A trial of IRX-2 in patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck

A Phase II trial in 42 patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (H and NSCC) was performed using a combination immunotherapy with 10-20 days of perilymphatic injections of a natural cytokine mixture (NCM: IRX-2; 200 units IL-2 equivalence) preceded by low dose cyclophosphamide (CY; 300 mg/m(2)) and followed by daily oral indomethacin (25 mg t.i.d.) and zinc (65 mg in a multivitamin preparation). Thirty-nine patients underwent subsequent surgical resection and 22 stage IV patients received additional radiotherapy. Forty-two percent were adjudged to have complete and partial clinical responses (>50% tumor reduction); an additional five patients had minor responses for a total of 58%. Comparison of post-treatment biopsies or surgical specimens showed 90% of patients had reduction in tumor area from 79% to 48% (over half of which was fragmented) and increased area of leukocyte infiltration from 9% to 32% (79% of which was lymphoid). The treatment with IRX-2 was not associated with significant side effects and 24 of patients showed improvement in eating, breathing or phonation or reduced pain and bleeding. Fifteen patients with lymphocytopenia (lymphocyte counts [LC] less than or equal to 1500 mm(3)) showed significant increases in LC, CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes of 401, 147, 95 and 100/mm(3), respectively. Analysis of outcome of 32 on protocol patients after 36 months versus 32 concurrent institutional H and NSCC controls showed delayed recurrences and significant increases in mean survival time (MST) and survival (p's<0.02). The data document immunotherapy induced regression of H and NSCC with delayed recurrence and improved mean survival time.

The active site of the junction-resolving enzyme T7 endonuclease I

Endonuclease I is a junction-resolving enzyme encoded by bacteriophage T7, that selectively binds and cleaves four-way DNA junctions. We have recently solved the structure of this dimeric enzyme at atomic resolution, and identified the probable catalytic residues. The putative active site comprises the side-chains of three acidic amino acids (Glu20, Asp55 and Glu65) together with a lysine residue (Lys67), and shares strong similarities with a number of type II restriction enzymes. However, it differs from a typical restriction enzyme as the proposed catalytic residues in both active sites are contributed by both polypeptides of the dimer. Mutagenesis experiments confirm the importance of all the proposed active site residues. We have carried out in vitro complementation experiments using heterodimers formed from mutants in different active site residues, showing that Glu20 is located on a different monomer from the remaining amino acid residues comprising the active site. These experiments confirm that the helix-exchanged architecture of the enzyme creates a mixed active site in solution. Such a composite active site structure should result in unilateral cleavage by the complemented heterodimer; this has been confirmed by the use of a cruciform substrate. Based upon analogy with closely similar restriction enzyme active sites and our mutagenesis experiments, we propose a two-metal ion mechanism for the hydrolytic cleavage of DNA junctions.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of the putative [6Fe–6S] prismane protein from Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Hildenborough)

Crystals of the prismane protein from Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Hildenborough) containing a putative [6Fe-6S] cluster have been obtained and X-ray data collected to a resolution of 1.7 A using synchrotron radiation. The unit cell is orthorhombic with a = 64.1, b = 65.1 and c = 154.1 A, space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) (No. 19). The unit cell will readily accommodate four molecules of molecular weight 60 kDa with a corresponding solvent content of approximately 48%.

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and an FGF-like molecule in pituitary extracts stimulate thymic epithelial cell proliferation

A bovine pituitary extract (BPE) induces thymidine incorporation into human thymic epithelial cells (TEC) in vitro. Previous data demonstrated that its effects resulted in epithelial cell replication and suggested that the active component of BPE was likely to be a growth factor, different from epidermal growth factor (EGF) and interleukin 1 (IL1). In this report we present evidence to identify the active component of BPE as a fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family member, based upon several criteria: a) Purified bovine and human recombinant FGF also enhanced TEC proliferation in vitro. b) Neutralization studies showed antigenic similarities between BPE and basic FGF. c) Biochemical analytical studies allowed purification of BPE by its affinity for heparin with elution at 3M NaCl, and gel filtration sizing yielded a 73 KD molecule with which basic FGF co-eluted. The isoelectric point was found to be between 6.3 and 6.6 and this is the only finding not consistent with the characterization of basic FGF as the factor responsible for the activity of BPE on TEC proliferation.

Thromboxane A2 and prostaglandin endoperoxide analogue effects on porcine renal blood flow

Thromboxane A2 (TxA2) has been implicated as a mediator of renal and cardiovascular diseases. However, the direct effects of TxA2 on the renal system have been difficult to study because of the instability of the agonist. In the present study injection of synthetic TxA2 directly into the renal artery of anesthetized pigs produced dose-related decreases in renal blood flow (RBF) from 101 +/- 11 to 12 +/- 3 ml/min at the highest dose (20 ng/kg). The reductions in RBF were similar to those produced by the stable prostaglandin endoperoxide analogue, U-44069, although TxA2 was three times more potent. Under these conditions there were no effects on either mean (MAP) or pulmonary arterial pressures (PAP), or the heart rate (HR). The maximal effects produced by TxA2 and U-44069 on RBF were reproducible and the response remained unchanged after pretreatment with either heparin or indomethacin. Systemically administered TxA2 (200 ng/kg iv) increased PAP from 20 +/- 1 to 34 +/- 3 mmHg and this effect was associated with modest increases in MAP and HR. Intravenous administration of the thromboxane receptor antagonist, L-655,240, inhibited the reductions in RBF produced by intrarenal TxA2 and U-44069 and attenuated the cardiopulmonary effects of TxA2 administered intravenously. The results demonstrate directly that TxA2 is a potent agent for decreasing RBF through interaction with a thromboxane receptor.

The immunopharmacology of immunotoxicology, and immunorestoration

The first part of this paper focuses on the secondary immunodeficiencies caused by immunosuppressive drugs and environmental chemicals. The mechanism of action and the therapeutic effects of azathioprine, glucocorticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporin A, and anticancer drugs will be discussed. The immunotoxic actions of benzene, polychlorinated and polybrominated biphenyls, tetrachlorodibenzo-paradioxin, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, various insecticides, metals and abused drugs or drugs with side effects are also described. Immunorestorative approaches are discussed in the second part, based on our current knowledge of the immune system and the lymphokines and hormones involved in its function. The usefulness of thymic hormones, interleukin 2, macrophage growth factor/colony stimulating factor, and interferons as immunotherapeutic agents is considered. In addition, we address chemically defined drugs, such as levamisole, diethyldithiocarbamate, isoprinosine, muramyl dipeptides, azimexon, ciamexon, bestatin, tuftsin, and pyrimidinoles, and finally conclude that combined use of different immunostimulants may be the most effective way to treat the above mentioned immunodeficiencies.

Role of nucleic acids and cytoskeleton in nuclear refringence phenomenon (nrp) of human peripheral blood lymphocytes

Nuclear refringence is a phenomenon visible by light microscopy that is correlated with lymphocyte maturation and activation. The present study, in employing isolated nuclei as well as intact lymphocytes, confirms the nuclear basis of the phenomenon. Enzymatic degradation of nucleic acids in isolated nuclei attenuates refringence, providing presumptive evidence for the involvement of chromatin in refringence. Cytoplasmic events involving RNA and protein synthesis and microtubular, but not microfilament, function are necessary for the maintenance of refringence. These studies provide the basis for evaluating refringence within the context of nuclear protein changes known to occur during lymphocyte activation and for determining its usefulness as a simple test of the dynamic state of the lymphocyte nucleus.