BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) expression has been linked to gynecological tumor aggressiveness. The objective of this study was to determine MMP-2, MMP-7, and MMP-9 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2 expression in endometrial malignancies and their relation to clinical and histologic parameters. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor samples from 50 patients with endometrial carcinoma treated between 1999 and 2004 were stained with specific monoclonal antibodies. The tumors were grouped according to the FIGO classification. The staining results were compared to histologic and clinical data. Semiquantitative analysis of MMP and TIMP expression showed a significant difference in TIMP-2 expression according to the histologic subtype (P = 0.03) and also a trend towards a difference in MMP-9 expression (P = 0.05). MMP-2 expression increased and TIMP-2 expression fell as the histologic grade increased (P = 0.0007, P < 0.0001, respectively). MMP-2 expression correlated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.04), while TIMP-2 expression correlated with the depth of myometrial invasion (P = 0.01), vasculolymphatic space involvement (P = 0.02), and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0003). These results support the involvement of MMPs and TIMPs in endometrial tumor growth and progression. High MMP-2 and low TIMP-2 expression were the most potent markers of endometrial tumors with a high risk of local and distant spread.

背景与目标： 基质金属蛋白酶（MMPs）的表达与妇科肿瘤的侵袭性有关。这项研究的目的是确定子宫内膜恶性肿瘤中MMP-2，MMP-7和MMP-9以及金属蛋白酶组织抑制剂（TIMP）-1和TIMP-2的表达及其与临床和组织学参数的关系。用特异性单克隆抗体对1999年至2004年间接受治疗的50例子宫内膜癌患者的福尔马林固定，石蜡包埋的肿瘤样品进行染色。根据FIGO分类将肿瘤分组。将染色结果与组织学和临床数据进行比较。 MMP和TIMP表达的半定量分析显示，根据组织学亚型，TIMP-2表达存在显着差异（P = 0.03），并且MMP-9表达也呈现差异的趋势（P = 0.05）。随着组织学分级的升高，MMP-2表达增加而TIMP-2表达下降（分别为P = 0.0007，P <0.0001）。 MMP-2表达与淋巴结转移相关（P = 0.04），而TIMP-2表达与肌层浸润深度（P = 0.01），血管淋巴间隙受累（P = 0.02）和淋巴结转移（P = 0.0003）相关）。这些结果支持MMP和TIMP参与子宫内膜肿瘤的生长和进展。 MMP-2的高表达和TIMP-2的低表达是子宫内膜肿瘤最有效的标志物，具有局部和远处扩散的高风险。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :There is a substantial need for a diagnostic tool to aid in the early diagnosis of heart failure and in the recognition of those at risk for its development, as well as in guidance of therapy. Testing for amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has been recognized to have utility in the diagnosis, prognosis and management of heart failure. In addition, numerous other applications for NT-proBNP testing are now recognized, such as evaluation of patients with heart disease in the absence of heart failure, as well as the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of patients with acute coronary syndromes or pulmonary thromboembolism.

背景与目标： ：非常需要一种诊断工具来辅助心力衰竭的早期诊断，并认识到可能发展为心力衰竭的人，以及指导治疗。氨基末端脑钠肽（NT-proBNP）的检测已被认为可用于心力衰竭的诊断，预后和管理。此外，现在还认可了NT-proBNP测试的许多其他应用，例如在没有心力衰竭的情况下对心脏病患者的评估以及对急性冠状动脉综合征或肺血栓栓塞患者的诊断和预后评估。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The phenotypic response of rat liver to a carcinogenic protocol involving initiation/selection and promotion with and without phenobarbital (PB) feeding was studied in pubertal and adult male rats. Considering the early presence of preneoplastic nodular areas, it appeared that pubertal rats, initiated at 6-7 weeks, presented a higher susceptibility to the protocol than adult rats initiated at 9-10 weeks. Altered liver phenotype was characterized by: (1) gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities; (2) the expression of two forms of cytochrome P-450; de novo PB-inducible P-450 II B 1,2 and P-450 II C 7 normally expressed in 45-day-old rats and PB-inducible, and (3) the expression of albumin and alpha-fetoprotein cDNAs. In the absence of PB, the susceptibility of pubertal rat liver to hepatocarcinogenesis was related to a special metabolic phenotype enriched in GGT and GST activities by comparison with the quasi-normal expression of both P-450s. Adult rat liver presented a less altered pattern closer to that of noninitiated rat liver. During PB promotion, the loss of PB inducibility of P-450 II C 7 in pubertal rat liver suggested that the hormonal status of the animals could interact with initiation to modulate specific gene expression. The late phase of PB promotion revealed the loss of highly differentiated functions (P-450s, albumin), whereas enzymatic markers associated with preneoplastic foci showed a persistent high expression.

背景与目标： ：在青春期和成年雄性大鼠中研究了大鼠肝脏对涉及开始/选择和促进（有或没有苯巴比妥（PB）喂养）致癌方案的表型反应。考虑到肿瘤前结节区域的早期存在，看来与在9-10周龄开始的成年大鼠相比，在6-7周龄开始的青春期大鼠对方案的敏感性更高。肝表型改变的特征是：（1）γ-谷氨酰转肽酶（GGT）和谷胱甘肽S-转移酶（GST）活性； （2）两种形式的细胞色素P-450的表达；从头开始PB诱导的P-450 II B 1,2和P-450 II C 7在45天大的大鼠中正常表达，并且在PB诱导中正常表达，以及（3）白蛋白和甲胎蛋白cDNA的表达。在没有PB的情况下，与两个P-450的准正常表达相比，青春期大鼠肝脏对肝癌发生的敏感性与富含GGT和GST活性的特殊代谢表型有关。成年大鼠肝脏的变化较小，与未启动大鼠肝脏的变化较小。在PB促进过程中，青春期大鼠肝脏中P-450 II C 7的PB诱导能力丧失，表明动物的荷尔蒙状态可能与启动相互作用，从而调节特定基因的表达。 PB促进的晚期阶段揭示了高度分化的功能（P-450s，白蛋白）的丧失，而与肿瘤前病灶相关的酶标记物显示了持续的高表达。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Etanercept is a recombinant human soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) receptor fusion protein that inhibits TNF-alpha, a major mediator in the pathogenesis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The purpose of our study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of etanercept therapy in 21 patients with steroid-refractory acute GVHD (aGVHD) (n = 13) and chronic GVHD (cGVHD) (n = 8). Etanercept 25 mg was given subcutaneously twice weekly for 4 weeks followed by 25 mg weekly for 4 weeks. At the time of initiation of etanercept, 14 patients had skin, 13 had gastro-intestinal, 5 had liver, 5 had pulmonary, and 4 had oral involvement. Twelve patients (57%) completed 12 doses of therapy. Overall, 11 of 21 patients (52%) responded to the treatment with etanercept, including 6 patients (46%) with aGVHD [n = 4 complete response (CR), n = 2 partial response (PR)] and 5 patients (62%) with cGVHD (n = 1 CR, n = 4 PR). Clinical responses were most commonly seen in patients with refractory gut aGVHD with 55% of the patients having a CR and 9% having a PR. CMV reactivation occurred in 48% of patients, bacterial infections in 14% of patients, and fungal infections in 19% of patients. Fourteen patients (67%) were alive after a median follow-up of 429 days (range 71-1007 days) since initiation of etanercept. Seven patients died, 3 of infections, 2 of refractory aGVHD, and 2 of disease progression. In conclusion, our preliminary data indicate that etanercept is well tolerated and can induce a high response rate in patients with steroid-refractory aGVHD and cGVHD, particularly in the setting of GI involvement.

背景与目标： ：Etanercept是一种重组人类可溶性肿瘤坏死因子（TNF-alpha）受体融合蛋白，可抑制TNF-alpha（一种在移植物抗宿主病（GVHD）发病机理中的主要介体）。本研究的目的是评估依那西普治疗21例激素抵抗性急性GVHD（aGVHD）（n = 13）和慢性GVHD（cGVHD）（n = 8）患者的安全性和有效性。每周两次皮下给予Etanercept 25 mg，持续4周，然后每周25 mg，持续4周。依那西普开始治疗时，有14例皮肤，13例胃肠，5例肝，5例肺，4例经口受累。 12名患者（57％）完成了12剂治疗。总体上，在21名患者中有11名患者（52％）对依那西普治疗有反应，包括6名患者（46％）患有aGVHD [n = 4完全缓解（CR），n = 2部分缓解（PR）]和5例（62 ％）和cGVHD（n = 1 CR，n = 4 PR）。临床反应最常见于顽固性肠aGVHD患者，其中55％的患者为CR，9％的患者为PR。 CMV重新激活发生在48％的患者中，细菌感染发生在14％的患者中，而真菌感染发生在19％的患者中。自依那西普开始接受中位随访429天（71-1007天）后，有14名患者（67％）还活着。 7例患者死亡，3例感染，2例难治性aGVHD死亡，2例疾病进展。总之，我们的初步数据表明，依那西普耐受性好，在类固醇难治性aGVHD和cGVHD患者中可引起较高的应答率，尤其是在胃肠道受累的情况下。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The analysis of brain extracellular fluid can provide essential information about both the physiology and the pathology of the human nervous system. The introduction of microdialysis into the clinical sciences has provided a new opportunity to study this environment. Using microdialysis, endogenous substances can be obtained and drugs can be delivered in very close proximity to the receptors and ion channels on neuronal membranes. In this sense, microdialysis can be regarded as a novel technique since it can continuously measure interstitial brain activity in living tissue while causing minimal adverse effects. Although it has been well established as an experimental technique for neurochemistry, the true utility of microdialysis as a clinical tool is still being defined. The potential clinical applications of microdialysis to characterize the human brain extracellular environment in patients with pathologic conditions has grown rapidly. The number of publications in which microdialysis has been performed in clinical studies has been increasing during recent years and this article gives a summary of those reports where microdialysis was applied in the study of human brain disorders.

背景与目标： 对大脑细胞外液的分析可以提供有关人类神经系统生理和病理的基本信息。将微透析技术引入临床科学为研究这种环境提供了新的机会。使用微透析，可以获得内源性物质，并且药物可以非常靠近神经元膜上的受体和离子通道递送。从这个意义上讲，微透析可以被视为一种新颖的技术，因为它可以连续测量活组织中的间质性大脑活动，同时将不良影响降到最低。尽管已经将其很好地确立为神经化学的实验技术，但微透析作为临床工具的真正用途仍在定义中。微透析在表征病理状况患者中表征人脑细胞外环境的潜在临床应用迅速增长。近年来，在临床研究中进行微透析的出版物数量不断增加，本文总结了在人类脑部疾病研究中应用微透析的那些报道。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: We studied changes in glutamate receptors, expression of immediate early genes, and AP-1 DNA binding activity in the brains of phenobarbital (PB)-dependent and -withdrawn rats to investigate the possible involvement of activation of glutamate receptors in PB withdrawal syndrome. PB-dependent rats were prepared by feeding drug-admixed food for 5 weeks. Autoradiographic analysis showed that binding of [3H(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imin e (MK-801), an antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors, increased significantly in the cerebral cortices of PB-dependent and 24-h-withdrawn rats. However, [3H]MK-801 binding in the hippocampus and [3H]6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) and [3H]kainic acid binding in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex were essentially unchanged in both groups. PB withdrawal seizures were followed by increased expression of c-fos mRNA in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex and of c-jun mRNA in the cerebral cortex. The induction of c-fos and c-jun mRNA was suppressed by administration of MK-801. Furthermore, PB withdrawal enhanced AP-1 DNA binding activity in the brain. The present findings suggest functional enhancement of glutamatergic neurotransmission during the development of PB withdrawal syndrome.

背景与目标： 我们研究了苯巴比妥（PB）依赖和戒断大鼠大脑中谷氨酸受体的变化，立即早期基因的表达以及AP-1 DNA结合活性，以研究谷氨酸受体激活在PB戒断综合征中的可能。通过喂食药物混合的食物5周来制备PB依赖的大鼠。放射自显影分析表明，[3H（）-5-甲基-10,11-二氢-5H-二苯并[a，d]环庚烯-5,10-亚胺e（MK-801）与N-甲基- D-天冬氨酸（NMDA）受体，在PB依赖和24小时戒断大鼠的大脑皮层中显着增加。然而，在海马中的[3H] MK-801结合以及在海马和大脑皮层中的[3H] 6-氰基-7-硝基喹喔啉-2,3-二酮（CNQX）和[3H]海藻酸结合基本上没有变化。组。 PB抽搐发作后，海马和大脑皮层中c-fos mRNA的表达增加，大脑皮层中c-jun mRNA的表达增加。通过施用MK-801抑制了c-fos和c-jun mRNA的诱导。此外，PB撤离可增强大脑中AP-1 DNA的结合活性。目前的发现表明，在PB戒断综合征的发展过程中，谷氨酸能神经传递的功能增强。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The membrane potential (DeltaPsim) dependence of the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in isolated guinea-pig brain mitochondria respiring on NADH-linked substrates (glutamate plus malate) was addressed. Depolarization by FCCP was without effect on H(2)O(2) formation in the absence of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Addition of BSA (0.025%) to the assay medium hyperpolarized mitochondria by 6.1 +/- 0.9 mV (from 169 +/- 3 to 175.1 +/- 2.1 mV) and increased the rate of H(2)O(2) formation from 207 +/- 4.5 to 312 +/- 12 pmol/min/mg protein. Depolarization by FCCP (5-250 nM) in the presence of BSA decreased H(2)O(2) formation but only to the level observed in the absence of BSA. Rotenone stimulated the formation of H(2)O(2) both in the absence and presence of BSA. It is suggested that H(2)O(2) formation in mitochondria supported by NADH-linked substrates is sensitive to changes in DeltaPsim only when mitochondria are highly polarized and even then, 60% of ROS generation is independent of DeltaPsim. This is in contrast to earlier reports on the highly DeltaPsim sensitive ROS formation related to reverse electron flow observed in well-coupled succinate-supported mitochondria.

背景与目标： ：膜电位（DeltaPsim）依赖于在NADH相连的底物（谷氨酸加苹果酸）上呼吸的豚鼠脑线粒体中分离的活性氧（ROS）的产生。在没有牛血清白蛋白（BSA）的情况下，通过FCCP去极化对H（2）O（2）的形成没有影响。将BSA（0.025％）添加到测定介质超极化线粒体的6.1 /-0.9 mV（从169 /-3到175.1 /-2.1 mV），并将H（2）O（2）的形成速率从207 /-增加4.5至312 /-12 pmol / min / mg蛋白质。在BSA存在下由FCCP（5-250 nM）进行的去极化降低了H（2）O（2）的形成，但仅达到了在没有BSA的情况下观察到的水平。鱼藤酮在没有和存在BSA的情况下刺激H（2）O（2）的形成。建议仅在线粒体高度极化并且即使那时，60％的ROS生成独立于DeltaPsim时，由NADH链接的底物支持的线粒体中的H（2）O（2）形成对DeltaPsim的变化敏感。这与早先报道的关于高度DeltaPsim敏感的ROS形成相反，后者与在耦合良好的琥珀酸负载的线粒体中观察到的反向电子流有关。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Differential killing of the patient's cancer cells versus normal cells is a necessity for chemotherapy. Advantage can be taken of close regulations of gene expression and of enzyme activity that are essential for normal cell functioning, and that are altered during tumor progression. Summarized here is our research on four such progression changes of cancer cells; some deregulate proliferation control and others decrease programmed death (apoptosis). These processes will be illustrated with examples of potential chemotherapies based on them. Methods for discovery of such changes include Differential Display and microarrays.

背景与目标： ：与正常细胞相比，不同程度地杀死患者的癌细胞是化疗的必要条件。可以利用基因表达和酶活性的紧密调节，这些调节对于正常的细胞功能是必不可少的，并且在肿瘤进展过程中会改变。这里总结了我们对癌细胞的四个这样的进展变化的研究。一些人放松了对增殖的控制，而另一些人减少了程序性死亡（细胞凋亡）。这些过程将以基于它们的潜在化学疗法为例进行说明。发现这种变化的方法包括差异显示和微阵列。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: CD4+ anti-tumor T cells reactive with rat adenocarcinoma 13762 kill tumor in vitro and cause regression of tumor in vivo. The role of various host immune cells in CD4+ T-cell-mediated tumor elimination in vivo was investigated by adoptive transfer of anti-tumor T cell clones to recipients that were selectively depleted of individual immune cell types. By these means, macrophages and NK cells were found to be required for tumor killing. Depletion of host CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, or neutrophils was without effect on tumor elimination by anti-tumor T cells. An essential role for antigen receptor-negative NK cells is likely dependent upon secretion of IFN-gamma from NK cells since treatment of tumor recipients with anti-IFN-gamma antibody prior to adoptive transfer and tumor challenge abrogated T cell killing, resulting in progressive tumor growth. Viability of adenocarcinoma 13762 or anti-tumor T cells was unaffected by treatment with either IFN-gamma or anti-IFN-gamma antibody in vitro, but cell surface MHC class II expression was induced in tumor cells by exposure to IFN-gamma. In addition, tumor cells were isolated from tumor-bearing animals by absorption using anti-MHC class II antibody, demonstrating that 13762 tumor expresses cell surface MHC class II antigens in situ. However, if hosts were depleted of NK cells before tumor challenge, MHC class II+ tumor was not recovered. Collectively these results suggest that adenocarcinoma 13762 is eliminated by MHC class II-restricted CD4+ T cells by direct tumor killing.

背景与目标： 与大鼠腺癌13762反应的CD4抗肿瘤T细胞在体外杀死肿瘤并在体内引起肿瘤消退。通过将抗肿瘤T细胞克隆过继转移到选择性清除了个体免疫细胞类型的受体上，研究了各种宿主免疫细胞在体内CD4 T细胞介导的肿瘤消除中的作用。通过这些手段，发现杀死肿瘤需要巨噬细胞和NK细胞。宿主CD4 T细胞，CD8 T细胞或嗜中性白细胞的耗竭对抗肿瘤T细胞对肿瘤的消除没有影响。抗原受体阴性NK细胞的重要作用可能取决于NK细胞分泌IFN-γ，因为在过继转移和肿瘤攻击之前用抗IFN-γ抗体治疗肿瘤受体可以消除T细胞杀伤，从而导致进行性肿瘤生长。体外用IFN-γ或抗IFN-γ抗体治疗不会影响腺癌13762或抗肿瘤T细胞的存活率，但通过暴露于IFN-γ诱导了肿瘤细胞的细胞表面MHC II类表达。另外，通过使用抗MHC II类抗体的吸收从荷瘤动物中分离出肿瘤细胞，表明13762肿瘤原位表达细胞表面MHC II类抗原。但是，如果宿主在肿瘤攻击前已耗尽NK细胞，则无法恢复MHC II类肿瘤。这些结果共同表明，通过直接杀死肿瘤，MHC II类限制性CD4 T细胞可消除13762腺癌。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The circumventricular organs (CVOs) in the brain are without a blood-brain barrier (BBB) and as such directly exposed to blood plasma constituents and blood-borne pathogens. In light of previous studies showing discrepancies regarding the immunocompetence of these organs, we initiated the present study to provide a comprehensive immunohistochemical analysis of the cellular expression of immune-associated antigens within the pineal gland, area postrema and the subfornical organ. In all CVOs, subpopulations of cells morphologically similar to complement receptor type 3 immunoreactive microglial/macrophage cells expressed major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigen, leucocyte common antigen (LCA/CD45), as well as CD4 and ED1 antigen. Based on morphological criteria the MHC class II antigen expressing cells could be grouped into a major population of classical parenchymal and perivascular ramified microglial cells and a minor population presenting itself as scattered or small groups of rounded macrophage-like cells. CD4 and ED1 antigen were expressed by both cell types. CD45 was preferentially expressed by macrophage-like cells. MHC class I antigen was expressed by the vascular endothelium in both BBB-protected and BBB-deficient areas and was additionally present as a lattice-like network throughout the BBB-deficient parenchyma in all CVOs. The results suggest that the BBB-free areas of the brain besides being constantly surveyed by blood-borne macrophages, possess an intrinsic immune surveillance system based on resting and activated microglial cells, which may function as a non-endothelial, cellular barrier against blood-borne pathogens.

背景与目标： 大脑中的室间隔器官（CVO）没有血脑屏障（BBB），因此直接暴露于血浆成分和血源性病原体。鉴于先前的研究表明这些器官的免疫能力存在差异，我们启动了本研究，以提供对松果体，视网膜后区域和分支下器官内免疫相关抗原的细胞表达的全面免疫组织化学分析。在所有CVO中，与补体受体3型免疫反应性小胶质细胞/巨噬细胞细胞形态相似的细胞亚群表达了主要的组织相容性复合物（MHC）II类抗原，白细胞常见抗原（LCA / CD45）以及CD4和ED1抗原。根据形态学标准，可以将表达MHC II类抗原的细胞分为经典的实质和血管周围分枝的小神经胶质细胞的主要群体，以及表现为散在的或成团的圆形巨噬细胞样细胞的少数群体。 CD4和ED1抗原通过两种细胞类型表达。 CD45优先由巨噬细胞样细胞表达。 MHC I类抗原在BBB保护区和BBB缺失区均由血管内皮表达，并在所有CVO中的整个BBB缺失实质中均呈格子状网络存在。结果表明，除了大脑中无血脑屏障的区域不断被血源性巨噬细胞检查外，还具有基于静止和活化的小胶质细胞的内在免疫监视系统，该系统可能起非内皮细胞屏障的作用。传播的病原体。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: PURPOSE:A phase II trial of Photofrin-mediated i.p. photodynamic therapy shown in a previous report limited efficacy and significant acute, but not chronic, toxicity. A secondary aim of this trial and the subject of this report is to determine Photofrin uptake in tumor and normal tissues. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:Patients received Photofrin, 2.5 mg/kg, i.v., 48 hours before debulking surgery. Photofrin uptake was measured by spectroflurometric analysis of drug extracted from tumor and normal tissues removed at surgery. Differences in drug uptake among these tissues were statistically considered using mixed-effects models. RESULTS:Photofrin concentration was measured in 301 samples collected from 58 of 100 patients enrolled on the trial. In normal tissues, drug uptake significantly (P<0.0001) differed as a function of seven different tissue types. In the toxicity-limiting tissue of intestine, the model-based mean (SE) Photofrin level was 2.70 ng/mg (0.32 ng/mg) and 3.42 ng/mg (0.24 ng/mg) in full-thickness large and small intestine, respectively. In tumors, drug uptake significantly (P=0.0015) differed as a function of patient cohort: model-based mean Photofrin level was 3.32 to 5.31 ng/mg among patients with ovarian, gastric, or small bowel cancer; 2.09 to 2.45 ng/mg among patients with sarcoma and appendiceal or colon cancer; and 0.93 ng/mg in patients with pseudomyxoma. Ovarian, gastric, and small bowel cancers showed significantly higher Photofrin uptake than full-thickness large and/or small intestine. However, the ratio of mean drug level in tumor versus intestine was modest (

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Wild-type (WT) sequence p53 peptides are attractive candidates for broadly applicable cancer vaccines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of a WT p53-based immunotherapeutic approach for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Circulating CD8+ T cells specific for WT p53(149-157) and WT p53(264-272) HLA-A*0201 restricted epitopes were directly identified in the peripheral blood by the use of peptide/HLA-A2.1 tetramers in 24 HCC patients. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity after WT p53 peptide-specific stimulation was assessed by analysis of granzyme B and interferon-gamma mRNA transcription, using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. Tumor immunophenotyping was performed to evaluate the p53 status, the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and costimulatory molecules in freshly isolated tumor cells. HCC patients exhibited significantly higher frequencies of WT p53-specific memory CD8+ T cells and stronger WT p53-specific CTL activity, when compared with healthy controls. Increased frequencies of p53-specific CD8+ T cells and their activity correlated with selective HLA-A2 allele loss and reduced costimulatory molecule expression of tumor cells. Moreover, augmented numbers of p53-specific T cells coincided with high MHC class II expression in tumor cells but were inversely related to the T status of the tumor node metastasis staging system. Our results indicate the existence of natural immunosurveillance and tumor immune evasion, involving a T cell response against WT p53 tumor antigen in patients with HCC. These findings may have important implications for the future development of cancer vaccines.

背景与目标： ：野生型（WT）序列p53肽是广泛应用的癌症疫苗的诱人候选物。这项研究的目的是评估肝细胞癌（HCC）患者基于WT p53的免疫治疗方法的潜力。通过在24 HCC中使用肽/HLA-A2.1四聚体直接在外周血中鉴定出对WT p53（149-157）和WT p53（264-272）HLA-A * 0201限制性表位具有特异性的循环CD8 T细胞耐心。 WT p53肽特异性刺激后的细胞毒性T淋巴细胞（CTL）活性通过使用实时定量聚合酶链反应测定的颗粒酶B和干扰素-γmRNA转录分析来评估。进行肿瘤免疫表型分析以评估新鲜分离的肿瘤细胞中p53的状态，主要组织相容性复合体（MHC）的表达和共刺激分子。与健康对照相比，HCC患者表现出明显更高的WT p53特异性记忆CD8 T细胞频率和更强的WT p53特异性CTL活性。 p53特异性CD8 T细胞的频率增加及其活性与选择性HLA-A2等位基因缺失和肿瘤细胞共刺激分子表达降低有关。此外，p53特异性T细胞数量的增加与肿瘤细胞中II类MHC的高表达相吻合，但与肿瘤淋巴结转移分期系统的T状态呈负相关。我们的结果表明，在肝癌患者中存在自然免疫监视和肿瘤免疫逃避，涉及针对WT p53肿瘤抗原的T细胞应答。这些发现可能对癌症疫苗的未来发展具有重要意义。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The hypoxic environment in tumor is reported to play an important role in pancreatic cancer progression. The interaction between stromal and cancer cells also contributes to the malignant behavior of pancreatic cancer. In the present study, we investigated whether hypoxic stimulation affects stromal as well as pancreatic cancer cells. Our findings demonstrated that hypoxia remarkably elevated the HIF-1alpha expression in both pancreatic cancer (PK8) and fibroblast cells (MRC5). Hypoxic stimulation accelerated the invasive activity of PK8 cells, and invasiveness was thus further accelerated when the hypoxic PK8 cells were cultured with conditioned medium prepared from hypoxic MRC5 cells (hypoxic conditioned medium). MMP-2, MMP-7, MT1-MMP and c-Met expressions were increased in PK8 cells under hypoxia. Hypoxic stimulation also increased the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) secretion from MRC5 cells, which led to an elevation of c-Met phosphorylation in PK8 cells. Conversely, the elevated cancer invasion, MMP activity and c-Met phosphorylation of PK8 cells were reduced by the removal of HGF from hypoxic conditioned medium. In immunohistochemical study, the HIF-1alpha expression was observed in surrounding stromal as well as pancreatic cancer cells, thus indicating hypoxia exists in both of cancer and stromal cells. Moreover, the stromal HGF expression was found to significantly correlate with not only the stromal HIF-1alpha expression but also the c-Met expression in cancer cells. These results indicate that the hypoxic environment within stromal as well as cancer cells activates the HGF/c-Met system, thereby contributing to the aggressive invasive features of pancreatic cancer.

背景与目标： ：据报道肿瘤中的低氧环境在胰腺癌的进展中起重要作用。基质细胞与癌细胞之间的相互作用也有助于胰腺癌的恶性行为。在本研究中，我们调查了低氧刺激是否影响基质和胰腺癌细胞。我们的研究结果表明，缺氧显着提高了胰腺癌（PK8）和成纤维细胞（MRC5）中HIF-1alpha的表达。低氧刺激加速了PK8细胞的侵袭活性，因此，当用由低氧MRC5细胞制备的条件培养基（低氧条件培养基）培养低氧PK8细胞时，侵袭性进一步加快。在缺氧条件下，PK8细胞中的MMP-2，MMP-7，MT1-MMP和c-Met表达增加。缺氧刺激还增加了MRC5细胞的肝细胞生长因子（HGF）分泌，这导致PK8细胞中c-Met磷酸化的升高。相反，通过从低氧条件培养基中除去HGF，可以降低PK8细胞的癌浸润，MMP活性和c-Met磷酸化升高。在免疫组织化学研究中，在周围的基质细胞和胰腺癌细胞中均观察到了HIF-1alpha的表达，因此表明在癌细胞和基质细胞中均存在缺氧。此外，发现基质HGF表达不仅与癌细胞中的基质HIF-1α表达而且与c-Met表达显着相关。这些结果表明基质以及癌细胞内的低氧环境激活了HGF / c-Met系统，从而促进了胰腺癌的侵袭性侵袭性特征。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Tumor-infiltrating stroma cells (TISC) as well as tumors themselves are thought to be involved in tumor-related immunosuppression, which is one of the critical mechanisms of tumor escape from immune surveillance. However, preparation of TISC is difficult because of the small proportion of TISC in established tumors. Thus, the cells thought to be involved in tumor-related immunosuppression are generally prepared from spleens or draining lymph nodes in tumor-bearing mice. In this study, we developed a method for directly preparing TISC from established tumors in order to analyze their function. Using green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic (Tg) mice and C57BL/6 mice transplanted with bone marrow (BM) cells of GFPTg mice, we detected three subpopulations of TISC: one is compatible with immature myeloid cells (ImC) derived from BM and the two other subpopulations, CD11b(+) cells and CD11b(-) cells, do not originate from BM. The TISC including these subpopulations but not each subpopulation independently after culturing with tumors in the presence of GM-CSF could suppress T cell proliferation induced by anti-CD3. In our system, tumors did not inhibit T cell responses directly, but unknown factors from tumors affected immunosuppression by TISC.

背景与目标： ：肿瘤浸润基质细胞（TISC）以及肿瘤本身都被认为与肿瘤相关的免疫抑制有关，这是肿瘤逃避免疫监视的关键机制之一。然而，由于在已建立的肿瘤中TISC的比例很小，因此TISC的制备是困难的。因此，通常被认为与肿瘤相关的免疫抑制有关的细胞是从荷瘤小鼠的脾脏或引流淋巴结中制备的。在这项研究中，我们开发了一种从已建立的肿瘤中直接制备TISC的方法，以分析其功能。使用绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）转基因（Tg）小鼠和移植有GFPTg小鼠骨髓（BM）细胞的C57BL / 6小鼠，我们检测到TISC的三个亚群：一个与源自BM的未成熟髓样细胞（ImC）相容。其他两个亚群CD11b（）细胞和CD11b（-）细胞并非源自BM。在存在GM-CSF的情况下与肿瘤培养后，TISC包括这些亚群，但并非每个亚群独立地抑制由抗CD3诱导的T细胞增殖。在我们的系统中，肿瘤并未直接抑制T细胞反应，但来自肿瘤的未知因素影响了TISC的免疫抑制。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The microanatomy of immune clearance of infected brain cells remains poorly understood. Immunological synapses are essential anatomical structures that channel information exchanges between T cell-antigen-presenting cells (APC) during the priming and effector phases of T cells' function, and during natural killer-target cell interactions. The hallmark of immunological synapses established by T cells is the formation of the supramolecular activation clusters (SMACs), in which adhesion molecules such as leukocyte function-associated antigen 1 segregate to the peripheral domain of the immunological synapse (p-SMAC), which surrounds the T cell receptor-rich or central SMAC (c-SMAC). The inability so far to detect SMAC formation in vivo has cast doubts on its functional relevance. Herein, we demonstrate that the in vivo formation of SMAC at immunological synapses between effector CD8+ T cells and target cells precedes and mediates clearance of virally infected brain astrocytes.

背景与目标： ：对被感染的脑细胞免疫清除的微观解剖学知之甚少。免疫突触是必不可少的解剖结构，可在T细胞功能的启动阶段和效应阶段以及自然杀伤分子与靶细胞的相互作用期间，引导T细胞抗原呈递细胞（APC）之间的信息交换。 T细胞建立的免疫突触的标志是超分子激活簇（SMAC）的形成，其中粘附分子（如白细胞功能相关抗原1）分离到免疫突触（p-SMAC）的外围结构域，周围T细胞受体丰富或中央SMAC（c-SMAC）。迄今为止，尚无法在体内检测到SMAC的形成，对其功能相关性产生了疑问。在本文中，我们证明了在效应CD8 T细胞和靶细胞之间的免疫突触中SMAC的体内形成先于并介导了病毒感染的脑星形胶质细胞的清除。