Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.1.21 (thymidine kinase)
 7,561 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Collagen-induced arthritis can be transferred into severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice by spleen cells from diseased DBA/1 mice. The development of arthritis in SCID animals can be prevented by infection ex vivo of DBA/1 spleen cells with retroviruses expressing the monomeric soluble human p75 tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor (TNF-R). In addition, a vector engineered to express a polycystronic mRNA with TNF-R and the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk) gene, while producing low levels of TNF-R, had a limited effect which could be blocked by treating the animals with ganciclovir. A retroviral vector expressing the HSVtk gene alone had no effect on this arthritis transfer model with or without ganciclovir. Serum levels of TNF-R did not correlate with clinical signs, however, lower anti-collagen antibody levels corresponded with lack of clinical symptoms. These results indicate that local production of cytokine inhibitor is essential for therapeutic purposes while systemic levels may not be required.
 ...
PMID:Inhibition of transfer of collagen-induced arthritis into SCID mice by ex vivo infection of spleen cells with retroviruses expressing soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor. 875 12

Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) of human olfactory mucosa are a type of glial-like cells that possess good migratory and tropism properties. We believe that neuronal-derived vehicle may have better capability to receive to the site of injury. In addition to, obtaining of such vehicle from the patient reduces risk of unwanted complications. So, in this study, we investigate whether human olfactory ensheathing cells can be used as a cell source for the first time in gene delivery to assay the tumoricidal effect of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene (HSV-tk) on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). We obtained OECs from superior turbinate of human nasal cavity mucosa, and cell phenotype was confirmed by the expression of cell-specific antigens including low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor (p75 neurotrophin receptor), microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP2), and S100 calcium binding protein B (S100-beta) using immunocytochemistry. Then, these cells were transduced by lentiviral vector for transient and stable expression of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene (OEC-tk). The migratory capacity of OEC-tk, their potency to convert prodrug ganciclovir to toxic form, and cytotoxic effect on astrocyte cells were assayed in vitro. The OECs showed fibroblast-like morphology and expressed specific antigens such as p75 neurotrophin receptor, S100-beta, and MAP2. Our results indicated that OECs-tk were able to migrate toward primary cultured human glioblastoma multiforme and affected survival rate of tumor cells according to exposure time and concentration of ganciclovir. Also, OECs-HSV-tk was capable of inducing apoptosis in tumor cells. Our findings suggest that human OECs could employ as a possible tool to transfer anticancer agent in gene therapy of brain tumor.
 ...
PMID:A New Approach in Gene Therapy of Glioblastoma Multiforme: Human Olfactory Ensheathing Cells as a Novel Carrier for Suicide Gene Delivery. 2639 82