Immunopotentiation effects of apigenin on NK cell proliferation and killing pancreatic cancer cells.

Apigenin is a kind of flavonoid with many beneficial biological effects. It not only has direct cytotoxicity to tumor cells, but also can boost the antitumor effect of immune cells by modulating immune system. The purpose of this study was to investigate the proliferation of NK cells treated with apigenin and its cytotoxicity to pancreatic cancer cells in vitro, and explore its potential molecular mechanism.

Ratiometric optical sensor for high-resolution imaging of pH with low cross-talk.

We synthesize lipophilic, highly efficient, and pH-insensitive oleic acid-modified quantum dots (QDs) with maximum emission at a wavelength of 628 nm. The pH sensing film is fabricated by encapsulating 5-hexadecanoylamino-fluorescein and QDs as the reference in D4-hydromed and plasticized polystyrene. Using a light-emitting diode with a central wavelength of 410 nm as an excitation source, it is shown that the emission wavelengths of the pH sensitive indicator and reference dye have no spectral overlap and match respectively the channels of a 3CCD (RGB) camera with low cross-talk.

Artesunate enhances γδ T-cell-mediated antitumor activity through augmenting γδ T-cell function and reversing immune escape of HepG2 cells.

Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of artesunate on γδ T cell-mediated antitumor immune responses against hepatoma carcinoma cells (HepG2) in vitro.

Methods: Human γδ T cells or HepG2 were respectively treated with artesunate, subjected to co-culture as appropriate, and the following assays were subsequently conducted: CCK8 to examine cell viability; LDH release assay to detect the killing effect of γδ T cells on HepG2 cells; flow cytometry to examine the expression of perforin (PFP) and granzyme B (GraB) of γδ T cells; ELISA to evaluate the levels of TGF-β1 and IL-10 in the collected supernatant of HepG2 cells pretreated with artesunate; and Western blot analysis to examine Fas, FasL, STAT3, p-STAT3 expression of HepG2 cells induced by artesunate.  Results: The results showed that the cytotoxicity effect of γδ T cells pretreated with artesunate on HepG2 cells was augmented via elevating the expression of GraB in γδ T cells.

Wnt pathway activator TWS119 enhances the proliferation and cytolytic activity of human γδT cells against colon cancer.

γδT cells are a distinct T-cell subset that display unique characteristics regarding T-cell receptor gene usage, tissue tropism and antigen recognition. Adoptive γδT cell transfer therapy has recently been gaining importance as an efficient approach in cancer immunotherapy. However, exploiting γδT cell response for tumour immunotherapy is a challenge due to cell numbers, activities and differentiation states that minimize the clinical therapeutic effects.

Enhancement of CD3AK cell proliferation and killing ability by α-Thujone.

Thujone is a monoterpene ketone natural substance found mainly in wormwood and sage. Previous studies have shown that Thujone has various pharmacological effects, such as anti-tumor, analgesic, and insecticide. The effect of α-Thujone to human immune cells is still unknown.

[Activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in NK cells by glycogen synthase kinase-3β inhibitor TWS119 promotes the expression of CD62L].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation by glycogen synthase kinase-3β inhibitor 4,6-disubstituted pyrrolopyrimidine (TWS119) on proliferation and phenotypic characteristics of human nature killer (NK) cells.

Methods: The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from healthy volunteers and added to the complete medium containing recombinant human interleukin-2 (rhIL-2) and human AB serum to isolate NK cells from PBMCs. After co-cultured with 0-8.

Decreased levels of perforin-positive lymphocytes are associated with posttraumatic complications in patients with major trauma.

Objective: Posttraumatic immune disorder can cause complications including systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Cytotoxic granules containing perforin and granzyme-B (GrB) are released by cytotoxic CD8(+) T lymphocytes, NK and γδT cells after major trauma. This prospective clinical study was designed to analyze the association between these immune components and complications after major trauma.

Shikonin inhibits prostate cancer cells metastasis by reducing matrix metalloproteinase-2/-9 expression via AKT/mTOR and ROS/ERK1/2 pathways.

Metastasis is one of the most important factors related to prostate cancer therapeutic efficacy. In previous studies, shikonin, an active naphthoquinone isolated from the Chinese medicine Zi Cao, has various anticancer activities both in vivo and in vitro. However, the mechanisms underlying shikonin's anticancer activity are not fully elucidated on prostate cancer cells.

[Expression of coxsackie-adenovirus receptor in keratinocytes of mouse skin after heat stimulation and the effect of coxsackie-adenovirus receptor on dendritic epidermal T lymphocytes].

Objective: To study the influence of heat stimulation on expression of coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR) in keratinocytes (KCs) of mouse skin and the effect of CAR on production of cell growth factors by dendritic epidermal T lymphocytes (DETCs).

Methods: (1) Twenty BALB/c mice were divided into heat stimulation group (HS) and control group (C) according to the random number table, with 10 mice in each group. Mice in group HS were inflicted with scald milder than superficial-thickness by dressing wet hot gauze, which had been soaked in 100°C hot water for 3 min, in the hair removed area on the back for 1 to 3 s, while mice in group C were sham injured by dressing a wet gauze which had been soaked in water of room temperature for 3 min in the hair removed area on the back for 1 to 3 s.

Effect of spironolactone combined with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and/or angiotensin II receptor blockers on chronic glomerular disease.

The aim of the present study was to observe the effects of spironolactone on urine protein level and kidney function in patients with chronic glomerular disease receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and/or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). A total of 221 patients with chronic glomerular disease were divided into spironolactone and control groups. The spironolactone group was treated with spironolactone at a dose of 20 mg/day, in addition to the original treatment regime and doses of ACEIs and/or ARBs.

Enhancement effect of dihydroartemisinin on human γδ T cell proliferation and killing pancreatic cancer cells.

γδ T cells play important roles in innate immunity against tumors and infections. Inhibitory effect of dihydroartemisinin on growth of cancer cells has been found in recent years. In this study, we investigated the effect of dihydroartemisinin on human γδ T cell proliferation by MTT assay and killing activity against pancreatic cancer cells SW1990, BxPC-3 and PANC-1 by LDH release assay in vitro.

[Association of traumatic severity with change in lymphocyte subsets in the early stage after trauma].

Objective: To investigate the association of traumatic severity with changes in lymphocyte subsets in the early stage after trauma.

Methods: Sixty-three male patients admitted within 4 hours after trauma were enrolled. According to injury severity score (ISS), the patients were divided into two groups: mild trauma group (ISS<16, n=35) and severe trauma group (ISS≥16, n=28).

The enhanced effect of lupeol on the destruction of gastric cancer cells by NK cells.

Lupeol, a triterpene, was reported to possess beneficial effects as a therapeutic and preventive agent for a range of disorders. Many studies have confirmed that lupeol possesses strong activities such as antioxidative, antiinflammatory, antiarthritic, antimutagenic, and antimalarial, both in vitro and in vivo, and at its effective therapeutic doses exhibit no toxicity to normal cells and tissues. Lupeol was observed to inhibit the proliferation of gastric tumour cells in a dose-dependent manner, as assessed by MTT assay, and induce the proliferation of NK cells, as assessed by flow cytometry and Western blotting.

The effect of phloretin on human γδ T cells killing colon cancer SW-1116 cells.

Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of Phloretin on human γδ T cells killing colon cancer SW-1116 cells.

Methods: γδ T cells were amplified in vitro from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells through isopentenyl pyrophosphate method (IPP). After cocultured different concentrations of Phloretin with γδ T cells or SW-1116 cells for 48h respectively, MTT assay was used to test the growth curve of these two cells; Flow cytometry to test the expression of Granzyme B (GraB), perforin (PFP), CD107a and IFN-γ of γδ T cells; Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay to test the cytotoxic activity of the γδ T cells on SW-1116 cells; and Western blot to test the Wnt3a expression of the γδ T cells.

[Inhibitory effect of toll-like receptor 7 agonist on K562 cells].

The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist gardiquimod on K562 cells. Human γδT cells from peripheral blood cells were amplified by isopentenyl pyrophosphate. The proliferation capacity of γδT cells and K562 cells were measured with MTT assay after treatment with different concentrations of gardiquimod.

[Co-stimulation of multiple activating factors on proliferation and phenotype of T lymphocytes in peripheral blood in vitro].

Aim: To observe the costimulation of multiple activating factors effects on the proliferation and phenotype of T lymphocytes in vitro.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were separated by fractionation on Ficoll-Hypaque gradient. According to adding different cytokines (CD3 mAb, CD28 mAb, IFN-γ, IL-1α, IL-2 and IL-15), the experiments were divided into seven groups.

Effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide on CD4(+)/CD8(+) T cell levels after traumatic brain injury in a rat model.

Background: The effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) during traumatic brain injury (TBI) and whether it can modulate secondary injury has not been reported previously. The present study evaluated the potential protective effects of ventricular infusion of PACAP in a rat model of TBI.

Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 treatment groups (n=6, each): sham-operated, vehicle (normal saline)+TBI, and PACAP+TBI.

[Clinical observation on adoptive immunotherapy with autologous cytokine-induced killer cells for advanced malignant tumor].

Background & Objective: Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells have the characteristics of rapid proliferation, high efficiency, and broad spectrum in killing of tumor cells. However, there was few report about its clinical application on treatment for cancer patients. The current study was designed to evaluate the effect of adoptive transfer of autologous CIK cells on the patients with advanced malignant tumor.