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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo
Published on: January 7, 2019
VEGF targeting in mesotheliomas using an interleukin-6 signal inhibitor based on adenovirus gene delivery
Yasuo Adachi1, Naoko Yoshio-Hoshino, Chieko Aoki
1Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Wakayama Medical University, 105 Saito Bio Innovation Center, 7-7-20, Saito-Asagi, Ibaraki-City, Osaka, 567-0085, Japan.
Background:
Malignant mesotheliomas reportedly secrete interleukin-6 (IL-6) which augments production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from mesothelioma cells. We previously reported the development of a new receptor inhibitor of IL-6 (NRI) by genetically engineering tocilizumab, a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody. Since NRI is encoded on a single gene, it is easily applicable to a gene delivery system using virus vehicles. In this study, we report VEGF targeting through NRI expression based on adenovirus-mediated gene delivery in mesothelioma cells.
Materials And Methods:
We constructed an NRI expression vector in the context of a tropism-modified adenovirus vector that had enhanced infectivity in mesothelioma cells.
Results:
This virus effectively induced NRI secretion from mesothelioma cells. This virus infection also reduced the VEGF production in mesothelioma cells.
Conclusion:
These results indicate that NRI shows potential as an agent in the treatment of mesotheliomas.

