Development of MicroRNA-sensitive Oncolytic Sindbis virus for Oral-cancer therapy

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24792175
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Surgical dentistry
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: SAITO KENGO 千葉大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 講師 (70451755)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 腫瘍溶解性ウイルス / microRNA / 口腔癌 / シンドビスウイルス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The cellular tropisms of eukaryotic viruses are shaped by their need for entry receptors and intracellular transcription factors. Here we show that viral tropisms can also be regulated by tissue-specific microRNAs (miRNA). Since miRNA125b and miR100 are downregulated in oral cancer but highly expressed in normal tissue, we engineered a microRNA-sensitive virus containing target sites for those microRNAs in the 3′-untranslated region of an oncolytic Sindbis virus. The recombinant virus still propagated in cancer cells but could not replicate in cells expressing complementary miRNAs, suggesting a new modality of replicating viruses for cancer therapy.

Free Research Field

分子ウイルス学