[Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria community composition at the root zones of aquatic plants after ecological restoration].

To investigate the effects of aquatic plants on ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) at their root zones, four species of aquatic plants were selected, Phragmites communis, Typha angustifolia L., Potamogeton crispus L., and Limnanthemun nymphoides, which were widely used in ecological restorations.

[Genetic diversity of eukarytic microplankton in different areas of Lake Taihu].

The methods of DGGE and cloning/sequencing were used to study the diversity and community structures of small planktons (0.8 - 20 microm) in different areas of Lake Taihu. DGGE indicated that there were markly various fingerprints in different areas and the diversities were higher in areas with low trophic status than those with relatively high trophic status.

Influence of interferon alpha on expression of Fas and Fas ligand in dendritic cells from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.

The study was aimed to investigate the influence of interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) on the expressions of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) in dendritic cells (DCs) from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In addition to adding stem cell factor (SCF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 4 (IL-4), the IFN-alpha was added to the serum-free medium for DCs. After culturing for 10 - 14 days, cell phenotype and percentage of Ph(1) chromosome were detected by different methods.

CHANGES IN THE MORPHOLOGY AND POLYSACCHARIDE CONTENT OF MICROCYSTIS AERUGINOSA (CYANOBACTERIA) DURING FLAGELLATE GRAZING(1).

To investigate the changes in the morphology and polysaccharide content of Microcystis aeruginosa (Kütz.) Kütz. during flagellate grazing, cultures of M.

Influences of interferon-alpha on expression of Th cytokines and CCR7 in dendritic cells from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in vitro.

This study was aimed to investigate the influences of interferonalpha (IFN-alpha) on expressions of CCR7, interleukin10 (IL-10) and IL-12p70 in dendritic cells (DCs) from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In addition to stem cell factor (SCF), granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-4, IFN-alpha was added to the serum-free medium of DCs. After culture for 10-14 days, phenotypes and function of CML-DCs were evaluated respectively by flow cytometry and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay.

Characterization of seven new HLA alleles from the Henan and Gansu Provinces of China.

Four new class I and three class II alleles have been found in Chinese individuals.

Carbohydrate residues downstream of the terminal Galalpha(1,3)Gal epitope modulate the specificity of xenoreactive antibodies.

Carbohydrates are involved in many immunological responses including the rejection of incompatible blood, tissues and organs. Carbohydrate antigens with Galalpha(1,3)Gal epitopes are recognized by natural antibodies in humans and pose a major barrier for pig-to-human xenotransplantation. Genetically modified pigs have been established that have no functional alpha1,3-galactosyltransferase (alpha1,3GT), which transfers alphaGal to N-acetyllactosamine (LacNAc) type oligosaccharides.

[Relationship between cytokine gene polymorphism and development of gastric adenocarcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) promoter genes and susceptibility to gastric adenocarcinoma or gastric adenocarcinoma with helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection.

Methods: The SNPs of the TNF-alpha (-238G/A and -308G/A) were determined by gene chip in 130 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and 142 healthy controls. The sera concentrations of IgG, IgM and IgA of Hp antibodies were measured by ELISA in all cases and controls.

Advances of MUC1 as a target for breast cancer immunotherapy.

MUC1 is a potential target in breast cancer immunotherapy as MUC1 is overexpressed in breast cancer, and is absent or expressed in low level in normal mammary gland. In addition, MUC1 is mostly aberrantly underglycosylated in cancer and the antigens on the cancer surface are different from normal cell. Therefore targeting MUC1 for cancer immunotherapy can exploit the difference between cancer and normal cells, and eliminating the cancerous cells while leaving the normal mammary cells unharmed.

Anti-Cripto Mab inhibit tumour growth and overcome MDR in a human leukaemia MDR cell line by inhibition of Akt and activation of JNK/SAPK and bad death pathways.

Doxorubicin (DOX) selection of CCRF-CEM leukaemia cell line resulted in multidrug resistance (MDR) CEM/A7R cell line, which overexpresses MDR, 1 coded P-glycoprotein (Pgp). Here, we report for the first time that oncoprotein Cripto, a founding member of epidermal growth factor-Cripto-FRL, 1-Criptic family is overexpressed in the CEM/A7R cells, and anti-Cripto monoclonal antibodies (Mab) inhibited CEM/A7R cell growth both in vitro and in an established xenograft tumour in severe combined immunodeficiency mice. Cripto Mab synergistically enhanced sensitivity of the MDR cells to Pgp substrates epirubicin (EPI), daunorubicin (DAU) and non-Pgp substrates nucleoside analogue cytosine arabinoside (AraC).

Overexpression of Cripto and its prognostic significance in breast cancer: a study with long-term survival.

Introduction: Cripto is a founding member of the EGF-CFC family, and plays an important role in tumourigenesis, tumour cell proliferation and migration. We aimed to determine the significance of Cripto expression on the survival of patients with breast cancer.

Methods: Immunohistochemical detection of Cripto was performed by using mAb C13 on 120 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded breast tumour specimens in tissue microarrays.

Enhanced immunogenicity of heat shock protein 70 peptide complexes from dendritic cell-tumor fusion cells.

We have developed a molecular chaperone-based tumor vaccine that reverses the immune tolerance of cancer cells. Heat shock protein (HSP) 70 extracted from fusions of dendritic (DC) and tumor cells (HSP70.PC-F) possess superior properties such as stimulation of DC maturation and T cell proliferation over its counterpart from tumor cells.

MUC1 cytoplasmic tail: a potential therapeutic target for ovarian carcinoma.

Ovarian cancer is often a lethal disease, since the occult progression of the tumor within the peritoneal cavity results in late diagnosis and treatment failure. The identification of molecular events specific to metastasis is critical for the development of effective therapies. MUC1 is aberrantly overexpressed by most ovarian cancer and regarded as a molecular target for ovarian cancer.

Delivery of tumor associated antigens to antigen presenting cells using penetratin induces potent immune responses.

Cytoplasmic delivery of proteins or CTL epitopes is crucial for the presentation of antigen for the generation of CTL. We previously described the use of the 16-amino acid peptide penetratin from the Drosophila Antennapedia domain (Int) to transport CTL epitopes into cells. Here we show that, Int, incorporating MUC1 CTL epitopes in tandem is able to facilitate their rapid uptake by macrophages and dendritic cells (DC) in an energy-dependent endocytic pathway.

Mannan-MUC1-pulsed dendritic cell immunotherapy: a phase I trial in patients with adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: Tumor antigen-loaded dendritic cells show promise for cancer immunotherapy. This phase I study evaluated immunization with autologous dendritic cells pulsed with mannan-MUC1 fusion protein (MFP) to treat patients with advanced malignancy.

Experimental Design: Eligible patients had adenocarcinoma expressing MUC1, were of performance status 0 to 1, with no autoimmune disease.

The molecular basis for galalpha(1,3)gal expression in animals with a deletion of the alpha1,3galactosyltransferase gene.

The production of homozygous pigs with a disruption in the GGTA1 gene, which encodes alpha1,3galactosyltransferase (alpha1,3GT), represented a critical step toward the clinical reality of xenotransplantation. Unexpectedly, the predicted complete elimination of the immunogenic Galalpha(1,3)Gal carbohydrate epitope was not observed as Galalpha(1,3)Gal staining was still present in tissues from GGTA1(-/-) animals. This shows that, contrary to previous dogma, alpha1,3GT is not the only enzyme able to synthesize Galalpha(1,3)Gal.

MDX-060. Medarex.

Medarex is developing the antibody MDX-060 for the potential treatment of CD30+ lymphomas, such as Hodgkin's disease and anaplastic large cell lymphomas. Phase I/II clinical trials were underway by December 2002.

The oncogenic serine/threonine kinase Pim-1 directly phosphorylates and activates the G2/M specific phosphatase Cdc25C.

The proto-oncogene Pim-1 encodes a serine-threonine kinase which is a downstream effector of cytokine signaling and can enhance cell cycle progression by altering the activity of several cell cycle regulators among them the G1 specific inhibitor p21(Waf), the phosphatase Cdc25A and the kinase C-TAK1. Here, we demonstrate by using biochemical assays that Pim-1 can interact with the phosphatase Cdc25C and is able to directly phosphorylate the N-terminal region of the protein. Cdc25C is functionally related to Cdc25A but acts specifically at the G2/M cell cycle transition point and can be inactivated by C-TAK1-mediated phosphorylation.

[Clinical analysis of 67 patients with brain metastases from breast cancer].

Background & Objective: The incidence of brain metastases from breast cancer seems to be increasing with the improvement of systemic control and survival prolongation. This study was to analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment modalities, and prognostic factors of brain metastases from breast cancer.

Methods: The time from primary diagnosis of breast cancer to brain metastases of 67 breast cancer patients were 0-15 years, and the median time was 2.

Cripto monoclonal antibodies.

The success of molecular target-based cancer therapy exampled by Herceptin targeting Her2 indicates that cancer immunotherapy involves identifying and targeting key molecular drivers of cancer. Recently, the human Cripto, a founding member of the epidermal growth factor-Cripto-FRL1-Cryptic (EGF-CFC) protein family has been demonstrated to be a unique molecule and could be targeted by anti-Cripto monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of cancer. Cripto plays an important role in embryonic development, tumorigenesis, cancer cell proliferation and survival.

[Influence of IFN-alpha on function of CML-DC in vitro and expression of chemokine with its receptor].

To study the influence of IFN-alpha on function of CML-DC cultured in vitro and expression of chemokine and its chemokine receptor, bone marrow mononuclear cells from 13 CML patients were cultured in the fetal calf serum culture system supplemented with rhSCF, rhFlt-3L for expansion system, and adding rhGM-CSF, rhTNF-alpha, rhIL-4, with or without rhIFN-alpha to induce DCs. After incubation for two weeks, the phenotypes of CML-DC were analyzed by direct immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. The concentration of MIP-3beta expressed by CML-DC in the supernatant were analyzed by ELISA.

Cripto as a target for cancer immunotherapy.

One of the recent, significant advances in cancer immunotherapy is the identification of molecules as targets which regulate cell growth by induction of proliferation and survival signalling pathways. Among them, epidermal growth factor receptor and Her2 have been effectively targeted by monoclonal antibodies. Currently, the treatment of cancer has limitations and most cancer deaths result from the local invasion and distant metastasis of tumour cells.

Expansion in vitro and cytotoxicity of dendritic cells from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.

The study was aimed to investigate the extensive amplification and the cytotoxicity of dendritic cells (DC) derived from chronic myeloid leukemia cells. DC were cultured in two steps: firstly, extensive amplification in primary culture of CD34(+) or mononuclear cells isolated from CML patients' bone marrow and peripheral blood with rhFlt3-L and rhTPO for 7 days; secondly, inducing culture of DC with rhGM-CSF, rhTNF and rhIL-4 for 14 days. A system inducing DC directly were established for comparison.

Pim-1 kinase stability is regulated by heat shock proteins and the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.

Elevated expression of the serine/threonine kinase Pim-1 increases the incidence of lymphomas in Pim-1 transgenic mice and has also been found to occur in some human cancers. Pim-1 acts as a cell survival factor and may prevent apoptosis in malignant cells. It was therefore of interest to understand to what extent maintenance and degradation of Pim-1 protein is affected by heat shock proteins (Hsp) and the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in K562 and BV173 human leukemic cells.