AIM:To investigate the specific anti-tumor effects of mature dendritic cells ( DCs) transfected with amplified mucin 1 ( MUC1) mRNA in vitro.METHODS:DCs separated and purified from the peripheral blood mononu-clear cells were induced in vitro and then identified by flow cytometry .pcDNA3.1(+)-MUC1 plasmid was constructed and was able to transcribe MUC1 mRNA in vitro.The MUC1 mRNA was transfected into DCs by electroporation .MUC1-trans-fected DCs were used to induce T cells to be cytotoxic T-lymphocytes .Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to assess MUC1 mRNA expression in transfected DCs .The proliferation of T cells was examined by MTT assay .The proportion of CD8 +cells in the T cells was determined by flow cytometry and the specific cytotoxicity was measured by LDH assay .The secretion of IFN-γwas detected by ELISA .RESULTS: The marker gene expression in the DCs transfected with MUC 1 mRNA was significantly increased compared with control group , peaking at 24 h.The transfection group showed the higher capacity to stimulate the proliferation of T cells compared with control group when the ratio of DCs to T cells was 1∶10.The proportion of CD8 +cells in transfection group was higher than that in control group .The lethal effect of special cytotoxic T-lymphocytes on target cells in transfection group was stronger than that in control group .The level of IFN-γin the cell su-pernatant of transfection group was higher than that in control group .CONCLUSION:DCs plus MUC1 mRNA by electri-cal transfection induces specific anti-tumor effects , which provides an experiment evidence of using MUC 1 as a target for immunotherapeutic strategy against non-small cell lung cancer .

Objective:To evaluate the role of natural killer T cells in renal fibrosis in mice with acute kidney injury (AKI).Methods:Twenty-four clean-grade healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 8-10 weeks, weighing 20-30 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), AKI group (group A), control plus CD1d antibody group (group C-MA), and AKI plus CD1d antibody group (group A-MA). The model of renal fibrosis in mice with AKI was established by intraperitoneal injection of folic acid 250 mg/kg.In group C, homotypic control antibody 20 mg/kg was injected via the tail vein.In group AKI, homotypic control antibody 20 mg/kg was injected via the tail vein at 24 h before establishing the model. In group C-MA, anti-CD1d monoclonal antibody 20 mg/kg was injected via the tail vein.In group A-MA, anti-CD1d monoclonal antibody 20 mg/kg was injected via the tail vein at 24 h before establishing the model.On the 14th day after folic acid injection, blood samples were taken from eyeballs to determine the concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) in serum.Then the mice were sacrificed, and the renal tissues were taken for Sirius red staining and HE staining to determine the area of renal fibrosis, and renal injury was scored.The expression of fibronectin (FN), type I collagen (Col-Ⅰ) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in renal tissues was detected by immunofluorescence method.The expression of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, arginase-1 (Arg-1) and found in inflammatory zone 1 (FIZZ1) mRNA in renal tissues was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results:Compared with group C, the concentrations of BUN and Cr in serum, renal injury score, and area of renal fibrosis were significantly increased, the expression of FN, Col-Ⅰ and α-SMA and IL-4, IL-13, Arg-1 and FIZZ1 mRNA was up-regulated in A and A-MA groups ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the above indexes in group C-MA ( P>0.05). Compared with group A, the concentrations of BUN and Cr in serum, renal injury score, and area of renal fibrosis were significantly decreased, the expression of FN, Col-Ⅰ and α-SMA and IL-4, IL-13, Arg-1 and FIZZ1 mRNA was down-regulated in group A-MA ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Activation of natural killer T cells is involved in the process of renal fibrosis in mice with AKI, and the mechanism may be related to promoting the release of Th2 cytokines and M2 polarization of macrophages.

OBJECTIVE:To establish an RP-HPLC method for the content determination of glycyrrhizic acid in gly-cyrrhizin liposome.METHODS:The separation was performed on Shim-pack VP-ODS column with methanol-buffer phosphate(pH=2.6,68∶32)as the mobile phase,the detection wavelength was254nm and the flow rate was1ml/min.RE-SULTS:Glycyrrhizic acid was well-separated with peaks of the adjuvants and the solvent.The linear range for glycyrrhizic acid was1～100?g/ml(r=0.9999,n=5).The average recovery was97.56%(RSD=1.03%).CONCLUSION:This method is accurate and sensitive,and suitable for the content determination of glycyrrhizic acid in glycyrrhizin liposome.

Objective To prepare liposomes of glycyrrhizic acid, and evaluate its liver targeting property in mice. Methods The liposomes were prepared with conventional rotary-evaporated film-ultrasonication method.The liposomes were injected into the mouse tail vein, and the concentration of glycyrrhizic acid was detected by RP-HPLC.The glycyrrhiz-ic acid injection was taken as control.The targeted indicators, including the relative tissue exposure ( re ) , targeting effi-ciency (te), and index of peak concentration ratio (Ce), were used to evaluate the liver targeting property.Results The re was 1.4, Te of the liposomes was 0.092, and te of the injection was 0.059.The Ce of the liver was 1.59, and the Ce of the blood was 0.99.Conclusion Compared with glycyrrhizic acid injection, the glycyrrhizic acid liposomes show good liv-er-targeting property.

Objective To investigate the efficiency of Trichostatin A (TSA) in inducing cell apoptosis and altering the Notch pathway genes expression in PANC-1 cells line.Methods The survival rate and apoptosis of PANC-1 cells were measured by MTT assay and Hoechst 33258 staining,respectively.mRNA expression levels of the genes,numb,gcn512,dll3,hes6,eaf2,cytohesins,in PANC-1 cells were assessed by real-time quantitive PCR.Western blot was used to measure the expression of bcl-2,bax,actived caspase-3 and NICD protein which was the biologically active form of Notch-1.Results After culturing with 0.1,0.2,and 0.4 μmol/L TSA for 24 hours,the cellular survival rate of PANC-1 cells significantly decreased to 72％,58％ and 39％,respectively.The survival rate of PANC-1 was negatively correlated to time length of culture with TSA.Increased apoptosis of PANC-1 cells after 12,24 and 36 h culture with TSA was detected by Hoechst 33258 staining.Western blotting showed that the expression of bax,actived caspase-3 and NICD protein increased while the bcl-2 protein decreased after culture with TSA.In real time quantitive PCR assessment,the mRNA expression of numb and hes6 in PANC-1 cells were upregulated by TSA (P ＜ 0.05),while the mRNA expression of gcn512 and dll3 were down-regulated by TSA (P ＜ 0.05).While mRNA expressions of eaf2 and cytohesin1,2,3,4 were not affected by TSA.Conclusions TSA induces apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1.The Notch signal pathway may be involved in inducing cellular apoptosis of PANC-1 when cultured with TSA.

Objective:To evaluate the role of CXC chemokine receptor 6 (CXCR6)-mediated activation of natural killer T (NKT) cells in renal fibrosis following acute kidney injury (AKI) in mice.Methods:Eighteen male wild-type C57BL/6 mice and 18 CXCR6 knockout C57BL/6 mice, aged 8-10 weeks, weighing 20-30 g, were divided into 6 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: wild-type mouse control group (group WT-CON), CXCR6 knockout mouse control group (group CXCR6 -/--CON), wild-type mouse with AKI group (group WT-AKI), CXCR6 knockout mouse with AKI group (group CXCR6 -/--AKI), wild-type mouse with AKI + NKT cell adoptive transfer group (group WT-AKI-NKT) and CXCR6 knockout mouse with AKI + NKT cell adoptive transfer group (group CXCR6 -/--AKI-NKT). Folic acid 250 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected to establish the model of renal fibrosis in mice with AKI.NKT cellsuspension 250 μl(1×10 6 cells) was injected through the tail vein on the 4th and 9th days after folic acid injection in group WT-AKI-NKT and group CXCR6 -/--AKI-NKT, respectively.Blood samples were taken from orbital at day 14 after folic acid injection for determination of the concentrations of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr). The animals were sacrificed, and renal tissues were obtained for observation of the area of renal fibrosis (by Sirius red staining) and renal injury (using H&E staining) which was scored and for determination of the proportion of CD1d Tetramer+ cells (by flow cytometry), the number of CD206 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) double positive (CD206 + -α-SMA + ) cells (by immunofluorescence) and expression of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 mRNA (by real-time polymerase chain reaction). Results:Compared with group WT-CON, the BUN and Cr levels, renal injury scores, area of renal fibrosis, proportion of CD1d Tetramer + cells and CD206 + -α-SMA + cell count were significantly increased, and the expression of IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA was up-regulated in group WT-AKI and WT-AKI-NKT ( P<0.05). Compared with group WT-AKI, the BUN and Cr levels, renal injury scores, area of renal fibrosis, proportion of CD1d Tetramer + cells and CD206 + -α-SMA + cell count were significantly increased, and the expression of IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA was up-regulated in group WT-AKI-NKT ( P<0.05), and the BUN and Cr levels, renal injury scores, area of renal fibrosis, proportion of CD1d Tetramer + cells and CD206 + -α-SMA + cell count were significantly decreased, and the expression of IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA was down-regulated in group CXCR6 -/--AKI ( P<0.05). Compared with group CXCR6 -/--CON, the BUN and Cr levels, renal injury scores, area of renal fibrosis, proportion of CD1d Tetramer + cells and CD206 + -α-SMA + cell count were significantly increased in group CXCR6 -/--AKI and group CXCR6 -/--AKI-NKT ( P<0.05). Compared with group CXCR6 -/--AKI, the BUN and Cr levels, renal injury scores, area of renal fibrosis, proportion of CD1d Tetramer + cells and CD206 + -α-SMA + cell count were significantly increased, and the expression of IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA was up-regulated in group CXCR6 -/--AKI-NKT ( P<0.05). Conclusion:CXCR6-mediated activation of NKT cells is involved in renal fibrosis following AKI in mice, and the mechanism may be related to promoting Th2 cytokine-mediated M2 macrophage-myofibroblast transformation.

Objective:To evaluate the role of interleukin-4 (IL-4) in renal fibrosis induced by acute kidney injury (AKI) in mice.Methods:Twenty-four male C57BL/6 mice, aged 8-10 weeks, weighing 20-30 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n =6 each) using a random number table method: control group (group CON), AKI group, control plus anti-IL-4 antibody group (group CON-A), and AKI plus anti-IL-4 antibody group (group AKI-A). In AKI-A and AKI groups, folic acid was intraperitoneally injected to induce AKI in anesthetized mice, and the anti-IL-4 antibody 40 mg/kg and the equal volume of PBS were intraperitoneally injected, respectively, at 3, 6, 9 and 12 days after injection. The equal volume of PBS and anti-IL-4 antibody was given at the corresponding time point in CON and CON-A groups, respectively.The orbital blood samples were taken on day 14 after injecting folic acid for determination of the serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) concentrations.The animals were then sacrificed, and renal tissues were obtained for examination of the pathological changes (using Sirius red staining and Masson staining) and for determination of the expression of fibronectin(FN), collagen-Ⅰ(Col-Ⅰ) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) (by Western blot) and expression of CD206, Arg-1 and FIZZ1 mRNA (by real-time polymerase chain reaction). The area of renal fibrosis was measured. Results:Compared with group CON, the serum BUN and Cr concentrations were significantly increased, the area of renal fibrosis was increased, and the expression of FN, Col-Ⅰ, α-SMA and CD206, Arg-1 and FIZZ1 mRNA in renal tissues was up-regulated in group AKI ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group CON-A( P>0.05). Compared with group AKI, the serum BUN and Cr concentrations were significantly decreased, the area of renal fibrosis was reduced, and the expression of FN, Col-Ⅰ, α-SMA and CD206, Arg-1 and FIZZ1 mRNA in renal tissues was down-regulated in group AKI-A ( P<0.05). Conclusion:IL-4 is involved in the process of renal fibrosis following AKI, and the mechanism may be associated with the regulation of macrophage M2 polarization in mice.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of plasma exchange combined with high-dose continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration method (CVVHDF) in the treatment of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure with stage III-IV hepatic encephalopathy and the feasibility of pre-operative preparation for liver transplantation. Methods: Clinical data of 14 cases of medical intensive care unit of our hospital with acute-on- chronic liver failure accompanied with stage III-IV hepatic encephalopathy that underwent plasma exchange combined with high-dose CVVHDF from March 2015 to September 2017 were retrospectively summarized. The indexes of liver and kidney function, blood coagulation function, arterial blood PH, lactic acid and blood ammonia were monitored before and after treatment. Heart rate, blood pressure, APACHE II score, and consciousness recovery time were observed. Student’s t- test was used to compare the mean values between the two groups. Results: Serum total bilirubin (t = 9.43, P < 0.01), serum creatinine (t = 3.40, P < 0.01), serum ammonia (t = 10.64, P < 0.01), prothrombin activity (t = 9.19, P < 0.01), serum lactate (t = 9.25, P < 0.01), heart rate (t = 4.47, P < 0.01), and mean arterial pressure (t = 4.41, P < 0.05) were significantly improved in 14 patients before and after treatment. In addition, respiratory rate (t = 6.01, P < 0.01) and APACHE II score (t = 7.19, P < 0.01) were significantly improved (P < 0.05). Eight patients with stage III hepatic encephalopathy were treated with intermittent plasma exchange combined with CVVHDF for 3 to 14 days, and six patients with stage IV were transformed to stage III to II. Liver transplantation was successfully performed on 14 patients with shortest time duration of 3days, and longest time duration of 1 month. Conclusion Plasma exchange combined with CVVHDF can significantly improve liver and kidney functions, reduce blood ammonia level and improve mental health in patients with hepatic failure accompanied with stage III-IV hepatic coma. In addition, it also effectively increases the average arterial pressure, maintain stability of vital signs, maintain fluids, electrolytes and acid-base balance, create a stable internal environment for liver transplantation before operation, and extend time for liver transplantation.

Objective:To evaluate the role of Jumonji domain-containing 3 (JMJD3) in cisplatin-induced renal fibrosis following acute kidney injury in mice.Methods:Forty-eight healthy C57BL/6 male mice, aged 8-10 weeks, weighing 20-30 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: control group (group CON), control plus JMJD3 inhibitor group (group CON-A), cisplatin group (group CIS), and cisplatin plus JMJD3 inhibitor group (group CIS-A). In group CIS and group CIS-A, cisplatin was intraperitoneally administered on 1st and 14th days, respectively, to develop a renal fibrosis model in mice with acute kidney injury, and the JMJD3 inhibitor GSKJ4 10 mg/kg and equal volume of PBS were intraperitoneally injected on 4th day, respectively, once every 3 days, 6 injections in total.The equal volume of PBS and GSKJ4 10 mg/kg were intraperitoneally injected at the corresponding time points in group CON and group CON-A, respectively.Six mice in each group were selected, and orbital blood samples were collected on 3rd day after the first injection of cisplatin to determine the concentrations of serum creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), then the animals were sacrificed, and kidney tissues were obtained for microscopic examination of pathological changes after HE and PAS staining (with a light microscope), and the damage to kidneys was assessed and scored.Six mice were sacrificed on 28th day after the first injection of cisplatin, and kidney tissues were removed for determination of the area of renal fibrosis ( via Sirius red and Masson staining), expression of fibronectin (Fn), collagen type Ⅰ (Col Ⅰ) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) (by immunofluorescence), F4/80 + cell and CD3 + cell count (using immunohistochemical method), and expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), CXC chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16), and monocyte chemoattractant protein1 (MCP-1) mRNA (by real-time polymerase chain reaction). Results:Compared with group CON, the serum BUN and Cr concentrations, renal injury scores, and area of renal fibrosis were significantly increased, the expression of Fn, Col Ⅰ and α-SMA was up-regulated, the F4/80 + cell and CD3 + cell count was increased, and the expression of IL-6, CXCL16, TNF-α and MCP-1 mRNA was up-regulated in group CIS ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group CON-A ( P>0.05). Compared with group CON-A, the serum BUN and Cr concentrations, renal injury scores, and area of renal fibrosis were significantly increased, the expression of Fn, Col Ⅰ and α-SMA was up-regulated, the F4/80 + cell and CD3 + cell count was increased, and the expression of IL-6, CXCL16, TNF-α and MCP-1 mRNA was up-regulated in group CIS-A ( P<0.05). Compared with group CIS, the serum BUN and Cr concentrations, renal injury scores, and area of renal fibrosis were significantly decreased, the expression of Fn, Col Ⅰ and α-SMA was down-regulated, the F4/80 + cell and CD3 + cell count was decreased, and the expression of IL-6, CXCL16, TNF-α and MCP-1 mRNA was down-regulated in group CIS-A ( P<0.05). Conclusions:JMJD3 is involved in the process of renal fibrosis following acute kidney injury in mice, and the mechanism may be related to promotion of inflammatory responses.

OBJECTIVETo estimate the significance of the adjustment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) risk group by monitoring minimal residual disease(MRD).

METHODTotally 285 children ALL patients who were diagnosed and systematically treated according to CCLG-2008 in Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, from April 2008 to August 2011 were prospectively selected. Among these cases, 62.8% (n = 179) were boys and 37.2% (n = 106) were girls and the median age was 5.3(0.5-14.0). The patients who were at high-risk group initially were excluded. The grouping of cases: the patients were divided into two groups according to the dates of initial diagnosis. Group I had 126 patients who were initially diagnosed between April 2008 and December 2009 in whom therapeutic regimen was not adjusted by reassignment of risk group by MRD. Group II had 159 patients who were initially diagnosed between January 2010 and August 2011 whose therapeutic regimen was adjusted by reassignment of risk group by MRD at specific time (33rd day of induction chemotherapy and 12 weeks after the beginning of chemotherapy). MP-FCM Coulter FC-500 was used in the detection of MRD.

RESULTAmong these 285 patients, 94.0% (n = 268) were diagnosed as B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 6.0% (n = 17) were T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In group I, 61.9% (n = 78) patients belonged to low-risk group, 38.1% (n = 48) median-risk; in group II, before the adjustment, the rates of the low-risk group and median-risk group were 68.6% (n = 109) and 31.4% (n = 50) , respectively, while after the adjustment they were altered to 53.5% (n = 85) and 39.6% (n = 63) , furthermore 6.9% (n = 11) patients went into the high-risk group. Both groups were followed up for 2.5 years after their diagnoses, the disease of 7.4% (n = 21) patients relapsed, and the rates of two groups were 12.7% (n = 16) and 3.1% (n = 5) respectively, P = 0.009. The rate of serious infection (such as sepsis, pulmonary infection) of all these patients was 32.3% (92/285) , there was no significant difference between the two groups [28.6% (36/126) vs.35.2% (56/159) , P = 0.392]. The mortality of all these patients was 6.7% (19/285) , and that of group I was higher than that of group II [10.3% (13/126) vs. 3.8% (6/159) , P = 0.044]. The 2.5 years overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of group I were all lower than those of group II in Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis (all P < 0.05). The two groups were followed up for 2.5 years after their diagnoses, after elimination of the confounding influence of sex, age, FAB subtype, WBC count, ratio of blast cells in bone marrow at diagnosed, chromosome karyotype and fusion gene, reassignment of risk group by MRD was used to calculate the OS, EFS and DFS of ALL patients (all P < 0.05). After the adjustment the risk group was more significant in the assessment of prognosis.

CONCLUSIONThe reassignment of risk group in low and median risk groups children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia by MRD did not increase the rate of serious infection but could reduce the relapse rate and mortality, and was beneficial to increase the patients' OS, EFS and DFS.

Adolescent ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Neoplasm, Residual ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Remission Induction ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome