| abstract |
This invention relates to the therapeutic induction of apoptosis in activated inflammatory cells, or cells at a site of inflammation, by introducing into those cells a chimeric gene containing an apoptosis-inducing gene (AIG) driven by a promoter of an inducible gene activated in inflammation and a promoter enhancer such that the inflammatory cells are targeted. In one embodiment, the chimeric gene comprises at least one TNFalpha promoter enhancer attached to a functional copy of a minimal TNFalpha promoter and further attached to at least one copy of an apoptosis-inducing gene, wherein expression of the gene is driven by the TNFalpha promoter. Attachment can be direct, distal, proximal or combinations thereof. Example apoptosis-inducing genes include caspase 3, caspase 4, caspase 5, Granzyme B. Advantageously, the TNFp-AIG chimeric gene is expressed in only those cells producing the inflammatory cytokine, TNFalpha. In addition, the TNFp-AIG chimeric gene also sequesters inducible TNFp transcription factors, thereby reducing endogenous production of TNFalpha. The invention also relates to methods of making and using self-regulated apoptosis chimeric genes and pharmaceutical compositions containing them for treating inflammatory diseases. |