CTLA4 aptamer delivers STAT3 siRNA to tumor-associated and malignant T cells

J Clin Invest. 2014 Jul;124(7):2977-87. doi: 10.1172/JCI73174. Epub 2014 Jun 2.

Abstract

Intracellular therapeutic targets that define tumor immunosuppression in both tumor cells and T cells remain intractable. Here, we have shown that administration of a covalently linked siRNA to an aptamer (apt) that selectively binds cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA4(apt)) allows gene silencing in exhausted CD8⁺ T cells and Tregs in tumors as well as CTLA4-expressing malignant T cells. CTLA4 expression was upregulated in CD8⁺ T cells in the tumor milieu; therefore, CTLA4(apt) fused to a STAT3-targeting siRNA (CTLA4(apt)-STAT3 siRNA) resulted in internalization into tumor-associated CD8⁺ T cells and silencing of STAT3, which activated tumor antigen-specific T cells in murine models. Both local and systemic administration of CTLA4(apt)-STAT3 siRNA dramatically reduced tumor-associated Tregs. Furthermore, CTLA4(apt)-STAT3 siRNA potently inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in various mouse tumor models. Importantly, CTLA4 expression is observed in T cells of patients with blood malignancies, and CTLA4(apt)-STAT3 siRNA treatment of immunodeficient mice bearing human T cell lymphomas promoted tumor cell apoptosis and tumor growth inhibition. These data demonstrate that a CTLA4(apt)-based siRNA delivery strategy allows gene silencing in both tumor-associated T cells and tumor cells and inhibits tumor growth and metastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / administration & dosage*
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / genetics*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • CTLA-4 Antigen / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gene Silencing
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive / methods
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology*
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / metabolism*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / immunology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / therapy
  • Melanoma, Experimental / immunology
  • Melanoma, Experimental / therapy
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Nude
  • RNA, Small Interfering / administration & dosage*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics*
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / genetics*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism

Substances

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • CTLA4 protein, human
  • Ctla4 protein, mouse
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • Stat3 protein, mouse