OBJECTIVETo study the antitumor and distant bystander effects of cationic liposome-mediated cytosine deaminase (CD)/5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) suicide gene system combined with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in vivo.

METHODSMurine hepatoma 22 (H22) cells transfected by CD gene were inoculated subcutaneous in Kunming mice in the left axillary region, and the H22 cells without CD gene transfection were inoculated in the right axillary region. The mice were randomly divided into 4 groups and treated with normal saline , 5-FC, IFN-gamma, and 5-FC+ IFN-gamma on a daily basis. The tumor inhibition and distant bystander effects were observed in the mice.

RESULTSExposure of CD gene-transfected tumor to 5-Fc resulted in obvious tumor growth inhibition with an inhibition rate of 78.38%, which was significantly increased to 93.21% (P<0.01) with 5-Fc +IFN-gamma treatment. A notable distant bystander effect in the CD/5-FC suicide gene system was observed in vivo, with a tumor inhibition rate of was 54.42%; when combined with IFN-gamma, the inhibition rate increased significantly to 87.57% (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONWhen combined with IFN-gamma, CD/5-FC suicide system has stronger anti-tumor and distant bystander effects. CD/5-FC suicide gene system combined with IFN-gamma may provide a potential therapy for malignant tumors.

Animals ; Bystander Effect ; Cations ; chemistry ; Cytosine Deaminase ; genetics ; Flucytosine ; pharmacology ; Genes, Transgenic, Suicide ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Interferon-gamma ; therapeutic use ; Liposomes ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Random Allocation

The methylglyoxal (MGO) trapping constituents from Malus baccata L. were investigated using incubation of MGO and crude extract under physiological conditions followed by HPLC analysis. The peak areas of MGO trapping compounds decreased, and their chemical structures were identified by HPLC-ESI/MS. Sieboldin was identified as a major active molecule representing MGO-trapping activity of the crude extract. After reaction of sieboldin and MGO, remaining MGO was calculated by microplate assay method using imine (Schiff base) formation of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) and aldehyde group. After 4 h incubation, sieboldin trapped over 43.8% MGO at a concentration of 0.33 mM and showed MGO scavenging activity with an RC 50 value of 0.88 mM for the incubation of 30 min under physiological conditions. It was also confirmed that sieboldin inhibited the production of advanced glycation end products (AGE) produced by bovine serum albumins (BSA)/MGO. Additionally, MGO trapping mechanism of sieboldin was more specifically identified by 1 H-, 13 C-, 2D NMR and, confirm to be attached to the position of C-3' (or 5').