microRNA在实体肿瘤免疫反应中的调节作用

免疫反应的作用逐渐成为调节各种复杂癌症的关键因素。免疫治疗也逐渐成为癌症肿瘤的有效干预方式。肿瘤微环境包含不同类型的免疫细胞,这有助于调节抗肿瘤信号中先天性和适应性免疫系统之间的细微平衡。在这种环境下,肿瘤细胞与免疫细胞之间相互关联的机制有待广泛阐明,但目前已被证明,多种microRNA在实体肿瘤相关免疫细胞的发育和功能中起调控作用,其通过肿瘤及免疫细胞介导免疫抑制或免疫刺激因子分泌增强或抑制免疫应答,靶向调控肿瘤发生的相关免疫途径,从而在癌症起始、转移进展的所有阶段中起关键作用,近而在肿瘤免疫治疗中寻找新的治疗靶点。本文针对microRNA在肿瘤免疫反应中的相关调节进行综述。     

The PEA-15 Protein Regulates Autophagy via Activation of JNK

PEA-15/PED (phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes 15 kDa/phosphoprotein enriched in diabetes) is a death effector domain-containing protein which is known to modulate apoptotic cell death. The mechanism by which PEA-15 inhibits caspase activation and increases ERK (extracellular-regulated kinase) activity is well characterized. Here, we demonstrate that PEA-15 is not only pivotal in the activation of the ERK pathway but also modulates JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) signaling. Upon overexpression of PEA-15 in malignant glioma cells, JNK is potently activated. The PEA-15-induced JNK activation depends on the phosphorylation of PEA-15 at both phosphorylation sites (serine 104 and serine 116). The activation of JNK is substantially inhibited by siRNA-mediated down-regulation of endogenous PEA-15. Moreover, we demonstrate that glioma cells overexpressing PEA-15 show increased signs of autophagy in response to classical autophagic stimuli such as ionizing irradiation, serum deprivation, or rapamycin treatment. In contrast, the non-phosphorylatable mutants of PEA-15 are not capable of promoting autophagy. The inhibition of JNK abrogates the PEA-15-mediated increase in autophagy. In conclusion, our data show that PEA-15 promotes autophagy in glioma cells in a JNK-dependent manner. This might render glioma cells more resistant to adverse stimuli such as starvation or ionizing irradiation.     

Analysis of a mathematical model for the growth of tumors

 In this paper we study a recently proposed model for the growth of a nonnecrotic, vascularized tumor. The model is in the form of a free-boundary problem whereby the tumor grows (or shrinks) due to cell proliferation or death according to the level of a diffusing nutrient concentration. The tumor is assumed to be spherically symmetric, and its boundary is an unknown function r=s(t). We concentrate on the case where at the boundary of the tumor the birth rate of cells exceeds their death rate, a necessary condition for the existence of a unique stationary solution with radius r=R ₀ (which depends on the various parameters of the problem). Denoting by c the quotient of the diffusion time scale to the tumor doubling time scale, so that c is small, we rigorously prove that (i) lim inf _t→∞ s(t)>0, i.e. once engendered, tumors persist in time. Indeed, we further show that (ii) If c is sufficiently small then s(t)→R ₀ exponentially fast as t→∞, i.e. the steady state solution is globally asymptotically stable. Further, (iii) If c is not “sufficiently small” but is smaller than some constant γ determined explicitly by the parameters of the problem, then lim sup _t→∞ s(t)<∞; if however c is “somewhat” larger than γ then generally s(t) does not remain bounded and, in fact, s(t)→∞ exponentially fast as t→∞. Received: 25 February 1998 / Revised version: 30 April 1998     

Therapeutic gene modified cell based cancer vaccines

History of cancer immunotherapy lasts for more than 120 years. In 1891 William B. Coley injected bacteria into inoperable cancer (bone sarcoma) and observed tumor shrinkage. He is recognized as the "'"Father of Immunotherapy"'". Cancer immunotherapy is based on the ability of the immune system to recognize cancer cells and to affect their growth and expansion. Beside the fact that, tumor cells are genetically distinct from their normal counterparts, and should be recognized and eliminated by immune system, the tumor associated antigens (TAAs) are often poorly immunogenic due to immunoediting. This process allows tumor to evolve during continuous interactions with the host immune system, and eventually escape from immune surveillance. Furthermore, tumor microenvironment consists of immunosuppressive cells that release immunosuppressive factors including IL-6, IL-10, IDO, TGFβ or VEGF. Interactions between cancer and stroma cells create network of immunosuppressive pathways, while activation of immune defense is inhibited. A key to successful immunotherapy is to overcome the local immunosuppression within tumor microenvironment and activate mechanisms that lead to tumor eradication. There are two clinical approaches of immunotherapy: active and passive. Active immunotherapy involves stimulation of immune response to tumor associated antigens (TAAs), either non-specifically via immunomodulating agents or specifically employing cancer vaccines. This review presents the progress and breakthroughs in design, development and clinical application of selected cell-based tumor vaccines achieved due to the generation and development of gene transfer technologies.     

Translationally Controlled Tumor Protein Is a Novel Biological Target for Neurofibromatosis Type 1-associated Tumors

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disease that predisposes individuals to develop benign neurofibromas and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs). Due to the lack of information on the molecular mechanism of NF1-associated tumor pathogenesis or biomarkers/therapeutic targets, an effective treatment for NF1 tumors has not been established. In this study, the novel NF1-associated protein, translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP), was identified by integrated proteomics and found to be up-regulated via activated MAPK/PI3K-AKT signaling in response to growth factors in NF1-deficient Schwann cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of NF1-associated tumors revealed that the TCTP expression level correlated with tumorigenicity. In NF1-deficient MPNST cells, TCTP protein but not mRNA was down-regulated by NF1 GTPase-activating protein-related domain or MAPK/PI3K inhibitors, and this correlated with suppression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. mTOR inhibition by rapamycin also down-regulated TCTP protein expression, whereas knockdown or overexpression of TCTP suppressed or activated mTOR signaling, respectively, and affected cell viability. These results suggest that a positive feedback loop between TCTP and mTOR contributes to NF1-associated tumor formation. Last, the anti-tumor effect of artesunate, which binds to and degrades TCTP, was evaluated. Artesunate significantly suppressed the viability of MPNST cells but not normal Schwann cells, and the TCTP level inversely correlated with artesunate sensitivity. Moreover, combinational use of artesunate and rapamycin enhanced the cytotoxic effect on MPNST cells. These findings suggest that TCTP is functionally implicated in the progression of NF1-associated tumors and could serve as a biological target for their therapy.     

Sphingolipid regulation of ezrin,radixin, and moesin proteins family: Implications for cell dynamics

A key but poorly studied domain of sphingolipid functions encompasses endocytosis, exocytosis, cellular trafficking, and cell movement. Recently, the ezrin, radixin and moesin (ERM) family of proteins emerged as novel potent targets regulated by sphingolipids. ERMs are structural proteins linking the actin cytoskeleton to the plasma membrane, also forming a scaffold for signaling pathways that are used for cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and cell division. Opposing functions of the bioactive sphingolipid ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), contribute to ERM regulation. S1P robustly activates whereas ceramide potently deactivates ERM via phosphorylation/dephosphorylation, respectively. This recent dimension of cytoskeletal regulation by sphingolipids opens up new avenues to target cell dynamics, and provides further understanding of some of the unexplained biological effects mediated by sphingolipids. In addition, these studies are providing novel inroads into defining basic mechanisms of regulation and action of bioactive sphingolipids. This review describes the current understanding of sphingolipid regulation of the cytoskeleton, it also describes the biologies in which ERM proteins have been involved, and finally how these two large fields have started to converge. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled New Frontiers in Sphingolipid Biology.     

利用裸鼠建立人泌尿生殖系统肿瘤细胞系

目的建立人泌尿系肿瘤无限细胞系,为泌尿系肿瘤研究提供实验模型.方法无菌取下肿瘤标本后,将标本剪成大小约1.0mm3的组织块,在裸鼠右后肢皮下包埋,当皮下肿瘤块发生明显增殖并长到一定程度后,再行裸鼠体内传代两次,最后取下组织块进行原代培养.培养细胞传代超过20代后按建系标准[2]进行检测.结果共取40例标本,裸鼠体内传代F1代成功6例,F3代成功3例,该3例标本行原代培养后建成3个无限细胞系人肾透明细胞癌RCC-9863,人膀胱癌BC-6,人前列腺癌PC-98106,全部细胞传代1年以上,生长稳定,传代周期固定,其形态结构,分化程度与原发瘤保持一致,染色体形态仍为人类核型.结论裸鼠肿瘤皮下种植法是泌尿系肿瘤建系的一个较好方法.     

Metabolism of Adenosine in Human Colorectal Tumour

The aim of this work is to analyse the activities of the enzymes metabolising adenosine in fragments of neoplastic and normal‐appearing mucosa, surrounding the tumour in 20 patients affected by colorectal cancer. The results show that the activities of the enzymes are markedly higher in tumour in comparison to normal mucosa to coope with the accelerated purine metabolism in cancerous tissues.     

64层螺旋CTA容积重建结合轴位图像对明确颈部包块与血管关系的价值

目的:探讨64层螺旋CT血管成像(CTA)对明确颈部包块与周围血管关系的价值。方法:采用GE LightSpeed6 4层螺旋CT对25例颈部包块患者行颈部平扫及增强扫描,将获得的原始数据传入ADW4.3后处理工作站,血管重建技术选择容积重建(VR),诊断采用VR与轴位图像相结合的方式。结果:淋巴性病变10例,包括淋巴结结核2例、淋巴结转移4例、淋巴瘤4例,非淋巴性病变15例,包括淋巴管瘤1例、腮腺混合瘤2例、甲状腺癌4例、甲状腺腺瘤3例、孤立性纤维瘤1例、蔓状血管瘤2例、表皮样囊肿1例、咽旁脓肿1例。包块位于气管两侧6例,左侧15例,右侧4例;位于甲状腺内7例,腮腺内2例,颈动脉间隙11例,1例位于咽旁,其余4例位于颈部表浅组织内;颈部包块致毗邻血管移位、变形9例,其中动脉7例、静脉2例;颈部包块侵袭及包绕血管3例,包括动脉1例、静脉2例,其中1例静脉内血栓形成;颈部包块与血管关系密切2例;颈动脉发出分支供应颈部包块1例;其余10例与颈部血管无明显关系。结论:64层螺旋CTA容积重建结合轴位图像,可较准确地明确颈部包块与血管之间的关系。     

Glioma-derived T cell immunoglobulin- and mucin domain-containing molecule-4 (TIM4) contributes to tumor tolerance

Tumor tolerance plays a critical role in tumor growth and escape from immune surveillance. The mechanism of tumor tolerance development is not fully understood. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical role in tumor tolerance. TIM4 (T cell immunoglobulin- and mucin domain-containing molecule-4) is involved in immune regulation. We investigated the role of TIM4 in the induction of Tregs in tumors. Surgically removed glioma tissue and peripheral blood samples were obtained from 25 glioma patients. Immune cells were isolated from the tissue and blood samples. Confocal microscopy was employed to detect macrophages phagocytosing apoptotic T cells. The generation of tumor-specific Tregs and the immune suppression function of Tregs were observed in cell culture models. High levels of TIM4 were detected in glioma-derived macrophages. Phosphatidylserine (PS) was detected in glioma-derived T cells; naïve T cells expressed low levels of PS that could be up-regulated by hypoxia. Glioma-derived macrophages phagocytosed PS-expressing T cells, gaining the tolerogenic properties, which could induce tumor-specific Tregs; the latter could suppress tumor-specific CD8⁺ T cells. We conclude that macrophage-derived TIM4 plays an important role in the induction of Tregs in gliomas, which may play an important role in tumor tolerance.