Systemic interleukin-6 responses following administration of adenovirus gene transfer vectors to humans by different routes

Abstract

Administration of adenovirus (Ad) vectors to animals induces innate immune responses, typified by elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6). To assess innate responses to Ad vectors in humans, we evaluated serum IL-6 following administration of E1- E3- Ad vectors to different human hosts and the relationship among peak IL-6 and peak anti-Ad neutralizing antibodies. We administered: 1) AdGVCFTR.10, a vector carrying the normal human CFTR cDNA (3 × 107 to 2 × 1010 particle units (pu)) to airways of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF); 2) AdGVVEGF121.10, a vector carrying the normal human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)121 cDNA, to the myocardium (4 × 108 to 4 × 1010 pu) of individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD) and to lower extremity muscles (4 × 108 to 4 × 109.5 pu) of individuals with peripheral vascular disease (PVD); and 3) AdGVCD.10, a vector carrying the Escherichia coli cytosine deaminase gene to skin (7 × 107 to 7 × 109 pu) and airways (7 × 108 to 7 × 1010 pu) of normal individuals and to liver metastasis (4 × 108 to 4 × 109 pu) of individuals with colon carcinoma. IL-6 increased mildly (up to 220 pg/ml) following vector administration to skin and lung airways of normal individuals and of individuals with CF, and to muscle and liver metastasis of individuals with PVD and colon cancer, respectively. IL-6 responses were higher (up to 1100 pg/ml) following myocardial administration. Control individuals who had chest surgery and bronchoscopy, but no vector administration, had comparable IL-6 increases. Thus, both administration of Ad vectors of humans up to 1010 pu and the procedures used to administer the vectors elicit systemic IL-6 responses. There was no correlation among peak IL-6 and peak anti-Ad antibodies. These observations indicate that the innate host responses following administration of Ad vectors to humans may result from the procedures used to administer the vector, and from the vector per se.