Abstract
Interleukin-12 (IL-12) can elicit potent antitumoral effects that involve the recruitment of specific immune effector cells. We investigated the efficacy o a single injection of a recombinant adenovirus expressing murine IL-12 (AdmIL-12) directly into orthoptic mouse prostrate carcinomas generated from a poorly immunogenic cell line (RM-9) derived from the mouse prostrate reconstitution system. Significant growth suppression (> 50% reduction of tumor weight) and increased mean survival time (23.4 to 28.9 days) were observed compared with controls. Suppression of pre-established lung metastases was also observed following the injection of AdmIL-12 into the orthoptic tumor. Cytolytic natural killer cell activity was markedly enhanced 1-2 days after virus injection. Immunohistochemical analysis showed significantly elevated intratumoral infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells 7 days after virus injection. However, splenocyte-derived cytotoxic T lymphocytes were not defected during the 14 days following treatment. Increased numbers of nitric oxide synthase-positive macrophages were seen in the AdmIL-12 treated group 7 days following injection. Systemic inhibition of natural killer cells with anti-asialo-GM1 serum led to increased numbers of lung metastases in AdmIL-12-treated orthotopic tumors but did not affect local tumor growth. In this model system the anti-tumor effects of a single injection of adenovirus-mediated IL-12 appears to be based to a large extent on the activation of nitric oxide synthase in macrophages and possibly T cell activities, whereas the relatively early cytolytic activity of natural killer cells are largely but not exclusively responsible for the antimetastatic effects.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 338-349 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Gene Therapy |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 1999 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Gene therapy
- Interleukin-12
- Metastasis
- Orthotopic tumor model
- Prostate cancer
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Medicine
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics