Low-level expression of functional foamy virus receptor on hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Foamy viruses have several qualities favorable for vector development: they are not known to cause disease; they can transduce stationary cells; and the foamy virus receptor is expressed on a wide variety of cells. Here, we analyzed the level of virus receptor expression on hematopoietic progenitor cells. Foamy virus binding was measured by a flow cytometric assay and was found to be considerably reduced in hematopoietic progenitors cell lines as well as in primary CD34(+) cells when compared to fibroblasts. Retroviral vectors based on murine leukemia virus (MLV) pseudotyped with a foamy virus envelope transduced hematopoietic cell lines with a more than 10-fold lower efficiency than fibroblasts. Moreover, less than 1% of primary CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells were transduced with the foamy virus pseudotypes, while gene transfer efficiencies of 8-40% were achieved using pseudotypes with amphotropic envelope or the G protein of vesicular stomatitis virus. In conclusion, the expression of functional foamy virus receptors on hematopoietic progenitors cells was found to be insufficient to achieve high levels of gene transfer into CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells with cell-free vector supernatants using current transduction protocols.     

Generation of replication-defective helper-free vectors based on simian immunodeficiency virus

A systematic study on generating simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-based vectors was carried out. The goal was to generate helper-free, replication-defective SIVmac-based vectors at high titers. The general approach was to cotransfect into human 293T cells a plasmid carrying the vector construct along with two helper plasmids that together expressed the SIVmac virion proteins. Initial vectors carried the bacterial beta-galactosidase gene (beta-gal). These vectors had a technical difficulty: "pseudotransduction" of beta-gal protein produced during the 293T cell transfections. As a result, infection of cultures with these vector stocks also resulted in passive transfer into, and X-gal staining of, cells that had not actually been infected by the vector. A second generation of vectors expressing the enhanced jellyfish green fluorescence protein (EGFP) was not subject to this artifact. A systematic study of the SIVmac-based EGFP vectors was carried out. Helper-free vector stocks were obtained when helper plasmids lacking the SIVmac packaging signals were used. By employing envelope helper plasmids derived from different SIVmac isolates, it was possible to generate SIVmac-based vectors pseudotyped with envelope proteins of different cell tropism. Optimization of vector and helper plasmid structures, transfection conditions, and infection procedures ultimately yielded vector titers in excess of 10(6)/ml.     

Factors involved in production of helper virus-free retrovirus vectors

Retrovirus vectors allow efficient transfer of genetic material into cells. We describe an improved method for making cell lines which secrete broad host range retrovirus vectors in the absence of helper virus. This method was used to make virus-producing cell lines from several retrovirus vector constructions that encode dominant selectable markers. Virus titers from such lines exceeded 10⁶ colony-forming units per milliliter of medium exposed to the cells. Cell lines that secreted certain vectors remained free of helper virus, while cell lines made using other vectors always secreted helper virus. Secretion of helper virus apparently depended on recombination between vector and the retrovirus packaging system, and factors involved in this event were investigated.     

Quantification of HIV-based lentiviral vectors: influence of several cell type parameters on vector infectivity

A human immunodeficiency virus type (HIV-1)-based lentiviral vector pseudotyped with the vesicular stomatitis virus envelope glycoprotein and encoding the GFP reporter gene was used to evaluate different methods of lentiviral vector titration. GFP expression, viral DNA quantification and the efficiency of vector DNA integration were assayed after infection of conventional HIV-1-permissive cell lines and human primary adult fibroblasts with the vector. We found that vector titers based on GFP expression determined by flow cytometry may vary by more than 50-fold depending on the cell type and the promoter-cell combination used. Interestingly, we observed that the viral integration process in primary HDFa cells was significantly more efficient compared to that in SupT1 or 293T cells. We propose that determination of the amount of integrated viral DNA by quantitative PCR be used in combination with the reporter gene expression assay.     

A novel lentivirus vector derived from apathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus

The improvement of gene transfer efficiency in growth-arrested cells using human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-derived vectors led to the development of vectors derived from other members of the lentivirus family. Here we report the generation of a lentiviral vector derived from the apathogenic molecular virus clone SIVagm3mc of the simian immunodeficiency virus from African green monkeys (Cercocebus pygerythrus). Upon pseudotyping with the G-protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G), the SIVagm-derived vector was shown to transduce proliferating and growth-arrested mammalian cell lines, including human cells. After in vivo inoculation into the striatum of the adult rat brain, the vector was shown to transduce terminally differentiated neurons and oligodendrocytes as well as quiescent and reactive astrocytes. Moreover, SIVagm transfer vector mRNA was efficiently packaged by HIV-1 vector particles. Homologous [SIV(SIV)] vectors generated by using the SIVagm-derived envelope glycoproteins allowed selective gene transfer into human CD4(+)/CCR5(+) cells. Thus, the SIVagm3mc-derived vector is a useful alternative to HIV-1-derived lentiviral vectors in somatic gene therapy.     

Efficient transduction of cytotoxic and anti-HIV-1 genes by a gene-regulatable lentiviral vector

Lentiviral vectors modified from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) offer a promising approach for gene therapy, facilitating transduction of genes into non-dividing cells both in vitro and in vivo. When transducing cytotoxic or anti-HIV genes, however, the vector must avoid self-inhibition by the transgene that can lead to a disruption in production of infectious virions. In this study, we constructed two HIV-1-based lentiviral vectors harboring the mifepristone-inducible gene expression unit in either the forward or the reverse orientation with respect to the direction of viral genomic RNA. The ability of these vectors to transduce cytotoxic and anti-HIV genes was evaluated. When human CD14 was used as a transgene, infectious lentiviral vectors were produced by both forward and reverse vector systems. CD14 expression was efficiently induced in cells transduced by both lentiviral vectors following treatment with mifepristone. However, a higher level of basal transgene expression was observed in the forward vector system in the absence of mifepristone. In contrast, high titers of infectious lentiviral vector containing the cytotoxic vesicular stomatitis virus M gene were successfully generated using the reverse vector, but not the forward vector. In addition, when a VPS4B-dominant negative mutant against HIV-1 budding was cloned into the reverse vector, significant amounts of lentiviral vector were obtained. Subsequent transduction of cells with the VPS4B mutant resulted in approximately 50% inhibition of HIV-1 production only in the presence of mifepristone. Our study thus demonstrates that incorporation of a mifepristone-regulatable gene expression unit in the reverse orientation makes significant advances toward development of a lentiviral vector that allows transduction of harmful genes.     

Application of the polymerase chain reaction in determination of recombinant retrovirus titers as fifty percent endpoints

Retroviral vectors constitute the most efficient system to deliver and integrate foreign genes into mammalian cells. One of the most laborious routine assays in the application of retroviral-mediated gene transfer is the determination of viral titers of vector producer cell lines. Traditionally, determination of virus titer involves the testing of culture medium from individual packaging cell lines for the ability to transfer drug resistance to susceptible cells - a process that can easily take up to 14 days. It is generally agreed that this method is cumbersome. We sought to develop PCR-based protocols that would significantly simplify and shorten this procedure. Using PCR and primers specific for the Neoregion of the MLV-derived vector LeGSN, we determined 1. the proviral integration in target cells, and 2. the viral nucleic acid (RNA or DNA) content of the vector stock. Results were compared with those using the conventional method. We found that these specific PCR-based procedures were indeed useful for rapid determination of viral titers as well as for quick screening for high-titer vector-producing cell clones and successful transduction of target cells.     

Gene transfer system derived from the caprine arthritis-encephalitis lentivirus

Lentiviruses are attractive candidates for therapeutic vectors, because of their ability to infect non-dividing target cells. Vectors based on HIV-1 efficiently transfer gene expression to a variety of dividing or quiescent cells, but are subject to reservations on safety grounds. Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) is a lentivirus inducing only minor pathology in its natural host and in related species after cross-species transmission. To test the CAEV potential as vector for gene transfer, a cassette expressing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) under control of a CMV promoter was inserted into the CAEV genome, producing the pK2EGFPH vector. When pseudotyped with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-G envelope protein, this vector allowed efficient transfer of GFP expression in human cells (up to 86% of GFP-expressing cells into the TE671 cell line). Three vectors carrying different parts of the viral gag, pol and env genes were then developed, together with a CAEV packaging system. These vectors allowed delimitation of the minimal CAEV sequences necessary for an improvement of vector production compared to the previously described CAEV-based vectors [Mselli-Lakhal et al., 1998. Defect in RNA transport and packaging are responsible for low transduction efficiency of CAEV-based vectors. Arc. Virol. 143, 681-695]. While our previous vectors were produced in a helper/vector system, the present vectors are produced in a helper/free system. However, these vector titers remain lower than those obtained with other lentiviral vectors carrying equivalent packaging sequences. We discuss on possible reasons of such differences and possible improvements.     

Amplified and tissue-directed expression of retroviral vectors using ping-pong techniques

Ping-pong amplification is an efficient process by which helper-free retrovirions replicate in cocultures of cell lines that package retroviruses into distinct hostrange envelopes [11]. Transfection of a retroviral vector DNA into these cocultures results in massive virus production, with potentially endless cross-infection between different types of packaging cells. Because the helperfree virus spreads efficiently throughout the coculture, it is unnecessary to use dominant selectable marker genes, and the retroviral vectors can be simplified and optimized for expressing a single gene of interest. The most efficient ping-pong vector, pSFF, derived from the Friend erythroleukemia virus, has been used for high-level expression of several genes that could not be expressed with commonly employed two-gene retroviral vectors. Contrary to previous claims, problems of vector recombination are not inherent to ping-pong methods. Indeed, the pSFF vector has not formed replication-competent recombinants as shown by stringent assays. Here we review these methods, characterize the ping-pong process using the human erythropoietin gene as a model, and describe a new vector (pSFY) designed for enhanced expression in T lymphocytes. Factors that limit tissue-specific expression are reviewed.Abbreviations CAT Chloramphenicol acetyl transferase - Epo Erythropoietin - LTR Long terminal repeat - SFFV Spleen focus-forming virus     

A novel method for the titration of recombinant virus stocks by ELISPOT assay

The development of vectors for gene therapy requires the definition of quality control parameters such as titration, contamination, transduction efficiency and biological effects in defined model systems. For most viral vectors, the classical titration by plaque formation is not applicable, because vectors are defective for replication and packaging cell lines are not always available. In particular, for vectors derived from the autonomous parvovirus MVM(p), the titration method used currently is based on the amplification of the viral genome inside an infected cell, which can then be revealed with a specific radioactive probe (J. Virol. 63 (1989) 1023). In situ hybridization allows to titrate wild-type virus as well as vectors, using probes that are specific for the substituted viral genes or for the transgene, respectively. This method is, however, time consuming, making the simultaneous titration of large numbers of samples difficult. The use of a radioactive probe requires an adequate facility. An ELISPOT method that allows for rapid titration of up to 23 vector stocks in one 96 well dish was devised. This method is based on the actual expression of the transgene. Compared to in situ hybridization, titers obtained by the ELISPOT method were in general equivalent or higher. However, for some vector stocks the ELISPOT titers were repeatedly lower, indicating that in situ hybridization does not give an accurate measure of transducing units. Our model system is recombinant parvovirus MVM expressing human IL2, but the method should be adaptable to other vectors expressing transgenes that are secreted and for which antibodies are available.     

Coreceptor Switch of [MLV(SIVagm)] pseudotype vectors by V3-loop exchange

Retroviral vectors derived from murine leukemia virus (MLV) have been pseudotyped with a variant of the envelope glycoprotein (Env) of nonpathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus from African green monkeys (SIVagm) to result in [MLV(SIVagm-wt)] vector particles. The variant env gene encodes a full-length surface envelope glycoprotein (SU) and a C-terminally truncated transmembrane protein (TM). To change the coreceptor usage of this vector from CCR5 to CXCR4, which is predominant on human CD4-positive lymphocytes, the putative V3-loop of SIVagm SU was replaced by that of the T cell tropic HIV-1 variant BH10. The resulting [MLV(SIVagm-X4)] vectors were shown to specifically transduce CD4/CXCR4-positive cell lines, demonstrating the equivalent function in cell entry and choice of coreceptor usage of the V3-loops of SIVagm and HIV-1. These modified vectors were able to transduce primary human lymphocytes and were resistant to neutralization by sera from HIV-1-infected individuals. The [MLV(SIVagm-X4)] pseudotype vector generated is thus a promising candidate vector, e.g., for in vivo gene therapy of HIV-1 infection.     

Expression of avian reticuloendotheliosis virus envelope confers host resistance

We constructed two reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) envelope gene expression plasmids, one containing the REV-A envelope gene, the other the spleen necrosis virus (SNV) envelope gene. Cell lines were generated by transfecting each of the REV envelope plasmids into D17 cells, a canine cell line. The levels of REV envelope glycoprotein in the cell lines were assayed by immunoprecipitating the envelope glycoproteins from lysates of cells that were labeled with [35S]methionine. Virological challenge assays determined the degree of resistance of each of the cell lines to REV-A or SNV infection. The expression of either envelope gene protected the cells from infection by either REV-A or SNV virus. Several cell lines were significantly more resistant to REV infection than the parental D17 cells, and two lines were 25,000-fold more resistant, approaching the resistance of REV-infected D17 cells to reinfection. The resistant cell lines were not able to confer resistance to susceptible cells by cocultivation. The level of resistance was correlated with the uniformity of expression of the REV envelope glycoproteins by the individual cells in a cell line and not with the absolute level of expression by the population of cells.     

Pantropic retroviral vectors mediate gene transfer and expression in Entamoeba histolytica.

Transformation of Entamoeba histolytica has been previously reported, but the foreign genes have all been replicated episomally. Pantropic retroviral vectors based on the Moloney murine leukemia virus with the envelope glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G) have an extremely broad host range and can be concentrated to high titer. To investigate whether these pseudotyped, pantropic vectors can mediate gene transfer and expression in E. histolytica, we constructed a retroviral vector, in which a hygromycin phosphotransferase is expressed from the E. histolytica actin promoter. Data confirm the infection, integration, and expression of a foreign gene mediated by the provirus. To our knowledge, this is the most evolutionarily distant example of successful integration and expression of a mammalian retrovirus. Pantropic retroviral vectors may thus facilitate genetic analysis in species lacking transformation systems.     

A defective HIV-1 vector for gene transfer to human lymphocytes

Conclusions All practical development of HIV-1 vectors for in vivo testing will require high titers of recombinant virus free of helper virus. To date, an HIV-based vector system with an efficiency of gene transfer comparable to that achieved by the Mo-MuLV-based system has not yet been developed. Such development will require a better definition of the optimal placement of viral cis-acting sequences within the HIV-1 vector. The establishment of stable packaging cell lines should increase the efficiency of production of recombinant HIV-1 viruses for future use. T-lymphocytes are, in fact, an important potential target for therapeutic gene transfer. The possible advantages of such vectors over currently available retroviral vectors suggest that the continued study of HIV-1 vectors for gene transfer to human T-lymphocytes is warranted.Abbreviations HIV Human immunodeficiency virus - LTR Long terminal repeat     

Alphavirus vectors for gene therapy applications

High-titer alphavirus vectors have been generated for efficient gene delivery both in vitro and in vivo. Studies on CNS infection via intranasal and peripheral injections with virulent and avirulent replication-competent Semliki Forest virus (SFV) strains has demonstrated the potential of gene delivery. Replication-deficient alphavirus particles have shown high local transgene expression of a transient nature in rodent brain. Alphavirus vectors have been demonstrated to induce apoptosis in infected human tumor cell lines and SFV vectors expressing interleukin-12 resulted in tumor regression in a B16 murine melanoma model. Repeated SFV injections led to stronger anti-tumor effects without immunogenic response detected against SFV. It has also been shown that intra-tumoral SFV-injections into nude mice with implanted human lung carcinomas led to tumor regression. Likewise, injection of replicative SFV-LacZ RNA resulted in tumor response as well as prophylactic protection against tumor formation. Alphaviruses have also showed potential in vaccine production. Additionally, modifications in the envelope structure of Sindbis virus resulted in substantial change in host range and demonstrated the feasibility of targeting alphavirus vectors. Moreover, SFV has been used as an expression vector for the generation of high-titer retrovirus-like particles. Recent alphavirus vector development has introduced novel non-cytopathogenic vectors, tightly temperature-regulated vectors as well as replication-persistent forms that should prolong the duration of expression. Alphavirus vectors can therefore be considered as highly potential gene delivery vehicles for future gene therapy applications, especially where only short-term expression is required, or even preferred.     

质粒型甲病毒复制子载体系统的构建及其功能鉴定

目的 构建质粒型甲病毒复制子载体系统,并对其功能进行鉴定.方法 在XJ-160病毒感染性cDNA克隆的基础上,将病毒非结构基因序列分为三个片段扩增,分步克隆至真核表达载体pVAX1 CMV启动子下游,并用多克隆位点序列替代病毒的结构基因构建XJ-160病毒质粒型复制子载体.将病毒核蛋白基因及包膜糖蛋白基因分别克隆至pVAX1 CMV启动子下游构建载体的两个辅助质粒.通过绿色荧光蛋白报告基因及海肾荧光素酶报告基因的表达检验该质粒型载体系统的功能特性.结果 成功构建了包括复制子载体和辅助质粒的质粒型甲病毒复制子载体系统,且该复制子载体系统可成功表达绿色荧光蛋白报告基因及海肾荧光素酶报告基因.结论 本研究构建了能够表达外源基因的质粒型甲病毒复制子载体系统,为目标基因表达、重组病毒颗粒制备等奠定了基础.     

Stable expression of the ecotropic retrovirus receptor in amphotropic packaging cells facilitates the transfer of recombinant vectors and enhances the yield of retroviral particles.

Retroviral vectors are used widely as gene transfer vehicles. Vector particles are generated by packaging cell lines, which supply the structural proteins gag, pol and env needed to package the retroviral vector RNA. The most efficient way to introduce the vector genome into the packaging cell line is cross-infection with a retroviral vector. Since the infection of a packaging cell line by the produced virus is blocked due to the down regulation of the retrovirus receptor by the envelope glycoprotein, the vector genome should be introduced by a virus with a host tropism different from the one of the packaging cell line. The murine ecotropic retrovirus receptor was expressed in the human amphotropic packaging cell line FLYA13 to generate a cell line which can be infected by murine ecotropic retroviruses. Vector transfer can now be facilitated by cross-infection with the appropriate ecotropic retroviral vectors and provides a simple and efficient method for the generation of amphotropic packaging lines.     

Rabies virus glycoprotein pseudotyping of lentiviral vectors enables retrograde axonal transport and access to the nervous system after peripheral delivery

In this report it is demonstrated for the first time that rabies-G envelope of the rabies virus is sufficient to confer retrograde axonal transport to a heterologous virus/vector. After delivery of rabies-G pseudotyped equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV) based vectors encoding a marker gene to the rat striatum, neurons in regions distal from but projecting to the injection site, such as the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta, become transduced. This retrograde transport to appropriate distal neurons was also demonstrated after delivery to substantia nigra, hippocampus and spinal cord and did not occur when vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G) pseudotyped vectors were delivered to these sites. In addition, peripheral administration of rabies-G pseudotyped vectors to the rat gastrocnemius muscle leads to gene transfer in motoneurons of lumbar spinal cord. In contrast the same vector pseudotyped with VSV-G transduced muscle cells surrounding the injection site, but did not result in expression in any cells in the spinal cord. Long-term expression was observed after gene transfer in the nervous system and a minimal immune response which, together with the possibility of non-invasive administration, greatly extends the utility of lentiviral vectors for gene therapy of human neurological disease.