A DNA vaccine expressing an optimized secreted FAPα induces enhanced anti-tumor activity by altering the tumor microenvironment in a murine model of breast cancer

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), major components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), promote tumor growth and metastasis and inhibit the anti-tumor immune response. We previously constructed a DNA vaccine expressing human FAPα, which is highly expressed by CAFs, to target these cells in the TME, and observed limited anti-tumor effects in the 4T1 breast cancer model. When the treatment time was delayed until tumor nodes formed, the anti-tumor effect of the vaccine completely disappeared. In this study, to improve the safety and efficacy, we constructed a new FAPα-targeted vaccine containing only the extracellular domain of human FAPα with a tissue plasminogen activator signal sequence for enhanced antigen secretion and immunogenicity. The number of CAFs was more effectively reduced by CD8⁺ T cells induced by the new vaccine. This resulted in decreases in CCL2 and CXCL12 expression, leading to a significant decrease in the ratio of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the TME. Moreover, when mice were treated after the establishment of tumors, the vaccine could still delay tumor growth. To facilitate the future application of the vaccine in clinical trials, we further optimized the gene codons and reduced the homology between the vaccine and the original sequence, which may be convenient for evaluating the vaccine distribution in the human body. These results indicated that the new FAPα-targeted vaccine expressing an optimized secreted human FAPα induced enhanced anti-tumor activity by reducing the number of FAPα⁺ CAFs and enhancing the recruitment of effector T cells in the 4T1 tumor model mice.     

A comparative study of angiogenic and cytokine responses after laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed with standard- and low-pressure pneumoperitoneum

Background  Surgical procedures enhance production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and angiogenic factors that play a pivotal role in the immunological response to surgical trauma and take part in the pathogenesis of tumor growth and adhesions formation. The purpose of the study was to access the influence of low-pressure CO₂ pneumoperitoneum on the inflammatory and angiogenic responses during the postoperative period after laparoscopy. Methods  The study group consisted of 40 patients, operated on due to cholelithiasis using standard-pressure (n = 20) and low-pressure (n = 20) CO₂ pneumoperitoneum. Serum concentration of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, and endostatin were measured before and at 6, 24, and 48 h after surgery with commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results  Concentrations of IL-6 increased significantly after the operations in both groups. No differences were observed between the groups in regards to IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 levels. Concentrations of VEGF-A measured at 6 and 48 h were significantly lower in patients who underwent laparoscopies performed with low-pressure pneumoperitoneum. No significant variations were observed in endostatin serum concentration. Concentrations of the studied parameters were not influenced by duration of surgery or by age, gender, or body mass index (BMI) of the patients. Conclusions  The results obtained in our study do not show any significant differences between studied operative procedures with regards to systemic inflammatory response. Changes in the concentrations of VEGF-A and endostatin observed in the studied population may suggest this technique is more favorable with regards to angiogenesis process intensity, along with all its consequences and implications.     

巨噬细胞移动抑制因子与鼻咽癌微血管生成和淋巴结转移的关系

[目的]研究巨噬细胞移动抑制因子(macrophage migration inhibitory factor,MIF)和血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)在鼻咽癌组织中的表达水平及其与肿瘤新生血管的关系,探讨细胞因子在鼻咽癌细胞侵袭转移过程中的作用.[方法]收集1999-2003年期间45例确诊未治的鼻咽原发癌活检组织标本,用LSAB免疫组化法检测鼻咽癌组织中MIF和VEGF表达,计数癌组织中新生血管热区的CD34阳性微血管密度(intratumoral microvessel density,IMD),并将各检测指标与患者的病理及临床资料相联系.[结果]鼻咽原发癌组织中,癌细胞MIF和VEGF的阳性表达率分别为78%(35/45)和71%(32/45),伴有淋巴结转移的癌组织中MIF和IMD水平均高于无淋巴结转移的癌组织,P=0.029,P=0.026,MIF阳性组的IMD计数为(35.1±13.3)/高倍视野,明显高于MIF阴性病例的(20.9±10.2)/高倍视野,P=0.003.以Schmincke型生长方式分布的癌细胞MIF表达水平(67.4%±35.2%)高于以Regaud型方式分布的癌细胞(32.9%±29.7%),P=0.007.癌细胞MIF与VEGF表达以及IMD计数均显示正相关关系,P＜0.05.但癌细胞VEGF的表达与患者性别、年龄、病理组织学分型以及临床分期无统计学显著意义.[结论]MIF在鼻咽癌细胞的淋巴结转移过程中可能具有重要的促进作用,并可能是影响肿瘤性微血管生成和癌细胞VEGF表达的重要因素.     

白介素-6、血管内皮生长因子、D-二聚体对CSDH的影响

目的探讨血肿局部炎症、假膜新血管生成、局部纤溶状况及其在CSDH发生、发展中的作用。进而探讨CSDH的发病机制，并为CSDH的治疗及预防复发提供理论依据。方法以78例CSDH患者作为病例组，20例健康人作为正常对照组。采用ELISA法测定患者血清及血肿液中VEGF及IL-6的含量。比较患者末梢静脉血及血肿液中四种因子的含量变化并与正常对照组比较。结果病例组血肿液FDP、d-dimer检测均为阳性，血液为阴性；正常对照组血液FDP、d-dimer检测均为阴性；病例组血清VEGF含量与正常对照组比较差异无统计学意义。血肿液中VEGF浓度高于血清中。病例组血清IL-6浓度与正常对照组差异无统计学意义，血肿液中IL-6浓度高于血清中。CSDH患者血肿液VEGF、IL-6水平没有相关性。结论CSDH患者血肿液局部纤溶亢进，局部VEGF分泌旺盛，新血管生成活跃，局部炎症活跃，可导致CSDH不断扩大而参与CSDH发病机制。抗炎治疗、抑制VEGF的生理作用、有选择的对病人施行促凝治疗，可成为部分CSDH病人保守治疗及预防复发的有效手段。     

复发脑膜瘤血管内皮生长因子及增殖细胞核抗原的表达

目的探讨脑膜瘤细胞增殖能力、肿瘤复发与血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）蛋白表达之间的关系。方法应用免疫组织化学方法检测36例复发脑膜瘤及30例原发脑膜瘤标本的VEGF和增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）表达。结果复发脑膜瘤VEGF蛋白阳性表达率89％（32／36）明显高于原发脑膜瘤43％（13／30）（X2=25．59，P〈0．01）。复发脑膜瘤PCNA指数（65．72±9．22）高于原发脑膜瘤（20．81±7．43，P〈0．05）。VEGF蛋白表达强阳性、弱阳性及阴性者的PCNA指数分别为78．64±10．02、49．45±8．31、6．23±1．45，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论VEGF蛋白的表达水平与脑膜瘤的复发和增殖能力有关，VEGF蛋白表达水平可能是脑膜瘤复发的预测指标之一。     

A neurotrophic model for stress-related mood disorders.

There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating that stress decreases the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in limbic structures that control mood and that antidepressant treatment reverses or blocks the effects of stress. Decreased levels of BDNF, as well as other neurotrophic factors, could contribute to the atrophy of certain limbic structures, including the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex that has been observed in depressed subjects. Conversely, the neurotrophic actions of antidepressants could reverse neuronal atrophy and cell loss and thereby contribute to the therapeutic actions of these treatments. This review provides a critical examination of the neurotrophic hypothesis of depression that has evolved from this work, including analysis of preclinical cellular (adult neurogenesis) and behavioral models of depression and antidepressant actions, as well as clinical neuroimaging and postmortem studies. Although there are some limitations, the results of these studies are consistent with the hypothesis that decreased expression of BDNF and possibly other growth factors contributes to depression and that upregulation of BDNF plays a role in the actions of antidepressant treatment.     

VEGF和p53在胰腺癌中的表达及意义

目的　探讨胰腺癌组织中血管内皮生长因子 (VEGF)及p5 3蛋白的表达及其临床病理意义。方法　采用SP免疫组织化学方法 ,对 46例胰腺癌组织中VEGF及 p5 3蛋白的表达进行检测。结果　VEGF与 p5 3表达率分别为 65 .2 %和 5 8.7%。p5 3表达与VEGF表达呈明显正相关(P <0 .0 5 )。VEGF表达与胰腺癌淋巴结转移 (P <0 .0 5 )和远处转移 (P <0 .0 1)显著相关 ,而与肿瘤大小 ,病理学分级无关 ,p5 3表达与胰腺癌远处转移 (P <0 .0 5 )显著相关 ,而与肿瘤大小 ,病理学分级及淋巴结转移无关。结论　在胰腺癌中 ,VEGF表达与 p5 3蛋白的表达呈正相关 ,在胰腺癌的转移中起重要作用     

VEGF在肺癌组织中的表达及临床意义

目的：探讨血管内皮生长因子在肺癌中的表达情况与肺癌病理生物学行为之间的关系。方法：采用免疫组化SP法检测47例肺癌组织和10正常肺组织中VEGF的表达水平。结果：肺癌组织中VEGF的表达明显高于正常肺组织(P＜0．005)，P53、VEGF表达与肺癌的分化程度、淋巴结转移及P—TNM分期密切相关(P＜0．05)，与患者的性别、年龄、肿瘤大小及组织类型无关(P＞0．05)。结论：检测肺癌组织中VEGF的表达水平有助于了解肿瘤的生物学行为，并可作为判断其预后的有价值指标。     

Osteoclastogenesis in the nonadherent cell population of human bone marrow is inhibited by rhBMP-2 alone or together with rhVEGF.

During bone development and repair, angiogenesis, osteogenesis, and bone remodeling are closely associated processes that share some common mediators. In the present study nonadherent human bone marrow mononuclear cells under the induction of sRANKL and M-CSF, differentiated into osteoclasts with TRAP-positive staining, VNR expression, and Ca-P resorptive activity. The effects of various combinations of rhBMP-2 (0, 3, 30, and 300 ng/mL) and rhVEGF (0 and 25 ng/mL) on osteoclastogenesis potentials were examined in this experimental system. The percentages of TRAP-positive multiple nucleated cells represent osteoclast differentiation potential, and the percentages of resorptive areas in the Ca-P coated plates resemble osteoclast resorption capability. The presence of rhBMP-2 at 30 and 300 ng/mL showed inhibitory effects on osteoclast differentiation and their resorptive capability in the human osteoclast culture system. rhVEGF (25 ng/mL) enhanced the resorptive function of osteoclast whenever it was used alone or combined with 3 ng/mL rhBMP-2. However, rhVEGF-induced resorptive function was inhibited by 30 ng/mL and 300 ng/mL rhBMP-2 in a dose-dependent manner. Statistical analysis demonstrated that an interactive effect exists between rhBMP-2 and rhVEGF on human osteoclastogenesis. These findings suggested that an interactive regulation may exist between BMPs and VEGF signaling pathways during osteoclastogenesis; exact mechanisms are yet to be elucidated.