The 'spatial' pattern of the correlation of pairwise relatedness among loci within a chromosome is an important aspect for an insight into genomic evolution in natural populations. In this article, a statistical genetic method is presented for estimating the correlation of pairwise relatedness among linked loci. The probabilities of identity-in-state (IIS) are related to the probabilities of identity-by-descent (IBS) for the two-and three-loci cases. By decomposing the joint probabilities of two-or three-loci IBD, the probability of pairwise relatedness at a single locus and its correlation among linked loci can be simultaneously estimated. To provide effective statistical methods for estimation, weighted least square (LS) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods are evaluated through extensive Monte Carlo simulations. Results show that the ML method gives a better performance than the weighted LS method with haploid genotypic data. However, there are no significant differences between the two methods when two-or three-loci diploid genotypic data are employed. Compared with the optimal size for haploid genotypic data, a smaller optimal sample size is predicted with diploid genotypic data.

ABSTRACT. This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxicity of cytokineinduced killer cells (CIKs) and Her2 epitope peptide-sensitized dendritic cells (DCs), when co-cultured with Her2-positive MCF-7 cells. DCs were separated from the Her epitope peptide-sensitized peripheral blood; the Her epitope combines directly with the MHC-II molecule on the DC surface. The DCs were co-cultured with autologous CIKs. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and ELISA kits were used to detect cytotoxicity of CIKs against MCF-7 breast cancer cells; IL-12 and IFN-γ levels were also analyzed in the supernatant of the culture medium. CIKs activated by DCs sensitized by anchored Her polypeptide antigen have greater cytotoxicity against MCF-7 than CIKs alone or non-anchored antigen sensitized DCs-CIKs (P < 0.01); the IL-12 and IFN-γ levels in the supernatant were higher than that of the control (P < 0.01). In conclusion, DCs anchored by polypeptide antigen alone or in combination with effector cells can be used to develop therapeutic DC vaccines against breast cancer.