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Zhang J, Dong M, Feng Y, Zhang D, Lin M, Yuan C, Li H, Wang L, Zhang H, Liang C. Egr1/HSP70 Promoter-Driven Activation of Gene Expression for Synergistic Anti-Hepatoma Using PEI-MZF Nanoparticles and Radiation. Int J Nanomedicine 2022; 17:423-441. [PMID: 35115776 PMCID: PMC8801369 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s334015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Spatially restricted gene expression circumvents the gene expression and gene vector problem by enabling localized amplification. The objective of this study is to construct a spatially restricted gene expression for liver cancer therapy based upon the MFH-absorbing properties of PEI- Mn0.5zn0.5Fe2o4, gene therapy and radiation. METHODS Mn0.5zn0.5Fe2O4 (MZF) magnetic nanoparticles were prepared by an improved chemical co-precipitation method, modified by polyethylene imine (PEI), and then the structure, modification characters, biocompatibility, temperature rise and control ability and binding efficiency of the plasmid were characterized. Then, the dual-promoter plasmid PCDNA3.1-EGR1-HSP70-HSVTK was constructed. The recombinant vectors were identified by enzyme digestion analysis and DNA sequencing. The TK gene expression level was detected by realtime-PCR assay in HEK293 cells. Also, the HSV-TK gene expression was detected in SMMC7721 cells with the help of PEI-Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4. In vitro anti-tumor experiment, MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the therapeutic effects of the cultured SMMC7721 cells treated by different ways. In vivo anti-tumor experiment, the xenografted mice were treated by different ways for three times to detect the antitumor effect. RESULTS The Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles could be successfully prepared through improved co-precipitation process and showed good biocompatibility. And PEI had been coated on MZF complex. The modified PEI-MZF presented favorable dispensability, responsibility to magnetism, good loading capability and transfect capability. Also, pCDNA3.1-Egr1-Hsp70-HSVTK plasmid had been constructed successfully and could be induced by heat and irradiation. It would be used for further target gene therapy research. The antitumor results in vitro showed: The therapeutic effects of nanosized PEI-MZF-HSV-TK complex could significantly inhibit the proliferation of cultured liver cancer cells (SMC7721), induce cell apoptosis and had a prominent cell cycle disturbance in the S phase in vitro. The results in vivo showed: The combined therapy induced by PEI-MZF-HSV-TK could inhabit the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts by killing and inhabiting the proliferation of the tumor cells. CONCLUSION The novel site-directed heat/radiation-inducible expression system based upon the hyperthermia (by MFH) and radiation possessed superior antitumor effect in vivo and in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Zhang
- Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
- Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Min Dong
- Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Feng
- Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dongsheng Zhang
- Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mei Lin
- Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chenyan Yuan
- Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongbo Li
- Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ling Wang
- Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chen Liang
- Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
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Zhang H, Liang C, Hou X, Wang L, Zhang D. Study of the combined treatment of lung cancer using gene-loaded immunomagnetic albumin nanospheres in vitro and in vivo. Int J Nanomedicine 2016; 11:1039-50. [PMID: 27042059 PMCID: PMC4801199 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s98519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Combination therapy for lung cancer has garnered widespread attention. Radiation therapy, gene therapy, and molecular targeted therapy for lung cancer have certain effects, but the disadvantages of these treatment methods are evident. Combining these methods can decrease their side effects and increase their curative effects. In this study, we constructed a pYr-ads-8-5HRE-cfosp-iNOS-IFNG plasmid (a gene circuit that can express IFNγ), which is a gene circuit, and used that plasmid together with C225 (cetuximab) to prepare gene-loaded immunomagnetic albumin nanospheres (IMANS). Moreover, we investigated the therapeutic effects of gene-loaded IMANS in combination with radiation therapy on human lung cancer in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that this gene circuit was successively constructed and confirmed that the expression of INFγ was increased due to the gene circuit. Gene-loaded IMANS combined with radiation therapy demonstrated improved results in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, gene-loaded IMANS enhanced the efficacy of combination therapy, solved problems related to gene transfer, and specifically targeted lung cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhang
- Department of Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Liang
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinxin Hou
- Department of Pathology, Medical School of Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Wang
- Department of Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongsheng Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
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Xu Y, Liu Z, Kong H, Sun W, Liao Z, Zhou F, Xie C, Zhou Y. Co-expression of interleukin 12 enhances antitumor effects of a novel chimeric promoter-mediated suicide gene therapy in an immunocompetent mouse model. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2011; 412:763-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.08.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2011] [Accepted: 08/15/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Tamaki Y. Prospects for nanomedicine in treating age-related macular degeneration. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2009; 4:341-52. [PMID: 19331541 DOI: 10.2217/nnm.09.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyion complex (PIC) micelles have a size range of tens of nanometers formed through electrostatic interaction. In experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in rats, the PIC micelle accumulates to the CNV lesions and is retained. PIC micelles can be used for effective drug delivery to CNV. A novel dendritic photosensitizer encapsulated by a polymeric-micelle formulation was employed for an effective photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration. With its highly selective accumulation on experimental CNV lesions, this treatment resulted in a remarkably efficacious CNV occlusion with minimal unfavorable phototoxicity. Gene therapy is a promising approach to treat age-related macular degeneration. A ternary complex, composed of a core containing DNA packaged with cationic peptides and enveloped in the anionic dendrimer phthalocyanine, has been developed, which provides the photosensitizing action. Subconjunctival injection of the ternary complex followed by laser irradiation resulted in transgene expression only in the laser-irradiated site in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiro Tamaki
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tokyo School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
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van Gaal EVB, Hennink WE, Crommelin DJA, Mastrobattista E. Plasmid engineering for controlled and sustained gene expression for nonviral gene therapy. Pharm Res 2006; 23:1053-74. [PMID: 16715361 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-006-0164-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2005] [Accepted: 01/03/2006] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy requires the introduction of genetic material in diseased cells with the aim of treating or ultimately curing a disease. Since the start of gene therapy clinical trials in 1990, gene therapy has proven to be possible, but studies to date have highlighted the difficulty of achieving efficient, specific, and long-term transgene expression. Efforts to improve gene therapy strategies over the past years were mainly aimed at solving the problem of delivery, without paying much attention to the optimization of the expression cassette. With the current understanding of the eukaryotic transcription machinery and advanced molecular biology techniques at our disposition, it has now become possible to create custom-made transgene expression cassettes optimized for gene therapy applications. In this review, we will discuss several strategies that have been explored to improve the level and duration of transgene expression, to increase control over expression, or to restrict transgene expression to specific cell types or tissues. Although still in its infancy, such strategies will eventually lead to improvement of nonviral gene therapy and expansion of the range of possible therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethlinn V B van Gaal
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, P.O Box 80082, 3508 TB, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Zacal NJ, Francis MA, Rainbow AJ. Enhanced expression from the human cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter in a non-replicating adenovirus encoded reporter gene following cellular exposure to chemical DNA damaging agents. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2005; 332:441-9. [PMID: 15894289 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.04.148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2005] [Accepted: 04/29/2005] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
We have examined expression from the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter of a reporter gene encoded in a replication-deficient adenovirus following cellular exposure to heat shock and chemical DNA damaging agents. Expression of the reporter gene was enhanced following prior treatment of cells with cisplatin and N-acetoxy-acetylaminofluorine, but not heat shock. This enhancement was more pronounced and induced by lower chemical concentrations in xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) and Cockayne syndrome fibroblasts that are deficient in the transcription-coupled repair (TCR) pathway of nucleotide excision repair (NER) compared to that in TCR-proficient XP-C and normal strains. This is consistent with an induction of expression from the CMV promoter mediated by persistent (unrepaired) DNA damage in active genes. We show also that expression of the CMV-driven reporter is enhanced following treatment of several human tumour cell lines. This later finding has implications for combined chemotherapy and gene therapy using CMV-driven expression vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie J Zacal
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont., Canada L8S 4K1
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Nishiyama N, Bae Y, Miyata K, Fukushima S, Kataoka K. Smart polymeric micelles for gene and drug delivery. DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY. TECHNOLOGIES 2005; 2:21-26. [PMID: 24981751 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2005.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Polymeric micelles, supramolecular assemblies of block copolymers, are useful nanocarriers for the systemic delivery of drugs and genes. Recently, novel polymeric micelles with smart functions, such as targetability and stimuli-sensitivity, have emerged as promising carriers that enhance the efficacy of drugs and genes with minimal side effects. This review focuses on the construction and characteristic behaviors of intracellular environment-sensitive micelles that selectively exert drug activity and gene expression in live cells.:
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuhiro Nishiyama
- Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Younsoo Bae
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Kanjiro Miyata
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Shigeto Fukushima
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
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Greco O, Marples B, Dachs GU, Williams KJ, Patterson AV, Scott SD. Novel chimeric gene promoters responsive to hypoxia and ionizing radiation. Gene Ther 2002; 9:1403-11. [PMID: 12365006 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3301823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2001] [Accepted: 05/07/2002] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Despite being an adverse prognostic factor in radiotherapy, hypoxia represents a physiological difference that can be exploited for selective cancer gene therapy. In this study gene therapy vectors responsive to both hypoxia and ionizing radiation (IR) were developed. Gene expression was regulated by novel, synthetic promoters containing hypoxia responsive elements (HREs) from the erythropoietin (Epo), the phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) genes, and IR-responsive CArG elements from the early growth response (Egr) 1 gene. All chimeric promoters could be activated by hypoxia and/or IR-treatment, and selectively control marker gene expression in human T24 bladder carcinoma and MCF-7 mammary carcinoma cells. Importantly, enhancers containing combinations of HREs and CArG elements were able to respond to both triggering treatments, with the Epo HRE/CArG combination proving to be the most responsive and robust. The Epo HRE/CArG enhancer could effectively control a suicide gene therapy strategy by selectively sensitizing hypoxic and/or irradiated cells expressing the enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to the prodrug indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). These data indicate that the use of such chimeric promoters may effectively regulate therapeutic gene expression within the tumor microenvironment in gene therapy strategies aimed at addressing the problem of hypoxia in radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Greco
- Gray Cancer Institute, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, UK
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Abstract
Synthetic temperature-responsive polymers can be applied as gene carrier systems. For successful gene therapies, efficient and safe vectors are essential because they deliver genes to target cells and aid gene expression of therapeutic peptides. Vector systems that can control gene expression are favorable, especially for genes whose therapeutic effects are considerably dependent on quantity, site, duration and timing of their expression. Strategy and clinical feasibility of the temperature-responsive vector system are discussed with an example of gene expression enhancement by temperature stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Yokoyama
- Tokyo Women's Medical University, Institute of Advanced Biomedical Engineering and Science, Kawada-cho 8-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan.
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Scott SD, Marples B. Comment on the use of the cre/loxP recombinase system for gene therapy vectors. Gene Ther 2000; 7:1706. [PMID: 11083480 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3301305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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