NMR study of in vivo RIF-1 tumors: Analysis of perchloric acid extracts and identification of 1H, 31P and 13C resonances

Perchloric acid extracts of radiation-induced fibrosarcoma (RIF-1) tumors grown in mice have been analyzed by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and by various chromatographic methods. This analysis has permitted the unambiguous assignment of the ³¹P resonances observed in vivo to specific phosphorus-containing metabolites. The region of the in vivo spectra generally assigned to sugar phosphates has been found in RIF-1 tumors to contain primarily phosphorylethanolamine and phosphorylcholine rather than glycolytic intermediates. Phosphocreatine was observed in extracts of these tumor cells grown in culture as well as in the in vivo spectra, indicating that at least some of the phosphocreatine observed in vivo arises from the tumor itself and not from normal tissues. In the ³¹P-NMR spectra of the perchloric acid extract, resonances originating from purine and pyrimidine nucleoside di- and triphosphate were resolved. HPLC analyses of the nucleotide pool indicate that adenine derivatives were the most abundant components, but other nucleotides were present in significant amounts. The ¹H and ¹³C resonance assignments of the majority of metabolites present in RIF-1 extracts have also been made. Of particular importance is the ability to observe lactate, the levels of which may provide a noninvasive measure of glycolysis in these cells in both the in vivo and in vitro states. In addition, the aminosulfonic acid, taurine, was found in high levels in the tumor extracts.     

The role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of cutaneous lupus erythematosus

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is an inflammatory disease with a broad range of cutaneous manifestations that may be accompanied by systemic symptoms. The pathogenesis of CLE is complex, multifactorial and incompletely defined. Below we review the current understanding of the cytokines involved in these processes. Ultraviolet (UV) light plays a central role in the pathogenesis of CLE, triggering keratinocyte apoptosis, transport of nucleoprotein autoantigens to the keratinocyte cell surface and the release of inflammatory cytokines (including interferons (IFNs), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-17). Increased IFN, particularly type I IFN, is central to the development of CLE lesions. In CLE, type I IFN is produced in response to nuclear antigens, immune complexes and UV light. Type I IFN increases leukocyte recruitment to the skin via inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules, thereby inducing a cycle of cutaneous inflammation. Increased TNFα in CLE may also cause inflammation. However, decreasing TNFα with an anti-TNFα agent can induce CLE-like lesions. TNFα regulates B cells, increases the production of inflammatory molecules and inhibits the production of IFN-α. An increase in the inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17 and IL-18 and a decrease in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-12 also act to amplify inflammation in CLE. Specific gene mutations may increase the levels of these inflammatory cytokines in some CLE patients. New drugs targeting various aspects of these cytokine pathways are being developed to treat CLE and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).     

Effect of Electric-Field Intensity on Electropermeabilization and Electrosensitmty of Various Tumor-Cell Lines In Vitro

Electropermeabilization (electroporation) is a technique widely used to introduce various membrane-impermeable molecules into cells in vitro or in vivo. In this study we determined the effect of different electric-field intensities on electropermeabilization and electrosensitivity of a variety of tumor-cell lines in vitro. For this purpose we used two assays: propidium iodide uptake for measurement of cell electropenneabilization, and the clono-genic or MTT assay for determination of electrosensitivity. Our results showed that electropermeabilization of almost all cell lines tested occurred at 600 V/cm. In contrast, a marked difference in electrosensitivity existed among these cell lines. Our results could be of great importance for pharmacological and biochemical studies in vilro, and for prediction and determination of tumor response in vivo to electropermeabilization combined with chemo-therapeutic drugs (electrochemotherapy) and gene therapy.     

Beyond NF-κB activation: nuclear functions of IκB kinase α

IκB kinase (IKK) complex, the master kinase for NF-κB activation, contains two kinase subunits, IKKα and IKKβ. In addition to mediating NF-κB signaling by phosphorylating IκB proteins during inflammatory and immune responses, the activation of the IKK complex also responds to various stimuli to regulate diverse functions independently of NF-κB. Although these two kinases share structural and biochemical similarities, different sub-cellular localization and phosphorylation targets between IKKα and IKKβ account for their distinct physiological and pathological roles. While IKKβ is predominantly cytoplasmic, IKKα has been found to shuttle between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. The nuclear-specific roles of IKKα have brought increasing complexity to its biological function. This review highlights major advances in the studies of the nuclear functions of IKKα and the mechanisms of IKKα nuclear translocation. Understanding the nuclear activity is essential for targeting IKKα for therapeutics.     

免疫佐剂在肿瘤免疫疗法中的应用进展 *

免疫疗法是预防和治疗疾病的有效手段之一.近年来,肿瘤免疫疗法已成为一种新型治疗方法,相关肿瘤疫苗已在多种肿瘤的治疗中被证明有效.然而,在肿瘤疫苗的设计中,肿瘤抗原免疫原性弱,应答率低等问题是目前面对的一大挑战,佐剂的加入为问题的解决提供了一种新的方法和思路.免疫佐剂在提高肿瘤抗原免疫原性,激活机体适应性免疫应答等方面起着十分重要的作用.为了解近几年免疫佐剂的发展及其研究现状,针对目前常用的抗肿瘤佐剂进行综述,并总结了其对免疫系统的作用机制,为后续的疫苗设计策略提供帮助.     

中期因子在相关疾病发病机制和治疗中的研究进展

中期因子(Midkine,MK),是一种分泌型肝素结合性生长因子,具有促进细胞有丝分裂、诱导细胞恶化、促进微血管生成、抑制细胞凋亡、促进炎症介质趋化、促纤溶等功能特点;经研究发现,当机体处于健康状态时中期因子除了肾脏及小肠上皮少量表达,其他部位极少表达,但机体出现疾病时,中期因子在体内的表达明显增多,如在多种恶性肿瘤、动脉粥样硬化、各类炎症、糖尿病肾病、高血压及COPD等疾病中均监测到中期因子的高表达,进一步研究发现上述疾病的发生发展与中期因子的功能特点密切相关;近年有学者利用MK在疾病发生发展中的功能特点对疾病进行治疗,特别是MK在肿瘤领域的治疗已成为研究热点,本文结合国内外的最新研究现状就MK与相关疾病的发病机制及治疗作一简要概述,并提出进一步研究的设想。     

CD80、CD86在鼻咽癌中的表达及其临床病理意义

目的:研究CD80、CD86在鼻咽癌中的表达变化及其临床病理意义。方法:选择2014年10月至2018年10月本院接诊的鼻咽癌确诊患者64例纳入研究,依据鼻咽癌复发情况分复发组(n=30)和未复发组(n=34);同期选取正常鼻粘膜活检组织33例作为正常对照组,采用SP免疫组化法检测鼻咽癌患者癌组织或正常鼻粘膜活检组织CD80、CD86蛋白的表达,并经Spearman相关性分析法分析CD80、CD86蛋白表达与鼻咽癌恶化程度的相关性。结果:鼻咽癌的癌组织CD80、CD86蛋白均呈高表达,阳性表达主要定位于细胞膜、细胞质,与肿瘤临床TNM分期、淋巴结转移均显著相关(P0.05)。复发组、未复发组肿瘤组织中的mRNA(ARD1、Ptch1、Survivin)表达显著高于对照组,且复发组高于未复发组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。Spearman相关性分析显示CD80、CD86蛋白表达与鼻咽癌细胞侵袭能力呈显著正相关(r=0.403、0.547,P0.05)。结论:鼻咽癌的癌组织内CD80、CD86蛋白均呈高表达,与鼻咽癌的临床分期、淋巴结转移及放疗预后关系密切,可能作鼻咽癌临床诊治及预后评估的重要参考指标。     

中老年健康体检人群多项肿瘤标志物筛查结果及与年龄和性别的关系分析

摘要 目的：研究中老年健康体检人群多项肿瘤标志物（TM）筛查结果,分析其与年龄和性别的关系。方法：将自2017年6月至2019年12月于我院接受健康体检的600例中老年体检者纳入研究,分别以流式荧光发光法检测甲胎蛋白（AFP）、癌胚抗原（CEA）、糖类抗原-153（CA-153）、糖类抗原-125（CA-125）水平,并分析不同性别、年龄的体检者上述TM阳性率情况,分析各项TM阳性率检出疾病情况。结果：600例体检者AFP、CEA、CA-153、CA-125水平分别为（17.48±3.84）ng/mL、（4.54±1.19）ng/mL、（29.23±7.10）U/mL、（30.65±6.39）U/mL,阳性率分别为1.67%、4.00%、3.33%、3.83%。男性体检者CEA及CA-153阳性率均高于女性,而CA-125阳性率低于女性（P＜0.05）;男性与女性AFP阳性率对比不明显（P＞0.05）。81～89岁体检者的AFP、CEA、CA-153、CA-125阳性率均高于其他年龄段体检者（P＜0.05）。AFP、CEA、CA-153、CA-125阳性体检者恶性肿瘤检出率较低。结论：AFP、CEA、CA-153、CA-125表达升高,可能是中老年人群肿瘤发生、发展的早期预警,应予以高度重视,且和年龄、性别关系密切。中老年人群定期体检能够早期发现疾病并治疗,防止疾病继续恶化,保证身心健康。     

An on-lattice agent-based Monte Carlo model simulating the growth kinetics of multicellular tumor spheroids

PurposeTo develop an on-lattice agent-based model describing the growth of multicellular tumor spheroids using simple Monte Carlo tools.MethodsCells are situated on the vertices of a cubic grid. Different cell states (proliferative, hypoxic or dead) and cell evolution rules, driven by 10 parameters, and the effects of the culture medium are included. About twenty spheroids of MCF-7 human breast cancer were cultivated and the experimental data were used for tuning the model parameters.ResultsSimulated spheroids showed adequate sizes of the necrotic nuclei and of the hypoxic and proliferative cell phases as a function of the growth time, mimicking the overall characteristics of the experimental spheroids. The relation between the radii of the necrotic nucleus and the whole spheroid obtained in the simulations was similar to the experimental one and the number of cells, as a function of the spheroid volume, was well reproduced. The statistical variability of the Monte Carlo model described the whole volume range observed for the experimental spheroids. Assuming that the model parameters vary within Gaussian distributions it was obtained a sample of spheroids that reproduced much better the experimental findings.ConclusionsThe model developed allows describing the growth of in vitro multicellular spheroids and the experimental variability can be well reproduced. Its flexibility permits to vary both the agents involved and the rules that govern the spheroid growth. More general situations, such as, e. g., tumor vascularization, radiotherapy effects on solid tumors, or the validity of the tumor growth mathematical models can be studied.     

Comparative review of respiratory diseases caused by coronaviruses and influenza A viruses during epidemic season

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to sweep the world, causing infection of millions and death of hundreds of thousands. The respiratory disease that it caused, COVID-19 (stands for coronavirus disease in 2019), has similar clinical symptoms with other two CoV diseases, severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome (SARS and MERS), of which causative viruses are SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, respectively. These three CoVs resulting diseases also share many clinical symptoms with other respiratory diseases caused by influenza A viruses (IAVs). Since both CoVs and IAVs are general pathogens responsible for seasonal cold, in the next few months, during the changing of seasons, clinicians and public heath may have to distinguish COVID-19 pneumonia from other kinds of viral pneumonia. This is a discussion and comparison of the virus structures, transmission characteristics, clinical symptoms, diagnosis, pathological changes, treatment and prevention of the two kinds of viruses, CoVs and IAVs. It hopes to provide information for practitioners in the medical field during the epidemic season.