MiR-424 and miR-27a increase TRAIL sensitivity of acute myeloid leukemia by targeting PLAG1.

Although microRNAs have been elaborated to participate in various physiological and pathological processes, their functions in TRAIL resistance of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain obscure. In this study, we detected relatively lower expression levels of miR-424&27a in TRAIL-resistant and semi-resistant AML cell lines as well as newly diagnosed patient samples. Overexpression of miR-424&27a, by targeting the 3'UTR of PLAG1, enhanced TRAIL sensitivity in AML cells.

Immunomodulatory effect of DC/CIK combined with chemotherapy in multiple myeloma and the clinical efficacy.

To investigate the clinical efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy using dendritic cells (DC) and cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells combined with chemotherapy in multiple myeloma. The immunomodulatory effect of the therapy was discussed by detecting the levels of peripheral blood T cell subsets and CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory cells (Treg). Fifty MM patients were randomly divided into two groups: 24 cases in the simple chemotherapy group and 26 cases in the combined therapy group (chemotherapy plus DC/CIK immunotherapy).

Inactivation of FoxM1 transcription factor contributes to curcumin-induced inhibition of survival, angiogenesis, and chemosensitivity in acute myeloid leukemia cells.

Unlabelled: Aberrant expression of forkhead box protein M1 (FoxM1) contributes to carcinogenesis in human cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), suggesting that the discovery of specific agents targeting FoxM1 would be extremely valuable for the treatment of AML. Curcumin, a naturally occurring phenolic compound, is suggested to possess anti-leukemic activity; however, the underlying mechanism has not been well elucidated. In this study, we found that curcumin inhibited cell survival accompanied by induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HL60, Kasumi, NB4, and KG1 cells.

Elevated frequencies of circulating Th22 cell in addition to Th17 cell and Th17/Th1 cell in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease mediated by immune cells. Th22 cells are CD4(+) T cells that secret IL-22 but not IL-17 or IFN-γ and are implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disease. The roles of Th22 cells in the pathophysiologic procedures of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remain unclear.

The imbalanced profile and clinical significance of T helper associated cytokines in bone marrow microenvironment of the patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Background: Immunological disorder has shown to be related to the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The microenvironment of AML is immunosuppressive, favoring the survival of malignant hematopoietic cells. However, the systematic research on AML abnormal immune microenvironment, especially the T helper (Th) cells imbalance, remains unsettled.

[A multicenter comparison study on the quantitative detection of bcr-abl (P210) transcript levels in China].

Objective: To investigate the comparability of bcr-abl (P210) transcript levels detected in different hospitals.

Methods: Ten hospitals in China took part in the four times of sample exchange and comparisons from April, 2010 to August, 2011. The exchange samples were prepared by Peking University People's Hospital.

Th22 cells as well as Th17 cells expand differentially in patients with early-stage and late-stage myelodysplastic syndrome.

Background: Immunological mechanisms are increasingly recognized in the progression of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Early-stage MDS (E-MDS) is characterized by autoimmune-mediated myelosuppression whereas late-stage MDS (L-MDS) involves immune evasion, giving dysplastic cells growth potential to progress into acute myeloid leukemia. T-helper (Th) 22 is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory autoimmunity and tumorigenesis.

Expression of IL-27, Th1 and Th17 in patients with aplastic anemia.

Background: Aplastic anemia (AA) is an autoimmune disease and interleukin-27 (IL-27) is an important cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. To date there have been no reports concerning the intrinsic association among IL-27 and Thelper (Th) 1 and Th17 cells in AA.

Materials And Methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to assay IL-27, interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and IL-17 levels, flow cytometry to measure the percentages of Th1 and Th17 cells among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the mRNA levels of IL-27, IFN-γ, T-bet and IL-17 and retinoid related orphan receptor gamma (RORγt) in PBMCs were performed.

Increased frequencies of Th22 cells as well as Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of patients with ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: T-helper (Th) 22 is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. The roles of Th22 cells in the pathophysiological of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remain unsettled. So we examined the frequencies of Th22 cells, Th17 cells and Th1 cells in peripheral blood (PB) from patients with AS and patients with RA compared with both healthy controls as well as patients with osteoarthritis.

The development of Chinese specific human cytomegalovirus polyepitope recombinant vaccine.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is a major cause of morbidity in the recipients of organ transplants and in the congenitally infected infants. HCMV vaccine has emerged as an effective approach to prevent HCMV infection particularly for the development of multiple viral antigens vaccination and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted polyepitope technology. As the Chinese population makes up more than one fifth of the population worldwide, it is important to develop HCMV vaccines more specific for the Chinese population by targeting Chinese-restricted HLA alleles and antigens.

Increased number of Tc17 and correlation with Th17 cells in patients with immune thrombocytopenia.

Background: IL-17-secreting CD8+ T cells (Tc17 subset) have recently been defined as a subpopulation of effector T cells implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. The role of Tc17 and correlation with Th17 cells in the pathophysiology of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) remain unsettled.

Design And Methods: We studied 47 ITP patients (20 newly-diagnosed and 27 with complete response) and 34 healthy controls.

Effect of interleukin 21 and/or interleukin 12 on the antitumor activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with endometrial cancer.

Objective: To observe the role of interleukin (IL) 21 alone, IL12 alone, and IL21 plus IL12 for inducing the antitumor activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with endometrial cancer.

Methods: PBMCs were isolated from peripheral blood in patients with endometrial cancer in vitro, and kept the culture with low-level IL2. IL2-stimulated PBMCs were cocultured under different conditions (with anti-IL21 antibody, IL21 alone, IL12 alone, or IL21 plus IL12) for 72 h.

Elevated Th22 cells correlated with Th17 cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: T-helper (Th) 22 and Th17 cells are implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. The roles of Th22 cells in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remain unsettled.

Materials And Methods: CD4(+)IFNγ(-)IL17(-)IL-22(+) T cells (Th22 cells), CD4(+)IFNγ(-)IL-22(-)IL17(+) T cells (pure Th17 cells), CD4(+)IL17(+) T cells (Th17 cells), and CD4(+)IFNγ(+) T cells (Th1 cells) in RA, osteoarthritis patients, and healthy controls were examined by flow cytometry.

Decreased expression of interleukin-27 in immune thrombocytopenia.

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an immune-mediated disorder in which disturbed cytokine profiles have been found. Interleukin-27 (IL27) has been shown to bear both proinflammatory and anti-inflammtory effects. In the present study, plasma levels of IL27, interferon gamma (IFNG), IL4, and IL17A were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 23 active ITP patients, 20 patients in remission and 20 healthy controls.

[The effects of corticosteroid treatment on immune thrombocytopenia under new diagnostic criteria].

Objective: To address the standard first-line management under the new diagnostic criteria in adult immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted involving 178 adult ITP patients treated with high-dose dexamethasone or prednisone in Qilu Hospital from March 2004 to November 2009 using new diagnostic criteria.

Results: The median age was 41 years with a male/female ratio of 0.

Determination of platelet-bound glycoprotein-specific autoantibodies by flow cytometric immunobead assay in primary immune thrombocytopenia.

Objectives: Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by premature platelet destruction induced by autoantibodies directed against platelet glycoproteins (GPs). Despite being a clinically important disorder, ITP lacks a feasible diagnostic assay for routine clinical use. This study was meant to evaluate a newly developed flow cytometric immunobead assay for determination of platelet-bound GP-specific autoantibodies in comparison with indirect monoclonal antibody-specific immobilization of platelet antigen (MAIPA) in the diagnosis of ITP.

[Synergistic effect of DNA methylation inhibitor and histone deacetylase inhibitor on RASSF1A gene expression in U266 cells.].

Objective: To investigate the effect of DNA methylation in combination with histone deacetylase inhibitor on transcription regulation of Ras associated domain family gene 1(RASSF1A) tumor suppressor gene and the molecular biological behaviors in U266 cells.

Methods: The U266 cells were treated with different doses of 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR) and Valproate (VPA) each alone or in combination. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) was used to detect CpG island methylation in RASSF1A promoter.

[Chromosomal aberrations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization and their association with clinical features].

This study was aimed to investigate the common chromosomal aberrations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and to explore the relationship between these chromosomal aberrations and clinical features of CLL. Sequence-specific DNA probes (D13S25, RB1, p53, ATM) and one centromeric probe CSP12 were applied to detect del(13q14), del(17p13), del(11q22-q23) and trisomy 12 by using interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (I-FISH). 9 CLL patients with negative conventional cytogenetics or without mitotic figure were enrolled in this study.

[Effect of CD44 gene silence on multi-drug resistance reversal and biologic activity in K562/A02 cells].

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of CD44 gene silence on the drug resistance and biologic activity of human multidrug resistant leukemia cell line K562/A02. The oligonucleotides of CD44 gene were designed according to related data of GenBank, double-stranded DNA was produced by annealing, and was inserted into pGCsilencerU6/Neo/GFP vector. The resultant recombinant plasmid pGCsiRNA-CD44 was transfected into K562/A02 cell line.

[The role of interleukin-18 and interleukin-18 receptor in predominant Th1 immune response of patients with immune thrombocytopenia].

Objective: To evaluate the role of interleukin (IL)-18 and IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) in the predominant Th1 type cytokine response in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

Methods: Fifteen patients with active phase ITP, eighteen in remission and thirteen healthy controls were enrolled in this study. T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononucleated cells (PBMNC) were measured by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); the plasma IL-18 level by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the expression of IL-18R on CD3(+) lymphocytes and total lymphocytes by flow cytometry(FCM).

[Study of a humanized anti-platelet GP VI single chain Fv phage antibody].

Objective: To study the anti-platelet GPVI single chain Fv phage antibody which can inhibit the aggregation function of platelet by using phage antibody library technology.

Methods: ITP patients with anti-platelet GPVI autoantibody that could inhibit the aggregation function of platelet were screened by MAIPA assay and platelet aggregation test. The gene fragments of heavy chain and light chain variable region (VH and VL) of immunoglobulin were amplified by RT-PCR from peripheral blood lymphocytes mRNA of the screened patients.

[N-ras and fms gene mutation in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and myelodysplasia].

Objective: To explore the pathogenesis of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and improve the differential diagnosis from myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) was performed to detect the point mutation of codon 12,13 in N-ras gene and codon 301, 969 in fms gene in adult and aged ITP and MDS patients.

Results: In 25 ITP patients, N-ras mutation and fms mutation were detected in one each (4%).

[Notch signaling in human breast cancer].

Objective: To explore the role of Notch signaling in human breast cancers, the expression of Notch1 and its ligand JAG1 in human breast cancers and their relationships with clinical stages of breast cancers were analyzed.

Methods: RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of Notch1 and JAG1 in 62 breast cancer specimens and 22 normal breast tissues at the margin of tumor sections, and the statistical difference of expression rates and standardized coefficient between the two groups were analyzed. To compare the expression intensity of Notch1 and JAG1 at different development stages of the illness and at different stages with or without axillary node metastasis.