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Biomedical subjects

Xia Zhao

Publications and source records attributed to Xia Zhao.

68 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Immunogene therapy of tumors with vaccine based on xenogeneic epidermal growth factor receptor.

The breaking of immune tolerance against self epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) should be a useful approach for the treatment of receptor-positive tumors with active immunization. To test this concept, we constructed a plasmid DNA encoding extracellular domain of xenogeneic (human) EGFr (hEe-p) or corresponding control mouse EGFr (mEe-p) and empty vector (c-p). Mice immunized with hEe-p showed both protective and therapeutic antitumor activity against EGFr-positive tumor. Sera isolated from the hEe-p-immunized mice exhibited positive staining for EGFr-positive tumor cells in flow cytometric analysis and recognized a single 170-kDa band in Western blot analysis. Ig subclasses responded to rEGFr proteins were elevated in IgG1, Ig2a, and Ig2b. There was the deposition of IgG on the tumor cells. Adoptive transfer of the purified Igs showed the antitumor activity. The increased killing activity of CTL against EGFr-positive tumor cells could be blocked by anti-CD8 or anti-MHC class I mAb. In vivo depletion of CD4(+) T lymphocytes could completely abrogate the antitumor activity, whereas the depletion of CD8(+) cells showed partial abrogation. The adoptive transfer of CD4-depleted (CD8(+)) or CD8-depleted (CD4(+)) T lymphocytes isolated from mice immunized with hEe-p vaccine showed the antitumor activity. In addition, the increase in level of both IFN-gamma and IL-4 was found. Taken together, these findings may provide a new vaccine strategy for the treatment of EGFr-positive tumors through the induction of the autoimmune response against EGFr in a cross-reaction between the xenogeneic homologous and self EGFr.

Adoptive Transfer↗

Active immunogene therapy of cancer with vaccine on the basis of chicken homologous matrix metalloproteinase-2.

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family, in particular MMP-2, may play a key role in angiogenesis and tumor growth. It is conceivable that the breaking of immune tolerance of MMP-2 should be a useful approach to cancer therapy by active immunity. To test this concept, we constructed a plasmid DNA encoding chicken homologous MMP-2 (c-MMP-2) and control vectors. We found that the vaccine based on chicken homologous MMP-2 as a model antigen could induce both protective and therapeutic antitumor immunity. Autoantibodies against MMP-2 in sera of mice immunized with c-MMP-2 could be found by Western blotting analysis and ELISA assay. There was the deposition of autoantibodies within the tumor. IgG1 and IgG2b were substantially increased in response to c-MMP-2 immunization. The elevation of MMP-2 in the sera of tumor-bearing mice was abrogated with the vaccination of c-MMP-2. Transmigration of human endothelial cells and tumor cells through gelatin-coated filters was inhibited with immunoglobulins isolated from mice immunized with c-MMP-2. The gelatinase activity of MMP-2, including both latent MMP-2 (M(r) 72,000) and active MMP-2 (M(r) 66,000) derived from tumor tissues, was apparently inhibited by the vaccination with c-MMP-2. The antitumor activity and the inhibition of angiogenesis were acquired by the adoptive transfer of the purified immunoglobulins. The antitumor activity and production of autoantibodies against MMP-2 could be abrogated by the depletion of CD4(+) T lymphocytes. Angiogenesis was apparently inhibited within tumor, and chick CAMs angiogenesis was also inhibited. Thus, our findings may provide a vaccine strategy for cancer therapy through the induction of an autoimmune response against MMP-2 in a cross-reaction by the immunization with the single xenogeneic homologous MMP-2 gene and may be of importance in the additional exploration of the application of other xenogeneic homologous genes identified in human and other animal genome projects in cancer therapy.

Animals↗

Expression of macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha in the endothelial cells exposed to diamide.

In order to study whether the endothelial cells (ECs) with lipid peroxidation induced by diamide can express and secrete macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha), the expression of MIP-1 alpha protein in the cells was detected by cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and that of MIP-1 alpha mRNA was determined by cell in situ hybridization and nuclease S1 protection assay after the ECs were exposed to different concentrations of diamide for 4 h. The chemotactic activity of MIP-1 alpha was tested by micropore filter method using modified Boyden chambers. Cell ELISA showed that the expression of MIP-1 alpha protein in endothelial cells exposed to 1 mumol/L, 5 mumol/L and 10 mumol/L diamide was 1.9-fold, 2.3-fold and 1.7-fold respectively as much as that in the control cells, which was statistically significant by analysis of variance. In situ hybridization revealed that the mRNA expression of ECs treated with 1 mumol/L, 5 mumol/L and 10 mumol/L diamide was 1.3-fold, 3.0-fold and 1.7-fold as much as that in the control group, which had statistical significance (F = 188.93, P < 0.01). The mRNA expression in 5 mumol/L dimide treated ECs, measured by nuclease S1 protection assay, was 3.4-fold as much as that in the control group (t = 8.70, P < 0.05). Chemotactic response(99.50 +/- 4.31 microns) to the culture medium conditioned by 5 mumol/L diamide treated ECs, which was stronger than that(66.47 +/- 3.25 microns) conditioned by the ECs (F = 404.31, P < 0.05), was significantly decreased (F = 192.25, P < 0.05) after adding MIP-1 alpha antibody. It suggests that diamide, a lipid peroxidation inducer, could stimulate ECs to produce high level of MIP-1 alpha, and might play an important role in atherogenesis by promoting the migration of peripheral blood monocytes into arterial intima.

Cells, Cultured↗

[Expression, purification and refolding of extracellular domain of mouse epidermal growth factor receptor].

A DNA fragment encoding extracellular domain of mouse epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was obtained by PCR from a previous recombinant plasmid. The DNA fragment was then ligated into prokaryotic expression vector, and expressed in Escherichia Coli. The recombinant protein was purified under denature conditions by affinity chromatography, and refolded with gradient dialysis. The recombinant protein could produce antibodies to recognize extracellular domain and full-length of mouse EGFR, and form homodimer in the presence of EGF detected by western blot analysis. These findings provide evidence that the renatured recombinant extracellular domain of mouse epidermal growth factor receptor is immunogenetic and may be important for further application of this protein in functional and immunological research.

Animals↗

[Stability studies of sulfated polyguluronic acid ester].

AIM: To test the stability of marine polysaccharide drug sulfated polyguluronic acid ester. METHODS: Four methods including high performance gel chromatography (HPGC), poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), UV scan of absorbance between 200 and 800 nm and gelatin nephelometry were established. Samples were tested in high temperature, high humidity, strong light and accelerated test conditions. The methods were used to test the changes of the parameters including molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, absorbance between 200 and 800 nm, free sulfate, with which we could estimate the stability of sulfated polyguluronic acid ester could be estimated. RESULTS: The four methods were suitable to test the stability of sulfated polyguluronic acid ester and the sample were stable in the conditions as before except in high temperature. CONCLUSION: Sulfated polyguluronic acid ester has good stability.

Chromatography, Gel↗

Immunogene therapy of tumors with a vaccine based on the ligand-binding domain of chicken homologous integrin beta3.

The breaking of immune tolerance against angiogenesis-associated molecules should be a useful approach for cancer therapy by active immunity. We used chicken integrin beta3 as a model antigen to explore the feasibility of immunogene therapy of the tumors with a vaccine based on a single xenogeneic homologous gene, targeting the molecules associated with angiogenesis. To test this concept we constructed a plasmid DNA encoding the ligand-binding domain of chicken integrin beta3 (P-BD-C) and control vectors. We found that immunogene therapy of tumors with a vaccine based on the ligand-binding domain of chicken integrin beta3 (P-BD-C) was effective in both protective and therapeutic anti-tumor immunity in several tumor models in mice. Autoantibodies against integrin beta3 in sera of mice immunized with the ligand-binding domain of chicken integrin beta3 could be found by Western blot analysis and ELISA assay. The purified immunoglobulins were effective in the inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation in vitro, and in anti-tumor activity as well as in the inhibition of angiogenesis by adoptive transfer in vivo. The anti-tumor activity and the production of integrin beta3-specific autoantibodies (manifested by significantly elevated Ig G1 and Ig G2b) could be abrogated by the depletion of CD4+ T lymphocytes. These observations may provide a vaccine strategy for cancer therapy through the induction of the autoimmunity against the molecules associated with tumor growth in a cross-reaction with a single xenogeneic homologous gene and may be of importance in the further exploration of the applications of other xenogeneic homologous genes identified in human and other animal genome sequence projects in cancer therapy.

Animals↗

Mast cells contribute to early pancreatitis-induced systemic endothelial barrier dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Activated mast cells can produce and release a number of inflammatory mediators involved in the pathophysiological process of acute conditions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of mast cell stimulation on the early development of multiple organ dysfunction (MODS) in acute pancreatitis (AP). METHODS: AP was induced by the intraductal infusion of 5% sodium taurodeoxycholate in the rat. Tissue endothelial barrier dysfunction (TEBD) was measured by plasma exudation of radiolabeled albumin. Activation of mast cells was estimated by measuring the release of histamine. Mast cell stimulation was achieved with compound 48/80 (C48/80) administered intravenously (i.v.) or intraperitoneally (i.p.) in different doses either as pretreatment (30 min prior to induction of AP) or treatment immediately after induction of AP. RESULTS: Administration of C48/80 both i.p. and i.v. demonstrated the same effects. A single pretreatment dose of C48/80 (0.5 mg/kg) significantly reduced AP-induced TEBD in the pancreas and gut. Administration of C48/80 immediately after sham operation or induction of AP resulted in a significant increase in pancreatic and intestinal TEBD (p < 0.05 vs. AP+saline). Plasma levels of histamine increased with increasing doses of C48/80. CONCLUSION: The results imply that mast cell activation could be involved in the initiation of AP and the early phase of AP-induced MODS. Mechanisms seem to be complex and are still to be elucidated.

Acute Disease↗

[The effect of diamide on the expression of macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha in endothelial cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of diamide on the expression of macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha) in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. METHODS: After exposure of the endothelial cells (ECs) to different concentrations of diamide for 4 hours, the MIP-1 alpha mRNA in the cells was detected by nuclease S1 protection assay and the MIP-1 alpha protein in those cells was determined by cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The chemotactic activity of MIP-1 alpha in the conditioned medium of ECs treated with diamide for peripheral blood monocytes was tested by microfilter method using modified Boyden chambers. RESULTS: Incubation of ECs with 5 micro mol/L diamide resulted in a 2.4-fold increase in the level of MIP-1 alpha mRNA expression as compared with the control group (t = 8.70, P < 0.05). Exposure of ECs to 1 micro mol/L, 5 micro mol/L and 10 micro mol/L diamide resulted in a 0.9-fold, 1.2-fold, and 0.7-fold increase in the level of MIP-1 alpha protein expression respectively, as compared with the control group (F = 35.65, P < 0.05). Chemotactic assay showed that the migration distance of monocytes towards the conditioned medium (CM) of ECs treated with 5 micromol/L diamide was 99.50 microm +/- 4.31 microm, which was significantly more than the 66.47 microm +/- 3.25 microm towards the conditioned medium of ECs in the non-diamide group, the chemokinetic group (67.03 microm +/- 6.83 microm) and the random migration group (65.40 microm +/- 3.36 microm) (F = 404.31, P < 0.05). The results revealed that there might be chemotactic substances in the conditioned medium of 5 micro mol/L diamide treated ECs. The migration distance of monocytes towards the conditioned medium of the ECs exposed to 5 micromol/L diamide was significantly reduced to 82.80 microm +/- 6.88 microm after the addition of goat anti-human MIP-1 alpha antibody (F = 192.25, P < 0.05), which indicates the chemotactic activity of MIP-1 alpha in the conditioned medium of the ECs in the diamide group. CONCLUSIONS: Diamide, a lipid peroxidation inducer, could stimulate ECs to produce high levels of MIP-1 alpha with chemotactic activity, and may play an important role in atherogenesis through attraction of peripheral blood monocytes into arterial intima.

Arteriosclerosis↗

Changes in cardiac function reserve after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty: a longterm follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term effect of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) by observing the changes in mitral valve reserve after PBMV and during the long-term follow-up and by exploring the relations of these changes with stress echocardiographic scores. METHODS: Stress echocardiogaphy was performed in patients receiving PBMV for mitral stenosis both after surgery and during the long-term follow-up study, and Wilkins scores of the patients were obtained pre-operatively. Intravenous isoproterenol was administered before test to increase the heart rate to simulate mild, moderate and heavy exercises, and the indices for cardiac function were recorded. RESULTS: After PBMV, mitral valve reserve and cardiac function reserve were partly restored, and stress echocardiographic score was closely related to long-term cardiac function ( = 0.82). CONCLUSIONS: PBMV can increase mitral valve area and partly resotreit funtional reserve, and stress echocardiographic score is more predictive of the long-term cardiac function than Wilkins score.

Journal Article↗

Alterations of adhesion molecule expression and inflammatory mediators in acute lung injury induced by septic and non-septic challenges.

The lung is frequently the first failing organ during the sequential development of multiple organ dysfunction under both septic or non-septic conditions. The present study compared polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor (TNFalpha), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and adhesion molecule (AM) expression on circulating, recruited, and migrating leukocytes in the development of lung injury after induction of acute pancreatitis (AP) or abdominal sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Pulmonary alveolar barrier and endothelial barrier permeability dysfunction were measured. The expression of AMs (CD11b, CD11b/c, CD31, CD54 and CD62L) on leukocytes isolated from blood, lung tissue, and bronchoalveolar space were measured by flowcytometry. Plasma exudation to the interstitial tissue and the bronchoalveolar space significantly increased 1 and 3 hours after induction of pancreatitis and to the bronchoalveolar space from 6 hours after sepsis. Bronchoalveolar levels of MCP-1 significantly increased earlier than plasma exudation to the alveoli in both pancreatitis and sepsis. Alterations in expression of adhesion molecules on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) leukocytes can represent a marker reflecting leukocyte activation in the lung tissue, since both BAL and lung tissue leukocytes showed similar patterns of changes. Expression of adhesion molecules on circulating leukocytes increased 1 hour after induction of pancreatitis. Activating phenotypes of circulating, lung tissue and bronchoalveolar leukocytes may thus be responsible for the-development and severity of secondary lung injury.

Acute Disease↗

Influence of mast cells on the expression of adhesion molecules on circulating and migrating leukocytes in acute pancreatitis-associated lung injury.

Pancreatitis-associated lung injury is an early-occurring and severe complication, still associated with substantial mortality. A number of inflammatory cells and their products are involved in the initiation and progress of the condition. In the present study, acute pancreatitis (AP) was induced by the intraductal infusion of 5% sodium taurodeoxycholate in the rat. Pulmonary endothelial barrier dysfunction was measured by plasma exudation of radiolabeled albumin. Expression of PECAM-1, ICAM-1, and L: -selectin on neutrophils (CD11b(+)) and monocytes/macrophages (CD11b/c(+)), obtained from circulation and lung tissue, was measured 1 and 6 hours after AP induction (n = 10 rats/time point/group). Plasma levels of histamine and serotonin were determined. The role of mast cells was evaluated by pretreatment with the mast cell stabilizer cromolyn. Intraperitoneal administration of cromolyn downregulated pancreatitis-induced systemic increase of histamine at 1 hour (513 +/- 82 vs. 309 +/- 50, p < 0.05). Cromolyn prevented a decreased expression of PECAM-1 on circulatory neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages and against an increased expression of ICAM-1 and PECAM-1 on pulmonary neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages 6 hours after AP induction (about 40% vs. 10%, p < 0.01). The mast cell stabilizer also prevented pancreatitis-induced pulmonary endothelial barrier dysfunction at 6 hours. Thus, our data indicate that mast cells may play a critical role in the activation of leukocytes during the initiation of pancreatitis-associated lung injury by altering phenotypes of adhesion molecules.

Acute Disease↗

Active antitumor immunity elicited by vaccine based on recombinant form of epidermal growth factor receptor.

Active immunotherapy targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) should be another attractive approach to the treatment of EGFR-positive tumors. To test this concept, the authors evaluated the potential immune responses and antitumor activities elicited by dendritic cells pulsed with recombinant ectodomain of mouse EGFR (DC-edMER). Spleen cells isolated from DC-edMER-vaccinated mice showed a high quantity of EGFR-specific antibody-producing cells. EGFR-reactive antibody in sera isolated from vaccinated mice was identified and shown to be effective against tumors in vitro and in vivo by adoptive transfer. DC-edMER vaccine also elicited cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses that could mediate antitumor effects in vitro and adoptive transfer in vivo. In addition, EGFR-specific cytokines responses were elicited by DC-edMER vaccine. Immunization with DC-edMER resulted in tumor regression and prolonged survival in mice challenged with Lewis lung carcinomas and mammary cancer models. Depletion of CD4+ T lymphocytes could completely abrogate the antitumor activity and EGFR-specific antibody responses, whereas the depletion of CD8+ T lymphocytes showed partial abrogation of the antitumor activity but antibody was still detected. Furthermore, tumor-induced angiogenesis was suppressed in DC-edMER-vaccinated mice or mice treated with antibody adoptive transfer. Taken together, these findings suggest the antitumor immunity could be induced by DC-edMER, which may involve both humoral and cellular immunity, and may provide insight into the treatment of EGFR-positive tumors through the induction of active immunity against EGFR.

Animals↗