Fusogenic membrane glycoproteins induce syncytia formation and death in vitro and in vivo: a potential therapy agent for lung cancer

Cancer Gene Ther. 2010 Apr;17(4):256-65. doi: 10.1038/cgt.2009.74. Epub 2009 Nov 6.

Abstract

Fusogenic membrane glycoproteins (FMGs) are viral envelope proteins, which bind surface receptors and induce fusion of the cell membrane. An FMG-transfected cell will fuse with neighbor cells, thus forming syncytia that die within 5 days. In this report, plasmids encoding for FMGs from Human Endogenous Retrovirus-W (HERV-W) was compared with Gibbon Ape Leukemia Virus (GALV) and feline endogenous virus RD-114 (RD). These plasmids were transfected in human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells in vitro or directly injected into tumors in mice. All FMGs induced the formation of syncytia containing around 50 cells. HERV-W or GALV FMGs decreased up to 80% of cell viability in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo (60-70% reduction). In contrast, RD FMG was not efficient. Apoptosis played a role in the death of the syncytia, but addition of the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk had no effect, suggesting that apoptosis is not the only mechanism responsible for FMG-induced cell death. Altogether, our results demonstrate that even at very low transfection efficiency, the antitumor activity of HERV-W FMG is as effective as that of GALV in vitro and in vivo for the treatment of human lung tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis*
  • Bystander Effect
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / virology
  • Cats
  • Endogenous Retroviruses / physiology
  • Female
  • Genetic Vectors / therapeutic use
  • Giant Cells / metabolism*
  • Giant Cells / virology
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Leukemia Virus, Feline / physiology
  • Leukemia Virus, Gibbon Ape / physiology
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / virology
  • Mice
  • Oncolytic Virotherapy*
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Viral Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Fusion Proteins / metabolism*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Viral Fusion Proteins