GDF11 knockdown downregulates SMURF1 to inhibit breast cancer progression by activation of p53 and inactivation of ERα signaling.

Breast cancer (BC) is a prevalent neoplasm that occurs in women all over the world. Growth and differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) plays an essential role in cancer progression. This study focused on investigating the biological role and underlying mechanisms of GDF11 in BC.

Targeting ubiquitin-specific protease 22 suppresses growth and metastasis of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

Ubiquitin-specific protease 22 (USP22) aberrance has been implicated in several malignancies; however, whether USP22 plays a role in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) remains unclear. Here, we report that USP22 expression is highly elevated in ATC tissues, which positively correlated with tumor size, extracapsular invasion, clinical stages, and poor prognosis of ATC patients. In vitro assays showed that USP22 depletion suppressed ATC cell survival and proliferation by decreasing Rb phosphorylation and cyclin D2, inactivating Akt, and simultaneously upregulating Rb; USP22 silencing restrained cell migration and invasion by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition; USP22 knockdown promoted mitochondrion- mediated and caspase-dependent apoptosis by upregulating Bax and Bid and promoting caspase-3 activation.

Enhancement of DNA vaccine-induced immune responses by a 72-bp element from SV40 enhancer.

Background: Although DNA vaccine is considered as the next generation of vaccine, most DNA vaccine candidates are still suffering from the relatively weak immunogenicity despite the increased dosage of plasmid DNA administered. In order to enhance the immune responses elicited by a codon-optimized HIV gag DNA vaccine, a modified plasmid vector pDRVI1.0 and a booster immunization with replicating Tiantan vaccinia (RTV) strain expressing the same gene were employed.

Association of neutralization sensitivity of HIV-1 primary isolates with biological properties of isolates from HIV-1 infected Chinese individuals.

Objective: Although HIV-1 infection is prevalent in many regions in China, it remains largely unknown on the biological characteristics of dominant circulating isolates. This study was designed to isolate the circulating viral strains from different prevalent regions and to characterize their biological properties and neutralization sensitivity.

Methods: Primary viruses were isolated from fresh PBMCs using the traditional co-culture method and their capacity of inducing syncytium was tested in MT-2 cells.

[Biological characteristics of HIV-1 isolates circulating in China are linked to its env V3 loop sequence variability].

Objective: To investigate the biological characteristics of the HIV-1 isolates circulating in China and to define the association of these properties with env V3 loop sequence variability.

Methods: Primary viruses were isolated from fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using the traditional co-culture method and their capacity of inducing syncytium was tested in MT-2 cells; meanwhile, their coreceptor usage was determined with GHOST-cell lines which stably express CD4 and the chemokine receptor CCR5 or CXCR4. Furthermore, HIV-1 V3 and its flanking region sequences were amplified by nest-polymerase chain reaction (nest-PCR) and sequenced.

[Immunogenicity analysis of HIV vaccine based on replicating vaccinia virus Tiantan vector].

Objective: To investigate the immunogenicity of HIV vaccine vTKgpe based on Vaccinia Virus Tiantan vector in mice and rabbits.

Methods: Mice were inoculated with HIV vaccine vTKgpe by intramuscular (i.m.