Mannan-modified adenovirus targeting TERT and VEGFR-2: A universal tumour vaccine

Sci Rep. 2015 Jun 18:5:11275. doi: 10.1038/srep11275.

Abstract

Antigen-presenting cells including dendritic cells (DCs) express mannan receptors (MR) on their surface, which can be exploited in cancer therapy by designing immune-stimulatory viruses coated with mannan-modified capsids that then bind to DCs and initiate a potent immune response. Although the combination of anti-angiogenesis and cancer immunotherapy agents has a synergistic antitumor effect, more effective strategies for delivering such combinations are still required. Here we report the design and application of mannan-modified adenovirus that expresses both telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). Cytotoxic T lymphocytes that are reactive to TERT and VEGFR-2 are capable of mounting an anti-tumour response in murine breast and colon tumour models and in a lung metastatic model. Compared with mannan-modified TERT adenovirus vaccine or mannan-modified VEGFR-2 adenovirus vaccine alone, the combined vaccine showed remarkably synergistic anti-tumour immunity in these models. Both TERT- and VEGFR-2-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) were identified in an in vitro cytotoxicity assay, and the CTL activity against tumour cells was significantly elevated in the combined vaccine group. Furthermore, CTL-mediated toxicity was blocked by anti-CD8 monoclonal antibodies. Thus, the combined mannan-modified TERT and VEGFR-2 adenovirus confers potent anti-tumour immunity by targeting both tumour cells and intratumoural angiogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics*
  • Adenoviridae / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cancer Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Cancer Vaccines / genetics*
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology*
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Genetic Vectors / administration & dosage
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics*
  • Genetic Vectors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunization
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating
  • Mannans / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / immunology
  • Receptors, Mitogen / metabolism
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / metabolism
  • Telomerase / genetics*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / genetics*

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Cytokines
  • Mannans
  • Receptors, Mitogen
  • mannan receptor
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2
  • Telomerase