BACKGROUND Crassocephalum crepidioides, a plant distributed in Okinawa Islands, is known in folk medicine; however, its anticancer activity has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities of C. crepidioides on murine Sarcoma 180 (S-180) and related molecular mechanisms. METHODS The antitumor effect of C. crepidioides was evaluate...

Low doses (50-200 pg or 3.1-12.4 fmol) of interleukin 1 (IL-1) infused into the brain of rats produced rapid suppression of various cellular immune responses in peripheral lymphocytes of rats. Fifteen minutes after infusion of purified IL-1 beta into the lateral ventricle, natural killer cell activity, response to phytohemagglutinin stimulation, and interleukin 2 production were markedly suppre...

We have isolated a phage clone, F2, by panning a phage library with a CTLA4-conformation recognizing mAb (anti-CTLA4 mAb). The unique sequence of 15 amino acids with an internal disulfide bond was inserted in the gene 3 proteins of F2 phage clone (F2-g3p). We show here that 1) F2-g3p was recognized with anti-CTLA4 mAb but not with anti-CD28 mAb, and 2) F2-g3p bound to CD80 but not to CD86. The ...

BACKGROUND Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in young children worldwide, and no vaccine is currently available. Inactivated RSV vaccines tested in the 1960's led to vaccine-enhanced disease upon viral challenge, which has undermined RSV vaccine development. RSV infection is increasingly being recognized as an important pathogen in the elderly, ...

The virological synapse (VS) is a specialized molecular structure that facilitates the transfer of certain lymphotropic viruses into uninfected T cells. However, the role of the VS in the transfer of nonlymphotropic viruses into T cells is unknown. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) has been shown in vitro to infect T cells and modulate T-cell receptor function, thereby suppressing T-cell antiviral fun...

Low dose cyclophosphamide (CY) can augment the development of delayed-type hypersensitivity to primary antigens in patients with ad vanced cancer. In this paper, we have considered the hypothesis that the immunopotentiation is related to reduction of T-suppressor activity. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were collected and cryopreserved from 45 patients with metastatic malignancy before and then 3...

Low dose cyclophosphamide (CY) can augment the development of delayed-type hypersensitivity to primary antigens in patients with advanced cancer. In this paper, we have considered the hypothesis that the immunopotentiation is related to reduction of T-suppressor activity. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were collected and cryopreserved from 45 patients with metastatic malignancy before and then 3,...

Background Malignant glioma is the most common intracranial malignant tumor with highest mortality. In era of immunotherapy, it important to determine what type immunotherapy provides best chance survival. Method Here, efficacy and safety in high-grade (HGG) were evaluated by systematic review meta-analysis. The differences between various types explored. Retrieved hits screened for inclusion 2...

Nigella sativa (N. sativa) is traditionally used as an immune enhancer in different communities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect N. sativa on immunity related parameters young healthy subjects. This a double blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical trial. Fifty-two subjects (48 male and 4 female) 18-25 years old wer...

BACKGROUND Dengue virus is a mosquito-transmitted virus that can cause self-limiting dengue fever, severe life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. The existence of four serotypes of dengue virus has complicated the development of an effective and safe dengue vaccine. Recently, a clinical phase 2b trial of Sanofi Pasteur's CYD tetravalent dengue vaccine revealed that ...