Oncolytic virus driven T-cell-based combination immunotherapy platform for colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, highlighting an urgent need for new therapeutic options and combination strategies for patients. The orchestration of potent T cell responses against human cancers is necessary for effective antitumour immunity. However, regression of a limited number of cancers has been induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors, T cell engagers (TCEs) and/or oncolytic viruses. Although one TCE has been FDA-approved for the treatment of hematological malignancies, many challenges exist for the treatment of solid cancers. Here, we show that TCEs targeting CEACAM5 and CD3 stimulate robust activation of CD4 and CD8-positive T cells in in vitro co-culture models with colorectal cancer cells, but in vivo efficacy is hindered by a lack of TCE retention in the tumour microenvironment and short TCE half-life, as demonstrated by HiBiT bioluminescent TCE-tagging technology. To overcome these limitations, we engineered Bispecific Engager Viruses, or BEVirs, a novel tumour-targeted vaccinia virus platform for intra-tumour delivery of these immunomodulatory molecules. We characterized virus-mediated TCE-secretion, TCE specificity and functionality from infected colorectal cancer cells and patient tumour samples, as well as TCE cytotoxicity in spheroid models, in the presence and absence of T cells. Importantly, we show regression of colorectal tumours in both syngeneic and xenograft mouse models. Our data suggest that a different profile of cytokines may contribute to the pro-inflammatory and immune effects driven by T cells in the tumour microenvironment to provide long-lasting immunity and abscopal effects. We establish combination regimens with immune checkpoint inhibitors for aggressive colorectal peritoneal metastases. We also observe a significant reduction in lung metastases of colorectal tumours through intravenous delivery of our oncolytic virus driven T-cell based combination immunotherapy to target colorectal tumours and FAP-positive stromal cells or CTLA4-positive Treg cells in the tumour microenvironment. In summary, we devised a novel combination strategy for the treatment of colorectal cancers using oncolytic vaccinia virus to enhance immune-payload delivery and boost T cell responses within tumours.

CRISPR-mediated rapid arming of poxvirus vectors enables facile generation of the novel immunotherapeutic STINGPOX.

Poxvirus vectors represent versatile modalities for engineering novel vaccines and cancer immunotherapies. In addition to their oncolytic capacity and immunogenic influence, they can be readily engineered to express multiple large transgenes. However, the integration of multiple payloads into poxvirus genomes by traditional recombination-based approaches can be highly inefficient, time-consuming and cumbersome. Herein, we describe a simple, cost-effective approach to rapidly generate and purify a poxvirus vector with multiple transgenes. By utilizing a simple, modular CRISPR/Cas9 assisted-recombinant vaccinia virus engineering (CARVE) system, we demonstrate generation of a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing three distinct transgenes at three different loci in less than 1 week. We apply CARVE to rapidly generate a novel immunogenic vaccinia virus vector, which expresses a bacterial diadenylate cyclase. This novel vector, STINGPOX, produces cyclic di-AMP, a STING agonist, which drives IFN signaling critical to the anti-tumor immune response. We demonstrate that STINGPOX can drive IFN signaling in primary human cancer tissue explants. Using an immunocompetent murine colon cancer model, we demonstrate that intratumoral administration of STINGPOX in combination with checkpoint inhibitor, anti-PD1, promotes survival post-tumour challenge. These data demonstrate the utility of CRISPR/Cas9 in the rapid arming of poxvirus vectors with therapeutic payloads to create novel immunotherapies.

ATRX affects the repair of telomeric DSBs by promoting cohesion and a DAXX-dependent activity.

Alpha thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked chromatin remodeler (ATRX), a DAXX (death domain-associated protein) interacting protein, is often lost in cells using the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway, but it is not known how ATRX loss leads to ALT. We report that ATRX deletion from mouse cells altered the repair of telomeric double-strand breaks (DSBs) and induced ALT-like phenotypes, including ALT-associated promyelocytic leukemia (PML) bodies (APBs), telomere sister chromatid exchanges (T-SCEs), and extrachromosomal telomeric signals (ECTSs). Mechanistically, we show that ATRX affects telomeric DSB repair by promoting cohesion of sister telomeres and that loss of ATRX in ALT cells results in diminished telomere cohesion. In addition, we document a role for DAXX in the repair of telomeric DSBs. Removal of telomeric cohesion in combination with DAXX deficiency recapitulates all telomeric DSB repair phenotypes associated with ATRX loss. The data reveal that ATRX has an effect on telomeric DSB repair and that this role involves both telomere cohesion and a DAXX-dependent pathway.

Enhanced susceptibility of cancer cells to oncolytic rhabdo-virotherapy by expression of Nodamura virus protein B2 as a suppressor of RNA interference.

Antiviral responses are barriers that must be overcome for efficacy of oncolytic virotherapy. In mammalian cells, antiviral responses involve the interferon pathway, a protein-signaling cascade that alerts the immune system and limits virus propagation. Tumour-specific defects in interferon signaling enhance viral infection and responses to oncolytic virotherapy, but many human cancers are still refractory to oncolytic viruses. Given that invertebrates, fungi and plants rely on RNA interference pathways for antiviral protection, we investigated the potential involvement of this alternative antiviral mechanism in cancer cells. Here, we detected viral genome-derived small RNAs, indicative of RNAi-mediated antiviral responses, in human cancer cells. As viruses may encode suppressors of the RNA interference pathways, we engineered an oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus variant to encode the Nodamura virus protein B2, a known inhibitor of RNAi-mediated immune responses. B2-expressing oncolytic virus showed enhanced viral replication and cytotoxicity, impaired viral genome cleavage and altered microRNA processing in cancer cells. Our data establish the improved therapeutic potential of our novel virus which targets the RNAi-mediated antiviral defense of cancer cells.

Recovery from impaired muscle growth arises from prolonged postnatal accretion of myonuclei in Atrx mutant mice.

Reduced muscle mass due to pathological development can occur through several mechanisms, including the loss or reduced proliferation of muscle stem cells. Muscle-specific ablation of the α-thalassemia mental retardation syndrome mutant protein, Atrx, in transgenic mice results in animals with a severely reduced muscle mass at three weeks of age; yet this muscle mass reduction resolves by adult age. Here, we explore the cellular mechanism underlying this effect. Analysis of Atrx mutant mice included testing for grip strength and rotorod performance. Muscle fiber length, fiber volume and numbers of myofiber-associated nuclei were determined from individual EDL or soleus myofibers isolated at three, five, or eight weeks. Myofibers from three week old Atrx mutant mice are smaller with fewer myofiber-associated nuclei and reduced volume compared to control animals, despite similar fiber numbers. Nonetheless, the grip strength of Atrx mutant mice was comparable to control mice when adjusted for body weight. Myofiber volume remained smaller at five weeks, becoming comparable to controls by 8 weeks of age. Concomitantly, increased numbers of myofiber-associated nuclei and Ki67+ myoblasts indicated that the recovery of muscle mass likely arises from the prolonged accretion of new myonuclei. This suggests that under disease conditions the muscle satellite stem cell niche can remain in a prolonged active state, allowing for the addition of a minimum number of myonuclei required to achieve a normal muscle size.

Complement inhibition enables tumor delivery of LCMV glycoprotein pseudotyped viruses in the presence of antiviral antibodies.

The systemic delivery of therapeutic viruses, such as oncolytic viruses or vaccines, is limited by the generation of neutralizing antibodies. While pseudotyping of rhabdoviruses with the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus glycoprotein has previously allowed for multiple rounds of delivery in mice, this strategy has not translated to other animal models. For the first time, we provide experimental evidence that antibodies generated against the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus glycoprotein mediate robust complement-dependent viral neutralization via activation of the classical pathway. We show that this phenotype can be capitalized upon to deliver maraba virus pseudotyped with the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus glycoprotein in a Fischer rat model in the face of neutralizing antibody through the use of complement modulators. This finding changes the understanding of the humoral immune response to arenaviruses, and also describes methodology to deliver viral vectors to their therapeutic sites of action without the interference of neutralizing antibody.

The sub-nucleolar localization of PHF6 defines its role in rDNA transcription and early processing events.

Ribosomal RNA synthesis occurs in the nucleolus and is a tightly regulated process that is targeted in some developmental diseases and hyperactivated in multiple cancers. Subcellular localization and immunoprecipitation coupled mass spectrometry demonstrated that a proportion of plant homeodomain (PHD) finger protein 6 (PHF6) protein is localized within the nucleolus and interacts with proteins involved in ribosomal processing. PHF6 sequence variants cause Börjeson-Forssman-Lehmann syndrome (BFLS, MIM#301900) and are also associated with a female-specific phenotype overlapping with Coffin-Siris syndrome (MIM#135900), T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (MIM#613065), and acute myeloid leukemia (MIM#601626); however, very little is known about its cellular function, including its nucleolar role. HEK 293T cells were treated with RNase A, DNase I, actinomycin D, or 5,6-dichloro-ß-D-ribofuranosylbenzimadole, followed by immunocytochemistry to determine PHF6 sub-nucleolar localization. We observed RNA-dependent localization of PHF6 to the sub-nucleolar fibrillar center (FC) and dense fibrillar component (DFC), at whose interface rRNA transcription occurs. Subsequent ChIP-qPCR analysis revealed strong enrichment of PHF6 across the entire rDNA-coding sequence but not along the intergenic spacer (IGS) region. When rRNA levels were quantified in a PHF6 gain-of-function model, we observed an overall decrease in rRNA transcription, accompanied by a modest increase in repressive promoter-associated RNA (pRNA) and a significant increase in the expression levels of the non-coding IGS36RNA and IGS39RNA transcripts. Collectively, our results demonstrate a role for PHF6 in carefully mediating the overall levels of ribosome biogenesis within a cell.

VEGF-Mediated Induction of PRD1-BF1/Blimp1 Expression Sensitizes Tumor Vasculature to Oncolytic Virus Infection.

Oncolytic viruses designed to attack malignant cells can in addition infect and destroy tumor vascular endothelial cells. We show here that this expanded tropism of oncolytic vaccinia virus to the endothelial compartment is a consequence of VEGF-mediated suppression of the intrinsic antiviral response. VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling through Erk1/2 and Stat3 leads to upregulation, nuclear localization, and activation of the transcription repressor PRD1-BF1/Blimp1. PRD1-BF1 does not contribute to the mitogenic effects of VEGF, but directly represses genes involved in type I interferon (IFN)-mediated antiviral signaling. In vivo suppression of VEGF signaling diminishes PRD1-BF1/Blimp1 expression in tumor vasculature and inhibits intravenously administered oncolytic vaccinia delivery to and consequent spread within the tumor.

Snf2h-mediated chromatin organization and histone H1 dynamics govern cerebellar morphogenesis and neural maturation.

Chromatin compaction mediates progenitor to post-mitotic cell transitions and modulates gene expression programs, yet the mechanisms are poorly defined. Snf2h and Snf2l are ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling proteins that assemble, reposition and space nucleosomes, and are robustly expressed in the brain. Here we show that mice conditionally inactivated for Snf2h in neural progenitors have reduced levels of histone H1 and H2A variants that compromise chromatin fluidity and transcriptional programs within the developing cerebellum. Disorganized chromatin limits Purkinje and granule neuron progenitor expansion, resulting in abnormal post-natal foliation, while deregulated transcriptional programs contribute to altered neural maturation, motor dysfunction and death. However, mice survive to young adulthood, in part from Snf2l compensation that restores Engrailed-1 expression. Similarly, Purkinje-specific Snf2h ablation affects chromatin ultrastructure and dendritic arborization, but alters cognitive skills rather than motor control. Our studies reveal that Snf2h controls chromatin organization and histone H1 dynamics for the establishment of gene expression programs underlying cerebellar morphogenesis and neural maturation.

Compromised genomic integrity impedes muscle growth after Atrx inactivation.

ATR-X syndrome is a severe intellectual disability disorder caused by mutations in the ATRX gene. Many ancillary clinical features are attributed to CNS deficiencies, yet most patients have muscle hypotonia, delayed ambulation, or kyphosis, pointing to an underlying skeletal muscle defect. Here, we identified a cell-intrinsic requirement for Atrx in postnatal muscle growth and regeneration in mice. Mice with skeletal muscle-specific Atrx conditional knockout (Atrx cKO mice) were viable, but by 3 weeks of age presented hallmarks of underdeveloped musculature, including kyphosis, 20% reduction in body mass, and 34% reduction in muscle fiber caliber. Atrx cKO mice also demonstrated a marked regeneration deficit that was not due to fewer resident satellite cells or their inability to terminally differentiate. However, activation of Atrx-null satellite cells from isolated muscle fibers resulted in a 9-fold reduction in myoblast expansion, caused by delayed progression through mid to late S phase. While in S phase, Atrx colocalized specifically to late-replicating chromatin, and its loss resulted in rampant signs of genomic instability. These observations support a model in which Atrx maintains chromatin integrity during the rapid developmental growth of a tissue.

Loss of Atrx sensitizes cells to DNA damaging agents through p53-mediated death pathways.

Prevalent cell death in forebrain- and Sertoli cell-specific Atrx knockout mice suggest that Atrx is important for cell survival. However, conditional ablation in other tissues is not associated with increased death indicating that diverse cell types respond differently to the loss of this chromatin remodeling protein. Here, primary macrophages isolated from Atrx(f/f) mice were infected with adenovirus expressing Cre recombinase or ß-galactosidase, and assayed for cell survival under different experimental conditions. Macrophages survive without Atrx but undergo rapid apoptosis upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation suggesting that chromatin reorganization in response to external stimuli is compromised. Using this system we next tested the effect of different apoptotic stimuli on cell survival. We observed that survival of Atrx-null cells were similar to wild type cells in response to serum withdrawal, anti-Fas antibody, C2 ceramide or dexamethasone treatment but were more sensitive to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Cell survival could be rescued by re-introducing Atrx or by removal of p53 demonstrating the cell autonomous nature of the effect and its p53-dependence. Finally, we demonstrate that multiple primary cell types (myoblasts, embryonic fibroblasts and neurospheres) were sensitive to 5-FU, cisplatin, and UV light treatment. Together, our results suggest that cells lacking Atrx are more sensitive to DNA damaging agents and that this may result in enhanced death during development when cells are at their proliferative peak. Moreover, it identifies potential treatment options for cancers associated with ATRX mutations, including glioblastoma and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

SCO-ping out the mechanisms underlying the etiology of hydrocephalus.

The heterogeneous nature of congenital hydrocephalus has hampered our understanding of the molecular basis of this common clinical problem. However, disease gene identification and characterization of multiple transgenic mouse models has highlighted the importance of the subcommissural organ (SCO) and the ventricular ependymal (vel) cells. Here, we review how altered development and function of the SCO and vel cells contributes to hydrocephalus.

Distinct roles for Pax7 and Pax3 in adult regenerative myogenesis.

We assessed viable Pax7(-/-) mice in 129Sv/J background and observed reduced growth and marked muscle wasting together with a complete absence of functional satellite cells. Acute injury resulted in an extreme deficit in muscle regeneration. However, a small number of regenerated myofibers were detected, suggesting the presence of residual myogenic cells in Pax7-deficient muscle. Rare Pax3(+)/MyoD+ myoblasts were recovered from Pax7(-/-) muscle homogenates and cultures of myofiber bundles but not from single myofibers free of interstitial tissues. Finally, we identified Pax3+ cells in the muscle interstitial environment and demonstrated that they coexpressed MyoD during regeneration. Sublaminar satellite cells in hind limb muscle did not express detectable levels of Pax3 protein or messenger RNA. Therefore, we conclude that interstitial Pax3+ cells represent a novel myogenic population that is distinct from the sublaminar satellite cell lineage and that Pax7 is essential for the formation of functional myogenic progenitors from sublaminar satellite cells.

Rb and p107 regulate preadipocyte differentiation into white versus brown fat through repression of PGC-1alpha.

The Rb family, Rb, p107, and p130, play important roles in cell cycle control and cellular differentiation, and Rb has been suggested to regulate adipocyte differentiation. We report here that mice lacking p107 displayed a uniform replacement of white adipose tissue (WAT) with brown adipose tissue (BAT). Mutant WAT depots contained mutilocular adipocytes that expressed elevated levels of PGC-1alpha and UCP-1 typical of BAT. WAT from p107-/- mice contained markedly elevated numbers of adipogenic precursors that displayed downregulated expression of pRb. Consistent with the hypothesis that pRb is required for adult adipocyte differentiation, Cre-mediated deletion of Rb in adult primary preadipocytes blocked their differentiation into white adipocytes. Importantly, pRb was observed to bind the PGC-1alpha promoter and repress transcription. Therefore, p107 and pRb regulate PGC-1alpha expression to control the switch between white and brown adipocyte differentiation from a common pool of presumptive adult progenitors in fat tissue.

Muscle function and dysfunction in health and disease.

Skeletal muscles of the trunk and limbs developmentally originate from the cells of the dermomyotomal compartment of the somite. A wealth of knowledge has been accumulated with regard to understanding the molecular regulation of embryonic skeletal myogenesis. Myogenic induction is controlled through a complex series of spatiotemporal dependent signaling cascades. Secreted signaling molecules from surrounding structures not only initiate the myogenic program, but also influence proliferation and differentiation decisions. The proper coordination of these molecular events is thus critical for the formation of physiologically functional skeletal muscles. Hereditary congenital skeletal muscle defects arise due to genetics lesions in myogenic specific components. Understanding the mechanistic routes of congenital skeletal muscle disease therefore requires a comprehensive knowledge of the developmental system. Ultimately, the application of this knowledge will improve the diagnostic and therapeutic methodologies for such diseases. The aim of this review is to overview our current understanding of skeletal muscle development and associated human congenital diseases.

Rb is required for progression through myogenic differentiation but not maintenance of terminal differentiation.

To investigate the requirement for pRb in myogenic differentiation, a floxed Rb allele was deleted either in proliferating myoblasts or after differentiation. Myf5-Cre mice, lacking pRb in myoblasts, died immediately at birth and exhibited high numbers of apoptotic nuclei and an almost complete absence of myofibers. In contrast, MCK-Cre mice, lacking pRb in differentiated fibers, were viable and exhibited a normal muscle phenotype and ability to regenerate. Induction of differentiation of Rb-deficient primary myoblasts resulted in high rates of apoptosis and a total inability to form multinucleated myotubes. Upon induction of differentiation, Rb-deficient myoblasts up-regulated myogenin, an immediate early marker of differentiation, but failed to down-regulate Pax7 and exhibited growth in low serum conditions. Primary myoblasts in which Rb was deleted after expression of differentiated MCK-Cre formed normal multinucleated myotubes that did not enter S-phase in response to serum stimulation. Therefore, Rb plays a crucial role in the switch from proliferation to differentiation rather than maintenance of the terminally differentiated state.