title: Induction of interleukin 2 expression in the liver for the treatment of H22 hepatoma in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We designed this study to evaluate the ability of a plasmid carrying an RU486 regulatory system to induce expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene and to examine the antitumour efficacy of the induced IL-2 gene.
  
  
  METHODS
  The plasmid pRS-mIL-2,which contains an RU486 inducible system and IL-2 gene was injected into mice. Sera and tissues from liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys were taken to test the properties of the plasmid. To examine the antitumour efficacy of pRS-mIL-2, tumours were established in the liver by direct inoculation of H22 hepatoma cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IL-2 levels in serum correlated with the dose of plasmid and RU486. High and sustained IL-2 levels could be achieved by administration of RU486 every day. The mRNA of transgene IL-2 was found only in the liver. Treatment of mice with pRS-mIL-2 plus RU486 resulted in the significant reduction in tumour volume compared with control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tight temporal and spatial control of transgene IL-2 expression can be achieved by a plasmid containing an RU486 inducible system driven by liver specific promoter. pRS-mIL-2 exhibited strong antitumour efficacy following consecutive induction with RU486.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Pathology, Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Lanfang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ou
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Yanru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010957:Plasmids; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015735:Mifepristone