Analysis of peripheral blood T-cell subsets and regulatory T-cells in multiple myeloma patients.

To study the peripheral blood T-cell subsets and regulatory T-cells of multiple myeloma (MM) patients. 48 MM patients and 24 healthy controls were enrolled. Changes in peripheral blood T-cell subsets in the MM patients i.e. CD4+CD25+T cells and CD4+CD25+CD127lowT regulatory cells (CD4+CD25+CD127lowTregs) and in healthy controls were measured using flow cytometry and immunohischemistry. The total T-cells (CD3+) in peripheral blood lymphocyte and auxiliary/induced T-cells (CD3+CD4+ T cell) of the 48 MM patients showed no statistical significance when compared with those of the control group. Suppressor/cytotoxicity T-cells (CD3+CD8+ T cell) increased (p < 0.05). CD4+CD25+T cells and CD4+CD25+CD127low Tregs were significantly higher than corresponding values in the healthy group (p < 0.05). The CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio of Stage III MM patients was significantly lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05). The CD4+CD25+T cells and CD4+CD25+CD127low Tregs of MM patients in the stable and the progressive stages  were significantly higher than those of MM patients in the control group (p < 0.05). The abnormality of the peripheral blood T-cell subset, increased expression of CD4+CD25+CD127low Tregs, and low cellular immunity of MM patients are related to clinical staging and progression of the disease. The quantity of CD4+CD25+CD127lowTregs of peripheral blood cells of MM patients could be significantly increased through the inhibition of CD4+ and CD8+T cell activities. CD4+CD25+CD127low Tregs promotes tumor growth through the inhibition of immunologic cell proliferation. Immunological dysfunction based on Tregs cells plays an important role in the pathogenic course.

Novel and Effective Almagate Enema for Hemorrhagic Chronic Radiation Proctitis and Risk Factors for Fistula Development.

Radiation proctitis is a common complication after radiotherapy for pelvic malignant tumors. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of novel almagate enemas in hemorrhagic chronic radiation proctitis (CRP) and evaluate risk factors related to rectal deep ulcer or fistula secondary to CRP. All patients underwent a colonoscopy to confirm the diagnosis of CRP and symptoms were graded. Typical endoscopic and pathological images, risk factors, and quality of life were also recorded. A total of 59 patients were enrolled. Gynecological cancers composed 93.1% of the primary malignancies. Complete or obvious reduction of bleeding was observed in 90% (53/59) patients after almagate enema. The mean score of bleeding improved from 2.17 to 0.83 (P<0.001) after the enemas. The mean response time was 12 days. No adverse effects were found. Moreover, long-term successful rate in controlling bleeding was 69% and the quality of life was dramatically improved (P=0.001). The efficacy was equivalent to rectal sucralfate, but the almagate with its antacid properties acted more rapidly than sucralfate. Furthermore, we firstly found that moderate to severe anemia was the risk factor of CRP patients who developed rectal deep ulcer or fistulas (P= 0.015). We also found abnormal hyaline-like thick wall vessels, which revealed endarteritis obliterans and the fibrosis underlying this disease. These findings indicate that almagate enema is a novel effective, rapid and well-tolerated method for hemorrhagic CRP. Moderate to severe anemia is a risk factor for deep ulceration or fistula.

The inhibitory effects of a new cobalt-based polyoxometalate on the growth of human cancer cells.

A new cobalt-based polyoxometalate, (Himi)2[Bi(2)W2(0)O(66)(OH)(4)Co2(H2O)(6)Na(4) (H2O)14] · 17H2O (imi = iminazole) (BWCN) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The inhibitory activities against selected human cancer lines were also determined in this study. The cell viability and chemoresistance of BWCN on human colon carcinoma HT-29 cells were assessed by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazoliumbromide), cell morphology changes, a comet assay and western blot analysis. The typical morphologic changes of apoptosis and DNA damage indicated that BWCN could have a distinct proliferation inhibitory effect on cancer cells. BWCN as a chemotherapeutic agent also induced apoptosis on HT-29 cells and showed a significant expression of cleaved-caspase-3. These results suggested that the active site of BWCN is the polymeric anion based on the basic tectonic block {BiW(9)}, and the possible mechanism is related to the interference of DNA synthesis in cancer cells.

Novel antitumor agent, trilacunary Keggin-type tungstobismuthate, inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells.

A new one-dimensional chain-like compound of tungstobismuthate, [(W(OH)2)2 (Mn(H2O)3)2(Na3(H2O)14)(BiW9O33)2](Himi)2·16H2O (1) (imi = iminazole), has been synthesized in aqueous solution. The structure of 1 was identified by elemental analysis, IR, thermogravimetry (TG), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), (183)W-NMR, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. To investigate the inhibitory effect of 1 on human gastric adenocarcinoma SGC-7901 cells, cell proliferation and apoptosis initiation were examined by MTT assay (MTT = 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazoliumbromide), flow cytometry, nuclear staining, transmission electron microscopy, single cell gel electrophoresis, DNA fragmentation, and Western blotting. The results showed that 1 inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in SGC-7901 cells in dose-dependent manner. In addition, 1 also decreased the expression of bcl-2 protein and nuclear factor-κB p65 protein in SGC-7901 cells. And expression of bcl-2 protein exhibits a decreasing trend with increase of concentration of 1. Thus, 1 possessed a potential antitumor activity in SGC-7901 cells. This suggests that polyoxotungstates will provide a promising and novel antitumor agent in prevention and treatment of gastric adenocarcinoma.

[Effect of the immune strategy based on BCG priming and Ag85A/GM-CSF DNA vaccine boosting in mice].

AIM: To investigate immune effect in mice on the basis of BCG priming and DNA vaccine boosting, and to provide a new strategy for development of new type of anti-tuberculosis DNA vaccine further. METHODS: After mice were inoculated with BCG of 1x10(6) clone formation unit each three weeks, 100 microg of DNA vaccine was injected intramuscularly in mice two times at 3 week intervals. The proliferative responses of murine cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), natural killer (NK) and spleen cell to antigen 85A(Ag85A) were measured by MTT method respectively. The antibody titers and IFN-gamma level from the immunized mice were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: The proliferative responses of CTL and spleen cell to Ag85A, as well as IFN-gamma level in mice immunized with prime-boost strategy were significantly increased respectively compared with the control mice immunized with blank plasmid or BCG only. Although NK activity was a little higher in mice immunized with prime-boost strategy than that of immunized with blank plasmid mice, it was still lower than that of mice immunized with BCG alone. The titer of the specific antibody against Ag85A in mice immunized with prime-boost strategy was also higher than that of mice immunized with DNA vaccine alone. CONCLUSION: The immune strategy of BCG-prime and Ag85A/GM-CSF DNA vaccine boost improve immune effect, especially the Th1 cellular immune response increase obviously. This study provides the possibility of further research for investigating protective function in immunized mice challenged by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

[Anti-tumor mechanisms of Sp2/0 tumor vaccine transfected with mIL-21 gene in mice].

AIM: To explore the anti-tumor mechanism of Sp2/0-mIL-21 tumor vaccine in mice. METHODS: The molecules of MHC-I and CD80 on the surface of Sp2/0-mIL-21 tumor vaccine were detected by flow cytometry (FCM) respectively. A flow cytometric CFSE-7-AAD cytotoxicity assay was used to detect the cytotoxic activities of NK cells and CTLs. The expression of I-TAC in the tumor tissue was tested by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The expression of MHC-I molecule on the surface of tumor vaccine was up-regulated obviously. The cytotoxic activities of NK cells and CTLs were significantly enhanced in the mice inoculated with Sp2/0-mIL-21 tumor vaccine compared with the mice inoculated with Sp2/0 tumor cell in control group. The expression of I-TAC in the tumor tissue was up-regulated. The histopathologic section analysis showed more lymphocytes were infiltrated in the tumor tissue. CONCLUSION: Sp2/0-mIL-21 tumor vaccine can induce strong cell-mediated immune response to tumor cells after it was inoculated s.c into mice. The anti-tumor mechanisms induced by Sp2/0 tumor cell vaccine are associated with the proliferation and activation of T lymphocyte, the differentiation and maturity of NK cell, the infiltration of lymphocytes in tumor tissue, and the enharuement of cytotoxic activities of NK cells and CTLs.

Novel constructs of tuberculosis gene vaccine and its immune effect on mice.

A novel tuberculosis (TB) gene vaccine containing mouse granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (mGM-CSF) and a TB antigen (Ag85A) was developed in this study. The genes encoding Ag85A and mGM-CSF were amplified by PCR respectively from the Ag85A-containing pBSby5 and pC-mGM-CSF. The genes were then cloned into two different polylinker sites of plasmid pIRES, forming a novel TB gene vaccine construct pI85AGM. Following transfection of pI85AGM plasmid into 7721 cell line by Lipofectamine(TM), the expression of Ag85A and GM-CSF proteins was identified by Western blotting or RT-PCR. Then Balb/c mice were inoculated with the recombinant pI85AGM, pI85A, pIGM or plasmid alone, respectively. The activities of CTL, NK cells and the Ag85A-stimulated proliferation of spleen cells were measured by MTT method. The serum antibody against Ag85A was detected by ELISA. The results showed that the Ag85A and GM-CSF proteins could be expressed in 7721 cell line and the activity of CTLs and the proliferation of spleen cells were significantly increased in the pI85AGM-immunized mice, indicating that the pI85AGM-immunized mice could generate specific immune responses to Ag85A. This study might provide possibility for developing novel anti-TB gene vaccine.