Transcriptional Targeting of Mature Dendritic Cells with Adenoviral Vectors via a Modular Promoter System for Antigen Expression and Functional Manipulation

Figure 1

Schematic representation of the therapeutic DNA/adenovirus strategy and the effects of mHSF1 overexpression on endogenous heat shock response elements. (a) A constitutively active mutant heat shock factor 1 (mHSF1) will be expressed under the control of the human mDC-specific CD83 promoter. In turn mHSF1 binds to short heat shock response elements (HRE) of a second vector-encoded DNA driving expression of therapeutic transgenes (e.g., antigens, cytokines, or apoptosis inhibitors). (b) By overexpressing mHSF1 in the target cell, also endogenous HRE will become activated resulting in the expression of different heat shock proteins (Hsp), such as Hsp70 or Hsp90.