U.S. patent application number 12/528047 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-06 for treating cancer with viral nucleic acid.
Invention is credited to Elizabeth M. Hadac, Elizabeth J. Kelly, Stephen J. Russell.
Application Number | 20100111873 12/528047 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39710479 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100111873 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Russell; Stephen J. ; et
al. |
May 6, 2010 |
TREATING CANCER WITH VIRAL NUCLEIC ACID
Abstract
This document provides methods and materials related to the use
of nucleic acid coding for viruses to reduce the number of viable
cancer cells within a mammal. For example, methods for using
infectious nucleic acid to treat cancer, engineered viral nucleic
acid, methods for making engineered viral nucleic acid, methods for
identifying infectious nucleic acid for treating cancer, methods
and materials for controlling virus-mediated cell lysis, and
methods and materials for assessing the control of virus-mediated
cell lysis are provided.
Inventors: |
Russell; Stephen J.;
(Rochester, MN) ; Kelly; Elizabeth J.; (Rochester,
MN) ; Hadac; Elizabeth M.; (Oronoco, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISH & RICHARDSON P.C.
PO BOX 1022
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55440-1022
US
|
Family ID: |
39710479 |
Appl. No.: |
12/528047 |
Filed: |
February 20, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
February 20, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2008/054459 |
371 Date: |
December 21, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60902200 |
Feb 20, 2007 |
|
|
|
61009968 |
Jan 4, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
424/9.2 ;
514/44R; 536/22.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C12N 2770/32332
20130101; C12N 2770/32632 20130101; C12N 2770/32311 20130101; C12N
2770/32611 20130101; A61P 35/00 20180101; A61K 35/768 20130101;
C12N 2840/102 20130101; C12N 7/00 20130101; C07K 14/005 20130101;
Y02A 50/30 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
424/9.2 ;
514/44.R; 536/22.1 |
International
Class: |
A61K 49/00 20060101
A61K049/00; A61K 31/7052 20060101 A61K031/7052; C07H 21/00 20060101
C07H021/00; A61P 35/00 20060101 A61P035/00 |
Claims
1. A method for treating cancer present in a mammal, wherein said
method comprises administering, to said mammal, an effective amount
of nucleic acid coding for a picornavirus under conditions wherein
cancer cells present within said mammal undergo cell lysis as a
result of synthesis of picornavirus from said nucleic acid, thereby
reducing the number of viable cancer cells present within said
mammal.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said mammal is a human.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said effective amount is between
about 3.times.10.sup.10 and about 3.times.10.sup.14 virus genome
copies.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said picornavirus is a
coxsackievirus.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said cancer cells are myeloma,
melanoma, or breast cancer cells.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said nucleic acid comprises a
microRNA target element comprising at least a region of
complementary to a microRNA present in non-cancer cells.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein a reduced number of non-cancer
cells present within said mammal undergo cell lysis as compared to
the number of non-cancer cells that would undergo cell lysis when
said nucleic acid lacks said microRNA target element.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein said microRNA is a
tissue-specific microRNA.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein said microRNA is a
muscle-specific, brain-specific, or heart-specific microRNA.
10. An isolated nucleic acid coding for a virus and comprising a
microRNA target element having at least a region that is
complementary to at least a region of a microRNA present in
non-cancer cells and that is heterologous to said virus.
11. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 10, wherein said virus is a
picornavirus.
12. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 10, wherein said virus is a
coxsackievirus.
13. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 10, wherein said virus is a
poliovirus.
14. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 10, wherein said microRNA is
a tissue-specific microRNA.
15. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 10, wherein said microRNA is
a muscle-specific, brain-specific, or heart-specific microRNA.
16. An isolated nucleic acid coding for a virus and comprising a
microRNA target element having at least a region that is
complementary to at least a region of a cancer-specific microRNA
and that is heterologous to said virus.
17. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 16, wherein said nucleic
acid, when administered to a mammal having cancer, is expressed in
cancer cells.
18. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 16, wherein expression of
said nucleic acid is restricted to cancer cells containing said
cancer-specific microRNA when said nucleic acid is administered to
a mammal having cancer.
19. A method of assessing coxsackievirus-mediated cell lysis of
non-cancer cells, wherein said method comprises: (a) administering
nucleic acid coding for a coxsackievirus to a mammal, and (b)
determining whether or not said mammal develops myositis,
paralysis, or death, wherein the presence of said myositis,
paralysis, or death indicates that said nucleic acid causes
coxsackievirus-mediated cell lysis of non-cancer cells, and wherein
the absence of said myositis, paralysis, and death indicates that
said nucleic acid lacks significant coxsackievirus-mediated cell
lysis of non-cancer cells.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein said mammal is a mouse.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein said nucleic acid comprises a
microRNA target element that is complementary to a microRNA present
in non-cancer cells and that is heterologous to said
coxsackievirus.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein said microRNA is a
tissue-specific microRNA.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein said microRNA is a
muscle-specific microRNA.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Application No.
60/902,200 filed on Feb. 20, 2007 and U.S. Application No.
61/009,968 filed on Jan. 4, 2008. The entire disclosure of these
earlier applications are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] This document relates to methods and materials involved in
treating cancer with viral nucleic acid (e.g., nucleic acid coding
for a picornavirus).
[0004] 2. Background Information
[0005] The use of viruses to infect and kill cancer cells has been
studied for many years. Typically, viruses known to infect and kill
cancer cells are referred to as oncolytic viruses. The use of
oncolytic viruses in this type of cancer therapy is generally
different from their use in gene therapy. In gene therapy, a virus
is primarily a delivery vehicle, used to deliver a corrective gene
or chemotherapeutic agent to a cancer cell.
SUMMARY
[0006] This document provides methods and materials related to the
use of nucleic acid coding for viruses to reduce the number of
viable cancer cells within a mammal. For example, this document
provides methods for using infectious nucleic acid to treat cancer,
engineered viral nucleic acid, methods for making engineered viral
nucleic acid, methods for identifying infectious nucleic acid for
treating cancer, methods and materials for controlling
virus-mediated cell lysis, and methods and materials for assessing
the control of virus-mediated cell lysis.
[0007] In general, one aspect of this document features a method
for treating cancer present in a mammal. The method comprises, or
consists essentially of, administering, to the mammal, an effective
amount of nucleic acid coding for a virus (e.g., a picornavirus)
under conditions wherein cancer cells present within the mammal
undergo cell lysis as a result of synthesis of virus (e.g.,
picornavirus) from the nucleic acid, thereby reducing the number of
viable cancer cells present within the mammal. The mammal can be a
human. The effective amount can be between about 3.times.10.sup.10
and about 3.times.10.sup.14 virus genome copies. The picornavirus
can be a coxsackievirus. The cancer cells can be myeloma, melanoma,
or breast cancer cells. The nucleic acid can comprise, or consist
essentially of, a microRNA target element comprising at least a
region of complementary to a microRNA present in non-cancer cells.
A reduced number of non-cancer cells present within the mammal can
undergo cell lysis as compared to the number of non-cancer cells
that would undergo cell lysis when the nucleic acid lacks the
microRNA target element. The microRNA can be a tissue-specific
microRNA. The microRNA can be a muscle-specific, brain-specific, or
heart-specific microRNA.
[0008] In another aspect, this document features an isolated
nucleic acid coding for a virus and comprising a microRNA target
element having at least a region that is complementary to at least
a region of a microRNA present in non-cancer cells and that is
heterologous to the virus. The virus can be a picornavirus. The
virus can be a coxsackievirus. The virus can be a poliovirus. The
microRNA can be a tissue-specific microRNA. The microRNA can be a
muscle-specific, brain-specific, or heart-specific microRNA.
[0009] In another aspect, this document features an isolated
nucleic acid coding for a virus and comprising a microRNA target
element having at least a region that is complementary to at least
a region of a cancer-specific microRNA and that is heterologous to
the virus. The nucleic acid, when administered to a mammal having
cancer, can be expressed in cancer cells. Expression of the nucleic
acid can be restricted to cancer cells containing the
cancer-specific microRNA when the nucleic acid is administered to a
mammal having said cancer cells.
[0010] In another aspect, this document features a method of
assessing coxsackievirus-mediated cell lysis of non-cancer cells.
The method comprises, or consists essentially of:
[0011] (a) administering nucleic acid coding for a coxsackievirus
to a mammal, and
[0012] (b) determining whether or not the mammal develops myositis,
paralysis, or death, wherein the presence of the myositis,
paralysis, or death indicates that the nucleic acid causes
coxsackievirus-mediated cell lysis of non-cancer cells, and wherein
the absence of the myositis, paralysis, and death indicates that
the nucleic acid lacks significant coxsackievirus-mediated cell
lysis of non-cancer cells. The mammal can be a mouse. The nucleic
acid can comprise a microRNA target element that is complementary
to a microRNA present in non-cancer cells or cancer cells and that
is heterologous to the coxsackievirus. The microRNA can be a
tissue-specific microRNA or a cancer-specific microRNA. The
microRNA can be a muscle-specific microRNA.
[0013] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms
used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains.
Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those
described herein can be used to practice the invention, suitable
methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent
applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are
incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict,
the present specification, including definitions, will control. In
addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative
only and not intended to be limiting.
[0014] The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are
set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below.
Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the description and drawings, and from the
claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 contains four line graphs plotting the TCID.sub.50
value on H1-HeLa cells for supernatant and cleared lysate samples
collected from the indicated multiple myeloma cell line infected
with CVA21 and cultured for the indicated time.
[0016] FIG. 2 contains photographs of histological analysis of hind
limb muscle for treated and untreated mice.
[0017] FIG. 3 contains two graphs plotting tumor volume at the
indicated days for CVA21-treated (top) and untreated (bottom)
mice.
[0018] FIG. 4 contains graphs plotting tumor volume at the
indicated days for mice treated intratumorally with the indicated
amount of infectious RNA encoding a coxsackievirus.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a graph plotting tumor volume at the indicated
days for mice treated intravenously with 50 .mu.g of infectious RNA
encoding a coxsackievirus.
[0020] FIG. 6 contains schematic diagrams of lentiviral transfer
plasmids encoding (A) eGFP tagged with four tandem copies of
control or muscle-specific microRNA target elements or (B) firefly
luciferase.
[0021] FIG. 7 contains bar graphs plotting GFP (top) and luciferase
(bottom) activity for non-muscle (HeLa, 3T3) and muscle (TE671, L6)
cells transduced with eGFP-encoding lentiviral vectors tagged with
control microRNA target elements (miR142-3p) or muscle-specific
microRNA target elements (miR133,miR-206,miR133/206) microRNA
targets and non-tagged luciferase vectors. Top: Cells were grown in
DMEM plus 10 percent FBS and harvested at 72 hours for flow
analysis. Bottom: Cells were grown in DMEM plus 10 percent FBS and
harvested at 72 hours for luciferase assay.
[0022] FIG. 8 contains bar graphs plotting GFP (top) and luciferase
(bottom) activity for non-muscle (HeLa, 3T3) and muscle (TE671, L6)
cells transduced with eGFP-encoding lentiviral vectors tagged with
control microRNA target elements (miR142-3p) or muscle-specific
microRNA target elements (miR133,miR-206,miR133/206) microRNA
targets and non-tagged luciferase vectors. Top: Cells were grown in
differentiation medium that increases the expression of
muscle-specific miRNAs and harvested for flow analysis of GFP
expression. Bottom: Cells were grown in differentiation medium that
increases the expression of muscle-specific miRNAs and harvested
for luciferase assay.
[0023] FIG. 9 is a graph plotting percent inhibition of eGFP
expression in muscle cell lines versus averaged control cell
lines.
[0024] FIG. 10 contains color photographs of phase contrast (upper)
and GFP immunofluorescence (lower) of 3T3 cells transduced with
eGFP expressing lentiviral vectors tagged with control or
muscle-specific microRNA target elements and grown in growth
media.
[0025] FIG. 11 contains color photographs of phase contrast (upper)
and GFP immunofluorescence (lower) of HeLa cells transduced with
eGFP expressing lentiviral vectors tagged with control or
muscle-specific microRNA target elements and grown in growth
media.
[0026] FIG. 12 contains color photographs of phase contrast (upper)
and GFP immunofluorescence (lower) of 293T cells transduced with
eGFP expressing lentiviral vectors tagged with control or
muscle-specific microRNA target elements and grown in growth
media.
[0027] FIG. 13 contains color photographs of phase contrast (upper)
and GFP immunofluorescence (lower) of TE 671 cells transduced with
eGFP expressing lentiviral vectors tagged with control or
muscle-specific microRNA target elements and grown in growth
media.
[0028] FIG. 14 contains color photographs of phase contrast (upper)
and GFP immunofluorescence (lower) of L6 cells (rat myoblast)
transduced with eGFP expressing lentiviral vectors tagged with
control or muscle-specific microRNA target elements and grown in
growth media.
[0029] FIG. 15 contains color photographs of phase contrast (upper)
and GFP immunofluorescence (lower) of 3T3 cells transduced with
eGFP expressing lentiviral vectors tagged with control or
muscle-specific microRNA target elements and grown in
differentiation media.
[0030] FIG. 16 contains color photographs of phase contrast (upper)
and GFP immunofluorescence (lower) of HeLa cells transduced with
eGFP expressing lentiviral vectors tagged with control or
muscle-specific microRNA target elements and grown in
differentiation media.
[0031] FIG. 17 contains color photographs of phase contrast (upper)
and GFP immunofluorescence (lower) of TE 671 cells transduced with
eGFP expressing lentiviral vectors tagged with control or
muscle-specific microRNA target elements and grown in
differentiation media to induce higher expression of
muscle-specific miRNAs.
[0032] FIG. 18 contains color photographs of phase contrast (upper)
and GFP immunofluorescence (lower) of L6 cells (rat myoblast to
myotube) transduced with eGFP expressing lentiviral vectors tagged
with control or muscle-specific microRNA target elements and grown
in differentiation media.
[0033] FIG. 19 contains schematic diagrams of enterovirus and
cardiovirus genomes identifying examples of insertion sites for
microRNA target elements.
[0034] FIG. 20 is a schematic of RNA secondary structure of the
5'UTR of a picornavirus (Belsham and Sonnenberg; Microbiological
Reviews, September 1996, p. 499-511).
[0035] FIG. 21 is a schematic of RNA secondary structure of a virus
containing a reverse complementarity region and a microRNA target
element (modified from Belsham and Sonnenberg, 1996).
[0036] FIG. 22 is a schematic of the RNA of FIG. 21 with a 5'UTR
conformation in the absence of miRNA.
[0037] FIG. 23 is a schematic of the RNA of FIG. 21 with a 5'UTR
conformation in the presence of miRNA.
[0038] FIG. 24 is a schematic of the putative secondary structure
of Hepatitis C Virus 5'UTR containing miRT. Shaded area represents
seed sequence to which RISC can bind. (RNA secondary structure from
Vienna RNA Structure Prediction Web Interface:
http://rna.tbi.univie.ac.at/cgi-bin/RNAfold.cgi).
[0039] FIG. 25 is a schematic of the putative secondary structure
of Hepatitis C Virus 5'UTR lacking miRT. This schematic simulates
these nucleotides being unavailable for base pairing due to RISC
binding.
[0040] FIG. 26 is a schematic of normal secondary structure of
coxsackievirus A21 5'UTR.
[0041] FIG. 27 is a schematic of altered secondary structure of
coxsackievirus A21 5'UTR with RC region introduced against stem
loop 5 and insertion of miR155T.
[0042] FIGS. 28-31 are schematics of RNA secondary structure.
[0043] FIG. 32 is a schematic of coxsackievirus A21 genome and an
altered coxsackievirus A21 genome.
[0044] FIG. 33 contains a schematic diagram of microRNA targeted
CVA21 (A); one step growth curves of WT, miRT, and RevT viruses in
H1-HeLa cells (B), MeI 624 cells (C), Kas 6/1 cells (D), and
H1-HeLa+miR-133 and miR-206 mimics (E); a bar graph assessing
viability 24 hrs. post viral infection at MOI=1.0 with WT, miRT, or
RevT CVA21 pretreated for 4 hrs. with 200 nM miRNA mimics (F), a
bar graph of viral titers collected 24 hrs. post infection from
supernatants of cells infected with WT, miRT, or RevT CVA21 in the
presence of miRNA mimics (G), and a bar graph of in vitro survival
of non muscle (H1-HeLa) or muscle (TE671) cells as determined by
MTT assay when transfected with 1 .mu.g WT or miRT CVA21 RNA in 24
well plates (H). *=p<0.01 from WT; *=<0.01 from miRNA
control.
[0045] FIG. 34 contains three graphs plotting tumor volume at the
indicated days for SCID mice, which are carrying SQ multiple
myeloma xenografts, that were treated with Opti-MEM control (A),
1.times.10.sup.6 WT CVA21 (B), and 1.times.10.sup.6 miRT CVA21 (C);
two Kaplan-Meier survival graphs of mice treated with 1
intratumoral dose of 1.times.10.sup.6 WT CVA21 or miRT CVA21 (D),
or 1.times.10.sup.6 WT CVA21, miRT CVA21, or RevT CVA21 (E); a
graph of viral titers collected from mice treated with WT or miRT
CVA21 (F); and a sequence alignment of 3'NTR inserts from viruses
collected from mouse # 1-11 serum on day 45 (G).
[0046] FIG. 35 contains four graphs plotting tumor volume at the
indicated days for SCID mice, which are carrying SQ Kas 6/1
xenografts, treated with Opti-MEM control (A), 1.times.10.sup.6 WT
CVA21 (B), 1.times.10.sup.6 muscle specific miRT virus (C), or
1.times.10.sup.6 revertant virus (D), and a Kaplan-Meier survival
curve for control, WT CVA21, miRT virus, or revertant treated mice
(E).
[0047] FIG. 36 contains three graphs plotting tumor volume at the
indicated days for SCID mice, which are carrying SQ MeI 624
melanoma xenografts, that were treated with Opti-MEM control (A),
1e6 WT CVA21 (B), or 1e6 miRT CVA21 (C), and a Kaplan-Meier
survival graph of control, WT CVA21, or miRT virus treated mice
(D).
[0048] FIG. 37 contains a schematic diagram of lentiviral vector
with revertant target (A), a sequence alignment of muscle specific
miR-133/206T and Revertant virus (B), and a bar graph of GFP
expression in cells transduced at MOI=3.0 with lentiviral vectors
containing hematopoetic cell specific miR-142-3p, muscle specific
miR-133/206, and revertant target elements (C).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0049] This document provides methods and materials related to the
use of nucleic acid coding for viruses to reduce the number of
viable cancer cells within a mammal. For example, this document
provides methods for using viral nucleic acid to reduce the number
of viable cancer cells within a mammal. Nucleic acid coding for any
appropriate virus can be used to reduce the number of viable cancer
cells within a mammal. In some cases, nucleic acid coding for a
picornavirus can be used. A picornavirus can be an enterovirus
(e.g., bovine enterovirus, human enterovirus A, human enterovirus
B, human enterovirus C, human enterovirus D, human enterovirus E,
poliovirus, porcine enterovirus A, and porcine enterovirus B), a
rhinovirus (e.g., human rhinovirus A and human rhinovirus B), a
cardiovirus (e.g., encephalomyocarditis virus and theilovirus), an
apthovirus (e.g., equine rhinitis A virus and foot-and-mouth
disease virus), an hepatovirus (e.g., hepatitis A virus), a
parechovirus (e.g., human parechovirus and ljungan virus), an
erbovirus (e.g., equine rhinitis B virus), a kobuvirus (e.g., aichi
virus), or a teschovirus (e.g., porcine teschovirus 1-7 and porcine
teschovirus). In some cases, nucleic acid coding for a
coxsackievirus A21 (Shafren et al., Clin. Cancer Res., 10(1 Pt.
1):53-60 (2004)), coxsackievirus B3 (Suskind et al., Proc. Soc.
Exp. Biol. Med., 94(2):309-318 (1957)), poliovirus type III (Pond
and Manuelidis, Am. J. Pathol., 45:233-249 (1964)), echovirus I
(Shafren et al., Int. J. Cancer, 115(2):320-328 (2005)), or an
encephalomyocarditis virus type E (Adachi et al., J. Neurooncol.,
77(3):233-240 (2006)) can be used. Other viruses having nucleic
acid that can be used to reduce the number of viable cancer cells
can be identified using the screening methods provided in Example
1.
[0050] Other viruses having nucleic acid that can be used to reduce
the number of viable cancer cells include, without limitation,
Adenoviridae viruses such as mastadenoviruses (e.g., bovine
adenovirus A, bovine adenovirus B, bovine adenovirus C, canine
adenovirus, equine adenovirus A, equine adenovirus B, human
adenovirus C, human adenovirus D, human adenovirus E, human
adenovirus F, ovine adenovirus A, ovine adenovirus B, porcine
adenovirus A, porcine adenovirus B, porcine adenovirus C, tree
shrew adenovirus, goat adenovirus, guinea pig adenovirus, murine
adenovirus B, murine adenovirus C, simian adenovirus, and squirrel
adenovirus), aviadenoviruses (e.g., fowl adenovirus A, fowl
adenovirus B, fowl adenovirus C, fowl adenovirus D, fowl adenovirus
E, goose adenovirus, duck adenovirus B, turkey adenovirus B, pigeon
adenovirus), atadenoviruses (e.g., ovine adenovirus D, duck
adenovirus A, bovine adenovirus D, possum adenovirus, bearded
dragon, adenovirus, bovine adenovirus E, bovine adenovirus F,
cervive adenovirus, chameleon adenovirus, gecko adenovirus, snake
adenovirus), siadenoviruses (e.g., frog adenovirus and turkey
adenovirus A), and white sturgeon adenoviruses; Coronaviridae
viruses such as coronaviruses (e.g. canine coronavirus, feline
coronavirus, human coronavirus 229E, porcine epidemic diarrhea
virus, transmissible gastroenteritis virus, bovine coronavirus,
human coronavirus OC3, human enteric coronavirus, porcine
hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus, puffinosis coronavirus,
sars coronavirus, infectious bronchitis virus, pheasant
coronavirus, turkey coronavirus, rabbit coronavirus) and
toroviruses (e.g., bovine torovirus, equine torovirus, human
torovirus, and porcine torovirus); Flaviviridae viruses such as
flaviviruses (e.g., gadgets gulley virus, kyasanur forest disease
virus, langat virus, louping ill virus, omsk hemorrhage fever
virus, powassan virus, royal farm virus, tick-borne encephalitis
virus, kadam virus, meadam virus, saumarez reef virus, tyuleniy
virus, aroa virus, dengue virus, kedougou virus, cacipacore virus,
japanese encephalitis virus, koutango virus, murray valley
encephalitis virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, usutu virus, west
nile virus, Yaounde virus, kokobera virus, bagaza virus, illheus
virus, israel turkey meningoencephalomyelitis virus, ntaya virus,
tembusu virus, zika virus, banzi virus, bouboui virus, edge hill
virus, jugra virus, saboya virus, sepik virus, uganda S virus,
wesselsbron virus, yellow fever virus, entebbe bat virus, yokose
virus, apoi virus, cowbone ridge virus, jutiapa virus, modoc virus,
sal vieja virus, san perlita virus, bukalasa bat virus, carey
island virus, Dakar bat virus, Montana myotis leukoenchephalitis
virus, phnom penh bat virus, rio bravo virus, cell fusing agent
virus, and tamana bat virus), pestiviruses (e.g., border disease
virus, bovine viral diarrhea virus 1, bovine viral diarrhea virus
2, classical swine fever virus, and pestivirus of giraffe),
hepaciviruses (e.g., hepatitis C virus, GB virus B), GB virus A,
and GB virus C; Hepadnaviridae viruses such as orthohepadnaviruses
(e.g., hepatitis B virus, ground squirrel hepatitis B virus,
woodchuck hepatitis B virus, woolly monkey hepatitis B virus, and
arctic squirrel hepatitis virus) and avihepadnaviruses (e.g., duck
hepatitis B virus); hepevirdae viruses such as hepeviruses (e.g.,
hepatitis E virus); Papillomaviridae viruses such as
alphapapillomaviruses (e.g., human papillomavirus 32, human
papillomavirus 10, human papillomavirus 61, human papillomavirus 2,
human papillomavirus 26, human papillomavirus 53, human
papillomavirus 18, human papillomavirus 7, human papillomavirus 16,
human papillomavirus 6, human papillomavirus 34, human
papillomavirus 54, human papillomavirus cand90, human
papillomavirus 71, and rhesus monkey papillomavirus),
betapapillomaviruses (e.g., human papillomavirus 5, human
papillomavirus 9, human papillomavirus 49, human papillomavirus
cand92, and human papillomavirus cand96), gammapapillomaviruses
(e.g., human papillomavirus 4, human papillomavirus 48, human
papillomavirus 50, human papillomavirus 60, and human
papillomavirus 88), deltapapillomaviruses (e.g., european elk
papillomavirus, deer papillomavirus, ovine papillomavirus 1, and
bovine papillomavirus 1), epsilonpapillomaviruses (e.g., bovine
papillomavirus 5), zetapapillomaviruses (e.g., equine
papillomavirus 1), etapapillomaviruses (e.g., fringella coelebs
papillomavirus), thetapapillomaviruses (e.g, psittacus erithicus
timneh papillomavirus), iotapapillomaviruses (e.g., mastomys
natalensis papillomavirus), kappapapillomaviruses (e.g., cottontail
rabbit papillomavirus and rabbit oral papillomavirus),
lambdapapillomaviruses (e.g., canine oral papillomavirus and feline
papillomavirus), mupapillomaviruses (e.g., human papillomavirus 1
and human papillomavirus 63), nupapillomaviruses (e.g., human
papillomavirus 41), xipapillomaviruses (e.g., bovine papillomavirus
3), omikronpapillomaviruses (e.g., phoecona spinipinnis), and
pipapillomaviruses (e.g., hamster oral papillomavirus);
Parvoviridae viruses such as parvoviruses (e.g., chicken
parvovirus, feline panleukopenia virus, hb parvovirus, h-1
parvovirus, killham rat virus, lapine parvovirus, luiii virus,
minute virus of mice, mouse parvovirus 1, porcine parvovirus, rt
parvovirus, tumor virus x, hamster parvovirus, rat minute virus 1,
and rat parvovirus 1), erythroviruses (e.g., human parvovirus b19,
pig-tailed macaque parvovirus, rhesus macaque parvovirus, simian
parvovirus, bovine parvovirus type 3, and chipmunk parvovirus),
dependoviruses (e.g., aav-1, aav-2, aav-3, aav-4, aav-5, avian aav,
bovine aav, canine aav, duck aav, equine aav, goose parvovirus,
ovine aav, aav-7, aav-8, and bovine parvovirus 2), amdoviruses
(e.g., aleutian mink disease virus), bocaviruses (e.g., bovine
parvovirus and canine minute parvovirus), densoviruses (e.g.,
galleria mellonella densovirus, junonia coenia densovirus, diatraea
saccharalis densovirus, pseudoplusia includens densovirus, and
toxorhynchites splendens densovirus), iteraviruses (e.g., bombyx
mori densovirus, casphalia extranea densovirus, and sibine fusca
densovirus), brevidensoviruses (e.g., aedes aegypti densovirus and
aedes albopictus densovirus), and pefudensoviruses (e.g.,
periplaneta fuliginosa densovirus); Polyomaviridae viruses such as
polyomaviruses (e.g., african green monkey polyomavirus, baboon
polyomavirus 2, bk polyomavirus, bovine polyomavirus, budgerigar
fledgling disease polyomavirus, hamster polyomavirus, human
polyomavirus, jc polyomavirus, murine pneumotropic virus, murine
pneumotropic virus, murine polyomavirus, rabbit kidney vacuolating
virus, simian virus 12, and simian virus 40); Togaviridae viruses
such as alphaviruses (e.g., aura virus, barmah forest virus, bebaru
virus, cabassou virus, chikungunya virus, eastern equine
encephalitis virus, everglades virus, fort morgan virus, getah
virus, highlands j virus, mayaro virus, middelburg virus, mosso das
pedras virus, mucambo virus, ndumu virus, o'nyong-nyong virus,
pixuna virus, rio negro virus, ross river virus, salmon pancreas
disease virus, semliki forest virus, sindbis virus, southern
elephant seal virus, tonate virus, tonate virus, una virus,
venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, western equine encephalitis
virus, and whataroa virus), rubiviruses (e.g., rubella virus), and
triniti virus; Arteriviridae viruses such as arteriviruses (e.g.,
equine arteritis virus, lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus,
porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, and simian
hemorrhagic fever virus); Caliciviridae viruses such as vesiviruses
(e.g., feline calicivirus, vesicular exanthema of swine virus, and
san miguel sea lion virus), lagoviruses (e.g., european brown hare
syndrome virus and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus), noroviruses
(e.g., norwalk virus), and sapoviruses (e.g., sapporo virus);
Retroviruses such as mammalian type B (e.g., mouse mammary tumor
virus) and type C retroviruses (e.g., murine leukemia virus), Avian
type C retroviruses (e.g., avian leukocis virus), type D
retroviruses (e.g., squirrel monkey retrovirus, Mason-Pfizer monkey
virus, langur virus, and simian type D virus), BLV-HTLV
retroviruses (e.g., bovine leukemia virus), lentiviruses (e.g.,
bovine, equine, feline, ovinecaprine, and primate lentiviruses),
and spumaviruses (e.g., simian foamy virus); and Astroviridae
viruses such as mamastroviruses (e.g., bovine astrovirus, feline
astrovirus, human astrovirus, ovine astrovirus, porcine astrovirus,
and mink astrovirus) and avastroviruses (e.g., chicken astrovirus,
duck astrovirus, and turkey astrovirus).
[0051] Nucleic acid coding for a virus can be administered directly
to cancer cells (e.g., by intratumoral administration) or can be
administered systemically (e.g., by intravenous, intraperitoneal,
intrapleural, or intra-arterial administration). The amount of
nucleic acid administered to a mammal can range from about 10 ng to
about 1 mg (e.g., from 100 ng to 500 .mu.g, from about 250 ng to
about 250 .mu.g, from about 500 ng to about 200 .mu.g, or from
about 1 .mu.g to about 100 .mu.g) per kg of body weight. In some
cases, from about 100 ng to about 500 .mu.g of nucleic acid coding
for a virus can be administered as a single intratumoral dose. In
some cases, the amount of nucleic acid administered to a mammal can
be equal to a virus genome copy number of between about
3.times.10.sup.10 to about 3.times.10.sup.14 genome copies (e.g.,
between about 3.times.10.sup.10 to about 3.times.10.sup.13, between
about 3.times.10.sup.10 to about 3.times.10.sup.12, between about
3.times.10.sup.11 to about 3.times.10.sup.14, between about
3.times.10.sup.11 to about 3.times.10.sup.13, or between about
3.times.10.sup.11 to about 3.times.10.sup.11 genome copies). For
example, nucleic acid provided herein can be administered in an
amount such that about 3.times.10.sup.11 virus genome copies are
delivered to a mammal. In some cases, the amount of administered
nucleic acid can be between about 3.times.10.sup.10 to about
3.times.10.sup.14 virus genome copies per kg of body weight.
[0052] Nucleic acid coding for a virus can contain sequences for
either wild-type virus or for an engineered virus. For example,
nucleic acid coding for a wild-type coxsackievirus A21 virus can be
used to reduce the number of viable cancer cells within a mammal.
In some cases, nucleic acid coding for a virus can contain nucleic
acid sequences designed to control the expression of the viral
polypeptides. For example, a nucleic acid provided herein can code
for a virus and can contain nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide
(e.g., a single chain antibody polypeptide that binds to a target
cell receptor) designed to alter the virus' cell specificity at the
level of virus entry. In some cases, a nucleic acid provided herein
can code for a virus and can contain tissue-specific promoters to
direct expression in desired cancer cells.
[0053] As described herein, nucleic acid coding for a virus can be
designed to contain a microRNA target element (miRT) such that a
corresponding microRNA (miRNA, specific miRNAs denoted as miR-#)
present within a non-tumor cell can reduce virus gene expression,
virus replication, or virus stability in that non-tumor cell.
MicroRNAs are small, 21-23 nucleotide, highly conserved regulatory
RNAs that can mediate translational repression or, in some cases,
mRNA destruction by RISC-induced cleavage. MicroRNAs are present
within many mammalian cells and can have a tissue-specific tissue
distribution. As such, microRNAs can be used to modulate the
tropism of a replicating virus to provide a targeting approach for
any virus. The ability of nucleic acid coding for a virus to result
in non-tumor cell lysis can be reduced using a microRNA target
element having at least a region that is complementary to a
microRNA present in the non-tumor cells. For example,
coxsackievirus A21 can infect muscle cells. Thus, microRNA target
elements that are complementary to microRNAs present in muscle
cells can be incorporated into coxsackievirus A21 nucleic acid to
reduce muscle cell lysis. Similarly, the safety of vaccines can be
improved by modulating the tropism of a virus. For example, a
neuronal and/or brain microRNA target element can be incorporated
into the polio virus to reduce the incidence of poliomyelitis
induced by the oral polio vaccine.
[0054] This same approach can be used to reduce non-tumor cell
lysis by other viral nucleic acids. For example, microRNA target
elements having at least a region that is complementary to the
microRNAs set forth in Table 1 can be used to reduce cell lysis of
the indicated tissue for the listed viruses as well as for other
viruses. Other examples of microRNA target elements that can be
designed to reduce viral-mediated cell lysis include, without
limitation, those having at least a region complementary to a
tissue-specific microRNA listed in Table 2. In some cases, nucleic
acid provided herein can code for a virus and contain a microRNA
target element having at least a region complementary to a
classified tissue-specific microRNA. MicroRNA target elements can
have complete complementarity to a microRNA. In some cases, a
microRNA target element can contain mismatches in its
complementarity to a microRNA provided that it contains complete
complementarity to a seed sequence (e.g., base pairs 2-7) of the
microRNA. See, e.g., Lim et al., Nature, 433(7027):769-73
(2005)).
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Silencing via incorporated microRNA target
elements. Virus Tissue microRNA Coxsackievirus A21 Muscle miR-1
Coxsackievirus A21 Muscle miR-133 Coxsackievirus A21 Muscle miR-206
Coxsackievirus B3, Brain miR-101 Encephalomyocarditis-E Poliovirus
III Echovirus I Coxsackievirus B3, Brain miR-124a,b
Encephalomyocarditis-E Poliovirus III Echovirus I Coxsackievirus
B3, Brain miR-125 Encephalomyocarditis-E Poliovirus III Echovirus I
Coxsackievirus B3, Brain miR-128 Encephalomyocarditis-E Poliovirus
III Echovirus I Coxsackievirus B3, Brain miR-131
Encephalomyocarditis-E Poliovirus III Echovirus I Coxsackievirus
B3, Brain miR-132 Encephalomyocarditis-E Poliovirus III Echovirus I
Coxsackievirus B3, Brain miR-134 Encephalomyocarditis-E Poliovirus
III Echovirus I Coxsackievirus B3, Brain miR-135
Encephalomyocarditis-E Poliovirus III Echovirus I Coxsackievirus
B3, Brain miR-138 Encephalomyocarditis-E Poliovirus III Echovirus I
Coxsackievirus B3, Brain miR-153 Encephalomyocarditis-E Poliovirus
III Echovirus I Coxsackievirus B3, Brain miR-183
Encephalomyocarditis-E Poliovirus III Echovirus I Coxsackievirus
B3, Brain miR-1b-2 Encephalomyocarditis-E Poliovirus III Echovirus
I Coxsackievirus B3, Brain miR-219 Encephalomyocarditis-E
Poliovirus III Echovirus I Coxsackievirus B3, Brain miR-9
Encephalomyocarditis-E Poliovirus III Echovirus I Coxsackievirus
B3, Brain miR-95 Encephalomyocarditis-E Poliovirus III Echovirus I
Coxsackievirus B3, Brain miR-99b Encephalomyocarditis-E Poliovirus
III Echovirus I Coxsackievirus B3, Heart miR-1 Echovirus I
Coxsackievirus B3, Heart miR-133 Echovirus I Coxsackievirus B3,
Heart miR-206 Echovirus I Coxsackievirus B3, Heart miR-208
Echovirus I
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Classified tissue-specific microRNAs. miRNA
Tissue Sequence Reference miR-1 Muscle UGGAAUGUAAAGAAGUAUGUA Rao et
al., Proc. (SEQ ID NO: 21) Nat'l. Acad. Sci., 103: 8721-8726
(2006). miR-101 Brain UACAGUACUGUGAUAACUGAAG Lagos-Quintana et (SEQ
ID NO: 22) al., Curr. Biol., 12: 735-739 (2002). miR-122a Liver
UGGAGUGUGACAAUGGUGUUUG Fu et al., FEBS Lett., U (SEQ ID NO: 23)
579: 3849-3854 (2005). miR- Brain UUAAGGCACGCGGUGAAUGCCA
Lagos-Quintana et 124a, b (SEQ ID NO: 24) al., Curr. Biol., 12:
735-739 (2002). miR-125 Brain UCCCUGAGACCCUUUAACCUGUG Liu et al.,
Proc. (SEQ ID NO: 25) Nat'l. Acad. Sci., 101: 9740-9744 (2004).
miR- Digestive UCGUACCGUGAGUAAUAAUGC Shingara et al., RNA, 126AS
(SEQ ID NO: 26) 11: 1461-1470 (2005). miR-127 Spleen
UCGGAUCCGUCUGAGCUUGGCU Lagos-Quintana et (SEQ ID NO: 27) al., Curr.
Biol., 12: 735-739 (2002). miR-128 Brain UCACAGUGAACCGGUCUCUUUC Liu
et al., Proc. (SEQ ID NO: 28) Nat'l. Acad. Sci., 101: 9740-9744
(2004). miR-130 Lung CAGUGCAAUGUUAAAAGGGCAU Sempere et al., (SEQ ID
NO: 29) Genome Biol., 5: R13 (2004). miR-132 Brain
UAACAGUCUACAGCCAUGGUCG Lagos-Quintana et (SEQ ID NO: 30) al., Curr.
Biol., 12: 735-739 (2002). miR-133 Muscle UUGGUCCCCUUCAACCAGCUGU
Rao et al., Proc. (SEQ ID NO: 31) Nat'l. Acad. Sci., 103: 8721-8726
(2006). miR-134 Brain UGUGACUGGUUGACCAGAGGG Schratt et al., (SEQ ID
NO: 32) Nature, 439: 283-289 (2006). miR-135 Brain
UAUGGCUUUUUAUUCCUAUGUGA Sempere et al., (SEQ ID NO: 33) Genome
Biol., 5: R13 (2004). miR-138 Brain AGCUGGUGUUGUGAAUC Obernosterer
et al., (SEQ ID NO: 34) RNA, 12: 1161-1167 (2006). miR-142s
Hematopoetic CAUAAAGUAGAAAGCACUAC Chen et al., Science, 5p, 3p (SEQ
ID NO: 35) 303: 83-86 (2004). UGUAGUGUUUCCUACUUUAUGGA (SEQ ID NO:
36) miR-143 Digestive UGAGAUGAAGCACUGUAGCUCA Shingara et al., RNA,
(SEQ ID NO: 37) 11: 1461-1470 (2005). miR-145 Digestive
GUCCAGUUUUCCCAGGAAUCCCU Shingara et al., RNA, U (SEQ ID NO: 38) 11:
1461-1470 (2005). miR-148 Liver, UCAGUGCACUACAGAACUUUGU Shingara et
al., RNA, Stomach (SEQ ID NO: 39) 11: 1461-1470 (2005). miR-15
B-cell UAGCAGCACAUAAUGGUUUGUG Calin et al., Proc. (Down-
lymphocytic (SEQ ID NO: 40) Nat'l. Acad. Sci., regulated) leukemia
99: 15524-15529 (2002). miR-150 Spleen UCUCCCAACCCUUGUACCAGUG
Shingara et al., RNA, (SEQ ID NO: 41) 11: 1461-1470 (2005). miR-151
Spleen ACUAGACUGAAGCUCCUUGAGG Sempere et al., (SEQ ID NO: 42)
Genome Biol., 5: R13 (2004). miR-152 Liver UCAGUGCAUGACAGAACUUGGG
Sempere et al., (SEQ ID NO: 43) Genome Biol., 5: R13 (2004).
miR-153 Brain UUGCAUAGUCACAAAAGUGA Sempere et al., (SEQ ID NO: 44)
Genome Biol., 5: R13 (2004). miR-155 Burkitt's
UUAAUGCUAAUCGUGAUAGGGG Metzler et al., Genes Lymphoma (SEQ ID NO:
45) Chromosomes Cancer, 39: 167-169 (2004). miR-16 B-cell
UAGCAGCACGUAAAUAUUGGCG Calin et al., Proc. (Down- lymphocytic (SEQ
ID NO: 46) Nat'l. Acad. Sci., regulated) leukemia 99: 15524-15529
(2002). miR-17-5p Lymphoma CAAAGUGCUUACAGUGCAGGUAG He et al.,
Nature, U (SEQ ID NO: 47) 435: 828-833 (2005). miR-181 Hematopoetic
AACAUUCAACGCUGUCGGUGAGU Chen et al., Science, (SEQ ID NO: 48) 303:
83-86 (2004). miR-183 Brain UAUGGCACUGGUAGAAUUCACUG Sempere et al.,
(SEQ ID NO: 49) Genome Biol., 5: R13 (2004). miR-18a, b Lymphoma
UAAGGUGCAUCUAGUGCAGAUA He et al., Nature, (SEQ ID NO: 50) 435:
828-833 (2005). UAAGGUGCAUCUAGUGCAGUUA (SEQ ID NO: 51) miR-192
Kidney CUGACCUAUGAAUUGACAGCC Sempere et al., (SEQ ID NO: 52) Genome
Biol., 5: R13 (2004). miR-194 Kidney UGUAACAGCAACUCCAUGUGGA Sun et
al., Nucleic (SEQ ID NO: 53) Acids Res., 32: e188 (2004). miR-195
Hematopoetic UAGCAGCACAGAAAUAUUGGC Baskerville et al., (SEQ ID NO:
54) RNA, 11: 241-247 (2005). miR-199 Liver CCCAGUGUUCAGACUACCUGUUC
Sempere et al., (SEQ ID NO: 55) Genome Biol., 5: R13 (2004).
miR-19a, b Lymphoma UGUGCAAAUCUAUGCAAAACUGA He et al., Nature, (SEQ
ID NO: 56) 435: 828-833 (2005). UGUGCAAAUCCAUGCAAAACUGA (SEQ ID NO:
57) miR-204 Kidney UUCCCUUUGUCAUCCUAUGCCU Sun et al., Nucleic (SEQ
ID NO: 58) Acids Res., 32: e188 (2004). miR-204 Testis
UUCCCUUUGUCAUCCUAUGCCU Baskerville et al., (SEQ ID NO: 59) RNA, 11:
241-247 (2005). miR-206 Muscle UGGAAUGUAAGGAAGUGUGUGG Rao et al.,
Proc. (SEQ ID NO: 60) Nat'l. Acad. Sci., 103: 8721-8726 (2006).
miR-208 Heart AUAAGACGAGCAAAAAGCUUGU Sempere et al., (SEQ ID NO:
61) Genome Biol., 5: R13 (2004). miR-212 Spleen
UAACAGUCUCCAGUCACGGCC Sempere et al., (SEQ ID NO: 62) Genome Biol.,
5: R13 (2004). miR-215 Liver AUGACCUAUGAAUUGACAGAC Sempere et al.,
(SEQ ID NO: 63) Genome Biol., 5: R13 (2004). miR-215 Kidney
AUGACCUAUGAAUUGACAGAC Sun et al., Nucleic (SEQ ID NO: 64) Acids
Res., 32: e188 (2004). miR-216 Pancreas UAAUCUCAGCUGGCAACUGUG Sood
et al., Proc. (SEQ ID NO: 65) Nat'l. Acad. Sci., 103: 2746-2751
(2006). miR-219 Brain UGAUUGUCCAAACGCAAUUCU Sempere et al., (SEQ ID
NO: 66) Genome Biol., 5: R13 (2004). miR-221 Hematopoetic
AGCUACAUUGUCUGCUGGGUUUC Felli et al., Proc. (SEQ ID NO: 67) Nat'l.
Acad. Sci., 102: 18081 18086 (2005). miR-222 Hematopoetic
AGCUACAUCUGGCUACUGGGUCU Felli et al., Proc. C (SEQ ID NO: 68)
Nat'l. Acad. Sci., 102: 18081 18086 (2005). miR-223 Hematopoetic
UGUCAGUUUGUCAAAUACCCC Chen et al., Science, (SEQ ID NO: 69) 303:
83-86 (2004). miR-24 Lung UGGCUCAGUUCAGCAGGAACAG Sempere et al.,
(SEQ ID NO: 70) Genome Biol., 5: R13 (2004). miR-25 Lymphoma
CAUUGCACUUGUCUCGGUCUGA He et al., Nature, (SEQ ID NO: 71) 435:
828-833 (2005). miR-30b, c Kidney UGUAAACAUCCUACACUCAGCU Sempere et
al., (SEQ ID NO: 72) Genome Biol., 5: R13 UGUAAACAUCCUACACUCUCAGC
(2004). (SEQ ID NO: 73) miR-32 Lung UAUUGCACAUUACUAAGUUGC Sempere
et al., (SEQ ID NO: 74) Genome Biol., 5: R13 (2004). miR-375
Pancreas UUUGUUCGUUCGGCUCGCGUGA Poy et al., Nature, (SEQ ID NO: 75)
432: 226-230 (2004). miR-7 Pituitary UGGAAGACUAGUGAUUUUGUUG He et
al., Nature, (SEQ ID NO: 76) 435: 828-833 (2005). miR-9 Brain
UCUUUGGUUAUCUAGCUGUAUGA Sun et al., Nucleic (SEQ ID NO: 77) Acids
Res., 32: e188 (2004). miR-95 Brain UUCAACGGGUAUUUAUUGAGCA Babak et
al., RNA, (SEQ ID NO: 78) 10: 1813-1819 (2004). miR-99b Brain
CACCCGUAGAACCGACCUUGCG Liu et al., Proc. (SEQ ID NO: 79) Nat'l.
Acad. Sci., 101: 9740-9744 (2004).
[0055] Common molecular cloning techniques can be used to insert
microRNA target elements into nucleic acid coding for viruses. A
nucleic acid provided herein can contain one microRNA target
element or multiple microRNA target elements (e.g., two, three,
four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, 15, 20, 25, 30, or more
microRNA target elements). For example, a viral nucleic acid can
contain microRNA target elements inserted into both the 5' and 3'
untranslated regions (UTR) in sections with limited secondary
structure. In some cases, in the 5'UTR, microRNA target elements
can be inserted upstream of the IRES. In some cases, in the 3'UTR,
microRNA target elements can be inserted adjacent to the stop codon
of a polypeptide or polyprotein. In some cases, microRNA target
elements can be inserted in an arrangement as shown in FIG. 19 or
FIG. 33A.
[0056] In some cases, microRNA target elements that are
complementary to microRNAs that are ubiquitously expressed in
normal cells with limited expression in tumor cells can be used to
direct cell lysis to tumor cells and not non-tumor cells. For
example, when using nucleic acid coding for a virus to treat B-cell
lymphocytic leukemia, the viral nucleic acid can be designed to
contain microRNA target elements complementary to microRNAs that
are ubiquitously expressed in normal tissue while being
down-regulated in B-cell lymphocytic leukemia cells. Examples of
such microRNAs include, without limitation, miR-15 and miR-16.
[0057] In some cases, a microRNA target element having at least a
region of complementarity to a cancer-specific microRNA can be used
to direct cell lysis to tumor cells. For example, nucleic acid
coding for a virus can include microRNA target elements to direct
microRNA-mediated targeting. Viruses such as picornaviruses (e.g.,
CVA21) can translate in a cap-independent way. Namely, the viral
Internal Ribosome Entry Site (IRES) can recruit transcription
factors and ribosomes to the viral RNA where it is then translated.
In addition, a cloverleaf structure on the tip of the 5'UTR can
play a role in picornavirus replication (Barton et al., EMBO J.,
20:1439-1448 (2001)). The following strategies are designed to
conditionally distort the traditional secondary structure adopted
by a virus (e.g., CVA21) in the 5'UTR in order to achieve a
targeted oncolytic. These strategies are based, in part, upon RISC
binding to the viral genome, but causing little, or no,
miRNA-mediated cleavage. Rather, RISC in this situation has been
manipulated to be a mediator of steric hindrance as the targets
introduced can lack complete homology required for RNA
cleavage.
[0058] Strategy: Disruption of Viral IRES
[0059] By introducing binding elements of reverse complementarity
to elements within the viral IRES (now called Reverse Complement
"RC" region) at stem loops III, IV, and V, viral RNA can adopt a
structure unlikely to recruit ribosomes (e.g., a malformed IRES),
resulting in the inhibition of viral translation. Then, by
introducing an adjacent region containing a microRNA target element
sequence between an RC region and a stem loop of the IRES to which
the RC region is targeted, RISC recruitment by the endogenous
microRNA to the introduced microRNA target element can disrupt the
altered (engineered) secondary structure (FIG. 20).
[0060] Wild-type secondary structure can once again be adopted in
the presence of RISC, and a virus can be obtained that
conditionally translates only in the presence of the microRNA whose
target has been introduced into the viral genome. With oncogenic
miRNAs identified, expressed exclusively (or at least in much
larger numbers) in neoplastic tissues, the resulting virus can be a
tumor-specific oncolytic.
[0061] A reverse complement to part of stem loop V can be
introduced upstream in the 5'UTR (FIG. 21). In between engineered
RC region and stem loop V, a micoRNA target element (miRT) can be
inserted. With reference to FIG. 21, the heavy gray line represents
an engineered reverse complement, thin gray represents a microRNA
target element, and the second heavy gray line corresponds to the
microRNA target element that can base pair with the engineered
reverse complement (note that this sequence need not be altered,
rather just the cognate for introduced sequence). Since sequences
can be designed such that Watson-Crick base pairing between the two
heavy gray sequences is more thermodynamically favored than the
wild-type situation, a new stem loop can be preferentially formed
unless a factor is present to disrupt this new base pairing (i.e.,
RISC binding to miRT).
[0062] In a normal cell, stem loop V can be altered due to base
pairing between introduced RC region (in gray), engineered to
complement previous stem loop V. MicroRNA target element is shown
in light gray, not bound by RISC as the target element is coding
for a microRNA absent in these cells. A new, inhibitory, loop can
be formed in this situation (FIG. 22).
[0063] In a cancer cell expressing a microRNA for an engineered
microRNA target element, the microRNA whose target has been
engineered into the viral genome can bind RISC (FIG. 23). The
association of RISC with this target can disrupt the aberrant base
pairing, and the normal IRES structure can be restored. This
strategy can be used to disrupt loop III, IV, or V, or any
combination thereof.
[0064] To construct nucleic acids for this strategy, unique
restriction sites can be introduced into a virus sequence (e.g.,
CVA 21 5'UTR) at locations such as (a) upstream of stem loop III,
(b) between stem loops III and IV, and/or (c) between stem loops IV
and V. Combinations of reverse complementary (RC) regions and
microRNA target elements (miRTs) can be introduced into the new
restriction sites. The RC regions can be designed against regions
that are found in stem loops III, IV, or V, that are >7 by in
length, and that contain from 0-80% mismatch to determine the
optimal sequence able to be disrupted by RISC binding. MicroRNA
target elements for any cancer-specific microRNA (e.g., two
cancer-specific microRNAs such as miR-155 and miR-21) can be
introduced adjacent to reverse complementary regions. These can
contain from nothing but seed sequence matches (e.g., base pairs
2-7) up to 100% homology.
[0065] Strategy: Disruption of 5' Cloverleaf Motif
[0066] This strategy involves not disrupting binding of ribosomes
to the IRES, but rather disrupting the 5' cloverleaf (stem loops I,
II in schematic picture) found to be a cis-acting element required
for picornavirus replication. Hepatitis C Virus, a flavivirus,
appears to require a target sequence for a liver-specific microRNA
in the 5'UTR of the viral genome for viral accumulation in the
liver (Jopling et al., Science, 309:1577-1581 (2005)). The binding
of RISC to its target element can allow a new secondary structure
to be formed that mimics the 5' cloverleaf formed in
picornaviruses. The 5'UTR of Hepatitis C Virus is, in fact, more
similar to picornaviruses than other flaviviruses in that it lacks
a 5' cap and translates utilizing a viral IRES. Though there is
little sequence homology between the Hepatitis C 5'UTR and that of
the picornaviruses, secondary structure analysis reveals that
masking the sequence to which RISC binds causes the formation of a
cloverleaf structure comparable to that of the picornaviruses
(FIGS. 24-27).
[0067] The formation of the cloverleaf found in Coxsackievirus A21
can be disrupted selectively by the inclusion of a microRNA target
element in this region, along with a sequence that can be reverse
complementary to elements within the cloverleaf. In the absence of
RISC binding, secondary structure can be altered, while in the
presence of RISC binding, it can assume wild-type base pairing.
[0068] Two different strategies can be use for the disruption of
the 5' terminal cloverleaf motif:
[0069] A) Creation of Hepatitis C Virus/Coxsackievirus A21 5'UTR
Chimera
[0070] 1. Overlap Extension PCR to introduce miR-155T or miR-21T in
place of miR-122T found in Hep C 5'UTR
[0071] 2. PCR can be used to introduce portions Hepatitis C Virus
5'UTR into Coxsackievirus A21 [0072] i) Portions of Hep C 5'UTR can
be used in place of portions of CVA21 5'UTR by (gray below
represents Hepatitis C virus contribution of cloverleaf motif)
(FIG. 28). [0073] ii) Hep C region can be introduced adjacent to
engineered RC region that complements portion of CVA cloverleaf
motif (FIG. 29).
[0074] B) Insertion of RC Regions Up and Downstream of
Cloverleaf
[0075] 1. Unique restriction sites can be inserted before
cloverleaf motif and/or after cloverleaf motif
[0076] 2. Disrupting Sequences (RC regions) and miRTs can be
introduced into unique restriction sites.
[0077] i. in the case of insertion before cloverleaf motif, miRT
can be adjacent to RC region on 3' side (FIG. 30).
[0078] ii. in the case of insertion after cloverleaf motif, miRT
can be adjacent to RC region on 5' side (FIG. 31).
[0079] To construct nucleic acids for this strategy, reverse
complementary (RC) regions can be designed against portions of
cloverleaf motif, can be >7 base pairs in length, and can
contain from 0-80% mismatch to determine the optimal sequence able
to be disrupted by RISC binding. MicroRNA target elements for any
cancer-specific microRNA (e.g., two cancer-specific microRNAs such
as miR-155 and miR-21) and for control microRNA can be introduced
adjacent to RC regions. These can contain from nothing but seed
sequence matches (e.g., base pairs 2-7) up to 100% homology.
[0080] Screening Strategy:
[0081] In order to screen the candidates obtained, a system can be
used whereby the capsid proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3 are replaced by
the luciferase gene (FIG. 32). In polioviruses, this system can
retain the enzymatic activity of luciferase (Porter et al.,
Virology, 243:1-11 (1998)). In this strategy, cancer-specific
miRNAs miR-155 and miR-21 can be used for screening purposes to
determine possible secondary structures that cause translation in
the presence and translational inhibition in absence of these
miRNAs. These are not intended to be limiting, but rather, can be
used as tools to screen secondary structure.
[0082] 1. Construction of Stable Cell Line Expressing
Cancer-Specific microRNA
[0083] Briefly, HeLa cells can be transduced with lentiviral vector
expressing miR-155, miR-21, or control pri-miRNA sequence driven by
a Pol II promoter. Endogenous cellular processing pathway by Drosha
and Dicer result in expression of mature siRNAs analogous to mature
microRNAs. Note that these cell lines can be engineered to express
these pseudo-miRNAs and endogenous forms of these specific miRNAs
are not expressed.
[0084] 2. Transfection of Engineered Viral RNA in Control &
miR-155 and miR-21 Expressing Cells
[0085] RNA can be isolated from clones from the above strategies
using Ambion in vitro Maxiscript transcription kit. RNA can be
transfected with Minis Trans-IT mRNA transfection kit into control
and cancer-specific microRNA expressing HeLa cell lines.
[0086] 3. Luciferase Assay
[0087] Luciferase assay can be performed on cell lines 1-72 hours
post transfection. Positive response can be measured by a 3 fold
higher production of luciferase in miR-155 or miR-21 expressing
cell lines over control miRNA expressing lines. To screen for
putative tumor-specific oncolytics, the above assay can provide an
artificial method of simulating the microRNA pathway. Use of
lentiviral vectors to express siRNAs that mimic microRNAs, however,
can express these small regulatory RNAs in higher copy number than
are expressed in the cancers. The following can be a protocol to
screen obtained oncolytics in the presence of microRNAs expressed
in various copy numbers.
[0088] 4. Testing for CPE with WT CVA21 in miR-155 and miR-21
Expressing Cell Lines
[0089] After titration on suitable cell line, 1.0 TCID.sub.50/cell
can be added and CPE determined 48 hours post infection by MTT
assay on cell lines expressing miR-155 (e.g., Raji, OVI-Ly3, L428,
KMH2, L1236, and L591) and cells lines expressing miR-21 (e.g.,
U373, A172, LN229, U87, LN428, LN308).
[0090] CPE of >90% can correspond to a cell line that can be
used in the analysis of previously identified, putative,
tumor-specific oncolytics.
[0091] 5. Transfection of Viral RNA in Identified Cell Line from
Above Either Containing Antisense 2'O-methyl Oligoribonucleotides
(2'OMe) Against miR-155, miR-21, or Ubiquitous miRNA
[0092] The addition of antisense 2'OMe-RNA can be used to
inactivate specifically its cognate microRNA (Meister et al., RNA,
10:544-550 (2004)). Using this strategy, cell lines that
specifically inactivate the activity of endogenously expressed
miRNAs (in wild type copy numbers) can be obtained and used to show
efficacy in this system.
[0093] 6. Luciferase Assay
[0094] Luciferase assay can be performed on cell lines in the
absence/presence of antisense 2'OMe-miR-155 or antisense
2'OMe-miR-21. Positive responses can be measured by a 3 fold higher
production of luciferase in the absence of antisense 2'OMe-miR-155
or antisense 2'OMe-miR-21 in expressing cell lines over luciferase
production in the presence of antisense 2'OMe-miR-155 or antisense
2'OMe-miR-21.
[0095] 7. Insertion Sequences Cloned into Wild-Type CVA-21
[0096] Identified insertion sequences that elicited a positive
response in both lentiviral vector expression screening and using
2'O-methyl oligoribonucleotides can be cloned back into
capsid-expressing Coxsackievirus A21. New microRNA target elements
can be inserted in place of miR-155 or miR-21 used for screening
purposes.
[0097] 8. Screening Via INA Screening Assay
[0098] The methods and materials provided herein can be used to
screen for oncolytic activity. The obtained viruses can be
propagated in the presence of miR-155, miR-21 or other inserted
oncogenic microRNA target elements.
[0099] Examples of cancer-specific microRNAs include, without
limitation, those listed in Table 3.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Cancer-specific microRNAs. microRNA Cancer
miR-25 Lymphoma miR-21 Glioblastoma (+/-Breast Cancer) miR-19a,b
Lymphoma miR-18a,b Lymphoma miR-17-5p Lymphoma miR-155 Burkitt's
Lymphoma
[0100] When assessing nucleic acid for the ability to reduce the
number of viable cancer cells within a mammal, any appropriate
cancer model can be used. For example, a SCID mouse model
containing implanted tumor cells such as those listed in Table 4
can be used.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Tumor model cell lines. Cancer Tumor Type
Cell Line Breast Human Xenograft BT-474 Breast Human Xenograft
MCF7/S Breast Human Xenograft MCF7/TAMR-1 Breast Human Xenograft
MCF7/Mitox Breast Human Xenograft MCF7/D40 Breast Human Xenograft
MDA-MB-231 Breast Human Xenograft MDA-MB-435 Breast Human Xenograft
ZR-75-1 Breast Human Xenograft ACC3199 Breast Human Xenograft T-47D
Cervix Human Xenograft HeLa Cervix Human Xenograft Ca Ski Cervix
Human Xenograft SiHa Cervix Human Xenograft C-33A Colon Human
Xenograft CaCo-2 Colon Human Xenograft HCA-7 Colon Human Xenograft
HCT 116 Colon Human Xenograft HT-29 Colon Human Xenograft SW480
Colon Human Xenograft SW620 Colon Human Xenograft DLD-1 Colon Human
Xenograft LoVo Colon Mouse Allograft CT26.WT Fibrosarcoma Human
Xenograft HT-1080 Glioblastoma Human Xenograft U-87 MG Glioblastoma
Human Xenograft SF 767 Leukemia Human Xenograft HL-60, Leukemia
Human Xenograft K562/S Leukemia Human Xenograft K562/MDR Leukemia
Human Xenograft KG-1 Leukemia Human Xenograft OCI-AML3 Leukemia
Tumor Supressor KO NF-1 Mutant Liver Human Xenograft SK-HEP-1 Liver
Human Xenograft HC-4 Liver Human Xenograft HepG2 Liver Human
Xenograft Hep 3B Lung Human Xenograft A549 Lung Human Xenograft
MV522 Lung Human Xenograft NCI-H1299 Lung Human Xenograft NCI-H460
Lung Human Xenograft NCI-H1975 Lung Mouse Allograft PC-6 Lung Mouse
Allograft LL/2 Lung Human Xenograft NCI-H69/S Lung Human Xenograft
H69AR Lung Human Xenograft SHP-77 Lung Human Xenograft DMS 53 Lung
Human Xenograft DMS 153 Lung Human Xenograft DMS 114 Lymphoma Human
Xenograft Daudi Lymphoma Human Xenograft OCILY8 Lymphoma Human
Xenograft Raji Lymphoma Human Xenograft Granta 519 Lymphoma Human
Xenograft Granta 4 Lymphoma Human Xenograft KARPAS-299 Lymphoma
Human Xenograft CA46 Lymphoma Human Xenograft U937 Lymphoma Human
Xenograft H33HJ-JA1 Melanoma Human Xenograft A-375 Melanoma Human
Xenograft DH903 Melanoma Human Xenograft JH1308 Melanoma Human
Xenograft KD1592 Melanoma Human Xenograft PS1273 Melanoma Human
Xenograft WM1791C Melanoma Human Xenograft LOX IMVI Melanoma Human
Xenograft SBL2 Melanoma Mouse Allograft B16-F0 Melanoma Human
Xenograft SK-MEL-5 Myeloma Human Xenograft 8226/S Myeloma Human
Xenograft 8226/V Myeloma Human Xenograft 8228/Dox40 Myeloma Human
Xenograft ARH-77 Myeloma Human Xenograft ARHD60 Myeloma Human
Xenograft Kas-6/1 Myeloma Human Xenograft KMM-1 Neuroblastoma Human
Xenograft SK-N-SH Osteosarcoma Human Xenograft Saos-2 Osteosarcoma
Human Xenograft U-2 OS Ovarian Human Xenograft A2780 Ovarian Human
Xenograft OVCAR-3 Ovarian Human Xenograft SK-OV-3 Ovarian Human
Xenograft IGROV1 Ovarian Human Xenograft OV202 Pancreatic Human
Xenograft AsPC-1 Pancreatic Human Xenograft BxPC-3 Pancreatic Human
Xenograft CFPAC-1 Pancreatic Human Xenograft HPAF-II Pancreatic
Human Xenograft MIA PaCa-2 Pancreatic Human Xenograft PANC-1
Pancreatic Human Xenograft SU.86.86 Pancreatic Human Xenograft
Capan-2 Prostate Human Xenograft DU 145 Prostate Human Xenograft
LNCaP Prostate Human Xenograft PC-3 Renal Human Xenograft A-498
Renal Human Xenograft ACHN Renal Human Xenograft 786-O Renal Human
Xenograft Caki-1 Stomach Human Xenograft KATO III Uterine Human
Xenograft RL 95.2 Uterine Human Xenograft MES-SA
[0101] The invention will be further described in the following
examples, which do not limit the scope of the invention described
in the claims.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
Screening for Infectious Nucleic Acid that Can be Used to Treat
Cancer
[0102] The following screening assay is used to identify infectious
nucleic acid that can be used to treat cancer. First, virus
particles are obtained and assessed in vitro using a lysis assay
performed with human cancer cells. Briefly, after titrating virus
particles on a suitable cell line, 1.0 TCID.sub.50/cell of virus
particles is added to a panel of human cancer cell lines, and the
cytopathic effect (CPE) is measured 48 hours post infection using
an MTT assay as described elsewhere ((Mossman, J. Immunol. Methods,
65:55-63 (1983)). Viruses that exceed a CPE of >90 percent for
any particular cell line are considered as putative oncolytics and
proceed to in vivo screening in rodent models.
[0103] The following is performed to assess in vivo oncolytic
effects. Briefly, SCID mice are inoculated with 10.sup.6 cancer
cells (e.g., a cancer cell line listed in Table 4). When tumors
reach 0.5 cm in diameter, putative oncolytic viruses are inoculated
into the mice at low dose (e.g., 10.sup.3 TCID.sub.50 for
intratumoral injections; 10.sup.4 TCID.sub.50 for intravenous
injections; or 10.sup.5 TCID.sub.50 for intraperitoneal
injections). The tumors are measured to determine whether or not
the administered virus caused a reduction in tumor size. Viruses
that cause tumor reduction within two weeks are then screened by
direct injection of viral nucleic acid.
[0104] To assess the direct injection of viral nucleic acid, tumors
are established in SCID mice as above. Then, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32
.mu.g of viral nucleic acid is intratumorally injected in a total
volume of 100 .mu.L, of OptiMEM.RTM. (a chemically-defined medium;
Invitrogen.TM.). The titer of virus within serum is determined
after seven days. A positive response is achieved when a titer of
virus particles in serum is equal to or greater than 10.sup.3
TCID.sub.50 and an overall reduction of tumor size that is greater
than 30 percent.
Example 2
Multiple Myeloma Cells are Highly Susceptible to Coxsackievirus
Infection
[0105] Coxsackievirus A21 (CVA21; Kuykendall strain) was purchased
from ATCC. CVA21 was propagated on H1-HeLa cells (ATCC) by plating
cells at 75 percent confluence 24 hours prior to infection. Cells
were infected with CVA21 at MOI 0.1 for two hours at 37.degree. C.
Unincorporated virus was removed by replacing the growth media.
Infected cells were checked regularly over 48 hours for CPE. When
90 percent of cells had detached, the remaining cells were scraped
from the flask, and the cell pellet was harvested. These cells were
then resuspended in one to two mL of OptiMEM.RTM. (Invitrogen) and
subjected to three freeze-thaw cycles. Cell debris was removed by
centrifugation, and the cleared cell lysate containing virus was
aliquoted and stored at -80.degree. C.
[0106] Titration of CVA21 was performed on H1-HeLa cells. Cells
were plated in 96 well plates at 50 percent confluence. After 24
hours, serial ten-fold dilutions (-2 to -10) were made of the
virus; 100 .mu.L, of each dilution was added to each of eight
duplicate wells. Following incubation at 37.degree. C. for 72
hours, wells were fixed and stained (0.1% crystal violet, 20%
methanol, 4% paraformaldehyde). Wells were then accessed for CPE
manifest as non-staining areas devoid of viable cells. If purple
staining cells were seen on 75 percent or less of the well surface,
then the well was scored positive. TCID.sub.50 values were
determined using the Spearman and Karber equation.
[0107] One-step growth curves were performed using four multiple
myeloma cell lines (JJN-3, KAS6/1, MM1, ARH-77). Each cell line was
incubated with CVA21 at a MOI of 3.0 for 2 hours at 37.degree. C.
Following this incubation, cells were centrifuged, and
unincorporated virus was removed. Cells were resuspended in fresh
growth media and plated in 24 well plates with eight wells for each
cell line tested. At predetermined time-points (2, 4, 6, 12, 24,
36, 48, and 72 hours), cells and growth media were harvested from
one well for each cell line. Cells were separated from growth media
(supernatant) with fresh growth media being added to cell pellet.
Both fractions were frozen at -80.degree. C.
[0108] At the completion of all time-points, the samples were
thawed, and the cell pellets were cleared from the samples by
centrifugation providing a cleared cell lysate fraction and a media
supernatant fraction. The titer was determined for both
fractions.
[0109] All myeloma cell lines exhibited rapid and high titer
propagation of CVA21 with three of the four cell lines approaching
plateau by 12 hours with titers as high as 10.sup.7 to 10.sup.8
TCID.sub.50 per mL (FIG. 1). All titers remained steady out to the
72 hour time point. These results demonstrate that multiple myeloma
cell lines are highly susceptible to CVA21 infection and rapidly
propagate this virus.
Example 3
Coxsackievirus-Mediated Tumor Regression is Associated with Viremia
and Myositis
[0110] An in vivo study was completed in SCID mice. Mice were
irradiated (150 cGy) 24 hours prior to the subcutaneous
implantation of 10.sup.7 KAS6/1 cells into the right flank. When
tumors reached an average size of 0.5 cm, mice were treated with
two injections (48 hours apart) of CVA21, each 5.6.times.10.sup.5
TCID.sub.50. The mice were divided into three groups, Opti-MEM
control (no virus), intratumoral (IT) delivery, and intravenous
(IV) delivery. Tumors began regressing by day 8 at which time the
mice began dragging their hind limbs. Over the next 48 hours, the
mice wasted and became weak being unable to reach food or water due
to progressive limb weakness. At around day 10, the mice either
died or had to be euthanized. In all treated mice, the pattern was
the same: tumor regression coincided with hind limb paralysis
followed by wasting and euthanasia or death.
[0111] Mouse tissue was harvested and applied to a monolayer of
H1-HeLa cells to check for recovery of live virus from tissues. The
control mouse tissues exhibited no CPE. With virus treated mice,
virus was recovered from residual tumor tissue as well as from
adjacent and distant skeletal muscle tissue. Other tissues
including heart, brain, liver, and spleen were negative (Table
5).
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 CPE of mouse tissue overlays on H1-HeLa
cells Mice Tumor Liver Spleen Brain Muscle IV virus #1 +++ - - - ++
IV virus #2 +++ - - - ++ IV virus #3 +++ - - - ++ IT virus #1 +++ -
- - ++ No virus #1 - - - - - Viral recovery was considered negative
(-) if no CPE was observed by 96 hrs. (++) denotes >50% CPE
observed within 24 hrs. (+++) denotes >50% CPE observed within
12 hrs
[0112] In another in vivo study, mice were euthanized at the time
point of tumor regression/hind limb paralysis, and their tissues
prepared for histological examination. The pathology results
indicated that virus-treated mice had significant myositis in their
hind limb muscles (FIG. 2).
[0113] The analysis of tumor volume revealed regression of all
tumors treated with one intratumoral dose of CVA21 (FIG. 3). By day
7, tumors were regressing, and mice exhibited signs of hind limb
paralysis associated with viremia causing myositis. All treated
mice were dead by day 10, while control mice had big tumors but
were otherwise healthy. Blood drawn from treated mice three and
seven days post treatment exhibited titers of CVA21 that ranged
from 3.times.10.sup.5 to 3.times.10.sup.6 per mL (Table 6).
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Serum titers of CVA21 in treated and control
mice (TCID.sub.50) Control mice CVA21 treated mice 72 hours post
treatment 0 .+-. 0 1.08e6 .+-. 3.15e5 1 week post treatment 0 .+-.
0 3.16e6 .+-. 0
[0114] As described above, the effect of CVA21 on multiple myeloma
cell lines and xenografts was examined. CVA21 was propagated and
titered on H1-HeLa cells. FACScan analysis was performed with human
multiple myeloma cell lines (KAS6/1, MM1, JJN-3, ARH-77). All the
cell lines tested were found to express surface receptors for both
DAF and ICAM-1, making them viable candidates for CVA21 infection.
The in vitro studies revealed that cell lines incubated with
decreasing amounts of CVA21 exhibit rapid cytopathic effect in
doses as low as MOI=0.0014 for three of the cell lines tested (dose
for CPE with JJN-3 was MOI=0.028). With in vivo studies in SCID
mice bearing human myeloma xenografts, tumors quickly and
completely responded to CVA21 (both IV and IT administration). As
promptly as the tumors regressed, the mice became sick with
hind-limb paralysis and quickly died. Pathology reports revealed
complete ablation of all tumor tissue but also signs of widespread
myositis in muscle tissues. CVA21 virus was recovered from muscle
biopsies but there was no evidence of CNS infection. Toxicity was
observed in tumor bearing animals with a CVA21 dose as low as 560
TCID.sub.50. In an attempt to ameliorate the myositis, adenoviruses
coding for mouse IFN.gamma. was administered prior to CVA21
therapy. Blood levels of IFN.gamma., were measured by ELISA and
were 1500-3000 pg/mL compared to 150 pg/mL in untreated control
mice. There was little impact on tumor response or survival. These
results demonstrate that CVA21 can be a potent anti-myeloma
agent.
Example 4
Low Doses of Coxsackievirus Cause Tumor Regression
[0115] Four tumor bearing mice (KAS6/1 tumor cells) were treated by
intratumoral injections with low dose CVA21: two mice with 5,600
TCID.sub.50 and two mice with 560 TCID.sub.50. By day 6, all of the
treated tumors began getting soft and started regressing. Between
days 7-9, all mice exhibited signs of virema with hind limb
paralysis and wasting. At this point, all mice met the sacrifice
criteria and were euthanized by day 12.
Example 5
Infectious RNA Encoding a Coxsackievirus Causes Tumor Regression,
Viremia, and Myositis
[0116] CVA21 infectious RNA was synthesized by in vitro
transcription of a CVA21 plasmid DNA (obtained from Eckhard
Wimmer). The CVA21 DNA was linearized by cutting with Mlu 1
restriction enzyme upstream of the T7 promoter site. This digest
was terminated by ethanol precipitation. The transcription reaction
was then assembled using the Ambion (Austin, Tex.) MEGAscript.RTM.
kit. Briefly, the linearized DNA was mixed with reaction buffer,
ribonucleotide solutions, and enzyme. Transcription was allowed to
proceed at 37.degree. C. for three hours. The sample was then
treated with DNase 1 to remove the template DNA. Ambion's
MEGAclear.TM. purification kit was used to purify the RNA for in
vitro or in vivo studies. CVA21 RNA samples were quantitated by UV
absorbance. The purity and size of the transcription product were
assessed by formaldehyde gel electrophoresis. Activity of the CVA21
transcript was assessed by transfecting RNA into H1-HeLa cells
using the Minis (Madison, Wis.) TranIT.RTM.-mRNA Transfection Kit
and monitoring cells for CPE and for release of titratable CVA21
virus.
[0117] To test the effectiveness of CVA21 infectious RNA to cause
the same tumor destruction as CVA21 virus, SCID mice bearing KAS6/1
subcutaneous xenografts were given intratumoral injections of CVA21
RNA at increasing doses (0, 1 .mu.g, 2 .mu.g, 4 .mu.g, 8 .mu.g, 16
.mu.g, and 32 .mu.g). Tumors were measured daily, and mice were
monitored for signs of hind limb paralysis. Blood was also drawn
from mice at days 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, and 21 to monitor serum titers
of CVA21 virus. All mice in the groups that received 4 .mu.g or
more of RNA had tumor regression, viremia, and myositis causing
hind limb paralysis and death (Table 7 and FIG. 4). Two mice in
each of the 1 .mu.g and 2 .mu.g groups exhibited tumor regression
and hind limb paralysis, but tumors progressed in the other mice in
those groups as well as in non-treated mice. These non-responding
animals did not exhibit signs of myositis and were euthanized when
their tumors were greater than 10 percent of body weight.
TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Mean virus titers in mouse serum/group
(TCID.sub.50). RNA (.mu.g) 3 day 7 day 10 day 14 day 17 day 21 day
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5e2 6e4 1e5 6e4 0 0** 2 5e2 0 1e6 6e4 8e4 8e4 4 1e6
1e6 6e6 1e6 7e5 3e5** 8 2e6 7e4 7e4 1e6 3e4** 3e4** 16 2e4 6e5 8e5
3e5** 3e4** 0** 32 6e4 2e5 1e6 1e5 3e6** **Denotes more than 50% of
mice dead in group
[0118] In another study, two mice bearing myeloma xenografts were
tested to determine whether CVA21 infectious RNA given
intravenously initiates the oncolytic intratumoral CVA21 infection.
Two SCID mice bearing KAS6/1 subcutaneous xenografts were each
given an intravenous tail vein injection of a solution containing
50 .mu.g CVA21 RNA. By day 4 post injection of the RNA, both mice
had measurable viral titers in their serum
(TCID.sub.50=3.times.10.sup.5 per mL). In addition, tumor
regression began around day 7 with hind limb paralysis at day 9
followed by death at day 10 with serum virus titers at
3.times.10.sup.6 TCID.sub.50 (Table 8 and FIG. 5).
TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 Progression of infection in mice treated
intravenously with infectious viral RNA. Day 4 serum Tumor Hind
Death TCID.sub.50 regression limb paralysis (Serum TCID.sub.50)
Mouse 1 3e5 Day 8 Day 10 Day 11 Mouse 2 3e5 Day 6 Day 10 Day 11
(3e6)
Example 6
microRNA-Dependent Silencing in Muscle
[0119] A microRNA-dependent technique for controlling viral gene
expression was developed to control effects associated with viral
expression in non-tumor cells (e.g., myositis associated with CVA21
therapy). Coxsackievirus A21, a picornavirus with a 7.4 kb genome,
is not well suited for the incorporation of trackable transgenes.
Therefore, to test the ability of microRNA target elements to
confer tissue-specific silencing of a virus in vitro, GFP-tagged
plasmids and lentiviral vectors expressing GFP were generated.
Three highly conserved, muscle-specific microRNAs (miR-1, miR-133,
and miR-206) were selected as potential modulators of gene
expression, and target elements complementary to these microRNA
sequences were incorporated into the 3'UTR of GFP.
Immunofluorescence and flow-cytometric analysis revealed microRNA
target element-dependent suppression of gene expression in the
muscle cells, while controls with hematopoetic cell-specific
microRNA target elements remained unaffected. Induction of higher
levels of miR-1, miR-133, and miR-206 in muscle cells amplified
this effect. These results demonstrate that the incorporation of
microRNA target elements into the viral genome provides an
effective approach by which tissue tropism of oncolytic viruses can
be altered.
[0120] Materials and Methods
[0121] Cell culture, transfections, and lentiviral vector
production. HeLa, L6, TE-671, C2C12, 293T, and 3T3 cells were
obtained from American Type Culture Collection and were maintained
in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS (also referred to as Growth
Medium) in 5% CO.sub.2. Cells were differentiated in DMEM
supplemented with 2% horse serum for four days. Transfections were
performed using the Promega (Madison, Wis.) Calcium Phosphate
ProFection mammalian Transfection System with a total of 3 .mu.g of
DNA per well in a six-well plate. Briefly, cells were transfected
at 24 hours after being plated in 2 mL of medium at
0.25.times.10.sup.6 cells/well. Cells were harvested or used for
immunofluorescence 72 hours after transfection. Lentiviral vectors
were obtained by transfection of 10 .mu.g of each lentiviral
transfer plasmid (pHR-sin-CSGW dlNot1 or pHR-sin-F.Luc) provided by
Y. Ikeda and lentiviral packaging plasmid (CMV .DELTA.R8.91), and 3
.mu.g VSV-G packaging construct pMD.G in a T75 flask. Supernatant
was harvested at 72 hours post transfection, and filtered through a
0.45 micron syringe filter.
[0122] Plasmid Construction. microRNA sequences were obtained from
the Sanger Institute miRBase database (internet site
"microrna.sanger.ac.uk/sequences/"). Oligos were annealed in
equimolar amounts in STE Buffer by heating to 94.degree. C.
followed by gradual cooling at bench top. Oligos were designed
using methods described elsewhere (Brown et al., Nat. Med.,
12:585-591 (2006)). The following oligos were used for annealing.
The underlined sequences represent microRNA target elements. The
annealed oligos were cloned into XhoI/NotI site of pHR-sin-CSGW
dlNot1, and lentiviral vectors were produced.
[0123] Briefly, four tandem copies of target elements for miR-133
and miR206 were incorporated into the 3'UTR of the lentiviral
vector. A hematopoetic cell-specific microRNA target element for
miR142-3P was incorporated in the same fashion and used as a
control. Two further constructs were generated incorporating two
tandem copies of two muscle-specific microRNA target elements (miR1
and miR-133 to form construct miR1/133T, and miR133 and 206 to form
miR133/206T; FIG. 6A).
TABLE-US-00009 miR133 Sense #1: (SEQ ID NO: 1)
5'-GGCCGCACAGCTGGTTGAAGGGGACCAACGATACAGCTGGTTGAAG GGGACCAAACCGGT-3'
Sense #2: (SEQ ID NO: 2)
5'-ACAGCTGGTTGAAGGGGACCAATCACACAGCTGGTTGAAGGGGACCA AC-3' Anti-sense
#1: (SEQ ID NO: 3)
5'-TTGGTCCCCTTCAACCAGCTGTATCGTTGGTCCCCTTCAACCAGCTG TGC-3'
Anti-sense #2: (SEQ ID NO: 4)
5'-TCGAGTTGGTCCCCTTCAACCAGCTGTGTGATTGGTCCCCTTCAACC AGCTGTACCGGT-3'
miR206 Sense #1: (SEQ ID NO: 5)
5'-GGCCGCCCACACACTTCCTTACATTCCACGATCCACACACTTCCTTA CATTCCAACCGGT-3'
Sense #2: (SEQ ID NO: 6)
5'-CCACACACTTCCTTACATTCCATCACCCACACACTTCCTTACATTCC AC-3' Anti-sense
#1: (SEQ ID NO: 7)
5'-TGGAATGTAAGGAAGTGTGTGGATCGTGGAATGTAAGGAAGTGTGTG GGC-3'
Anti-sense #2: (SEQ ID NO: 8)
5'-TCGAGTGGAATGTAAGGAAGTGTGTGGGTGATGGAATGTAAGGAAGT GTGTGGACCGGT-3'
miR1/133 Sense #1: (SEQ ID NO: 9)
5'-GGCCGCTACATACTTCTTTACATTCCACGATTACATACTTCTTTACA TTCCAACCGGT-3'
Sense #2: (SEQ ID NO: 10)
5'-ACAGCTGGTTGAAGGGGACCAATCACACAGCTGGTTGAAGGGGACC AAC-3' Anti-sense
#1: (SEQ ID NO: 11)
5'-TGGAATGTAAAGAAGTATGTAATCGTGGAATGTAAAGAAGTATGTA GC-3' Anti-sense
#2: (SEQ ID NO: 12)
5'-TCGAGTTGGTCCCCTTCAACCAGCTGTGTGATTGGTCCCCTTCAACC AGCTGTACCGGT-3'
miR133/206 Sense #1: (SEQ ID NO: 13)
5'-GGCCGCACAGCTGGTTGAAGGGGACCAACGATACAGCTGGTTGAAGG GGACCAAACCGGT-3'
Sense #2: (SEQ ID NO: 14)
5'-CCACACACTTCCTTACATTCCATCACCCACACACTTCCTTACATTCC AC-3' Anti-sense
#1: (SEQ ID NO: 15)
5'-TTGGTCCCCTTCAACCAGCTGTATCGTTGGTCCCCTTCAACCAGCTG TGC-3'
Anti-sense #2: (SEQ ID NO: 16)
5'-TCGAGTGGAATGTAAGGAAGTGTGTGGGTGATGGAATGTAAGGAAGT GTGTGGACCGGT-3'
miR142-3p Sense #1: (SEQ ID NO: 17)
5'-GGCCGCTCCATAAAGTAGGAAACACTACACGATTCCATAAAGTAGGA
AACACTACAACCGGT-3' Sense #2: (SEQ ID NO: 18)
5'-TCCATAAAGTAGGAAACACTACATCACTCCATAAAGTAGGAAACACT ACAC-3'
Anti-sense #1: (SEQ ID NO: 19)
5'-TGTAGTGTTTCCTACTTTATGGAATCGTGTAGTGTTTCCTACTTTAT GGAGC-3'
Anti-sense #2: (SEQ ID NO: 20)
5'-TCGAGTGTAGTGTTTCCTACTTTATGGAGTGATGTAGTGTTTCCTAC
TTTATGGAACCGGT-3'
[0124] Luciferase assays and flow cytometry. 2.5.times.10.sup.5
cells were plated in 6 well plates with DMEM+10% FBS and infected
with HIV-based lentiviral vectors containing a luciferase gene. 72
hours post transfection, half of the cells were harvested for flow
cytometry, and the remaining half were used for a luciferase assay.
For the luciferase assay, cells were lysed in 1 percent triton-X
100 in PBS. Luciferase levels were quantified using the TopCount
microplate luminescence counter. Cells for flow cytometry were
fixed in 4 percent paraformaldehyde in PBS, washed, and resuspended
in PBS+2 percent FBS, and GFP was quantified using a Becton
Dickinson FACScan flow cytometer. Flow data was analyzed using the
BD CellQuest Software.
[0125] Results
[0126] Muscle microRNA target element incorporation suppresses
transgene expression in muscle cells. A total of five cell lines
were used to test the constructed microRNA target element-tagged
lentiviral vectors. The human cell lines H1-HeLa and 293T, along
with the mouse cell line 3T3 were used as controls as they are not
of muscle origin, while the human rhabdomyosarcoma line TE671 and
the rat myoblast line L6 were used as muscle cells expressing
miR-1, miR-133, and miR-206 (Anderson et al., Nucleic Acids Res.,
34:5863-5871 (2006)). Cell lines were transduced with lentiviral
vectors expressing muscle or control microRNA target elements in
the 3'UTR of GFP and a control containing a non-tagged luciferase
encoding vector (FIG. 6B). Flow cytometry analysis revealed marked
inhibition of GFP expression specifically in muscle cells in
vectors containing target elements for miR-206 and a combination of
target elements of both miR-133 and miR-206. Luciferase assay
results indicated that this effect was directed only towards those
transgenes containing muscle-specific microRNA target elements as
luciferase expression remained constant in all cells (FIGS. 7, 9,
and 10-18).
[0127] Increased microRNA expression results in increased microRNA
target element-mediated suppression. To determine if the
microRNA-mediated silencing can be enhanced by a more robust
expression of muscle specific microRNAs, cells were cultured in the
presence of differentiation medium, which can increase expression
of muscle-specific microRNAs (Anderson et al., Nucleic Acids Res.,
34:5863-5871 (2006)). By increasing the expression of microRNAs,
the number of RNA-Induced Silencing Complexes (RISCs) is
potentially greatly increased as is the potential for overcoming
the effect of saturation of the microRNA pathway, should such a
saturation occur. When cultured in the absence of FBS and in the
presence of horse serum, microRNA-mediated silencing of GFP
expression increased by about 1.5 and 3 fold in TE671 and L6 cells,
respectively (FIGS. 8 and 9).
[0128] Taken together, the results provided herein demonstrate that
target elements for tissue-specific microRNAs can be incorporated
into viral nucleic acid to control virus stability, viral
replication, and viral gene expression. By incorporating target
elements for tissue-specific microRNAs into the genome of a virus,
one can modulate the stability of not only viral transcripts, but
also the actual template from which transcripts are derived.
Example 7
microRNA Regulated CVA21
[0129] MicroRNAs are emerging as new potent and active cellular
regulators. To show that naturally occurring and differentially
expressed miRNAs can be exploited to modulate the tropism of a
replicating virus, an miRNA-regulated CVA21 was constructed. Two
copies each of the target sequences coding for miR-133 and miR-206
were inserted in the 3'NTR of CVA21.
[0130] Materials and Methods
[0131] Recombinant CVA21 construction. The following sequences were
cloned into the 3'NTR of pGEM-CVA21 (obtained from Matthias
Gromeier) in between by 7344/7345 by overlap extension PCR. As
indicated above, miR-142 3pT is a hematopoeitic cell specific
control, while miR133T, miR206T, miR133/206T are muscle
specific.
TABLE-US-00010 (SEQ ID NO: 80)
TCCATAAAGTAGGAAACACTACACGATTCCATAAAGTAGGAAACACTACA
CTGGAGTCCATAAAGTAGGAAACACTACATCACTCCATAAAGTAGGAAAC ACTACA (miR-142
3pT) (SEQ ID NO: 81)
ACAGCTGGTTGAAGGGGACCAACGATACAGCTGGTTGAAGGGGACCAACT
GGAGACAGCTGGTTGAAGGGGACCAATCACACAGCTGGTTGAAGGGGACC AA (miR 133T)
(SEQ ID NO: 82) CCACACACTTCCTTACATTCCACGATCCACACACTTCCTTACATTCCACT
GGAGCCACACACTTCCTTACATTCCATCACCCACACACTTCCTTACATTC CA (miR 206T)
(SEQ ID NO: 83) ACAGCTGGTTGAAGGGGACCAACGATACAGCTGGTTGAAGGGGACCAACT
GGAGCCACACACTTCCTTACATTCCATCACCCACACACTTCCTTACATTC CA (miR
133/206T)
[0132] Virus and Viral RNA production. Viral RNA was produced using
Ambion Megascript and Megaclear T7 polymerase kit according to the
manufacturer's instructions. One .mu.g RNA/well was transfected
into H1-HeLa cells in 12 well plates using the Minis (Madison,
Wis.) TranIT.RTM.-mRNA transfection reagent. After incubating for
24 hours, wells were scraped and cell pellets harvested. Cell
pellets were subjected to three freeze/thaw cycles in liquid N2,
cell debris was cleared by centrifugation, and the resulting
cleared lysate was added to H1-HeLa cells in a T-75 flask. For
CVA21 miRT, three passages were required to obtain suitable titers
of virus.
[0133] CVA21 Titration. Titration of CVA21 was performed on H1-HeLa
cells. Cells were plated in 96 well plates at 50% confluence. After
24 hours, serial ten-fold dilutions (-2 to -10) were made of the
virus; 100 .mu.L of each dilution were added to each of eight
duplicate wells. Following incubation at 37.degree. C. for 72
hours, wells were fixed and stained (0.1% crystal violet, 20%
methanol, 4% paraformaldehyde). Wells then were assessed for CPE
manifest as non-staining areas devoid of viable cells. If purple
staining cells were seen on 75% or less of the well surface, then
the well was scored positive. TCID.sub.50 values were determined
using the Spearman and Karber equation.
[0134] One Step Growth Curves. Each cell line was incubated with
CVA21 at a MOI (multiplicity of infection) of 3.0 for 2 hours at
37.degree. C. Following this incubation, cells were centrifuged,
and unincorporated virus was removed. Cells were resuspended in
fresh growth media at predetermined time-points (2, 4, 6, 18, 12,
24, hours), cells pellets were harvested and frozen at -80.degree.
C. At the completion of all time-points, the cell pellets were
thawed. Cell debris was cleared from each cell pellet by
centrifugation to provide a cleared cell lysate fraction.
[0135] miRNA mimics. miRNA mimics were purchased from Dharmacon,
Inc. (Lafayette, Colo.). The control miRNA mimic corresponded to a
C. elegans miRNA with no predicted miRTs in mammalian cells. miRNA
mimics were transfected with Mims TranIT.RTM.-mRNA transfection
reagent at a 200 nM concentration. Four hours post mimic
transfection, cells were infected with WT, miRT, or RevT CVA21 at
MOI=1.0. After 24 hrs. post infection, cells were harvested for an
MTT viability assay and supernatant was harvested for
titration.
[0136] In Vivo Experiments. CB17 ICR-SCID mice were obtained from
Harlan (Indianapolis, Ind.). Mice were irradiated and implanted
with 5e6 Kas 6/1 or MeI 624 cells in the right flank. When tumors
reached an average of 0.5.times.5 cm, tumors were treated with 1e6
CVA21. Tumor volume was measured using a hand held caliper and
blood was collected by retroorbital bleeds. Histological and
pathological analysis of mice was performed by Mayo Clinic
Scottsdale Research Histology after terminal perfusion with 4%
paraformaldehyde.
Results
[0137] Two copies each of the target sequences coding for miR-133
and miR-206 were inserted in the 3'NTR of CVA21 (see FIG. 33A). The
miRT virus was rescued by RNA transfection in H1-HeLa cells and its
replication kinetics were compared with those of the parental WT
strain of CVA21. As shown in FIGS. 33B, 33C and 33D, the growth
kinetics of these two viruses are indistinguishable on H1-HeLa,
Mel-624 and Kas 6/1 cells and did not differ from the growth of a
control virus (RevT) carrying a control insert in the 3'NTR (see
below).
[0138] To determine whether the lytic effects of the miRT CVA21
recombinant virus could be controlled by muscle-specific miRNAs,
CVA21-susceptible H1-HeLa cells were infected with test and control
viruses (moi=1.0) after first transfecting them with microRNA
mimics corresponding to miR-133, 206, or with a control mimic
corresponding to a C. elegans miRNA that has no identified target
in mammalian cells. Mimics of miR-133 or miR-206 each partially
protected the H1-HeLa cells from viral lysis by miRT CVA21 with
miR-206 providing greater protection than miR-133. When cells were
exposed simultaneously to both of the muscle specific miRNA mimics,
they appeared to be fully resistant to the retargeted virus such
that cell viability was not significantly different from mock
infected cells (p=0.49) (FIG. 33F).
[0139] To determine whether propagation of the miRT CVA21 virus was
efficiently blocked by the muscle-specific microRNAs in a
sequence-specific manner, the supernatant virus titers also were
measured in this experiment. Virus titers in the supernatants of
cells infected with miRT CVA21 were substantially decreased by
miR-133 (two log reduction) or miR-206 (three log reduction) when
the mimics were applied individually, but were decreased to
undetectable levels (>five log reduction) in the presence of
both muscle-specific mimics (FIG. 33G). It also was confirmed that
cells could be significantly protected by endogenously encoded
miRNAs by transfecting infectious RNA for WT and miRT CVA21 in
H1-HeLa or the muscle cell line TE-671. As shown in FIG. 33H,
endogenously encoded and expressed miRNAs significantly protected
muscle cells from cytopathic effects of miRT CVA21 (p<0.01).
[0140] To investigate if miRT CVA21 retained oncolytic in vivo
efficacy and if it provided a protection phenotype against fatal
myositis, immunodeficient mice carrying subcutaneous xenografts
derived from human myeloma or melanoma cell lines were infected
(FIG. 34A-C, FIG. 35A-D, FIG. 36A-C). Mice carrying established
subcutaneous tumors were treated with a single intratumoral dose of
10.sup.6 TCID.sub.50 of each virus and monitored for tumor growth
and survival. WT treated animals had quick and in some cases
complete tumor regression, but all developed generalized muscle
paralysis and were euthanized in less than 15 days. Animals treated
with the miRT virus, however, had slow but eventually complete
tumor regression and significantly increased survival as compared
to WT treated animals (FIG. 34D) (p<0.001).
[0141] Histological analysis of muscle tissue in mice treated with
WT virus again showed massive infiltration and necrosis while
animals treated with miRT virus were rescued from this phenotype.
Though survival was statistically significant (p<0.001 vs
control and WT CVA21), a small number of mice developed tremors and
labored breathing and, in 2 cases, paralysis and were euthanized
(FIG. 34D). Pathologic examination of these mice indicated that
this was symptomatic of a polio-like myelitis rather than myositis.
To determine if this was caused by a persistant viremia that may
have allowed a retrograde axonal transport of the virus to occur,
viral titers present in mouse serum were examined.
[0142] Serum collected from all mice was analyzed at two-week
intervals after CVA21 treatment. Mice treated with miRT CVA21 had
initial high level viremia, consistent with the viremia seen in WT
CVA21 treated animals (FIG. 34F). In some animals, this viremia
persisted enabling the analysis of the stability of the miRT
insert. Though RNA interference against vertebrate viruses is not
generally accepted as naturally occurring by microRNA targets
encoded within viral genomes, the results show that engineered
microRNA targets in viruses are capable of regulation by miRNA
primed RNAi machinery.
[0143] To the essence of whether vertebrate viruses evolved to
avoid miRTs within their viral genomes and to test if insertion of
miRTs can provide a long-term means of targeting, stability of the
insertions was examined 45 days after virus administration (FIG.
34G). Because of the nature of the replication cycles of both Kas
6/1 myeloma cells and CVA21, there is an assurance of a high amount
of viral turnover. This, combined with the high error rate of
RNA-dependent RNA polymerases provided opportunity for the virus to
mutate the inserted sequence. In animals that had viremia, 6/11
animals maintained 100% sequence identity with the original
sequence; 3 animals had >80% sequence homology with the inserted
miRTs, 1 animal retained only 68% of the inserted target, and one
animal had limited sequence retention (RevT). All animals
maintained perfect homology in the flaking 3D.sub.pol and 3'NTR
sequence to the WT virus. Though there was a significant amount of
target retention in this experiment, the terminal point in this
study was 70 days, at which point the major substrate for viral
replication (hsICAM-1 positive Kas 6/1 cells) in mice was no longer
present. To address the possibility that the altered in vivo host
range properties of the miRT virus might be a nonspecific
consequence of placing a 100 base insert into its 3'UTR, the RevT
virus (so called because of the revertant phenotype it displayed in
mice) was characterized. This virus carries a 3'NTR insert with the
identical insertion site to the microRNA targeted virus, but
retains only minimal homology to the original microRNA target
sequence (FIG. 37B). The RevT insert was cloned into the lentiviral
GFP reporter vector (FIG. 37A) and demonstrated that it was unable
to mediate muscle cell-specific silencing of lentiviral gene
expression (FIG. 37C). Finally, the RevT virus was administered by
intratumoral inoculation to mice bearing large subcutaneous KAS6/1
myeloma xenografts, at the same time treating control groups of
mice with the wild type and microRNA retargeted viruses. As shown
in FIG. 34E and FIG. 35, the in vivo behavior of the RevT virus was
indistinguishable from that of the wild type virus. All
RevT-challenged animals died within 14 days of virus administration
from severe, generalized myositis. These in vivo results confirm
and extend the conclusion of the in vitro studies: that the host
range of a pathogenic RNA virus can be controlled by cellular
microRNAs.
Other Embodiments
[0144] It is to be understood that while the invention has been
described in conjunction with the detailed description thereof, the
foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not limit the
scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the
appended claims. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are
within the scope of the following claims.
Sequence CWU 1
1
99160DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic oligonucleotide 1ggccgcacag ctggttgaag gggaccaacg
atacagctgg ttgaagggga ccaaaccggt 60249DNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 2acagctggtt gaaggggacc aatcacacag ctggttgaag
gggaccaac 49350DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial
Sequence Synthetic oligonucleotide 3ttggtcccct tcaaccagct
gtatcgttgg tccccttcaa ccagctgtgc 50459DNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 4tcgagttggt ccccttcaac cagctgtgtg attggtcccc
ttcaaccagc tgtaccggt 59560DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of
Artificial Sequence Synthetic oligonucleotide 5ggccgcccac
acacttcctt acattccacg atccacacac ttccttacat tccaaccggt
60649DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic oligonucleotide 6ccacacactt ccttacattc catcacccac
acacttcctt acattccac 49750DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of
Artificial Sequence Synthetic oligonucleotide 7tggaatgtaa
ggaagtgtgt ggatcgtgga atgtaaggaa gtgtgtgggc 50859DNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 8tcgagtggaa tgtaaggaag tgtgtgggtg atggaatgta
aggaagtgtg tggaccggt 59958DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of
Artificial Sequence Synthetic oligonucleotide 9ggccgctaca
tacttcttta cattccacga ttacatactt ctttacattc caaccggt
581049DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic oligonucleotide 10acagctggtt gaaggggacc aatcacacag
ctggttgaag gggaccaac 491148DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of
Artificial Sequence Synthetic oligonucleotide 11tggaatgtaa
agaagtatgt aatcgtggaa tgtaaagaag tatgtagc 481259DNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 12tcgagttggt ccccttcaac cagctgtgtg attggtcccc
ttcaaccagc tgtaccggt 591360DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of
Artificial Sequence Synthetic oligonucleotide 13ggccgcacag
ctggttgaag gggaccaacg atacagctgg ttgaagggga ccaaaccggt
601449DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic oligonucleotide 14ccacacactt ccttacattc catcacccac
acacttcctt acattccac 491550DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of
Artificial Sequence Synthetic oligonucleotide 15ttggtcccct
tcaaccagct gtatcgttgg tccccttcaa ccagctgtgc 501659DNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 16tcgagtggaa tgtaaggaag tgtgtgggtg atggaatgta
aggaagtgtg tggaccggt 591762DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of
Artificial Sequence Synthetic oligonucleotide 17ggccgctcca
taaagtagga aacactacac gattccataa agtaggaaac actacaaccg 60gt
621851DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic oligonucleotide 18tccataaagt aggaaacact acatcactcc
ataaagtagg aaacactaca c 511952DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of
Artificial Sequence Synthetic oligonucleotide 19tgtagtgttt
cctactttat ggaatcgtgt agtgtttcct actttatgga gc 522061DNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 20tcgagtgtag tgtttcctac tttatggagt gatgtagtgt
ttcctacttt atggaaccgg 60t 612121RNAArtificial SequenceDescription
of Artificial Sequence Synthetic oligonucleotide 21uggaauguaa
agaaguaugu a 212222RNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial
Sequence Synthetic oligonucleotide 22uacaguacug ugauaacuga ag
222323RNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic oligonucleotide 23uggaguguga caaugguguu ugu
232422RNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic oligonucleotide 24uuaaggcacg cggugaaugc ca
222523RNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic oligonucleotide 25ucccugagac ccuuuaaccu gug
232621RNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic oligonucleotide 26ucguaccgug aguaauaaug c
212722RNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic oligonucleotide 27ucggauccgu cugagcuugg cu
222822RNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic oligonucleotide 28ucacagugaa ccggucucuu uc
222922RNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic oligonucleotide 29cagugcaaug uuaaaagggc au
223022RNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic oligonucleotide 30uaacagucua cagccauggu cg
223122RNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic oligonucleotide 31uugguccccu ucaaccagcu gu
223221RNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic oligonucleotide 32ugugacuggu ugaccagagg g
213323RNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic oligonucleotide 33uauggcuuuu uauuccuaug uga
233417RNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic oligonucleotide 34agcugguguu gugaauc 173520RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 35cauaaaguag aaagcacuac 203623RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 36uguaguguuu ccuacuuuau gga 233722RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 37ugagaugaag cacuguagcu ca 223824RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 38guccaguuuu cccaggaauc ccuu 243922RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 39ucagugcacu acagaacuuu gu 224022RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 40uagcagcaca uaaugguuug ug 224122RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 41ucucccaacc cuuguaccag ug 224222RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 42acuagacuga agcuccuuga gg 224322RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 43ucagugcaug acagaacuug gg 224420RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 44uugcauaguc acaaaaguga 204522RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 45uuaaugcuaa ucgugauagg gg 224622RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 46uagcagcacg uaaauauugg cg 224724RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 47caaagugcuu acagugcagg uagu 244823RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 48aacauucaac gcugucggug agu 234923RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 49uauggcacug guagaauuca cug 235022RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 50uaaggugcau cuagugcaga ua 225122RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 51uaaggugcau cuagugcagu ua 225221RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 52cugaccuaug aauugacagc c 215322RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 53uguaacagca acuccaugug ga 225421RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 54uagcagcaca gaaauauugg c 215523RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 55cccaguguuc agacuaccug uuc 235623RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 56ugugcaaauc uaugcaaaac uga 235723RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 57ugugcaaauc caugcaaaac uga 235822RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 58uucccuuugu cauccuaugc cu 225922RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 59uucccuuugu cauccuaugc cu 226022RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 60uggaauguaa ggaagugugu gg 226122RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 61auaagacgag caaaaagcuu gu 226221RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 62uaacagucuc cagucacggc c 216321RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 63augaccuaug aauugacaga c 216421RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 64augaccuaug aauugacaga c 216521RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 65uaaucucagc uggcaacugu g 216621RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 66ugauugucca aacgcaauuc u 216723RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 67agcuacauug ucugcugggu uuc 236824RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 68agcuacaucu ggcuacuggg ucuc 246921RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 69ugucaguuug ucaaauaccc c 217022RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 70uggcucaguu cagcaggaac ag 227122RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 71cauugcacuu gucucggucu ga 227222RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 72uguaaacauc cuacacucag cu 227323RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 73uguaaacauc cuacacucuc agc 237421RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 74uauugcacau uacuaaguug c 217522RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 75uuuguucguu cggcucgcgu ga 227622RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 76uggaagacua gugauuuugu ug 227723RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 77ucuuugguua ucuagcugua uga 237822RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 78uucaacgggu auuuauugag ca 227922RNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic
oligonucleotide 79cacccguaga accgaccuug cg 2280106DNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic polynucleotide
80tccataaagt aggaaacact acacgattcc ataaagtagg aaacactaca ctggagtcca
60taaagtagga aacactacat cactccataa agtaggaaac actaca
10681102DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic polynucleotide 81acagctggtt gaaggggacc aacgatacag
ctggttgaag gggaccaact ggagacagct 60ggttgaaggg gaccaatcac acagctggtt
gaaggggacc aa 10282102DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of
Artificial Sequence Synthetic polynucleotide 82ccacacactt
ccttacattc cacgatccac acacttcctt acattccact ggagccacac 60acttccttac
attccatcac ccacacactt ccttacattc ca 10283102DNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic polynucleotide
83acagctggtt gaaggggacc aacgatacag ctggttgaag gggaccaact ggagccacac
60acttccttac attccatcac ccacacactt ccttacattc ca
1028493DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic polynucleotide 84acttacttga gacggaatga ttgtgcttat
actggtgtag gaactaattt ttctttatta 60cgtagcatca cccacacact tccttacatt
cca 9385101DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic polynucleotide 85ccagtgatgc caatgaaaga aattcacgaa
tcaatcagat ggaccaactg ccgccacaac 60cttacttaca ttccatcacc cacacacttc
cttacattcc a 10186102DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of
Artificial Sequence Synthetic polynucleotide 86acagctggtt
gaaggggacc aacgatacag ctggttgaag gggaccaact ggagccacac 60acttccttac
attccatcac ccacacactt ccttacattc ca 10287101DNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic polynucleotide
87acagctggtc gaaggggacc aacgatacag ctggttgaag gggaccaact ggagccacac
60acttccttat attccaccta cctcagtcgg attggattgg g
10188102DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic polynucleotide 88acagctggtt gaaggggacc aacgatacag
ctggttgaag gggaccaact ggagccacac 60acttccttac attccatcac ccacacactt
ccttacattc ca 10289102DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of
Artificial Sequence Synthetic polynucleotide 89acagctggtt
gaaggggacc aacgatacag ctggttgaag gggaccaact ggagccacac 60acttccttac
attccatcac acatacactt acttacattc ca 10290102DNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic polynucleotide
90acagctggtt gaaggggacc aacgatacag ctggttgaag gggaccaact ggagccacac
60acttccttac attccatcac ccacacactt ccttacattc ca
10291102DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic polynucleotide 91acagctggtt gaaggggacc aacgatacag
ctggttgaag gggaccaact ggagccacac 60acttccttac attccatcac ccacacactt
ccttacattc ca 10292102DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of
Artificial Sequence Synthetic polynucleotide 92acagctggtc
gaaggggacc aacgatacag ctggttgaag gggaccaact ggagccacac 60acttccttat
attccaccta ccacactcgg attgacatgg ct 10293102DNAArtificial
SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic polynucleotide
93acagctggtt gaaggggacc aacgatacag ctggttgaag gggaccaact ggagccacac
60acttccttac attccaccta cctcagtcgg attggattgg gt
10294102DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic polynucleotide 94acagctggtt gaaggggacc aacgatacag
ctggttgaag gggaccaact ggagccacac 60acttccttac attccatcac ccacacactt
ccttacattc ca 1029593DNAArtificial SequenceDescription of
Artificial Sequence Synthetic polynucleotide 95acttacttga
gacggaatga ttgtgcttat actggtgtag gaactaattt ttctttatta 60cgtagcatca
cccacacact tccttacatt cca 9396130RNAArtificial SequenceDescription
of Artificial Sequence Synthetic polynucleotide 96cccucccccc
caggaccucc gacgugcugu gaguaugauu gcgguaccga ucugcgaaag 60acgcacuucu
gucaucaagg aguguccccu cacuaaguac caccucacag cggggguagu
120cccccgaccg 1309789RNAArtificial SequenceDescription of
Artificial Sequence Synthetic polynucleotide 97cccucccccc
caggaccucc gacgugcugu gaguaugauu gcgguaccga ucugcgaaag 60acgcacuucu
gucaucaagg agugucccc
8998700RNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence
Synthetic polynucleotide 98aacgugacaa auaacacuaa uuuuuacacu
acaauuauuc cgaauaccuu ugugaguuua 60uuaacguguu augagccacc gguuagguua
ucgauauacc auuguuaaac auuuaacagu 120gguauggucg gucauacuua
uauuucccuu ugggucugug gguuucauca gccaaggcgg 180ugucugaaug
cggaaugccg uuggaugagu gagccaacac ucgccaacga ggcaccaauc
240cuaaucggcg uaaguccccg gccuccugag aacucaucga guuauccgag
aaguguggaa 300caaguguuga gcgcagggug ccguagucgg uacccauccg
gggugcgucg gacccggugg 360cagcggccac cccucagggu cugaguaguc
ggauucgaug ugacccccgu cucacagucg 420cguugcguag cuucuaaggu
uccacuauga uccgaagagc uucaugaguu cggcuauugc 480cuaguuagug
aaaacuggca cccaugucac auacacuaua guggccccuu ugcucacgaa
540caagcaucuc caugaccaaa cauggggacg auaacuugaa aacuauugga
agauuucaau 600gcccccuucc cuauguuuug uccgcauguu ucgauggcau
uaugguguca ugaucggcgg 660cgcacccgga gaccccagcc uuguuggggu
cucgacaaaa 70099766RNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial
Sequence Synthetic polynucleotide 99aacgugacaa auaacacuaa
uuuuuacacu acaauuauuc cgaauaguuu cuuugugagu 60uuauauaacg uguuaugacc
caccgguuag guuaucgaua uaccauuguu aaacauuuaa 120cagugguauc
cgucggucau acuuauauuu ccguuugcgc cuguggguuc aucagccagg
180cggugucuga augcguaaug cuguuggaug agugacccaa cacucggcaa
cgaggcacca 240auccuaaucg gcguaagucc ccggccuaau uacgauuagc
acuauccccc ggggacuuac 300gccgauuagg auuggugccu cggcugagaa
cucaucgagu uauccgagaa guguggaaca 360aguguugucg cagggugccg
uagucgguac ccauccgggg guugcgucgg acccgguggc 420agcggccacc
ccucacgggu cugaguaguc ggauucgaug ugagccccgu cucacaacuc
480gcguugcgua gcuuguaagg uuccaguaug auccgaagag cuucaugagu
ucgccuauug 540ccuaguuagu gaaaacuggc acgcauguca gauacacuau
agugggcccu uugcgucacg 600aacaagcaug uccaugacca aacaugggga
cgauaacuug aaaacuauuc gaagauuuca 660augcgcccuu cccuauguuu
uguccgcaug cauguuucca uggcauuaug gucucaugau 720cggcggugga
cgcggagacc ccacccuugu uggggucugg acaaaa 766
* * * * *
References