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Tellado M, De Robertis M, Montagna D, Giovannini D, Salgado S, Michinski S, Signori E, Maglietti F. Electrochemotherapy Plus IL-2+IL-12 Gene Electrotransfer in Spontaneous Inoperable Stage III-IV Canine Oral Malignant Melanoma. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1033. [PMID: 37376422 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11061033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a standard of care in veterinary and human oncology. The treatment induces a well-characterized local immune response which is not able to induce a systemic response. In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated the addition of gene electrotransfer (GET) of canine IL-2 peritumorally and IL-12 intramuscularly to enhance the immune response. Thirty canine patients with inoperable oral malignant melanoma were included. Ten patients received ECT+GET as the treatment group, while twenty patients received ECT as the control group. Intravenous bleomycin for the ECT was used in both groups. All patients had compromised lymph nodes which were surgically removed. Plasma levels of interleukins, local response rate, overall survival, and progression-free survival were evaluated. The results show that IL-2 and IL-12 expression peaked around days 7-14 after transfection. Both groups showed similar local response rates and overall survival times. However, progression-free survival resulted significantly better in the ECT+GET group, which is a better indicator than overall survival, as it is not influenced by the criterion used for performing euthanasia. We can conclude that the combination of ECT+GET using IL-2 and IL-12 improves treatment outcomes by slowing down tumoral progression in stage III-IV inoperable canine oral malignant melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matías Tellado
- VetOncologia, Veterinary Oncology Clinic, Buenos Aires 1408, Argentina
| | - Mariangela De Robertis
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari 'A. Moro', 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Daniela Montagna
- Instituto de Medicina Experimental (IMEX-CONICET), Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires 1425, Argentina
| | - Daniela Giovannini
- ENEA SSPT-TECS-TEB, Casaccia Research Center, Division of Health Protection Technology (TECS), Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile (ENEA), 00123 Rome, Italy
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Experimental Oncology, Institute of Translational Pharmacology, CNR, Rome 0133, Italy
| | - Sergio Salgado
- CREOVet, Veterinary Oncology Clinic, Lima 04, Peru
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 31, Peru
| | - Sebastián Michinski
- Instituto de Física Interdsiciplinaria y Aplicada (INFINA), Facultad de Cs Exactas y Naturales, UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
| | - Emanuela Signori
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Experimental Oncology, Institute of Translational Pharmacology, CNR, Rome 0133, Italy
| | - Felipe Maglietti
- Instituto Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Fundación Barceló-CONICET, Buenos Aires 1117, Argentina
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Weng X, Zheng S, Shui H, Lin G, Zhou Y. TUFM-knockdown inhibits the migration and proliferation of gastrointestinal stromal tumor cells. Oncol Lett 2020; 20:250. [PMID: 32994813 PMCID: PMC7509754 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.12113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common pathologic type of mesenchymal tumor in the digestive tract. Patients with GIST face the risk of metastasis, postoperative recurrence and imatinib mesylate (IM) resistance. Mitochondrial Tu translation elongation factor (TUFM) is highly expressed in GISTs, and is associated with oncogenesis, progression and prognosis. There is evidence that TUFM is involved in tumor invasion and metastasis. However, the effect of TUFM on GIST-T1 cells and the IM-resistant GIST-IR cell line remains unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of TUFM on the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of GIST cells in vitro. TUFM short hairpin (sh)RNA expression plasmids were transfected into GIST-T1 and GIST-IR cells by electroporation. The expression levels of enhanced green fluorescent protein were observed by fluorescence microscopy to evaluate the electroporation efficiency. The expression levels of TUFM were detected by western blot analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Cell proliferation was assessed by counting cells and using a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Cell migration was analyzed using wound healing and Transwell migration assays. Cell cycle distribution and late apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry. TUFM shRNA expression plasmids were successfully transfected into the GIST cell line by electroporation. The transfection efficiency was >75%, and the TUFM gene silencing efficiency was 73.2±1.4%. TUFM-knockdown decreased the proliferation and migration capacity of GIST-T1 and GIST-IR cells. The proportion of cells in the pre-G1 stage was increased without change in the proportions of cells in the G1, S and G2/M stages after TUFM silencing in GIST-T1 and GIST-IR cells. TUFM may be related to GIST infiltration and metastatic recurrence, suggesting that TUFM may be an effective target for preventing the progression and metastasis of GISTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyuan Weng
- Department of Surgery, Department of Clinical Medicine, Quanzhou Medical College, Quanzhou, Fujian 362010, P.R. China
| | - Song Zheng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University Affiliated Hangzhou First Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China
| | - Hanli Shui
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China
| | - Guosheng Lin
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China
| | - Yongjian Zhou
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, P.R. China
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Maglietti F, Tellado M, De Robertis M, Michinski S, Fernández J, Signori E, Marshall G. Electroporation as the Immunotherapy Strategy for Cancer in Veterinary Medicine: State of the Art in Latin America. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:E537. [PMID: 32957424 PMCID: PMC7564659 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Electroporation is a technology that increases cell membrane permeability by the application of electric pulses. Electrochemotherapy (ECT), the best-known application of electroporation, is a very effective local treatment for tumors of any histology in human and veterinary medicine. It induces a local yet robust immune response that is responsible for its high effectiveness. Gene electrotransfer (GET), used in research to produce a systemic immune response against cancer, is another electroporation-based treatment that is very appealing for its effectiveness, low cost, and simplicity. In this review, we present the immune effect of electroporation-based treatments and analyze the results of the vast majority of the published papers related to immune response enhancement by gene electrotransfer in companion animals with spontaneous tumors. In addition, we present a brief history of the initial steps and the state of the art of the electroporation-based treatments in Latin America. They have the potential to become an essential form of immunotherapy in the region. This review gives insight into the subject and helps to choose promising research lines for future work; it also helps to select the adequate treatment parameters for performing a successful application of this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Maglietti
- Instituto Universitario del Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Buenos Aires 1199, Argentina
| | - Matías Tellado
- VetOncologia, Veterinary Oncology Clinic, Buenos Aires 1408, Argentina; (M.T.); (J.F.)
| | - Mariangela De Robertis
- CNR-Institute of Biomembrane, Bioenergetics, and Molecular Biotechnology, 70126 Bari, Italy;
- Department of Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Sebastián Michinski
- Instituto de Física del Plasma, DF, FCEyN, UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina; (S.M.); (G.M.)
| | - Juan Fernández
- VetOncologia, Veterinary Oncology Clinic, Buenos Aires 1408, Argentina; (M.T.); (J.F.)
| | - Emanuela Signori
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Experimental Oncology, Institute of Translational Pharmacology, CNR, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Guillermo Marshall
- Instituto de Física del Plasma, DF, FCEyN, UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina; (S.M.); (G.M.)
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4
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Choi IJ, Na W, Kang A, Ahn MH, Yeom M, Kim HO, Lim JW, Choi SO, Baek SK, Song D, Park JH. Patchless administration of canine influenza vaccine on dog's ear using insertion-responsive microneedles (IRMN) without removal of hair and its in vivo efficacy evaluation. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2020; 153:150-157. [PMID: 32544527 PMCID: PMC7293535 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2020.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Microneedles provide the advantages of convenience and compliance by avoiding the pain and fear of needles that animals often experience. Insertion-responsive microneedles (IRMN) were used for administration to a hairy dog without removing the dog's hair. Canine H3N2 vaccine was administered with IRMN attached to the dog's ears ex vivo and the conventional microneedle system (MN) was administered for 15 min to compare puncture performance and delivery efficiency. The vaccine was also administered to compare antibody formation using IRMN with the use of intramuscular injection. The veterinarian observed the behavior of the dog during the course of the administration and compared the response to IRMN with that of intramuscular administration. The tips of IRMN were separated from the base and delivered into the hairy skin successfully. Puncture performance of IRMN were the same as that of coated microneedles (95%), but delivery efficiency of IRMN were 95% compared to less than 1% for coated microneedles. The H3N2 vaccine inoculated into the dog's ears showed the same antibody formation as the intramuscular injection. The dog appeared to be more comfortable with IRMN administration compared to syringe administration. IRMN are the first microneedle system to deliver a canine vaccine successfully into a hairy dog without removal of the dog's hair. The use of IRMN can provide both convenience and compliance for both the dog and the owner.
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Affiliation(s)
- In-Jeong Choi
- QuadMedicine R&D Centre, QuadMedicine, Inc., Seongnam, #605, Building B14 Sagimakgol-ro, 45beon-gil, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13209, Republic of Korea
| | - Woonsung Na
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Yongbong-ro 77, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Aram Kang
- College of Pharmacy, Korea University, Sejongro 2511, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Myun-Hwan Ahn
- QuadMedicine R&D Centre, QuadMedicine, Inc., Seongnam, #605, Building B14 Sagimakgol-ro, 45beon-gil, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13209, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjoo Yeom
- College of Pharmacy, Korea University, Sejongro 2511, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Ouk Kim
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Woo Lim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University Yonsei-ro 50, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-O Choi
- QuadMedicine R&D Centre, QuadMedicine, Inc., Seongnam, #605, Building B14 Sagimakgol-ro, 45beon-gil, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13209, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Ki Baek
- QuadMedicine R&D Centre, QuadMedicine, Inc., Seongnam, #605, Building B14 Sagimakgol-ro, 45beon-gil, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13209, Republic of Korea
| | - Daesub Song
- College of Pharmacy, Korea University, Sejongro 2511, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jung-Hwan Park
- Department of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si Gyeonggi-do 13120, Republic of Korea.
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5
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Le Guen YT, Le Gall T, Midoux P, Guégan P, Braun S, Montier T. Gene transfer to skeletal muscle using hydrodynamic limb vein injection: current applications, hurdles and possible optimizations. J Gene Med 2020; 22:e3150. [PMID: 31785130 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.3150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrodynamic limb vein injection is an in vivo locoregional gene delivery method. It consists of administrating a large volume of solution containing nucleic acid constructs in a limb with both blood inflow and outflow temporarily blocked using a tourniquet. The fast, high pressure delivery allows the musculature of the whole limb to be reached. The skeletal muscle is a tissue of choice for a variety of gene transfer applications, including gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy or other myopathies, as well as for the production of antibodies or other proteins with broad therapeutic effects. Hydrodynamic limb vein delivery has been evaluated with success in a large range of animal models. It has also proven to be safe and well-tolerated in muscular dystrophy patients, thus supporting its translation to the clinic. However, some possible limitations may occur at different steps of the delivery process. Here, we have highlighted the interests, bottlenecks and potential improvements that could further optimize non-viral gene transfer following hydrodynamic limb vein injection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tony Le Gall
- Univ Brest, INSERM, EFS, UMR 1078, GGB, F-29200, Brest, France
| | - Patrick Midoux
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, Université d'Orléans, France
| | - Philippe Guégan
- Laboratoire de chimie des polymères, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR 8232, UPMC Paris 06, F-75005, Paris, France
| | - Serge Braun
- AFM Telethon, 1 rue de l'Internationale, BP59, 91002 Evry, France
| | - Tristan Montier
- Univ Brest, INSERM, EFS, UMR 1078, GGB, F-29200, Brest, France.,Service de Génétique Médicale et Biologie de la Reproduction, Centre de référence des maladies rares 'Maladies neuromusculaires', CHRU de Brest, F-29200, Brest, France
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6
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Spanggaard I, Dahlstroem K, Laessoee L, Hansen RH, Johannesen HH, Hendel HW, Bouquet C, Attali P, Gehl J. Gene therapy for patients with advanced solid tumors: a phase I study using gene electrotransfer to muscle with the integrin inhibitor plasmid AMEP. Acta Oncol 2017; 56:909-916. [PMID: 28438067 DOI: 10.1080/0284186x.2017.1315171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gene electrotrotransfer describes the use of electric pulses to transfer DNA to cells. Particularly skeletal muscle has potential for systemic secretion of therapeutic proteins. Gene electrotransfer to muscle using the integrin inhibitor plasmid AMEP (Antiangiogenic MEtargidin Peptide) was investigated in a phase I dose escalation study. Primary objective was safety. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients with metastatic or locally advanced solid tumors, without further standard treatments available, were treated with once-only gene electrotransfer of plasmid AMEP to the femoral muscle. Safety was monitored by adverse events registration, visual analog scale (VAS) after procedure and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of treated muscles. Pharmacokinetics of plasmid AMEP in plasma and urine was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Response was evaluated by positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scans. RESULTS Seven patients were enrolled and treated at dose levels from 50 to 250 μg of plasmid AMEP, the study was terminated early due to cessation of plasmid production. Minimal systemic toxicity was observed and only transient mild pain was associated with the delivery of the electric pulses. MRI of the treated muscles revealed discrete intramuscular edema 24 h after treatment. The changes in the muscle tissue resolved within 2 weeks after treatment. Peak concentrations of plasmid AMEP was detected only in plasma within the first 24 hours after injection. Protein AMEP could not be detected, which could be due to the limit of detection. No objective responses were seen. CONCLUSIONS Gene electrotransfer of plasmid AMEP was found to be safe and tolerable. No objective responses were observed but other DNA drugs may be tested in the future using this procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iben Spanggaard
- Center for Experimental Drug and Gene Electrotransfer, Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospitals Herlev, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Karin Dahlstroem
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospitals Herlev, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Line Laessoee
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospitals Herlev, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Rasmus Hvass Hansen
- Department of Radiology, Copenhagen University Hospitals Herlev, Herlev, Denmark
| | | | - Helle Westergren Hendel
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospitals Herlev, Herlev, Denmark
| | | | | | - Julie Gehl
- Center for Experimental Drug and Gene Electrotransfer, Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospitals Herlev, Herlev, Denmark
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7
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Cicchelero L, Denies S, Haers H, Vanderperren K, Stock E, Van Brantegem L, de Rooster H, Sanders NN. Intratumoural interleukin 12 gene therapy stimulates the immune system and decreases angiogenesis in dogs with spontaneous cancer. Vet Comp Oncol 2016; 15:1187-1205. [PMID: 27506827 DOI: 10.1111/vco.12255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Revised: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin 12 (IL-12) is a powerful immunostimulatory cytokine with a strong antitumoural activity. In this work, the immunological, anti-angiogenic and clinical effects of three consecutive intratumoural IL-12 electrogene therapy (EGT) treatments were evaluated in nine dogs with spontaneous cancer. In all the dogs, tumour biopsies and blood samples were taken prior, during and after the intratumoural IL-12 EGT (on days 1, 8, 35 and 1, 3, 8, 15, 35, respectively). An initial decrease in immune cells was followed by an increase above baseline 1-3 weeks after treatment initiation. Interestingly, the decrease in peripheral leukocytes 2 days after the first intratumoural IL-12 EGT coincided with erythema and tumour swelling. Transient increases of IL-12 and interferon γ were measured in the serum and the tumour tissue, whereas IL-10 transiently increased only in the serum. The effect of intratumoural IL-12 EGT on the levels of IL-24 and vascular endothelial growth factor in the sera and tumour biopsies differed per dog. Via contrast-enhanced ultrasound (US) (on days 1, 8 and 35), we demonstrated that intratumoural IL-12 EGT resulted in a significant decrease of the relative blood volume and blood flow speed in the tumour compared with baseline. Metastases were present in two dogs. In one of these dogs, IL-12 EGT of the primary tumour caused a transient partial regression of the metastases, but not of the primary tumour. The second dog with metastases did not survive long enough to complete the entire treatment cycle. Despite encouraging immunostimulatory and anti-angiogenic effects after intratumoural IL-12 EGT, no clinically relevant outcomes were observed in this study, as persistent tumour regression could not be obtained. On the other hand, the laboratory and US results hold great promise for combinatorial strategies of intratumoural IL-12 EGT with conventional antitumour (immuno)therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Cicchelero
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - S Denies
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - H Haers
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medical Imaging of Domestic Animals, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - K Vanderperren
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medical Imaging of Domestic Animals, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - E Stock
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medical Imaging of Domestic Animals, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - L Van Brantegem
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - H de Rooster
- Small Animal Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medicine and Clinical Biology of Small Animals, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - N N Sanders
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
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8
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Akerstrom T, Vedel K, Needham J, Hojman P, Kontou E, Hellsten Y, Wojtaszewski JF. Optimizing hyaluronidase dose and plasmid DNA delivery greatly improves gene electrotransfer efficiency in rat skeletal muscle. Biochem Biophys Rep 2015; 4:342-350. [PMID: 29124223 PMCID: PMC5669402 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2015.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2015] [Revised: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Transfection of rat skeletal muscle in vivo is a widely used research model. However, gene electrotransfer protocols have been developed for mice and yield variable results in rats. We investigated whether changes in hyaluronidase pre-treatment and plasmid DNA delivery can improve transfection efficiency in rat skeletal muscle. We found that pre-treating the muscle with a hyaluronidase dose suitable for rats (0.56 U/g b.w.) prior to plasmid DNA injection increased transfection efficiency by >200% whereas timing of the pre-treatment did not affect efficiency. Uniformly distributing plasmid DNA delivery across the muscle by increasing the number of plasmid DNA injections further enhanced transfection efficiency whereas increasing plasmid dose from 0.2 to 1.6 µg/g b.w. or vehicle volume had no effect. The optimized protocol resulted in ~80% (CI95%: 79–84%) transfected muscle fibers with a homogenous distribution. We also show that transfection was stable over five weeks of regular exercise or inactivity. Our findings show that species-specific plasmid DNA delivery and hyaluronidase pre-treatment greatly improves transfection efficiency in rat skeletal muscle. Parameters for effective in vivo skeletal muscle transfection are species specific. Pre-treatment with a rat-specific hyaluronidase dose greatly improves transfection efficiency. Delivering plasmid DNA more uniformly enhances transfection efficiency in rat skeletal muscle. Transfection efficiency is not improved by increasing plasmid DNA dose. Exercise training does not affect transfection stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorbjorn Akerstrom
- The August Krogh Centre, Section of Integrative Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Correspondence to: The August Krogh Centre, Section of Integrative Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 13, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. Fax: +4535320870.The August Krogh Centre, Section of Integrative Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of CopenhagenUniversitetsparken 13CopenhagenDK-2100Denmark
| | - Kenneth Vedel
- The August Krogh Centre, Section of Integrative Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Josefine Needham
- The August Krogh Centre, Section of Integrative Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pernille Hojman
- Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism, Centre for Physical Activity Research, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Eftychia Kontou
- The August Krogh Centre, Section of Integrative Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ylva Hellsten
- The August Krogh Centre, Section of Integrative Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jørgen F.P. Wojtaszewski
- The August Krogh Centre, Section of Molecular Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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9
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Cutrera J, King G, Jones P, Kicenuik K, Gumpel E, Xia X, Li S. Safety and efficacy of tumor-targeted interleukin 12 gene therapy in treated and non-treated, metastatic lesions. Curr Gene Ther 2015; 15:44-54. [PMID: 25429465 DOI: 10.2174/1566523214666141127093654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2014] [Revised: 09/11/2014] [Accepted: 11/05/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The ability to control the immune system to actively attack tumor tissues will be a marvelous weapon to combat the persistent attack of cancer. Unfortunately, safe and effective methods to gain this control are not yet available as cancer therapies. To overcome the impediments to this control, tumor-targeted (tt) Interleukin 12 (IL-12) plasmid DNA can be safely delivered to accessible tumors, and these treatments can induce antitumor immune responses in both the treated and untreated tumors. Here, electroporationmediated ttIL-12 pDNA treatments are shown to be safe and well tolerated in a dose escalation study in canines bearing naturally-occurring neoplasms. The final patient in the dose-escalation study received up to 3,800 μg pDNA distributed among five separate squamous cell carcinoma tumors in doses equivalent to those administered in a Phase I trial with wildtype IL-12 pDNA. Not a single severe adverse event occurred in any patient at any of the five dose levels, and only minor, transient changes were noted in any tested parameter. Clinical response analysis and immune marker mRNA detection of treated and non-treated lesions suggest that ttIL-12 pDNA treatments in only a few tumors can elicit antitumor immune responses in the treated lesions as well as distant metastatic lesions. These observations and results demonstrate that ttIL-12 pDNA can be safely administered at clinical levels, and these treatments can affect both treated and nontreated, metastatic lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Shulin Li
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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10
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van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk S, Hannaman D. Electroporation for DNA immunization: clinical application. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 9:503-17. [DOI: 10.1586/erv.10.42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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11
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Pavlin D, Cemazar M, Sersa G, Tozon N. IL-12 based gene therapy in veterinary medicine. J Transl Med 2012; 10:234. [PMID: 23171444 PMCID: PMC3543347 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-10-234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2012] [Accepted: 10/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of large animals as an experimental model for novel treatment techniques has many advantages over the use of laboratory animals, so veterinary medicine is becoming an increasingly important translational bridge between preclinical studies and human medicine. The results of preclinical studies show that gene therapy with therapeutic gene encoding interleukin-12 (IL-12) displays pronounced antitumor effects in various tumor models. A number of different studies employing this therapeutic plasmid, delivered by either viral or non-viral methods, have also been undertaken in veterinary oncology. In cats, adenoviral delivery into soft tissue sarcomas has been employed. In horses, naked plasmid DNA has been delivered by direct intratumoral injection into nodules of metastatic melanoma. In dogs, various types of tumors have been treated with either local or systemic IL-12 electrogene therapy. The results of these studies show that IL-12 based gene therapy elicits a good antitumor effect on spontaneously occurring tumors in large animals, while being safe and well tolerated by the animals. Hopefully, such results will lead to further investigation of this therapy in veterinary medicine and successful translation into human clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darja Pavlin
- University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty, Small Animal Clinic, Cesta v Mestni log 47, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
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Brown PA, Khan AS, Draghia-Akli R, Pope MA, Bodles-Brakhop AM, Kern DR. Effects of administration of two growth hormone–releasing hormone plasmids to gilts on sow and litter performance for the subsequent three gestations. Am J Vet Res 2012; 73:1428-34. [DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.73.9.1428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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BMP-2 gene transfer under various conditions with in vivo electroporation and bone induction. JOURNAL OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY MEDICINE AND PATHOLOGY 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajoms.2011.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Roche JA, Ford-Speelman DL, Ru LW, Densmore AL, Roche R, Reed PW, Bloch RJ. Physiological and histological changes in skeletal muscle following in vivo gene transfer by electroporation. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2011; 301:C1239-50. [PMID: 21832248 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00431.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Electroporation (EP) is used to transfect skeletal muscle fibers in vivo, but its effects on the structure and function of skeletal muscle tissue have not yet been documented in detail. We studied the changes in contractile function and histology after EP and the influence of the individual steps involved to determine the mechanism of recovery, the extent of myofiber damage, and the efficiency of expression of a green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle of adult male C57Bl/6J mice. Immediately after EP, contractile torque decreased by ∼80% from pre-EP levels. Within 3 h, torque recovered to ∼50% but stayed low until day 3. Functional recovery progressed slowly and was complete at day 28. In muscles that were depleted of satellite cells by X-irradiation, torque remained low after day 3, suggesting that myogenesis is necessary for complete recovery. In unirradiated muscle, myogenic activity after EP was confirmed by an increase in fibers with central nuclei or developmental myosin. Damage after EP was confirmed by the presence of necrotic myofibers infiltrated by CD68+ macrophages, which persisted in electroporated muscle for 42 days. Expression of GFP was detected at day 3 after EP and peaked on day 7, with ∼25% of fibers transfected. The number of fibers expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP), the distribution of GFP+ fibers, and the intensity of fluorescence in GFP+ fibers were highly variable. After intramuscular injection alone, or application of the electroporating current without injection, torque decreased by ∼20% and ∼70%, respectively, but secondary damage at D3 and later was minimal. We conclude that EP of murine TA muscles produces variable and modest levels of transgene expression, causes myofiber damage due to the interaction of intramuscular injection with the permeabilizing current, and that full recovery requires myogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A Roche
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Electrogene therapy with interleukin-12 in canine mast cell tumors. Radiol Oncol 2010; 45:31-9. [PMID: 22933932 PMCID: PMC3423723 DOI: 10.2478/v10019-010-0041-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2010] [Accepted: 08/29/2010] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mast cell tumors (MCT) are the most common malignant cutaneous tumors in dogs with extremely variable biological behaviour. Different treatment approaches can be used in canine cutaneous MCT, with surgical excision being the treatment of choice. In this study, electrogene therapy (EGT) as a new therapeutic approach to canine MCTs, was established. MATERIALS AND METHODS.: Eight dogs with a total of eleven cutaneous MCTs were treated with intratumoral EGT using DNA plasmid encoding human interleukin-12 (IL-12). The local response to the therapy was evaluated by repeated measurements of tumor size and histological examination of treated tumors. A possible systemic response was assessed by determination of IL-12 and interferon- γ (IFN-γ) in patients' sera. The occurence of side effects was monitored with weekly clinical examinations of treated animals and by performing basic bloodwork, consisting of the complete bloodcount and determination of selected biochemistry parameters. RESULTS Intratumoral EGT with IL-12 elicits significant reduction of treated tumors' size, ranging from 13% to 83% (median 50%) of the initial tumor volume. Additionally, a change in the histological structure of treated nodules was seen. There was a reduction in number of malignant mast cells and inflammatory cell infiltration of treated tumors. Systemic release of IL-12 in four patients was detected, without any noticeable local or systemic side effects. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that intratumoral EGT with plasmid encoding IL-12 may be useful in the treatment of canine MCTs, exerting a local antitumor effect.
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Chuang TF, Lee SC, Liao KW, Hsiao YW, Lo CH, Chiang BL, Lin XZ, Tao MH, Chu RM. Electroporation-mediated IL-12 gene therapy in a transplantable canine cancer model. Int J Cancer 2009; 125:698-707. [PMID: 19431145 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.24418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is effective in treating many types of rodent tumors, but has been unsuccessful in most human clinical trials, suggesting that animal models of more clinical relevance are required for evaluating human cancer immunotherapy. Herein, we report on the effectiveness of gene therapy with plasmid encoding human IL-12 (pIL-12) through in vivo electroporation in the treatment of beagles with a canine tumor, the canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT). The optimal electroporation conditions for gene transfer into CTVTs were tested by luciferase activity and determined to be a voltage of 200 V and duration of 50 msec, with the number of shocks set at 10 pulses, and the use of an electrode with 2 needles. Under these conditions, intratumoral administration of as little as 0.1 mg pIL-12 followed by electroporation significantly inhibited the growth of well-established tumors and eventually led to complete tumor regression. Furthermore, local pIL-12 treatment also induced a strong systemic effect that prevented new tumor growth and cured established tumors at distant locations. Intratumoral administration of pIL-12 greatly elevated the IL-12 level in the tumor masses, but produced only a trace amount in the serum. A high level of IFN-gamma mRNA was also detected in the treated tumor masses. pIL-12 gene therapy attracted significantly more lymphocytes infiltrating the tumors, including CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, and the surface expression of MHC I and MHC II molecules on CTVT cells was greatly increased after pIL-12 therapy. This treatment also induced apoptosis of the tumor cells as detected by Annexin V. More importantly, delivery of pIL-12 with intratumoral electroporation did not result in any detectable toxicity in the dogs. We conclude that intratumoral electroporation of the pIL-12 gene could cause profound immunologic host responses and efficiently treat CTVT in beagle dogs. The results also indicate that CTVT is an excellent large animal cancer model for testing immunogene therapies mediated by electroporation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tien-Fu Chuang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, The Republic of China
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Cemazar M, Golzio M, Sersa G, Hojman P, Kranjc S, Mesojednik S, Rols MP, Teissie J. Control by pulse parameters of DNA electrotransfer into solid tumors in mice. Gene Ther 2009; 16:635-44. [DOI: 10.1038/gt.2009.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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Growth Hormone–releasing Hormone Plasmid Treatment by Electroporation Decreases Offspring Mortality Over Three Pregnancies. Mol Ther 2008; 16:1891-7. [DOI: 10.1038/mt.2008.178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
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