Baicalein induces the apoptosis of HCT116 human colon cancer cells via the upregulation of DEPP/Gadd45a and activation of MAPKs.

Baicalein has efficient antitumor properties and has been reported to promote the apoptosis of several human cancer cell lines. Decidual protein induced by progesterone (DEPP), a transcriptional target of Forkhead Box O, was originally identified from the human endometrial stromal cell cDNA library. However, the expression and physiological functions of DEPP in human colon cancer cells remain to be fully elucidated.

Human herpesvirus-6-specific interleukin 10-producing CD4+ T cells suppress the CD4+ T-cell response in infected individuals.

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infection normally persists for the lifetime of the host and may reactivate with immunosuppression. The mechanism behind HHV-6 latent infection is still not fully understood. In this study, we observed that decreased proliferation of CD4+ T cells and PBMCs but not CD8+ T cells from HHV-6-infected individuals was stimulated with HHV-6-infected cell lysates.

Detection and analysis of anti-latent membrane protein 2A antibodies in the sera of patients with Epstein-Barr virus associated malignancies.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated malignancies with a Type II latency gene expression pattern, such as Hodgkin's disease, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), frequently express the EBV antigen latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A). We expected to establish a highly expressing LMP2A yeast cell strain and get the high quality LMP2A protein, which was used for detection, analysis and characterization of its antibodies in various patients' sera of EBV associated malignancies.

Methods: The plasmid pPICZalphaA-LMP2A containing the full length of LMP2A cDNA was constructed and transformed to Pichia pastoris GS115 to express LMP2A protein.

[Retroviral-mediated transfection of hepatitis B virus core gene into bone marrow-derived dendritic cells].

Aim: To evaluate the transfection efficiency of recombinant retrovirus vector bearing hepatitis B virus(HBV) core gene to bone marrow-derived dendritic cells(DCs) and the capability of these DCs to induce cytotoxic T lymphocyte(CTL) response.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice bone marrow cells were stimulated with recombinant mouse granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor(rmGM-CSF) and interleukin-4(rmIL-4) for 6 days. Expanding DC progenitors were transfected by retrovirus vector containing HBV core gene.

[Expression of HBcAg in eukaryotic cells by retroviral vector mediated gene transfer].

Background: To construct recombinant retroviral vector expressing HBcAg in eukaryotic cells.

Methods: The HBV core gene fragment was amplified by using PCR from pADR which contains complement nucleotide sequence of HBV subtype adr and cloned into retroviral expression plasmid pLXSN, then transfected into packing cell (PT67) with lipofec AMINE. After 2-3 weeks selection with G418, large colonies were isolated and transferred to individual plates.

[Modulation of lianbizi injection (andrographolide) on some immune functions].

Objective: To study the effects of andrographolide on immune functions and the immune mechanism of its clinical application.

Method: The amounts of IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-8 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) culture supernatants deal with by different concentrations of LianBiZhi (LBZ) injection made of andrographolide were detected by biological activity test or ELISA in vitro. The effects of LBZ injection on macrophage phagocytotic function and natural killer cells cytotoxicity were examined by means of macrophage to phagocytize cock erythrocyte and measurement of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activity released from the damaged cells, respectively.