Constitutive expression of the adenovirus E3-14.7K protein does not prolong adenovirus vector DNA persistence but protects mice against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute hepatitis

A novel hybrid adenoretroviral vector with more extensive E3 deletion extends transgene expression in submandibular glands

Salivary glands are an attractive target for gene transfer. Salivary epithelial cells are considered to be highly differentiated and have low rates of cell division (~6 months), affording the opportunity to obtain relatively long-term transgene expression in the absence of genomic integration. Here, we report a novel modified hybrid adenoretroviral vector, which provides stable transgene expression in salivary epithelial cells in vivo for up to 6 months in the absence of genomic integration. This modified hybrid vector, Ad(ΔE1/3)LTR(2)EF1α-hEPO, encodes human erythropoietin (hEPO) and differs from a previously developed hybrid vector, AdLTR(2)EF1α-hEPO, by having more extensive E3 gene deletion. Following direct salivary gland gene transfer by retroductal cannulation, rats transduced with Ad(ΔE1/3)LTR(2)EF1α-hEPO had sustained, elevated serum hEPO levels and hematocrits for 6 months (length of experiment), as compared with ~2 months for animals administered the AdLTR(2)EF1α-hEPO vector. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that this novel vector could transduce both acinar and ductal cells. Interestingly, the Ad(ΔE1/3)LTR(2)EF1α-hEPO vector evoked much weaker local (salivary gland) immune responses than seen after AdLTR(2)EF1α-hEPO vector delivery, which likely permits its significantly lengthened transgene expression in this tissue.

Adenoviral vectors persist in vivo and maintain activated CD8+ T cells: implications for their use as vaccines

CD8(+) T cell-numbers rapidly expand and then contract after exposure to their cognate antigen. Here we show that the sustained frequencies of transgene product-specific CD8(+) T cells elicited by replication-defective adenovirus vectors are linked to persistence of low levels of transcriptionally active adenovirus vector genomes at the site of inoculation, in liver, and lymphatic tissues. Continuously produced small amounts of antigen maintain fully active effector CD8(+) T cells, while also allowing for their differentiation into central memory cells. The long-term persistence of adenoviral vectors may be highly advantageous for their use as vaccines against pathogens for which T-cell-mediated protection requires both fully activated T cells for immediate control of virus-infected cells and central memory CD8(+) T cells that, because of their higher proliferative capacity, may be suited best to eliminate cells infected by pathogens that escaped the initial wave of effector T cells.

A novel mechanism of nuclear factor-kappaB regulation by adenoviral protein 14.7K

Viruses have evolved many different ways to evade immune attacks. The adenoviral E3 protein 14.7K effectively inhibits antiviral immunity and inflammation. However, the underlying mechanism for this effect is unclear. Here we show that 14.7K is a potent inhibitor of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB transcriptional activity following Toll-like receptor (TLR) or tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor signalling. The inhibition of the NF-kappaB activity occurs downstream of IkappaBalpha degradation and NF-kappaB translocation into the nucleus. Analysis of NF-kappaB DNA binding reveals that 14.7K specifically inhibits p50 homodimer DNA binding and that this inhibition is mediated through the interaction of 14.7K with p50. We propose that 14.7K inhibits NF-kappaB activity through directly blocking p50 binding to DNA and that this is the basis for its anti-inflammatory properties. Our data also indicate a role for p50 homodimer-dependent transcription in inflammation.

Induction and Inhibition of Innate Inflammatory Responses by Adenovirus Early Region Proteins

First-generation adenovirus (Ad) gene therapy vectors deleted for the E1A, E1B, and E3 regions and carrying foreign genes under the control of strong foreign promoters induce high-level innate inflammatory responses within the first 24 hrs after transduction. Both uptake of the capsid and expression of gene products encoded by the vector contribute to the innate inflammatory response. Natural infections by Ad are frequently asymptomatic, suggesting that Ad has potent methods of inhibiting inflammation. The inability of Ad vectors to counter inflammatory responses suggests that the products of the Ad genes deleted in vector construction play critical roles in inhibiting these responses. Genetic analysis of the roles of Ad early region gene functions in vivo demonstrated that a virus made replication-incompetent by deletion of the preterminal protein gene and deleted for the transcriptional activation function of E1A effectively inhibits the innate inflammatory processes induced by Ad vectors. The mechanism(s) by which the Ad early region proteins inhibit inflammation is complex, as certain early region proteins can promote as well as inhibit inflammation, depending on the genetic context of the virus. Understanding of the roles of the Ad gene products in the induction and inhibition of innate inflammatory functions offers potential for the development of non-inflammatory vectors as well as for understanding of the mechanisms by which inflammation is regulated.

Functions and mechanisms of action of the adenovirus E3 proteins

In the evolutionary battle between viruses and their hosts, viruses have armed themselves with weapons to defeat the host's attacks on infected cells. Various proteins encoded in the adenovirus (Ad) E3 transcription unit protect cells from killing mediated by cytotoxic T cells and death-inducing cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF), Fas ligand, and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). The viral protein E3-gp19 K blocks MHC class-I-restricted antigen presentation, which diminishes killing by cytotoxic T cells. The receptor internalization and degradation (RID) complex (formerly E3-10.4 K/14.5 K) stimulates the clearance from the cell surface and subsequent degradation of the receptors for Fas ligand and TRAIL, thereby preventing the action of these important immune mediators. RID also downmodulates the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), although what role, if any, this function has in immune regulation is uncertain. In addition, RID antagonizes TNF-mediated apoptosis and inflammation through a mechanism that does not primarily involve receptor downregulation. E3-6.7 K functions together with RID in downregulating some TRAIL receptors and may block apoptosis independently of other E3 proteins. Furthermore, E3-14.7 K functions as a general inhibitor of TNF-mediated apoptosis and blocks TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Finally, after expending great effort to maintain cell viability during the early part of the virus replication cycle, Ads lyse the cell to allow efficient virus release and dissemination. To perform this task subgroup C Ads synthesize a protein late in infection named ADP (formerly E3-11.6 K) that is required for efficient virus release. This review focuses on recent experiments aimed at discovering the mechanism of action of these critically important viral proteins.

E1A and E1B proteins inhibit inflammation induced by adenovirus

Replication-defective human adenovirus (Ad) group C transducing vectors, most of which have the E1A, E1B, and E3 genes deleted, are highly inflammatory despite the fact that the parental viruses typically cause subclinical or mild infections. To investigate this paradox, the roles that the E1A, E1B, and E3 genes play in inflammation were tested by using replication-incompetent viruses carrying a deletion of the preterminal protein gene. The viruses were injected into BALB/c mouse ears, and edema was monitored as a sensitive surrogate marker of inflammation. A virus deleted for the E1A 289R (transcription activating) protein was noninflammatory, and inhibited edema induced by empty virus particles. The E1A 243R and E1B 55-kDa (p53 binding) proteins play the most important roles in inhibition of inflammation by the noninflammatory virus. The E1B 19-kDa antiapoptotic protein inhibited edema when both the E1A 243R and E1B 55-kDa proteins were expressed but strongly induced edema when only one was expressed. E3 proteins had their greatest effect on the inhibition of edema induced by the E1A 289R protein. The results support a model in which inflammation is countered through a mechanism that involves complex genetic interactions between Ad early region proteins and offer promise for the design and construction of noninflammatory Ad gene therapy vectors that are relatively easy to grow and purify.

Adenoviral infection decreases mortality from lipopolysaccharide-induced liver failure via induction of TNF-alpha tolerance

Effects of adenoviral infection on in vivo responses to LPS mediated by TNF-alpha were evaluated in a murine model. Adenovirus-infected mice showed decreased mortality from fulminant hepatitis induced by administration of LPS or staphylococcal enterotoxin B in the presence of D-galactosamine. Importantly, TNF-alpha resistance genes within adenoviral E3 region were not required, because E1,E3-deleted vectors showed similar effects. Adenovirus-infected mice exhibited higher TNF-alpha levels after LPS stimulation, no difference in TNFR1 expression, and similar mortality from Fas-induced fulminant hepatitis. Decreased production of IL-6 and KC in response to exogenous TNF-alpha, in addition to protection from TNF-alpha, suggested that adenoviral infection results in TNF-alpha tolerance.