A complex adenovirus vector that delivers FASL-GFP with combined prostate-specific and tetracycline-regulated expression

Mol Ther. 2001 Nov;4(5):416-26. doi: 10.1006/mthe.2001.0478.

Abstract

Cell-type-restricted transgene expression delivered by adenovirus vectors is highly desirable for gene therapy of cancer, as it can limit cytotoxic gene expression to tumor cells. However, many tumor- and tissue-specific promoters are weaker than the constitutively active promoters and are thus less effective. To combine cell-type specificity with high-level regulated transgene expression, we have developed a complex adenoviral vector. We have placed the tetracycline transactivator gene under the control of a prostate-specific ARR2PB promoter, and a mouse Tnfsf6 (encoding FASL)-GFP fusion gene under the control of the tetracycline responsive promoter. We have incorporated both expression cassettes into a single construct. We show that FASL-GFP expression from this vector is essentially restricted to prostate cancer cells, in which it can be regulated by doxycycline. Higher levels of prostate-specific FASL-GFP expression were generated by this approach than by driving the FASL-GFP expression directly with ARR2PB. More FASL-GFP expression correlated with greater induction of apoptosis in prostate cancer LNCaP cells. Mouse studies confirmed that systemic delivery of both the prostate-specific and the prostate-specific/tet-regulated vectors was well tolerated at doses that were lethal for FASL-GFP vector with CMV promoter. This strategy should be able to improve the safety and efficacy of cancer gene therapy using other cytotoxic genes as well.

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Doxycycline / pharmacology
  • Fas Ligand Protein
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Genetic Vectors / adverse effects
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Humans
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Luminescent Proteins / adverse effects
  • Luminescent Proteins / analysis
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics*
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / adverse effects
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Organ Specificity
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Prostate / drug effects
  • Prostate / metabolism*
  • Prostate / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Tetracycline / pharmacology*
  • Time Factors
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • FASLG protein, human
  • Fas Ligand Protein
  • Fasl protein, mouse
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Tetracycline
  • Doxycycline