Immunotherapy of a human papillomavirus type 16 E7-expressing tumor by administration of fusion protein comprised of Mycobacterium bovis BCG Hsp65 and HPV16 E7

Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) infection has been linked to the development of cervical and anal dysplasia and cancer. One hallmark of persistent infection is the synthesis of the viral E7 protein in cervical epithelial cells. The expression of E7 in dysplastic and transformed cells and its recognition by the immune system as a foreign antigen make it an ideal target for immunotherapy. Utilizing the E7-expressing murine tumor cell line, TC-1, as a model of cervical carcinoma, an immunotherapy based on the administration of an adjuvant-free fusion protein comprised of Mycobacterium bovis BCG Hsp65 linked to HPV16 E7 (HspE7) has been developed. Initial in vitro analyses indicate that immunization with HspE7 results in the induction of a type 1 immune response based on the pattern of secreted cytokines and the presence of cytolytic activity following antigenic recall. It has been previously shown that prophylactic immunization with HspE7 protected mice against challenge with TC-1 cells and that these tumor-free animals are also protected against rechallenge with TC-1 cells. The present report shows that a single therapeutic immunization with HspE7 induces regression of palpable tumors, confers protection against tumor rechallenge, and is associated with long-term survival (>253 days). In vivo studies using mice with targeted mutations in CD8 or MHC class II or depleted of CD8 or CD4 lymphocyte subsets demonstrate that tumor regression following therapeutic HspE7 immunization is CD8 dependent and CD4 independent. These studies extend previous observations on the induction of CTL by Hsp fusion proteins and are consistent with the clinical application of HspE7 as an immunotherapy for human cervical and anal dysplasia and cancer.

Immunotherapy of a human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 E7-expressing tumour by administration of fusion protein comprising Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) hsp65 and HPV16 E7

Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) infection has been linked to the development of cervical and anal dysplasia and cancer. One hallmark of persistent infection is the synthesis of the viral E7 protein in cervical epithelial cells. The expression of E7 in dysplastic and transformed cells and its recognition by the immune system as a foreign antigen make it an ideal target for immunotherapy. Utilizing the E7-expressing murine tumour cell line, TC-1, as a model of cervical carcinoma, an immunotherapy based on the administration of an adjuvant-free fusion protein comprising Mycobacterium bovis BCG heat shock protein (hsp)65 linked to HPV16 E7 (hspE7) has been developed. The data show that prophylactic immunization with hspE7 protects mice against challenge with TC-1 cells and that these tumour-free animals are also protected against re-challenge with TC-1 cells. In addition, therapeutic immunization with hspE7 induces regression of palpable tumours, confers protection against tumour re-challenge and is associated with long-term survival (> 253 days). In vitro analyses indicated that immunization with hspE7 leads to the induction of a Th1-like cell-mediated immune response based on the pattern of secreted cytokines and the presence of cytolytic activity following antigenic recall. In vivo studies using mice with targeted mutations in CD8 or MHC class II or depleted of CD8 or CD4 lymphocyte subsets demonstrate that tumour regression following therapeutic hspE7 immunization is CD8-dependent and CD4-independent. These studies extend previous observations on the induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes by hsp fusion proteins and are consistent with the clinical application of hspE7 as an immunotherapy for human cervical and anal dysplasia and cancer.

Priming of CD8+ CTL effector cells in mice by immunization with a stress protein-influenza virus nucleoprotein fusion molecule

Literature is accumulating which suggests the potential for stress proteins to form the basis of a novel vaccine technology. Immunization with mammalian tumor-derived stress proteins and their associated peptides promote anti-tumor immunity. Vaccination with HIV-1 p24 antigen fused to mycobacterial heat shock protein (Hsp) Hsp71 enhances p24-specific immunity, as measured by p24-specific antibody production and in vitro cell proliferation and cytokine induction. An ovalbumin-Hsp71 fusion protein primes ovalbumin-specific CTL activity and resistance to challenge with an ovalbumin-expressing tumor. We have extended these observations by using a mycobacterial Hsp65 fusion molecule to prime CTL specific for a viral antigen. Gene fusion constructs were generated from DNA encoding Mycobacterium bovis strain BCG Hsp65 and individual fragments of influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP) encompassing H-2Kd- and H-2Db-restricted CTL epitopes. The ability of these purified recombinant fusion proteins to prime NP-specific CTL was assessed in mice of appropriate H-2 haplotypes. We observed that adjuvant-free immunization with either fusion protein elicited significant CTL activity when administered at doses of 10-100 micrograms per mouse. An NP fusion protein made with glutathione-S-transferase failed to elicit NP-specific CTL, indicating that the phenomenon requires Hsp65 sequences. A single immunization with the Hsp65-NP fusion protein elicited CTL activity which persisted for a minimum of 4 months post-immunization, at which time it could be boosted by a second immunization. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a member of the Hsp60 family priming for antigen-specific CTL activity when employed as a fusion protein partner.

The two mammalian mitochondrial stress proteins, grp 75 and hsp 58, transiently interact with newly synthesized mitochondrial proteins

In mammalian cells, two of the so-called heat shock (hsp) or stress proteins are components of the mitochondria. One of these, hsp 58, is a member of the bacterial GroEL family, whereas the other, glucose-regulated protein (grp) 75, represents a member of the hsp 70 family of stress proteins. Owing to previous studies implicating a role for both the hsp 70 and GroEL families in facilitating protein maturation events, we used the method of native immunoprecipitation to examine whether hsp 58 and grp 75 might interact with other proteins of the mitochondria. In cells pulse-labeled with [35S]-methionine, a significant number of newly synthesized mitochondrial proteins co-precipitated with either hsp 58 or grp 75. Such interactions appeared transient. For example, providing the pulse-labeled cells a subsequent chase period in the absence of radiolabel resulted in a reduction of co-precipitating proteins. If the pulse-chase labeling experiments were performed in the presence of an amino acid analogue, somewhat different results were obtained. Specifically, although many of the newly synthesized and analogue-containing proteins again were observed to co-precipitate with grp 75, the interactions did not appear transient, but instead were stable. Under steady-state labeling conditions, we also observed a portion of hsp 58 and grp 75 in an apparent complex with one another. On addition of ATP, the complex was dissociated. Accompanying this dissociation was the concomitant autophosphorylation of grp 75. On the basis of these observations, as well as previous studies examining the structure/function of the hsp 70 and GroEL proteins, we suspect that both hsp 58 and grp 75 interact with and facilitate the folding and assembly of proteins as they enter into the mitochondria.

Response of mammalian cells to metabolic stress; changes in cell physiology and structure/function of stress proteins

In response to adverse changes in their local environment, cells or tissues from all organisms increase the expression of a group of proteins referred to as heat shock or stress proteins. Collectively, the stress proteins are thought to provide the cell with some degree of protection during the environmental insult as well as facilitate the repair and recovery of metabolic pathways perturbed as a consequence of the stress event. Within the past few years it has become apparent that most all of the stress proteins are present in appreciable levels in the unstressed cell and are involved in a number of very basic and essential biochemical pathways. The present review has discussed pertinent changes in cell physiology in mammalian cells experiencing metabolic stress. In addition, considerable attention has been given to discussing the properties and possible functions of the individual stress proteins.

Constitutive expression of a groEL-related protein on the surface of human gamma/delta cells

Rabbit antibodies to hsp58 (P1), the human homologue of the Escherichia coli stress protein groEL, react specifically in indirect immunofluorescence and complement-dependent microcytoxicity experiments with a cell surface antigen expressed constitutively by T cell lines bearing gamma/delta receptors. This anti-hsp58-reactive antigen is not demonstrable on T cells that express alpha/beta receptors or on various cells that lack T cell receptors. Certain evidence was obtained to suggest that the target antigen on the surface of gamma/delta T cells is a approximately 77-kD protein distinct from intracellular hsp58 and known members of the hsp70 stress protein family. While the exact nature and significance of this anti-hsp58-reactive protein remain to be determined, these data may help to clarify the roles of groEL-related stress proteins and gamma/delta cells that recognize groEL homologous in immunologic defense against infection and in autoimmune disease.

Identification, characterization, and purification of two mammalian stress proteins present in mitochondria, grp 75, a member of the hsp 70 family and hsp 58, a homolog of the bacterial groEL protein

We describe the identification, characterization, and purification of two members of the mammalian stress protein family, both of which are shown to be components of the mitochondria. The first, with an apparent mass of 58,000 daltons, is a constitutive protein whose synthesis increases in cells exposed to elevated temperatures and/or amino acid analogs and is therefore referred to as heat shock protein hsp 58 (hsp 58). The second, with an apparent mass of 75,000 daltons, is also a constitutive protein whose synthesis is increased in cells following glucose deprivation or exposure to either a calcium ionophore or 2-deoxyglucose and therefore represents a member of the so-called glucose-regulated proteins (grp 75). In cells treated with the potassium ionophore, nonactin, both hsp 58 and grp 75 were observed to accumulate in precursor form. Since nonactin has been reported to specifically inhibit the processing of cytoplasmic precursor proteins destined for the mitochondria, we investigated whether mature hsp 58 and grp 75 were components of the mitochondria. Mitochondria were isolated from rat liver and shown to contain both hsp 58 and grp 75. Indirect immunofluorescence using antibodies specific to either hsp 58 or grp 75 confirmed their presence within mitochondria. Proteolytic digestion experiments with intact mitochondria indicated that both proteins were not accessible to external proteolytic attack, suggesting that they are not exposed on the cytoplasmic face of the outer membrane. Based on a variety of biochemical and immunological criteria, grp 75 is shown to be a member of the hsp 70 family of stress proteins, while hsp 58 represents the mammalian equivalent of the bacterial groEL protein. Procedures for the purification of both hsp 58 and grp 75 are presented. The possible biochemical role of these two mitochondrial stress proteins is discussed in relation to the known biochemical function of their related stress protein counterparts.

Heat shock is lethal to fibroblasts microinjected with antibodies against hsp70

Synthesis of a small group of highly conserved proteins in response to elevated temperature and other agents that induce stress is a universal feature of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Although correlative evidence suggests that these proteins play a role in enhancing survival during and after stress, there is no direct evidence to support this in mammalian cells. To assess the role of the most highly conserved heat shock protein (hsp) family during heat shock, affinity-purified monoclonal antibodies to hsp70 were introduced into fibroblasts by needle microinjection. In addition to impairing the heat-induced translocation of hsp70 proteins into the nucleus after mild heat shock treatment, injected cells were unable to survive a brief incubation at 45 degrees C. Cells injected with control antibodies survived a similar heat shock. These results indicate that functional hsp70 is required for survival of these cells during and after thermal stress.

Characterization of the thermotolerant cell. I. Effects on protein synthesis activity and the regulation of heat-shock protein 70 expression

Exposure of mammalian cells to a nonlethal heat-shock treatment, followed by a recovery period at 37 degrees C, results in increased cell survival after a subsequent and otherwise lethal heat-shock treatment. Here we characterize this phenomenon, termed acquired thermotolerance, at the level of translation. In a number of different mammalian cell lines given a severe 45 degrees C/30-min shock and then returned to 37 degrees C, protein synthesis was completely inhibited for as long as 5 h. Upon resumption of translational activity, there was a marked induction of heat-shock (or stress) protein synthesis, which continued for several hours. In contrast, cells first made thermotolerant (by a pretreatment consisting of a 43 degrees C/1.5-h shock and further recovery at 37 degrees C) and then presented with the 45 degrees C/30-min shock exhibited considerably less translational inhibition and an overall reduction in the amount of subsequent stress protein synthesis. The acquisition and duration of such "translational tolerance" was correlated with the expression, accumulation, and relative half-lives of the major stress proteins of 72 and 73 kD. Other agents that induce the synthesis of the stress proteins, such as sodium arsenite, similarly resulted in the acquisition of translational tolerance. The probable role of the stress proteins in the acquisition of translational tolerance was further indicated by the inability of the amino acid analogue, L-azetidine 2-carboxylic acid, an inducer of nonfunctional stress proteins, to render cells translationally tolerant. If, however, analogue-treated cells were allowed to recover in normal medium, and hence produce functional stress proteins, full translational tolerance was observed. Finally, we present data indicating that the 72- and 73-kD stress proteins, in contrast to the other major stress proteins (of 110, 90, and 28 kD), are subject to strict regulation in the stressed cell. Quantitation of 72- and 73-kD synthesis after heat-shock treatment under a number of conditions revealed that "titration" of 72/73-kD synthesis in response to stress may represent a mechanism by which the cell monitors its local growth environment.

Characterization of the thermotolerant cell. II. Effects on the intracellular distribution of heat-shock protein 70, intermediate filaments, and small nuclear ribonucleoprotein complexes

Here we further characterize a number of properties inherent to the thermotolerant cell. In the preceding paper, we showed that the acquisition of the thermotolerant state (by a prior induction of the heat-shock proteins) renders cells translationally tolerant to a subsequent severe heat-shock treatment and thereby results in faster kinetics of both the synthesis and subsequent repression of the stress proteins. Because of the apparent integral role of the 70-kD stress proteins in the acquisition of tolerance, we compared the intracellular distribution of these proteins in both tolerant and nontolerant cells before and after a severe 45 degrees C/30-min shock. In both HeLa and rat embryo fibroblasts, the synthesis and migration of the major stress-induced 72-kD protein into the nucleolus and its subsequent exit was markedly faster in the tolerant cells as compared with the nontolerant cells. Migration of preexisting 72-kD into the nucleolus was shown to be dependent upon heat-shock treatment and independent of active heat-shock protein synthesis. Using both microinjection and immunological techniques, we observed that the constitutive and abundant 73-kD stress protein similarly showed a redistribution from the cytoplasm and nucleus into the nucleolus as a function of heat-shock treatment. We show also that other lesions that occur in cells after heat shock can be prevented or at least minimized if the cells are first made tolerant. Specifically, the heat-induced collapse of the intermediate filament cytoskeleton did not occur in cells rendered thermotolerant. Similarly, the disruption of intranuclear staining patterns of the small nuclear ribonucleoprotein complexes after heat-shock treatment was less apparent in tolerant cells exposed to a subsequent heat-shock treatment.