Enhanced growth suppression of TERT-positive tumor cells by oncolytic adenovirus armed with CCL20 and CD40L.

Conditionally replicating adenoviruses (CRAds) selectively replicate in cancer cells and induce cell lysis, which represents a potential platform for cancer immunotherapy. The chemokine CCL20 exerts antitumor activity via chemoattraction of immature dendritic cells (DCs) and lymphocytes. However, the activation and maturation status of DCs is a limiting factor in the DCs -based immunity response.

Adenovirus-mediated CCL20/IL-15 gene transfer enhances antitumor immunity in mice.

The CCL20 chemokine has potent antitumor activities through chemoattracting immature dentritic cells. But the maturation status of tumoral dentritic cells is important limiting factors in DC-based immunity. The endogenous availability of IL-15 was effective in inducing the dentritic cells maturation and IL-15 also shows tumor-specific antitumor activities.

[ShRNA-mediated silencing of MDM2 inhibits growth of HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells xenografted in nude mice].

Objective: To construct a short hairpin (sh)RNA targeting the gene encoding the MDM2 oncoprotein in order to investigate its role in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its potential for use as a gene therapy strategy to inhibit HCC growth in vivo.

Methods: Small interfering (si)RNAs were designed targeting the MDM2 gene (siMDM2-1 and siMDM2-2) and unrelated sequences (negative control) and cloned into the expression plasmid pGCSilencer-U6-neo-GFP. A HCC mouse model was established by subcutaneous inoculation of HepG2 cells (2 x 10(6) in 0.

Identification and characterization of antigenic epitope of Staphylococcus aureus ClfA adhesin.

Staphylococcus aureus ClfA adhesin is a protective antigen that induces partial immunity against S. aureus infection in mice. To identify the antigenic epitope of ClfA, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) D01 against the recombinant protein was produced by the hybridoma technique.

Staphylococcus aureus infection of intestinal epithelial cells induces human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell migration.

There is a growing interest in umbilical cord blood (UCB)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for cellular therapy in regenerative medicine. To aid in tissue repair, MSCs are recruited to sites of inflammation induced by a bacterial infection. The primary objective of this study was to explore the mechanisms of MSC recruitment to intestinal epithelial cells infected with Staphylococcus aureus.

Proteomic alteration of Marc-145 cells and PAMs after infection by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

Viral infections usually result in alterations in the host cell proteome, which determine the fate of infected cells and the progress of pathogenesis. To uncover cellular protein responses in porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), infected pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) and Marc-145 cells were subjected to proteomic analysis involving two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) followed by MALDI-TOF-MS/MS identification. Altered expression of 44 protein spots in infected cells was identified in 2D gels, of which the 29 characterised by MALDI-TOF-MS/MS included 17 up-regulated and 12 down-regulated proteins.

Using CT imaging to delineate the prostatic apex for radiation treatment planning.

Background And Objective: In computed tomography (CT)-based radiotherapy planning for prostate cancer, it is difficult to precisely delineate the prostatic apex because of its relationship with the urogenital diaphragm and bulbospongiosus musculature. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scans of the patients with prostate cancer to investigate the relationship between the prostatic apex and the anatomic structure visible on CT, and to provide evidence for localizing the prostatic apex in radiotherapy planning.

Methods: MRI and CT scans of 108 patients with prostate cancer were analyzed to measure the distances between the prostatic apex and the bottom of ischial tuberosities, the bottom of obturator foramen, the bottom of pubic symphysis, and the bulb of the penis.