Irradiated VEGF164-modified tumor cell vaccine protected mice from the parental tumor challenge.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important regulating molecule of angiogenesis in tumor formation and progression. Cancer cells always secrete VEGF to stimulate angiogenesis that facilitate growth and invasion of the tumor. In this study, we established a VEGF164 overexpressing LL/2 lung cancer cell model and found that the postirradiated VEGF164-modified tumor cells protected the host against the challenge with LL/2 wild-type tumor cells.

Ovarian cancer treatment with a tumor-targeting and gene expression-controllable lipoplex.

Overexpression of folate receptor alpha (FRα) and high telomerase activity are considered to be the characteristics of ovarian cancers. In this study, we developed FRα-targeted lipoplexes loaded with an hTERT promoter-regulated plasmid that encodes a matrix protein (MP) of the vesicular stomatitis virus, F-LP/pMP(2.5), for application in ovarian cancer treatment.

Low-dose paclitaxel improves the therapeutic efficacy of recombinant adenovirus encoding CCL21 chemokine against murine cancer.

Secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine (SLC/CCL21), one of the CC chemokines, exerts potent antitumor immunity by co-localizing T cells and dendritic cells at the tumor site and is currently tested against human solid tumors. Here, we investigated whether the combination of recombinant adenovirus encoding murine CCL21 (Ad-mCCL21) with low-dose paclitaxel would improve therapeutic efficacy against murine cancer. Immunocompetent mice bearing B16-F10 melanoma or 4T1 breast carcinoma were treated with either Ad-mCCL21, paclitaxel, or both agents together.

VEGF-D-induced draining lymphatic enlargement and tumor lymphangiogenesis promote lymph node metastasis in a xenograft model of ovarian carcinoma.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-D has been shown to promote lymph node metastasis in several cancers. Although generally overexpressed in ovarian carcinoma, its role in nodal dissemination of this cancer is unclear. To clarify the role of VEGF-D and the underlying molecular mechanisms, we investigated the function of VEGF-D using a mouse xenograft model of ovarian cancer.

Gene therapy using the human telomerase catalytic subunit gene promoter enables targeting of the therapeutic effects of vesicular stomatitis virus matrix protein against human lung adenocarcinoma.

The catalytic subunit of telomerase, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), is highly active in immortalized cells and more than 90% of human cancer cells, but is quiescent in the majority of normal somatic cells. Thus, the hTERT promoter has been extensively used in targeted cancer gene therapy. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) matrix protein (MP) induces the apoptosis of tumor cells in the absence of other viral components.

[Relationship between miR-218 and CDK6 expression and their biological impact on glioma cell proliferation and apoptosis].

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the expression of miR-218 and CDK6 in glioma cells, and their biological impacts on the tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis.

Methods: Expression levels of miR-218 as well as CDK6 and Ki-67 proteins were analyzed in 60 cases of gliomas with various grades and 10 control brain tissue samples by tissue microarray, locked oligonucleotide probe in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Glioblastoma multiform cell line (U87MG) was transfected with miR-218 mimics (mimics group) and a control sequence (control group), followed by qRT-PCR detection of miR-218 and immunocytochemical stain of CDK6 and Ki-67, respectively.

Gene therapy with recombinant adenovirus encoding endostatin encapsulated in cationic liposome in coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor-deficient colon carcinoma murine models.

Adenovirus (Ad)-based antiangiogenesis gene therapy is a promising approach for cancer treatment. Downregulation or loss of coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) is often detected in various human cancers, which hampers adenoviral gene therapy approaches. Cationic liposome-complexed adenoviral vectors have been proven useful in CAR-deficient cells to enhance therapeutic gene transfer in vivo.

[Antitumor effects of matrix protein of vesicular stomatic virus on EL4 lymphoma mice].

Objective: To explore antitumor effects of plasmid pcDNA3. 1-MP encoding matrix protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) complexed with cationic liposome (DOTAP:CHOL) in mice with EL4 lymphoma.

Methods: C57BL/6 mouse model with EL4 lymphoma was established.

Realgar, cinnabar and An-Gong-Niu-Huang Wan are much less chronically nephrotoxic than common arsenicals and mercurials.

Realgar (As(4)S(4)) and cinnabar (HgS) are frequently included in traditional Chinese medicines and Indian Ayurvedic medicines. Both As and Hg are well known for toxic effects, and their safety is of concern. The aim of this study was to compare chronic nephrotoxicity of An-Gong-Niu-Huang Wan (AGNH), realgar and cinnabar with common arsenicals and mercurials.

[Construction of recombinant adenovirus carrying HBx and mIL-12].

Objective: To construct a recombinant adenovirus Ad-HBx-mlL-12 carrying HBx and mIL-12.

Methods: HBx and mIL-12 were cloned into the shuttle plasmid pAdenoVator-CMV5 and confirmed by means of enzymatic manipulation. After linearization by EcoR I digestion, the recombinant shuttle plasmid pAdV-HBx-mIL-12 was transformed into competent BJ5183 germs with the adenoviral backbone plasmid pAdenoVator deltaE1/E3 and then homologically recombined to obtain the recombinant adenovirus plasmid.

Realgar- and cinnabar-containing an-gong-niu-huang wan (AGNH) is much less acutely toxic than sodium arsenite and mercuric chloride.

An-gong-niu-huang wan (AGNH) is a famous traditional Chinese medicine used for brain trauma, hemorrhage, and coma. AGNH contains 10% realgar (As₄S₄) and 10% cinnabar (HgS). Both As and Hg are well-known for their toxic effects, and the safety of AGNH is of concern.

Efficient inhibition of C-26 colon carcinoma by VSVMP gene delivered by biodegradable cationic nanogel derived from polyethyleneimine.

Biodegradable cationic nanoparticles have promising application as a gene delivery system. In this article, heparin-polyethyleneimine (HPEI) nanogels were prepared, and these nanogels were developed as a nonviral gene vector. The transfection efficiency of HPEI nanogels was comparable with that of PEI25K, while the cytotoxicity was lower than that of PEI2K and much lower than that of PEI25K in vitro.

A novel transdermal plasmid-dimethylsulfoxide delivery technique for treatment of psoriasis.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disease associated with various immunologic abnormalities. Repeated subcutaneous injection of interleukin-4 (IL-4) has been established as an effective treatment to counteract psoriasis.

Objective: We investigated whether gene therapy using IL-4 expression plasmid (pIL-4) via transdermal delivery was an alternative treatment for psoriasis.

Combination of vesicular stomatitis virus matrix protein gene therapy with low-dose cisplatin improves therapeutic efficacy against murine melonoma.

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) matrix protein (MP) can directly induce apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway due to the inhibition of host gene expression. Our previous studies have demonstrated that MP gene therapy efficiently suppressed the growth of malignant tumor in vitro and in vivo. The present study was designed to determine the possibility that the combination of MP gene therapy with low-dose cisplatin would improve therapeutic efficacy against murine melanoma.

Suppression of human MDA-MB-435S tumor by U6 promoter-driven short hairpin RNAs targeting focal adhesion kinase.

Purpose: Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase implicated in cancer cell survival, proliferation, and in various steps in the metastatic cascade. In the present study, we took advantage of a cationic liposome as gene carrier and targeted FAK function through both in vitro and in vivo approaches.

Methods: We utilized a plasmid-encoded hairpin RNA targeting the human FAK mRNA (pGensil2-shRNA/FAK), as a means to inhibit FAK expression for evaluating its anti-tumor effect in vitro and in vivo.

[Inhibition of tumour cells with hepatitis B virus x (HBx) gene adenoviral vector in vivo].

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effects of the hepatitis B virus x protein (HBx protein) on tumor in vivo.

Methods: H22 cells were infected with Ad-eGFP to detect infection efficiency of adenovirus. The BALB/c mouse model of malignant ascites was established by implanting H22 cell intraperitoneally into the animal, Ad-HBx, Ad-null or NS were administered intraperitoneally in BALB/c mice separately to detect HBx expression in H22 cells and effects of HBx on inhibition on proliferation of H22 cells.

Antitumor effect of mSurvivinThr34→Ala in murine colon carcinoma when administered intravenously.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers. Survivin is strongly immunogenic in a fraction of colorectal cancer patients. The present study was designed to determine whether full-length mouse Survivin dominant-negative mutant SurvivinT34A has the antitumor activity in a murine colon carcinoma model.

Intratumoral expression of mature human neutrophil peptide-1 mediates antitumor immunity in mice.

Purpose: Human neutrophil peptides (HNP1-3), small molecular antimicrobial peptides, are expressed within tumors and associated with tumor necrosis and inhibition of angiogenesis. Recent investigations have suggested that HNP1-3 are likely to be involved in the host immune responses to tumors.

Experimental Design: We used recombinant pSec-HNP1, which expresses a secretable form of HNP1, to obtain expression of HNP1 in the tumor milieu in immunocompetent mice to explore the possible roles of HNP1 in tumor immunity.

[Apoptosis of colon carcinoma cells of mice induced by vesicular stomatitis virus matrix protein in vitro].

Objective: To test the inhibitive effect of the matrix protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) on the proliferation of colon carcinoma cells of mice in vitro.

Methods: The plasmid pcDNA3. 1-M encoding M protein of vesicular stomatitis viruses was transfected with lipofectamine 2000 into the colon carcinoma (CT26) cells of mice.

[Antitumor and antimetastatic activities of plasmid pcDNA3. 1-IP10 complexed with cationic liposome in mice with 4T1 breast cancer].

Objective: To determine the antitumor and antimetastatic effects of plasmid pcDNA3. 1-IP10 complexed with cationic liposome (DOTAP:CHOL) in mice with 4T1 breast cancer.

Methods: BALB/c mice model with 4T1 breast cancer was established.

Humoral immunity responses against EGFR-positive tumor cells induced by xenogeneic EGFR expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris.

The breaking of immune tolerance against self epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) should be a promising approach for the treatment of those receptor-positive tumors. We have previously shown that human EGFR as a xenoantigen induced a specific antitumor activity against EGFR-positive mouse tumors. Our further studies demonstrated that a recombinant form of extracellular domain of mouse EGFR provoked active cellular immunity responses against EGFR-positive human tumors.

[Enhanced expression of human vimentin intermediate filaments in hepatocellular carcinoma cells decreases their proliferative and invasive abilities in vitro].

Objective: Expression of vimentin in carcinoma cells is a marker for poor prognosis in patients. The aim of this investigation was to assess the influence of vimentin on the characteristics of carcinoma cells.

Methods: The full-length vimentin gene open reading frame (1401 base pairs) was cloned into the plasmid vector pcDNA 3.

[Research on construction and expression of recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid for mouse adiponectin].

Objective: To construct the recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid for mouse adiponectin so as to supply experimental basis for research further on the function of adiponectin.

Methods: Extracting the total RNA from mouse adipose tissue, applying RT-PCR to amplify the complete coding region of mouse adiponectin cDNA and connecting the amplified product with pCDNA3.1(+) vector; then verifying the recombinant plasmid by sequencing and detecting in vitro recombinant expression and cellular proliferation depression to mouse breast cancer cell 4T1.

Vesicular stomatitis virus matrix protein gene enhances the antitumor effects of radiation via induction of apoptosis.

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) matrix (M) protein can directly induce apoptosis by inhibiting host gene expression when it is expressed in the absence of other viral components. Previously, we found that the M protein gene complexed to DOTAP-cholesterol liposome (Lip-MP) can suppress malignant tumor growth in vitro and in vivo; however, little is known regarding the biological effect of Lip-MP combined with radiation. The present study was designed to determine whether Lip-MP could enhance the antitumor activity of radiation.