Identification and Validation of Candidate Radiation-responsive Genes for Human Biodosimetr.

The aim of the present study is to analyze the global research trend of radiation-responsive genes and identify the highly reproducible radiation-responsive genes. Bibliometric methods were applied to analyze the global research trend of radiation-responsive genes. We found 79 publications on radiation-responsive genes from 2000 to 2017.

Identification of two novel mitochondrial DNA deletions induced by ionizing radiation.

Objective: We identify ionizing radiation-induced mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions in human lymphocytes and their distribution in normal populations.

Methods: Long-range polymerase chain reactions (PCR) using two pairs of primers specific for the human mitochondrial genome were used to analyze the lymphoblastoid cell line following exposure to 10 Gy (60)Co γ-rays. Limited-condition PCR, cloning and sequencing techniques were applied to verify the mtDNA deletions detected with long-range PCR.

[Study on steroids of Cacalia tangutica].

Seven steroids and two cumarins were isolated from the petroleum ether extract of the specie Cacalia tangutica of the family Compositae which were collected in Minhe county, Qinhai province of China. The structures were identified as Stigmast4-en-3beta, 6beta-diol (1), 24-ethyl-5alpha-cholestane-3beta, 5, 6beta-triol (2), 7beta- methoxy-stigmast-5-en-3beta-ol (3), Schleicherastatin 1 (4), Stigmast-5-en-3beta, 7alpha-diol (5), umbelliferone (6) and hydrangetin (7) by the means of chemical and modern spectroscopic analysis (MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, DEPT). The compounds 1-5 were isolated from Cacalia tangutica for the first time.

Manipulation of MHC-I/TCR interaction for immune therapy.

Adoptive immunotherapy involving the transfer of autologous tumor or virus-reactive T lymphocytes has been demonstrated to be effective in the eradication of cancer and virally infected cells. Identification of MHC-restricted antigens and progress in generation of adaptive immune responses have provided new direction for such treatment for severe pathologies such as cancer and autoimmune diseases. Here we review the latest development about the molecular basis of MHC-I/TCR interaction, and its manipulation including enhanced MHC-I expression, modification of peptide and engineered TCR for clinical applications such as vaccine design, tumor therapy and autoimmune diseases.