Lentiviral vectors for generating immune responses against human T Lymphotrophic Virus Type 1
09987351 ยท 2018-06-05
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
C12N7/00
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
A61K39/21
HUMAN NECESSITIES
C12N2740/14034
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
C12N2740/14022
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
C07K14/15
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
C12N2740/15043
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
C12N2740/15034
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
C12N15/86
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
A61P35/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
A61K39/21
HUMAN NECESSITIES
C07K14/15
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
C12N7/00
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
Abstract
The present invention relates to compositions, methods, and uses employing lentiviral vector particles for induction of an immune response by administration to a human, wherein the lentiviral vector particles comprise a lentiviral vector, wherein the DNA of the lentiviral vector comprises a promoter directing expression of a HTLV-1 p12p30-Tax-HBZ fusion protein. The invention encompasses these vectors, methods of making the vectors, and methods of using them, including medicinal uses.
Claims
1. A method for inducing an immune response comprising intramuscularly administering to a human a composition comprising lentiviral vector particles, wherein the lentiviral vector particles comprise a lentiviral vector; wherein DNA of the lentiviral vector comprises a promoter directing expression of a polypeptide comprising a HTLV-1 p12p30-Tax-HBZ fusion protein.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lentiviral vector comprises a 2m promoter.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the lentiviral vector comprises an MHC class I promoter.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the HTLV-1 p12p30-Tax-HBZ fusion protein is encoded by a DNA having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:20.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the HTLV-1 p12p30-Tax-HBZ fusion protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:66.
6. The method of claim 1, comprising at least 10.sup.7 lentiviral vector particles.
7. A composition comprising lentiviral vector particles for induction of an immune response by intramuscular administration to a human, wherein the lentiviral vector particles comprise a lentiviral vector; wherein the DNA of the lentiviral vector comprises a promoter directing expression of a polypeptide comprising a HTLV-1 p12p30-Tax-HBZ fusion protein.
8. The composition of claim 7, wherein the lentiviral vector comprises a 2m promoter.
9. The composition of claim 7, wherein the lentiviral vector comprises an MHC class I promoter.
10. The composition of claim 7, wherein the HTLV-1 p12p30-Tax-HBZ fusion protein is encoded by a DNA having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:20.
11. The composition of claim 7, wherein the HTLV-1 p12p30-Tax-HBZ fusion protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:66.
12. The composition of claim 7, comprising at least 10.sup.7 lentiviral vector particles.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(8) Lentivectors can induce a strong, lasting and diversified T-cell mediated response. Then, cellular immune response against antigen encoded by lentiviral vector is activated. In addition, contrarily for instance to the combination of AZT with interferon-alpha that is a lifelong treatment with severe side effects (i.e. autoimmune disease), efficient therapeutic vaccination could allow the patients to stop taking their treatments for a sustainable period of time, thereby reducing the adverse effects, costs etc.
(9) In contrast to other retroviruses, HTLV-1 displays a remarkable genetic stability; probably due to the viral spread via clonal expansion of infected cells (replication driven by mitosis) rather than through reverse transcription (i.e. de novo infection of previously uninfected cells) which is prone to error. Thus, a lentiviral vector encoding an anti-HTLV-1 antigen could be used to treat patients worldwide.
(10) Four HTLV-1 proteins were chosen to design an anti-HTLV-1 antigen, based on their involvement in host cell regulation mechanisms of proliferation and transformation: Tax, HBZ, p12I and p30II.
(11) Tax Protein
(12) Early steps in the transformation of CD4+ T Lymphocytes by the HTLV-1 have been associated with the oncogenic properties of its main oncogene, Tax. This viral protein is localized in the nucleus of the host cell and interacts with transcription factors or chromatin modellers to promote cell proliferation (Haller et al, 2000, AIDS Res. Hum. Retroviruses, 16(16):1683-1688; Jeang, 2001, Cytokine Growth Factor Rev., 12(2-3): 207-217; Azran et al, Retrovirology, 1:20 2004; Boxus et al, 2008, Retrovirology, 5:76). It has been demonstrated that the expression of Tax leads to a proliferation and differentiation of T lymphocytes through an activation of several cellular signaling pathways (i.e. NF-kB, SRF or AP1). Tax also compromises genome stability by modulating the timing of replication origin activation and the generation of reactive oxygen species leading to DNA double strand breaks. In addition, Tax has been described to display an opposite effect regarding host cell apoptosis. Indeed, at a low level of expression, Tax inhibits cell apoptosis (Brauweiler, et al, 1997, Virology, 231(1): 135-140; Tsukahara et al, 1999, J. Virol., 73(10):7981-7987; Kasai and Jeang, 2004, Retrovirology, 1:7), and is considered mutagenic and oncogenic (for review see (Boxus, et al, 2008, Retrovirology, 5:76)). In contrast, at a high level of expression, Tax seems toxic for cells and induce apoptosis and rapid senescence (Chen et al, 1997, J. Gen. Virol., 78(Pt12):3277-3285; de La Fuente et al, 2000, J. Virol., 74(16):7270-7283; Kao et al., 2000, Oncogene, 19(18):2240-2248; Nicot and Harrod 2000, Mol. Cell. Biol., 20(22): 8580-8589; de la Fuente et al, 2003, Mol. Cell. Biochem., 245(1-2):99-113; Zhang et al, 2009, Retrovirology, 6:35; Ho et al, 2012, J. Virol., 86(17):9474-9483). Tax is expressed by the infected cells especially at the early stage of the infection. However, observations have reported that Tax expression is frequently turned off in the acute forms of ATL; at least the dominant circulating clone of HTLV-1 infected cells (Kannagi et al, 2012, Front. Microbiol., 3:323)
(13) HTLV-1 bZIP Factor (HBZ)
(14) The HTLV-1 bZIP factor (HBZ) is another viral protein which is involved in T lymphocytes proliferation. It is encoded by the minus strand of the provirus and is localized in the nucleus of the host cell. It has a bimodal role, HBZ RNA promotes cell proliferation (Satou et al, 2006, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 103(3):720-725; Arnold et al, 2008, Blood, 112(9):3788-3797z) and HBZ protein might facilitate escape from host immune attack of HTLV-1 infected cells by suppressing the classical NF-B pathway and by down regulating expression of Tax, the main target of the immune system of infected patients (Gaudray, et al, 2002, J. Virol., 76(24): 12813-12822; Lemasson et al, 2007, J. Virol., 81(4): 1543-1553; Zhao et al, 2009, Blood, 113(12):2755-2764). In addition, HBZ has a predominant role in the maintenance of the transformed state and potentially could enable the HTLV-1 to convert T Lymphocytes into Regulatory T Cell, which is thought to be critical for virus persistence.
(15) Accessory Proteins P12I and P30II
(16) P12I is localized in the membrane of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus. It is involved in cell proliferation (Nicot et al, 2005, Oncogene, 24(39):6026-6034; Edwards et al, 2011, Viruses, 3(6): 861-885). Moreover, p12I targets MHCI to degradation and inhibits Natural killer (NK) cell adhesion to cells; preventing HTLV-1 infected cells from being recognized by the immune system (Nicot, et al, 2005, Oncogene, 24(39):6026-6034; Banerjee et al, 2007, J. Virol., 81(18):9707-9717). P81 protein, a membrane associated truncated form of p12I, down regulates Tax activity (Fukumoto, et al, 2007, J. Virol., 81(17):9088-9099)).
(17) Finally, p30II is both a nuclear and nucleolar protein which is a negative regulator of viral proteins expression (Nicot, et al, 2004, Nat. Meth., 10(2):197-201; Michael et al, 2006, Virology, 354(2): 225-239). P30II contributes to transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of several genes involved in cell cycle progression, cell signalling, apoptosis, DNA replication and repair, angiogenesis and cell migration (Taylor et al, 2009, BMC Genomics, 10:311). In addition, p30II interacts with DNA repair pathways Baydoun et al, 2011, Blood, 117(22): 5897-5906). Of note, p13II, a spliced isoform of p30II, localized both in mitochondria and in nucleus, is involved in calcium homeostasis and regulation of calcium dependant gene expression, in ROS production and apoptosis (Biasiotto et al, 2010, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1797(6-7):945-951; Silic-benussi et al, 2010, Molecular Aspects Med., 31(5): 350-358) and in the inhibition of Tax activity (Andresen et al, 2011, Blood, 118(6):1549-1559).
(18) Putative Role of Viral Proteins Selected in ATL Pathogenesis
(19) Tax, HBZ, p12I and p30II interact with the cell machinery and disrupt its metabolism. By their action on cell proliferation, on DNA repair and on immune system response, they are considered as oncogenic proteins which can be expressed by leukemic cells despite of the low in vivo expression found in ATL patients (Kannagi, et al, 2012, Front. Microbiol., 3:323). Indeed, Tax is the immunodominant target antigen found in ATL patients (Kannagi et al, 1991, Int. Immunol., 3(8):761-767; Pique et al, 1996, J. Virol., 70(8):4919-4926). In addition, immune response targeting Tax has been observed in ATL patients treated by allo-HSCT who achieved remission (Harashima et al, 2004, Cancer Res., 64(1):391-399). RNA of p12I/p81 is detected in vitro and ex vivo in HTLV-1 infected T cells and macrophages (Koralnik et al, 1992, AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses, 8(11):1845-1849). Moreover, p12I and p30II are targeted in vivo by immune system of HTLV-1 patients, whatever their clinical status (Chen et al, 1997, Int. J. Cancer, 71(2):196-202; Dekaban et al, 2000, Virology, 274(1):86-93; Pique and Dokhelar, 2000, AIDS Res. Hum. Retroviruses, 16(16):1783-1786). If in vivo HTLV-1 proteins expression is still debated, HBZ expression seems to be conserved in all cases of ATL patients studied (Zhao and Matsuoka, 2012, Front. Microbiol., 3:247). In addition, immune response against HBZ in HTLV-1 carriers has already been observed (Macnamara et al, 2010, PloS Pathog., 6(9):e1001117; Enose-Akahata et al, 2013, Retrovirology, 10:19).
(20) Consequently, antigen containing both Tax and HBZ peptidic sequences can be a relevant strategy to stimulate immune response against ATL cells in patients whatever the level of viral proteins expression is, since hypotheses underline the possibility of different pattern of viral protein expression for leukemic cells in patients (Umino et al, 2011, Blood, 117(20):5473-5478). Another advantage of Tax and HBZ antigen is the low genetic variability in the sequence (Kubota et al, 2007, J. Immunol., 178(9):5966-5972; Zhao and Matsuoka, 2012, Front. Microbiol, 3:247). Finally, p12I and p13II are localized in endomembrane and p81 in lipid rafts of the cell membrane. Owing to membrane trafficking within the cell to the plasma membrane, sequences from these proteins might be present on the cell surface. Choosing epitope in the common sequences of isoform proteins P12I/P81 and P30II/P13II might contribute to an enhanced immune response.
(21) Based on those findings, their expression and the roles of these proteins in the ATL emergence and maintenance, a clinically relevant strategy is to trigger a potent and selective cellular immune response against 1, 2, 3, or all 4 of TAX, HBZ, p12 and p30 antigens.
(22) Design of a Safe Antigen
(23) All the sequences targeting the viral proteins to the subcellular localization where they display their activity were truncated or deleted. In addition, transmembrane domains and sequences involved in interaction with transcriptions factors or other effectors that are not part of major epitopes have been truncated or deleted to abolish any wild type activity. Epitopes from Tax, HBZ, p12I and p30II were combined and fused directly or with linker sequences. Regarding the oncogenic activity of Tax, down regulation of Tax expression by other viral proteins could limit its recognition by the immune system and the lysis of the cell expressing Tax. In the lentiviral vectos, expression of antigen comprising peptides from Tax, HBZ, P12I and P30II, is under control of 2 microglobulin promoter, thus antigen is constitutively expressed in host cells and expression cannot be regulated by interaction of viral peptides with 2 microglobulin promoter, limiting the risk of oncogenic effect of Tax polypeptide.
(24) In the present study, different combinations of Tax, HBZ, p12I and p30II antigens, have been tested for their capacity to induce a cellular immune response in C57Bl/6j mice.
(25) The T-cell specific response of each combination of HTLV-1 antigens has been evaluated in C57Bl/6j mice by performing Elispot assays (
(26) Surprisingly, T-cell responses varied not only according to antigens (Tax, HBZ, p12I or p30II), but also according to the combination and the construction of these antigens.
(27) For example,
(28) Tax-HBZ and p12Ip30II antigens were selected to be included together. The Tax-HBZ antigen was fused directly to antigen p12Ip30II in two combinations: p12Ip30II-Tax-HBZ and Tax-HBZ-p12Ip30II. As previously observed, results have demonstrated that T-cell immune response significantly varies according to combination, i.e. p12Ip30II-Tax-HBZ antigen induced a stronger T-cell response in C57Bl/6j mice than Tax-HBZ-p12Ip30II.
(29) The design of an anti-HTLV-1 vaccine has revealed the importance of the combination of the different antigens selected in the induction of a strong and appropriate T-cell immune response in C57Bl/6j mice. The predicted conformation of the polypeptide is as important as the selection of the appropriate epitope in order to develop a vaccine which will have the highest capacity to stimulate a specific immune response. The best antigen combination observed was p12Ip30II-Tax-HBZ antigen.
(30) An in vitro assessment of the carcinogenicity of the lentiviral vector expressing the p12Ip30II-Tax-HBZ antigen was performed. The assessment of safety was performed to assure that antigenic combination does not interfere with cell metabolism after transduction. Primary and immortalized cells (primary and spontaneous immortalized Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast MEF and primary human embryonic fibroblasts MRC5) were transduced with the vector and positive and negative controls. Assessment included growth in inclusion media (agarose), growth during 3 weeks, since cells in 3D don't proliferate/grow unless they present oncogenic properties. Assessment also included microscopic observation of colonies and detection kits. The results are shown in
(31) Transduction of primary fibroblasts with the lentiviral vector expressing the p12Ip30II-Tax-HBZ antigen resulted in no change of MRC5 morphology. Transduction of immortalized MEF with the lentiviral vector expressing the p12Ip30II-Tax-HBZ antigen resulted in no change of growth during approximately 1 month. No clonogenic cells were found in immortalized MEF transducted with the lentiviral vector expressing the p12Ip30II-Tax-HBZ antigen or even with wt HTLV-1 protein.
(32) Carcinogenicity of the lentiviral vector expressing the p12Ip30II-Tax-HBZ antigen+VPX vector in NOG mice was evaluated with negative controls. The results are shown in
(33) The expression from the lentiviral vector expressing the p12Ip30II-Tax-HBZ antigen in vivo was examined by inserting a luciferase expression cassette into the lentivector, as well as into a control vector. Luciferase expression was monitored by bioluminescence after ventral or dorsal intramuscular injection into NOG mice. The results are shown in
(34) Luciferase expression was seen from 6 hours post administration. In Group 1 (HTLV-Luciferase), bioluminescence was observed to decrease over time. In Group 2 (Luciferase only), bioluminescence was observed to increase over time
(35) No tumor growth was observed until the end of the study (Day 66).
(36) The intramuscular administration to an animal of an integrating lentivector with specialized promoters driving expression of an immunogenic protein results in an unexpectedly high and prolonged immune response against the protein that leads to elimination of the integrated vector from the animal. Thus, the invention provides for new lentivectors having high and prolonged immune responses and increased safety for human administration.
(37) Thus, the invention encompasses compositions, methods, and uses employing lentiviral vector particles for induction of an immune response by administration to a human, wherein the lentiviral vector particles comprise a lentiviral vector, wherein the DNA of the lentiviral vector comprises a promoter directing expression of an HTLV-1 Tax and/or HBZ antigen, and/or a p12I and p30II antigen. Preferably, the antigen is encoded by a DNA having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:8; SEQ ID NO:10; SEQ ID NO:12; or SEQ ID NO:14-SEQ ID NO:21, Most preferably, the antigen is encoded by SEQ 10 NO:20
(38) MHC Class I and 2m Promoters
(39) The MHC Class I promoters show conservation of NF-Kb binding sites, an interferon stimulated response element (ISRE), and an SXY regulatory module (SXY). The human 2-microglobulin (2m) promoter shows some similarity to the MHC Class I promoters, as it contains an ISRE, albeit upstream of a single NF-Kb binding site.
(40) MHC Class 11 promoters are considered to be antigen presenting cell (including dendritic cell)-specific promoters. Although MHC class II promoters contain an SXY module, they do not contain NF-Kb binding sites or an ISRE (Van den Helsen et al, 1998, Immunogenetics, 48:208-221). Thus, MHC Class 11 promoters are quite different from MHC Class I promoters. As a result, they also have very different cell expression patterns (FIG. 24).
(41) Another antigen presenting cell-specific promoter, dectin-2, contains an interferon stimulated response element (ISRE); but does not contain an SXY module (Bonkabara et al., 2001, J. Immunology, 167:6893-6900).
(42) The sequences of various mammalian (human) MHC class I promoters are shown below:
(43) TABLE-US-00001 HLA-A2(MHCI): (SEQIDNO:1) attggggagtcccagccttggggattccccaactccgcagtttctttt ctccctctcccaacctatgtagggtccttcttcctggatactcacgac gcggacccagttctcactcccattgggtgtcgggtttccagagaagcc aatcagtgtcgtcgcggtcgcggttctaaagtccgcacgcacccaccg ggactcagattctccccagacgccgagg HLA-B7(MHCI): (SEQIDNO:2) ggggaggcgcagcgttggggattccccactcccctgagtttcacttct tctcccaacttgtgtcgggtccttcttccaggatactcgtgacgcgtc cccacttcccactcccattgggtattggatatctagagaagccaatca gcgtcgccgcggtcccagttctaaagtccccacgcacccacccggact cagag HLA-Cw5(MHCI): (SEQIDNO:3) cactggggaggcgccgcgttgaggattctccactcccctcagtttcac ttcttctcccaacctgcgtcgggtccttcttcctgaatactcatgacg cgtccccaattcccactcccattgggtgtcgggttctagagaagccaa tcagcgtctccgcagtcccggtctaaagtccccagtcacccacccgga ctcagattctccccagacgccgag HLA-E(MHCI): (SEQIDNO:4) taagaactgctgattgctgggaaactctgcagtttcccgttcctctcg taacctggtcatgtgtccttcttcctggatactcatgacgcagactca gttctcattcccaatgggtgtcgggtttctagagaagccaatcagcgt cgccacgactcccgactataaagtccccatccggactcaagaagttct caggactcagagg HLA-F(MHCI): (SEQIDNO:5) aggccccgaggcggtgtctggggttggaaggctcagtattgagaattc cccatctccccagagtttctctttctctcccaacccgtgtcaggtcct tcatcctggatactcataacgcggccccatttctcactcccattgggc gtcgcgtttctagagaagccaatcagtgtcgccgcagttcccaggttc taaagtcccacgcaccccgcgggactcatatttttcccagacgcggag gttggggtcatg Asequenceofthehuman2-microglobulinpromoter isshownbelow: (SEQIDNO:6) aacatcacgagactctaagaaaaggaaactgaaaacgggaaagtccct ctctctaacctggcactgcgtcgctggcttggagacaggtgacggtcc ctgcgggccttgtcctgattggctgggcacgcgtttaatataagtgga ggcgtcgcgctggcgggcattcctgaagctgacagcattcgggccgag.
(44) The MHCI and 2m promoters do not contain an enhancer. Moreover, these promoters are dendritic-specific in that expression of the promoter in BDCA+ dendritic cells is higher than the expression in kidney, smooth muscle, liver, and heart cells. They also have relatively high expression in other transduced cell types, for example, expression of the promoter in BDCA+ dendritic cells is only 12-100 times the expression of that promoter in skeletal muscle cells, in contrast to 900 times with the MHCII HLA-DRa promoter. Id.
(45) The present invention encompasses lentiviral vectors comprising MHCI and 2m promoters, and their use for the induction of immune responses in a host by intramuscular administration.
(46) The present invention encompasses a lentiviral vector comprising a promoter sequence from a class I MHC or 2m gene promoter that directs the transcription of a transgene, which preferably encodes an immunogenic polypeptide, in a cell of a host, preferably in dendritic cells (DCs).
(47) Methods of Administration
(48) The invention encompasses methods of administration of a lentiviral vector (or lentivector) to a human. Preferably, the lentivector contains a promoter that drives high expression of an antigen in antigen presenting cells, including dendritic cells, and drives expression in other transduced cell types sufficient for elimination by the induced immune response. Most preferably, the promoter lacks an enhancer element to avoid insertional effects.
(49) Preferably, the administration is intramuscular. In one embodiment, the lentivector is injected into the muscle using a needle.
(50) Preferably, the lentivector particle is an integrating lentivector particle, comprising a functional integrase protein.
(51) In one embodiment, the invention comprises a method for inducing an immune response in a human comprising intramuscularly administering lentiviral vector particles. The invention encompasses methods employing lentiviral vector particles for induction of an immune response by intramuscular administration to a human, wherein the lentiviral vector particles comprise a lentiviral vector, wherein the DNA of the lentiviral vector comprises a promoter directing expression of an HTLV-1 Tax and/or HBZ antigen, and/or a p12I and p30II antigen. Preferably, the antigen is encoded by a DNA having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:8; SEQ ID NO:10; SEQ ID NO:12; or SEQ ID NO:14-SEQ ID NO:21, most preferably SEQ ID NO:20.
(52) Preferably, the lentivector particles are in a dose of 10.sup.6, 210.sup.6, 510.sup.6, 10.sup.7, 210.sup.7, 510.sup.7, 10.sup.8, 210.sup.8, 510.sup.8, or 10.sup.9 TU.
(53) The lentivector particles can be administered to the subject in a single dosage, or in multiple (i.e., 2, 3, 4, etc.) dosages. The lentivector particles can be administered in a first (priming) and second (boosting) administration. In one embodiment, the first dosage comprises 10.sup.7 to 10.sup.8 TU of lentivector particles and the second dosage comprises 10.sup.7 to 10.sup.8 TU of lentivector particles.
(54) The time between the first and second administrations and between an administration and a subsequent administration can vary. In one embodiment, the time between administrations is two to six weeks. In various embodiments, the time between administrations is at least 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 30, or 52 weeks. In various embodiments, the time between administrations is at least 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, or 48 months. In various embodiments, the time between administrations is at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 years.
(55) Lentiviral Vector
(56) Within the context of this invention, a lentiviral vector means a non-replicating vector for the transduction of a host cell with a transgene comprising cis-acting lentiviral RNA or DNA sequences, and requiring lentiviral proteins (e.g., Gag, Pol, and/or Env) that are provided in trans. The lentiviral vector lacks expression of functional Gag, Pol, and Env proteins. The lentiviral vector may be present in the form of an RNA or DNA molecule, depending on the stage of production or development of said retroviral vectors.
(57) The lentiviral vector can be in the form of a recombinant DNA molecule, such as a plasmid. The lentiviral vector can be in the form of a lentiviral particle vector, such as an RNA molecule(s) within a complex of lentiviral and other proteins. Typically, lentiviral particle vectors, which correspond to modified or recombinant lentivirus particles, comprise a genome which is composed of two copies of single-stranded RNA. These RNA sequences can be obtained by transcription from a double-stranded DNA sequence inserted into a host cell genome (proviral vector DNA) or can be obtained from the transient expression of plasmid DNA (plasmid vector DNA) in a transformed host cell.
(58) Preferably the lentiviral vector particles have the capacity for integration. As such, they contain a functional integrase protein. Non-integrating vector particles have one or more mutations that eliminate most or all of the integrating capacity of the lentiviral vector particles. For, example, a non-integrating vector particle can contain mutations in the integrase encoded by the lentiviral pol gene that cause a reduction in integrating capacity. In contrast, an integrating vector particle comprises a functional integrase protein that does not contain any mutations that eliminate most or all of the integrating capacity of the lentiviral vector particles.
(59) Lentiviral vectors derive from lentiviruses, in particular human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1 or HIV-2), simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), equine infectious encephalitis virus (EIAV), caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV), bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), which are modified to remove genetic determinants involved in pathogenicity and introduce new determinants useful for obtaining therapeutic effects.
(60) Such vectors are based on the separation of the cis- and trans-acting sequences. In order to generate replication-defective vectors, the trans-acting sequences (e.g., gag, pol, tat, rev, and env genes) can be deleted and replaced by an expression cassette encoding a transgene.
(61) Efficient integration and replication in non-dividing cells generally requires the presence of two cis-acting sequences at the center of the lentiviral genome, the central polypurine tract (cPPT) and the central termination sequence (CTS). These lead to the formation of a triple-stranded DNA structure called the central DNA flap, which acts as a signal for uncoating of the pre-integration complex at the nuclear pore and efficient importation of the expression cassette into the nucleus of non-dividing cells, such as dendritic cells.
(62) In one embodiment, the invention encompasses a lentiviral vector comprising a central polypurine tract and central termination sequence referred to as cPPT/CTS sequence as described, in particular, in the European patent application EP 2 169 073.
(63) Further sequences are usually present in cis, such as the long terminal repeats (LTRs) that are involved in integration of the vector proviral DNA sequence into a host cell genome. Vectors may be obtained by mutating the LTR sequences, for instance, in domain U3 of said LTR (U3) (Miyoshi H et al, 1998, J Virol. 72(10):8150-7; Zufferey et al., 1998, J Virol 72(12):9873-80).
(64) Preferably, the vector does not contain an enhancer. In one embodiment, the invention encompasses a lentiviral vector comprising LTR sequences, preferably with a mutated U3 region (U3) removing promoter and enhancer sequences in the 3 LTR.
(65) The packaging sequence (psi) can also be incorporated to help the encapsidation of the polynucleotide sequence into the vector particles (Kessler et al., 2007, Leukemia, 21(9):1859-74; Paschen et al., 2004, Cancer Immunol Immunother 12(6): 196-203).
(66) In one embodiment, the invention encompasses a lentiviral vector comprising a lentiviral packaging sequence (psi).
(67) Further additional functional sequences, such as a transport RNA-binding site or primer binding site (PBS) or a Woodchuck PostTranscriptional Regulatory Element (WPRE), can also be advantageously included in the lentiviral vector polynucleotide sequence of the present invention, to obtain a more stable expression of the transgene in vivo.
(68) In one embodiment, the invention encompasses a lentiviral vector comprising a PBS. In one embodiment, the invention encompasses a lentiviral vector comprising a WPRE and/or an IRES.
(69) Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the lentiviral vector comprises at least one cPPT/CTS sequence, one sequence, one (preferably 2) LTR sequence, and an expression cassette including a transgene, preferably comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:20, under the transcriptional control of a 2m or class I MHC promoter.
(70) Promoter
(71) In various embodiments, the promoter drives high expression in antigen presenting cells, including dendritic cells, to induce maximal immune responses. Preferably, the promoter drives expression in other transduced cell types sufficient for elimination by the induced immune response. Most preferably, the promoter lacks an enhancer element to avoid insertional effects.
(72) Most preferably, the promoter is not a CMV promoter/enhancer. Preferably, the promoter is not a dectin-2 or MHCII promoter.
(73) In various embodiments, the lentiviral vector comprises a 2m or MHC class I promoter. Preferably, the MHC class I promoter is an HLA-A2 promoter, an HLA-B7 promoter, an HLA-Cw5 promoter, an HLA-F, or an HLA-E promoter. In various embodiments, the promoter sequence comprises a polynucleotide sequence that shares more than 90%, preferably more than 95%, more preferably more than 99% identity with the promoter sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, or SEQ ID NO:6.
(74) The invention encompasses lentiviral vectors containing a promoter that does not contain an enhancer.
(75) The invention encompasses the insertion of an MHC Class I (MHCI) or 2 microglobulin (2m) promoter into a lentiviral vector. As used herein, an MHC Class I (MHCI) promoter or 2 microglobulin promoter includes a naturally occurring or synthetic MHC Class I promoter or 2 microglobulin promoter. The term MHC Class I promoter does not include a 2m promoter.
(76) The promoter can be a naturally occurring promoter. Examples of naturally occurring promoters are the human 2m, HLA-A2, HLA-B7, HLA-Cw5, HLA-E, HLA-F gene promoters. These naturally occurring MHCI promoters are generally cloned or reproduced from the promoter region of a gene encoding the MHC class I protein, or referred to as putatively encoding such proteins in genome databases (ex: NCBI polynucleotide database. Both 2m and class I MHC proteins enter the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC).
(77) The proteins encoded by these genes are found in almost all cell types. MHCI proteins are generally present at the surface of the membrane of leucocytes, where they are associated with the 2-microglobulin (2m). The role of these associated proteins is to present peptides from endogenous sources to CD8+ T cells. They thus play a central role to the generation of the antigen-specific immune response. Because MHC class I proteins have been widely studied and described for many years, their genes are well characterized and detectable using sequence comparison tools, such as the BLAST method (Altschul, S. F. et al. (1990). Basic local alignment search tool. J. Mol. Biol. 215(3):403-410).
(78) MHC class I promoters share the ability to be strongly activated in antigen presenting cells, including dendritic cells, as well as, to lower intensity, in the majority of the other human body tissues.
(79) The promoters of the invention can contain further regulatory elements, such as one or more Sp1 and ETs binding sites. In a preferred embodiment, the MHC class I promoter contains 2 Sp1 binding sites and 1 Ets binding site. In other embodiments, Ap1 and/or Ap2 sites are further contained in the promoter.
(80) Preferred promoters are naturally occurring human 2m, HLA-A2, HLA-B7, HLA-Cw5, HLA-E and HLA-F promoters.
(81) Promoters can also be synthetic. Synthetic promoters include promoters that are synthesized using molecular biological techniques to assemble the individual components of a promoter or that are derived from naturally occurring promoters using molecular biological techniques.
(82) In various embodiments, the synthetic promoter comprises a polynucleotide sequence that shares more than 90%, preferably more than 95%, more preferably more than 99% identity, or 100% with the promoter sequence of a 132m or MHC class I gene promoter (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 1-6).
(83) In one embodiment, the invention encompasses a method comprising inserting a 2m or MHC class I promoter, into a lentiviral vector to direct expression of a transgene, which preferably encodes an HTLV-1 Tax, HTLV-1 bZIP factor (HBZ), and/or an accessory protein P12I and P30II antigen, most preferably comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:66. The method can further comprise inserting any of the other nucleic acid elements mentioned herein, such as a DNA flap sequence.
(84) Transgene
(85) Within the context of this invention, a transgene is a nucleic acid sequence within a lentiviral vector that is not normally present in a cell to be transduced with the lentiviral vector. The lentiviral vector serves to introduce this sequence into the transduced cell. The term transgene does not include those sequences of the vector that facilitate transduction of the transgene. The transgene may be a nucleic acid sequence from another organism. Alternatively, the transgene may be a nucleic acid sequence from the same organism, but having different regulatory sequences controlling its expression. The transgene may be a sense or antisense nucleic acid molecule. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transgene sequence encodes an antigen or immunogenic polypeptide.
(86) Preferably, the antigen or immunogenic polypeptide is a HTLV-1 Tax, HTLV-1 bZIP factor (HBZ), and/or an accessory protein P12I and/or P30II antigen or immunogenic polypeptide. Preferably, several epitopes forming a polyepitope are encoded by the transgene of the invention. In various embodiments, the transgene comprises at least 1, 2, 3, or 4 of the antigens encodes by SEQ ID NO:8; SEQ ID NO:10; SEQ ID NO:12; or SEQ ID NO:14-SEQ ID NO:21.
(87) Preferably, antigen or immunogenic polypeptide comprises or consists of a HTLV-1 p12p30-Tax-HBZ fusion protein.
(88) A particularly preferred HTLV-1 p12p30-Tax-HBZ fusion protein comprises the following amino acid sequence:
(89) TABLE-US-00002 (SEQIDNO:66) MPKTRRRPRRSQRKRPPTPWQPPPFSLQGLHLAFQLSSIAINPQLLHF FFPSTMLFRLLSPLSPLALATSAAFFSARLLRRALTMLIISPLPRVWT EMAHFPGFGQSLLFGYPVYVFGDCVDGRVIGSALQFLIPRLPSFPTQR TSKTLKVLTPPITHTTPNIPPSFLQAMRKYSPFRNGYMEPTLGQHLPT LSFPDPGLRPQNLYTLWGGSVVCMYLYQLSPPITWPLLPHVIFCHPGQ LGAFLTNVPYKRIEKLLYKISLTTGALIILPEDCLPTTLFQPARAPVT LTAWQNGLLPFHSTLTTPGLIWTFTDGTPMISGPCPKDGQPSLVLQSS SFIFHKFQTKAYHPSFLLSHGLIQYSSFHNLHLLFEEYTNIPISMLFR CLPVSCPEDLLVEELVDGLLSLEEELKDKEEEKAVLDGLLSLEEESRG RLRRGPPGEKAPPRGETHRDRQRRAEEEREKEEEKQIAEYLKRKEEEK AREKKAADVARRKQEEQER.
(90) Both B and T cell-based immune responses can be induced by the same antigen.
(91) Lentiviral Vector Particle Production
(92) The present invention provides a method for producing a lentiviral particle vector, which preferably does not comprise enhancer sequences, but instead contains a 2m or MHCI promoter. A lentiviral particle vector (or lentiviral vector particle) comprises a lentiviral vector in association with viral proteins. The vector is preferably an integrating vector.
(93) Replacing the viral enhancer sequences used in the prior art vectors to drive gene expression with a 2m or MHCI promoter not containing an enhancer can improve the safety of integrating retroviral vectors by:
(94) 1) reducing the risk of insertional mutagenesis linked to enhancer sequences; and
(95) 2) eliciting an immune response against the product of the transgene such that all the cells where the vector was integrated, whatever the cell-type, are eliminated by the immune system. Thus, after a period of time, the human body may not contain any replicates of such vector.
(96) According to one embodiment of this method, the lentivector particles are obtained in a host cell transformed with a DNA plasmid. Such a DNA plasmid can comprise: bacterial origin of replication (ex: pUC ori); antibiotic resistance gene (ex: KanR) for selection; and more particularly: a lentiviral vector comprising at least one transgene transcriptionally linked to a 2m or MHC class I promoter.
(97) Such a method allows producing a recombinant vector particle according to the invention, comprising the following steps of:
(98) i) transfecting a suitable host cell with a lentiviral vector;
(99) ii) transfecting said host cell with a packaging plasmid vector, containing viral DNA sequences encoding at least structural and polymerase (+ integrase) activities of a retrovirus (preferably lentivirus); Such packaging plasmids are described in the art (Dull et al., 1998, J Virol, 72(11):8463-71; Zufferey et al., 1998, J Virol 72(12):9873-80).
(100) iii) culturing said transfected host cell in order to obtain expression and packaging of said lentiviral vector into lentiviral vector particles; and
(101) iv) harvesting the lentiviral vector particles resulting from the expression and packaging of step iii) in said cultured host cells.
(102) For different reasons, it may be helpful to pseudotype the obtained retroviral particles, i.e. to add or replace specific particle envelope proteins. For instance, this may be advantageous to have different envelope proteins in order to distinguish the recombinant particle from natural particles or from other recombinant particles. In matter of vaccination strategy, pseudotyped particle vectors are more likely to escape the immune system, when this latter already developed immunity against lentiviruses. This is particularly helpful when successive injections of similar particle vectors are required for immunizing a patient against a disease.
(103) In order to pseudotype the retroviral particles of the invention, the host cell can be further transfected with one or several envelope DNA plasmid(s) encoding viral envelope protein(s), preferably a VSV-G envelope protein.
(104) An appropriate host cell is preferably a human cultured cell line as, for example, a HEK cell line.
(105) Alternatively, the method for producing the vector particle is carried out in a host cell, which genome has been stably transformed with one or more of the following components: a lentiviral vector DNA sequence, the packaging genes, and the envelope gene. Such a DNA sequence may be regarded as being similar to a proviral vector according to the invention, comprising an additional promoter to allow the transcription of the vector sequence and improve the particle production rate.
(106) In a preferred embodiment, the host cell is further modified to be able to produce viral particle in a culture medium in a continuous manner, without the entire cells swelling or dying. One may refer to Strang et al., 2005, J Virol 79(3):1165-71; Relander et al., 2005, Mol Ther 11(3):452-9; Stewart et al., 2009, Gene Ther, 16(6):805-14; and Stuart et al., 2011, Hum gene Ther., with respect to such techniques for producing viral particles.
(107) An object of the present invention consists of a host cell transformed with a lentiviral particle vector.
(108) The lentiviral particle vectors can comprise the following elements, as previously defined: cPPT/CTS polynucleotide sequence; and a transgene sequence under control of a 2m or MHCI promoter, and optionally one of the additional elements described above.
Methods for Expressing a Transgene in a Cell
(109) The present invention encompasses methods for expressing a transgene in a cell, preferably a non-dividing cell. The method comprises transducing a cell with a lentiviral vector or lentiviral particle vector of the invention under conditions that allow the expression of the transgene.
(110) The cells are preferably mammalian cells, particularly human cells. Particularly preferred are human non-dividing cells.
(111) The transgene preferably encodes an immunogenic polypeptide. The method can further comprise harvesting or isolating the polypeptide. Particularly preferred polypeptides are those encoded by the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO:8, 10, 12, 14, and 15-21, most preferably SEQ ID NO:20.
(112) The lentiviral vector or lentiviral particle vector preferably comprises a 132m or MHCI promoter.
(113) In one embodiment, the invention encompasses a method for expressing a transgene comprising inserting a transgene of the invention into a lentiviral vector and transducing a cell with the vector containing the transgene.
(114) Therapeutic Use of Lentiviral Vectors
(115) The present invention further relates to the use of the lentiviral vectors according to the invention, especially in the form of lentiviral vector particles, for the preparation of therapeutic compositions or vaccines which are capable of inducing or contributing to the occurrence or improvement of an immunogical reaction against epitopes, more particularly those encoded by the transgene present in the vectors.
(116) The present invention thus provides vectors that are useful as a medicament or vaccine, particularly for intramuscular administration.
(117) These vectors are preferentially used for the treatment or prophylaxis of infectious diseases, especially diseases associated with HTLV-1 virus infection.
(118) As the vectors of the invention more specifically target dendritic cells to obtain a cell-mediated immune response and especially the CTL response associated with the antigen expressed by the transgene in these cells, they are particularly useful as vaccines targeting HTLV-1.
(119) Accordingly, the invention relates to an immunogenic composition comprising a lentiviral vector as previously defined.
(120) The immunogenic compositions of the invention preferably contain cPPT and CTS sequences in the vector and vector particles to induce or to stimulate the nuclear import of the vector genome in the target cells.
(121) During reverse transcription, cPPT and CTS sequences induce the formation of a three stranded DNA structure referred as DNA triplex, which stimulates the nuclear import of DNA vector sequence. Preferably, the vector comprises a transgene and regulatory signals of retrotranscription, expression and encapsidation of retroviral or retroviral-like origin, wherein the composition is capable of inducing or of stimulating a CTL (Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes) and/or a CD4 response against one or several epitopes encoded by the transgene sequence present in the vector.
(122) The expression of the transgene is greatly improved by inclusion of a 82m or MHCI promoter in the vector.
(123) Thus, the lentiviral vectors according to the invention have the ability to induce, improve, or in general be associated with the occurrence of a memory CTL response. In other words, they can be used for the preparation of therapeutic composition for the treatment of HTLV-1-related diseases, by induction of, stimulation of, or participation in the occurrence of a cell-mediated immune response, especially a CTL response or a memory response.
(124) The lentiviral vectors of the invention can be used in methods of treatment and methods of inducing an immune response comprising administering the lentiviral vector to a host and generating a specific immune response against the transgene in the host. The cells and antibodies generated in these hosts can be used as diagnostic reagents.
(125) The lentiviral vectors according to the invention are preferably for intramuscular administration, most preferably by injection with a needle.
(126) In a particular embodiment, the immunogenic composition according to the invention can be directly administered to the patient, in such a way that it will induce, improve, or participate in vivo in the occurrence of a cell-mediated immune response, especially a CTL-mediated immune response.
(127) In another embodiment, the immunogenic compositions are used once or upon repeated administration so that they can enable the occurrence of a long-term memory cell mediated response.
(128) A particular advantage of the immunogenic compositions of the invention is that they can be used to elicit or stimulate a cell-mediated immune response against multiple epitopes encoded by the nucleotides sequence of interest or transgene present in the vector or vector particles.
(129) The invention also encompasses a lentiviral vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a multiple repeat (at least 2 identical sequences) of said amino acid sequence inducing a cellular response and/or an amino acid sequence containing at least 2 different sequences corresponding to 2 epitopes of different antigens. Particularly preferred antigens are those encoded by the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO:8, 10, 12, 14, and 15-21, most preferably SEQ ID NO:20.
(130) As a result, the invention encompasses a composition that could be used in prophylactic and/or therapeutic vaccination protocols, for the treatment of HTLV-1 related diseases.
(131) In particular, it can be used in combination with adjuvants, other immunogenic compositions, chemotherapy, or any other therapeutic treatment.
(132) The invention encompasses a composition for intramuscular administration to a human comprising lentiviral vector particles comprising a functional integrase protein and a lentiviral vector; wherein the DNA of the lentiviral vector comprises a 132m or MHCI promoter directing expression of an antigen. Particularly preferred antigens are those encoded by the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO:8, 10, 12, 14, and 15-21.
(133) The invention encompasses a composition comprising lentiviral vector particles for induction of an immune response by intramuscular administration to a human, wherein the lentiviral vector particles comprise a lentiviral vector, wherein the DNA of the lentiviral vector comprises a promoter directing expression of an HTLV-1 Tax antigen, and wherein the HTLV-1 Tax antigen is encoded by a DNA having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:8; SEQ ID NO:15; SEQ ID NO:16; SEQ ID NO:17; SEQ ID NO:18; SEQ ID NO:20; or SEQ ID NO:21.
(134) The invention encompasses a composition comprising lentiviral vector particles for induction of an immune response by intramuscular administration to a human, wherein the lentiviral vector particles comprise a lentiviral vector, wherein the DNA of the lentiviral vector comprises a promoter directing expression of an HTLV-1 HBZ antigen, and wherein the HTLV-1 HBZ antigen is encoded by a DNA having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:10; SEQ ID NO:15; SEQ ID NO:16; SEQ ID NO:17; SEQ ID NO:18; SEQ ID NO:20; or SEQ ID NO:21.
(135) The invention encompasses a composition comprising lentiviral vector particles for induction of an immune response by intramuscular administration to a human, wherein the lentiviral vector particles comprise a lentiviral vector, wherein the DNA of the lentiviral vector comprises a promoter directing expression of a P12I antigen (p12I Ag) or P30II antigen (p30II Ag), and wherein the P12I antigen (p12I Ag) or P30II antigen (p30II Ag) antigen is encoded by a DNA having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:12; SEQ ID NO:14; SEQ ID NO:19; SEQ ID NO:20; or SEQ ID NO:21.
(136) The invention encompasses the use of a composition comprising lentiviral vector particles for induction of an immune response by intramuscular administration to a human, wherein the lentiviral vector particles comprise a lentiviral vector, wherein the DNA of the lentiviral vector comprises a promoter directing expression of any of the above antigens, and wherein the antigen is encoded by a DNA having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:8; SEQ ID NO:10; SEQ ID NO:12; SEQ ID NO:14; SEQ ID NO:15; SEQ ID NO:16; SEQ ID NO:17; SEQ ID NO:18; SEQ ID NO:19; SEQ ID NO:20; or SEQ ID NO:21.
(137) The invention encompasses the use of a composition comprising lentiviral vector particles for induction of an immune response by intramuscular administration to a human, wherein the lentiviral vector particles comprise a lentiviral vector, wherein the DNA of the lentiviral vector comprises a promoter directing expression of a polypeptide comprising a HTLV-1 p12p30-Tax-HBZ fusion protein, preferably wherein the antigen is encoded by a DNA having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:20 and/or having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:66.
(138) Having thus described different embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the disclosures herein are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments as illustrated herein.
EXAMPLES
Example 1. Antigens
(139) The following viral proteins have been used to design HTLV-1 antigens for vaccine candidates: Tax, HBZ, p12I and p30II. The corresponding DNA coding sequence and the design of the epitopes are described below.
(140) Tax Sequences
(141) Wild type coding sequence:
(142) TABLE-US-00003 (SEQIDNO:7) atggcccacttcccagggtttggacagagtcttcttttcggataccca gtctacgtgtttggagactgtgtacaaggcgactggtgccccatctct gggggactatgttcggcccgcctacatcgtcacgccctactggccacc tgtccagagcatcagatcacctgggaccccatcgatggacgcgttatc ggctcagctctacagttccttatccctcgactcccctccttccccacc cagagaacctctaagacccttaaggtccttaccccgccaatcactcat acaacccccaacattccaccctccttcctccaggccatgcgcaaatac tcccccttccgaaatggatacatggaacccacccttgggcagcacctc ccaaccctgtcttttccagaccccggactccggccccaaaacctgtac accctctggggaggctccgttgtctgcatgtacctctaccagctttcc ccccccatcacctggcccctcctgccccatgtgattttttgccacccc ggccagctcggggccttcctcaccaatgttccctacaaacgaatagaa aaactcctctataaaatttcccttaccacaggggccctaataattcta cccgaggactgtttgcccaccacccttttccagcctgctagggcaccc gtcacgctgacagcctggcaaaacggcctccttccgttccactcaacc ctcaccactccaggccttatttggacatttaccgatggcacgcctatg atttccgggccctgccctaaagatggccagccatctttagtactacag tcctcctcctttatatttcacaaatttcaaaccaaggcctaccacccc tcatttctactctcacacggcctcatacagtactcttcctttcataat ttgcatctcctatttgaagaatacaccaacatccccatttctctactt tttaacgaaaaagaggcagatgacaatgaccatgagccccaaatatcc cccgggggcttagagcctctcagtgaaaaacatttccgtgaaacagaa gtctga.
(143) Main active regions of Tax protein: aa 1-165, nuclear localization sequence; aa 4-174, domain of interaction with Creb 1; aa 67-147, zinc finger domain; aa 217-240, SH3 binding domain; aa 241-285, interaction domain with CrebbP/P300; aa 316-333, interaction domain with lkbkg; aa 337-738, interaction domain with NF-B; aa 346-435 and aa 637-744, homodimerisation domains; aa 562-606, nuclear export signal; aa 865-966, transactivation domain; aa 934-957, interaction domain with Crebb-Cter; aa 1048-1059, PDZ binding domain.
(144) Tax Antigen (Tax Ag)
(145) TABLE-US-00004 (SEQIDNO:8) atggcccacttccccggctttggccagagcctgctgttcggctacccc gtgtacgtgttcggcgactgcgtggacggcagagtgatcggcagcgcc ctgcagttcctgatccccagactgcccagcttccccacccagcggacc agcaagaccctgaaggtgctgaccccccccatcacccacaccaccccc aatatcccccccagcttcctgcaggccatgcggaagtacagccccttc cggaacggctacatggaacccaccctgggccagcatctgcccaccctg agcttccccgatcctggcctgcggccccagaacctgtataccctgtgg ggcggcagcgtcgtgtgcatgtacctgtaccagctgagccctcctatc acctggcccctgctgccccacgtgatcttttgccaccctggacagctg ggcgccttcctgaccaacgtgccctacaagcggatcgagaagctgctg tacaagatcagcctgaccacaggcgccctgatcatcctgcccgaggac tgcctgcccaccaccctgtttcagcccgccagagcccctgtgaccctg accgcctggcagaacggcctgctgcccttccacagcaccctgaccacc cctggcctgatctggaccttcaccgacggcacccccatgatcagcggc ccctgccctaaggacggccagcctagcctggtgctgcagagcagcagc ttcatcttccacaagttccagaccaaggcctaccaccccagctttctg ctgagccacggcctgatccagtactccagcttccacaacctgcatctg ctgttcgaagagtacaccaacatccccatctcc.
(146) Nucleotidic sequences which have been removed from Tax Wild Type (WT): aa 73-174; aa 955-1059. Main epitopes found to activate T lymphocytes in ATL patients: aa 31-60; aa 262-288; aa 391-435; aa 451-501; aa 526-585; aa 814-840; aa 901-927 (Kannagi et al, 1992; Arnulf et al, 2004; Suzuki et al, 2012). Active domains truncated or deleted: aa 1-165, nuclear localization sequence; aa 4-174, domain of interaction with Creb 1; aa 67-147, zinc finger domain; aa 865-966, transactivation domain; aa 934-957, interaction domain with Crebb-Cter; aa 1048-1059, PDZ binding domain.
(147) HBZ Sequences
(148) Wild type coding sequence:
(149) TABLE-US-00005 (SEQIDNO:9) atggcggcctcagggctgtttcgatgcttgcctgtgtcatgcccggag gacctgctggtggaggaattggtggacgggctattatccttggaggaa gagttaaaggacaaggaggaggagaaagctgtgcttgacggtttgcta tccttagaagaggaaagccgcggccggctgcgacggggccctccaggg gagaaagcgccacctcgcggggaaacgcatcgtgatcggcagcgacgg gctgaggagaagaggaagcgaaaaaaagagcgggagaaagaggaggaa aagcagattgctgagtatttgaaaaggaaggaagaggagaaggcacgg cgcaggaggcgggcggagaagaaggccgctgacgtcgccaggaggaag caggaagagcaggagcgccgtgagcgcaagtggagacaaggggctgag aaggcgaaacagcatagtgctaggaaagaaaaaatgcaggagttgggg attgatggctatactagacagttggaaggcgaggtggagtccttggag gctgaacggaggaagttgctgcaggagaaggaggatttgatgggagag gttaattattggcaggggaggctggaggcgatgtggttgcaataa.
(150) Main active regions of HBZ protein: aa 1-24, RNA active domain for transcription activation; aa 259-276, aa 346-360 and aa 412-423, nuclear localization signal; aa 418-576, leucine zipper motif.
(151) HBZ Antigen (HBZ Ag)
(152) TABLE-US-00006 (SEQIDNO:10) atgctgttcagatgcctgcccgtgtcctgccccgaggacctgctggtg gaagaactggtggacggcctgctgagcctggaagaggaactgaaggac aaagaggaagagaaggccgtcctggatggcctgctgtctctggaagaa gagagccggggcagactgcggagaggccctcctggcgagaaagccccc cctagaggcgagacacaccgggacagacagagaagggccgaggaagag cgcgagaaagaagaggaaaagcagatcgccgagtacctgaagcggaaa gaagaagagaaagcccgcgagaagaaagccgccgacgtggccagacgg aagcaggaagaacaggaacgg.
(153) Nucleotidic sequences which have been removed from HBZ WT: aa 1-24; aa 259-276; aa 346-360; aa 412-627. Main epitopes found to activate T lymphocytes in ATL patients: aa 37-111; aa 133-159; aa 172-198; aa 232-258; aa 310-381; aa 475-621 (MacNamara et al, 2010). Active domains truncated or deleted: aa 1-24, RNA active domain for transcription activation; aa 259-276, aa 346-360 and aa 412-423, nuclear localization signal; aa 418-576, leucine zipper motif.
(154) P12I/p271 Isoform Sequences:
(155) Wild type coding sequence:
(156) TABLE-US-00007 (SEQIDNO:11) atgcccaagacccgtcggaggccccgccgatcccaaagaaaaagacct ccaacaccatggcagcctcctccgttcagcctccaaggactccacctc gccttccaactgtctagtatagccatcaatccccaactcctgcatttt ttctttcctagcactatgctgtttcgccttctcagccccttgtctcca cttgcgctcacggcgctcctgctcttcctgcttcctcctagcgacgtc agcggccttcttctccgcccgcctcctgcgccgtgccttctcctcttc cttccttttcaaatactcagcggtctgcttttcctcctctttctcccg ctctttttttcgcttcctcttctcctcagcccgtcgctgccgatcacg atgcgtttccccgcgaggtggcgctttctcccctggagggccccgtcg cagccggccgcggctttcctcttctaa.
(157) Main active regions of p12I/p271 isoform proteins: aa 184-249 and aa 301-360, helical transmembrane domains; aa 235-252 and aa 319-387, leucine zipper; aa 169-183, aa 256-273, aa 367-390 and aa 421-438, SH3 binding domains.
(158) P12I Antigen (p12I Ag)
(159) TABLE-US-00008 (SEQIDNO:12) atgcccaagaccagaaggcggcccagaagaagccagagaaagaggccc cctaccccctggcagcctcctccattcagtctgcagggcctgcacctg gccttccagctgagcagcattgccatcaacccccagctgctgcacttc ttcttcccttccaccatgctgttccggctgctgagccctctgtctcct ctggccctg.
(160) *Nucleotidic sequences which have been removed from p12I WT: aa 202-456. Main epitopes found to activate T lymphocytes in ATL patients: aa 91-138; aa 169-195; aa 235-279; aa 364-411 and aa 415-456 (Dekaban et al, 2000; Pique et al, 2000). Active domains truncated or deleted: aa 184-249 and aa 301-360, helical transmembrane domains; aa 235-252 and aa 319-387, leucine zipper; aa 256-273, aa 367-390 and aa 421-438, SH3 binding domains.
(161) P30II Sequences
(162) Wild type coding sequence:
(163) TABLE-US-00009 (SEQIDNO:13) atggcactatgctgtttcgccttctcagccccttgtctccacttgcgc tcacggcgctcctgctcttcctgcttcctcctagcgacgtcagcggcc ttcttctccgcccgcctcctgcgccgtgccttctcctcttccttcctt ttcaaatactcagcggtctgcttttcctcctctttctcccgctctttt tttcgcttcctcttctcctcagcccgtcgctgccgatcacgatgcgtt tccccgcgaggtggcgctttctcccctggagggccccgtcgcagccgg ccgcggctttcctcttctaaggatagcaaaccgtcaagcacagcttcc tcctcctccttgtcctttaactcttcctccaaggataatagcccgtcc accaattcctccaccagcaggtcctccgggcatgacacaggcaagcat cgaaacagccctgcagatacaaagttaaccatgcttattatcagccca cttcccagggtttggacagagtcttcttttcggatacccagtctacgt gtttggagactgtgtacaaggcgactggtgccccatctctgggggact atgttcggcccgcctacatcgtcacgccctactggccacctgtccaga gcatcagatcacctgggaccccatcgatggacgcgttatcggctcagc tctacagttccttatccctcgactcccctccttccccacccagagaac ctctaa.
(164) Main active regions of p30II protein: aa 217-234 and aa 271-294, nuclear localization signal; aa 523-552, mitochondrial targeting signal.
(165) P30II Antigen (p30II Ag)
(166) TABLE-US-00010 (SEQIDNO:14) gccaccagcgccgccttttttagcgccagactgctgcggagagccctg accatgctgatcatcagccccctgcccagagtgtggaccgag.
(167) Nucleotidic sequences which have been removed from p30II WT: aa 1-81; aa 127-456; aa 502-723. Main epitopes found to activate T lymphocytes in ATL patients: aa 91-117; aa 466-492; (Pique et al, 2000). Active domains truncated or deleted: aa 217-234 and aa 271-294, nuclear localization signal; aa 523-552, mitochondrial targeting signal.
Example 2. Plasmid Constructions
(168) Different plasmid constructions of the selected antigens have been done, with antigens fused directly or separated by 2A sequence (acg cgt gcc cct gtg aag cag acc ctg aat ttc gat ctg ctg aag ctg gcc ggc gac gtg gag tct aat cct ggc cca act agt) which is a proteolytic sequence that is supposed to help the process of polypeptide (Luke, 2007). The different combinations are: Tax-HBZ, Tax-2A-HBZ, HBZ-Tax, HBZ-2A-Tax, p12Ip30II, Tax-HBZ-p12Ip30II and p12Ip30II-Tax-HBZ, synthetized in optimized codon. The expression of the antigenic combination is under control of the human 2-microglobulin promoter.
(169) Sequences of the different combinations of HTLV-1 antigens tested:
(170) TABLE-US-00011 TAX-HBZ (SEQIDNO:15) atggcccacttccccggctttggccagagcctgctgttcggctacccc gtgtacgtgttcggcgactgcgtggacggcagagtgatcggcagcgcc ctgcagttcctgatccccagactgcccagcttccccacccagcggacc agcaagaccctgaaggtgctgaccccccccatcacccacaccaccccc aatatcccccccagcttcctgcaggccatgcggaagtacagccccttc cggaacggctacatggaacccaccctgggccagcatctgcccaccctg agcttccccgatcctggcctgcggccccagaacctgtataccctgtgg ggcggcagcgtcgtgtgcatgtacctgtaccagctgagccctcctatc acctggcccctgctgccccacgtgatcttttgccaccctggacagctg ggcgccttcctgaccaacgtgccctacaagcggatcgagaagctgctg tacaagatcagcctgaccacaggcgccctgatcatcctgcccgaggac tgcctgcccaccaccctgtttcagcccgccagagcccctgtgaccctg accgcctggcagaacggcctgctgcccttccacagcaccctgaccacc cctggcctgatctggaccttcaccgacggcacccccatgatcagcggc ccctgccctaaggacggccagcctagcctggtgctgcagagcagcagc ttcatcttccacaagttccagaccaaggcctaccaccccagctttctg ctgagccacggcctgatccagtactccagcttccacaacctgcatctg ctgttcgaagagtacaccaacatccccatctccatgctgttcagatgc ctgcccgtgtcctgccccgaggacctgctggtggaagaactggtggac ggcctgctgagcctggaagaggaactgaaggacaaagaggaagagaag gccgtcctggatggcctgctgtctctggaagaagagagccggggcaga ctgcggagaggccctcctggcgagaaagccccccctagaggcgagaca caccgggacagacagagaagggccgaggaagagcgcgagaaagaagag gaaaagcagatcgccgagtacctgaagcggaaagaagaagagaaagcc cgcgagaagaaagccgccgacgtggccagacggaagcaggaagaacag gaacggtgatga. HBZ-TAXCO (SEQIDNO:16) atgctgttcagatgcctgcccgtgtcctgccccgaggacctgctggtg gaagaactggtggacggcctgctgagcctggaagaggaactgaaggac aaagaggaagagaaggccgtcctggatggcctgctgtctctggaagaa gagagccggggcagactgcggagaggccctcctggcgagaaagccccc cctagaggcgagacacaccgggacagacagagaagggccgaggaagag cgcgagaaagaagaggaaaagcagatcgccgagtacctgaagcggaaa gaagaagagaaagcccgcgagaagaaagccgccgacgtggccagacgg aagcaggaagaacaggaacggatggcccacttccccggctttggccag agcctgctgttcggctaccccgtgtacgtgttcggcgactgcgtggac ggcagagtgatcggcagcgccctgcagttcctgatccccagactgccc agcttccccacccagcggaccagcaagaccctgaaggtgctgaccccc cccatcacccacaccacccccaatatcccccccagcttcctgcaggcc atgcggaagtacagccccttccggaacggctacatggaacccaccctg ggccagcatctgcccaccctgagcttccccgatcctggcctgcggccc cagaacctgtataccctgtggggcggcagcgtcgtgtgcatgtacctg taccagctgagccctcctatcacctggcccctgctgccccacgtgatc ttttgccaccctggacagctgggcgccttcctgaccaacgtgccctac aagcggatcgagaagctgctgtacaagatcagcctgaccacaggcgcc ctgatcatcctgcccgaggactgcctgcccaccaccctgtttcagccc gccagagcccctgtgaccctgaccgcctggcagaacggcctgctgccc ttccacagcaccctgaccacccctggcctgatctggaccttcaccgac ggcacccccatgatcagcggcccctgccctaaggacggccagcctagc ctggtgctgcagagcagcagcttcatcttccacaagttccagaccaag gcctaccaccccagctttctgctgagccacggcctgatccagtactcc agcttccacaacctgcatctgctgttcgaagagtacaccaacatcccc atctcctgatga. TAX-2A-HBZ (SEQIDNO:17) atggcccacttccccggctttggccagagcctgctgttcggctacccc gtgtacgtgttcggcgactgcgtggacggcagagtgatcggcagcgcc ctgcagttcctgatccccagactgcccagcttccccacccagcggacc agcaagaccctgaaggtgctgaccccccccatcacccacaccaccccc aatatcccccccagcttcctgcaggccatgcggaagtacagccccttc cggaacggctacatggaacccaccctgggccagcatctgcccaccctg agcttccccgatcctggcctgcggccccagaacctgtataccctgtgg ggcggcagcgtcgtgtgcatgtacctgtaccagctgagccctcctatc acctggcccctgctgccccacgtgatcttttgccaccctggacagctg ggcgccttcctgaccaacgtgccctacaagcggatcgagaagctgctg tacaagatcagcctgaccacaggcgccctgatcatcctgcccgaggac tgcctgcccaccaccctgtttcagcccgccagagcccctgtgaccctg accgcctggcagaacggcctgctgcccttccacagcaccctgaccacc cctggcctgatctggaccttcaccgacggcacccccatgatcagcggc ccctgccctaaggacggccagcctagcctggtgctgcagagcagcagc ttcatcttccacaagttccagaccaaggcctaccaccccagctttctg ctgagccacggcctgatccagtactccagcttccacaacctgcatctg ctgttcgaagagtacaccaacatccccatctccacgcgtgcccctgtg aagcagaccctgaatttcgatctgctgaagctggccggcgacgtggag tctaatcctggcccaactagtatgctgttcagatgcctgcccgtgtcc tgccccgaggacctgctggtggaagaactggtggacggcctgctgagc ctggaagaggaactgaaggacaaagaggaagagaaggccgtcctggat ggcctgctgtctctggaagaagagagccggggcagactgcggagaggc cctcctggcgagaaagccccccctagaggcgagacacaccgggacaga cagagaagggccgaggaagagcgcgagaaagaagaggaaaagcagatc gccgagtacctgaagcggaaagaagaagagaaagcccgcgagaagaaa gccgccgacgtggccagacggaagcaggaagaacaggaacggtgatga. HBZ-2A-TAX (SEQIDNO:18) atgctgttcagatgcctgcccgtgtcctgccccgaggacctgctggtg gaagaactggtggacggcctgctgagcctggaagaggaactgaaggac aaagaggaagagaaggccgtcctggatggcctgctgtctctggaagaa gagagccggggcagactgcggagaggccctcctggcgagaaagccccc cctagaggcgagacacaccgggacagacagagaagggccgaggaagag cgcgagaaagaagaggaaaagcagatcgccgagtacctgaagcggaaa gaagaagagaaagcccgcgagaagaaagccgccgacgtggccagacgg aagcaggaagaacaggaacggacgcgtgcccctgtgaagcagaccctg aatttcgatctgctgaagctggccggcgacgtggagtctaatcctggc ccaactagtatggcccacttccccggctttggccagagcctgctgttc ggctaccccgtgtacgtgttcggcgactgcgtggacggcagagtgatc ggcagcgccctgcagttcctgatccccagactgcccagcttccccacc cagcggaccagcaagaccctgaaggtgctgaccccccccatcacccac accacccccaatatcccccccagcttcctgcaggccatgcggaagtac agccccttccggaacggctacatggaacccaccctgggccagcatctg cccaccctgagcttccccgatcctggcctgcggccccagaacctgtat accctgtggggcggcagcgtcgtgtgcatgtacctgtaccagctgagc cctcctatcacctggcccctgctgccccacgtgatcttttgccaccct ggacagctgggcgccttcctgaccaacgtgccctacaagcggatcgag aagctgctgtacaagatcagcctgaccacaggcgccctgatcatcctg cccgaggactgcctgcccaccaccctgtttcagcccgccagagcccct gtgaccctgaccgcctggcagaacggcctgctgcccttccacagcacc ctgaccacccctggcctgatctggaccttcaccgacggcacccccatg atcagcggcccctgccctaaggacggccagcctagcctggtgctgcag agcagcagcttcatcttccacaagttccagaccaaggcctaccacccc agctttctgctgagccacggcctgatccagtactccagcttccacaac ctgcatctgctgttcgaagagtacaccaacatccccatctcctgatga. p12Ip30II (SEQIDNO:19) atgcccaagaccagaaggcggcccagaagaagccagagaaagaggccc cctaccccctggcagcctcctccattcagtctgcagggcctgcacctg gccttccagctgagcagcattgccatcaacccccagctgctgcacttc ttcttcccttccaccatgctgttccggctgctgagccctctgtctcct ctggccctggccaccagcgccgccttttttagcgccagactgctgcgg agagccctgaccatgctgatcatcagccccctgcccagagtgtggacc gag. p12Ip30II-Tax-HBZ (SEQIDNO:20) atgcccaagaccagaaggcggcccagaagaagccagagaaagaggccc cctaccccctggcagcctcctccattcagtctgcagggcctgcacctg gccttccagctgagcagcattgccatcaacccccagctgctgcacttc ttcttcccttccaccatgctgttccggctgctgagccctctgtctcct ctggccctggccaccagcgccgccttttttagcgccagactgctgcgg agagccctgaccatgctgatcatcagccccctgcccagagtgtggacc gagatggcccacttccccggctttggccagagcctgctgttcggctac cccgtgtacgtgttcggcgactgcgtggacggcagagtgatcggcagc gccctgcagttcctgatccccagactgcccagcttccccacccagcgg accagcaagaccctgaaggtgctgaccccccccatcacccacaccacc cccaatatcccccccagcttcctgcaggccatgcggaagtacagcccc ttccggaacggctacatggaacccaccctgggccagcatctgcccacc ctgagcttccccgatcctggcctgcggccccagaacctgtataccctg tggggcggcagcgtcgtgtgcatgtacctgtaccagctgagccctcct atcacctggcccctgctgccccacgtgatcttttgccaccctggacag ctgggcgccttcctgaccaacgtgccctacaagcggatcgagaagctg ctgtacaagatcagcctgaccacaggcgccctgatcatcctgcccgag gactgcctgcccaccaccctgtttcagcccgccagagcccctgtgacc ctgaccgcctggcagaacggcctgctgcccttccacagcaccctgacc acccctggcctgatctggaccttcaccgacggcacccccatgatcagc ggcccctgccctaaggacggccagcctagcctggtgctgcagagcagc agcttcatcttccacaagttccagaccaaggcctaccaccccagcttt ctgctgagccacggcctgatccagtactccagcttccacaacctgcat ctgctgttcgaagagtacaccaacatccccatctccatgctgttcaga tgcctgcccgtgtcctgccccgaggacctgctggtggaagaactggtg gacggcctgctgagcctggaagaggaactgaaggacaaagaggaagag aaggccgtcctggatggcctgctgtctctggaagaagagagccggggc agactgcggagaggccctcctggcgagaaagccccccctagaggcgag acacaccgggacagacagagaagggccgaggaagagcgcgagaaagaa gaggaaaagcagatcgccgagtacctgaagcggaaagaagaagagaaa gcccgcgagaagaaagccgccgacgtggccagacggaagcaggaagaa caggaacggtgatga. Tax-HBZ-p12Ip30II (SEQIDNO:21) atggcccacttccccggctttggccagagcctgctgttcggctacccc gtgtacgtgttcggcgactgcgtggacggcagagtgatcggcagcgcc ctgcagttcctgatccccagactgcccagcttccccacccagcggacc agcaagaccctgaaggtgctgaccccccccatcacccacaccaccccc aatatcccccccagcttcctgcaggccatgcggaagtacagccccttc cggaacggctacatggaacccaccctgggccagcatctgcccaccctg agcttccccgatcctggcctgcggccccagaacctgtataccctgtgg ggcggcagcgtcgtgtgcatgtacctgtaccagctgagccctcctatc acctggcccctgctgccccacgtgatcttttgccaccctggacagctg ggcgccttcctgaccaacgtgccctacaagcggatcgagaagctgctg tacaagatcagcctgaccacaggcgccctgatcatcctgcccgaggac tgcctgcccaccaccctgtttcagcccgccagagcccctgtgaccctg accgcctggcagaacggcctgctgcccttccacagcaccctgaccacc cctggcctgatctggaccttcaccgacggcacccccatgatcagcggc ccctgccctaaggacggccagcctagcctggtgctgcagagcagcagc ttcatcttccacaagttccagaccaaggcctaccaccccagctttctg ctgagccacggcctgatccagtactccagcttccacaacctgcatctg ctgttcgaagagtacaccaacatccccatctccatgctgttcagatgc ctgcccgtgtcctgccccgaggacctgctggtggaagaactggtggac ggcctgctgagcctggaagaggaactgaaggacaaagaggaagagaag gccgtcctggatggcctgctgtctctggaagaagagagccggggcaga ctgcggagaggccctcctggcgagaaagccccccctagaggcgagaca caccgggacagacagagaagggccgaggaagagcgcgagaaagaagag gaaaagcagatcgccgagtacctgaagcggaaagaagaagagaaagcc cgcgagaagaaagccgccgacgtggccagacggaagcaggaagaacag gaacggtgatgaatgcccaagaccagaaggcggcccagaagaagccag agaaagaggccccctaccccctggcagcctcctccattcagtctgcag ggcctgcacctggccttccagctgagcagcattgccatcaacccccag ctgctgcacttcttcttcccttccaccatgctgttccggctgctgagc cctctgtctcctctggccctggccaccagcgccgccttttttagcgcc agactgctgcggagagccctgaccatgctgatcatcagccccctgccc agagtgtggaccgag.
(171) The antigens are cloned into the pFlap-AG backbone using the BamHI and Xhol restriction sites. pFLAP-AG was generated by amplifying and cloning the proviral region of the pTRIPU3-CMV-GFP (Naldini, L. et al. Science. 272, 263-267; 1996) between the Spe1 and Xba1 sites of the pVAX-1 plasmid (Invitrogen). The resulting plasmid, the pFLAP-CMV-GFP was completed with the SV40 sequence (amplified from the pTRIPU3-CMV-GFP and cloned between the Pml1 sites), leading to the pFLAP-CMV-GFP-SV plasmid. The CMV promoter was then removed and replaced (between the Mlul and BamH1 sites) by the human 32-microglobulin promoter. The resulting plasmide, in which antigen can be cloned in place of the GFP marker (BamH1-Xhl sites) was named pFLAP-AG.
(172) Tax_Ag-HBz_Ag, HBz_Ag Tax_Ag, Tax_Ag-HBz_P12I P30II and P12I P301I-Tax_Ag-HBz_Ag. The antigens were obtained separately from GeneArt (Lifetechnologies) and associated together using fusion PCR. Briefly, for each antigenic construction, three separate PCR reactions were performed: the first PCR amplify the first antigen, the second PCR amplify the second antigen, including a 25 bp overhang homologous to the end of the first one. The PCR 1 and 2 products are then gel purified (QIAquick gel extraction kit, QIAGEN) and used as a matrix for the third PCR: products of PCR 1 and 2 hybridized, creating the matrix for the amplification of the whole antigen. Primers used for the three PCR of each construct are shown in table 1. The PCR 3 products were gel purified and cloned in PCR2.1-TOPO (Life Technologies), sequenced, digested by BamHI and Xhol restriction enzymes and cloned between the same sites in the pFlap-AG backbone.
(173) Tax_Ag-2A-HBz_Ag and HBz_Ag-Tax_Ag. The antigens were obtained separately from GeneArt (Lifetechnologies) and associated together using PCR. Here, two PCR techniques were used to construct the two antigens. First, two successive elongation PCR were used to add the 50 first nucleotides of the 2A peptide at the end of the first antigen and two successive elongation PCR to add the last 50 nucleotides of the 2A peptide at the beginning of the second antigen. As the two antigens shared 24 nucleotides in common, a fusion PCR were used to reconstruct the final antigen (see above for the description of fusion PCR). Primers used for the PCR are shown in tables 2 and 3. The final PCR product are gel purified and cloned in PCR2.1-TOPO (Life Technologies), sequenced, digested by BamHI and Xhol restriction enzymes and cloned between the same sites in the pFlap-AG backbone.
(174) P12I P30II. Codon-optimized P12I P30II was purchase from GeneArt (Lifetechnologies), and was cloned directly in the pFlap-AG using the BamHI and Xhol restriction sites.
(175) Sequences of primers used are shown in Tables 1, 2 and 3.
(176) TABLE-US-00012 TABLE1 PrimersusedforthethreePCRrealized toamplifytheantigenicconstructs. PCR1:FirstAntigen(5 to3) Tax_Ag-HBz_Ag F1:GGATCCGCCACCATGGCCCACTTTCCA GG(SEQIDNO:22) R1:GCTGATAGGGATGTTGGTGTACTCTTC G(SEQIDNO:23) HBz_Ag-Tax_Ag F1:GGATCCGCCACCATGCTGTTCAGATGC CT(SEQIDNO:24) R1:GCGTTCCTGTTCTTCCTGCTTCCGTCT G(SEQIDNO:26) Tax_Ag- F1:GGATCCGCCACCATGGCCCACTTTCCA HBz_Ag-P12IP30II GG(SEQIDNO:26) R1:GCGTTCCTGTTCTTCCTGCTTCCGTCT G(SEQIDNO:27) P12IP30II- F1:GGATCCGCCACCATGCCCAAGAGGAGA Tax_Ag-HBz_Ag AG(SEQIDNO:28) R1:CTCGGTCCACACTCTGGGCAGGGGGCT (SEQIDNO:29) PCR2:Secondantigen(5 to3) Tax_Ag-HBz_Ag F2:AGAGTACACCAACATCCCTATCAGCAT GCTGTTCAGATGCCTGCC (SEQIDNO:30) R2:CTCGAGTTATCAGCGTTCCTGTTCTTC CTG(SEQIDNO:31) HBz_Ag-Tax_Ag F2:ACGGAAGCAGGAAGAACAGGAACGCAT GGCCCACTTTCCAGGCTT (SEQIDNO:32) R2:CTCGAGTGATGAGGTGATAGGGATGTT GG(SEQIDNO:33) Tax_Ag-HBz_Ag- F2:GACGGAAGCAGGAAGAACAGGAACGCA P12IP30II TGCCCAAGACCAGAAGGCGG (SEQIDNO:34) R2:CTCGAGTCATCACTCGGTCCACACTCT GGG(SEQIDNO:36) P12IP30II- F2:CCCCCTGCCCAGAGTGTGGACCGAGAT Tax_Ag-HBz_Ag GGCCCACTTTCCAGGCTTTG (SEQIDNO:36) R2:CTCGAGTTATCAGCGTTCCTGTTCTTC CTG(SEQIDNO:37) PCR3:Wholeantigen(5 to3) Tax_Ag-HBz_Ag F1:GGATCCGCCACCATGGCCCACTTTCCA GG(SEQIDNO:38) R2:CTCGAGTTATCAGCGTTCCTGTTCTTC CTG(SEQIDNO:39) HBz_Ag-Tax_Ag F1:GGATCCGCCACCATGCTGTTCAGATGC CT(SEQIDNO:40) R2:CTCGAGTCATCAGCTGATAGGGATGTT GG(SEQIDNO:41) Tax_Ag-HBz_Ag- F1:GGATCCGCCACCATGGCCCACTTTCCA P12IP30II GG(SEQIDNO:42) R2:CTCGAGTCATCACTCGGTCCACACTCT GGG(SEQIDNO:43) P12IP30II- F1:GGATCCGCCACCATGCCCAAGAGGAGA Tax_Ag-HBz_Ag AG(SEQIDNO:44) R2:CTCGAGTTATCAGCGTTCCTGTTCTTC CTG(SEQIDNO:46) Sequences in bold represent the 5 overhang homologous to the end of the first antigen.
(177) TABLE-US-00013 TABLE2 PrimersusedforthesuccessiveelongationPCR. Primary antigens ElongationPCR no1(5 to3 Tax_Ag-2A- Tax_Ag+ 50nt F1:GGATCCGCCAC HBz_Ag from2A CATGGCCCACTTTCC AGG (SEQIDNO:46) R1:ATTCAGGGTCT GCTTCACAGGGGCAC GCGTGCTGATAGGGA TGTTGGTGTACTCTT CGA (SEQIDNO:47) HBz_Ag+ 50nt F3:GACGTGGAGTC from2A TAATCCTGGCCCAAC TAGTATGCTGTTCAG ATGCCTGCCCGTGT (SEQIDNO:48) R3:CTCGAGTTATC AGCGTTCCTGTTCTT CCTG (SEQIDNO:49) HBz_Ag-2A- HBz_Ag+ 50nt F1:GGATCCGCCAC Tax_Ag from2A CATGCTGTTCAGATG CCT (SEQIDNO:50) R1:ATTCAGGGTCT GCTTCACAGGGGCAC GCGTGCGTTCCTGTT CTTCCTGCTTCCGTC TG (SEQIDNO:51) Tax_Ag+ 50nt F3:GACGTGGAGTC from2A TAATCCTGGCCCAAC TAGTATGGCCCACTT TCCAGGCTTTGGCC (SEQIDNO:52) R3:CTCGAGTCATC AGCTGATAGGGATGT TGG (SEQIDNO:53) ElongationPCR no2(5 to3) Tax_Ag-2A- Tax_Ag+ 50nt F1:GGATCCGCCAC HBz_Ag from2A CATGGCCCACTTTCC AGG (SEQIDNO:54) R2:GCCGGCCAGCT TCAGCAGATCGAAAT TCAGGGTCTGCTTCA CAGGGGCAC (SEQIDNO:55) HBz_Ag+ 50nt F4:TTCGATCTGCT from2A GAAGCTGGCCGGCGA CGTGGAGTCTAATCC TGGCCCAAC (SEQIDNO:56) R3:CTCGAGTTATC AGCGTTCCTGTTCTT CCTG (SEQIDNO:57) HBz_Ag-2A- HBz_Ag+ 50nt F1:GGATCCGCCAC Tax_Ag from2A CATGCTGTTCAGATG CCT (SEQIDNO:58) R2:GCCGGCCAGCT TCAGCAGATCGAAAT TCAGGGTCTGCTTCA CAGGGGCAC (SEQIDNO:59) Tax_Ag+ 50nt F4:TTCGATCTGCT from2A GAAGCTGGCCGGCGA CGTGGAGTCTAATCC TGGCCCAAC (SEQIDNO:60) R3:CTCGAGTCATC AGCTGATAGGGATGT TGG (SEQIDNO:61)
(178) TABLE-US-00014 TABLE3 PrimersusedforthefusionsPCRrealized toamplifythewholeantigenicconstructs. FusionPCR:wholeantigens(5 to3) Tax_Ag- F1:GGATCCGCCACCATGGCCCACT 2A-HBz_Ag TTCCAGG(SEQIDNO:62) R3:CTCGAGTTATCAGCGTTCCTGT TCTTCCTG(SEQIDNO:63) HBz_Ag- F1:GGATCCGCCACCATGCTGTTCA 2A-Tax_Ag GATGCCT(SEQIDNO:64) R3:CTCGAGTCATCAGCTGATAGGG ATGTTGG(SEQIDNO:65)
Example 3. Lentiviral Vector Production
(179) The lentivectors were packaged by cotransfection in HEK 293 T cells with the plasmid containing the HTLV-1 antigen to be tested, an encapsidation plasmid, a plasmid providing VSV.G envelope, essentially as described in Naldini et al, 1996, Science 272:263-7.
Example 4. Immunomonitoring
(180) To monitor the specific T-cell responses for each combination of HTLV-1 antigens, C57Bl/6j mice were immunized intramuscularly with 110.sup.6TU, 110.sup.7TU and 110.sup.8TU of lentivectors in which HTLV-1 antigens expression is driven by the human 2-microglobulin promoter. 14 days after immunization, splenocytes were isolated from the mice spleens immunized with lentivectors and were used for the ELISPOT assays. Ninety-six-well tissue culture plates (Millipore) were coated overnight at 4 C. with 100 l/well of 5 g/ml anti-mouse IFN mAb (Mouse IFN Elispot pair; BD Biosciences Pharmingen). The plates were washed three times with 200 l DPBS/well and blocked with 200 l/well of RPMI media/10% fetal bovine serum for 2 h at 37 C. The plates were washed three times with 200 l DPBS/well. Splenocytes were added to the plates in triplicate at 110.sup.5 cells/well and stimulated with 2 g/ml of stimulatory pools of peptides (specific to the antigen), concanavalin A (5 g/ml; source), or culture medium alone. The plates were incubated for 18 h at 37 C. and then rinsed three times with 200 l/well of DPBS/0.05% TWEEN 20 and three times with 200 l/well of DPBS. For detection, 10 l/well of 2 g/ml anti-mouse IFN-biotinylated monoclonal antibody (BD Pharmingen) were added for 2 h at room temperature. Plates were washed and 100 l/well of streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase (Roche) diluted 1:2000 in Dulbecco's PBS for 90 min at room temperature. After washing the plates, spots (IFN-secreting cells) were visualized by adding 100 l/well of BCIP/NBT solution (Sigma). Plates were incubated for 15-30 min at room temperature until blue spots developed and then thoroughly washed with running tap water and air-dried for 24 h. Spots were counted using an AID reader (Autoimmun Diagnostika GmbH, Germany). Mean number of IFNg spots-forming-cells (SFC) per million was calculated from triplicate wells after subtracting the one from control wells (cultured in medium without peptides). Overlapping synthetic peptides covering HTLV-1 complete sequence used for vaccination were used (Genscript)
Example 5. In Vitro Oncogenicity Studies
(181) Cell Culture
(182) Mouse Embryonic fibroblast (MEF; ATCC reference SCRC-1008) were immortalized spontaneously (MEFi) after 10 serial passages. They were cultured in Dubbelco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% heat inactivated FBS (Hyclone, New Zealand), 2 mM Glutamine (Life, France), 100 Units/mL penicillin-streptomycin (Life, France), 1 mM Sodium-Pyruvate (Life, France) in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 at 37 C.
(183) Transduction
(184) 100 000 cells per well were plated in 6-well plates (Multiwell TC plates, Falcon, France) and allowed to adhere during 4 hours at 37 C., 5% CO2 and humidified atmosphere. Then, they were transduced twice: Initially for 2 hours and then for 16 hours with an MOI of 10 lentiviral GFP, THVO2, WT TAX, WT HBZ or WT p12 vectors supplemented with 4 g/mL Hexadimethrine bromide (Sigma, France). Culture medium was removed the following day to allow the transduced cells to grow in a lentivector free-medium for 2 days. Pictures of the control GFP transduced cells were taken using a green fluorescent light microscope (Olympus CKX41) to valid the transduction efficacy.
(185) Colony Formation Assay
(186) MEFi and transduced MEFi cells were trypsinized after 3 days in lentivector-free medium culture with trypLE Select (Life, France), counted and included in 0.4% soft agar supplemented with complete medium (Life, France) in 24-well white plates (Berthold, France) coated with 0.8% agarose (Life, France). To generate the reference curve, 0 to 32 000 non-transduced MEFi cells were plated; while 8000 cells of transduced MEFi were plated. Cells were grown for 21 days and potential colonies formation was monitored. All experiments were performed in duplicate with two independent experiments.
(187) Microscopic Evaluation of Colonies
(188) All plate wells were examined under bright-field conditions with an Olympus CKX41 microscope and documented using a 10/0.25 lens and a XC30 camera AnalySIS getlT software. A colony was defined as being >10 counted cells.
(189) The cells viability was observed with the Cyquant direct cell proliferation assay (see below) under a fluorescent light using an Olympus CKX41 microscope.
(190) Cell Proliferation Assays
(191) The Cyquant direct cell proliferation assay (Life, France) was performed according to the manufacturer's recommendations and analyzed using the AnalySIS getlT software by counting viable cells and viable clonogenic cells.
(192) Cell Titer Glo ATP bioluminescence assay (Promega, France) was performed according to the manufacturer's instructions with the exception of the incubation period duration (1 hour at 37 C.) for a better lysis of included cells. Analysis was performed using a Tristar2 multimode reader (Berthold, France). The assay was considered valid when the bioluminescent intensity of the range was linear from 0 to at least 16 000 cells.
(193) An amplification curve was done by counting cells every 4 to 5 days during one month. Cells were trypsinized with TrypLE select (Life, France) and counted on Nuclecounter cassette (Sartorius, France). Then, they were seeded at 500 000 cells on TC flasks T162 (Corning, France) and cultured in a humidified atmosphere at 37 C. and 5% CO2.
(194) DNA Extraction and qPCR
(195) After 4 days of transduction, 1 to 2.10.sup.^6 cells were trypsinized and pelleted by centrifugation at 450 g and extracted with a Qiagen DNA extraction mini kit (Qiagen, France) according to the manufacturer's protocol.
(196) A qPCR was used to determine the number of integrated copy of flap perng of DNA. qPCR was done according to internal procedures in CFX-96 (Bio-Rad, France) with flap primers and specific FAM probe. Sequences used were: TGG AGG AGG AGA TAT GAG GG (Fw)(SEQ ID NO:67), CTG CTG CAC TAT ACC AGA CA (Rv) (SEQ ID NO:68), and FAM-AACCATTAGGAGTAGCACCCACCAAGG-BBQ2 (probe) (SEQ ID NO:69).
(197) The concentration of DNA was measured with a Nanodrop (ThermoScientific, France).
(198) RNA Extraction and qRT-PCR
(199) Total RNA was extracted from MEFi and MEFi THVO2 transduced cell using the NucleoSpin RNA Extraction (Macherey Nagel, France) before being reverse transcribed with the SuperScript II Reverse Transcriptase (Life, France) and amplified by SsoAdvanced SYBR Green Supermix (Bio-Rad, France) according to the CFX-96 (Bio-Rad, France) manufacturer's instructions. The primer sequences used to detect THVO2 were TCATCTTCCACAAGTTCCAGAC (Forward) (SEQ ID NO:70) and GATAGGGATGTTGGTGTACTCTTC (Reverse) (SEQ ID NO:71). Amplification products were visualized in real-time on Bio-Rad CFX-Manager software.
Example 6. In Vivo Carcinogenicity Studies
(200) CIEA NOG immunodeficient mice were purchased from TACONIC. Upon receipt, the animals were separated, caged in groups of five animals and acclimated for 1 week. After acclimation, the animals were distributed randomly to test groups. All animals were 7 weeks of age at the initiation of the studies. The study consisted of a control group (non-treated mice) and three treatment groups (HTLV-1.VPX vector, Empty.VPX vector and placebo groupPBS-lactose). Each group contained 7 mice and the animals were observed during 3 months. The lentiviral vectors and the placebo were administrated intramuscularly with the maximal achievable dose of studied vectors, respectively: 2.0810.sup.7TU/mouse of HTLV-1.VPX vector and 3.5310.sup.8TU/mouse of Empty.VPX vector. All test animals were observed each week fot general physical condition and behavior and the observations were recorded. Detailed physical examinations were conducted on each animal at weekly intervals to evaluate for abnormal changes in such parameters as condition of pelage, muscle tone, respiration, locomotion and posture. The animals were examined for the presence of external palpable tumors. Body weights and food consumption were assessed. At the end of the study animals were necropsied and tissues were fixed for subsequent histopathological evaluation.
Example 7. In Vivo Bioluminescence/Expression Studies
(201) CIEA NOG immunodeficient mice were purchased from TACONIC. Upon receipt, the animals were separated, caged in groups of four or five animals and acclimated for 2 weeks. After acclimation, the animals were distributed randomly to test groups. All animals were 5 weeks of age at the initiation of the studies. The study consisted of a control group (non-treated mice) and two treatment groups (HTLV-1.Luciferase vector, Luciferase vector). Each group contained 19 mice (treated animals) and 17 micenon-treated group. The animals were observed during 3 months. The lentiviral vectors were administrated intramuscularly with the maximal achievable dose of studied vectors, respectively: 2.9810.sup.8TU/mouse of HTLV-1.Luciferase vector and 5.5610.sup.7TU/mouse of Luciferase vector. All test animals were observed each week for general physical condition and behavior and the observations were recorded. Detailed physical examinations were conducted on each animal at weekly intervals to evaluate for abnormal changes in such parameters as condition of pelage, muscle tone, respiration, locomotion and posture. The animals were examined for the presence of external palpable tumors. Body weights and food consumption were assessed. At the end of the study animals were necropsied and tissues were fixed for subsequent histopathological evaluation.
(202) Imaging and quantification of bioluminescence in vivo: Measurements were performed with an ultrasensitive cooled CDD camera mounted with in a light-tight camera box (IVIS Spectrum, Xenogen). Images and measurements of bioluminescent signals were acquired and analyzed using Living image software 2.5 (Xenogen). To image, mice were anesthetized by isoflurane inhalation and given 200 L of 15 mg/mL D-luciferin (Caliper Lifesciences) via intraperitoneal injection. Images were taken 1 minute after D-luciferin injection.