Circular RNAs in tumor immunity and immunotherapy.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are unique noncoding RNAs that have a closed and stable loop structure generated through backsplicing. Due to their conservation, stability and tissue specificity, circRNAs can potentially be used as diagnostic indicators and therapeutic targets for certain tumors. Many studies have shown that circRNAs can act as microRNA (miRNA) sponges, and engage in interactions with proteins and translation templates to regulate gene expression and signal transduction, thereby participating in the occurrence and development of a variety of malignant tumors.

Dynamic expression of ZNF382 and its tumor-suppressor role in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinogenesis.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the primary cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Zinc-finger protein 382 (ZNF382), which belongs to zinc-finger protein family, has been documented to be downregulated in certain types of cancer. However, its role in HCC remains largely unknown.

The emerging functions and roles of circular RNAs in cancer.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of single-stranded closed RNA molecules that undergo a specific backsplicing from pre-mRNA. With the application of high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics, circRNAs are found to be widely expressed across species. Some functionally characterized circRNAs have critical roles in gene regulation through various actions, including sponging microRNAs and proteins as well as regulating transcription and splicing.

Cytokine profiles in Tibetan macaques following α-1,3-galactosyltransferase-knockout pig liver xenotransplantation.

Background: Pig-to-nonhuman primate orthotopic liver xenotransplantation is often accompanied by thrombocytopenia and coagulation disorders. Furthermore, the release of cytokines can trigger cascade reactions of coagulation and immune attacks within transplant recipients. To better elucidate the process of inflammation in liver xenograft recipients, we utilized a modified heterotopic auxiliary liver xenotransplantation model for xeno-immunological research.

[Collection and verification of murine allo-transplantation major histocompatibility complex peptides].

Objective: To establish a method of collecting transplantation major histocompatibility complex (MHC) peptides.

Methods: Splenic cells of C57BL/6 donor mice were injected into BALB/c recipient mice. The splenic cells of the recipient mice were soaked in pH3.

Curcumin regulates hepatoma cell proliferation and apoptosis through the Notch signaling pathway.

Curcumin has become a compound of interest for its antioxidant and anti-neoplastic properties. This study sought to determine the effect of curcumin administration on cell proliferation and apoptosis in hepatoma cells. SMMC-7721 hepatoma cells were treated with 10, 30, or 90 μM curcumin solution, with DMEM alone (negative control), or with 20 mg/L fluorouracil (positive control).

RNA interference of GGTA1 physiological and immune functions in immortalized porcine aortic endothelial cells.

Background: Pig organs are commonly used in xenotransplantation, and α-1,3-galactose has been shown to be the main cause of hyperacute rejection. The development of transgenic pigs that lack α-1,3-galactosyltransferase (GGTA1) has overcome this problem to a certain extent, but transgenic pigs are difficult to maintain, making their usefulness in basic research limited. For this reason, we propose to establish a cell model to study hyperacute rejection.

Overexpression of Bmi-1 contributes to the invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by increasing the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‑2, MMP-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor via the PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumours and it carries a poor prognosis due to a high rate of recurrence or metastasis after surgery. Bmi-1 plays a significant role in the growth and metastasis of many solid tumours. However, the exact mechanisms underlying Bmi-1-mediated cell invasion and metastasis, especially in HCC, are not yet known.

A meta-analysis of the association between the hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Genetic polymorphism of human 8-oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (hOGG1) Ser326Cys (rs1052133) has been implicated in the risk of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC). However, the published findings are inconsistent. We therefore performed a meta-analysis to derive a more precise estimation of the association between the hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and ESCC risk.

Dendritic cell mediated delivery of plasmid DNA encoding LAMP/HIV-1 Gag fusion immunogen enhances T cell epitope responses in HLA DR4 transgenic mice.

This report describes the identification and bioinformatics analysis of HLA-DR4-restricted HIV-1 Gag epitope peptides, and the application of dendritic cell mediated immunization of DNA plasmid constructs. BALB/c (H-2d) and HLA-DR4 (DRA1*0101, DRB1*0401) transgenic mice were immunized with immature dendritic cells transfected by a recombinant DNA plasmid encoding the lysosome-associated membrane protein-1/HIV-1 Gag (pLAMP/gag) chimera antigen. Three immunization protocols were compared: 1) primary subcutaneous immunization with 1x10(5) immature dendritic cells transfected by electroporation with the pLAMP/gag DNA plasmid, and a second subcutaneous immunization with the naked pLAMP/gag DNA plasmid; 2) primary immunization as above, and a second subcutaneous immunization with a pool of overlapping peptides spanning the HIV-1 Gag sequence; and 3) immunization twice by subcutaneous injection of the pLAMP/gag DNA plasmid.

Whole-tumor-antigen-pulsed dendritic cells elicit cytotoxic T-cell response against pediatric nasopharyngeal carcinoma in vitro.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is endemic in Southeast Asia. Although dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccine has emerged as a promising immunotherapy for various malignancies, its use in pediatric nasopharyngeal carcinoma (PNPC) has not been addressed. In this study, DCs isolated from peripheral blood monocytes of three pediatric patients with advanced (stage IV) NPC were incubated with whole-tumor-antigen preparations and differentiated into immature DCs in the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4, and then underwent maturation when exposed to tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Relationship between urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor expression and metastasis of gallbladder cancer.

Aim: To investigate the relationship of urokinase type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression with clinical and pathological characteristics of human gallbladder cancer.

Methods: uPAR and VEGF expressions in 68 gallbladder cancer tissues were detected with anti-receptor immunohistochemical stain.

Results: Expression rate of uPAR was 57.

[Effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on the ratio of peripheral blood dendritic cell subsets].

Aim: To clarify the effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the radio of two peripheral blood dendritic cell(DC) subsets in-vivo.

Methods: Various doses (0, 5, 10 and 15 microg) of G-CSF were subcutaneosly injected respectively into BALB/c mice, once each day, for 6 days running. Six days later, DCs were separated from peripheral blood.