Adenovirus expressing both thymidine kinase and soluble PD1 enhances antitumor immunity by strengthening CD8 T-cell response

Mol Ther. 2013 Mar;21(3):688-95. doi: 10.1038/mt.2012.252. Epub 2013 Jan 22.

Abstract

Adenoviruses harboring the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk) gene under the regulation of a trans-splicing ribozyme targeting human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT-TR) show marked and specific antitumor activity. In addition to inducing tumor cell death by direct cytotoxicity, it is becoming clear that HSVtk also induces antitumor immunity. Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expressed on tumor cell surfaces mediates tumor-induced immunoresistance by inhibiting PD1-expressing tumor-infiltrating T cells. Here, we explored whether a soluble form of PD1 (sPD1-Ig), which blocks PD-L1, could synergize with TERT-TR-regulated HSVtk to enhance the adenoviral therapeutic efficacy by boosting antitumor immunity. Tumor antigen released by HSVtk-transduced tumors successfully primed tumor antigen-specific CD8 T cells via dendritic cells (DC). Regression of murine tumors was markedly enhanced when sPD1-Ig was incorporated into the adenovirus as compared with a single-module adenovirus expressing only HSVtk. This effect was abolished by CD8 T-cell depletion. Consistent with this, following adoptive transfer of tumor antigen-specific CD8 T cells into tumor-bearing Rag1(-/-) mice, dual-module adenovirus significantly enhanced CD8 T cell-mediated tumor rejection. In addition, secondary tumor challenge at a distal site was completely suppressed in mice treated with a dual-module adenovirus. These results suggest that a dual-targeting strategy to elicit both tumor antigen priming and tumor-induced immunoresistance enhances CD8 T cell-mediated antitumor immunity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • B7-H1 Antigen / genetics*
  • B7-H1 Antigen / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology
  • Cancer Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Female
  • Genetic Vectors*
  • Immunity, Cellular / genetics
  • Immunity, Cellular / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
  • Telomerase / genetics
  • Telomerase / metabolism
  • Thymidine Kinase / genetics*
  • Thymidine Kinase / metabolism
  • Trans-Splicing

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • CD274 protein, human
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Thymidine Kinase
  • TERT protein, human
  • Telomerase