多尺度的光声显微镜用于癌细胞及实体瘤成像

多尺度显微成像系统(M-PAM)被发展,并被用于成像从癌细胞到实体肿瘤的多尺度生物结构.该装置由二维运动平台,扫描振镜,物镜,聚焦超声换能器组成,其横向分辨率达到3 μm.结果显示该系统可以对体外培养黑色素瘤细胞与体内的黑色素瘤进行无标记成像.基于具有靶向性的探针,M-PAM系统可以对体外培养的U87-MG肿瘤细胞以及体内U87-MG实体肿瘤进行成像.综上所述,M-PAM系统将是研究肿瘤的有力工具.     

多尺度的光声显微镜用于癌细胞及实体瘤成像（英文）

多尺度显微成像系统(M-PAM)被发展,并被用于成像从癌细胞到实体肿瘤的多尺度生物结构。该装置由二维运动平台,扫描振镜,物镜,聚焦超声换能器组成,其横向分辨率达到3μm。结果显示该系统可以对体外培养黑色素瘤细胞与体内的黑色素瘤进行无标记成像。基于具有靶向性的探针,M-PAM系统可以对体外培养的U87-MG肿瘤细胞以及体内U87-MG实体肿瘤进行成像。综上所述,M-PAM系统将是研究肿瘤的有力工具。     

Onconase对B16黑色素瘤细胞的体内外生长抑制作用

Onconase(Onc)是一种从林蛙(Rana pipiens)卵细胞内提取的核酸酶,实验证实其在体外和体内对多种肿瘤细胞都具有显著的杀伤效果。在大肠杆菌中表达纯化的重组Onc和天然提取蛋白质具有相似的活性,通过测定该蛋白质对黑色素瘤B16细胞的IC50和建立荷瘤小鼠模型探讨了Onc体内外的抗肿瘤效果。实验结果表明:B16细胞在体外对Onc敏感性较K562细胞低,其IC50为6.37μmol/L;但体内每次每只小鼠给予5mg/kg Onc也可显著地抑制B16细胞的生长,延长小鼠的生存时间。实验提供了一种简化高效获得具有天然活性Onc的方法,同时通过Onc对低敏感性肿瘤黑色素瘤细胞的杀伤研究,丰富了对Onc抗肿瘤作用的认识,为治疗黑色素瘤提供了线索。     

IL-24选择性诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡机制

白细胞介素24/MDA-7基因是在黑色素瘤分化过程中被分离得到的,具有抑制黑色素瘤增生和促进其终末分化的能力。IL-24作为细胞因子不仅具有免疫调节功能,而且能选择性诱导多种肿瘤细胞凋亡。这种抑制作用不依赖p53、Rb和p16等抑癌基因,对正常细胞没有影响。白细胞介素24具有显著的选择性抗肿瘤特性,成为肿瘤治疗的研究新热点。     

拮抗放线菌B-20的种类鉴定及其16S rDNA序列分析

对分离自东北蔬菜保护地土壤的1株拮抗放线菌菌株B-20进行了形态特征、培养特征、生理生化、细胞壁组分分析及16S rDNA序列分析。基内菌丝无横隔、不断裂,气生菌丝多分枝;孢子丝波曲至螺旋形,孢子椭圆形,表面光滑。细胞壁化学组分Ⅰ型。以16s rDNA序列为基础构建了包括13株相关种属细菌在内的系统发育树。根据多相分类鉴定结果表明,放线菌B-20的上述特征与淡紫灰链霉菌(Streptomyces lavendulae)的高度一致。二者的16S rDNA序列的相似性达到了99%。因此,可将链霉菌B-20定名为淡紫灰链霉菌B-20 (S.lavendulae B-20)。     

免疫检查点阻断疗法:肿瘤治疗的新篇章

肿瘤免疫疗法是目前肿瘤治疗的研究热点,因其疗效显著而备受瞩目。免疫检查点阻断疗法是众多免疫疗法的有效策略之一,其中以PD-1/PD-L1和CTLA-4为代表的免疫检查点抑制剂在黑色素瘤等实体肿瘤治疗中取得了令人振奋的结果。本文对免疫检查点阻断疗法的进展及该领域中亟需解决的问题做一分析和展望。     

温郁金内生拮抗细菌B-11的分离及其抑菌活性

【背景】植物内生菌广泛分布在自然界中,具有巨大的潜在开发与应用价值。【目的】对温郁金内生细菌进行分离鉴定,并从中筛选出具有生防潜能的菌株。【方法】采用常规组织分离法对温郁金根茎内生细菌进行分离并利用16S rRNA基因序列分析进行初步鉴定;采用平板对峙法以铁皮石斛炭疽病菌(Colletotrichum gloeosporioides)为供试菌株对温郁金内生细菌进行拮抗菌的筛选;通过形态学鉴定、生理生化鉴定以及16S rRNA基因序列分析,确定拮抗菌株B-11的分类地位;以6个不同属的植物病原真菌为供试菌株对拮抗菌株B-11的抑菌谱进行测定,并研究其对病原菌菌丝的影响;利用特异性平板和MALDI-TOF-MS检测技术对拮抗菌株B-11产生的抑菌物质进行检测;采用离体叶片接种法研究拮抗菌株B-11对铁皮石斛炭疽病菌的防治效果。【结果】从温郁金根茎中分离得到25株内生细菌菌株,这些细菌菌株分属于12个属,其中芽孢杆菌属为优势菌属,占分离菌株的28%;通过初筛获得8株对C.gloeosporioides有抑菌活性的菌株,其中菌株B-11的抑菌活性最强,经鉴定该菌为贝莱斯芽孢杆菌(Baclliusvelezensis);抑菌谱测定发现菌株B-11能够对供试的属于不同属的6种植物病原真菌的菌丝生长具有抑制作用,显微观察发现经对峙培养6 d后这6种病原菌的菌丝体出现畸形膨大、分枝增多等现象;特异性平板检测结果表明拮抗菌株B-11能够产生蛋白酶、β-葡聚糖酶和嗜铁素,但不产生几丁质酶;MALDI-TOF-MS检测结果表明拮抗菌株B-11能够产生伊枯草素、丰源素和表面活性素3种脂肽类抗生素,其中伊枯草素的产量最高;离体叶片接种实验表明,拮抗菌B-11的离心去菌发酵液对铁皮石斛炭疽病的防治效率可达64%。【结论】温郁金根茎含有丰富的内生细菌资源,其内生细菌菌株B-11有潜力作为开发抗真菌代谢物和新药物的重要微生物资源。     

重组天花粉蛋白与-16联合用药抑制黑色素瘤细胞增殖及成瘤

获得人源天花粉蛋白并研究其与YH-16联合用药对小鼠黑色素瘤细胞B16-F10增殖及成瘤的作用。以大肠杆菌BL21重组表达天花粉蛋白r TCS并以亲和层析法纯化r TCS;以MTT法检测r TCS、YH-16、r TCS+YH-16对B16-F10细胞生长的影响;体内实验检测r TCS、r TCS+YH-16对瘤体生长的作用。结果表明,获得了电泳纯重组天花粉蛋白r TCS;r TCS可显著抑制B16-F10细胞增殖,并且抑制率显著高于YH-16组,但是r TCS与YH-16联合处理组并未比r TCS组有显著差异;r TCS与YH-16联合用药明显抑制B16-F10细胞在小鼠体内成瘤。重组天花粉蛋白r TCS联合YH-16用药对黑色素瘤细胞B16-F10的增殖及成瘤有显著抑制作用。联合策略将为治疗黑色素瘤患者提供新的契机。     

纤黏连蛋白重组多肽CH50抑制黑色素瘤MMP-2和MMP-9表达、激活的研究

目的 研究纤黏连蛋白重组多肽CH50对黑色素瘤B16细胞侵袭能力的影响,探讨CH50多肽抑制肿瘤生长、侵袭的机制。方法 体外培养小鼠黑色素瘤B16细胞、小鼠腿部皮下注射B16细胞建立肿瘤动物模型。采用明胶电泳法检测B16细胞和黑色素瘤组织中基质金属蛋白酶MMP-2和MMP-9的表达和激活;以CH50多肽体外处理B16细胞或体内表达CH50,观察CH50下调MMPs表达以及对肿瘤细胞侵袭能力的抑制作用。结果 B16细胞在体外培养条件下主要表达MMP-2,而在肿瘤微环境中则同时表达MMP-2和MMP-9。肿瘤组织中MMPs的表达明显高于体外培养B16细胞。CH50多肽对体外培养B16细胞的MMPs表达和激活无明显抑制作用,但处理后的B16细胞进入体内后表达MMPs的能力受到明显抑制。体内转染表达的CHSO多肽亦可明显抑制肿瘤表达MMPs、并抑制肿瘤侵袭能力。结论 纤黏连蛋白重组多肽CHSO可以抑制肿瘤微环境中基质金属蛋白酶MMP-2和MMP-9的表达和激活,从而抑制黑色素瘤生长及侵袭能力。     

CTLA-4和PD-1信号通路在实体瘤治疗中的研究进展

细胞毒性T淋巴细胞相关抗原4(cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4,CTLA-4)和程序性死亡受体1(programmed death 1,PD-1)免疫检查点在T细胞免疫反应中起负性调节作用。通过对这些靶点的抑制,可增强对免疫系统的激活,为黑色素瘤、非小细胞肺癌等提供新的免疫治疗途径。CTLA-4和PD-1信号通路在免疫反应及抗肿瘤中机制有所不同,针对这两条信号通路的免疫检查点抑制剂也具有不同的效应。现将综述CTLA-4和PD-1信号通路的作用机制及相应靶点阻断剂在实体肿瘤免疫治疗中的应用及研究进展。     

Theoretical study on the photophysical and photochemical properties of elsinochrome A

Elsinochrome A (EA) is one of the important perylenequinonoid photosensitizers (PQPs); however, its photophysical and photochemical properties were given less attention in comparsion with other PQPs. In view of the successful use of quantum chemical methods, especially time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT), in investigating the photo-physicochemical characters of various photosensitizers, we attempt to explore the photophysical and photosensitive properties of EA by theoretical methods. Firstly, the absorption spectra and lowest-lying T(1) excitation energy of EA were estimated by TD-DFT calculations. Then, the photosensitizing mechanisms of EA were explored. It was found that EA can photo-generate (1)O(2) through energy transfer in both benzene and DMSO. However, EA gives birth to O(2)(.-) only in DMSO, and it is E(A)(.-) generated from autoionization reactions that is responsible for the O(2)(.-)-generation, which gains some deeper insights into the photosensitive behaviors of EA.     

Theoretical Study on the Photophysical and Photochemical Properties of Elsinochrome A

Abstract

Elsinochrome A (EA) is one of the important perylenequinonoid photosensitizers (PQPs); however, its photophysical and photochemical properties were given less attention in comparsion with other PQPs. In view of the successful use of quantum chemical methods, especially time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT), in investigating the photo-physico- chemical characters of various photosensitizers, we attempt to explore the photophysical and photosensitive properties of EA by theoretical methods. Firstly, the absorption spectra and lowest-lying T₁ excitation energy of EA were estimated by TD-DFT calculations. Then, the photosensitizing mechanisms of EA were explored. It was found that EA can photo-generate ¹O₂ through energy transfer in both benzene and DMSO. However, EA gives birth to O₂ ^? only in DMSO, and it is E_A ^.- generated from autoionization reactions that is responsible for the O₂ ^.-- generation, which gains some deeper insights into the photosensitive behaviors of EA.     

Oxidative stress-mediated antitumor activity of erythorbic acid in high doses

Intravenous (iv) infusion of high-dose ascorbic acid (AA) has been used as a treatment for cancer patients. The tumoricidal action of AA occurs due to its prooxidant effect. Erythorbic acid (EA), one of the AA epimers, has reduced vitamin C activity, while the antioxidant activity of EA is similar to that of AA. Currently, other physiological and pharmacological functions of EA are not well known. We examined the cytotoxicity of EA to murine colon carcinoma (colon-26) cells and the antitumor activity of EA in tumor-bearing mice. Cytotoxic activity of EA to colon-26 cells was evaluated by using the calcein-AM assay. EA showed the same cytotoxic activity to colon-26 cells as that of AA. The cytotoxicity of EA was shown to be caused by oxidative stress. Next, colon-26 tumor-bearing mice were iv administered EA and AA on alternate days for 4 times, and tumor growth rates were measured. Tumor growth was significantly inhibited by administration of high-dose EA in vivo as well as AA. Finally, the in vivo biodistribution and clearance of EA and AA were investigated in tumor-bearing mice. Endogenous AA in the tumor was consumed to resist oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species that was generated by administered EA. These results indicated that the oxidative stress-mediated antitumor activity is one of the pharmacological functions of high-dose iv EA.     

Effects of tumors on the daily mitotic activity of mouse pars intermedia

We have investigated the effects of EA21a and EA34 mammary carcinomas on daily PI cell proliferation in mice. Animals were divided into groups grafted with either EA34 or EA21a carcinomas (and a non-grafted control group). They were all injected intraperitoneally with 2 microg colchicine per g of body weight 4 h before sacrifice and the number of mitoses per 1000 nuclei was calculated. The mitotic index (MI) of pars-intermedia epithelial cells in control animals showed significant temporal variations. However, the MI from mice grafted with EA34 or EA21a carcinomas showed no such variation. There was no difference between the daily MIs of controls and tumor grafted groups. The absence of a 24 h mitotic activity curve in both EA21a and EA34 tumor-bearing animals demonstrates a lower level of synchronization of cells entering mitosis.     

The 28-kDa/32-kDa activation antigen EA 1. Further characterization and signal requirements for its expression

The tumor promoter PMA has been shown to induce the expression of a 28-kDa/32-kDa early activation Ag, termed EA 1, on resting T cells. Under nonreducing conditions, EA 1 was detected by SDS-PAGE as a diffuse band in the 60-kDa region. In this study, this diffuse band was resolved into 56-kDa and 60-kDa bands. Endoglycosidase F treatment of EA 1 resulted in the appearance of a single band with a Mr of 48 kDa. Upon reduction, the 48-kDa band was shown to be composed of 24-kDa peptides. Diagonal gel electrophoresis showed that the major band of EA 1 was composed of a series of disulfide-linked homodimers with subunits of the same 24-kDa core protein that were differentially glycosylated. This analysis also revealed in a minor population of the EA 1 molecules, the presence of proteins of different Mr associated with the core protein. The signal requirements for the induction of EA 1 were investigated. The putative cellular action of PMA is the activation of protein kinase C (PKC). To further investigate the role of PKC activation in the expression of EA 1, the synthetic diacylglycerol, 1,2-sn-dioctanoylglycerol (diOG) was examined for its ability to substitute for PMA. DiOG induced EA 1 expression in a dose dependent manner. H-7, a relatively selective inhibitor of PKC, blocked diOG and PMA induced EA 1 expression. HA1004, a selective inhibitor of cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinases, had no effect. In kinetic studies, EA 1 expression was seen as early as 1 h in diOG- and PMA-activated T cells. However, diOG did not completely mimic PMA-induced EA 1 expression. By 18 h, diOG-induced EA 1 expression was markedly reduced, whereas PMA-induced EA 1 expression was persistent. The role of calcium in EA 1 expression was investigated. mAb against CD3 potentiated diOG-induced EA 1 expression. This potentiation appeared to correlate with the ability of the anti-CD3 mAb to induce rises in intracellular calcium. Addition of EGTA to the media blocked the potentiation of diOG induced EA 1 expression by these mAb. The role of calcium in EA 1 expression was further demonstrated by the ability of ionomycin to potentiate EA 1 expression. These results demonstrate that PKC activation is the primary pathway for the induction of EA 1. However, calcium-dependent pathways appear to have a secondary role.     

Tumor metastases and cell-mediated immunity in a model system in DBA/2 mice. VIII. Expression and shedding of Fcγ receptors on metastatic tumor cell variants

The expression of receptors for the Fc portion of IgG immunoglobin molecules was studied on tumor cell lines with high and low metastatic capacity. Two tumor cell lines from DBA/2 mice that had high metastatic activity, ESb and MDAY-D2, contained a high percentage of Fc receptor positive cells, as detected in a rosette assay with IgG antibody-coated erythrocytes (EA). In contrast, the low metastatic parental line Eb, from which ESb was derived, contained only a low percentage of EA-rosette-forming cells. ESb ascites tumor cells adapted to tissue culture in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME) had a high expression of Fc receptors, whereas a cell line adapted to tissue culture in the absence of 2ME had a low expression of Fc receptors. “Soluble” Fc receptors were detectable by their ability to bind to EA and to cause blocking of rosette formation. They were found to be present in fluids from tumor-bearing animals, such as serum and cell-free ascites. Even animals with an ascites tumor of the low-metastatic line Eb contained “soluble” Fc receptors. The results are discussed with regard to their possible significance for tumor metastasis.     

The protective role of ellagitannins flavonoids pretreatment against N-nitrosodiethylamine induced-hepatocellular carcinoma

Ellagitannins are esters of glucose with hexahydroxydiphenic acid; when hydrolyzed, they yield ellagic acid (EA), the dilactone of hexahydroxydiphenic acid. EA has been receiving the most attention, because it has potent antioxidant activity, radical scavenging capacity, chemopreventive and antiapoptotic properties. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primary malignancy of liver, and accounts for as many as one million deaths worldwide in a year. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant and chemopreventive efficiency of ellagic acid against N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats. Rats were classified into four groups as follows: normal control group, group injected i.p. with a single dose (200 mg/kg b.wt.) of NDEA, third group daily administered orally EA with a dose of 50 mg/kg b.wt. for 7 days before and 14 days after NDEA administration, and fourth group received a similar dose of EA for 21 days after the dose of NDEA administration. The model of NDEA-injected hepatocellular carcinomic (HCC) rats elicited significant declines in liver antioxidant enzyme activities; glutathione peroxidase (GPX), gamma glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), with a reduction in reduced glutathione (GSH) and serum total protein with concomitant significant elevations in tumor markers arginase and α-l-fucosidase, and liver enzymes; aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), direct and total bilirubin. The oral administration of EA as a protective agent, produced significant increases in tested antioxidant enzyme activities and serum total protein concomitant with significant decreases in the levels of tumor markers arginase and α-l-fucosidase as well as liver enzymes, direct and total bilirubin. Similarly, the oral administration of EA, as a curative agent produced similar changes to those when EA was used as a protective agent, but to a lesser extent. In addition, it was noted that HCC rats exhibited a degree of DNA fragmentation; however, EA administration partially inhibited the DNA fragmentation. Therefore, EA has the ability to scavenge free radicals, prevent DNA fragmentation, reduce liver injury and protect against oxidative stress.     

Mitotic activity of the duodenal crypt enterocytes in mice transplanted with EA21a mammary carcinoma.

The presence of a tumor generally changes the mitotic activity of the normal cell population in mice. In the present work, the mitotic activity of the duodenal crypt enterocytes in EA21a mammary carcinoma-bearing mice was determined. The results show that there is a patent circadian variation in normal mice and, in the presence of the EA21a mammary tumor, cell proliferation is stimulated. Stimulation was evident in enterocytes from the intermediate as well as the superficial regions of the crypt. Some humoral factors produced by the transplanted tumor could interfere with the regulatory mechanism of the mitotic activity of duodenal crypt enterocytes.     

Analysis of ex vivo expanded and activated clinical-grade human NK cells after cryopreservation

Background aimsSeveral methods to expand and activate (EA) NK cells ex vivo have been developed for the treatment of relapsed or refractory cancers. Infusion of fresh NK cells is generally preferred to the infusion of cryopreserved/thawed (C/T) NK cells because of concern that cryopreservation diminishes NK cell activity. However, there has been little head-to-head comparison of the functionality of fresh versus C/T NK cell products.MethodsWe evaluated activity of fresh and C/T EA NK cells generated by interleukin (IL)-15, IL-2 and CD137L expansion.ResultsAnalysis of C/T NK cell products demonstrated decreased recovery of viable CD56⁺ cells, but the proportion of NK cells in the C/T EA NK cell product did not decrease compared with the fresh EA NK cell product. Fresh and C/T EA NK cells demonstrated increased granzyme B compared with NK cells pre-expansion, but only fresh EA NK cells showed increased NKG2D. Compared with fresh EA NK cells, cytotoxic ability of C/T EA NK cells was reduced, but C/T EA NK cells remained potently cytotoxic against tumor cells via both antibody-independent and antibody-dependent mechanisms within 4 h post-thaw. Fresh EA NK cells generated high levels of gamma interferon (IFN-γ), which was abrogated by JAK1/JAK2 inhibition with ruxolitinib, but C/T EA NK cells showed lower IFN-γ unaffected by JAK1/JAK2 inhibition.DiscussionUsage of C/T EA NK cells may be an option to provide serial “boost” NK cell infusions from a single apheresis to maximize NK cell persistence and potentially improve NK-induced responses to refractory cancer.     

Dissociation of TPA-induced down-regulation of T cell antigens from protein kinase C activation

The tumor promotor 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) has diverse effects on lymphoid cell function. Two of the early effects were the induction of early activation antigen EA1 and the down-regulation of certain T cell differentiation antigens (CD3, CD4, CD7). The mechanisms of these TPA effects were investigated. It was confirmed that EA1 expression was dependent on protein kinase C (PKC) activation. Synthetic diacylglycerols were capable of inducing EA1 expression. In addition, inhibition of PKC by the kinase inhibitor, H7, led to the inhibition of EA1 expression induced by TPA and synthetic diacylglycerols. In contrast, down-regulation of T cell differentiation antigens by TPA was not dependent on PKC activation. Synthetic diacylglycerols did not induce down-regulation of T cell antigens and H7 had no effect on the down-regulation of T cell antigens induced by TPA. These data would suggest that TPA exerted its effects on T cell function by mechanisms in addition to the activation of PKC alone. One possible mechanism would be the activation of the calmodulin-dependent pathway(s) since its inhibition resulted in the reversal of TPA-induced down-regulation of the T cell differentiation antigens.