Tumor vaccine composed of C-class CpG oligodeoxynucleotides and irradiated tumor cells induces long-term antitumor immunity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An ideal tumor vaccine should activate both effector and memory immune response against tumor-specific antigens. Beside the CD8+ T cells that play a central role in the generation of a protective immune response and of long-term memory, dendritic cells (DCs) are important for the induction, coordination and regulation of the adaptive immune response. The DCs can conduct all of the elements of the immune orchestra and are therefore a fundamental target and tool for vaccination. The present study was aimed at assessing the ability of tumor vaccine composed of C-class CpG ODNs and irradiated melanoma tumor cells B16F1 followed by two additional injections of CpG ODNs to induce the generation of a functional long-term memory response in experimental tumor model in mice (i.p. B16F1).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>It has been shown that the functional memory response in vaccinated mice persists for at least 60 days after the last vaccination. Repeated vaccination also improves the survival of experimental animals compared to single vaccination, whereas the proportion of animals totally protected from the development of aggressive i.p. B16F1 tumors after vaccination repeated three times varies between 88.9%-100.0%. Additionally, the long-term immune memory and tumor protection is maintained over a prolonged period of time of at least 8 months. Finally, it has been demonstrated that following the vaccination the tumor-specific memory cells predominantly reside in bone marrow and peritoneal tissue and are in a more active state than their splenic counterparts.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In this study we demonstrated that tumor vaccine composed of C-class CpG ODNs and irradiated tumor cells followed by two additional injections of CpG ODNs induces a long-term immunity against aggressive B16F1 tumors.</p

Morphological evidence for enhanced kisspeptin and neurokinin B signaling in the infundibular nucleus of the aging man.

Peptidergic neurons synthesizing kisspeptin (KP) and neurokinin B (NKB) in the hypothalamic infundibular nucleus have been implicated in negative sex steroid feedback to GnRH neurons. In laboratory rodents, testosterone decreases KP and NKB expression in this region. In the present study, we addressed the hypothesis that the weakening of this inhibitory testosterone feedback in elderly men coincides with enhanced KP and NKB signaling in the infundibular nucleus. This central hypothesis was tested in a series of immunohistochemical studies on hypothalamic sections of male human individuals that were divided into arbitrary "young" (21-49 yr, n = 11) and "aged" (50-67 yr, n = 9) groups. Quantitative immunohistochemical experiments established that the regional densities of NKB-immunoreactive (IR) perikarya and fibers, and the incidence of afferent contacts they formed onto GnRH neurons, exceeded several times those of the KP-IR elements. Robust aging-dependent enhancements were identified in the regional densities of KP-IR perikarya and fibers and the incidence of afferent contacts they established onto GnRH neurons. The abundance of NKB-IR perikarya, fibers, and axonal appositions to GnRH neurons also increased with age, albeit to lower extents. In dual-immunofluorescent studies, the incidence of KP-IR NKB perikarya increased from 36% in young to 68% in aged men. Collectively, these immunohistochemical data suggest an aging-related robust enhancement in central KP signaling and a moderate enhancement in central NKB signaling. These changes are compatible with a reduced testosterone negative feedback to KP and NKB neurons. The heavier KP and NKB inputs to GnRH neurons in aged, compared with young, men may play a role in the enhanced central stimulation of the reproductive axis. It requires clarification to what extent the enhanced KP and NKB signaling upstream from GnRH neurons is an adaptive response to hypogonadism or, alternatively, a consequence of a decline in the androgen sensitivity of KP and NKB neurons

The Effect of Selected Herb Extracts on Oxidative Stability of Vegetable Oils

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different herb extracts on the oxidative stability of hemp, flax, sesame and sunflower seed oils by means of Rancimat test. The dominant phenolic acids in herb extracts were detected by HPLC, while fatty acid profiles of oils, before and after oxidation, were determined by GC-FID. As expected, autoxidation increased the content of saturated fatty acids. The sesame oil showed the longest oxidative stability (3.43 h), while the shortest induction period was obtained for the flax oil. Lemon balm and oregano extracts accelerated the oxidation of hemp and flax oil, while in all other cases the addition of extracts had a positive effect on oil oxidative stability. The best results were obtained for lemon balm extract added to sesame and sunflower oil which resulted with OSI values of 1.33 and 1.48, respectively, while extremely prooxidative activity was obtained for lemon balm extract added to the hemp oil. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Endokannabinoid szignalizáció szerepe a reprodukció hypothalamikus szintű szabályozásában = Endocannabinoid signaling in hypothalamic regulation of reproduction

A szaporodás idegrendszeri szabályozásában kulcs szerepet tölt be a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuronrendszer. A rendszer működését perifériás hormonhatások és más agyi neuronhálózatok szabályozzák. Multidiszciplináris megközelítés alkalmazásával tanulmányoztuk a GnRH neuronrendszer kapcsolatait és szignál transzdukciós mechanizmusait, különös tekintettel a retrográd endokannabinoid szignalizáció szabályozó szerepére. Kísérleti eredményeinkről 24 tudományos közleményben adtunk számot, 96 összesített impakt értékkel. Feltártuk a hypothalamus kannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) hírvivő RNS-t termelő idegsejtjeinek lokalizációját, valamint azok glutamáterg és GABA-erg fenotípusait. Igazoltuk, hogy a GnRH sejteken végződő GABA tartalmú idegvégződések CB1-t tartalmaznak, valamint bebizonyítottuk, hogy a GnRH idegsejtekből felszabaduló endokannabinoidok befolyásolják a GABA közvetítette információ átadást a GnRH neuronok felé. Feltártuk a ghrelin és endokannabinoid szignalizációs útvonalak kapcsolt jellegét a hypothalamusban. Igazoltuk a humán GnRH idegsejtek glutamát- és GABA-erg beidegzését. A GnRH neuronrendszer kisspeptinerg afferensei vonatkozásában új regulációs adatokat szolgáltattunk. Vizsgáltuk az ösztrogén szignalizáció szerepét a GnRH idegsejtek működésében, valamint az agykéregben. A GnRH idegsejtek működésének elmélyültebb tanulmányozására matematikai modellt alkottunk. Összegezve, eredményeink a reprodukció szabályozásának új mechanizmusait tárták fel. | Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-synthesizing neurons play a pivotal role in the central regulation of reproduction. Their operation depends on signaling by peripheral hormones and interactions with other neuronal circuits. By means of a multidisciplinary approach, the networking and signal transduction mechanisms of GnRH neurons were studied, with special reference to a putative retrograde endogenous cannabinoid signaling mechanism. The research results were published in 24 original papers representing a cumulative impact value of 96. Specifically, we mapped the hypothalamic distribution of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) mRNA-expressing neurons and their GABA- and glutamatergic phenotypes, proved the presence of CB1 in neuronal afferents of GnRH neurons and characterized the impact of endocannabinoids liberated from GnRH neurons on the GABA-ergic signal transduction to GnRH cells. We provided evidence for the coupled nature of the ghrelin and the endocannabinoid signaling mechanisms. New GABA- and glutamatergic afferents of human GnRH neurons were also identified. In addition, novel regulatory mechanisms executed by kisspeptinergic circuits upon GnRH cells were revealed. We elucidated further characteristics of estradiol feedback effects to GnRH and cortical neurons. We established a mathematical model for the better understanding of GnRH cell performance. Collectively, our results shed light on novel mechanisms regulating reproduction at the hypothalamic level

THE ROLE OF SUBJECTIVE KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEIVED CONSEQUENCES IN SHAPING ATTITUDE AND INTENTION TOWARD DIGITAL PIRACY

Digital piracy represents a significant threat, especially to music, film and software industry worldwide. In order to provide insights into consumer behavior related to digital piracy, this study aimed at developing and empirically testing the role of subjective knowledge and three types of expected consequences (i.e., perceived benefits, moral intensity, perceived risk) as antecedents of attitude toward digital piracy and intention to pirate digital content. In view of the existing literature, the purpose of this research was twofold: (a) to develop a conceptual model of consumer’s attitude and intention to pirate, and (b) to empirically test the role of subjective knowledge, perceived benefits, moral intensity and perceived risk as antecedents of consumers’ attitude toward pirating, as well as the role of subjective knowledge, perceived benefits, and attitude as antecedents of intention to pirate. The hypotheses were tested by collecting data via self-administered mail survey sent to an initial sample of 10,000 adult consumers in Slovenia, yielding a usable random sample of 843 consumers. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results of the study show that moral intensity and perceived risk do not play an important role in shaping one’s attitude toward piracy, while subjective knowledge and perceived benefits exhibit a statistically significant impact upon both, attitude toward digital piracy and intention to pirate. In addition, consistent with previous studies, attitude is a significant predictor of behavioral intention. Taking into consideration the specifics of the selected context, it is hoped that this study contributes to a better understanding of the demand side of digital piracy

Morpho-Agronomic Characterisation of Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus L.) from South-Eastern Europe

In South-Eastern Europe, the majority of runner-bean (Phaseolus coccineus L.) production is based on local populations grown mainly in home gardens. The local runner-bean plants are well adapted to their specific growing conditions and microclimate agro-environments, and show great morpho-agronomic diversity. Here, 142 runner-bean accessions from the five South-Eastern European countries of Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia and Romania were sown and cultivated in their respective countries and characterised using 28 quantitative and qualitative morpho-agronomic descriptors for Phaseolus spp. based on inflorescences, leaves, plants, pods and seeds. For each of these morpho-agronomic descriptors, the accessions can be classified into two or three specific groups. The highest correlations were observed within the fluorescence, seed and pod traits. The highest variability, at 76.39%, was between the different countries, representing different geographic origins, while the variability within the countries was 23.61%. Cluster analysis based on these collected morpho-agronomic data also classified the accessions into three groups according to genetic origins. The data obtained serve as useful genetic information for plant breeders for the breeding of new bean varieties for further studies of the morpho-agronomic traits of the runner bean

Glutamatergic and GABAergic Innervation of Human Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone-I Neurons

Amino acid (aa) neurotransmitters in synaptic afferents to hypothalamic GnRH-I neurons are critically involved in the neuroendocrine control of reproduction. Although in rodents the major aa neurotransmitter in these afferents is gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamatergic axons also innervate GnRH neurons directly. Our aim with the present study was to address the relative contribution of GABAergic and glutamatergic axons to the afferent control of human GnRH neurons. Formalin-fixed hypothalamic samples were obtained from adult male individuals (n = 8) at autopsies, and their coronal sections processed for dual-label immunohistochemical studies. GABAergic axons were labeled with vesicular inhibitory aa transporter antibodies, whereas glutamatergic axons were detected with antisera against the major vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT) isoforms, VGLUT1 and VGLUT2. The relative incidences of GABAergic and glutamatergic axonal appositions to GnRH-immunoreactive neurons were compared quantitatively in two regions, the infundibular and paraventricular nuclei. Results showed that GABAergic axons established the most frequently encountered type of axo-somatic apposition. Glutamatergic contacts occurred in significantly lower numbers, with similar contributions by their VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 subclasses. The innervation pattern was different on GnRH dendrites where the combined incidence of glutamatergic (VGLUT1 + VGLUT2) contacts slightly exceeded that of the GABAergic appositions. We conclude that GABA represents the major aa neurotransmitter in axo-somatic afferents to human GnRH neurons, whereas glutamatergic inputs occur somewhat more frequently than GABAergic inputs on GnRH dendrites. Unlike in rats, the GnRH system of the human receives innervation from the VGLUT1, in addition to the VGLUT2, subclass of glutamatergic neurons

Impact of Education, Working Conditions, and Interpersonal Relationships on Caregivers’ Job Satisfaction

Aim: To explore relationships between caregivers’ education, healthcare working conditions, interpersonal relationships, and caregivers’ general job satisfaction