Objective:To evaluate the role of IL-23 in the production of IFN-?, cell subsets and regulation by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs).Methods:PBMCs were isolated from normal human peripheral blood and cultured with IL-23 in different culture conditions. The level of IFN-? in the culture supernatants was examined by ELISA. The subsets and frequency of IFN-?-producing cells were examined at a single cell level by flow cytometry.Results:IL-23 could directly induce IFN-? production by PBMCs and have synergistic effect with IL-2 on the induction of IFN-? production in a dose dependent manner. The data from Flow cytometric analysis indicated that IL-23 could induce IFN-? expression by CD3~-CD56~+NK cells but not CD3~+CD4~+ and CD8~+T cells. It is noted that IL-23 predominantly induced IFN-? expression by NK cells with high expression of CD56 molecules. Addition of Th2 cytokines or anti-IL-12R?1 mAbs resulted in the inhibition of IL-23-inducing IFN-? production.Conclusion:IL-23 can directly induce IFN-? production by PBMCs. The induction of IFN-? induced by IL-23 can be suppressed by Th2 cytokines and anti-IL-12R?1 mAbs. The data indicated that Th2 cytokines and anti-IL-12R?1 mAbs might have the potential application for the treatment of IL-23-mediated autoimmune diseases.

Objective To explore the optimum time of removal of preoperative double J stent before adjuvant radiotherapy in cervical cancer. Meth?ods A total of 90 patients with cervical cancer who underwent radical surgery between January 2014 and March 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. In addition,these recruited patients also underwent preoperative placement of double J stent and had them removed before the adjuvant radiotherapy. The patients were then divided into three groups based on the time of removal of double J stent. Group A(n=21)had the stent removed 2 to 4 weeks after the surgery;group B(n=46)had the stent removed 4 to 5 weeks after the surgery;group C(n=23)had the stent removed greater than or equal to 5 weeks after the surgery. The complications caused by stent placement and their improvement after stent removal were compared among the three groups. Finally,the optimum time of stent removal was determined. Results The overall incidence of complications caused by stent placement in group B(23.91%)was significantly lower(P<0.05)than that in group A(47.62%)and group C(56.52%). The most frequent among these complications were bladder irritation(8.70%)and fever(8.70%). The incidence of hydronephrosis exacerbation after stent removal in group A (28.57%)was significantly higher(P<0.05)than that in group B(6.52%)and group C(4.35%). All the other complications were alleviated or disappeared after the removal in all the three groups. There were no significant difference(P>0.05)among the three groups concerning glomerular filtration rate,serum urea nitrogen,and serum creatinine. Conclusion The incidence of complications caused by preoperative double J stent place?ment increased along with the duration of placement,but the exacerbation of hydronephrosis should be concerned if the stent is removed too early. Therefore,the optimal time of stent removal is 4 to 5 weeks after the surgery.

AIM: To study the effect and mechanism of BCG on human nature killer cells. METHODS: PBMC or purified NK cells were isolated from normal human peripheral blood with negative anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis antibody and cultured with BCG, IL-12, BCG plus IL-12 and BCG plus anti-IL-12Rβ1 mAb (2B10), respectively. The levels of IFN-γ and IL-12p40 in the culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. The frequency of IFN-γ and granzyme B producing cells were analyzed by ELISpot. The cytolytic activity was detected by MTT reduction assay. The surface expression of IL-12Rβ1 on NK cells was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: BCG significantly induced IFN-γ production by PBMC in a dose-dependent manner. When PBMC was stimulated with BCG, the frequency of granzyme B producing cells was higher than that in unstimulated PBMC (P<0.05). BCG enhanced the cytotoxic activity of PBMC. BCG alone didn' t induce IFN-γ production by purified NK cells, but it can augment IL-12-induced IFN-γ production by purified NK cells. The cytotoxic activities of BCG-stimulated and unstimulated purified NK cells were not significantly different (P>0.05). BCG induced IL-12 production by PBMC in a dose-dependent manner and enhanced IL-12Rβ1 expression on different subsets of NK cells. Blocking the effect of IL-12 by anti-IL-12Rβ1 mAb (2B10) inhibited BCG-induced IFN-γ production and granzyme B releasing by PBMC. CONCLUSION: BCG can indirectly promote biologic activity of NK cells and the production of endogenous IL-12 combined with up-regulation IL-12Rβ1 expression on the surface of NK cells is a part of the mechanisms of IL-12 on human NK cells.

Objective:To elucidate the characterization of antigen-specific memory T cells from PPD~+ individuals after stimulation with BCG in vitro.Methods:PBMCs were isolated from PPD~ -/+ normal human peripheral blood and stimulated with BCG. The level of IFN-? in the culture supernatants was assayed by ELISA and the frequency of IFN-?-producinging cells was detected by ELISPOT. The subsets and frequency of cytokine-producing cells were determined at a single cell level by flow cytometry.Results:After stimulation with BCG, PBMCs from PPD~+ but not PPD~- individuals produced significantly high levels of IFN-? in culture supernatants detected by ELISA(P