Effects of three IL-15 variants on NCI-H446 cell proliferation and expression of cell cycle regulatory molecules

Human Eosinophils Reduce Viral Titer, Secrete IL-8, and Increase RIG-I Expression in Response to Influenza A H1N1 pdm09

Eosinophils participate in the immune response against many pathogens, including viruses. Since mouse eosinophils are susceptible to influenza A virus infection and possess antiviral activity, we evaluated the expression of sialic acid residues in human eosinophils and their response against influenza virus in vitro. We demonstrated that human eosinophils express α2,6- and α2,3-linked sialic acid, and drastically reduced influenza virus titer. After influenza virus exposure, eosinophils upregulated retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) mRNA expression, but no other pattern recognition receptors. Finally, high concentrations of interleukin-8 (IL-8) were found in influenza virus-exposed eosinophil cultures. These data suggest that human eosinophils possess antiviral activity and may play a role in the innate immune response to influenza virus.

Delivery of interleukin-22 binding protein (IL-22BP) gene by cationic micelle for colon cancer gene therapy

Gene therapy has provided an alternative strategy for cancer therapy. As an important cytokine, interleukin-22 (IL-22) is not only critical in reinforcing innate immune defenses and tissue regeneration, but also involved in the initial establishment of tumors. A soluble-secreted receptor of the cytokine IL-22, IL-22 binding protein (IL-22BP), binds IL-22 and prevents its binding to the functional transmembrane receptor IL-22R1 complex, inhibiting IL-22-based intracellular cancer proliferation signal. In this work, a novel IL-22BP-based cancer gene therapy strategy was reported for the first time. It was established by delivering IL-22BP gene with a newly developed non-viral gene vector DMP. The DMP cationic micelles were prepared by modifying monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone) with DOTAP lipid through self-assembling. The anti-cancer efficacy of the DMP/IL-22BP complex was studied on a colon cancer model by intraperitoneal administration. Our results demonstrated that the secretory expressed IL-22BP cytokine effectively inhibited cancer growth both in vitro and in vivo. Multiple anti-cancer mechanisms including IL-22 blocking, apoptosis inducing, lymphocyte infiltration and angiogenesis inhibition were indicated to be involved while no pathology changes were observed in healthy tissues. These results suggest the DMP/IL-22BP complex to be a potential candidate for cancer gene therapy.

Cationic DMP micelle delivered interleukin-22BP gene efficiently inhibits colon carcinoma growth, providing a novel strategy for cancer gene therapy.