Hypoxic-response elements in the oncolytic parvovirus Minute virus of mice do not allow for increased vector production at low oxygen concentration

Abstract

Vectors derived from the autonomous parvovirusMinute virus of mice, MVM(p), are promising tools for the gene therapy of cancer. The validation of theirin vivoanti-tumour effect is, however, hampered by the difficulty to produce high-titre stocks. In an attempt to increase vector titres, host cells were subjected to low oxygen tension (hypoxia). It has been shown that a number of viruses are produced at higher titres under these conditions. This is the case, among others, for another member of the familyParvoviridae, the erythrovirusB19 virus. Hypoxia stabilizes a hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF-1α) that interacts with a ‘hypoxia-responsive element’ (HRE), the consensus sequence of which (A/GCGTG) is present in the B19 and MVM promoters. Whilst the native P4 promoter was induced weakly in hypoxia, vector production was reduced dramatically, and adding HRE elements to the P4 promoter of the vector did not alleviate this reduction. Hypoxia has many effects on cell metabolism. Therefore, even if the P4 promoter is activated, the cellular factors that are required for the completion of the parvoviral life cycle may not be expressed.