Georg H. Fey

T Cell-Specific siRNA Delivery Suppresses HIV-1 Infection in Humanized Mice

Evaluation of the therapeutic potential of RNAi for HIV infection has been hampered by the challenges of siRNA delivery and lack of suitable animal models. Using a delivery method for T cells, we show that siRNA treatment can dramatically suppress HIV infection. A CD7-specific single-chain antibody was conjugated to oligo-9-arginine peptide (scFvCD7-9R) for T cell-specific siRNA delivery in NOD/SCIDIL2rgamma-/- mice reconstituted with human lymphocytes (Hu-PBL) or CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (Hu-HSC). In HIV-infected Hu-PBL mice, treatment with anti-CCR5 (viral coreceptor) and antiviral siRNAs complexed to scFvCD7-9R controlled viral replication and prevented the disease-associated CD4 T cell loss. This treatment also suppressed endogenous virus and restored CD4 T cell counts in mice reconstituted with HIV+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Moreover, scFvCD7-9R could deliver antiviral siRNAs to naive T cells in Hu-HSC mice and effectively suppress viremia in infected mice. Thus, siRNA therapy for HIV infection appears to be feasible in a preclinical animal model.

Synergistic action of interleukin-6 and glucocorticoids is mediated by the interleukin-6 response element of the rat alpha 2 macroglobulin gene.

One class of genes coding for the acute-phase proteins (acute-phase genes) is induced by interleukin 6 (IL-6) through the human transcription factor NF-IL-6 and its rat homolog IL-6-DBP/LAP. A second class, represented by the rat alpha 2 macroglobulin gene, utilizes a different IL-6 response element (IL-6-RE) and different DNA-binding proteins interacting with this element, the so-called IL-6-RE binding proteins (IL-6 RE-BPs). Human Hep3B and HepG2 hepatoma, U266 myeloma, and CESS lymphoblastoid cells contain IL-6 RE-BPs that form complexes, with the IL-6-RE, with gel mobilities indistinguishable from those of the corresponding complexes of rat liver cells. The ability to form these complexes was induced by IL-6 in human hepatoma cells with a maximum reached after 4 h and required ongoing protein synthesis. Multiple copies of an 18-bp element containing the IL-6-RE core were sufficient to confer both induction by IL-6 and a synergistic induction by IL-6 plus glucocorticoids to minimal promoters. The synergism was blocked by the receptor antagonist RU486 and thus was dependent on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). However, the 18-bp element contained no consensus GR-binding site, and recombinant GR did not bind at this sequence. Therefore, the synergism was probably achieved by an indirect effect of a glucocorticoid-activated intermediate gene on the IL-6 RE-BPs. The rat IL-6 RE-BP had a molecular weight of 102 +/- 10 kDa and was thus distinct from NF-IL-6 and IL-6-DBP/LAP. Therefore, IL-6 must activate two different classes of liver acute-phase genes through at least two different nuclear DNA-binding proteins: NF-IL-6/IL-6-DBP/LAP and the IL-6 RE-BP.

Exon/intron structure of the human ALL-1 (MLL) gene involved in translocations to chromosomal region 11q23 and acute leukaemias

The acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)‐1 gene on human chromosome 11q23 is the site of many locally clustered chromosomal alterations associated with several types of acute leukaemias, including deletions, partial duplications and translocations. Structurally variant proteins derived from the altered gene presumably cause the malignant transformation of early haemopoietic progenitor cells. According to previously published reports, the gene consisted of at least 21 exons spread over approximately 100 kb. In this report a set of genomic fragments was isolated that represent a total of 35 exons (exons 3–37) encompassing > 95% of the protein‐coding region (except exons 1 and 2) and the 3′‐non‐translated region of the gene. The distances between these exons were determined and a detailed restriction map was produced. The majority of the exon/intron boundaries were sequenced and an intron‐phase analysis was performed. The results form the basis for a greater understanding of the translocations and other structural alterations of the gene that conserve the open reading frame and thus produce presumably oncogenic variants of the ALL‐1 protein.

A DNA damage repair mechanism is involved in the origin of chromosomal translocations t(4;11) in primary leukemic cells

Some chromosomal translocations involved in the origin of leukemias and lymphomas are due to malfunctions of the recombinatorial machinery of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor-genes. This mechanism has also been proposed for translocations t(4;11)(q21;q23), which are regularly associated with acute pro-B cell leukemias in early childhood. Here, reciprocal chromosomal breakpoints in primary biopsy material of fourteen t(4;11)-leukemia patients were analysed. In all cases, duplications, deletions and inversions of less than a few hundred nucleotides indicative of malfunctioning DNA repair mechanisms were observed. We concluded that these translocation events were initiated by several DNA strand breaks on both participating chromosomes and subsequent DNA repair by ‘error-prone-repair’ mechanisms, but not by the action of recombinases of the immune system.

Targeting of DEC-205 on human dendritic cells results in efficient MHC class II-restricted antigen presentation

The use of dendritic cells (DCs) in therapeutic cancer vaccination requires their loading with tumor-specific antigen(s). DEC-205, a phagocytosis receptor mediating antigen uptake, is associated with CD8(+) T-cell responses in mice. Here we fused an anti-DEC-205scFv to an HLA-DP4-restricted epitope from the tumor antigen MAGE-A3, and examined the suitability and efficacy of DEC-205 to deliver a helper epitope to human monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs). The construct specifically bound DEC-205 on human moDCs without negative impact on DC phenotype and function. We measured antigen presentation with specific autologous CD4(+) T cells, generated by TCR-RNA transfection. DEC-205 targeting resulted in significant major histocompatibility complex class II-restricted antigen presentation, and was superior to loading DCs by electroporation of mRNA encoding endosome-targeted MAGE-A3-DCLAMP or by direct peptide pulsing. Anti-DEC-205scFv-MAGE-A3 was presented 100 times more efficiently than the control constructs. DC maturation before or during incubation with anti-DEC-205scFv-MAGE-A3 reduced the interleukin-10/interleukin-2 ratio. Moreover, we successfully applied the DEC-205 targeting strategy to moDCs from malignant melanoma patients. Again, DEC-205-targeted mature DCs (mDCs) presented the antigen more efficiently than peptide-pulsed DCs and maintained their stimulatory capacity after cryoconservation. Thus, DEC-205 targeting represents a feasible and effective method to deliver helper epitopes to DCs in anticancer vaccine strategies, which may also be suitable for DC targeting in vivo.

Fine structure of translocation breakpoints in leukemic blasts with chromosomal translocation t(4;11) : the DNA damage-repair model of translocation

Chromosomal translocations t(4;11) are regularly associated with a specific type of acute leukemias and probably initiate the development of this disease. It has been proposed by others, that these translocations are mediated by recombinases of the immune system. The breakpoints on both derivative chromosomes for three t(4;11) leukemia-derived cell lines and primary blasts from two patients have been analysed here in detail. The results revealed that: (a) multiple double- or single-stranded DNA breaks must have occured near the translocation breakpoints on both participating chromosomes; and (b) DNA fragments flanked by these breaks must have either been deleted, inverted or duplicated during the translocation process. We found no evidence for the involvement of specific target sequences and recombinases of the immune system. Similar characteristic features were observed by re-interpretation of published t(6;11) and t(9;22) translocation data. Therefore we present a new model for the generation of these translocations which poses, that these translocations are reciprocal but not balanced at the fine structure level and that the DNA damage-repair machinery is likely involved in producing the final structure of the translocation breakpoint.

The acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cell line SEM with t(4;11) chromosomal rearrangement is biphenotypic and responsive to interleukin-7

Summary A cell line, designated SEM, was established from the peripheral blood of a 5‐year‐old girl in relapse with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Both the lymphoblasts of the patient and the cells of the cell line SEM showed the t(4:11) chromosomal rearrangement. The analysis of the immunophenotype of the SEM cell line revealed the B‐cell differentiation antigens CD19, CD22 and CDw75 in the absence of CD20. CD24 and immunoglobulin expression. Besides B‐lineage antigens. SEM cells were positive for the myeloid antigens CD13, CD15, CD33 and CDw65. Immunogenotypic analysis of SEM cells showed a monoclonal rearrangement of immunoglobulin heavy‐chain (IgH), T‐cell receptor (TCR) γ and δ genes. Addition of interleukin (IL)‐7 promoted the growth of the patients lymphoblasts in culture and enhanced the proliferation of SEM cells. The SEM cells also express messenger RNA (mRNA) for the IL‐7 receptor (IL‐7R), but no evidence for autocrine production of IL‐7 by the cell line was found. Addition of IL‐4, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interferon (IFN)‐α, or IFN‐γ resulted in a profound inhibition of SEM growth. Thus, these cytokines may have important growth regulatory activities for biphenotypic leukaemic ALL cells.

A recombinant trispecific single-chain Fv derivative directed against CD123 and CD33 mediates effective elimination of acute myeloid leukaemia cells by dual targeting

Two trivalent constructs consisting of single‐chain Fv antibody fragments (scFvs) specific for the interleukin‐3 receptor α chain (CD123), CD33 and the Fcγ‐receptor III (CD16) were designed and characterized for the elimination of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cells. The dual targeting single‐chain Fv triplebody (sctb) [123 × ds16 × 33] and the mono targeting sctb [123 × ds16 × 123] both specifically bound their respective target antigens and were stable in human serum at 37°C for at least 5 d. Both constructs induced potent antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of two different AML‐derived CD33‐ and CD123 double‐positive cell lines in the low picomolar range using isolated mononuclear cells (MNCs) as effector cells. In these experiments the dual targeting molecule produced significantly stronger lysis than the mono targeting agent. In addition, the sctbs showed a high potency in mediating ADCC of primary leukaemia cells isolated from peripheral blood or bone marrow of seven AML patients. Hence, these novel molecules displayed potent anti‐leukaemic effects against AML cells in vitro and represent attractive candidates for further preclinical development.

STAT3 and STAT5B Are Targets of Two Different Signal Pathways Activated by Hematopoietin Receptors and Control Transcription via Separate Cytokine Response Elements

Transient transfection of expression vectors for various members of the hematopoietin receptor family and STAT proteins into COS-1 cells indicated that each receptor was capable of stimulating the DNA binding activity of STAT1, STAT3, and STAT5B. However, gp130 preferentially activated STAT1 and STAT3. Activation of STAT5B differed from that of the other two in that the box 3 sequence motif in the cytoplasmic domain of gp130 was not required. Moreover, STAT5B and STAT3 enhanced gene transcription via separate regulatory elements. This study has identified two potential signal transduction pathways by which hematopoietin receptors, including the interleukin-6 receptor, control transcription of acute phase plasma protein genes in hepatic cells.

Target cell-restricted apoptosis induction of acute leukemic T cells by a recombinant tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand fusion protein with specificity for human CD7

Current treatment of human T-cell leukemia and lymphoma is predominantly limited to conventional cytotoxic therapy and is associated with limited therapeutic response and significant morbidity. Therefore, more potent and leukemia-specific therapies with favorable toxicity profiles are urgently needed. Here, we report on the construction of a novel therapeutic fusion protein, scFvCD7:sTRAIL, designed to induce target antigen-restricted apoptosis in human T-cell tumors. ScFvCD7:sTRAIL consists of the death-inducing tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) genetically linked to an scFv antibody fragment specific for the T-cell surface antigen CD7. Treatment with scFvCD7:sTRAIL induced potent CD7-restricted apoptosis in a series of malignant T-cell lines, whereas normal resting leukocytes, activated T cells, and vascular endothelial cells (human umbilical vein endothelial cells) showed no detectable apoptosis. The apoptosis-inducing activity of scFvCD7:sTRAIL was stronger than that of the immunotoxin scFvCD7:ETA. In mixed culture experiments with CD7-positive and CD7-negative tumor cells, scFvCD7:sTRAIL induced very potent bystander apoptosis of CD7-negative tumor cells. In vitro treatment of blood cells freshly derived from T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients resulted in marked apoptosis of the malignant T cells that was strongly augmented by vincristin. In conclusion, scFvCD7:sTRAIL is a novel recombinant protein causing restricted apoptosis in human leukemic T cells with low toxicity for normal human blood and endothelial cells.