技术资料

The leukocyte activation marker CD69 is a novel regulator of the immune response,modulating the production of cytokines including transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). We have generated an antimurine CD69 monoclonal antibody (mAb),CD69.2.2,which down-regulates CD69 expression in vivo but does not deplete CD69-expressing cells. Therapeutic administration of CD69.2.2 to wild-type mice induces significant natural killer (NK) cell-dependent antitumor responses to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I low RMA-S lymphomas and to RM-1 prostatic carcinoma lung metastases. These in vivo antitumor responses are comparable to those seen in CD69(-/-) mice. Enhanced host NK cytotoxic activity correlates with a reduction in NK-cell TGF-beta production and is independent of tumor priming. In vitro studies demonstrate the novel ability of anti-CD69 mAbs to activate resting NK cells in an Fc receptor-independent manner,resulting in a substantial increase in both NK-cell cytolytic activity and interferon gamma (IFNgamma) production. Modulation of the innate immune system with monoclonal antibodies to host CD69 thus provides a novel means to antagonize tumor growth and metastasis. View Publication

Bone marrow-derived endothelial precursor cells incorporate into neovasculature and have been successfully used as vehicles for gene delivery to brain tumors. To determine whether systemically administered Sca1+ bone marrow cells labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles can be detected by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging in a mouse brain tumor model,mouse Sca1+ cells were labeled in vitro with ferumoxides-poly-L-lysine complexes. Labeled or control cells were administered intravenously to glioma-bearing severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed during tumor growth. Mice that received labeled cells demonstrated hypointense regions within the tumor that evolved over time and developed a continuous dark hypointense ring at a consistent time point. This effect was not cleared by administration of a gadolinium contrast agent. Histology showed iron-labeled cells around the tumor rim in labeled mice,which expressed CD31 and von Willebrand factor,indicating the transplanted cells detected in the tumor have differentiated into endothelial-like cells. These results demonstrate that MRI can detect the incorporation of magnetically labeled bone marrow-derived precursor cells into tumor vasculature as part of ongoing angiogenesis and neovascularization. This technique can be used to directly identify neovasculature in vivo and to facilitate gene therapy by noninvasively monitoring these cells as gene delivery vectors. View Publication

The EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase is overexpressed in many different types of human cancers where it functions as a powerful oncoprotein. Dramatic changes in the subcellular localization and function of EphA2 have also been linked with cancer,and in particular,unstable cancer cell-cell contacts prevent EphA2 from stably binding its ligand on the surface of adjoining cells. This change is important in light of evidence that ligand binding causes EphA2 to transmit signals that negatively regulate tumor cell growth and invasiveness and also induce EphA2 degradation. On the basis of these properties,we have begun to target EphA2 on tumor cells using agonistic antibodies,which mimic the consequences of ligand binding. In our present study,we show that a subset of agonistic EphA2 antibodies selectively bind epitopes on malignant cells,which are not available on nontransformed epithelial cells. We also show that such epitopes arise from differential cell-cell adhesions and that the stable intercellular junctions of nontransformed epithelial cells occlude the binding site for ligand,as well as this subset of EphA2 antibodies. Finally,we demonstrate that antibody targeting of EphA2 decreases tumor cell growth as measured using xenograft tumor models and found that the mechanism of antibody action relates to EphA2 protein degradation in vivo. Taken together,these results suggest new opportunities for therapeutic targeting of the large number of different cancers that express EphA2 in a manner that could minimize potential toxicities to normal cells. View Publication

We investigated the in vivo role of CD69 by analyzing the susceptibility of CD69-/- mice to tumors. CD69-/- mice challenged with MHC class I- tumors (RMA-S and RM-1) showed greatly reduced tumor growth and prolonged survival compared with wild-type (WT) mice. The enhanced anti-tumor response was NK cell and T lymphocyte-mediated,and was due,at least in part,to an increase in local lymphocytes. Resistance of CD69-/- mice to MHC class I- tumor growth was also associated with increased production of the chemokine MCP-1,diminished TGF-beta production,and decreased lymphocyte apoptosis. Moreover,the in vivo blockade of TGF-beta in WT mice resulted in enhanced anti-tumor response. In addition,CD69 engagement induced NK and T cell production of TGF-beta,directly linking CD69 signaling to TGF-beta regulation. Furthermore,anti-CD69 antibody treatment in WT mice induced a specific down-regulation in CD69 expression that resulted in augmented anti-tumor response. These data unmask a novel role for CD69 as a negative regulator of anti-tumor responses and show the possibility of a novel approach for the therapy of tumors. View Publication

Hematologic stem cell rescue after high-dose cytotoxic therapy is extensively used for the treatment of many hematopoietic and solid cancers. Gene marking studies suggest that occult tumor cells within the autograft may contribute to clinical relapse. To date purging of autografts contaminated with cancer cells has been unsuccessful. The selective oncolytic property of reovirus against myriad malignant histologies in in vitro,in vivo,and ex vivo systems has been previously demonstrated. In the present study we have shown that reovirus can successfully purge cancer cells within autografts. Human monocytic and myeloma cell lines as well as enriched ex vivo lymphoma,myeloma,and Waldenström macroglobulinemia patient tumor specimens were used in an experimental purging model. Viability of the cell lines or purified ex vivo tumor cells of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma,chronic lymphocytic leukemia,Waldenström macroglobulinemia,and small lymphocytic lymphoma was significantly reduced after reovirus treatment. Further,[35S]-methionine labeling and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of cellular proteins demonstrated reovirus protein synthesis and disruption of host cell protein synthesis as early as 24 hours. Admixtures of apheresis product with the abovementioned tumor cells and cell lines treated with reovirus showed complete purging of disease. In contrast,reovirus purging of enriched ex vivo multiple myeloma,Burkitt lymphoma,and follicular lymphoma was incomplete. The oncolytic action of reovirus did not affect CD34+ stem cells or their long-term colony-forming assays even after granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) stimulation. Our results indicate the ex vivo use of an unattenuated oncolytic virus as an attractive purging strategy for autologous stem cell transplantations. View Publication

The B-cell receptor (BCR) transmits life and death signals throughout B-cell development,and altered BCR signaling may be required for survival of B-lymphoma cells. We used single-cell signaling profiles to compare follicular lymphoma (FL) B cells and nonmalignant host B cells within individual patient biopsies and identified BCR-mediated signaling events specific to lymphoma B cells. Expression of CD20,Bcl-2,and BCR light chain isotype (kappa or lambda) distinguished FL tumor B-cell and nontumor host B-cell subsets within FL patient biopsies. BCR-mediated signaling via phosphorylation of Btk,Syk,Erk1/2,and p38 occurred more rapidly in tumor B cells from FL samples than in infiltrating nontumor B cells,achieved greater levels of per-cell signaling,and sustained this level of signaling for hours longer than nontumor B cells. The timing and magnitude of BCR-mediated signaling in nontumor B cells within an FL sample instead resembled that observed in mature B cells from the peripheral blood of healthy subjects. BCR signaling pathways that are potentiated specifically in lymphoma cells should provide new targets for therapeutic attention. View Publication

BACKGROUND: Ewing's sarcoma cell lines may represent a good in vitro model for the understanding of tumor biology in this heterogeneous group of diseases. In the present study,we report the establishment and characterization of a primary Ewing's sarcoma cell line (LDS-Falck 01). MATERIALS AND METHODS: LDS-Falck 01 was generated from a malignant pleural effusion of a patient with metastatic peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor arising from the chest wall. Extensive characterization of the cells was accomplished using immunocytochemical,RT-PCR and cytogenetic studies. RESULTS: In vitro LDS-Falck 01 cells had both anchorage-dependent and -independent growth patterns. Immunocytochemical studies showed that cells were PAS-,vimentin-,CD99- and NSE-positive,EGFR- and CD117-negative. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a complex hyperdiploid karyotype with multiple chromosomal aberrations including an unbalanced translocation t(11;22)(q24;q12). The EWS/FLI1 chimeric transcript type 1 was detected. CONCLUSION: This cell line may represent a valid tool for investigating the biomolecular characteristics of this group of neoplasms and their sensitivity to therapeutic agents. View Publication

The cancer testis antigen (CTA) preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma (PRAME) is overexpressed by many hematologic malignancies,but is absent on normal tissues,including hematopoietic progenitor cells,and may therefore be an appropriate candidate for T cell-mediated immunotherapy. Because it is likely that an effective antitumor response will require high-avidity,PRAME-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs),we attempted to generate such CTLs using professional and artificial antigen-presenting cells loaded with a peptide library spanning the entire PRAME protein and consisting of 125 synthetic pentadecapeptides overlapping by 11 amino acids. We successfully generated polyclonal,PRAME-specific CTL lines and elicited high-avidity CTLs,with a high proportion of cells recognizing a previously uninvestigated HLA-A*02-restricted epitope,P435-9mer (NLTHVLYPV). These PRAME-CTLs could be generated both from normal donors and from subjects with PRAME(+) hematologic malignancies. The cytotoxic activity of our PRAME-specific CTLs was directed not only against leukemic blasts,but also against leukemic progenitor cells as assessed by colony-forming-inhibition assays,which have been implicated in leukemia relapse. These PRAME-directed CTLs did not affect normal hematopoietic progenitors,indicating that this approach may be of value for immunotherapy of PRAME(+) hematologic malignancies. View Publication