Immunomodulatory gene therapy with interleukin 12 and 4-1BB ligand: long- term remission of liver metastases in a mouse model

BACKGROUND: The success of immunomodulatory cancer therapy is frequently hampered by the transient nature of the antitumor immune response. We have shown previously in a mouse model that interleukin 12 (IL-12) generates a strong natural killer (NK) cell-mediated antitumor response and reduces liver metastases induced by a colon carcinoma cell line. However, only a small percentage of the treated animals developed the cytotoxic T-lymphocytic response required for a long-term systemic antitumor immunity. 4-1BB is a co-stimulatory molecule expressed on the surface of activated T cells. Interaction of 4-1BB with its natural ligand (4-1BBL) has been shown to amplify T-cell (especially CD8+)-mediated immunity. In this study, we investigated the effects of adenovirus-mediated gene therapy delivering both IL-12 and 4-1BBL genes on mice with hepatic metastases induced by colon cancer cells. METHODS: Syngeneic BALB/c mice received intrahepatic injection of poorly immunogenic MCA26 colon cancer cells. Various combinations of replication-defective adenoviruses expressing IL-12 and 4-1BBL genes were injected into the established liver tumors. Changes in tumor size and animal survival were then monitored. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: The long-term survival rate of mice treated with the combination of IL-12 and 4-1BBL was significantly improved over that of animals in the control group (P =.0001). In vivo depletion of NK cells or CD8+ T cells completely abolished the long-term survival advantage of the IL-12 plus 4-1BBL-treated animals (P<.002). Moreover, the systemic immunity induced by this combination treatment protected these animals against a subcutaneous challenge with parental MCA26 cells. CONCLUSION: Adenovirus-mediated transfer of IL-12 and 4-1BBL genes directly into liver tumors resulted in tumor regression that required both NK and CD8+ T cells and generated a potent, long-lasting antitumor immunity.     

4-1BBL联合Hsp70-肿瘤抗原肽抑制小鼠黑色素瘤肺转移

背景与目的正调节性共刺激分子表达偏低是肿瘤逃避机体免疫系统攻击的重要原因之一,增加这些分子的表达是促进抗肿瘤免疫的研究热点。小鼠黑色素瘤B16-F1细胞株是弱免疫原性癌细胞株。本研究旨在观察4-1BBL联合Hsp70-抗原肽对小鼠黑色素瘤肺转移的抑制作用,并探讨其机制。方法建立小鼠黑色素瘤肺转移模型,Hsp70-B16抗原肽小鼠皮下免疫,同时从尾静脉注射4-1BBL表达质粒p4-1BBL。于接种后第17天,解剖小鼠取肺组织,解剖显微镜下计数黑色素瘤肺转移结节的数目,并检测小鼠部分免疫学指标及肝、肾功能。结果4-1BBL联合Hsp70-B16抗原肽治疗组小鼠黑色素瘤肺转移结节数降至50±8,明显少于二者单独治疗组的500±80和450±40;联合治疗组小鼠血清IL-2和IFN-γ的分泌水平分别增加了4倍和3倍,与对照组相比均存在显著性差异(P<0.01);单独应用4-1BBL基因或与Hsp70-B16抗原肽联合应用对小鼠肝、肾的功能均无明显影响。结论表达4-1BBL联合应用Hsp70-B16抗原肽主要通过增强外周T淋巴细胞功能活性而有效抑制小鼠黑色素瘤肺转移。     

Soluble PD-1 facilitates 4-1BBL-triggered antitumor immunity against murine H22 hepatocarcinoma in vivo.

PURPOSE: The use of costimulatory molecules targeting distinct T-cell signaling pathways has provided a means for triggering and enhancing antitumor immunity; however, it is still not fully understood what types of costimulatory molecules are suitable for the combination in tumor therapy. Our purpose in this study is to establish an effective antitumor immune approach by using costimulatory molecule 4-1BBL in combination with soluble PD-1. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The murine H22 hepatocarcinoma served as an ectopic tumor model. Local gene transfer was done by injection with naked plasmid p4-1BBL and/or psPD-1. The synergistic mechanism of dual-gene therapy was elucidated by detecting the change of gene expression of immunoregulatory factors in tumor microenvironment. The effects of immunotherapy were evaluated by testing the function of tumor-specific T cells, measuring tumor weight or volume, survival of mice, and H&E staining of tissues. RESULTS: 4-1BBL expressed by normal nonimmune cells effectively enhanced antitumor immune response but up-regulated PD-L1 and did not reduce IL-10 and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). sPD-1 synergized with 4-1BBL to establish efficient antitumor immune environment, including down-regulation of IL-10 and TGF-beta, further up-regulation of interleukin (IL)-2 and IFN-gamma, and higher CD8(+) T-cell infiltration. The combined treatment by 4-1BBL/sPD-1 eradicated tumors from mice with small amounts of preexistent tumor cells or tumors from approximately 60% of individuals with larger amounts of preexistent tumor cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings in this report imply a great potential of 4-1BBL in combination with sPD-1 in tumor therapeutics with the in vivo existent tumor cells as antigens.     

Antitumor immune responses derived from transgenic expression of CD40 ligand in myeloma cells

Tumor cells engineered to express immunogenes have been used for cancer vaccines to induce the antitumor immunity and study the antitumor immune mechanisms derived from the immunogene expression. In the present study, we engineered a mouse myeloma cell line J558 with a cloned CD40 ligand (CD40L) gene. We demonstrated that (i) the engineered J558/CD40L tumor cells expressing the CD40 ligand molecule lost their tumorigenicity in syngeneic mice, and (ii) the inoculation of J558/CD40L tumor cells further lead to the protective immunity against wild-type J558 tumors. In animal studies using T-cell subset depleted mice, we further showed that the primary rejection of J558/CD40L tumors did not require T cells, but was mainly mediated by NK cells, whereas the effector phase of the protective immunity is mediated by CD8+ T cells. In addition, our data, for the first time, showed that the inoculation of engineered J558/CD40L tumor cells is able to stimulate stronger activation of dendritic cells with enhanced expression of B7-1 and ICAM-1 molecules than the wild-type J558 tumor cells Taken together, we demonstrated the antitumor effect of engineered J558/CD40L tumor cells that is mediated by the activation of the host dendritic cells in vivo. Our data indicate that the introduction of co-stimulatory CD40 ligand molecule will be useful as a new strategy of immunogene therapy against tumors.     

Combinational immunotherapy for established tumors with engineered tumor vaccines and adenovirus-mediated gene transfer

There are currently extensive studies relating to cancer vaccines using tumor cells engineered to express immunogenes and cancer gene therapy using adenovirus (AdV)-mediated gene transfer. In this study, a mouse tumor cell line, VKCK, was cotransfected with genes coding for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and costimulatory B7-1 molecule to enhance immunogenicity. The transfectant cell line VKCK-TNF-alpha/B7-1 showed reduced tumorigenicity and tumor regression. Its inoculation further induced protective immunity; both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were involved in the induction phase, whereas only CD8+ T cells mediated the effector phase. Susceptible mice bearing VKCK tumors developed a T helper type 2-dominant response, whereas resistant mice with VKCK-TNF-alpha/B7-1 tumor regression developed a T helper type 1-dominant response to VKCK, indicating that the tumor regression was related to a shift in the cytokine profile of the host from type 2 to type 1. Vaccination of VKCK-TNF-alpha/B7-1 cells inhibited tumor formation derived from a single dose of 3 x 10(6) VKCK cells and eradicated 3-day tumors but not 10-day tumors. AdV-mediated TNF-alpha gene transfer by intratumoral injection of AdV-TNF-alpha significantly inhibited tumor growth but failed to eradicate any well-established tumors. However, combinational immunotherapy with vaccination of VKCK-TNF-alpha/B7-1 cells and AdV-mediated TNF-alpha gene transfer not only significantly inhibited tumor growth but also eradicated 10-day VKCK tumors in three of eight mice. Therefore, the present study may be useful not only in understanding the mechanisms responsible for an efficient antitumoral immunity, but also in establishing a more effective immunotherapeutic approach for cancer patients.     

NY-ESO-1 protein formulated in ISCOMATRIX adjuvant is a potent anticancer vaccine inducing both humoral and CD8+ t-cell-mediated immunity and protection against NY-ESO-1+ tumors.

NY-ESO-1 is a 180 amino-acid human tumor antigen expressed by many different tumor types and belongs to the family of "cancer-testis" antigens. In humans, NY-ESO-1 is one of the most immunogenic tumor antigens and NY-ESO-1 peptides have been shown to induce NY-ESO-1-specific CD8(+) CTLs capable of altering the natural course of NY-ESO-1-expressing tumors in cancer patients. Here we describe the preclinical immunogenicity and efficacy of NY-ESO-1 protein formulated with the ISCOMATRIX adjuvant (NY-ESO-1 vaccine). In vitro, the NY-ESO-1 vaccine was readily taken up by human monocyte-derived dendritic cells, and on maturation, these human monocyte-derived dendritic cells efficiently cross-presented HLA-A2-restricted epitopes to NY-ESO-1-specific CD8(+) T cells. In addition, epitopes of NY-ESO-1 protein were also presented on MHC class II molecules to NY-ESO-1-specific CD4(+) T cells. The NY-ESO-1 vaccine induced strong NY-ESO-1-specific IFN-gamma and IgG2a responses in C57BL/6 mice. Furthermore, the NY-ESO-1 vaccine induced NY-ESO-1-specific CD8(+) CTLs in HLA-A2 transgenic mice that were capable of lysing human HLA-A2(+) NY-ESO-1(+) tumor cells. Finally, C57BL/6 mice, immunized with the NY-ESO-1 vaccine, were protected against challenge with a B16 melanoma cell line expressing NY-ESO-1. These data illustrate that the NY-ESO-1 vaccine represents a potent therapeutic anticancer vaccine.     

转4-1BBL 基因的小鼠肝癌细胞瘤苗刺激脾细胞产生细胞因子的研究

 目的 研究转4-1BBL基因的小鼠肝癌细胞瘤苗体外刺激同系小鼠脾细胞产生细胞因子（IL-2、TNF-α和GM-CSF）的能力。方法 以丝裂霉素C（MMC）处理高表达转m4-1 BBL基因的小鼠Hepa1-6肝癌细胞，制成肿瘤细胞瘤苗（TCV），体外与同系小鼠脾淋巴细胞共同培养后，观察其对脾细胞产生细胞因子（IL-2、TNF-α和GM—CSF）的影响。结果 TCV-4-1 BBL刺激后，脾细胞体外分泌细胞因子IL-2、TNF-α和GM-CSF的水平明显增高。结论 转4-1BBL基因的小鼠肝癌细胞瘤苗能刺激脾细胞产生细胞因子IL-2、TNF-α和GM-CSF。     

Tumor expression of 4-1BB ligand sustains tumor lytic T cells

Inadequate costimulation by solid tumors is generally believed to induce immune tolerance during primary tumor growth. We looked for tumor-specific immunity vs. tolerance in patients with Ewing's sarcoma. Circulating T cells from patients with progressively growing Ewing's tumors displayed MHC restricted tumor-induced proliferation and robust tumor lysis. Tumor-reactive T cells reside within the memory CD3+CD8+ subset and are CD28-/4-1BB+. Autologous Ewing's tumors expressed 4-1BBL, and tumor-induced T cell proliferation and activation required costimulation by 4-1BBL. Stimulation of PBL with anti-CD3/4-1BBL, but not anti-CD3/anti-CD28 induced tumor lytic effectors. Similarly, in a xenograft model, anti-CD3/4-1BBL expanded T cells controlled primary growth and prevented metastasis of autologous tumors while nonactivated and anti-CD3/anti-CD28 activated CD8+ cells did not. These results question prevailing models of tumor induced tolerance accompanying progressive tumor growth; rather, we show coexistence of progressive tumor growth and anti-tumor immunity, with costimulation provided by the tumor itself. They further demonstrate a potential new therapeutic role for 4-1BBL mediated costimulation in expanding tumor reactive CTLs for use in the adoptive immunotherapy of cancer.     

红色荧光蛋白标记的小鼠白血病模型的建立

 目的　利用红色荧光蛋白（DsRed）标记的小鼠淋巴瘤EL4细胞株,建立荧光标记的小鼠白血病模型,并对模型进行分析和鉴定。方法　将EL4／DsRed细胞以低剂量（5×102／只）、中剂量（5×103／只）、高剂量（2.5×104／只）经尾静脉注入经清髓照射的C57BL／6小鼠体内,同时接种骨髓细胞5×106／只,采用流式细胞术（FCM）、反转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）、组织病理等方法鉴定小鼠成模情况。结果　C57BL／6小鼠接种不同剂量EL4／DsRed细胞后白血病发病率达100 %,移植后第2周FCM示受鼠肝、脾、骨髓和外周血中有大量EL4／DsRed细胞;各组组织器官病理检查呈现出不同程度的肿瘤细胞浸润。结论　用DsRed标记的EL4细胞以5×102／只植入C57BL／6小鼠,即可成功建立荧光标记的小鼠白血病模型,可为白血病发病机制、微小残留病检测等研究提供有价值的动物模型。     

Adoptive transfer of pTRP2-specific CTLs expanding by bead-based artificial antigen-presenting cells mediates anti-melanoma response

Cytotoxic CD8(+) T cells are key effectors in the immunotherapy of malignant and viral diseases. However, the lack of efficient methods for their in vitro priming and expansion has become a bottleneck to the development of vaccines and adoptive transfer strategies. Synthetic artificial antigen-presenting cells (aAPCs) are now emerging as an attractive tool for eliciting and expanding CTL responses. This study reported a novel approach for targeting malignant melanoma with pTRP2-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) expanded from the C57BL/6 splenocytes by multiple stimulations with aAPCs made by coating H-2K(b)-Ig/pTRP2 dimeric complexes, anti-CD28 antibody, 4-1BBL molecules and CD83 molecules to cell-sized latex beads. The induced CTLs exhibited specific lysis against RMA-S cells pulsed with the peptide pTRP2 and H-2K(b+) melanoma cells expressing TRP2, while a murine Lewis lung carcinoma cell line 3LL could not be recognized by the CTLs. The peptide-specific activity was inhibited by anti-H-2K(b) monoclonal antibody Y3. Adoptive Transfer of CTLs specific for malignant melanoma expanding by the aAPCs can mediate effective anti-melanoma response. These results suggested the bead-based aAPCs coated with an MHC-Ig/peptide complex, anti-CD28 antibody, 4-1BBL and CD83 could provide a useful tool for the reproducible expansion of specific CTLs for adoptive immunotherapy.     

Anti-tumor immune response induced by dendritic cells transduced with truncated PSMA IRES 4-1BBL recombinant adenoviruses

Up-regulation of receptor–ligand pairs during interaction of a peptide-bound MHC complex on dendritic cells (DCs) with cognate TCR may amplify, sustain, and drive diversity in the ensuing T cell immune response. Members of the TNF ligand superfamily and the TNFR superfamily contribute to this costimulatory molecule signaling. In the present study, we used replication deficient adenoviruses to introduce a tumor-associated Ag (a truncated human prostate-specific membrane antigen (tPSMA)) and the T cell costimulatory molecule 4-1BBL into murine DCs, and observed the ability of these recombinant DCs to elicit tPSMA-directed T-cell responses in vitro and anti-tumor immunity to RM-1-tPSMA in a murine tumor model. Infection of DCs with Ad-tPSMA-IRES-m4-1BBL induced tPSMA-specific proliferative responses and up-regulated CD80 and CD86 s signaling molecules. The cytotoxic T lymphocytes activated by the Ad-tPSMA-IRES-m4-1BBL-transfected DCs showed significantly higher IFN-γ production and cytotoxicity against the RM-1 cells transfected with tPSMA. Moreover, vaccination of mice with Ad-tPSMA-IRES-m4-1BBL-transfected DCs induced a potent protective and therapeutic anti-tumor immunity to RM-1-tPSMA in a tumor model. These results demonstrated that development of DCs engineered to express tPSMA and 4-1BBL by recombinant adenovirus-mediated gene transfer may offer a new strategy for prostate cancer immunotherapy.     

Adoptively transferred tumor-specific T cells stimulated ex vivo using herpes simplex virus amplicons encoding 4-1BBL persist in the host and show antitumor activity in vivo

4-1BB is a T-cell costimulatory receptor which binds its ligand 4-1BBL, resulting in prolonged T cell survival. We studied the antitumor effects of adoptively transferred tumor-specific T cells expanded ex vivo using tumors transduced with herpes simplex virus (HSV) amplicons expressing 4-1BBL as a direct source of antigen and costimulation. We constructed HSV amplicons encoding either the 4-1BBL (HSV.4-1BBL) or B7.1 (HSV.B7.1) costimulatory ligands. Lewis lung carcinoma cells expressing ovalbumin (LLC/OVA) were transduced with HSV.4-1BBL, HSV.B7.1, or control HSV amplicons and used to stimulate GFP+ OVA-specific CD8+ T cells (OT-1/GFP) ex vivo. Naive or ex vivo stimulated OT-1/GFP cells were adoptively transferred into LLC/OVA tumor-bearing mice. Higher percentages of OT-1/GFP cells were seen in the peripheral blood, spleen, and tumor bed of the HSV.4-1BBL-stimulated OT-1/GFP group compared with all other experimental groups. OT-1 cells identified within the tumor bed and draining lymph nodes of the HSV.4-1BBL-stimulated OT-1 group showed enhanced bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) incorporation, suggesting ongoing expansion in vivo. Mice receiving HSV.4-1BBL-stimulated OT-1/GFP had significantly decreased tumor volumes compared with untreated mice (P<0.001) or to mice receiving naive OT-1/GFP (P<0.001). Transfer of HSV.B7.1-stimulated OT-1/GFP did not protect mice from tumor. Mice that received HSV.4-1BBL-stimulated OT-1/GFP exhibited increased cytolytic activity against LLC/OVA and higher percentages of Ly-6C+ OT-1/GFP in the spleen and tumor bed compared with controls. Tumor-specific T cells stimulated ex vivo using tumor transduced with HSV.4-1BBL expand in vivo following adoptive transfer, resulting in tumor eradication and the generation of tumor-specific CD44+Ly-6C+CD62L- effector memory T cells.     

A functional anti-human 4-1BB ligand monoclonal antibody that enhances proliferation of monocytes by reverse signaling of 4-1BBL

4-1BB Ligand (4-1BBL), a transmembrane molecule, member of the tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily, is an important costimulatory molecule in the immune response. In this study a functional anti-human 4-1BBL MAb 1F1 was obtained and the specificity of this MAb was verified by flow cytometry and Western blotting. This MAb effectively recognized the 4-1BBL molecule expressed on a series of malignant cell lines as well as on DC and monocytes and it inhibited the proliferation of T lymphocytes, costimulated by soluble 4-1BBL and agonist anti-human CD3 MAb. Furthermore, we demonstrated that MAb 1F1 induced an impressive proliferation of monocytes from peripheral blood by triggering the reverse signal through 4-1BBL. This functional anti-human 4-1BBL MAb provides a valuable tool for further study of biological functions as well as signal transduction of 4-1BBL/4-1BB.     

Protein transfer of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-B7-1 into tumor cell membranes: a novel approach to tumor immunotherapy.

Modification of tumor cells with one or more costimulatory adhesion molecules has been proposed as a means to develop therapeutic cancer vaccines for use in human immunotherapy. Expression of B7-1 (CD80) in tumors by gene transfer creates an immunogenic tumor cell that induces antitumor immunity and protects mice from further challenge with wild-type tumor cells. In this report, we demonstrate that protein transfer of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored costimulatory molecules into tumor cell membranes could be used as an alternative to gene transfer for tumor immunotherapy. Incubation of isolated tumor membranes with purified GPI-anchored B7-1 results in stable incorporation of B7-1 on tumor cell membranes within a few hours. Immunization of C57BL/6 mice with EG7 tumor membranes modified to express GPI-B7-1 by protein transfer induces tumor-specific T-cell proliferation and CTLs. In addition, immunization with these EG7 membranes protects mice from parental tumor challenge. The protein transfer approach used here does not require foreign vectors or live tumor cells and is completed within a matter of hours. Irradiated cells or membrane preparations from fresh or frozen tumor tissue can be used. Therefore, protein transfer of glycolipid-anchored molecules provides an efficient and novel approach to modify tumor membranes for human immunotherapy. This approach is not limited to costimulatory molecules because any cell surface protein can be converted to a GPI-anchored form by recombinant techniques.     

IL-12- and IL-2-induced tumor regression in a new murine model of oral squamous-cell carcinoma is promoted by expression of the CD80 co-stimulatory molecule and interferon-gamma

Therapy with IL-12 or IL-2 induces tumor regression in only a few patients with head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and the factors promoting responsiveness have not been well defined. In this study, we examined whether combined IL-12 and IL-2 therapy can induce tumor regression in a new murine model of oral SCC and determined if the anti-tumor response is promoted by expression of the immune co-stimulatory molecule CD80 and cytokine IFN-gamma. In CD80-positive or -negative subclones of a BALB/c oral SCC line in syngeneic mice, we showed that systemic rIL-12 alone was comparable in effectiveness to combined therapy with IL-12 and peri-tumoral rIL-2, inducing complete regression of the CD80(+) line B7E11-4scid. However, therapy with these cytokines had no effect on growth of the CD80(-) subclone B7E3-4scid and did not induce complete regression of the CD80(+) subclone B7E11-4scid in congenic BALB/c IFN-gamma knockout mice, indicating that expression of the CD80 co-stimulatory molecule and IFN-gamma contributes to tumor regression. In cytokine-treated mice that rejected the CD80(+) SCC line, an increase in infiltrating CD4(+) lymphocytes and apoptotic bodies within the tumor specimens was observed, and resistance to rechallenge with the same tumor was detected in 50% of recipients, consistent with an immune response. Our results provide evidence that regression of oral head-and-neck SCC may be induced by therapy with systemic IL-12 and that expression of the CD80 co-stimulatory molecule by SCC and IFN-gamma by the host promote IL-12 induced regression of SCC.     

Characterization of "H-2K,D-like structures" on MM2 X mouse L cell hybrids. I. "H-2K,D-like" alloantigen encoded by the D region and/or to the right of the D region of the H-2 gene complex

It was found that anti-MM2 serum, which had been prepared by immunizing C3H/He mice with syngeneic MM2 mouse mammary ascites tumor, detected molecules of 44-46,000 and 12,000 daltons on EL4 leukemic cells and on C57BL/6 lymph node cells, as well as on somatic cell hybrids between the MM2 and mouse L cells. Experiments with a known rabbit anti-mouse beta2-microglobulin serum showed that the two molecules detected by anti-MM2 serum were hydrophobically associated with each other in membrane extracts; thus, the antigen detected by anti-MM2 serum was structurally similar to H-2K and D antigens. Preclearing of lysates from C57BL6 lymph node cells with a mixture of anti-H-22, anti-H-2.33, and anti-H-2.28 sera did not remove the "H-2-like" antigen, indicating that the antigen was distinct from the H-2Kb and Db molecules. Neither C3H/He nor B10.BR lymph node cells expressed the "H-2-like" antigen, but B10.A(4R) and B10.AM lymph node cells did possess the antigen. Absorption of anti-MM2 serum with EL4 cells abolished the capacity of the absorbed serum to precipitate the "H-2-like" antigen activity on C57BL/6 lymph node cell extracts and reduced the "H-2-like" radioactive peaks of the hybrid cells. These results indicate that there are at least two components being recognized by the anti-MM2 serum in hybrid cells between MM2 tumor and mouse L cells, both of which had originated in the C3H/He mouse (H-2k). One is the same as or cross-reactive with an "H-2-like" alloantigen of normal C57BL/6 lymph node cells (H-2d) and the other is another "H-2-like" antigen. Experiments with recombinant mice show that the "H-2-like" alloantigen on lymph node cells is coded for by the D region and/or to the right of the D region of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC).     

Adenoviral transfer of xenogeneic MHC class I gene results in loss of tumorigenicity and inhibition of tumor growth

The immune system confers protection against a variety of pathogens and contributes to the destruction of neoplastic cells. Foreign major histocompatibility complex (MHC) protein serves as a potent stimulus to the immune system. In this report, a mouse H-2Kb gene was introduced into two poorly immunogenic tumor cell lines, a mouse colonic carcinoma cell line, MCA-26 (H-2Kd), and a rat mammalian carcinoma cell line, LN-4, in an effort to stimulate tumor rejection. Our results showed that the expression of xenogeneic MHC class I antigen completely abolished the LN-4 tumorigenicity in rats, whereas the expression of allogeneic MHC class I antigen only partially reduced the MCA-26 tumorigenicity in mice. Rats with tumor regression of LN-4/H-2Kb developed a T helper type 1-dominant response, whereas rats with LN-4 tumor growth developed a T helper type 2-dominant response. The immunized rats that experienced LN-4/H-2Kb tumor regression further developed protective immunity against a subsequent challenge of LN-4 cells. This protective immunity was mediated by the LN-4 tumor-specific cellular immune response against both the transduced and the parental LN-4 cells. Recombinant adenoviral vectors are highly efficient at in vitro and in vivo gene delivery. The LN4 cells transfected with the recombinant adenovirus AdV-H-2Kb in vitro expressed the cell surface H-2Kb molecule by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. Adenovirus-mediated H-2Kb gene transfer in vivo can further significantly inhibit pre-established LN-4 tumors. Those rats with complete tumor regression further developed protective immunity against the subsequent challenge of a parental LN-4 tumor. Therefore, our study indicates that the adenovirus-mediated transfer of xenogeneic MHC class I gene may be an effective alternative to the current protocol of cancer gene therapy in which the allogeneic MHC class I gene is used.     

Tumorigenicity of mouse thymoma is suppressed by soluble type II transforming growth factor beta receptor therapy

Many types of tumor cells overexpress transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), which is believed to promote tumor progression. We hypothesized that overexpression of the extracellular region of the type II TGF-beta receptor (soluble TbetaRII) would compete for or block TGF-beta binding to TbetaRs on immune cells, preventing TGF-beta-mediated immunosuppression and consequently resulting in the eradication of tumor cells. We tested this in the mouse thymoma cell line EL4, which has been reported to suppress cellular immunity by secreting a large amount of TGF-beta. Transduction of EL4 with recombinant retrovirus encoding soluble TbetaRII resulted in the secretion of heterogeneously glycosylated, 25 to 35 kDa truncated TbetaRII. Inoculation of 1 x 10(4) to 5 x 10(4) soluble TbetaRII-modified EL4 cells (EL4/Ts, EL4 cells transduced with recombinant retrovirus encoding soluble TbetaRII and neomycin resistance gene) s.c. to mice showed reduced tumorigenicity, as indicated by lower overall tumor incidence (7%, 1 of 14; P < 0.001) compared with unmodified EL4 (100%, 9 of 9) or vector-modified EL4 cells (EL4/neo, EL4 cells transduced with recombinant retrovirus encoding neomycin resistance gene; 100%, 4 of 4). Administration of mitomycin C-treated EL4/Ts cells (1 x 10(6)) after EL4 inoculation (1 x 10(4)) reduced tumor incidence from 100% (5 of 5 in mice inoculated with mitomycin C-treated EL4/neo) to 40% (4 of 10, P < 0.05), indicating that supply of soluble TbetaRII could actually block TGF-beta-mediated tumorigenesis. In vitro tumor cytotoxicity assays revealed 3-5-fold higher cytotoxic activity with lymphocytes from EL4/Ts-bearing mice compared with those from EL4- or EL4/neo-bearing mice, indicating that the observed tumor rejection was mediated by restoration of the tumor-specific cellular immunity. These data suggest that expression of soluble TbetaRII is an effective strategy for treating highly progressive tumors secreting TGF-beta.     

4-1BBL修饰小鼠结肠癌疫苗体外诱导抗肿瘤免疫反应的研究

背景与目的:研究4-1BBL(4-1BB Ligand,即CD137配体)转基因小鼠结肠癌细胞瘤苗体外诱导细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(Cytotoxic T lymphocytes,CTL)特异性杀伤活性及刺激淋巴细胞产生细胞因子的作用.材料与方法:采用脂质体介导法将真核表达质粒pMKITneo/4-1BBL导入小鼠结肠癌colon26细胞,经G418筛选后获得4-1BBL高表达克隆,用丝裂霉素C(MMC)处理后,制成肿瘤细胞瘤苗,与经体外诱导的同系小鼠CTL共同培养,测定对CTL特异性杀伤活性及对脾细胞产生细胞因子(IL-2、IL.-4和IFN-γ)的影响.结果:转染4-1BBL的colon26细胞高表达4-1BBL蛋白,将该细胞经MMC处理后制成的瘤苗,与野生型colon26细胞相比,对CTL特异性杀伤亲本肿瘤细胞的作用明显增强(P＜0.01),但CTL对非亲本肿瘤细胞的杀伤作用无明显影响(P＞0.05);该瘤苗在体外能显著增强脾细胞分泌细胞因子(IL-2、IL-4和IFN-γ)的能力(P＜0.01).结论:4-1BBL转基因小鼠结肠癌细胞瘤苗能有效诱导抗结肠癌免疫反应.