Gene gun application in the generation of effector T cells for adoptive immunotherapy

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2000 Feb;48(11):635-43. doi: 10.1007/s002620050012.

Abstract

We utilized the gene gun to transfect subcutaneous D5 melanoma and MT-901 mammary carcinoma tumors in situ with a granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) plasmid complexed to gold particles. There was diminished tumor growth following bombardment with GM-CSF plasmid, which was apparent only during the period of administration. Transgenic GM-CSF was produced by the skin overlying the tumors and not by the tumors themselves. GM-CSF plasmid bombardment resulted in increased cell yields within tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLN) with at least a 12-fold increase in the percentage of dendritic cells (8.9%) compared to controls (0. 7%). Secondarily activated TDLN cells from animals transfected with GM-CSF demonstrated enhanced cytokine release (interferon gamma, GM-CSF and interleukin-10) in response to tumor stimulator cells compared to controls, and had an increased capacity to mediate tumor regression in adoptive immunotherapy. There was a small, but detectable, non-specific immune adjuvant effect observed with gold particle bombardment alone, which was less than with GM-CSF plasmid. The adjuvant effect of GM-CSF plasmid required peri-tumoral transgene expression since gene bombardment away from the tumor was ineffective.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biolistics*
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Gold
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / biosynthesis
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / genetics*
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / metabolism
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / pharmacology
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive*
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology*
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / immunology
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / therapy*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / immunology
  • Melanoma, Experimental / therapy*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Particle Size
  • Plasmids / administration & dosage*
  • Plasmids / therapeutic use
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacology
  • Skin / metabolism*
  • Skin Neoplasms / immunology
  • Skin Neoplasms / therapy*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / metabolism
  • Transfection / methods

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Interleukin-10
  • Gold
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor