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Biomedical subjects

Yuan Li

Publications and source records attributed to Yuan Li.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Experimental investigation of effects of adenovirus transduced tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 gene on growth of laryngeal squamous carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibitory effects of adenovirus transduced TFPI-2 gene on the growth of laryngeal squamous carcinoma. METHODS: Recombinant adenoviruses carrying human TFPI-2 gene were amplified and identified. The nude mouse model of laryngeal squamous carcinoma was established by intracutaneous injection of Hep-2 cells. Mice in the treated group were injected with recombinant adenoviruses with Ad-TFPI-2 (adenoviruses-TFPI-2) in peritumor tissue while mice in control group were injected with equivalent null plasmids. After treatment, the tumor weight and volume of tumor in each mouse were measured respectively. The morphological changes of tumor cells were observed using transmission electron microscope and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression was examined using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The Ad-TFPI-2 virus titer was 2.8 x 10(12) PFU/ml after amplification. The average tumor weight and volume in Ad-TFPI-2 treated group were (1.20 +/- 0.34) cm3 and the volume (1.52 +/- 0.39) g, which were significantly lower than the tumor weight (2. 08 +/- 0.52) cm3 and (2.67 +/- 0.47) g in the control group (P < 0. 01). Apoptosis was observed in the tumors of Ad-TFPI-2 treated group. The PCNA index in Ad-TFPI-2 group was (54.9% +/- 12.4%), which was obviously lower than that (75.8% +/- 11.2%)in control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Peritumor injection of Ad-TFPI-2 can inhibit the growth of laryngeal squamous carcinoma in nude mouse model.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed2005

[A clinicopathological study of 14 cases of oral granular cell tumor].

OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical and histological features of oral granular cell tumor (OGCT)and discuss their proliferative activity. METHODS: Clinical and microscopic features were assessed in 14 cases of OGCT collected from the department of oral pathology, college of stomatology of Wuhan University between 1970 and 2003. Immunohistochemical analysis was carried out using antibodies to S-100, NSE and Ki-67 and follow-up was obtained in all cases. RESULTS: Tongue was the most commonly affected location (13/14). The average age was 32.6 years (range 11 to 50). OGCT occurred more commonly in females (2.5:1). Histologically, the lesions consisted of polygonal cells with abundant, granular cytoplasm. Eleven cases had typical histological features, while 3 specimens were atypical. Growth patterns were expansive in 3/14 and invasive in 11/14, including 3 atypical cases. Immunohistochemical analysis disclosed that 100% of granular cells demonstrated moderated/strong staining for S-100 protein, neuron specific enolase (NSE). Nuclear immunostaining for Ki-67 was observed only in isolated granular cells. Seven patients with benign and two patients with atypical granular cell tumor had no recurrence and metastases. One patient with atypical granular cell tumor had local recurrence after 9 years and died of the disease 10 months later. CONCLUSIONS: OGCT cells display low proliferation activity. Most OGCTs are benign but few have malignant potential and periodic follow-up is mandatory to detect malignant transformation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[The C46359T polymorphism of DNMT3B promoter gene and pathogenesis of acute leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the polymorphism of C46359T in DNMT3B promoter and the pathogenesis of acute leukemia (AL). METHODS: PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing were used to analyze the genotypic polymorphism C46359T of promoter in genomic DNA of bone marrow cells/blood lymphocytes from 160 patients with AL and 240 normal controls. RESULTS: In people of the Hans in China, genotypic frequencies of 2.5% (CT), 97.5% (TT) and 0 (CC) were statistically significant (P < 0.001) comparing with the genotype frequencies of 41.8% (CT), 23.2% (TT) and 35.0% (CC) in Caucasian in USA. The genotypic frequency of CT heterozygote in 160 AL patients was 10.6%, significantly higher than that in the control subjects (2.5%, P < 0.001), indicating that the CT heterozygote might be a more frequent phenomenon in AL. Compared with TT homozygote, CT heterozygote had a 4.669-fold increased risk of acute leukemia (OR = 4.669; 95% confidence interval 1.700-14.747). It was suggested that CT heterozygote was relative to the pathogenesis of AL. CONCLUSIONS: Different distribution of genotypes in different races, the CT heterozygote was relative to the pathogenesis of AL.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

[The variations of p38 MAPK activity on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation of nasal epithelial cells and its significance in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To study the variations of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) activity on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation of nasal epithelial cells and its significance in vitro. METHOD: Epithelial cells from normal nasal mucosa were separated and cultured without serum. The epithelial cells were stimulated by LPS in different concentration; Western immunoblotting was used to detect the variations of p38MAPK activity and the inhibited effect of SB203580 which is a specific inhibitor of p38MAPK. RESULT: The activation of p38MAPK stimulated by LPS from 5-30 min and 0.01-1.0 mg/L was enhanced. SB203580 at the dose of 1.0-5.0 tmol/L has the highest inhibition to the activation of p38MAPK. SB203580 can inhibited the activation of p38MAPK before 20 min stimulated by LPS, which has little inhibition after stimulated by LPS. CONCLUSION: LPS induced inflammatory response of the epithelial cells in nasal mucosa can cause the enhancement of p38MAPK activity at "positive dependence" pattern whiting 30 min and 1 mg/L. The inhibition of SB203580 on the activation of p38MAPK was enhanced at "positive dependence" pattern with 5 micromol/L, which was effective only before the stimulation of LPS.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed2005

[Sex chromosome analysis and IGF-II expression on activated human unfertilized oocytes after ICSI with calcium ionophore A23187 and puromycin].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the sex chromosomes and the expression of insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) on activated human unfertilized oocytes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI) with calcium ionophore A23187 and puromycin. METHODS: All 95 discarded oocyes that showed no evidence of fertilization at 16-18 h after in vitro maturation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles (IVM-ICSI)/conventional ICSI were exposed to calcium ionophore A23187 (5 micromol/L) for 5 min and then were incubated with puromycin (10 microg/mL) for 4 h. After activation, the oocytes were cultured in vitro for 3-5 days. The sex chromosome analysis was performed by dual color fluorescence in situ hybridization. The expression of IGF-II on the activated embryos, normal embryos, and parthenotes was examined. RESULTS: The combination of calcium ionophore A23187 with puromycin could activate the unfertilized oocytes 22 h after ICSI. The activated rate, cleavage rate, and quality of activated embryos of the IVM-ICSI group were similar to those of ICSI group, respectively. Sex chromosome analysis indicated that 8 male and 5 female embryos had been derived from two pronucleus and a second polar body. The expression of IGF-II on activated embryos and normal embryos was high and similar, which was much stronger than that of parthenotes. CONCLUSION: The combination of calcium ionophore A23187 with puromycin could effectively activate unfertilized oocytes 22 h after ICSI. Moreover, the unfertilized oocytes activated by calcium ionophore A23187 and puromycin had normal sex chromosomes and expression of IGF-II like the normal embryos. These suggest that oocyte activation may be considered as a remedial measure in the presence of total or nearly total fertilization failure in ICSI.

Calcimycin↗
PubMed2005

[A cDNA microarray study of the differential expression of genes in signal transduction pathway during hepatocarcinogenesis in tree shrews].

OBJECTIVES: To study the differential expression of genes in signal transduction pathway (STP) during the hepatocarcinogenesis in tree shrews induced by AFB1 and/or HBV and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. METHODS: Adult tree shrews were divided into three groups: Group A was fed AFB1 only, Group B was infected firstly with HBV then fed AFB1 as in Group A, Group C served as the normal control. Liver biopsies were obtained at the 30th, 60th and 90th week of the experiment or until HCC occurred and the animals were sacrificed. Tree shrew-specific cDNA microarray was applied for detecting the differential expression of corresponding genes in each group at different time points during the experiment, and real time RT PCR was applied to verify the results of the cDNA microarray. RESULTS: Genes of IGF-II, C-rel, and NF-kappaB2 were differentially expressed between para-cancerous tissues and HCC tissues in both group A and group B, and the differential expression of bcl-2, cyclin A and CNTF was only seen in group B. Between the experimental groups A and B and the control group C, there were differential expressions of CNTF and cyclin A in the early 30th week and middle 60th week stage of hepatocarcinogenesis in tree shrews. Real time RT PCR results showed that the expression level of IGF-II and C-Rel in group A and of IGF-II in group B in HCC tissues were significantly lower than that in the adjacent non-cancerous tissues and in the biopsies taken at the 30th and 60th week of the experiment. Nevertheless, there were no significant differences between the para-cancerous tissues and the cancer tissues at the 30th and 60th week. These results were consistent with the cDNA microarray assay. The expression levels of C-Rel and CNTF in group B were not obviously altered in the para-cancerous tissues, HCC and at the 60th week, but they were significantly lower in these tissues than that in the tissues at the 30th week. In group A, the expression levels of CNTF in adjacent liver and HCC tissues were higher than that in para-cancerous lesions, but the difference did not reach a statistically significant level. In group C, the expression level of IGF-II, C-Rel and CNTF at different stages showed no significant differences, which was consistent with the cDNA microarray results. CONCLUSIONS: To apply the tree shrew-specific cDNA microarray to detect the differential expression of genes related to signal transduction pathway during tree shrew hepatocarcinogenesis could be a valuable utility for further comprehending the mechanism of HCC. IGF-II, NF-kappaB2, C-rel, Bcl-2, and cyclin A. CNTF may be involved in the occurrence and progress of HCC in tree shrews.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Cloning, expression and characterization of the Ste6 gene encoding a UDP-glucose dehydrogenase in Streptomyces.

Streptomyces sp. 139 was identified to produce a new exopolysaccharide Ebosin (139A) with antirheumatic arthritis activity in vivo. The Ebosin biosynthesis gene cluster(31.3 kb; GenBank Accession Number: AY131229) containing 22 ORFs (ste1-ste22) of Streptomyces sp. 139 had been reported previously. In this paper,we present experimental evidence for the identity of the ste6 gene product as a UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (UDPGDH). With pET-30a as vector,the gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The expressed protein was purified to homogeneity by His-Bind resin affinity chromatograpy and it was able to catalyze UDP-glucose to UDP-glucuronic acid. To evaluate the function of ste6, the gene was disrupted by a single-crossover homologous recombination event and the result showed that ste6 is required in Ebosin biosynthesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

[Study on the (TAAAA)n repeat polymorphism in sex hormone-binding globulin gene and the SHBG serum levels in putative association with the glucose metabolic status of Chinese patients suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome in Shandong province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of (TAAAA)n repeat polymorphism in the promoter of the sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) gene and SHBG serum levels to the glucose metabolic status of Chinese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients in Shandong province. METHODS: GeneScan method was used to detect and identify (TAAAA)n repeat number (alleles) and genotypes for 156 controls and 157 patients who were divided into normal glucose tolerance without hyperinsulinemia (NIR group) and with hyperinsulinemia (HI group) and abnormal glucose metabolic (AGM) group according to the results of oral glucose test and insulin resistant test; IRMA was used to measure serum SHBG for part of them. RESULTS: Five alleles containing (TAAAA) 6-10 repeats and 14 genotypes including 6/6, 6/7, 6/8, 6/9, 6/10, 7/7, 7/8, 7/9, 7/10, 8/8, 8/9, 8/10, 9/9, 9/10 repeats genotypes were present in the subjects. Genotype distribution of 6/10 repeats genotype is lower in PCOS than that in control, and 8/9 repeats genotype vice versa (P < 0.01); among PCOS subgroups, the eight repeat genotypes in NIR group is more frequent than that in HI group (P < 0.01), and 7/9 genotype distribution in AGM group is higher than that in NIR group and HI group(P < 0.05-0.01). The serum SHBG levels in homozygous genotype groups exhibit a sequence of 8/8 > 9/9 > 6/6, 7/7 repeats and the fall of serum SHBG trend is in reversed relation with the increase in body mass index (BMI), Homa-IR, and blood pressure. Serum SHBG levels in AGM exhibit a sequence of HI group < NIR group < control but show no statistical difference between both groups. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that the repeat number, alleles, genotypes and their distributions in Chinese women are very different from these in foreigners. Some special genotypes and low serum SHBG levels may be associated with PCOS and its glucose metabolic status; some special genotypes may influence Chinese serum SHBG and need more studies, but both SHBG gene polymorphism genotype and serum SHBG are not good indicators to find out the PCOS individual at high risk.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 12p12-13 region in Chinese patients with colon carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: It is demonstrated that KRAS2, functioning as an oncogene, plays a critical role in carcinogenesis. However, some studies suggest that the wild type KRAS2, located in the region of 12p12.1, takes its effect as a tumor suppressor gene. This study, therefore, is aimed to investigate the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 12p12-13 region in 10 human colon carcinomas. METHODS: LOH analysis of the 12p12-13 region was performed by PCR, using 11 microsatellite markers in 12p12-13 region. The relationships between LOH for each marker and clinical pathologic factors were evaluated. RESULTS: LOH in at least one of the loci in 12p12-13 region was detected in 30% (3/10) of adjacent tissues; the highest frequency of LOH was identified at the locus of D12S1034 in 28.57% (2/7) of adjacent tissues. 60% (6/10) carcinoma tissues were found to have LOH in at least one locus in the same region; the most frequent LOH was found at the loci of D12S1034 and D12S1591, both about 42.86% (3/7). Among all samples, 3 cases were noted to have LOH in both adjacent and tumor tissues, and 3 cases were shown to have LOH only in tumor tissues. Occurrence of LOH was not correlated with sex, age, tumor size and lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSION: Allelic loss on 12p12-13 region would influence the KRAS2 expression by reducing the gene-dosage in colon carcinogenesis.

Asian People↗
PubMed2005

[Detection of glucocorticoid receptor-alpha mRNA expression using FQ-RT-PCR in nasal polyp].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of the glucocorticoid receptor-alpha (GR-alpha) mRNA in nasal polyp and normal nasal mucosa and investigate the significance of GR-alpha in progression of nasal polyp. METHOD: The expression of GR-alpha mRNA in 36 samples of nasal polyp and 31 samples of normal nasal mucosa was examined by using fluorescent quantitative PCR(FQ RT-PCR). RESULT: The GR-alpha mRNA levels in normal nasal mucosa [(135.4 +/- 5.2) x 10(10) copy/g] were significantly higher than those in nasal polyp [(25.5 +/- 5.0) x 10(10) copy/g] (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The low expression of GR-alpha mRNA in nasal polyp is related to the progression of nasal polyp.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Study on the current status and trend of food consumption among Chinese population].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the current status and trend of food consumption among Chinese residents. METHODS: 23,470 households including 68,962 subjects were randomly sampled from 132 counties in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. A 24-hour dietary recall method for 3 consecutive days was used to collect information on food intake, but the condiment intake was collected by weighting method. RESULTS: The average food consumption per reference man per day of Chinese people included 402 g (urban/rural: 366 g/ 416 g) cereals; 276 g (urban/rural: 252 g/ 286 g) vegetables; 45 g (urban/rural:69 g/36 g) fruits; 79 g (urban/rural: 105 g/69 g) meats; 30 g (urban/rural:45 g/24 g) fishery products; 24 g (urban/rural: 33 g/20 g) eggs; 27 g(urban/rural: 66 g/ 11 g) dairy; 16 g legume; 42 g (urban/rural:44 g/41 g) edible oil; 12 g (urban/rural: 11 g/12 g) salt; 9 g (urban/rural: 11 g/8 g) soy sauce. CONCLUSIONS: For Chinese residents, the quality of diet had been improved and consumptions of animal products, milk, and edible oil had been increased, but the consumptions of dairy and legume products intake was still low which called for improvement. The unbalance was characterized as the downward trend in cereal, vegetable and fruit consumption but significant increased in animal products and oil intake among urban people. Dietary pattern of some subjects adopted a "high energy density" diet. Double burdens from under-nutrition and over-nutrition should both be considered as problems which asked for attention by the government and researchers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Expression, purification and antigen activity analysis of the N-terminal domain of lipoprotein LppQ of Mycoplasma mycoide subsp. mycoides SC].

The gene sequence coding the N-terminal domain of LppQ was amplified from Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC (MmmSC) HVRI X strain by PCR using special primers and was cloned into the EcoR I /Sal I sites of pET32a vector to construct the expression recombinant plasmids. The recombinant plasmids were indentified by restriction digestion, PCR and sequence analysis. The gene was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) host cell and the soluble protein was purified with Ni-NTA His. Bind purification kits. The amount of recombinant protein reached 53.7% of the total mass of bacterial protein. The purity of recombinant protein reached to over 95 %. The antigen activity of the purified protein was examined with Western blot analysis. The purified protein reacted strongly with the standard positive serum and didn't react with the negative sera of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia(CBPP).

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Cloning and expression of UDP-glucose-4-epimerase gene from Streptomyces and characteristics of the enzyme].

The ste 19 gene is identified to encode a UDP-Glucose-4-epimerase by data base comparison and experimental validation. The enzyme catalyzes the interconversion of UDP-Glucose and UDP-Galactose. The gene amplified by PCR with the total DNA of Streptomyces sp. 139 as template was cloned into plasmid pET30a at Xho I - Nde I sites. After the recombinant plasmid was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) and induced by IPTG, the protein was expressed as high as 26% of the total cell proteins and dominantly as soluble protein form. The high GC content (73.8%) and the preferential usage of G or C as third base of codons (96.2%) seems not to affect its good expression in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The purity of the recombinant protein purified by Ni2+ affinity chromatography is 92.9% by HPLC analysis. Enzyme activity assay shows the recombinant protein is a UDP-Glucose-4-epimerase and its activity is not dependent on exogenous NAD+. The above research lays a very good foundation for study on functions of the ste 19 gene in Ebosin biosynthesis.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed2004

Alteration of p53 and p21 during hepatocarcinogenesis in tree shrews.

AIM: To investigate p53 mutation and p21 expression in hepatocarcinogenesis induced by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) in tree shrews, and to reveal the role of these genes in hepatocarcinogenesis. METHODS: Tree shrews were divided into four groups: group A, those infected with HBV and fed with AFB(1) (n = 39); group B, those infected with HBV alone (n = 28); group C, those fed with AFB(1) alone (n = 29); and group D, normal controls (n = 20). The tree shrews underwent liver biopsies once every 15 wk. Expression of p53 and p21 proteins and genes in the biopsies and tumor tissues of the experimental tree shrews was detected, respectively, by immunohistochemistry, and by Southern blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. RESULTS: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) was higher in group A (66.7%) than that in group B (3.57%) and C (30%). The time of HCC occurrence was also earlier in group A than that in group C (120.0+/-16.6 wk vs 153.3+/-5.8 wk, respectively, P<0.01). p53 protein was not detected by immunohistochemistry in all groups before the 75(th) wk of the experiment. At the 105(th) wk, the positive rates fo p53 were 78.6%, 60% and 71.4% in groups A, B and C, respectively, which were significantly higher than that in group D (10%) (all P<0.05). An abnormal band of p53 gene was observed in groups A and C. The mutation points of p53 gene in tree shrews with HCC were at codons 275, 78 and 13. The nucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence of tree shrew's wild-type p53 showed 91.7% and 93.4% homologies with those of human p53, respectively. The immunopositivity for p21 was found before HCC development. The incidence of HCC was significantly higher in tree shrews that were positive for p21 than those negative for p21 (80.0% vs 11.0%, P<0.001). The incidence of HCC in p21 positive animals in group A was significantly higher than those positive for p21 in group C (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: A remarkable synergistic effect on HCC development exists between HBV and AFB(1). p53 mutation promotes the development of HCC. HBV and AFB(1) may synergistically induce p53 gene mutation, and stimulate ras gene expression. ras gene is activated at the earlier stage during hepatocarcinogenesis. p21 protein may be an early marker, and the alterations of p53 may be a late event in the development of HCC.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Modulation of G-protein expression and adenylyl cyclase signaling by high glucose in vascular smooth muscle.

OBJECTIVE: We have recently shown a decreased expression of Gialpha proteins and associated functions in aorta from short term (5 days) streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Since hyperglycemia is one of the underlying causes of diabetes-induced cardiovascular complications, it was of interest to examine if hyperglycemia may play a direct role in down regulating the expression of Gialpha in vascular smooth muscle cells of diabetic subjects. For this, the effect of high glucose treatment on Gialpha protein expression and adenylyl cyclase signaling in intact aorta and vascular smooth muscle cells (A10 cells) was investigated. METHODS: The cells were grown in normal glucose (5.5 mM) medium and were subsequently exposed to high glucose (26 mM) or normal medium for various time periods (24-96 h). Aorta from control rats were exposed to normal and high glucose medium for 72 h. The levels of G-proteins were determined by immunoblotting using specific antibodies. Adenylyl cyclase activity stimulated or inhibited by agonists was determined to examine the functions of G-proteins. RESULTS: The levels of Gialpha-2 and Gialpha-3 proteins in membranes from A10 cells and aorta exposed to high glucose for 3 or 4 days were significantly decreased as compared to control cells and control aorta, respectively, whereas the levels of Gsalpha protein were not altered. In addition, receptor-dependent and -independent functions of Gialpha proteins were attenuated in hyperglycemic cells, as demonstrated by inhibition of forskolin (FSK)-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity by low concentration of GTPgammaS or by angiotensin II (Ang II), oxotremorine or C-ANP(4-23) (a ring deleted analog of atrial natriuretic peptide). On the other hand, the stimulatory effects of GTPgammaS, glucagon, isoproterenol, FSK and sodium fluoride on adenylyl cyclase were significantly augmented in hyperglycemic cells as compared to control cells, whereas basal adenylyl cyclase activity was significantly lower in hyperglycemic cells as compared to control cells. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that high glucose decreased the levels and functions of Gi proteins in A10 VSMC and aorta. It may thus be suggested that decreased levels and activity of Gi proteins and adenylyl cyclase signaling induced by hyperglycemia may be one of the important mechanisms contributing to the cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗
PubMed2004

Natural killer cells inhibit hepatitis C virus expression.

Natural killer (NK) cells are critical in host innate defense against certain viruses. The role of NK cells in controlling hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains obscure. We examined whether NK cells are capable of inhibiting HCV expression in human hepatic cells. When NK cells are cultured with the HCV replicon-containing hepatic cells, they have no direct cytolytic effect but release soluble factor(s) suppressing HCV RNA expression. Media conditioned by NK cell lines (NK-92 and YTS) or primary NK cells isolated from healthy donors contain interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and potently inhibit HCV RNA expression. Ligation of CD81 on NK cells inhibits IFN-gamma production and results in decreased anti-HCV activity. In addition, the antibodies to IFN-gamma or IFN-gamma receptors abolish the anti-HCV activity of NK cell-conditioned media. The role of IFN-gamma in NK cell-mediated, anti-HCV activity is supported by the observation that NK cell-conditioned media enhanced expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription-1, a nuclear factor that is essential in IFN-gamma-mediated antiviral pathways. NK cell-conditioned media have the ability to stimulate intracellular IFN-alpha expression in the hepatic cells, suggesting a mechanism responsible for NK cell-mediated, anti-HCV activity. Thus, NK cells hold the potential to play a vital role in controlling HCV replication in hepatic cells using an IFN-gamma-dependent mechanism.

Antigens, CD↗