BackgroundGlioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor that carries a 5-y survival rate of 5%. Attempts at eliciting a clinically relevant anti-GBM immune response in brain tumor patients have met with limited success, which is due to brain immune privilege, tumor immune evasion, and a paucity of dendritic cells (DCs) within the central nervous system. Herein we uncovered a novel pathway for the activation of an effective anti-GBM immune response mediated by high-mobility-group box 1 (HMGB1), an alarmin protein released from dying tumor cells, which acts as an endogenous ligand for Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) signaling on bone marrow-derived GBM-infiltrating DCs.Methods and FindingsUsing a combined immunotherapy/conditional cytotoxic approach that utilizes adenoviral vectors (Ad) expressing Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L) and thymidine kinase (TK) delivered into the tumor mass, we demonstrated that CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were required for tumor regression and immunological memory. Increased numbers of bone marrow-derived, tumor-infiltrating myeloid DCs (mDCs) were observed in response to the therapy. Infiltration of mDCs into the GBM, clonal expansion of antitumor T cells, and induction of an effective anti-GBM immune response were TLR2 dependent. We then proceeded to identify the endogenous ligand responsible for TLR2 signaling on tumor-infiltrating mDCs. We demonstrated that HMGB1 was released from dying tumor cells, in response to Ad-TK (+ gancyclovir [GCV]) treatment. Increased levels of HMGB1 were also detected in the serum of tumor-bearing Ad-Flt3L/Ad-TK (+GCV)-treated mice. Specific activation of TLR2 signaling was induced by supernatants from Ad-TK (+GCV)-treated GBM cells; this activation was blocked by glycyrrhizin (a specific HMGB1 inhibitor) or with antibodies to HMGB1. HMGB1 was also released from melanoma, small cell lung carcinoma, and glioma cells treated with radiation or temozolomide. Administration of either glycyrrhizin or anti-HMGB1 immunoglobulins to tumor-bearing Ad-Flt3L and Ad-TK treated mice, abolished therapeutic efficacy, highlighting the critical role played by HMGB1-mediated TLR2 signaling to elicit tumor regression. Therapeutic efficacy of Ad-Flt3L and Ad-TK (+GCV) treatment was demonstrated in a second glioma model and in an intracranial melanoma model with concomitant increases in the levels of circulating HMGB1.ConclusionsOur data provide evidence for the molecular and cellular mechanisms that support the rationale for the clinical implementation of antibrain cancer immunotherapies in combination with tumor killing approaches in order to elicit effective antitumor immune responses, and thus, will impact clinical neuro-oncology practice.

Host cell RNA polymerase II (Pol II)-mediated transcription is inhibited by poliovirus infection. This inhibition is correlated to a specific decrease in the activity of a chromatographic fraction which contains the transcription factor TFIID. To investigate the mechanism by which poliovirus infection results in a decrease of TFIID activity, we have analyzed a component of TFIID, the TATA-binding protein (TBP) Recent studies from our laboratory have shown that poliovirus-induced inhibition of transcription in all three polymerase systems is correlated with the inactivation of specific transcription factors (12,18,29). While we have proposed mechanisms to explain how poliovirus inactivates host cell RNA Pol III-mediated transcription, mechanisms for the inhibition of Pol I-and Pol II-mediated transcription by poliovirus have not yet been elucidated (4,5).A growing number of Pol II transcription factors have been isolated from HeLa cell extracts. To date at least five transcription factors, designated TFIIA, -B, -D, -E, and -F, are required in addition to RNA Pol II for specific transcription of a Pol II gene in a reconstituted system (reviewed in reference 28). Binding of TFIID to the TATA box sequence present in most Pol II promoters is thought to be the first step in the assembly of an active Pol II transcription complex (3, 33). The decrease in Pol II transcription in poliovirusinfected cells is correlated with a specific decrease in the activity of a partially purified fraction which contains TFIID (18). In addition, TFIID and the activity required to specifically restore Pol II transcription in poliovirus-infected cell extracts have been shown to copurify through three columns and to have the same kinetics of heat inactivation (18). However, the mechanism responsible for decreased TFIID activity in poliovirus-infected cells is not known. This question can now be addressed more directly, since the DNAbinding component of human TFIID, the TATA-binding * Corresponding author.protein (TBP), has been cloned and characterized in several laboratories (15,17,26).The inhibition of Pol II-mediated transcription by poliovirus infection has many similarities to the inhibition of Pol III transcription by poliovirus. In the Pol III system, the activity of a partially purified fraction which contains the DNAbinding transcription factor TFIIIC is reduced in poliovirusinfected cells (12). Recently we have shown that a transcriptionally inactive form of TFIIIC found in poliovirus-infected cells can be generated by treating a transcriptionally active form of TFIIIC with cloned, purified poliovirus protease 3C (3CPrO) (5). Unfortunately, since human TFIIIC has not yet been cloned, we do not know whether the cleavage of TFIIIC by 3CPrO is direct. Poliovirus encodes two proteases which have very specific cleavage sites within the poliovirus polyprotein: 3CPro, which cleaves only at glutamine-glycine bonds, and 2AprO, which cleaves only at tyrosine-glycine bonds (21). In addition, 3CD, a precursor to 3CP'°, can also act as a prote...

Aggrecanases are key matrix-degrading enzymes that act by cleaving aggrecan at the Glu373-Ala374 site. While these fragments have been detected in osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cartilage and synovial fluid, no information is available on the regulation or expression of the two key aggrecanases (aggrecanase-1 and aggrecanase-2) in synovial tissue (ST) or fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). The aggrecanase-1 gene was constitutively expressed by both RA and OA FLS. Real-time PCR demonstrated that TGF-β significantly increased aggrecanase-1 gene expression in FLS. Aggrecanase-1 induction peaked after 24 h of TGF-β stimulation. The expression of aggrecanase-1 mRNA was significantly greater in RA ST than in OA or nonarthritis ST. Aggrecanase-2 mRNA and protein were constitutively produced by nonarthritis, OA, and RA FLS but were not increased by IL-1, TNF-α, or TGF-β. Furthermore, OA, RA, and nonarthritis ST contained similar amounts of immunoreactive aggrecanase-2. The major form of the aggrecanase-2 enzyme was 70 kDa in nonarthritis ST, whereas a processed 53-kDa form was abundant in RA ST. Therefore, aggrecanase-1 and -2 are differentially regulated in FLS. Both are constitutively expressed, but aggrecanase-1 is induced by cytokines, especially TGF-β. In contrast, aggrecanase-2 protein may be regulated by a post-translational mechanism in OA and RA ST. Synovial and FLS production of aggrecanase can contribute to cartilage degradation in RA and OA.

In HeLa cells, RNA polymerase III (pol III)‐mediated transcription is severely inhibited by poliovirus infection. This is due primarily to a reduction in the transcriptional activity of TFIIIC, a transcription factor which binds in a sequence specific manner to the internal promoter of pol III genes. Using gel retardation assays, we have shown previously that inhibition of pol III transcription by poliovirus is correlated with disappearance of a transcriptionally active form of TFIIIC (complex I) concomitant with the appearance of a faster mobility, transcriptionally inactive form of TFIIIC (complex III). We show here that a poliovirus with a point mutation in the proteinase 3C (3Cpro) region failed to produce complex III and is limited in its ability to inhibit pol III transcription compared with the wild‐type virus. Incubation of purified 3Cpro, expressed in Escherichia coli, with transcriptionally active TFIIIC (complex I) in vitro resulted in generation of the transcriptionally inactive complex III form of TFIIIC. In an in vitro transcription assay, treatment of the complex I form of TFIIIC with 3Cpro almost completely inhibited pol III transcription. Finally expression of the 3Cpro gene in transfected HeLa cells resulted in significant inhibition of pol III‐mediated transcription. The results presented here suggest that proteolysis of the transcriptionally active form of TFIIIC by poliovirus 3Cpro is a mechanism by which poliovirus inhibits host cell RNA pol III transcription.