Strengthening of antitumor immune memory and prevention of thymic atrophy mediated by adenovirus expressing IL-12 and GM-CSF

KJ Choi, SN Zhang, IK Choi, JS Kim, CO Yun - Gene therapy, 2012 - nature.com
KJ Choi, SN Zhang, IK Choi, JS Kim, CO Yun
Gene therapy, 2012nature.com
Abstract Interleukin (IL)-12 and granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)
have recently been used as immunotherapeutic agents in cancer gene therapy. IL-12 and
GM-CSF have differential roles in the antitumor immune response, as IL-12 targets T, NK
and natural killer T (NKT) cells and GM-CSF principally targets antigen-presenting cells
(APCs). To strengthen the therapeutic efficacy of these two cytokines, we generated an
oncolytic adenovirus (Ad), Ad-ΔB7/IL12/GMCSF, coexpressing IL-12 and GM-CSF. Using a …
Abstract
Interleukin (IL)-12 and granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) have recently been used as immunotherapeutic agents in cancer gene therapy. IL-12 and GM-CSF have differential roles in the antitumor immune response, as IL-12 targets T, NK and natural killer T (NKT) cells and GM-CSF principally targets antigen-presenting cells (APCs). To strengthen the therapeutic efficacy of these two cytokines, we generated an oncolytic adenovirus (Ad), Ad-ΔB7/IL12/GMCSF, coexpressing IL-12 and GM-CSF. Using a murine B16-F10 syngeneic tumor model, we show that Ad-ΔB7/IL12/GMCSF promoted antitumor responses and increased survival compared with an oncolytic Ad expressing IL-12 or GM-CSF alone (Ad-ΔB7/IL12 or Ad-ΔB7/GMCSF, respectively). By measuring cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity and interferon-γ production, we show that the enhanced therapeutic effect was mediated by the induction of immune cell cytotoxicity. In situ delivery of Ad-ΔB7/IL12/GMCSF resulted in massive infiltration of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, NK cells and CD86+ APCs into the tissue surrounding the necrotic area of the tumor. Moreover, GM-CSF effectively promoted antitumor immune memory, which was significantly augmented by IL-12. Lastly, IL12-expressing oncolytic Ads prevented tumor-induced thymic atrophy and was associated with reduced apoptosis and increased proliferation in the thymus. Taken together, these data demonstrate that an oncolytic Ad coexpressing IL-12 and GM-CSF is a potential therapeutic tool for the treatment of cancer.
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