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Lou Z, Post A, Rodgers CE, Chamankhah M, Hong J, Ahuja CS, Khazaei M, Fehlings MG. Neural Progenitor Cells Expressing Herpes Simplex Virus-Thymidine Kinase for Ablation Have Differential Chemosensitivity to Brivudine and Ganciclovir. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:638021. [PMID: 34938162 PMCID: PMC8685296 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.638021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural progenitor cell (NPC) transplants are a promising therapy for treating spinal cord injury (SCI), however, their long-term role after engraftment and the relative contribution to ongoing functional recovery remains a key knowledge gap. Selective human cell ablation techniques, currently being developed to improve the safety of progenitor cell transplant therapies in patients, may also be used as tools to probe the regenerative effects attributable to individual grafted cell populations. The Herpes Simplex Virus Thymidine Kinase (HSV-TK) and ganciclovir (GCV) system has been extensively studied in the context of SCI and broader CNS disease. However, the efficacy of brivudine (BVDU), another HSV-TK prodrug with potentially reduced bystander cytotoxic effects and in vivo toxicity, has yet to be investigated for NPC ablation. In this study, we demonstrate successful generation and in vitro ablation of HSV-TK-expressing human iPSC-derived NPCs with a >80% reduction in survival over controls. We validated an HSV-TK and GCV/BVDU synergistic system with iPSC-NPCs using an efficient gene-transfer method and in vivo ablation in a translationally relevant model of SCI. Our findings demonstrate enhanced ablation efficiency and reduced bystander effects when targeting all rapidly dividing cells with combinatorial GCV and BVDU treatment. However, for use in loss of function studies, BVDU alone is optimal due to reduced nonselective cell ablation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijian Lou
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alexander Post
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Christopher E Rodgers
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mahmood Chamankhah
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James Hong
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Christopher S Ahuja
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mohamad Khazaei
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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2
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Luo EWC, Liao ML, Chien CL. Neural differentiation of glioblastoma cell lines via a herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir system driven by a glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253008. [PMID: 34370752 PMCID: PMC8351974 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is a malignant brain tumor with poor prognosis that rapidly acquires resistance to available clinical treatments. The herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (HSVtk/GCV) system produces the selective elimination of HSVtk-positive cells and is a candidate for preclinical testing against glioblastoma via its ability to regulate proliferation and differentiation. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to establish a plasmid encoding the HSVtk/GCV system driven by a glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter and verify its possibility of neural differentiation of glioblastoma cell line under the GCV challenge. Four stable clones-N2A-pCMV-HSVtk, N2A-pGFAP-HSVtk, U251-pCMV-HSVtk, and U251-pGFAP-HSVtk-were established from neuronal N2A and glioblastoma U251 cell lines. In vitro GCV sensitivity was assessed by MTT assay for monitoring time- and dosage-dependent cytotoxicity. The capability for neural differentiation in stable glioblastoma clones during GCV treatment was assessed by performing immunocytochemistry for nestin, GFAP, and βIII-tubulin. Under GFAP promoter control, the U251 stable clone exhibited GCV sensitivity, while the neuronal N2A clones were nonreactive. During GCV treatment, cells underwent apoptosis on day 3 and dying cells were identified after day 5. Nestin was increasingly expressed in surviving cells, indicating that the population of neural stem-like cells was enriched. Lower levels of GFAP expression were detected in surviving cells. Furthermore, βIII-tubulin-positive neuron-like cells were identified after GCV treatment. This study established pGFAP-HSVtk-P2A-EGFP plasmids that successfully ablated GFAP-positive glioblastoma cells, but left neuronal N2A cells intact. These data suggest that the neural differentiation of glioblastoma cells can be promoted by treatment with the HSVtk/GCV system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Wei-Chia Luo
- Graduate Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Meng-Lin Liao
- Graduate Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I‐Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (CLC); (MLL)
| | - Chung-Liang Chien
- Graduate Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (CLC); (MLL)
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3
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Yang J, Virostko J, Hormuth DA, Liu J, Brock A, Kowalski J, Yankeelov TE. An experimental-mathematical approach to predict tumor cell growth as a function of glucose availability in breast cancer cell lines. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0240765. [PMID: 34255770 PMCID: PMC8277046 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We present the development and validation of a mathematical model that predicts how glucose dynamics influence metabolism and therefore tumor cell growth. Glucose, the starting material for glycolysis, has a fundamental influence on tumor cell growth. We employed time-resolved microscopy to track the temporal change of the number of live and dead tumor cells under different initial glucose concentrations and seeding densities. We then constructed a family of mathematical models (where cell death was accounted for differently in each member of the family) to describe overall tumor cell growth in response to the initial glucose and confluence conditions. The Akaikie Information Criteria was then employed to identify the most parsimonious model. The selected model was then trained on 75% of the data to calibrate the system and identify trends in model parameters as a function of initial glucose concentration and confluence. The calibrated parameters were applied to the remaining 25% of the data to predict the temporal dynamics given the known initial glucose concentration and confluence, and tested against the corresponding experimental measurements. With the selected model, we achieved an accuracy (defined as the fraction of measured data that fell within the 95% confidence intervals of the predicted growth curves) of 77.2 ± 6.3% and 87.2 ± 5.1% for live BT-474 and MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianchen Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jack Virostko
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Oncology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
- Livestrong Cancer Institutes, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - David A. Hormuth
- Livestrong Cancer Institutes, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Junyan Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Amy Brock
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Oncology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
- Livestrong Cancer Institutes, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jeanne Kowalski
- Department of Oncology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
- Livestrong Cancer Institutes, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Thomas E. Yankeelov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Oncology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
- Livestrong Cancer Institutes, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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4
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Rajan V, Pandey BN. Cytoproliferative effect of low dose alpha radiation in human lung cancer cells is associated with connexin 43, caveolin-1, and survivin pathway. Int J Radiat Biol 2021; 97:356-366. [PMID: 33416428 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2021.1864044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE High LET including alpha radiation-based approaches have been proved as a promising mode for cancer therapy owing to their biophysical and radiobiological advantages compared to photon beams. Studies pertaining to effect of α-radiation on cancer cells are limited to cytotoxic high doses. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells were α-irradiated using 241Am α-irradiator and effects of low dose of alpha radiation on these cells was studied under in vitro and in vivo conditions. RESULTS Clonogenic and other assays showed increased cellular proliferation at lower doses (1.36 and 6.8 cGy) but killing at higher doses (13.6-54.4 cGy). Further studies at low dose of alpha (1.36 cGy) showed increased TGF-β1 in the conditioned medium (CM) at early time point (24 h) but CM replacement did not affect the clonogenic survival. In these cells, increased phosphorylation of connexin 43 was correlated with decrease in gap-junction communication observed by dye transfer co-culture experiment. A decrease in caveolin-1 but increase in survivin expression was observed in low dose α-irradiated cells. An increase in cyclinD1 and decrease in Bcl-2, the target proteins of survivin, was observed in these cells. Low dose α-irradiated cancer cells transplanted in SCID mice showed significantly higher tumor volume, which was accompanied with an increased fraction of mitotic and PCNA/Ki67 positive cells in these tumor tissues. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results suggest an increase in proliferation and tumor volume at in vitro and in vivo levels, respectively, when A549 cells were irradiated with low dose of α-radiation. These findings may be relevant for a better understanding of radiobiological processes during high LET-based cancer radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasumathy Rajan
- Radiation Biology and Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India
| | - Badri Narain Pandey
- Radiation Biology and Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India
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5
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Soubéran A, Tchoghandjian A. Practical Review on Preclinical Human 3D Glioblastoma Models: Advances and Challenges for Clinical Translation. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12092347. [PMID: 32825103 PMCID: PMC7563542 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12092347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Fifteen years after the establishment of the Stupp protocol as the standard of care to treat glioblastomas, no major clinical advances have been achieved and increasing patient’s overall survival remains a challenge. Nevertheless, crucial molecular and cellular findings revealed the intra-tumoral and inter-tumoral complexities of these incurable brain tumors, and the essential role played by cells of the microenvironment in the lack of treatment efficacy. Taking this knowledge into account, fulfilling gaps between preclinical models and clinical samples is necessary to improve the successful rate of clinical trials. Since the beginning of the characterization of brain tumors initiated by Bailey and Cushing in the 1920s, several glioblastoma models have been developed and improved. In this review, we focused on the most widely used 3D human glioblastoma models, including spheroids, tumorospheres, organotypic slices, explants, tumoroids and glioblastoma-derived from cerebral organoids. We discuss their history, development and especially their usefulness.
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Liang Z, Wang X, Hao Y, Qiu L, Lou Y, Zhang Y, Ma D, Feng J. The Multifaceted Role of Astrocyte Connexin 43 in Ischemic Stroke Through Forming Hemichannels and Gap Junctions. Front Neurol 2020; 11:703. [PMID: 32849190 PMCID: PMC7411525 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischemic stroke is a multi-factorial cerebrovascular disease with high worldwide morbidity and mortality. In the past few years, multiple studies have revealed the underlying mechanism of ischemia/reperfusion injury, including calcium overload, amino acid toxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Connexin 43 (Cx43), the predominant connexin protein in astrocytes, has been recently proven to display non-substitutable roles in the pathology of ischemic stroke development and progression through forming gap junctions and hemichannels. Under normal conditions, astrocytic Cx43 could be found in hemichannels or in the coupling with other hemichannels on astrocytes, neurons, or oligodendrocytes to form the neuro-glial syncytium, which is involved in metabolites exchange between communicated cells, thus maintaining the homeostasis of the CNS environment. In ischemic stroke, the phosphorylation of Cx43 might cause the degradation of gap junctions and the opening of hemichannels, contributing to the release of inflammatory mediators. However, the remaining gap junctions could facilitate the exchange of protective and harmful metabolites between healthy and injured cells, protecting the injured cells to some extent or damaging the healthy cells depending on the balance of the exchange of protective and harmful metabolites. In this study, we review the changes in astrocytic Cx43 expression and distribution as well as the influence of these changes on the function of astrocytes and other cells in the CNS, providing new insight into the pathology of ischemic stroke injury; we also discuss the potential of astrocytic Cx43 as a target for the treatment of ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Liang
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yulei Hao
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Lin Qiu
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yingyue Lou
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yaoting Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Di Ma
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiachun Feng
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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7
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Chu IR, Pan RL, Yang CS, Wu LC. A doxycycline-inducible C17.2 neural stem cell-based combination of differentiation and suicide gene therapy for an in vitro tumorigenic C6 glioma model. BIOTECHNOL BIOTEC EQ 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/13102818.2020.1804449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Inn-Ray Chu
- Department of Life Science and Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsin Chu, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Nanomedicine, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Rong-Long Pan
- Department of Life Science and Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsin Chu, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Shi Yang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Nanomedicine, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Li-Chen Wu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, National Chi Nan University, Nantou, Taiwan
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8
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Li H, Du H, Zhang G, Wu Y, Qiu P, Liu J, Guo J, Liu X, Sun L, Du B, Tan Y. Curcumin plays a synergistic role in combination with HSV-TK/GCV in inhibiting growth of murine B16 melanoma cells and melanoma xenografts. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7760. [PMID: 31579620 PMCID: PMC6756137 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a global concern and accounts for the major mortality of skin cancers. Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene with ganciclovir (HSV-TK/GCV) is a promising gene therapy for melanoma. Despite its low efficiency, it is well known for its bystander effect which is mainly mediated by gap junction. In this study, we found that curcumin reduced B16 melanoma cell viability in both time- and dose-dependent manner. Further study showed that curcumin improved the gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) function, and upregulated the proteins essential to gap junction, such as connexin 32 and connexin 43, indicating the potential role in enhancing the bystander effect of HSV-TK/GCV. By co-culturing the B16TK cells, which stably expressed TK gene, with wildtype B16 (B16WT) cells, we found that co-treatment of curcumin and GCV synergistically inhibited B16 cell proliferation, but the effect could be eliminated by the gap junction inhibitor AGA. Moreover, curcumin markedly increased apoptosis rate of B16WT cells, suggesting its effect in enhancing the bystander effect of HSV-TK/GCV. In the in-vivo study, we established the xenografted melanoma model in 14 days by injecting mixture of B16TK and B16WT cell in a ratio of 3:7. The result demonstrated that, co-administration of curcumin and GCV significantly inhibited the xenograft growth, as indicated by the smaller size and less weight. The combinational effect was further confirmed as a synergistic effect. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that curcumin could enhance the killing effect and the bystander effect of HSV-TK/GCV in treating melanoma, which might be mediated by improved gap junction. Our data suggested that combination of HSV-TK/GCV with curcumin could be a potential chemosensitization strategy for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,The Research Center of Basic Integrative Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haiyan Du
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,The Research Center of Basic Integrative Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guangxian Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingya Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pengxiang Qiu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Liu
- Department of Pathology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Guo
- Department of Pathology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xijuan Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lingling Sun
- Integrative Cancer Center, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Biaoyan Du
- The Research Center of Basic Integrative Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Pathology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuhui Tan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,The Research Center of Basic Integrative Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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9
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Tumoricidal effect of human olfactory ensheathing cell mediated suicide gene therapy in human glioblastoma cells. Mol Biol Rep 2018; 45:2263-2273. [PMID: 30242665 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-018-4388-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The potential of herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV-tk)-expressing olfactory ensheathing cells (OEC) treated with ganciclovir (GCV) to induce cell death in adjacent HSV-tk-negative cells (bystander effect) has been well demonstrated. Although it has been shown that bystander effect occurs through the delivery of phosphorylated GCV, the bystander effect mechanism and the role of gap junctions for human OECs mediated suicide gene therapy in primary astrocytes of human glioblastma remain obscure. In the present study, the efficacy of a new method for the transfer of phosphorylated GCV from OECs into primary astrocytes was evaluated. Surgical biopsy of glioblastoma was used to isolate primary astrocyte. Biopsy of olfactory mucosa was applied to isolate olfactory ensheathing cell. Expression of S100-beta antigen was confirmed immunocytochemically in astrocytes and OECs. OECs were transduced to lentiviral containing thymidine kinase gene (TK) and co-cultured with astrocytes. Fluorescent dye transfer and western blot analysis indicated the expression of connexin43 between olfactory ensheathing cells and astrocytes whereas, expression of the gap junction protein connexin43 was inhibited by the gap junction inhibitor 18α-glycyrrhethinic acid (AGA, 20 µg/ml). Furthermore, co-culture of astrocytes with OEC-TK in the presence of concentration of 30 µg/ml GCV led to a decrease in astrocytes survival rate. Also, apoptosis hallmarks, including DNA fragmentation in cell nuclear, expression increase of Bax to Bcl-2 ratio and increase of caspase3 activation were observed in this study. Our findings suggest that human olfactory ensheathing cells can deliver phosphorylated GCV into the glioblastoma derived astrocytes through gap junction communication for apoptosis induction.
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10
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Valdebenito S, Lou E, Baldoni J, Okafo G, Eugenin E. The Novel Roles of Connexin Channels and Tunneling Nanotubes in Cancer Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E1270. [PMID: 29695070 PMCID: PMC5983846 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Neoplastic growth and cellular differentiation are critical hallmarks of tumor development. It is well established that cell-to-cell communication between tumor cells and "normal" surrounding cells regulates tumor differentiation and proliferation, aggressiveness, and resistance to treatment. Nevertheless, the mechanisms that result in tumor growth and spread as well as the adaptation of healthy surrounding cells to the tumor environment are poorly understood. A major component of these communication systems is composed of connexin (Cx)-containing channels including gap junctions (GJs), tunneling nanotubes (TNTs), and hemichannels (HCs). There are hundreds of reports about the role of Cx-containing channels in the pathogenesis of cancer, and most of them demonstrate a downregulation of these proteins. Nonetheless, new data demonstrate that a localized communication via Cx-containing GJs, HCs, and TNTs plays a key role in tumor growth, differentiation, and resistance to therapies. Moreover, the type and downstream effects of signals communicated between the different populations of tumor cells are still unknown. However, new approaches such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) could provide new insights into these signals communicated between connected cells. We propose that the identification and characterization of these new communication systems and their associated signaling could provide new targets to prevent or reduce the devastating consequences of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvana Valdebenito
- Public Health Research Institute (PHRI), Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers the State University of NJ, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
| | - Emil Lou
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - John Baldoni
- GlaxoSmithKline, In-Silico Drug Discovery Unit, 1250 South Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
| | - George Okafo
- GlaxoSmithKline, In-Silico Drug Discovery Unit, Stevenage SG1 2NY, UK.
| | - Eliseo Eugenin
- Public Health Research Institute (PHRI), Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers the State University of NJ, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
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11
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Raza A, Ghoshal A, Chockalingam S, Ghosh SS. Connexin-43 enhances tumor suppressing activity of artesunate via gap junction-dependent as well as independent pathways in human breast cancer cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7580. [PMID: 28790385 PMCID: PMC5548912 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08058-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The gap junction (GJ) protein connexin-43 (Cx43) is considered as a tumour suppressor protein for its role in reversing the phenotype of the cancer cells. In this study, we exploited the antitumor property of Cx43 in conjunction with the artesunate (ART), a plant-based active anti-malarial compound. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by ART resulted in DNA damage, which in turn led to DNA damage response by activation of DNA damage repair proteins. GJ deficient MCF-7 cells transfected with Cx43 gene showed an increased sensitivity towards dose-dependent ART treatment and required a significantly lower dose of ART to attain its IC50, as compared to parental cells. This would ultimately result in reduced dose-dependent side effects of ART. The Co-culture experiments involving GJ intercellular communication (GJIC) deficient and GJIC enabled cells, established the transfer of ROS to the neighbouring cancer cells not exposed to ART. The ROS accumulated in the ART-treated cells induced the oxidative damage in neighbouring cells, leading to bystander cell death and inhibition of bystander cell proliferation. Thus, our study revealed that expression of Cx43 helped in reducing the dose-dependent cytotoxicity of ART as well as enhanced the bystander apoptosis of the neighbouring cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asif Raza
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati-39, Assam, India
| | - Archita Ghoshal
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati-39, Assam, India
| | - S Chockalingam
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati-39, Assam, India
| | - Siddhartha Sankar Ghosh
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati-39, Assam, India.
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati-39, Assam, India.
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12
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Significance and nature of bystander responses induced by various agents. MUTATION RESEARCH-REVIEWS IN MUTATION RESEARCH 2017; 773:104-121. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2017.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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13
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Raza A, Kohila V, Ghosh SS. Redesigned Escherichia coli cytosine deaminase: a new facet of suicide gene therapy. J Gene Med 2016; 17:132-9. [PMID: 25982931 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.2831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Escherichia coli cytosine deaminase (CD)/5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) approach emerges as a potential aid for suicide gene therapy in the field of modern cancer treatment. However, the poor binding affinity of CD towards 5-FC compared to the natural substrate cytosine limits its application for successful suicide gene therapy. Redesigning a bacterial mutant CD with site-directed mutagenesis showed higher potency compare to wild-type CD (wtCD) in vitro. In the present study, we conducted a comparative analysis of F186W mutant and wtCD in a human lung cancer cell line (A549). METHODS AND RESULTS A comparative investigation was initiated with cell viability analyses by MTT and trypan blue dye exclusion assays on A549 cells transfected with wtCD and F186W genes. The mode of cell death was confirmed by acridine Orange/ethidium Bromide dual staining. Furthermore, flow cytometric assessments were performed by cell cycle analysis and caspase 3 assay. The experimental results showed a drug dependent decrease in cell viability; interestingly, mutant (F186W) reached IC50 at a much lower concentration of prodrug (5-FC) than wtCD. Cell cycle analysis showed that G1 arrest of a larger population of 5-FC treated F186W transfected cells, in contrast to that of wtCD under similar conditions. The caspase 3 assay revealed progression and execution of apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS We report a novel bacterial CD mutant that provided a superior alternate to the wtCD suicide gene. The F186W mutant required a much lower dose of 5-FC to reach its IC50 , thus minimizing the systemic side effects of large doses of 5-FC as required for wtCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asif Raza
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - V Kohila
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Warangal, India
| | - Siddhartha Sankar Ghosh
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India.,Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India
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14
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Neural stem cell therapy for cancer. Methods 2015; 99:37-43. [PMID: 26314280 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2015.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Revised: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 08/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancers of the brain remain one of the greatest medical challenges. Traditional surgery and chemo-radiation therapy are unable to eradicate diffuse cancer cells and tumor recurrence is nearly inevitable. In contrast to traditional regenerative medicine applications, engineered neural stem cells (NSCs) are emerging as a promising new therapeutic strategy for cancer therapy. The tumor-homing properties allow NSCs to access both primary and invasive tumor foci, creating a novel delivery platform. NSCs engineered with a wide array of cytotoxic agents have been found to significantly reduce tumor volumes and markedly extend survival in preclinical models. With the recent launch of new clinical trials, the potential to successfully manage cancer in human patients with cytotoxic NSC therapy is moving closer to becoming a reality.
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15
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de Windt TS, Saris DBF, Slaper-Cortenbach ICM, van Rijen MHP, Gawlitta D, Creemers LB, de Weger RA, Dhert WJA, Vonk LA. Direct Cell-Cell Contact with Chondrocytes Is a Key Mechanism in Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Mediated Chondrogenesis. Tissue Eng Part A 2015; 21:2536-47. [PMID: 26166387 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2014.0673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Using a combination of articular chondrocytes (ACs) and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) has shown to be a viable option for a single-stage cell-based treatment of focal cartilage defects. However, there is still considerable debate whether MSCs differentiate or have a chondroinductive role through trophic factors. In addition, it remains unclear whether direct cell-cell contact is necessary for chondrogenesis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether direct or indirect cell-cell contact between ACs and MSCs is essential for increased cartilage production in different cellular environments and elucidate the mechanisms behind these cellular interactions. Human ACs and MSCs were cultured in a 10:90 ratio in alginate beads, fibrin scaffolds, and pellets. Cells were mixed in direct cocultures, separated by a Transwell filter (indirect cocultures), or cultured with conditioned medium. Short tandem repeat analysis revealed that the percentages of ACs increased during culture, while those of MSCs decreased, with the biggest change in fibrin glue scaffolds. For alginate, where the lack of cell-cell contact could be confirmed by histological analysis, no difference was found in matrix production between direct and indirect cocultures. For fibrin scaffolds and pellet cultures, an increased glycosaminoglycan production and type II collagen deposition were found in direct cocultures compared with indirect cocultures and conditioned medium. Positive connexin 43 staining and transfer of cytosolic calcein indicated communication through gap junctions in direct cocultures. Taken together, these results suggest that MSCs stimulate cartilage formation when placed in close proximity to chondrocytes and that direct cell-cell contact and communication through gap junctions are essential in this chondroinductive interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommy S de Windt
- 1 Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel B F Saris
- 1 Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands .,2 MIRA Institute for Biotechnology and Technical Medicine, University Twente , Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Ineke C M Slaper-Cortenbach
- 3 Cell Therapy Facility, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mattie H P van Rijen
- 1 Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Debby Gawlitta
- 1 Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Laura B Creemers
- 1 Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Roel A de Weger
- 4 Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter J A Dhert
- 5 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lucienne A Vonk
- 1 Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands
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16
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Suzhi Z, Liang T, Yuexia P, Lucy L, Xiaoting H, Yuan Z, Qin W. Gap Junctions Enhance the Antiproliferative Effect of MicroRNA-124-3p in Glioblastoma Cells. J Cell Physiol 2015; 230:2476-88. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.24982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2014] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Suzhi
- Department of Pharmacology; Zhongshan School of Medicine; Sun Yat-Sen University; Guangzhou P.R. China
| | - Tao Liang
- Department of Pharmacology; Zhongshan School of Medicine; Sun Yat-Sen University; Guangzhou P.R. China
| | - Peng Yuexia
- Department of Pharmacology; Zhongshan School of Medicine; Sun Yat-Sen University; Guangzhou P.R. China
| | - Liu Lucy
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology; University of Toronto; Ontario Canada
| | - Hong Xiaoting
- Department of Pharmacology; Zhongshan School of Medicine; Sun Yat-Sen University; Guangzhou P.R. China
| | - Zhang Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology; Zhongshan School of Medicine; Sun Yat-Sen University; Guangzhou P.R. China
| | - Wang Qin
- Department of Pharmacology; Zhongshan School of Medicine; Sun Yat-Sen University; Guangzhou P.R. China
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17
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Jhanwar-Uniyal M, Labagnara M, Friedman M, Kwasnicki A, Murali R. Glioblastoma: molecular pathways, stem cells and therapeutic targets. Cancers (Basel) 2015; 7:538-55. [PMID: 25815458 PMCID: PMC4491669 DOI: 10.3390/cancers7020538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Revised: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM), a WHO-defined Grade IV astrocytoma, is the most common and aggressive CNS malignancy. Despite current treatment modalities, the survival time remains dismal. The main cause of mortality in patients with this disease is reoccurrence of the malignancy, which is attributed to treatment-resistant cancer stem cells within and surrounding the primary tumor. Inclusion of novel therapies, such as immuno- and DNA-based therapy, may provide better means of treating GBM. Furthermore, manipulation of recently discovered non-coding microRNAs, some of which regulate tumor growth through the development and maintenance of GBM stem cells, could provide new prospective therapies. Studies conducted by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) also demonstrate the role of molecular pathways, specifically the activated PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, in GBM tumorigenesis. Inhibition of the aforementioned pathway may provide a more direct and targeted method to GBM treatment. The combination of these treatment modalities may provide an innovative therapeutic approach for the management of GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Labagnara
- Department of Neurosurgery, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
| | - Marissa Friedman
- Department of Neurosurgery, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
| | - Amanda Kwasnicki
- Department of Neurosurgery, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
| | - Raj Murali
- Department of Neurosurgery, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
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Castillo-Rodríguez RA, Arango-Rodríguez ML, Escobedo L, Hernandez-Baltazar D, Gompel A, Forgez P, Martínez-Fong D. Suicide HSVtk gene delivery by neurotensin-polyplex nanoparticles via the bloodstream and GCV Treatment specifically inhibit the growth of human MDA-MB-231 triple negative breast cancer tumors xenografted in athymic mice. PLoS One 2014; 9:e97151. [PMID: 24824754 PMCID: PMC4019532 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The human breast adenocarcinoma cell line MDA-MB-231 has the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) phenotype, which is an aggressive subtype with no specific treatment. MDA-MB-231 cells express neurotensin receptor type 1 (NTSR1), which makes these cells an attractive target of therapeutic genes that are delivered by the neurotensin (NTS)-polyplex nanocarrier via the bloodstream. We addressed the relevance of this strategy for TNBC treatment using NTS-polyplex nanoparticles harboring the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk) suicide gene and its complementary prodrug ganciclovir (GCV). The reporter gene encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) was used as a control. NTS-polyplex successfully transfected both genes in cultured MDA-MB-231 cells. The transfection was demonstrated pharmacologically to be dependent on activation of NTSR1. The expression of HSVtk gene decreased cell viability by 49% (P<0.0001) and induced apoptosis in cultured MDA-MB-231 cells after complementary GCV treatment. In the MDA-MB-231 xenograft model, NTS-polyplex nanoparticles carrying either the HSVtk gene or GFP gene were injected into the tumors or via the bloodstream. Both routes of administration allowed the NTS-polyplex nanoparticles to reach and transfect tumorous cells. HSVtk expression and GCV led to apoptosis, as shown by the presence of cleaved caspase-3 and Apostain immunoreactivity, and significantly inhibited the tumor growth (55-60%) (P<0.001). At the end of the experiment, the weight of tumors transfected with the HSVtk gene was 55% less than that of control tumors (P<0.05). The intravenous transfection did not induce apoptosis in peripheral organs. Our results offer a promising gene therapy for TNBC using the NTS-polyplex nanocarrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa A. Castillo-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), México, D.F., México
| | - Martha L. Arango-Rodríguez
- Instituto de Ciencias, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lourdes Escobedo
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), México, D.F., México
| | - Daniel Hernandez-Baltazar
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), México, D.F., México
| | - Anne Gompel
- Unité de Gynécologie, Université Paris Descartes, AP-HP, Port Royal Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Patricia Forgez
- Department of Cellular Homeostasis and Cancer, Université Paris Descartes, INSERM UMR-S 1007, Paris, France
| | - Daniel Martínez-Fong
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), México, D.F., México
- Programa de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV), México, D.F., México
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Hu C, Chen Z, Zhao W, Wei L, Zheng Y, He C, Zeng Y, Yin B. Vesicular Stomatitis Virus G Glycoprotein and ATRA Enhanced Bystander Killing of Chemoresistant Leukemic Cells by Herpes Simplex Virus Thymidine Kinase/Ganciclovir. Biomol Ther (Seoul) 2014; 22:114-21. [PMID: 24753816 PMCID: PMC3975477 DOI: 10.4062/biomolther.2013.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2013] [Revised: 02/28/2014] [Accepted: 03/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Refractoriness of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells to chemotherapeutics represents a major clinical barrier. Suicide gene therapy for cancer has been attractive but with limited clinical efficacy. In this study, we investigated the potential application of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (HSV-TK/GCV) based system to inhibit chemoresistant AML cells. We first generated Ara-C resistant K562 cells and doxorubicin-resistant THP-1 cells. We found that the HSV-TK/GCV anticancer system suppressed drug resistant leukemic cells in culture. Chemoresistant AML cell lines displayed similar sensitivity to HSV-TK/GCV. Moreover, HSV-TK/GCV killing of leukemic cells was augmented to a mild but significant extent by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) with concomitant upregulation of Connexin 43, a major component of gap junctions. Interestingly, HSV-TK/GCV killing was enhanced by expression of vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV-G), a fusogenic membrane protein, which also increased leukemic cell fusion. Co-culture resistant cells expressing HSV-TK and cells stably transduced with VSV-G showed that expression of VSV-G could promote the bystander killing effect of HSV-TK/GCV. Furthermore, combination of HSV-TK/GCV with VSV-G plus ATRA produced more pronounced antileukemia effect. These results suggest that the HSV-TK/GCV system in combination with fusogenic membrane proteins and/or ATRA could provide a strategy to mitigate the chemoresistance of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Hu
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu province, 215123, PR China
| | - Zheng Chen
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu province, 215123, PR China
| | - Wenjun Zhao
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu province, 215123, PR China
| | - Lirong Wei
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu province, 215123, PR China
| | - Yanwen Zheng
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu province, 215123, PR China
| | - Chao He
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu province, 215123, PR China
| | - Yan Zeng
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Bin Yin
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu province, 215123, PR China ; Thrombosis and Hemostasis Key Lab of the Ministry of Health, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, 215006, PR China
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Effect of VEGF and CX43 on the promotion of neurological recovery by hyperbaric oxygen treatment in spinal cord-injured rats. Spine J 2014; 14:119-27. [PMID: 24183749 DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2013.06.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2012] [Revised: 05/13/2013] [Accepted: 06/24/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious health issue that may result in high health care costs, with additional social and psychological burdens. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment has been found to be beneficial for neurological recovery; however, the underlying mechanisms are yet to be characterized. PURPOSE The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of HBO treatment in SCI by measuring the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Connexin43 (CX43) in the injured spinal cord tissue. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING An experiment animal study of rats undergoing SCI and HBO treatment. METHODS The spinal cord injury model was established in rats, which were randomly divided into the following four groups: (1) the sham-operated group (SH), (2) the sham-operated and hyperbaric oxygen treatment group (SH+HBO), (3) the spinal cord injury group (SCI), and (4) the spinal cord injury and hyperbaric oxygen treatment group (SCI+HBO). For groups of SH+HBO and SCI+HBO, the animals received 1 hour of HBO at 2.0 ATA in 100% O2 twice per day for 3 days and then daily for the following days consecutively after surgery. After operation, neurological assessments were performed, the spinal cord tissue samples were harvested for histopathological evaluation, Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. RESULTS The Basso-Bettie-Bresnahan scores were significantly improved in the SCI+HBO group compared with the SCI group on the postoperative 7th and 14th days. The histology scores were significantly decreased by HBO treatment compared with that in the SCI group on the postoperative 3rd, 7th, and 14th days. Western blot analysis and real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that the expression level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the SCI+HBO group was significantly increased compared with the SCI group. The protein expression level of CX43 and its mRNA level in the SCI+HBO group were significantly decreased on the postoperative 3rd and 7th days, whereas its expression was significantly increased by HBO treatment on the postoperative 14th day compared with the SCI group. CONCLUSIONS HBO treatment improved neurological recovery when applied after SCI. The expression level changes of VEGF and CX43 may contribute to the further understanding on the molecular mechanisms of HBO treatment on SCI.
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Westphal M, Ylä-Herttuala S, Martin J, Warnke P, Menei P, Eckland D, Kinley J, Kay R, Ram Z. Adenovirus-mediated gene therapy with sitimagene ceradenovec followed by intravenous ganciclovir for patients with operable high-grade glioma (ASPECT): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol 2013; 14:823-33. [PMID: 23850491 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(13)70274-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Besides the use of temozolomide and radiotherapy for patients with favourable methylation status, little progress has been made in the treatment of adult glioblastoma. Local control of the disease by complete removal increases time to progression and survival. We assessed the efficacy and safety of a locally applied adenovirus-mediated gene therapy with a prodrug converting enzyme (herpes-simplex-virus thymidine kinase; sitimagene ceradenovec) followed by intravenous ganciclovir in patients with newly diagnosed resectable glioblastoma. METHODS For this international, open-label, randomised, parallel group multicentre phase 3 clinical trial, we recruited patients from 38 sites in Europe. Patients were eligible if they were aged 18-70 years, had newly diagnosed supratentorial glioblastoma multiforme amenable to complete resection, and had a Karnofsky score of 70 or more at screening. We used a computer-generated randomisation sequence to allocate patients in a one-to-one ratio (with block sizes of four) to receive either surgical resection of the tumour and intraoperative perilesional injection of sitimagene ceradenovec (1 × 10(12) viral particles) followed by ganciclovir (postoperatively, 5 mg/kg intravenously twice a day) in addition to standard care or resection and standard care alone. Temozolomide, not being standard in all participating countries at the time of the study, was allowed at the discretion of the treating physician. The primary endpoint was a composite of time to death or re-intervention, adjusted for temozolamide use, assessed by intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis. This trial is registered with EudraCT, number 2004-000464-28. FINDINGS Between Nov 3, 2005, and April 16, 2007, 250 patients were recruited and randomly allocated: 124 to the experimental group and 126 to the standard care group, of whom 119 and 117 patients, respectively, were included in the ITT analyses. Median time to death or re-intervention was longer in the experimental group (308 days, 95% CI 283-373) than in the control group (268 days, 210-313; hazard ratio [HR] 1·53, 95% CI 1·13-2·07; p=0·006). In a subgroup of patients with non-methylated MGMT, the HR was 1·72 (95% CI 1·15-2·56; p=0·008). However, there was no difference between groups in terms of overall survival (median 497 days, 95% CI 369-574 for the experimental group vs 452 days, 95% CI 437-558 for the control group; HR 1·18, 95% CI 0·86-1·61, p=0·31). More patients in the experimental group had one or more treatment-related adverse events those in the control group (88 [71%] vs 51 [43%]). The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were hemiparesis (eight in the experimental group vs three in the control group) and aphasia (six vs two). INTERPRETATION Our findings suggest that use of sitimagene ceradenovec and ganciclovir after resection can increase time to death or re-intervention in patients with newly diagnosed supratentorial glioblastoma multiforme, although the intervention did not improve overall survival. Locally delivered gene therapy for glioblastoma should be further developed, especially for patients who are unlikely to respond to standard chemotherapy. FUNDING Ark Therapeutics Ltd.
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Suicide gene therapy in cancer: where do we stand now? Cancer Lett 2012; 324:160-70. [PMID: 22634584 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2012.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2011] [Revised: 04/11/2012] [Accepted: 05/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Suicide gene therapy is based on the introduction into tumor cells of a viral or a bacterial gene, which allows the conversion of a non-toxic compound into a lethal drug. Although suicide gene therapy has been successfully used in a large number of in vitro and in vivo studies, its application to cancer patients has not reached the desirable clinical significance. However, recent reports on pre-clinical cancer models demonstrate the huge potential of this strategy when used in combination with new therapeutic approaches. In this review, we summarize the different suicide gene systems and gene delivery vectors addressed to cancer, with particular emphasis on recently developed systems and associated bystander effects. In addition, we review the different strategies that have been used in combination with suicide gene therapy and provide some insights into the future directions of this approach, particularly towards cancer stem cell eradication.
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Ryu CH, Park KY, Kim SM, Jeong CH, Woo JS, Hou Y, Jeun SS. Valproic acid enhances anti-tumor effect of mesenchymal stem cell mediated HSV-TK gene therapy in intracranial glioma. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2012; 421:585-90. [PMID: 22525671 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.04.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2012] [Accepted: 04/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Suicide gene therapy of glioma based on herpes simplex virus type I thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) and prodrug ganciclovir (GCV) suffers from the lack of efficacy in clinical trials, which is mostly due to low transduction efficacy and absence of bystander effect in tumor cells. Recently, stem cells as cellular delivery vehicles of prodrug converting gene has emerged as a new treatment strategy for malignant glioma. In this study, we evaluated the anti-glioma effect of suicide gene therapy using human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells expressing HSV-TK (MSCs-TK) combined with valproic acid (VPA), which can upregulate the gap junction proteins and may enhance the bystander effect of suicide gene therapy. Expression of HSV-TK in MSCs was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis and the sensitivity of MSCs-TK to GCV was assessed. A bystander effect was observed in co-cultures of MSCs-TK and U87 glioma cells by GCV in a dose-dependent manner. VPA induced the expression of the gap junction proteins connexin (Cx) 43 and 26 in glioma cell and thereby enhanced the bystander effect in co-culture experiment. The enhanced bystander effect was inhibited by the gap junction inhibitor 18-β-glycyrrhetinic acid (18-GA). Moreover, the combined treatment with VPA and MSCs-TK synergistically enhanced apoptosis in glioma cells by caspase activation. In vivo efficacy experiments showed that combination treatment of MSCs-TK and VPA significantly inhibited tumor growth and prolonged the survival of glioma-bearing mice compared with single-treatment groups. In addition, TUNEL staining also demonstrated a significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells in the combination treated group compared with single-treatment groups. Taken together, these results provide the rational for designing novel experimental protocols to increase bystander killing effect against intracranial gliomas using MSCs-TK and VPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung Heon Ryu
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Eugenin EA, Basilio D, Sáez JC, Orellana JA, Raine CS, Bukauskas F, Bennett MVL, Berman JW. The role of gap junction channels during physiologic and pathologic conditions of the human central nervous system. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2012; 7:499-518. [PMID: 22438035 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-012-9352-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2012] [Accepted: 02/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Gap junctions (GJs) are expressed in most cell types of the nervous system, including neuronal stem cells, neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, cells of the blood brain barrier (endothelial cells and astrocytes) and under inflammatory conditions in microglia/macrophages. GJs connect cells by the docking of two hemichannels, one from each cell with each hemichannel being formed by 6 proteins named connexins (Cx). Unapposed hemichannels (uHC) also can be open on the surface of the cells allowing the release of different intracellular factors to the extracellular space. GJs provide a mechanism of cell-to-cell communication between adjacent cells that enables the direct exchange of intracellular messengers, such as calcium, nucleotides, IP(3), and diverse metabolites, as well as electrical signals that ultimately coordinate tissue homeostasis, proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, cell survival and death. Despite their essential functions in physiological conditions, relatively little is known about the role of GJs and uHC in human diseases, especially within the nervous system. The focus of this review is to summarize recent findings related to the role of GJs and uHC in physiologic and pathologic conditions of the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliseo A Eugenin
- Department of Pathology, F727, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
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Calenda G, Strong TD, Pavlovich CP, Schaeffer EM, Burnett AL, Yu W, Davies KP, Bivalacqua TJ. Whole genome microarray of the major pelvic ganglion after cavernous nerve injury: new insights into molecular profile changes after nerve injury. BJU Int 2012; 109:1552-64. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-410x.2011.10705.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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Kohila V, Jaiswal A, Ghosh SS. Rationally designed Escherichia coli cytosine deaminase mutants with improved specificity towards the prodrug 5-fluorocytosine for potential gene therapy applications. MEDCHEMCOMM 2012. [DOI: 10.1039/c2md20209c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Lee EX, Lam DH, Wu C, Yang J, Tham CK, Ng WH, Wang S. Glioma Gene Therapy Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Neural Stem Cells. Mol Pharm 2011; 8:1515-24. [DOI: 10.1021/mp200127u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Dang Hoang Lam
- Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chunxiao Wu
- Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Singapore
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Wai Hoe Ng
- Department of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore
| | - Shu Wang
- Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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Abstract
Glioblastoma is a very aggressive astrocytic tumor and most patients have 1-year survival time after diagnosis. A promising therapeutic strategy is the local delivery of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene in the tumor bed followed by ganciclovir treatment. The presence of functional gap junctions is highly relevant for the success of suicide gene therapy. Connexins are expressed in practically all tissues and form gap junctions that allow intercellular communication. Connexin 43 (Cx43) is the major connexin member being expressed in astrocytes but its status in glioblastoma is not well defined. We have investigated by immunofluorescence the presence of Cx43 in 74 human glioblastoma samples; its expression was detected in 77% of the samples analyzed. We report here that glioblastoma is a heterogenous disease as regards Cx43 expression with presentations, in which Cx43 expression is unaltered, reduced or totally lost. A predominant Cx43 cytoplasmic localization was observed in four out of eight primary glioblastoma cultures that we have established. This aberrant localization reduced gap junctionnal intercellular communication by 50 to 75% as compared with primary cell cultures displaying gap junctional plaques. However, the bystander effect evaluated after lentiviral delivery of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene and ganciclovir treatment was detected in all Cx43-positive primary cell cultures, and it was independant of the Cx43 localization. These findings may have important clinical implications for the design of anticancer cytotoxic therapies that rely on the gap junction-mediated bystander effect for their success.
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Zhao Y, Lam DH, Yang J, Lin J, Tham CK, Ng WH, Wang S. RETRACTED ARTICLE: Targeted suicide gene therapy for glioma using human embryonic stem cell-derived neural stem cells genetically modified by baculoviral vectors. Gene Ther 2011; 19:189-200. [DOI: 10.1038/gt.2011.82] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Bak XY, Lam DH, Yang J, Ye K, Wei ELX, Lim SK, Wang S. Human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells as cellular delivery vehicles for prodrug gene therapy of glioblastoma. Hum Gene Ther 2011; 22:1365-77. [PMID: 21425958 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2010.212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess tumor-tropic properties and consequently have been used to deliver therapeutic agents for cancer treatment. Their potential in cancer therapy highlights the need for a consistent and renewable source for the production of uniform human MSCs suitable for clinical applications. In this study, we seek to investigate whether human embryonic stem cells can be used as a cell source to fulfill this goal. We generated MSC-like cells from two human embryonic stem cell lines, HuES9 and H1, and observed that MSC-like cells derived from human embryonic stem cells were able to migrate into human glioma intracranial xenografts after being injected into the cerebral hemisphere contralateral to the tumor inoculation site. We engineered these cells with baculoviral and lentiviral vectors, respectively, for transient and stable expression of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene. In tumor-bearing mice the engineered MSC-like cells were capable of inhibiting tumor growth and prolonging survival in the presence of ganciclovir after they were injected either directly into the xenografts or into the opposite hemisphere. Our findings suggest that human embryonic stem cell-derived MSCs may be a viable and attractive alternative for large-scale derivation of targeting vehicles for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Ying Bak
- Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Singapore 117602, Singapore
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van Putten EH, Dirven CM, van den Bent MJ, Lamfers ML. Sitimagene ceradenovec: a gene-based drug for the treatment of operable high-grade glioma. Future Oncol 2011; 6:1691-710. [PMID: 21142657 DOI: 10.2217/fon.10.134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The field of gene therapy for malignant glioma has made important advances since the first gene transfer studies were performed 20 years ago. Multiple Phase I/II trials and two Phase III trials have been performed and have demonstrated the feasibility and safety of intratumoral vector delivery in the brain. Sitimagene ceradenovec is an adenoviral vector encoding the herpes simplex thymidine kinase gene, developed by Ark Therapeutics Group plc (UK and Finland) for the treatment of patients with operable high-grade glioma. In preclinical and Phase I/II clinical studies, sitimagene ceradenovec exhibited a significant increase in survival. Although the preliminary results of a Phase III clinical study demonstrated a significant positive effect of sitimagene ceradenovec treatment on time to reintervention or death when compared with standard care treatment (hazard ratio: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.06-1.93; p < 0.05), the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use did not consider the data to provide sufficient evidence of clinical benefit. Further clinical evaluation, powered to demonstrate a benefit on a robust end point, is required. This article focuses on sitimagene ceradenovec and provides an overview of the developments in the field of gene therapy for malignant glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Hp van Putten
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Kerr NM, Johnson CS, Green CR, Danesh-Meyer HV. Gap junction protein connexin43 (GJA1) in the human glaucomatous optic nerve head and retina. J Clin Neurosci 2010; 18:102-8. [PMID: 20934339 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2010.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2010] [Accepted: 06/09/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Primary open angle glaucoma is characterised by the progressive and irreversible death of retinal ganglion cells. Experimental evidence suggests that the initial site of injury to the retinal ganglion cell is at or near the lamina cribrosa or in the peripapillary retina. However, the mediators of axonal injury remain poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of the gap junction protein connexin43 (GJA1) in the human glaucomatous optic nerve head and retina as a potential mediator of axonal injury. Using affinity isolated polyclonal antibodies to the C-terminal segment of human connexin43, the expression of connexin43 was determined in post-mortem human eyes with primary open angle glaucoma and age-matched controls. In normal eyes, connexin43 was present on glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive astrocytes in the retinal ganglion cell layer and optic nerve head. In glaucomatous eyes, increased connexin43 immunoreactivity was observed at the level of the lamina cribrosa and in the peripapillary and mid-peripheral retina in association with glial activation. This novel finding may suggest that gap junction communication is a potential mediator of retinal ganglion cell injury in glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan M Kerr
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Auckland, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
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33
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Role of connexin43 in central nervous system injury. Exp Neurol 2010; 225:250-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2010.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2010] [Revised: 06/09/2010] [Accepted: 07/15/2010] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Nitta M, Yogo K, Ohashi M, Akiyama M, Kunitomo Y, Ogawa T, Ishida-Kitagawa N, Miyoshi J, Sato E, Takeya T. Identification and expression analysis of connexin-45 and connexin-60 as major connexins in porcine oocytes. J Anim Sci 2010; 88:3269-79. [PMID: 20562362 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2009-2781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2023] Open
Abstract
During mammalian oogenesis, intercellular communication between oocytes and the surrounding follicle cells through gap junction channels is crucial for oocyte development and maturation. The channel properties of gap junctions may be affected by the composition or combination of connexins, the expression of which is regulated by gonadotropins and other factors. Thus, identification and expression analysis of connexin genes in oocytes and follicle cells will help us to better understand how oogenesis and folliculogenesis are regulated in a species-specific manner in mammals. We previously reported the spatiotemporal expression of multiple connexin genes in porcine follicle cells. Here, we searched for connexin genes specifically expressed in porcine oocytes that may be involved in the formation of gap junctions between oocytes and follicle cells. To achieve this, we constructed an oocyte-specific cDNA library to identify which connexin genes are expressed in these cells and found that gap junction protein, alpha 10, which encodes connexin-60, and a porcine ortholog of mouse gap junction protein, gamma 1 encoding connexin-45, are the major connexins expressed in porcine oocytes during folliculogenesis. Immunostaining and in situ hybridization of sectioned porcine ovaries confirmed oocyte expression of these genes at 3 different stages of ovary development. Furthermore, their gap junction channel activity was assessed using a heterologous cell system. However, gap junction protein, alpha 4, which encodes connexin-37 and is expressed in the oocytes of several other mammals, was undetectable. We demonstrate that there is diversity in the connexin genes expressed in mammalian oocytes, and hence in the gap junctions connecting oocytes and cumulus cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Nitta
- Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Nara, Japan
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35
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Lentiviral transfer of an inducible transgene expressing a soluble form of Gas1 causes glioma cell arrest, apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth. Cancer Gene Ther 2010; 18:87-99. [DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2010.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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36
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Paíno T, Gangoso E, Medina JM, Tabernero A. Inhibition of ATP-sensitive potassium channels increases HSV-tk/GCV bystander effect in U373 human glioma cells by enhancing gap junctional intercellular communication. Neuropharmacology 2010; 59:480-91. [PMID: 20603136 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2010.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2010] [Revised: 06/15/2010] [Accepted: 06/25/2010] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
It is well known that the efficiency of Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene/ganciclovir (HSV-tk/GCV) therapy is improved by the bystander effect, which mainly relies on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). Malignant gliomas communicate poorly through gap junctions, consequently, agents with the ability to increase GJIC are good candidates to improve the efficiency of this therapy. Since we previously showed that the inhibition of ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels promoted by tolbutamide increased GJIC in rat C6 glioma cells, we have investigated whether tolbutamide could increase the bystander effect in HSV-tk/GCV therapy against human glioma cells. We found that tolbutamide increased GJIC in U373 human glioma cells, an effect that was due to the up-regulation of connexin43, a protein that forms gap junctions channels. More interestingly, our results show that tolbutamide increased the efficiency of HSV-tk/GCV in co-cultures containing U373 cells and U373 cells transfected with HSV-tk. This effect was impaired in the presence of carbenoxolone, an inhibitor of GJIC. Furthermore, tolbutamide did not enhance the bystander effect in connexin43-silenced co-cultures. Together our results reveal that the inhibition of KATP channels promoted by tolbutamide enhances the bystander effect in HSV-tk/GCV therapy by increasing connexin43-mediated gap junctional intercellular communication in U373 human glioma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Paíno
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León, INCYL, Universidad de Salamanca, Spain
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37
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Madan V, Redondo N, Carrasco L. Cell permeabilization by poliovirus 2B viroporin triggers bystander permeabilization in neighbouring cells through a mechanism involving gap junctions. Cell Microbiol 2010; 12:1144-57. [PMID: 20331640 PMCID: PMC7162288 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2010.01460.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Poliovirus 2B protein is a well‐known viroporin implicated in plasma membrane permeabilization to ions and low‐molecular‐weight compounds during infection. Translation in mammalian cells expressing 2B protein is inhibited by hygromycin B (HB) but remains unaffected in mock cells, which are not permeable to the inhibitor. Here we describe a previously unreported bystander effect in which healthy baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells become sensitive to HB when co‐cultured with a low proportion of cells expressing poliovirus 2B. Viroporins E from mouse hepatitis virus, 6K from Sindbis virus and NS4A protein from hepatitis C virus were also able to permeabilize neighbouring cells to different extents. Expression of 2B induced permeabilization of neighbouring cell lines other than BHK. We found that gap junctions are responsible mediating the observed bystander permeabilization. Gap junctional communication was confirmed in 2B‐expressing co‐cultures by fluorescent dye transfer. Moreover, the presence of connexin 43 was confirmed in both mock and 2B‐transfected cells. Finally, inhibition of HB entry to neighbouring cells was observed with 18α‐glycyrrhethinic acid, an inhibitor of gap junctions. Taken together, these findings support a mechanism involving gap junctional intercellular communication in the bystander permeabilization effect observed in healthy cells co‐cultured with poliovirus 2B‐expressing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanesa Madan
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
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Therapeutic efficacy of human hepatocyte transplantation in a SCID/uPA mouse model with inducible liver disease. PLoS One 2010; 5:e9209. [PMID: 20174638 PMCID: PMC2823785 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2009] [Accepted: 01/24/2010] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe Combined Immune Deficient (SCID)/Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator (uPA) mice undergo liver failure and are useful hosts for the propagation of transplanted human hepatocytes (HH) which must compete with recipient-derived hepatocytes for replacement of the diseased liver parenchyma. While partial replacement by HH has proven useful for studies with Hepatitis C virus, complete replacement of SCID/uPA mouse liver by HH has never been achieved and limits the broader application of these mice for other areas of biomedical research. The herpes simplex virus type-1 thymidine kinase (HSVtk)/ganciclovir (GCV) system is a powerful tool for cell-specific ablation in transgenic animals. The aim of this study was to selectively eliminate murine-derived parenchymal liver cells from humanized SCID/uPA mouse liver in order to achieve mice with completely humanized liver parenchyma. Thus, we reproduced the HSVtk (vTK)/GCV system of hepatic failure in SCID/uPA mice. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In vitro experiments demonstrated efficient killing of vTK expressing hepatoma cells after GCV treatment. For in vivo experiments, expression of vTK was targeted to the livers of FVB/N and SCID/uPA mice. Hepatic sensitivity to GCV was first established in FVB/N mice since these mice do not undergo liver failure inherent to SCID/uPA mice. Hepatic vTK expression was found to be an integral component of GCV-induced pathologic and biochemical alterations and caused death due to liver dysfunction in vTK transgenic FVB/N and non-transplanted SCID/uPA mice. In SCID/uPA mice with humanized liver, vTK/GCV caused death despite extensive replacement of the mouse liver parenchyma with HH (ranging from 32-87%). Surprisingly, vTK/GCV-dependent apoptosis and mitochondrial aberrations were also localized to bystander vTK-negative HH. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Extensive replacement of mouse liver parenchyma by HH does not provide a secure therapeutic advantage against vTK/GCV-induced cytotoxicity targeted to residual mouse hepatocytes. Functional support by engrafted HH may be secured by strategies aimed at limiting this bystander effect.
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Sharma R, Palefsky JM. Addition of a single E2 binding site to the human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 long control region enhances killing of HPV positive cells via HPV E2 protein-regulated herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase-mediated suicide gene therapy. Hum Gene Ther 2010; 21:843-54. [PMID: 20132050 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2009.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) is associated with the development of anogenital cancers and their precursor lesions, intraepithelial neoplasia. Treatment strategies against HPV-induced intraepithelial neoplasia are not HPV specific and mostly consist of physical removal or ablation of lesions. We had previously designed an HPV-specific approach to kill HPV-infected cells by the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (TK) gene driven by HPV E2 binding to E2-binding sites (E2BS) in the native HPV16 long control region. E2-induced TK expression renders the cells sensitive to the prodrug ganciclovir. To optimize this therapeutic approach, we modified the native long control region by adding variable numbers of E2BS adjacent to E2BS4, resulting in greatly increased cell death in HPV-positive cell lines with variable levels of E2 protein expression and no reduction in HPV specificity. Our results showed maximum increase in TK expression and cell killing when one additional E2BS was added adjacent to E2BS. As HPV-infected patients also exhibit variable E2 expression across lesions and within a lesion, this approach may potentiate the clinical utility of the herpes simplex virus type 1 TK/ganciclovir therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachna Sharma
- Department of Medicine, University of California-San Francisco , San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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40
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Bremer E, van Dam GM, de Bruyn M, van Riezen M, Dijkstra M, Kamps G, Helfrich W, Haisma H. Potent Systemic Anticancer Activity of Adenovirally Expressed EGFR-Selective TRAIL Fusion Protein. Mol Ther 2008; 16:1919-26. [DOI: 10.1038/mt.2008.203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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Bystander effect in glioblastoma cells with a predominant cytoplasmic localization of connexin43. Cancer Gene Ther 2008; 15:823-31. [PMID: 18600256 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2008.49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK) gene transfer followed by ganciclovir (GCV) administration is an approach investigated for glioblastoma treatment. The bystander effect (BE) enhances the cytotoxic effect of this strategy by allowing the diffusion of phosphorylated GCV from TK-expressing cells toward neighboring TK negative cells. This transfer of toxic metabolites is mainly mediated via gap junctions that are composed of connexins. Downregulation and/or cytoplasmic localization of connexins are common in tumors, and should be detrimental to the success of the TK/GCV strategy. In this study, we investigated the level of expression, the localization and the functionality of connexin43 (Cx43) in three glioblastoma cell lines. We showed that Cx43 was predominantly located in lysosomes and late endosomes, with only few gap junctions present at the cell surface. Surprisingly, the gap-junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and the BE capacity were preserved, and in two of the cell lines analyzed, it was at least twice as high as compared to a control HeLa transfectant that expresses high levels of Cx43 at the cell membrane. Experiments performed in the presence of alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid or small interfering RNA confirmed that Cx43 was responsible for the GJIC and the BE. Our results indicate for the first time that the very limited numbers of gap junctions present in glioblastoma cells are highly functional. We thus conclude that the TK/GCV strategy is still a valuable therapeutic option to be developed for the treatment of glioblastoma patients.
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Jung J, Hackett NR, Pergolizzi RG, Pierre-Destine L, Krause A, Crystal RG. Ablation of tumor-derived stem cells transplanted to the central nervous system by genetic modification of embryonic stem cells with a suicide gene. Hum Gene Ther 2007; 18:1182-92. [PMID: 18021021 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2007.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cell (ESC)-based therapies open new possibilities as regenerative medicine for the treatment of human disease, but the presence of small numbers of undifferentiated ESCs within the transplant could lead to the development of tumors. The safety of ESC transplants would be enhanced if uncontrolled cell growth could be suppressed, using external stimuli. A lentiviral vector carrying the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) genes was used to genetically modify murine ESCs (HSVtk+GFP+ ESCs). In the presence of ganciclovir (GCV), 100% of HSVtk+GFP+ ESCs were killed in vitro, and 100% of flank tumors derived from HSVtk+GFP+ ESCs were eliminated. When CNS tumors were produced by the HSVtk+GFP+ ESCs, the tumor mass was completely eliminated on GCV treatment for 1 week. After GCV treatment for 3 weeks, histologic analysis showed no residual tumor cells and TaqMan realtime polymerase chain reaction analysis showed no genomic HSVtk copies or HSVtk mRNA. These data demonstrate that it is possible to use ex vivo gene transfer to modify ESCs with conditional genetic elements that can be activated in vivo to control undifferentiated ESC outgrowth and to eliminate transduced ESCs that have escaped growth control after ESC-mediated therapy to the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juyeon Jung
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA
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43
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Ribot E, Bouzier-Sore AK, Bouchaud V, Miraux S, Delville MH, Franconi JM, Voisin P. Microglia used as vehicles for both inducible thymidine kinase gene therapy and MRI contrast agents for glioma therapy. Cancer Gene Ther 2007; 14:724-37. [PMID: 17541423 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cgt.7701060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Microglia are phagocytic cells that are chemoattracted by brain tumors and can represent up to 70% of the tumor cell population. To get insight into gene therapy against glioma, we decided to take advantage of those microglia properties and to use those cells as vehicles to transport simultaneously a suicide gene (under the control of a heat-sensitive promoter) and contrast agents to localize them by magnetic resonance imaging before applying any therapeutic treatment. Thymidine kinase (TK) expression and its functionality after gancyclovir administration were investigated. After the heat shock (44 degrees C and 20 min), TK was expressed in 50% of the cells. However, after gancyclovir treatment, 90% of the cells died by apoptosis, showing an important bystander effect. Then, the cells were incubated with new lanthanide contrast agents to check both their potential toxicity and their MR properties. Results indicate that the nanoparticles did not induce any cell toxicity and yield a hypersignal on MR images at 4.7 T. These in vitro experiments indicate that microglia are good candidates as vectors in gene therapy against brain tumors. Finally, microglia containing gadolinium-grafted nanoparticles were injected in the close vicinity of C6 tumor, in a mouse. The hyperintensive signal obtained on in vivo images as well as its retention time show the potential of the novel contrast agents for cellular imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Ribot
- Centre de Résonance Magnétique des Systèmes Biologiques, UMR 5536, CNRS-Université V. Segalen, Bordeaux, France.
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Khan Z, Akhtar M, Asklund T, Juliusson B, Almqvist PM, Ekström TJ. HDAC inhibition amplifies gap junction communication in neural progenitors: potential for cell-mediated enzyme prodrug therapy. Exp Cell Res 2007; 313:2958-67. [PMID: 17555745 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2007.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2007] [Revised: 04/03/2007] [Accepted: 05/02/2007] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Enzyme prodrug therapy using neural progenitor cells (NPCs) as delivery vehicles has been applied in animal models of gliomas and relies on gap junction communication (GJC) between delivery and target cells. This study investigated the effects of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors on GJC for the purpose of facilitating transfer of therapeutic molecules from recombinant NPCs. We studied a novel immortalized midbrain cell line, NGC-407 of embryonic human origin having neural precursor characteristics, as a potential delivery vehicle. The expression of gap junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43) was analyzed by western blot and immunocytochemistry. While Cx43 levels were decreased in untreated differentiating NGC-407 cells, the HDAC inhibitor 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PB) increased Cx43 expression along with increased membranous deposition in both proliferating and differentiating cells. Simultaneously, Ser 279/282-phosphorylated form of Cx43 was declined in both culture conditions by 4-PB. The 4-PB effect in NGC-407 cells was verified by using HNSC.100 human neural progenitors and Trichostatin A. Improved functional GJC is of imperative importance for therapeutic strategies involving intercellular transport of low molecular-weight compounds. We show here an enhancement by 4-PB, of the functional GJC among NGC-407 cells, as well as between NGC-407 and human glioma cells, as indicated by increased fluorescent dye transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahidul Khan
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Pédeboscq S, L'Azou B, Liguoro D, Pometan JP, Cambar J. Interindividual differences in anticancer drug cytotoxicity in primary human glioblastoma cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 58:247-53. [PMID: 17123803 DOI: 10.1016/j.etp.2006.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2006] [Accepted: 08/31/2006] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme is a malignant astrocytic tumor characterized by rapid growth, extensive invasiveness and high vascularity. Despite advances in surgical techniques and in the development of new protocols in radio- and chemotherapy, the prognosis for patients suffering from this malignancy remains poor. Since the clinical response to chemotherapy varies greatly owing to different interindividual gene expression profiles, it would be of considerable interest to develop an in vitro model able to evaluate anticancer drug toxicity and the effectiveness of therapeutic strategies on cells obtained from individual patients. In the protocol for obtaining primary cultures of glioblastoma cells described in this report, a confluent monolayer of cells can be obtained within 1 or 2 weeks. A complementary immunocytochemical assay using glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) to reliably mark glial cells confirms the glial origin of the cultured cells. A cytotoxicity test based on mitochondrial activity is then used to evaluate in vitro drug efficacy. Cell dedifferentiation as evidenced by loss of GFAP expression after a few passages requires determination of drug toxicity before the fourth passage. Data show a wide range of response to temozolomide (1000 microM) after 72 h with 24-81% cell death depending on patients. Results presented confirm the heterogeneity of response to anticancer drugs between the patients and methods described allow to carry out cytotoxicity studies in order to determine the individualized most effective treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Pédeboscq
- Department of Cell Biology, Bordeaux University School of Pharmacy, Bordeaux, France.
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Bremer E, van Dam G, Kroesen BJ, de Leij L, Helfrich W. Targeted induction of apoptosis for cancer therapy: current progress and prospects. Trends Mol Med 2006; 12:382-93. [PMID: 16798087 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2006.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2006] [Revised: 05/18/2006] [Accepted: 06/08/2006] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Important breakthroughs in cancer therapy include clinical application of antibodies, such as Rituximab, and small inhibitory molecules, such as Iressa and Velcade. In addition, recent reports have indicated the therapeutic potential of physiological pro-apoptotic proteins such as TRAIL and galectin-1. Although unrelated at first glance, each strategy relies on the deliberate and selective induction of apoptosis in malignant cells. Importantly, therapy-resistance in cancer is frequently associated with de-regulation in the mechanisms that control apoptosis. However, cancer cells are often reliant on these molecular aberrations for survival. Therefore, selective induction of apoptosis in cancer cells but not normal cells seems feasible. Here, we review recent progress and prospects of selected novel anti-cancer approaches that specifically target and sensitize cancer cells to apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin Bremer
- Groningen University Institute for Drug Exploration (GUIDE), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Section Medical Biology, Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
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Gentry BG, Boucher PD, Shewach DS. Hydroxyurea induces bystander cytotoxicity in cocultures of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase-expressing and nonexpressing HeLa cells incubated with ganciclovir. Cancer Res 2006; 66:3845-51. [PMID: 16585212 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-05-3660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Suicide gene therapy with the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) cDNA and ganciclovir can elicit cytotoxicity to transgene-expressing and nonexpressing bystander cells via transfer of ganciclovir phosphates through gap junctions. HeLa cells do not exhibit bystander cytotoxicity, although we showed recently that they transfer low levels of ganciclovir phosphates to bystander cells. Here, we attempted to induce bystander cytotoxicity using hydroxyurea, an inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase, to decrease the endogenous dGTP pool, which should lessen competition with ganciclovir triphosphate for DNA incorporation. Addition of hydroxyurea to cocultures of HSV-TK-expressing and bystander cells synergistically increased ganciclovir-mediated cytotoxicity to both cell populations while producing primarily an additive effect in cultures of 100% HSV-TK-expressing cells. Whereas HSV-TK-expressing cells in coculture were approximately 50-fold less sensitive to ganciclovir compared with cultures of 100% HSV-TK-expressing cells, addition of hydroxyurea restored ganciclovir sensitivity. Quantification of deoxynucleoside triphosphate pools showed that hydroxyurea decreased dGTP pools without significantly affecting ganciclovir triphosphate levels. Although hydroxyurea significantly increased the ganciclovir triphosphate:dGTP value for 12 to 24 hours in HSV-TK-expressing and bystander cells from coculture (1.4- to 4.9-fold), this value was increased for <12 hours (2.5-fold) in 100% HSV-TK-expressing cells. These data suggest that the prolonged increase in the ganciclovir triphosphate:dGTP value in cells in coculture resulted in synergistic cytotoxicity. Compared with enhancement of bystander cytotoxicity through modulation of gap junction intercellular communication, this strategy is superior because it increased cytotoxicity to both HSV-TK-expressing and bystander cells in coculture. This approach may improve clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian G Gentry
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical Center, 4713 Upjohn Center, 1310 East Catherine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Zeng ZJ, Li ZB, Luo SQ, Hu WX. Retrovirus-mediated tk gene therapy of implanted human breast cancer in nude mice under the regulation of Tet-On. Cancer Gene Ther 2006; 13:290-7. [PMID: 16110312 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cgt.7700889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Tight regulation of the therapeutic gene expression is critical in gene therapy. In this report, a doxycycline (Dox)-regulated retrovirus-mediated gene expression system was used to study the effects of suicide gene therapy on human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and the nude mice model of implanted human breast cancer. To render the expression of suicide gene under control, we used two pseudoviruses simultaneously, RevTRE/HSVtk and RevTet-On, to infect MCF-7 cells or xenografts of nude mice. When infected by the pseudoviruses and followed by Dox and Ganciclovir (GCV) treatment, MCF-7 cells were arrested at S phase and the growth was suppressed. We then evaluated the antitumor efficiency of this system in vivo through studying the mice bearing human breast cancer xenografts. Compared with control groups, the HSVtk mRNA level increased significantly in tumor tissues, mass of the tumors shrank remarkably, and tumor necrosis features occurred after treatment with Dox and GCV. These data suggest that suicide gene therapy using the Dox-induced Tet-On-controlled HSVtk gene expression system is a feasible method to treat human breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z-J Zeng
- Molecular Biology Research Center, Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, PR China
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Zi-Bo LI, Zhao-Jun ZENG, Qian CHEN, Sai-Qun LUO, Wei-Xin HU. Recombinant AAV-mediated HSVtk gene transfer with direct intratumoral injections and Tet-On regulation for implanted human breast cancer. BMC Cancer 2006; 6:66. [PMID: 16539746 PMCID: PMC1463003 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-6-66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2005] [Accepted: 03/16/2006] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HSVtk/ganciclovir (GCV) gene therapy has been extensively studied in tumors and relies largely on the gene expression of HSVtk. Most studies, however, have failed to demonstrate any significant benefit of a controlled gene expression strategy in cancer treatment. The Tet-On system is commonly used to regulate gene expression following Dox induction. We have evaluated the antitumor effect of HSVtk/ganciclovir gene therapy under Tet-On regulation by means of adeno-associated virus-2 (AAV-2)-mediated HSVtk gene transfer with direct intratumoral injections in mice bearing breast cancer tumors. METHODS Recombinant adeno-associated virus-2 (rAAV) was constructed and transduced into MCF-7 cell line. GCV treatment to the rAAV infected MCF-7 cells was performed by MTT assay under the doxycycline (Dox) induction or without Dox induction at a vp (viral particle) number of > or =10(4)/cell. The virus was administered intratumorally to nude mice that had also received GCV intraperitoneally. The antitumor effects were evaluated by measuring tumor regression and histological analysis. RESULTS We have demonstrated that GCV treatment to the infected MCF-7 cells under the Dox induction was of more inhibited effects than those without Dox induction at > or =10(4) vp/cell. In ex vivo experiments, tumor growth of BALB/C nude mice breast cancer was retarded after rAAV-2/HSVtk/Tet-On was injected into the tumors under the Dox induction. Infiltrating cells were also observed in tumors after Dox induction followed by GCV treatment and cells were profoundly damaged. The expression of HSVtk gene in MCF-7 cells and BALB/C nude mice tumors was up-regulated by Tet-On under Dox induction with reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) analysis. CONCLUSION The antitumor effect of rAAV-mediated HSVtk/GCV gene therapy under the Dox induction with direct intratumoral injections may be a useful treatment for breast cancer and other solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- LI Zi-Bo
- Molecular Biology Research Center, Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410078, P. R. China
| | - ZENG Zhao-Jun
- Molecular Biology Research Center, Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410078, P. R. China
| | - CHEN Qian
- Molecular Biology Research Center, Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410078, P. R. China
| | - LUO Sai-Qun
- Molecular Biology Research Center, Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410078, P. R. China
| | - HU Wei-Xin
- Molecular Biology Research Center, Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410078, P. R. China
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Veselska R, Kuglik P, Cejpek P, Svachova H, Neradil J, Loja T, Relichova J. Nestin expression in the cell lines derived from glioblastoma multiforme. BMC Cancer 2006; 6:32. [PMID: 16457706 PMCID: PMC1403792 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-6-32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2005] [Accepted: 02/02/2006] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Nestin is a protein belonging to class VI of intermediate filaments that is produced in stem/progenitor cells in the mammalian CNS during development and is consecutively replaced by other intermediate filament proteins (neurofilaments, GFAP). Down-regulated nestin may be re-expressed in the adult organism under certain pathological conditions (brain injury, ischemia, inflammation, neoplastic transformation). Our work focused on a detailed study of the nestin cytoskeleton in cell lines derived from glioblastoma multiforme, because re-expression of nestin together with down-regulation of GFAP has been previously reported in this type of brain tumor. Methods Two cell lines were derived from the tumor tissue of patients treated for glioblastoma multiforme. Nestin and other cytoskeletal proteins were visualized using imunocytochemical methods: indirect immunofluorescence and immunogold-labelling. Results Using epifluorescence and confocal microscopy, we described the morphology of nestin-positive intermediate filaments in glioblastoma cells of both primary cultures and the derived cell lines, as well as the reorganization of nestin during mitosis. Our most important result came through transmission electron microscopy and provided clear evidence that nestin is present in the cell nucleus. Conclusion Detailed information concerning the pattern of the nestin cytoskeleton in glioblastoma cell lines and especially the demonstration of nestin in the nucleus represent an important background for further studies of nestin re-expression in relationship to tumor malignancy and invasive potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Veselska
- Cell Culture Laboratory, Department of Biology, School of Medicine, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kuglik
- Laboratory of Molecular Cytogenetics, Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Science, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Cejpek
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Svachova
- Cell Culture Laboratory, Department of Biology, School of Medicine, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Neradil
- Cell Culture Laboratory, Department of Biology, School of Medicine, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Loja
- Cell Culture Laboratory, Department of Biology, School of Medicine, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jirina Relichova
- Laboratory of Molecular Cytogenetics, Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Science, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic
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