Formaldehyde exposure induces airway inflammation by increasing eosinophil infiltrations through the regulation of reactive oxygen species production.

Formaldehyde (FA) is a well-known cytotoxic irritant to the airways, but the mechanism of airway inflammation due to FA has not been clarified. In the present study, C57BL/6 mice were exposed to two concentrations (5 and 10ppm) of FA for 6h/day, 5days/week, for 2 weeks. The FA-exposed mice had much higher number of CCR3(+) eosinophils than control mice, and showed upregulated gene expression of CC-chemokine receptor-3 (CCR3), eotaxin and intercellular adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM-1) as well as an increased expression of proinflammatory and Th2 cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4 and IL-5.

Enhanced brain targeting efficiency of intranasally administered plasmid DNA: an alternative route for brain gene therapy.

Recently, nasal administration has been studied as a noninvasive route for delivery of plasmid DNA encoding therapeutic or antigenic genes. Here, we examined the brain targeting efficiency and transport pathways of intranasally administered plasmid DNA. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) measurements of plasmid DNA in blood and brain tissues revealed that intranasally administered pCMVbeta (7.

Thermosensitive and mucoadhesive delivery systems of mucosal vaccines.

Mucosal vaccination is emerging as a potential administration route for eliciting antigen-specific mucosal and systemic immunogenicity. Most mucosal vaccines have been administered in a phosphate-buffered saline vehicle that may limit the exposure of antigens to the mucosal surfaces and result in poor immunogenicity. To improve the potency of the mucosal vaccines, we have developed mucosal vaccine delivery systems that might prevent leakage and increase retention of vaccines on mucosal surfaces.

Expression and characterization of human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF165) in insect cells.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the best characterized multifunctional protein which plays a key role in normal and pathologic angiogenesis. The gene encoding the human VEGF165 was cloned from the ovarian carcinoma cell line (OVCAR3) and expressed in insect cells using the baculovirus expression vector system. The recombinant human VEGF165 (rhVEGF165) protein produced by Sf21 (Spodoptera frugiperda) cells underwent a similar processing compared with mammalian cells, including efficient glycosylation, formation of a disulfide-linked dimer and secretion into the media.

Strategies against human papillomavirus infection and cervical cancer.

Papillomaviruses infect a wide variety of animals, including humans. The human papillomavirus (HPV), in particular, is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted disease. More than 200 types of HPV have been identified by DNA sequence data, and 85 HPV genotypes have been well characterized to date.