VSTAT120 REDUCES THE INNATE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE TO INFECTION AND ENHANCES ONCOLYTIC VIRAL THERAPY FOR GLIOBLASTOMA
Authors: B. Kaur, W. H. Meisen, J. Hardcastle, J. Wojton, E. Wohleb, C. Alvarez-Breckenridge, P. Pow-anpongkul, J. Godbout, B. Kaur
Journal: Neuro-Oncology (2014)

BACKGROUND: A major barrier to oncolytic virus (OV) efficacy for the treatment of Glioblastoma is the innate immune response; this response limits virus replication and reduces tumor cell destruction. Our lab developed a novel OV, RAMBO, which expresses the anti-angiogenic fragment Vasculostatin (Vstat120). In addition to its anti-angiogenic effects, we observe the RAMBO virus replicates more efficiently and persists longer in vivo than a control virus (rHSVQ1). The primary objective of this study is to investigate the effects RAMBO directed Vstat120 expression on microglia/macrophage activation and OV efficacy. METHODS: Mice bearing intracranial tumors were treated with RAMBO, rHSVQ1, or PBS, and flow cytometry utilized to examine monocyte/microglia activation/recruitment. Coculture of i9nfected glioma cells with microglia were utilized in in vitro experiemnts. Cytokines were analyzed via qPCR and ELISA. Virus replication was determined by plaque forming unit (PFU) assays. RESULTS: Treatment of intracranial tumors with OV resulted in significant monocyte infiltration into the tumor. Surprisingly, this infiltration was reduced 4.5 fold in tumors treated with the RAMBO virus as compared to rHSVQ1 (p < 0.05). Infiltrating monocytes from RAMBO treated tumors had significantly less MHCII, Ly6C, and CD86 than rHSVQ1 treated tumors (p < 0.05). The microglia of RAMBO treated tumors had significantly less MHCII and CD206 expression than those treated with rHSVQ1 (p< 0.05). To further examine the interaction of Vstat120 with microglia/monocytes we developed a coculture system with murine microglia and infected human glioma cells. Glioma cells were treated with PBS, rHSVQ1, or RAMBO and cocultured with microglia. We observed a 75-fold induction of TNF-α expression in microglia cultured with rHSVQ1 infected glioma cells compared to untreated microglia (p < 0.05). Interestingly, we observed a 3.4-fold reduction in microglia TNF-α expression in RAMBO treated cocultures compared to rHSVQ1 cocultures (p < 0.01). Consistent with this ELISA confirmed a 6.9 fold decrease in microglia TNF-α secretion (p < 0.01), and virus titers revealed a 2.6 fold increase in infectious virus in RAMBO Vs eHSVQ1 treated cocultures (p < 0.01). Cocultures treated with a microglia (murine) specific TNF-α blocking antibody rescued the differences in viral replication between rHSVQ1 and RAMBO virus titers. There was no difference in virus replication of glioma cells or microglia alone. These results suggest Vstat120 reduces inflammation and enhances OV replication in part through the suppression of TNF-α expression/secretion on microglia/monocytes. This transient suppression of the microglia/monocyte inflammatory response enhances OV replication and promotes anti-tumor efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Vasculostatin affects macrophage recruitment and activity to improve viral replication and efficacy. SECONDARY CATEGORY: Immunobiology & Immunotherapy.