The synergistic effects of interleukin 2 and interleukin 7 on the proliferation and autologous tumor cell lysis of tumor-associated lymphocytes

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) has an ability to stimulate the proliferation of pre-B cells. It has been shown that IL-7 can also activate T lymphocytes. We here demonstrate that IL-7 in combination with interleukin-2 (IL-2) can drive cell proliferation and enhance the autologous tumor cell lysis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and autologous mixed lymphocyte tumor cell culture (MLTC)-derived effector cells (MLTC cells). These synergistic effects of IL-2 and IL-7 on the proliferation and the augmentation of autologous tumor cell lysis were found for both effector cells. These effects were inhibited by neutralizing antibodies to IL-2 or IL-7, and by a combination of both antibodies, significantly. In terms of phenotypical expression, CD3 positive cells comprised the vast majority of MLTC cells after culture in medium containing IL-2 and IL-7 with an increase of IL-2 receptor positive cells.Abbreviations CD cluster differentiation - IFN interferon - IL interleukin - JRU Japanese Reference Unit - LAK lymphokine activated killer - mAb monoclonal antibody - MLTC mixed lymphocyte tumor cell culture - PBMC peripheral blood mononuclear cells - TILs tumor infiltrating lymphocytes     

Immunogenicity,effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccine in older adults living in nursing homes: A real-life study

IntroductionBNT162b2 (BioNTech and Pfizer) is a nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine that provides protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and is generally well tolerated. However, data about its efficacy, immunogenicity and safety in people of old age or with underlying chronic conditions are scarce.PurposeTo describe BNT162b2 (BioNTech and Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity, effectiveness and reactogenicity after complete vaccination (two doses), and immunogenicity and reactogenicity after one booster, in elders residing in nursing homes (NH) and healthy NH workers in real-life conditions.MethodsObservational, ambispective, multicenter study. Older adults and health workers were recruited from three nursing homes of a private hospital corporation located in three Spanish cities. The primary vaccination was carried out between January and March 2021. The follow-up was 13 months. Humoral immunity, adverse events, SARS-CoV-2 infections, hospitalizations and deaths were evaluated. Cellular immunity was assessed in a participant subset.ResultsA total of 181 residents (mean age 84.1 years; 89.9% females, Charlson index ≥2: 45%) and 148 members of staff (mean age 45.2 years; 70.2% females) were surveyed (n:329). After primary vaccination of 327 participants, vaccine response in both groups was similar; ≈70% of participants, regardless of the group, had an antibody titer above the cut-off considered currently protective (260 BAU/ml). This proportion increased significantly to ≈ 98% after the booster (p < 0.0001 in both groups). Immunogenicity was largely determined by a prior history of COVID-19 infection. Twenty residents and 3 workers were tested for cellular immunity. There was evidence of cellular immunity after primary vaccination and after booster. During the study, one resident was hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2. No SARS-CoV-2-related deaths were reported and most adverse events were mild.ConclusionsOur results suggest that the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is immunogenic, effective and safe in elderly NH residents with underlying chronic conditions.     

The development of oral vaccines based on live attenuated Salmonella strains

Abstract Safe, live attenuated Salmonella strains can be produced by introducing defined non-reverting mutations into the chromosome. Such rationally attenuated strains have proved to be excellent oral vaccines in several animal species and can therefore be considered as candidate vaccines against invasive salmonellosis in both animals and man. A panel of attenuating lesions is now available from which it is possible to tailor the level of attenuation and hence produce strains with different immunogenic properties. Because of the spectrum of immune responses produced by such Salmonella vaccine strains they have been utilised extensively as vectors for delivering heterologous antigens to the mammalian immune system. We have focussed on the development of a single dose oral tetanus vaccine based on attenuated Salmonella strains expressing a non-toxic, immunogenic protein derived from tetanus toxin (fragment C). Several different expression systems have been used for fragment C and candidate vaccine strains have been constructed that are capable of protecting orally immunised mice against a lethal challenge with tetanus toxin. An oral tetanus vaccine may help to reduce the mortality rate from tetanus in the developing world by overcoming the problems associated with the implementation of vaccine programmes using the current parenteral vaccine.     

嵌合抗原受体T细胞治疗的现状与展望

肿瘤严重威胁着人类健康,当前肿瘤传统的治疗方法有手术治疗、化疗、放疗和靶向药物治疗等。近年来,肿瘤免疫治疗,尤其是嵌合抗原受体（chimeric antigen receptor,CAR） T细胞免疫疗法在基础研究与临床应用中蓬勃发展,并在治疗血液系统恶性肿瘤方面取得了巨大成功。然而,大量研究显示,细胞免疫治疗后可出现不同程度的毒副反应,且部分患者缓解后再次复发。因此,了解细胞治疗面临的挑战与局限性,寻找解决的办法,对继续发挥细胞免疫疗法的潜能具有重要意义。本文就免疫细胞的CAR结构、病毒载体的选择、细胞治疗面临的挑战及前景进行综述。     

人胎肝细胞分泌的低分子抑瘤物对白血病细胞的抑制作用

本工作证明了在胎儿组织中存在一类低分子天然肿瘤抑制物,它是胎儿组织细胞生成和分泌的,对瘤株细胞和原代白血病细胞有选择性抑制作用。初发期或复发期急性非淋巴细胞白血病患者的骨髓在体外液体培养条件下与肝细胞上清及其甲醇提取物共同孵育4d,可使所有病例的骨髓AML—CFU降低到不可检出的程度。因而,低分子天然抑瘤物是天然肿瘤免疫中的一个组成部分,它在肿瘤的诊断和治疗中有着深远的意义。     

腮腺肿瘤患者行游离保留SMAS术后的复发及预后影响因素分析

摘要 目的：探讨腮腺肿瘤患者行游离保留SMAS术后的复发及预后影响因素分析。方法：以我院2016年3月-2022年1月收治的60例腮腺肿瘤患者作为研究对象。所有患者均行游离保留SMAS联合全腮腺切除术治疗。术后进行随访。采用χ²检验和独立样本t检验进行腮腺肿瘤患者预后复发及预后存活情况的亚组分析。采用Pearson检验进行相关性分析;采用Cox回归模型计算腮腺肿瘤患者预后的独立危险因素。结果：复发和未复发患者性别、年龄、BMI、糖尿病病史和高血压病史无显著差异（P＞0.05）;复发和未复发患者的淋巴结转移、病理类型、TNM分期、AJCC临床分期差异显著（P<0.05）;预后死亡和预后存活患者性别、年龄、BMI、糖尿病病史和高血压病史无显著差异（P＞0.05）;预后死亡和预后存活患者的淋巴结转移、病理类型、TNM分期、AJCC临床分期和复发情况差异显著（P<0.05）;淋巴结转移、病理类型、TNM分期、复发、AJCC临床分期与腮腺肿瘤患者预后存活情况密切相关（P<0.05）;多因素Cox分析结果显示,淋巴结转移、病理类型、TNM分期、复发、AJCC临床分期是独立危险因素（P<0.05）。结论：疾病相关因素是导致腮腺恶性肿瘤患者复发和死亡的重要因素,临床早期可针对性调整治疗方案以降低患者术后复发和恶性肿瘤。     

血清肿瘤标志物与宫颈癌病理特征的关系及对术后复发的预测研究

摘要 目的：探讨血清肿瘤标志物与宫颈癌病理特征的关系及对术后复发的预测研究。方法：选择2015年1月至2017年12月来我院诊治的宫颈癌患者82例作为观察组,选择同期来我院体检的健康女性者50例,两组均使用电化学发光免疫分析法检测血清中的CA125、CA153、CA199、CEA水平,观察组患者随访时间截至2022年12月。对比两组血清CA125、CA153、CA199、CEA水平,分析观察组患者血清CA125、CA153、CA199、CEA水平与临床病理特征的关系,分析观察组患者术后随访复发情况,宫颈癌根治术后患者复发的单因素与多因素Cox回归结果,血清CA125、CA153、CA199、CEA水平对宫颈癌根治术后复发的预测价值。结果：观察组的血清CA125、CA153、CA199、CEA水平明显较对照组高（P<0.05）。宫颈癌患者不同FIGO分期、间质浸润深度及是否存在淋巴结转移间血清CA125、CA153、CA199、CEA水平对比有统计学意义（P<0.05）。82例患者随访时间为13~60个月,中位生存时间为39个月,截止2022年12月末次随访,82例患者术后复发18例（21.95%）。单因素及多因素Cox回归分析表明,FIGO分期在ⅡA期、间质浸润深度≥1/2、有淋巴结转移、CA125≥307.41 U/mL、CA153≥185.89 U/mL、CA199≥153.23 U/mL、CEA≥30.15 ng/mL是影响宫颈癌术后复发的独立危险因素。ROC曲线显示,CA125+CA153+CA199+CEA预测宫颈癌术后复发的AUC明显较CA125、CA153、CA199、CEA单独指标预测价值高（P<0.05）。结论：宫颈癌患者血清CA125、CA153、CA199、CEA高表达,其与间质浸润深度、FIGO 分期、淋巴结转移、术后复发有关,四者联合可作为宫颈癌术后复发的预测指标。     

DNA immunization: Effects of vehicle and route of administration on the induction of protective antiviral immunity

Abstract The effectiveness of DNA immunization has been demonstrated in several model systems, usually following intramuscular injection of DNA in saline, or topical administration to the skin. In this study we have compared DNA delivered by three routes (intramuscular, intravenous, and intraperitoneal) and, for each route, in two vehicles (cationic liposome complex and pH sensitive liposome). These two lipid vehicles were evaluated because they are frequently used in gene therapy studies, but their immunogenicity has not been extensively studied. Each of these six combinations has been evaluated not only by assay of marker gene expression in a variety of tissues, but also by measurement of biologically-relevant parameters of immunity induction of antibodies, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and protection against viral challenge. By both criteria (marker gene expression and induced immunity), the outcomes vary markedly among the six combinations. The combination leading to maximal marker gene expression (DNA with cationic lipid, administered i.v.) also induces detectable antibodies and CTL, and is the only one of the six combinations to induce immune responses comparable to those seen following i.m. injection of DNA in saline. However, marker gene expression can be detected in other combinations in the absence of induced immunity thus the value of marker gene expression in predicting the protection induced by a microbial antigen is questionable suggesting that, when evaluating various promoter constructs, marker gene expression may not adequately replace the direct measurement of biological outcomes.     

Stimulation of endothelial cell migration in culture by ladsin,a laminin-5-like cell adhesion protein

Summary Ladsin is a laminin-like cell-adhesive scatter factor with potent cell motility-stimulating ability and was purified from serum-free conditioned medium of a malignant human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line STKM-1. To test its possible role in tumor angiogenesis, we investigated its effect on primary culture of endothelial cells (human umbilical vein endothelial cells) and endothelial cell line ECV304 in this study. Cell adhesion and motility effects of ladsin were observed in both types of endothelial cells. In cell-attachment assay, ladsin interacted with integrin α3β1 that was expressed on the endothelial cell surface. In Boyden chambers, ladsin stimulated both directed and random migration of ECV304 cells. Ladsin induced repair of artificial wounds generated in ECV304 cell monolayers by stimulating cell migration. Ladsin did not affect the growth rate of ECV304 cells at a low cell density but significantly increased the saturation cell density. These results suggest that ladsin may be involved in the adhesion and migration of endothelial cells under some physiological and pathological conditions.