Biomedical subjects

Rong Xiang

Publications and source records attributed to Rong Xiang.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2005

Design and synthesis of a solid-phase fluorescent mass tag.

In this study, we demonstrate the design of a new solid-phase fluorescent mass tag (FMT) that contains the following features: (1) the FMT is synthesized using Fmoc chemistry which is simple, rapid, and cost-effective; (2) lysine is used as a uniformly labeled amino acid (using stable isotopes) to allow 8 Da difference between "heavy" and "light" tags; (3) a fluorescent molecule is coupled to the isotope tag that allows a tagged peptide to be detected by online fluorescence; and (4) an iodoacetyl reactive group provides cysteine reactivity. Using MALDI-TOF MS and HPLC, we show that the FMT reagent can be used to label standard cysteine-containing peptides as well as cysteine-containing peptides from a BSA tryptic digest.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Multistep mass tagging coupled with 2D LC-MS--an approach to increasing the number of identified proteins.

Identification of large numbers of proteins from complex biological samples is a continuing challenge in the area of quantitative proteomics. We introduce here a simple and reliable multistep mass tagging technique using our recently developed solid phase mass tagging reagents. When coupled with two-dimensional liquid chromatography/nano-electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (2D-LC/nano-ESI-MS), this method allows enhanced protein identification when tested on samples from prokaryotic and eukaryotic sources. The proteome of Escherichia coli D21 grown to either mid-exponential or stationary phase, and the membrane proteome from established breast cancer cell lines BT474 and MCF7 were used as model systems in these experiments. In both experiments, the numbers of total identified proteins are at least twice the numbers identified from a single tagging cycle. The sample complexity can be effectively reduced with corresponding increases in protein identification using the multistep method. The strategy described here represents a potentially powerful technique for large-scale qualitative and quantitative proteome research.

Cell Line, Tumor↗

PubMed2004

Tid1, the human homologue of a Drosophila tumor suppressor, reduces the malignant activity of ErbB-2 in carcinoma cells.

The ErbB-2/HER-2 receptor tyrosine kinase is overexpressed in a wide range of solid human tumors. The ErbB-2 gene product is a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the epidermal growth factor receptor family, and its cytoplasmic domain is responsible for sending the mitogenic signals into cells. We discovered that this domain of ErbB-2 interacts with Tid1 protein, the human counterpart of the Drosophila tumor suppressor Tid56, whose null mutation causes lethal tumorigenesis during the larval stage. Tid1 also is known as a cochaperone of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and binds to HSP70 through its conserved DnaJ domain. We found that increased expression of Tid1 in human mammary carcinomas overexpressing ErbB-2 suppresses the expression level of ErbB-2 and attenuates the resultant ErbB-2-dependent oncogenic extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and big mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 signaling pathways leading to programmed cell death (PCD). A functional DnaJ domain of Tid1 also is required for its inhibition of ErbB-2 expression and the consequent PCD of carcinoma cells resulting from increased Tid1 expression. Importantly, ErbB-2-dependent tumor progression in animals is inhibited by increased expression of Tid1 in tumor cells. Collectively, these results suggest that Tid1 modulates the uncontrolled proliferation of ErbB-2-overexpressing carcinoma cells by reducing ErbB-2 expression and as a result suppresses the ErbB-2-dependent cancerous signaling and tumor progression. Moreover, the cochaperonic and regulatory functions of Tid1 on HSP70 most likely play an essential role in this antitumor function of Tid1 in carcinoma cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

The role of liquid chromatography in proteomics.

Proteomics represents a significant challenge to separation scientists because of the diversity and complexity of proteins and peptides present in biological systems. Mass spectrometry as the central enabling technology in proteomics allows detection and identification of thousands of proteins and peptides in a single experiment. Liquid chromatography is recognized as an indispensable tool in proteomics research since it provides high-speed, high-resolution and high-sensitivity separation of macromolecules. In addition, the unique features of chromatography enable the detection of low-abundance species such as post-translationally modified proteins. Components such as phosphorylated proteins are often present in complex mixtures at vanishingly small concentrations. New chromatographic methods are needed to solve these analytical challenges, which are clearly formidable, but not insurmountable. This review covers recent advances in liquid chromatography, as it has impacted the area of proteomics. The future prospects for emerging chromatographic technologies such as monolithic capillary columns, high temperature chromatography and capillary electrochromatography are discussed.

Chromatography, Liquid↗

PubMed2004

BCL10 mediates lipopolysaccharide/toll-like receptor-4 signaling through interaction with Pellino2.

Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways signal through microbial components stimulation to induce innate immune responses. Herein, we demonstrate that BCL10, a critical molecule that signals between the T cell receptor and IkappaB kinase complexes, is involved in the innate immune system and is required for appropriate TLR4 pathway and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation. In response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, BCL10 was recruited to TLR4 signaling complexes and associated with Pellino2, an essential component down-stream of BCL10 in the TLR4 pathway. In a BCL10-deficient macrophage cell line, LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation was consistently defective, whereas activator protein-1 and Elk-1 signaling was intact. In addition, we found that BCL10 was targeted by SOCS3 for negative regulation in LPS signaling. The recruitment of BCL10 to TLR4 signaling complexes was attenuated by induced expression of SOCS3 in a feedback loop. Furthermore, ectopic SOCS3 expression blocked the interaction between BCL10 and Pellino2 together with BCL10-generated NF-kappaB activation and inducible nitric-oxide synthase expression. Together, these data define an important role of BCL10 in the innate immune system.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2004

Shift from systemic to site-specific memory by tumor-targeted IL-2.

IL-2 has been approved for treatment of patients with cancer. Moreover, it has been used as a component of vaccines against cancer. In this regard, we have recently demonstrated that dendritic cell-based peptide vaccination in mice required IL-2 to mount an effective immune response against established melanoma metastases. In this study, we confirm this observation by use of tumor-targeted IL-2. However, the development of a protective systemic memory was substantially impaired by this measure, i.e., mice, which successfully rejected s.c. tumors of B16 melanoma after vaccination with dendritic cells pulsed with tyrosinase-related protein 2-derived peptides plus a boost with targeted IL-2, failed to reject a rechallenge with experimental pulmonary metastases. Detailed analysis revealed a change in the distribution of the tumor-reactive T cell population: although targeted IL-2 expanded the local effector population, tyrosinase-related protein 2-reactive T cells were almost completely depleted from lymphatic tissues.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Capillary electrochromatography of peptides on a neutral porous monolith with annular electroosmotic flow generation.

A new kind of monolithic capillary column was prepared for capillary electrochromatography (CEC) with a positively charged polymer layer on the inner wall of a fused-silica capillary and a neutral monolithic packing as the bulk stationary phase. The fused-silica capillary was first silanized with 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS). Polyethyleneimine (PEI) was then covalently bonded to the GPTMS coating to form an annular positively charged polymer layer for the generation of electroosmotic flow (EOF). A neutral bulk monolithic stationary phase was then prepared by in situ copolymerization of vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate in the presence of 1-propanol and formamide as porogens. Benzyl chloride functionalities on the monolith were subsequently hydrolyzed to benzyl alcohol groups. Effects of pH on the EOF mobility of the column were measured to monitor the completion of reactions. Using a column with this design, we expected general problems in CEC such as irreversible adsorption and electrostatic interaction between stationary phase and analytes to be reduced. A peptide mixture was successfully separated in counter-directional mode CEC. Comparison of peptide separations in isocratic monolithic CEC, gradient HPLC and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) indicated that the separation in CEC is governed by a dual mechanism that involves a complex interplay between selective chromatographic retention and differential electrophoretic migration.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

PubMed2004

Capillary electrochromatography of peptides and proteins.

This paper reviews recent progress in bioanalysis using capillary electrochromatography (CEC), especially in the field of separation of proteins and peptides. Fundamentals of CEC are briefly discussed. Since most of the recent developments on CEC have focused on column technology, i.e., design of new stationary phases and development of new column configurations, we describe here a variety of column architectures along with their advantages and disadvantages. Newly emerged column technologies in CEC for high speed and high efficiency separation are also discussed. Different analytical platforms of CEC such as pressure-assisted CEC or voltage-assisted micro- high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), CEC with different detection techniques, CEC on microchip platforms and multidimensional electrochromatography with their applications in peptide and protein analysis are presented.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2004

Preparation and characterization of alkylated polymethacrylate monolithic columns for micro-HPLC of proteins.

Protein separations were carried out by micro-high performance liquid chromatography (micro-HPLC) with surface alkylated monolithic columns, which were prepared by in situ copolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) in the presence of dodecanol and toluene as porogens. First, glycidyl groups at the surface of the porous monolith were hydrolyzed with sulfuric acid. The hydroxyl groups thus formed were then reacted with n-alkyl chloride to form alkylated stationary phase. Separation performance for proteins on columns with C18 and C8 stationary phases was compared. The results showed that a poly(GMA-EGDMA) support derivatized with octadecyl moieties could achieve much better resolution than one with octyl groups. A protein mixture was separated with the octadecylated poly-(GMA-EGDMA) monolithic column, and the effluent peaks were collected and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The physical properties of the monolithic columns such as column morphology, surface area, mesopore size distribution, and column permeability were further characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), multipoint BET nitrogen adsorption/desorption, and Darcy's law, respectively.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2004

DNA vaccines suppress tumor growth and metastases by the induction of anti-angiogenesis.

Four novel oral DNA vaccines provide long-lived protection against melanoma, colon, breast, and non-small cell lung carcinoma in mouse model systems. The vaccines are delivered by attenuated Salmonella typhimurium to secondary lymphoid organs and are directed against targets such as carcinoembryonic antigen, tyrosine-related protein, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 [also called fetal liver kinase-1 (FLK-1)], and transcription factor Fos-related antigen-1 (Fra-1). The FLK-1 and Fra-1 vaccines are effective in suppressing angiogenesis in the tumor vasculature. All four vaccines are capable of inducing potent cell-mediated protective immunity, breaking peripheral T-cell tolerance against these self-antigens resulting in effective suppression of tumor growth and metastasis. It is anticipated that such research efforts will contribute toward the rational design of future DNA vaccines that will be effective for prevention and treatment of human cancer.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2004

A novel transgenic mouse model for immunological evaluation of carcinoembryonic antigen-based DNA minigene vaccines.

A lack of relevant animal models has hampered preclinical screening and critical evaluation of the efficacy of human vaccines in vivo. Carcinoembryonic antigen-A2Kb (CEA-A2Kb) double transgenic mice provide a biologically relevant model for preclinical screening and critical evaluation of human CEA vaccine efficacy in vivo, particularly because such animals are peripherally tolerant of CEA. We established the utility of this model by demonstrating that an oral DNA minigene vaccine induces effective HLA-A2-restricted, CEA-specific antitumor CTL responses. This finding is supported by three lines of evidence: (a). an effective HLA-A2-restricted, CEA(691)-specific CTL response; (b). specific in vitro killing of CEA-A2Kb transduced MC-38 colon carcinoma cells; and (c). protective immunity induced in vaccinated mice against challenges of these tumor cells. Importantly, peripheral T cell tolerance against CEA in CEA-A2Kb double transgenic mice was broken by the CEA(691) (IMIGVLVGV) minigene vaccine. In conclusion, CEA-A2Kb double transgenic mice were demonstrated to be good candidates for in vivo testing of human CEA-based vaccines. This result suggests a potential for these vaccines in future human vaccine development. The feasibility of using nonmutated self-antigens as targets for therapeutic vaccinations was indicated, provided that such antigens are presented in an immunogenic context; that is, as a DNA minigene in a bacterial carrier system.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Transcription factor Fos-related antigen 1 is an effective target for a breast cancer vaccine.

Protection against breast cancer was achieved with a DNA vaccine against murine transcription factor Fos-related antigen 1, which is overexpressed in aggressively proliferating D2F2 murine breast carcinoma. Growth of primary s.c. tumor and dissemination of pulmonary metastases was markedly suppressed by this oral DNA vaccine, carried by attenuated Salmonella typhimurium, encoding murine Fos-related antigen 1, fused with mutant polyubiquitin, and cotransformed with secretory murine IL-18. The life span of 60% of vaccinated mice was tripled in the absence of detectable tumor growth after lethal tumor cell challenge. Immunological mechanisms involved activation of T, natural killer, and dendritic cells, as indicated by up-regulation of their activation markers and costimulatory molecules. Markedly increased specific target cell lysis was mediated by both MHC class I-restricted CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells isolated from splenocytes of vaccinated mice, including a significant release of proinflammatory cytokines IFN-gamma and IL-2. Importantly, fluorescence analysis of fibroblast growth factor 2 and tumor cell-induced vessel growth in Matrigel plugs demonstrated marked suppression of angiogenesis only in vaccinated animals. Taken together, this multifunctional DNA vaccine proved effective in protecting against growth and metastases of breast cancer by combining the action of immune effector cells with suppression of tumor angiogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Plasmid DNA encoding human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) adsorbed onto cationic microparticles induces protective immunity against colon cancer in CEA-transgenic mice.

A carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-based DNA vaccine, adsorbed onto cationic microparticles of poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) induced tumor-protective immunity against a lethal challenge of MC38-CEA colon carcinoma cells in CEA-transgenic mice that was more potent than that of the corresponding naked DNA vaccine. Boosting with a plasmid encoding murine GM-CSF increased the vaccine's efficacy leading to a complete rejection of tumor cells in 50% of mice. This effect was due to activation of MHC class I-restricted CD8(+) T cells coupled with an increased secretion of proinflammatory cytokines IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-2. Also, specific activation of dendritic cells was indicated by a two-three-fold upregulation of their costimulatory CD80 and MHC class II molecules. This approach may be a promising new strategy for the rational design of cancer vaccines for future clinical applications.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2003

Elution-modified displacement chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization-MS: on-line detection of trace peptides at low-femtomole level in peptide digests.

Elution-modified displacement chromatography (EMDC) was employed to achieve peptide separations with high efficiency. On-line ESI-MS and ESI-MS/MS measurements showed enrichment and detection of kemptide, a protein kinase A peptide substrate, at low femtomole levels when it was added as a trace marker component to a tryptic digest of bovine serum proteins or to a human growth hormone peptide digest at concentration ratios between 1:10(5) and 1:10(6). In another EMDC separation, five peptides were detected in a mixture containing 20 fmol of human growth hormone tryptic digest mixed with the bovine serum protein digest. We found that EMDC facilitated rapid detection and sequence analysis of trace peptides at levels of approximately 0.5 fmol/microL in complex peptide mixtures with a wide dynamic concentration range. Accordingly, the detection of kemptide by EMDC was found to be 3-4 orders of magnitude more sensitive than that attained in conventional linear elution chromatography separations performed with the same peptide loads. Kemptide was phosphorylated in vitro and was detected along with its neutral loss product in peptide mixtures at low femtomole levels. EMDC enabled both detection and amino acid sequence determination on trace levels of phosphorylated and other posttranslationally modified peptides, suggesting that the technique may be useful for proteomics applications where detection and analysis of trace level peptides are problematic.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

A DNA vaccine against VEGF receptor 2 prevents effective angiogenesis and inhibits tumor growth.

Tumor cells are elusive targets for immunotherapy due to their heterogeneity and genetic instability. Here we describe a novel, oral DNA vaccine that targets stable, proliferating endothelial cells in the tumor vasculature rather than tumor cells. Targeting occurs through upregulated vascular-endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (FLK-1) of proliferating endothelial cells in the tumor vasculature. This vaccine effectively protected mice from lethal challenges with melanoma, colon carcinoma and lung carcinoma cells and reduced growth of established metastases in a therapeutic setting. CTL-mediated killing of endothelial cells indicated breaking of peripheral immune tolerance against this self antigen, resulting in markedly reduced dissemination of spontaneous and experimental pulmonary metastases. Angiogenesis in the tumor vasculature was suppressed without impairment of fertility, neuromuscular performance or hematopoiesis, albeit with a slight delay in wound healing. Our strategy circumvents problems in targeting of genetically unstable tumor cells. This approach may provide a new strategy for the rational design of cancer therapies.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Selective enrichment of low-abundance peptides in complex mixtures by elution-modified displacement chromatography and their identification by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Trace components were selectively enriched and detected in the tryptic digest of recombinant human growth hormone using elution-modified displacement chromatography, a hybrid technique combining features of elution and displacement chromatography. Based on the retention behavior of sample components in the elution mode, rapid and selective trace enrichment and high-resolution separation was achieved in a single step by utilizing appropriate combinations of an eluent such as aqueous acetonitrile with the displacer. Mass spectral and chromatographic analysis of displacement zones revealed up to 400-fold enhancement of the concentration of some low-abundance sample components. Potential application of this technique in proteomics to augment the sensitivity of LC-MS and 2-D gel electrophoretic approaches for the detection of biologically important low-abundance species is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

Tumor regression by targeted gene delivery to the neovasculature.

Efforts to influence the biology of blood vessels by gene delivery have been hampered by a lack of targeting vectors specific for endothelial cells in diseased tissues. Here we show that a cationic nanoparticle (NP) coupled to an integrin alphavbeta3-targeting ligand can deliver genes selectively to angiogenic blood vessels in tumor-bearing mice. The therapeutic efficacy of this approach was tested by generating NPs conjugated to a mutant Raf gene, ATPmu-Raf, which blocks endothelial signaling and angiogenesis in response to multiple growth factors. Systemic injection of the NP into mice resulted in apoptosis of the tumor-associated endothelium, ultimately leading to tumor cell apoptosis and sustained regression of established primary and metastatic tumors.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed2002

Fundamentals of capillary electrochromatography: migration behavior of ionized sample components.

The mechanism of separating charged species by capillary electrochromatography (CEC) was modeled with the conditions of ideal/linear chromatography by using a simple random walk. The most novel aspect of the work rests with the assumption that in sufficiently high electric field ionized sample components can also migrate in the adsorbed state on the ionized surface of the stationary phase. This feature of CEC leads to the introduction of three dimensionless parameters: alpha, reduced mobility of a sample component with the electrosmotic mobility as the reference; beta, the CEC retention factor; and gamma, the ratio of the electrophoretic migration velocity and the velocity of surface electrodiffusion. Since the interplay of retentive and electrophoretic forces determines the overall migration velocity, the separation mechanism in CEC is governed by the relative importance of the above parameters. The model predicts conditions under which the features of the CEC system engender migration behavior that manifests itself in a relatively narrow elution window and in a gradient like elution pattern in the separation of peptides and proteins by using pro forma isocratic CEC. It is believed that such elution patterns, which resemble those obtained by the use of external gradient of the eluent, are brought about by the formation of an internal gradient in the CEC system that gave rise to concomitant peak compression. The peculiarities of CEC are discussed in the three operational modalities of the technique: co-current, countercurrent, and co-counter CEC. The results suggest that CEC, which is often called "liquid chromatography on electrophoretic platform" is an analytical tool with great potential in the separation of peptides and proteins.

Algorithms↗