CD40L-Tri, a novel formulation of recombinant human CD40L that effectively activates B cells.

CD40L has a well-established role in enhancing the immunostimulatory capacity of normal and malignant B cells, but a formulation suitable for clinical use has not been widely available. Like other TNF family members, in vivo and in vitro activity of CD40L requires a homotrimeric configuration, and growing evidence suggests that bioactivity depends on higher-order clustering of CD40. We generated a novel formulation of human recombinant CD40L (CD40L-Tri) in which the CD40L extracellular domain and a trimerization motif are connected by a long flexible peptide linker.

Which patients with undetectable PSA levels 5 years after radical prostatectomy are still at risk of recurrence?--implications for a risk-adapted follow-up strategy.

Objectives: To determine the predictors of late prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure among men with an undetectable PSA level 5 years after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Methods: A total of 505 men who had undergone RP for prostate cancer from 1985 to 2000 at Brigham and Women's Hospital and who had ≥ 5 years of recurrence-free survival (ie, all PSA levels < 0.2 ng/mL) constituted the study cohort.

Synthesis and characterization of a redox-active ion channel supporting cation flux in lipid bilayers.

The synthesis, cation binding and transmembrane conductive properties of a novel synthetic ion channel containing a redox-active ferrocene unit are described. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to demonstrate that the channel supports multiple ion coordination and association constants for 1:1 and 1:2 (channel:cation) coordination for both Na(+) and K(+) were evaluated. Experiments using a black lipid membrane preparation revealed that this compound functioned effectively as an ion channel for both Na(+) and K(+).