Cytokines can have either pro-or anti-inflammatory activity and immunosuppressive activity,depending on the microenvironment.Tumors contain immune cells and a network of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines,which collaborate in the development and progression of cancer.Cytokine might prove to be prognostic.The systemic effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines are associated with fatigue,depression,cognitive impairment,anorexia,cachexia,pain,toxicity of treatment and resistance to treatment,which can affect quality of life.

Objective To construct and expr es s a recombinant plasmid of nonstructural protein NS3-NS4 of hepatitis C virus ( HCV), and to identify the antigenicity of the expressed protein. Methods A gene region encompassing the nonstructural protei n NS3-NS4 of HCV was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from the pUC1 9/HCV template. The recombinant expression plasmid containing the pBV220/NS3-NS 4 sequence was constructed, and the nonfused NS3-NS4 recombinant protein was ex pressed in E.coli DH5? efficiently. The recombinant protein was det ected by SDS-PAGE and ELISA. Results We successfully constructed and expressed the recom binant plasmid in prokaryote. Its antigenicity was detected with 50 standard ser a. Compared with the second-generation diagnostic Kit, the total detection rate was 96%. Conclusion The whole NS3-NS4 protein, a region of dominant immunogenicity, should be the effective component of the HCV diagnostic Kit and provide the clue for developing HCV DNA vaccine.

Objective To observe the effect of Bufalin on controlling ECA109 cells , and to explore its potential anti-tumor mechanism. Method The effect of Bufalin on the proliferation of human esophageal cancer ECA109 cells was evaluated by CCK-8 assay and it effects on apoptosis of esophageal cancer ECA109 cells were determined by flow cytometry (FCM). Protein expressions of NF-κBp65, ERK, PERK1/2 and Caspase-3, Cleaved Caspase-3, PARP, Cleaved PARP in esophageal cancer ECA109 cell were observed through Western blot. Results The proliferation of human esophageal cancer ECA109 cells was significantly inhibited in bufalin group in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Bufalin can induce the apoptosis in human esophageal ECA109 cells. Results of Western blot showed the protein expressions of apoptosis-related protein Cleaved Caspas-3 and Cleaved PARP in esophageal cancer ECA109 cells could be markedly up-regulated by Bufalin , but p-ERK1/2, NF-κBp65 in esophageal cancer ECA109 cells could be markedly down-regulated by Bufalin. Conclusion Bufalin can potently inhibit the growth of esophageal cancer ECA109 cells and the potential anti-tumor mechanism might be involved in inhibiting ERK/ NF-κB signal pathway.

OBJECTIVE:To prepare transferrin modified paclitaxel-loaded liposome(TF-PTX-LP),and to study the tumor in-hibition effect. METHODS:TF-PTX-LP was prepared by thin-film method,and morphology of TF-PTX-LP was observed. Qualita-tive and quantitative investigation were used to value the uptake efficiency of TF-LP and LP by HepG2 cells. The proliferation inhi-bition rate of HepG2 cells was investigated after treated with PTX,PTX-LP and TF-PTX-LP for 24,48 and 72 h. Tumor spheres were prepared by using HepG2 cells. Effects of normal saline,PTX,PTX-LP and TF-PTX-LP on the volume of tumor spheres were investigated after 0,1,2,4,5,6 and 7 d treatment. HepG2 tumor-bearing nude mice model was induced. Inhibitory effects of normal saline,PTX,PTX-LP and TF-PTX-LP(8.5 mg/kg by PTX)on transplantable tumor of tumor-bearing nude mice were in-vestigated. RESULTS:TF-PTX-LP showed uniform spherical shape,with particle size of 100-120 nm. The fluorescence intensity of HepG2 cells treated with TF-LP was stronger than that treated with LP(P<0.01). Compared with PTX and PTX-LP,TF-PTX-LP showed higher proliferation inhibition rate(P<0.01). Compared with normal saline,PTX and PTX-LP,tumor spheres were small-er in volume after treated with TF-PTX-LP,and inhibition rate of tumor was higher in tumor-bearing nude mice;there were statisti-cal significance after treated for 6,7 d(P<0.01). The proliferation inhibition rate and tumor spheres volume changed in time-de-pendent manner. CONCLUSIONS:TF-PTX-LP which owns good tumor inhibition effect is prepared successfully.

BACKGROUND:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation has not been thoroughly reported on its effects on apoptosis in hepatoma carcinoma cel s and inflammatory factor level.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s on dynamic change of inflammatory factors and cel apoptosis during hepatocarcinogenesis.
METHODS:Sixty healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into healthy group (n=30), control group (n=30) and transplantation group (n=30). Healthy group was given ordinary feed and normal water, while other groups were given diethylnitrosamine solution in drinking water to induce liver cancer models. Then, rats in the transplantation group were subjected to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation via the tail vein. Two weeks after cel transplantation, CXCL5, interleukin-8 and interleukin-6 levels were tested by ELISA, mRNA level of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1αdetected by RT-PCR, expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in liver tissue measured by immunohistochemical method, and liver cancer cel apoptosis index detected by TUNEL technique.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After modeling, the expressions of CXCL5, interleukin-8 and interleukin-6 in the control group were significantly higher than those in the healthy group (P<0.05), while these indexes were reduced significantly after bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation (P<0.05) and close to the normal levels (P>0.05). Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation significantly up-regulated the mRNA level of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1αin the liver tissue that was decreased obviously after modeling (P<0.05). In addition, the expression of Bcl-2 was reduced, while the expression of Bax and the apoptosis index increased significantly in the transplantation group compared with the control group (P<0.05). These findings indicate that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation contributes to hepatocyte differentiation and regeneration in liver cancer rats by reducing serum inflammatory factor levels and promoting apoptosis in hepatoma carcinoma cel s.