作用机理研究

作者应用单细胞细胞毒试验及形态学观察，研究多抗甲素（ＰＡＡ）对人体自然杀伤（ＮＫ）细胞活性的作用机理。结果表明：ＰＡＡ能增强食道癌患者淋巴细胞（ＰＢＬ）明显低下的结合率（Ｂ％）和杀伤率（Ｋ％），也可增强正常人ＰＢＬ的Ｋ％，但对正常人ＰＢＬ的Ｂ％无影响。形态学观察发现：与靶细胞结合的ＰＢＬ除大颗粒ＰＢＬ外，尚有普通的非颗粒ＰＢＬ，结合的靶细胞损伤首先表现为线粒体肿胀、空泡变，然后核固缩，核膜损伤，细胞严重空泡变性等，偶见靶细胞与自然杀伤细胞结合部质膜破损的现象。经ＰＡＡ预处理的靶效细胞结合的形态改变无明显差异，但食道癌组的杀伤作用出现较早，且明显增强。