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Jiao S, Bai C, Qi C, Wu H, Hu L, Li F, Yang K, Zhao C, Ouyang H, Pang D, Tang X, Xie Z. Identification and Functional Analysis of the Regulatory Elements in the pHSPA6 Promoter. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13020189. [PMID: 35205234 PMCID: PMC8872561 DOI: 10.3390/genes13020189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional and expressional research of heat shock protein A6 (HSPA6) suggests that the gene is of great value for neurodegenerative diseases, biosensors, cancer, etc. Based on the important value of pigs in agriculture and biomedicine and to advance knowledge of this little-studied HSPA member, the stress-sensitive sites in porcine HSPA6 (pHSPA6) were investigated following different stresses. Here, two heat shock elements (HSEs) and a conserved region (CR) were identified in the pHSPA6 promoter by a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated precise gene editing strategy. Gene expression data showed that sequence disruption of these regions could significantly reduce the expression of pHSPA6 under heat stress. Stimulation studies indicated that these regions responded not only to heat stress but also to copper sulfate, MG132, and curcumin. Further mechanism studies showed that downregulated pHSPA6 could significantly affect some important members of the HSP family that are involved in HSP40, HSP70, and HSP90. Overall, our results provide a new approach for investigating gene expression and regulation that may contribute to gene regulatory mechanisms, drug target selection, and breeding stock selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyu Jiao
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (S.J.); (C.B.); (C.Q.); (H.W.); (L.H.); (F.L.); (K.Y.); (C.Z.); (H.O.); (D.P.)
| | - Chunyan Bai
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (S.J.); (C.B.); (C.Q.); (H.W.); (L.H.); (F.L.); (K.Y.); (C.Z.); (H.O.); (D.P.)
| | - Chunyun Qi
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (S.J.); (C.B.); (C.Q.); (H.W.); (L.H.); (F.L.); (K.Y.); (C.Z.); (H.O.); (D.P.)
| | - Heyong Wu
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (S.J.); (C.B.); (C.Q.); (H.W.); (L.H.); (F.L.); (K.Y.); (C.Z.); (H.O.); (D.P.)
| | - Lanxin Hu
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (S.J.); (C.B.); (C.Q.); (H.W.); (L.H.); (F.L.); (K.Y.); (C.Z.); (H.O.); (D.P.)
| | - Feng Li
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (S.J.); (C.B.); (C.Q.); (H.W.); (L.H.); (F.L.); (K.Y.); (C.Z.); (H.O.); (D.P.)
| | - Kang Yang
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (S.J.); (C.B.); (C.Q.); (H.W.); (L.H.); (F.L.); (K.Y.); (C.Z.); (H.O.); (D.P.)
| | - Chuheng Zhao
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (S.J.); (C.B.); (C.Q.); (H.W.); (L.H.); (F.L.); (K.Y.); (C.Z.); (H.O.); (D.P.)
| | - Hongsheng Ouyang
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (S.J.); (C.B.); (C.Q.); (H.W.); (L.H.); (F.L.); (K.Y.); (C.Z.); (H.O.); (D.P.)
- Key Lab for Zoonoses Research, Ministry of Education, Animal Genome Editing Technology Innovation Center, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
- Chongqing Research Institute, Jilin University, Chongqing 401123, China
- Chongqing Jitang Biotechnology Research Institute Co., Ltd., Chongqing 401123, China
| | - Daxin Pang
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (S.J.); (C.B.); (C.Q.); (H.W.); (L.H.); (F.L.); (K.Y.); (C.Z.); (H.O.); (D.P.)
- Key Lab for Zoonoses Research, Ministry of Education, Animal Genome Editing Technology Innovation Center, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
- Chongqing Research Institute, Jilin University, Chongqing 401123, China
- Chongqing Jitang Biotechnology Research Institute Co., Ltd., Chongqing 401123, China
| | - Xiaochun Tang
- Key Lab for Zoonoses Research, Ministry of Education, Animal Genome Editing Technology Innovation Center, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
- Chongqing Research Institute, Jilin University, Chongqing 401123, China
- Chongqing Jitang Biotechnology Research Institute Co., Ltd., Chongqing 401123, China
- Correspondence: (X.T.); (Z.X.)
| | - Zicong Xie
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (S.J.); (C.B.); (C.Q.); (H.W.); (L.H.); (F.L.); (K.Y.); (C.Z.); (H.O.); (D.P.)
- Correspondence: (X.T.); (Z.X.)
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Yi X, Duan QY, Wu FG. Low-Temperature Photothermal Therapy: Strategies and Applications. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2021; 2021:9816594. [PMID: 34041494 PMCID: PMC8125200 DOI: 10.34133/2021/9816594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Although photothermal therapy (PTT) with the assistance of nanotechnology has been considered as an indispensable strategy in the biomedical field, it still encounters some severe problems that need to be solved. Excessive heat can induce treated cells to develop thermal resistance, and thus, the efficacy of PTT may be dramatically decreased. In the meantime, the uncontrollable diffusion of heat can pose a threat to the surrounding healthy tissues. Recently, low-temperature PTT (also known as mild PTT or mild-temperature PTT) has demonstrated its remarkable capacity of conquering these obstacles and has shown excellent performance in bacterial elimination, wound healing, and cancer treatments. Herein, we summarize the recently proposed strategies for achieving low-temperature PTT based on nanomaterials and introduce the synthesis, characteristics, and applications of these nanoplatforms. Additionally, the combination of PTT and other therapeutic modalities for defeating cancers and the synergistic cancer therapeutic effect of the combined treatments are discussed. Finally, the current limitations and future directions are proposed for inspiring more researchers to make contributions to promoting low-temperature PTT toward more successful preclinical and clinical disease treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiulin Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 2 Sipailou Road, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Qiu-Yi Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 2 Sipailou Road, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Fu-Gen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 2 Sipailou Road, Nanjing 210096, China
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Brayshaw LL, Martinez-Fleites C, Athanasopoulos T, Southgate T, Jespers L, Herring C. The role of small molecules in cell and gene therapy. RSC Med Chem 2021; 12:330-352. [PMID: 34046619 PMCID: PMC8130622 DOI: 10.1039/d0md00221f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell and gene therapies have achieved impressive results in the treatment of rare genetic diseases using gene corrected stem cells and haematological cancers using chimeric antigen receptor T cells. However, these two fields face significant challenges such as demonstrating long-term efficacy and safety, and achieving cost-effective, scalable manufacturing processes. The use of small molecules is a key approach to overcome these barriers and can benefit cell and gene therapies at multiple stages of their lifecycle. For example, small molecules can be used to optimise viral vector production during manufacturing or used in the clinic to enhance the resistance of T cell therapies to the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment. Here, we review current uses of small molecules in cell and gene therapy and highlight opportunities for medicinal chemists to further consolidate the success of cell and gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis L Brayshaw
- Cell & Gene Therapy Discovery Research, Medicinal Science & Technology, GlaxoSmithKline Medicines Research Centre Gunnels Wood Road Stevenage SG1 2NY UK
| | - Carlos Martinez-Fleites
- Protein Degradation Group, Medicinal Science & Technology, GlaxoSmithKline Medicines Research Centre Gunnels Wood Road Stevenage SG1 2NY UK
| | - Takis Athanasopoulos
- Cell & Gene Therapy Discovery Research, Medicinal Science & Technology, GlaxoSmithKline Medicines Research Centre Gunnels Wood Road Stevenage SG1 2NY UK
| | - Thomas Southgate
- Cell & Gene Therapy Discovery Research, Medicinal Science & Technology, GlaxoSmithKline Medicines Research Centre Gunnels Wood Road Stevenage SG1 2NY UK
| | - Laurent Jespers
- Cell & Gene Therapy Discovery Research, Medicinal Science & Technology, GlaxoSmithKline Medicines Research Centre Gunnels Wood Road Stevenage SG1 2NY UK
| | - Christopher Herring
- Cell & Gene Therapy Discovery Research, Medicinal Science & Technology, GlaxoSmithKline Medicines Research Centre Gunnels Wood Road Stevenage SG1 2NY UK
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Lin G, Revia RA, Zhang M. Inorganic Nanomaterial-Mediated Gene Therapy in Combination with Other Antitumor Treatment Modalities. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2021; 31:2007096. [PMID: 34366761 PMCID: PMC8336227 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202007096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a genetic disease originating from the accumulation of gene mutations in a cellular subpopulation. Although many therapeutic approaches have been developed to treat cancer, recent studies have revealed an irrefutable challenge that tumors evolve defenses against some therapies. Gene therapy may prove to be the ultimate panacea for cancer by correcting the fundamental genetic errors in tumors. The engineering of nanoscale inorganic carriers of cancer therapeutics has shown promising results in the efficacious and safe delivery of nucleic acids to treat oncological diseases in small-animal models. When these nanocarriers are used for co-delivery of gene therapeutics along with auxiliary treatments, the synergistic combination of therapies often leads to an amplified health benefit. In this review, an overview of the inorganic nanomaterials developed for combinatorial therapies of gene and other treatment modalities is presented. First, the main principles of using nucleic acids as therapeutics, inorganic nanocarriers for medical applications and delivery of gene/drug payloads are introduced. Next, the utility of recently developed inorganic nanomaterials in different combinations of gene therapy with each of chemo, immune, hyperthermal, and radio therapy is examined. Finally, current challenges in the clinical translation of inorganic nanomaterial-mediated therapies are presented and outlooks for the field are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanyou Lin
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Richard A Revia
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Miqin Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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Effect of Transgene Location, Transcriptional Control Elements and Transgene Features in Armed Oncolytic Adenoviruses. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12041034. [PMID: 32340119 PMCID: PMC7226017 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12041034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical results with oncolytic adenoviruses (OAds) used as antitumor monotherapies show limited efficacy. To increase OAd potency, transgenes have been inserted into their genome, a strategy known as “arming OAds”. Here, we review different parameters that affect the outcome of armed OAds. Recombinant adenovirus used in gene therapy and vaccination have been the basis for the design of armed OAds. Hence, early region 1 (E1) and early region 3 (E3) have been the most commonly used transgene insertion sites, along with partially or complete E3 deletions. Besides transgene location and orientation, transcriptional control elements, transgene function, either virocentric or immunocentric, and even the codons encoding it, greatly impact on transgene levels and virus fitness.
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Jung BK, Lee YK, Hong J, Ghandehari H, Yun CO. Mild Hyperthermia Induced by Gold Nanorod-Mediated Plasmonic Photothermal Therapy Enhances Transduction and Replication of Oncolytic Adenoviral Gene Delivery. ACS NANO 2016; 10:10533-10543. [PMID: 27805805 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.6b06530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Oncolytic adenovirus (Ad) is a promising candidate for cancer gene therapy. However, as a monotherapy, it has shown insufficient therapeutic efficacy in clinical trials. In this work, we demonstrate that gold nanorod (GNR)-mediated mild hyperthermia enhances the cellular uptake and consequent gene expression of oncolytic Ad to head and neck tumor cells. We examined the combination of oncolytic Ad expressing vascular endothelial growth factor promoter-targeted artificial transcriptional repressor zinc-finger protein and GNR-mediated mild hyperthermia to improve antitumor effects. The in vitro mechanisms of increased transduction in the presence and absence of hyperthermia were explored followed by evaluation of efficacy of this combination strategy in an animal model. Exposure to optimized hyperthermia conditions improved endocytosis of oncolytic Ad, transgene expression, viral replication, and subsequent cytolysis of head and neck cancer cells. GNR-mediated plasmonic photothermal therapy resulted in precise control of tumor temperature and induction of mild hyperthermia. A combination of oncolytic Ad and GNRs resulted in potent tumor growth inhibition of head and neck tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Kyeong Jung
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University , 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 133-791, Korea
| | - Yeon Kyung Lee
- Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology 39-1 Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Korea
| | - JinWoo Hong
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University , 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 133-791, Korea
| | - Hamidreza Ghandehari
- Center for Theragnosis, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology 39-1 Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Korea
- Departments of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry and of Bioengineering, Center for Nanomedicine, Nano Institute of Utah, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Chae-Ok Yun
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University , 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 133-791, Korea
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Knippertz I, Deinzer A, Dörrie J, Schaft N, Nettelbeck DM, Steinkasserer A. Transcriptional Targeting of Mature Dendritic Cells with Adenoviral Vectors via a Modular Promoter System for Antigen Expression and Functional Manipulation. J Immunol Res 2016; 2016:6078473. [PMID: 27446966 PMCID: PMC4942663 DOI: 10.1155/2016/6078473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
To specifically target dendritic cells (DCs) to simultaneously express different therapeutic transgenes for inducing immune responses against tumors, we used a combined promoter system of adenoviral vectors. We selected a 216 bp short Hsp70B' core promoter induced by a mutated, constitutively active heat shock factor (mHSF) 1 to drive strong gene expression of therapeutic transgenes MelanA, BclxL, and IL-12p70 in HeLa cells, as well as in mature DCs (mDCs). As this involves overexpressing mHSF1, we first evaluated the resulting effects on DCs regarding upregulation of heat shock proteins and maturation markers, toxicity, cytokine profile, and capacity to induce antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells. Second, we generated the two-vector-based "modular promoter" system, where one vector contains the mHSF1 under the control of the human CD83 promoter, which is specifically active only in DCs and after maturation. mHSF1, in turn, activates the Hsp70B' core promotor-driven expression of transgenes MelanA and IL-12p70 in the DC-like cell line XS52 and in human mature and hence immunogenic DCs, but not in tolerogenic immature DCs. These in vitro experiments provide the basis for an in vivo targeting of mature DCs for the expression of multiple transgenes. Therefore, this modular promoter system represents a promising tool for future DC-based immunotherapies in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilka Knippertz
- Department of Immune Modulation at the Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Hartmannstrasse 14, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andrea Deinzer
- Department of Immune Modulation at the Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Hartmannstrasse 14, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jan Dörrie
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Hartmannstrasse 14, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Niels Schaft
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Hartmannstrasse 14, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dirk M. Nettelbeck
- German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Steinkasserer
- Department of Immune Modulation at the Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Hartmannstrasse 14, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
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Wang X, Zhou P, Sun X, Wei G, Zhang L, Wang H, Yao J, Jia P, Zheng J. Modification of the hTERT promoter by heat shock elements enhances the efficiency and specificity of cancer targeted gene therapy. Int J Hyperthermia 2016; 32:244-53. [PMID: 26981638 DOI: 10.3109/02656736.2015.1128569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE One of the current challenges facing cancer gene therapy is the tumour-specific targeting of therapeutic genes. Effective targeting in gene therapy requires accurate spatial and temporal control of gene expression. To develop a sufficient and accurate tumour-targeting method for cancer gene therapy, we have investigated the use of hyperthermia to control the expression of a transgene under the control of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter and eight heat shock elements (8HSEs). MATERIALS AND METHODS Luciferase reporters were constructed by inserting eight HSEs and the hTERT promoter (8HSEs-hTERTp) upstream of the pGL4.20 vector luciferase gene. The luciferase activity of the hTERT promoter and 8HSEs-hTERT promoter were then compared in the presence and absence of heat. The differences in luciferase activity were analysed using dual luciferase assays in SW480 (high hTERT expression), MKN28 and MRC-5 cells (low hTERT expression). The luciferase activity of the Hsp70B promoter was also compared to the 8HSEs-hTERT promoter in the above listed cell lines. Lentiviral vector and heat-induced expression of EGFP expression under the control of the 8HSEs-hTERT promoter in cultured cells and mouse tumour xenografts was measured by reverse transcription polymerase (RT-PCR), Western blot and immunofluorescence assays. RESULTS hTERT promoter activity was higher in SW480 cells than in MKN28 or MRC-5 cells. At 43 °C, the luciferase activity of the 8HSEs-hTERT promoter was significantly increased in SW480 cells, but not in MKN28 or MRC-5 cells. Importantly, the differences in luciferase activity were much more obvious in both high (SW480) and low (MKN28 and MRC-5) hTERT expressing cells when the activity of the 8HSEs-hTERT promoter was compared to the Hsp70B promoter. Moreover, under the control of 8HSEs-hTERT promoter in vitro and in vivo, EGFP expression was obviously increased by heat treatment in SW480 cells but not in MKN28 or MRC-5 cells, nor was expression increased under normal temperature conditions. CONCLUSIONS The hTERT promoter is a potentially powerful tumour-specific promoter and gene therapy tool for cancer treatment. Incorporating heat-inducible therapeutic elements (8HSEs) into the hTERT promoter may enhance the efficiency and specificity of cancer targeting gene therapy under hyperthermic clinical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Wang
- a Department of General Surgery , First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , Shaanxi
| | - PeiHua Zhou
- a Department of General Surgery , First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , Shaanxi
| | - XueJun Sun
- a Department of General Surgery , First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , Shaanxi
| | - GuangBing Wei
- a Department of General Surgery , First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , Shaanxi
| | - Li Zhang
- b Department of General Surgery , Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , Shaanxi
| | - Hui Wang
- c Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital , Xi'an , Shaanxi , and
| | - JianFeng Yao
- c Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital , Xi'an , Shaanxi , and
| | - PengBo Jia
- d First People's Hospital of XianYang City , XianYang , Shaanxi , China
| | - JianBao Zheng
- a Department of General Surgery , First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , Shaanxi
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Yin PT, Shah S, Pasquale NJ, Garbuzenko OB, Minko T, Lee KB. Stem cell-based gene therapy activated using magnetic hyperthermia to enhance the treatment of cancer. Biomaterials 2015; 81:46-57. [PMID: 26720500 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Stem cell-based gene therapies, wherein stem cells are genetically engineered to express therapeutic molecules, have shown tremendous potential for cancer applications owing to their innate ability to home to tumors. However, traditional stem cell-based gene therapies are hampered by our current inability to control when the therapeutic genes are actually turned on, thereby resulting in detrimental side effects. Here, we report the novel application of magnetic core-shell nanoparticles for the dual purpose of delivering and activating a heat-inducible gene vector that encodes TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs). By combining the tumor tropism of the AD-MSCs with the spatiotemporal MCNP-based delivery and activation of TRAIL expression, this platform provides an attractive means with which to enhance our control over the activation of stem cell-based gene therapies. In particular, we found that these engineered AD-MSCs retained their innate ability to proliferate, differentiate, and, most importantly, home to tumors, making them ideal cellular carriers. Moreover, exposure of the engineered AD-MSCS to mild magnetic hyperthermia resulted in the selective expression of TRAIL from the engineered AD-MSCs and, as a result, induced significant ovarian cancer cell death in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perry T Yin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Shreyas Shah
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Nicholas J Pasquale
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Olga B Garbuzenko
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Tamara Minko
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA; Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, USA
| | - Ki-Bum Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
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10
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Engineering of Ribozyme-Based Aminoglycoside Switches of Gene Expression by In Vivo Genetic Selection in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Methods Enzymol 2015; 550:301-20. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2014.10.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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11
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Ramirez VP, Stamatis M, Shmukler A, Aneskievich BJ. Basal and stress-inducible expression of HSPA6 in human keratinocytes is regulated by negative and positive promoter regions. Cell Stress Chaperones 2015; 20:95-107. [PMID: 25073946 PMCID: PMC4255259 DOI: 10.1007/s12192-014-0529-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Revised: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 07/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidermal keratinocytes serve as the primary barrier between the body and environmental stressors. They are subjected to numerous stress events and are likely to respond with a repertoire of heat shock proteins (HSPs). HSPA6 (HSP70B') is described in other cell types with characteristically low to undetectable basal expression, but is highly stress induced. Despite this response in other cells, little is known about its control in keratinocytes. We examined endogenous human keratinocyte HSPA6 expression and localized some responsible transcription factor sites in a cloned HSPA6 3 kb promoter. Using promoter 5' truncations and deletions, negative and positive regulatory regions were found throughout the 3 kb promoter. A region between -346 and -217 bp was found to be crucial to HSPA6 basal expression and stress inducibility. Site-specific mutations and DNA-binding studies show that a previously uncharacterized AP1 site contributes to the basal expression and maximal stress induction of HSPA6. Additionally, a new heat shock element (HSE) within this region was defined. While this element mediates increased transcriptional response in thermally stressed HaCaT keratinocytes, it preferentially binds a stress-inducible factor other than heat shock factor (HSF)1 or HSF2. Intriguingly, this newly characterized HSPA6 HSE competes HSF1 binding a consensus HSE and binds both HSF1 and HSF2 from other epithelial cells. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the HSPA6 promoter contains essential negative and positive promoter regions and newly identified transcription factor targets, which are key to the basal and stress-inducible expression of HSPA6. Furthermore, these results suggest that an HSF-like factor may preferentially bind this newly identified HSPA6 HSE in HaCaT cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent P. Ramirez
- />Graduate Program in Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3092 USA
| | - Michael Stamatis
- />Doctor of Pharmacy Program, School of Pharmacy, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3092 USA
| | - Anastasia Shmukler
- />Doctor of Pharmacy Program, School of Pharmacy, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3092 USA
| | - Brian J. Aneskievich
- />Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Connecticut, U-3092, 69 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3092 USA
- />University of Connecticut Stem Cell Institute, Storrs, CT 06269-3092 USA
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Fernández-Ulibarri I, Hammer K, Arndt MAE, Kaufmann JK, Dorer D, Engelhardt S, Kontermann RE, Hess J, Allgayer H, Krauss J, Nettelbeck DM. Genetic delivery of an immunoRNase by an oncolytic adenovirus enhances anticancer activity. Int J Cancer 2014; 136:2228-40. [PMID: 25303768 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.29258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Accepted: 09/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Antibody therapy of solid cancers is well established, but suffers from unsatisfactory tumor penetration of large immunoglobulins or from low serum retention of antibody fragments. Oncolytic viruses are in advanced clinical development showing excellent safety, but suboptimal potency due to limited virus spread within tumors. Here, by developing an immunoRNase-encoding oncolytic adenovirus, we combine viral oncolysis with intratumoral genetic delivery of a small antibody-fusion protein for targeted bystander killing of tumor cells (viro-antibody therapy). Specifically, we explore genetic delivery of a small immunoRNase consisting of an EGFR-binding scFv antibody fragment fused to the RNase Onconase (ONC(EGFR)) that induces tumor cell death by RNA degradation after cellular internalization. Onconase is a frog RNase that combines lack of immunogenicity and excellent safety in patients with high tumor killing potency due to its resistance to the human cytosolic RNase inhibitor. We show that ONC(EGFR) expression by oncolytic adenoviruses is feasible with an optimized, replication-dependent gene expression strategy. Virus-encoded ONC(EGFR) induces potent and EGFR-dependent bystander killing of tumor cells. Importantly, the ONC(EGFR)-encoding oncolytic adenovirus showed dramatically increased cytotoxicity specifically to EGFR-positive tumor cells in vitro and significantly enhanced therapeutic activity in a mouse xenograft tumor model. The latter demonstrates that ONC(EGFR) is expressed at levels sufficient to trigger tumor cell killing in vivo. The established ONC(EGFR)-encoding oncolytic adenovirus represents a novel agent for treatment of EGFR-positive tumors. This viro-antibody therapy platform can be further developed for targeted/personalized cancer therapy by exploiting antibody diversity to target further established or emerging tumor markers or combinations thereof.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inés Fernández-Ulibarri
- Oncolytic Adenovirus Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 242, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Stritzker J, Huppertz S, Zhang Q, Geissinger U, Härtl B, Gentschev I, Szalay AA. Inducible gene expression in tumors colonized by modified oncolytic vaccinia virus strains. J Virol 2014; 88:11556-67. [PMID: 25056902 PMCID: PMC4178832 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00681-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 07/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Exogenous gene induction of therapeutic, diagnostic, and safety mechanisms could be a considerable improvement in oncolytic virotherapy. Here, we introduced a doxycycline-inducible promoter system (comprised of a tetracycline repressor, several promoter constructs, and a tet operator sequence) into oncolytic recombinant vaccinia viruses (rVACV), which were further characterized in detail. Experiments in cell cultures as well as in tumor-bearing mice were analyzed to determine the role of the inducible-system components. To accomplish this, we took advantage of the optical reporter construct, which resulted in the production of click-beetle luciferase as well as a red fluorescent protein. The results indicated that each of the system components could be used to optimize the induction rates and had an influence on the background expression levels. Depending on the given gene to be induced in rVACV-colonized tumors of patients, we discuss the doxycycline-inducible promoter system adjustment and further optimization. IMPORTANCE Oncolytic virotherapy of cancer can greatly benefit from the expression of heterologous genes. It is reasonable that some of those heterologous gene products could have detrimental effects either on the cancer patient or on the oncolytic virus itself if they are expressed at the wrong time or if the expression levels are too high. Therefore, exogenous control of gene expression levels by administration of a nontoxic inducer will have positive effects on the safety as well as the therapeutic outcome of oncolytic virotherapy. In addition, it paves the way for the introduction of new therapeutic genes into the genome of oncolytic viruses that could not have been tested otherwise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jochen Stritzker
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Sascha Huppertz
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Qian Zhang
- Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, California, USA Department of Radiation Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Ulrike Geissinger
- Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Barbara Härtl
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany Genelux GmbH, Bernried, Germany
| | - Ivaylo Gentschev
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Aladar A Szalay
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany Department of Radiation Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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14
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Artificial riboswitches for gene expression and replication control of DNA and RNA viruses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:E554-62. [PMID: 24449891 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1318563111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Aptazymes are small, ligand-dependent self-cleaving ribozymes that function independently of transcription factors and can be customized for induction by various small molecules. Here, we introduce these artificial riboswitches for regulation of DNA and RNA viruses. We hypothesize that they represent universally applicable tools for studying viral gene functions and for applications as a safety switch for oncolytic and live vaccine viruses. Our study shows that the insertion of artificial aptazymes into the adenoviral immediate early gene E1A enables small-molecule-triggered, dose-dependent inhibition of gene expression. Aptazyme-mediated shutdown of E1A expression translates into inhibition of adenoviral genome replication, infectious particle production, and cytotoxicity/oncolysis. These results provide proof of concept for the aptazyme approach for effective control of biological outcomes in eukaryotic systems, specifically in virus infections. Importantly, we also demonstrate aptazyme-dependent regulation of measles virus fusion protein expression, translating into potent reduction of progeny infectivity and virus spread. This not only establishes functionality of aptazymes in fully cytoplasmic genetic systems, but also implicates general feasibility of this strategy for application in viruses with either DNA or RNA genomes. Our study implies that gene regulation by artificial riboswitches may be an appealing alternative to Tet- and other protein-dependent gene regulation systems, based on their small size, RNA-intrinsic mode of action, and flexibility of the inducing molecule. Future applications range from gene analysis in basic research to medicine, for example as a safety switch for new generations of efficiency-enhanced oncolytic viruses.
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Stein MF, Lang S, Winkler TH, Deinzer A, Erber S, Nettelbeck DM, Naschberger E, Jochmann R, Stürzl M, Slany RK, Werner T, Steinkasserer A, Knippertz I. Multiple interferon regulatory factor and NF-κB sites cooperate in mediating cell-type- and maturation-specific activation of the human CD83 promoter in dendritic cells. Mol Cell Biol 2013; 33:1331-44. [PMID: 23339870 PMCID: PMC3624272 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.01051-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2012] [Accepted: 01/14/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
CD83 is one of the best-known surface markers for fully mature dendritic cells (mature DCs), and its cell-type- and maturation-specific regulation makes the CD83 promoter an interesting tool for the genetic modulation of DCs. To determine the mechanisms regulating this DC- and maturation-specific CD83 expression, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-on-chip microarray, biocomputational, reporter, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and ChIP analyses were performed. These studies led to the identification of a ternary transcriptional activation complex composed of an upstream regulatory element, a minimal promoter, and an enhancer, which have not been reported in this arrangement for any other gene so far. Notably, these DNA regions contain a complex framework of interferon regulatory factor (IRF)- and NF-κB transcription factor-binding sites mediating their arrangement. Mutation of any of the IRF-binding sites resulted in a significant loss of promoter activity, whereas overexpression of NF-κB transcription factors clearly enhanced transcription. We identified IRF-1, IRF-2, IRF-5, p50, p65, and cRel to be involved in regulating maturation-specific CD83 expression in DCs. Therefore, the characterization of this promoter complex not only contributes to the knowledge of DC-specific gene regulation but also suggests the involvement of a transcriptional module with binding sites separated into distinct regions in transcriptional activation as well as cell-type- and maturation-specific transcriptional targeting of DCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello F. Stein
- Department of Immune Modulation at the Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stefan Lang
- Department of Biology, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thomas H. Winkler
- Department of Biology, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andrea Deinzer
- Department of Immune Modulation at the Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Erber
- Department of Immune Modulation at the Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dirk M. Nettelbeck
- Helmholtz University Group Oncolytic Adenoviruses at the DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center) and Department of Dermatology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Naschberger
- Division of Molecular and Experimental Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ramona Jochmann
- Division of Molecular and Experimental Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael Stürzl
- Division of Molecular and Experimental Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Robert K. Slany
- Department of Genetics, University Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thomas Werner
- Genomatix Software GmbH, Munich, Germany
- Internal Medicine, Nephrology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Alexander Steinkasserer
- Department of Immune Modulation at the Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ilka Knippertz
- Department of Immune Modulation at the Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
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Akerstrom V, Chen C, Lan MS, Breslin MB. Modifications to the INSM1 promoter to preserve specificity and activity for use in adenoviral gene therapy of neuroendocrine carcinomas. Cancer Gene Ther 2012; 19:828-38. [DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2012.66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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17
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Ketzer P, Haas SF, Engelhardt S, Hartig JS, Nettelbeck DM. Synthetic riboswitches for external regulation of genes transferred by replication-deficient and oncolytic adenoviruses. Nucleic Acids Res 2012; 40:e167. [PMID: 22885302 PMCID: PMC3505972 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gks734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic gene transfer by replication-defective viral vectors or, for cancer treatment, by replication-competent oncolytic viruses shows high promise for treatment of major diseases. To ensure safety, timing or dosing in patients, external control of therapeutic gene expression is desirable or even required. In this study, we explored the potential of artificial aptazymes, ligand-dependent self-cleaving ribozymes, as an innovative tool for regulation of therapeutic gene expression. Importantly, aptazymes act on RNA intrinsically, independent of regulatory protein–nucleic acid interactions and stoichiometry, are non-immunogenic and of small size. These are key advantages compared with the widely used inducible promoters, which were also reported to lose regulation at high copy numbers, e.g. after replication of oncolytic viruses. We characterized aptazymes in therapeutic gene transfer utilizing adenovectors (AdVs), adeno-associated vectors (AAVs) and oncolytic adenoviruses (OAds), which are all in advanced clinical testing. Our results show similar aptazyme-mediated regulation of gene expression by plasmids, AdVs, AAVs and OAds. Insertion into the 5′-, 3′- or both untranslated regions of several transgenes resulted in ligand-responsive gene expression. Notably, aptazyme regulation was retained during OAd replication and spread. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the fidelity of aptazymes in viral vectors and oncolytic viruses and highlights the potency of riboswitches for medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Ketzer
- Helmholtz-University Group Oncolytic Adenoviruses, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ, German Cancer Research Center) and Department of Dermatology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 242, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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18
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Generation of an adenovirus-parvovirus chimera with enhanced oncolytic potential. J Virol 2012; 86:10418-31. [PMID: 22787235 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00848-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, our goal was to generate a chimeric adenovirus-parvovirus (Ad-PV) vector that combines the high-titer and efficient gene transfer of adenovirus with the anticancer potential of rodent parvovirus. To this end, the entire oncolytic PV genome was inserted into a replication-defective E1- and E3-deleted Ad5 vector genome. As we found that parvoviral NS expression inhibited Ad-PV chimera production, we engineered the parvoviral P4 early promoter, which governs NS expression, by inserting into its sequence tetracycline operator elements. As a result of these modifications, P4-driven expression was blocked in the packaging T-REx-293 cells, which constitutively express the tetracycline repressor, allowing high-yield chimera production. The chimera effectively delivered the PV genome into cancer cells, from which fully infectious replication-competent parvovirus particles were generated. Remarkably, the Ad-PV chimera exerted stronger cytotoxic activities against various cancer cell lines, compared with the PV and Ad parental viruses, while being still innocuous to a panel of tested healthy primary human cells. This Ad-PV chimera represents a novel versatile anticancer agent which can be subjected to further genetic manipulations in order to reinforce its enhanced oncolytic capacity through arming with transgenes or retargeting into tumor cells.
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Kaur P, Hurwitz MD, Krishnan S, Asea A. Combined hyperthermia and radiotherapy for the treatment of cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2011; 3:3799-823. [PMID: 24213112 PMCID: PMC3763397 DOI: 10.3390/cancers3043799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2011] [Revised: 09/23/2011] [Accepted: 09/23/2011] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy is used to treat approximately 50% of all cancer patients, with varying success. Radiation therapy has become an integral part of modern treatment strategies for many types of cancer in recent decades, but is associated with a risk of long-term adverse effects. Of these side effects, cardiac complications are particularly relevant since they not only adversely affect quality of life but can also be potentially life-threatening. The dose of ionizing radiation that can be given to the tumor is determined by the sensitivity of the surrounding normal tissues. Strategies to improve radiotherapy therefore aim to increase the effect on the tumor or to decrease the effects on normal tissues, which must be achieved without sensitizing the normal tissues in the first approach and without protecting the tumor in the second approach. Hyperthermia is a potent sensitizer of cell killing by ionizing radiation (IR), which can be attributed to the fact that heat is a pleiotropic damaging agent, affecting multiple cell components to varying degrees by altering protein structures, thus influencing the DNA damage response. Hyperthermia induces heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70; HSPA1A) synthesis and enhances telomerase activity. HSPA1A expression is associated with radioresistance. Inactivation of HSPA1A and telomerase increases residual DNA DSBs post IR exposure, which correlates with increased cell killing, supporting the role of HSPA1A and telomerase in IR-induced DNA damage repair. Thus, hyperthermia influences several molecular parameters involved in sensitizing tumor cells to radiation and can enhance the potential of targeted radiotherapy. Therapy-inducible vectors are useful for conditional expression of therapeutic genes in gene therapy, which is based on the control of gene expression by conventional treatment modalities. The understanding of the molecular response of cells and tissues to ionizing radiation has lead to a new appreciation of the exploitable genetic alterations in tumors and the development of treatments combining pharmacological interventions with ionizing radiation that more specifically target either tumor or normal tissue, leading to improvements in efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Punit Kaur
- Department of Pathology, Scott & White Hospital and the Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76504, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Mark D. Hurwitz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Sunil Krishnan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Medical Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Alexzander Asea
- Department of Pathology, Scott & White Hospital and the Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76504, USA; E-Mail:
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: or ; Tel: +1 (254) 743-0201; Fax: +1 (254) 743-0247
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20
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Schaack J, Qiao L, Walkiewicz MP, Stonehouse M, Engel DA, Vazquez-Torres A, Nordeen SK, Shao J, Moorhead JW. Insertion of CTCF-binding sites into a first-generation adenovirus vector reduces the innate inflammatory response and prolongs transgene expression. Virology 2011; 412:136-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2010.12.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2010] [Revised: 12/21/2010] [Accepted: 12/27/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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21
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Kobelt D, Aumann J, Fichtner I, Stein U, Schlag PM, Walther W. Activation of the CMV-IE promoter by hyperthermia in vitro and in vivo: biphasic heat induction of cytosine deaminase suicide gene expression. Mol Biotechnol 2010; 46:197-205. [PMID: 20512535 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-010-9292-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The cytomegalovirus-immediate early (CMV-IE) promoter is widely used as a strong and constitutively active promoter. Although the CMV-IE promoter does not harbor heat-responsive sequences, we determined its heat inducibility. We analyzed in vitro and in vivo heat responsiveness and possible mechanisms of heat induction of the CMV-IE promoter. We used transfected SW480 human colon carcinoma cells (SW480/CMVCD), expressing CMV-IE promoter-driven bacterial cytosine deaminase (CD) gene. These cells were heated at 42 degrees C. The SW480/CMVCD cells were also used for in vivo studies, in which tumor-bearing animals were treated with hyperthermia at 41.5 degrees C. As controls, SW480 (SW480/HSPCD) cells were used, in which CD expression is driven by the HSP70-promoter. In vitro, we observed a biphasic, up to 25-fold heat induction of CMV-IE-driven CD expression after hyperthermia in SW480/CMVCD cells. In vivo, we found a 2.5-fold induction of CD expression after hyperthermia in SW480/CMVCD tumor-bearing animals. The analysis of the CMV-IE promoter sequence revealed several transcription factor-binding sites, which mediate stress responsiveness. YB-1 and C/EBP-beta might mediate heat responsiveness of the CMV-IE promoter. These data point to limitations in heat-induction gene therapy studies, in which the CMV-IE promoter is used as control system. In addition, the CMV-IE promoter itself could well be used for construction of heat-inducible vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Kobelt
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125, Berlin, Germany
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22
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Walther W, Stein U. Heat-responsive gene expression for gene therapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2009; 61:641-9. [PMID: 19394378 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2009.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2008] [Accepted: 02/05/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Therapy-inducible vectors are useful for conditional expression of therapeutic genes in gene therapy, which is based on the control of gene expression by conventional treatment modalities. By this approach, combination of chemotherapy, radiation or hyperthermia with gene therapy can result in considerable, additive or synergistic improvement of therapeutic efficacy. This concept has been successfully tested in particular for gene therapy of cancer. The identification of efficient heat-responsive gene promoters provided the rationale for heat-regulated gene therapy. The objective of this review is to provide insights into the cellular mechanisms of heat-shock response, as prerequisite for therapeutic actions of hyperthermia and into the field of heat-responsive gene therapy. Furthermore, the major strategies of heat-responsive gene therapy systems in particular for cancer treatment are summarized. The developments for heat-responsive vector systems for in vitro and in vivo approaches are discussed. This review will provide an overview for this gene therapy strategy and its potential for multimodal therapeutic concepts in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Walther
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany.
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23
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Dorer DE, Nettelbeck DM. Targeting cancer by transcriptional control in cancer gene therapy and viral oncolysis. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2009; 61:554-71. [PMID: 19394376 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2009.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2009] [Accepted: 03/05/2009] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-specificity is the key requirement for a drug or treatment regimen to be effective against malignant disease--and has rarely been achieved adequately to date. Therefore, targeting strategies need to be implemented for future therapies to ensure efficient activity at the site of patients' tumors or metastases without causing intolerable side-effects. Gene therapy and viral oncolysis represent treatment modalities that offer unique opportunities for tumor targeting. This is because both the transfer of genes with anti-cancer activity and viral replication-induced cell killing, respectively, facilitate the incorporation of multiple mechanisms restricting their activity to cancer. To this end, cellular mechanisms of gene regulation have been successfully exploited to direct therapeutic gene expression and viral cell lysis to cancer cells. Here, transcriptional targeting has been the role model and most widely investigated. This approach exploits cellular gene regulatory elements that mediate cell type-specific transcription to restrict the expression of therapeutic genes or essential viral genes, ideally to cancer cells. In this review, we first discuss the rationale for such promoter targeting and its limitations. We then give an overview how tissue-/tumor-specific promoters are being identified and characterized. Strategies to apply and optimize such promoters for the engineering of targeted viral gene transfer vectors and oncolytic viruses-with respect to promoter size, selectivity and activity in the context of viral genomes-are described. Finally, we discuss in more detail individual examples for transcriptionally targeted virus drugs. First highlighting oncolytic viruses targeted by prostate-specific promoters and by the telomerase promoter as representatives of tissue-targeted and pan-cancer-specific virus drugs respectively, and secondly recent developments of the last two years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik E Dorer
- Helmholtz-University Group Oncolytic Adenoviruses, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Department of Dermatology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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Haviv YS. A simplified in vitro ligation approach to clone an E1B55k-deleted double-targeted conditionally-replicative adenovirus. Virol J 2009; 6:18. [PMID: 19200390 PMCID: PMC2647529 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-6-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2009] [Accepted: 02/07/2009] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Construction of conditionally-replicative Adenovirus (CRAd) is complex and time-consuming. While homologous recombination (HR) using a two-plasmid system in bacteria is commonly used to generate CRAds, alternative methods may be required when HR fails. Previously, in vitro ligation has been suggested to facilitate construction of E1/E3-deleted, replication-incompetent Ad vectors. However, in vitro ligation has only rarely been used to generate CRAds and may be a complex procedure for molecular biologists who are not experts in the field. METHODS AND RESULTS A modified in vitro ligation approach was developed to construct a double-targeted, E1B55k-deleted CRAd. The method allowed the incorporation of a tumor-specific promoter, e.g. the heat-shock protein 70 (hsp70) promoter, upstream of E1a, deletion of the E1B55k gene, and HR-free cloning of the recombined E1Delta55k gene into the Ad genome. The genetic structure of the CRAd was confirmed using restriction analysis and PCR. The replication rate of the hsp70E1Delta55k CRAd was 1.5-2% of Ad without E1Delta55k deletion. CONCLUSION A 3-step cloning approach can generate a double-targeted, E1B55k-deleted CRAd using a straight-forward, modified in vitro ligation procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosef S Haviv
- Department of Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
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Guo ZS, Li Q, Bartlett DL, Yang JY, Fang B. Gene transfer: the challenge of regulated gene expression. Trends Mol Med 2008; 14:410-8. [PMID: 18692441 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2008.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2008] [Revised: 07/04/2008] [Accepted: 07/04/2008] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy is expected to have a major impact on human healthcare in the future. However, precise regulation of therapeutic gene expression in vivo is still a challenge. Natural and synthetic enhancer-promoters (EPs) can be utilized to drive gene transcription in a temporal, spatial or environmental signal-inducible manner in response to heat shock, hypoxia, radiation, chemotherapy, epigenetic agents or viral infection. To allow tightly regulated expression, a regulatable gene-expression system can also be implemented. Most of these systems are based on small molecule (drug)-responsive artificial transactivators. In this review, we aim to provide a brief overview of the classes of EPs and regulatable systems, along with lessons learned from these studies. We highlight the potential applications in gene transfer, gene therapy for cancer and genetic disease and the future challenges for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Sheng Guo
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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