Objective To investigate the changes in cytotoxicity of DC-CIK cells to human multiple myeloma RPMI 8226 cells before and after treatment with oridonin. Methods Normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and induced to obtain DC-CIK cells. Cytotoxicity of DC-CIK cells against RPMI 8226 cells which were treated by oridonin was analyzed by LDH releasing assay. The variation for expression of NKG2D ligands on RPMI 8226 cells were measured by flow cytometry. Results DC-CIK cells were successfully induced from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells. At the same effector to target ratio, oridonin obviously enhanced the cytotocixity of DC-CIK cells against RPMI 8226 cells (P<0.01). Flow cytometry showed the expression of NKG2D ligands ULBP1 of RPMI8226 cells was most significantly increased as the cells were treated by oridonin [(9.19 ± 1.85) vs. (15.47 ± 0.67), P<0.01]. Correlation analysis indicated that cytotocixity was positively correlated with changes in ULBP1. Conclusions Oridonin can improve the cytotoxicity of DC-CIK cells against RPMI 8226 cells, which may be related with the increased expressions of NKG2D ligands on the tumor cell surface.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic field can affect the growth and division of cancer cells both in vivo and in vitro, however, the effects on apoptosis of human liver cancer cells induced by magnetic field is still unclear.OBJECTIVE: To explore the inducing effect of extremely low fre quency (ELF) magnetic field on apoptosis of human liver cancer cell SK-HEP- 1.JESIGN: An open experiment with cells as the observational subjects.SETTING: Institute of Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiaotong University.MATERIALS: The experiment was carried out at the Institute of Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiaotong University from September 2004 to January 2005. The subject was human liver cancer cell line SK-HEP-1, purchased from cell bank of Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai.METHODS: SK-HEP-1 cells were inoculated to T-flasks at the density of 2.0×107 cells L-1, and cultivated in the DMEM containing 0.1 volume fraction of heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum and 2 mmol/L L-glutamine. Exposure groups were exposed to 50 Hz, 20 mT magnetic field and the control groups were run concurrently under the same conditions with the exposed cultures but in a separate incubator which was free of magnetic field during 8-day culture process. The apoptosis of SK-HEP-1 cells were defined by DNA ladder assay, Hoechst 33258 staining and AO/EB staining respectively on day 8.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① DNA fragmentation pattern formation. ② The abnormal nucleus formation. ③ The percentage of apoptotic cells.RESULTS: ① Detection of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation by DNA ladder assay: After 8-day ELF magnetic field exposure, DNA fragmentation pattern was detected by DNA ladder assay, which was not observed in control groups (free of exposure). ② Fluorescence microscopy analysis of apoptosis by Hoechst 33258 staining: Hoechst 33258 staining was used to investigate the changes in the nucleus of cells, and many apoptotic bodies containing nuclear fragments were found in ELF magnetic field exposed cells, but just about none in untreated cells. At the same time, cytoplasmic shrinkage was observed in cells cultured under the exposure. And in some cells, even the cell membrane was unable to keep intact. ③ Fluorescence microscopy analysis of cell apoptosis by acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) double staining: After ELF magnetic field exposure, the percentage of viable cells in exposure groups (9.2%) was rather low compared with the control groups (91.8%), and was accompanied with a high apoptotic rate (72.3%), while only 4.2% in control group. A large number of apoptotic cells were at the early stage of apoptosis. The rate of apoptotic cells (18.5%)after treated by magnetic field was higher than that of control group (4%). With the AO/EB double staining, control cells appeared to be round,intact and bright green while some of the exposed cells exhibited irregular cell morphology and condensed nucleus.CONCLUSION: Apoptosis of human liver cancer cell SK-HEP-1 could be induced by 50 Hz, 20 mT magnetic field in vitro.

Objective To investigate the expression of sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin-one (Siglec-1, also called CD169) in lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils in peripheral blood in patients with coronary heart disease(CHD), and explore the relationship between Siglec-1 expression and atheresclerosis. Methods CD145 CD169 positive cell proportion and CD169 mRNA levels were respectively measured by flow cytometry and real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (FQ-RT-PCR) in 57 CHD patients and 38 healthy controls. And the levels of serum hpids were determined by automatic biochemistry analyzer. Results The flow cytometry analysis showed that CD169 protein was not found in lymphocytes and neutrophils in both CHD patients and healthy controls. The rate of CD14 CD169 double positive ceils in monocytes in CHD group was significandy higher than that in healthy controls [(12.7±2.4)% vs (1.0±0.3)% ,t =23.2,P<0.01]. And FQ-RT-PCR analysis showed that the mean CD± mRNA copy number in PBMCs in CHD group was significantly higher(3.2 fold) than that in healthy controls [t = 6. 59, P < 0.01]. However, neither differences of CD169 protein positivities [[(12. 2 ± 2. 3) %vs (13.4±2.5)% ,t = 1.87,P >0.05] nor mRNA levels [3.64 fold vs 2.79 fold when compared with healthy controls,t =0. 98, P > 0. 05] were found between CHD patients with normal and abnormal levels of serum Lipids. Conclusions CD169 is mainly expressed in human tissue-resident macrophages but not expressed in peripheral blood monecytes. And when the monocytes is stimulated by inflammation, the expression of CD169 is increased. In patients with CHD, the increased expression of CD169 protein and mRNA level has demonstrated the activation of monocytes in peripheral blood. CD169 and CD169-mediated monocytes activation may play an important role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis.

Objective To study the effect of a new immunomodulator composed of muramyl dipeptide(MDP) and anti-CD10monoclonal antibody(MDP-Ab)on the dendritic cells(DC)of children with acute leukemia. Methods DC was adopted to divide the children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia into 6 groups,including the control group,unconjugated anti-CD10alone,unconjugated MDP alone,MDP-Ab alone,lipopolysaccharide(LPS)alone and MDP-Ab + LPS.The immunophenotypes,the endocytosis interleukin-12(IL-12)were detected.The stimulation index of autologous lymphocytes was assayed by adopting 5-(and 6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate,succinimidyl es-ter(CFSE)-staining method.The supernatants of DC and autologous lymphocytes were used to detect the level of in-terferon-γ(IFN-γ)by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results (1)DC immunophenotype:The ex-pressions of human leukocyte antigen-DR(HLA-DR),mature molecule(CD83)and co-stimulatory molecules (CD80and CD86)were increased significantly upon DC triggered with MDP-Ab,compared with the control group,un-conjugated anti-CD10group,and unconjugated MDP group,but lower than those in LPS and combination of MDP-Ab with LPS(F=629.62,P=0.000).(2)The level of IL-12:a significant increase in IL-12 level was detected in MDP-Ab group,LPS group,and combination of MDP-Ab with LPS group,compared with the control group,uncon-jugated anti-CD10group,and unconjugated MDP group(F=857.87,P=0.000). There were significant differences among the first three groups.(3)Endocytosis assay:The uptake of DCs stimulated by unconjugated anti-CD10,un-conjugated MDP,MDP-Ab immunoconjugate,LPS or combination was lower than that of immature DC in the control group which was(81.3 ± 10.1)%.(4)Mixed lymphocyte reaction and IFN-γ level:DC,treated with MDP-Ab, LPS and combination,stimulated more CFSE positive cells and higher level of IFN-γ secretion than the control group and unconjugated anti-CD10group,unconjugated MDP group. The most significance was observed in combination of MDP-Ab with LPS(F=393.36,P=0.000;F=2 497.18,P=0.000).Conclusion It is concluded that MDP-Ab could promote the proliferation and maturation of DC derived from blood of children with acute leukemia.

Molting is an important physiological phenomenon of many metamorphosis insects, during which the old and new epidermis are separated by enzymes present in the molting fluid. Various proteomic studies have discovered the presence of Bombyx mori carboxypeptidase A (Bm-CPA) in the molting fluid of silkworm, but its function remains unclear. In order to better understand the role of Bm-CPA in the molting process of silkworm, Bm-CPA was analyzed by bioinformatics analysis, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, antibody preparation, immunofluorescence staining, and expression in Pichia pastoris. The results showed that Bm-CPA had a conserved M14 zinc carboxypeptidase domain and glycosylation site. Its expression was regulated by ecdysone 20E, and large expression was observed in the epidermis of the upper cluster stage. Immunofluorescence staining showed that Bm-CPA was enriched in the epidermis during the molting stage, and the inhibitor of Bm-CPA led to the larval death due to the inability to molt. We also successfully obtained a large number of recombinant Bm-CPA proteins by Pichia pastoris expression in vitro. These results may facilitate further understanding the molting development process of silkworm.
Animals ; Molting/genetics* ; Bombyx/genetics* ; Carboxypeptidases A/metabolism* ; Proteomics ; Larva/metabolism* ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Insect Proteins/metabolism*