Apoptosis Induction With 5-Fluorocytosine/Cytosine Deaminase gene Therapy for Human Malignant Glioma Cells Mediated by Adenovirus

Previously, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of the adenovirus-mediated transduction of the cytosine deaminase (CD) gene and 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) for malignant gliomas. However, the molecular pathways that mediate the 5-FC/CD gene therapy-induced cell death remains to be elucidated. In this study, we examined the induction of apoptosis and the role of caspases in 5-FC/CD gene therapy using human malignant glioma cells [Gli36delta5 (mutated p53) and U87MG (wild p53)]. The treatment with 5-FC/CD gene-therapy-induced apoptosis both in Gli36delta5 cells and in U87MG cells according to flow cytometric analysis. Immunoblot analysis revealed that caspases 3 and 9 were processed in response to 5-FC/CD in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, but caspase 8 was not. Each caspase 3 and 9 inhibitor significantly reduced apoptosis triggered by 5-FC/CD, but the caspase 8 inhibitor did not affect apoptosis induction. 5-FC/CD significantly promoted the release of cytochorme c from mitochondria in a concentration-dependent manner. These results indicate that 5-FC/CD gene therapy induces apoptosis in human malignant glioma cells and that the apoptotic cell death is mediated by the activation of mitochondrial caspase cascades involving caspases 3 and 9. This is the first report concerning the apoptotic mechanism of 5-FC/CD gene therapy, and these findings could be used to increase the efficacy of suicide gene therapy systems for the treatment of malignant glioma.     

Efficacy of adenovirus-mediated CD/5-FC and HSV-1 thymidine kinase/ganciclovir suicide gene therapies concomitant with p53 gene therapy.

Recent evidence has suggested that tumor cells having a wild-type p53 status are more sensitive to chemotherapeutic agents and radiation than cells that lack functional p53. The heightened sensitivity of wild-type p53 cells is thought to be attributable to their propensity to undergo p53-mediated apoptosis after insult. Given that suicide gene therapy is essentially tumor-targeted chemotherapy, we examined the hypothesis that coexpression of wild-type p53 could enhance the efficacy of adenovirus-mediated suicide gene therapy. Human Hep3B and SK-OV-3 cells, which are null for p53, were infected with a pair of replication-deficient adenoviruses that expressed a cytosine deaminase/herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (CD/HSV-1 TK) fusion gene without (fusion gene nonreplicative adenovirus, FGNR) or with (FGNRp53) the wild-type human p53 gene. The sensitivity of cells to the CD/5-fluorocytosine (CD/5-FC) and HSV-1 TK/ ganciclovir (GCV) enzyme/prodrug systems was determined in vitro and in vivo. Coexpression of p53 did not enhance the cytotoxicity of either the CD/5-FC or HSV-1 TK/GCV system in vitro. The failure to observe an effect of p53 could not be explained on the basis of insufficient or transient p53 expression, because FGNRp53-infected cells growth arrested in G1, induced Bax, and underwent apoptosis at an increased rate after prodrug treatment, particularly when the adenovirus E1A protein was present. Intratumoral injection of FGNRp53 concomitant with single or double pro-drug therapy resulted in a tumor growth delay that was equal to or less than that observed with the FGNR virus. Our results indicate that coexpression of p53 may not necessarily improve the efficacy of adenovirus-mediated CD/ 5-FC and HSV-1 TK/GCV suicide gene therapies in vivo.     

Mitochondrial amplification of death signals determines thymidine kinase/ganciclovir-triggered activation of apoptosis

Previous clinical experience shows that the efficacy of suicide gene transfer in tumor therapy is limited, resulting from inefficient gene transfer or alternatively, from intrinsic resistance of the tumor in vivo. Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (TK/GCV), a paradigmatic suicide gene therapy system, has been described to exert its cytotoxic effect, at least in part, by inducing apoptosis in target cells. Here, we report that mitochondria amplify TK/GCV-induced apoptosis by regulating p53 accumulation and the effector phase of apoptosis. Treatment with TK/GCV led to mitochondrial perturbations including loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol, inducing caspase activation and nuclear fragmentation. Inhibition of TK/GCV-induced mitochondrial perturbations by Bcl-2 overexpression or by the mitochondrion-specific inhibitor bongkrekic acid also strongly inhibited TK/GCV-induced activation of caspases and apoptosis. TK/GCV-induced mitochondrial perturbations depended on caspase activity possibly initiated by death receptor signaling. Perturbation of mitochondrial function mediated accumulation of wild-type p53 protein, since Bcl-2 overexpression, bongkrekic acid, or inhibition of mitochondrial protein synthesis with chloramphenicol strongly reduced TK/GCV-induced accumulation of wild-type p53 protein. These findings suggest that TK/GCV therapy may be less efficient in tumors in which the mitochondrial amplification of TK/GCV-induced apoptosis is blocked, e.g., by Bcl-2 overexpression. Given the low efficacy of currently used gene therapy systems, our data on molecular mechanisms that regulate sensitivity or resistance toward TK/GCV-induced cytotoxicity might have important implications to improve the clinical application of suicide gene therapy.     

TRAIL enhances thymidine kinase/ganciclovir gene therapy of neuroblastoma cells

The clinical benefit of suicide gene therapy of tumors has been marginal, mostly due to the low gene transfer efficiency in vivo. The death-inducing ligand, TRAIL, effectively kills many tumor cell types, while sparing most normal tissues. We hypothesized that TRAIL may enhance HSV thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (TK/GCV) gene therapy of tumor cells by augmenting both target and bystander cell kill. Human SH-EP neuroblastoma cells expressing TK as well as bystander cells were effectively killed by apoptosis, and their clonogenicity was ablated following GCV. Human TRAIL enhanced TK/GCV-induced cell death and decreased clonogenicity of TK-expressing cells and also of bystander cells. Cooperation between TRAIL and TK/GCV depended both on caspase activation and on mitochondrial apoptogenic function because both the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor zVAD.fmk and overexpression of Bcl-2 decreased enhancement of cell kill by TRAIL. Facilitation of TRAIL signalling by up-regulation of TRAIL receptors did not contribute to enhancement because cell surface expression of the agonistic TRAIL receptors 1 and 2 was not increased by TK/GCV. In conclusion, the concerted activation of caspases and the mitochondrial amplification of caspase activation by TK/GCV may explain the cooperative effect of TK/GCV and TRAIL on the kill of neuroblastoma cells. Because combined treatment also augmented the bystander cell kill, the addition of TRAIL may increase the efficacy of TK/GCV gene therapy of neuroblastoma.     

逆转录病毒介导的双自杀基因对K562细胞杀伤作用的实验研究

目的 :观察逆转录病毒介导的双自杀基因对K5 6 2细胞的杀伤作用 ,探讨慢性粒细胞白血病的基因治疗方法。方法 :通过脂质体将含有双自杀基因的逆转录病毒载体PWZLneoCDglytk导入包装细胞PA317,经G4 18筛选后大量培养产病毒的阳性克隆PA317 CD +tk细胞株 ,收集病毒上清 ,浓缩后转染K5 6 2细胞 ,再次经G4 18筛选 ,获得稳定表达双自杀基因的K5 6 2 CD +tk细胞株。用RT PCR检测双自杀基因的表达。给予前体药物 5 氟胞嘧啶 (5 flourocytosine ,5 FC)和 或无环鸟苷 (Ganciciovir,GCV)后MTT法测定转基因组及未转基因组K5 6 2细胞的存活率。结果 :双自杀基因在K5 6 2细胞中可稳定表达 ,联合使用 5 FC和GCV对细胞增殖的杀伤作用及旁杀伤效应高于单独使用 5 FC或GCV。结论 :逆转录病毒介导自杀基因可有效杀死K5 6 2细胞 ,双自杀基因较单一自杀基因具有更强的抗肿瘤作用     

Expression of apoptosis-related genes in human head and neck squamous cell carcinomas undergoing p53-mediated programmed cell death.

Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) lines infected with a replication-defective Ad5CMV-p53 vector bearing a wild-type human p53 gene were used to examine alterations in the production of proteins implicated in regulating apoptosis. Because HNSCC lines express abundant levels of c-myc, and simultaneous expression of c-myc and p53 is known to trigger apoptosis in other cells, cooperation between these two genes was examined. Surprisingly, levels of c-myc mRNA and protein were rapidly and profoundly suppressed after infection with wild-type p53. Suppression of c-myc using antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (in the absence of p53) was sufficient to trigger apoptosis in Tu-138 cells, raising the possibility that the reduction of c-myc may be involved in at least one of the cell death pathways mediated by p53. Expression of a panel of Bcl-2 homology proteins was also examined in HNSCC lines undergoing p53-mediated apoptosis. No changes in Bcl-2, Bak, or Bcl-xS were found after p53 expression. Increased levels of the apoptosis-accelerating protein Bax were found in HNSCC lines after infection with Ad5CMV-p53. Induction of the apoptosis-inhibiting protein Bcl-xL was observed in Tu-167 cells and may account for the delayed onset of apoptosis in these cells. These studies suggest that multiple pathways may regulate apoptosis after transient overexpression of p53.     

Ganciclovir-induced apoptosis in HSV-1 thymidine kinase expressing cells: critical role of DNA breaks, Bcl-2 decline and caspase-9 activation

Although ganciclovir (GCV) is most often used in suicide anticancer gene therapy, the mechanism of GCV-induced cell killing and apoptosis is not fully understood. We analysed the mechanism of apoptosis triggered by GCV using a model system of CHO cells stably transfected with HSV-1 thymidine kinase (HSVtk). GCV-induced apoptosis is due to incorporation of the drug into DNA resulting in replication-dependent formation of DNA double-strand breaks and, at later stages, S and G2/M arrest. GCV-provoked DNA instability was likely to be responsible for the observed initial decline in Bcl-2 level and caspase-9/-3 activation. Further decline in the Bcl-2 level was due to cleavage of the protein by caspase-9, as demonstrated by use of caspase inhibitors and transfection with trans-dominant negative caspase expression vectors. Bcl-2 cleavage resulted in the appearance of a pro-apoptotic 23 kDa Bcl-2 fragment and in excessive cytochrome c release, dephosphorylation of BAD, cleavage of PARP and finally DNA degradation. Since Fas/CD95 and caspase-8 were only slightly activated we conclude GCV-induced apoptosis to occur in this cell system mainly by activating the mitochondrial damage pathway. This process is independent of p53 for which the cells are mutated. Caspase-9 mediated cleavage of Bcl-2 accelerates the apoptotic process and may explain the high potential of GCV to induce apoptosis. Data are also discussed as to implications for HSVtk gene therapy utilizing GCV.     

Ex vivo Delivery of Suicide Genes into Melanoma Cells Using Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-specific Fab Immunogene

The Fab fragment of monoclonal antibody B4G7 against human epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor was conjugated with cationic poly- l -lysine and the resulting conjugate was further complexed with reporter genes or therapeutic genes. This Fab/DNA complex was designated as "Fab immunogene". The Fab immunogene transfer in vitro was mediated through the EGF receptors in two melanoma cell lines. The frequency of cells expressing β-galactosidase ( β-Gal ) reporter gene was approximately 1%. The induction of suicide effects after Fab immunogene transfer of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase ( TK ) or Escherichia coli cytosine deaminase ( CD ) gene was quite remarkable, and the growth of melanoma cells was inhibited for over 7 days in the presence of ganciclovir (GCV) or 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC). Similarly, when melanoma cells treated in vitro with the Fab immunogene carrying TK or CD were transplanted into the back of nude mouse, subsequent systemic administration of GCV or 5-FC effectively suppressed the growth of tumors, indicating the occurrence of in vivo suicide effects.     

Ex vivo delivery of suicide genes into melanoma cells using epidermal growth factor receptor-specific Fab immunogene.

The Fab fragment of monoclonal antibody B4G7 against human epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor was conjugated with cationic poly-L-lysine and the resulting conjugate was further complexed with reporter genes or therapeutic genes. This Fab/DNA complex was designated as "Fab immunogene." The Fab immunogene transfer in vitro was mediated through the EGF receptors in two melanoma cell lines. The frequency of cells expressing beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal) reporter gene was approximately 1%. The induction of suicide effects after Fab immunogene transfer of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK) or Escherichia coli cytosine deaminase (CD) gene was quite remarkable, and the growth of melanoma cells was inhibited for over 7 days in the presence of ganciclovir (GCV) or 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC). Similarly, when melanoma cells treated in vitro with the Fab immunogene carrying TK or CD were transplanted into the back of nude mouse, subsequent systemic administration of GCV or 5-FC effectively suppressed the growth of tumors, indicating the occurrence of in vivo suicide effects.     

Oncogenic Vav1 induces Rac-dependent apoptosis via inhibition of Bcl-2 family proteins and collaborates with p53 deficiency to promote hematopoietic progenitor cell proliferation

Vav1 is an hematopoietic-specific Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor coupling tyrosine kinase receptors and Rac GTPases, and has been implicated in transformation of fibroblasts and pancreas. To determine the biologic effect and oncogenic potential of Vav1 in hematopoietic lineages, we stably express oncogenic mutant of Vav1 in primary bone marrow cells using retrovirus-mediated gene transfer. Contrary to the growth stimulatory effects observed in fibroblasts, oncogenic Vav1 inhibits hematopoietic stem cell/progenitor engraftment in vivo and progenitor cell expansion in vitro via inducing apoptosis. The oncogenic Vav1-induced apoptosis is associated with reduced expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins and effectively suppressed by transgenic overexpression of Bcl-2, suggesting Vav1-mediated signaling via Bcl-2 in apoptosis. Also, oncogenic Vav1 stimulates sustained activation of Rac GTPases and the biologic effects of oncogenic Vav1 are Rac-dependent. Further, when expressed in the p53-deficient cells, which express elevated Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL and are resistant to the apoptosis, oncogenic Vav1 enhances both proliferation and self-renewal of hematopoietic progenitor cells. These results demonstrate clear phenotypic differences between wild-type and p53(-/-) hematopoietic cells expressing oncogenic Vav1, and suggest oncogenic potential of Vav1-mediated pathways in primary hematopoietic cell when they collaborate with additional genetic hits that affect the p53 pathway.     

Lentivirus-mediated CD/TK fusion gene transfection neural stem cell therapy for C6 glioblastoma

A suicide gene can convert nontoxic prodrugs into toxic products to kill tumor cells. In this study, our aim was to transfect lentivirus-mediated CD/TK fusion gene into Wistar rat’s neural stem cells (NSC) and then implant the NSC into a C6 glioma model to observe a C6 glioma growth inhibition effect. Primary NSC and stable transfection CD/TK fusion gene cell lines were established. To observe the tumor size and rat survival period in different groups, C6 glioma cell apoptosis and cell viability rate were applied to analyze the tumor inhibition effect of the neural stem cells’ transfected CD/TK fusion gene. C6 cell viability showed that CDglyTK-NSC + GCV/5-Fc (group 1) was lower than CDglyTK-NSC (group 2), NSC + GCV/5-Fc (group 3), and control (group 4) from day 2 (p?<?0.05), and the apoptosis rate was higher in group 1 compared with that of other groups (50.6 %, p?<?0.05) either in vitro or in vivo (35.47 %, p?<?0.05); both cell viability and apoptosis had no significance in the other three groups. In vivo, tumor size in group 1 was 7.76?±?1.37 mm³, which is smaller than the others (group2 27.28?±?4.11 mm³, group3 27.94?±?2.08 and 28.61?±?2.97 mm³; p?<?0.05). The other groups’ tumor size was not significant (p?>?0.05). Survival time of rats treated with CDglyTK-NSC + GCV/5-Fc (group 1) was significantly longer than that of the other groups (p?<?0.05; group 1 48.86?±?1.97, group 2 28.67?±?3.75, group 3 31.5?±?1.27, group 4 29.3?±?1.33). We also showed that the transfected C6 cells had a migratory capacity toward gliomas in vivo. Transfected CD/TK fusion gene neural stem cells combined with propyl–guanosine and 5-flucytosine double prodrug significantly inhibit the development of glioma.     

Exogenous wt-p53 enhances the antitumor effect of HSV-TK/GCV on C6 glioma cells

Objective To study on the antitumor effect of combining wt-p53 gene with suicide gene therapy (HSV-tk+GCV) for malignant gliomas. Methods AdCMV-p53 was transfected into C6 glioma cells at MOI of (Multiplicity of infection) 0(G100), 10(TPG1), 100(TPG2), then AdCMV-tk was transducted to C6 glioma cells of G100, TPG1 and TPG2, respectively, at MOI of 100. The C6 glioma cells tranfected with both AdCMV-p53 and AdCMV-tk were exposed to various concentration of GCV. The cell survival rate was measured by MTT assay in vitro. Rat glioma model was established by injecting 5 × 10⁵ C6 glioma cells into right caudate nucleus of SD rats. AdCMV-p53 and AdCMV-tk were injected into glioma on day 5 and 6, respectively. On day 7, ganciclovir (GCV) was administrated intraperitoneally at 15 mg/kg/day for 14 days. The survival time of all rats was observed. The growth of intracerebral tumors was monitored dynamically by enhanced MRI. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL method. Expression of HSV-tk gene was identified by in situ hybridization and expression of exogenous p53 gene was detected with Western blotting. Results In vitro, wt-p53 significantly enhanced antitumor effect of HSV-tk/GCV. The concentration of GCV for ID50 of TPG2 cells (0.001 μg/ml GCV) was 10 times lower than that for the cells of tk-GCV group (MOI = 100), while the concentration of GCV for ID100 of TPG2 (0.01 μg/ml GCV) and TPG1(0.1 μg/ml GCV) was 100 and 10 times lower than that for the cells of tk-GCV group (MOI = 100), respectively. Apoptosis of C6 glioma cells also could be induced by transfection with wt-p53 gene slightly. For in vivo study, the survival time of tumor-bearing rats treated with HSV-TK/GCV or wt-p53 combined with HSV-TK/GCV was significantly prolonged and the intracerebral tumors were regressed and disappeared earlier in the combined gene therapy group than those in the HSV-TK/GCV therapy group as shown in enhanced MRI. However, only half dose of GCV for the rats treated with both wt-p53 and HSV-TK/GCV was needed to obtain the same efficacy as those rats treated with HSV-TK/GCV alone. These results indicate that the transfection of wt-p53 potentiates the effect of HSV-TK/GCV therapy. Conclusions The combination of HSV-tk/GCV system with wt-p53 gene transduction is optimal for clinical therapeutic trials of suicide gene therapy for malignant gliomas.     

CD95 (Fas/APO-1) and p53 signal apoptosis independently in diverse cell types

The tumor suppressor p53 exerts its antioncogenic effects in cells chiefly by regulating their progression through the cell cycle and by inducing cell death. It has been claimed that p53-transduced apoptosis involves the death receptor CD95 (Fas/APO-1). We report that thymocytes from mice lacking functional Fas ligand (gld) show normal sensitivity to apoptosis transduced by p53, and that hepatocytes fromp53-/- mice have normal sensitivity to apoptosis triggered through ligation of CD95. p53 and CD95, therefore, function in independent pathways to cell death in these diverse cell types.     

Influence of Bax or Bcl-2 overexpression on the ceramide-dependent apoptotic pathway in glioma cells

Ceramide has recently been regarded as a potential mediator of apoptosis. In the present study, the effects of Bcl-2 and Bax on the ceramide-mediated apoptotic pathways were examined in glioma cells overexpressing Bcl-2 or Bax. Etoposide, cisplatin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced apoptosis of C6 rat glioma cells which was associated with ceramide formation due to activation of neutral sphingomyelinase, followed by release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into the cytosol and activation of caspases-9 and -3. The growth of C6 cells stably overexpressing either Bcl-2 or Bax was almost equal to that of the vector-transfected cells. Bax overexpression enhanced etoposide-induced apoptosis through acceleration of cytochrome c release and caspases activation. However, Bax had no effect on ceramide formation. Similar findings were obtained in C6 cells and U87-MG human glioblastoma cells which were transiently overexpressed with Bax. In contrast, Bcl-2 overexpression resulted in a retardation of the apoptotic process via prevention of cytochrome c release and caspases activation, and ceramide formation was also blocked when Bcl-2 was highly overexpressed in glioma cells. In addition, transient overexpression of Bcl-xL also exerted inhibitory effects on ceramide formation and apoptotic cell death induced by etoposide. These results indicate that Bax promotes apoptosis regardless of ceramide formation and that Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL prevents ceramide formation by repressing neutral sphingomyelinase as well as ceramide-induced cytochrome c release. Oncogene (2000) 19, 3508 - 3520     

Cytosine deaminase/5-fluorocytosine gene therapy and Apo2L/TRAIL cooperate to kill TRAIL-resistant tumor cells

The death ligand Apo2L/TRAIL (Apo2 ligand/tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) eradicates many tumor types while sparing most normal tissues. However, some tumors are resistant to TRAIL. We therefore determined if TRAIL cooperates with cytosine deaminase/5-fluorocytosine (CD/5-FC) gene therapy and investigated the mechanisms involved. Transfection of human LAN-5 neuroblastoma cells with CD rendered the cells (LAN-5-CD) sensitive to 5-FC-induced, caspase-dependent apoptosis. Mediated by caspase-3, CD/5-FC and TRAIL cooperated to induce apoptosis in these TRAIL-resistant cells and to cleave X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP). In established LAN-5-CD tumors growing subcutaneously in mice, intratumorally applied TRAIL did not decrease tumor growth and systemically administered 5-FC only attenuated tumor growth. In contrast, 5-FC together with TRAIL dramatically decreased tumor growth and eradicated a tumor. Assuming sufficient gene transfer of CD in situ, CD/5-FC with TRAIL may be useful for the therapy of tumors resistant to TRAIL.     

Comparison of different methods to assess the cytotoxic effects of cytosine deaminase and thymidine kinase gene therapy

Dunning R3327 AT-1 rat prostate tumor cells were transfected with a double-fusion suicide gene (CDglyTK) that coded for the cytosine deaminase from E. coli and the thymidine kinase (TK) from HSV-1. The resulting cell line AT-1/CDglyTK was incubated with 10 and 20 microg/ml 5-FC or 0.25 microg/ml GCV, or both 5-FC and GCV 96 hours before harvest. The MTS assay detected cell viabilities of 50+/-5 and 25+/-5% after 5-FC treatment, and 50+/-5% after GCV treatment. The dye exclusion and the colony-forming assay confirmed the data of the MTS assay with GCV (47+/-5 and 32+/-5%), but presented different results for the 5-FC incubation. We detected 100+/-1 and 85+/-5% viable cells after 10 microg/ml 5-FC, and 97+/-1 and 85+/-5% after 20 microg/ml 5-FC treatment, respectively. S-phase arrest in both suicide gene systems was noticeable and a significant increase in cell granularity was observed after incubation with GCV or GCV & 5-FC. This study demonstrates that 5-FC and the metabolized 5-FU act not only as genotoxic reagents, but also as RNA-directed agent, because of the recovery of the cells. On the other hand, a significant S-phase block could be observed after 24 hours incubation with GCV. This short time is enough to incorporate the genotoxic GCV metabolites in the nascent DNA to impair the cell cycle.     

HSV1-TK/GCV系统作为肿瘤疫苗"死亡开关"的研究

背景与目的:肿瘤活疫苗有高效的抗肿瘤免疫能力,但其体内增殖性限制了进一步的临床应用。本研究将Ⅰ型单纯疱疹病毒胸腺嘧啶核苷激酶/丙氧鸟苷(HSV1鄄TK/GCV)系统作为肿瘤活疫苗的“死亡开关”,以期控制疫苗在体内的存活状态,并探讨其作用机制。方法:以逆转录病毒为载体将HSV1鄄TK基因转导入大鼠卵巢癌细胞株NuTu鄄19,经G418筛选出阳性克隆后与Fischer344大鼠骨髓来源的树突细胞融合,制成携带有HSV1鄄TK基因的卵巢癌DC活疫苗(FC/TK)。以RT鄄PCR和Westernblot检测FC/TK细胞中的HSV1鄄TK表达。体外以XTT法检测不同浓度GCV对FC/TK的体外杀伤作用;以流式细胞仪和Hoechst染色法检测GCV作用5天后FC/TK的凋亡现象。体内实验中,取大鼠经足垫皮下接种FC/TK后分为两组:FC/TK GCV组大鼠再予GCV腹腔注射7天;FC/TK 生理盐水组作为对照组。接种FC/TK后观察90天,记录注射部位有无肿瘤形成及各脏器的肿瘤转移情况。结果:FC/TK中有HSV1鄄TK的表达,在体外GCV对FC/TK的杀伤率可达86.25%,其中大于80%的FC/TK发生凋亡,并出现细胞核浓缩、边集等凋亡现象。FC/TK 生理盐水组共有3只(60%)的大鼠注射部位出现低分化腺癌;而FC/TK GCV组未见局部肿瘤形成及脏器转移。结论:HSV1鄄TK/GCV通过诱导肿瘤活疫苗发生凋亡而起到控制其存活状态的作用。