Nanoparticle-based immunotherapy of breast cancer using recombinant Helicobacter pylori proteins

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide and is associated with substantial medical and economic burden. We report the development of a hybrid immunotherapeutic system based on recombinant Nap protein from Helicobacter pylori (HP-Nap) for the treatment of breast tumors. Chitosan nanoparticles with pseudo-spherical morphology and positive zeta potential were synthesized as carriers for HP-Nap. In vitro study was performed on mouse breast cancer cell line (4T1) and human breast cancer cell lines (MCF7). In vivo study was done on 4T1 tomural mice. TUNEL assay and real time PCR test were performed on tumor mice receiving the nanoparticle treatment. The nanoparticle-protein complex induced apoptosis in vitro in cultured breast cancer cells. In-vivo studies on inbred, female BALB/c mice confirmed the shrinkage of tumor mass after administration of the nanoparticle complex containing HP-Nap. The TUNEL assay further confirmed apoptosis in extracted mouse breast cancer cells. A decrease in the expression of VEGF and MMP9 genes was observed in 4T1 cells as shown by real time PCR. Our data suggesting that the therapeutic nanocomplex may have led to decreased tumor growth in mice through changing the production rate of cytokines and increasing tumoricidal activities of the immune system.

Serum Antibodies against Helicobacter pylori Neutrophil Activating Protein in Carriers of IL-4 C-590T Genetic Polymorphism Amplify the Risk of Gastritis and Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer arises, mainly, on an inflammatory background. Helicobacter pylori neutrophil activating (HP-NAP) protein functions as a potent pro-inflammatory mediator. Similarly, IL-4 plays a critical role in the inflammation pathway, the levels of which are altered by C to T transition at position -590 in its promoter region. Here, we have aimed to assess the risk of gastritis and gastric cancer in the co-presence of these two inflammation modulating mediators.

METHODS

Gastritis (n=58) and gastric cancer (n=31) patients were evaluated and compared with H. pylori-positive asymptomatic controls (n=46), for serum antibodies against recombinant HP-NAP and IL-4 C-590T single nucleotide polymorphism using immunoblotting and PCR-RFLP, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for age, gender and ethnicity, was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

In terms of susceptibility to gastritis, seropositivity to HP-NAP projected a risk impact of 4.62 fold (OR=4.62, 95% CI=1.50-14.22), which when present in IL-4 -590 T carriers augmented the risk up to 9.7 fold (OR=9.70, 95% CI=2.06-45.69). A similar pattern, but of a stronger magnitude, occurred for the risk of gastric cancer, which was estimated at 9.07 fold (OR=9.07, 95% CI=1.99-42.0) for HP-NAP-seropositive subjects and was drastically amplified (OR=33.64, 95% CI=2.06-548.68), when double-positive (HP-NAP seropositive/IL-4 -590 T carrier) subjects were examined against double negatives (HP-NAP seronegative/IL-4 -590 CC).

CONCLUSION

Our preliminary data indicate that serum antibodies against HP-NAP represent a state of risk, which is further exacerbated in IL-4 -590 T carriers. These biomarkers, if validated in larger prospective studies, can be used to screen for gastric cancer susceptibility.

Qualitative and quantitative studies of eosinophils in parasitic infections

Th2 responses such as peripheral and tissue eosinophilia are characteristic features in the host animals infected with Strongyloides venezuelensis and Trichinella spiralis. Th2 responses are characterized by a specific profile of cytokines and chemokines induced during the course of infection. In this chapter, we describe the methodology that is utilized in our laboratories to study the production of cytokine, chemokine, and antibodies related to the eosinophilia seen in mice infected with the parasites. Furthermore, protocols are described for the different methods used to study eosinophil functions in the blood and tissues of these experimental models of parasitic infections.