Biomedical subjects

H Mizuguchi

Publications and source records attributed to H Mizuguchi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Cotransduction of CCL27 gene can improve the efficacy and safety of IL-12 gene therapy for cancer.

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a potent antitumoral cytokine, but high doses are toxic. Herein, we demonstrate that combinational transduction of IL-12 and CC-chemokine ligand-27 (CCL27) genes into pre-existing murine OV-HM ovarian carcinoma and Meth-A fibrosarcoma, by using RGD fiber-mutant adenoviral vectors, could induce tumor regression and relieve systemic side effects more effectively than either treatment alone. The antitumor activity of the IL-12 and CCL27 combination treatment was T-cell-dependent, and development of long-term specific immunity was confirmed in rechallenge experiments. Immunohistochemical analysis of tumors transduced with CCL27 gene alone or cotransduced with IL-12 and CCL27 genes showed significant increases in numbers of infiltrating CD3(+) T cells, which included both CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells. Additionally, cotransduction with IL-12 and CCL27 genes could more efficiently activate tumor-infiltrating immune cells than transduction with CCL27 alone, as determined by the frequency of perforin-positive cells and expression levels of IFN-gamma. Furthermore, mice treated with the IL-12 and CCL27 combination compared with those treated with IL-12 alone showed milder pathological changes, for example, lymphocyte infiltration and extramedullary hematopoiesis, in lung, liver and spleen. Our data provide evidence that combinational in vivo transduction with IL-12 and CCL27 genes is a promising approach for the development of cancer immunogene therapy that can simultaneously recruit and activate tumor-infiltrating immune cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2006

Characterization of capsid-modified adenovirus vectors containing heterologous peptides in the fiber knob, protein IX, or hexon.

Adenovirus (Ad) vectors are widely used in gene therapy and in vitro/in vivo gene transfer because of their high transduction efficiency. However, Ad vector application in the gene therapy field is limited by poor transduction into cells not expressing the primary receptor, coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor. To overcome this problem, several types of capsid-modified Ad vectors have been developed. The HI loop or C-terminus of the fiber knob, the C-terminus of the protein IX (pIX) and the hypervariable region 5 of the hexon are promising candidate locations for displaying foreign peptide sequences. In the present study, we constructed Ad vectors in which each of the above region was modified by a simple in vitro ligation-based method, and examined the characterization of each Ad vector containing the FLAG tag (DYKDDDDK) or RGD (CDCRGDCFC) peptide. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay examining the surface expression of foreign peptides on the virus suggested that foreign peptides are exposed on virion surfaces in all types vectors and that the hexon was the most efficiently reacted, reflecting the copy number of the modification. However, in the case of the transduction efficiency of Ad vectors containing the RGD peptides, the modification of pIX and the hexon showed no effect. The modification of the HI loop of the fiber knob was the most efficient, followed by the modification of the C-terminus region of the fiber knob. These comparative analyses, together with a simple construction method for each modified Ad vector, could provide basic information for the generation of capsid-modified Ad vectors.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2006

Characteristics of transcription-regulatory elements for gene expression from plasmid vectors in human trophoblast cell lines.

Nonviral gene delivery systems are useful for basic research in trophoblasts. In these systems, gene expression is regulated by a cassette of regulatory elements within the plasmid, and the transcriptional activity differs among cell lines. In the present study, we used BeWo and JAR human trophoblast cell lines to systematically compare the transcriptional activities of several expression cassettes and those of a control plasmid made up of a simian virus 40 (SV40) promoter, a polyadenylation (PA) signal, and an enhancer. We also found that insertion of intron elements enhanced transcriptional activities in the following order: intron A>hybrid beta-globin-immunoglobin intron>no intron. Of several PA signals tested including those from SV40, bovine growth hormone, and the minimal rabbit beta-globin, the latter had the highest transcriptional activities (3.9- and 26-fold over control plasmid in BeWo and JAR cells, respectively). Addition of a second enhancer increased the transcriptional activity in these cells. We also found that gene expression level can be controlled by selecting the expression cassette. These results should be useful for further transgene experiments in BeWo and JAR cells.

Cell Line, Tumor↗

PubMed2006

Adenovirus serotype 35 vector-mediated transduction into human CD46-transgenic mice.

We previously demonstrated that systemic administration of adenovirus serotype 35 (Ad35) vectors to mice does not mediate efficient transduction in organs, probably because expression of the mouse analog of the subgroup B Ad receptor, human CD46 (membrane cofactor protein), is limited to the testis. Here, we describe the in vitro and in vivo transduction characteristics of Ad35 vectors by using homozygous and hemizygous human CD46-transgenic (CD46TG) mice, which ubiquitously express human CD46. An Ad35 vector more efficiently transduced the primary dendritic cells and macrophages prepared from CD46TG mice than those from wild-type mice. In vivo transduction experiments demonstrated that CD46TG mice are more susceptible to Ad35 vector-mediated in vivo transduction than are wild-type mice. In particular, homozygous CD46TG mice, which express higher levels of CD46 in the organs than hemizygous CD46TG mice, tend to exhibit higher transduction efficiencies after intraperitoneal administration than hemizygous CD46TG mice. Intraperitoneal administration of Ad35 vectors resulted in efficient transduction into the mesothelial cells of the peritoneal organs in homozygous CD46TG mice. These results indicate that an Ad35 vector recognizes human CD46 as a cellular receptor in CD46TG mice. However, the in vivo transduction efficiencies of Ad35 vectors in CD46TG mice are much lower than those of conventional Ad5 vectors in wild-type mice.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2006

Tumor suppressive efficacy through augmentation of tumor-infiltrating immune cells by intratumoral injection of chemokine-expressing adenoviral vector.

Our goal in the present study was to evaluate antitumor effects and frequency of tumor-infiltrating immune cells upon intratumoral injection of RGD fiber-mutant adenoviral vector (AdRGD) encoding the chemokines CCL17, CCL19, CCL20, CCL21, CCL22, CCL27, XCL1, and CX3CL1. Among eight kinds of chemokine-expressing AdRGDs, AdRGD-CCL19 injection most efficiently induced infiltration of T cells into established B16BL6 tumor parenchyma, whereas most of these T cells were perforin-negative in immunohistochemical analysis. Additionally, the growth of AdRGD-CCL19-injected tumors decreased only slightly as well as that of other tumors treated with each chemokine-expressing AdRGD, which indicated that accumulation of naive T cells in tumor tissue does not effectively damage the tumor cells. Tumor-bearing mice, in which B16BL6-specific T cells were elicited by dendritic cell-based immunization, demonstrated that intratumoral injection of AdRGD-CCL17, -CCL22, or -CCL27 could considerably suppress tumor growth and attract activated T cells. On the other hand, AdRGD-CCL19-injection in the immunized mice showed slight increase of tumor-infiltrating T cells compared to treatment using control vector. Collectively, although AdRGD-mediated chemokine gene transduction into established tumors would be very useful for augmentation of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, a combinational treatment that can systemically induce tumor-specific effector T cells is necessary for satisfactory antitumor efficacy.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2005

Thermolabile phenotype of carnitine palmitoyltransferase II variations as a predisposing factor for influenza-associated encephalopathy.

To assess the etiology of influenza-associated encephalopathy (IAE), a surveillance effort was conducted during 2000-2003 in South-West Japan. All fatal and handicapped patients except one (4/34 patients) exhibited a disorder of mitochondrial beta-oxidation evoked by the inactivated carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT II) with transiently elevated serum acylcarnitine ratios (C(16:0) + C(18:1))/C(2) > 0.09 during high-grade fever. Analyses of genotypes and allele compositions of CPT II revealed a thermolabile phenotype of compound heterozygotes for [1055T > G/F352C] and [1102G > A/V368I], which shows a higher frequency in IAE patients than healthy volunteers (P < 0.025). The thermolabile phenotype of CPT II variations may be a principal genetic background of IAE in Japanese.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Augmentation of the migratory ability of DC-based vaccine into regional lymph nodes by efficient CCR7 gene transduction.

Although dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy is considered a promising approach for cancer treatment, a large quantity of DC vaccine is required for effective sensitization/activation of immune cells because of the poor migratory ability of administered DCs into regional lymphoid tissue. In this study, we created a DC vaccine sufficiently transduced with CC chemokine receptor-7 gene (CCR7/DCs) by applying RGD fiber-mutant adenovirus vector (AdRGD), and investigated its immunological characteristics and therapeutic efficacy. CCR7/DCs acquired strong chemotactic activity for CC chemokine ligand-21 (CCL21) and exhibited an immunophenotype similar to mature DCs but not immature DCs with regard to major histocompatibility complex/costimulatory molecule-expression levels and allogenic T cell proliferation-stimulating ability, while maintaining inherent endocytotic activity. Importantly, CCR7/DCs injected intradermally into mice could accumulate in draining lymph nodes about 5.5-fold more efficiently than control AdRGD-applied DCs. Reflecting these properties of CCR7/DCs, DC vaccine genetically engineered to simultaneously express endogenous antigen and CCR7 could elicit more effective antigen-specific immune response in vivo using a lower dosage than DC vaccine transduced with antigen alone. Therefore, the application of CCR7/DCs having positive migratory ability to lymphoid tissues may contribute to reduction of efforts and costs associated with DC vaccine preparation by considerably reducing the DC vaccine dosage needed to achieve effective treatment by DC-based immunotherapy.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2005

Gene therapy for human small-cell lung carcinoma by inactivation of Skp-2 with virally mediated RNA interference.

Increase of Skp-2, which is involved in the degradation of cell cycle regulators including p27Kip1, p21 and c-myc, is one of the important mechanisms for dysregulation of cell cycles in various cancers. We applied RNA interference (RNAi) for Skp-2 by using HIV-lentiviral or adenoviral vectors for a human small-cell lung carcinoma cell line with increased Skp-2 to evaluate RNAi strategy for cancer gene therapy. HIV-lentivirus-mediated RNAi for Skp-2 resulted in efficient inhibition of the in vitro cell growth of cancer cells with increased Skp-2 through the increase of p27Kip1 and p21, but no significant effect on the growth of cells without high Skp-2 expression. Furthermore, intratumoral administration of adenovirus siRNA vector for Skp-2 efficiently inhibited growth of established subcutaneous tumor on NOD/SCID mice. These results indicate that the Skp-2 RNAi may be a useful strategy for gene therapy of cancers with high Skp-2 expression.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2005

Optimization of adenovirus serotype 35 vectors for efficient transduction in human hematopoietic progenitors: comparison of promoter activities.

Adenoviral gene transfer to hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs)/progenitors would provide a new approach to the treatment of hematopoietic diseases and study of the hematopoietic system. We have previously reported that an adenovirus (Ad) vector composed of whole Ad serotype 35 (Ad35), which belongs to subgroup B, shows efficient gene transfer into human bone marrow CD34+ cells. However, Ad35 vector-mediated transduction into human HSCs/progenitors has not yet been fully optimized. In the present study, we have systematically examined promoter activity in the context of Ad35 vectors in human bone marrow CD34+ cells and primitive CD34+ subsets to optimize the transduction efficiency in human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. In the first of the transduction experiments, the improved in vitro ligation method was applied to Ad35 vector construction to allow for simple and efficient production of an E1/E3-deleted Ad35 vector. Using this method, we constructed a series of Ad35 vectors encoding the enhanced green fluorescence protein (GFP) under the control of a variety of strong viral and cellular promoters. Of the six types of promoters tested, significantly higher transduction efficiencies were achieved with the human elongation factor 1alpha promoter (EF1alpha promoter), the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate-early 1 gene enhancer/beta-actin promoter with beta-actin intron (CA promoter), and the CMV promoter/enhancer with the largest intron of CMV (intron A) (CMVi promoter) in the human CD34+ cells and the immature subsets (CD34+ CD38(low/-) and CD34+ AC133+ subsets). In particular, the CA promoter was found to allow for the highest transduction efficiencies in both the whole human CD34+ cells and the immature hematopoietic subsets. Furthermore, the CA promoter-mediated GFP-expressing cells differentiated into progenitor cells of all lineages. These results indicate the construction of an optimized Ad35 vector backbone for efficient transduction into HSCs/progenitors.

Actins↗

PubMed2005

Prime-boost vaccination with plasmid DNA and a chimeric adenovirus type 5 vector with type 35 fiber induces protective immunity against HIV.

Immunization involving a DNA vaccine prime followed by an adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) boost elicited a protective immune response against SHIV challenge in monkeys. However, the hepatocellular tropism of Ad5 limits the safety of this viral vector. This study examines the safety and immunogenicity of a replication-defective chimeric Ad5 vector with the Ad35 fiber (Ad5/35) in BALB/c mice and rhesus monkeys. This novel Ad5/35 vector showed minimal hepatotoxicity after intramuscular administration with the novel Ad5/35 vector. In addition, an Ad5/35 vector expressing HIV Env gp160 protein (Ad5/35-HIV) generated strong HIV-specific immune responses in both animal models. Priming with a DNA vaccine followed by Ad5/35-HIV boosting yielded protection against a gp160-expressing vaccinia virus challenge in BALB/c mice. The Ad5/35-HIV vector was significantly less susceptible to the pre-existing Ad5 immunity than a comparable Ad5 vector. These findings indicate that an Ad5/35 vector-based HIV vaccine may be of considerable value for clinical use.

AIDS Vaccines↗

PubMed2004

Comparison of transgene expression mediated by several Fiber-modified adenovirus vectors in trophoblast cells.

The transfer of genes of interest is a useful method for studying placental biology. Recombinant adenovirus (Ad) vector is an efficient vector for transgene expression. An interaction between the fiber of Ad and the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor on the cell membrane is the first step in infection. We previously developed fiber-modified Ad vectors and showed that they improved transgene activity in several cell lines when compared to wild-type vector. In the present study, we examined the ability of three fiber-modified Ad vectors to transduce human choriocarcinoma cell lines (JEG-3, JAR and BeWo) and rat trophoblast cell lines (Rcho-1, TR-TBT 18d-1 and TR-TBT 18d-2). We compared the transgene efficacy of wild-type Ad-L2 vector, Ad-RGD(HI)-L2 vector containing an Arg-Gly-Asp motif, Ad-K7(C)-L2 vector containing a 7-tandem lysine motif, and Ad-RGD(HI)K7(C)-L2 vector containing both motifs in the fiber. We used the luciferase gene as a reporter gene. In the human and rodent trophoblast cell lines, Ad-RGD(HI)-L2 had the greatest infectious potential, followed by Ad-RGD(HI)K7(C)-L2, Ad-K7(C)-L2 and Ad-L2. Compared to the amount of luciferase produced by wild-type vector, Ad-RGD(HI)-L2 mediated 8.1-fold the amount of luciferase in JEG-3 cells, 13.5-fold in JAR cells, 76.8-fold in BeWo cells, 5.0-fold in Rcho-1, 19.4-fold in TR-TBT 18d-1 and 15.0-fold in TR-TBT 18d-2. These results indicate that Ad-RGD(HI) is a potential recombinant Ad vector for transgene expression in some trophoblast cell lines.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2004

Dominant-negative mutant of c-Jun gene transfer: a novel therapeutic strategy for colorectal cancer.

Activator protein-1 (AP-1), a transcription factor, is activated through many oncogenic signals. However, its biological role in colorectal cancer has not been fully elucidated. To investigate the role of AP-1 in colorectal cancer, we constructed an adenovirus-expressing TAM67, a dominant-negative mutant of c-Jun lacking the transactivation domain of wild c-Jun (DN-c-Jun), to inhibit endogenous AP-1. AP-1 DNA-binding activity was increased in colon cancer cells (HT-29 cells) by serum stimulation, followed by an increase in both [(3)H]thymidine incorporation and cell number. Transfection of Ad-DN-c-Jun to HT-29 cells significantly inhibited serum-induced cell proliferation in vitro. As shown by flow cytometric analysis, DN-c-Jun significantly inhibited entrance into S phase after serum stimulation, thereby leading to G(1) arrest. In vivo transfection of Ad-DN-c-Jun into xenografted HT-29 cell tumors in nude mice significantly decreased tumor volume on day 21 after treatment. A change was associated with decrease in Ki-67 labeling index. These observations together showed that AP-1 is a critical modulator for proliferation and cell cycle of HT-29 cells. We obtained the first evidence that DN-c-Jun gene transfer exerted a significant antitumor effect on colon cancer both in vitro and in vivo. DN-c-Jun gene transfer may be a new candidate for treatment of colorectal cancer.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Tumor-suppressive activities by chemokines introduced into OV-HM cells using fiber-mutant adenovirus vectors.

In this study, fiber-mutant adenovirus vectors encoding chemokines, Ad-RGD-mCCL17, Ad-RGD-mCCL21 and Ad-RGD-mCCL22 were constructed. The insertion of integrin-targeting RGD sequence into fiber knob of adenovirus vectors notably enhanced the infection efficiency into tumor cells. Among three chemokine-encoding vectors evaluated, Ad-RGD-mCCL22 showed significant tumor-suppressive activity via transduction into OV-HM cells.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2004

High gene expression of the mutant adenovirus vector, both in vitro and in vivo, with the insertion of integrin-targeting peptide into the fiber.

In the present study, a first-generation adenovirus (Ad) vector was modified with the RGD peptide inserted into the fiber. The insertion of an integrin-targeting sequence into the Ad vector notably enhanced the luciferase expression in the Coxsackie virus and Adenovirus Receptor-deficient A2058 and B16BL6 melanoma cells. The results of an in vivo study with tumor-bearing mice also showed that Ad-RGD-Luc had enhanced gene expression in many organs and in the B16BL6 tumor compared to that induced by a conventional Ad vector after intravenous injection.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2003

An investigation of adverse effects caused by the injection of high-dose TNFalpha-expressing adenovirus vector into established murine melanoma.

We previously reported that RGD fiber-mutant adenovirus vector carrying human TNFalpha cDNA (AdRGD-TNFalpha) could more effectively induce mouse B16 BL6 melanoma regression than conventional Ad-TNFalpha on intratumoral injection at less than 10(9) vector particles (VP). Although mice treated with either Ad type at 10(10) VP showed remarkable tumor regression due to hemolytic necrosis, severe adverse effects including extreme reduction in body weight were also induced by Ad treatment. Here, we attempted to elucidate the cause of the adverse effects to optimize the application of AdRGD-TNFalpha. More than 99% of systemically administered Ad accumulated in the liver, and the rate of Ad leakage into systemic circulation from the B16 BL6 tumors injected with AdRGD or conventional Ad at 10(10) VP was about 1% of the administered VP. Although the leaked Ad did not directly induce hepatotoxicity or body weight reduction, excessive TNFalpha produced in the tumors leaked into the blood at high concentrations and caused systemic inflammation, tissue denaturation, and body weight reduction in mice injected intratumorally with AdRGD-TNFalpha or Ad-TNFalpha at 10(10) VP. Our results demonstrated that an exact AdRGD-TNFalpha dosage must be determined to prevent TNFalpha leakage from tumors into systemic circulation, thereby enabling safe application of AdRGD-TNFalpha to clinical melanoma gene therapy in the future.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2003

Efficient gene transfer into human CD34+ cells by an adenovirus type 35 vector.

Efficient gene transfer into human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is the most important requirement for gene therapy of hematopoietic disorders and for study of the hematopoietic system. An adenovirus (Ad) vector based on the Ad serotype 5 (Ad5) is known to transduce HSCs, including CD34(+) cells, with very low efficiency because of low-level expression of its primary receptor, coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR). In the present study, we developed a recombinant Ad vector composed of the whole Ad serotype 35 (Ad35), which recognizes an unidentified receptor different from CAR for its infection. A transduction study showed that the Ad35-based vectors exhibit a higher transduction efficiency in human CD34(+) cells than the conventional Ad5 vectors and the Ad5F35 vectors, which are fiber-substituted Ad5 vectors containing Ad35 fiber proteins. The mean of fluorescence intensity in the CD34(+) cells transduced with the Ad35 vectors was 12-76 and 1.4-3 times higher than that in the cells transduced with the Ad5 and Ad5F35 vectors, respectively. The percentages of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive CD34(+) cells by transduction with Ad35, Ad5, and Ad5F35 vectors expressing GFP at 300 PFU/cell were 53%, 5%, and 52%, respectively, suggesting that Ad35 vectors mediate a more efficient gene transfer into human CD34(+) cells than Ad5 and Ad5F35 vectors, although the percentage of transduced cells was similar between Ad35 and Ad5F35 vectors. The Ad vector based on Ad35 could be very useful in gene therapy for blood disorders and gene transfer experiments using HSCs.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2003

Enhanced antitumor effect of combined replicative adenovirus and nonreplicative adenovirus expressing interleukin-12 in an immunocompetent mouse model.

For cancer gene therapy, replicative adenovirus is a promising vector to overcome low infectivity and poor gene delivery of nonreplicative adenovirus in vivo, but its therapeutic efficacy is still unsatisfactory because of the limited spread of replicative virus in a solid tumor. Therefore, the combined therapy with other antitumor agents may be necessary. Nonreplicative adenovirus expressing a therapeutic gene may be a promising candidate because E1 proteins expressed by replicative adenovirus would render nonreplicative adenovirus replicative, augmenting a transgene expression. In this study, we first found that mouse hepatoma Hepa 1-6 cells were permissive for the replication and cytopathic effect of human adenovirus, which enabled us to examine the potential of combined replicative adenovirus and nonreplicative adenovirus expressing an immunostimulator in an immunocompetent mouse-syngeneic Hepa 1-6 tumor model. Nonreplicative adenovirus expressing interleukin-12 (AdIL-12) was used as a model. In vitro coinfection of two adenoviruses produced higher concentrations of IL-12 than infection of AdIL-12 alone in this cell line. In vivo experiments with Hepa 1-6 tumors in syngeneic immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice showed higher concentrations of serum IL-12 and greater therapeutic efficacy in the combination therapy than infection of either adenovirus. These data indicate that the combination of replicative adenovirus and nonreplicative adenovirus expressing an immunostimulator appears to be very efficacious for cancer gene therapy.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed2003

Dendritic cells transduced with gp100 gene by RGD fiber-mutant adenovirus vectors are highly efficacious in generating anti-B16BL6 melanoma immunity in mice.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent professional antigen-presenting cells for the initiation of antigen-specific immune responses, and antigen-loaded DCs have been regarded as promising vaccines in cancer immunotherapy. We previously demonstrated that RGD fiber-mutant adenovirus vector (AdRGD) could attain highly efficient gene transduction into human and murine DCs. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate the predominance of ex vivo genetic DC manipulation using AdRGD in improving the efficacy of DC-based immunotherapy targeting gp100, a melanoma-associated antigen (MAA). Vaccination with murine bone marrow-derived DCs transduced with AdRGD encoding gp100 (AdRGD-gp100/mBM-DCs) dramatically improved resistance to B16BL6 melanoma challenge and pulmonary metastasis as compared with immunization with conventional Ad-gp100-transduced mBM-DCs. The improvement in antimelanoma effects upon immunization with AdRGD-gp100/mBM-DCs correlated with enhanced cytotoxic activities of natural killer (NK) cells and B16BL6-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Furthermore, in vivo depletion analysis demonstrated that CD8(+) CTLs and NK cells were the predominant effector cells responsible for the anti-B16BL6 immunity induced by vaccination with AdRGD-gp100/mBM-DCs, and that helper function of CD4(+) T cells was necessary for sufficiently eliciting effector activity. These findings clearly revealed that highly efficient MAA gene transduction to DCs by AdRGD could greatly improve the efficacy of DC-based immunotherapy against melanoma.

Adenoviridae↗