Citation
- Authors: Donev, R. M., Gray, L. C., Sivasankar, B., Hughes, T. R., van den Berg, C. W., Morgan, B. P.
- Year: 2008
- Journal: Cancer Res 68 5979-87
- Applications: in vitro / DNA / jetPEI
- Cell types:
- Name: IMR-32
- Name: Kelly
Abstract
Tumor cells escape clearance by complement by abundantly expressing CD59 and other membrane complement regulators. Existing strategies for blocking/knocking down these regulators can contribute to tumor immunoclearance in vitro; however, there are numerous difficulties restricting their use in vivo. Here, we report a new strategy for suppression of CD59 expression in neuroblastoma using peptides that target regulators of CD59 expression. We identified the neural-restrictive silencer factor (REST) as a target for modulation of CD59 expression in neuroblastoma. We next designed plasmids that encoded peptides comprising different DNA-binding domains of REST and transfected them into neuroblastoma cell lines. These peptides suppressed CD59 expression, sensitizing neuroblastoma to complement-mediated killing triggered by anti-GD2 therapeutic monoclonal antibody. These CD59-modulating peptides might be effective therapeutic adjuvants to therapeutic monoclonal antibodies used for treatment of neuroblastoma and other cancer types sharing the same mechanism for regulation of CD59 expression.