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Zhou S, Li L, Zhang M, Qin Y, Li B. The function of brother of the regulator of imprinted sites in cancer development. Cancer Gene Ther 2023; 30:236-244. [PMID: 36376421 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-022-00556-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
As Douglas Hanahan and Robert Weinberg compiled, there are nine hallmarks of cancer that are conducive to cancer cell development and survival. Previous studies showed that brother of the regulator of imprinted sites (BORIS) might promote cancer progression through these aspects. The competition between BORIS and CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF), which is crucial in the formation of chromatin loops, affects the normal function of CTCF and leads to neoplasia and deformity. In addition, BORIS belongs to the cancer-testis antigen families, which are potential targets in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Herein, we discuss the function and mechanisms of BORIS, especially in cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University Medical School, 37 Guo Xue Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Lian Li
- Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University Medical School, 37 Guo Xue Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University Medical School, 37 Guo Xue Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yang Qin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, No. 17, Section 3, South Renmin Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University Medical School, 37 Guo Xue Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
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Zhang Y, Fang M, Li S, Xu H, Ren J, Tu L, Zuo B, Yao W, Liang G. BTApep-TAT peptide inhibits ADP-ribosylation of BORIS to induce DNA damage in cancer. Mol Cancer 2022; 21:158. [PMID: 35918747 PMCID: PMC9344678 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-022-01621-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brother of regulator of imprinted sites (BORIS) is expressed in most cancers and often associated with short survival and poor prognosis in patients. BORIS inhibits apoptosis and promotes proliferation of cancer cells. However, its mechanism of action has not been elucidated, and there is no known inhibitor of BORIS. METHODS A phage display library was used to find the BORIS inhibitory peptides and BTApep-TAT was identified. The RNA sequencing profile of BTApep-TAT-treated H1299 cells was compared with that of BORIS-knockdown cells. Antitumor activity of BTApep-TAT was evaluated in a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) xenograft mouse model. BTApep-TAT was also used to investigate the post-translational modification (PTM) of BORIS and the role of BORIS in DNA damage repair. Site-directed mutants of BORIS were constructed and used for investigating PTM and the function of BORIS. RESULTS BTApep-TAT induced DNA damage in cancer cells and suppressed NSCLC xenograft tumor progression. Investigation of the mechanism of action of BTApep-TAT demonstrated that BORIS underwent ADP ribosylation upon double- or single-strand DNA damage. Substitution of five conserved glutamic acid (E) residues with alanine residues (A) between amino acids (AAs) 198 and 228 of BORIS reduced its ADP ribosylation. Inhibition of ADP ribosylation of BORIS by a site-specific mutation or by BTApep-TAT treatment blocked its interaction with Ku70 and impaired the function of BORIS in DNA damage repair. CONCLUSIONS The present study identified an inhibitor of BORIS, highlighted the importance of ADP ribosylation of BORIS, and revealed a novel function of BORIS in DNA damage repair. The present work provides a practical method for the future screening or optimization of drugs targeting BORIS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmei Zhang
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310013, China.
| | - Mengdie Fang
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310013, China.,College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shouye Li
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310013, China.,Zhejiang Eyoung Pharmaceutical Research and Development Center, Hangzhou, 311258, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hao Xu
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310013, China
| | - Juan Ren
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310013, China
| | - Linglan Tu
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310013, China
| | - Bowen Zuo
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310013, China
| | - Wanxin Yao
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310013, China
| | - Guang Liang
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310013, China. .,College of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China.
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Mahdevar E, Kefayat A, Safavi A, Behnia A, Hejazi SH, Javid A, Ghahremani F. Immunoprotective effect of an in silico designed multiepitope cancer vaccine with BORIS cancer-testis antigen target in a murine mammary carcinoma model. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23121. [PMID: 34848739 PMCID: PMC8632969 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01770-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In our previous study, immunoinformatic tools were used to design a novel multiepitope cancer vaccine based on the most immunodominant regions of BORIS cancer-testis antigen. The final vaccine construct was an immunogenic, non-allergenic, and stable protein consisted of multiple cytotoxic T lymphocytes epitopes, IFN-γ inducing epitopes, and B cell epitopes according to bioinformatic analyzes. Herein, the DNA sequence of the final vaccine construct was placed into the pcDNA3.1 vector as a DNA vaccine (pcDNA3.1-VAC). Also, the recombinant multiepitope peptide vaccine (MPV) was produced by a transfected BL21 E. coli strain using a recombinant pET-28a vector and then, purified and screened by Fast protein liquid chromatography technique (FPLC) and Western blot, respectively. The anti-tumor effects of prophylactic co-immunization with these DNA and protein cancer vaccines were evaluated in the metastatic non-immunogenic 4T1 mammary carcinoma in BALB/c mice. Co-immunization with the pcDNA3.1-VAC and MPV significantly (P < 0.001) increased the serum levels of the MPV-specific IgG total, IgG2a, and IgG1. The splenocytes of co-immunized mice exhibited a significantly higher efficacy to produce interleukin-4 and interferon-γ and proliferation in response to MPV in comparison with the control. The prophylactic co-immunization regime caused significant breast tumors' growth inhibition, tumors' weight decrease, inhibition of metastasis formation, and enlarging tumor-bearing mice survival time, without any considerable side effects. Taking together, this cancer vaccine can evoke strong immune response against breast tumor and inhibits its growth and metastasis.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cancer Vaccines/chemistry
- Cancer Vaccines/immunology
- Cell Line
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation
- Chromatography, Liquid
- Computational Biology
- Computer Simulation
- DNA-Binding Proteins/biosynthesis
- Disease Models, Animal
- Epitopes
- Female
- Immunity, Humoral
- Interferon-gamma/chemistry
- Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/immunology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/prevention & control
- Mammary Neoplasms, Animal/therapy
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/immunology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/prevention & control
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/therapy
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Neoplasm Metastasis
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- Vaccines, Subunit
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Mahdevar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Science and Arts University, Yazd, Iran
| | - Amirhosein Kefayat
- Department of Oncology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ashkan Safavi
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Amirhossein Behnia
- Department of Biology, Faculty of the Basic Sciences, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Seyed Hossein Hejazi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Amaneh Javid
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Science and Arts University, Yazd, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ghahremani
- Department of Medical Physics and Radiotherapy, School of Paramedicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
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Loukinov D. Targeting CTCFL/BORIS for the immunotherapy of cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2018; 67:1955-1965. [PMID: 30390146 PMCID: PMC11028242 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-018-2251-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Cancer vaccines have great potential in the fight against metastatic malignancies. Current anti-tumor immunotherapy is hindered by existing tolerance to tumor-associated antigens (TAA) and tumor escape using various mechanisms, highlighting the need for improved targets for immunotherapy. The cancer-testis antigen CTCFL/BORIS was discovered 16 years ago and possesses all features necessary for an ideal TAA. Recently CTCFL/BORIS has received additional attention as a target expressed in cancer stem cells (CSC). These cells drive tumor growth recurrence, metastasis, and treatment resistance. CTCFL/BORIS silencing leads to senescence and death of CSC. Therefore, an immunotherapeutic strategy that targets CTCFL/BORIS may lead to the selective destruction of CSC and potential eradication of metastatic disease. The high immunotherapeutic potential of CTCFL/BORIS antigen was shown in a stringent 4T1 mouse model of breast cancer. Using these highly metastatic, poorly immunogenic carcinoma cells inoculated into T-helper2 prone mice, we showed that DC fed with recombinant CTCFL/BORIS as an immunogen inhibited tumor growth and reduced the number of metastases in distant organs. About 20% of CTCFL/BORIS immunized animals were tumor free. 50% of animals remained metastasis free. Those having metastasis showed at least tenfold fewer metastases compared to controls. In a rat model of breast cancer, we showed that alphavirus-based CTCFL/BORIS immunotherapy was capable of cancer elimination as we were able to cure 50% of animals. Based on the above data, we believe that translation of CTCFL/BORIS-targeting immunotherapeutic strategies to the clinic will provide new avenues for improving survival of breast cancer patients with advanced metastatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitri Loukinov
- Molecular Pathology Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, NIAID/NIH, Twinbrook 1, Room 1329, 5640 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA.
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5
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Fang M, Song Y, Ren J, Yuan H, Fang J, Yan D, Zhang Y, Wang X. Atractyloside mimics BORIS knockdown to induce DNA damage in colorectal cancer cells. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY 2018; 11:3286-3293. [PMID: 31949703 PMCID: PMC6962834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The Brother of Regulator of Imprinted Sites (BORIS) is expressed abnormally in colorectal cancer and is predicted to be a potential diagnostic and prognostic target. However, little is known about BORIS-related signaling pathways and no bioactive drugs have been found to target BORIS. We screened the gene regulation panels of BORIS-silenced colorectal cancer cells by microarray assay and applied the regulated gene list in a connectivity map (CMap) database to screen for bioactive drugs which regulate gene panels similar to BORIS knockdown. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) suggests a correlation between BORIS knockdown and apoptosis. Screening revealed atractyloside treatment as a drug similar to BORIS siRNA in regulating genes in colorectal cancer cells. Atractyloside treatment or BORIS knockdown induced the expression of XRCC4, which suggested DNA damage was induced by knockdown of the BORIS signaling pathway. H2A.X immunofluorescence stain indicated BORIS knockdown indeed created DNA damage. As atractyloside synergized with 5-Fluoruracil (5-FU) to suppress colorectal cancer cell proliferation, we concluded that the inhibition of BORIS downstream by atractyloside amplifies the effect of 5-FU by promoting DNA damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengdie Fang
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Science Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Yongfei Song
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Science Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Juan Ren
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Science Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Haining Yuan
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Science Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Jianfei Fang
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Science Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Dongmei Yan
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Science Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Yanmei Zhang
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Science Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoju Wang
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Science Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
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Wagner SC, Ichim TE, Bogin V, Min WP, Silva F, Patel AN, Kesari S. Induction and characterization of anti-tumor endothelium immunity elicited by ValloVax therapeutic cancer vaccine. Oncotarget 2018; 8:28595-28613. [PMID: 28404894 PMCID: PMC5438675 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
ValloVax is a placental endothelium derived vaccine which induces tissue-nonspecific antitumor immunity by blocking tumor angiogesis. To elucidate mechanisms of action, we showed that production of ValloVax, which involves treating placental endothelial cells with IFN-gamma, results in upregulation of HLA and costimulatory molecules. It was shown that in mixed lymphocyte reaction, ValloVax induces Type I cytokines and allo-proliferative responses. Plasma from ValloVax immunized mice was capable of killing in vitro tumor-like endothelium but not control endothelium. Using defined antigens associated with tumor endothelial cells, specific molecular entities were identified as being targeted by ValloVax induced antibodies. Binding of predominantly IgG antibodies to ValloVax cells was confirmed by flow cytometry. Further suggesting direct killing of tumor endothelial cells was expression of TUNEL positive cells, as well as, reduction in tumor oxygenation. Supporting a role for antibody mediated responses, cell depletion experiments suggested a predominant role of B cells in maintaining an intact anti-tumor endothelial response. Adoptive transfer experiments suggested that infusion of CD3+ T cells from immunized mice was sufficient to transfer tumor protection. Generation of memory T cells selective to tumor endothelial specific markers was observed. Functional confirmation of memory responses was observed in tumor rechallenge experiments. Furthermore, we observed that both PD-1 or CTLA-4 blockade augmented antitumor effects of ValloVax. These data suggest a T cell induced B cell mediated anti-tumor endothelial response and set the framework clinical trials through elucidation of mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Wei-Ping Min
- Department of Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Francisco Silva
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Amit N Patel
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Santosh Kesari
- John Wayne Cancer Institute and Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Santa Monica, CA, USA
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Liu Q, Chen K, Liu Z, Huang Y, Zhao R, Wei L, Yu X, He J, Liu J, Qi J, Qin Y, Li B. BORIS up-regulates OCT4 via histone methylation to promote cancer stem cell-like properties in human liver cancer cells. Cancer Lett 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Ghochikyan A, Pichugin A, Bagaev A, Davtyan A, Hovakimyan A, Tukhvatulin A, Davtyan H, Shcheblyakov D, Logunov D, Chulkina M, Savilova A, Trofimov D, Nelson EL, Agadjanyan MG, Ataullakhanov RI. Targeting TLR-4 with a novel pharmaceutical grade plant derived agonist, Immunomax®, as a therapeutic strategy for metastatic breast cancer. J Transl Med 2014; 12:322. [PMID: 25432242 PMCID: PMC4261251 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-014-0322-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Accepted: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previously we demonstrated that the resection of primary 4T1 tumors only slightly prolongs mouse survival, but importantly, creates a "window of opportunity" with attenuated suppressor cell and increased activated T cell populations. This suggests that additional activation of the immune system by immunostimulatory agents during this period may enhance anti-tumor immunity and potentially eradicate micro-metastatic disease in this stringent model. We hypothesized that the immunostimulator Immunomax®, which is comprised of a plant-derived polysaccharide, is non-toxic in humans and stimulates immune defense during the infectious diseases treatment, may have also anti-tumor activity and be beneficial in the adjuvant setting when endogenous anti-tumor responses are present and during the "window of opportunity" in post-resection metastatic breast cancer model. Here we provide the initial report that Immunomax® demonstrates the capacity to eliminate micro-metastatic disease in the post-resection, 4T1 mouse model of breast cancer. METHODS The efficacy of Immunomax® was evaluated by analyzing survival rate and the number of spontaneous clonogenic tumor cells in the lung homogenates of mice. The frequencies of activated NK, CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells as well as myeloid-derived suppressor cells and Treg cells were evaluated using flow cytometry. Highly purified mouse and human dendritic and NK cells were sorted and the effect of Immunomax® on activation status of these cells was assessed by flow cytometry. The property of Immunomax® as TLR-4 agonist was determined by NF-κB/SEAP reporter gene assay, WB, RT-PCR. RESULTS Immunomax® injections significantly prolonged overall survival and cured 31% of mice. This immunostimulator activates DCs via the TLR-4, which in turn stimulates tumoricidal NK cells and in vitro, completely inhibits growth of 4T1 cells. Incubation of PBMC from healthy donors with Immunomax® activates NK cells via activation of plasmacytoid DC leading significantly higher efficacy in killing of human NK-target cells K562 compared with non-treated cells. CONCLUSION This is the first demonstration that Immunomax® is a TLR-4 agonist and the first report of a documented role for this pharmaceutical grade immunostimulator in augmenting anti-tumor activity, suggesting that incorporation of Immunomax® into developing breast cancer therapeutic strategies may be beneficial and with less potential toxicity than checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anahit Ghochikyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, 16371 Gothard Street, Suite H, Huntington Beach, CA, 92647, USA.
| | - Alexey Pichugin
- The Institute of Immunology, Federal Medical-Biological Agency, Moscow, 115478, Russia.
| | - Alexander Bagaev
- The Institute of Immunology, Federal Medical-Biological Agency, Moscow, 115478, Russia.
| | - Arpine Davtyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, 16371 Gothard Street, Suite H, Huntington Beach, CA, 92647, USA.
| | - Armine Hovakimyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, 16371 Gothard Street, Suite H, Huntington Beach, CA, 92647, USA.
| | - Amir Tukhvatulin
- Gamaleya Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Russian Ministry of Health Moscow, Moscow, 123098, Russia.
| | - Hayk Davtyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, 16371 Gothard Street, Suite H, Huntington Beach, CA, 92647, USA.
| | - Dmitry Shcheblyakov
- Gamaleya Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Russian Ministry of Health Moscow, Moscow, 123098, Russia.
| | - Denis Logunov
- Gamaleya Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Russian Ministry of Health Moscow, Moscow, 123098, Russia.
| | - Marina Chulkina
- The Institute of Immunology, Federal Medical-Biological Agency, Moscow, 115478, Russia.
| | - Anastasia Savilova
- The Institute of Immunology, Federal Medical-Biological Agency, Moscow, 115478, Russia.
| | - Dmitry Trofimov
- The Institute of Immunology, Federal Medical-Biological Agency, Moscow, 115478, Russia.
| | - Edward L Nelson
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
| | - Michael G Agadjanyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, 16371 Gothard Street, Suite H, Huntington Beach, CA, 92647, USA.
- The Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
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Zampieri M, Ciccarone F, Palermo R, Cialfi S, Passananti C, Chiaretti S, Nocchia D, Talora C, Screpanti I, Caiafa P. The epigenetic factor BORIS/CTCFL regulates the NOTCH3 gene expression in cancer cells. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2014; 1839:813-25. [PMID: 24984200 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2014.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2014] [Revised: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 06/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant upregulation of NOTCH3 gene plays a critical role in cancer pathogenesis. However, the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. We tested here the hypothesis that aberrant epigenetic modifications in the NOTCH3 promoter region might account for its upregulation in cancer cells. We compared DNA and histone methylation status of NOTCH3 promoter region in human normal blood cells and T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell lines, differentially expressing NOTCH3. We found that histone methylation, rather than DNA hypomethylation, contributes towards establishing an active chromatin status of NOTCH3 promoter in NOTCH3 overexpressing cancer cells. We discovered that the chromatin regulator protein BORIS/CTCFL plays an important role in regulating NOTCH3 gene expression. We observed that BORIS is present in T-ALL cell lines as well as in cell lines derived from several solid tumors overexpressing NOTCH3. Moreover, BORIS targets NOTCH3 promoter in cancer cells and it is able to induce and to maintain a permissive/active chromatin conformation. Importantly, the association between NOTCH3 overexpression and BORIS presence was confirmed in primary T-ALL samples from patients at the onset of the disease. Overall, our results provide novel insights into the determinants of NOTCH3 overexpression in cancer cells, by revealing a key role for BORIS as the main mediator of transcriptional deregulation of NOTCH3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Zampieri
- Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Pasteur Institute-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Ciccarone
- Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Pasteur Institute-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Rocco Palermo
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Samantha Cialfi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy & Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Passananti
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Pathology CNR, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sabina Chiaretti
- Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Nocchia
- Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Talora
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy & Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- Pasteur Institute-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy; Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy & Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Paola Caiafa
- Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Pasteur Institute-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy.
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10
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Ghochikyan A, Davtyan A, Hovakimyan A, Davtyan H, Poghosyan A, Bagaev A, Ataullakhanov RI, Nelson EL, Agadjanyan MG. Primary 4T1 tumor resection provides critical "window of opportunity" for immunotherapy. Clin Exp Metastasis 2014; 31:185-98. [PMID: 24096737 PMCID: PMC3946940 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-013-9619-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2013] [Accepted: 09/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
It is believed that primary tumor resection modulates host-tumor immune interaction, but this has not been characterized in a stringent breast cancer tumor model. This report, using the 4T1 murine mammary tumor model, characterizes for the first time the dynamic longitudinal changes in immunosuppressive and effector components of the immune system after resection of an established orthotopic primary tumor with a defined natural history of developing lung metastases. More specifically, we analyzed changes of absolute numbers and frequencies of MDSC, regulatory T cells (Treg), as well as activated CD4 and CD8 positive T cells in spleens and, in some studies, lungs of 4T1 tumor-bearing mice and mice after primary tumor resection. Importantly, using mathematical analyses we established that primary resection of an orthotopic tumor had created a "window of opportunity" with decreased tumor-associated immune suppression that existed for approximately 10 days. Although tumor resection did slightly prolong survival, it did not affect the ultimate development of metastatic disease since animals with resected tumors or intact primary tumors eventually died by day 47 and 43, respectively. This window of opportunity likely occurs in humans providing a rationale and parameters for integration and testing of immunotherapeutic strategies in this critical "window of opportunity" to combat the development of metastatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anahit Ghochikyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
| | - Arpine Davtyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
| | - Armine Hovakimyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
| | - Hayk Davtyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
- The Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Anna Poghosyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
| | | | | | - Edward L. Nelson
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Michael G. Agadjanyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
- The Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
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Bodles-Brakhop AM, Draghia-Akli R. DNA vaccination and gene therapy: optimization and delivery for cancer therapy. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 7:1085-101. [DOI: 10.1586/14760584.7.7.1085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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12
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Pandey A, Kurup A, Shrivastava A, Radhi S, Nguyen DD, Arentz C, D'Chuna N, Hardwick F, D'Souza MJ, Jenkins M, Grizzi F, Kast WM, Cobos E, Rahman R, Chiriva-Internati M, Chiaramonte R, Platonova N. Cancer testes antigens in breast cancer: biological role, regulation, and therapeutic applicability. Int Rev Immunol 2013; 31:302-20. [PMID: 23083343 DOI: 10.3109/08830185.2012.723511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of death among women across the world. The last few decades have seen significant reduction in mortality owing to earlier detection and better adjuvant treatments that were developed based on clinical staging and morphological features. As these treatments have evolved, the heterogeneity of breast cancer poses a new challenge, since there is no standard gold-therapy suitable for all tumors of the mammary gland. Therefore, contemporary management and research efforts are directed toward specific prognostic and predictive molecular signatures that can guide targeted individualized therapy. The goal of ongoing research in this field is to identify specific molecular targets for developing novel therapeutic approaches. These targets can also serve to improve screening of breast cancer. This review focuses on the role of cancer testis antigens (CTAs) in breast carcinogenesis and explores the potential for development of targeted screening and therapeutic approaches. Normally found in the testes, these antigens are highly correlative with cancers of the breast, skin, and ovaries. These implications have been further corroborated through uncovering the interaction of CTAs with genes and proteins involved in tumor suppression and homeostasis like p53. There is some evidence that these genes can be targeted for early detection in addition to being candidates for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apurva Pandey
- Department of Internal Medicine at the Division of Hematology & Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Southwest Cancer Treatment and Research Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
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13
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Vaccination for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer with special focus on Her-2/neu peptide vaccines. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2013; 138:1-12. [PMID: 23340862 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-013-2410-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2012] [Accepted: 01/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Immunologic interventions in a subset of breast cancer patients represent a well-established therapeutic approach reflecting individualized treatment modalities. Thus, the therapeutic administration of monoclonal antibodies targeting tumor-associated antigens (TAA), such as Her-2/neu, represents a milestone in cancer treatment. However, passive antibody administration suffers from several drawbacks, including frequency and long duration of treatment. These undesirables may be avoidable in an approach based on generating active immune responses against these same targets. Only recently has the significance of tumors in relation to their microenvironments been understood as essential for creating an effective cancer vaccine. In particular, the immune system plays an important role in suppressing or promoting tumor formation and growth. Therefore, activation of appropriate triggers (such as induction of Th1 cells, CD8+ T cells, and suppression of regulatory cells in combination with generation of antibodies with anti-tumor activity) is a desirable goal. Current vaccination approaches have concentrated on therapeutic vaccines using certain TAA. Many cancer antigens, including breast cancer antigens, have been described and also given priority ranking for use as vaccine antigens by the US National Cancer Institute. One of the TAA antigens which has been thoroughly examined in numerous trials is Her-2/neu. This review will discuss delivery systems for this antigen with special focus on T and B cell peptide vaccines. Attention will be given to their advantages and limitations, as well as the use of certain adjuvants to improve anti-cancer responses.
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14
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Link PA, Zhang W, Odunsi K, Karpf AR. BORIS/CTCFL mRNA isoform expression and epigenetic regulation in epithelial ovarian cancer. CANCER IMMUNITY 2013; 13:6. [PMID: 23390377 PMCID: PMC3559194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Cancer germline (CG) genes are normally expressed in germ cells and aberrantly expressed in a variety of cancers; their immunogenicity has led to the widespread development of cancer vaccines targeting these antigens. BORIS/CTCFL is an autosomal CG antigen and promising cancer vaccine target. BORIS is the only known paralog of CTCF, a gene intimately involved in genomic imprinting, chromatin insulation, and nuclear regulation. We have previously shown that BORIS is expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and that its expression coincides with promoter and global DNA hypomethylation. Recently, 23 different BORIS mRNA variants have been described, and have been functionally grouped into six BORIS isoform families (sf1-sf6). In the present study, we have characterized the expression of BORIS isoform families in normal ovary (NO) and EOC, the latter of which were selected to include two groups with widely varying global DNA methylation status. We find selective expression of BORIS isoform families in NO, which becomes altered in EOC, primarily by the activation of BORIS sf1 in EOC. When comparing EOC samples based on methylation status, we find that BORIS sf1 and sf2 isoform families are selectively activated in globally hypomethylated tumors. In contrast, CTCF is downregulated in EOC, and the ratio of BORIS sf1, sf2, and sf6 isoform families as a function of CTCF is elevated in hypomethylated tumors. Finally, the expression of all BORIS isoform families was induced to varying extents by epigenetic modulatory drugs in EOC cell lines, particularly when DNMT and HDAC inhibitors were used in combination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra A. Link
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Wa Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Kunle Odunsi
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Center for Immunotherapy, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Adam R. Karpf
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
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15
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Gaykalova D, Vatapalli R, Glazer CA, Bhan S, Shao C, Sidransky D, Ha PK, Califano JA. Dose-dependent activation of putative oncogene SBSN by BORIS. PLoS One 2012; 7:e40389. [PMID: 22792300 PMCID: PMC3390376 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2012] [Accepted: 06/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Testis-specific transcription factor BORIS (Brother of the Regulator of Imprinted Sites), a paralog and proposed functional antagonist of the widely expressed CTCF, is abnormally expressed in multiple tumor types and has been implicated in the epigenetic activation of cancer-testis antigens (CTAs). We have reported previously that suprabasin (SBSN), whose expression is restricted to the epidermis, is epigenetically derepressed in lung cancer. In this work, we establish that SBSN is a novel non-CTA target of BORIS epigenetic regulation. With the use of a doxycycline-inducible BORIS expressing vector, we demonstrate that relative BORIS dosage is critical for SBSN activation. At lower concentrations, BORIS induces demethylation of the SBSN CpG island and disruption and activation of chromatin around the SBSN transcription start site (TSS), resulting in a 35-fold increase in SBSN expression in the H358 human lung cancer cell line. Interestingly, increasing BORIS concentrations leads to a subsequent reduction in SBSN expression via chromatin repression. In a similar manner, increase in BORIS concentrations leads to eventual decrease of cell growth and colony formation. This is the first report demonstrating that different amount of BORIS defines its varied effects on the expression of a target gene via chromatin structure reorganization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Gaykalova
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Rajita Vatapalli
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Chad A. Glazer
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sheetal Bhan
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Chunbo Shao
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - David Sidransky
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Milton J. Dance Head and Neck Center, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Patrick K. Ha
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Milton J. Dance Head and Neck Center, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joseph A. Califano
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Milton J. Dance Head and Neck Center, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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16
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de Necochea-Campion R, Ghochikyan A, Josephs SF, Zacharias S, Woods E, Karimi-Busheri F, Alexandrescu DT, Chen CS, Agadjanyan MG, Carrier E. Expression of the epigenetic factor BORIS (CTCFL) in the human genome. J Transl Med 2011; 9:213. [PMID: 22168535 PMCID: PMC3264669 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-9-213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2011] [Accepted: 12/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BORIS, or CTCFL, the so called Brother of the Regulator of Imprinted Sites because of the extensive homology in the central DNA binding region of the protein to the related regulator, CTCF, is expressed in early gametogenesis and in multiple cancers but not in differentiated somatic cells. Thus it is a member of the cancer testes antigen group (CTAs). Since BORIS and CTCF target common DNA binding sites, these proteins function on two levels, the first level is their regulation via the methylation context of the DNA target site and the second level is their distinct and different epigenetic associations due to differences in the non-homologous termini of the proteins. The regulation on both of these levels is extensive and complex and the sphere of influence of each of these proteins is associated with vastly different cellular signaling processes. On the level of gene expression, BORIS has three known promoters and multiple spliced mRNAs which adds another level of complexity to this intriguing regulator. BORIS expression is observed in the majority of cancer tissues and cell lines analyzed up to today. The expression profile and essential role of BORIS in cancer make this molecule very attractive target for cancer immunotherapy. This review summarizes what is known about BORIS regarding its expression, structure, and function and then presents some theoretical considerations with respect to its genome wide influence and its potential for use as a vaccine for cancer immunotherapy.
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17
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Kosaka-Suzuki N, Suzuki T, Pugacheva EM, Vostrov AA, Morse HC, Loukinov D, Lobanenkov V. Transcription factor BORIS (Brother of the Regulator of Imprinted Sites) directly induces expression of a cancer-testis antigen, TSP50, through regulated binding of BORIS to the promoter. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:27378-88. [PMID: 21659515 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.243576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) are normally expressed in testis but are aberrantly expressed in a variety of cancers with varying frequency. More than 100 proteins have been identified as CTA including testes-specific protease 50 (TSP50) and the testis-specific paralogue of CCCTC-binding factor, BORIS (brother of the regulator of imprinted sites). Because many CTAs are considered as excellent targets for tumor immunotherapy, understanding the regulatory mechanisms governing their expression is important. In this study we demonstrate that BORIS is directly responsible for the transcriptional activation of TSP50. We found two BORIS binding sites in the TSP50 promoter that are highly conserved between mouse and human. Mutations of the binding sites resulted in loss of BORIS binding and the ability of BORIS to activate the promoter. However, although expression of BORIS was essential, it was not sufficient for high expression of TSP50 in cancer cells. Further studies showed that binding of BORIS to the target sites was methylation-independent but was diminished by nucleosomal occupancy consistent with the findings that high expression of TSP50 was associated with increased DNase I sensitivity and high BORIS occupancy of the promoter. These findings indicate that BORIS-induced expression of TSP50 is governed by accessibility and binding of BORIS to the promoter. To our knowledge this is the first report of regulated expression of one CTA by another to be validated in a physiological context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natsuki Kosaka-Suzuki
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852, USA
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18
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Mkrtichyan M, Ghochikyan A, Davtyan H, Movsesyan N, Loukinov D, Lobanenkov V, Cribbs DH, Laust AK, Nelson EL, Agadjanyan MG. Cancer-testis antigen, BORIS based vaccine delivered by dendritic cells is extremely effective against a very aggressive and highly metastatic mouse mammary carcinoma. Cell Immunol 2011; 270:188-97. [PMID: 21641588 PMCID: PMC3156877 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2011.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2011] [Revised: 04/21/2011] [Accepted: 05/06/2011] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Here, we analyze for the first time the immunological and therapeutic efficacy of a dendritic cell (DC) vaccine based on a cancer-testis antigen, Brother of regulator of imprinted sites (BORIS), an epigenetically acting tumor-promoting transcription factor. Vaccination of mice with DC loaded with truncated form of BORIS (DC/mBORIS) after 4T1 mammary tumor implantation induced strong anti-cancer immunity, inhibited tumor growth (18.75% of mice remained tumor-free), and dramatically lowered the number of spontaneous clonogenic metastases (50% of mice remained metastases-free). Higher numbers of immune effector CD4 and CD8 T cells infiltrated the tumors of vaccinated mice vs. control animals. Vaccination significantly decreased the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) infiltrating the tumor sites, but not MDSCs in the spleens of vaccinated animals. These data suggest that DC-based mBORIS vaccination strategies have significant anti-tumor activity in a therapeutic setting and will be more effective when combined with agents to attenuate tumor-associated immune suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikayel Mkrtichyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
| | - Anahit Ghochikyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
| | - Hayk Davtyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
| | - Nina Movsesyan
- The Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Dmitry Loukinov
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852
| | - Victor Lobanenkov
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852
| | - David H. Cribbs
- The Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Amanda K. Laust
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Edward L. Nelson
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Michael G. Agadjanyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
- The Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
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19
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Ichim TE, Minev B, Braciak T, Luna B, Hunninghake R, Mikirova NA, Jackson JA, Gonzalez MJ, Miranda-Massari JR, Alexandrescu DT, Dasanu CA, Bogin V, Ancans J, Stevens RB, Markosian B, Koropatnick J, Chen CS, Riordan NH. Intravenous ascorbic acid to prevent and treat cancer-associated sepsis? J Transl Med 2011; 9:25. [PMID: 21375761 PMCID: PMC3061919 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-9-25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2010] [Accepted: 03/04/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The history of ascorbic acid (AA) and cancer has been marked with controversy. Clinical studies evaluating AA in cancer outcome continue to the present day. However, the wealth of data suggesting that AA may be highly beneficial in addressing cancer-associated inflammation, particularly progression to systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and multi organ failure (MOF), has been largely overlooked. Patients with advanced cancer are generally deficient in AA. Once these patients develop septic symptoms, a further decrease in ascorbic acid levels occurs. Given the known role of ascorbate in: a) maintaining endothelial and suppression of inflammatory markers; b) protection from sepsis in animal models; and c) direct antineoplastic effects, we propose the use of ascorbate as an adjuvant to existing modalities in the treatment and prevention of cancer-associated sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas E Ichim
- Department of Orthomolecular Studies, Riordan Clinic, 3100 N Hillside, Wichita, Kansas, 67210, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Medistem Inc, 9255 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California, 92121. USA
| | - Boris Minev
- Department of Medicine, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Dr, San Diego, California, 92121, USA
| | - Todd Braciak
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Medistem Inc, 9255 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California, 92121. USA
- Department of Immunology, Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, 3550 General Atomics Court, La Jolla, California,92121, USA
| | - Brandon Luna
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Medistem Inc, 9255 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California, 92121. USA
| | - Ron Hunninghake
- Department of Orthomolecular Studies, Riordan Clinic, 3100 N Hillside, Wichita, Kansas, 67210, USA
| | - Nina A Mikirova
- Department of Orthomolecular Studies, Riordan Clinic, 3100 N Hillside, Wichita, Kansas, 67210, USA
| | - James A Jackson
- Department of Orthomolecular Studies, Riordan Clinic, 3100 N Hillside, Wichita, Kansas, 67210, USA
| | - Michael J Gonzalez
- Department of Human Development, Nutrition Program, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, 00936-5067, PR
| | - Jorge R Miranda-Massari
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, School of Pharmacy, San Juan, 00936-5067, PR
| | - Doru T Alexandrescu
- Department of Experimental Studies, Georgetown Dermatology, 3301 New Mexico Ave, Washington DC, 20018, USA
| | - Constantin A Dasanu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Connecticut, 115 North Eagleville Road, Hartford, Connecticut, 06269, USA
| | - Vladimir Bogin
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Medistem Inc, 9255 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California, 92121. USA
| | - Janis Ancans
- Department of Surgery, University of Latvia, 19 Raina Blvd, Riga, LV 1586, Latvia
| | - R Brian Stevens
- Department of Surgery, Microbiology, and Pathology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 42nd and Emile, Omaha, Nebraska, 86198, USA
| | - Boris Markosian
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Medistem Inc, 9255 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California, 92121. USA
| | - James Koropatnick
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Department of Oncology, Lawson Health Research Institute and The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario, N2G 3M5, Canada
| | - Chien-Shing Chen
- School of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Loma Linda University,24851 Circle Dr, Loma Linda, California, 92354, USA
| | - Neil H Riordan
- Department of Orthomolecular Studies, Riordan Clinic, 3100 N Hillside, Wichita, Kansas, 67210, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Medistem Inc, 9255 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California, 92121. USA
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20
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Davtyan H, Mkrtichyan M, Movsesyan N, Petrushina I, Mamikonyan G, Cribbs DH, Agadjanyan MG, Ghochikyan A. DNA prime-protein boost increased the titer, avidity and persistence of anti-Abeta antibodies in wild-type mice. Gene Ther 2010; 17:261-71. [PMID: 19865176 PMCID: PMC2820600 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2009.140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2009] [Revised: 09/13/2009] [Accepted: 09/14/2009] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Recently, we reported that a DNA vaccine, composed of three copies of a self B cell epitope of amyloid-beta (Abeta(42)) and the foreign T-cell epitope, Pan DR epitope (PADRE), generated strong anti-Abeta immune responses in wild-type and amyloid precursor protein transgenic animals. Although DNA vaccines have several advantages over peptide-protein vaccines, they induce lower immune responses in large animals and humans compared with those in mice. The focus of this study was to further enhance anti-Abeta(11) immune responses by developing an improved DNA vaccination protocol of the prime-boost regimen, in which the priming step would use DNA and the boosting step would use recombinant protein. Accordingly, we generated DNA and recombinant protein-based epitope vaccines and showed that priming with DNA followed by boosting with a homologous recombinant protein vaccine significantly increases the anti-Abeta antibody responses and do not change the immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) profile of humoral immune responses. Furthermore, the antibodies generated by this prime-boost regimen were long-lasting and possessed a higher avidity for binding with an Abeta(42) peptide. Thus, we showed that a heterologous prime-boost regimen could be an effective protocol for developing a potent Alzheimer's disease (AD) vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Davtyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, The Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
| | - M Mkrtichyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, The Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
| | - N Movsesyan
- The Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - I Petrushina
- The Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - G Mamikonyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, The Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
| | - DH Cribbs
- The Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - MG Agadjanyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, The Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
- The Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - A Ghochikyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, The Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
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21
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Cheever MA, Allison JP, Ferris AS, Finn OJ, Hastings BM, Hecht TT, Mellman I, Prindiville SA, Viner JL, Weiner LM, Matrisian LM. The prioritization of cancer antigens: a national cancer institute pilot project for the acceleration of translational research. Clin Cancer Res 2009; 15:5323-37. [PMID: 19723653 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-09-0737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1011] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of the National Cancer Institute pilot project to prioritize cancer antigens was to develop a well-vetted, priority-ranked list of cancer vaccine target antigens based on predefined and preweighted objective criteria. An additional aim was for the National Cancer Institute to test a new approach for prioritizing translational research opportunities based on an analytic hierarchy process for dealing with complex decisions. Antigen prioritization involved developing a list of "ideal" cancer antigen criteria/characteristics, assigning relative weights to those criteria using pairwise comparisons, selecting 75 representative antigens for comparison and ranking, assembling information on the predefined criteria for the selected antigens, and ranking the antigens based on the predefined, preweighted criteria. Using the pairwise approach, the result of criteria weighting, in descending order, was as follows: (a) therapeutic function, (b) immunogenicity, (c) role of the antigen in oncogenicity, (d) specificity, (e) expression level and percent of antigen-positive cells, (f) stem cell expression, (g) number of patients with antigen-positive cancers, (h) number of antigenic epitopes, and (i) cellular location of antigen expression. None of the 75 antigens had all of the characteristics of the ideal cancer antigen. However, 46 were immunogenic in clinical trials and 20 of them had suggestive clinical efficacy in the "therapeutic function" category. These findings reflect the current status of the cancer vaccine field, highlight the possibility that additional organized efforts and funding would accelerate the development of therapeutically effective cancer vaccines, and accentuate the need for prioritization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin A Cheever
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.
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22
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Abdullah M, Rahmah AU, Sinskey A, Rha C. Cell engineering and molecular pharming for biopharmaceuticals. THE OPEN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY JOURNAL 2008; 2:49-61. [PMID: 19662143 PMCID: PMC2709479 DOI: 10.2174/1874104500802010049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2008] [Revised: 04/20/2008] [Accepted: 04/21/2008] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Biopharmaceuticals are often produced by recombinant E. coli or mammalian cell lines. This is usually achieved by the introduction of a gene or cDNA coding for the protein of interest into a well-characterized strain of producer cells. Naturally, each recombinant production system has its own unique advantages and disadvantages. This paper examines the current practices, developments, and future trends in the production of biopharmaceuticals. Platform technologies for rapid screening and analyses of biosystems are reviewed. Strategies to improve productivity via metabolic and integrated engineering are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- M.A Abdullah
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Tronoh, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Anisa ur Rahmah
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Tronoh, Perak, Malaysia
| | - A.J Sinskey
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - C.K Rha
- Biomaterials Science and Engineering Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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23
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Dougherty CJ, Ichim TE, Liu L, Reznik G, Min WP, Ghochikyan A, Agadjanyan MG, Reznik BN. Selective apoptosis of breast cancer cells by siRNA targeting of BORIS. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2008; 370:109-12. [PMID: 18355444 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.03.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2008] [Accepted: 03/10/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Brother of the regulator of imprinted sites (BORIS) is an epigenetically acting transcription factor which represses the tumor inhibitor functions of the tumor suppressor protein CTCF. BORIS expression has not been documented in adult females, making it an exciting molecular target for drug development in breast cancer. Previously, we demonstrated that vaccination of mice with zing-finger (ZF)-deleted non-functional BORIS results in regression of breast cancer and generation of potent anti-tumor immune responses. RNAi induction can be used as an alternative approach for selective tumor cell killing. Short interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules targeting BORIS were generated and their efficacy was tested in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer and non-malignant epithelial cell lines. Treatment with BORIS-specific siRNA, but not control siRNA led to a concentration-dependent reduction in BORIS expression and proportional apoptotic death of the cancer but not control cells. To our knowledge this is first report demonstrating a critical role of BORIS in maintaining tumor cell viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Dougherty
- Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science, 777 Glades Road, BC-71, Room 202, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
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