The potential roles of CD8 ϩ T-cell-induced chemokines in the expansion of immune responses were examined using DNA immunogen constructs as model antigens. We coimmunized cDNA expression cassettes encoding the ␣ -chemokines IL-8 and SDF-1 ␣ and the ␤ -chemokines MIP-1 ␣ , RANTES, and MCP-1 along with DNA immunogens and analyzed the resulting antigen-specific immune responses.

Immunization with nucleic acids has been shown to induce both antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune responses in vivo. We hypothesize that immunization with DNA could be enhanced by directing specific immune responses induced by the vaccine based on the differential correlates of protection known for a particular pathogen. Recently we and others reported that specific immune responses generated by DNA vaccine could be modulated by co-delivery of gene expression cassettes encoding for IL-12, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and the co-stimulatory molecule CD86. To further engineer the immune response in vivo, we investigated the induction and regulation of immune responses following the co-delivery of pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1 alpha, TNF-alpha, and TNF-beta), Th1 cytokine (IL-2, IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18), and Th2 cytokine (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10) genes. We observed enhancement of antigen-specific humoral response with the co-delivery of Th2 cytokine genes IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 as well as those of IL-2 and IL-18. A dramatic increase in antigen-specific T helper cell proliferation was seen with IL-2 and TNF-alpha gene co-injections. In addition, we observed a significant enhancement of the cytotoxic response with the co-administration of TNF-alpha and IL-15 genes with HIV-1 DNA immunogens. These increases in CTL response were both MHC class I restricted and CD8+ T cell dependent. Together with earlier reports on the utility of co-immunizing using immunologically important molecules together with DNA immunogens, we demonstrate the potential of this strategy as an important tool for the development of more rationally designed vaccines.

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The genetic events underlying the development of prostate cancer are poorly defined. c‐Myc is often activated in tumors that have progressed to metastatic status, so events that promote this process may be important. Bin1 is a nucleocytoplasmic adaptor protein with features of a tumor suppressor that was identified through its ability to interact with and inhibit malignant transformation by c‐Myc. We investigated a role for Bin1 loss or inactivation in prostate cancer because the human Bin1 gene is located at chromosome 2q14 within a region that is frequently deleted in metastatic prostate cancer but where no tumor suppressor candidate has been located. A novel polymorphic microsatellite marker located within intron 5 of the human Bin1 gene was used to demonstrate loss of heterozygosity and coding alteration in 40% of informative cases of prostate neoplasia examined. RNA and immunohistochemical analyses indicated that Bin1 was expressed in most primary tumors, even at slightly elevated levels relative to benign tissues, but that it was frequently missing or inactivated by aberrant splicing in metastatic tumors and androgen‐independent tumor cell lines. Ectopic expression of Bin1 suppressed the growth of prostate cancer lines in vitro. Our findings support the candidacy of Bin1 as the chromosome 2q prostate tumor suppressor gene. Int. J. Cancer 86:155–161, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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