Antitumor effects of interferon-alpha on cell growth and metastasis in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a highly malignant and frequently metastasized tumor, and the prognosis is very poor when distant metastases occur. Recently, immunotherapy is becoming a promising therapeutic approach. Interferon-α (IFN-α) represents the cytokines exhibiting the longest record of use in clinical oncology. In this study, we examined the antitumor effects of IFN-α1b on NPC. The results showed that recombinant human IFN-α1b (hIFN-α1b) suppressed cell growth, induced a G1-phase cell cycle arrest in vitro, increased the expression of p16 and pRb, and decreased the expression of CCND1 and CDK6. In vivo analyses showed that either recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-IFN-α1b or hIFN-α1b treatment inhibited tumor growth and metastasis, reduced intratumoral microvessel density, increased cell apoptosis and necrosis, and induced prolonged survival. Notably, rAAV-IFN-α1b or hIFN-α1b treatment led to significantly higher serum levels of IL-12 and GM-CSF in mice compared to respective controls. Our findings suggest that IFN-α1b acts as a multifunctional antitumor agent in NPC, which may have important therapeutic implications.

Human positive coactivator 4 is a potential novel therapeutic target in non-small cell lung cancer

Transcriptional positive coactivator 4 (PC4) is a multifunctional nuclear protein that has important roles in DNA transcription, replication, repair and heterochromatinization. However, the role of PC4 in cancer remains to be clarified. Several studies propose that PC4 may act as a putative tumor suppressor. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that PC4 may represent a potential therapeutic target in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PC4 protein expression is significantly upregulated in NSCLC carcinoma tissues compared with their adjacent noncancerous counterparts as shown by immunohistochemical staining and western blotting in 104 pairs of formalin-fixed human NSCLC specimens and 6 fresh NSCLC samples. Knockdown of PC4 expression by sequence-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) in human NSCLC cells (A549, H460 and H358) significantly inhibits the growth of cancer cells by the induction of cell cycle arrest and the increase of cell apoptosis in vitro. Interrupting the PC4 signaling pathway by injection of the PC4 siRNA liposome complex produced an effective regression of pre-established A549 cell xenografts in mice through growth inhibition and increased apoptosis. These results indicated that PC4 could be an attractive new therapeutic target for the treatment of NSCLC.

Ageing-associated changes in cellular immunity based on the SENIEUR protocol

To investigate ageing-associated changes in cellular immunity, we recruited three groups of healthy subjects based on SENIEUR protocol criteria. In addition, 10 subjects were randomly selected from each group to isolate their T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells; T cell proliferation after phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assays. There were no marked differences in the absolute numbers of peripheral blood T cells, NK cells or B cells among the three groups (P > 0.05). Also, no significant differences were noted in the numbers of CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells, or the CD4+/CD8+ ratios (P > 0.05). After PHA stimulation, T cell proliferation was markedly increased, with the highest level in group C and the lowest level in group A (P < 0.05). Cytokine-induced killer tumouricidal activities were also dramatically increased, with the highest activity in group C and the lowest activity in group A (P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that the number of immune cells remains unchanged with advanced age. However, there is a trend for decreased cellular immunity with an increase in age.

Tumour biomarker expression relative to age and molecular subtypes of invasive breast cancer

Background:

Quantitative differences in biomarker expression relative to age and molecular subtypes have not been well documented in invasive breast cancer (IBCA).

Methods:

Oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), HER2, ki67, p53 and DNA ploidy was performed by image analysis in 162 consecutive IBCAs in women (⩽40 years) and compared with women ⩾50 years (100 cases). Molecular subtypes were defined by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Results:

Among young women, tumours were frequently ER negative (P=0.01) with lower ER (P<0.00), PR (P=0.03), higher ki67 index (KI) (P=0.01) and p53 (P=0.00) compared with older women. Triple negative was more frequent among young women with frequent lymph node involvement compared with older women. Luminal B among young vs old women showed lower ER (67% vs 88%), PR (32% vs 52%), higher KI (48% vs 34%) and p53 (19% vs 7%). Linear regression model showed increasing KI (P<0.0001) and p53 (P=0.0003) according to the molecular subtypes. Survival difference among subtypes was demonstrated by multivariate analysis (P=0.0092) after adjusting for age, race, tumour size, grade and stage.

Conclusion:

We demonstrated significant differences in biomarker expression relative to age and molecular subtypes. Molecular subtype defined by IHC was an independent prognostic factor.

Potential protective effect of nuclear factor-κB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides on endotoxin-induced liver injury

PURPOSE

We sought to study the protective effects of nuclear factor-κB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) on endotoxin-induced liver injury in a rat model.

METHODS

Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control (n=20), a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (n=20), and an NF-κB decoy ODN group (n=20). Liver and blood serum samples were collected at 24 hours after the operation. NF-κB binding activity was detected by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay, liver histopathology, by light microscopy; and cell apoptosis, by a terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labeling assay. The serum of liver enzyme (aspartate transaminase [AST]) levels were measured using an automated biochemical analyzer and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

RESULTS

NF-κB was dramatically activated after endotoxin-induced liver injury. Many hepatocytes underwent degeneration and necrosis in the LPS group. The expressions of AST, TNF-α, and IL-6 were significantly increased compared with the control group (P=.0005), However, NF-κB decoy ODNs altered these undesirable changes. On the other hand, IL-6 expression was not significantly decreased by the NF-κB decoy versus the LPS group (P=.0745).

CONCLUSIONS

NF-κB decoy strategy inhibited the binding activity of NF-κB, thus suppressing production of downstream cytokines which play crucial roles in protection from endotoxin-induced injury.

Liver X receptor activation attenuates inflammatory response and protects cholinergic neurons in APP/PS1 transgenic mice

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with beta-amyloid deposition, glial activation, and increased levels of the cytokines, as well as cholinergic dysfunction. Liver X receptor (LXR) has been found to inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory genes. However, the effects of LXR activation on inflammatory response and on cholinergic system in AD are not yet clear. The present results revealed that LXR activation markedly attenuated several inflammatory markers and decreased microglial activation and reactive astrocytes in amyloid precursor protein (APP)/PS1 transgenic mice. Additionally, LXR activation significantly increased the number of cholinergic neurons in the medial septal regions and the basal nucleus of Meynert (NBM), and attenuated cognitive impairment. Furthermore, we observed that LXR activation inhibited the production of COX-2 and iNOS from Aβ(25-35)-induced microglia. LXR activation and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) inhibitor PDTC both attenuated Aβ(25-35) induction of NF-κB activation. These results suggest that LXR agonists suppress the production of pro-inflammatory molecules, at least in part, by modulating NF-κB-signaling pathway. Collectively, these studies suggest that LXR agonists may have therapeutic significance in AD.

Age-dependent alterations of HLA-DR expression and effect of lipopolysaccharide on cytokine secretion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the elderly population

HLA-DR, a major histocompatibility complex, MHC class II, is involved in several autoimmune conditions, disease susceptibility and disease resistance. Here, we investigate the impact of different age individuals on HLA-DR expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The results indicate that HLA-DR expression on PBMCs in the population aged above 70 years significantly increased as compared with that in the lower-age groups by flow cytometry analysis (B-D; r = 0.690, P = 0.000265). In addition, followed by LPS stimulation, the levels of cytokine TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 secretion by allogeneic T lymphocytes from different age groups (A-D) were significantly increased (P < 0.05). Notably, levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly reduced in groups B, C and D as compared with group A (P < 0.05), whereas levels of IL-10 increased (P = 0.012). However, no significant difference in PBMC-secreted TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 levels was observed among groups A, B, C and D (P > 0.05) before LPS stimulation. We firstly present data showing an age-dependent increase in HLA-DR expression in the population aged above 70 years and the individual with aged above 70 years has reduced the secretion of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α and IL-6) by PBMCs and increased the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) after LPS stimulation in vitro. The better understanding of HLR-DR expression on human PBMCs in aged individuals and its relation to the host cellular immunity would provide important insights into the immunity of aged individuals and particularly, in elderly patients with sepsis.

Interleukin-17 exacerbates hepatic steatosis and inflammation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Mechanisms associated with the progression of simple steatosis to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remain undefined. Regulatory T cells (T(regs)) play a critical role in regulating inflammatory processes in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and because T helper type 17 (Th17) functionally oppose T(reg)-mediated responses, this study focused on characterizing the role of Th17 cells using a NAFLD mouse model. C57BL/6 mice were fed either a normal diet (ND) or high fat (HF) diet for 8 weeks. Mice in the HF group had a significantly higher frequency of liver Th17 cells compared to ND-fed mice. Neutralization of interleukin (IL)-17 in HF mice ameliorated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury reflected by decreased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and reduced inflammatory cell infiltrates in the liver. In vitro, HepG2 cells cultured in the presence of free fatty acids (FFA; oleic acid and palmitic acid) for 24 h and IL-17 developed steatosis via insulin-signalling pathway interference. IL-17 and FFAs synergized to induce IL-6 production by HepG2 cells and murine primary hepatocytes which, in combination with transforming growth factor (TGF-β), expanded Th17 cells. It is likely that a similar process occurs in NASH patients, as there were significant levels of IL-17(+) cell infiltrates in NASH patient livers. The hepatic expression of Th17 cell-related genes [retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma (ROR)γt, IL-17, IL-21 and IL-23] was also increased significantly in NASH patients compared to healthy controls. Th17 cells and IL-17 were associated with hepatic steatosis and proinflammatory response in NAFLD and facilitated the transition from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis. Strategies designed to alter the balance between Th17 cells and T(regs) should be explored as a means of preventing progression to NASH and advanced liver diseases in NAFLD patients.