The mechanism underlying CD4CD25Foxp3regulatory T cells (Tregs) promoting the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) was elucidated in the present study. Forty-eight cases of colorectal carcinomas, 22 cases of colon polyps and 21 cases of normal colorectal tissues were collected. The correlation among Foxp3, IL-10 and Stat3, and the clinical relevance of these three indexes were analyzed. The results showed that the levels of Foxp3 expressed in infiltrating CD4CD25Foxp3Tregs, and IL-10 and Stat3 in CRC tissues were all significantly higher than those in polypus tissues and normal colon tissues (P< 0.01). Pearson correlation analysis indicated that the expression level of Foxp3 was positively correlated with Stat3 at mRNA level (r=0.526, P=0.036), and was positively correlated with IL-10 at protein level (r=0.314, P=0.030). The Foxp3 expressed in CD4CD25Foxp3Tregs was correlated with the histological grade, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage of CRC (P<0.05 for all). The IL-10 expression was correlated with the histological grade and TNM stage (both P<0.05). The Stat3 expression was correlated with the lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (both P<0.05). It was concluded that CD4CD25Foxp3Tregs can inhibit tumor immunity in combination with some other related inhibitory cytokines and that Foxp3 expression in CD4CD25Foxp3Tregs correlates with CRC progression.
Adult ; Aged ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; immunology ; pathology ; Female ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunity ; genetics ; Interleukin-10 ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; immunology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

Recent clinical evidence indicates that the non-eosinophilic subtype of severe asthma is characterized by fixed airway obstruction, which may be related to emphysema. Transgenic studies have demonstrated that high levels of IFN-gamma in the airways induce emphysema. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), which is the downstream mediator of TGF-beta, is important in wound healing. We investigated the role of FGF2 in IFN-gamma-induced emphysema and the therapeutic effects of recombinant FGF2 in the prevention of emphysema in a severe non-eosinophilic asthma model. To evaluate the role of FGF2 in IFN-gamma-induced emphysema, lung targeted IFN-gamma transgenic mice were cross-bred with FGF2-deficient mice. A severe non-eosinophilic asthma model was generated by airway application of LPS-containing allergens twice a week for 4 weeks. To evaluate protective effects of FGF2, recombinant FGF2 (10 microg) was injected subcutaneously during allergen challenge in the severe asthma model. We found that non-eosinophilic inflammation and emphysema induced by transgenic overexpression of IFN-gamma in the airways were aggravated by the absence of FGF2. Airway challenge with LPS-containing allergens induced more inflammation in mice sensitized with LPS-containing allergens compared to challenge with allergens alone. In addition, LPS-induced lung inflammation and emphysema depended on IFN-gamma but not on IL-13. Interestingly, emphysema in the severe asthma model was significantly inhibited by treatment with recombinant FGF2 during allergen challenge, whereas lung inflammation was unaffected. Therefore, our present data suggest that FGF2 may help protect against IFN-gamma-induced emphysema, and that recombinant FGF2 may help lessen the severity of emphysema.
Animals ; Asthma/drug therapy/*prevention & control ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Disease Models, Animal ; Emphysema/drug therapy/*prevention & control ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2/deficiency/*metabolism/*therapeutic use ; Flow Cytometry ; Inflammation/immunology ; Interferon-gamma/*biosynthesis/genetics ; Interleukin-13 ; Lipopolysaccharides/administration & dosage/pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Pulmonary Eosinophilia ; Recombinant Proteins/administration & dosage/therapeutic use

In order to research immunogenicity of the recombinant rVP2-IL-2 fusion protein, we obtained the rVP2-IL-2 fusion protein using Pichia pastoris expression system, and then evaluated its potential to induce immune responses in chicken. The effect was determined in the form of protective anti-IBDV VP2 titers, antibodies (IgG1 and IgG2a), lymphocyte proliferation, the levels of interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 cytokines, and challenge experiment. Antibody titers and proliferation lymphocyte level suggested that the fusion protein could elicit specific humoral immune and cellular immune responses, antibody sub-type results indicated that the rVP2-IL-2 fusion protein induced secretion both of IgG1 and IgG2a. The seem result elicited from cytokines ELISA test, secretion of both of Th1 (gamma-IFN) and Th2 (IL-4) were induced by the rVP2-IL-2 fusion protein. Challenge experiment result shown that chicken immunized the rVP2-IL-2 fusion protein obtained 85% protection. These results confirm that the fusion protein enhances the protection against IBDV through both humoral and cell-mediated immunity, and thus could serve as a candidate for the development of IBDV subunit vaccine.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; biosynthesis ; blood ; Chickens ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Vaccines, Subunit ; immunology ; Viral Structural Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Viral Vaccines ; immunology

The effect of extracellular beta-(1-->3), (1-->6)-glucan, produced by Paenibacillus polymyxa JB115, on nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 macrophages was investigated. beta-glucan induced the production of NO by RAW264.7 macrophages in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, beta-glucan stimulation increased the mRNA expression of iNOS, COX-2 and IL-6 in RAW264.7 macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner.
Animals ; Bacillus/*metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cyclooxygenase 2/biosynthesis/genetics ; Interleukin-6/biosynthesis/genetics ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology ; Macrophages/*drug effects/enzymology/immunology ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide/*biosynthesis/immunology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/biosynthesis/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; beta-Glucans/metabolism/*pharmacology

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of sildenafil citrate on IL-1 beta induced nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and iNOS expression in human synovial sarcoma SW982 cells. IL-1 beta stimulated the cells to generate NO in both dose- and time-dependent manners. The IL-1 beta -induced NO synthesis was inhibited by guanylate cyclase (GC) inhibitor, LY83583. When the cells were treated with 8-bromo-cGMP, a hydrolyzable analog of cGMP, NO synthesis was increased upto 5-fold without IL-1 beta treatment suggesting that cGMP is an essential component for increasing the NO synthesis. Synoviocytes and chondrocytes contain strong cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity, which has biochemical features of PDE5. When SW982 cells were pretreated with sildenafil citrate (Viagra), a PDE5 specific inhibitor, sildenafil citrate significantly inhibited IL-1 beta -induced NO synthesis and iNOS expressions. From this result, we noticed that PDE5 activity is required for IL-1 beta -induced NO synthesis and iNOS expressions in human synovial sarcoma cells, and sildenafil citrate may be able to suppress an inflammatory reaction of synovium through inhibition of NO synthesis and iNOS expression by cytokines.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/immunology/pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclic GMP/analogs & derivatives/immunology/metabolism ; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 2/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta/*metabolism ; Male ; Nitric Oxide/*biosynthesis/genetics/immunology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/*biosynthesis/genetics/immunology ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors/immunology/*pharmacology ; Piperazines/immunology/*pharmacology ; Purines/immunology/pharmacology ; Signal Transduction/drug effects/genetics/immunology ; Sulfones/immunology/*pharmacology ; Synovial Membrane/enzymology/immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the antitumor effect GPI-CD80 fusion protein and its mechanisms.

METHODSA tumor vaccine was prepared by culturing HepG2 cells in the presence of purified GPI-CD80 followed by inactivation with mitomycin, with mitomycin-inactivated HepG2 cells as the control group. The two preparations were co-cultured with nude mouse splenic lymphocytes, and the changes of lymphocyte proliferation and the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were detected by MTT assay. The cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity was evaluated by LDH-release assay, and the changes of gross tumor volume were measured in tumor-bearing nude mice after administration of different vaccines.

RESULTSThe application of GPI-CD80 tumor vaccine resulted in significantly increased optical density, IL-2 and IFN-gamma levels and CTL activity of the nude mouse splenic lymphocytes in comparison with the control groups. The average tumor volume in nude mice treated with GPI-CD80 tumor vaccine was significantly smaller than that in negative control and blank control groups.

CONCLUSIONGPI-CD80 fusion protein may inhibit the tumor growth velocity in nude mice, possibly by promoting lymphocyte proliferation, stimulating the production of the cytokines IL-2 and IFN-gamma, and enhancing of CTL activity.

Animals ; B7-1 Antigen ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; CHO Cells ; Cancer Vaccines ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Cell Proliferation ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Glycosylphosphatidylinositols ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon-gamma ; biosynthesis ; Interleukin-2 ; biosynthesis ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Spleen ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Tumor Burden ; immunology

The study was purposed to investigate the effects of humanized recombined CD25 monoclonal antibody (rhCD25MAb) on activation and proliferation of T lymphocytes in vitro. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) were incubated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Before or after T cell activation, the cells were cultured with or without rhCD25MAb or cyclosporine A (CsA) in vitro. After 72 hours incubation, the proliferation of lymphocytes was analyzed by MTT assay. The expression of CD3 and CD25 antigens on T lymphocytes were detected by flow cytometry. The levels of sIL-2R in the supernatants were determined with ELISA. The results showed that both rhCD25MAb and CsA could inhibit the proliferation of T lymphocytes significantly in concentration-dependent manner and CsA was more efficient than rhCD25MAb. Both rhCD25MAb and CsA could also decrease the levels of sIL-2R in the supernatant and inhibit the expression of CD25 antigen on T lymphocytes. The level of sIL-2R and the expression of CD25 on T lymphocytes decreases more profoundly in rhCD25MAb group. It is concluded that rhCD25MAb shows strong immunosuppressive activity both before and after T cell activation, suggesting that this agent may be useful in not only prophylaxis but also the treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; CD3 Complex ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclosporine ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; immunology ; Receptors, Interleukin-2 ; analysis ; Recombinant Proteins ; immunology ; pharmacology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in the activity of dendritic cells (DCs) after carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) gene transfection mediated by recombinant adeno-associated virus type2 (rAAV) and tumor cell lysate.

METHODSImmature DCs isolated from peripheral blood monocytes of HLA-A11-positive healthy volunteers were infected with the rAAV carrying CEA gene or loaded with tumor cell lysate. The surface markers of the DCs such as CD40, CD 1alpha, and CD86 were analyzed by flow cytometry. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) in the supernatants of DCs and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) released by the cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) were determined by ELISA detection kit. The specific killing activity of CTL against LoVo cells was assessed by MTT assay.

RESULTSThe DCs following antigen loading with the two methods both highly expressed CD40, CD86 and IL-12, and induced specific CTL that specifically recognized and killed LoVo cells, but the killing effect resulting from rAAV infection of the DCs was much better than that induced by tumor cell lysate loading.

CONCLUSIONBoth methods of antigen loading can induce mature DCs from peripheral blood monocyte cells, but rAAV infection of the DCs can be more effective than tumor cells lysate loading. DCs infected with rAAV may have the potential to serve as an adjuvant immunotherapy for patients with colorectal carcinoma.

B7-2 Antigen ; metabolism ; CD40 Antigens ; metabolism ; Cancer Vaccines ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; therapy ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; Dependovirus ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism ; Transfection

UNLABELLEDTo set up a new rapid and efficient way for the preparation of specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) with plasmid DNA immunization.

METHODSThe fusion gene of IL-2 signal peptide and profilin 1 by 'overlapping PCR' was obtained and inserted into the vector pVAX1 to construct the recombinant plasmid pVAX-IL2-profl. Another fusion gene of IgG kappa chain signal peptide and profilin 1 by 'no template PCR' was obtained and inserted into the vector pVAX1 to construct the recombinant plasmid pVAX-Igkappa-prof1. BALB/c mice were single intrasplenic immunized with plasmid DNA. Results After cell fusion and hybridomas screening by indirect ELISA, we charactered two mAbs (1D8A2B4 and 4B12A5E3) against profilin 1. The MAbs isotype were determined as IgM and IgG3.

CONCLUSIONA single intrasplenic plasmid DNA immunization is rapid and efficient and can be used as a helpful tool for the production of specific mAb.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Antibody Specificity ; DNA ; genetics ; immunology ; Female ; Gene Fusion ; Immunization ; Interleukin-2 ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Profilins ; genetics ; immunology ; Spleen ; immunology ; metabolism

By combining interleukin2 (IL-2) with a tumor specific antibody, immunotherapy of tumors may become more effective in the future. Anti-GD2 single chain antibody directed to the extracellular domain of GD2 disialoganglioside can result in an antitumor response in some pateins with tumors expressing GD2. In this study, the fusion protein consisting of GD2 single chain antibody (ScFv) and IL-2(Ala125) was constructed. Anti-GD2 ScFv and IL-2 genes were obtained by PCR, then the ScFv-IL-2 gene was constructed by over lap PCR. The gene was inserted into the pMD18-T easy vector. Genes from pMD18-T -vector were inserted into expression vector pSE380. Recombinant expression vector was identified by restriction enzyme-cutting and then was transformed into BL21. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis confirmed that the transformed E. Coli BL21 could express ScFv-IL-2 fusion-proteins and the molecular weight is 43 kDa. The fusion protein was purified by affinity chromatograph and Sephacryl S-200HR then was identified through ELISA. The results show that the fusion protein retains the activities of both antigen binding and IL-2.
Antibodies ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gangliosides ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Fragments ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics