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V gamma 9V delta 2 T cell response to colon carcinoma cells.

During analysis of CD8 T cells derived from ascites of a colon cancer patient, we isolated a Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cell clone showing strong reactivity against autologous tumor cell lines. This clone killed a large fraction of allogeneic colon carcinoma and melanoma cell lines, but did not affect a normal colon cell line, colon fibroblasts, or melanocytes. Tumor cell recognition was TCR and NKG2D dependent and induced TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma secretion by the clone; accordingly, tumor targets expressed several NKG2D ligands, such as MHC class I chain-related gene A and UL16-binding protein molecules. Colon tumor recognition by Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells was highly dependent on isopentenyl pyrophosphate production and ICAM-1 expression by target cells. Finally, similar reactivity patterns against colon carcinoma cell lines were observed using polyclonal Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells of various origins, and Vgamma9Vdelta2 lymphocytes were present in the majority of colon tumor samples studied. Together, these results suggest that Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells contribute to the natural immune surveillance against colon cancers. Therefore, this study provides a strong rationale for the use of Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cell agonists in immunotherapies targeting colon tumors.

Antigens↗

A repressor complex, AP4 transcription factor and geminin, negatively regulates expression of target genes in nonneuronal cells.

The transcription of neuron-specific genes must be repressed in nonneuronal cells. REST/NRSF is a transcription factor that restricts the expression of many neuronal genes through interaction with the neuron-restrictive silencer element at the promoter level. PAHX-AP1 is a neuronal gene that is developmentally up-regulated in the adult mouse brain but that has no functional NRSE motif in its 5' upstream sequence. Here, we report that the transcription factor AP4 and the corepressor geminin form a functional complex in which SMRT and histone deacetylase 3 are recruited. The functional complex represses PAHX-AP1 expression in nonneuronal cells and participates in regulating the developmental expression of PAHX-AP1 in the brain. This complex also serves as a transcriptional repressor of DYRK1A, a candidate gene for Down's syndrome. Furthermore, compared with that in normal fetal brain, the expression of AP4 and geminin is reduced in Down's syndrome fetal brain at 20 weeks of gestation age, at which time premature overexpression of dual-specificity tyrosine-phosphorylated and regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) is observed. Our findings indicate that AP4 and geminin act as a previously undescribed repressor complex distinct from REST/NRSF to negatively regulate the expression of target genes in nonneuronal cells and suggest that the AP4-geminin complex may contribute to suppressing the precocious expression of target genes in fetal brain.

Animals↗

Bone marrow transplant recipients have defective MHC-unrestricted cytotoxic responses against cytomegalovirus in comparison with Epstein-Barr virus: the importance of target cell expression of lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA1).

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains the most common single infective cause of death following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-identical siblings, whereas Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related disease is infrequent. We show here that MHC-unrestricted cytotoxic effector cells in the peripheral blood of BMT recipients are highly effective at killing EBV-infected target cells, but are inactive against CMV-infected target cells. Differential cytotoxicity is associated with disparate target structure expression. Although both EBV- and CMV-infected target cells express viral antigens, it is only those infected with EBV that express the adhesion molecule lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA1; CD11a/18). Thus, EBV-infected target cells are able to interact with the principal LFA1 ligand, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1; CD54), which is expressed on posttransplant peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) effector cells. CMV-infected target cells cannot utilize this ligand. Posttransplant cytotoxicity against EBV-infected target cells is abolished by target and effector cell blockade with monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to LFA1 and ICAM1, respectively, demonstrating the functional relevance of this additional ligand interaction. These results provide an illustration both of the importance and of the limitations of MHC-unrestricted cytotoxicity in vivo and may explain the frequency of CMV disease and the relative rarity of EBV-related disease following allogeneic transplantation from MHC-matched siblings. The increased immunosuppression used following MHC-mismatched/matched unrelated-donor BMT may cause this MHC-unrestricted defense mechanism to fail and may contribute to the greatly increased incidence of EBV lymphoproliferative syndrome in these patients.

Adolescent↗

CNS-Specific Ribozyme Expression

Targeted genetic deletion is a powerful tool for analysis of gene function, but the standard approaches carry certain inescapable disadvantages. First, deletion is ubiquitous; tissue-specific knockout cannot be obtained. Second, temporal regulation of depletion is unattainable; the deleted functions are absent throughout the animal's development. As a consequence, during ontogeny, other gene products may be able to compensate, filling the functional gap. Furthermore bifunctional proteins exist that fulfill one role during development and another in the mature organism; deletion will remove the early function and, if this is lethal, the later function will remain undetected. Third, if genes utilize alternative splicing to control protein expression, it is difficult to target one spliced mRNA while leaving intact its related, but different, siblings. We review how these problems may be circumvented using ribozymes to diminish gene expression in a tissue-specific and temporally regulated manner and provide guidelines for the design and delivery of active ribozymes in vivo. Such methods may be particularly useful for analysis of genes involved in ontogeny and function of the central nervous system, in which individual genes may be expressed with alternative splicing patterns, or at differentially regulated levels, at different stages of CNS development.

Journal Article↗

Nuclear trafficking of Cubitus interruptus in the transcriptional regulation of Hedgehog target gene expression.

Transcriptional activation of Hedgehog (Hh) target genes requires Cubitus interruptus, a 155 kDa cytoplasmic zinc finger protein (Ci155), which in the absence of Hh signaling is processed to form a nuclear repressor (Ci75). We show that Hh signaling reduces phosphorylation of Ci155, and this reduction in turn appears to decrease processing. Blocking processing with proteasome inhibitors or altered Ci proteins, however, is insufficient for activation of Hh targets. We find that Hh signaling increases the rate of Ci155 nuclear import, resulting in significant nuclear accumulation. Even in the absence of signaling, nuclear accumulation of Ci155 suffices for significant induction of Hh targets, and active nuclear export of Ci155 is an essential mechanism for maintenance of the unstimulated state.

Animals↗

AMP-activated protein kinase activity is critical for hypoxia-inducible factor-1 transcriptional activity and its target gene expression under hypoxic conditions in DU145 cells.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) functions as an energy sensor to provide metabolic adaptations under the ATP-deprived conditions such as hypoxia. In the present study, we considered a role of AMPK in the adaptive response to hypoxia by examining whether AMPK is involved in the regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), a heterodimeric transcription factor that is critical for hypoxic induction of physiologically important genes. We demonstrate that hypoxia or CoCl2 rapidly activated AMPK in DU145 human prostate cancer cells, and its activation preceded the induction of HIF-1 alpha expression. Under these conditions, blockade of AMPK activity by a pharmacological or molecular approach significantly attenuated hypoxia-induced responses such as HIF-1 target gene expression, secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor, glucose uptake, and HIF-1-dependent reporter gene expression, indicating that AMPK is critical for the HIF-1 transcriptional activity and its target gene expression. Its functional requirement for HIF-1 activity was also demonstrated in several different cancer cell lines, but AMPK activation alone was not sufficient to stimulate the HIF-1 transcriptional activity. We further present data showing that AMPK transmits a positive signal for HIF-1 activity via a signaling pathway that is independent of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT and several mitogen-activated protein kinases. Taken together, our results suggest that AMPK is a novel and critical component of HIF-1 regulation, implying its new roles in oxygen-regulated cellular phenomena.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases↗

Marked regional differences of brain human apolipoprotein E expression in targeted replacement mice.

We used three human apolipoprotein (apo) E targeted replacement mouse lines, each expressing one of the three common human apoE isoforms to study the pattern of apoE expression in the central nervous system (CNS). Immunocytochemistry on brain sections from all three lines of targeted replacement mice, wild type mice, African green monkeys, and humans show a predominantly glial pattern of apoE expression. The levels of human apoE protein in hippocampus and frontal cortex were similar between targeted replacement mice and non-demented human tissue. Within a given brain region, the levels of apoE were very similar amongst all three isoforms, which contrasts sharply with plasma, where apoE2 levels are 16-fold higher than apoE3 and E4 levels. Across brain regions, cerebellar apoE levels were significantly higher than cerebral apoE levels. In conclusion, we provide detailed analysis of a human apoE animal model system that recapitulates both the pattern and level of apoE expression in non-demented humans. The neurobiology of human apoE isoforms can now be studied in both the normal and post-injury state, since all apoE regulatory sequences are intact. Finally, the differences in apoE levels we observed may explain the regional vulnerability of neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer's disease.

Aged↗

Identification of rat growth hormone genomic sequences targeting pituitary expression in transgenic mice.

Constructs containing different segments of the 5' flanking region of the rat growth hormone gene fused to the human growth hormone coding sequences were introduced into fertilized mouse oocytes. As few as 181 base pairs of the rat growth hormone promoter targeted reporter gene expression to the pituitary gland of the resulting transgenic mice. A construct containing only 45 base pairs of the promoter failed to target expression of the reporter to the pituitary, indicating that the pituitary expression is directed by information contained in the segment spanning positions -181 to -45. In the pituitary, immunohistochemistry showed transgene expression mainly in the growth hormone-producing cells (somatotrophs), in a subset of cells producing thyrotropin, and occasionally in prolactin-producing cells. These data establish that cis-active elements contained within the first 180 base pairs of the promoter are sufficient for transcriptional activation of the growth hormone gene in somatotrophs and suggest a functional relationship among growth hormone, prolactin, and thyrotropin gene activation.

Animals↗

Target Antigen Identification for Antibody Drug Conjugate Therapy in Biliary Tract Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Data on antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) target expression prevalence, intertumoral heterogeneity, genomic concordance, and its effect on clinical outcomes is limited in biliary tract cancers (BTC). METHODS: Resected primary BTC specimens, and when available, matched metastatic samples were assembled into tissue microarrays and tested for CLDN18.2, c-MET, Nectin-4, TROP2, and HER2 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC). A subset underwent targeted next-generation sequencing using MSK-IMPACT (NCT01775072). Exploratory associations of target expression with clinicopathologic parameters, genomic alterations, recurrence-free (RFS), and overall (OS) survival were evaluated. RESULTS: 65 patients with resected BTC and 18 paired metastatic sites were identified-43% extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, 40% intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and 17% gallbladder cancer. All evaluated target antigens were expressed; percent positivity and H-score ≥200 were: TROP2 (83%, 26%), c-MET (75%, 26%), Nectin-4 (66%, 35%), and CLDN18.2 (46%, 7.7%). HER2 overexpression occurred in 3.1% of tumors. Overall agreement among paired primary and metastatic samples on calling either positive or negative ranged from 43% to 75% with the highest observed for HER2 [75%; κ=0.29 (95%CI: -0.32 to 0.91)] and TROP2 (71%; κ not available) and lowest for c-MET, CLDN18.2, and Nectin-4. Frequently altered genes included TP53 (36%), SMAD4 (27%), ELF3 (21%). We observed no significant association between target antigen expression with genomics, RFS, or OS. CONCLUSIONS: BTC displays frequent but heterogeneous expression of multiple ADC targets. These hypothesis generating findings suggest inherent complexity of target protein quantification, target threshold determination, and target sampling discordance. Future studies will be required to refine our understanding the utlitiy of ADCs in BTC.

Journal Article↗

Targeting gene expression using HSV vectors.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is an encapsulated DNA virus, with many favourable properties for use as a gene transfer vector. For gene therapy applications, it may be desirable to restrict transgene expression to pre-defined subsets of cells. One potential method for achieving targeted transgene expression using the HSV vector system might involve dictating the cell types to which the vector will transfer the therapeutic transgene of interest. HSV delivers its genetic payload to cells directly through the plasmalemma; the mechanisms are complex and involve multiple viral and cell surface determinants. We have investigated several ways in which each component of the cell entry cascade may be manipulated in order to restrict viral DNA and transgene delivery to particular cellular populations. Our results indicate that targeted transduction may be a viable approach to achieving our goal of targeted HSV-mediated transgene expression.

Animals↗

Target cell expression of MHC antigens is not (always) a turn-off signal to natural killer cells.

Recent evidence has demonstrated that the lytic function of natural killer cells might be regulated by potential target cells through the target cells' expression of cell surface components that are able to inhibit the lytic process. Specifically, it has been shown in many target cell systems that the expression of class I MHC proteins by target cells is inversely proportional to their susceptibility to lysis by NK cells. It has been suggested, therefore, that MHC proteins may act as important negative regulatory elements in the ongoing control of NK cell function. Herein, we examined two closely related murine lymphoma cells (ASL1 and ASL1w), both in terms of their susceptibility to lysis by NK cells as well as their expression of both H-2K and H-2D class I MHC proteins. The results of these studies showed that whereas ASL1 and ASL1w cells differed greatly in their susceptibility to NK cell lysis (ASL1 was much more NK resistant than ASL1w), both expressed high levels of H-2K and D proteins. In contrast to what might have been predicted base on reports from other target cell systems, the more NK susceptible ASL1w cells expressed somewhat higher levels of H-2K Ag than did ASL1 cells. These results indicate that expression of H-2 class I proteins by target cells, in and of itself, is not sufficient to inhibit the lytic activity of murine NK cells.

Animals↗

Targeting transgene expression to antigen-presenting cells derived from lentivirus-transduced engrafting human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) represent an important target for the treatment of various blood disorders. As the source of critical cells within the immune system, genetic modification of HSCs can also be used to modulate immune responses. The effectiveness of HSC-mediated gene therapy largely depends on efficient gene delivery into long-term repopulating progenitors and targeted transgene expression in an appropriate progeny of the transduced pluripotent HSCs. Self-inactivating (SIN) lentiviral vectors have been demonstrated to be capable of transducing mitotically inactive cells, including HSCs, and accommodating a nonviral promoter to control the transgene expression in transduced cells. In this study, we constructed 2 SIN lentiviral vectors, EF.GFP and DR.GFP, to express the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene controlled solely by the promoter of either a housekeeping gene EF-1alpha or the human HLA-DRalpha gene, which is selectively expressed in antigen-presenting cells (APCs). We demonstrated that both vectors efficiently transduced human pluripotent CD34+ cells capable of engrafting nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mice. When the EF.GFP vector was used, constitutive high-level GFP expression was obtained in all the human HSC progeny detectable in NOD/SCID mice and in subsequent in vitro differentiation assays, indicating that engrafting human HSCs have been transduced. In contrast, the DR.GFP vector mediated transgene expression specifically in human HLA-DR+ cells and highly in differentiated dendritic cells (DCs), which are critical in regulating immunity. Furthermore, human DCs derived from transduced and engrafted human cells potently stimulated allogeneic T-cell proliferation. This study demonstrated successful targeting of transgene expression to APCs/DCs after stable gene transduction of pluripotent HSCs.

Animals↗

Disruption of WT1 gene expression and exon 5 splicing following cytotoxic drug treatment: antisense down-regulation of exon 5 alters target gene expression and inhibits cell survival.

Deregulated expression of the Wilms' tumor gene (WT1) has been implicated in the maintenance of a malignant phenotype in leukemias and a wide range of solid tumors through interference with normal signaling in differentiation and apoptotic pathways. Expression of high levels of WT1 is associated with poor prognosis in leukemias and breast cancer. Using real-time (Taqman) reverse transcription-PCR and RNase protection assay, we have shown up-regulation of WT1 expression following cytotoxic treatment of cells exhibiting drug resistance, a phenomenon not seen in sensitive cells. WT1 is subject to alternative splicing involving exon 5 and three amino acids (KTS) at the end of exon 9, producing four major isoforms. Exon 5 splicing was disrupted in all cell lines studied following a cytotoxic insult probably due to increased exon 5 skipping. Disruption of exon 5 splicing may be a proapoptotic signal because specific targeting of WT1 exon 5-containing transcripts using a nuclease-resistant antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) killed HL60 leukemia cells, which were resistant to an ASO targeting all four alternatively spliced transcripts simultaneously. K562 cells were sensitive to both target-specific ASOs. Gene expression profiling following treatment with WT1 exon 5-targeted antisense showed up-regulation of the known WT1 target gene, thrombospondin 1, in HL60 cells, which correlated with cell death. In addition, novel potential WT1 target genes were identified in each cell line. These studies highlight a new layer of complexity in the regulation and function of the WT1 gene product and suggest that antisense directed to WT1 exon 5 might have therapeutic potential.

Alternative Splicing↗

[Inhibition of cell growth and target gene expression of human pancreatic carcinoma cells by modified antisense oligodeoxynucleotide].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibitory effects of modified antisense oligodeoxynucleotide on cell growth, 3H-TdR incorporation rate and target gene expressions of human pancreatic carcinoma cells as a comparison with the effectiveness of nonmodified antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) resported previously. METHODS: Synthesized modified antigsense oligodeoxynucleotides (antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides, ASPODN) complementary to the cap regions of c-myc and Ki-ras genes were used to treat PC-2 and PC-3 human pancreatic carcinoma cell line cells with multiple small (10 micrograms) doses or one single dose (15 micrograms). After treatment, cell growth rates and 3H-TdR incorporation rates were estimated, and the concurrent oncogene expressions were studied by adopting RT-PCR technique. RESULTS: After multiple ASPODN exposures, the cell growth rates and 3H-TdR incorporation rates were significantly inhibited, the inhibition was maintained for more than two weeks. On the 14th day, the cell growth rates of the ASPODN groups were reduced to 38%-43% of that of the controls, and the 3H-TdR incorporation rates were 18%-33% of that of the controls, there were also marked inhibition or down-regulation of target genes (c-myc and Ki-ras) expressions. After the 15 micrograms single dose treatment, the inhibition of cell growth, 3H-TdR incorporation and target gene expressions lasted for 4 days. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study confirm the fact that ASPODN exerts a more strong inhibitory effect on pancreatic carcinoma cells than the non-modified ASODN.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Mouse dystrophin enhancer preferentially targets lacZ expression in skeletal and cardiac muscle.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a muscle wasting disease that results from a dystrophin deficiency in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Studies concerning the regulatory elements that govern dystrophin gene expression in skeletal and/or cardiac muscle in both mouse and human have identified a promoter and an enhancer located in intron 1. In transgenic mice, the muscle promoter alone targets the expression of a lacZ reporter gene only to the right ventricle of the heart, suggesting the need for other regulatory elements to target skeletal muscle and the rest of the heart. Here we report that the mouse dystrophin enhancer from intron 1 can target the expression of a lacZ reporter gene in skeletal muscle as well as in other heart compartments of transgenic mice. Our results also suggest that sequences surrounding the mouse dystrophin enhancer may affect its function throughout mouse development.

Animals↗

Targeting gene expression to haemopoietic stem cells: a chromatin-dependent upstream element mediates cell type-specific expression of the stem cell antigen CD34.

The ability to target heterologous gene expression to haemopoietic stem cells will allow biological manipulation of this compartment and facilitate gene therapy of blood disorders. To identify regulatory elements with this potential, we have analysed the transcriptional regulation of the murine stem cell antigen CD34. Within haemopoiesis CD34 is expressed in stem and early progenitor cells, but it is also expressed in certain non-haemopoietic cell types, including fibroblasts. Comparison of CD34 chromatin in haemopoietic progenitor cells (416B and M1) and fibroblasts (Swiss 3T6) revealed several DNase I hypersensitive regions, one of which, a cluster of sites centred 3 kb upstream of exon 1, was specific to haemopoietic progenitors. This element stimulated expression by approximately two orders of magnitude in CD34+ haemopoietic progenitors, but not in CD34+ fibroblasts or in CD34- haemopoietic cells (18.8). Enhancer function was dependent upon chromosomal integration, although position-independent expression was not obtained. However, largely position-independent expression was conferred by addition of a downstream element which was hypersensitive in all the cell types analysed. We conclude that the murine CD34 gene is regulated by a chromatin-dependent, upstream enhancer element which acts in conjunction with a downstream domain-controlling element to confer high level gene expression in haemopoietic progenitor cells.

Animals↗

[SiRNA expression cassettes targeting VEGF effectively inhibit the growth of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of siRNA expression cassettes (SECs) targeting VEGF in vitro on cultured Hep-2 cells, the observation of the expression of VEGF, the screening of the best interference sequences, and the exploration of the application of RNA interference on tumor gene therapy in the future. METHODS: On the basis of the principle of target sequence of siRNA, four interference sequences of VEGF were designed, and the downstream gene-specific primers of the SECs were synthesized. The RNAi transcription kit used U6 RNA-based polymerase III promoter and modified terminator for high level, precise siRNA expression inside target cells. The Hep-2 cells was transfected in growth period of index with the PCR products of the four sites separately, and began to observe and measure the results of RNA interference in 48 hours. RESULTS: The transfected 1366-site cells created, turned into the round shape and began to shed off, whereas morphology of the cells of other groups had not obviously changed. Performing the agarose gels electrophoresis with RT-PCR products, compared with the contrast groups, some cells VEGF mRNA of 1366-site were suppressed obviously, the ratio of OD was 0. 05 while the expression of VEGF of the cell of other groups had not obviously changed. Western blot revealed that VEGF expression was decreased obviously post transfection using 1366-site SECs. Flow cytometry showed that apoptosis rate of 1366-site transfected cells is 43%, and apoptosis rate of the rest three site transfected cells scarcely changed. Similar results were obtained in three independent experiments. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggested that siRNA expression cassettes (SECs) targeting VEGF 1366-site can effectively inhibit the growth laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (Hep-2).

Apoptosis↗

Von Willebrand factor promoter targets the expression of amyloid beta protein precursor to brain vascular endothelial cells of transgenic mice.

Dysfunction of brain vascular endothelial cells may be associated with the pathogenesis of several diseases including cerebral amyloid angiopathy, hemorrhagic stroke and Alzheimer disease. New model systems are necessary to examine the contribution of brain endothelial cells in these disorders. The Von Willebrand factor gene promoter fragment that spans sequences -487 to +247 targets the expression of LacZ marker gene in transgenic mice specifically to brain vascular endothelial cells. Transgenic mice have been prepared that express human amyloid beta protein precursor protein (AbetaPP) isoforms 695 and 751 (wild-type and Dutch variant mutations) under the regulation of this VWF promoter sequence. These AbetaPP transgenes are specifically expressed in brain vascular endothelial cells. The VWF promoter is a valuable tool for targeting gene expression to brain vascular endothelial cells to provide a model to directly examine endothelial cell placement of genes and their contribution to cerebral vascular disease.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗