Cross-reactive recognition of human and primate cytomegalovirus sequences by human CD4 cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for glycoprotein B and H

Although the importance of CD4(+) T cell responses to human cytonnegalovirus (HCMV) has recently been recognized in transplant and immunosuppressed patients, the precise specificity and nature of this response has remained largely unresolved. In the present study we have isolated CD4(+) CTL which recognize epitopes from HCMV glycoproteins gB and gH in association with two different HLA-DR antigens, DRA1*0101/DRB1*0701 (DR7) and DRA1*0101/DRB1*1101 (DR11). Comparison of amino acid sequences of HICMV isolates revealed that the gB and gH epitope sequences recognized by human CD4(+) T cells were not only conserved in clinical isolates from HCMV but also in CMV isolates from higher primates (chimpanzee, rhesus and baboon). Interestingly, these epitope sequences from chimpanzee, rhesus and baboon CMV are efficiently recognized by human CD4(+) CTL. More importantly, we show that gB-specific T cells from humans can also efficiently lyse pepticle-sensitized Patr-DR7(+) cells from chimpanzees. These findings suggest that conserved gB and gH epitopes should be considered while designing a prophylactic vaccine against HCMV. In addition, they also provide a functional basis for the conservation of MHC class 11 lineages between humans and Old World primates and open the possibility for the use of such primate models in vaccine development against HCMV.

Präklinische Evaluierung von therapeutischer Vakzinierung zur Effizienzsteigerung der adoptiven Immuntherapie von Cytomegalovirus-Erkrankungen

Klinische Manifestationen einer Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-Infektion gefährden den therapeutischen Erfolg der hämatopoetischen Stammzelltransplantation (HSCT). Dabei stellt insbesondere die Reaktivierung von latentem CMV im HSCT-Rezipienten das häufigste Infektionsrisiko dar. Die Inzidenz der CMV-Erkrankung kann durch Rekonstitution adoptiv transferierter CMV-spezifischer CD8 T-Zellen im HSCT-Rezipienten reduziert werden. Das Modell der sogenannten adoptiven Immuntherapie wurde zunächst im murinen Modell entwickelt und bereits in klinischen Studien bestätigt. Jedoch ist der adoptive Transfer (AT) aufgrund der nur limitiert zur Verfügung stehenden therapeutisch effektiven Zellzahlen zurzeit in der klinischen Routine nicht einsetzbar.rnZiel dieser Arbeit war daher die präklinische Evaluierung einer Kombinationstherapie aus AT einer limitierten Anzahl CMV-spezifischer T-Zellen und deren in vivo Expansion durch therapeutische Vakzinierung nach HSCT. Zur Testung dieser Therapie wurde ein murines Modell auf der Grundlage von rekombinanten murinen CMV (mCMV) und rekombinanten HCMV Dense Bodies (DB) etabliert. Beide exprimieren das gut charakterisierte MHC-Klasse-I Kb-restringierte SIINFEKL-Peptid (OVA257-264) des Ovalbumins (OVA) bzw. die Funktions-verlustmutante SIINFEKA als Modellantigen. In den rekombinanten mCMV, mCMV-Δm157Luc/m164-SIINFEKL/-A (mCMV-SIINFEKL/-A), wurde mittels orthotopen Peptid-austauschs das m164257-265 Peptid des gp36,5/m164 Proteins deletiert und durch das SIINFEKL- bzw. SIINFEKA-Peptid ersetzt. Anhand von Priming-Analysen konnte gezeigt werden, dass nach Infektion von C57BL/6 Mäusen mit mCMV-SIINFEKL SIINFEKL-spezifische T-Zellen nachweisbar sind und das im CMV-Genom integrierte SIINFEKL funktional prozessiert und präsentiert wird. Parallel hierzu konnte nach Immunisierung mit DB-SIINFEKL in vivo ein SIINFEKL-spezifisches CD8 T-Zell-Priming induziert werden. In weiteren Experimenten konnte nach DB-SIINFEKL-Immunisierung im poplitealen Lymphknoten sowie in der Milz eine Proliferation von adoptiv transferierten CD8 T-Zellen beobachtet werden. Die anschließenden Challenge-Versuche zeigten, dass eine DB-SIINFEKL-Immunisierung epitopspezifisch vor einer hoch dosierten Challenge-Infektion mit mCMV-SIINFEKL schützt. Im AT-Modell konnte gezeigt werden, dass adoptiv transferierte OT-I Zellen hämatoablativ behandelte Rezipienten epitopspezifisch vor einer mCMV-SIINFEKL-Infektion schützen können, wobei der erzielte Schutz durch zusätzliche Vakzinierung mit DB-SIINFEKL deutlich verbessert werden konnte. Im Anschluss konnte im HSCT-Rezipienten erstmals eine durch zusätzliche Vakzinierung signifikante Verbesserung des protektiven Potenzials adoptiv transferierter OT-I Zellen bestätigt werden. Diese Verstärkung der Protektion ermöglicht die Reduktion der Anzahl der für den Schutz benötigten Zellzahl und erhöht damit die Effizienz der adoptiven Immuntherapie.

Transfection of MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cells with bone sialoprotein (BSP) stimulates migration and invasion in vitro and growth of primary and secondary tumors in nude mice

We have investigated the role of bone sialoprotein (BSP), a secreted glycoprotein normally found in bone, in breast cancer progression. To explore functions for BSP in human breast cancer invasion and metastasis, the full-length BSP cDNA was transfected into the MDA-MB-231-BAG human breast cancer cell line under the control of the CMV promoter. Clones expressing BSP and vector control clones were isolated. BSP producing clones showed increased monolayer wound healing, a faster rate of stellate outgrowth in Matrigel and increased rate of invasion into a collagen matrix when compared to control clones. Clones were also examined in models of breast cancer growth and metastasis in vivo. BSP transfected clones showed an increased rate of primary tumor growth following mammary fat pad injection of nude mice. BSP transfected clones and vector control clones metastasized to soft organs and bone at a similar rate after intra-cardiac injection as determined by real-time PCR and X-ray analysis. Although these organs were targets for both BSP transfected and non-transfected cells, the size of the metastatic lesion was shown to be significantly larger for BSP expressing clones. This was determined by real-time PCR analysis for soft organs and by X-ray analysis of bone lesions. For bone this was confirmed by intra-tibial injections of cells in nude mice. We conclude that BSP acts to drive primary and secondary tumor growth of breast cancers in vivo.

Microarrays in the Diagnosis of Human Herpesvirus infections

Currently, there are nine known human herpesviruses and these viruses appear to have been a very common companion of humans throughout the millenia. Of human herpesviruses, herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 (HSV-1, HSV-2), causative agents of herpes labialis and genital herpes, and varicella-zoster virus (VZV), causative agent of chicken pox, are also common causes of central nervous system (CNS) infections. In addition, human cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpesviruses 6A, 6B, and 7 (HHV-6A, HHV-6B, HHV-7), all members of the herpesvirus family, can also be associated with encephalitis and meningitis. Accurate diagnostics and fast treatment are essential for patient recovery in CNS infections and therefore sensitive and effective diagnostic methods are needed. The aim of this thesis was to develop new potential detection methods for diagnosing of human herpesvirus infections, especially in immunocompetent patients, using the microarray technique. Therefore, methods based on microarrays were developed for simultaneous detection of HSV-1, HSV-2, VZV, CMV, EBV, HHV-6A, HHV-6B, and HHV-7 nucleic acids, and for HSV-1, HSV-2, VZV, and CMV antibodies from various clinical samples. The microarray methods developed showed potential for efficiently and accurately detecting human herpesvirus DNAs, especially in CNS infections, and for simultaneous detection of DNAs or antibodies for multiple different human herpesviruses from clinical samples. In fact, the microarray method revealed several previously unrecognized co-infections. The microarray methods developed were sensitive and provided rapid detection of human herpesvirus DNA, and therefore the method could be applied to routine diagnostics. The microarrays might also be considered as an economical tool for diagnosing human herpesvirus infections.

CMV-, EBV-, and HHV-6-DNAemia after liver transplantation

Viral infections caused by herpesviruses are common complications after organ transplantation and they are associated with substantial morbidity and even mortality. Herpesviruses remain in a latent state in a host after primary infection and may reactivate later. CMV infection is the most important viral infection after liver transplantation. Less is known about the significance of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6). EBV is believed to play a major role in the development of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD). The aim of this study was to investigate the CMV-, EBV- and HHV-6 DNAemia after liver transplantation by frequent monitoring of adult liver transplant patients. The presence of CMV, EBV and HHV-6 DNA were demonstrated by in situ hybridization assays and by real-time PCR methods from peripheral blood specimens. CMV and HHV-6 antigens were demonstrated by antigenemia assays and compared to the viral DNAemia. The response to antiviral therapy was also investigated. CMV-DNAemia appeared earlier than CMV pp65-antigenemia after liver transplantation. CMV infections were treated with ganciclovir. However, most of the treated patients demonstrated persistence of CMV-DNA for up to several months. Continuous CMV-DNA expression of peripheral blood leukocytes showed that the virus is not eliminated by ganciclovir and recurrences can be expected during several months after liver transplantation. HHV-6 DNAemia / antigenemia was common and occurred usually within the first three months after liver transplantation together with CMV. The HHV-6 DNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells correlated well with HHV-6 antigenemia. Antiviral treatment significantly decreased the number of HHV-6 DNA positive cells, demonstrating the response to ganciclovir treatment. Clinically silent EBV reactivations with low viral loads were relatively common after liver transplantation. These EBV-DNAemias usually appeared within the first three months after liver transplantation together with betaherpesviruses (CMV, HHV-6, HHV-7). One patient developed high EBV viral loads and developed PTLD. These results indicate that frequent monitoring of EBV-DNA levels can be useful to detect liver transplant patients at risk of developing PTLD.

Human herpesvirus-6 infection in liver transplantation

Rejection and infections are the two most common complications after liver transplantation. Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) belongs to the betaherpesviruses, together with its close relatives cytomegalovirus (CMV) and human herpesvirus-7 (HHV-7). The impact of CMV in liver transplantation is well characterized, but the roles of the other two betaherpesviruses have been acknowledged only recently. Although, HHV-6 reactivation after transplantation is usually asymptomatic, the virus may infect the liver transplant, cause an intragraft lymphocyte dominated inflammatory reaction and graft dysfunction. HHV-6 is also suggested to be associated with liver allograft rejection but the mechanisms are unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the intragraft immunological processes associated with HHV-6, the involvement of HHV-6 in acute liver failure (ALF) and the hepatic HHV-6 infection of the same patients after transplantation. In addition, the occurrence of HHV-6 and HHV-7 was investigated in liver transplant patients with symptomatic CMV infection. HHV-6 infection of the liver graft was associated with portal lymphocyte infiltration and with a significant increase of adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) and the number of cells expressing their ligand molecules (LFA-1, VLA-4) and class II antigens. HHV-6 infection was associated with significant immunological changes, but the immune response was limited to lymphocyte infiltration and the adhesion molecule level. However, one third of these patients developed chronic rejection during the follow-up. Of the patients with ALF of unknown origin, most patients demonstrated HHV-6 antigens in the liver, whereas the opposite was seen in ALF patients with a known disease. After transplantation, HHV-6 recurrence was found in the liver transplant in half of these patients with pre-transplant HHV-6 infection of the liver, whereas no post-transplant HHV-6 infection of the liver was seen in patients without pre-transplant HHV-6. Our studies further demonstrated that both HHV-6 and HHV-7 antigenemia often appeared in association with CMV disease in liver transplant patients. The time-related occurrence of the viruses differed, as HHV-6 appeared early after transplantation and regularly preceded CMV whereas HHV-7 often appeared concurrently with CMV. In conclusion, these results indicate that all three betaherpesviruses are common after liver transplantation, often associated with each other. The immunological events caused by HHV-6 in the liver transplant may be involved in, or trigger mechanisms of allograft rejection. In addition, HHV-6 could be one of the causes of ALF, and pre-transplant HHV-6 infection in ALF patients is a risk factor for post-transplant HHV-6 infection of the graft. These results strongly support the clinical significance of HHV-6 in liver transplantation. Even though the reactivation is usually asymptomatic, in some individuals HHV-6 infection may lead to severe manifestations, such as liver failure or in transplant patients, graft dysfunction and rejection.

Recurrent lower gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to cytomegalovirus-associated colonic ulcer in a non human immunodeficiency virus infected patient:Timely diagnosis and treatment averted surgery

Mr C, a 68-year-old Chinese male with diabetes mellitus, previous stroke and ischaemic cardiomyopathy on clopidogrel, presented with haematochezia. Colonoscopy showed a sigmoid ulcer, which was treated endoscopically. Histology of the biopsy from the ulcer revealed non-specific changes. However, he presented with recurrent bleeding from this non-healing sigmoid ulcer. A review of the histologic specimen revealed CMV intranuclear inclusion bodies. He was treated with intravenous ganciclovir, with no further hematochezia.

Keywords Hematochezia, cytomegalovirus, ulcer

Clinical correlations of human cytomegalovirus strains and viral load in kidney transplant recipients

Little is known about clinical differences associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection by distinct strains in renal transplant patients. Different clinical pictures may be associated with specific viral genotypes. viral load, as well as host factors. The objective of this study was to identify CMV strains to determine viral load (antigenemia), and their correlation with clinical data in renal transplant recipients. Seventy-one patients were enrolled, comprising 91 samples. After selection, polymorphonuclear cells were used to amplify and sequence the gB region of CMV DNA. The sequences were analyzed to ascertain the frequency of different genotypes. Additionally, the results of this Study showed that the gB coding gene presents a great variability, revealing a variety of patterns: classical gB (1.4%), gB1V (46.4%), classical gB2 (35.2%), gB2V (2.8%), gB3 (1.4%), classical gB4 (4.9%) and gB4V (4.9%). The mean viral load in kidney transplant patient was 75.1 positive cells (1-1000). A higher viral load was observed in patients with genotype 4 infection. Statistically significant differences were detected between gB1 and gB4 (p=0.010), and between gB2 and gB4 (p=0.021). The average numbers of positive cells in relation to clinical presentation were: 34.5 in asymptomatic, 49.5 in CMV associated syndrome and 120.7 in patients with invasive disease (p=0.048). As a group, gB1 was the most frequent strain and revealed a potential risk for developing invasive disease. Viral load also seemed to be important as a marker associated with clinical presentation of the disease. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Human herpes virus and Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder and according to the WHO it is estimated that 36 millions of people worldwide currently suffer from AD. Genetic and environmental factors interact in a complex interplay that might affect pathogenic mechanisms leading to age-related neurodegeneration. The hypothesis is that the presence of allelic polymorphisms in selected genes affecting individual brain susceptibility to infection by the herpes virus family during aging, may contribute to neuronal loss, inflammation and amyloid deposition. Herpes virus family show features relevant to AD, since they infect a large proportion of human population, develop a latent form persisting for several years, are difficult to eliminate by immune responses especially when latency has been established and are able to infect neurons. The association between AD and herpes viruses infection has been investigated. In particular the investigation focused on CMV, EBV and HHV-6 in DNA samples from peripheral blood of a large cohort of patients with clinical diagnosis of AD and age matched CTR, from a longitudinal population study, and DNA samples from brain tissue of patients with neuropathological diagnosis of definitive AD. An association between the presence of EBV and HHV-6 DNA from PBL positivity with the cognitive deterioration and progression to AD has been focused. Moreover, IgG plasma levels in CTR and AD to these viruses were tested. CMV and EBV IgG plasma levels were higher in elderly subjects that developed clinical AD at the end of the five year follow up. Our findings support the notion that persistent cycles of latency and reactivation of herpes viruses may contribute to impair systemic immune response and induce altered inflammatory process that in turn affect cognitive decline during aging.

Identification and functional characterization of human cytomegalovirus Fc binding proteins

ABSTRACT Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) employs many different mechanisms to escape and subvert the host immune system surveillance. Among these different mechanisms the role of human IgG Fc receptors (FcγR) in HCMV pathogenesis is still unclear. In mammalians, FcγRs are expressed on the surface of all haematopoietic cells and have a multifaceted role in regulating the activity of antibodies to generate a well-balanced immune response. Viral proteins with Fcγ binding ability are highly diffuse among herpesviruses. They interfere with the host receptors functions in order to counteract immune system recognition. So far, two human HCMV Fcγ binding proteins have been described: UL119 and RL11. This work was aimed to the identification and characterization of HCMV Fcγ binding proteins. The study is divided in two parts: first the characterization of UL119 and RL11; second the identification and characterization of novel HCMV Fcγ binding proteins. Regarding the first part, we demonstrated that both UL119 and RL11 internalize Fcγ fragments from transfected cells surface through a clathrin dependent pathway. In infected cells both proteins were found in the viral assembly complex and on virions surface as envelope associated glycoproteins. Moreover, internalized Fcγ in infected cells do not undergo lysosomal degradation but rather traffic in early endosomes up to the viral assembly complex. Regarding the second part, we were able to identify two novels Fcγ binding protein coded by CMV: RL12 and RL13. The latter was also further characterized as recombinant protein in terms of cellular localization, Fc binding site and IgG internalization ability. Finally binding specificity of both RL12 and RL13 seems to be confined to human IgG1 and IgG2. Taken together, these data show that HCMV codes for up to 4 FcγR and that they could have a double role both on virus and on infected cells.

Prolonged amelioration of acute lung allograft rejection by sequential overexpression of human interleukin-10 and hepatocyte growth factor in rats

The effect of prolonged electroporation-mediated human interleukin-10 (hIL-10) overexpression 24 hours before transplantation, combined with sequential human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) overexpression into skeletal muscle on day 5, on rat lung allograft rejection was evaluated. Left lung allotransplantation was performed from Brown-Norway to Fischer-F344 rats. Gene transfer into skeletal muscle was enhanced by electroporation. Three groups were studied: group I animals (n = 5) received 2.5 μg pCIK-hIL-10 (hIL-10/CMV [cytomegalovirus] early promoter enhancer) on day -1 and 80 μg pCIK-HGF (HGF/CMV early promoter enhancer) on day 5. Group II animals (n = 4) received 2.5 μg pCIK-hIL-10 and pUbC-hIL-10 (hIL-10/pUbC promoter) on day -1. Control group III animals (n = 4) were treated by sham electroporation on days -1 and 5. All animals received daily nontherapeutic intraperitoneal dose of cyclosporin A (2.5 mg/kg) and were sacrificed on day 15. Graft oxygenation and allograft rejection were evaluated. Significant differences were found between study groups in graft oxygenation (Pao(2)) (P = .0028; group I vs. groups II and III, P < .01 each). Pao(2) was low in group II (31 ± 1 mm Hg) and in group III controls (34 ± 10 mm Hg), without statistically significant difference between these 2 groups (P = .54). In contrast, in group I, Pao(2) of recipients sequentially transduced with IL-10 and HGF plasmids was much improved, with 112 ± 39 mm Hg (vs. groups II and III; P < .01 each), paralleled by reduced vascular and bronchial rejection (group I vs. groups II and III, P < .021 each). Sequential overexpression of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, followed by sequential and overlapping HGF overexpression on day 5, preserves lung function and reduces acute lung allograft rejection up to day 15 post transplant as compared to prolonged IL-10 overexpression alone.

Infection with human herpesvirus 8 and transplant-associated gammopathy

BACKGROUND: The role of human herpesvirus (HHV)-8 in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma and its pre-malignant state of monoclonal gammopathy is unclear. HHV-8 is transmitted by organ transplantation, representing a unique model with which to investigate primary HHV-8 infection. METHODS: The authors studied the incidence of clonal gammopathy in renal transplant recipients and correlated it with previous and recent HHV-8 infection. RESULTS: Clonal gammopathy was observed in 31 of 162 (19%) HHV-8-seronegative patients, in 5 of 17 (29%) HHV-8-seropositive patients, and in 9 of 24 (38%) HHV-8 seroconverters within 5 years after transplantation. Gammopathy was often transient, and no progression to myeloma was observed. Two patients with persistent gammopathy developed B-cell lymphoma. In a logistic regression model, HHV-8 serostatus of the graft recipient was significantly associated with subsequent development of gammopathy, with a relative risk (RR) of 1.9 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.5 to 6.4 for an HHV-8-seropositive recipient and an RR of 2.9 and a 95% CI of 1.01 to 8.0 for seroconverters as compared with baseline (HHV-8 seronegative). Other significant variables were cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus and the intensity of immunosuppression (RR of 10.4 and 95% CI of 2.6-41.7 for a CMV-negative recipient with a CMV-positive donor vs. a CMV-negative recipient with a CMV-negative donor and RR of 17.6 and 95% CI of 2.0-150.8 if OKT3 was used vs. no use of antilymphocytic substances). CONCLUSIONS: Transplant recipients with HHV-8 infection are more likely to develop clonal gammopathy. However, this risk is much lower than the risk conferred by CMV infection and antilymphocytic therapy, arguing against a major role of HHV-8 infection in the pathogenesis of clonal plasma cell proliferation.

Generation of an hTERT-restricted, CMV-augmented oncolytic adenovirus capable of tumor-specific transgene expression: Development, characterization, and optimization

Current shortcomings in cancer therapy require the generation of new, broadly applicable, potent, targeted treatments. Here, an adenovirus is engineered to replicate specifically in cells with active human telomerase promotion using a modified hTERT promoter, fused to a CMV promoter element. The virus was also modified to contain a visible reporter transgene, GFP. The virus, Ad/hTC-GFP-E1 was characterized in vitro and demonstrated tumor specific activity both by dose and over time course experiments in a variety of cell lines. In vivo, Ad/hTC-GFP-E1 was affected at suppressing tumor growth and providing a survival benefit without causing any measurable toxicity. To increase the host range of the vector, the fiber region was modified to contain an RGD-motif. The vector, AdRGD/hTC-GFP-E1, was recharacterized in vitro, revealing heightened levels of infectivity and toxicity however maintaining a therapeutic window between cancer and normal cell toxicity. AdRGD/hTC-GFP-E1 was administered in vivo by limb perfusion and was observed to be tumor specific both in expression and replication. To further enhance the efficacy of viral vectors in lung delivery, asthma medications were investigated for their abilities to enhance transgene delivery and expression. A combination of bronchodilators, mast cell inhibitors, and mucolytic agents was devised which demonstrated fold increases in expression in immunocompetent mouse lungs as single agents and more homogenous, intense levels of expression when done in combination of all agents. To characterize the methods in which some cancers are resistant or may become resistant to oncolytic treatments, several small molecule inhibitors of metabolic pathways were applied in combination with oncolytic infection in vitro. SP600125 and PD 98059, respective JNK and ERK inhibitors, successfully suppressed oncolytic toxicity, however did not affect infectivity or transgene expression of Ad/hTC-GFP-E1. JNK and ERK inhibition did significantly suppress viral replication, however, as analyzed by lysate transfer and titration assays. In contrast, SB 203580, an inhibitor for p38, did not demonstrate any protective effects with infected cells. Flow cytometric analysis indicated a possible correlation with G1 arrest and suppressed viral production, however more compounds must be investigated to clarify this observation. ^

Mechanism of methylation gene reactivation in human cancer cells

Epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes by DNA hypermethylation at promoter regions is a common event in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Abrogation of methylation and reversal of epigenetic silencing is a very potent way in cancer treatment. However, the reactivation mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we first developed a cell line model system named YB5, derived from SW48 cancer cell line, which bears one copy of stably integrated EGFP gene on Chromosome 1p31.1 region. The GFP gene expression is transcriptionally silenced due to the hypermethylated promoter CMV. However, the GFP expression can be restored using demethylating agent 5-aza-2' deoxycytidine (DAC), and detected by FACS and fluorescent microscopy. Using this system, we observed the heterogeneous reactivation induced by DAC treatment. After flow sorting, GFP negative cells exhibited similar level of incomplete demethylation compared to GFP positive cells on repetitive LINE1 element, tumor suppressor genes such as P16, CDH13, and RASSF1a, and CMV promoter as well. However, the local chromatin of CMV-GFP locus altered to an open structure marked by high H3 lysine 9 acetylation and low H3 lysine 27 tri-methylation in GFP positive cells, while the GFP negative cells retained mostly the original repressive marks. Thus, we concluded that DAC induced DNA hypomethylation alone does not directly determine the level of re-expression, and the resetting of the local chromatin structure under hypomethylation environment is required for gene reactivation. Besides, a lentivirus vector-based shRNA screening was performed using the YB5 system. Although it is the rare chance that vector lands in the neighboring region of GFP, we found that the exogenous vector DNA inserted into the upstream region of GFP gene locus led to the promoter demethylation and reactivated the silenced GFP gene. Thus, epigenetic state can be affected by changing of the adjacent nucleic acid sequences. Further, this hypermethylation silenced system was utilized for epigenetic drug screening. We have found that DAC combined with carboplatin would enhance the GFP% yield and increase expression of other tumor suppressor genes than DAC alone, and this synergistic effect may be related to DNA repair process. In summary, these studies reveal that reversing of methylation silencing requires coordinated alterations of DNA methylation, chromatin structure, and local microenvironment. ^

Sustained secretion of human alpha-1-antitrypsin from murine muscle transduced with adeno-associated virus vectors

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have been used to transduce murine skeletal muscle as a platform for secretion of therapeutic proteins. The utility of this approach for treating alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency was tested in murine myocytes in vitro and in vivo. AAV vectors expressing the human AAT gene from either the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter (AAV-C-AT) or the human elongation factor 1-α promoter (AAV-E-AT) were examined. In vitro in C2C12 murine myoblasts, the expression levels in transient transfections were similar between the two vectors. One month after transduction, however, the human elongation factor 1 promoter mediated 10-fold higher stable human AAT expression than the CMV promoter. In vivo transduction was performed by injecting doses of up to 1.4 × 1013 particles into skeletal muscles of several mouse strains (C57BL/6, BALB/c, and SCID). In vivo, the CMV vector mediated higher levels of expression, with sustained serum levels over 800 μg/ml in SCID and over 400 μg/ml in C57BL/6 mice. These serum concentrations are 100,000-fold higher than those previously observed with AAV vectors in muscle and are at levels which would be therapeutic if achieved in humans. High level expression was delayed for several weeks but was sustained for over 15 wk. Immune responses were dependent upon the mouse strain and the vector dosage. These data suggest that recombinant AAV vector transduction of skeletal muscle could provide a means for replacing AAT or other essential serum proteins but that immune responses may be elicited under certain conditions.