Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40325455›Full record

ArticleVirology journal2025

Comparative evaluation of immunomodulatory cytokines for oncolytic therapy based on a high-efficient platform for oHSV1 reconstruction.

Yingzheng Gao, Yufang Zou, Changjing Wu, Juan Tao, Zuqing Nie, Jinyuan Yan, Pengfei Wang, Xinwei Huang

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Virology journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Yingzheng Gao *Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Yufang Zou *Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Changjing Wu *Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Juan TaoKunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Zuqing NieKunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Jinyuan YanKunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Pengfei WangKunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China. wangpengfei@kmmu.edu.cn.
Xinwei HuangKunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China. huangxinwei@kmmu.edu.cn.

Funding

Xinwei Huang National Natural Science Foundation of China (82260486)Yufang Zou Kunming Medical University graduate Student Innovation Fund(2024S086)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents significant therapeutic challenges due to its immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 (oHSV1) offers dual mechanisms of tumor lysis and immune activation, yet the optimal cytokine payloads for TNBC remain undefined.

methodsWe developed a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated platform for high-efficiency oHSV1 engineering, replacing the ICP47 locus with murine IFN-γ, GM-CSF, or IL-15Rα/IL-15 fusion protein (IL15Fu). Constructs were validated for cytokine secretion, MHC modulation, and cytotoxicity in 4T1 TNBC and a panel of human cancer cell lines. Antitumor efficacy and immune remodeling were evaluated in a syngeneic 4T1 model using RNA sequencing and flow cytometry.

resultsThe CRISPR platform achieved 62.5-71.4% homologous recombination efficiency, enabling rapid virus construction. In vitro, OV-IFNG exhibited upregulated MHC I/II expression and potent cytotoxicity, while OV-GMCSF attenuated oncolysis in subsets of breast cancer cell lines. In the 4T1 model, OV-IL15Fu modestly improved tumor control and extended survival without apparent toxicity, while OV-IFNG induced early mortality associated with systemic toxicity. Transcriptomic profiling revealed divergent immune modulation: OV-IL15Fu enriched T cell/NK cytotoxicity pathways, OV-IFNG amplified cytokine/chemokine signaling, and OV-GMCSF paradoxically enhanced myeloid recruitment while inhibiting MHC-II pathways. Flow cytometry confirmed functional differences in immune activation: OV-IL15Fu expanding cytotoxic lymphocytes (CD8⁺ T/NK cells), OV-IFNG preferentially promote Th1 polarization and innate immune activation, and OV-GMCSF failed to activate T cells despite myeloid infiltration.

conclusionsOur findings underscore the need for rational cytokine selection in oHSV1-based immunotherapy. While IFN-γ increased immunogenic markers, its systemic toxicity and myeloid effects may limit benefit. GM-CSF exacerbated immune suppression in this context, whereas IL15Fu showed favorable immunostimulatory properties without detectable toxicity. These data support IL15Fu as a contextually promising payload for further evaluation in TNBC-targeted oncolytic virotherapy.

Indexed as

CytokinesHerpesvirus 1, HumanImmunologic FactorsOncolytic VirotherapyOncolytic VirusesTriple Negative Breast NeoplasmsAnimalsCell Line, TumorCRISPR-Cas SystemsFemaleHumansMiceMice, Inbred BALB CTumor MicroenvironmentCytokinesImmunologic FactorsGM-CSFHSV-1IFN-γIL15Rα/IL15 fusion proteinImmunomodulatory cytokinesOncolytic virus

Identifiers

PMID40325455
PMCPMC12054163

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.