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Biomedical subjects

F L Graham

Publications and source records attributed to F L Graham.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Adenovirus-mediated cytokine gene transfer at tissue sites. Overexpression of IL-6 induces lymphocytic hyperplasia in the lung.

The biologic function of cytokines may be best studied in the context of a defined tissue site. To establish a model for studying the function of IL-6 at local tissue sites, we targeted the IL-6 transgene into the bronchial epithelium in the lung of Sprague-Dawley rats by intratracheal administration of a recombinant human type 5 adenovirus with rat IL-6 cDNA incorporated into the E3 region of the viral genome. This approach led to a highly compartmentalized overexpression of the IL-6 transgene and production of bioactive protein within the lung for about 7 days post-infection. Associated with this overexpression of IL-6 was the development of profound local lymphocytic hyperplasia around day 7, characterized by the dramatic expansion of bronchial associated lymphoid aggregates and massive lymphocytic infiltration in the pulmonary parenchyma. Concurrently, there were strikingly increased numbers of lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. The majority of these lymphocytes were found to be CD3+CD8+ cytotoxic T and CD3+CD4+ helper T cells with the remaining being primarily a small number of CD45R+ B cells. In addition, there was moderate bronchial and alveolar epithelial hyperplasia associated with lymphocytic hyperplasia. However, all of these changes subsided concomitant with the decrease in IL-6 expression and the lung seemed normal at 12 to 14 days post-infection. Thus, our study provides a tissue-specific transient transgene model for investigating cytokine functions in vivo and demonstrates that IL-6 has a profound stimulatory effect on the local lymphoid tissue in the lung.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

An efficient and flexible system for construction of adenovirus vectors with insertions or deletions in early regions 1 and 3.

Human adenoviruses (Ads) are attracting considerable attention because of their potential utility for gene transfer and gene therapy, for development of live viral vectored vaccines, and for protein expression in mammalian cells. Engineering Ad vectors for these applications requires a variety of reagents in the form of Ads and bacterial plasmids containing viral DNA sequences and requires different strategies for construction of vectors for different purposes. To simplify Ad vector construction and develop a procedure with maximum flexibility, efficiency, and cloning capacity, we have developed a vector system based on use of Ad5 DNA sequences cloned in bacterial plasmids. Expanded deletions in early region 1 (3180 bp) and early region 3 (2690 or 3132 bp) can be combined in a single vector that should have a capacity for inserts of up to 8.3 kb, enough to accommodate the majority of cDNAs encoding proteins with regulatory elements. Genes can be inserted into either early region 1 or 3 or both and mutations or deletions can be readily introduced elsewhere in the viral genome. To illustrate the flexibility of the system, we have introduced a wild-type early region 3 into the vectors, and to illustrate the high capacity for inserts, we have isolated a vector with two genes totaling 7.8 kb.

Adenoviridae↗

Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer in the transplant setting. I. Conditions for expression of transferred genes in cold-preserved hepatocytes.

Transplantation of genetically modified hepatocytes has been suggested as a therapeutic modality for impaired hepatocellular function. This study examined adenoviral-mediated gene transfer to isolated hepatocytes, under conditions mimicking clinical transplant preservation. Isolated rat hepatocytes were infected using replication-defective adenoviral vectors with an expression cassette containing the beta-galactosidase gene driven by a CMV promoter. Hepatocytes were infected in suspension immediately after isolation, then either cultured or transplanted immediately into a syngeneic host. Gene transfer efficiency was assessed by histochemical staining and FACS analysis for the gene product. The presence of viral DNA and mRNA, as well as viral-derived protein production, were assayed. Efficiency of gene transfer was examined as a function of several preservation conditions. Infection efficiency was best in cells preserved in UW solution, correlated directly with virus:hepatocyte ratio and with length of exposure to virus. Successful infection resulted in significant viral-derived protein production, persisting for at least two weeks in culture. These results demonstrate the versatility of adenoviral vectors in accomplishing rapid and efficient gene transfer into nondividing hepatocytes during cold preservation. Such genetically modified hepatocytes have potential use for immediate transplantation, without the need for further manipulation.

Adenoviridae↗

A cytosolic herpes simplex virus protein inhibits antigen presentation to CD8+ T lymphocytes.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection of human fibroblasts rapidly renders the cells resistant to lysis by HSV-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), which normally recognize cell surface major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I proteins presenting viral peptides. Within 3 hr of infection with HSV, MHC class I protein complexes are retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)/cis Golgi and show properties of complexes lacking antigenic peptide. The HSV immediate-early protein ICP47 is both necessary and sufficient to block transport of class I proteins and to inhibit lysis by CD8+ CTLs. The target for ICP47 is not known, but since ICP47 does not associate with membranes, it appears that ICP47 inhibits the production or stabilization of antigenic peptides or their translocation into the ER/cis Golgi. Thus, by expressing ICP47, HSV can evade detection by CD8+ T lymphocytes, perhaps explaining the predominance of CD4+ rather than CD8+ HSV-specific CTLs in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The E1 sequence of bovine adenovirus type 3 and complementation of human adenovirus type 5 E1A function in bovine cells.

The bovine adenovirus type 3 (BAV3) genome was sequenced from the left end to the HindIII site at 11%. This region comprises the entire E1 transcription unit including the open reading frames (ORF) for proteins homologous to the E1A, E1B proteins and protein IX of human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5). A portion of the BAV3 E1A protein showed significant homology with conserved region 3 (CR3), the principal transactivation region of Ad5 E1A. The BAV3 E1A protein also contains a consensus sequence known to be important for interaction with the cellular Rb protein but lacks most of the sequence corresponding to the second exon of Ad5 E1A. Promoter sequences for BAV3 E1B were not defined though the relevant region contains a 35-base pair repeat sequence. Two ORFs define the BAV3 E1B coding unit; one with regions homologous to sequences within the Ad5 E1B 19k protein, and an overlapping ORF with significant homology to the Ad5 E1B 55k protein. The encoded BAV3 E1B proteins of 157 and 420 amino acid residues (R) have predicted unmodified molecular weights of 17,393 and 46,734 respectively. Immediately following the E1B coding region there is a transcription unit containing an SP1 binding site and TATA box followed by an ORF which encodes a protein of 125R and predicted molecular weight of 13,706 with homology to protein IX of Ad5. Five concensus poly A addition sites are located in the 350 base pairs immediately following the protein IX coding region. The homology of sequences in the Ad5 E1A CR3 region and the corresponding BAV3 protein suggested that the BAV3 protein could transactivate certain Ad5 genes normally transactivated by the Ad5 E1A product. Evidence for this hypothesis was obtained in studies in which bovine cells in culture were coinfected with BAV3 and a human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) recombinant viral vector lacking the E1A region and having a lacZ reporter gene within the E3 region dependent on E1A for its expression. Coinfection resulted in the induction of beta-galactosidase activity and the increased expression of other Ad5 early (E2A 72k) and late (hexon) proteins.

Adenoviridae↗

Transduction of human bone marrow by adenoviral vector.

Recombinant adenoviral vectors have been shown to be potential new tools for a variety of human gene therapy protocols. We examined the effectiveness of an adenovirus vector for gene transfer into human bone marrow (BM). Mononuclear cells from one adenosine deaminase (ADA)-deficient and two normal human BM samples were transduced by an E1-defective adenoviral vector encoding human ADA and kept in myeloid long-term culture. Retroviral gene transfer was also performed with the ADA-deficient bone marrow as a control. The transduced cells were harvested at different times and the expression of the vector-encoded ADa in crude cell extracts of nonadherent cells was analyzed. The expression from Ad-ADA was higher than that from a retroviral vector at 1 week post-transduction. In half of the experiments, the ADA activity decreased with passage. Unexpectedly, sustained expression from Ad-ADA was observed in the other half. At the end of the experiments (2 months), free virus from BM cultures which showed sustained expression of ADA was detected on 293 cells. Several independent virus clones were isolated and analyzed and found to be Ad-ADA. Our results suggest potential use of adenoviral vectors for gene therapy that does not require sustained expression, as with cytokine gene transfer for cancer gene therapy. However, our finding that infectious virus can sometimes persist might raise issues regarding the leakiness of human adenovirus vectors in cells of some human tissues.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

Phosphorylation at the carboxy terminus of the 55-kilodalton adenovirus type 5 E1B protein regulates transforming activity.

The 55-kDa product of early region 1B (E1B) of human adenoviruses is required for viral replication and participates in cell transformation through complex formation with and inactivation of the cellular tumor suppressor p53. We have used both biochemical and genetic approaches to show that this 496-residue (496R) protein of adenovirus type 5 is phosphorylated at serine and threonine residues near the carboxy terminus within sequences characteristic of substrates of casein kinase II. Mutations which converted serines 490 and 491 to alanine residues decreased viral replication and greatly reduced the efficiency of transformation of primary baby rat kidney cells. Such mutant 496R proteins interacted with p53 at efficiencies similar to those of wild-type 496R but only partially inhibited p53 transactivation activity. These results indicated that phosphorylation at these carboxy-terminal sites either regulates the inhibition of p53 or regulates some other 496R function required for cell transformation.

Adenovirus E1B Proteins↗

Tumorigenicity of adenovirus-transformed rodent cells is influenced by at least two regions of adenovirus type 12 early region 1A.

Chimeric adenovirus type 5 (Ad5)/Ad12 early region 1A (E1A) genes were used to transform primary baby rat kidney cells in cooperation with Ad12 E1B, and the resulting cell lines were assayed for tumorigenicity in syngeneic rats. It was found that lines were nontumorigenic when transformed by hybrid E1A genes consisting of the amino-terminal 80 amino acids from Ad12 including conserved region 1 (CR1), with the remaining portion from Ad5. In contrast, cell lines transformed by hybrids containing Ad12 E1A sequences from the amino terminus to the leftmost border of CR3 or beyond were tumorigenic. To extend these results, sequences spanning CR2 and CR3 of Ad5 E1A were replaced with the homologous regions of Ad12 E1A and additional transformed cell lines were established. These lines were weakly-to-moderately tumorigenic, suggesting that Ad12 E1A sequences between CR2 and CR3 may be involved in tumorigenicity but are not the sole factors influencing it. Interestingly, examination of an E1A sequence alignment indicated that the region between CR2 and CR3 of Ad12 E1A is also conserved in the corresponding sequence of simian adenovirus type 7, which, like Ad12, is highly oncogenic. This region is characterized by the presence of a stretch of several alanine residues and is similar to a motif present in a number of proteins with transcriptional repression activity. The possibility that this region may influence tumorigenicity by means of a transcriptional regulatory mechanism is discussed.

Adenovirus E1A Proteins↗

Construction of recombinant human type 5 adenoviruses expressing rodent IL-6 genes. An approach to investigate in vivo cytokine function.

The majority of biologic functions assigned to cytokines have been characterized by in vitro assay systems which may not necessarily reflect cytokine roles in vivo. Recently, recombinant virus approaches have allowed tissue-specific expression of foreign gene products in experimental animal models. We have constructed recombinant human type 5 adenoviruses, deficient in the E3 region of the genome, with incorporated rodent IL-6 cDNA that express significant levels of biologically active IL-6 on infection both in vitro and in vivo. After i.p. injection, the liver, spleen, and peritoneum appear to be primary sites of expression, whereas the lung and bronchus are the main sites of expression after intratracheal instillation. Injection i.p. of BALB/c mice with the murine rIL-6 virus causes an increase in serum levels of bioactive IL-6 for up to 6 days post-infection, whereas similar changes are not seen in animals infected with control viruses. Coincident with enhanced plasma levels of IL-6, we detect raised serum levels of hepatic-derived acute phase proteins. Associated with the expression of IL-6 in the liver and spleen, at 7 days we note a fourfold splenomegaly with expansion of B and T cell compartments, as well as the presence of lymphoid aggregates in the liver. These morphologic changes had resolved by 16 days. Our findings demonstrate that recombinant human type 5 adenoviruses expressing cDNA for various cytokines could be used as a transient pseudo-transgenic animal model to investigate the biologic function of cytokines in vivo.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Protective immunity to rotavirus-induced diarrhoea is passively transferred to newborn mice from naive dams vaccinated with a single dose of a recombinant adenovirus expressing rotavirus VP7sc.

VP7sc is a novel rotavirus antigen engineered for presentation at the cell surface. Several recombinant viruses were constructed in which VP7sc was inserted into the E3 region of the human type 5 adenovirus (Ad5) genome and expression and transport of the antigen was monitored in cultured 293 cells. The recombinant virus showing the greatest level of expression (Ad5/7.4) was then used to determine whether antibodies to VP7sc could be induced in a nonhuman host. BALB/c and CBA/H mice were inoculated with Ad5/7.4 by iv, ip, oral and intranasal routes and serum antibody levels were assayed by ELISA. All vaccinated animals seroconverted but, depending on the route of vaccination, not all animals showed a significant secondary response following re-inoculation. The ability of Ad5/7.4 to induce protective immunity in mice was also examined using several vaccination regimes. A single dose of Ad5/7.4 given intranasally to dams not previously exposed to rotavirus was sufficient to induce immunity which could be passively transferred to protect suckling neonates. Recombinant adenoviruses expressing protective antigens therefore may provide an alternative to the use of attenuated rotaviruses in the development of a vaccine against gastroenteritis.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoproteins B and K inhibit cell fusion induced by HSV syncytial mutants.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoproteins K and B (gK and gB) are intimately involved in virus-induced fusion of cells. Certain mutations in the UL27 (gB) and UL53 (gK) genes confer a syncytial (syn) phenotype characterized by extensive fusion of infected cells and giving rise to multinucleated cells. We have used HSV-1 syn mutants in conjunction with transfected cells or adenovirus vectors to overexpress wild-type gK or gB, in order to study the role of these proteins in virus-induced membrane fusion. Transient expression of wild-type gK inhibited fusion induced by HSV-1 encoding a mutant form of gK (syn gK) but not by viruses encoding a mutant form of gB (syn gB). Stably transformed cells expressing relatively high levels of gK suppressed cell fusion induced by HSV-1 mutants with lesions in the gK gene but not an HSV-1 with a syn mutation in the gB gene. In addition, there were marked reductions in the plaquing efficiencies and yields of HSV-1 on these cell lines. Cell fusion caused by HSV-1 syn20, a mutant encoding syn gK, was suppressed when cells were coinfected with an Ad vector, AdgK, which expresses wild-type gK. AdgK did not suppress fusion induced by HSV-1 KTTS.1, which expresses syn gB. Conversely, cells coinfected with AdgB, an Ad vector expressing a wild-type form of gB and HSV-1 KTTS.1 (syn gB) were not fused, whereas cells coinfected with AdgB and HSV-1 syn20 (syn gK) were fused. Expression of a number of other HSV-1 glycoproteins using Ad vectors did not reduce membrane fusion induced by syn gK or syn gB. Together, these results support models in which gK and gB participate directly in the fusion of HSV-infected cells. Mutant forms of gB and gK apparently disregulate the fusion process, whereas wild-type forms of gB and gK can act to suppress membrane fusion induced by their mutant counterparts.

Adenoviridae↗

Monitoring foreign gene expression by a human adenovirus-based vector using the firefly luciferase gene as a reporter.

We have constructed a helper-independent adenovirus type 5-luciferase recombinant (Ad5-Luc 3) containing the firefly luciferase gene flanked by simian virus 40 (SV40) regulatory sequences inserted in the early region 3 (E3) of the Ad5 genome. Expression of luciferase in cells infected with Ad5-Luc3 was relatively efficient. In HeLa cells approximately 20 micrograms luciferase per 10(6) cells was made by 36 h post-infection and a 62 kilo-Dalton (kDa) luciferase band was clearly visible in a [35S]methionine-labeled Ad5-Luc 3-infected cell extract analyzed directly by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The results of experiments in which cultured cells were infected with Ad5-Luc 3 in the presence or absence of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl cytosine (AraC) showed that the majority of luciferase expression was dependent on viral DNA replication. This suggested that the enzyme was probably translated primarily from mRNA derived from transcripts expressed from the major late promoter of Ad5. An anti-luciferase antibody was raised in a rabbit and used to further characterize the luciferase expressed in HeLa cells infected with Ad5-Luc 3 by immunoprecipitations and Western blot analyses. The half-life of luciferase expressed in HeLa cells infected with Ad5-Luc 3 was calculated to be approximately 6-8 h by pulse chase analysis. Luciferase is likely to be a useful marker for monitoring virus dissemination and gene expression in experimental animals because assays for enzymatic activity are extremely sensitive and backgrounds are low in all tissues. In mice inoculated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with Ad5-Luc 3, luciferase activity was detected in the liver, spleen, kidney, and lung. A single i.p. inoculation of mice with Ad5-Luc 3 was sufficient to raise anti-luciferase antibody and Ad5 neutralizing antibody which persisted for at least 8 weeks. Even in the presence of circulating anti-luciferase and Ad5 neutralizing antibodies, luciferase activity could be detected in the livers, spleens, and kidneys of mice inoculated i.p. a second time with Ad5-Luc 3.

Adenoviridae Infections↗

Immunogenicity in mice of tandem repeats of an epitope from herpes simplex gD protein when expressed by recombinant adenovirus vectors.

The antigenic and immunogenic potential was examined of human adenovirus type 5 (Ad) recombinants carrying and expressing from one to four tandem repeats of a linear neutralizing epitope from the gD protein of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) as a fusion with the beta-galactosidase protein. The fusion proteins produced by these Ad vectors in infected cell culture reacted with a herpes simplex virus (HSV) epitope-specific monoclonal antibody to a degree dependent on the number of epitope repeats in the protein. Mice immunized by intraperitoneal injection of the Ad vectors developed an anti-HSV immune response as measured by ELISA and by HSV-1 neutralization assays. The mean antibody titre induced by a single injection of the Ad vector increased with the number of epitope repeats expressed by the recombinant. Any animal that had developed a serum-neutralizing titre of at least 1:80 survived challenge with a normally lethal dose of HSV-2 administered by the intraperitoneal route. Recombinant vectors expressing four repeats of the HSV epitope were as effective in antibody induction and protection as an adenovirus vector carrying and expressing the entire HSV gD protein. These results suggest that the expression of tandem repeats of appropriate epitopic sequences by adenovirus vectors may provide a safe and effective method of immunizing against HSV infection.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Mucosal immunity and protection after intranasal immunization with recombinant adenovirus expressing herpes simplex virus glycoprotein B.

A recombinant adenovirus (Ad) expressing glycoprotein B (gB) of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 (AdgB8) was evaluated as a mucosal vaccine candidate. When administered intranasally (inl) to C57B1/6 mice, AdgB8 induced levels of serum anti-HSV gB IgG antibodies similar to those of mice immunized intraperitoneally (ip), which neutralized both HSV-1 and -2. Mice immunized inl with AdgB8 produced secretory IgA specific for HSV gB, but mice immunized ip did not. Splenic anti-HSV cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) were observed after inl and ip immunization; however, there was a time-dependent decrease in the anti-HSV CTL activity from spleens of inl immunized mice. Anti-HSV CTL were also present in the mediastinal lymph nodes after inl but not ip AdgB8 immunization. Furthermore, mice immunized inl with AdgB8 were protected against heterologous inl challenge with HSV-2, and this protection lasted longer than in ip-immunized mice. These results indicate that mucosal immunization with a recombinant adenovirus can induce mucosal and systemic immune responses and provide long-term protection from mucosally or sexually transmitted viruses.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Mouse hepatitis virus spike and nucleocapsid proteins expressed by adenovirus vectors protect mice against a lethal infection.

Infection with the mouse hepatitis coronavirus (MHV) provides an excellent model for the study of viral diseases of the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. With the ultimate aim of studying mucosal immunity to MHV we have cloned the genes encoding the structural proteins of MHV strain A59 (MHV-A59) into the E3 region of a human adenovirus type 5 vector. Infection of HeLa cells with the resulting recombinant adenoviruses AdMHVS, AdMHVN and AdMHVM revealed the correct expression of the spike (S), nucleocapsid (N) and membrane (M) proteins, respectively. Intraperitoneal inoculation of BALB/c mice with the recombinant viruses elicited serum antibodies which specifically recognized the respective MHV proteins in an immunoprecipitation assay. Only antibodies to the S protein neutralized MHV-A59 in vitro but titres were low. When analysed by ELISA or by immunofluorescence only the antibody response to the N protein was significant; weak responses or no detectable response at all were found for S and M, respectively. Upon intracerebral challenge with a lethal dose of MHV-A59 we found that a significant fraction of animals vaccinated with adenovirus vectors expressing either the S protein or N protein were protected. This protective effect was significantly stronger when the animals were given a booster immunization with the same vector prior to challenge. No protection was induced by AdMHVM. Interestingly, enhanced protection resulted when AdMHVS and AdMHVN were applied in combination as compared to survival after single immunizations. The results indicate that both the N and S proteins generate a protective immune response and suggest that this response is enhanced by combined expression of the two proteins.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Packaging capacity and stability of human adenovirus type 5 vectors.

Adenovirus vectors are extensively used for high-level expression of proteins in mammalian cells and are receiving increasing attention for their potential use as live recombinant vaccines and as transducing viruses for use in gene therapy. Although it is commonly argued that one of the chief advantages of adenovirus vectors is their relative stability, this has not been thoroughly investigated. To examine the genetic stability of adenovirus type 5 vectors and in particular to examine the relationship between genetic stability and genome size, adenovirus vectors were constructed with inserts of 4.88 (herpes simplex virus type 1 gB), 4.10 (herpes simplex virus type 1 gB), or 3.82 (LacZ) kb combined with a 1.88-kb E3 deletion or with a newly generated 2.69-kb E3 deletion. The net excess of DNA over the wild-type (wt) genome size ranged from 1.13 to 3.00 kb or 3.1 to 8.3%. Analysis of these vectors during serial passage in tissue culture revealed that when the size exceeded 105% of the wt genome length by approximately 1.2 kb (4.88-kb insert combined with a 1.88-kb deletion), the resulting vector grew very poorly and underwent rapid rearrangement, resulting in loss of the insert after only a few passages. In contrast, vectors with inserts resulting in viral DNA close to or less than a net genome size of 105% of that of the wt grew well and were relatively stable. In general, viruses with genomes only slightly above 105% of that of the wt were unstable and the rapidity with which rearrangement occurred correlated with the size of the insert. These findings suggest that there is a relatively tight constraint on the amount of DNA which can be packaged into virions and that exceeding the limit results in a sharply decreased rate of virus growth. The resultant strong selection for variants which have undergone rearrangement, generating smaller genomes, is manifested as genetic instability of the virus population.

Adenoviruses, Human↗