Survival of Encapsulated Human Primary Fibroblasts and Erythropoietin Expression Under Xenogeneic Conditions

Promotion of skin wound healing using hypoimmunogenic epidermal cell sheets

Objective

The physiological process of wound healing is dynamic, continuous, and intricate. Nowadays, full-thickness burn wounds are treated by autologous skin transplantation. Unfortunately, when substantial burns develop, there are fewer donor sites accessible, making it difficult to satisfy the requirement for large-scale skin transplants and increasing the risk of patient mortality. This study investigated the possibility of using a newly created hypoimmunogenic epidermal cell sheet to heal skin wounds.

Methods

Transfection with lentivirus was used to generate Keratinocytes (KCs) that overexpress Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase (IDO). Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to measure IDO levels. To evaluate the function of IDO+ keratinocytes, CCK-8 and Transwell assays were performed. In cell sheet induction media, KCs and Fibroblasts (FBs) were cultured to yield epidermal cell sheets. The full-thickness skin excisions of BALB/c mice were transplanted with epidermal cell sheets. To assess the tumorigenicity of IDO+ keratinocytes, BALB/c nude mouse xenograft models were also used. CD3 and CD31 immunofluorescence labeling of wound tissue on day 12 to identify T lymphocyte infiltration and capillary development. ELISA measurement of IL-1 and TNF-α concentrations.

Results

IDO + keratinocytes dramatically enhanced the expression levels of IDO mRNA and protein, as well as the amount of kynurenine in the conditioned media of IDO+ keratinocytes, compared to the Control and NC groups. CD8+ T cell apoptosis was considerably greater in the IDO group than in the Control and NC groups. Nevertheless, the proliferation and migratory capabilities of IDO+ keratinocytes were not substantially different from those of the Control and NC groups. In vitro cultivation of the hypoimmunogenic epidermal cell sheet was effective. In vivo transplantation experiments demonstrated that IDO+ epidermal cell sheets can effectively promote wound healing without tumorigenicity, and IDO+ epidermal cell sheets may promote wound healing by decreasing the expression levels of inflammatory factors (TNF and IL-1) in wound tissue, decreasing CD3+ T lymphocytes, and increasing infiltration and new capillaries in wound tissue.

Conclusion

In this study, we successfully constructed the hypoimmunogenic epidermal cell sheet and demonstrated that the hypoimmunogenic epidermal cell sheet could accelerate wound healing.

The Cell-Isolation Capsules with Rod-Like Channels Ensure the Survival and Response of Cancer Cells to Their Microenvironment

Current macrocapsules with semipermeable but immunoprotective polymeric membranes are attractive devices to achieve the purpose of immunoisolation, however, their ability to allow diffusion of essential nutrients and oxygen is limited, which leads to a low survival rate of encapsulated cells. Here, a novel method is reported by taking advantage of thermotropic liquid crystals, sodium laurylsulfonate (SDS) liquid crystals (LCs), and rod-like crystal fragments (LCFs) to develop engineered alginate hydrogels with rod-like channels. This cell-isolation capsule with an engineered alginate hydrogel-wall allows small molecules, large molecules, and bacteria to diffuse out from the capsules freely but immobilizes the encapsulated cells inside and prevents cells in the microenvironment from moving in. The encapsulated cells show a high survival rate with isolation of host immune cells and long-term growth with adequate nutrients and oxygen supply. In addition, by sharing and responding to the normal molecular and vesicular microenvironment (NMV microenvironment), encapsulated cancer cells display a transition from tumorous phenotypes to ductal features of normal epithelial cells. Thus, this device will be potentially useful for clinical application in cell therapy by secreting molecules and for establishment of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models that are often difficult to achieve for certain types of tumors, such as prostate cancer.

Targeted Delivery of Erythropoietin Hybridized with Magnetic Nanocarriers for the Treatment of Central Nervous System Injury: A Literature Review

Although the incidence of central nervous system injuries has continued to rise, no promising treatments have been elucidated. Erythropoietin plays an important role in neuroprotection and neuroregeneration as well as in erythropoiesis. Moreover, the current worldwide use of erythropoietin in the treatment of hematologic diseases allows for its ready application in patients with central nervous system injuries. However, erythropoietin has a very short therapeutic time window (within 6–8 hours) after injury, and it has both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic receptors, which exhibit heterogenic and phylogenetic differences. These differences lead to limited amounts of erythropoietin binding to in situ erythropoietin receptors. The lack of high-quality evidence for clinical use and the promising results of in vitro/in vivo models necessitate fast targeted delivery agents such as nanocarriers. Among current nanocarriers, noncovalent polymer-entrapping or polymer-adsorbing erythropoietin obtained by nanospray drying may be the most promising. With the incorporation of magnetic nanocarriers into an erythropoietin polymer, spatiotemporal external magnetic navigation is another area of great interest for targeted delivery within the therapeutic time window. Intravenous administration is the most readily used route. Manufactured erythropoietin nanocarriers should be clearly characterized using bioengineering analyses of the in vivo size distribution and the quality of entrapment or adsorption. Further preclinical trials are required to increase the therapeutic bioavailability (in vivo biological identity alteration, passage through the lung capillaries or the blood brain barrier, and timely degradation followed by removal of the nanocarriers from the body) and decrease the adverse effects (hematological complications, neurotoxicity, and cytotoxicity), especially of the nanocarrier.

Design Principles and Multifunctionality in Cell Encapsulation Systems for Tissue Regeneration

Cell encapsulation systems are being increasingly applied as multifunctional strategies to regenerate tissues. Lessons afforded with encapsulation systems aiming to treat endocrine diseases seem to be highly valuable for the tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) systems of today, in which tissue regeneration and biomaterial integration are key components. Innumerous multifunctional systems for cell compartmentalization are being proposed to meet the specific needs required in the TERM field. Herein is reviewed the variable geometries proposed to produce cell encapsulation strategies toward tissue regeneration, including spherical and fiber-shaped systems, and other complex shapes and arrangements that better mimic the highly hierarchical organization of native tissues. The application of such principles in the TERM field brings new possibilities for the development of highly complex systems, which holds tremendous promise for tissue regeneration. The complex systems aim to recreate adequate environmental signals found in native tissue (in particular during the regenerative process) to control the cellular outcome, and conferring multifunctional properties, namely the incorporation of bioactive molecules and the ability to create smart and adaptative systems in response to different stimuli. The new multifunctional properties of such systems that are being employed to fulfill the requirements of the TERM field are also discussed.

Encapsulated Optically Responsive Cell Systems: Toward Smart Implants in Biomedicine

Managing increasingly prevalent chronic diseases will require close continuous monitoring of patients. Cell-based biosensors may be used for implantable diagnostic systems to monitor health status. Cells are indeed natural sensors in the body. Functional cellular systems can be maintained in the body for long-term implantation using cell encapsulation technology. By taking advantage of recent progress in miniaturized optoelectronic systems, the genetic engineering of optically responsive cells may be combined with cell encapsulation to generate smart implantable cell-based sensing systems. In biomedical research, cell-based biosensors may be used to study cell signaling, therapeutic effects, and dosing of bioactive molecules in preclinical models. Today, a wide variety of genetically encoded fluorescent sensors have been developed for real-time imaging of living cells. Here, recent developments in genetically encoded sensors, cell encapsulation, and ultrasmall optical systems are highlighted. The integration of these components in a new generation of biosensors is creating innovative smart in vivo cell-based systems, bringing novel perspectives for biomedical research and ultimately allowing unique health monitoring applications.

Toward Customized Extracellular Niche Engineering: Progress in Cell-Entrapment Technologies

The primary aim in tissue engineering is to repair, replace, and regenerate dysfunctional tissues to restore homeostasis. Cell delivery for repair and regeneration is gaining impetus with our understanding of constructing tissue-like environments. However, the perpetual challenge is to identify innovative materials or re-engineer natural materials to model cell-specific tissue-like 3D modules, which can seamlessly integrate and restore functions of the target organ. To devise an optimal functional microenvironment, it is essential to define how simple is complex enough to trigger tissue regeneration or restore cellular function. Here, the purposeful transition of cell immobilization from a cytoprotection point of view to that of a cell-instructive approach is examined, with advances in the understanding of cell-material interactions in a 3D context, and with a view to further application of the knowledge for the development of newer and complex hierarchical tissue assemblies for better examination of cell behavior and offering customized cell-based therapies for tissue engineering.

Encapsulated cellular implants for recombinant protein delivery and therapeutic modulation of the immune system

Ex vivo gene therapy using retrievable encapsulated cellular implants is an effective strategy for the local and/or chronic delivery of therapeutic proteins. In particular, it is considered an innovative approach to modulate the activity of the immune system. Two recently proposed therapeutic schemes using genetically engineered encapsulated cells are discussed here: the chronic administration of monoclonal antibodies for passive immunization against neurodegenerative diseases and the local delivery of a cytokine as an adjuvant for anti-cancer vaccines.

Oxygen supply to encapsulated therapeutic cells

Therapeutic cells encapsulated in immunobarrier devices have promise for treatment of a variety of human diseases without immunosuppression. The absence of sufficient oxygen supply to maintain viability and function of encapsulated tissue has been the most critical impediment to progress. Within the framework of oxygen supply limitations, we review the major issues related to development of these devices, primarily in the context of encapsulated islets of Langerhans for treating diabetes, including device designs and materials, supply of tissue, protection from immune rejection, and maintenance of cell viability and function. We describe various defensive measures investigated to enhance survival of transplanted tissue, and we review the diverse approaches to enhancement of oxygen transport to encapsulated tissue, including manipulation of diffusion distances and oxygen permeability of materials, induction of neovascularization with angiogenic factors and vascularizing membranes, and methods for increasing the oxygen concentration adjacent to encapsulated tissue so as to exceed that in the microvasculature. Recent developments, particularly in this latter area, suggest that the field is ready for clinical trials of encapsulated therapeutic cells to treat diabetes.

Polymers in cell encapsulation from an enveloped cell perspective

In the past two decades, many polymers have been proposed for producing immunoprotective capsules. Examples include the natural polymers alginate, agarose, chitosan, cellulose, collagen, and xanthan and synthetic polymers poly(ethylene glycol), polyvinyl alcohol, polyurethane, poly(ether-sulfone), polypropylene, sodium polystyrene sulfate, and polyacrylate poly(acrylonitrile-sodium methallylsulfonate). The biocompatibility of these polymers is discussed in terms of tissue responses in both the host and matrix to accommodate the functional survival of the cells. Cells should grow and function in the polymer network as adequately as in their natural environment. This is critical when therapeutic cells from scarce cadaveric donors are considered, such as pancreatic islets. Additionally, the cell mass in capsules is discussed from the perspective of emerging new insights into the release of so-called danger-associated molecular pattern molecules by clumps of necrotic therapeutic cells. We conclude that despite two decades of intensive research, drawing conclusions about which polymer is most adequate for clinical application is still difficult. This is because of the lack of documentation on critical information, such as the composition of the polymer, the presence or absence of confounding factors that induce immune responses, toxicity to enveloped cells, and the permeability of the polymer network. Only alginate has been studied extensively and currently qualifies for application. This review also discusses critical issues that are not directly related to polymers and are not discussed in the other reviews in this issue, such as the functional performance of encapsulated cells in vivo. Physiological endocrine responses may indeed not be expected because of the many barriers that the metabolites encounter when traveling from the blood stream to the enveloped cells and back to circulation. However, despite these diffusion barriers, many studies have shown optimal regulation, allowing us to conclude that encapsulated grafts do not always follow nature's course but are still a possible solution for many endocrine disorders for which the minute-to-minute regulation of metabolites is mandatory.

Chitosan dermal substitute and chitosan skin substitute contribute to accelerated full-thickness wound healing in irradiated rats

Wounds with full-thickness skin loss are commonly managed by skin grafting. In the absence of a graft, reepithelialization is imperfect and leads to increased scar formation. Biomaterials can alter wound healing so that it produces more regenerative tissue and fewer scars. This current study use the new chitosan based biomaterial in full-thickness wound with impaired healing on rat model. Wounds were evaluated after being treated with a chitosan dermal substitute, a chitosan skin substitute, or duoderm CGF. Wounds treated with the chitosan skin substitute showed the most re-epithelialization (33.2 ± 2.8%), longest epithelial tongue (1.62 ± 0.13 mm), and shortest migratory tongue distance (7.11 ± 0.25 mm). The scar size of wounds treated with the chitosan dermal substitute (0.13 ± 0.02 cm) and chitosan skin substitute (0.16 ± 0.05 cm) were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) compared with duoderm (0.45 ± 0.11 cm). Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) expression on days 7, 14, and 21 revealed the presence of human hair follicle stem cells and fibroblasts that were incorporated into and surviving in the irradiated wound. We have proven that a chitosan dermal substitute and chitosan skin substitute are suitable for wound healing in full-thickness wounds that are impaired due to radiation.

Clinical translation of stem cell therapy in traumatic brain injury: the potential of encapsulated mesenchymal cell biodelivery of glucagon-like peptide-1

Traumatic brain injury remains a major cause of death and disability; it is estimated that annually 10 million people are affected. Preclinical studies have shown the potential therapeutic value of stem cell therapies. Neuroprotective as well as regenerative properties of stem cells have been suggested to be the mechanism of action in preclinical studies. However, up to now stem cell therapy has not been studied extensively in clinical trials. This article summarizes the current experimental evidence and points out hurdles for clinical application. Focusing on a cell therapy in the acute stage of head injury, the potential of encapsulated cell biodelivery as a novel cell-therapeutic approach will also be discussed.

Emerging technologies in the delivery of erythropoietin for therapeutics

Deciphering the function of proteins and their roles in signaling pathways is one of the main goals of biomedical research, especially from the perspective of uncovering pathways that may ultimately be exploited for therapeutic benefit. Over the last half century, a greatly expanded understanding of the biology of the glycoprotein hormone erythropoietin (Epo) has emerged from regulator of the circulating erythrocyte mass to a widely used therapeutic agent. Originally viewed as the renal hormone responsible for erythropoiesis, recent in vivo studies in animal models and clinical trials demonstrate that many other tissues locally produce Epo independent of its effects on red blood cell mass. Thus, not only its hematopoietic activity but also the recently discovered nonerythropoietic actions in addition to new drug delivery systems are being thoroughly investigated in order to fulfill the specific Epo release requirements for each therapeutic approach. The present review focuses on updating the information previously provided by similar reviews and recent experimental approaches are presented to describe the advances in Epo drug delivery achieved in the last few years and future perspectives.

Therapeutic concentrations of glucagon-like peptide-1 in cerebrospinal fluid following cell-based delivery into the cerebral ventricles of cats

Background

Neuropeptides may have considerable potential in the treatment of acute and chronic neurological diseases. Encapsulated genetically engineered cells have been suggested as a means for sustained local delivery of such peptides to the brain. In our experiments, we studied human mesenchymal stem cells which were transfected to produce glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).

Methods

Cells were packed in a water-permeable mesh bag containing 400 polymeric microcapsules, each containing 3000 cells. The mesh bags were either transplanted into the subdural space, into the brain parenchyma or into the cerebral ventricles of the cat brain. Mesh bags were explanted after two weeks, and cell viability, as well as GLP-1 concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), was measured.

Results

Viability of cells did not significantly differ between the three implantation sites. However, CSF concentration of GLP-1 was significantly elevated only after ventricular transplantation with a maximum concentration of 73 pM (binding constant = 70 pM).

Conclusions

This study showed that ventricular cell-based delivery of soluble factors has the capability to achieve concentrations in the CSF which may become pharmacologically active. Despite the controversy about the pharmacokinetic limitations of ventricular drug delivery, there might be a niche in this for encapsulated cell biodelivery of soluble, highly biologically-effective neuropeptides of low molecular weight like GLP-1.

Cell encapsulation technology as a novel strategy for human anti-tumor immunotherapy

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as an adjuvant in autologous cell-based anti-tumor immunotherapy has recently been approved for clinical application. To avoid the need for individualized processing of autologous cells, we developed a novel strategy based on the encapsulation of GM-CSF-secreting human allogeneic cells. GM-CSF-producing K562 cells showed high, stable and reproducible cytokine secretion when enclosed into macrocapsules. For clinical development, the cryopreservation of these devices is critical. Thawing of capsules frozen at different time points displayed differences in GM-CSF release shortly after thawing. However, similar secretion values to those of non-frozen control capsules were obtained 8 days after thawing at a rate of >1000 ng GM-CSF per capsule every 24 h. For future human application, longer and reinforced capsules were designed. After irradiation and cryopreservation, these capsules produced >300 ng GM-CSF per capsule every 24 h 1 week after thawing. The in vivo implantation of encapsulated K562 cells was evaluated in mice and showed preserved cell survival. Finally, as a proof of principle of biological activity, capsules containing B16-GM-CSF allogeneic cells implanted in mice induced a prompt inflammatory reaction. The ability to reliably achieve high adjuvant release using a standardized procedure may lead to a new clinical application of GM-CSF in cell-based cancer immunization.

Epo delivery by genetically engineered C2C12 myoblasts immobilized in microcapsules

ver the last half century, the use of erythropoietin (Epo) in the management of malignancies has been extensively studied. Originally viewed as the renal hormone responsible for red blood cell production, many recent in vivo and clinical approaches demonstrate that various tissues locally produce Epo in response to physical or metabolic stress. Thus, not only its circulating erythrocyte mass regulator activity but also the recently discovered nonhematological actions are being thoroughly investigated in order to fulfill the specific Epo delivery requirements for each therapeutic approach.

Twisting immune responses for allogeneic stem cell therapy

Stem cell-derived tissues and organs have the potential to change modern clinical science. However, rejection of allogeneic grafts by the host's immune system is an issue which needs to be addressed before embryonic stem cell-derived cells or tissues can be used as medicines. Mismatches in human leukocyte class I antigens and minor histocompatibility antigens are the central factors that are responsible for various graft-versus-host diseases. Traditional strategies usually involve suppressing the whole immune systems with drugs. There are many side effects associated with these methods. Here, we discuss an emerging strategy for manipulating the central immune tolerance by naturally "introducing" donor antigens to a host so a recipient can acquire tolerance specifically to the donor cells or tissues. This strategy has two distinct stages. The first stage restores the thymic function of adult patients with sex steroid inhibitory drugs (LHRH-A), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), interleukin 7 (IL-7) and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3). The second stage introduces hematopoietic stem cells and their downstream progenitors to the restored thymus by direct injection. Hematopoietic stem cells are used to introduce donor antigens because they have priority access to the thymus. We also review several clinical cases to explain this new strategy.

Erythropoietin: physiology and molecular mechanisms

Erythropoietin, the primary regulator of erythropoiesis, is produced by the kidney and levels vary inversely with oxygen availability. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), a major transcriptional regulator of several hypoxia-sensitive genes, including erythropoietin, is functionally deactivated by oxygen in a reaction catalyzed by prolyl hydroxylase. Erythropoietin acts by binding to a specific trans-membrane dimeric receptor which has been found in erythroid and non-erythroid cell types. The interaction between erythropoietin and its receptor ultimately leads to conformational change and phosphorylation of the receptor and expression of genes coding for proteins that are anti-apoptotic. Development of erythropoietin stimulating agents is an area of active research. To date, research has focused on activating the erythropoietin receptor, prevention of HIF-1 inactivation, and gene therapy. Even with biologically effective therapies, defining appropriate hemoglobin targets remains challenging. For example, despite decades of clinical trials, target hemoglobin levels in chronic kidney disease remain uncertain, as hemoglobin targets above 13 g/dl have been associated with both benefit (quality of life) and harm (cardiovascular events).

Encapsulated cell biodelivery of GDNF: a novel clinical strategy for neuroprotection and neuroregeneration in Parkinson's disease?

The main pathology underlying disease symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive degeneration of nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) neurons. No effective disease-modifying treatment currently exists. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has neuroprotective and neuroregenerative effects and it enhances dopaminergic function in animal models of PD. These findings raise the possibility that intrastriatal administration of GDNF might be developed into a new clinical strategy for functional preservation and restoration also in PD patients. Gene therapy is a novel tool to increase local levels of GDNF. Transplantation of encapsulated, GDNF-secreting cells is one strategy for ex vivo cell-based gene delivery which has the advantage to allow for removal of the cells if untoward effects occur. Here we summarize studies with such cells in animals, and discuss the results from previous trials with GDNF in PD patients and their implications for the further development of neuroprotective/neuroregenerative therapies. Finally, we describe the different scientific and regulatory issues that need to be addressed in order to reach the clinic and start the first trial in patients.

Recent advances in erythropoietic agents in renal anemia

Red cell production in chronic kidney disease is usually too low to maintain a normal haemoglobin, and thus anaemia develops in a large proportion of patients. The ability to stimulate erythropoiesis in the bone marrow by the use of therapeutic agents has only been possible in the last 20 years, initially with recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin), and later darbepoetin alfa. Many new agents are, however, in clinical development, and these include CERA, Hematide, and HIF stabilisers, in addition to the imminent launch of biosimilar epoetins. The main issue with biosimilars is the unknown risk of immunogenicity. CERA is a large molecule, approximately twice the size of epoetin, which was created by integrating a single polymer chain into the erythropoietin molecule. CERA has a much prolonged half-life, and Phase II and III clinical trials have investigated administration of CERA every 3 or 4 weeks. Hematide is derived from original research on the erythropoietin-mimetic peptides, and is in Phase II of its clinical trial programme. Again, this compound is being investigated as a once-monthly administration. The HIF stabilizers are orally-active inhibitors of the enzyme that degrades hypoxia-inducible factor (prolyl hydroxylase), and this leads to upregulation of erythropoietin gene expression. Other strategies for stimulating erythropoiesis, briefly described in this review, are at an earlier stage of development. This is an exciting and rapidly developing area of scientific and translational research.

Novel strategies for stimulating erythropoiesis and potential new treatments for anaemia

As with many other therapeutic areas in modern-day medicine, scientific advances in drug development (using such techniques as recombinant DNA technology, site-directed mutagenesis, pegylation of molecules, peptide library screening, and gene transfer) have resulted in the development of potential new agents and strategies for stimulating erythropoiesis. These advances are of possible benefit in treating anaemia due to various causes, including chronic renal failure. Several new treatments will soon become clinically available, while others are at present at an early stage of development but are nevertheless of scientific interest. We review these new therapeutic strategies, and discuss at what stage some of the newer products are in relation to their clinical development programme.

Biocompatibility of alginate–poly-l-lysine microcapsules for cell therapy☆

Cell microencapsulation holds promise for the treatment of many diseases by the continuous delivery of therapeutic products. The biocompatibility of the microcapsules and their biomaterials components is a critical issue for the long-term efficacy of this technology. The objective of this paper is to provide detailed information about the principal factors affecting the biocompatibility of alginates and alginate-poly-l-lysine microcapsules, which are the most frequently employed biomaterials and encapsulation devices for cell immobilization, respectively. Some of these factors include the alginate composition and purification, the selection of the polycation, the interactions between the alginates and the polycation, the microcapsule fabrication process, the uniformity of the devices and the implantation procedure. Improved knowledge will lead to the production of standardized transplantation-grade biomaterials and biocompatible microcapsules.

Skin-Derived Micro-Organs Induce Angiogenesis in Rabbits

We have recently reported an alternative cell therapy approach to induce angiogenesis. The approach is based on small organ fragments--micro-organs (MOs)--whose geometry allows preservation of the natural epithelial/mesenchymal interactions and ensures appropriate diffusion of nutrients and gases to all cells. We have shown that lung-derived MOs, when implanted into hosts, transcribe a wide spectrum array of angiogenic factors and can induce an angiogenic response that can rescue experimentally induced ischemic regions in mice. From a clinical perspective, skin-derived MOs are particularly appealing as they could readily be obtained from a skin biopsy taken from the same target patient. In the present work we have investigated the angiogenesis-inducing capacity of rabbit and human skin-derived micro-organs in vitro and in vivo. Rabbit skin MOs were implanted into homologous adult rabbits and human skin MOs were encapsulated and implanted into xenogenic mice. Skin-derived MOs, as lung-derived MOs, were found to secrete a whole array of angiogenic factors and to induce a powerful angiogenic response when implanted back into animals. We believe the approach presented suggests a novel, efficacious and simple approach for therapeutic angiogenesis.

Ex vivo transduction of human dermal tissue structures for autologous implantation production and delivery of therapeutic proteins

Systemic delivery of therapeutic proteins through gene transfer approaches has been carried out mostly by ex vivo transduction of single cells or by direct in vivo injection of an expression vector. In this work an intact miniature biopsy of human dermis (microdermis) is harvested and transduced ex vivo by a viral vector encoding a gene for the therapeutic protein. The microdermis preserves its three-dimensional structure and viability during the ex vivo manipulations. Furthermore, upon transduction with adenoviral and adeno-associated viral vectors the microdermis secretes recombinant human erythropoietin (hEPO). Biochemical analysis of the secreted hEPO showed similarity to the clinically approved recombinant hEPO. Subcutaneous implantation of microdermal hEPO into SCID mice exhibited hEPO secretion in the blood circulation and preserved elevated hematocrit for several months, demonstrating the technology's potential for sustained delivery of protein therapeutics.

Significant tumor regression induced by microencapsulation of recombinant tumor cells secreting fusion protein

Implantation of microencapsulated engineered cells secreting molecules with antineoplastic properties into tumors is a novel approach to cancer gene therapy. In this study, we constructed an engineered tumor cell line, VkCk/RM4-TNF-alpha, which secreted RM4/TNF-alpha fusion protein containing the chimeric antitumor antibody, F(ab')2 (RM4), recognizing the tumor antigen TAG72, as well as the TNF-alpha moiety. The engineered cells were encapsulated into microencapsules. The RM4/TNF-alpha fusion protein secreted by encapsulated VkCk/RM4-TNF-alpha cells could be diffused through the microencapsule membrane into the supernatant and exert a cytotoxic effect on L929 cells in vitro. The antigen-specific binding-reactivity of RM4/TNF-alpha for the TAG72 antigen was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining of rat LMCR tumor cells which expressed TAG72 antigen. Implantation of microencapsules containing VkCk/RM4-TNF-alpha cells into LMCR tumors in rats induced tumor regression as a result of tumor necrosis formation. Taken together, these data suggest that microencapsulation of recombinant tumor cells secreting antibody/cytokine fusion protein might be an alternative approach in the treatment of cancers.