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Biomedical subjects

Jin Liu

Publications and source records attributed to Jin Liu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Phenotypic and genomic characterization of a blaOXA-181-producing ST656 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate from China.

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) has emerged as a major global health threat due to its rapid dissemination and severely limited treatment options. Here, we report the phenotypic and genomic characterization of an ST656 K. pneumoniae clinical isolate carrying blaOXA-181 in China. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing confirmed carbapenem resistance, whereas the isolate remained susceptible to aztreonam, amikacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, with a colistin MIC of ≤0.5 μg/mL. Whole-genome sequencing identified the blaOXA-181 gene on a 51,391-bp ColKP3/IncX3 plasmid co-harboring multiple resistance determinants. Conjugation assays yielded blaOXA-181 -positive transconjugants at a recovery frequency of 2 × 10-4. Following serial passage, blaOXA-181 was stably maintained for 100 generations. Comparative genomic analysis showed that the blaOXA-181-carrying plasmid shared a highly conserved backbone with plasmids from geographically diverse isolates, while KP413706 represents a distinct ST656 lineage. These findings expand the genomic evidence for blaOXA-181-carrying ST656 K. pneumoniae in China and underscore the urgent need for enhanced genomic surveillance and stringent infection control strategies.

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae↗

CoxFormer enables spatial omics inference with multimodal generative modeling.

Gene co-expression maps transcriptome-wide gene-gene relationships, yet high-quality estimates cover less than half the genome. Meanwhile, spatial omics either profiles restricted in situ panels or lacks cellular resolution. Extending co-expression transcriptome-wide could overcome these limitations by inferring unassayed gene expression at subcellular resolution. Here we show that CoxFormer integrates literature-derived gene knowledge with co-expression networks from bulk tissues and large-scale single-cell atlases to learn 512-dimensional representations for 32,016 human genes. These embeddings capture functional gene relationships and serve as a generative prior for spatial inference across platforms and modalities. Without requiring a matched single-cell RNA-sequencing reference, CoxFormer supports four applications beyond measured genes: histology-based expression imputation, gene activity prediction from chromatin accessibility, subcellular super-resolution inference, and pathological region detection. Together, CoxFormer extends gene embedding from gene- and cell-level tasks to whole-transcriptome spatial inference, providing a unified framework for biological analysis beyond the limited gene coverage of current spatial omics technologies.

Humans↗

Genetic Contributors to Postoperative Delirium and Their Implications for Dementia Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a perioperative neurocognitive disorder that substantially impairs patient recovery. Unfortunately, its genetic risk profile and relationship with subsequent dementia remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate genetic contributors to POD identified via Hospital Episode Statistics codes and to examine its association with subsequent dementia. METHODS: The study included 230,179 noncardiac and 21,254 cardiac surgery subjects from the UK Biobank, defining POD using delirium codes from the International Classification of Diseases (10th revision) recorded within the first 7 postoperative days. Genome-wide association studies were performed in the noncardiac and cardiac cohorts and their prespecified subgroups, followed by functional annotation, gene prioritization and drug-target analyses. Associations between POD and subsequent dementia were estimated using Cox models. RESULTS: In the noncardiac cohort, one genome-wide significant locus was identified at the APOE region, with rs429358 as the lead variant ( P = 5.00 × 10 -28 ). Integrative gene prioritization analyses highlighted multiple genes within this locus. Exploratory drug-target analyses suggested potential subgroup-specific drug-target enrichment. In the cardiac cohort, no genome-wide significant signals were detected. POD was associated with all-cause dementia after both noncardiac (hazard ratio, 6.45; 95% CI, 5.45 to 7.63) and cardiac (hazard ratio, 2.95; 95% CI, 1.71 to 5.08) surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates APOE as a genetic risk locus for International Classification of Diseases-coded POD in the noncardiac surgery setting and confirms an association between POD and subsequent dementia.

Humans↗

MetaflowX: a scalable and resource-efficient workflow for multi-strategy metagenomic analysis.

Microbiomes play crucial roles in diverse ecosystems, spanning environmental, agricultural, and human health domains. However, in-depth metagenomic data analysis presents significant technical and resource challenges, particularly at scale. Existing computational pipelines are typically limited to either reference-based or reference-free approaches and exhibit inefficiencies in process large datasets. Here, we introduce MetaflowX (https://github.com/01life/MetaflowX), an open-resource workflow integrating both analytical paradigms for enhanced metagenomic investigations. This modular framework encompasses short-read quality control, rapid microbial profiling, hybrid contig assembly and binning, high-quality metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) identification, as well as bin refinement and reassembly. Benchmarking tests showed that MetaflowX completed full metagenomic analyses up to 14-fold faster and with 38% less disk usage than existing workflows. It also recovered the highest number of high-quality and taxonomically diverse MAGs. A dedicated reassembly module further improved MAG quality, increasing completeness by 5.6% and reducing contamination by 53% on average. Functional annotation modules enable detection of key features, including virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. Designed for extensibility, MetaflowX provides an efficient solution addressing current and emerging demands in large-scale metagenomic research.

Metagenomics↗

Genomic characteristics and prognostic correlations in Chinese multiple myeloma patients.

BACKGROUND: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by the proliferation of abnormal clonal plasma cells in the bone marrow. The heterogeneity in Chinese MM populations remains underexplored. METHODS: We conducted whole-exome sequencing (WES) on 241 tumor samples, complemented by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) on 131 samples from 212 Chinese MM patients. RESULTS: We identified a novel mutational signature and analyzed molecular differences between newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) and relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM) patients. NFKBIA mutations were notably more frequent in NDMM patients compared to the MMRF-COMMPASS cohort (4/50 vs 22/937, p = 0.048), with additional recurrent mutations in several genes like TTN, IGLL5 and SYNE1. In RRMM patients, UBR5 mutations were more prevalent (4/24 vs 0/50, p = 0.01), alongside frequent mutations in OBSCN, CACNA1H, and HSPG2. Clonal evolution was assessed through multiple time points and locations, identifying genes potentially linked to circulating plasma cell formation. Cox regression analysis revealed that age and mutations in OBSCN and RB1 were significant predictors of progression-free survival (PFS) in NDMM patients. Additionally, albumin, β2-microglobulin, and RB1 mutations were correlated with overall survival (OS). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, we characterized the genomic landscape of MM in diverse Chinese populations, confirmed clonal evolution, and identified prognostic genes.

Adult↗

Concentration-dependent effects of a selective estrogen receptor modulator raloxifene on proliferation and apoptosis in human uterine leiomyoma cells cultured in vitro.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of raloxifene on proliferation and apoptosis in cultured human uterine leiomyoma cells. METHODS: The monolayer cultures were treated with graded concentrations (10(-9), 10(-8) and 10(-7) M) of raloxifene and 10(-7) M 17beta-estradiol (E(2)). Cell viability, percentage of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive cells, percentage of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nick-end labelling (TUNEL)-positive cells and the expression of PCNA and Bcl-2 proteins were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxylphenyl)-2-(4-sulphophenyl)-2H-tetraz olium assay, immunocytochemistry, TUNEL assay and western blot analysis, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with untreated cultures, the number of viable cultured cells, percentage of PCNA-positive cells and PCNA protein expression were significantly decreased by treatment with 10(-9) M raloxifene, but increased by treatment with either 10(-8) M or 10(-7) M raloxifene. In contrast, the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly increased and Bcl-2 protein expression was significantly decreased by treatment with 10(-9) M raloxifene, whereas they were not affected by treatment with either 10(-8) or 10(-7) M raloxifene. CONCLUSIONS: In cultured leiomyoma cells, low concentration (10(-9) M) of raloxifene may inhibit the growth of leiomyoma cells, whereas high concentrations (10(-8) M, 10(-7) M) of raloxifene may promote their growth.

Adult↗

The lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptors their expression and significance in epithelial ovarian neoplasms.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptors expression situation and their biological significance in human ovarian cancer cell lines and in human epithelial ovarian neoplasms. METHODS: The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting were employed to measure the expression levels of LPA(1), LPA(2) and LPA(3) mRNA, LPA(2) and LPA(3) protein expression in cultured human ovarian cancer cell lines (3AO, SKOV3 and OVCAR3) and in human epithelial ovarian neoplasms. The immunocytochemical method was used to detect LPA(2) and LPA(3) protein expression in cultured human ovarian cancer cell lines. RESULTS: RT-PCR revealed that all ovarian cancer cell lines expressed LPA(1), LPA(2) and LPA(3) mRNA. The positive rates (100%; 86.4%; 88.2%) of LPA(1) mRNA in normal ovarian tissue, benign tumor and ovarian cancer were no significant difference (p>0.05). The expression level of LPA(1) mRNA was significantly higher in normal ovarian tissue compared with that in benign tumor and in ovarian cancer tissue (p<0.01). LPA(1) expression level was no significant difference in both benign tumor and ovarian cancer tissue (p>0.05). LPA(2) mRNA-positive rates (92.6%) and expression level were significantly higher in ovarian cancer compared with that in benign tumor (31.8%) and in normal ovarian tissue (31.3%) (p<0.01); LPA(2) mRNA-positive rates and expression level were no significant difference in both benign tumor and normal ovarian tissue (p>0.05). LPA(3) mRNA-positive rates (92.6%) and expression level were significantly higher in ovarian cancer compared with that in benign tumor (31.8%) and in normal ovarian tissue (31.3%) (p<0.01), LPA(3) mRNA-positive rates and expression level were no significant difference in both benign tumor and normal ovarian tissue (p>0.05). LPA(1) mRNA expression level was significantly decreased compared with that of LPA(2) and LPA(3) in ovarian cancer (p<0.01); Western blotting clearly revealed that all ovarian cancer cell lines showed LPA(2) and LPA(3) protein. The positive rates and expression level of LPA(2) and LPA(3) protein were significantly increased in ovarian cancer (92.6%; 92.6%) compared with that in benign tumor (45.5%; 45.5%) and that in normal ovarian tissue (43.8%; 43.8%) (p<0.01); LPA(2) and LPA(3) protein-positive rates and expression level were no significant difference in both benign tumor and normal ovarian tissue (p>0.05). Correlation of clinicopathological parameters showed that LPA receptors mRNA and protein expression were associated with FIGO stage and histological grade, except pathologic types and age. The mRNA and protein expression of LPA(2) and LPA(3) in stages III and IV was significantly higher than that in stages I and II epithelial ovarian cancer (p<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression of pathologic grade G(3) was significantly higher compared with grade G(1) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: LPA(1), LPA(2) and LPA(3) mRNA and protein expressed widely in human epithelial ovarian neoplasms. LPA(2) and LPA(3) may be involved in the development and progression of human ovarian cancer. There was a significant correlation between LPA(2), LPA(3) and invasion and metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer. LPA(2) and LPA(3) may be a prognostic indicator in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Adolescent↗

Effect of ischemic post-conditioning on spinal cord ischemic-reperfusion injury in rabbits.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the potential protective effect of ischemic post-conditioning (Post-con) on ischemia-reperfusion injury of the rabbit spinal cord, and to determine if there is an additive neuroprotective effect when ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and Post-con are combined. METHODS: Forty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: group Control (C; n=10), aortic occlusion (AOC; for 30 min; group IPC (n=10) three cycles of three-minute AOC plus three-minute reperfusion before the 30-min AOC; group Post-con (n=10), three cycles of three-minute reperfusion plus three-minute AOC immediately upon reperfusion after 30-min AOC; group IPC+Post-con (n=10), where animals were subjected to both IPC and Post-con. At six hours, 24 hr and 48 hr following reperfusion, neurological function was assessed according to Tarlov scores, and at 48 hr, the spinal cords were procured for the histopathologic evaluation, by comparing the number of intact alpha-motor neurons in the anterior horn. RESULTS: The median count (and quartiles) of intact alpha-motor neurons was greatest in group Post-con 73 (69-76) and group IPC+Post-con 29 (22-42) compared to the numbers of viable alpha-motor neurons in groups C 6 (4-9) and IPC 15 (11-18) (P < 0.001). The numbers of animals who developed paraplegia according to Tarlov criteria were 7/10 in groups Post-con and IPC+Post-con, compared to 9/10 animals in each of groups C and IPC. CONCLUSIONS: This laboratory investigation provides histological evidence that Post-con may protect the spinal cord from moderate to severe ischemia reperfusion injury. Ischemic preconditioning conferred no additional benefits in this rabbit model. The results have potential clinical implications for patients undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic reconstructive surgery.

Animals↗

Surface complexes of phthalic acid at the hematite/water interface.

The adsorption of o-phthalic acid at the hematite/water interface was investigated experimentally using batch adsorption experiments and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy over a wide range of solution pH, surface loading, and ionic strength conditions. Molecular orbital calculations for several possible surface complexes were also performed to assign atomistic structures to the features observed in the ATR-FTIR spectra. The results of the batch adsorption experiments exhibit typical anionic characteristics with high adsorption at low pH and low adsorption at high pH. The adsorption of phthalic acid also exhibits a strong dependence on ionic strength, which suggests the presence of outer-sphere complexes. ATR-FTIR spectra provide evidence of three fully deprotonated phthalate surface complexes (an outer-sphere complex and two inner-sphere complexes) under variable chemical conditions. A fully deprotonated outer-sphere complex appears to dominate adsorption in the circumneutral pH region, while two fully deprotonated inner-sphere complexes that shift in relative importance with surface coverage increase in importance at low pH. Comparison of experimental and theoretical calculations suggests the two inner-sphere complexes are best described as a mononuclear bidentate (chelating) complex and a binuclear bidentate (bridging) complex. The mononuclear bidentate inner-sphere complex was favored at relatively low surface coverage. With increasing surface coverage, the relative contribution of the binuclear bidentate inner-sphere complex increased in importance.

Journal Article↗

Isobolographic analysis of the antinociceptive interactions between ketoprofen and paracetamol.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antinociceptive interaction between paracetamol and ketoprofen. The antinociceptive effect of oral administration of the drugs alone or in combination was evaluated using the mouse abdominal constriction test. The data were interpreted by isobolographic analysis to establish the nature of the interaction. The effective dose that produced 50% antinociception (ED(50,mix)) was calculated from the log dose-response curve of fixed-ratio combinations of paracetamol with ketoprofen. This ED(50,mix) was compared to the theoretical additive ED(50,add) by isobolographic analysis. The experimental ED(50,mix) was found to be significantly smaller than the theoretically calculated ED(50,add), indicating a synergistic antinociceptive interaction between ketoprofen and paracetamol. Pharmacokinetic studies were carried out with mice treated with combined ketoprofen (12 mg/kg) and paracetamol (36 mg/kg). Plasma levels of ketoprofen were not changed by concurrent paracetamol treatment, and similarly no statistically significant difference was observed between paracetamol alone and the combination with ketoprofen. The pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that the combination of ketoprofen with paracetamol exerted a synergistic (supra-additive) interaction that was not associated with a pharmacokinetic interaction. The results of this study demonstrate significant synergism between ketoprofen and paracetamol.

Acetaminophen↗

Facile lipid flip-flop in a phospholipid bilayer induced by gramicidin A measured by sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy.

The first direct experimental evidence that gramicidin A (gA), a transmembrane peptide, facilitates the translocation of unlabeled lipids in a phospholipid bilayer was obtained with sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy (SFVS). SFVS was used to investigate the effect of gA on lipid flip-flop in a planar 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) lipid bilayer. The kinetics of lipid translocation were determined by an analysis of the SFVS intensity versus time at different temperatures in the presence of 2 mol % gA. The rate constants of DSPC flip-flop increase from 2 to 10 times relative to the pure DSPC system. The results indicate that facial lipid exchange can be induced by a hydrophobic transmembrane helix. The increase in lipid flip-flop rates is correlated to an increase in the gauche content of the lipid tails. The results suggest that membrane defects induced by the presence of integral membrane proteins may play a large role in modulating the rate of lipid flip-flop.

Biological Transport↗

NYD-SP15: a novel gene potentially involved in regulating testicular development and spermatogenesis.

By hybridizing human adult testis cDNA microarrays with human adult and embryo testis cDNA probes, we identified a novel human testis gene, NYD-SP15. NYD-SP15 expression was 3.26-fold higher in adult than in fetal testis; however, there was almost no NYD-SP15 expression in the sperm. NYD-SP15 comprises 3364 base pairs, including a 1545 bp open reading frame encoding a 514 amino acid protein possessing 89% sequence identity with the mouse testis homologous protein. NYD-SP15 is located on human chromosome 13q14.2. The deduced structure of the protein contains two dCMP_cyt_deam domains, indicating a potential functional role for zinc ion binding. The gene is expressed variably in a wide range of tissues, with high expression levels in the testis. Sequence analysis revealed that NYD-SP15 is not a highly conserved protein, with its distribution in high-level species such as vertebrates including Homo, Mus, Rattus, and Canis. The results of semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction in mouse testis representing different developmental stages indicate that NYD-SP15 expression was developmentally regulated. These results suggest the putative NYD-SP15 protein may play an important role in testicular development and spermatogenesis and may be an important factor governing male infertility.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The nightshade proteinase inhibitor IIb gene is constitutively expressed in glandular trichomes.

The best known property of plant proteinase inhibitor II (PIN2) genes is their wound-inducible expression in leaves and constitutive expression in flowers. Here we show by promoter analysis in transgenic plants and in situ reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) analysis that SaPIN2b, a member of the PIN2 gene family of nightshade (Solanum americanum), is also constitutively expressed in glandular trichomes. SaPIN2b promoter and its deletions were cloned and fused upstream of beta-glucuronidase (GUS) to transform the nightshade and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants. Histochemical staining assays indicated that SaPIN2b:GUS was expressed constitutively in glandular trichomes, predominantly in the gland cells, of both transgenic nightshade and tobacco plants. Constitutive expression of SaPIN2b in glandular trichomes was further confirmed by liquid phase in situ RT-PCR analysis of nightshade leaves. Deletion analysis from the 5' end of the SaPIN2b promoter revealed that separate regulatory elements control SaPIN2b expression in gland cells and stalk cells of glandular trichomes. Fluorometric GUS assays showed that SaPIN2b:GUS expression was significantly increased in transgenic plant leaves after mechanical wounding or methyl jasmonate treatment. The SaPIN2b promoter sequence contains six MYB-binding motifs and an L1 box that are involved in trichome differentiation and development. Overexpression of SaPIN2b in tobacco resulted in a significant increase in glandular trichome density and promotion of trichome branching. These results suggest that, as well as being an induced defensive protein of the well-known PIN2 family, SaPIN2b could also play roles in trichome-based defense by functioning as a constitutive component of trichome chemical defense and/or by regulating the development of glandular trichomes.

Acetates↗

Mechanism of altered TNF-alpha expression by macrophage and the modulatory effect of Panax notoginseng saponins in scald mice.

AIM: To explore the mechanism of altered tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) expression by peritoneal macrophages (PMPhi) and Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) modulation in light of NF-kappaB signal transduction in severely scalded mice. METHODS: Eighteen percent total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness scalded mice were used. PMPhi was collected at different time intervals (0, 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 post-burn hour (PBH)) separately. The following parameters were measured: TNF-alpha mRNA and IL-10 mRNA expression (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, RT-PCR), protein kinase C (PKC) activity (isotope incorporation analysis), NF-kappaB activity (electrophoretic mobility shift assay, EMSA), IkappaB-alpha expression (Western blot). RESULTS: After scald, increased expression of TNF-alpha mRNA of PMPhi peaked at 12 PBH. Meanwhile, expression of IL-10 mRNA dropped to the lowest level at 12 PBH. NF-kappaB activity was markedly activated and reached its peak at 2 PBH. Membrane PKC activity was up-regulated after scald and showed a positive correlation with the change of TNF-alpha mRNA. Expression of IkappaB-alpha first decreased at 2 PBH and then increased to high level at 24 PBH. When 12 PBH was chosen as the time point for in vitro intervention with the application of specific NF-kappaB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), PKC inhibitor H-7 and PNS, both TNF-alpha mRNA expression and NF-kappaB activity decreased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that abnormal expression of TNF-alpha mRNA of macrophages might be regulated by PKC-NF-kappaB signaling following severe burn. PNS might play an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting NF-kappaB activity and TNF-alpha mRNA expression.

Animals↗

Progesterone receptor modulator CDB-2914 down-regulates vascular endothelial growth factor, adrenomedullin and their receptors and modulates progesterone receptor content in cultured human uterine leiomyoma cells.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of graded concentrations (10(-8), 10(-7) and 10(-6) M) of progesterone receptor (PR) modulator CDB-2914 on the protein contents of PR, of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), adrenomedullin (ADM) and their receptors in cultured human uterine leiomyoma and matching myometrial cells. METHODS: PR-A, PR-B, VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-1, VEGFR-2, ADM and ADM receptor (ADMR) contents were assessed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Treatment with 100 ng/ml progesterone increased VEGF-A, VEGF-B and ADM contents in cultured leiomyoma cells and normal myometrial cells. The concomitant treatment with 10(-6) M CDB-2914 significantly decreased the progesterone-induced VEGF-A, VEGF-B and ADM contents in cultured leiomyoma cells but not in normal myometrial cells. CDB-2914 treatment alone decreased VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2 and ADMR contents in cultured leiomyoma cells but not in normal myometrial cells. CDB-2914 treatment increased PR-A and decreased PR-B contents in cultured leiomyoma cells in a dose-dependent manner compared with untreated cultures, whereas no significant changes in PR isoform contents were observed in normal myometrial cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that CDB-2914 down-regulates VEGF, ADM and their receptor contents and modulates PR isoform contents in cultured leiomyoma cells in a cell-type-specific manner.

Adrenomedullin↗

[Experimental study of individualized cancer immunotherapy based on dendritic cells against gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antitumor effects of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) induced by autologous dendritic cells that were inspired by autologous tumor lysates (ATLs-mDCs). METHODS: Primary gastric cancer cells prepared by short-term culture were used as targets. ATLs-mDCs were subjected to activate autologous T cells to generate CTLs. The immunological functions of DCs were evaluated by flow cytometry and by mixed leukocyte response (MLR) assay. The antitumor outcome of tumor antigen specific CTLs was tested by cytotoxicity assay. Concentrations of IL-12 in cultured DCs and INF-gamma in CTLs were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The expressions of MHC-II, CD80, CD83 and CD86 were significantly up-regulated in ATLs-mDCs, moreover, the ATLs-mDCs obtained the capability of stimulating the proliferation of autologous T cells with high efficiency. The secretion of IL-12 in ATLs-mDCs was significantly higher than that in pure mature DCs (t = 15.47, P < 0.01) and in immature DCs (t = 28.44, P < 0.01). The secretion of INF-gamma in CTLs activated by ATLs-mDCs was significantly higher than that in CTLs by pure mature DCs (t = 4.84, P < 0.05) and in CTLs by immature DCs (t = 13.74, P < 0. 01). The antigen specific cytotoxicity of CTLs induced by ATLs-mDCs was significantly higher against autologous tumor cells [(84 +/- 11)%] than that against two allogeneic tumor cell lines [(19 +/- 7)% and (19 +/- 11)%; t = 54.18 and 56.46, P < 0.01, respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: ATLs-mDCs might mediate the antigen specific CTLs against autologous gastric cancer cells ex vivo with high efficiency.

Cytotoxicity, Immunologic↗

Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of sphingomyelin synthases 1 and 2 increases the atherogenic potential in mice.

Sphingomyelin synthase 1 (SMS1) and SMS2 are two isoforms of SMS, the last enzyme for sphingomyelin (SM) biosynthesis. To evaluate the role of SMS in vivo in terms of plasma lipoprotein metabolism, we generated recombinant adenovirus vectors containing human SMS1 cDNA (AdV-SMS1), SMS2 cDNA (AdV-SMS2), or the reporter LacZ cDNA (AdV-LacZ) as a control. On day 7 after intravenous infusion of 2 x 10(11) particles of both AdV-SMS1 and AdV-SMS2 into mice, liver SMS1 and SMS2 mRNA levels as well as SMS activity were significantly increased (2.5-, 2.7-, 2.1-, and 2.3-fold, respectively; P < 0.001). Lipoprotein analysis indicated that AdV-SMS1 and AdV-SMS2 treatment caused no changes of total SM and cholesterol levels but significantly decreased HDL-SM and HDL-cholesterol (42% and 38%, and 27% and 25%, respectively; P < 0.05). It also significantly increased non-HDL-SM and non-HDL-cholesterol levels (50% and 35%, and 64% and 61%, respectively; P < 0.05) compared with AdV-LacZ controls. SDS-PAGE showed a significant increase in apolipoprotein B (apoB; P < 0.01) but no changes in apoA-I levels. Moreover, we found that non-HDL from both AdV-SMS1- and AdV-SMS2-treated mice was significantly aggregated after treatment with a mammalian sphingomyelinase, whereas lipoproteins from control animals did not aggregate. To investigate the mechanism of HDL changes, we measured liver scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) levels by Western blot. We found that AdV-SMS1 and AdV-SMS2 mouse liver homogenates contained 50% and 55% higher SR-BI levels than in controls, whereas no change was observed in hepatic ABCA1 levels. An HDL turnover study revealed an increase of plasma clearance rates for [3H]cholesteryl oleyl ether-HDL but not for [125I]HDL in both AdV-SMS1 and AdV-SMS2 mice compared with controls. In conclusion, adenovirus-mediated SMS1 and SMS2 overexpression increased lipoprotein atherogenic potential. Such an effect may contribute to the increased plasma SM levels observed in animal models of atherosclerosis and in human patients with coronary artery disease.

Adenoviridae↗