Semiconductor diode laser device adjuvanting intradermal vaccine.

A brief exposure of skin to a low-power, non-tissue damaging laser light has been demonstrated to augment immune responses to intradermal vaccination. Both preclinical and clinical studies show that this approach is simple, effective, safe and well tolerated compared to standard chemical or biological adjuvants. Until now, these laser exposures have been performed using a diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) devices, which are expensive and require labor-intensive maintenance and special training. Development of an inexpensive, easy-to-use and small device would form an important step in translating this technology toward clinical application. Here we report that we have established a handheld, near-infrared (NIR) laser device using semiconductor diodes emitting either 1061, 1258, or 1301nm light that costs less than $4000, and that this device replicates the adjuvant effect of a DPSSL system in a mouse model of influenza vaccination. Our results also indicate that a broader range of NIR laser wavelengths possess the ability to enhance vaccine immune responses, allowing engineering options for the device design. This small, low-cost device establishes the feasibility of using a laser adjuvant approach for mass-vaccination programs in a clinical setting, opens the door for broader testing of this technology with a variety of vaccines and forms the foundation for development of devices ready for use in the clinic.

Combination therapy with L-arginine and α-PD-L1 antibody boosts immune response against osteosarcoma in immunocompetent mice.

L-arginine supplementation was recently proved to promote the function of immune cells, especially T-cells, by facilitating T-cell proliferation, differentiation and survival in vivo. Cytotoxic CD8+ plays a crucial role in modulating anti-cancer response mediated by the immune system, but was restricted by exhaustion. Thus, we hypothesized that L-arginine, in combination with α-PD-L1 antibody, may provide a favored environment for T-cell response against osteosarcoma. Immunocompetent BALB/c mouse models bearing orthotopic and metastatic osteosarcoma were established to validate this conjecture. We found that L-arginine significantly elevated the number of splenic CD8+ T-cells, the level of serum interferon-γ, and CD8+ T-cell infiltration. Furthermore, α-PD-L1 antibody protected these amplified CD8+ T-cells from exhaustion, and therefore strengthened the secretion of interferon-γ, granzyme B and perforin by these T-cells. As a result, this combination treatment strategy significantly prolonged survival of osteosarcoma bearing mice, suggesting that L-arginine supplementation in combination with α-PD-L1 antibody may be a promising method for osteosarcoma patients.

Piperine inhibits proliferation of human osteosarcoma cells via G2/M phase arrest and metastasis by suppressing MMP-2/-9 expression.

The piperidine alkaloid piperine, a major ingredient in black pepper, inhibits the growth and metastasis of cancer cells both in vivo and in vitro, although its mechanism of action is unclear. Furthermore, its anticancer activity against osteosarcoma cells has not been reported. In this study, we show that piperine inhibited the growth of HOS and U2OS cells in dose- and time-dependent manners but had a weaker effect on the growth of normal hFOB cells. Piperine inhibited osteosarcoma cell proliferation by causing G2/M phase cell cycle arrest associated with decreased expression of cyclin B1 and increased phosphorylation of Cyclin-dependent kinase-1(CDK1) and checkpoint kinase 2 (Chk2). In addition, piperine treatment inhibited phosphorylation of Akt and activated phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (c-JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in HOS and U2OS cells. Piperine induced colony formation in these two cell types. We proved that piperine could suppress the metastasis of osteosarcoma cells using scratch migration assays and Transwell chamber tests. Moreover, gelatin zymography showed that piperine inhibited the activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/-9 and increased the expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1/-2. Taken together, our results indicate that piperine inhibits proliferation, by inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest, and the migration and invasion of HOS and U2OS cells, via increased expression of TIMP-1/-2 and down-regulation of MMP-2/-9. These findings support further study of piperine as a promising therapeutic agent in the treatment of osteosarcoma.