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Eimeria tenella is an obligate intracellular parasite which causes great harm to the poultry breeding industry. Protein phosphorylation plays a vital role in host cell–E. tenella interactions. However, no comprehensive phosphoproteomic analyses of host cells at various phases of E. tenella infection have been published. In this study, quantitative phosphoproteomic analysis of chicken embryo DF-1 fibroblasts that were uninfected (UI) or infected with E. tenella for 6 h (PI6, the early invasion phase) or 36 h (PI36, the trophozoite development phase) was conducted. A total of 10,122 phosphopeptides matched to 3,398 host cell phosphoproteins were identified and 13,437 phosphorylation sites were identified. Of these, 491, 1,253, and 275 differentially expressed phosphorylated proteins were identified in the PI6/UI, PI36/UI, and PI36/PI6 comparisons, respectively. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that E. tenella modulated host cell processes through phosphorylation, including focal adhesion, regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, and FoxO signaling to support its early invasion phase, and modulating adherens junctions and the ErbB signaling pathway to favor its trophozoite development. These results enrich the data on the interaction between E. tenella and host cells and facilitate a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying host–parasite relationships.

Abstract Background Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is regarded as a potent antitumor agent, but its clinical application is limited by its short half-life and significant side effects. In this paper, we tried to develop IFN-γ gene therapy by a replication defective adenovirus encoding the human IFN-γ (Ad-IFNγ), and evaluate the antitumoral effects of Ad-IFNγ on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell lines in vitro and in xenografts model. Methods The mRNA levels of human IFN-γ in Ad-IFNγ-infected NPC cells were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and IFN-γ protein concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the culture supernatants of NPC cells and tumor tissues and bloods of nude mice treated with Ad-IFNγ. The effects of Ad-IFNγ on NPC cell proliferation was determined using MTT assay, cell cycle distribution was determined by flow cytometry analysis for DNA content, and cells apoptosis were analyzed by Annexin V-FITC/7-AAD binding assay and hoechst 33342/PI double staining. The anti-tumor effects and toxicity of Ad-IFNγ were evaluated in BALB/c nude mice carrying NPC xenografts. Results The results demonstrated that Ad-IFNγ efficiently expressed human IFN-γ protein in NPC cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Ad-IFNγ infection resulted in antiproliferative effects on NPC cells by inducing G1 phase arrest and cell apoptosis. Intratumoral administration of Ad-IFNγ significantly inhibited the growth of CNE-2 and C666-1 cell xenografts in nude mice, while no significant toxicity was observed. Conclusions These findings indicate IFN-γ gene therapy mediated by replication defective adenoviral vector is likely a promising approach in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objectives: The effect of isoprenylcysteine carboxymethyltransferase (ICMT) silencing on the migration and invasion of tongue squamous cell carcinoma was investigated by constructing the small interfering RNA (siRNA) of ICMT., Methods: Through liposomal transfection, siRNA was transfected into human tongue squamous cell carcinoma CAL-27 and SCC-4 cells (ICMT-siRNA group) with a negative control group (transfected with NC-siRNA) and a blank control group (transfected with a transfection reagent but not with siRNA). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze the mRNA expression of ICMT and RhoA in each group of cells after transfection and to measure the silencing efficiency. Western blot was applied to examine the expression levels of ICMT, total RhoA, membrane RhoA, ROCK1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and MMP-9 proteins in each group. The migration and invasion abilities were evaluated via wound healing and Transwell motility assays., Results: After CAL-27 and SCC-4 cells were transfected with ICMT-siRNA, the expression levels of ICMT genes and proteins decreased significantly in the experimental group compared with those in the negative and blank control groups ( P <0.05). The mRNA and total protein expression levels of RhoA in the two groups were not significantly different ( P> 0.05). The expression levels of RhoA membrane protein, ROCK1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 decreased ( P <0.05). The migration and invasion abilities were inhibited ( P <0.05)., Conclusions: The migration and invasion abilities of CAL-27 and SCC-4 cells were reduced significantly after the transfection of ICMT-siRNA, and the involved mechanism might be related to the RhoA-ROCK signaling pathway.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the effects of silencing isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransfe-rase (Icmt) through small interfering RNA (siRNA) interference on the proliferation and apoptosis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC)., Methods: Three siRNA were designed and constructed for the Icmt gene sequence and were then transfected into TSCC cells CAL-27 and SCC-4 to silence Icmt expression. The tested cells were divided as follows: RNA interference groups Icmt-siRNA-1, Icmt-siRNA-2, and Icmt-siRNA-3, negative control group, and blank control group. The transfection efficiency of siRNA was detected by the fluorescent group Cy3-labeled siRNA, and the expression of Icmt mRNA was screened by quantitive real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) selected the experimental group for subsequent experiments. The expression of Icmt, RhoA, Cyclin D1, p21, extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), and phospho-extracellular regulated protein kinases (p-ERK) were analyzed by Western blot. The proliferation abilities of TSCC cells were determined by cell counting kit-8 assay. The change in apoptosis was detected by AnnexinV-APC/propidium staining (PI) assay. Cell-cycle analysis was conducted by flow cytometry., Results: The expression of Icmt mRNA and protein in TSCC cells significantly decreased after Icmt-siRNA transfection ( P <0.05). No significant difference in RhoA mRNA and protein expression was detected ( P >0.05), but the expression of RhoA membrane protein decreased compared with the negative control group and blank control groups ( P <0.05). Cyclin D1 expression decreased, whereas p21 expression significantly increased and the relative expression of ERK protein in the experimental group did not significantly different that in the control group ( P >0.05). However, the phosphorylation level of ERK was significantly reduced ( P <0.05). The cell cycles of TSCC CAL-27 and SCC-4 were altered in G1/S, cell proliferation activity was inhibited, and apoptosis was induced ( P <0.05)., Conclusions: Silencing Icmt can effectively downregulate its expression in TSCC cells, reduce the RhoA membrane targeting localization and cell proliferation, and induce apoptosis. Thus, Icmt may be a potential gene therapy target for TSCC.

The beneficial effects of tea consumption on cancer prevention have been generally reported, while (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the major active component from green tea. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a crucial role in the process of cancer development. Targeting CSCs may be an effective way for cancer intervention. However, the effects of EGCG on colorectal CSCs and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Spheroid formation assay was used to enrich colorectal CSCs from colorectal cancer cell lines. Immunoblotting analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to measure the alterations of critical molecules expression. Immunofluorescence staining analysis was also used to determine the expression of CD133. We revealed that EGCG inhibited the spheroid formation capability of colorectal cancer cells as well as the expression of colorectal CSC markers, along with suppression of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Moreover, we illustrated that EGCG downregulated the activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, while upregulation of Wnt/β-catenin diminished the inhibitory effects of EGCG on colorectal CSCs. Taken together, this study suggested that EGCG could be an effective natural compound targeting colorectal CSCs through suppression of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and thus may be a promising agent for colorectal cancer intervention., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma) plays an important role in the immunomodulation and growth inhibition of many tumor cells, but its clinical application is limited by its systemic toxicity. Ad/hIFN-gamma, a nonreplicating adenoviral vector encoding human IFN-gamma, has been reported to inhibit tumor growth in vitro and in a xenograft model. In this study, the long-term toxicity of Ad/hIFN-gamma was assessed in cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis). Thirty animals were enrolled into 5 groups, and administered intramuscularly, respectively, Ad/hIFN-gamma (3.3 x 10(10), 3.3 x 10(11), or 3.3 x 10(12) VP/kg), Ad/LacZ (vector control, 3.3 x 10(11) VP/kg), or excipient 3 times per week for 8 weeks, followed by a 4-week recovery period. At 12 weeks all experimental animals appeared generally healthy, and there were no statistically significant differences in body weight, urinalysis, hemogram, blood biochemistry, and electrocardiogram results between the treatment and control groups. No significant toxic effects were noted on macroscopic and microscopic examinations of organs and tissues. Preliminary investigation of the immunotoxicity of Ad/IFN-gamma indicated that anti-adenoviral and anti-hIFN-gamma antibodies were generated. These data demonstrate that long-term, high-dose intramuscular administration of Ad/IFN-gamma was not notably toxic and might be safe for clinical therapeutic use.

In order to clone and identify differentially expressed genes in the sporogony stage of Eimeria tenella, the cDNAs from unsporulated oocysts and sporulated oocysts of E. tenella were used as driver, respectively, the cDNAs from sporozoites of E. tenella was used tester, Two subtractive cDNA libraries of sporozoites were constructed by using the technique of suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH). the cDNAs from unsporulated oocysts was used driver, the cDNAs from sporulated ooceysts was used tester, one subtractive cDNA library of sporulated oocysts was constructed. PCR amplification revealed that the two subtractive cDNA libraries of sporozoites and one subtractive cDNA library of sporulated oocysts contained approximated 96%, 96% and 98% recombinant clones, respectively. Fifty positive clones were sequenced and analyzed in GenBank with Blast search from three subtractive cDNA libraries, respectively, thirteen unique sequences were found from the subtractive cDNA library of sporulated oocysts, eight ESTs shared significant identity with previously described. A total of forty unique sequences were obtained from the two subtractive cDNA libraries, nine ESTs shared significant identity with previously described, the other sequences represent novel genes of E. tenella with no significant homology to the proteins in Genbank. These results have provided the foundation for cloning new genes of E. tenella and further studying new approaches to control coccidiosis.

Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) was employed to compare the proteome of Diclazuril-resistance Eimeria tenella with that of sensitive strains for identifying unique proteins of these stains. 5 protein spots were found to express differentially. Four spots which remarkably were measured by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The data obtained from peptide mass fingerprinting were used in NCBInr database search, two protein spots in gel were identified as Eimeria tenella sporulated oocyst TA4 antigen protein, Heat shock 70kD protein, two protein spots were functional proteins of Eukaryote. These proteins are potentially basic work for finding molecular mechanism about drug-resistance of Eimeria tenella and new marker in the detection of resistance of Eimeria tenella.