A conditionally replicating adenovirus targeted to tumor cells through activated RAS/P-MAPK-selective mRNA stabilization.
The expression of various proteins associated with rapid responses to inflammation and/or proliferation can be controlled at the level of mRNA stability. Because tumor cells continually recapitulate intracellular programs of proliferation, we have used tumor cell-selective stabilization of mRNA as a means to control therapeutic gene expression. We describe an adenoviral vector that is conditionally replication competent in which expression of the essential adenoviral early region 1A (E1A) gene is regulated by ligation to the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of PTGS2 (also known as COX2), the gene encoding prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2, allowing activated RAS/P-MAPK-specific stabilization of its mRNA. Induction of activated RAS supports replication, whereas matched cells in which activated RAS/P-MAPK is not expressed are very poor substrates for viral replication both in vitro and in vivo. Further tumor-targeting strategies will also be required to prevent viral replication at extratumoral sites where PTGS2 is normally induced. Many different genes contain 3' UTRs that control selective mRNA stability under different physiological, pathological and tumor-associated conditions. Therefore, generating tumor selectivity at the level of mRNA stability is a strategy with broad potential applicability in vector design.
Ahmed
Atique
A
Molecular Medicine Program and Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Thompson
Jill
J
Emiliusen
Lisa
L
Murphy
Stephen
S
Beauchamp
R Daniel
RD
Suzuki
Kaori
K
Alemany
Ramon
R
Harrington
Kevin
K
Vile
Richard G
RG
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020871:RNA Stability; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods; D014779:Virus Replication; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D018631:ras Proteins