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Gross DA, Leborgne C, Chappert P, Masurier C, Leboeuf M, Monteilhet V, Boutin S, Lemonnier FA, Davoust J, Kichler A. Induction of tumor-specific CTL responses using the C-terminal fragment of Viral protein R as cell penetrating peptide. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3937. [PMID: 30850685 PMCID: PMC6408526 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40594-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of tumor-associated antigens recognized by T lymphocytes opens the possibility of vaccinating cancer patients with defined antigens. However, one of the major limitation of peptide-based vaccines is the low immunogenicity of antigenic peptides. Interestingly, if these epitopes are directly delivered into the cytoplasm of antigen presenting cells, they can be efficiently presented via the direct MHC class I presentation pathway. To improve antigen entry, one promising approach is the use of cell penetrating peptides (CPPs). However, most studies use a covalent binding of the CPP with the antigen. In the present study, we focused on the C-terminal domain of Vpr which was previously demonstrated to efficiently deliver plasmid DNA into cells. We provide evidence that the peptides Vpr55-91 and Vpr55-82 possess the capacity of delivering proteins and epitopes into cell lines as well as into human primary dendritic cells, without the necessicity for a chemical linkage. Moreover, immunization of HLA-A2 transgenic mice with Vpr55-91 as the sole adjuvant is able to induce antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes against multiple tumor epitopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Gross
- Genethon, 91002, Evry cedex, France. .,INSERM U1151, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, CNRS, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR8253, Paris, France.
| | | | - P Chappert
- Genethon, 91002, Evry cedex, France.,INSERM U1151, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, CNRS, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR8253, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | - S Boutin
- Genethon, 91002, Evry cedex, France
| | - F A Lemonnier
- INSERM, Unité 1016, Institut Cochin, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75014, Paris, France
| | - J Davoust
- Genethon, 91002, Evry cedex, France.,INSERM U1151, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, CNRS, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR8253, Paris, France
| | - A Kichler
- Genethon, 91002, Evry cedex, France. .,Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives UMR7199 CNRS - Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Pharmacie, 67401, Illkirch, France.
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Brooks N, Hsu J, Esparon S, Pouniotis D, Pietersz GA. Immunogenicity of a Tripartite Cell Penetrating Peptide Containing a MUC1 Variable Number of Tandem Repeat (VNTR) and A T Helper Epitope. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23092233. [PMID: 30200528 PMCID: PMC6225367 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23092233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide-based vaccines for cancer have many advantages however, for optimization these immunogens should incorporate peptide epitopes that induce CD8, as well as CD4 responses, antibody and long term immunity. Cell penetrating peptides (CPP) with a capacity of cytosolic delivery have been used to deliver antigenic peptides and proteins to antigen presenting cells to induce cytotoxic T cell, helper T cell and humoral responses in mice. For this study, a tripartite CPP including a mucin 1 (MUC1) variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) containing multiple T cell epitopes and tetanus toxoid universal T helper epitope peptide (tetCD4) was synthesised (AntpMAPMUC1tet) and immune responses investigated in mice. Mice vaccinated with AntpMAPMUC1tet + CpG show enhanced antigen-specific interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and IL-4 T cell responses compared with AntpMAPMUC1tet vaccination alone and induced a Th1 response, characterised by a higher ratio of IgG2a antibody/IgG1 antibodies. Furthermore, vaccination generated long term MUC1-specific antibody and T cell responses and delayed growth of MUC1+ve tumours in mice. This data demonstrates the efficient delivery of branched multiple antigen peptides incorporating CPP and that the addition of CpG augments immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Brooks
- School of Medical Sciences, RMIT University, Plenty Road, Bundoora 3083, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Jennifer Hsu
- Bio-Organic and Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Rd, Melbourne 3004, Australia.
- Dendritic Cell Biology and Therapeutics Group, ANZAC Medical Research Institute, Institute of Haematology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Missenden Rd, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
| | - Sandra Esparon
- Bio-Organic and Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Rd, Melbourne 3004, Australia.
| | - Dodie Pouniotis
- School of Medical Sciences, RMIT University, Plenty Road, Bundoora 3083, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Geoffrey A Pietersz
- Bio-Organic and Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Rd, Melbourne 3004, Australia.
- Department of Pathology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
- Department of Immunology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne 3004, Australia.
- College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, Melbourne 3021, Australia.
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3
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Mechanistic insights into the efficacy of cell penetrating peptide-based cancer vaccines. Cell Mol Life Sci 2018; 75:2887-2896. [PMID: 29508006 PMCID: PMC6061156 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-018-2785-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapies are increasingly used to treat cancer, with some outstanding results. Immunotherapy modalities include therapeutic vaccination to eliminate cancer cells through the activation of patient’s immune system against tumor-derived antigens. Nevertheless, the full potential of therapeutic vaccination has yet to be demonstrated clinically because many early generation vaccines elicited low-level immune responses targeting only few tumor antigens. Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) are highly promising tools to advance the field towards clinical success. CPPs efficiently penetrate cell membranes, even when linked to antigenic cargos, which can induce both CD8 and CD4 T-cell responses. Pre-clinical studies demonstrated that targeting multiple tumor antigens, even those considered to be poorly immunogenic, led to tumor regression. Therefore, CPP-based cancer vaccines represent a flexible and powerful means to extend therapeutic vaccination to many cancer indications. Here, we review recent findings in CPP development and discuss their use in next generation immunotherapies.
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Markov OV, Mironova NL, Vlassov VV, Zenkova MA. Antitumor Vaccines Based on Dendritic Cells: From Experiments using Animal Tumor Models to Clinical Trials. Acta Naturae 2017; 9:27-38. [PMID: 29104773 PMCID: PMC5662271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The routine methods used to treat oncological diseases have a number of drawbacks, including non-specific action and severe side effects for patients. Furthermore, tumor diseases are associated with a suppression of the immune system that often leads to the inefficiency of standard treatment methods. The development of novel immunotherapeutic approaches having specific antitumor action and that activate the immune system is of crucial importance. Vaccines based on dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with tumor antigens ex vivo that can activate antitumor cytotoxic T-cell responses stand out among different antitumor immunotherapeutic approaches. This review is focused on analyzing different methods of DC-based vaccine preparation and current research in antitumor DC-based vaccines using animal tumor models and in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- O. V. Markov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Lavrentieva Ave. 8, Novosibirsk, 630090 , Russia
| | - N. L. Mironova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Lavrentieva Ave. 8, Novosibirsk, 630090 , Russia
| | - V. V. Vlassov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Lavrentieva Ave. 8, Novosibirsk, 630090 , Russia
| | - M. A. Zenkova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Lavrentieva Ave. 8, Novosibirsk, 630090 , Russia
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Shah NN, Loeb DM, Khuu H, Stroncek D, Ariyo T, Raffeld M, Delbrook C, Mackall CL, Wayne AS, Fry TJ. Induction of Immune Response after Allogeneic Wilms' Tumor 1 Dendritic Cell Vaccination and Donor Lymphocyte Infusion in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies and Post-Transplantation Relapse. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2016; 22:2149-2154. [PMID: 27634018 PMCID: PMC7499897 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2016.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Accepted: 08/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Relapse of hematologic malignancies is the primary cause of treatment failure after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). Treatment for post-HCT relapse using donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) has limited utility, particularly in the setting of acute leukemia, and can result in the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) gene product is a tumor-associated antigen that is expressed in acute leukemia and other hematologic malignancies, with limited expression in normal tissues. In this pilot trial, we assessed safety and feasibility of a WT1 peptide-loaded donor-derived dendritic cell (DC) vaccine given with DLI designed to enhance and direct the graft-versus-leukemia effect. Secondary objectives were to evaluate immunologic and clinical responses. A total of 5 subjects, median age 17 years (range, 9 to 19 years), with post-HCT relapse were enrolled. Disease subtypes included acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n = 3), acute myelogenous leukemia (n = 1), and Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 1). Successful vaccine production was feasible from all donors. DC vaccination and DLI were well tolerated. One recipient developed grade 1 skin GVHD not requiring systemic therapy. The most common adverse events included grade 1 reversible pain and pruritus at the vaccine injection and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin testing sites. There were no grade 3 or higher adverse events related to the research. Immune responses consisted of ELISpot response in 3 recipients and positive DTH tests to WT1 peptide cocktail in 2 subjects. Our study provides 1 of the first attempts to apply tumor-specific vaccine therapy to the allogeneic setting. Preliminary results show the DC-based vaccination is safe and feasible after allogeneic HCT, with a suggestion that this approach can be used to sensitize the repopulated allogeneic-donor immune system to WT1. Future directions may include testing of vaccination strategies in the early post-transplantation setting for relapse prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirali N Shah
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
| | - David M Loeb
- Pediatric Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Hahn Khuu
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - David Stroncek
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Tolu Ariyo
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Mark Raffeld
- Univerity of Southern California-Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Cindy Delbrook
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Crystal L Mackall
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Alan S Wayne
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Division of Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Terry J Fry
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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6
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Comparative Immunogenicity of a Cytotoxic T Cell Epitope Delivered by Penetratin and TAT Cell Penetrating Peptides. Molecules 2015; 20:14033-50. [PMID: 26247926 PMCID: PMC6332296 DOI: 10.3390/molecules200814033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2015] [Revised: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell penetrating peptides (CPP), including the TAT peptide from the human immunodeficiency virus transactivator of transcription (HIV-TAT) protein and penetratin from Drosophila Antennapedia homeodomain protein, translocate various cargos including peptides and proteins across cellular barriers. This mode of delivery has been harnessed by our group and others to deliver antigenic proteins or peptides into the cytoplasm of antigen processing cells (APC) such as monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDC). Antigens or T cell epitopes delivered by CPP into APC in vivo generate antigen-specific cytotoxic T cell and helper T cell responses in mice. Furthermore, mice immunised with these peptides or proteins are protected from a tumour challenge. The functional properties of CPP are dependent on the various cargos being delivered and the target cell type. Despite several studies demonstrating superior immunogenicity of TAT and Antp-based immunogens, none has compared the immunogenicity of antigens delivered by TAT and Antp CPP. In the current study we demonstrate that a cytotoxic T cell epitope from the mucin 1 (MUC1) tumour associated antigen, when delivered by TAT or Antp, generates identical immune responses in mice resulting in specific MUC1 T cell responses as measured by in vivo CTL assays, IFNγ ELISpot assays and prophylactic tumour protection.
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7
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Rustichelli D, Castiglia S, Gunetti M, Mareschi K, Signorino E, Muraro M, Castello L, Sanavio F, Leone M, Ferrero I, Fagioli F. Validation of analytical methods in compliance with good manufacturing practice: a practical approach. J Transl Med 2013; 11:197. [PMID: 23981284 PMCID: PMC3765465 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-11-197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2013] [Accepted: 08/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The quality and safety of cell therapy products must be maintained throughout their production and quality control cycle, ensuring their final use in the patient. We validated the Lymulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) test and immunophenotype according to International Conference on Harmonization Q2 Guidelines and the EU Pharmacopoeia, considering accuracy, precision, repeatability, linearity and range. Methods For the endotoxin test we used a kinetic chromogenic LAL test. As this is a limit test for the control of impurities, in compliance with International Conference on Harmonization Q2 Guidelines and the EU Pharmacopoeia, we evaluated the specificity and detection limit. For the immunophenotype test, an identity test, we evaluated specificity through the Fluorescence Minus One method and we repeated all experiments thrice to verify precision. The immunophenotype validation required a performance qualification of the flow cytometer using two types of standard beads which have to be used daily to check cytometer reproducibly set up. The results were compared together. Collected data were statistically analyzed calculating mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variation percentage (CV%). Results The LAL test is repeatable and specific. The spike recovery value of each sample was between 0.25 EU/ml and 1 EU/ml with a CV% < 10%. The correlation coefficient (≥ 0.980) and CV% (< 10%) of the standard curve tested in duplicate showed the test's linearity and a minimum detectable concentration value of 0.005 EU/ml. The immunophenotype method performed thrice on our cell therapy products is specific and repeatable as showed by CV% inter -experiment < 10%. Conclusions Our data demonstrated that validated analytical procedures are suitable as quality controls for the batch release of cell therapy products. Our paper could offer an important contribution for the scientific community in the field of CTPs, above all to small Cell Factories such as ours, where it is not always possible to have CFR21 compliant software.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Rustichelli
- Paediatric Onco-Hematology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, City of Science and Health of Turin, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, P.zza Polonia 94, Turin 10126, Italy.
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8
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Wang HY, Wang RF. Enhancing cancer immunotherapy by intracellular delivery of cell-penetrating peptides and stimulation of pattern-recognition receptor signaling. Adv Immunol 2012; 114:151-76. [PMID: 22449781 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-396548-6.00006-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The importance of T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity has been demonstrated in both animal models and human cancer immunotherapy. In the past 30 years, T-cell-based immunotherapy has been improved with an objective clinical response rate of up to 72%. Identification of MHC class I- and II-restricted tumor antigens recognized by tumor-reactive T cells has generated a resurgence of interest in cancer vaccines. Although clinical trials with cancer peptide/protein vaccines have only met a limited success, several phase II/III clinical trials are either completed or ongoing with encouraging results. Recent advances in immunotherapy have led to the approval of two anticancer drugs (sipuleucel-T vaccine and anti-CTLA-4 antibody) by the US FDA for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and melanoma, respectively. Intracellular delivery of antigenic peptides into dendritic cells (DCs) prolongs antigen presentation of antigen-presenting cells to T cells, thus further improving clinical efficacy of peptide/protein cancer vaccines. Because innate immune responses are critically important to provide sensing and initiating of adaptive immunity, combined use of cell-penetrating peptide vaccines with stimulation of innate immune signaling may produce potent antitumor immune responses. We will discuss the recent progress and novel strategies in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Y Wang
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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Vasievich EA, Ramishetti S, Zhang Y, Huang L. Trp2 peptide vaccine adjuvanted with (R)-DOTAP inhibits tumor growth in an advanced melanoma model. Mol Pharm 2011; 9:261-8. [PMID: 22142394 DOI: 10.1021/mp200350n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Previously we have shown cationic lipid (R)-DOTAP as the immunologically active enantiomer of the DOTAP racemic mixture, initiating complete tumor regression in an exogenous antigen model (murine cervical cancer model). Here, we investigate the use of (R)-DOTAP as an efficacious adjuvant delivering an endogenous antigen in an aggressive murine solid tumor melanoma model. (R)-DOTAP/Trp2 peptide complexes showed decreasing size and charge with increasing peptide concentration, taking a rod shape at highest concentrations. The particles were stable for 2 weeks at 4 °C. A dose of 75 nmol of Trp2 (formulated in (R)-DOTAP) was able to show statistically significant tumor growth delay compared to lower doses of 5 and 25 nmol, which were no different than untreated tumors. (R)-DOTAP/Trp2 (75 nmol) treated mice also showed increased T cell IFN-γ secretion after restimulation with Trp2, as well as CTL activity in vivo. This vaccination group also showed the highest population of functionally active tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, indicated by IFN-γ secretion after restimulation with Trp2. Thus, (R)-DOTAP has shown the ability to break tolerance as an adjuvant. Its activity to enhance immunogenicity of other tumor associated antigens should be studied further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Vasievich
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
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10
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Fu X, Tao L, Zhang X. A short polypeptide from the herpes simplex virus type 2 ICP10 gene can induce antigen aggregation and autophagosomal degradation for enhanced immune presentation. Hum Gene Ther 2011; 21:1687-96. [PMID: 20583863 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2010.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been reported that certain polypeptides derived from aggregation-prone cellular proteins can turn soluble green fluorescent protein (GFP) into aggregates. Here we report our finding that a short peptide derived from a viral gene, ICP10 of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2, also possesses such a property. A sequence as short as 13 amino acids from the middle region of the gene can convert GFP into an aggregation-prone toxic protein once it is fused to the C terminus. Moreover, this short peptide can direct a surrogate tumor antigen into the autophagosome/lysosome degradation pathway, drastically increasing both MHC class I and class II antigen presentation. The simultaneous induction of both arms of the T cell immune response to the tumor antigen effectively protects the immunized animals from tumor challenge. Designated VIPA (i.e., viral inducer of protein aggregation), this unique viral sequence may represent an attractive candidate as a molecular adjuvant for cancer immunotherapy and for other immunologically preventable diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinping Fu
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, TX 77204, USA
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11
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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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Mukhopadhyay P, Chakraborty S, Ponnusamy MP, Lakshmanan I, Jain M, Batra SK. Mucins in the pathogenesis of breast cancer: implications in diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2011; 1815:224-40. [PMID: 21277939 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2011.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2010] [Revised: 01/16/2011] [Accepted: 01/19/2011] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Mucins are high molecular weight, multifunctional glycoproteins comprised of two structural classes-the large transmembrane mucins and the gel-forming or secreted mucins. The primary function of mucins is to protect and lubricate the luminal surfaces of epithelium-lined ducts in the human body. Recent studies have identified a differential expression of both membrane bound (MUC1, MUC4 and MUC16) and secreted mucins (MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC5B and MUC6) in breast cancer tissues when compared with the non-neoplastic breast tissues. Functional studies have also uncovered many unique roles of mucins during the progression of breast cancer, which include modulation in proliferative, invasive and metastatic potential of tumor cells. Mucins function through many unique domains that can form complex association with various signaling molecules including growth factor receptors and intercellular adhesion molecules. While there is growing information about mucins in various malignancies including breast cancer, no focused review is there on the expression and functional roles of mucins in breast cancer. In this present review, we have discussed the differential expression and functional roles of mucins in breast cancer. The potential of mucins as diagnostic and prognostic markers and as therapeutic targets in breast cancer have also been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Partha Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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13
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Bae MY, Cho NH, Seong SY. Protective anti-tumour immune responses by murine dendritic cells pulsed with recombinant Tat-carcinoembryonic antigen derived from Escherichia coli. Clin Exp Immunol 2009; 157:128-38. [PMID: 19659778 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2009.03943.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is over-expressed on various human cancer cells and has been the target of immunotherapies using dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with CEA-specific RNA or peptides, or transduced by CEA-expressing adenovirus or vaccinia virus. Because activated DCs do not phagocytose soluble protein antigens efficiently and pure immature DCs are not obtained easily ex vivo, an efficacious whole CEA protein-loaded DC vaccine has not been reported. To improve the antigen delivery into DCs, we utilized CEA conjugated to a protein-transduction domain, human immunodeficiency virus transactivating Tat. Furthermore, we purified the truncated non-glycosylated CEA from Escherichia coli to overcome the safety concerns and immunosuppressive functions associated with the native CEA protein. Using confocal microscopy and fluorescence activating cell sorter analysis, we demonstrated that the Tat-CEA protein entered the cytoplasm of DCs efficiently within 10 min of co-culture, compared with the negligible amount of CEA into DCs 30 min later. CEA-specific T cell proliferation and cytotoxic T cell responses were enhanced significantly in mice immunized with Tat-CEA-pulsed DCs [DC (Tat-CEA)] compared with those immunized with CEA-pulsed DCs [DC (CEA)]. T helper type 1 responses were more prominent in the DC (Tat-CEA) immunized mice whose splenocytes secreted more interferon-gamma and less interleukin-4 than those from DC (CEA) immunized mice. In vivo, the DC (Tat-CEA) vaccine delayed tumour growth significantly and prolonged survival of tumour-bearing mice. These results suggest that protective epitopes are well preserved on bacteria-derived recombinant Tat-CEA. This strategy may provide a basic platform for DC-based anti-CEA vaccines that could be utilized in combination with advanced immune-enhancing therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- M-Y Bae
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Yang H, Cho NH, Seong SY. The Tat-conjugated N-terminal region of mucin antigen 1 (MUC1) induces protective immunity against MUC1-expressing tumours. Clin Exp Immunol 2009; 158:174-85. [PMID: 19737144 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2009.03997.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucin antigen 1 (MUC1) is overexpressed on various human adenocarcinomas and haematological malignancies and has long been used as a target antigen for cancer immunotherapy. Most of the preclinical and clinical studies using MUC1 have used the tandem repeat region of MUC1, which could be presented by only a limited set of major histocompatibility complex haplotypes. Here, we evaluated N-terminal region (2-147 amino acids) of MUC1 (MUC1-N) for dendritic cell (DC)-based cancer immunotherapy. We used Esherichia coli-derived MUC1-N that was fused to the protein transduction domain of human immunodeficiency virus Tat protein for three reasons. First, mature DCs do not phagocytose soluble protein antigens. Secondly, tumour cells express underglycosylated MUC1, which can generate epitopes repertoire that differs from normal cells, which express hyperglycosylated MUC1. Finally, aberrantly glycosylated MUC1 has been known to impair DC function. In our study, Tat-MUC1-N-loaded DCs induced type 1 T cell responses as well as cytotoxic T lymphocytes efficiently. Furthermore, they could break tolerance in the transgenic breast tumour mouse model, where MUC1-positive breast cancers grow spontaneously. Compared with DCs pulsed with unconjugated MUC1-N, DCs loaded with Tat-conjugated MUC1-N could delay tumour growth more effectively in the transgenic tumour model as well as in the tumour injection model. These results suggest that the recombinant N-terminal part of MUC1, which may provide a diverse epitope repertoire, could be utilized as an effective tumour antigen for DC-based cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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15
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Curtin JF, Liu N, Candolfi M, Xiong W, Assi H, Yagiz K, Edwards MR, Michelsen KS, Kroeger KM, Liu C, Muhammad AKMG, Clark MC, Arditi M, Comin-Anduix B, Ribas A, Lowenstein PR, Castro MG. HMGB1 mediates endogenous TLR2 activation and brain tumor regression. PLoS Med 2009; 6:e10. [PMID: 19143470 PMCID: PMC2621261 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 277] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2008] [Accepted: 11/19/2008] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor that carries a 5-y survival rate of 5%. Attempts at eliciting a clinically relevant anti-GBM immune response in brain tumor patients have met with limited success, which is due to brain immune privilege, tumor immune evasion, and a paucity of dendritic cells (DCs) within the central nervous system. Herein we uncovered a novel pathway for the activation of an effective anti-GBM immune response mediated by high-mobility-group box 1 (HMGB1), an alarmin protein released from dying tumor cells, which acts as an endogenous ligand for Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) signaling on bone marrow-derived GBM-infiltrating DCs. METHODS AND FINDINGS Using a combined immunotherapy/conditional cytotoxic approach that utilizes adenoviral vectors (Ad) expressing Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L) and thymidine kinase (TK) delivered into the tumor mass, we demonstrated that CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were required for tumor regression and immunological memory. Increased numbers of bone marrow-derived, tumor-infiltrating myeloid DCs (mDCs) were observed in response to the therapy. Infiltration of mDCs into the GBM, clonal expansion of antitumor T cells, and induction of an effective anti-GBM immune response were TLR2 dependent. We then proceeded to identify the endogenous ligand responsible for TLR2 signaling on tumor-infiltrating mDCs. We demonstrated that HMGB1 was released from dying tumor cells, in response to Ad-TK (+ gancyclovir [GCV]) treatment. Increased levels of HMGB1 were also detected in the serum of tumor-bearing Ad-Flt3L/Ad-TK (+GCV)-treated mice. Specific activation of TLR2 signaling was induced by supernatants from Ad-TK (+GCV)-treated GBM cells; this activation was blocked by glycyrrhizin (a specific HMGB1 inhibitor) or with antibodies to HMGB1. HMGB1 was also released from melanoma, small cell lung carcinoma, and glioma cells treated with radiation or temozolomide. Administration of either glycyrrhizin or anti-HMGB1 immunoglobulins to tumor-bearing Ad-Flt3L and Ad-TK treated mice, abolished therapeutic efficacy, highlighting the critical role played by HMGB1-mediated TLR2 signaling to elicit tumor regression. Therapeutic efficacy of Ad-Flt3L and Ad-TK (+GCV) treatment was demonstrated in a second glioma model and in an intracranial melanoma model with concomitant increases in the levels of circulating HMGB1. CONCLUSIONS Our data provide evidence for the molecular and cellular mechanisms that support the rationale for the clinical implementation of antibrain cancer immunotherapies in combination with tumor killing approaches in order to elicit effective antitumor immune responses, and thus, will impact clinical neuro-oncology practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F Curtin
- Board of Governors' Gene Therapeutics Research Institute and Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Naiyou Liu
- Board of Governors' Gene Therapeutics Research Institute and Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Marianela Candolfi
- Board of Governors' Gene Therapeutics Research Institute and Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Weidong Xiong
- Board of Governors' Gene Therapeutics Research Institute and Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Hikmat Assi
- Board of Governors' Gene Therapeutics Research Institute and Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Kader Yagiz
- Board of Governors' Gene Therapeutics Research Institute and Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Matthew R Edwards
- Board of Governors' Gene Therapeutics Research Institute and Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Kathrin S Michelsen
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center and Immunobiology Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Kurt M Kroeger
- Board of Governors' Gene Therapeutics Research Institute and Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Chunyan Liu
- Board of Governors' Gene Therapeutics Research Institute and Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - A. K. M. Ghulam Muhammad
- Board of Governors' Gene Therapeutics Research Institute and Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Mary C Clark
- Board of Governors' Gene Therapeutics Research Institute and Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Moshe Arditi
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Begonya Comin-Anduix
- Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Antoni Ribas
- Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Pedro R Lowenstein
- Board of Governors' Gene Therapeutics Research Institute and Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- The Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Maria G Castro
- Board of Governors' Gene Therapeutics Research Institute and Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- The Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
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16
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Treatment of pulmonary metastatic tumors in mice using lentiviral vector-engineered stem cells. Cancer Gene Ther 2007; 15:73-84. [PMID: 18084244 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cgt.7701108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Active cancer immunotherapy relies on functional tumor-specific effector T lymphocytes for tumor elimination. Dendritic cells (DCs), as most potent antigen-presenting cells, have been popularly employed in clinical and experimental tumor treatments. We have previously demonstrated that lentiviral vector-mediated transgene delivery to DC progenitors, including bone marrow cells and hematopoietic stem cells, followed by transplantation supports systemic generation of great numbers of tumor antigen-presenting DCs. These DCs subsequently stimulate marked and systemic immune activation. Here, we examined whether this level of immune activation is sufficient to overcome tumor-induced tolerogenic environment for treating an established aggressive epithelial tumor. We showed that a combination treatment of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor and cytosine-phosphate-guanine-containing oligonucleotide stimulated large numbers of tumor antigen-presenting DCs in situ from transgene-modified stem cells. Moreover, these in situ generated and activated DCs markedly stimulated activation of antigen-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells by augmenting their numbers, as well as function, even in a tumor-bearing tolerogenic environment. This leads to significant improvement in the therapeutic efficacy of established pulmonary metastases. This study suggests that lentiviral vector-modified stem cells as DC progenitors may be used as an effective therapeutic regimen for treating metastatic epithelial tumors.
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17
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Kim CH, Woo SJ, Park JS, Kim HS, Park MY, Park SD, Hong YK, Kim TG. Enhanced antitumour immunity by combined use of temozolomide and TAT-survivin pulsed dendritic cells in a murine glioma. Immunology 2007; 122:615-22. [PMID: 17645496 PMCID: PMC2266048 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2007.02680.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Although chemotherapy remains among the best treatment options for most cancers, adjuvant therapies such as dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy have been added to treatment protocols to destroy residual tumour cells. Combination treatment with low-dose temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy followed by vaccination with TAT-survivin-pulsed DCs enhanced T-cell responses specific for survivin and improved survival rate, as compared with DC alone or TMZ alone. Moreover, antigen-specific immunity appears to be mediated by CD8(+) T cells, as determined by in vitro T-cell subset depletion. These studies demonstrated that a combination of low-dose TMZ chemotherapy and TAT-based DC immunotherapy may be a novel strategy for safe and effective treatment of malignant gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Hyun Kim
- Catholic Research Institute of Medical Science, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea
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18
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Torchilin VP. Targeted pharmaceutical nanocarriers for cancer therapy and imaging. AAPS JOURNAL 2007; 9:E128-47. [PMID: 17614355 PMCID: PMC2751402 DOI: 10.1208/aapsj0902015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 550] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The use of various pharmaceutical nanocarriers has become one of the most important areas of nanomedicine. Ideally, such carriers should be specifically delivered (targeted) to the pathological area to provide the maximum therapeutic efficacy. Among the many potential targets for such nanocarriers, tumors have been most often investigated. This review attempts to summarize currently available information regarding targeted pharmaceutical nanocarriers for cancer therapy and imaging. Certain issues related to some popular pharmaceutical nanocarriers, such as liposomes and polymeric micelles, are addressed, as are different ways to target tumors via specific ligands and via the stimuli sensitivity of the carriers. The importance of intracellular targeting of drug- and DNA-loaded pharmaceutical nanocarriers is specifically discussed, including intracellular delivery with cell-penetrating peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir P Torchilin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Nanomedicine, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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19
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Internalization of novel non-viral vector TAT-streptavidin into human cells. BMC Biotechnol 2007; 7:1. [PMID: 17199888 PMCID: PMC1779780 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6750-7-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2006] [Accepted: 01/02/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The cell-penetrating peptide derived from the Human immunodeficiency virus-1 transactivator protein Tat possesses the capacity to promote the effective uptake of various cargo molecules across the plasma membrane in vitro and in vivo. The objective of this study was to characterize the uptake and delivery mechanisms of a novel streptavidin fusion construct, TAT47–57-streptavidin (TAT-SA, 60 kD). SA represents a potentially useful TAT-fusion partner due to its ability to perform as a versatile intracellular delivery vector for a wide array of biotinylated molecules or cargoes. Results By confocal and immunoelectron microscopy the majority of internalized TAT-SA was shown to accumulate in perinuclear vesicles in both cancer and non-cancer cell lines. The uptake studies in living cells with various fluorescent endocytic markers and inhibiting agents suggested that TAT-SA is internalized into cells efficiently, using both clathrin-mediated endocytosis and lipid-raft-mediated macropinocytosis. When endosomal release of TAT-SA was enhanced through the incorporation of a biotinylated, pH-responsive polymer poly(propylacrylic acid) (PPAA), nuclear localization of TAT-SA and TAT-SA bound to biotin was markedly improved. Additionally, no significant cytotoxicity was detected in the TAT-SA constructs. Conclusion This study demonstrates that TAT-SA-PPAA is a potential non-viral vector to be utilized in protein therapeutics to deliver biotinylated molecules both into cytoplasm and nucleus of human cells.
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20
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Bettosini F, Fiorillo MT, Magnacca A, Leone L, Torrisi MR, Sorrentino R. The C terminus of the nucleoprotein of influenza A virus delivers antigens transduced by Tat to the trans-golgi network and promotes an efficient presentation through HLA class I. J Virol 2006; 79:15537-46. [PMID: 16306624 PMCID: PMC1316004 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.79.24.15537-15546.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are the most powerful weapon of the immune system to eliminate cells infected by intracellular parasites or tumors. However, very often, escape mechanisms overcome CTL immune surveillance by impairing the classical HLA class I antigen-processing pathway. Here, we describe a strategy for CTL activation based on the ability of Tat to mediate transcellular delivery of viral proteins encompassing HLA class I-restricted epitopes. In this system, the recombinant protein TAT-NpFlu containing the transduction domain of Tat of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 fused to the amino acid region 301 to 498 of the nucleoprotein of influenza A virus is proven to sensitize different human cells to lysis by HLA-B27-restricted, Flu 383-391-specific CTL lines. The fusion protein is processed very effectively, since a comparable biological effect is obtained with an amount of protein between 1 and 2 orders of magnitude lower than that of the synthetic peptide. Interestingly, while part of TAT-NpFlu undergoes fast and productive cleavage, a large amount of it remains intact for up to 24 h. Confocal microscopy shows that TAT-NpFlu accumulates in the trans-Golgi network (TGN), where it starts to be detectable 1 h after transduction. Using TAT-NpFlu mutants and hybrid constructs, we demonstrate that enrichment in the TGN occurs only when the carboxy-terminal region of NpFlu (amino acids 400 to 498) is present. These data disclose an unconventional route for presentation of epitopes restricted for HLA class I molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Bettosini
- Department of Cell Biology and Development, University of Rome La Sapienza, Via dei Sardi 70, 00185 Rome, Italy
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21
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Lou Y, Wang G, Lizée G, Kim GJ, Finkelstein SE, Feng C, Restifo NP, Hwu P. Dendritic cells strongly boost the antitumor activity of adoptively transferred T cells in vivo. Cancer Res 2004; 64:6783-90. [PMID: 15374997 PMCID: PMC2241750 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-04-1621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) have been well characterized for their ability to initiate cell-mediated immune responses by stimulating naive T cells. However, the use of DCs to stimulate antigen-activated T cells in vivo has not been investigated. In this study, we determined whether DC vaccination could improve the efficacy of activated, adoptively transferred T cells to induce an enhanced antitumor immune response. Mice bearing B16 melanoma tumors expressing the gp100 tumor antigen were treated with cultured, activated T cells transgenic for a T-cell receptor specifically recognizing gp100, with or without concurrent peptide-pulsed DC vaccination. In this model, antigen-specific DC vaccination induced cytokine production, enhanced proliferation, and increased tumor infiltration of adoptively transferred T cells. Furthermore, the combination of DC vaccination and adoptive T-cell transfer led to a more robust antitumor response than the use of each treatment individually. Collectively, these findings illuminate a new potential application for DCs in the in vivo stimulation of adoptively transferred T cells and may be a useful approach for the immunotherapy of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Lou
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Gregory Lizée
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Grace J. Kim
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Chiguang Feng
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Nicholas P. Restifo
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Patrick Hwu
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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22
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Fu T, Voo KS, Wang RF. Critical role of EBNA1-specific CD4+ T cells in the control of mouse Burkitt lymphoma in vivo. J Clin Invest 2004; 114:542-50. [PMID: 15314691 PMCID: PMC503775 DOI: 10.1172/jci22053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2004] [Accepted: 06/29/2004] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
CD4+ T cells play important roles in orchestrating host immune responses against cancer and infectious diseases. Although EBV-encoded nuclear antigen 1-specific (EBNA1-specific) CD4+ T cells have been implicated in controlling the growth of EBV-associated tumors such as Burkitt lymphoma (BL) in vitro, direct evidence for their in vivo function remains elusive due to the lack of an appropriate experimental BL model. Here, we describe the development of a mouse EBNA1-expressing BL tumor model and the identification of 2 novel MHC H-2I-A(b)-restricted T cell epitopes derived from EBNA1. Using our murine BL tumor model and the relevant peptides, we show that vaccination of mice with EBNA1 peptide-loaded DCs can elicit CD4+ T cell responses. These EBNA1-specific CD4+ T cells recognized peptide-pulsed targets as well as EBNA1-expressing tumor cells and were necessary and sufficient for suppressing tumor growth in vivo. By contrast, EBNA1 peptide-reactive CD8+ T cells failed to recognize tumor cells and did not contribute to protective immunity. These studies represent what we believe to be the first demonstration that EBNA1-specific CD4+ T cells can suppress tumor growth in vivo, which suggests that CD4+ T cells play an important role in generating protective immunity against EBV-associated cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tihui Fu
- The Center for Cell and Gene Therapy and Department of Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Farrell CJ, Lee JM, Shin EC, Cebrat M, Cole PA, Hayward SD. Inhibition of Epstein-Barr virus-induced growth proliferation by a nuclear antigen EBNA2-TAT peptide. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2004; 101:4625-30. [PMID: 15070768 PMCID: PMC384797 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0306482101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes infectious mononucleosis and is associated with cancers in immunocompromised populations. Antiviral drugs targeted against lytic viral replication have limited efficacy in these disease settings. EBV infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells induces growth proliferation and the EBV latency Epstein-Barr virus-encoded nuclear antigen (EBNA)2 transcriptional transactivator (TAT) is essential for this response. EBNA2 targets the cellular DNA-binding protein CBF1 to mimic activated Notch signaling. A 10-aa peptide from the CBF1 interaction domain of EBNA2 was synthesized as a fusion with the protein transduction domain of HIV-1 TAT. The EBNA2-TAT peptide blocked EBNA2-CBF1 interaction in an in vitro GST affinity assay and labeling with fluorescein confirmed that the EBNA2-TAT peptide efficiently entered cultured B cells. Neither EBNA2-TAT, nor a mutant peptide with a 2-aa substitution that was unable to block the EBNA2-CBF1 interaction, significantly affected the growth of non-EBNA2-expressing EBV(-) B cells or Burkitt's lymphoma Akata cells. However, treatment of an EBV-immortalized lymphoblastoid cell line with the EBNA2-TAT peptide stopped cell growth and reduced cell viability. RT-PCR analyses of gene expression in the peptide-treated lymphoblastoid cell line cultures revealed that EBNA2-TAT treatment down-regulated the EBNA2-responsive viral LMP1 and LMP2 genes and cellular CD23, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, BATF, and Cdk1 genes while up-regulating expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21. EBV-induced outgrowth of B cells from cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells was also blocked in a dose-responsive manner by the EBNA2-TAT peptide. This study suggests that cell-permeable EBNA2 peptides may have potential as novel anti-EBV therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Farrell
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1650 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
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