Mutation of the Fiber Shaft Heparan Sulphate Binding Site of a 5/3 Chimeric Adenovirus Reduces Liver Tropism

Natural tropism to the liver is a major obstacle in systemic delivery of adenoviruses in cancer gene therapy. Adenovirus binding to soluble coagulation factors and to cellular heparan sulphate proteoglycans via the fiber shaft KKTK domain are suggested to cause liver tropism. Serotype 5 adenovirus constructs with mutated KKTK regions exhibit liver detargeting, but they also transduce tumors less efficiently, possibly due to altered fiber conformation. We constructed Ad5/3lucS*, a 5/3 chimeric adenovirus with a mutated KKTK region. The fiber knob swap was hypothesized to facilitate tumor transduction. This construct was studied with or without additional coagulation factor ablation. Ad5/3lucS* exhibited significantly reduced transduction of human hepatic cells in vitro and mouse livers in vivo. Combination of coagulation factor ablation by warfarinization to Ad5/3lucS* seemed to further enhance liver detargeting. Cancer cell transduction by Ad5/3lucS* was retained in vitro. In vivo, viral particle accumulation in M4A4-LM3 xenograft tumors was comparable to controls, but Ad5/3lucS* transgene expression was nearly abolished. Coagulation factor ablation did not affect tumor transduction. These studies set the stage for further investigations into the effects of the KKTK mutation and coagulation factor ablation in the context of 5/3 serotype chimerism. Of note, the putative disconnect between tumor transduction and transgene expression could prove useful in further understanding of adenovirus biology.     

Flexibility of the adenovirus fiber is required for efficient receptor interaction

The adenovirus (Ad) fiber protein mediates Ad binding to the coxsackievirus and Ad receptor (CAR) and is thus a major determinant of viral tropism. The fiber contains three domains: an N-terminal tail that anchors the fiber to the viral capsid, a central shaft region of variable length and flexibility, and a C-terminal knob domain that binds to cell receptors. Ad type 37 (Ad37), a subgroup D virus associated with severe ocular infections, is unable to use CAR efficiently to infect host cells, despite containing a CAR binding site in its fiber knob. We hypothesized that the relatively short, inflexible Ad37 fiber protein restricts interactions with CAR at the cell surface. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the infectivity and binding of recombinant Ad particles containing modified Ad37 or Ad5 fiber proteins. Ad5 particles equipped with a truncated Ad5 fiber or with a chimeric fiber protein comprised of the Ad5 knob fused to the short, rigid Ad37 shaft domain had significantly reduced infectivity and attachment. In contrast, placing the Ad37 knob onto the long, flexible Ad5 shaft allowed CAR-dependent virus infection and cell attachment, demonstrating the importance of the shaft domain in receptor usage. Increasing fiber rigidity by substituting the predicted flexibility modules in the Ad5 shaft with the corresponding regions of the rigid Ad37 fiber dramatically reduced both virus infection and cell attachment. Cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) single-particle analysis demonstrated the increased rigidity of this chimeric fiber. These studies demonstrate that both length and flexibility of the fiber shaft regulate CAR interaction and provide a molecular explanation for the use of alternative receptors by subgroup D Ad with ocular tropism. We present a molecular model for Ad-CAR interactions at the cell surface that explains the significance of fiber flexibility in cell attachment.     

Subgroup B and F fiber chimeras eliminate normal adenovirus type 5 vector transduction in vitro and in vivo

Altering adenovirus vector (Ad vector) targeting is an important goal for a variety of gene therapy applications and involves eliminating or reducing the normal tropism of a vector and retargeting through a distinct receptor-ligand pathway. The first step of Ad vector infection is high-affinity binding to a target cellular receptor. For the majority of adenoviruses and Ad vectors, the fiber capsid protein serves this purpose, binding to the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) present on a variety of cell types. In this study we have explored a novel approach to altering Ad type 5 (Ad5) vector targeting based on serotypic differences in fiber function. The subgroup B viruses bind to an unidentified receptor that is distinct from CAR. The subgroup F viruses are the only adenoviruses that express two distinct terminal exons encoding fiber open reading frames. We have constructed chimeric fiber adenoviruses that utilize the tandem fiber arrangement of the subgroup F genome configuration. By taking advantage of serotypic differences in fiber expression, fiber shaft length, and fiber binding efficiency, we have developed a tandem fiber vector that has low binding efficiency for the known fiber binding sites, does not rely on an Ad5-based fiber, and can be grown to high titer using conventional cell lines. Importantly, when characterizing these vectors in vivo, we find the subgroup B system and our optimal tandem fiber system demonstrate reduced liver transduction by over 2 logs compared to an Ad5 fiber vector. These attributes make the tandem fiber vector a useful alternative to conventional strategies for fiber manipulation of adenovirus vectors.     

Artificial Extension of the Adenovirus Fiber Shaft Inhibits Infectivity in Coxsackievirus and Adenovirus Receptor-Positive Cell Lines

Recent studies demonstrate that virus-cellular receptor interactions are not the sole determinants of adenovirus (Ad) tropism. It has been shown that the fiber shaft length, which ranges from 6 to 23 beta-repeats in human Ads, also influences viral tropism. However, there is no report that investigates whether artificial extension of the shaft alters the infectivity profile of Ad. Therefore, we constructed Ad serotype 5 (Ad5) capsid-based longer-shafted Ad vectors by incorporating Ad2 shaft fragments of different lengths into the Ad5 shaft. We show that "longer-shafted" Ad vectors (up to 32 beta-repeats) could be rescued. We also show that longer-shafted Ad vectors had no impact on knob-CAR (coxsackievirus and Ad receptor) interaction compared to wild-type Ad. Nevertheless, gene transfer efficiencies of longer-shafted Ad vectors were lower in CAR-positive cell lines compared to wild-type Ad. We suggest that artificial extension of the shaft can inhibit infectivity in the context of CAR-positive cell lines without modification of knob-CAR interaction.     

Analysis of adenovirus sequestration in the liver, transduction of hepatic cells, and innate toxicity after injection of fiber-modified vectors

After intravenous administration, adenovirus (Ad) vectors are predominantly sequestered by the liver. Delineating the mechanisms for Ad accumulation in the liver is crucial for a better understanding of Ad clearance and Ad-associated innate toxicity. To help address these issues, in this study, we used Ad vectors with different fiber shaft lengths and either coxsackievirus-Ad receptor (CAR)-interacting Ad serotype 9 (Ad9) or non-CAR-interacting Ad35 fiber knob domains. We analyzed the kinetics of Ad vector accumulation in the liver, uptake into hepatocytes and Kupffer cells, and induction of cytokine expression and release in response to systemic vector application. Immediately after intravenous injection, all Ad vectors accumulated equally efficiently in the liver; however, only genomes of long-shafted Ads were maintained in the liver tissue over time. We found that Kupffer cell uptake of long-shafted Ads was mediated by the fiber knob domain and was CAR independent. The short-shafted Ads were unable to efficiently interact with hepatocellular receptors and were not taken up by Kupffer cells. Moreover, our studies indicated that Kupffer cells were not the major reservoir for the observed accumulation of Ads (used in this study) in the liver within the first 30 min after virus infusion. The lower level of liver cell transduction by short-shafted Ads correlated with a significantly reduced inflammatory anti-Ad response as well as liver damage induced by the systemic administration of these vectors. This study contributes to a better understanding of the biology of systemically applied Ad and will help in designing safer vectors that can efficiently transduce target tissues.     

Dependence of adenovirus infectivity on length of the fiber shaft domain

One of the objectives in adenovirus (Ad) vector development is to target gene delivery to specific cell types. Major attention has been given to modification of the Ad fiber knob, which is thought to determine virus tropism. However, among the human Ad serotypes with different tissue tropisms, not only the knob but also the length of the fiber shaft domain varies significantly. In this study we attempted to delineate the role of fiber length in coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor (CAR)- and non-CAR-mediated infection. A series of Ad serotype 5 (Ad5) capsid-based vectors containing long or short fibers with knob domains derived from Ad5, Ad9, or Ad35 was constructed and tested in adsorption, internalization, and transduction studies. For Ad5 or Ad9 knob-possessing vectors, a long-shafted fiber was critical for efficient adsorption/internalization and transduction of CAR/alphav integrin-expressing cells. Ad5 capids containing short CAR-recognizing fibers were affected in cell adsorption and infection. In contrast, for the chimeric vectors possessing Ad35 knobs, which enter cells by a CAR/alphav integrin-independent pathway, fiber shaft length had no significant influence on binding or infectibility on tested cells. The weak attachment of short-shafted Ad5 or Ad9 knob-possessing vectors seems to be causally associated with a charge-dependent repulsion between Ad5 capsid and acidic cell surface proteins. The differences between short- and long-shafted vectors in attachment or infection were abrogated by preincubation of cells with polycations. This study demonstrates that the fiber-CAR interaction is not the sole determinant for tropism of Ad vectors containing chimeric fibers. CAR- and alphav integrin-mediated infections are influenced by other factors, including the length of the fiber shaft.     

Adenovirus type 5 and 7 capsid chimera: fiber replacement alters receptor tropism without affecting primary immune neutralization epitopes.

The efficient uptake of adenovirus into a target cell is a function of adenovirus capsid proteins and their interaction with the host cell. The capsid protein fiber mediates high-affinity attachment of adenovirus to the target cell. Although the cellular receptor(s) for adenovirus is unknown, evidence indicates that a single receptor does not function as the attachment site for each of the 49 different serotypes of adenovirus. Sequence variation of the fiber ligand, particularly in the C- terminal knob domain, is associated with serotype-specific binding specificity. Additionally, this domain of fiber functions as a major serotype determinant. Fiber involvement in cell targeting and its function as a target of the host immune response make the fiber gene an attractive target for manipulation, both from the perspective of adenovirus biology and from the perspective of using adenovirus vectors for gene transfer experiments. We have constructed a defective chimeric adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) reporter virus by replacing the Ad5 fiber gene with the fiber gene from Ad7A. Using the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene, we have characterized this virus with respect to infectivity both in vitro and in vivo. We have also characterized the role of antifiber antibody in the host neutralizing immune response to adenovirus infection. Our studies demonstrate that exchange of fiber is a strategy that will be useful in characterizing receptor tropism for different serotypes of adenovirus. Additionally, the neutralizing immune response to Ad5 and Ad7 does not differentiate between two viruses that differ only in their fiber proteins. Therefore, following a primary adenovirus inoculation, antibodies generated against fiber do not constitute a significant fraction of the neutralizing antibody population.     

Reduction of natural adenovirus tropism to mouse liver by fiber-shaft exchange in combination with both CAR- and alphav integrin-binding ablation

The primary receptor, the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR), and the secondary receptor, αv integrins, are the tropism determinants of adenovirus (Ad) type 5. Inhibition of the interaction of both the fiber with CAR and the penton base with the αv integrin appears to be crucial to the development of targeted Ad vectors, which specifically transduce a given cell population. In this study, we developed Ad vectors with ablation of both CAR and αv integrin binding by mutating the fiber knob and the RGD motif of the penton base. We also replaced the fiber shaft domain with that derived from Ad type 35. High transduction efficiency in the mouse liver was suppressed approximately 130- to 270-fold by intravenous administration of the double-mutant Ad vectors, which mutated two domains each of the fiber knob and shaft and the RGD motif of the penton base compared with those of conventional Ad vectors (type 5). Most significantly, the triple-mutant Ad vector containing the fiber knob with ablation of CAR binding ability, the fiber shaft of Ad type 35, and the penton base with a deletion of the RGD motif mediated a >30,000-fold lower level of mouse liver transduction than the conventional Ad vectors. This triple-mutant Ad vector also mediated reduced transduction in other organs (the spleen, kidney, heart, and lung). Viral DNA analysis showed that systemically delivered triple-mutant Ad vector was primarily taken up by liver nonparenchymal cells and that most viral DNAs were easily degraded, resulting in little gene expression in the liver. These results suggest that the fiber knob, fiber shaft, and RGD motif of the penton base each plays an important role in Ad vector-mediated transduction to the mouse liver and that the triple-mutant Ad vector exhibits little tropism to any organs and appears to be a fundamental vector for targeted Ad vectors.     

Adenovirus binding to blood factors results in liver cell infection and hepatotoxicity

Adenoviruses (Ad) are efficient vehicles for gene delivery in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, they are a promising tool in gene therapy, particularly in the treatment of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. However, preclinical and clinical studies undertaken during the last decade have revealed a series of problems that limit both the safety and efficacy of Ad vectors, specifically after intravenous application. Major obstacles to clinical use include innate toxicity and Ad sequestration by nontarget tissues. The factors and mechanisms underlying these processes are poorly understood. The majority of intravenously injected Ad particles are sequestered by the liver, which in turn causes an inflammatory response characterized by acute transaminitis and vascular damage. Here, we describe a novel pathway that is used by Ad for infection of hepatocytes and Kupffer cells upon intravenous virus application in mice. We found that blood factors play a major role in targeting Ad vectors to hepatic cells. We demonstrated that coagulation factor IX and complement component C4-binding protein can bind the Ad fiber knob domain and provide a bridge for virus uptake through cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein. An Ad vector, Ad5mut, which contained mutations in the fiber knob domain ablating blood factor binding, demonstrated significantly reduced infection of liver cells and liver toxicity in vivo. This study contributes to a better understanding of adenovirus-host interactions for intravenously applied vectors. It also provides a rationale for novel strategies to target adenovirus vector to specific tissues and to reduce virus-associated toxicity after systemic application.     

Fiber and penton base capsid modifications yield diminished adenovirus type 5 transduction and proinflammatory gene expression with retention of antigen-specific humoral immunity

Fiber and penton base capsid proteins of adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) mediate a well-characterized two-step entry pathway in permissive tissue culture cell lines. Fiber binds with high affinity to the cell surface coxsackievirus-and-adenovirus receptor (CAR), and penton base facilitates viral internalization by binding alphav integrins through an RGD motif. In vivo, the entry pathway is complicated by interactions of capsid proteins with additional cell surface molecules and blood factors. When administered systemically in mice, adenovirus vectors (Adv) localize primarily to hepatic tissue, resulting in efficient gene transduction and potent activation of the host antiviral immune response. The goal of the present study was to detarget Adv uptake through fiber and penton base capsid protein manipulations and determine how detargeted vectors influence transduction efficiency, inflammatory activation, and activation of the adaptive arm of the immune system. By manipulating fiber and the penton base, we have generated highly detargeted vectors (up to 1,200-fold reduction in transgene expression in vivo) with reduced macrophage stimulatory activity in vitro and in vivo. In spite of the diminished transduction and macrophage activation, the detargeted vectors induce strong neutralizing immunity as well as efficient antitransgene antibody. Three of the modified vectors produce antitransgene humoral immunity at levels that exceed or are equal to that seen with an unmodified Ad5-based vector. The fiber-pseudotyped and penton base constructs with RGD deleted have attributes that could be important enhancements in a number of vaccine applications.     

一种高效感染血液细胞的新型靶向性腺病毒载体的构建

人C组5型腺病毒(Ad5)载体能够有效感染上皮来源的细胞,但对造血细胞的感染效率很低,限制了其在造血调控基础研究以及血液病基因治疗中的应用。为了建立高效感染血液细胞的新型靶向性腺病毒载体系统,对5型腺病毒载体的纤维顶球进行了改造,以AdEasy系统为基础,应用递归PCR的方法人工合成人B组11p型腺病毒的部分纤维(fiber)基因,采用一系列分子生物学方法将其替换AdEasy骨架质粒中的人5型腺病毒的fiber基因,得到新的腺病毒骨架质粒命名为pAdEasy-1/F11p,应用带有GFP报告基因的穿梭质粒pShuttle-GFP与AdEasy-1/F11p腺病毒DNA在BJ5183细菌内重组得到重组腺病毒质粒,将其转染293细胞获得重组腺病毒,命名为Ad5F11p-GFP。以Ad5-GFP作对照,同时感染K562、U937等白血病细胞系,流式细胞仪检测GFP的表达。初步检测结果显示:在10MOI时,Ad5F11p-GFP能够有效感染K562、U937等白血病细胞系,感染细胞效率>90%,对照Ad5-GFP感染细胞效率<30%,这表明改建后的腺病毒AdEasy-1/F11p可以高效介导基因转移到血液细胞,是一种很好的血液细胞靶向性腺病毒载体。     

Development of an adenoviral vector system with adenovirus serotype 35 tropism; efficient transient gene transfer into primary malignant hematopoietic cells

BACKGROUND: A paucity of coxsackie adenovirus receptor (CAR) hampers the adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5)-based vector-mediated gene transfer into malignant hematopoietic cells. Fiber-retargeted adenoviral vectors with species B tropism can potentially bypass the CAR requirement and facilitate efficient gene transfer into malignant hematopoietic cells. METHODS: For feasible generation of fiber-retargeted adenoviral vectors, we have modified the versatile AdEasy system with a chimeric fiber gene encoding the Ad5 fiber tail domain and Ad35 fiber shaft and knob domains. An Ad5-based vector encoding the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene under the control of the PGK promoter with Ad35 fiber receptor specificity was generated (Ad5F35-GFP). The Ad5F35-GFP vector-mediated gene transfer efficiency was compared with a fiber non-modified Ad5-GFP vector, which also encodes the GFP gene under the control of the PGK promoter. RESULTS: We demonstrated that a variety of Ad5-refractory malignant myeloid and B lymphoid cell lines were highly permissive to the Ad5F35-GFP vector infection. Importantly, primary chronic myeloid leukemic (CML) cells and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) B cells were superiorly transduced by the Ad5F35-GFP vector at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 100 compared with the Ad5-GFP vector. CONCLUSIONS: Our study will facilitate the generation of fiber-retargeted adenoviral vectors and enable transient genetic manipulation of primary malignant hematopoietic cells.     

Reduction of natural adenovirus tropism to the liver by both ablation of fiber-coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor interaction and use of replaceable short fiber

The initial recognition and binding of adenovirus vector to the host cell surface is mediated by interaction between the adenovirus fiber knob protein and its receptor, the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR). This natural tropism of adenovirus vector needs to be ablated in order to achieve targeted gene transfer. To this end, we noted that adenovirus serotype 40 (Ad40) contains two distinct long and short fibers; the short fiber is unable to recognize CAR, while the long fiber binds CAR. We generated adenovirus serotype 5-based mutants with chimeric Ad40-derived fibers, which were composed of either long or short shafts together with CAR binding or nonbinding knobs. The capacity of these adenovirus mutants for in vitro and in vivo gene transfer to liver cells was examined. In the case of primary human hepatocytes displaying a high expression level of CAR and alphav integrin, both CAR binding ability and fiber shaft length played important roles in efficient transduction. Most significantly, the high transduction efficiency observed in the liver and spleen following intravenous administration of adenovirus vector was dramatically reduced by both ablation of fiber-CAR interaction and the use of replaceable short fiber. In other tissues displaying a low level of transduction, no significant differences in transduction efficiency were observed among adenovirus vector mutants. Furthermore, incorporation of a 7-lysine-residue motif at the C-terminal end of CAR-nonbinding short fiber efficiently achieved transduction of target cells via the heparan-containing receptor. Our results demonstrated that the natural tropism of adenovirus in vivo is influenced not only by fiber-CAR interaction but also by fiber shaft length. Furthermore, our strategy may be useful for retargeting adenovirus to particular tumors and tissue types with specific receptors.     

Improved adenovirus vectors for infection of cardiovascular tissues

To identify improved adenovirus vectors for cardiovascular gene therapy, a library of adenovirus vectors based on adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) but carrying fiber molecules of other human serotypes, was generated. This library was tested for efficiency of infection of human primary vascular endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Based on luciferase, LacZ, or green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker gene expression, several fiber chimeric vectors were identified that displayed improved infection of these cell types. One of the viruses that performed particularly well is an Ad5 carrying the fiber of Ad16 (Ad5.Fib16), a subgroup B virus. This virus showed, on average, 8- and 64-fold-increased luciferase activities on umbilical vein ECs and SMCs, respectively, compared to the parent vector. GFP and lacZ markers showed that approximately 3-fold (ECs) and 10-fold (SMCs) more cells were transduced. Experiments performed with both cultured SMCs and organ cultures derived from different vascular origins (saphenous vein, iliac artery, left interior mammary artery, and aorta) and from different species demonstrated that Ad5.Fib16 consistently displays improved infection in primates (humans and rhesus monkeys). SMCs of the same vessels of rodents and pigs were less infectable with Ad5.Fib16 than with Ad5. This suggests that either the receptor for human Ad16 is not conserved between different species or that differences in the expression levels of the putative receptor exist. In conclusion, our results show that an Ad5-based virus carrying the fiber of Ad16 is a potent vector for the transduction of primate cardiovascular cells and tissues.     

Selective targeting of human cells by a chimeric adenovirus vector containing a modified fiber protein.

The adenovirus fiber protein is responsible for attachment of the virion to unidentified cell surface receptors. There are at least two distinct adenovirus fiber receptors which interact with the group B (Ad3) and group C (Ad5) adenoviruses. We have previously shown by using expressed adenovirus fiber proteins that it is possible to change the specificity of the fiber protein by exchanging the head domain with another serotype which recognizes a different receptor (S. C. Stevenson et al., J. Virol. 69:2850-2857, 1995). A chimeric fiber cDNA containing the Ad3 fiber head domain fused to the Ad5 fiber tail and shaft was incorporated into the genome of an adenovirus vector with E1 and E3 deleted encoding beta-galactosidase to generate Av9LacZ4, an adenovirus particle which contains a chimeric fiber protein. Western blot analysis of the chimeric fiber vector confirmed expression of the chimeric fiber protein and its association with the adenovirus capsid. Transduction experiments with fiber protein competitors demonstrated the altered receptor tropism of the chimeric fiber vector compared to that of the parental Av1LacZ4 vector. Transduction of a panel of human cell lines with the chimeric and parental vectors provided evidence for a different cellular distribution of the Ad5 and Ad3 receptors. Three cell lines (THP-1, MRC-5, and FaDu) were more efficiently transduced by the vector containing the Ad3 fiber head than by the Ad5 fiber vector. In contrast, human coronary artery endothelial cells were transduced more readily with the vector containing the Ad5 fiber than with the chimeric fiber vector. HeLa and human umbilical vein endothelial cells were transduced at equivalent levels compared with human diploid fibroblasts, which were refractory to transduction with both vectors. These results provide evidence for the differential expression of the Ad5 and Ad3 receptors on human cell lines derived from clinically relevant target tissues. Furthermore, we show that exchange of the fiber head domain is a viable approach to the production of adenovirus vectors with cell-type-selective transduction properties. It may be possible to extend this approach to the use of ligands for a range of different cellular receptors in order to target gene transfer to specific cell types at the level of transduction.     

Influence of fiber detargeting on adenovirus-mediated innate and adaptive immune activation

The major adenovirus (Ad) capsid proteins hexon, penton, and fiber influence the efficiency and tropism of gene transduction by Ad vectors. Fiber is the high-affinity receptor binding protein that serves to mediate cell attachment in vitro when using coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR)-containing cell lines. This contrasts with transduction efficiency in macrophages or dendritic cells that lack high concentrations of CAR. To determine how fiber influences gene transduction and immune activation in a murine model, we have characterized Ad type 5 (Ad5) vectors with two classes of chimeric fiber, CAR binding and non-CAR binding. In a systemic infection, Ad5 fiber contributes to DNA localization and vector transduction in hepatic tissue. However, the majority of vector localization is due to Ad5 fiber-specific functions distinct from CAR binding. CAR-directed transduction occurs but at a modest level. In contrast to CAR binding vectors, the F7 and F7F41S non-CAR-binding vectors demonstrate a 2-log decrease in hepatic transduction, with a 10-fold decrease in the amount of vector DNA localizing to the hepatic tissue. To characterize the innate response to early infection using fiber chimeric vectors, intrahepatic cytokine and chemokine mRNAs were quantified 5 hours postinfection. Tumor necrosis factor alpha mRNA levels resulting from Ad5 fiber infections were elevated compared to viruses expressing serotype 7 or 41 fiber. Levels of chemokine mRNA (gamma interferon-inducible protein 10, T-cell activation gene 3, and macrophage inflammatory protein 1beta) were 10- to 20-fold higher with CAR binding vectors (Ad5 and F41T) than with non-CAR-binding vectors (F7 and F7F41S). In spite of quantitative differences in vector localization and innate activation, fiber pseudotyping did not significantly change the outcome of anti-Ad adaptive immunity. All vectors were cleared with the same kinetics as wild-type Ad5 vectors, and each induced neutralizing antibody. Although non-CAR-binding vectors were impaired in transduction by nearly 2 orders of magnitude, the level of antitransgene immunity was the same for each of the vectors. Using primary bone marrow-derived macrophages and dendritic cells, we demonstrate that transduction, induction of cytokine/chemokine, and phenotypic maturation of these antigen-presenting cells are independent of fiber content. Our data support a model where fiber-mediated hepatic localization enhances innate responses to virus infection but minimally impacts on adaptive immunity.     

The interaction between the fiber knob domain and the cellular attachment receptor determines the intracellular trafficking route of adenoviruses

Most of the presently used adenovirus (Ad) vectors are based on serotype 5. However, the application of these vectors is limited by the native tropism of Ad5. To address this problem, a series of fiber chimeric vectors were produced to take advantage of the different cellular receptors used by Ad of different subgroups. In this study we utilize an Ad5-based chimeric vector containing sequences encoding the Ad35 fiber knob domain instead of the Ad5 knob (Ad5/35L) to analyze factors responsible for selection of intracellular trafficking routes by Ads. By competition analysis with recombinant Ad5 and Ad35 knobs we showed that the Ad5/35L vector infected cells through a receptor different from the Ad5 receptor. Intracellular trafficking of Ad5 and Ad5/35L viruses was analyzed in HeLa cells by tracking fluorophore-conjugated Ad particles, by immunostaining for capsid hexon protein, by electron microscopy, and by Southern blotting for viral DNA. These studies showed that the interaction with the Ad35 receptor(s) predestines Ad5/35L vector to intracellular trafficking pathways different from those of Ad5. Ad5 efficiently escaped from the endosomes early after infection. In contrast, Ad5/35L remained longer in late endosomal/lysosomal compartments and used them to achieve localization to the nucleus. However, a significant portion of Ad5/35L particles appeared to be recycled back to the cell surface. This phenomenon resulted in significantly less efficient Ad5/35L-mediated gene transfer compared to that of Ad5. We also demonstrated that the selection of intracellular trafficking routes was determined by the fiber knob domain and did not depend on the length of the fiber shaft. This study contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms that govern the infection of retargeted, capsid-modified vectors which have potential application for hematopoietic stem cell and tumor gene therapy.     

In vitro and in vivo properties of adenovirus vectors with increased affinity to CD46

Gene transfer vectors containing adenovirus (Ad) serotype 35 (Ad35) fibers have shown promise for cancer and stem cell gene therapy. In this study, we attempted to improve the in vitro and in vivo infection properties of these vectors by increasing their affinity to the Ad35 fiber receptor CD46. We constructed Ad vectors containing either the wild-type Ad35 fiber knob (Ad5/35) or Ad35 knob mutants with 4-fold- and 60-fold-higher affinity to CD46 (Ad5/35+ and Ad5/35++, respectively). In in vitro studies with cell lines, the higher affinities of Ad5/35+ and Ad5/35++ to CD46 did not translate into correspondingly higher transduction efficiencies, regardless of the CD46 receptor density present on cells. However, in vivo, in a mouse model with preestablished CD46(high) liver metastases, intravenous injection of Ad5/35++ resulted in more-efficient tumor cell transduction. We conclude that Ad5/35 vectors with increased affinity to CD46 have an advantage in competing with non-CD46-mediated sequestration of vector particles after intravenous injection.     

Adenovirus serotype 5 neutralizing antibodies target both hexon and fiber following vaccination and natural infection

The immunogenicity of adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) vectors has been shown to be suppressed by neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) directed primarily against the hexon hypervariable regions (HVRs). However, the role of NAbs directed against other capsid components, particularly the adenovirus fiber, remains unclear. Here we show that Ad5 NAbs target both hexon and fiber following vaccination and natural infection. Utilizing neutralization assays with capsid chimeric vectors, we observed that NAb responses to hexon appeared dominant and NAb responses against fiber were subdominant in sera from vaccinated mice, vaccinated humans, and naturally exposed humans. A novel chimeric Ad5 vector in which both the hexon HVRs and the fiber knob were exchanged nearly completely evaded Ad5-specific NAbs both in vitro and in vivo.     

Tropism of human adenovirus type 5-based vectors in swine and their ability to protect against transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus.

The infection of epithelia] swine testicle and intestinal porcine epithelial (IPEC-1) cell lines by adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) has been studied in vitro by using an Ad5-luciferase recombinant containing the firefly luciferase gene as a reporter. Porcine cell lines supported Ad5 replication, showing virus titers, kinetics of virus production, and luciferase expression levels similar to those obtained in human 293 cells, which constitutively express the 5'-end 11% of the Ad5 genome. The tropism of Ad5-based vectors in swine and its ability to induce an efficient immune response against heterologous antigens expressed by foreign genes inserted in these vectors has been determined. Ad5 vectors replicate and express heterologous antigens in porcine lungs and mediastinal and mesenteric lymph nodes. Significant levels of heterologous antigen expression were also demonstrated in the small intestine (jejunum and ileum), but Ad5 replication in this organ was very poor, suggesting that Ad vectors undergo an abortive replication in the porcine small intestine. The tissues infected by Ad5 were dependent on the inoculation route. The oronasal route appeared to be best for inoculation of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue infection, while the intraperitoneal route was best for gut-associated lymphoid tissue infection. Epithelial cells of bronchioles, macrophages, type II pneumocytes, and follicular dendritic cells were identified as targets for Ad5, while epithelial cells of the intestine were not infected by Ad5. Viruses with a deletion from 79.5 to 84.8 map units in the E3 region, with or without heterologous inserted genes, replicated to lower levels in porcine tissues than did wild-type Ad5. It was also shown that an Ad5 recombinant expressing the four antigenic sites (A, B, C, and D) of transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (TGEV) spike protein induced in swine immune responses which neutralized TGEV infectivity. In addition, porcine serum from Ad-TGEV-immune animals provide passive protection when mixed with fully virulent TGEV and orally administered to highly susceptible newborn piglets. These results taken together indicate that swine may be a good animal model for human Ad5 lung infection to aid in the evaluation of candidate adenovirus vaccines and that Ad5 may be suitable as a recombinant viral vaccine or for other applications in swine.