Current Issue : July-September Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 3 Articles : 5 Articles
Mutations in the Mitofusin 2 (MFN2) gene cause Charcot–Marie–Tooth type 2A (CMT2A). Neurotrophin 3 (NT-3) is an autocrine factor that supports Schwann cell survival and differentiation, axon regeneration and myelination, neuromuscular junction (NMJ) integrity, and mitochondrial function. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of NT-3 gene therapy using the AAVrh74 serotype in the Mfn2+/− mouse model for CMT2A. Although haploinsufficiency is not reported in CMT2A patients, our model shows some features of CMT2A, including axonal atrophy, muscle atrophy, length-dependent axon loss, and abnormal mitochondria, in muscle in the enzyme histochemistry. Eight-month-old Mfn2+/− mice received a 3 × 1011 vector genome dose of AAVrh74.tMCK.NT-3 intramuscularly, and functional, electrophysiological, and histological outcomes were assessed six months post-treatment. NT-3 gene therapy in Mfn2+/− mice significantly improved grip strength and rotarod performance, and ameliorated electrophysiological abnormalities and NMJ denervation in lumbrical muscles. Additionally, our therapeutic approach improved muscle histopathology with reductions in mitochondrial abnormalities and oxidative stress. NT-3 further remodeled carbohydrate metabolism in muscle. Our study indicated that AAV.NT-3 gene therapy has a disease-modifying effect in the Mfn2+/− model of CMT2A, providing further support for the translational potential of this surrogate gene therapy approach to CMT2A patients....
Purpose: Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) responds poorly to conventional chemotherapy. We evaluated a cell-based enzyme–prodrug therapy using adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) engineered to express cytosine deaminase (CD) or carboxylesterase 2 (CE2), paired with their respective prodrugs 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) or irinotecan (CPT-11), to compare their antitumor efficacy. Materials and Methods: Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)-immortalized ADSCs were transduced with CD or CE2, and transgene expression and stem cell phenotype were confirmed. CD expression was verified at the transcript level and by functional 5-FC-to-5-fluorouracil (5-FU) conversion, whereas CE2 expression was verified by transcript analysis and immunoblotting. Tumor tropism toward PC3 prostate cancer cells was tested using migration assays and analysis of chemoattractant ligand/receptor expression. Prodrug-induced self-killing and bystander tumor cell killing were assessed through viability assays and co-culture with PC3 cells. For the CE2/CPT-11 system, SN-38 was not directly quantified; functional activity was inferred from prodrugdependent cytotoxicity and in vivo efficacy. In vivo efficacy was evaluated in nude mice with PC3 tumors treated systemically with engineered ADSCs plus prodrug. Results: CDand CE2-expressing ADSCs were successfully established and retained mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) characteristics. Both cell types exhibited significant migration toward PC3 cells. The CE2/CPT-11 system produced stronger prodrug-mediated cytotoxicity than CD/5-FC, with CE2-modified ADSCs showing higher sensitivity to CPT-11 and inducing greater apoptosis in co-cultured PC3 cells. In vivo, both treatments suppressed tumor growth, but CE2/CPT-11 achieved greater inhibition (tumor volume ~26% of control vs. ~32% for CD/5-FC at day 14). No overt clinical toxicity was observed based on body weight and daily clinical monitoring; however, hematology/serum chemistry were not assessed. Conclusions: Engineered ADSCs home to CRPC tumors and enable local prodrug activation, producing significant antitumor effects. Within the constraints of our in vitro assays and subcutaneous xenograft model, CE2/CPT-11 demonstrated stronger efficacy outcomes than CD/5-FC. Mechanistic attribution to intratumoral SN-38 exposure should be confirmed by direct metabolite measurements in future studies....
Background/Objectives: Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is often overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), where it helps the tumor evade the immune system and promotes tumor growth. Interleukin-24 (IL-24) is recognized for its anti-tumor activity, although its role in immune regulation remains unclear. In this study, we examined the role of IL-24 in regulating PD-L1 and its anti-cancer activity in TNBC cells. Methods: The study used TNBC cell lines treated with IL-24, delivered via a non-replicating adenovirus vector expressing the IL-24 gene. Assays included MTT for cell viability, Annexin V for apoptosis, Western blot for protein analysis, and qRT-PCR for mRNA analysis. Results: We found that the highly aggressive MDA-MB-231 cells had significantly higher PD-L1 levels. We discovered that treatment with IL-24 reduced cell growth, induced apoptosis, and significantly decreased PD-L1 protein levels in MDA-MB-231 cells. Mechanistically, we identified PKR, also known as eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 2, as a key mediator of IL-24–induced PD-L1 suppression. Additionally, doxorubicin, a primary chemotherapy drug used to treat triple-negative breast cancer, decreases PD-L1 expression and increases the sensitivity when combined with IL-24. Conclusions: In this study, we show that IL-24 decreases PD-L1 expression in MDA-MB-231 cells through PKR activation, enhances the anti-tumor effects of Doxorubicin, and may enable lower doses that reduce toxicity and further decrease PD-L1 levels. These findings suggest that IL-24 could serve as a valuable target for therapeutic intervention and suggest that it can improve doxorubicin’s effectiveness against aggressive breast cancer....
Background Liver fibrosis (LF) is a progressive pathological process that may lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. Human ion channel genes (HICGs) participate in hepatic mechanotransduction and immune regulation, but their contributions to LF remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to profile the expression of HICGs in LF and to identify key genes with diagnostic and therapeutic relevance. Methods Multiple transcriptomic datasets were integrated to identify differentially expressed HICGs in LF. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis and single-cell RNA sequencing were applied to identify fibrosis-associated gene modules and cell-type distribution. Functional enrichment and immune infiltration analyses were performed to explore biological relevance. The expression of key genes was validated in human cirrhotic tissues and bile duct ligation mouse models using immunohistochemistry. Potential therapeutic compounds targeting hub HICGs were predicted through molecular docking simulations. Results Three HICGs—AQP1, GJA1, and KCNN2—were identified as fibrosis-associated hub genes, showing distinct expression patterns and high diagnostic performance. GJA1 showed consistent upregulation in both experimental models and human cirrhosis. Functional analyses linked these genes to extracellular matrix remodeling, cell adhesion, and cytokine interactions, while immune infiltration analysis revealed significant associations with M0 macrophages, plasma cells, NK cells, and memory B cells. Molecular docking simulations further identified 16 candidate drugs targeting KCNN2 and GJA1. Conclusions This study demonstrates that AQP1, GJA1, and KCNN2 are closely associated with LF progression and immune remodeling. The consistent upregulation of GJA1, together with the identification of candidate drug interactions, provides potential avenues for biomarker development and therapeutic repurposing in LF....
Background: LOAd703 is a tumor microenvironment (TME) gene-engineering adenovirus encoding the immunostimulatory transgenes trimerized membrane-bound CD40 ligand (CD40L) and 4-1BB ligand (4-1BBL). Upon administration in the TME, the transgenes are expressed in various cell types to engage both the tumor and its stroma to activate antitumor immunity. CD40—CD40L interaction causes dendritic cell maturation and stimulates T helper 1-type immune responses, whereas 4-1BB—4-1BBL signaling protects T cells and natural killer cells from activation-induced cell death and promotes lymphocyte proliferation. LOAd703 replication with subsequent oncolysis is restricted to cancer cells. Patients and methods: In the dose-escalating part of this clinical study (NCT03225989), LOAd703 was increased according to a standard 3 + 3 design in patients with advanced solid malignancies. LOAd703 was administered every 2 weeks by ultrasound-guided intratumoral injections, combined with a standard-of-care or immuneconditioning gemcitabine-based chemotherapy regimen. The primary endpoint was tolerability. Results: Three dose levels of LOAd703 were evaluated in 10 patients. Treatment was overall safe and well tolerated. The most common side-effects assessed as secondary to LOAd703 were pyrexia, fatigue and headache. All LOAd703- attributed adverse events were of grade 1-2, and the majority were transient and emerged shortly after administration. One patient developed cytokine release syndrome grade 2. The maximum tolerated dose was not reached. Median overall survival was 8.4 months, and the overall response rate was 20%. A trend of higher interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) plasma levels in the highest LOAd703 dose cohort was observed. Conclusion: The acceptable toxicity associated with LOAd703 and chemotherapy, combined with signs of clinical benefit in poor prognostic cancer patients, warrant further studies....
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