Evaluation of cell adhesion molecules (LFA-1 and L-selectin) in ankylosing spondylitis patients after treatment with ?-D-mannuronic acid (M2000)

Background & objectives: To examine ?-D-mannuronic acid (M2000) effects on L-selectin shedding and leucocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) expression as mechanisms of action of this drug in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: To investigate the molecular consequences of ?-D-mannuronic acid on L-selectin shedding, flow cytometry method was used. Furthermore, the effect of it on LFA-1 gene expression was analyzed by using quantitative real time (qRT)-PCR technique. Results: The LFA-1 expression in patients with AS was higher than controls (P=0.046). The LFA-1 expression after 12 wk therapy with ?-D-mannuronic acid was meaningfully decreased (P=0.01). After 12 wk treatment with ?-D-mannuronic acid, the frequency of CD62L-expressing CD4+ T cells in patients with AS, was not considerably altered, compared to the patients before therapy (P=0.5). Furthermore, after 12 wk therapy with ?-D-mannuronic acid, L-selectin expression levels on CD4+ T-cells in patients with AS, were not remarkably changed, compared to the expression levels of these in patients before treatment (P=0.2). Interpretation & conclusions: The results of this study for the first time showed that ?-D-mannuronic acid can affect events of adhesion cascade in patients with AS. Moreover, ?-D-mannuronic acid presented as an acceptable benefit to AS patients and could aid in the process of disease management

Evaluation of therapeutic potency of human papillomavirus-16 E7 DNA vaccine alone and with interleukin-18 as a genetic adjuvant / Avaliação da potência terapêutica da vacina de DNA do papilomavírus humano-16 E7 isolada e com interleucina-18 como adjuvante genético

AIMS: Despite the existence of effective preventive vaccines for human papillomavirus (HPV), therapeutic vaccines that trigger cell-mediated immune responses are required to treat established infections and malignancies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic potency of HPV-16 E7 deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) vaccine alone and with interleukin (IL)-18. METHODS: In vitro expressions of IL-18 were performed on human embryonic kidney 293 cells and confirmed it by Western blotting methods. DNA vaccine was available from a previous study. A total of 45 female C57BL/6 mice divided into five groups (DNA vaccine, DNA vaccine adjuvanted with IL-18, pcDNA3.1, and phosphate buffer saline) were inoculated with murine tissue culture-1 cell line of HPV related carcinoma, expressing HPV-16 E6/E7 antigens. They were then immunized subcutaneously twice at a seven-day interval. The antitumor and antigen specific-cellular immunity were assessed by lymphocyte proliferation (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide: MTT) assay, lactate dehydrogenase release assay, IL-4 assay and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) assay. Tumor size was followed for 62 days. RESULTS: MTT assay, which measures the lymphocyte proliferation in response to the specific antigen, increased in the co-administration and the DNA vaccine groups as compared to control and genetic adjuvant groups (p<0.001). The mice immunized with the co-administration generated significantly more IFN-γ and IL-4 than other immunized mice (p<0.001). Reduction of the tumor size in the co-administration and the DNA vaccine groups was significantly more pronounced than in the control and genetic adjuvant groups (p<0.001), but no statistically significant difference between DNA vaccine and co-administration groups (p=0.15) occurred. CONCLUSIONS: IL-18 as a genetic adjuvant and E7 DNA vaccine alone enhanced immune responses in mouse model systems against cervical cancer. However, using of IL-18 as a genetic adjuvant with E7 DNA vaccine had no significant synergistic effect on the immune responses in vivo.

OBJETIVOS: Apesar da existência de vacinas preventivas eficazes contra o papilomavírus humano (HPV), são necessárias vacinas terapêuticas que desencadeiem respostas imunes mediadas por células para tratar infecções e malignidades estabelecidas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a potência terapêutica da vacina de ácido desoxirribonucleico (DNA) HPV-16 E7 isolada e com interleucina (IL)-18. MÉTODOS: Expressões in vitro de IL-18 foram realizadas em células renais embrionárias humanas 293 e confirmadas por Western blotting. A vacina de DNA foi disponibilizada em um estudo anterior. Um total de 45 camundongos fêmeas C57BL/6 divididos em cinco grupos (vacina de DNA, vacina de DNA adjuvada com IL-18, pcDNA3.1 e solução salina tamponada com fosfato) e foram inoculados com linhagem murina-1 de carcinoma relacionado ao HPV, expressando antígenos E6 / E7 do HPV-16. Os animais foram então imunizados por via subcutânea duas vezes no intervalo de sete dias. A imunidade antitumoral e antígeno-celular específica foi avaliada pela proliferação de linfócitos (ensaio de brometo de 3- [4,5-dimetiltiazol-2-il] -2,5-difeniltetrazólio: MTT), ensaio de liberação de lactato desidrogenase, ensaio de IL-4 e ensaio de interferon-gama [IFN-γ]. O tamanho do tumor foi seguido por 62 dias. RESULTADOS: O ensaio MTT, que mede a proliferação de linfócitos em resposta ao antígeno específico, aumentou nos grupos de coadministração e de vacina de DNA em comparação aos grupos controle e adjuvante genético (p <0,001). Os camundongos imunizados com a coadministração geraram significativamente mais IFN-γ e IL-4 do que os outros camundongos imunizados (p<0,001). A redução do tamanho do tumor nos grupos de coadministração e de vacina de DNA foi significativamente mais acentuada do que nos grupos controle e adjuvante genético (p<0,001), mas não houve nenhuma diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos vacina de DNA e coadministração (p=0,15). CONCLUSÕES: A IL-18 como adjuvante genético e a vacina de DNA E7 aumentaram as respostas imunes em sistemas modelo de camundongos contra o câncer cervical. No entanto, o uso de IL-18 como adjuvante genético com a vacina de DNA E7 não teve efeito sinérgico significativo nas respostas imunes in vivo.

The effect of dietary oils on cecal microflora in experimental colitis in mice.

OBJECTIVES: In spite of growing evidence indicating the benefits of probiotics, the effects of different dietary oils on intestinal microflora and probiotics have not been elucidated. This study aimed to examine the effects of different dietary oils on intestinal microflora in an experimental model of colitis. METHODS: Eight-week mice were fed isocaloric diets varying only in fat composition for 4 weeks. The oils used were fish oil, canola oil, safflower oil, and chow diet containing beef tallow. Colitis was induced by intracolonic administration of acetic acid on day 21. The inflammation and fecal microflora and serum lipid profiles were evaluated 1 week after induction. RESULTS: Inflammation was highest in the chow diet group followed by safflower, canola, and fish oil fed groups, respectively. The number of fecal bacteroideceae was greater, whereas the number of fecal bifidobacteria was lower in mice fed beef tallow than the other ones. In addition, fish oil reduced the plasma level of triacylglycerole significantly. CONCLUSION: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can affect intestinal microflora increasing the number of probiotics. PUFAs might be recommended in addition to probiotics for the prevention and/or maintenance treatment of colitis.