Novel paradigm for immunotherapy of ovarian cancer by engaging prophylactic immunity against hepatitis B virus

Natural killer cells inhibit metastasis of ovarian carcinoma cells and show therapeutic effects in a murine model of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate and is the most common of all gynecologic malignancies. Novel treatments for ovarian cancer are urgently required to improve outcomes and the overall survival of patients. The present study investigated whether immunotherapy with natural killer (NK) cells affected the survival of mice with ovarian cancer. Results analysis identified adjunctive NK cells as a potential therapeutic method in ovarian cancer. Patient-derived ovarian cells were isolated, cultured and subsequently injected subcutaneously into immune deficient BALB/c-nude mice. Human NK cells were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and cultured for expansion in vitro. The present results demonstrated that ovarian cells in BALB/c-nude mice did not induce spontaneous ovarian cancer cell metastasis in the NK-treated group. In addition, NK cells activated immune cells in the immune system, which resulted in inhibition of ovarian tumor growth in vitro and in a murine xenograft model of ovarian cancer. The data also indicated that cytotoxic activity of NK cells prevented migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells, which contributed to prevention of systemic metastasis and suggested that NK cells could be effective cells for therapy against ovarian cancer. Furthermore, NK cells induced apoptosis and increased the number of cluster of differentiation (CD)4⁺, CD8⁺ as well as cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses by intravenous injection in a murine xenograft model of ovarian cancer. These results suggested that NK cells inhibited the systemic metastasis for ovarian cancer cells. In conclusion, the present study suggested that NK cell immunotherapy inhibited systemic metastasis of ovarian cancer cells and improved the survival rate of mice. Sufficient supplementation of NK cells may serve as a promising immunotherapeutic strategy for ovarian cancer.

HIV Apheresis Tags (HIVAT) Aided Elimination of Viremia

INTRODUCTION

HIV viremia is the essential element for progression of an initial HIV infection into AIDS and death. The currently approved management relies primarily on chemotherapy repressing the HIV replication in the infected CD4+ cells, although with severe systemic adverse effects. The problem is that it does not physically eliminate viruses, which then not only keep infecting healthy cells of these patients, but also promote infections of other people.

SPECIFIC AIM

An overall objective of our work is biomolecular engineering of virus apheresis tags (VAT) that eliminate viremias without adverse effects. The specific aim of this project was biomolecular engineering of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Apheresis Tags (HIVAT): CD4-Au-Fe3O4, CD4-SiO2-Fe3O4, anti-gp120-Au-Fe3O4, and anti-gp120-SiO2-Fe3O4.

HEALTHY DONORS AND PATIENTS

Per the Institutional Review Board's approval and in compliance with Declaration of Helsinki, healthy donors and patients were presented with Patient Bill of Rights and provided Patient Informed Consent, while all the procedures were pursued by the licensed physicians.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CD4, gp120, gp41, gp160, anti-gp120, p24 were transgenomically expressed. Superparamagnetic core-shell particles (SPM-CSP) were synthesized. SPM-CSP were used as the nucleation centers for assembling the expressed molecules upon them to create virus apheresis tags (VAT). VAT were injected into the blood or lymph acquired from the HIV+ and HBV+ patients followed by apheresis at 0.47 - 9.4 T. VAT efficacy in eliminating viremia was determined through immunoblots, NMR and q-RT-PCR.

RESULTS

Treatment of blood or lymph of the HIV+ patients' with VAT followed by virus apheresis resulted in rapid elimination of the HIV viremia. Efficacy of apheresis was contingent upon the gravity of viremia versus doses and regimens of VAT. Importantly, administration of VAT also effectively improved levels of non-infected CD4+ lymphocytes.

DISCUSSION / CONCLUSIONS

Herein, we present the proof of concept for a new, effective treatment with virus apheresis tags (VAT), specifically Human Immunodeficiency Virus Apheresis Tags (HIVAT), of the HIV+ patients' blood and lymph, which is eliminating the HIV viremia.It can be easily adapted as treatments of viremias perpetrated by other deadly viruses, which we vigorously pursue.

Antiviral effect of hepatitis B virus S gene-specific anti-gene locked nucleic acid in hepatitis B virus transgenic mice

AIM

To investigate the antiviral effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) S gene-specific anti-gene locked nucleic acid (LNA) in transgenic mice.

METHODS

Thirty HBV transgenic mice were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 6 each): blank control group, negative control group (unrelated sequence), lamivudine group, antisense-LNA treatment group, and anti-gene LNA treatment group. LNA was injected into transgenic mice via the tail vein, and lamivudine was given by gavage. Serum HBV DNA was tested by real-time PCR; serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was determined by ELISA; the mRNA level of HBV S gene was detected by RT-PCR; and the positive rate of HBsAg in liver cells was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

On 3, 5, and 7 d after anti-gene LNA treatment, HBV DNA was reduced by 37.18%, 50.27%, and 61.46%, respectively, and HBsAg was reduced by 30.17%, 44%, and 57.76%, respectively; there was a significant difference in HBV DNA and HBsAg compared with those before administration (P < 0.05) or compared with control groups (blank control, negative control, lamivudine, and antisense-LNA) (P < 0.05). The mRNA level of HBV S gene (0.33) and the HBsAg positive rate of liver cells (31%) were significantly reduced compared with control groups (P < 0.05). The function of liver and kidney tests and tissue HE staining showed no abnormal changes.

CONCLUSION

Anti-gene LNA targeting the S gene has a strong inhibitory effect on HBV replication and expression in HBV transgenic mice, and this provides experimental basis for gene therapy of HBV.

Immunotherapy as an Option for Cancer Treatment

The progress in melanoma immunotherapy highlights the importance of immunotherapy for cancer treatment. Although the concept of immunotherapy emerged in the beginning of the twentieth century, the end of the century signaled the start of modern immunotherapy, which has recently allowed a staggering progress in the field of cancer immunotherapy. Currently, there is a wide variety of immunotherapeutic approaches and critical improvements are continually being made. Among different immunotherapeutic strategies, therapies based on the blockade of immune checkpoint molecules have shown unparalleled efficacy in late-stage cancer patients. Pre-clinical research using ex vivo and in vivo approaches demonstrates the promise of numerous novel strategies for the immunotherapy of cancer.