Increased Resistance to Oxidation of Betalain-enriched Human Low Density Lipoproteins

Betalains are natural pigments recently considered as compounds with potential antioxidative properties. In this work, ex vivo plasma spiking of pure either betanin or indicaxanthin, followed by isolation of low density lipoprotein (LDL), and measurement of its resistance to copper-induced oxidation, has been used to research if these betalains can bind to LDL and prevent oxidation of LDL lipids. When pooled human plasma from 10 healthy volunteers was incubated in the presence of 25–100?μM either betanin or indicaxanthin, incorporation of both compounds in LDL was observed, with a maximum binding of 0.52±0.08, and 0.51±0.06?nmoles of indicaxanthin and betanin, respectively, per mg LDL protein. Indicaxanthin-enriched and betanin-enriched LDL were more resistant than homologous native LDL to copper-induced oxidation, as assessed by the elongation of the induction period. The incorporated indicaxanthin, however, appeared twice as effective as betanin in increasing the length of the lag phase, while both compounds did not affect the propagation rate. Both betalains were consumed during the inhibition period of lipid oxidation, and delayed consumption of LDL-beta carotene. Indicaxanthin, but not betanin, prevented vitamin E consumption at the beginning of LDL oxidation, and prolonged the time of its utilization. The resistance of LDL to oxidation when vitamin E and indicaxanthin acted separately in a sequence, was lower than that measured when they were allowed to act in combination, indicating some synergistic interaction between the two molecules. No prooxidant effect over a large concentration range of either betanin or indicaxanthin was observed, when either betalain was added to the LDL system undergoing a copper-induced oxidation.

These results show than indicaxanthin and betanin may bind to LDL, and are highly effective in preventing copper-induced lipid oxidation. Interaction with vitamin E appears to add a remarkable potential to indicaxanthin in the protection of LDL. Although molecular mechanisms remain uncompletely understood, various aspects of the action of betanin and indicaxanthin in preventing LDL lipid oxidation are discussed.     

Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells Exhibit Increased Levels of Lysosomal Proteolysis as Compared to Other Human Dendritic Cell Populations

Background

Fine control of lysosomal degradation for limited processing of internalized antigens is a hallmark of professional antigen presenting cells. Previous work in mice has shown that dendritic cells (DCs) contain lysosomes with remarkably low protease content. Combined with the ability to modulate lysosomal pH during phagocytosis and maturation, murine DCs enhance their production of class II MHC-peptide complexes for presentation to T cells.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this study we extend these findings to human DCs and distinguish between different subsets of DCs based on their ability to preserve internalized antigen. Whereas DCs derived in vitro from CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells or isolated from peripheral blood of healthy donors are protease poor, DCs derived in vitro from monocytes (MDDCs) are more similar to macrophages (MΦs) in protease content. Unlike other DCs, MDDCs also fail to reduce their intralysosomal pH in response to maturation stimuli. Indeed, functional characterization of lysosomal proteolysis indicates that MDDCs are comparable to MΦs in the rapid degradation of antigen while other human DC subtypes are attenuated in this capacity.

Conclusions/Significance

Human DCs are comparable to murine DCs in exhibiting a markedly reduced level of lysosomal proteolysis. However, as an important exception to this, human MDDCs stand apart from all other DCs by a heightened capacity for proteolysis that resembles that of MΦs. Thus, caution should be exercised when using human MDDCs as a model for DC function and cell biology.     

树突状细胞与肿瘤免疫

树突状细胞（dendriticcells,Dcs）是目前已知的功能最强的抗原提呈细胞,具有调节免疫应答与诱导免疫耐受的能力。而树突状细胞所发挥的功能与其是否成熟有很大的关系,未成熟状态的树突状细胞具备致耐受性,而成熟状态的树突状细胞则对肿瘤免疫起着重要作用。该文将对DC的免疫学特性及Dc与肿瘤的关系予以综述。     

肿瘤细胞对血清补体杀伤耐受的机制研究

目的:探讨肿瘤细胞耐受血清补体杀伤的分子机制。方法:将表达不同血型抗原的肿瘤细胞与添加同血型血清的培养基孵育,获得耐受血清杀伤的肿瘤细胞。无血清悬浮培养肿瘤干细胞,对耐受血清杀伤的肿瘤细胞和肿瘤干细胞分别提取mRNA,进行反转录PCR,检测肿瘤干细胞干性标志物和补体调节蛋白的表达情况;干扰补体调节蛋白,检测肿瘤细胞对血清补体的杀伤情况。结果:对分别表达血型抗原A、B和H的HT-29、KATOⅢ、MCF7肿瘤细胞均获得耐受血清杀伤的耐受细胞,耐受细胞高表达三种膜性补体调节蛋白CD46、CD55和CD59,以及部分肿瘤干细胞干性标志物;spheroid悬浮球肿瘤干细胞高表达上述三种膜性补体调节蛋白,特别是CD46;在肿瘤细胞中腺病毒干扰CD46的表达,可显著增强血清补体对肿瘤细胞的杀伤率。结论:补体调节蛋白CD46分子可通过增强肿瘤细胞的干性而介导肿瘤细胞对血清补体的杀伤耐受。     

High Temperature Stress Resistance of Escherichia coli Induced by a Tobacco Class I Low Molecular Weight Heat-Shock Protein

TLHS1 is a class I low molecular weight heat-shock protein (LMW HSP) of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). For a functional study of TLHS1, a recombinant DNA coding for TLHS1 with a hexahistidine tag at the aminoterminus was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli. An expressed fusion protein, H₆TLHS1, was purified using a Ni²⁺ affinity column and a Sephacryl S400 HR column. A polyclonal antibody against H₆TLHS1 was produced to follow the fate of H₆TLHS1 in E. coli. The fusion protein in E. coli maintained its solubility at a temperature of up to 90°C and most of the proteins in the E. coli cell lysate with H₆TLHS1 were prevented from thermally induced aggregation at up to 90°C. We compared the viability of E. coli cells expressing H₆TLHS1 to the E. coli cells without H₆TLHS1 at a temperature of 50°C. After 8 h of high temperature treatment, E. coli cells with H₆TLHS1 survived about three thousand times more than the bacterial cells without H₆TLHS1. These results showed that a plant class I LMW HSP, TLHS1, can protect proteins of E. coli from heat denaturation, which could lead to a higher survival rate of the bacterial cells at high temperature.     

肿瘤多药耐药与自噬、DNA修复和肿瘤干细胞相关的分子机制研究进展

肿瘤多药耐药(multi-drug resistance,MDR)所导致的化疗失败,依旧是肿瘤治疗中存在的难点。虽然针对MDR,已经成功开发了三代靶向三磷酸腺苷结合盒转运体(ATP binding cassette transporter,ABC)的抑制剂,也有MDR调节剂和化学增敏剂,多功能纳米载体和RNA干扰等方法可有效逆转MDR,但是由于肿瘤多药耐药机制的复杂性,MDR依然是肿瘤治疗中面临的难题。将从目前研究比较集中的ABC转运体异常表达; DNA损伤修复的改变和细胞凋亡的异常;自噬诱导与耐药及肿瘤干细胞与耐药等四方面入手,针对目前MDR机制的研究进展做一综述,旨在为MDR的研究提供思路和方法。     

人喉癌组织中浸润树突状细胞抗原提呈效应的形态学研究

目的:探讨人喉癌组织中肿瘤浸润树突状细胞(tumor infiltrating dendritic cell,TIDC)肿瘤抗原提呈效应。方法:采用光镜、透射电镜和免疫组化方法观察28例手术切除的人喉癌中TIDC和肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞(tumor infiltrating lymphocytes,TIL)的形态学表现。结果:早期人喉癌组织中TIDC主要分布在癌周区及癌巢内,病变早期TIDC和TIL的浸润比晚期明显(P<0．01)。透射电镜下可见形态不一的TIDC和TIL广泛分布于癌巢边缘、游走于癌周边组织的血管和淋巴管周围。TIDC与肿瘤细胞、TIDC与TIL、TIL与TIL、TIL与肿瘤细胞之间存在多种形式的膜接触。与TIL接触的肿瘤细胞,细胞核均质化。细胞膜消失呈凋亡状态。癌晚期TIDC与TIL数量明显减少,于癌巢内常见凋亡的TIDC与TIL。结论:人喉癌组织中存在不同形态的TIDC与TIL,TIDC、TIL、癌细胞彼此密切接触发生免疫应答反应,TIDC、TIL的数量和活跃状态与肿瘤进展密切相关。     

New Low Molecular Weight Glycopeptide containing Triglucosylcysteine in Human Erythrocyte Membrane

ALTHOUGH protein composition of the erythrocyte membrane has been studied extensively¹, little if anything is known about membrane peptides. Among a variety of chemical agents used for the solubilization of the membrane, solutions of greater than 0.8 M NaCl have been shown to dissolve 50% of membrane proteins^2,3. As we were interested in the composition of the outer surface of the membrane, we have investigated whether lower concentrations of NaCl, which would not cause haemolysis of intact cells, would solubilize certain membrane components.     

FUT4-siRNA增强5-aza-dC对鳞癌细胞增殖和迁移的抑制

岩藻糖基转移酶IV（fucosyltransferase IV,FUT4）是催化蛋白质岩藻糖基化的关键酶．已经证明,FUT4-siRNA能够抑制鳞癌细胞的增殖．5-氮杂-2-脱氧胞苷（5-aza-dC）是临床常用化疗药物,但5-aza-dC是否对鳞癌有治疗作用,以及与FUT4-siRNA联合使用能否加强对鳞癌细胞增殖和迁移的抑制尚不清楚．本研究以鳞癌细胞系A431和SCC12为对象,探讨5-aza-dC及其与FUT4-siRNA联合使用对细胞增殖和迁移的影响．MTT结合流式细胞周期分析显示,5-aza-dC处理A431和SCC12细胞4 d后,细胞增殖被明显抑制,抑制率分别为18%和20% (P<0.05);与对照组比较,加药处理组G1期细胞数量减少,S期细胞数量明显增加．Western印迹结果揭示,A431细胞FUT4表达水平较SCC12细胞高．经5-aza-dC处理后SCC12细胞FUT4表达有所增加,但仍低于A431细胞中的表达．FUT4-siRNA转染结合台盼蓝活细胞记数证明,FUT4-siRNA明显降低细胞FUT4表达,5-aza-dC处理同时转染FUT4-siRNA的A431和SCC12细胞增殖进一步被抑制,抑制率分别为54%和60% (P<0.05)．细胞划痕法显示,5-aza-dC与FUT4-siRNA联合使用,对细胞迁移能力的抑制作用比5-aza-dC单独使用增强．上述结果提示,5-aza-dC通过诱导细胞S期阻滞抑制鳞癌细胞增殖,FUT4-siRNA与5-aza+dC联合使用可加强对细胞增殖和迁移的抑制．     

Differential Capacity of Human Skin Dendritic Cells to Polarize CD4+T Cells into IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22 Producing Cells

Accumulating evidence suggests a contribution of T cell-derived IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22 cytokines in skin immune homeostasis as well as inflammatory disorders. Here, we analyzed whether the cytokine-producing T lymphocytes could be induced by the different subsets of human skin dendritic cells (DCs), i.e., epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs), dermal CD1c⁺CD14⁻ and CD14⁺ DCs (DDCs). DCs were purified following a 2-day migration from separated epidermal and dermal sheets and co-cultured with allogeneic T cells before cytokine secretion was explored. Results showed that no skin DCs could induce substantial IL-17 production by naïve CD4⁺ or CD8⁺T lymphocytes whereas all of them could induce IL-17 production by memory T cells. In contrast, LCs and CD1c⁺CD14⁻DDCs were able to differentiate naïve CD4⁺T lymphocytes into IL-22 and IL-21-secreting cells, LCs being the most efficient in this process. Intracellular cytokine staining showed that the majority of IL-21 or IL-22 secreting CD4⁺T lymphocytes did not co-synthesized IFN-γ, IL-4 or IL-17. IL-21 and IL-22 production were dependent on the B7/CD28 co-stimulatory pathway and ICOS-L expression on skin LCs significantly reduced IL-21 level. Finally, we found that TGF-β strongly down-regulates both IL-21 and IL-22 secretion by allogeneic CD4⁺ T cells. These results add new knowledge on the functional specialization of human skin DCs and might suggest new targets in the treatment of inflammatory skin disorders.     

Interaction of Polysialic Acid with CCL21 Regulates the Migratory Capacity of Human Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Immature DCs (iDCs) are situated in the periphery where they capture pathogen. Subsequently, they migrate as mature DCs (mDCs) to draining lymph nodes to activate T cells. CCR7 and CCL21 contribute to the migratory capacity of the DC, but it is not completely understood what molecular requirements are involved. Here we demonstrate that monocyte-derived DCs dramatically change ST8Sia IV expression during maturation, leading to the generation of polysialic acid (polySia). PolySia expression is highly upregulated after 2 days Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) triggering. Surprisingly, only immunogenic and not tolerogenic mDCs upregulated polySia expression. Furthermore, we show that polySia expression on DCs is required for CCL21-directed migration, whereby polySia directly captures CCL21. Corresponding to polySia, the expression level of CCR7 is maximal two days after TLR4 triggering. In contrast, although TLR agonists other than LPS induce upregulation of CCR7, they achieve only a moderate polySia expression. In situ we could detect polySia-expressing APCs in the T cell zone of the lymph node and in the deep dermis. Together our results indicate that prolonged TLR4 engagement is required for the generation of polySia-expressing DCs that facilitate CCL21 capture and subsequent CCL21-directed migration.     

Isolation of Myeloid Dendritic Cells and Epithelial Cells from Human Thymus

In this protocol we provide a method to isolate dendritic cells (DC) and epithelial cells (TEC) from the human thymus. DC and TEC are the major antigen presenting cell (APC) types found in a normal thymus and it is well established that they play distinct roles during thymic selection. These cells are localized in distinct microenvironments in the thymus and each APC type makes up only a minor population of cells. To further understand the biology of these cell types, characterization of these cell populations is highly desirable but due to their low frequency, isolation of any of these cell types requires an efficient and reproducible procedure. This protocol details a method to obtain cells suitable for characterization of diverse cellular properties. Thymic tissue is mechanically disrupted and after different steps of enzymatic digestion, the resulting cell suspension is enriched using a Percoll density centrifugation step. For isolation of myeloid DC (CD11c⁺), cells from the low-density fraction (LDF) are immunoselected by magnetic cell sorting. Enrichment of TEC populations (mTEC, cTEC) is achieved by depletion of hematopoietic (CD45^hi) cells from the low-density Percoll cell fraction allowing their subsequent isolation via fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) using specific cell markers. The isolated cells can be used for different downstream applications.     

肿瘤细胞抗TRAIL凋亡诱导的分子机制

肿瘤坏死因子相关的凋亡诱导配体(tumornecrosisfactor-relatedapoptosis-inducingligand,TRAIL)是肿瘤坏死因子(tumornecrosisfactor,TNF)超家族的成员之一,它能选择性诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡,对大多数正常细胞无杀伤作用。研究表明,某些恶性肿瘤抵抗TRAIL诱导的凋亡,且TRAIL重复作用使一些TRAIL敏感的细胞产生获得性抗性,这是TRAIL应用于肿瘤治疗的重大障碍。现对与TRAIL凋亡诱导通路直接相关的抗TRAIL机制及由Akt等途径介导的抗性分子机制进行综述。     

细胞膜表面糖链结构与肿瘤转移的关系

连接在天冬酰胺上的N-糖链,连接在丝氨酸和苏氨酸上的O-糖链,连接在丝氨酸上的糖胺聚糖,连接在脂类物质上的糖脂等糖基化修饰在真核细胞表面普遍存在,并调节了细胞的各种功能,它们不仅参与生命活动中正常的生理生化活动,而且于疾病的发生发展密不可分。肿瘤细胞表面糖基异常化,如糖链在表达水平上的差异以及特殊糖链结构的出现,均与肿瘤细胞的侵袭和转移有密切关系。本综述主要介绍了肿瘤细胞糖基化的改变:一些主要的糖基化结构如β1,6分支和唾液酸的表达的增加会使某些肿瘤细胞的迁移能力增强。同时对引起这种变化的作用机制进行了介绍,提出一些潜在的抗肿瘤研究靶点,为肿瘤糖生物学的深入研究提供参考。     

5-Hydroxytryptamine Modulates Migration,Cytokine and Chemokine Release and T-Cell Priming Capacity of Dendritic Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

Beside its well described role in the central and peripheral nervous system 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), commonly known as serotonin, is also a potent immuno-modulator. Serotoninergic receptors (5-HTR) are expressed by a broad range of inflammatory cell types, including dendritic cells (DCs). In this study, we aimed to further characterize the immuno-biological properties of serotoninergic receptors on human monocyte-derived DCs. 5-HT was able to induce oriented migration in immature but not in LPS-matured DCs via activation of 5-HTR₁ and 5-HTR₂ receptor subtypes. Accordingly, 5-HT also increased migration of pulmonary DCs to draining lymph nodes in vivo. By binding to 5-HTR₃, 5-HTR₄ and 5-HTR₇ receptors, 5-HT up-regulated production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. Additionally, 5-HT influenced chemokine release by human monocyte-derived DCs: production of the potent Th1 chemoattractant IP-10/CXCL10 was inhibited in mature DCs, whereas CCL22/MDC secretion was up-regulated in both immature and mature DCs. Furthermore, DCs matured in the presence of 5-HT switched to a high IL-10 and low IL-12p70 secreting phenotype. Consistently, 5-HT favoured the outcome of a Th2 immune response both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, our study shows that 5-HT is a potent regulator of human dendritic cell function, and that targeting serotoninergic receptors might be a promising approach for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.     

Increased Tumor Glycolysis Characterizes Immune Resistance to Adoptive T Cell Therapy

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Laminin and Fibronectin Treatment Leads to Generation of Dendritic Cells with Superior Endocytic Capacity

Background

Sampling the microenvironment at sites of microbial exposure by dendritic cells (DC) and their subsequent interaction with T cells in the paracortical area of lymph nodes are key events for initiating immune responses. Most of our knowledge of such events in human is based on in vitro studies performed in the absence of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. ECM in basement membranes and interstitial spaces of different tissues, including lymphoid organs, plays an important role in controlling specific cellular functions such as migration, intracellular signalling and differentiation. The aim of this study was, therefore, to investigate the impact of two abundant ECM components, fibronectin and laminin, on the phenotypical and functional properties of DC and how that might influence DC induced T-cell differentiation.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Human monocyte derived DC were treated with laminin and fibronectin for up to 48 hours and their morphology and phenotype was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, flow cytometry and real time PCR. The endocytic ability of DC was determined using flow cytometry. Furthermore, co-culture of DC and T cells were established and T cell proliferation and cytokine profile was measured using H³-thymidine incorporation and ELISA respectively. Finally, we assessed formation of DC-T cell conjugates using different cell trackers and flow cytometry. Our data show that in the presence of ECM, DC maintain a ‘more immature’ phenotype and express higher levels of key endocytic receptors, and as a result become significantly better endocytic cells, but still fully able to mature in response to stimulation as evidenced by their superior ability to induce antigen-specific T cell differentiation.

Conclusion

These studies underline the importance of including ECM components in in vitro studies investigating DC biology and DC-T cell interaction. Within the context of antigen specific DC induced T cell proliferation, inclusion of ECM proteins could lead to development of more sensitive assays.     

In Vitro HIV Infection Impairs the Capacity of Myeloid Dendritic Cells to Induce Regulatory T Cells

Myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) are the antigen-presenting cells best capable of promoting peripheral induction of regulatory T cells (Tregs), and are among the first targets of HIV. It is thus important to understand whether HIV alters their capacity to promote Treg conversion. Monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) from uninfected donors induced a Treg phenotype (CD25(+)FOXP3(+)) in autologous conventional T cells. These converted FOXP3(+) cells suppressed the proliferation of responder T cells similarly to circulating Tregs. In contrast, the capacity of moDCs to induce CD25 or FOXP3 was severely impaired by their in vitro infection with CCR5-utilizing virus. MoDC exposure to inactivated HIV was sufficient to impair FOXP3 induction. This DC defect was not dependent on IL-10, TGF-β or other soluble factors, but was due to preferential killing of Tregs by HIV-exposed/infected moDCs, through a caspase-dependent pathway. Importantly, similar results were obtained with circulating primary myeloid DCs. Upon infection in vitro, these mDCs also killed Treg through mechanisms at least partially caspase-dependent, leading to a significantly lower proportion of induced Tregs. Taken together, our data suggest that Treg induction may be defective when DCs are exposed to high levels of virus, such as during the acute phase of infection or in AIDS patients.     

Syk Signaling in Dendritic Cells Orchestrates Innate Resistance to Systemic Fungal Infection

Host protection from fungal infection is thought to ensue in part from the activity of Syk-coupled C-type lectin receptors and MyD88-coupled toll-like receptors in myeloid cells, including neutrophils, macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs). Given the multitude of cell types and receptors involved, elimination of a single pathway for fungal recognition in a cell type such as DCs, primarily known for their ability to prime T cell responses, would be expected to have little effect on innate resistance to fungal infection. Here we report that this is surprisingly not the case and that selective loss of Syk but not MyD88 in DCs abrogates innate resistance to acute systemic Candida albicans infection in mice. We show that Syk expression by DCs is necessary for IL-23p19 production in response to C. albicans, which is essential to transiently induce GM-CSF secretion by NK cells that are recruited to the site of fungal replication. NK cell-derived-GM-CSF in turn sustains the anti-microbial activity of neutrophils, the main fungicidal effectors. Thus, the activity of a single kinase in a single myeloid cell type orchestrates a complex series of molecular and cellular events that underlies innate resistance to fungal sepsis.