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PDF file - 117K, Genes up-regulated (>2.0) in Stat3delta/delta compared with Stat3flox/flox

PDF file - 63K, Up-regulated PPI network

PDF file - 126K, Genes down-regulated (

PDF file - 76K, Enriched KEGG pathway association (p

PDF file - 72K, The expression and activation of Stat3 was intact in both myeloid and lymphocyte lineages in Stat3delta/delta mice

PDF file - 81K

PDF file - 41K, Stat3delta/delta did not acquire large tumors compared to Stat3flox/flox mice

Stat3 mediates a complex spectrum of cellular responses, including inflammation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Although evidence exists in support of a positive role for Stat3 in cancer, its role has remained somewhat controversial because of insufficient study of how its genetic deletion may affect carcinogenesis in various tissues. In this study, we show using epithelium-specific knockout mice (Stat3Δ/Δ) that Stat3 blunts rather than supports antitumor immunity in carcinogen-induced lung tumorigenesis. Although Stat3Δ/Δ mice did not show any lung defects in terms of proliferation, apoptosis, or angiogenesis, they exhibited reduced urethane-induced tumorigenesis and increased antitumor inflammation and natural killer (NK) cell immunity. Comparative microarray analysis revealed an increase in Stat3Δ/Δ tumors in proinflammatory chemokine production and a decrease in MHC class I antigen expression associated with NK cell recognition. Consistent with these findings, human non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells in which Stat3 was silenced displayed an enhancement of proinflammatory chemokine production, reduced expression of MHC class I antigen, and increased susceptibility to NK cell–mediated cytotoxicity. In addition, supernatants from Stat3-silenced NSCLC cells promoted monocyte migration. Collectively, our findings argue that Stat3 exerts an inhibitory effect on antitumor NK cell immunity in the setting of carcinogen-induced tumorigenesis. Cancer Res; 72(12); 2990–9. ©2012 AACR.

Eosinophils are multifunctional leukocytes typically associated with parasitic helminth infections and allergic diseases, such as bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis. Although it has been suggested that eosinophils play key roles in various immune functions, including antigen presentation, effector function and immune regulation, the physiological role of eosinophils found early in ontogeny in the thymus and intestine under steady-state conditions remains largely unclear. In this review, we summarize the biological function of eosinophils, focusing on the molecular mechanism underlying their development and trafficking. We also present our recent data that may indicate a novel function of eosinophils in the intestinal lamina propria.

We have investigated novel vaccine strategies against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) CoV using cDNA constructs encoding the structural antigens: (S), (M), (E), or (N) protein, derived from SARS CoV. PBL from healthy human volunteers were administered i.p. into IL-2 receptor gamma-chain disrupted SCID mice, and SCID-PBL/hu mice were constructed. These mice can be used to analyze the human immune response in vivo. SARS M DNA vaccine and N DNA vaccine induced human CTL specific for SARS CoV antigens. Alternatively, SARS M DNA vaccines inducing human neutralizing antibodies and human monoclonal antibodies against SARS CoV are now being developed. These results show that these vaccines can induce virus-specific immune responses and should provide a useful tool for development of protective and therapeutic vaccines.

We have developed a novel tuberculosis (TB) vaccine; a combination of the DNA vaccines expressing mycobacterial heat shock protein 65 (HSP65) and interleukin 12 (IL-12) delivered by the hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ)-liposome (HSP65+IL-12/HVJ). This vaccine provided remarkable protective efficacy in BALB/C mouse and guinea pig models compared to the BCG vaccine, on the basis of an induction of the CTL activity and improvement of the histopathological tuberculosis lesions, respetively. This vaccine strongly induced CTL against HSP antigen and M.tuberculosis antigens Furthermore, we extended our studies to a cynomolgus monkey model, which is currently the best animal model of human tuberculosis. This novel vaccine provided a higher level of the protective efficacy than BCG based upon the assessment of mortality, the ESR and immune responses. The combination of HSP65 + IL-12/HVJ and BCG by the priming-booster method showed a synergistic effect in the TB-infected cynomolgus monkey (100% survival). In contrast, the survival of the BCG Tokyo group was 33%. These data indicate that our novel DNA vaccine might be useful against M.tuberculosis for human clinical trials. [H-17-Shinko-5] of Research on Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases in Health Sciences Research grants from Japan.