The temporal gene expression profile during the entire process of apoptosis and cell cycle progression in response to p53 in human ovarian cancer cells was explored with cDNA microarrays representing 33 615 individual human genes. A total of 1501 genes (4.4%) were found to respond to p53 (approximately 80% of these were repressed by p53) using 2.5-fold change as a cutoff. It was anticipated that most of p53 responsive genes resulted from the secondary effect of p53 expression at late stage of apoptosis. To delineate potential p53 direct and indirect target genes during the process of apoptosis and cell cycle progression, microarray data were combined with global p53 DNA-binding site analysis. Here we showed that 361 out of 1501 p53 responsive genes contained p53 consensus DNA-binding sequence(s) in their regulatory region, approximately 80% of which were repressed by p53. This is the first time that a large number of p53-repressed genes have been identified to contain p53 consensus DNAbinding sequence(s) in their regulatory region. Hierarchical cluster analysis of these genes revealed distinct temporal expression patterns of transcriptional activation and repression by p53. More genes were activated at early time points, while more repressed genes were found after the onset of apoptosis. A small-scale quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis indicated that in vivo p53-DNA interaction was detected in eight out of 10 genes, most of which were repressed by p53 at the early onset of apoptosis, suggesting that a portion of p53 target genes in the human genome could be negatively regulated by p53 via sequence-specific DNA binding. The approaches and genes described here should aid the understanding of global gene regulatory network of p53.

Multiple sclerosis, an inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the CNS currently lacks an effective therapy. We show here that CNS inflammation and clinical disease in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an experimental model of multiple sclerosis, could be prevented completely by a replication-defective adenovirus vector expressing the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (replication-deficient adenovirus expressing human IL-10), but only upon inoculation into the CNS where local infection and high IL-10 levels were achieved. High circulating levels of IL-10 produced by i.v. infection with replication-deficient adenovirus expressing human IL-10 was ineffective, although the immunological pathways for disease are initiated in the periphery in this disease model. In addition to this protective activity, intracranial injection of replication-deficient adenovirus expressing human IL-10 to mice with active disease blocked progression and accelerated disease remission. In a relapsing-remitting disease model, IL-10 gene transfer during remission prevented subsequent relapses. These data help explain the varying outcomes previously reported for systemic delivery of IL-10 in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and show that, for optimum therapeutic activity, IL-10 must either access the CNS from the peripheral circulation or be delivered directly to it by strategies including the gene transfer described here.

Sepsis remains a significant clinical conundrum, and recent clinical trials with anticytokine therapies have produced disappointing results. Animal studies have suggested that increased lymphocyte apoptosis may contribute to sepsis-induced mortality. We report here that inhibition of thymocyte apoptosis by targeted adenovirus-induced thymic expression of human IL-10 reduced blood bacteremia and prevented mortality in sepsis. In contrast, systemic administration of an adenovirus expressing IL-10 was without any protective effect. Improvements in survival were associated with increases in Bcl-2 expression and reductions in caspase-3 activity and thymocyte apoptosis. These studies demonstrate that thymic apoptosis plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of sepsis and identifies a gene therapy approach for its therapeutic intervention.

Purpose A Phase l trial of intravesical recombinant adenovirus-mediated interferon-α2b gene therapy (rAd-IFNα) formulated with the excipient SCH Syn3 was conducted in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) who recurred after Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). The primary objective was to determine the safety of rAd-IFNα/Syn3; secondary endpoints were to demonstrate effective rAd-IFNα gene expression and preliminary evidence of clinical activity at three months. Patients and Methods Seventeen patients with recurrent NMIBC after BCG were enrolled. A single treatment of rAd-IFNα (3×109 to 3×1011 particles/mL) formulated with the excipient Syn3 was administered. Patient safety was evaluated for ≥12 weeks. Efficacy of gene transfer was determined by urine IFNα protein concentrations. Preliminary drug efficacy was determined at 3 months. Results Intravesical rAd-IFNα/Syn3 was well tolerated as no dose limiting toxicity (DLT) was encountered. Urgency was the most common adverse event and all were grade 1 or 2. rAd-IFNα DNA was not detected in the blood, however, transient low serum IFNα and Syn3 levels were measured. High and prolonged dose-related urine IFNα levels were achieved with the initial treatment. Of the 14 patients treated at doses ≥ 1010 particles/mL with detectable urine IFNα, 6 (43%) experienced a complete response at 3 months and 2 remained disease free at 29.0 and 39.2 months respectively. Conclusion Intravesical rAd-IFNα/Syn3 was well tolerated with no DLT encountered. Dose dependent urinary IFNα concentrations confirmed efficient gene transfer and expression. Intravesical rAd-IFNα/Syn3 demonstrated promising clinical activity in NMIBC recurring after BCG.