Tampering with cancer chemoresistance by targeting the TGM2-IL6-autophagy regulatory network

Macroautophagy/autophagy is a well-established process involved in maintaining cellular homeostasis, but its role in cancer is complex and even controversial. Many studies have reported a correlative relationship between increased autophagy and evolving cancer cells under stress conditions such as nutrient or oxygen deprivation; however, there has been a lack of a plausible mechanistic link to properly target the autophagy process in the context of this microenvironment. We recently unveiled a positive regulatory loop involving TGM2 (transglutaminase 2)-NFKB/NF-κB signaling, IL6 and autophagy in cancer using mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) as a model system. These pathways are functionally connected to each other, thereby promoting malignant B cell survival and leading to enhanced lymphoma progression both in mice and in patients. Disruption of this network could provide an opportunity to increase the efficacies of current therapies and to reduce MCL drug resistance.     

Effect of redox-responsive DTSSP crosslinking on poly(l-lysine)-grafted-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles for delivery of proteins

Therapeutic proteins are utilized in a variety of clinical applications, but side effects and rapid in vivo clearance still present hurdles. An approach that addresses both drawbacks is protein encapsulation within in a polymeric nanoparticle, which is effective but introduces the additional challenge of destabilizing the nanoparticle shell in clinically relevant locations. This study examined the effects of crosslinking self-assembled poly(l -lysine)-grafted-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles with redox-responsive 3,3′-dithiobis(sulfosuccinimidyl propionate) (DTSSP) to achieve nanoparticle destabilization in a reductive environment. The polymer-protein nanoparticles (DTSSP NPs) were formed through electrostatic self-assembly and crosslinked with DTSSP, which contains a glutathione-reducible disulfide. As glutathione is upregulated in various cancers, DTSSP NPs could display destabilization within cancer cells. A library of DTSSP NPs was formed with varying copolymer to protein (C:P) and crosslinker to protein (X:P) mass ratios and characterized by size and encapsulation efficiency. DTSSP NPs with a 7:1 C:P ratio and 2:1 X:P ratio were further characterized by stability in the presence proteases and reducing agents. DTSSP NPs fully encapsulated the model protein and displayed 81% protein release when incubated with 5 mM dithiothreitol for 12 hr. This study contributes to understanding stimulus-responsive crosslinking of polymeric nanoparticles and could be foundational to clinical administration of therapeutic proteins.     

Peptides and multiple antigen peptides from Schistosoma mansoni glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase: preparation, immunogenicity and immunoprotective capacity in C57BL/6 mice.

Four monoepitopic MAPs (MAP A, B, C and E) and one bis-diepitopic MAP B-E derived fromthe primary sequence of Schistosoma mansoni glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, previously tested in BALB/c mice, were examined for their immunogenicity and protective capacity in C57BL/6 mice. Despite multimerization into MAPs, MAP Aand MAP C were poorly immunogenic. In contrast toBALB/c mice, MAP E was non-immunogenic in C57BL/6 mice. Peptide B in the form of MAP B orbis-diepitopic MAPB-E elicited immune responses in C57BL/6 mice that were associated with a significant decrease in worm burden. The MAPs were prepared by the stepwise solid-phase peptide synthesis using Boc/Bzl chemistry, successfully purified on the RP-HPLC column and characterized by RP-HPLC, HPCE and MALDI-TOF MS techniques. A general strategy for MAPs purification is discussed here and the purification of MAP Band MAP E is documented in detail.     

Chromium in plants

Chromium is an essential trace element and is associated with some biological pathways, especially with glucose tolerance. For these reasons, we decided to determine the concentration of chromium in two sets of Brazilian medicinal plants. The first group consisted of plants that are considered as antidiabetic, whereas the second included plants that do not have this therapeutic property. The concentration of chromium was determined by flameless atomic absorption. All the plants analyzed contain chromium in the normal range for this element, but the hypoglycemic plants contain more chromium than the others (1–4 μg/g compared to 0.5–1.5 μg/g).     

Correlation of immunomodulatory and therapeutic activities of interferon and interferon inducers in metastatic disease

The mechanism of therapeutic activity of recombinant murine interferon-gamma (rMu IFN-gamma) and the IFN inducer polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid solubilized with poly-L-lysine in carboxy methyl cellulose (pICLC) in treating metastatic disease was investigated by comparing effector cell augmentation with therapeutic activity in mice bearing experimental lung metastases (B16-BL6 melanoma). Effector cell functions in spleen, peripheral blood, and lung (the organ with tumor) were tested after 1 and 3 weeks of rMu IFN-gamma or pICLC administration (intravenous, three times a week). In these studies, natural killer (NK), lymphokine-activated killer (LAK), cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) (against specific and nonspecific targets), and macrophage tumoricidal and tumoristatic activities were measured. rM IFN-gamma and pICLC had therapeutic activity and immunomodulatory activity in most assays of immune function examined. Specific CTL activity of pulmonary parenchymal mononuclear cells (PPMC), but not in splenocytes or peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), during week 3 and not during week 1, correlated with the therapeutic activity of rMu IFN-gamma and of pICLC. Macrophage tumoricidal activity in PPMC, but not in alveolar macrophages, also correlated with the therapeutic activity of rMu IFN-gamma, but the opposite was true for the therapeutic activity of pICLC. NK activity of PPMC, but not of splenocytes or PBL, during week 1 correlated with the therapeutic activity of pICLC; in contrast, NK activity at any site did not correlate with the therapeutic activity of rMu IFN-gamma. LAK activity at any site did not correlate with the therapeutic activity of either agent.     

伤寒Vi多糖菌苗接种反应观察

本文报告了对我国首次成功的伤寒Ｖｉ多糖菌苗进行人体接种反应观察结果,接种对象为２０至５４岁无伤寒病史,近年无伤寒菌苗接种史的健康人,共６０名,以完全随机的方法分为两组,实验组注射３０μｇＶｉ多糖菌苗,对照组注射Ｖｉ多糖菌苗的稀释液。其结果３０名Ｖｉ多糖菌苗接种者注射后体温无中重反应发生,局部红肿仅有１例中反应。注射后对血压、心律没有影响。红细胞计数,白细胞计数均在正常范围,与接种前相比,无显著差异     

少年人群接种乙肝疫苗后七年随访观察

对７９名ＨＢＶ标志阴性少年人群,以乙肝疫苗１０μｇ×３的免疫剂量和０、１、２月的免疫程序进行接种,对其抗－ＨＢｓ免疫应答和临床保护效果作了为期７年的定人随访。结果表明,抗－ＨＢｓ阳转率在免后三个月时为１００％,均值为３０８４ＭＩＵ／ｍｌ。至免后８４个月时疫苗接受者中仍有５５．７％的抗－ＨＢｓ水平≥１０ＭＩＵ／ｍｌ。６例检出抗－ＨＢｓ,其中５例的抗－ＨＢｓ持续处于高水平。全部观察对象无一例检出ＨＢｓＡｇ或发生临床肝炎。少年接种乙肝血源疫苗至少７年内可具有保护性抗体。故在此期内不需加强免疫。     

不同月龄婴儿接种DTP后血清中百日咳抗体水平的观测

本文对比观察了２１３例２月龄、３月龄婴儿接种ＤＴＰ后百日咳抗体水平的变化,探讨了母传抗体对免后抗体增长的影响。结果表明２月龄、３月龄婴儿ＤＴＰ免疫后１个月和３个月血清中百日咳抗体达保护水平的百分率无显著性差异（ｘ￣２＝０．０３６,ｐ＞０．９;ｘ￣２＝０．３２７,ｐ＞０．５）,免后１个月抗体ＧＭＴ无显著性差异（ｔ＝０．１７,ｐ＞０．５）,免后３个月抗体ＧＭＴ３月龄组高于２月龄组（ｔ＝２．２２,ｐ＜０．０５）。我们还发现免前抗体水平与免后１个月ＧＭＴ虽有负相关（ｒ＝—０,７５４）的倾向,但总体上对抑制免后抗体应答不明显,因而建议将儿童ＤＴＰ基础免疫的起始月龄提前至２月龄进行。     

Evaluation of Salmonella Porins as a Broad Spectrum Vaccine Candidate

Porins were prepared from smooth strain of Salmonella typhi 0–901 and chemotype of rough mutant of S. typhimurium Ra-30. Mice were immunized with both the porin preparations in different groups and challenged with S. typhimurium LT2–71 and S. enteritidis SH-1269. Porin immunized mice showed significant protection (P <0.01) against challenge with homologous as well as heterologous strains. Hence, the use of porins may be attempted in future to protect against salmonellosis.