Marie Paule Kieny

IMMUNIZATION AGAINST HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS TYPE-16 TUMOR-CELLS WITH RECOMBINANT VACCINIA VIRUSES EXPRESSING E6 AND E7

Papillomaviruses are etiological agents of epithelial proliferative disease. In man, neoplastic transformation of the uterine cervix has been linked to infection with specific subtypes of human papillomavirus, particularly types 16 and 18. We previously reported that live vaccinia virus recombinants expressing early transforming proteins of other tumor viruses can immunize against challenge with cognate tumor cells and we have extended this approach to HPV16. Neoplastic transformation by papillomaviruses involves expression of early open reading frames (ORFs) E5, E6, and E7, and we report the construction of vaccinia recombinants separately expressing ORFs E5-E7 of HPV16. Primary rat cell lines cotransformed with HPV16 and an activated ras oncogene were established in order to evaluate the potential of the recombinants to elicit antitumor immunity. We report that inoculation of rats with vaccinia recombinants expressing E6 or E7 retarded or prevented tumor development in a proportion of animals challenged by subcutaneous seeding of tumor cells whereas the recombinant expressing E5 was inactive.

New versatile cloning and sequencing vectors based on bacteriophage M13.

A new pair of cloning and sequencing vectors based on bacteriophage M13mp7 has been developed. These vectors (M13tg130 and M13tg131) contain, in addition to the EcoRI, BamHI, HindIII, SmaI, SalI and PstI sites present in other vectors [cf., M13mp8 and M13mp9, Messing and Vieira, Gene 19 (1982) 269-276], unique restriction recognition sequences for the enzymes EcoRV, KpnI, SphI, SstI and XbaI. A restriction site for the enzyme BglII has been incorporated into the polylinker region of one of the vector pair to permit rapid discrimination between the two vectors.

Recombinant vaccinia virus encoding human MUC1 and IL2 as immunotherapy in patients with breast cancer

Polymorphic epithelial mucin, encoded by the MUC1 gene, is present at the apical surface of glandular epithelial cells. It is over-expressed and aberrantly glycosylated in most breast tumors, resulting in an antigenically distinct molecule and a potential target for immunotherapy. This transmembrane protein, when produced by tumor cells, is often cleaved into the circulation, where it is detectable as a tumor marker (CA 15.3) by various antibodies, allowing for early detection of recurrences and evaluation of treatment efficacy. The objective of the current study was to examine the clinical and environmental safety and immunogenicity of a live recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the human MUC1 and IL2 genes (VV TG5058), referred to here as TG1031. The study was an open-label phase 1 and 2 trial in nine patients with advanced inoperable breast cancer recurrences to the chest wall. The patients were vaccinated intramuscularly with a single dose of TG1031; three patients were treated at each of three progressive dose levels ranging from 5×105 to 5×107 plaque-forming units. A boost injection at their original dose level was administered in patients responding immunologically, clinically, or both. Vaccination resulted in no significant clinical adverse effects, and there was no environmental contamination by live TG1031. All patients had been vaccinated as children, and patients treated at the highest dose level mounted a significant anti-vaccinia antibody response. None of the nine patients had a significant increase in MUC1-specific antibody titers after one single injection, whereas five patients had a detectable increase in vaccinia virus antibody titers. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of one patient at the intermediate dose level showed a proliferative response to in vitro culture with vaccinia virus, with a stimulation index of 6. A second patient treated at the intermediate dose level had a stimulation index of 7 to MUC1 peptide and of 14 after a boost injection. This patient had a concomitant decrease in carcinoembryonic antigen serum levels and remained clinically stable for 10 weeks. Evidence of MUC1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes was detected in two patients. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed an increase in T memory cells (CD45RO) in tumor biopsies after vaccination. The absence of serious adverse events, together with the documentation of immune stimulations in vivo, warrant the further use of TG1031 in immunotherapy trials of breast cancer.

Mutational analysis of the HIV nef protein

The nef protein is one of the regulatory proteins encoded by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It has been shown to down-regulate viral transcription and displays features typical of some membrane-associated G proteins. To define the amino acid sequences involved in several of the properties of the nef protein, the corresponding gene has been submitted to a series of site-directed mutations. The mutants have been evaluated using various parameters which seem to correlate with the biological properties of nef. As previously observed for some signal transducing proteins, membrane localization and correct folding are critical for nef activity. Additionally, two domains, putative P and G sites which may be involved in nucleotide binding, have been identified.

MUC1-specific immune responses in human MUC1 transgenic mice immunized with various human MUC1 vaccines

Abstract Analyses of MUC1-specific cytotoxic T cell precursor (CTLp) frequencies were performed in mice immunized with three different MUC1 vaccine immunotherapeutic agents. Mice were immunized with either a fusion protein comprising MUC1 and glutathione S-transferase (MUC1-GST), MUC1-GST fusion protein coupled to mannan (MFP) or with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing both MUC1 and interleukin-2. Mouse strain variations in immune responsiveness have been observed with these vaccines. We have constructed mice transgenic for the human MUC1 gene to study MUC1-specific immune responses and the risk of auto-immunity following MUC1 immunization. Transgenic mice immunized with MUC1 were observed to be partially tolerant in that the MUC1-specific antibody response is lower than that observed in syngeneic but non-transgenic mice. However, a significant MUC1-specific CTLp response to all three vaccines was observed, indicating the ability to overcome T cell, but to a lesser extent B cell, tolerance to MUC1 in these mice. Histological analysis indicates no evidence of auto-immunity to the cells expressing the human MUC1 molecule. These results suggest that it is possible to generate an immune response to a cancer-related antigen without damage to normal tissues expressing the antigen.

Vaccinia virus MUC1 immunization of mice : immune response and protection against the growth of murine tumors bearing the MUC1 antigen

MUC1 is a mucin found on the apical surfaces of some normal mammalian mucin-secreting cells. It is characterized by heavy glycosylation and a 20-amino-acid tandem repeat segment. In most cases of human breast adenocarcinoma, this antigen is overexpressed. Moreover, abnormal glycosylation exposes a novel peptide epitope within the tandem repeat, such that antibodies to this epitope can distinguish normal from malignant adenocarcinomatous breast tissue. We have constructed a vaccinia virus (VV) that carries the cDNA for the MUC1 antigen. Murine and human cells infected with this virus express the MUC1 molecule, with three to four tandem repeats per molecule and with the tumor-associated epitopes exposed. Mice immunized with this virus produce antibodies that recognize MUC1 outside the tandem repeat, within the tandem repeat, and within the tumor-associated protein core epitope. Tumorigenic P815 (DBA) and 3T3 (BALB/c) cells have been transfected with MUC1. Thirty percent of DBA mice immunized with VV-MUC1 are protected from growth of P815-MUC1 tumors when implanted with 10(5) cells. Immunized BALB/c mice show a late development of transfected 3T3 tumor cells. Immunized mice show a moderate MUC1-specific IgG titer, but it cannot be correlated with subsequent tumor rejection. No evidence for a MUC1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte response has been found after immunization with VV-MUC1.

Molecular cloning and tissue distribution of a 26-kilodalton Schistosoma mansoni glutathione S-transferase.

A Schistosoma mansoni cDNA library was constructed from the mRNA of adult worms in the expression vector lambda gt11 and screened with a rabbit antiserum raised against the 26-kDa S. mansoni glutathione S-transferase isoforms (Sm GST 26). Two clones were selected and the nucleotide sequences deduced. The predicted amino acid sequence, specified by these cDNAs, shows strong homology with a Schistosoma japonicum 26 kDa glutathione S-transferase and a lower level of homology with mammalian glutathione S-transferase class mu isoenzymes (EC 2.5.1.18). No significant homology score was found with a 28-kDa S. mansoni glutathione S-transferase (Sm GST 28). A study of the tissue distribution of the cloned Sm GST 26 by immunoelectron microscopy shows similarities to Sm GST 28 in that they are present in the tegument and in subtegumentary parenchymal cells. However, a major difference exists in the protonephridial region in which Sm GST 26 is present in the cytoplasmic digitations localized in the apical chamber delineated by the flame cell body, suggesting that Sm GST 26 may be actively excreted by adult worms.

Inhibition of tumor growth by recombinant vaccinia virus expressing GA733/CO17-1A/EpCAM/KSA/KS1-4 antigen in mice.

The human colorectal carcinoma (CRC)-associated GA733 antigen (Ag), also named CO17-1A/EpCAM/KSA/KS1-4, has been a useful target in passive immunotherapy of CRC patients with monoclonal antibody (mAb) and in active immunotherapy with anti-idiotypic antibodies or with recombinant protein. These approaches have targeted single epitopes (monoclonal anti-GA733 antibodies and anti-idiotypic antibodies) or extracellular domain epitopes (recombinant protein), primarily by B cells. To determine whether a reagent that induces immunity to a larger number of both B- and T-cell epitopes might represent a superior vaccine, we analyzed the capacity of full-length GA733 Ag expressing multiple potentially immunogenic epitopes and encoded by recombinant vaccinia virus (VV GA733-2) to induce humoral, cellular, and/or protective immunity in mice. VV GA733-2 induced Ag-specific antibodies that reacted predominantly to unknown epitopes on the Ag and lysed Ag-positive CRC targets in conjunction with murine peritoneal macrophages as effector cells. Immunized mice developed Ag-specific, proliferative and delayed-type hypersensitive lymphocytes. VV GA733-2 inhibited growth of ras-transformed syngeneic tumor cells expressing the human GA733 Ag in mice. These results suggest the potential of VV GA733-2 as a candidate vaccine for patients with CRC, possibly in combination with recombinant GA733-2–expressing adenovirus, which has been shown to induce cytolytic antibodies and T cells as well as tumor protective effects in mice. The combined vaccine approach may be superior to the use of either vaccine alone in patients who are pre-immune to both viruses.

Targeted macrophage cytotoxicity using a nonreplicative live vector expressing a tumor-specific single-chain variable region fragment

Antigen-specific recognition and subsequent destruction of tumor cells is the goal of vaccine-based immunotherapy of cancer. Often, however, tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are either not available or in a state of anergy. In addition, MHCI expression on tumor cells is often downregulated. Either or both of these situations can allow tumor growth to proceed unchecked by CTL control. We have shown previously that tumor antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies can be expressed in vaccinia virus and that activated macrophages infected with this virus acquire the ability to kill tumor cells expressing that antigen. Here we show that a membrane-anchored form of the scFv portion of the MUC1 tumor antigen-specific monoclonal antibody, SM3, can be expressed on activated macrophages with the highly attenuated poxvirus, modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA), as a gene transfer vector. Cells infected with the MVA-scFv construct were shown to express the membrane-bound scFv by Western blot and FACS analysis. That cells expressing the membrane-anchored scFv specifically bind antigen was shown by FACS and by BIAcore analysis. GM-CSF-activated macrophages were infected with the construct and shown to recognize specifically MUC1-expressing tumor cells as measured by IL-12 release. Furthermore, activated macrophages expressing the membrane-bound scFv specifically lyse target cells expressing the MUC1 antigen but not cells that do not express MUC1.

Vaccinia recombinants expressing secreted and transmembrane forms of breast cancer-associated epithelial tumour antigen (ETA)

Monoclonal antibody H23 identifies a polymorphic epithelial tumour antigen (ETA) that is aberrantly expressed in breast cancer and which may afford a target for active immunotherapy. We recently reported the cloning of H23-ETA genomic and cDNA clones. H23-ETA contains a multiple internal tandem repetition of a 20 amino acid motif and sequence analysis predicted two mRNA species encoding different ETA proteins, one harbouring a C-terminal potentially transmembrane hydrophobic zone (T) and a second form (S) that lacks this zone. We report that both RNA species can be detected in breast cancer cells. To further characterize the encoded proteins we have constructed vaccinia virus recombinants, VV-ETA-S and VV-ETA-T, separately expressing the alternative forms. Despite selective loss of internal tandem repeat elements during propagation of recombinant vaccinia, the encoded polypeptides were efficiently recognized by H23 monoclonal antibody. Immunoprecipitation revealed that ETA encoded by the S recombinant was secreted into the culture medium whereas the T form remained tethered at the cell surface. Both forms were readily detected in infected cells by immunofluorescence. Abnormal mobility of the T polypeptide indicated post-translational cleavage that may permit the extracellular domain of the T-polypeptide to be shed from the cell surface. Further, fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis shows that the S form of the polypeptide is also partly present at the cell surface. Vaccinia recombinants expressing ETA may be of utility in the active immunotherapy of breast cancer.