Failure of translation of human adenovirus mRNA in murine cancer cells can be partially overcome by L4-100K expression in vitro and in vivo.

Adaptive immune responses may be vital in the overall efficacy of oncolytic viruses in human malignancies. However, immune responses to oncolytic adenoviruses are poorly understood because these viruses lack activity in murine cells, which precludes evaluation in immunocompetent murine cancer models. We have evaluated human adenovirus activity in murine cells. We show that a panel of murine carcinoma cells, including CMT64, MOVCAR7, and MOSEC/ID8, can readily be infected with human adenovirus. These cells also support viral gene transcription, messenger RNA (mRNA) processing, and genome replication. However, there is a profound failure of adenovirus protein synthesis, especially late structural proteins, both in vitro and in vivo, with reduced loading of late mRNA onto ribosomes. Our data also show that in trans expression of the nonstructural late protein L4-100K increases both the amount of viral mRNA on ribosomes and the synthesis of late proteins, accompanied by reduced phosphorylation of eIF2α and improved anticancer efficacy. These results suggest that murine models that support human adenovirus replication could be generated, thus allowing evaluation of human adenoviruses in immunocompetent mice.

Inhibition of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-α increases adenovirus activity in ovarian cancer via modulation of cIAP1/2 expression.

Oncolytic adenoviruses show promise as a cancer treatment. However, they generate acute inflammatory responses with production of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). We investigated whether inhibition of TNF-α augments efficacy of the E1A CR2-deleted adenovirus dl922-947 in ovarian cancer. dl922-947 induced transcription of TNF-α and its downstream signaling targets interleukin-6 and -8 (IL-6 and IL-8) in ovarian cancer cells. In vitro, RNAi-mediated knockdown of TNF-α reduced production of multiple inflammatory cytokines after infection and increased ovarian cancer cell sensitivity to virus cytotoxicity, as did treatment with the anti-TNF-α antibody infliximab. In vivo, stable knockdown of TNF-α in IGROV-1 xenografts increased the anticancer activity of dl922-947. In addition, inhibition of TNF-α using monoclonal antibodies also improved dl922-947 efficacy. This increased efficacy resulted from suppression of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis-1 and -2 (cIAP1 and cIAP2) transcription in malignant cells and a consequent increase in caspase-mediated apoptosis. These findings suggest that TNF-α acts as a survival factor in adenovirus-infected cells. Combining TNF-α inhibition with oncolytic adenoviruses could improve antitumor activity in clinical trials.

p21 Promotes oncolytic adenoviral activity in ovarian cancer and is a potential biomarker.

The oncolytic adenovirus dl922-947 replicates selectively within and lyses cells with a dysregulated Rb pathway, a finding seen in > 90% human cancers. dl922-947 is more potent than wild type adenovirus and the E1B-deletion mutant dl1520 (Onyx-015). We wished to determine which host cell factors influence cytotoxicity. SV40 large T-transformed MRC5-VA cells are 3-logs more sensitive to dl922-947 than isogenic parental MRC5 cells, confirming that an abnormal G1/S checkpoint increases viral efficacy. The sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to dl922-947 varied widely: IC50 values ranged from 51 (SKOV3ip1) to 0.03 pfu/cell (TOV21G). Cells sensitive to dl922-947 had higher S phase populations and supported earlier E1A expression. Cytotoxicity correlated poorly with both infectivity and replication, but well with expression of p21 by microarray and western blot analyses. Matched p21+/+ and -/- Hct116 cells confirmed that p21 influences dl922-947 activity in vitro and in vivo. siRNA-mediated p21 knockdown in sensitive TOV21G cells decreases E1A expression and viral cytotoxicity, whilst expression of p21 in resistant A2780CP cells increases virus activity in vitro and in intraperitoneal xenografts. These results highlight that host cell factors beyond simple infectivity can influence the efficacy of oncolytic adenoviruses. p21 expression may be an important biomarker of response in clinical trials.

Molecular cloning and characterization of the mouse Na+ sulfate cotransporter gene (Slc13a4): Structure and expression.

Sulfate is an essential ion required for numerous functions in mammalian physiology. Due to its hydrophilic nature, cells require sulfate transporters on their plasma membranes to allow entry of sulfate into cells. In this study, we identified a new mouse Na(+)-sulfate cotransporter (mNaS2), characterized its tissue distribution and determined its cDNA and gene (Slc13a4) structures. mNaS2 mRNA was expressed in placenta, brain, lung, eye, heart, testis, thymus and liver. The mouse NaS2 cDNA spans 3384 nucleotides and its open frame encodes a protein of 624 amino acids. Slc13a4 maps to mouse chromosome 6B1 and contains 16 exons, spanning over 40 kb in length. Its 5'-flanking region contains CAAT- and GC-box motifs and a number of putative transcription factor binding sites, including GATA-1, MTF-1, STAT6 and HNF4 consensus sequences. This is the first study to define the tissue distribution of mNaS2 and resolve its cDNA and gene structures, which will allow us to investigate mNaS2 gene expression in vivo and determine its role in mammalian physiology.

Genomic DNA damage and ATR-Chk1 signaling determine oncolytic adenoviral efficacy in human ovarian cancer cells.

Oncolytic adenoviruses replicate selectively within and lyse malignant cells. As such, they are being developed as anticancer therapeutics. However, the sensitivity of ovarian cancers to adenovirus cytotoxicity varies greatly, even in cells of similar infectivity. Using both the adenovirus E1A-CR2 deletion mutant dl922-947 and WT adenovirus serotype 5 in a panel of human ovarian cancer cell lines that cover a 3-log range of sensitivity, we observed profound overreplication of genomic DNA only in highly sensitive cell lines. This was associated with the presence of extensive genomic DNA damage. Inhibition of ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related checkpoint kinase 1 (ATR-Chk1), but not ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), promoted genomic DNA damage and overreplication in resistant and partially sensitive cells. This was accompanied by increased adenovirus cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo in tumor-bearing mice. We also demonstrated that Cdc25A was upregulated in highly sensitive ovarian cancer cell lines after adenovirus infection and was stabilized after loss of Chk1 activity. Knockdown of Cdc25A inhibited virus-induced DNA damage in highly sensitive cells and blocked the effects of Chk1 inhibition in resistant cells. Finally, inhibition of Chk1 decreased homologous recombination repair of virus-induced genomic DNA double-strand breaks. Thus, virus-induced host cell DNA damage signaling and repair are key determinants of oncolytic adenoviral activity, and promoting unscheduled DNA synthesis and/or impeding homologous recombination repair could potentiate the effects of oncolytic adenoviruses in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

The rat Na+-sulfate cotransporter rNaS2: functional characterization, tissue distribution, and gene (slc13a4) structure.

Inorganic sulfate is essential for numerous functions in mammalian physiology. In the present study, we characterized the functional properties of the rat Na+-sulfate cotransporter NaS2 (rNaS2), determined its tissue distribution, and identified its gene (slc13a4) structure. Expression of rNaS2 protein in Xenopus oocytes led to a Na+-dependent transport of sulfate that was inhibited by phosphate, thiosulfate, tungstate, selenate, oxalate, and molybdate, but not by citrate, succinate, or DIDS. Transport kinetics of rNaS2 determined a K(M) for sulfate of 1.26 mM. Na+ kinetics determined a Hill coefficient of n=3.0+/-0.7, suggesting a Na+:SO4 (2-) stoichiometry of 3:1. rNaS2 mRNA was highly expressed in placenta, with lower levels found in the brain and liver. slc13a4 maps to rat chromosome 4 and contains 17 exons, spanning over 46 kb in length. This gene produces two alternatively spliced transcripts, of which the transcript lacking exon 2 is the most abundant form. Its 5' flanking region contains CAAT- and GC-box motifs and a number of putative transcription factor binding sites, including GATA-1, SP1, and AP-2 consensus sequences. This is the first study to characterize rNaS2 transport kinetics, define its tissue distribution, and resolve its gene (slc13a4) structure and 5' flanking region.