Recent progress of fully synthetic carbohydrate-based vaccine using TLR agonist as build-in adjuvant

This review highlights recent advances in developing full synthetic carbohydrate antigen based vaccines, with an emphasis on the structure-activity relationships that provide a primary basis for future vaccine design and immunotherapy developing.     

β-galactosidase responsive AIE fluorogene for identification and removal of senescent cancer cells

The selective identification and removal of senescent cells including senescent cancer cells are very important to prolong life and improve the treatment efficacy of cancer therapy.In this study,we integrated the high selectivity of enzyme-instructed selfassembly(EISA) and efficient reactive oxygen species(ROS) generating property of a novel luminogen with aggregationinduced emission(AIE) character to selectively identify and remove senescent He La(s-He La) cells.The s-He La cells expressed high levels of β-galactosidase(β-Gal),which led to the selective accumulation and formation of nanomaterials of Comp.1 in the cells.Upon white light irradiation,the nanomaterials efficiently produced ROS and therefore killed s-He La cells.Our study demonstrated a promising strategy to selectively remove senescent cells and improve the treatment efficacy of cancer therapy.     

Recent progress of vaccines administration via microneedles for cancer immunotherapy

Therapeutic cancer vaccines have undergone a resurgence in the past decade. Because of the high level of immune cell accumulation and abundant capillary lymphatic system in the dermis, percutaneous vaccination is considered to be an ideal treatment route. For convenient administration, the recent development of microneedles(MNs) provides a safe, painless, and low-cost transdermal delivery strategy, which could bypass the first-pass metabolism of vaccines for enhanced stability and bioavailabilit...     

Immune Responses to a Dicistronic Plasmid Expressing HBsAg of Hepatitis B Virus and Interferon-γ

DNA vaccines encoding a viral protein have been shown to induce antiviral immune responses and provide protection against subsequent viral challenge.The present article deals with the efficacy of a DNA vaccine greatly improved by the simultaneous expression of HBsAg and interferon-γ gene.We constructed a dual expression vector pHIN encoding the HBsAg of Hepatitis B virus and murine IFN-γ which are connected with Internal Ribosome Entry Site(IRES).Mice immunized with this dual expression DNA vaccine exhibited the enhancement of cellular immune response and increased the production of anti-HBV surface antibody,compared with the mice of single gene expression control.Taken together,these results demonstrate that the application of a cytokine gene in a DNA vaccine formulation as an adjuvant can improve its immunigenicity.     

New progress in active immunotherapy targeting to amyloid beta

Alzheimer's disease(AD) is one of the most common types of dementia whose hallmarks include neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques. The latter are mainly composed of amyloid-β proteins(Aβ), and it's suggested that Aβ may be the causative factor in AD pathogenesis. Immunotherapy targeting Aβ for preventing aggregation of Aβ and mildly clearing amyloid plaques has been a hot topic since 1999. Although the first clinical trial of Aβ vaccine, AN-1792, failed in phase II, its results suggested some key points in the design of Aβ vaccines. Avoiding the possible toxic Aβ specific T cell response and inducing a Th2 type cellular immune response may be beneficial for Aβ immunotherapy. Many associations and research groups are working on Aβ vaccine and some progress has been made in recent years. In this review, we have provided a detailed summary of past Aβ vaccines, which have been sorted by the immunogen, and we also discuss some recent progress and future perspectives.     

The cellular labeling and pH-sensitive responsive-drug release of celastrol in cancer cells based on Cys-CdTe QDs

As one of the active compounds derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine,Celastrol(CSL)had cytotoxicity for human leukemia cancer cells K562 and its multidrug-resistant cell line K562/A02.Here,we introduced cysteamine-modified CdTe QDs as the labeling and drug carrier into CSL research and found that the self-assembly and conjugation of anticancer molecular CSL with the Cys-CdTe QDs could significantly increase the drug’s cytotoxicity for K562 cells.More important,these CSL-Cys-CdTe nanocomposites could overcome the multidrug resistance of K562/A02 cells and efficiently inhibit the cancer cell proliferation by realizing the pH-sensitive responsive release of CSL to cancer cells.The enhanced cytotoxicity was caused by the increase of the G2/M phase arrest for K562/A02 cells as well as for K562 cells.Cys-CdTe QDs can readily bind on the cell plasma membranes and be internalized into cancer cells to trace and detect human leukemia cancer cells in real time.In addition,these Cys-CdTe QDs can facilitate the inhibition of the multidrug resistance of K562/A02 cells and readily induce apoptosis.As a good photosensitizer for the therapy,labeling,and tracing of cancer cells,the combination of CSL with Cys-CdTe QDs can optimize the use of and a new potential therapy method for CSL and yield new tools to explore the mechanisms of active compounds from Traditional Chinese Medicine.     

Microfluidic three-dimensional biomimetic tumor model for studying breast cancer cell migration and invasion in the presence of interstitial flow

Cell migration and invasion are critical steps in cancer metastasis, which are the major cause of death in cancer patients. Tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs) and interstitial flow(IF) are two important biochemical and biomechanical cues in tumor microenvironment, play essential roles in tumor progression. However, their combined effects on tumor cell migration and invasion as well as molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. In this work, we developed a microfluidic-based 3 D breast cancer model by co-culturing tumor aggregates, macrophages, monocytes and endothelial cells within 3 D extracellular matrix in the presence of IF to study tumor cell migration and invasion. On the established platform, we can precisely control the parameters related to tumor microenvironment and observe cellular responses and interactions in real-time. When co-culture of U937 with human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) or MDA-MB-231 cells and tri-culture of U937 with HUVECs and MDA-MB-231 cells, we found that mesenchymal-like MDA-MB-231 aggregates activated the monocytes to TAM-like phenotype macrophages. MDA-MB-231 cells and IF simultaneously enhanced the macrophages activation by the stimulation of colony-stimulating factor 1(CSF-1). The activated macrophages and IF further promoted vascular sprouting via vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGFα) signal and tumor cell invasion. This is the first attempt to study the interaction between macrophages and breast cancer cells under IF condition. Taken together, our results provide a new insight to reveal the important physiological and pathological processes of macrophages-tumor communication. Moreover, our established platform with a more mimetic 3 D breast cancer model has the potential for drug screening with more accurate results.     

STUDIES ON PREPARATION OF INACTIVATED VACCINES FROM CELL CULTURES OF MINK ENTERITIS VIRUS (MEV) AND THEIR IMMUNITY

In this paper, superhigh reproductive rate strains of MEV with titre more than HA8192* or TCID50 log9.7 10 have been achieved both by cultivation in cell lines with different susceptibility to MEV and by isolating and identifying in field by the author. The systematic tests proved that S18 and L12 strains of MEV are the best strains for vaccine preparation. In this study, the best means for the tissue cultivation of MEV and the most advanced technological process for the production and detection of serum-free cell-cultured MEV fluids with super-high HA titre in batches in large quantities have been established for the first time. Optimum conditions for MEV inactivation were determined, and safe and effective inactivated vaccines with mineral oil or A1(OH)3 gel adjuvant were successfully prepared with serum-free cell-cultured MEV fluids. Both vaccines with different adjuvants can be manufactured in batches in large quantities and have been widely used all over China since 1986. The change laws of the imm     

A melatonin-based targetable fluorescent probe for screening of tumor cells and real-time imaging of glutathione fluctuations in tumor cells

Glutathione(GSH) is a key maintainer of cellular redox balance and plays an important role in many physiological effects. For example, GSH has been widely implicated in cancer initiation, progression and metastasis. Moreover, the concentrations of GSH in tumor cells can influence drug resistance. Given the serious harmfulness of cancer and the important roles of GSH in cancer, it has great significance to development probes for screening of tumor cells and real-time monitoring of GSH fluctuation...     

Electrochemical study of the effect of functionalized nickel nanoparticles on cellular uptake of leukemia cancer cells in vitro

In this study, we have fabricated the functionalized nickel nanoparticles and investigated their effects on cellular uptake of quercetin in leukemia K562 cancer cells by using electrochemical assay. The results indicate that nickel nanoparticles could efficiently enhance the quercetin uptake and increase the intracellular accumulation in cancer cells, implying the great potential of functionalized nickel nanoparticles in target cancer therapy.     

Naphthalimide-rhodamine based fluorescent probe for ratiometric sensing of cellular pH

The pH values of lysosomes in cancer cells is slightly lower than that in normal cells, which can be used to distinguish cancer cells from normal cells. According to this, a naphthalimide-rhodamine based fluorescent probe(hereafter referred to as RBN) with a pK_a of 4.20 was designed and synthesized for ratiometric sensing of cellular pH via fluorescence resonance energy transfer(FRET), which can respond to different pH precisely through ratiometric fluorescence intensity(Ⅰ_(577)/Ⅰ_(540)). RBN can be employed to distinguish cancer cells from normal cells on the basis of different fluorescent response, in particular, RBN showed excellent water solubility and low cell toxicity, all these are quite significant for potential application in cancer diagnose and therapy.     

Multicellular tumor spheroids bridge the gap between two-dimensional cancer cells and solid tumors: The role of lipid metabolism and distribution

Previous studies demonstrated that three-dimensional(3D) multicellular tumor spheroids(MCTS) could more closely mimic solid tumors than two-dimensional(2D) cancer cells in terms of the spatial structure, extracellular matrix-cell interaction, and gene expression pattern. However, no study has been reported on the differences in lipid metabolism and distribution among 2D cancer cells, MCTS, and solid tumors. Here, we used Hep G2 liver cancer cell lines to establish these three cancer models. The ...     

Construction of HIV-1 Virus-like Particle Vaccine

The virus-like particle（VLPs） vaccine is an ideal HIV-1 vaccine, which can simultaneously induce a neutralizing antibody reaction and cell-mediated immunity effectively. In this study, two kinds of plasmids have been used, one can express the HIV-1 main structure proteins, Gagpol and Env, and the other contains an antibiotic gene. The two kinds of plasmids have been cotransfected into 293 cells. A stable cell line that can express Gagpol and Env proteins efficiently and lastingly has been screened. It has been confirmed that Gagpol and Env proteins in the cell culture supernatant can be self-assembled into virus-like particles. The authors have detected the secretion of VLPs in the cell medium, defined the peak of the secretion, and followed and monitored the stability of expression.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of novel phthalazinone acridine derivatives as dual PARP and Topo inhibitors for potential anticancer agents

In this study,we designed and synthesized a series of phthalazinone acridine derivatives as dual PARP and Topo inhibitors.MTT assays indicated that most of the compounds significantly inhibited multiple cancer cells proliferation.In addition,all the compounds displayed Topo Ⅱ inhibition activity at 10 mol/L,and also possessed good PARP-1 inhibitory activities.Subsequent mechanistic studies showed that compound 9 a induced remarkable apoptosis and caused prominent S cell cycle arrest in HCT116 cells.Our study suggested that 9 a inhibiting Topo and PARP concurrently can be a potential lead compound for cancer therapy.     

Incorporation of azide sugar analogue decreases tumorigenic potential of breast cancer cells by reducing cancer stem cell population

The azido sugar,GalNAz,was successfully used for imaging and perturbing protein glycosylation in triple-negative breast cancer cell line,MDA-MB-231.After the incorporation of GalNAz in the triple-negative breast cancer cell line,the tumorigenicity of these cells was decreased.Results from gene analysis and drug treatment suggest that the tumorigenicity decrease may be attributed to the reduction of cancer stem cell population.Possible mechanisms of GalNAz induced cancer stem cells(CSCs) proportion change are discussed.     

Tobacco-specific Carcinogen 4- （Methylnitrosoamino） -1- （3-pyridyl） - 1-butanone（NNK） Activating ERK1/2 MAP Kinases and Stimulating Proliferation of Human Mammary Epithelial Cells

Cigarette smoking is correlated with the development of various cancers. 4- （Methylnitresoamino） -1- （3-pyridyl） - 1-butanone（NNK） is one of the major tobacco-specific carcinogens in the cigarette smoke, which increases the risk of breast cancer. In the present study, it was demonstrated that NNK rapidly activated ERK1 and ERK2 MAP kinases in human normal mammary epithelial cells. It was found that there are two different routes for the activation of ERK1/2 with NNK. One is from nicotinic receptor nAchR to MEK1/2, and the other is from tyrosine kinase containing receptor to MEK1/2. The tobacco-specific carcinogen NNK shows a strong proliferative effect on normal human mammary epithelial cells and cancer mammary epithelial cells.     

Syntheses,Crystal Structures and in vitro Anticancer Activities of Dibenzyltin Compounds Based on the N-(2-Phenylacetic acid)-aroyl Hydrazone

Two dibenzyltin compounds, {[C_6H_5 O(O)C=N–N=C(Ph)COO](m-Cl–C_6H_4CH_2)_2-Sn(CH_3OH)}_2(1) and {[p-Me–C_6H_4O(O)C=N–N=C(Ph)COO](m-Cl–C_6H_4CH_2)_2 Sn(CH_3OH)}_2(2), have been synthesized by microwave "one pot" reaction with benzoylhydrazine(or p-methyl benzhydrazine), phenylglyoxylic acid and di-m-chlorobenzyltin dichloride. Compound 2 contains two crystals 2 a and 2 b. The compounds have been characterized with IR, elemental analysis, ~1 H, ~(13)C and ~(119)Sn NMR spectra, H RMS. Three crystals are all binuclear molecules with a Sn_2O_2 four-membered ring plane, and each Sn atom center is seven-coordinated with [SnO_4C_2 N] to form a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal configuration. In vitro antitumor activities of all compounds and carboplatin were evaluated by MTT against three human cancer cells such as NCI-H460(lung cancer cells), HepG_2(liver cancer cells) and MCF7(breast cancer cells), and compound 2 exhibited better antitumor activity.     

Effect of surface charge of polymeric micelles on in vitro cellular uptake

This work focuses on the interaction between polymeric micelles with different charged surfaces and cancer cells in order to study the influence of surface charge on the in vitro cellular uptake efficiency. The amphiphilic diblock copolymers poly(ε-caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PCL-b-PEO) with different functional groups at the end of hydrophilic block were synthesized. The functional groups endue the micelles with different charges on the surfaces. The cellular uptake of micelles to T-24 cells (human bladder tumor cells), HepG2 cells (human liver hepatocellular carcinoma cell line) and Hela cells (human epithelial cervical cancer cells) was studied by means of flow cytometer and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The results indicate that the surface charges showed great influence on zeta potential of micelles at different pH values. The in vitro cellular uptake efficiency of micelles with different charged surfaces demonstrated different cellular uptake patterns to three kinds of cancer cells.     

Fluorescent polymer-modified gold nanobipyramids for temperature sensing during photothermal therapy in living cells

The temperature monitoring of treated cancer cells is critical in photothermal therapy. Current methods of detecting intracellular temperatures have low accuracy and poor spatial resolution, which limits their application to photothermal therapy. Herein, a strategy for targeted recognition and selective capture of MCF-7 breast cancer cells based on fluorescent polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-benzoxadiazole-2-vinyl-4,4-dimethyl azlactone, PNMV) and modified gold nanobipyramids(Au NBPs-PNMV) wa...     

Fluorescent polymer-modified gold nanobipyramids for temperature sensing during photothermal therapy in living cells

The temperature monitoring of treated cancer cells is critical in photothermal therapy. Current methods of detecting intracellular temperatures have low accuracy and poor spatial resolution, which limits their application to photothermal therapy. Herein, a strategy for targeted recognition and selective capture of MCF-7 breast cancer cells based on fluorescent polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-benzoxadiazole-2-vinyl-4,4-dimethyl azlactone, PNMV) and modified gold nanobipyramids(Au NBPs-PNMV) wa...