Nanosphere pharmacodynamics improves safety of immunostimulatory cytokine therapy.

Systemic administration of interleukin (IL)-12 induces potent anti-tumor immune responses in preclinical cancer models through the systemic activation of effector immune cells and release of proinflammatory cytokines. IL-12-loaded PLGA nanospheres (IL12ns) are hypothesized to improve therapeutic efficacy and thwart unwanted side effects observed in previous human clinical trials. Through the investigation of peripheral blood and local tissue immune responses in healthy BALB/c mice, the immune-protective pharmacodynamics of IL12ns were suggested.

Immunostaining for hepatitis B viral antigens in liver: Association with clinical, biochemical, and virologic features of disease.

Background And Aim: Staining for hepatitis B viral antigens is often done in liver biopsies from patients with chronic hepatitis B, but its correlates with clinical phenotypes are not well described.

Methods: Biopsies were collected from a large cohort of adults and children with chronic hepatitis B viral infection through the Hepatitis B Research Network. Immunohistochemical staining of sections was done for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) and then centrally read by the pathology committee.

A Locus on Chromosome 15 Contributes to Acute Ozone-induced Lung Injury in Collaborative Cross Mice.

Ozone (O)-induced respiratory toxicity varies considerably within the human population and across inbred mouse strains, indicative of gene-environment interactions (GxE). Though previous studies have identified several quantitative trait loci (QTL) and candidate genes underlying responses to O exposure, precise mechanisms of susceptibility remain incompletely described. We sought to update our understanding of the genetic architecture of O responsiveness using the Collaborative Cross (CC) recombinant inbred mouse panel.