Bioinspired Artificial Tobacco Mosaic Virus with Combined Oncolytic Properties to Completely Destroy Multidrug-Resistant Cancer

Although biomimetic virus-like strategies have been widely used in antitumor applications, construction of uniquely shaped virus-like agents and optimization of their specific morphological features to achieve diverse antitumor functions are worthwhile pursuits. Here, a novel strategy to construct an artificial tobacco mosaic virus (ATMV) that closely mimics the structure of the rod-like tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is developed. The supramolecular array is self-assembled from small, repeated subunits of tailor-made capsid-mimicking dendrons onto RGD-modified single-walled carbon nanotube to construct the ATMVs with high structural stability. The ATMVs are tactfully designed with shielding, targeting, and arming approaches, including shielding the viruses against premature elimination, selectively targeting tumor tissue, and arming the viruses with oncolytic abilities. The elongated particles are concealed in blood until they arrived at a tumor site, then they induce robust composite oncolytic processes including cytomembrane penetration, endoplasmic reticulum disruption to cause Ca²⁺ release, chemotherapeutic delivery, and photothermal therapy. Excitingly, the ATMVs not only lyse primary infected cells, but permeate adjacent cells for secondary infection, spreading cell-to-cell and continuing to induce lysis even deep in solid tumors. This work inspires a uniquely shaped virus-like agent with tactically optimized oncolytic functions that completely defeated large drug-resistant colon tumor (LoVo/Adr, ≈500 mm³).     

Comparison of cytopathogenicity, immunofluorescence and In situ DNA hybridization as methods for the detection of adenoviruses

Three different methods were compared for their efficiency at detection of adenoviruses. The samples examined for viral analysis consisted of concentrates prepared from raw sewage, chosen as providing a representation of the spectrum of viruses being intestinally shed from a large population at any given time. When using one single cell line, HEp-2, the overall numbers of adenoviruses detected using cytopathogenicity and immunofluorescence were roughly equal. In situ hybridization was approx. 40% more sensitive than either of these other methods as determined by average virus titers for the different samples, and also proved to be better by means of a nonparametric comparison. The 293 cell line was approx. 5 times more sensitive for detecting adenoviruses by cytopathogenicity as compared with the HEp-2 cell line, but proved unsuitable in our hands for quantitatively detecting indigenous adenoviruses by immunofluorescence. The relative number of indigenous adenoviruses present in the sewage concentrates we examined was, on average, 94-fold greater than that of enteroviruses. Assay of enteroviruses was performed by plaque assay in the BGM cell line.     

Biological Therapies in the Treatment of Cancer—Update and New Directions

Biological therapies have changed the face of oncology by targeting cancerous cells while reducing the effect on normal tissue. This publication focuses mainly on new therapies that have contributed to the advances in treatment of certain malignancies. Immunotherapy, which has repeatedly proven to be a breakthrough therapy in melanoma, as well as B-ALL therapy with CAR T cells, are of great merit in this progress. These therapies are currently being developed by modifying bispecific antibodies and CAR T cells to improve their efficiency and bioavailability. Work on improving the therapy with oncolytic viruses is also progressing, and efforts are being made to improve the immunogenicity and stability of cancer vaccines. Combining various biological therapies, immunotherapy with oncolytic viruses or cancer vaccines is gaining importance in cancer therapy. New therapeutic targets are intensively sought among neoantigens, which are not immunocompromised, or antigens associated with tumor stroma cells. An example is fibroblast activation protein α (FAPα), the overexpression of which is observed in the case of tumor progression. Universal therapeutic targets are also sought, such as the neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase (NTRK) gene fusion, a key genetic driver present in many types of cancer. This review also raises the problem of the tumor microenvironment. Stromal cells can protect tumor cells from chemotherapy and contribute to relapse and progression. This publication also addresses the problem of cancer stem cells resistance to treatment and presents attempts to avoid this phenomenon. This review focuses on the most important strategies used to improve the selectivity of biological therapies.     

Kozak序列引导的人p53基因重组智能腺病毒载体的构建与表达

目的构建Kozak序列引导的人p53(khp53)基因重组智能腺病毒载体rAdMH-khp53,并检测p53基因的表达。方法将带有Kozak序列的p53基因克隆到重组腺病毒穿梭载体中,再利用AdMaxTMHi-IQ系统,获得重组腺病毒,检测病毒滴度,并进一步感染Saos-2细胞,利用RT-PCR及Western blot检测p53基因的表达。结果khp53基因成功克隆到腺病毒载体中,重组腺病毒滴度为1.63×108IU/ml,RT-PCR方法检测到p53基因的转录产物,Western blot检测到p53基因在Saos-2细胞中的高水平表达。结论已成功构建了带有Kozak序列的重组腺病毒载体rAdMH-khp53,并高效表达人p53基因。     

嵌合腺病毒Ad5F35-FLAG-3NLS-FRB~*的构建与鉴定

目的构建携带FLAG-3NLS-FRB*融合基因的嵌合腺病毒,并检测其在AD-293细胞中的表达。方法将FLAG标记的3段核定位信号(FLAG-3NLS)与突变修饰的雷帕霉素靶FRB结构域(FRB*)基因通过重叠PCR技术拼接成FLAG-3NLS-FRB*,定向克隆至腺病毒穿梭载体pAdTrack-CMV中,测序鉴定后,与腺病毒骨架质粒pAd5F35在大肠杆菌BJ5183中同源重组,获得嵌合腺病毒Ad5F35-FLAG-3NLS-FRB*,感染AD-293细胞进行包装、扩增。采用基因转移单位(Gene transfer unit,GTU)法测定病毒滴度;RT-PCR及Western blot检测FLAG-3NLS-FRB*在AD-293细胞中的转录及表达。结果腺病毒穿梭质粒pAdTrack-CMV-FLAG-3NLS-FRB*经PCR、双酶切及测序鉴定证明构建正确;FLAG-3NLS-FRB*正确克隆至腺病毒骨架质粒中;在AD-293细胞中包装、扩增获得了高滴度的嵌合腺病毒Ad5F35-FLAG-3NLS-FRB*,病毒滴度为2.0×1013GTU/ml;嵌合腺病毒感染AD-293细胞后36 h,在细胞中可检测到FLAG-3NLS-FRB*基因的转录和蛋白的表达。结论成功构建了高滴度的嵌合腺病毒Ad5F35-FLAG-3NLS-FRB*,并在AD-293细胞中成功表达了FLAG-3NLS-FRB*融合蛋白。     

鼠重组腺病毒介导的骨形成蛋白-9转染大鼠牙囊干细胞的实验研究

目的：探讨鼠重组腺病毒介导的骨形成蛋白9基因转染大鼠牙囊干细胞的可行性及其转染后的成骨作用,以获得可用于牙周骨组织再生工程的基因修饰的种子细胞。方法：取大鼠下颌骨,解剖显微镜下体外分离培养纯化鉴定牙囊干细胞,腺病毒介导的骨形成蛋白9基因转染第三代牙囊干细胞,并设立空白对照组,绿色荧光病毒组（GFP组）。通过观察细胞形态及生长曲线变化,荧光显微镜及RT—PCR检测转染后骨形成蛋白9基因mRNA的表达,碱性磷酸酶及钙茜素红染色测定转染后牙囊干细胞的成骨活性。结果：与未转染对照组比较,转染组细胞转染2周后形成钙化结节,停滞期延长,数量轻度下降,倍增时间延长。牙囊干细胞转染骨形成蛋白9基因后12h后即有荧光表达,转染3,6,9,12d后骨形成蛋白9mRNA均呈阳性表达且逐渐增强,未转染对照组呈阴性。转染组碱性磷酸酶活性随转染时间的延长呈升高趋势,ALP染色及茜素红钙结节染色为阳性：未转染对照组碱性磷酸酶染色及钙茜素红染色均呈弱阳性表达,转染组显著高于未转染组。结论：鼠重组腺病毒介导的RBMP-9基因可以成功地转染大鼠牙囊干细胞,转染后牙囊干细胞高表达骨形成蛋白9,且具有明显的成骨作用。     

重组腺病毒Ad-PML(NLS)-的构建及鉴定

目的构建携带PML(NLS-)基因的重组腺病毒,并观察其对白血病K562细胞增殖的影响。方法以质粒pCMV-HA-PML(NLS-)为模板,PCR扩增PML(NLS-)基因,与穿梭质粒pAdTrace-TO4连接,构建重组穿梭载体pAdTrace-TO4-PML(NLS-),经PmeⅠ酶切线性化后,转化入感受态BJ5183细菌,获得重组腺病毒质粒pAd-PML(NLS-),经PacⅠ酶切后,转染AD293细胞,获得重组腺病毒Ad-PML(NLS-),经4轮扩增后,检测其滴度。采用RT-PCR法和Western blot法分别检测重组腺病毒中PML(NLS-)基因mRNA的转录水平和蛋白的表达水平;将重组腺病毒感染K562细胞,MTT法检测其对细胞增殖活力的影响。结果重组腺病毒质粒pAd-PML(NLS-)经PCR和单酶切鉴定,证明构建正确;经4轮扩增,重组腺病毒的滴度为1×1010pfu/ml;Ad-PML(NLS-)携带的PML(NLS-)能够在AD293细胞中稳定表达;与未感染组和空载病毒感染组相比,重组腺病毒Ad-PML(NLS-)感染的K562细胞的增殖活力明显增强(P<0.05)。结论成功构建了重组腺病毒Ad-PML(NLS-),其可促进K562细胞的增殖,表明PML(NLS-)可能具有促癌基因的作用。     

Notch信号通路相关分子在脊椎生长过程中的差异表达及其对软骨细胞分化的调控作用

目的探讨Notch信号通路相关分子在脊椎生长过程中的差异表达及其对软骨细胞分化的调控作用。方法采用RT-PCR检测各不同发育年龄段小鼠椎间盘Notch信号分子mRNA的表达情况,筛选调控脊椎正常生长发育的重要信号分子,并采用免疫组化法进行验证。用重组腺病毒介导Dll-1、Jag-1、骨形态发生蛋白-2(bone morphogeneticprotein-2,BMP-2)在髓核(nucleus pulposus,NP)细胞中过表达,RT-PCR检测软骨细胞特征性标志物蛋白聚糖(aggrecan,ACAN)和Ⅱ型胶原(collagen typeⅡ,COL2A1)的表达,甲苯胺蓝染色检测软骨细胞基质分泌情况。结果小鼠脊椎生长发育过程中,Notch信号分子mRNA的表达总体呈下降趋势,其中Dll-1、Dll-3、Jag-1下降趋势尤其显著;Dll-1和Jag-1广泛表达于软骨细胞胞膜,随着小鼠年龄的增大,二者在椎间盘中的表达显著下降;BMP-2过表达可促进NP细胞成软骨分化,ACAN和COL2A1表达升高,甲苯胺蓝染色增强;Dll-1、Jag-1过表达可显著抑制BMP-2诱导的成软骨分化效应。结论 Notch信号分子,尤其是Dll-1、Jag-1对正常脊椎生长及椎间盘软骨细胞的成熟分化具有明显的负性调节作用。     

The Oncolytic Adenovirus XVir-N-31, in Combination with the Blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 Axis,Conveys Abscopal Effects in a Humanized Glioblastoma Mouse Model

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an obligatory lethal brain tumor with a median survival, even with the best standard of care therapy, of less than 20 months. In light of this fact, the evaluation of new GBM treatment approaches such as oncolytic virotherapy (OVT) is urgently needed. Based on our preliminary preclinical data, the YB-1 dependent oncolytic adenovirus (OAV) XVir-N-31 represents a promising therapeutic agent to treat, in particular, therapy resistant GBM. Preclinical studies have shown that XVir-N-31 prolonged the survival of GBM bearing mice. Now using an immunohumanized mouse model, we examined the immunostimulatory effects of XVir-N-31 in comparison to the wildtype adenovirus (Ad-WT). Additionally, we combined OVT with the inhibition of immune checkpoint proteins by using XVir-N-31 in combination with nivolumab, or by using a derivate of XVir-N-31 that expresses a PD-L1 neutralizing antibody. Although in vitro cell killing was higher for Ad-WT, XVir-N-31 induced a much stronger immunogenic cell death that was further elevated by blocking PD-1 or PD-L1. In vivo, an intratumoral injection of XVir-N-31 increased tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and NK cells significantly more than Ad-WT not only in the virus-injected tumors, but also in the untreated tumors growing in the contralateral hemisphere. This suggests that for an effective treatment of GBM, immune activating properties by OAVs seem to be of greater importance than their oncolytic capacity. Furthermore, the addition of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) to OVT further induced lymphocyte infiltration. Consequently, a significant reduction in contralateral non-virus-injected tumors was only visible if OVT was combined with ICI. This strongly indicates that for an effective eradication of GBM cells that cannot be directly targeted by an intratumoral OV injection, additional ICI therapy is required.     

免疫细胞联合腺病毒Ad205-IL-15对肝癌细胞的杀伤研究

在已有腺病毒Ad205-IL-15的基础上尝试与过继免疫细胞CIK、NK92等联合开展对肝癌细胞的杀伤性研究。首次通过荧光化学发光的原理构连出携带表达萤光素酶报告基因的肝癌细胞系Huh7-Luc、MHCC97H—Luc来检测细胞的存活率。结果表明：免疫细胞联合Ad205-IL-15对Huh7-Luc、MHCC97H—Luc两株肝癌细胞表现出了较高协同杀伤作用。证明将免疫细胞与腺病毒联合可以相互弥补各自治疗的不足之处,提高了抗肿瘤效果。同时,由于操作方便,荧光素酶报告基因测定法也为检测细胞存活率提供了新的技术手段。