Observation of Non-isotropic Auger Angular Distribution in the C(1s) Shape Resonance of CO

Angle-resolved high-resolution C(KVV) Auger spectra of CO were taken in the vicinity of the C(1s) σ* shape resonance. These spectra show clear evidence for the theoretically predicted anisotropic K-shell Auger emission in molecules. Complementary results from angle-resolved photoion spectroscopy show that the small size of the observed effect is, besides the varying intrinsic anisotropy of the Auger decay, also due to a smaller anisotropy in the primary absorption process than originally predicted but in good agreement with more recent calculations. Contrary to this, satellite Auger transitions show unexpectedly large anisotropies

Electron-Energy and –Angular Distributions in the Double Photoionization of Helium

Photoelectron spectra of helium have been measured at different angles and at various energies above the double-ionization threshold up to 120 eV to investigate the behavior of the energy and angular distributions, of shake-off electrons. Both energy and angular distributions clearly show a U-shaped profile which turns to a flat curve near threshold pointing to a uniform intensity distribution over the kinetic energy for all angles in this excitation energy regime. Our results for the angular-distribution asymmetry parameter indicate qualitative agreement with theoretical predictions but fail to provide them quantitatively

Kinetic-Energy- and Angular-Resolved Fragmentation of CO in Vibrational-Resolved C 1s Excitation

Angular distributions of C++O+ from CO were measured, following vibrationally resolved C 1s excitations into the 2pπ, 3sσ, and 3pπ orbitals as well as into higher unresolved orbitals. A time-of-flight mass spectrometer, with a multihit-type position-sensitive anode, was used for the measurements. The anisotropy parameters (β) of C++O+ approach their theoretically expected values as the released kinetic energy in the fragmentation increases. The value of the β parameters remains constant for all vibrational states within each orbital

Vibrational-State-Dependent Decay of the CO C(1s) Excitation

Molecular ionization and ionic fragmentation of core excited CO valence and Rydberg states are studied by partial-ion-yield spectroscopy at vibrational resolution. The vibrational intensities of the Rydberg excitations differ significantly depending on the ionization and/or fragmentation channel. The observed intensity variations are explained by nondissociative excited final ionic states of the subsequent molecular Auger decay. The vibrational levels of these final states become selectively depopulated due to interaction with dissociative decay channels leading to ionic fragmentation

Angle-Resolved Photoelectron Spectroscopy of C60

Angle-resolved photoelectron spectra of gaseous C60 were recorded in the photon energy regions from 21 to 108 eV and from 295 to 320 eV. Partial cross sections σ and the angular distribution anisotropy parameter β vary significantly with photon energy, particularly in the near-threshold region of the valence and the core ionization regimes. Some of these effects may be attributed to scattering of the outgoing photoelectron by the atoms of the ionized C60 molecule. Our results indicate that the observed satellites of the C(1s) main line are most likely of shake-up character. Low-energy electrons emitted below the shake-off threshold indicate the occurrence of K-shell vacancy filling double Auger decay

Immunotherapy with allotumour mRNA-transfected dendritic cells in androgen-resistant prostate cancer patients

Here, we present results from a clinical trial employing a new vaccination method using dendritic cells (DCs) transfected with mRNA from allogeneic prostate cancer cell lines (DU145, LNCaP and PC-3). In all, 20 patients were enrolled and 19 have completed vaccination. Each patient received at least four weekly injections with 2 × 107 transfected DCs either intranodally or intradermally. Safety and feasibility of vaccination were determined. Immune responses were measured as delayed-type hypersensitivity and by in vitro immunoassays including ELISPOT and T-cell proliferation in pre- and postvaccination peripheral blood samples. Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and bone scans were monitored. No toxicity or serious adverse events related to vaccinations were observed. A total of 12 patients developed a specific immune response to tumour mRNA-transfected DCs. In total, 13 patients showed a decrease in log slope PSA. This effect was strengthened by booster vaccinations. Clinical outcome was significantly related to immune responses (n=19, P=0.002, r=0.68). Vaccination with mRNA-transfected DCs is safe and results in cellular immune responses specific for antigens encoded by mRNA derived from the prostate cancer cell lines. The observation that in some patients vaccination affected the PSA level suggests that this approach may become useful as a treatment modality for prostate cancer patients

Immunoregulatory effects of AFP domains on monocyte-derived dendritic cell function

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a tumor-associated glycoprotein that functions in regulation of both ontogenic and oncogenic growth. Recent study showed that AFP can induce apoptosis or impair monocyte-derived dendritic cell (MDDC) function. However, it is still unclear which AFP domain (D-AFP) plays major role in this function.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>As expected monocytes cultured in the presence of Granulocyte Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) and Interleukin-4 (IL-4) developed into MDDC. Up-regulation of HLA-DR and CD11c as well as loss of CD14 molecules could be observed. Full length AFP (FL-AFP), domain 2 AFP (D2-AFP) and D3-AFP, but not D1-AFP, significantly inhibited the expression of HLA-DR^high/CD11c^highand CD80⁺/CD86^highmolecules. In contrast, CD83 expression was substantially down-regulated in all samples. Expression of CD40 was significantly suppressed by FL-AFP but not by any D-AFPs. Finally, both FL-AFP and D-AFP impaired the MDDC ability to secrete IL-12 (p70).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>D2- and D3- but not D1-AFP extensively suppresses the MDDC function. All the recombinant AFP proteins impaired the ability of MDDC to secrete IL-12.</p

The Tyrosine Kinase c-Src Directly Mediates Growth Factor-Induced Notch-1 and Furin Interaction and Notch-1 Activation in Pancreatic Cancer Cells

The proteolytic activity of Furin responsible for processing full length Notch-1 (p300) plays a critical role in Notch signaling. The amplitude and duration of Notch activity can be regulated at various points in the pathway, but there has been no report regarding regulation of the Notch-1-Furin interaction, despite its importance. In the present study, we found that the Notch-1-Furin interaction is regulated by the non-receptor tyrosine kinase, c-Src. c-Src and Notch-1 are physically associated, and this association is responsible for Notch-1 processing and activation. We also found that growth factor TGF-α, an EGFR ligand, and PDGF-BB, a PDGFR ligand, induce the Notch-1-Furin interaction mediated by c-Src. Our results support three new and provocative conclusions: (1) The association between Notch-1 and Furin is a well-regulated process; (2) Extracellular growth factor signals regulate this interaction, which is mediated by c-Src; (3) There is cross-talk between the plasma growth factor receptor-c-Src and Notch pathways. Co-localization of Notch-1 and c-Src was confirmed in xenograft tumor tissues and in the tissues of pancreatic cancer patients. Our findings have implications for the mechanism by which the Notch and growth factor receptor-c-Src signaling pathways regulate carcinogenesis and cancer cell growth