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Enhancing the immunotherapeutic potential of mycobacteria by transfection with tumour necrosis factor‐α
Author(s) -
Joanne L. Haley,
Douglas Young,
A.B. Alexandroff,
Keith James,
Andrew M. Jackson
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2567.1999.00667.x
Subject(s) - mycobacterium smegmatis , transfection , biology , tumor necrosis factor alpha , cytokine , secretion , cell culture , microbiology and biotechnology , proinflammatory cytokine , recombinant dna , immunology , medicine , inflammation , mycobacterium tuberculosis , gene , biochemistry , pathology , tuberculosis , genetics
In an attempt to enhance the anti‐tumour properties of mycobacteria we have developed recombinant forms of Mycobacterium smegmatis which express and secrete biologically active human tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α). This was achieved by transfecting M. smegmatis using shuttle plasmids incorporating the cDNA sequence for the human TNF‐α mature peptide. In vitro experiments on a panel of human bladder tumour cell lines (EJ18, MGH‐U1, RT4, RT112) indicate that our genetically modified mycobacteria are more effective than wild‐type at inducing or up‐regulating the expression of intracellular adhesion molecule‐1 and the secretion of an array of proinflammatory cytokines [interleukin‐1 (IL‐1), IL‐6, IL‐8, granulocyte–macrophage colony‐stimulating factor]. We have also demonstrated increased adhesion molecule and cytokine expression in response to mycobacteria transfected with vector containing no gene insert. However, this was not as pronounced as that observed following tumour cell stimulation by the TNF‐α‐transfected strain. In contrast, in three out of four tumour cell lines all M. smegmatis strains were found to down‐regulate the secretion of the anti‐inflammatory cytokine transforming growth factor‐β 1 . Our studies have also confirmed that M. smegmatis is a powerful inhibitor of bladder tumour cell growth and revealed that its antiproliferative potency is enhanced by transfecting with human TNF‐α and, to a lesser extent, with vector alone. All M. smegmatis strains were effective in the activation of peripheral blood leucocyte cultures. However, no differences were observed in the ability of the TNF‐α‐transfected, mock‐transfected and wild‐type mycobacteria to induce tumour cell killing activity. These results suggest that the immunomodulatory effects of M. smegmatis can be enhanced by transfection with vectors which allow the secretion of human TNF‐α, thus increasing mycobacterial immunotherapeutic potential.