Patent Application
20070154457
The present invention relates to apoptosis-specific eukaryotic initiation factor (“eIF-5A”) and the use of polynucleotides encoding the same to kill multiple myeloma cells, as well as other cancer cells. The present invention relates to the use of apoptosis-specific eIF-5A or referred to as “apoptosis-specific eIF-5A” or “eIF-5A1” as well as the use of the eIF-5A2 isoform to inhibit multiple myeloma, kill multiple myeloma cells, and to inhibit and/or kill other cancer cell growth.
Apoptosis is a genetically programmed cellular event that is characterized by well-defined morphological features, such as cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, and membrane blebbing. Kerr et al. (1972) Br. J. Cancer, 26, 239-257; Wyllie et al. (1980) Int. Rev. Cytol., 68, 251-306. It plays an important role in normal tissue development and homeostasis, and defects in the apoptotic program are thought to contribute to a wide range of human disorders ranging from neurodegenerative and autoimmunity disorders to neoplasms. Thompson (1995) Science, 267, 1456-1462; Mullauer et al. (2001) Mutat. Res, 488, 211-231. Although the morphological characteristics of apoptotic cells are well characterized, the molecular pathways that regulate this process have only begun to be elucidated.
Another key protein involved in apoptosis is a protein that encoded by the tumor suppressor gene p53. This protein is a transcription factor that regulates cell growth and induces apoptosis in cells that are damaged and genetically unstable, presumably through up-regulation of Bax. Bold et al. (1997) Surgical Oncology, 6, 133-142; Ronen et al., 1996; Schuler & Green (2001) Biochem. Soc. Trans., 29, 684-688; Ryan et al. (2001) Curr. Opin. Cell Biol., 13, 332-337; Zornig et al. (2001) Biochem. Biophys. Acta, 1551, F1-F37.
Alterations in the apoptotic pathways are believed to play a key role in a number of disease processes, including cancer. Wyllie et al. (1980) Int. Rev. Cytol., 68, 251-306; Thompson (1995) Science, 267, 1456-1462; Sen & D'Incalci (1992) FEBS Letters, 307, 122-127; McDonnell et al. (1995) Seminars in Cancer and Biology, 6, 53-60. Investigations into cancer development and progression have traditionally been focused on cellular proliferation. However, the important role that apoptosis plays in tumorigenesis has recently become apparent. In fact, much of what is now known about apoptosis has been learned using tumor models, since the control of apoptosis is invariably altered in some way in tumor cells. Bold et al. (1997) Surgical Oncology, 6, 133-142.
Cytokines also have been implicated in the apoptotic pathway. Biological systems require cellular interactions for their regulation, and cross-talk between cells generally involves a large variety of cytokines. Cytokines are mediators that are produced in response to a wide variety of stimuli by many different cell types. Cytokines are pleiotropic molecules that can exert many different effects on many different cell types, but are especially important in regulation of the immune response and hematopoietic cell proliferation and differentiation. The actions of cytokines on target cells can promote cell survival, proliferation, activation, differentiation, or apoptosis depending on the particular cytokine, relative concentration, and presence of other mediators.
Deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS) and hypusine-containing eukaryotic translation initiation Factor-5A (eIF-5A) are known to play important roles in many cellular processes including cell growth and differentiation. Hypusine, a unique amino acid, is found in all examined eukaryotes and archaebacteria, but not in eubacteria, and eIF-5A is the only known hypusine-containing protein. Park (1988) J. Biol. Chem., 263, 7447-7449; Schumann & Klink (1989) System. Appl. Microbiol., 11, 103-107; Bartig et al. (1990) System. Appl. Microbiol., 13, 112-116; Gordon et al. (1987a) J. Biol. Chem., 262, 16585-16589. Active eIF-5A is formed in two post-translational steps: the first step is the formation of a deoxyhypusine residue by the transfer of the 4-aminobutyl moiety of spermidine to the α-amino group of a specific lysine of the precursor eIF-5A catalyzed by deoxyhypusine synthase; the second step involves the hydroxylation of this 4-aminobutyl moiety by deoxyhypusine hydroxylase to form hypusine.
The amino acid sequence of eIF-5A is well conserved between species, and there is strict conservation of the amino acid sequence surrounding the hypusine residue in eIF-5A, which suggests that this modification may be important for survival. Park et al. (1993) Biofactors, 4, 95-104. This assumption is further supported by the observation that inactivation of both isoforms of eIF-5A found to date in yeast, or inactivation of the DHS gene, which catalyzes the first step in their activation, blocks cell division. Schnier et al. (1991) Mol. Cell. Biol., 11, 3105-3114; Sasaki et al. (1996) FEBS Lett., 384, 151-154; Park et al. (1998) J. Biol. Chem., 273, 1677-1683. However, depletion of eIF-5A protein in yeast resulted in only a small decrease in total protein synthesis suggesting that eIF-5A may be required for the translation of specific subsets of mRNA's rather than for protein global synthesis. Kang et al. (1993), “Effect of initiation factor eIF-5A depletion on cell proliferation and protein synthesis,” in Tuite, M. (ed.), Protein Synthesis and Targeting in Yeast, NATO Series H. The recent finding that ligands that bind eIF-5A share highly conserved motifs also supports the importance of eIF-5A. Xu & Chen (2001) J. Biol. Chem., 276, 2555-2561. In addition, the hypusine residue of modified eIF-5A was found to be essential for sequence-specific binding to RNA, and binding did not provide protection from ribonucleases.
In addition, intracellular depletion of eIF-5A results in a significant accumulation of specific mRNAs in the nucleus, indicating that eIF-5A may be responsible for shuttling specific classes of mRNAs from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Liu & Tartakoff (1997) Supplement to Molecular Biology of the Cell, 8, 426a. Abstract No. 2476, 37th American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting. The accumulation of eIF-5A at nuclear pore-associated intranuclear filaments and its interaction with a general nuclear export receptor further suggest that eIF-5A is a nucleocytoplasmic shuttle protein, rather than a component of polysomes. Rosorius et al. (1999) J. Cell Science, 112, 2369-2380.
The first cDNA for eIF-5A was cloned from human in 1989 by Smit-McBride et al., and since then cDNAs or genes for eIF-5A have been cloned from various eukaryotes including yeast, rat, chick embryo, alfalfa, and tomato. Smit-McBride et al. (1989) J. Biol. Chem., 264, 1578-1583; Schnier et al. (1991) (yeast); Sano, A. (1995) in Imahori, M. et al. (eds), Polyamines, Basic and Clinical Aspects, VNU Science Press, The Netherlands, 81-88 (rat); Rinaudo & Park (1992) FASEB J., 6, A453 (chick embryo); Pay et al. (1991) Plant Mol. Biol., 17, 927-929 (alfalfa); Wang et al. (2001) J. Biol. Chem., 276, 17541-17549 (tomato).
Multiple myeloma is a progressive and fatal disease characterized by the expansion of malignant plasma ells in the bone marrow and by the presence of osteolytic lesions. Multiple myeloma is an incurable but treatable cancer of the plasma cell. Plasma cells are an important part of the immune system, producing immunoglobulins (antibodies) that help fight infection and disease. Multiple myeloma is characterized by excessive numbers of abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow and overproduction of intact monoclonal immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgD, or IgE; “M-proteins”) or Bence-Jones protein (free monoclonal light chains). Hypocalcaemia, anemia, renal damage, increased susceptibility to bacterial infection, and impaired production of normal immunoglobulin are common clinical manifestations of multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma is often also characterized by diffuse osteoporosis, usually in the pelvis, spine, ribs, and skull.
Conventional therapies for of multiple myeloma include chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation, and salvage therapy. Chemotherapies include treatment with Thalomid®(thalidomide), bortezomib, Aredia® (pamidronate), steroids, and Zometa® (zoledronic acid). However many chemotherapy drugs are toxic to actively dividing non-cancerous cells, such as of the bone marrow, the lining of the stomach and intestines, and the hair follicles. Therefore, chemotherapy may result in a decrease in blood cell counts, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of hair.
Conventional chemotherapy, or standard-dose chemotherapy, is typically the primary or initial treatment for patients with of multiple myeloma. Patients also may receive chemotherapy in preparation for high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. Induction therapy (conventional chemotherapy prior to a stem cell transplant) can be used to reduce the tumor burden prior to transplant. Certain chemotherapy drugs are more suitable for induction therapy than others, because they are less toxic to bone marrow cells and result in a greater yield of stem cells from the bone marrow. Examples of chemotherapy drugs suitable for induction therapy include dexamethasone, thalidomide/dexamethasone, VAD (vincristine, Adriamycin® (doxorubicin), and dexamethasone in combination), and DVd (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil®, Caelyx®), vincristine, and reduced schedule dexamethasone in combination).
The standard treatment for of multiple myeloma is melphalan in combination with prednisone (a corticosteroid drug), achieving a response rate of 50%. Unfortunately, melphalan is an alkylating agent and is less suitable for induction therapy. Corticosteroids (especially dexamethasone) are sometimes used alone for multiple myeloma therapy, especially in older patients and those who cannot tolerate chemotherapy. Dexamethasone is also used in induction therapy, alone or in combination with other agents. VAD is the most commonly used induction therapy, but DVd has recently been shown to be effective in induction therapy. Bortezomib has been approved recently for the treatment of multiple myeloma, but it is very toxic. However, none of the existing therapies offer a significant potential for a cure. Thus, there remains a need for a suitable therapy to kill multiple myeloma cells. The present invention provides this need.
The present invention provides a method of inhibiting cancer cell growth and/or killing cancer cells. The present invention also provides a method of inhibiting or slowing down the ability of a cancer cell to metastasize. Inhibiting cancer growth includes a reduction in the size of a tumor, a decrease in the growth of the tumor, and can also encompass a complete remission of the tumor. The cancer can be any cancer or tumor, including but not limited to colon cancer, colorectal adenocarcinoma, bladder carcinoma, cervical adenocarcinoma, and lung carcinoma. The methods of the present invention involve the administration of eIF-5A, preferably human eIF-5A1 to a patient (a mammal, preferably a human) having said cancer. The eIF-5A2 isoform may also be used, although eIF-5A1 is preferred. The eIF-5A may be delivered to a subject in need thereof by any suitable method know in the art. It may be delivered as naked DNA, such as DNA in biologically suitable medium and delivered through IV or subcutaneous injection or any other biologically suitable delivery mechanism. Alternatively, the eIF-5A may be delivered in a vector such as an adenovirus vector. Alternatively, the DNA may be delivered in liposomes or any other suitable “carrier” that provided for delivery of the DNA to the target cancer cells. The
eIF-5A may also be delivered directly to the site of the tumor. One skilled in the art would be able to determine the dose and length of treatment regimen for delivery of eIF-5A. eIF-5A1 and eIF-5A2 is known and has been described in earlier co-pending applications, such as Ser. Nos. 09/909,796 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,867,237); 10/141,647 (allowed); 10/200,148; 10/277,969; 10/383,614; 10/792,893; 11/287,460; 10/861,980; 11/134,445; 11/184,982; 11/293,391; 60/749,604; and 60/795,168, which are all herein incorporated by reference. Since eIF-5As are highly conserved among species, any eIF-5A may be used in the present invention, human, rat, mouse, dog etc. Preferably, a human eIF-5A would be used for treatment of humans, etc. The eIF-5A also includes mutant eIF-5As, as long as the mutant is capable of up-regulating or increasing expression of eIF-5A and hence inhibit the growth of cancer or kill cancer cells.
The present invention also provides for a method of activating MAPK/SAPK signaling pathway in a cell by providing a nucleotide encoding eIF-5A1 to said cells. The eIF-5A1 polynucleotide and eIF-5A1 protein is as described above.
The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions useful for killing myeloma cells comprising polynucleotides encoding eIF5A. The eIF5A maybe eIF5A1, eIF5A2 or a mutant eIF5A1. Preferably the eIF5A is eIF5A1. The composition may further comprise a delivery vehicle. The delivery vehicle may be, but is not limited to, a vector, plasmid, liposome, or dendrimer.
The present invention also provides the use of eIF5A (preferably eIF5A1) to make a medicament to kill multiple myeloma cells in a subject having multiple myeloma.
The present invention further provides a method of killing multiple myeloma cells comprising administering to the myeloma cells a composition comprising a polynucleotide encoding eIF5A1, wherein the composition kills the multiple myeloma cells. The eIF5A1 may be a mutant, wherein the mutant has had the conserved lysine changed to another amino acid and wherein said mutant is unable to be hypusinated. Compositions useful in the methods of treatment are as described herein.
The present invention further provides a method of killing multiple myeloma cells wherein a composition comprising siRNA directed against eIF-5A1 is provided in addition to a composition comprising polynucleotides encoding eIF5A1. The siRNA down regulates endogenous expression of eIF-5A1, and thus down regulates expression of IL-6, which in turn causes in apoptosis in myeloma cells. The composition comprising the eIF-5A1 siRNA may be administered intravenously or administered within a delivery vehicle such as a plasmid, vector, liposome or dendrimer.
Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A1 (eIF5A1) has been hypothesized to function as a nucleocytoplasmic shuttle protein involved in facilitating translation of subsets of mRNAs involved in cell proliferation. However, eIF5A1 has also been identified as a regulator of apoptosis (Taylor et al., Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci.; 45(10):3568-76 (2004)) and a pro-apoptotic protein capable of regulating expression of p53 (Li et al. (2004) J. Biol. Chem.; 279:49251-49258; and
Expression of eIF5A1 is correlated to apoptosis. Western blots of normal colon fibroblasts treated with the topoisomerase inhibitor Actinomycin D (
A requirement for eIF5A1 in cell proliferation has long been proposed, partly due to reports of DHS and DHH inhibitors inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and the conclusion that hypusinated eIF5A1 must be required to sustain cell growth. However, it was determined that specific suppression of eIF5A1 expression through the use of siRNAs had no effect on cell growth. Suppression of eIF5A1 expression by >90% in HT-29 cells had no effect on proliferation of the cells over a period of 5 days (
The ability of eIF5A1 siRNAs to protect cells from apoptosis prompted the examination of the effect eIF5A1 protein suppression had on p53 expression. RKO cells have a functional p53 protein that does not accumulate except under conditions of stress. Suppression of eIF5A1 by siRNA was able to inhibit the accumulation of p53 protein by 69% after twenty fours of Actinomycin D treatment (
Adenovirus constructs expressing either eIF5A1 or eIF5A1 containing a point mutation in the conserved lysine (K)(position 50) that is required for the hypusine modification {eIF5A1(K50A)}were constructed. The point mutation caused the lysine to be an alanine (A). Infection of HT-29 cells with either construct induced apoptosis in these cells (
A nucleocytoplasmic shuttling function has been proposed for eIF5A1, however, eIF5A1 has been reported to be expressed predominantly in the cytoplasm (Shi et al., Exp Cell Res.; 225:348-356 (1996b)). A nucleocytoplasmic shuttle protein would be expected to have a nuclear localization as well. Since a function for eIF5A1 during apoptosis was found, the localization of eIF5A1 changes during apoptosis were studied. Apoptosis was induced in HT-29 cells by two different mechanisms, death receptor activation via treatment with IFN-γ and TNF-α and genotoxic stress via treatment with Actinomycin D. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed that eIF5A1 localization was cytoplasmic in untreated, growing cells (
In order to clarify whether it is the unmodified, deoxyhypusine-modified, or hypusine-modified form of eIF5A1 that is involved in apoptosis, the forms of eIF5A1 accumulating during apoptosis was examined by 2-D gel electrophoresis. HT-29 cells were induced to undergo apoptosis by stimulation with either Actinomycin D (genotoxic stress) or incubation with an agonistic antibody against Fas (death receptor pathway). Cell lysates were collected after various time points ranging from 1 hour to 24 hours and then analyzed by 2-D gel electrophoresis and Western blotting with eIF5A antibody (
The ability of eIF5A1, eIF5A1(K50A)(mutant eIF5A1), and eIF5A2 to induce apoptosis and to inhibit proliferation was examined in a variety of cancer cell lines. Both eIF5A1 and eIF5A1(K50A) were able to induce apoptosis in the colon carcinoma cell line HT-29 (
In order to elucidate which signaling pathways are affected by over-expression of eIF5A1, activation of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK)/stress activated protein kinase (SAPK) [MAPK/SAPK] pathways was examined in response to Ad-eIF5A1 or Ad-eIF5A1(K50A) infection in A549 lung carcinoma cells. The three major MAPK pathways are the ERK MAPK pathway, the p38 MAPK pathway, and the JNK SAPK pathway. The ERK MAPK pathway is mainly triggered in response to mitogenic stimuli such as growth hormones like epidermal growth factor (EGF) and supports the growth and survival of a broad range of tumors. The p38 MAPK pathway is activated in response to cellular stresses, UV light, growth factor withdrawal, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Activation of p38 via phosphorylation leads to the phosphorylation of transcription factors such as p53, which can in turn lead to increased activity or stability of p53. Activation of p38 is involved in both pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic pathways as well as inflammation. The JNK/SAPK pathway mediates responses to cellular stresses including UV light, DNA damage and pro-inflammatory cytokines and results in the phosphorylation and increased activity of transcription factors such as c-jun. Activation of the JNK pathway can lead to numerous cellular responses including growth, transformation and apoptosis. The JNK pathway appears to be a prime effector pathway for EGF-induced growth in A549 cells (Bost et al. 1997, JBC; 272:33422-33429). Infection of A549 cells with Ad-eIF5A1 induces the activation of all three of these pathways. Infection with increasing amounts of Ad-eIF5A1 in A549 cells stimulated with EGF for 30 minutes, resulted in increasing phosphorylation/activation of ERK and its downstream target, p90RSK, while amounts of unphosphorylated ERK remained unchanged (
The effect of Ad-eIF5A1 and Ad-eIF5A1(K50A) on the expression and phosphorylation of p53 can be seen in
Invasion and metastasis of tumors is a complex process that requires a tumor cell to adapt its ability to adhere, to degrade the surrounding extracellular matrix, to migrate and proliferate at a secondary site, and finally to promote angiogenesis to sustain increased growth. Basement membranes are contiguous sheets of extracellular matrix (ECM) that surround every organ and act as a barrier to macromolecules and cells. The invasiveness of tumor cells can be measured by coating transwells with an 8 μm membrane with reconstituted ECM (Matrigel™) and staining cells that are able to penetrate this layer and reach the other side of the membrane in response to chemotactic stimulation. A549 lung carcinoma cells are highly invasive and are able to secrete proteins such as matrix metaloproteases, which are gelatinases capable of digesting components of the ECM. The effect of eIF5A1 over-expression on the invasiveness of A549 cells was examined—infection of Ad-eIF5A1 or Ad-eIF5A1(K50A) significantly decreased the number of cells that invaded through Matrigel™-coated transwells (
The results presented thus far suggested the possibility that treatment of tumors with eIF5A1 may be of therapeutic benefit. Thus, a model of experimental metastasis in mice was used. In Experiment II, experimental metastasis was initiated by injecting mice with the highly invasive mouse melanoma cell line B16F10 (day 0). Plasmid DNA encoding either the LacZ gene (as a DNA control) or eIF5A1 was injected into the tail vein day on days 2, 4, 7, 11, 16, 21, 26, and 31. Three different concentrations of DNA were used: 1× (3.3 mg/kg), 0.1× (0.3 mg/kg), and 2× (6.6 mg/kg). When the mice became moribund, they were sacrificed and the lungs were removed and photographed (
In Experiment III, a model of experimental metastasis using tail vein injected B16F10 cells was again used, but this time the plasmid DNA was complexed with DOTAP in order to increase the half-life of the DNA in serum and increase uptake of the plasmid into the lung tumors. Injections of DNA/DOTAP complexes occurred on Days 7, 14, and 21. Mice were sacrificed when they became moribund and the lungs were removed and photographed (
In order to determine whether eIF5A1 treatment induces apoptosis in melanoma tumors, mice bearing either B16F0 or B16F10 subcutaneous tumors were injected intra-tumorally with Ad-eIF5A1 (Experiment IV). Forty-eight hours later the tumors were excised, paraffin embedded and sectioned. TUNEL staining of the sectioned tissues revealed that Ad-eIF5A1 induced apoptosis of tumor cells (
Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of inhibiting cancer growth. The present invention also provides a method of inhibiting or slowing down the ability of a cancer cell to metastasize. Inhibiting cancer growth includes a reduction in the size of a tumor, a decrease in the growth of the tumor, and can also encompass a complete remission of the tumor. Inhibiting cancer growth also means killing cancer cells. The cancer can be any cancer or tumor, including but not limited to colon cancer, colorectal adenocarcinoma, bladder carcinoma, cervical adenocarcinoma, and lung carcinoma.
The methods of the present invention involve the administration of a polynucleotide encoding eIF-5A, preferably human eIF-5A1 to a patient (a mammal, preferably a human), preferably eIF-5A1 accession number NM 001970 (See
Alternatively, the DNA may be delivered in liposomes or any other suitable “carrier” or “vehicle” that provides for delivery of the DNA (or plasmid or expression vector) to the target tumor or cancer cells. See for example, Luo, Dan, et al., Nature Biotechnology, Vol. 18, January 2000, pp. 33-37 for a review of synthetic DNA delivery systems. Although the present inventors have earlier shown that eIF-5A1 is non toxic to normal tissue (see pending application Ser. No. 11/293,391, filed Nov. 28, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), a delivery system (as compared to direct administration of the eIF5A polynucleotides/plasmid/expression vector) is preferred. A preferred delivery system provides an effective amount of eIF-5A to the tumor or group of cancer cell, as well as preferably provides a targeted delivery to the tumor or group of cancer cells. Thus, it is preferable to deliver the eIF-5A nucleotides/plasmid/expression vector via a vehicle of nanometer size such as liposomes, dendrimers or a similar non-toxic nano-particle. Further, the vehicle preferably protects the eIF-5A nucleotides/plasmid/expression vector from premature clearance or from causing an immune response while delivering an effective amount of the eIF-5A nucleotides/plasmid/expression vector to the tumor or group of cells. Exemplary vehicles may range from a simple nano-particle associated with the eIF-5A nucleotides/plasmid/expression vector to a more complex pegylated vehicle such as a pegylated liposome having a ligand attached to its surface to target a specific cell receptor.
Liposomes and pegylated liposomes are known in the art. In conventional liposomes, the molecules to be delivered (i.e. small drugs, proteins, nucleotides or plasmids) are contained within the central cavity of the liposome. One skilled in the art would appreciate that there are also “stealth,” targeted, and cationic liposomes useful for molecule delivery. See for example, Hortobagyi, Gabriel N., et al., J. Clinical Oncology, Vol. 19, Issue 14 (July) 2001:3422-3433 and Yu, Wei, et al., Nucleic Acids Research. 2004, 32(5);e48. Liposomes can be injected intravenously and can be modified to render their surface more hydrophilic (by adding polyethylene glycol (“pegylated”) to the bilayer, which increases their circulation time in the bloodstream. These are known as “stealth” liposomes and are especially useful as carriers for hydrophilic (water soluble) anticancer drugs such as doxorubicin and mitoxantrone. To further the specific binding properties of a drug carrying liposome to a target cell, such as a tumor cell, specific molecules such as antibodies, proteins, peptides, etc. may be attached on the liposome surface. For example, antibodies to receptors present on cancer cells maybe used to target the liposome to the cancer cell. In the case of targeting multiple myeloma, folate, II-6 or transferrin for example, may be used to target the liposomes to multiple myeloma cells.
Dendrimers are also known in the art and provide a preferable delivery vehicle. See for example Marjoros, Istvan, J., et al, “PAMAM Dendrimer-Based Multifunctional Conjugate for Cancer Therapy: Synthesis, Characterization, and Functionality,” Biomacromolecules, Vol. 7, No. 2, 2006; 572-579, and Majoros, Istvan J., et al., J. Med. Chem, 2005. 48, 5892-5899 for a discussion of dendrimers.
The eIF-5A may also be delivered directly to the site of the tumor. One skilled in the art would be able to determine the dose and length of treatment regimen for delivery of eIF-5A.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method of inducing cell death in multiple myeloma cells. Multiple myeloma is a type of bone marrow cancer that produces high levels of inflammatory cytokines, which can lead to bone lesions and tumor progression. Cytokines IL-1B and IL-6 act as growth factors for the myeloma cells.
An adenovirus vector construct containing polynucleotides encoding eIF-5A1 (the full length coding region) was administered to a multiple myeloma cell line, KAS 6/1 cells. The KAS 6/1 cell line was created at the Mayo Clinic and reported in Westendorf, J J., et al., Leukemia (1996) 10, 866-876. The cell line was created directly from isolates from a patient with aggressive multiple myeloma. The present inventors have shows that when an adenovirus construct containing eIF-5A is administered to KAS 6/1 cells, there was an increase in the number of dying or dead cells (leaving fewer viable cancer cells)(indicated as “WT” in
In addition, IL-6 was also administered along with the control (indicated as “CTL+IL-6”) and the eIF-5A construct (indicated as “WT+11-6” in
Further, an adenovirus construct with a mutant eIF-5A (K50A) (unable to be hypusinated due to changing the conserved lysine at position 50 to another amino acid) was also administered alone (“MUT”) or with IL-6 (“MUT+IL-6”). The results show that the mutant eIF-5A1 was also able to increase apoptosis as compared to the control cells, even in the presence of IL-6. See
Since IL-6 acts as a growth factor for myeloma cells, down regulating expression of IL-6 would also provide a method of killing myeloma cells. The present inventors have show that siRNA against eIF-5A1 (See
In another embodiment, polynucleotides encoding eIF-5As are administered to provide an increase of apoptosis in the myeloma cells in conjunction with the siRNA against eIF-5A1. The polynucleotides encoding eIF-5A1 are preferably administered in a vector, such as an adenovirus vector, such that the siRNA does not inhibit expression of the exogenous eIF-5A1. For instance, the siRNA targets the 3′ UTR, but the polynucleotides encoding exogenous eIF5A1 preferably contain the entire open reading frame (ORF) and thus have no 3′UTR to be targeted by the siRNA. Suitable siRNA constructs have been previously described in co-pending application Ser. No. 11/287,460; 11/134,445; 11/184,982; and 11/293,391, which are all herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. See also
The present invention also provides a combination therapy to kill multiple myeloma cells. Compositions comprising polynucleotides encoding eIF5A, preferably eIF5A1 may be administered in conjunction with standard therapies. The eIF5A compositions may be administered before, during or after conventional therapies. The eIF5A may be administered in as a pharmaceutical composition or maybe administered within a delivery vehicle as discussed above.
Chemicals
N1-guanyl-1,7-diaminoheptane (GC7; Biosearch Technologies), an inhibitor of DHS, was used at a concentration of 50 μM. Actinomycin D (Calbiochem) was used at 0.5 or 1.0 μg/ml. Sodium nitroprusside and desferrioxamine were purchased from Sigma and used at a concentration of 3 mM and 500 μM, respectively. Brefeldin A was also acquired from Sigma and used at a concentration of 4 nM.
Cell Culture and Treatment
The human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, HT-29, was used for cell proliferation and eIF5A localization studies and was a kind gift from Anita Antes (University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey). HT-29 cells were maintained in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 1 mM sodium pyruvate, 10 mM HEPES, and 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). All other cell lines were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. CCD112Co is a normal colon fibroblast cell line. RKO is a human colorectal carcinoma cell line (CRL-2577) containing a wild-type p53. The RKO-E6 cell line (CRL-2578) was derived from the RKO cell line. It contains a stably integrated human papilloma virus E6 oncogene and therefore lacks appreciable functional p53 tumor suppressor protein. RKO, RKO-E6, A549, and the cell line CCD112Co, were grown in Modified Eagle Minimum Essential Medium with 2 mM L-glutamine and Earle's Balanced Salt Solution adjusted to contain 1.5 g/L sodium bicarbonate, 0.1 mM non-essential amino acids, 1 mM sodium pyruvate and supplemented with 10% FBS. Cells were maintained at 37° C. in a humidified environment containing 5% CO2.
Cloning and Construction of Plasmids
Human eIF5A was cloned by RT-PCR from total RNA isolated from RKO cells using the GenElute Mammalian RNA miniprep kit (Sigma) according to the manufacturer's protocol for adherent cells. The primers used were: forward, 5′-CGAGTTGGAATCGAAGCCTC-3′; and reverse, 5′-GGTTCAGAGGATCACTGCTG-3′. The resulting 532 base pair product was subcloned into pGEM-T Easy (Promega) and sequenced. The resulting plasmid was used as a template for PCR using the primers: forward, 5′-GCCAAGCTTAATGGCAGATGATTTGG-3′; and reverse, 5′-CCTGAATTCCAGTTATTTTGCCATGG-3′, and the PCR product was subcloned into the HindIII and EcoRI sites of pHM6 (hemagglutinin [HA] tagged; Roche Molecular Biochemicals) to generate the pHM6-eIF5A vector. A C-terminal truncated construct of eIF5A (pHM6-eIF5AA37) was generated by PCR using the following primers: forward, 5′-GCCAAGCTTAATGGCAGATGATTTGG-3′; and reverse, 5′-GCCGAATTCTCCCTCAGGCAGAGAAG-3′. The resulting PCR product was subcloned into the pHM6 vector. The pHM6-LacZ vector (Roche Molecular Biochemicals) was used to optimize transfection and as a control for the effects of transfection on apoptosis.
Northern Blotting
RKO cells were grown to confluence on 6-well plates and treated for 0, 1, 4, or 8 hours with 1.0 μg/ml Actinomycin D. Total RNA was isolated from the cells using the GenElute Mammalian RNA miniprep kit (Sigma), and 5 μg of RNA was fractionated on a 1.2% agarose/formaldehyde gel. The membrane was probed with a 32P-labelled cDNA homologous to the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of eIF5A according to established methods. The eIF5A 3′-UTR cDNA that was used for Northern blotting was cloned by RT-PCR from RKO cells using the following primers: forward, 5′-GAGGAATTCGCTGTTGCAATCAAGGC-3′; and reverse, 5′-TTTAAGCTTTGTGTCGGGGAGAGAGC-3′. The β-actin cDNA that was used as a loading control for Northern blotting was cloned by RT-PCR using the following primers: forward, 5′-GATGATATCGCCGCGCTCGT-3′; and reverse, 5′-GTAGATGGGCACAGTGTGGGTG-3′.
Transfection of Plasmids and Detection of Apoptosis
RKO and RKO-E6 cells were transiently transfected with plasmid DNA using Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturer's recommended protocol. Forty-eight hours after transfection, apoptotic cells containing fragmented DNA were detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end labeling (TUNEL) using a DNA Fragmentation Detection Kit (Oncogene Research Products) according to the manufacturer's protocol. For fluorescence microscopy analysis, cells were transfected on 8-well culture slides, fixed with 4% formaldehyde and then labeled by TUNEL and stained with Hoescht 33258 according to the methods described by Taylor et al. (2004).
Transfection of siRNA
All siRNAs were obtained from Dharmacon. The eIF5A siRNA, which targets the 3′UTR of the eIF5A mRNA (Accession No. BC085015), had the following sequence: sense strand, 5′-GCUGGACUCCUCCUACACAdTdT-3′; and antisense strand, 3′-dTdTCGACCUGAGGAGGAUGUGU-5′. A second siRNA (5A-2) directed against eIF5A had the following sequence: sense strand, 5′-AGGAAUGACUUCCAGCUGAdTdT-3′; and antisense strand, 3′-dTdTUCCUUACUGAAGGUCGACU-5′. The control siRNA that was used had the reverse sequence of the eIF5A-specific siRNA and had no identity to any known human gene product. The control siRNA had the following sequence: sense strand, 5′-ACACAUCCUCCUCAGGUCGdTdT-3′; and antisense strand, 3′-dTdTUGUGUAGGAGGAGUCCAGC-5′. Cells were transfected with siRNA12 using Lipofectamine 2000 and used in proliferation studies or for Western blotting.
Western Blotting
Protein for Western blotting was isolated using boiling lysis buffer [2% SDS, 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.4)]. Protein concentrations were determined using the Bicinchoninic Acid Kit (Sigma). For Western blotting, 5 μg of total protein was fractionated on a 12% SDS-polyacrylamide gel and transferred to a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane. The primary antibodies used were anti-eIF5A (BD Transduction Laboratories; mouse IgG) and anti-β-actin (Oncogene; mouse IgM), both at a dilution of 1:20,000 in 5% milk. The secondary antibodies were anti-mouse IgG conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP; Sigma) and anti-mouse IgM-HRP (Oncogene). Antibody-protein complexes were visualized using the enhanced chemiluminescence method (ECL, Amersham Biosciences). Following detection of eIF5A, the blots were stripped according to the protocol provided by the ECL Plus Western blotting detection system and reprobed with anti-β-actin antibody to confirm equal loading.
Western blotting of lysate from A549 cells used for MAPK/SAPK pathway analysis was performed using lysate collected in MAPK lysis buffer (10 mM Tris-pH 7.4, 2% SDS, 10% glycerol). Ten micrograms of lysate was separated on 10% SDS-PAGE gels and transferred to a PVDF membrane. The membrane was blocked for one hour in 5% non-fat skim milk in PBS, washed with PBS and incubated with primary antibody at 1:1000 in 5% BSA/PBS-T overnight at 4° C. with shaking. The MAPK/SAPK antibodies (P-p38, p38, P-JNK, JNK, P-ERK, ERK, p90RSK) were purchased from Cell Signaling. The p53 antibodies used in the A549 study were also obtained from Cell Signaling and used in a similar fashion.
2-D Gel Electrophoresis
For 2-D gel electrophoresis, HT-29 cell lysate was harvested in cold lysis buffer (7M Urea, 2M Thiourea, 30 mM Tris, 4% CHAPS, protease inhibitor cocktail), sonicated and cleared of debris by centrifugation. Protein concentration was determined using the Bradford method. The first dimensional isolelectric focusing was performed with the Ettan IPGphor Isoelectric Focusing System (Amersham Biosciences) according to the manufacture's instruction. Immobiline DryStrips (7 cm pH 4-7; Amersham Biosciences) were rehydrated in rehydration buffer (8M Urea, 2% CHAPS, 0.2% DTT, 0.5% pH 4-7 IPG buffer, 0.002% Bromophenol blue) along with cell lysate at room temperature for 12 hours. The isoelectric focusing was performed at 500 V for 30 min, 1000 V for 30 min, and 5000 V for 1 hour and 40 min. The protein on the IPG strip gel was then separated by SDS-PAGE and transferred to a PVDF membrane (Amersham Biosciences). Western blotting was performed using eIF5A antibody (BD Biosciences).
Generation of Adenovirus
Adenoviruses (Adenovirus 5 serotype, E1,E3-deleted) expressing human eIF5A or eIF5A bearing a single point mutation (K50→A50) [eIF5A(K50A)] that prevents hypusination were constructed using the AdMax™ Hi-IQ system (Microbix Biosystems Inc., Toronto, Canada). The site-specific mutation was created in the eIF5A cDNA using PCR. The eIF5A cDNAs were amplified by PCR using plasmid DNA as template and ligated into the SmaI site of the adenovirus shuttle vector pDC516(io). The sequence of the PCR primers were: forward, 5′-GCCAAGCTTAATGGCAGATGATTTGG-3′; and reverse, 5′-CCTGAATTCCAGTTATTTTGCCATGG-3′. The adenovirus genomic plasmid vector pBHGfrt(del)E1,3FLP and the shuttle vectors were propagated in E. coli DH5a and purified using Qiagen EndoFree Plasmid Mega Kit. 5 μg each of the adenovirus genomic plasmid pBHGfrt(del)E1,3FLP and shuttle vector, pDC516(io)-eIF5A or pDC516(io)-eIF5A(K50A), were transfected using the CaCl2 method recommended by Microbix Biosystems Inc. into 60-80% confluent 293-IQ cells (Microbix Biosystems) in 60 mm culture plates. Plaques appeared after 7 to 10 days incubation at 37° C., and the resulting adenoviral particles [Ad-eIF5A and Ad-eIF5A(K50A)] were amplified in 293-IQ cells. Pure, high titer adenovirus stocks were prepared by CsCl gradient ultracentrifugation according to the protocol provided by Microbix Biosystems Inc. An adenovirus vector expressing LacZ (Ad-LacZ; serotype 5; E1,E3-deleted) was purchased from Qbiogene (California, USA) and employed as a control and reporter in these experiments. The Ad-LacZ adenovirus was amplified and purified in the same manner as the Ad-eIF5A and Ad-eIF5A(K50A) viruses.
Adenovirus Infection and Annexin V Labeling
HT-29, HTB-9, or HTB-4 cells were seeded at 1×106 cells per plate in 100 mm tissue culture plates and infected with adenovirus the following day at 3000 infectious units per cell in 5 ml of RPMI 1640+2% FBS. Additional media was added to the cells after four hours and the concentration of FBS brought to 10%. Twenty-four, forty-eight, or seventy-two hours after infection the cells were detached by trypsinization, washed and stained with Annexin V-FITC according to the manufacturers' protocol (BD Biosciences). The cells were sorted by flow cytometry (Coulter Epics XL-MCL) with a 488 nm argon laser source and filters for fluorescein detection and the data analyzed by WinMDI 2.8.
HT-29 cells were infected with 3000 infectious units per cell and experiments with A549 cells were performed using 1500 infectious units per cell.
Proliferation Assays
HT-29 cells were transfected with siRNA on 96-well plates using Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen). Metabolic activity of proliferating cells was measured with the XTT Cell Proliferation Kit (Roche Applied Science). The BrdU Cell Proliferation Kit (Roche Applied Science) was used to measure DNA synthesis following the manufacturer's protocol. For XTT assays performed following adenovirus infection, 5000 cells were plated per well in a 96-well plate. The next day cells were infected with Ad-lacZ, Ad-eIF5A1 and Ad-eIF5A1(K50A) (Ad-eIF5A1M) respectively with untreated cells as negative control and Actinomycin D treated cell as positive control. XTT substrate was added and A475 nm was measured with A690 nm as the reference.
Indirect Immunofluorescence
HT-29 cells were cultured on poly-L-lysine-coated glass coverslips. Subconfluent cells were incubated for 16 hours with 200 Units of interferon gamma (IFN-γ; Roche Applied Science) followed by TNF-α (100 ng/ml; Leinco Technologies) for times varying from 10 minutes to 8 hours. Alternatively, cells were treated with 1.0 μg/ml Actinomycin D for increasing lengths of time from 30 minutes to 16 hours. The treated cells were fixed with 3% formaldehyde (methanol-free; Polysciences Inc.) for 20 minutes, washed twice for 5 minutes with PBS and once for 5 minutes with PBS containing 100 mM glycine, and permeabilized with 0.2% Triton X-100 in PBS for 4 minutes. Cells were then labeled for immunofluorescence using a standard protocol. The primary antibody was anti-eIF5A (BD Transduction Laboratories; mouse IgG) incubated at a dilution of 1:250 for 1 hour. The secondary antibody was anti-mouse IgG-AlexaFluor 488 (Molecular Probes) used at a dilution of 1:200 for 1 hour. Following antibody labeling, the nuclei were stained with Hoescht 33258, and the labeled cells were observed by fluorescent microscopy.
Matrige™ Cell Invasion Assays
A549 cells were infected with adenovirus at 1500 infectious units per cell and incubated for 24 hours. The cells were then detached with trypsin, washed with serum-free media, and plated in serum-free media at 30,000 cells per well on a transwell (Falcon 8.0 μm cell culture insert) that had been precoated with 15 μg of Matrigel™ Basement Membrane Matrix (BD Biosciences). Media containing 10% FBS was placed in the bottom well (the well of the 24-well plate in which the transwell is resting) and the cells were incubated for a further 24 hours. After the incubation, the media was removed from the upper chamber of the transwell, the transwell was removed and placed into the well of a 24-well plate containing 500 microliters of crystal violet. The transwell was incubated 20 minutes in the dye and then washed repeatedly by dunking the transwell in a beaker of water. A pre-wetted cotton swab was used to scrape cells from the top surface of the transwell. Cells that had migrated to the bottom surface of the transwell were viewed by light microscopy, photographed, and the number of migrated cells per field were counted. See
Statistics
Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis. Significance was determined by a confidence level above 95% (P<0.05).
Mice and Establishment of Tumors
C57BL/6 mice were purchased from Charles River, Quebec, Canada at 5-7 weeks of age. Mice were allowed one week to acclimate before experimentation began. B16F10 murine melanoma cells were purchased from ATCC and cultured in DMEM-10% FBS. The cell monolayer was trypsinized and neutralized with MEM-10% FBS. Cells were washed with PBS twice and cell viability was determined by trypan blue staining. For experimental metastasis experiments (Experiments II and III), melanoma tumors were established in the lung by tail vein injection of B16F10 cells into 6-week old mice. B16F10 cells were diluted to 1×106 viable cells/ml in PBS. 200 ul of cells was injected into each mouse via tail vein. For subcutaneous tumor experiments (Experiments IV and V), melanoma tumors were established by subcutaneous injection of 500,000 B16F10 cells into the right flank of 10 to 14-week old mice. At the end of all experiment (when mice became moribund or tumor exceeded a pre-determined size), the mice were euthanized by CO2 inhalation.
Construction and Purification of Plasmid DNA
The pCpG-lacZ expression vector lacking CpG dinucleotides was purchased from InvivoGen, San Diego, USA. An HA-tagged eIF5A1 cDNA was subcloned into the pCpG-lacZ vector by first digesting the plasmid with NcoI and NheI and isolating a 3.1 kb of pCpG vector backbone (thereby removing LacZ coding sequence) and ligating with a PCR amplified cDNA of eIF5A1 containing an HA tag (pCpG-HA5A1). The PCR primers were eIF5A1 for: HA-5A1 for: 5′-GCTCCATGGATGTACCCATACGACGTCCC-3′; and eIF5A1 rev: 5′-CGCGCTAGCCAGTTATTTTGCCATCGCC-3′. The pCpG-lacZ and pCpG-HA5A1 were amplified in E. coli GT115 cultured in LB or 2XYT medium containing 25 μg/ml of zeocin.
The plasmids were extracted and purified by QIAGEN Endofree Plasmid Giga kit. The DNA concentration was measured by UV absorption at 260 nm and agarose gel electrophoresis.
Tail Vein Injection of Plasmid DNA (Experiment II):
Plasmid DNA dissolved in 1×PBS (around 200 μl based on body weight) were injected into the tail vein of mice at days 2, 4, 7, 11, 16, 21, 26, 31. Plasmid DNA concentration was 660 ng/μl for 2× (6.6 mg/kg), 330 ng/μl for 1× (3.3 mg/kg), and 33 ng/μl for 0.1× (0.33 mg/kg).
Body and Lung Weights:
Body weights were measured before tail vein injection or every Monday and Friday. Mice were euthanized with CO2 when they reached morbidity (lethargic, respiratory distress) and lungs were removed, weighed, photographed, frozen, and stored at −70° C. See
VEGF Elisa:
Harvested lung tissues were washed with PBS, frozen in dry ice, and stored at −70° C. Protein lysates were isolated from ground lung tissues. 50 μg of lung tissue proteins were used to determine VEGF concentration in mouse lung using Mouse VEGF Immunoassay kit (R&D Systems, Inc. Minneapolis, USA).
Injection of Plasmid DNA/DOTAP Complexes
6 weeks old mice were tail vein injected with B16F10 melanoma cells (50,000 cells in 200 μl PBS/mouse), plasmid DNA, and DNA carrier complex containing 50 μg of endotoxin-free kit purified plasmid DNA, and 80 μg of DOTAP were tail vein injected into mice at days 7, 14, and 21. Mice were sacrificed at day 25. Lungs were removed, weighed, and photographed. See
Injection of Adenovirus Constructs and TUNEL
10-week old C57BL/6 mice were injected subcutaneously into the right flank with either 500,000 B16F0 or B16F10 cells. 1×109 pfu Ad-5A1 in 50 ul of PBS was injected into tumors when the tumors reached about 4 mm in diameter (10-12 days after B16 cell injection). Mice were sacrificed after 48 hours and tumors were excised, fixed, and embedded in paraffin. Two sections for each cell tumor type (Ad-5A1-1 and Ad-5A1-2) were stained by TUNEL (Promega) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Negative control slides (Ad-5A1-neg) in which the TdT enzyme was left out of the TUNEL reaction were included for each cell type. See
Establishment of Tumors
14-week old C57BL/6 mice were injected subcutaneously with 500,000 B16F10 cells (in 100 ul of PBS) on the right flank. The progress of tumor formation was checked daily until the tumor size reached around 8 mm in diameter.
Injection with Adenovirus
Treatment began when tumor size reached a diameter of 8 mm. Mice were injected with either 1×109 plaque forming units (pfu) of Ad-eIF5A1 or Ad-LacZ. Injections were distributed over three sites in the tumor. Mice were injected every day for the first three days and then every other day thereafter until the mouse was sacrificed. Mice were sacrificed when the tumor size exceeded 15 to 16 mm in one dimension. Buffer only mice received only the buffer in which the adenovirus was suspended (10 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4, 10 mM MgCl2, 10% glycerol). The tumor dimensions were measured every day using calipers and the tumor volume was calculated using the equation below:
Tumor volume (mm3)=L*W2*0.52
Where L=length, W=width (always shorter dimension) See
A549 lung carcinoma cells were infected with either an adenovirus expressing LacZ (Lac) or eIF5A1 (5A). Four hours after infection, the media was replaced with media containing either DMSO, 10 μM of the p38 inhibitor SB203580 (Calbiochem), 10 μM of the JNK inhibitor II (Calbiochem), 10 μM of the MEK inhibitor U1026 (Calbiochem), or 30 μM of the p53 inhibitor Pifithrin-a (Calbiochem). Forty-eight hours later, the cells were treated with EGF for 30 minutes and the cell lysate was harvested. Western blots were performed on the lysate using antibodies directed against either total p53 (p53), or p53 phosphorylated on serine 15 [P-p53(ser15)], or p53 phosphorylated on 37 [P-p53(ser37)]. See
The results shown in
A549 lung carcinoma cells were infected with either an adenovirus expressing LacZ (Ad-LacZ) or eIF5A1 (Ad-eIF5A1). Forty-eight hours later, the total RNA was isolated from the cells. The levels of p53 and bax mRNA transcript levels were determined by Real Time PCR using GAPDH as a reference gene. The p53 primers were: 5′-CGCTGCTCAGATAGCGATGGTC-3′ (5′-primer) and 5′-CTTCTTTGGCTGGGGAGAGGAG-3′ (3′-primer) [These p53 primer sequences were obtained from: Li et al. (2004). A Novel eIF5A/complex Functions as a Regulator of p53 and p53-dependent Apoptosis, J Biol. Chem. 279 49251-49258]. See
A549 lung carcinoma cells were infected with either an adenovirus expressing LacZ (Ad-LacZ) or eIF5A1 (Ad-eIF5A1). Four hours after infection, the media was replaced with media containing either DMSO, 10 μM of the MEK inhibitor U1026 (Calbiochem), or 30 μM of the p53 inhibitor Pifithrin-a (Calbiochem). Forty-eight hours later, the total RNA was isolated from the cells. The levels of p53 transcript levels were determined by Real Time PCR using GAPDH as a reference gene. The p53 primers were: 5′-CGCTGCTCAGATAGCGATGGTC-3′ (5′-primer) and 5′-CTTCTTTGGCTGGGGAGAGGAG-3′ (3′-primer) [These p53 primer sequences were obtained from: Li et al. (2004). A Novel eIF5A/complex Functions as a Regulator of p53 and p53-dependent Apoptosis, J Biol. Chem. 279 49251-49258]. See
A549 lung carcinoma cells were infected with either an adenovirus expressing LacZ (Ad-LacZ) or eIF5A1 (Ad-eIF5A1). Four hours after infection, the media was replaced with media containing either DMSO, 10 μM of the MEK inhibitor U1026 (Calbiochem), or 30 μM of the p53 inhibitor Pifithrin-a (Calbiochem). Forty-eight hours later, the total RNA was isolated from the cells. The levels of p53 transcript levels were determined by Real Time PCR using GAPDH as a reference gene. The TNFR1 primers were: TNFR1-F 5′ ATCTCTTCTTGCACAGTGG 3′ and TNFR1-R 5′ CAATGGAGTAGAGCTTGGAC 3′. See
A549 lung carcinoma cells were infected with either an adenovirus expressing LacZ (Lac) or eIF5A1 (5A). Four hours after infection, the media was replaced with media containing either DMSO, 10 μM of the p38 inhibitor SB203580 (Calbiochem), 10 μM of the JNK inhibitor II (Calbiochem), 10 μM of the MEK inhibitor U1026 (Calbiochem), or 30 μM of the p53 inhibitor Pifithrin-a (Calbiochem). Forty-eight hours later, the cells were harvested and the percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis was determined by Annexin/PI staining (BD Bioscience) followed by analysis by flow cytometry. See
Mice were injected with 50,000 B16-F0 melanoma cells sub-cutaneously. When the tumors reached a size of around 5×5 mm (65 mm3) intra-tumoral injections were initiated. 1×109 pfu of either Ad-lacZ (group 2), Ad-eIF5A1 (group 3), or Ad-eIF5A2 (group 4) diluted in 50-100 μl of PBS/10% glycerol buffer or buffer only (group 1) were injected into the tumors in three sites per tumor every other day. The tumor size was measured every other day until every the other day until the sacrifice of mice when tumor size reached 10% of the body weight. See
Mice were injected with 50,000 B16-F0 melanoma cells sub-cutaneously. When the tumors reached a size of around 5×5 mm (65 mm3) intra-tumoral injections were initiated. 1×109 pfu of either Ad-lacZ (group 2), Ad-eIF5A1 (group 3), or Ad-eIF5A2 (group 4) diluted in 50-100 μl of PBS/10% glycerol buffer or buffer only (group 1) were injected into the tumors in three sites per tumor every other day. The mice were sacrificed when tumor size reached 10% of body weight. See
On day 0, KAS 6/1 multiple myeloma cells were infected with 3000 IFU/cell wild-type or mutant eIF5a (unable to be hypusinated—conserved lysine is mutated) adenovirus vector construct for 4 hours. Three replicates with or without IL-6 present in the post-infection culture media were set up. In addition KAS cells were plated for controls (were not infected). On day 2 and 4, MTT and annexin/PI assays were performed. The supernatants were harvested. The results are shown in
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application 60/749,604, filed on Dec. 13, 2005 and 60/795,168, filed on Apr. 27, 2006, both of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60749604 | Dec 2005 | US | |
| 60795168 | Apr 2006 | US |
