Oncolytic adenovirus co-expressing miRNA-34a and IL-24 induces superior antitumor activity in experimental tumor model

It has been demonstrated that numerous microRNAs (miRNAs) have potent tumor-suppressing effects on a variety of cancers, implicating a possible application of miRNA in tumor therapy. Oncolytic adenovirus is a suitable vector to deliver tumor suppressor genes for treatment of cancers. However, it remains unknown whether co-expression of tumor suppressor genes and miRNAs can contribute to a more potent antitumor capacity within an oncolytic adenovirus delivery system. In this study, we found that expression of miRNA-34a was reduced in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the reduced expression of miRNA-34a was associated with worse outcome of HCC patients. Thus, we developed an oncolytic adenoviral vector, AdCN205, to co-express miRNA-34a and IL-24 driven by an adenovirus endogenous E3 promoter in HCC cells. High levels of miRNA-34a and IL-24 expression were detected in AdCN205-IL-24-miR-34a-infected HCC cells. AdCN205-IL-24-miR-34a significantly induced dramatic antitumor activity, as compared with that induced by AdCN205-IL-24 or AdCN205-miR-34a alone. Transfer of miRNA-34a into HCC cells inhibited the expression of its target genes, Bcl-2 and SIRT1. Treatment of established xenograft HCC tumors with AdCN205-IL-24-miR-34a in a mouse model resulted in complete tumor regression without recurrence. Taken together, our data provide a promising and reasonable delivery strategy of double-aimed cancer therapy, in which miRNAs and tumor-suppressing genes are used simultaneously.     

Adenovirus-mediated CCL20/IL-15 gene transfer enhances antitumor immunity in mice

The CCL20 chemokine has potent antitumor activities through chemoattracting immature dentritic cells. But the maturation status of tumoral dentritic cells is important limiting factors in DC-based immunity. The endogenous availability of IL-15 was effective in inducing the dentritic cells maturation and IL-15 also shows tumor-specific antitumor activities. We constructed a CCL20/IL-15 bicistronic adenovirus (Ad-CCL20-IL-15) and confirmed its combined antitumor effect in vitro and in vivo. Intratumoral injection of Ad-CCL20-IL-15 into both CT-26 and B16F10 cells resulted in marked reduction of tumor growth in our model. Splenocytes treated by Ad-CCL20-IL-15 developed tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells and IFN-γ secretion could protect mice from rechallenging. This study suggests that CCL20/IL-15 can induce a strong antitumor immune response in tumor tissues and it is a suitable candidate for cancer immunotherapy.     

Antitumor‐specific T‐cell responses induced by oncolytic adenovirus ONCOS‐102 (AdV5/3‐D24‐GM‐CSF) in peritoneal mesothelioma mouse model

Oncolytic adenoviral immunotherapy activates the innate immune system with subsequent induction of adaptive tumor‐specific immune responses to fight cancer. Hence, oncolytic viruses do not only eradicate cancer cells by direct lysis, but also generate antitumor immune response, allowing for long‐lasting cancer control and tumor reduction. Their therapeutic effect can be further enhanced by arming the oncolytic adenovirus with costimulatory transgenes and/or coadministration with other antitumor therapies. ONCOS‐102 has already been found to be well tolerated and efficacious against some types of treatment‐refractory tumors, including mesothelin‐positive ovarian cancer (NCT01598129). It induced local and systemic CD8+ T‐cell immunity and upregulated programmed death ligand 1. These results strongly advocate the use of ONCOS‐102 in combination with other therapeutic strategies in advanced and refractory tumors, especially those expressing the mesothelin antigen. The in vivo work presented herein describes the ability of the oncolytic adenovirus ONCOS‐102 to induce mesothelin‐specific T‐cells after the administration of the virus in bagg albino (BALB/c) mice with mesothelin‐positive tumors. We also demonstrate the effectiveness of the interferon‐γ the enzyme‐linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay to detect the induction of T‐cells recognizing mesothelin, hexon, and E1A antigens in ONCOS‐102‐treated mesothelioma‐bearing BALB/c mice. Thus, the ELISPOT assay could be useful to monitor the progress of therapy with ONCOS‐102.     

CD自杀基因联合GM-CSF基因治疗的抗肿瘤作用及免疫机理

目的研究自杀基因与粒细胞－巨噬细胞集落刺激因子（ＧＭ－ＣＳＦ）基因联合治疗抗肿瘤作用及免疫机理。方法小鼠皮下接种黑色素瘤Ｂ１６Ｆ１０细胞３天后,分别在肿瘤局部直接注射表达小鼠ＧＭ－ＣＳＦ的重组腺病毒ＡｄＧＭ－ＣＳＦ和表达大肠杆菌胞嘧啶脱氨酶（ＣＤ）基因的腺病毒Ａｄ－ＣＤ,然后连续１０天腹腔注射５氟胞嘧啶（５ＦＣ）（ＡｄＣＤ／５ＦＣ／ＡｄＧＭＣＳＦ组）、单用ＡｄＣＤ／５ＦＣ组、单用ＡｄＧＭ－ＣＳＦ组、注射对照病毒ＡｄｌａｃＺ／５ＦＣ组或ＰＢＳ组。结果与接受ＡｄＣＤ／５ＦＣ、ＡｄＧＭ－ＣＳＦ、ＡｄｌａｃＺ／５ＦＣ或ＰＢＳ治疗的荷瘤小鼠比较,经联合治疗后荷瘤小鼠皮下肿瘤结节的生长明显受到抑制,荷瘤小鼠的存活期明显延长（Ｐ＜０．０１）。经ＡｄＣＤ／５ＦＣ／ＡｄＧＭＣＳＦ联合基因治疗后,肿瘤瘤体内或瘤周有大量树突状细胞、ＣＤ８＋Ｔ细胞浸润,黑色素瘤细胞表达ＭＨＣ－Ⅰ和Ｂ７－１分子明显增加,荷瘤小鼠脾细胞对Ｂ１６Ｆ１０黑色素瘤细胞特异性杀伤功能增强。结论联合应用自杀基因和ＧＭ－ＣＳＦ基因转移可以直接杀伤肿瘤细胞,又可提高机体对肿瘤的免疫应答,两者可协同发挥抗肿瘤作用     

Intratumoral Expression of MIP-1β Induces Antitumor Responses in a Pre-Established Tumor Model through Chemoattracting T Cells and NK Cells

Direct intratumoral introduction of therapeutic or regulatory genes is a developing technology with potential application for cancer gene therapy. Macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta (MIP-1β) is a chemokine which can chemoattract immune cells such as T cells. In the present study, murine colorectal adenocarcinoma CT26 cells were transfected with a recombinant adenovirus (AdhMIP-1β) carrying the human MIP-1β gene. 24h post-transfection, hMIP-1β levels reached approximately 980 pg/ml in supernatants of 10^6 hMIP-1β-transfected CT26 cells. Moreover, the supernatants exhibited chemotactic activity for CD8^ T cells, CD4^ T cells, NK cells and immature DCs. Intratumoral injection of AdhMIP-1β significantly inhibited tumor growth and prolonged the survival time of tumor-bearing mice. Intratumoral hMIP-1β gene transfer also induced powerful tumor-specific CTL responses in vivo. The therapeutic effects of hMIP-1β gene therapy were greatly reduced following in vivo depletion of both CD4^ and CD8~ T cells, but were unaffected by depletion of single T cell subsets. Immune cell depletion experiments also revealed that NK cells played an important role in hMIP-1β-induced antitumor responses. These results suggest that intratumoral expression of hMIP-1β has the potential effect to induce host antitumor immunity and may prove to be a useful form of cancer gene therapy.     

Antisense RNA therapy for CML — An hypothesis

CML, a myeloproliferative clonal disorder of myeloid stem cells, is characterized by the consistent presence of a bcr - c-abl fusion gene which is formed as a rsult of a translocation of the c-abl gene from chromosome 9 to downstream of the bcr gene on chromosome 22 (ph'). Current approaches to the treatment of CML are chemotherapy (conventional or aggressive with immuno-modulators) and bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Neither of the abve treatment modalities results in long-term remission or cure. Hence, an alternative approach which aims at correcting the genetic defect should be considered. Taking advantage of the consistent abnormal presence of the bcr - c-abl gene in the treated and untreated CML patients at all stages, a gene therapy at the level of blocking mRNA might be considered. Such an antisense RNA therapy should include removal of patient's bone marrow, administration of the gene for constitutive expression of an antisense RNA for the bcr - c-abl fusion gene into the myeloid stem cells and reinjecting the engineered marrow into the patient. Such an approach, comparable to autologous BMT, will have the advantages of absence of graft rejection and possibility of 100% remission. The possible nature of the gene construct for such an antisense RNA therapy is discussed.     

IL-4基因转染诱导肝母细胞瘤分化及抑制端粒酶活性

目的 研究人白细胞介素４（ｈｕｍａｎ ｉｎｔｅｒｌｅｕｋｉｎ－４,ｈＩＬ－４）基因转染对肝母细胞瘤细胞的诱导分化和对端粒酶活性的影响。方法 以逆转录病毒载体（ＰＬ－ＩＬ－４－ＳＮ）将ｈＩＬ－４基因导入人肝母细胞瘤细胞系Ｈｅｐ Ｇ２细胞。台盼蓝拒梁,放射免疫测定,流式细胞仪细胞周期分析,原位杂交,ＰＣＲ－ＥＬＩＳＡ等方法检测基因转染后细胞形态,甲胎蛋白合成,原癌基因的表达及端粒酶活性变化。     

Mtb8.4/hIL12嵌合基因疫苗免疫原性

目的:构建克隆结核分枝杆菌Mtb8.4/hIL12嵌合基因疫苗,并在COS7细胞中表达,研究该疫苗的免疫原性。方法:克隆Mtb8.4/hIL12嵌合基因,并导入真核表达载体pCIneo中,构建pCIneoMtb8.4/hIL12重组真核质粒。用限制性内切酶消化、PCR及DNA序列测定等鉴定后,转染COS7细胞,用RTPCR和Westernblot鉴定Mtb8.4/hIL12嵌合基因在转录水平的表达。用Mtb8.4/hIL12嵌合基因疫苗免疫C57BL/6N小鼠,收集脾细胞培养上清检测细胞因子的水平,并用乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)释放法测定细胞毒性T细胞(CTL)的杀伤作用。结果:pCIneoMtb8.4/hIL12重组质粒构建成功。以其转染COS7细胞后,Mtb8.4/hIL12嵌合基因在转录水平获得表达。Mtb8.4/hIL12嵌合基因疫苗能诱导较强的抗原特异性Th1型细胞免疫应答,IFNγ和IL2的分泌增加,IL4的分泌减少,特异性CTL的杀伤活性增强。结论:成功地构建pCIneoMtb8.4/hIL12重组质粒,并在COS7细胞中表达。构建的Mtb8.4/hIL12基因疫苗具有较强的免疫原性,可明显诱导CTL的杀伤活性。     

汉滩病毒G1S0.7嵌合基因重组腺病毒的构建及鉴定

目的在本室前期工作的基础上构建汉滩病毒M基因G1片段与S基因0.7kb片段嵌合基因的重组腺病毒。方法构建含有汉滩病毒G1S0.7嵌合基因的转移载体pShuttle-G1S0.7,然后通过特异性的酶切将嵌合基因与腺病毒DNA相连,电转化E.coli JM109,获得重组腺病毒Adeno-G1S0.7 DNA,转染HFX293细胞得到重组腺病毒。进一步对重组腺病毒的滴度和表达产物进行鉴定。结果构建的含G1S0.7嵌合基因的重组腺病毒,滴度可达10^13～10^15 PFU／L;该重组腺病毒感染Vero-E6细胞后,表达出可被抗汉滩病毒核蛋白及糖蛋白G1的特异性单抗（mAb）所识别的融合蛋白。结论利用腺病毒表达系统,成功地表达同时具有核蛋白及糖蛋白G1生物学活性的融合蛋白,为进一步研究其免疫学特性奠定了基础。     

Abscopal effect when combining oncolytic adenovirus and checkpoint inhibitor in a humanized NOG mouse model of melanoma

Melanoma, an immunogenic tumor, is the first indication where oncolytic viruses are now becoming part of clinical practice. ONCOS-102, a transgened adenovirus, has shown to act as a primer of relevant tumor targeting immune cells both in preclinical and clinical melanoma studies. Strategies to augment its effectiveness warrant investigation. Combination therapy of ONCOS-102 with the checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) pembrolizumab was evaluated in a quasi-human animal model, the humanized NOG mouse model. A dosing schedule of the combination, beginning the CPI concurrently with the oncolytic viral therapy and continuing the CPI treatment, appeared to induce an abscopal effect in untreated tumor lesions. Concurrent combination therapy with checkpoint inhibitors may improve the induction of antitumor immune responses of ONCOS-102.     

A conditionally replicating adenovirus with strict selectivity in killing cells expressing epidermal growth factor receptor

Virotherapy of cancer using oncolytic adenoviruses has shown promise in both preclinical and clinical settings. One important challenge to reach the full therapeutic potential of oncolytic adenoviruses is accomplishing efficient infection of cancer cells and avoiding uptake by normal tissue through tropism modification. Towards this goal, we constructed and characterized an oncolytic adenovirus, carrying mutated capsid proteins to abolish the promiscuous adenovirus native tropism and encoding a bispecific adapter molecule to target the virus to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The new virus displayed a highly selective targeting profile, with reduced infection of EGFR-negative cells and efficient killing of EGFR-positive cancer cells including primary EGFR-positive osteosarcoma cells that are refractory to infection by conventional adenoviruses. Our method to modify adenovirus tropism might thus be useful to design new oncolytic adenoviruses for more effective treatment of cancer.     

Ad-ING4-poly(A)-Promoter-IL-24双基因共表达载体构建及表达

目的 构建poly(A)-Promoter介导的携带人肿瘤生长抑制因子4(ING4)和人白细胞介素-24(IL-24)双基因的重组腺病毒共表达载体Ad-ING4-poly(A)-Promoter-IL-24(简称Ad-ING4-IL-24),研究Ad-ING4-IL-24对HepG-2人肝癌细胞生长的影响.方法 以含有poly(A)和Promoter (hEF1-eIF4g)基因片段的pORF-mbcl-2α质粒为模板,PCR扩增poly(A)-Promoter目的 片段(含Sal Ⅰ,Not Ⅰ),亚克隆至pAdTrack-CMV载体中以构建pAdTrack-CMV-poly(A)-Promoter空载体,再分别以pcDNA3.0-ING4和pcDNA3.0-IL-24重组质粒为模板,PCR扩增ING4(含BglⅡ,Sal Ⅰ)和IL-24(含XhoⅠ,XbaⅠ)目的 基因片段,并依次插入pAdTrack-CMV-poly(A)-Promoter载体中构建pAdTrackCMV-ING4-Poly(A)-Promoter-IL-24双基因共表达重组转移载体,测序正确后用Pme Ⅰ酶线性化,与腺病毒骨架质粒pAdEasy-1构建同源重组腺病毒质粒pAdEasy-1-pAdTrack-CMV-ING4-poly(A)-Promoter-IL-24,再经Pac Ⅰ酶线性化后用脂质体转染QBI-293A包装细胞,经多轮扩增后收获Ad-ING4-IL-24重组腺病毒子,其效价可达3.5×109PFU/ml,用RT-PCR和Western blot法分别鉴定ING,4和IL-24基因在HepG-2人肝癌细胞中的转录和表达,MTT法和流式细胞仪检测Ad-ING4-IL-24对HepG-2人肝癌细胞生长抑制和诱导细胞凋亡的功能及其增效作用.结果 DNA测序结果显示pAdTrack-CMV转移载体中插入的ING4、poly(A)-Promoter和IL-24序列与GenBank报道的完全一致,RT-PCR和Western blot检测结果显示Ad-ING4-IL-24能成功介导ING4和IL-24基因在HepG-2人肝癌细胞中表达;并能明显抑制HepG-2人肝癌细胞的生长和诱导其凋亡,其中Ad-ING4-IL-24双基因组更优于相应各单基因组.结论 成功构建了poly(A)-Promoter介导的Ad-ING4-IL-24双基因共表达重组腺病毒载体,Ad-ING4-IL-24不仅能明显抑制HepG-2人肝癌细胞生长和诱导其凋亡,而且与Ad-ING4和AdIL-24单基因组相比具有抑癌增效作用.     

Oncolytic parvoviruses. A new approaches for cancer therapy

Parvoviruses such as parvovirus H-1 (H-1PV) may selectively infect and lysis cancer cells. The parvoviruses also induce an immune system to eliminate the tumor cells through the formation of anti-cancer immunity. One of the possible mechanisms of antitumor activity is associated with the direct induction of apoptosis by parvoviral proteins NS1 and 11 kDa. Parvovirus-based vectors are promising for gene therapy of oncological diseases and genetic disorders in humans. Parvoviruses were successfully used for the experimental treatment on animal models of human glioma, neuroblastomas, lymphomas, pancreatic carcinoma, carcinomas and breast tumors. ParvOryx is the first oncolytic preparation constructed on the base of H-1PV; its phase I/IIa clinical trials in patients with glioblastoma multiforme are in process.     

Antisense RNA therapy for CML--an hypothesis

CML, a myeloproliferative clonal disorder of myeloid stem cells, is characterized by the consistent presence of a bcr-c-abl fusion gene which is formed as a result of a translocation of the c-abl gene from chromosome 9 to downstream of the bcr gene on chromosome 22 (ph'). Current approaches to the treatment of CML are chemotherapy (conventional or aggressive with immuno-modulators) and bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Neither of the above treatment modalities results in long-term remission or cure. Hence, an alternative approach which aims at correcting the genetic defect should be considered. Taking advantage of the consistent abnormal presence of the bcr-c-abl gene in the treated and untreated CML patients at all stages, a gene therapy at the level of blocking mRNA might be considered. Such an antisense RNA therapy should include removal of patient's bone marrow, administration of the gene for constitutive expression of an antisense RNA for the bcr-c-abl fusion gene into the myeloid stem cells and reinjecting the engineered marrow into the patient. Such an approach, comparable to autologous BMT, will have the advantages of absence of graft rejection and possibility of 100% remission. The possible nature of the gene construct for such an antisense RNA therapy is discussed.     

Oncolytic virotherapy in veterinary medicine: current status and future prospects for canine patients

Oncolytic viruses refer to those that are able to eliminate malignancies by direct targeting and lysis of cancer cells, leaving non-cancerous tissues unharmed. Several oncolytic viruses including adenovirus strains, canine distemper virus and vaccinia virus strains have been used for canine cancer therapy in preclinical studies. However, in contrast to human studies, clinical trials with oncolytic viruses for canine cancer patients have not been reported. An 'ideal' virus has yet to be identified. This review is focused on the prospective use of oncolytic viruses in the treatment of canine tumors - a knowledge that will undoubtedly contribute to the development of oncolytic viral agents for canine cancer therapy in the future.     

Adenoviruses induce autophagy to promote virus replication and oncolysis

Adenoviruses with deletion of E1b have been used in clinical trials to treat cancers that are resistant to conventional therapies. The efficacy of viral replication within cancer cells determines the results of oncolytic therapy, which remains poorly understood and requires further improvement. In this report, we show that adenoviruses induce autophagy by increasing the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II and the formation of the Atg12-Atg5 complex. Inhibition of autophagy with 3-methyladenine (3MA) resulted in a decreased synthesis of adenovirus structural proteins, and thereby a poor viral replication; promotion of autophagy with rapamycin increased adenovirus yield. This study indicates that adenovirus-induced autophagy correlates positively with virus replication and oncolytic cell death, and that autophagy may generate nutrients that can be used for building viral progeny particles. These results further suggest that chemotherapeutic agents that increase cancer cell autophagy may improve the efficacy of oncolytic virotherapy.     

Maturation and lineage-specific expression of the coxsackie and adenovirus receptor in hematopoietic cells

Adenovirus vectors have been used to transfer genes into both hematopoietic progenitor cells and tumor cells, including carcinoma cells that have metastasized to bone marrow (BM). However, the relative susceptibility of different subsets of hematopoietic cells is unknown. In permissive cells adenoviral-mediated gene transfer is mediated by the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) protein and alpha(v) integrins expressed on the cell surface of the target cells. This prompted us to investigate the expression of CAR on subpopulations of hematopoietic cells, determine whether this protein played a role in adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of hematopoietic cells and whether we could modulate CAR to enhance gene transfer efficiency. In this report we show that CAR is expressed on approximately 40% of all human BM cells, including erythroid and myeloid cells, but not lymphoid cells. Of the CD34(+) cells, 10%-15% expressed CAR, but this did not include most colony-forming progenitor cells, nor the most primitive CD38(-) subpopulation. The presence of CAR correlated well with gene transfer efficiency, but we were unable to induce CAR expression on immature, noncommitted progenitor cells. In conclusion, our results show that primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells lack CAR expression, but that expression is acquired during erythroid and myeloid differentiation.