Energy and protein utilisation by broiler chickens fed diets containing cottonseed meal and supplemented with a composite enzyme product.

1. The present study examined the potential of new-generation microbial enzymes to improve the utilisation of energy and protein of cottonseed meal (CSM)-containing diets, with the aim of increasing its inclusion level in broiler chickens diets. 2. Four hundred and eighty, one-day-old Ross 308 male broilers were used to assess the utilisation of energy and protein by broiler chickens fed diets containing four graded levels of CSM - none, low (4, 8, 12%), medium (5, 10, 15%) or high (6, 12, 18%) in the starter, grower, and finisher phases, respectively, supplemented with 100 mg/kg of a composite enzyme product (xylanase and ß-glucanase). 3. Inclusion of CSM improved (P < 0.01) apparent metabolisable energy (AME), with further improvement (P < 0.001) seen in the enzyme-supplemented diets. Inclusion of CSM reduced (P = 0.002) the metabolisable energy intake (MEI), but this was increased (P < 0.05) with enzyme supplementation. 4. Enzyme addition increased (P < 0.001) the net energy of production (NEp), while heat production (HP) decreased (P < 0.001) with CSM inclusion. More energy was retained as fat (P < 0.05) and protein in birds fed diets with the enzyme, but this was reduced (P < 0.029) by CSM. 5. There was an increase (P < 0.05) in efficiencies of ME use for energy, lipid and protein retention, with higher CSM levels. The enzyme improved (P < 0.013) efficiency of ME use for lipid retention. 6. Feeding diets containing CSM to the broilers enhanced (P < 0.05) protein intake (PI) and protein efficiency ratio (PER). Positive effects (P < 0.05) of enzyme were observed on protein gain (PG) and net protein utilisation (NPU). 7. Results obtained from this study suggested that nutrient utilisation of diets containing CSM by broiler chickens can be improved by enzyme supplementation.

Dietary hydrolysed yeast cell wall extract is comparable to antibiotics in the control of subclinical necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens.

1. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of yeast cell wall (YCW) on performance and physiological responses of broiler chickens under subclinical necrotic enteritis challenge.2. Six treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement (non-challenged or challenged plus no supplement, YCW or antibiotics (AB)) was used. Each treatment was replicated eight times with 12 birds per replicate. The treatments included: (1) Positive control (PC; no additive, not challenged); (2) Negative control (NC; no additive, with challenge); (3) YCWN = yeast cell wall (2.0 g/kg diet, not challenged; (4) YCWC = yeast cell wall (2.0 g/kg diet, challenged); (5) ABN = zinc bacitracin 50 ppm + Salinomycin 60 ppm, not challenged); (6) ABC = zinc bacitracin 50 ppm + Salinomycin 60 ppm, challenged).3. Eimeria challenge at 9 d of age did not affect feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), FCR or liveability at 10 d. The BWG and FCR at 10 d were greater (P < 0.05) in birds fed YCW or AB (AB) diets relative to the PC or NC groups. On 24 and 35 d, FI, BWG, FCR and flock uniformity (28 d) were greater (P < 0.05) in the challenged groups fed YCW or AB diets compared to NC group.4. Supplementation with YCW ameliorated the negative effects of NE on liver, spleen and bursa weight of birds.5. Necrotic enteritis challenge decreased (P < 0.05) caecal Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp. counts, and increased ileum lesion score and caecal Clostridium perfirngens counts. This was reversed by the addition of either YCW or AB.6. Supplementation with YCW and AB resulted to a greater (P < 0.05) dressing percentage and meat yield (35 d).7. The results indicated that YCW plays a vital role in improving the physiological response and performance of broiler chickens under subclinical necrotic enteritis challenge.

Influence of autolyzed whole yeast and yeast components on broiler chickens challenged with salmonella lipopolysaccharide.

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of dietary yeast products on broiler chickens challenged with salmonella lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The chicks were divided into 8 treatments with 6 replicates and 9 birds per replicate. The treatments consisted of a positive control (PC) [without supplementation and not challenged]; negative control (NC) [without supplementation but challenged]; whole yeast and challenged; yeast cell wall and challenged; yeast glucan and challenged; yeast mannan and challenged; zinc bacitracin and challenged; and Salinomycin and challenged. Whole yeast or Yeast cell wall was included at 2.0 g/kg diet. Yeast glucan or mannan was added at 0.20 g/kg diet. Zinc bacitracin (ZNB) and Salinomycin (SAL) was included at 50 and 60 ppm, respectively. Dietary treatments had no effect (P > 0.05) on feed intake (FI) at day 10. Supplementation with yeast and its derivatives improved (P < 0.05) body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) on day 10. On days 24 and 35, LPS challenge declined FI, BWG, FCR, and flock uniformity (day 28) in the NC group compared to the PC group. Yeast products and antibiotics improved (P < 0.05) FI, BWG, FCR, and flock uniformity in LPS-challenged birds. On day 24, spleen weight increased while bursa weight decreased in the NC group relative to the PC group; this effect was reversed (P < 0.05) by feeding all yeasts and antibiotics. On day 24, application of all the dietary treatments ameliorated the changes observed in white blood cell, lymphocyte and monocyte counts as well as albumin and immunoglobulin G of NC birds. On day 35, all yeasts additives, ZNB and SAL improved (P < 0.05) the meat yield of broilers challenged with LPS. In conclusion, supplementation of diets with yeast and its derivatives can ameliorate the negative effects of salmonella LPS challenge on broiler chicks, thus improving the performance, flock uniformity, and meat yield.

Genetically engineered T cells expressing a HER2-specific chimeric receptor mediate antigen-specific tumor regression.

In this report, we developed a chimeric receptor (N29gamma chR) involving the single chain Fv (scFv) derived from N29 monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific for p185HER2 and characterized the therapeutic efficacy of primary T cells engineered to express N29gamma chR in two histologically distinct murine tumor models. Murine breast (MT901) and fibrosarcoma (MCA207) cancer cell lines were engineered to express human HER2 as targets. Administration of N29gamma chR-expressing T cells eliminated 3-day pulmonary micrometastases of MT901/HER2 and MCA207/HER2 but not parental tumor cells. A 5 to 8-fold increased dose of N29gamma T cells was required to mediate regression of advanced 8-day macrometastases. Exogenous administration of interleukin-2 (IL-2) after N29gamma T-cell transfer was dispensable for treatment of 3-day micrometastases, but was required for mediating regression of well-established 8-day macrometastases. Moreover, fractionated CD8 T cells expressing N29gamma chR suppressed HER2-positive tumor cell growth after adoptive transfer independent of CD4(+) cells. These data indicate that genetically modified T cells expressing a HER2-targeting chimeric receptor can mediate antigen-specific regression of preestablished metastatic cancers in a cell dose-dependent fashion. Systemic administration of IL-2 augments the therapeutic efficacy of these genetically engineered T cells in advanced diseases. These results are relevant to the implication of genetically redirected T cells in clinical cancer immunotherapy.

Vaccination of pediatric solid tumor patients with tumor lysate-pulsed dendritic cells can expand specific T cells and mediate tumor regression.

Dendritic cells (DCs) have been shown to be a promising adjuvant for inducing immunity to cancer. We evaluated tumor lysate-pulsed DC in a Phase I trial of pediatric patients with solid tumors. Children with relapsed solid malignancies who had failed standard therapies were eligible. The vaccine used immature DC (CD14-, CD80+, CD86+, CD83-, and HLA-DR+) generated from peripheral blood monocytes in the presence of granulocyte/monocyte colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4. These DC were then pulsed separately with tumor cell lysates and the immunogenic protein keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) for 24 h and then combined. A total of 1 x 10(6) to 1 x 10(7) DC are administered intradermally every 2 weeks for a total of three vaccinations. Fifteen patients (ages 3-17 years) were enrolled with 10 patients completing all vaccinations. Leukapheresis yields averaged 2.8 x 10(8) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)/kg, and DC yields averaged 10.9% of starting PBMC. Patients with neuroblastoma, sarcoma, and renal malignancies were treated without obvious toxicity. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response was detected in 7 of 10 patients for KLH and 3 of 6 patients for tumor lysates. Priming of T cells to KLH was seen in 6 of 10 patients and to tumor in 3 of 7 patients as demonstrated by specific IFN-gamma-secreting T cells in unstimulated PBMCs. Significant regression of multiple metastatic sites was seen in 1 patient. Five patients showed stable disease, including 3 who had minimal disease at time of vaccine therapy and remain free of tumor with 16-30 months follow-up. Our results demonstrate that it is feasible to generate large numbers of functional DC from pediatric patients even in those highly pretreated and with a large tumor burden. The DC can be administered in an outpatient setting without any observable toxicity. Most importantly, we have demonstrated the ability of the tumor lysate/KLH-pulsed DC to generate specific T-cell responses and to elicit regression of metastatic disease.

Tumor-specific responses in lymph nodes draining murine sarcomas are concentrated in cells expressing P-selectin binding sites.

Tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN) cells develop substantial antitumor activity after activation on immobilized alphaCD3 and culture in low-dose IL-2. This study found that the minor subset of TDLN T cells expressing binding sites for the adhesion receptor P-selectin (Plig(high) T cells) produced T lymphoblasts with the most tumor-specific IFN-gamma synthesis in vitro and antitumor activity following adoptive transfer in vivo. The Plig(high) T cells constituted <25% of the cells with the phenotype of recently activated cells including high levels of CD69, CD44, or CD25, and low levels of CD62L. The cultured Plig(high) TDLN were 10- to 20-fold more active against established pulmonary micrometastases than cultured unfractionated TDLN, and >30-fold more active than cultured TDLN cells depleted of the Plig(high) fraction before expansion (Plig(low) cells). Tumor-specific IFN-gamma synthesis in vitro paralleled the antitumor activities of the cultured fractions in vivo, implying that increased Tc1 and Th1 effector functions contributed to the tumor suppression. Neither nonspecific interaction with the P-selectin chimera used for sorting nor endogenous costimulatory activity in the Plig(high) fraction accounted for the marked increase in antitumor activities after culture. The cultured Plig(high) fraction contained a variety of potential effector cells; however, the CD8 and CD4 subsets of alphabeta T cells accounted for 95-97% of its antitumor activity. The authors propose that P-selectin sorting increased antitumor activities by concentrating Tc1 and Th1 pre-effector/effector cells before culture.

Use of gene gun for genetic immunotherapy : in vitro and in vivo methods.

A major thrust in the application of gene transfer technology for cancer therapy has been the modulation of the immune response. There has been a veritable explosion of information regarding the components of the immune response that are required to generate a meaningful cellular response to tumorassociated antigens (TAAs) capable of eliciting rejection of established tumor. Many of the preclinical and clinical immunogenetic studies have focused on melanoma. Historically, melanoma has been an immunoresponsive tumor for which several melanoma TAAs have been identified.

Antitumor reactivity of lymph node cells primed in vivo with dendritic cell-based vaccines.

Tumor lysate-pulsed dendritic cells were used to generate nodal effector T cells in the murine MCA 205 tumor model. Dendritic cells were derived from bone marrow and cultured in granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor/interleukin 4 before pulsation with tumor lysate. Multiple subcutaneous administrations of tumor lysate-pulsed dendritic cells (TP-DCs) resulted in an approximately eightfold hypertrophy of the vaccine draining nodes, with an increased influx of dendritic (CD11c+/CD80+) cells and B (B220+) cells. The vaccine-primed lymph node (VPLN) cells were secondarily activated with anti-CD3/interleukin 2 and exhibited specific interferon-gamma release to tumor antigen. The adoptive transfer of TP-DC VPLN cells resulted in regression of established 3-day pulmonary metastases. The antitumor reactivity of TP-DC VPLN cells was comparable to anti-CD3/interleukin 2 activated tumor-draining lymph node cells. However, the admixture of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) with tumor lysate during pulsation of dendritic cells significantly enhanced the induction of tumor-reactive VPLN cells. Tumor lysate-pulsed dendritic cells can be used as a strategy to generate effector T cells for adoptive immunotherapy.

Solitary melanoma confined to the dermal and/or subcutaneous tissue: evidence for revisiting the staging classification.

BACKGROUND: Several patients presented with a single focus of presumed cutaneous metastatic melanoma with an unknown primary tumor based on clinical and histologic staging criteria of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). This population is classified as having stage IV disease by the current AJCC staging system, which carries a dismal prognosis (5%-18% 5-year survival). Our clinical observation was that these patients had a higher survival rate than would be expected for stage IV disease. We believe this population represents a subgroup of primary dermal- and or subcutaneously-derived melanoma that simulates cutaneous metastatic melanoma in histologic and clinical presentation but may differ in behavior. OBSERVATIONS: The database records of 1800 patients from the University of Michigan Melanoma Clinic, Ann Arbor, were retrospectively reviewed to identify the prevalence and survival for patients diagnosed with a single focus of presumed metastatic melanoma to the skin based on accepted histologic and clinical parameters. The prevalence of this population was 0.61% (11 of 1800 patients). The Kaplan-Meier 8-year survival estimate was 83% (95% confidence interval, 58%-100%). CONCLUSIONS: By AJCC convention, these cases are classified as stage IV metastatic disease. Our data suggest that these presumed metastatic tumors do not behave like stage IV metastatic disease to the skin via lymphatic or hematogenous spread from an unknown primary site; rather, they are behaving like primary tumors originating in the dermal and/or subcutaneous tissue.

Effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on the in vitro maturation of tumor-reactive effector T cells.

Culture methods that enhance the anti-tumor reactivity of primed T cells would be important in adoptive immunotherapy of cancer. Using several different syngeneic murine tumor models, the authors evaluated the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) exposure on tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN) cells during in vitro activation. Mice were inoculated with weakly immunogenic (i.e., MCA 205, MCA 207 sarcoma) or the poorly immunogenic (i.e., D5 melanoma) tumor cells, and TDLN cells were harvested 9 or 10 days later for activation by an anti-CD3/interleukin-2 culture procedure. Human recombinant TNF-alpha (25 ng/mL) added during the activation culture resulted in a two-fold increase in interferon-gamma release (type 1 response) and a significant reduction of interleukin-10 (type 2 response) after tumor antigen stimulation. In an adoptive transfer model, TNF-alpha-cultured TDLN cells mediated significantly greater regression of established tumor than did TDLN cells cultured in the absence of TNF-alpha in five of five experiments. Neutralization of interleukin-10 monoclonal antibody further augmented the therapeutic efficacy of TNF-alpha-cultured TDLN cells. These studies document the ability of TNF-alpha to selectively promote a type 1 over a type 2 response in a bulk population of tumor-primed T cells during in vitro activation.

CD95-mediated tumor recognition by CD4+ effector cells in a murine mammary model.

The authors examined cellular mechanisms involved in anti-tumor reactivity induced by the murine MT-9G1 mammary tumor line, which was transduced to secrete granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Compared with the parental MT-901 tumor, MT-9G1 subcutaneous tumors elicited an influx of CD4+ cells and dendritic cells. Secondary in vitro activation of tumor-draining lymph node cells with anti-CD3 and interleukin-2 resulted in effector cells that can mediate regression of established pulmonary metastases after adoptive transfer. In vivo depletion of T-cell subsets showed that tumor regression required CD4+ tumor-draining lymph node cells rather than CD8+ cells. The activated CD4+ cells expressed CD95L and mediated lysis of CD95+ MT-901 tumor cells, which were major histocompatibility complex class II negative. The CD4+ cells also released GM-CSF in response to tumor stimulation. A Fas fusion protein inhibited tumor lysis and GM-CSF release by the CD4+ cells. These studies document an alternate pathway by which CD4+ immune cells may recognize major histocompatibility complex class II-deficient tumors in which CD95L-bearing T cells induced an anti-tumor response mediated via CD95L:CD95.

Immunogenetic therapy of human melanoma utilizing autologous tumor cells transduced to secrete granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

We performed a clinical study of five patients with melanoma to evaluate the immunobiological effects of retrovirally transduced autologous tumor cells given as a vaccine to prime draining lymph nodes. Patients were inoculated with both wild-type (WT) and GM-CSF gene-transduced tumor cells in different extremities. Approximately 7 days later, vaccine-primed lymph nodes (VPLNs) were removed. There was an increased infiltration of dendritic cells (DCs) in the GM-CSF-secreting vaccine sites compared with the WT vaccine sites. This resulted in a greater number of cells harvested from the GM-CSF-VPLNs compared with the WT-VPLNs at a time when serum levels of GM-CSF were not detectable. Four of five patients proceeded to have the adoptive transfer of GM-CSF-VPLN cells secondarily activated and expanded ex vivo with anti-CD3 MAb and IL-2. One patient had a durable complete remission of metastatic tumor. Utilizing cytokine (IFN-gamma, GM-CSF, IL-10) release assays, GM-CSF-VPLN T cells manifested diverse responses when exposed to tumor antigen in vitro. In two of two patients, GM-CSF-VPLN T cell responses were different from those of matched WT-VPLN cells. This study documents measurable immunobiologic differences of GM-CSF-transduced tumor cells given as a vaccine compared with WT tumor cells. The complete tumor remission in one patient provides a rationale to pursue this approach further.

Gene gun application in the generation of effector T cells for adoptive immunotherapy.

We utilized the gene gun to transfect subcutaneous D5 melanoma and MT-901 mammary carcinoma tumors in situ with a granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) plasmid complexed to gold particles. There was diminished tumor growth following bombardment with GM-CSF plasmid, which was apparent only during the period of administration. Transgenic GM-CSF was produced by the skin overlying the tumors and not by the tumors themselves. GM-CSF plasmid bombardment resulted in increased cell yields within tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLN) with at least a 12-fold increase in the percentage of dendritic cells (8.9%) compared to controls (0. 7%). Secondarily activated TDLN cells from animals transfected with GM-CSF demonstrated enhanced cytokine release (interferon gamma, GM-CSF and interleukin-10) in response to tumor stimulator cells compared to controls, and had an increased capacity to mediate tumor regression in adoptive immunotherapy. There was a small, but detectable, non-specific immune adjuvant effect observed with gold particle bombardment alone, which was less than with GM-CSF plasmid. The adjuvant effect of GM-CSF plasmid required peri-tumoral transgene expression since gene bombardment away from the tumor was ineffective.

Immunological effects of BCG as an adjuvant in autologous tumor vaccines.

The role of Bacillus Colmette-Guérin (BCG) as an adjuvant in autologous tumor vaccines was examined. In nine patients with renal cell cancer, irradiated tumor cells alone (wild-type, WT) or with BCG were inoculated intradermally into contralateral thighs. Seven to 10 days later, the draining vaccine-primed lymph nodes (WT-VPLN and BCG-VPLN) were excised. BCG increased the number of harvested VPLN cells by 10-fold (mean +/- SE = 61.8 +/- 20.6/x10(-7)/patient). BCG-VPLN had significantly greater percentages of CD3(+) and CD4(+) T cells compared to WT-VPLN. Both groups of VPLN cells were activated in vitro with anti-CD3 or anti-CD3/CD28 mAbs followed by expansion in IL-2. Anti-CD3/CD28 activation resulted in greater expansion of CD4(+) T cells compared to anti-CD3. After activation, VPLN cells were stimulated with irradiated autologous tumor targets and cytokines (IFN-gamma, GM-CSF, IL-10) released into the supernatants were measured 24 h later. Anti-CD3/CD28-activated BCG-VPLN cells were found to have a greater release of IFN-gamma compared with that of WT-VPLN cells, which was not observed significantly with IL-10 or GM-CSF. BCG resulted in increased VPLN cell yield as well as enhanced type 1 (IFN-gamma release) immune responses of VPLN cells to autologous tumor without upregulating type 2 (IL-10 release) responses. Anti-CD3/CD28 was superior to anti-CD3 activation in this cellular response.

Advanced renal cell carcinoma.

For most patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma, treatment remains palliative. Standard chemotherapy used in the treatment of other types of cancers has proven ineffective in the treatment of this disease. High-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) is the only regimen that has consistently shown benefit in advanced renal cell carcinoma. However, only a minority of patients is eligible for this treatment due to its toxicity, and only 15% to 20% of eligible patients respond with 7% long-term complete responses. Most investigational strategies in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma are evaluating immunotherapeutic approaches, but participation of patients in clinical trials evaluating new novel cytotoxic agents or antiangiogenic agents remains an important option.

Do primary small intestinal melanomas exist? Report of a case.

Metastatic melanoma to the gastrointestinal tract is not uncommon with the small intestine representing the most common site of gastrointestinal metastases. The occurrence of primary melanoma of the small intestine, however, is rare. We describe a case of primary melanoma of the small intestine and establish criteria for distinction between primary and metastatic small intestinal melanoma.

Adoptive T-cell immunotherapy of cancer.

Adoptive T-cell therapy involves the passive transfer of antigen-reactive T cells to a tumor-bearing host in order to initiate tumor rejection. Based upon animal models, effector T cells with tumor-specific reactivity are superior to non-specific effector T cells in mediating tumor regression in vivo. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are capable of initiating tumor rejection after adoptive transfer. Several different culture methods have been reported that permit in vitro expansion of immune T cells while retaining tumor specificity. The ability to generate human tumor-specific effector T cells capable of mediating tumor rejection in vivo has provided tools to identify tumor-associated antigens. Future directions in this field involve the selective isolation and expansion of subpopulations of T cells critical to initiating tumor rejection, and the use of molecular techniques to generate effector T cells.

Interleukin-12 cDNA skin transfection potentiates human papillomavirus E6 DNA vaccine-induced antitumor immune response.

Human papillomaviruses are associated with >90% of all cases of uterine cervical tumors. The E6 and E7 oncoproteins of human papillomavirus are potentially ideal targets of immune therapy for cervical cancer, because their expression is necessary for cellular transformation. Although both E6 and E7 proteins contain numerous predicted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes that are capable of binding to human leukocyte antigens, the majority of earlier in vivo tumor rejection studies have focused on E7. We show here that gene gun-mediated skin transfection of plasmid vector encoding the nontransforming, amino-terminal half of E6 resulted in the induction of E6-specific CTL activity and tumor rejection in a murine model. The use of recombinant murine interleukin-12 (rmIL-12) as a vaccine adjuvant has been shown to result in both an enhancement and suppression of immune responses, depending upon the doses of rmIL-12 and the experimental systems used. We demonstrate here that local expression of transgenic mIL-12 at the E6 DNA vaccination site potentiated E6-specific CTL responses and increased vaccine-induced antitumor therapeutic efficacy. Our results indicate that transfection of the mIL-12 gene at the vaccination site may represent an attractive adjuvant for cancer gene immunotherapy.