Virology Days 2025 Conference 3

My poster ”HSV VECTOR EXPRESSING A VARIANT OF HAS2 GENE EXHIBITS ENHANCED ONCOLYTIC EFFECT AND TUMOR SUPPRESSOR RESPONSE” is presented at the Virology Days 2025 Conference at Jyväskylä 6.-7.2.2025.

The naked mole rat (NMR) has a long lifespan and low cancer incidence, which are linked to high molecular weight hyaluronan (HMW-HA), produced by a uniquely mutated hyaluronan synthesis 2 (HAS2) protein. To study the anti-cancer mechanism of the mutated has2 gene, we developed an attenuated replication competent HSV vector expressing the NMR-has2 gene and showed that our HSV vector causes a markedly enhanced oncolytic effect on U373MG astrocytoma cells compared to other attenuated HSV vectors and a series of wild type HSV strains [1]. In our recent study, we showed that this HSV vector produces large amounts of HMW-HA concomitantly promoting p53 expression in U373MG cells. The vector also seems to be capable of suppressing tumor growth in ovo, although further studies are needed to confirm this result. In conclusion, our studies highlight the potential of using HSV to utilize the anti-cancer mechanism of the NMR in human cancer.

https://www.jyu.fi/en/events/virology-days-2025-conference

References

1. Palomäki, J., Kalke, K., Orpana, J., Lund, L., Frejborg, F., Paavilainen, H., Järveläinen, H., & Hukkanen, V. (2023). Attenuated Replication-Competent Herpes Simplex Virus Expressing an ECM-Modifying Transgene Hyaluronan Synthase 2 of Naked Mole Rat in Oncolytic Gene Therapy. Microorganisms, 11(11), 2657. [doi]
2. Palomäki, J., Hukkanen, V., & Järveläinen, H. (2024). Kaljumyyrikön syöpäresistenssi ja sen sovellutusmahdollisuudet tulevaisuuden lääkekehityksessä. Solubiologi, 2024(2), 14–21. [www]
3. Kalke, K., Orpana, J., Lasanen, T., Esparta, O., Lund, L. M., Frejborg, F., Vuorinen, T., Paavilainen, H., & Hukkanen, V. (2022). The In Vitro Replication, Spread, and Oncolytic Potential of Finnish Circulating Strains of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1. Viruses, 14(6). [doi]