Approaches for Enhancing Therapeutic Efficacy of a Novel IL-10 Gene Family Member: MDA-7/IL-24

摘要: Melanoma differentiation associated gene-7 (mda-7) was discovered in the Fisher laboratory by subtraction hybridization of temporally spaced subtracted cDNA libraries prepared from terminally differentiated human melanoma cells treated with human fibroblast interferon (IFN-beta) and the protein kinase C activator mezerein (MEZ), an approach called'differentiation induction subtraction hybridization'(DISH). mda-7 is located in human chromosome 1q32-33 and based on sequence homology, chromosomal localization, and its functional properties, the mda-7 gene is now classified as a member of the IL-10 family of cytokines and named IL-24. This review focuses on the recent enhancements in our understanding of the mode of action of mda-7/IL-24 and its potential applications as a unique and promising effective cytokine-based gene therapy for human cancers.