Telomerase inhibition is an effective therapeutic strategy in TERT promoter-mutant glioblastoma models with low tumor volume

BACKGROUND

Glioblastoma is one of the most lethal forms of cancer, with 5-year survival rates of only 6%. Glioblastoma-targeted therapeutics have been challenging to develop due to significant inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity. Telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (TERT) promoter mutations are the most common known clonal oncogenic mutations in glioblastoma. Telomerase is therefore considered to be a promising therapeutic target against this tumor. However, an important limitation of this strategy is that cell death does not occur immediately after telomerase ablation, but rather after several cell divisions required to reach critically short telomeres. We, therefore, hypothesize that telomerase inhibition would only be effective in glioblastomas with low tumor burden.

METHODS

We used CRISPR interference to knock down TERT expression in TERT promoter-mutant glioblastoma cell lines and patient-derived models. We then measured viability using serial proliferation assays. We also assessed for features of telomere crisis by measuring telomere length and chromatin bridge formation. Finally, we used a doxycycline-inducible CRISPR interference system to knock down TERT expression in vivo early and late in tumor development.

RESULTS

Upon TERT inactivation, glioblastoma cells lose their proliferative ability over time and exhibit telomere shortening and chromatin bridge formation. In vivo, survival is only prolonged when TERT knockdown is induced shortly after tumor implantation, but not when the tumor burden is high.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support the idea that telomerase inhibition would be most effective at treating glioblastomas with low tumor burden, for example in the adjuvant setting after surgical debulking and chemoradiation.

Discovery and characterization of orally bioavailable 4-chloro-6-fluoroisophthalamides as covalent PPARG inverse-agonists

PPAR gamma (PPARG) is a ligand activated transcription factor that regulates genes involved in inflammation, bone biology, lipid homeostasis, as well as a master regulator of adipogenesis and a potential lineage driver of luminal bladder cancer. While PPARG agonists lead to transcriptional activation of canonical target genes, inverse agonists have the opposite effect through inducing a transcriptionally repressive complex leading to repression of canonical target gene expression. While many agonists have been described and tested clinically, inverse agonists offer an underexplored avenue to modulate PPARG biology in vivo. Current inverse agonists lack favorable in vivo properties; herein we describe the discovery and characterization of a series of orally bioavailable 4-chloro-6-fluoroisophthalamides as covalent PPARG inverse-agonists, BAY-5516, BAY-5094, and BAY-9683. Structural studies of this series revealed distinct pre- and post-covalent binding positions, which led to the hypothesis that interactions in the pre-covalent conformation are primarily responsible for driving affinity, while interactions in the post-covalent conformation are more responsible for cellular functional effects by enhancing PPARG interactions with its corepressors. The need to simultaneously optimize for two distinct states may partially explain the steep SAR observed. Exquisite selectivity was achieved over related nuclear receptors in the subfamily due in part to a covalent warhead with low reactivity through an S_NAr mechanism in addition to the specificity gained through covalent binding to a reactive cysteine uniquely positioned within the PPARG LBD. BAY-5516, BAY-5094, and BAY-9683 lead to pharmacodynamic regulation of PPARG target gene expression in vivo comparable to known inverse agonist SR10221 and represent new tools for future in vivo studies to explore their potential utility for treatment of disorders of hyperactivated PPARG including luminal bladder cancer and other disorders.

Discovery and Structure-Based Design of Potent Covalent PPARγ Inverse-Agonists and

The ligand-activated nuclear receptor peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARG or PPARγ) represents a potential target for a new generation of cancer therapeutics, especially in muscle-invasive luminal bladder cancer where PPARγ is a critical lineage driver. Here we disclose the discovery of a series of chloro-nitro-arene covalent inverse-agonists of PPARγ that exploit a benzoxazole core to improve interactions with corepressors NCOR1 and NCOR2. In vitro treatment of sensitive cell lines with these compounds results in the robust regulation of PPARγ target genes and antiproliferative effects. Despite their imperfect physicochemical properties, the compounds showed modest pharmacodynamic target regulation in vivo. Improvements to the in vitro potency and efficacy of BAY-4931 and BAY-0069 compared to those of previously described PPARγ inverse-agonists show that these compounds are novel tools for probing the in vitro biology of PPARγ inverse-agonism.

A genome-scale CRISPR screen reveals PRMT1 as a critical regulator of androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancer

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling is the central driver of prostate cancer across disease states. While androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is effective in the initial treatment of prostate cancer, resistance to ADT or to next-generation androgen pathway inhibitors invariably arises, most commonly through the re-activation of the AR axis. Thus, orthogonal approaches to inhibit AR signaling in advanced prostate cancer are essential. Here, via genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 screening, we identify protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) as a critical mediator of AR expression and signaling. PRMT1 regulates the recruitment of AR to genomic target sites and the inhibition of PRMT1 impairs AR binding at lineage-specific enhancers, leading to decreased expression of key oncogenes, including AR itself. In addition, AR-driven prostate cancer cells are uniquely susceptible to combined AR and PRMT1 inhibition. Our findings implicate PRMT1 as a key regulator of AR output and provide a preclinical framework for co-targeting of AR and PRMT1 in advanced prostate cancer.

Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of 4-Aminoquinazolines as Potent Inhibitors of the G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 6 (GRK6) for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma

Both previous and additional genetic knockdown studies reported herein implicate G protein-coupled receptor kinase 6 (GRK6) as a critical kinase required for the survival of multiple myeloma (MM) cells. Therefore, we sought to develop a small molecule GRK6 inhibitor as an MM therapeutic. From a focused library of known kinase inhibitors, we identified two hits with moderate biochemical potencies against GRK6. From these hits, we developed potent (IC₅₀ < 10 nM) analogues with selectivity against off-target kinases. Further optimization led to the discovery of an analogue (18) with an IC₅₀ value of 6 nM against GRK6 and selectivity against a panel of 85 kinases. Compound 18 has potent cellular target engagement and antiproliferative activity against MM cells and is synergistic with bortezomib. In summary, we demonstrate that targeting GRK6 with small molecule inhibitors represents a promising approach for MM and identify 18 as a novel, potent, and selective GRK6 inhibitor.

Abstract 1026: Oncogenic alterations in FGFR3 and ERBB2 lead to ligand-independent activation of PPARG in bladder cancer

PPARG is genomically activated in muscle-invasive bladder cancer through focal PPARG gene amplification and hotspot mutations in its heterodimer partner, RXRA. However, more than half of the PPARG-activated bladder tumors and cell lines do not have identifiable somatic alterations in either PPARG or RXRA. Using a PPARG-driven reporter assay in RT112 bladder cancer cell line, we screened probe compounds to identify candidate drivers of ligand-independent PPARG activation. We found that pan-FGFR inhibitors and MEK1/2 inhibitors antagonized the PPARG-driven reporter assay with potency similar to reported values for their cognate targets (1-20 nM) and interestingly, RT112 cells carry an FGFR3-TACC3 oncogenic fusion. In addition to the expected effects of these inhibitors on phospho-MEK1/2 and phospho-ERK1/2, they also inhibited production of canonical PPARG targets, including FABP4. In a second subset of cell lines, a parallel story was also observed for the effects of ERBB2 inhibitors in ERBB2 hotspot mutant bladder cancer. Taken together, these data uncover additional mechanisms for functional activation of PPARG in bladder cancer, suggest potential resistance mechanisms for FGFR and ERBB2 inhibitors, and provide a rationale for therapeutic combinations of PPARG modulators.

Citation Format: Jonathan T. Goldstein, Ashton C. Berger, Craig A. Strathdee, Matthew Meyerson. Oncogenic alterations in FGFR3 and ERBB2 lead to ligand-independent activation of PPARG in bladder cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1026.

Genome-scale analysis identifies paralog lethality as a vulnerability of chromosome 1p loss in cancer

Functional redundancy shared by paralog genes may afford protection against genetic perturbations, but it can also result in genetic vulnerabilities due to mutual interdependency1-5. Here, we surveyed genome-scale short hairpin RNA and CRISPR screening data on hundreds of cancer cell lines and identified MAGOH and MAGOHB, core members of the splicing-dependent exon junction complex, as top-ranked paralog dependencies6-8. MAGOHB is the top gene dependency in cells with hemizygous MAGOH deletion, a pervasive genetic event that frequently occurs due to chromosome 1p loss. Inhibition of MAGOHB in a MAGOH-deleted context compromises viability by globally perturbing alternative splicing and RNA surveillance. Dependency on IPO13, an importin-β receptor that mediates nuclear import of the MAGOH/B-Y14 heterodimer9, is highly correlated with dependency on both MAGOH and MAGOHB. Both MAGOHB and IPO13 represent dependencies in murine xenografts with hemizygous MAGOH deletion. Our results identify MAGOH and MAGOHB as reciprocal paralog dependencies across cancer types and suggest a rationale for targeting the MAGOHB-IPO13 axis in cancers with chromosome 1p deletion.

Genomic Activation of PPARG Reveals a Candidate Therapeutic Axis in Bladder Cancer

The PPARG gene encoding the nuclear receptor PPARγ is activated in bladder cancer, either directly by gene amplification or mutation, or indirectly by mutation of the RXRA gene, which encodes the heterodimeric partner of PPARγ. Here, we show that activating alterations of PPARG or RXRA lead to a specific gene expression signature in bladder cancers. Reducing PPARG activity, whether by pharmacologic inhibition or genetic ablation, inhibited proliferation of PPARG-activated bladder cancer cells. Our results offer a preclinical proof of concept for PPARG as a candidate therapeutic target in bladder cancer. Cancer Res; 77(24); 6987-98. ©2017 AACR.

Development of novel dual binders as potent, selective, and orally bioavailable tankyrase inhibitors

Tankyrases (TNKS1 and TNKS2) are proteins in the poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) family. They have been shown to directly bind to axin proteins, which negatively regulate the Wnt pathway by promoting β-catenin degradation. Inhibition of tankyrases may offer a novel approach to the treatment of APC-mutant colorectal cancer. Hit compound 8 was identified as an inhibitor of tankyrases through a combination of substructure searching of the Amgen compound collection based on a minimal binding pharmacophore hypothesis and high-throughput screening. Herein we report the structure- and property-based optimization of compound 8 leading to the identification of more potent and selective tankyrase inhibitors 22 and 49 with improved pharmacokinetic properties in rodents, which are well suited as tool compounds for further in vivo validation studies.

Discovery of novel, induced-pocket binding oxazolidinones as potent, selective, and orally bioavailable tankyrase inhibitors

Tankyrase (TNKS) is a poly-ADP-ribosylating protein (PARP) whose activity suppresses cellular axin protein levels and elevates β-catenin concentrations, resulting in increased oncogene expression. The inhibition of tankyrase (TNKS1 and 2) may reduce the levels of β-catenin-mediated transcription and inhibit tumorigenesis. Compound 1 is a previously described moderately potent tankyrase inhibitor that suffers from poor pharmacokinetic properties. Herein, we describe the utilization of structure-based design and molecular modeling toward novel, potent, and selective tankyrase inhibitors with improved pharmacokinetic properties (39, 40).

Robust, reversible gene knockdown using a single lentiviral short hairpin RNA vector

Manipulation of gene expression is an invaluable tool to study gene function in vitro and in vivo. The application of small inhibitory RNAs to knock down gene expression provides a relatively simple, elegant, but transient approach to study gene function in many cell types as well as in whole animals. Short hairpin structures (shRNAs) are a logical advance as they can be expressed continuously and are hence suitable for stable gene knockdown. Drug-inducible systems have now been developed; however, application of the technology has been hampered by persistent problems with low or transient expression, leakiness or poor inducibility of the short hairpin, and lack of reversibility. We have developed a robust, versatile, single lentiviral vector tool that delivers tightly regulated, fully reversible, doxycycline-responsive knockdown of target genes (FOXP3 and MYB), using single short hairpin RNAs. To demonstrate the capabilities of the vector we targeted FOXP3 because it plays a critical role in the development and function of regulatory T cells. We also targeted MYB because of its essential role in hematopoiesis and implication in breast cancer progression. The versatility of this vector is hence demonstrated by knockdown of distinct genes in two biologically separate systems.

Expression of anti-apoptotic factors modulates Apo2L/TRAIL resistance in colon carcinoma cells

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (Apo2L/TRAIL) selectively induces apoptosis in transformed cells. Normal cells and certain tumor cells can evade Apo2L/TRAIL induced cell death, but the determinants of Apo2L/TRAIL sensitivity are poorly understood. To better understand the factors that contribute to Apo2L/TRAIL resistance, we characterized two colon carcinoma lines with pronounced differences in Apo2L/TRAIL sensitivity. Colo205 cells are highly sensitive to Apo2L/TRAIL whereas Colo320 cells are unresponsive. Components of the DISC (death inducing signaling complex) could be immunoprecipitated from both cell lines in response to Apo2L/TRAIL. Sensitizing agents including a proteasome inhibitor conferred Apo2L/TRAIL sensitivity in Colo320 cells, indicating that the apoptotic machinery was intact and functional. We specifically suppressed the expression of Bcl-2, FLIP or XIAP in Colo320 cells. Downregulation of either FLIP or XIAP but not Bcl-2 restored sensitivity of Colo320 cells to Apo2L/TRAIL. Moreover, stable knockdown of XIAP expression in Colo320 subcutaneous tumors resulted in suppression of tumor growth and sensitivity to Apo2L/TRAIL in vivo. Our results indicate that only a specific subset of anti-apoptotic proteins can confer resistance to Apo2L/TRAIL in Colo320 cells. Elucidation of the factors that contribute to Apo2L/TRAIL resistance in tumor cells may provide insight into combination therapies with Apo2L/TRAIL in a clinical setting.

CCL4 protects from type 1 diabetes by altering islet beta-cell-targeted inflammatory responses

We previously reported that interleukin (IL)-4 treatment of nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice elevates intrapancreatic CCL4 expression and protects from type 1 diabetes. Here, we show that antibody neutralization of CCL4 abrogates the ability of T-cells from IL-4-treated NOD mice to transfer protection against type 1 diabetes. Intradermal delivery of CCL4 via a plasmid vector stabilized by incorporation of the Epstein-Barr virus EBNA1/oriP episomal maintenance replicon (pHERO8100-CCL4) to NOD mice beginning at later stages of disease progression protects against type 1 diabetes. This protection was associated with a Th2-like response in the spleen and pancreas; decreased recruitment of activated CD8(+) T-cells to islets, accompanied by diminished CCR5 expression on CD8(+) T-cells; and regulatory T-cell activity in the draining pancreatic lymph nodes. Thus, inflammatory responses that target islet beta-cells are suppressed by CCL4, which implicates the use of CCL4 therapeutically to prevent type 1 diabetes.

A Conditionally Replicating Adenovirus for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Gene Therapy

Successful attainment of tumor-specific gene expression was achieved in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by exploiting the exclusive presence of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome in the cancer cells. In the current study, we have utilized an EBV-dependent transcriptional targeting strategy to construct a novel conditionally replicating adenovirus, adv.oriP.E1A. After treatment with adv.oriP.E1A, we observed extensive cell death in the EBV-positive NPC cell line C666-1. In contrast, no cytotoxicity was observed in a panel of other human EBV-negative cell lines, including fibroblasts from the nasopharynx. In vitro adenoviral replication was confirmed by the time-dependent increase in the expression of adenoviral capsid fiber protein and adenoviral DNA after C666-1 cells were infected with adv.oriP.E1A. Tumor formation was inhibited for more than 100 days after ex vivo infection of C666-1 cells with adv.oriP.E1A. Combination of local tumor radiation and adv.oriP.E1A caused complete disappearance of established tumors for at least 2 weeks in two distinct EBV-positive NPC xenograft models. Safety of this treatment was determined through the systemic delivery of adv.oriP.E1A in vivo, whereby minimal temporary perturbation of liver function was observed. We have successfully established a conditionally replicating adenovirus for EBV-positive NPC, which is both safe and efficacious, indicating a strategy that may be therapeutically applicable.

Regulation of T-cell activation by phosphodiesterase 4B2 requires its dynamic redistribution during immunological synapse formation

Stimulation of T cells through their antigen receptors (TCRs) causes a transient increase in the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP (cAMP). However, sustained high levels of cAMP inhibit T-cell responses, suggesting that TCR signaling is coordinated with the activation of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs). The molecular basis of such a pathway is unknown. Here we show that TCR-dependent signaling activates PDE4B2 and that this enhances interleukin-2 production. Such an effect requires the regulatory N terminus of PDE4B2 and correlates with partitioning within lipid rafts, early targeting of this PDE to the immunological synapse, and subsequent accumulation in the antipodal pole of the T cell as activation proceeds.

A novel costimulatory signaling in human T lymphocytes by a splice variant of CD28

We have characterized a splice variant (isoform) of the human CD28 T cell costimulatory receptor. The nucleotide sequence of this CD28 isoform was identical to that of CD28 in the signal peptide, the transmembrane domain, and the cytoplasmic tail, but it was missing a large segment of the extracellular ligand-binding domain, which is encoded by the second exon. This isoform (CD28i), whose message level exceeded 25% of CD28, was a transmembrane homodimer. CD28i was found noncovalently associated with CD28 and was tyrosine-phosphorylated/PI3-kinase-complexed following the crosslinking of CD28, and the CD28 costimulatory signal was enhanced in T cells expressing CD28i. These data demonstrate that CD28i, via noncovalent association with CD28, plays a role as a costimulatory signal amplifier in human T cells.

Tumor-targeted gene therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

The unique feature of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is its almost universal association with the EBV, which is expressed in a latent form exclusively in cancer cells, and not in the surrounding tissues. We have exploited this differential by constructing a novel replication-deficient adenovirus vector (ad5.oriP) in which transgene expression is under the transcriptional regulation of the family of repeats domain of the origin of replication (oriP) of EBV. When EBNA1, one of the latent gene products of EBV, binds to the family of repeats sequence, this activates transcription of downstream genes. Vector constructs were made using the beta-galactosidase and luciferase reporter genes (ad5oriP.betagal and ad5oriP.luc) or the p53 tumor suppressor gene (ad5oriP.p53). 5-Bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside staining demonstrated extensive expression only in EBV-positive NPC cells, specifically in response to the presence of EBNA1. The relative difference in expression between EBV-positive and -negative cell lines is approximately 1000-fold. This selective expression was corroborated in EBV-positive and -negative tumor models, along with an absence of transgene expression in the host liver. Significant cytotoxicity was achieved using the adv.oriP.p53 therapeutic gene only in EBV-positive NPC cells, which was enhanced with the addition of ionizing radiation. Cytotoxicity was mediated primarily by induction of apoptosis. These results demonstrate that the oriP sequence can achieve high levels of gene expression targeted specifically to EBV-positive NPC cells in the context of the adv vector. This has now provided the tumor-specific expression system from which additional interventions can be evaluated in future treatment strategies for patients with nasopharyngeal cancers.

Synergy between tetA and rpsL provides high-stringency positive and negative selection in bacterial artificial chromosome vectors

Bacterial artificial chromosome (bacmid) vectors are used to stably propagate large, complex fragments of cloned DNA and are a core technology for functional genomics. The simplest method of analyzing bacmid clones would involve a direct mutagenesis or allele exchange protocol utilizing positive and negative selectable markers. The utility of three different negative selectable markers to function in the context of a bacmid vector was therefore investigated: sacB from Bacillus subtilis, which confers sensitivity to sucrose; tetA from TN10, which confers resistance to tetracycline, osmotic sensitivity, and sensitivity to kanamycin and streptomycin; and rpsL from Escherichia coli, which confers sensitivity to streptomycin. When expressed individually in the context of a bacmid vector, each of these markers confers a similar stringency of negative selection, with plating efficiencies on selective media of 2.3 x 10(-5), 9.4 x 10(-4), and 5.7 x 10(-5), respectively. However coexpression of rpsL and tetA results in a synergistic enhancement of the osmotic, kanamycin, and streptomycin sensitivities, with a stringency of selection of approximately 50- to approximately 1000-fold over that obtained with rpsL or tetA alone and approximately 20-fold more than that obtained using sacB. The combination of rpsL and tetA thus serves as the most efficient positive and negative selectable marker system described to date.

Disease-associated mutations in SOD1 are impervious to dominant positive or negative effects

The familial form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is caused by mutations in the SOD1 gene encoding the cytosolic antioxidant enzyme Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase. Although there is no clear correlation between disease and dismutating catalytic activity among the various disease-associated SOD1 alleles, all of the known missense mutations significantly alter the half-life of the encoded polypeptides. Using transient transfection studies in mammalian cells, it was demonstrated that a frameshift mutation in SOD1 which results in a truncated polypeptide is similarly destabilized. Using an epitope-tagging strategy to discriminate between mutant and wild-type SOD1 polypeptides, no evidence for dominant effects on polypeptide stability was detected, including that of a positive effect of the wild-type on mutant SOD1 polypeptides or that of a negative effect of mutant on wild-type SOD1 polypeptides. These experiments thus favor a non-catalytic role of mutant forms of SOD1 in disease progression.

Expression of the tetA(C) tetracycline efflux pump in Escherichia coli confers osmotic sensitivity

Expression of tetA(C) in Escherichia coli confers resistance to tetracycline as well as sensitivity to nickel and cadmium salts, lipophilic chelating agents, and aminoglycoside antibiotics. In this report we determine that high-level expression of tetA(C) also confers an osmotic sensitivity. The osmotic-sensitive phenotype is distinct from the tetracycline-resistant phenotype and can be localized to a domain contained within the first 98 amino acid residues of the TetA(C) polypeptide.

Biolistic-mediated interleukin 4 gene transfer prevents the onset of type 1 diabetes

We tested the efficacy of biolistic-mediated gene transfer as a noninvasive therapy for type 1 diabetes (T1D) in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice by expression of murine interleukin 4 (mIL-4) cDNA. Epidermal delivery of 2 microg of DNA yielded transient detection of serum mIL-4, using a conventional cDNA expression vector. A vector stabilized by incorporation of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) EBNA1/oriP episomal maintenance replicon produced higher levels of serum mIL-4 that persisted for 12 days after inoculation. Although biolistic inoculation of either vector reduced insulitis and prevented diabetes, the protracted mIL-4 expression afforded by the EBV vector resulted in Th2-type responses in the periphery and pancreas and more significant protection from the onset of diabetes. Our studies demonstrate the efficacy of biolistic gene delivery of stabilized cytokine expression as a viable therapeutic approach to prevent the onset of T1D.

A modular set of helper-dependent herpes simplex virus expression vectors

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) has many favorable properties in terms of its potential to serve as a delivery and expression platform for gene-based therapies, including the ability to establish persistent infections, a broad tissue tropism, episomal maintenance of transduced genes, and a large genome that can incorporate many additional cDNAs. Helper-dependent HSV vectors (commonly known as HSV amplicons) are well positioned to exploit the biology of the virus, since they contain only the two cis elements required for HSV replication and packaging and thus do not require the silencing of any viral genes to prevent toxicity to transduced cells over the course of cDNA expression. In this report we describe the development of a set of modular HSV amplicon vectors that can easily be modified to incorporate different genetic elements or alternatively can be used to retrofit existing expression constructs such that they can be packaged into infectious HSV particles.

Herpes simplex viral and amplicon vector-mediated gene transfer into glia and neurons in organotypic spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion cultures

The progression of neurodegenerative diseases and secondary consequences of spinal cord injury may be diminished by introducing transgenes to glia, spinal neurons, and/or sensory neurons. Organotypic cultures of spinal cord slices and dorsal root ganglia proved to be an excellent system in which to compare the relative neurotropism of a replication-defective recombinant herpes simplex virus and herpes virus-derived amplicon vectors. Hundreds of beta-galactosidase-expressing cells, transduced by the viral vectors, were observed in spinal cord slices 3 and 8 days postinfection. Immunostaining to identify the infected cell type indicated that oligodendrocytes were permissive for viral vector transduction of beta-galactosidase in the spinal cord slice, whereas neurons were not. Heparan sulfate proteoglycan, the initial receptor for herpes contact with cells, was highly expressed in the white matter of the spinal cord slice, but was negligible in the gray matter. In contrast to the spinal cord, many fewer cells were infected in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) by these vectors, but a majority of infected cells were identified as sensory neurons. Heparan sulfate proteoglycan expression was abundant in the sensory fibers emanating from the DRG and also surrounded each neuron within the ganglion. Our results demonstrate HSV-induced transgene expression that is amenable to ex vivo assessment of its physiological impact.

The inhibitory function of CTLA-4 does not require its tyrosine phosphorylation

CTLA-4 is a negative regulator of T cell responses. Sequence analysis of this molecule reveals the presence of two cytoplasmic tyrosine residues at positions 165 and 182 that are potential Src homology (SH)-2 domain binding sites. The role of phosphorylation of these residues in CTLA-4-mediated signaling is unknown. Here, we show that sole TCR ligation induces zeta-associated protein (ZAP)-70-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of CTLA-4 that is important for cell surface retention of this molecule. However, CTLA-4 tyrosine phosphorylation is not required for down-regulation of T cell activation following CD3-CTLA-4 coengagement. Specifically, inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation and of IL-2 production by CTLA-4-mediated signaling occurs in T cells expressing mutant CTLA-4 molecules lacking the cytoplasmic tyrosine residues, and in lck-deficient or ZAP-70-deficient T cells. Therefore, CTLA-4 function involves interplay between two different levels of regulation: phosphotyrosine-dependent cell surface retention and phosphotyrosine-independent association with signaling molecules.

Efficient control of tetracycline-responsive gene expression from an autoregulated bi-directional expression vector

The tetracycline-responsive expression system is based on the ability of the chimeric tTA and rtTA transactivators to stimulate specifically transcription from a companion synthetic CMV* or TK* promoter element, and can provide tightly regulated gene expression that can be induced up to five orders of magnitude in cultured cells and transgenic mice. A major problem with the system is that high level expression of the tTA or rtTA transactivators causes cellular toxicity. Under conditions of prolonged expression this results in selective pressure against the stable incorporation of vectors expressing the tTA or rtTA transactivators, and makes the generation of stable cell lines and transgenic mice problematic. In this report we describe the development of a set of autoregulated bi-directional expression vectors in which the weaker TK* promoter is used to direct expression of the rtTA or tTA transactivator and the stronger CMV* element is used to direct cDNA expression. In this format the transactivator and response elements are encoded on the same vector, which simplifies the system and ensures that gene expression is effectively skewed in favor of the cDNA while maintaining a continuously low level of transactivator expression. We find that such an autoregulated system works equally well for both the tTA and rtTA transactivators, provided that they contain a nuclear localization signal. Similar to other versions of the tetracycline-responsive expression system, gene expression is tightly regulated and can be efficiently switched between the off and on expression states by doxycycline. In contrast with other tetracycline-responsive systems, however, expression of the rtTA and tTA transactivators from the autoregulated TK* promoter is low enough such that there is no cellular toxicity associated with either expression state. By incorporating a selectable marker into these vectors, all of the components required for using the system are now contained on a single plasmid construct, and we find that this format provides a more reliable and greatly simplified method for the generation of stable cell lines.

An enhanced packaging system for helper-dependent herpes simplex virus vectors

Helper-dependent herpes simplex virus (HSV) vectors (amplicons) show considerable promise to provide for long-term transduced-gene expression in most cell types. The current packaging system of choice for these vectors involves cotransfection with a set of five overlapping cosmids that encode the full HSV type 1 (HSV-1) helper virus genome from which the packaging (pac) elements have been deleted. Although both the helper virus and the HSV amplicon can replicate, only the latter is packaged into infectious viral particles. Since the titers obtained are too low for practical application, an enhanced second-generation packaging system was developed by modifying both the helper virus and the HSV amplicon vector. The helper virus was reverse engineered by using the original five cosmids to generate a single HSV-bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone in Escherichia coli from which the pac elements were deleted to generate a replication-proficient but packaging-defective HSV-1 genome. The HSV amplicon was modified to contain the simian virus 40 origin of replication, which acts as an HSV-independent replicon to provide for the replicative expansion of the vector. The HSV amplicon is packaged into infectious particles by cotransfection with the HSV-BAC helper virus into the 293T cell line, and the resulting cell lysate is free of detectable helper virus contamination. The combination of both modifications to the original packaging system affords an eightfold increase in the packaged-vector yield.

Identification of epidemiologic markers for Neisseria meningitidis using difference analysis

The feasibility of identifying epidemiologic markers based solely on the identification of DNA fragments present in outbreak-associated isolates was investigated using Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) as a model system. The clonal structure of Nm has been well characterized using multilocus electrophoresis. In Canada, electrophoretic types ET1, ET5, ET9 and ET21 are being displaced from the natural population by type ET15, and the latter type is associated with an increased prevalence of serogroup C meningococcal disease. Difference analysis, which uses subtractive hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, was employed to identify amplifiable DNA fragments (amplicons) that differ between the ET15 and the ET1, ET5, ET9 and ET21 genomes. 14 amplicons were cloned which were further characterized by Southern blot analysis to identify six amplicons that represent fragments either unique to or highly polymorphic in the ET15 genome. Oligodeoxyribonucleotide primer pairs were designed for each of the six amplicons, and PCR amplification was used to determine their prevalence across a panel of 167 Nm isolates representative of other serogroups and ETs. Among group C isolates only two of the six amplicons, designated as A and G, were effective in discriminating ET15 from non-ET15 isolates. Amplicon A detects a deletion in the dhps gene which effectively differentiates sulfonamide-sensitive and -resistant serogroup C isolates. The frequency of amplicon A and G detection in the other serogroups and ETs was too great to facilitate their direct use as diagnostic markers for the differentiation of virulent Nm isolates.

Oligonucleotide primers designed to differentiate pathogenic pseudomonads on the basis of the sequencing of genes coding for 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacers

Universal primers targeting conserved sequences flanking the 3' end of the 16S and the 5' end of the 23S rRNA genes (rDNAs) were used to amplify the 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacers (ITS) from eight species of pseudomonads which have been associated with human infections. Amplicons from reference strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas cepacia, Pseudomonas gladioli, Pseudomonas mallei, Pseudomonas mendocina, Pseudomonas pickettii, Pseudomonas pseudomallei, and Xanthomonas maltophilia were cloned from each species, and sequence analysis revealed a total of 19 distinct ITS regions, each defining a unique sequevar with ITS sizes ranging from 394 (P. cepacia) to 641 (P. pseudomallei) bp. Five distinct ITS sequevars in P. cepacia, four in P. mendocina, three in P. aeruginosa, two each in P. gladioli and P. pseudomallei, and one each in P. mallei, P. pickettii, and X. maltophilia were identified. With the exception of one P. cepacia ITS, all ITS regions contained potential tRNA sequences for isoleucine and/or alanine. On the basis of these ITS sequence data, species-specific oligonucleotide primers were designed to differentiate P. aeruginosa, P. cepacia, and P. pickettii. The specificities of these primers were investigated by testing 220 clinical isolates, including 101 strains of P. aeruginosa, 103 strains of P. cepacia, and 16 strains of P. pickettii, in addition to 24 American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) Pseudomonas strains. The results showed that single primer pairs directed at particular ITSs were capable of specifically identifying the ATCC reference strains and all of the clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa and P. pickettii, but this was not the case with several ITS-based primer pairs tested for P. cepacia. This pathogen, on the other hand, could be specifically identified by primer pairs directed against the 23S rDNA.

Genomic fingerprinting of Neisseria meningitidis associated with group C meningococcal disease in Canada

A single electrophoretic type (ET15) of Neisseria meningitidis has been associated with an increased incidence of group C meningococcal disease in Canada. Genomic fingerprinting through pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of chromosomal DNA was used to characterize the clonal relationship among meningococcal isolates of different electrophoretic types and among isolates within ET15. The genomic fingerprints of the ET15 isolates, while similar as a group, were sufficiently distinct to confirm linkage for four pairs of strains from focal outbreaks and differed markedly from those of the other common electrophoretic types, ET5, ET9, and ET21.

Evidence for at least four Fanconi anaemia genes including FACC on chromosome 9

Fanconi anaemia (FA) is a DNA repair disorder characterized by cellular hypersensitivity to DNA cross-linking agents and extensive phenotypic heterogeneity. To determine the extent of genetic heterogeneity present in FA, a panel of somatic cell hybrids was constructed using polyethylene glycol-mediated cell fusion. Three new complementation groups were identified, designated FA(B), FA(C) and FA(D), and the gene defective in FA(C) which we have recently cloned was localized to chromosome 9q22.3 through in situ hybridization. These results suggest that mutations in at least four different genes lead to FA, a degree of genetic heterogeneity comparable to that of other DNA repair disorders.

Molecular and cellular biology of Fanconi anemia

Fanconi anemia (FA) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by progressive pancytopaenia, a diverse assortment of congenital malformations, and a predisposition to the development of malignancies. The extensive clinical heterogeneity observed in FA is reflected in genetic heterogeneity; the existence of 4 complementation groups has been inferred from complementation analysis. FA is putatively characterized as a DNA repair disorder since cells derived from patients are hypersensitive to DNA cross-linking agents. Although the primary defects in FA are not known, biochemical evidence supports either a direct defect in the removal of DNA cross-links or a defect in the ability of cells to respond to oxidative stress resulting from the interaction with cross-linking agents. Confirmation of either hypothesis awaits the cloning of genes defective in FA; some of the strategies to this end are discussed.

Cloning of cDNAs for Fanconi's anaemia by functional complementation

Fanconi's anaemia is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by progressive pancytopaenia and a cellular hypersensitivity to DNA crosslinking agents. Four genetic complementation groups have been identified so far, and here we use a functional complementation method to clone complementary DNAs that correct the defect of group C cells. The cDNAs encode alternatively processed transcripts of a new gene, designated FACC, which is mutated in group C patients. The predicted FACC polypeptide does not contain any motifs common to other proteins and so represents a new gene involved in the cellular response to DNA damage.

Molecular studies of Ssa1, a serotype-specific antigen of Pasteurella haemolytica A1

A serotype-specific antigen of Pasteurella haemolytica A1 encoded on the recombinant plasmid pSSA1 is characterized. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the insert DNA in pSSA1 identified the gene ssaI, which codes for a protein of approximately 100 kDa. In vivo labeling of pSSA1-encoded protein in Escherichia coli maxicells showed the expression of a 100-kDa protein from the insert DNA on the recombinant plasmid. Northern blot and primer extension analyses were used to identify the mRNA transcript in P. haemolytica A1 and the putative promoter of ssaI. The antigen (designated Ssa1) could be localized to the outer membrane of P. haemolytica A1 and E. coli clones carrying pSSA1. A rabbit serum against Ssa1 was produced by using whole cells of E. coli expressing Ssa1 on the surface as the immunogen, demonstrating that Ssa1 is immunogenic in rabbits. The results from colony immunoblot analysis with calf serum from animals that were resistant to P. haemolytica A1-induced pneumonia suggest indirectly that Ssa1 is also immunogenic in the animals.

Regulation of expression of the Pasteurella haemolytica leukotoxin determinant

The Pasteurella haemolytica leukotoxin determinant is composed of four contiguous genes encoded on the same DNA strand and denoted lktCABD, in the order of their genetic organization. To gain a better understanding of the expression and regulation of the leukotoxin, the transcripts and promoters of the lkt determinant were mapped. Northern (RNA) blot analysis revealed two sets of transcripts. One set was 3.7 and 3.4 kilobases long, encoded lktCA, and comprised approximately 90% of the transcripts, whereas the other set was 7.4 and 7.1 kilobases long and encoded lktCABD. Two promoters were present, and each had features similar to the Escherichia coli consensus promoter sequences. Both promoters were located upstream from lktC; they were separated by 258 base pairs, as mapped by primer extension analysis. These results suggest a mechanism of expression similar to that of the related E. coli hemolysin. Transcription initiated upstream from lktC at either promoter and continued through lktC and lktA to a rho-independent transcriptional termination signal in the lktA-lktB intercistronic region. This signal attenuated expression by terminating 90% of transcription to generate the 3.7- and 3.4-kilobase lktCA transcripts. The remaining readthrough transcription generated full-length 7.4- and 7.1-kilobase lktCABD transcripts. Expression of the leukotoxin was greatly reduced by growth at 30 degrees C, pH 6.5, and Fe2+ limitation. These conditions also modulated the expression of a number of other secreted proteins, which suggests that all of these secreted proteins are controlled by the same regulatory mechanism.

Cloning, nucleotide sequence, and characterization of genes encoding the secretion function of the Pasteurella haemolytica leukotoxin determinant

The structural gene of the Pasteurella haemolytica leukotoxin determinant is highly homologous to that of the Escherichia coli hemolysin determinant, which also encodes a specialized set of genes involved in the secretion of the hemolysin. In this report, we describe the cloning and nucleotide sequence of the analogous secretion genes from P. haemolytica which make up the remainder of the leukotoxin determinant. The secretion genes were cloned directly from the P. haemolytica chromosome to form the recombinant plasmid pPH5B. By subcloning the secretion genes together with the leukotoxin structural gene, the cloned leukotoxin determinant was reconstructed on a single plasmid, pLKT52, which directs the synthesis of active leukotoxin to the culture supernatant when expressed in E. coli. DNA sequence analysis showed the presence of two secretion genes, designated lktB and lktD in order of their genetic organization, which code for proteins of 79.7 and 54.7 kilodaltons, both of which were detected when pLKT52 was expressed in E. coli minicells. The lktB and lktD genes were found to be highly homologous to the hlyB and hlyD secretion genes of the hemolysin determinant, and the predicted LktB-HlyB and LktD-HlyD proteins were 90.5 and 75.6% homologous. Nucleotide sequence homology between the leukotoxin and hemolysin determinants was limited to the C, A, B, and D coding regions, although the presence of similar transcriptional terminators in the A-B intercistronic region is suggestive of a similar transcriptional organization. On the basis of these data, we hypothesize that the two determinants share a common evolutionary history and are prototypes for a widely disseminated family of virulence factors, the RTX cytotoxins.

Extensive homology between the leukotoxin of Pasteurella haemolytica A1 and the alpha-hemolysin of Escherichia coli

The 19.8- and 101.9-kilodalton leukotoxin proteins of Pasteurella haemolytica (LKTC and LKTA, respectively) share extensive homology with the HLYC and HLYA alpha-hemolysin proteins of Escherichia coli. The leukotoxin LKTA protein cross-reacts with hemolysin-specific antisera in Western blot (immunoblot) analysis, indicating that it shares epitopes with the alpha-hemolysin HLYA protein. Both LKTA and HLYA contain a conserved hydrophobic region, as well as a set of tandemly repeated domains. These features have been implicated in the lytic function of the alpha-hemolysin.

Nucleotide sequence of the leukotoxin genes of Pasteurella haemolytica A1

A 4.4-kilobase-pair DNA fragment coding for the leukotoxin of Pasteurella haemolytica A1 has been isolated, and its nucleotide sequence has been determined. Two open reading frames, designated lktC and lktA, coding for proteins of 19.8 and 101.9 kilodaltons, respectively, were identified. Expression of the two genes in minicell-labeling experiments resulted in the production of the predicted proteins LKTC and LKTA. By using an antiserum against the soluble antigens of P. haemolytica A1 in Western blot (immunoblot) analysis of total cellular proteins from the Escherichia coli clones, LKTA was identified as an additional antigenic protein. Results from subcloning of the DNA fragment suggested that expression from both lktC and lktA is required for leukotoxin activity, indicating that the leukotoxin of P. haemolytica A1 is encoded by two genes. A comparison of the organization and the DNA sequence of the leukotoxin genes with those of the E. coli alpha-hemolysin genes showed a significant degree of homology between the two loci. This analysis suggested that the leukotoxin genes of P. haemolytica A1 and the E. coli alpha-hemolysin genes may have evolved from a common ancestor and that the two toxins may share similar activities or functional domains or both.

Cloning and expression of the leukotoxin gene of Pasteurella haemolytica A1 in Escherichia coli K-12

A clone bank of Pasteurella haemolytica A1 was constructed by partial digestion of the genomic DNA with Sau3A and ligation of 5- to 10-kilobase-pair fragments into the BamHI site of the plasmid vector pBR322. After transformation into Escherichia coli K-12, a total of 4 X 10(3) recombinant clones was obtained. These were screened for the production of P. haemolytica soluble antigens by a colony enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay blot method with a rabbit antiserum raised against the soluble antigens. The clones producing P. haemolytica soluble antigens were then analyzed for the production of the leukotoxin by a cytotoxicity assay with cells from a bovine leukemia-derived B-lymphocyte cell line as the target cells. Positive clones were identified, and subsequent restriction analysis of the recombinant plasmids showed that the same 6.3 kilobase pairs of insert DNA was cloned in either of the two orientations into the plasmid vector pBR322. One of the clones was selected for further characterization of the leukotoxin as produced in E. coli. Tests for heat lability and target cell species specificity with canine, porcine, and human peripheral blood lymphocytes indicated that the activity of the cloned leukotoxin was identical to that of the P. haemolytica leukotoxin. Furthermore, the E. coli-produced leukotoxin was also neutralized by bovine or rabbit antiserum known to have antitoxic activity. When cellular proteins from the E. coli clones were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis, a 100,000-dalton protein was identified which corresponded to one of the soluble antigens found in the leukotoxic culture supernatant of P. haemolytica. These results demonstrated that the gene(s) for the P. haemolytica leukotoxin have been cloned and that the leukotoxin was expressed in E. coli.