Non-Structural protein 1 (NS1) gene of Canine Parvovirus-2 regresses chemically induced skin tumors in Wistar rats

Transcriptome profiling of Canine Parvovirus 2 Nonstructural gene 1(CPV2.NS1) transfected 4T1 mice mammary tumor cells to elucidate its oncolytic effects

Oncolytic viral gene therapy is a directed approach to target cancer cells without affecting healthy cells of the body. Canine parvovirus (CPV2) is an oncolytic virus that precisely targets and destroys neoplastic cells by causing DNA damage, mitochondrial damage, and apoptosis. Non-structural gene 1 (NS1) of CPV, concerned with viral DNA replication is a key mediator of cytotoxicity of CPV and can specifically cause tumor cell lysis. In the present study, by using the transcriptomics approach, we tried to identify molecular pathways and key genes involved in CPV2.NS1 mediated 4T1 mice mammary tumor cell death. We identified necroptosis and mitochondrial damage-mediated apoptosis as major cell death pathways leading to CPV2.NS1 transfected 4T1 cancer cell death. Various DEGs identified in our study play an important role in pathways like the PI3K/AKT pathway, diverse metabolic pathways, MAPK signaling pathway, and FGF signaling pathway, whichare mostly dysregulated in cancerous conditions. Histone variant H2A.X genes, Capn2, and Mapk10/JNK are predicted as key genes that play a role in causing endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial damage, thereby leading to necroptosis and apoptosis. This study is a preliminary work done to identify key genes and molecular pathways involved in CPV2.NS1 mediated 4T1 cancer cells death which need to be further validated to establish this viral gene as a potent oncolytic agent.

Developing Oncolytic Viruses for the Treatment of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer represents one of the most important malignancies among women worldwide. Current therapeutic approaches for cervical cancer are reported not only to be inadequate for metastatic cervical cancer, but are also considered as cytotoxic for several patients leading to serious side effects, which can have negative implications on the quality of life of women. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of innovative and effective treatment options. Oncolytic viruses can eventually become effective biological agents, since they preferentially infect and kill cancer cells, while leaving the normal tissue unaffected. Moreover, they are also able to leverage the host immune system response to limit tumor growth. This review aims to systematically describe and discuss the different types of oncolytic viruses generated for targeting cervical cancer cells, as well as the outcome of the combination of virotherapy with conventional therapies. Although many preclinical studies have evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of oncolytic viruses in cervical cancer, the number of clinical trials so far is limited, while their oncolytic properties are currently being tested in clinical trials for the treatment of other malignancies.

Canine Parvovirus and Its Non-Structural Gene 1 as Oncolytic Agents: Mechanism of Action and Induction of Anti-Tumor Immune Response

The exploration into the strategies for the prevention and treatment of cancer is far from complete. Apart from humans, cancer has gained considerable importance in animals because of increased awareness towards animal health and welfare. Current cancer treatment regimens are less specific towards tumor cells and end up harming normal healthy cells. Thus, a highly specific therapeutic strategy with minimal side effects is the need of the hour. Oncolytic viral gene therapy is one such specific approach to target cancer cells without affecting the normal cells of the body. Canine parvovirus (CPV) is an oncolytic virus that specifically targets and kills cancer cells by causing DNA damage, caspase activation, and mitochondrial damage. Non-structural gene 1 (NS1) of CPV, involved in viral DNA replication is a key mediator of cytotoxicity of CPV and can selectively cause tumor cell lysis. In this review, we discuss the oncolytic properties of Canine Parvovirus (CPV or CPV2), the structure of the NS1 protein, the mechanism of oncolytic action as well as role in inducing an antitumor immune response in different tumor models.

Development of a monoclonal antibody against canine parvovirus NS1 protein and investigation of NS1 dynamics and localization in CPV-infected cells

Canine parvovirus (CPV) non-structural protein-1 (NS1) plays crucial roles in CPV replication and transcription, as well as pathogenic effects to the host. However, the mechanism was not fully understood. Lack of NS1 antibody is one of the restricting factors for NS1 function investigation. To prepare NS1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), the NS1 epitope (AA461 ~ AA650) gene was amplified by PCR, and inserted into pGEX-4T-1vector to construct the prokaryotic expression vector of GST-tag-fused NS1 epitope gene. The NS1 fusion protein was expressed in E. coli, and purified with GSH-magnetic beads, and then used to immunize BALB/c mice. The mouse splenic lymphocytes were isolated and fused with myeloma cells (SP 2/0) to generate hybridoma cells. After several rounds of screening by ELISA, a hybridoma cell clone (1B8) stably expressing NS1 mAb was developed. A large amount of NS1 mAb was prepared from mouse ascites fluid. The isotype of NS1 mAb was identified as IgG1, which can specifically bind NS1 protein in either CPV-infected cells or NS1 vector-transfected cells, indicating the NS1 mAb is effective in detecting NS1 protein. Meanwhile, we used the NS1 mAb to investigate NS1 dynamic changes by qRT-PCR and location by confocal imaging in CPV-infected host cells and showed that NS1 began to appear in the cells at 12 h after CPV infection and reached the highest level at 42 h, NS1 protein was mainly located in nucleus of the cells. This study provided a necessary condition for further investigation on molecular mechanism of NS1 function and pathogenicity.

Canine Parvovirus ns1 gene and Chicken Anemia vp3 gene induce partial oncolysis of Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor

The oncolytic effect of Canine Parvovirus ns1 gene and Chicken Anemia vp3 gene in naturally occurring cases of Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor (CTVT) is being reported. Dogs suffering from CTVT (N = 18) were systematically randomized into three groups viz. A, B, and C (n = 6). Animals of the groups A, B, and C received 100 µg of the ns1 gene, vp3 gene, and ns1  +  vp3 gene combination, respectively, for three weeks intratumorally at weekly intervals; results were normalized against base values before commencement of therapy and after complete remission that were taken as negative and positive controls, respectively. Initiation of oncolytic gene therapy arrested the further progression of the tumor but most of the animals in the study underwent incomplete remission, indicating incomplete activity of ns1 and vp3 genes. The oncolytic effect of the treatments was in the order ns1 > vp3 > ns1 + vp3. Oncolysis was accompanied by decreased mitotic index and AgNOR count, and increased TUNEL positive cells and CD4⁺ lymphocyte counts. Our findings show that Canine Parvovirus ns1 may eventually find an important role as an oncolytic agent.

Profiling of Host Cell Response to Successive Canine Parvovirus Infection Based on Kinetic Proteomic Change Identification

Canine parvovirus (CPV) reproduces by co-opting the resources of host cells, inevitably causing cytotoxic effects to the host cells. Feline kidney F81 cells are sensitive to CPV infection and show disparate growing statuses at different time points post-infection. This study analysed the response of F81 cells to CPV infection at successive infection time points by iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomics. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) during 60 h of infection and at selected time points post-infection were identified by an analysis of variance test and a two-tailed unpaired t test, respectively. DEPs with similar quantitative changes were clustered by hierarchical clustering and analysed by gene ontology enrichment, revealing that 12 h and 60 h post-infection were the optimal times to analyse the autonomous parvovirus replication and apoptosis processes, respectively. Using the Metacore(TM) database, 29 DEPs were enriched in a network involved in p53 regulation. Besides, a significantly enriched pathway suggests that the CPV-induced cytopathic effect was probably due to the deficiency of functional CFTR caused by CPV infection. This study uncovered the systemic changes in key cellular factors involved in CPV infection and help to understand the molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of CPV and the cytopathic effects induced by CPV infection.

Poly (I:C) enhances the anti-tumor activity of canine parvovirus NS1 protein by inducing a potent anti-tumor immune response

The canine parvovirus NS1 (CPV2.NS1) protein selectively induces apoptosis in the malignant cells. However, for an effective in vivo tumor treatment strategy, an oncolytic agent also needs to induce a potent anti-tumor immune response. In the present study, we used poly (I:C), a TLR3 ligand, as an adjuvant along with CPV2.NS1 to find out if the combination can enhance the oncolytic activity by inducing a potent anti-tumor immune response. The 4T1 mammary carcinoma cells were used to induce mammary tumor in Balb/c mice. The results suggested that poly (I:C), when given along with CPV2.NS1, not only significantly reduced the tumor growth but also augmented the immune response against tumor antigen(s) as indicated by the increase in blood CD4+ and CD8+ counts and infiltration of immune cells in the tumor tissue. Further, blood serum analysis of the cytokines revealed that Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2) were significantly upregulated in the treatment group indicating activation of cell-mediated immune response. The present study reports the efficacy of CPV2.NS1 along with poly (I:C) not only in inhibiting the mammary tumor growth but also in generating an active anti-tumor immune response without any visible toxicity. The results of our study may help in developing CPV2.NS1 and poly (I: C) combination as a cancer therapeutic regime to treat various malignancies.

Combined administration of the apoptin gene and poly (I:C) induces potent anti-tumor immune response and inhibits growth of mouse mammary tumors

BACKGROUND

Many viral proteins exhibit selective cytotoxicity for tumor cells without affecting the normal diploid cells. The apoptin protein of chicken infectious anemia virus is one of such proteins, which has been shown to kill tumor cells specifically. However, an effective cancer treatment strategy also requires assistance from the immune system. Recently, poly (I:C) has been shown to be an effective cancer vaccine adjuvant.

AIM

In this study, we assessed the anti-tumor potential of apoptin gene transfer alone and in combination with poly (I:C) in a 4T1 mouse mammary tumor model.

METHODS

4T1 cells were used to induce mammary tumor in Balb/c mice. Mice bearing tumors were divided into 6 groups, and each group received six intratumoral injections during a period of one month. After the last immunization, the animals were sacrificed, and peripheral blood, spleen, lungs, liver, heart, kidney and tumor tissues were collected for immunological, molecular and pathological analysis.

RESULTS

We report that intratumoral administration of apoptin plasmid along with poly (I:C) not only significantly inhibited the growth of mammary tumor, but also induced a potent anti-tumor immune response as indicated by the increase in blood CD4+, CD8+ cells and infiltration of immune cells in the tumor tissue. Further, blood serum analysis of the cytokines revealed increased secretion of Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our study demonstrate that the inclusion of poly (I:C) significantly enhanced the anti-tumor activity of apoptin mainly by inducing a potent anti-tumor immune response. Therefore, we report the use of apoptin and poly (I:C) combination as a novel and powerful strategy for cancer immunotherapy.

Viral genes as oncolytic agents for cancer therapy

Many viruses have the ability to modulate the apoptosis, and to accomplish it; viruses encode proteins which specifically interact with the cellular signaling pathways. While some viruses encode proteins, which inhibit the apoptosis or death of the infected cells, there are viruses whose encoded proteins can kill the infected cells by multiple mechanisms, including apoptosis. A particular class of these viruses has specific gene(s) in their genomes which, upon ectopic expression, can kill the tumor cells selectively without affecting the normal cells. These genes and their encoded products have demonstrated great potential to be developed as novel anticancer therapeutic agents which can specifically target and kill the cancer cells leaving the normal cells unharmed. In this review, we will discuss about the viral genes having specific cancer cell killing properties, what is known about their functioning, signaling pathways and their therapeutic applications as anticancer agents.