In Vivo Silencing of A20 via TLR9-Mediated Targeted SiRNA Delivery Potentiates Antitumor Immune Response

PLoS One. 2015 Sep 1;10(9):e0135444. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135444. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

A20 is an ubiquitin-editing enzyme that ensures the transient nature of inflammatory signaling pathways induced by cytokines like TNF-α and IL-1 or pathogens via Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways. It has been identified as a negative regulator of dendritic cell (DC) maturation and attenuator of their immunostimulatory properties. Ex vivo A20-depleted dendritic cells showed enhanced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and costimulatory molecules, which resulted in hyperactivation of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes and inhibition of regulatory T cells. In the present study, we demonstrate that a synthetic molecule consisting of a CpG oligonucleotide TLR9 agonist linked to A20-specific siRNAs silences its expression in TLR9+ mouse dendritic cells in vitro and in vivo. In the B16 mouse melanoma tumor model, silencing of A20 enhances the CpG-triggered induction of NFκB activity followed by elevated expression of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-12. This leads to potentiated antitumor immune responses manifested by increased numbers of tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells, high levels of tumor cell apoptosis and delayed tumor growth. Our findings confirm the central role of A20 in controlling the immunostimulatory potency of DCs and provide a strategy for simultaneous A20 silencing and TLR activation in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / drug effects*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Female
  • Gene Silencing*
  • Immunity, Humoral / drug effects
  • Immunity, Humoral / physiology
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / drug effects*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9 / drug effects*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha-Induced Protein 3

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • NF-kappa B
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tlr9 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha-Induced Protein 3
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • Tnfaip3 protein, mouse

Grants and funding

The work was supported by the following: German José Carreras Leukemia Foundation (DJCLS F 12/04), FCMB, https://www.carreras-stiftung.de/; and Research Association for Molecular Medicine, University of Greifswald, Germany, FCMB. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.