Human purine nucleoside phosphorylase and adenosine deaminase: gene transfer into cultured cells and murine hematopoietic stem cells by using recombinant amphotropic retroviruses

Metabolic correction and cross-correction of mucopolysaccharidosis type II (Hunter syndrome) by retroviral-mediated gene transfer and expression of human iduronate-2-sulfatase

To explore the possibility of using gene transfer to provide iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS; EC 3.1.6.13) enzyme activity for treatment of Hunter syndrome, an amphotropic retroviral vector, L2SN, containing the human IDS coding sequence was constructed and studied for gene expression in vitro. Lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) from patients with Hunter syndrome were transduced with L2SN and expressed high levels of IDS enzyme activity, 10- to 70-fold higher than normal human peripheral blood leukocytes or LCLs. Such L2SN-transduced LCLs failed to show accumulation of 35SO4 into glycosaminoglycan (35SO4-GAG), indicating that recombinant IDS enzyme participated in GAG metabolism. Coculture of L2SN-transduced LCLs with fibroblasts from patients with Hunter syndrome reduced the accumulation of 35SO4-GAG. These results demonstrated retroviral-mediated IDS gene transfer into lymphoid cells and the ability of such cells to provide recombinant enzyme for intercellular metabolic cross-correction.

Intron requirement for expression of the human purine nucleoside phosphorylase gene

Abbreviated purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) genes were engineered to determine the effect of introns on human PNP gene expression. PNP minigenes containing the first intron (complete or shortened from 2.9 kb down to 855 bp), the first two introns or all five PNP introns resulted in substantial human PNP isozyme expression after transient transfection of murine NIH 3T3 cells. Low level human PNP activity was observed after transfection with a PNP minigene containing the last three introns. An intronless PNP minigene construct containing the PNP cDNA fused to genomic flanking sequences resulted in undetectable human PNP activity. Heterogeneous, stable NIH 3T3 transfectants of intron-containing PNP minigenes (verified by Southern analysis), expressed high levels of PNP activity and contained appropriately processed 1.7 kb message visualized by northern analysis. Stable transfectants of the intronless PNP minigene (40-45 copies per haploid genome) contained no detectable human PNP isozyme or mRNA. Insertion of the 855 bp shortened intron 1 sequence in either orientation upstream or downstream of a chimeric PNP promoter-bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene resulted in a several-fold increase in CAT expression in comparison with the parental PNP-CAT construct. We conclude that human PNP gene expression at the mRNA and protein level is dependent on the presence of intronic sequences and that the level of PNP expression varies directly with the number of introns included. The disproportionately greatest effect of intron 1 can be explained by the presence of an enhancer-like element retained in the shortened 855 bp intron 1 sequence.

Prospects for homologous recombination in human gene therapy

The ideal approach to gene therapy of hereditary diseases or gene correction therapy is considered. The advantages, disadvantages and limits of gene targeting by homologous recombination are discussed with regard to its possible application in gene correction therapy and in comparison with retroviral-mediated gene complementation therapy.

Restoration of arylsulphatase B activity in human mucopolysaccharidosis-type-VI fibroblasts by retroviral-vector-mediated gene transfer

The Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type VI; MPS VI) is a lysosomal storage disease caused by deficiency of the enzyme arylsulphatase B (ASB). A human ASB cDNA has been subcloned into the retroviral vector pXT1 containing the bacterial neomycin-resistance gene and an internal thymidine kinase promoter for transcription of the inserted gene. Replication defective retrovirus was generated by transfecting the construct into the amphotropic packaging cell line PA317. Human MPS VI fibroblasts infected with recombinant retrovirus integrated the provirus into their genome and expressed retrovirus-encoded ASB mRNAs. In infected fibroblasts the level of ASB was up to 36-fold higher than in normal fibroblasts. Biosynthesis and processing of ASB in infected MPS VI fibroblasts was accomplished as in normal fibroblasts, and mature, enzymically active, ASB accumulated in dense lysosomes, indicating that the ASB deficiency in MPS VI fibroblasts was corrected by the retroviral gene transfer.

Improvement of avian leukosis virus (ALV)-based retrovirus vectors by using different cis-acting sequences from ALVs

Production and expression of double-expression vectors which transduce both Neo(r) and lacZ genes and are based on the structure of avian leukosis virus were enhanced by using cis-acting sequences (long terminal repeats and noncoding sequences) from Rous-associated virus-1 and Rous-associated virus-2 rather than those of avian erythroblastosis virus previously used in our constructs. Polyclonal producer cells obtained after transfection of these vectors into the Isolde packaging cell line gave rise to titers as high as 3 x 10(5) lacZ CFU/ml, whereas it was possible to isolate clones of producer cells giving rise to titers of more than 10(6) resistance focus-forming units per ml.

Promoter interactions in retrovirus vectors introduced into fibroblasts and embryonic stem cells

The activity of the Moloney murine leukemia virus promoter is restricted in mouse embryonic stem cells. Gene expression with retrovirus vectors can be achieved in these cells if internal promoters are used. To address the possible influence of the viral enhancer sequences on expression from the internal promoter, we have constructed high-titer, self-inactivating retrovirus vectors which delete viral regulatory sequences upon integration in the host genome. We show that deleting most of the viral enhancer sequences has no significant effect on viral titer. This enhancer deletion leads to either an increase or a decrease in the amount of RNA transcribed from the internal promoter, but no consistent change can be found with any type of vector. The same changes in expression from the internal promoter observed in embryonic stem cells are also observed in 3T3 fibroblast cells, in which the viral promoter is active. These results indicate that viral regulatory elements influence expression from an internal promoter independently of expression from the virus promoter.

Inactivation of the Moloney murine leukemia virus long terminal repeat in murine fibroblast cell lines is associated with methylation and dependent on its chromosomal position

The expression of a retroviral vector with the Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MuLV) long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter after integration into the genome of murine fibroblast cell lines was monitored with the Escherichia coli-derived beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) gene as the reporter. Monoclonal cell lines derived after retroviral infection exhibited a marked heterogeneity in their expression of the reporter gene. We studied two monoclonal cell lines with a single unrearranged copy of the vector provirus integrated into their genome. The first, BB10, expressed the marker enzyme in only 8% of its cell population, whereas in the second, BB16, beta-gal expression could be detected in over 98% of the cells. Treatment of BB10 with the DNA-demethylating agent 5-azacytidine raised the number of beta-gal-positive cells to over 60%. Transfection experiments showed that the Mo-MuLV LTR promoter-enhancer is potentially fully functional in both the BB10 and BB16 cell lines. The inactivated provirus from BB10 cells was cloned and subsequently used to generate retrovirus stocks. The promoter-enhancer activity of its LTR after infection with these BB10-derived viruses showed a variation similar to that of the original virus stocks. Our data showed that (1) inactivation of the Mo-MuLV LTR is a frequent event in murine fibroblast cell lines, (2) inactivation is associated with de novo methylation of cytidine residues, (3) the frequency of inactivation of the provirus must be determined by its chromosomal position, (4) the process of methylation of sequences within the LTR is not necessarily the same as the transcription-repression mechanism that is operating in undifferentiated embryonal carcinoma cells.

Expression of human adenosine deaminase in mice transplanted with hemopoietic stem cells infected with amphotropic retroviruses

Amphotropic recombinant retroviruses were generated carrying sequences encoding human adenosine deaminase (ADA). Transcription of the human ADA gene was under control of a hybrid long terminal repeat in which the enhancer from the Moloney murine leukemia virus was replaced by an enhancer from the F101 host-range mutant of polyoma virus. Hemopoietic stem cells in murine bone marrow were infected with this virus under defined culture conditions. As a result, 59% of day-12 colony forming unit spleen (CFU-S) stem cells became infected without any in vitro selection. Infected CFU-S were shown to express human ADA before transplantation and this expression sustained upon in vivo maturation. Mice transplanted with infected bone marrow exhibited human ADA expression in lymphoid, myeloid, and erythroid cell types. Moreover, human ADA expression persisted in secondary and tertiary transplanted recipients showing that human ADA-expressing cells were derived from pluripotent stem cells. These characteristics of our amphotropic viruses make them promising tools in gene therapy protocols for the treatment of severe combined immunodeficiency caused by ADA deficiency. In this respect it is also relevant that the viral vector that served as backbone for the ADA vector was previously shown to be nonleukemogenic.

Retrovirus mediated transfer and expression of GM-CSF in haematopoietic cells

Two retrovirus vectors were compared for their ability to express granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in a haematopoietic cell line, FDCP1, which is dependent on GM-CSF for survival. Both a MoMLV-based vector pVneoGM, and a MPSV-based vector, M3neoGM, were found to be capable of transmitting and expressing both GM-CSF and neomycin sequences in the myeloid FDCP1 cell line. Our results also demonstrate that pVneoGM is more efficient at generating GM-CSF independent colonies than M3neoGM. Analysis of cell lines derived after infection confirmed pVneoGM expressed higher levels of GM-CSF. Cell lines generated by infection with pVneoGM responded to levels of exogenous recombinant GM-CSF which did not stimulate growth of the parental cell line, suggesting autocrine stimulation may convey a proliferative advantage under sub-optimal growth conditions. Finally the parental vectors pVneo and M3neo were shown to be capable of expressing the neomycin gene in both murine haematopoietic progenitor and stem cells.

Expression of human adenosine deaminase in mice reconstituted with retrovirus-transduced hematopoietic stem cells

Recombinant retroviruses encoding human adenosine deaminase (ADA; adenosine aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.4) have been used to infect murine hematopoietic stem cells. In bone marrow transplant recipients reconstituted with the genetically modified cells, human ADA was detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the recipients for at least 6 months after transplantation. In animals analyzed in detail 4 months after transplantation, human ADA and proviral sequences were detected in all hematopoietic lineages; in several cases, human ADA activity exceeded the endogenous activity. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of introducing a functional human ADA gene into hematopoietic stem cells and obtaining expression in multiple hematopoietic lineages long after transplantation. This approach should be helpful in designing effective gene therapies for severe combined immunodeficiency syndromes in humans.

Long-term expression of human adenosine deaminase in mice transplanted with retrovirus-infected hematopoietic stem cells

Long-term stable expression of foreign genetic sequences transferred into hematopoietic stem cells by using retroviral vectors constitutes a relevant model for somatic gene therapy. Such stability of expression may depend on vector design, including the presence or absence of specific sequences within the vector, in combination with the nature and efficiency of infection of the hematopoietic target cells. We have previously reported successful transfer of human DNA encoding adenosine deaminase (ADA) into CFU-S (colony-forming unit-spleen) stem cells using simplified recombinant retroviral vectors. Human ADA was expressed in CFU-S-derived spleen colonies at levels near to endogenous enzyme. However, because of the lack of an efficient dominant selectable marker and low recombinant viral titers, stability of long-term expression of human ADA was not examined. We report here the development of an efficient method of infection of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) without reliance on in vitro selection. Peripheral blood samples of 100% of mice transplanted with HSC infected by this protocol exhibit expression of human ADA 30 days after transplantation. Some mice (6 of 13) continue to express human ADA in all lineages after complete hematopoietic reconstitution (4 months). The use of recombinant retroviral vectors that efficiently transfer human ADA cDNA into HSC leading to stable expression of functional ADA in reconstituted mice, provides an experimental framework for future development of approaches to somatic gene therapy.

A majority of mice show long-term expression of a human beta-globin gene after retrovirus transfer into hematopoietic stem cells

Murine bone marrow was infected with a high-titer retrovirus vector containing the human beta-globin and neomycin phosphotransferase genes. Anemic W/Wv mice were transplanted with infected marrow which in some cases had been exposed to the selective agent G418. Human beta-globin expression was monitored in transplanted animals by using a monoclonal antibody specific for human beta-globin polypeptide, and hematopoietic reconstitution was monitored by using donor and recipient mice which differed in hemoglobin type. In some experiments all transplanted mice expressed the human beta-globin polypeptide for over 4 months, and up to 50% of peripheral erythrocytes contained detectable levels of polypeptide. DNA analysis of transplanted animals revealed that virtually every myeloid cell contained a provirus. Integration site analysis and reconstitution of secondary marrow recipients suggested that every mouse was reconstituted with at least one infected stem cell which had extensive repopulation capability. The ability to consistently transfer an active beta-globin gene into mouse hematopoietic cells improves the feasibility of using these techniques for somatic cell gene therapy in humans.

Expression of human adenosine deaminase in murine hematopoietic cells

Multiple replication-defective retrovirus vectors were tested for their ability to transfer and express human adenosine deaminase in vitro and in vivo in a mouse bone marrow transplantation model. High-titer virus production was obtained from vectors by using both a retrovirus long terminal repeat promoter and internal transcriptional units with human c-fos and herpes virus thymidine kinase promoters. After infection of primary murine bone marrow with one of these vectors, human adenosine deaminase was detected in 60 to 85% of spleen colony-forming units and in the blood of 14 of 14 syngeneic marrow transplant recipients. This system offers the opportunity to assess methods for increasing efficiency of gene transfer, for regulation of expression of foreign genes in hematopoietic progenitors, and for long-term measurement of the stability of expression in these cells.

Improved gene expression upon transfer of the adenosine deaminase minigene outside the transcriptional unit of a retroviral vector

This study describes a type of retroviral vector called double-copy (DC) vector that was designed to improve the expression of transduced genes. The unique feature of DC vectors is that the transduced gene is inserted within the U3 region of the 3' long terminal repeat (LTR). Consequently, in the infected cell the gene is duplicated and transferred to the 5' LTR. The important result is that in its new position the gene is placed outside the retroviral transcriptional unit, eliminating or at least reducing the negative effects of the retroviral transcriptional unit. The utility of the DC vector design was tested by using a 2.1-kilobase-pair (kbp)-long adenosine deaminase (ADA; EC 3.5.4.4) minigene that was inserted into the 3' LTR of the N2 retroviral vector, generating a 2.7-kbp-long chimeric LTR. DNA blot analysis was used to show that the chimeric LTR was faithfully duplicated in cells infected with the corresponding virus, generating two copies of the ADA minigene, one copy in each LTR. Insertion of the ADA minigene into the 3' LTR of the N2 vector led to a 10- to 20-fold increase in ADA transcripts and human ADA isozyme synthesized in NIH 3T3 cells as compared to cells harboring the same vector in which the ADA minigene was inserted between the two LTRs. A similar increase in ADA expression was observed in two human lymphoid cell lines tested, HUT 78 and Raji. These results are consistent with previous observations that upstream promoters exert an inhibitory effect on promoters placed downstream and bear out the predictions used in the design of DC vectors. The use of DC vectors may contribute to the solution of the problems encountered in expressing retrovirally transduced genes in cultured cells and, in particular, when introduced into the live animal.

A majority of mice show long-term expression of a human beta-globin gene after retrovirus transfer into hematopoietic stem cells

Murine bone marrow was infected with a high-titer retrovirus vector containing the human beta-globin and neomycin phosphotransferase genes. Anemic W/Wv mice were transplanted with infected marrow which in some cases had been exposed to the selective agent G418. Human beta-globin expression was monitored in transplanted animals by using a monoclonal antibody specific for human beta-globin polypeptide, and hematopoietic reconstitution was monitored by using donor and recipient mice which differed in hemoglobin type. In some experiments all transplanted mice expressed the human beta-globin polypeptide for over 4 months, and up to 50% of peripheral erythrocytes contained detectable levels of polypeptide. DNA analysis of transplanted animals revealed that virtually every myeloid cell contained a provirus. Integration site analysis and reconstitution of secondary marrow recipients suggested that every mouse was reconstituted with at least one infected stem cell which had extensive repopulation capability. The ability to consistently transfer an active beta-globin gene into mouse hematopoietic cells improves the feasibility of using these techniques for somatic cell gene therapy in humans.

The scanning model for translation: an update

The small (40S) subunit of eukaryotic ribosomes is believed to bind initially at the capped 5'-end of messenger RNA and then migrate, stopping at the first AUG codon in a favorable context for initiating translation. The first-AUG rule is not absolute, but there are rules for breaking the rule. Some anomalous observations that seemed to contradict the scanning mechanism now appear to be artifacts. A few genuine anomalies remain unexplained.

Expression of human adenosine deaminase in murine hematopoietic cells

Multiple replication-defective retrovirus vectors were tested for their ability to transfer and express human adenosine deaminase in vitro and in vivo in a mouse bone marrow transplantation model. High-titer virus production was obtained from vectors by using both a retrovirus long terminal repeat promoter and internal transcriptional units with human c-fos and herpes virus thymidine kinase promoters. After infection of primary murine bone marrow with one of these vectors, human adenosine deaminase was detected in 60 to 85% of spleen colony-forming units and in the blood of 14 of 14 syngeneic marrow transplant recipients. This system offers the opportunity to assess methods for increasing efficiency of gene transfer, for regulation of expression of foreign genes in hematopoietic progenitors, and for long-term measurement of the stability of expression in these cells.

Activity of the adenosine deaminase promoter in transgenic mice

The promoter of the human gene for adenosine deaminase (ADA) is extremely G/C-rich, contains several G/C-box motifs (GGGCGGG) and lacks any apparent TATA or CAAT boxes. These features are commonly found in promoters of genes that lack a strong tissue specificity, and are referred to as "housekeeping genes". Like other housekeeping genes, the ADA gene is expressed in all tissues. However, there is a considerable variation in the levels of expression of the ADA protein in different tissues. In order to study the activity of the ADA promoter, transgenic mice were generated that harbor a chimeric gene composed of the ADA promoter linked to a reporter gene encoding the bacterial enzyme Chloramphenicol Acetyl Transferase (CAT). These mice reproducibly showed CAT expression in all tissues examined, including the hemopoietic organs (spleen, thymus and bone marrow). However, examination of the actual cell types expressing the CAT gene revealed the ADA promoter to be inactive in the hemopoietic cells. This was substantiated by a transplantation experiment in which bone marrow from ADA-CAT transgenic mice was used to reconstitute the hemopoietic compartment of lethally irradiated mice. The engrafted recipients revealed strongly reduced CAT activity in their hemopoietic organs. The lack of expression in hemopoietic cells was further shown to be correlated with a hypermethylated state of the transgene. Combined, our data suggest that the ADA promoter sequences tested can direct expression in a wide variety of tissues as expected for a regular housekeeping gene promoter. However, the activity of the ADA promoter fragment did not reflect the tissue-specific variations in expression levels of the endogenous ADA gene. Additionally, regulatory elements are needed for expression in the hemopoietic cells.

Design of vectors for efficient expression of human purine nucleoside phosphorylase in skin fibroblasts from enzyme-deficient humans

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP; purine-nucleoside orthophosphate ribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.1) deficiency is an inherited disorder associated with a severe immune defect that is fatal. Enzyme replacement therapy is an attractive approach to treatment of this disease. To this aim we constructed retroviral vectors containing a human PNP cDNA and a selectable gene encoding neomycin phosphotransferase. PNP expression was controlled by either the early promoter from simian virus 40, the immediate early promoter from human cytomegalovirus, or the retroviral promoter. Cultured skin fibroblasts from two unrelated PNP-deficient patients that were infected with these vectors expressed mean PNP activities of 0.03, 0.74, and 5.9 mumol/hr per mg of protein, respectively. The latter infectants had PNP activities eight times the level of 0.74 mumol/hr per mg of protein observed in normal skin fibroblasts, enabling rapid metabolism of exogenous deoxyguanosine, the cytotoxic metabolite that accumulates in the plasma of PNP-deficient patients. These experiments indicate that viral long terminal repeat was the strongest promoter for expression of PNP and suggest the potential of human skin fibroblasts as vehicles for therapeutic gene expression.

Expression of the human beta-globin gene following retroviral-mediated transfer into multipotential hematopoietic progenitors of mice

Efficient transfer of the beta-globin gene into primitive hematopoietic progenitors was achieved with consistent and significant expression in the progeny of those cells. Retroviral vectors containing the intact genomic human beta-globin gene and the neomycin (G418)-resistance (neoR) gene were constructed. These gave titers of 10(6) or more neoR colony-forming units/ml when packaged in psi 2 cells. Mouse bone marrow cells were infected by coculture with producer cells and injected into lethally irradiated animals. Several parameters were varied to enhance infection frequency of colony-forming units, spleen (CFU-S); overall 41% of 116 foci studied contained an intact proviral genome. The human beta-globin gene was expressed in 31 of 35 CFU-S-derived spleen colonies that contained the intact vector genome at levels ranging from 1% to 5% of that of the mouse beta-globin genes. Infected bone marrow cells were also injected into genetically anemic W/Wv recipients without prior irradiation. Human beta-globin chains were detected in circulating erythrocytes by immunofluorescent staining with a specific monoclonal antibody. All animals injected with donor cells that had been cultured in G418 (1 mg/ml) for 48 hr after retroviral infection had circulating erythrocytes containing human beta-globin chains between 3 and 8 weeks after transplantation.

Expression of the human beta-globin gene after retroviral transfer into murine erythroleukemia cells and human BFU-E cells

Replication-defective amphotropic retrovirus vectors containing either the human beta-globin gene with introns or an intronless beta-globin minigene were constructed and used to study beta-globin expression following gene transfer into hematopoietic cells. The beta-globin genes were marked by introducing a 6-base-pair insertion into the region corresponding to the 5' untranslated region of the beta-globin mRNA to allow detection of RNA encoded by the new gene in human cells expressing normal human beta-globin RNA. Introduction of a virus containing the beta-globin gene with introns into murine erythroleukemia cells resulted in inducible expression of human beta-globin RNA and protein, while the viruses containing the minigene were inactive. The introduced human beta-globin gene was 6 to 110% as active as the endogenous mouse beta maj-globin genes in six randomly chosen cell clones. Introduction of the viruses into human BFU-E cells, followed by analysis of marked and unmarked globin RNAs in differentiated erythroid colonies, revealed that the introduced beta-globin gene was about 5% as active as the endogenous genes in these normal human erythroid cells and that again the minigene was inactive. These data are discussed in terms of the potential treatment of genetic disease by gene therapy.

Stably transmitted triple-promoter retroviral vectors and their use in transformation of primary mammalian cells

Retroviral vectors were constructed which coexpressed three inserted genes from independent transcriptional promoters in singly infected cells. Several such triple-promoter vectors were constructed with various combinations of oncogenes and selectable drug resistance genes. All expressed three mRNAs of the expected size in infected cells. One vector expressing the v-Ha-ras, v-myc, and neo genes was characterized in detail. This retrovirus did not undergo rearrangement during the process of infection, as judged by Southern analysis, and infection of primary rat embryo fibroblasts demonstrated that ras-myc-cotransformed cells could be selected in G418. This demonstration that retroviral vectors can be used to express three cistrons independently increases their value as gene transfer vehicles, particularly for studies involving oncogene cooperation in primary cells.

Comparison of expression in hemopoietic cells by retroviral vectors carrying two genes

In order to identify factors that influence expression by retroviral vectors in hemopoietic cells, we have compared viral RNA levels in cells infected with several different recombinant viruses. All of the vectors tested carry the neomycin resistance gene and provide for the insertion of a second gene which, in these studies, comprised sequences from the myc or myb oncogenes or the gene encoding granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. The vectors utilize two different strategies for the coexpression of the two genes: alternate splicing and the use of a separate internal promoter. We found that expression in hemopoietic cells could be increased by substituting sequences from the myeloproliferative sarcoma virus long terminal repeat for those of the Moloney murine leukemia virus long terminal repeat. However, none of the vectors examined was able to express a second gene at levels equivalent to those achieved by the parental vectors carrying only the neomycin resistance gene. The reasons for this varied with the different vectors and included inefficient splicing and/or a reduction in the level of unspliced transcripts upon insertion of a second gene. Although the basis of the latter phenomenon is not clear, it is probably related to the position--near the 5' long terminal repeat--at which the second gene was inserted, since insertion of the same genes near the 3' end of another vector had no effect on viral RNA levels. In an attempt to circumvent some of these problems, we constructed a vector that employs an internal beta-actin promoter. Although this vector could express granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor sequences in a responsive hemopoietic cell line, the level of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor produced was disappointingly low. The results from these studies suggest approaches to the design of improved vectors for effective expression of genes in hemopoietic cells.

Expression of the human beta-globin gene after retroviral transfer into murine erythroleukemia cells and human BFU-E cells

Replication-defective amphotropic retrovirus vectors containing either the human beta-globin gene with introns or an intronless beta-globin minigene were constructed and used to study beta-globin expression following gene transfer into hematopoietic cells. The beta-globin genes were marked by introducing a 6-base-pair insertion into the region corresponding to the 5' untranslated region of the beta-globin mRNA to allow detection of RNA encoded by the new gene in human cells expressing normal human beta-globin RNA. Introduction of a virus containing the beta-globin gene with introns into murine erythroleukemia cells resulted in inducible expression of human beta-globin RNA and protein, while the viruses containing the minigene were inactive. The introduced human beta-globin gene was 6 to 110% as active as the endogenous mouse beta maj-globin genes in six randomly chosen cell clones. Introduction of the viruses into human BFU-E cells, followed by analysis of marked and unmarked globin RNAs in differentiated erythroid colonies, revealed that the introduced beta-globin gene was about 5% as active as the endogenous genes in these normal human erythroid cells and that again the minigene was inactive. These data are discussed in terms of the potential treatment of genetic disease by gene therapy.

Stably transmitted triple-promoter retroviral vectors and their use in transformation of primary mammalian cells

Retroviral vectors were constructed which coexpressed three inserted genes from independent transcriptional promoters in singly infected cells. Several such triple-promoter vectors were constructed with various combinations of oncogenes and selectable drug resistance genes. All expressed three mRNAs of the expected size in infected cells. One vector expressing the v-Ha-ras, v-myc, and neo genes was characterized in detail. This retrovirus did not undergo rearrangement during the process of infection, as judged by Southern analysis, and infection of primary rat embryo fibroblasts demonstrated that ras-myc-cotransformed cells could be selected in G418. This demonstration that retroviral vectors can be used to express three cistrons independently increases their value as gene transfer vehicles, particularly for studies involving oncogene cooperation in primary cells.

Retrovirus-mediated gene transfer of human adenosine deaminase: expression of functional enzyme in murine hematopoietic stem cells in vivo

Simplified Moloney murine leukemia virus-based recombinant retrovirus vectors have been constructed which transduce human adenosine deaminase (ADA) cDNA. ADA transcription is under the control of the constitutive promoter for the human X chromosome phosphoglycerate kinase (pgk) gene. In these simplified vectors, dominant selectable markers are not included and selection is dependent on overproduction of functional ADA enzyme. Primary murine hematopoietic cells were infected with helper-free recombinant ADA virus generated from Psi-2 packaging cells. Protein analysis revealed that human ADA enzyme was expressed in progenitor-derived hematopoietic colonies in vitro and CFU-S-derived spleen colonies in vivo. Enzyme expression was dependent on transcription from the pgk promoter. ADA expression in primary murine hematopoietic cells directed by the internal promoter was not adversely affected by the presence of the Moloney virus long terminal repeat enhancer sequence. Use of these vectors allows systematic evaluation of the effects of specific sequences in recombinant retrovirus vectors on expression in primary murine hematopoietic cells in vivo.

Retrovirus-mediated gene transfer of human adenosine deaminase: expression of functional enzyme in murine hematopoietic stem cells in vivo

Simplified Moloney murine leukemia virus-based recombinant retrovirus vectors have been constructed which transduce human adenosine deaminase (ADA) cDNA. ADA transcription is under the control of the constitutive promoter for the human X chromosome phosphoglycerate kinase (pgk) gene. In these simplified vectors, dominant selectable markers are not included and selection is dependent on overproduction of functional ADA enzyme. Primary murine hematopoietic cells were infected with helper-free recombinant ADA virus generated from Psi-2 packaging cells. Protein analysis revealed that human ADA enzyme was expressed in progenitor-derived hematopoietic colonies in vitro and CFU-S-derived spleen colonies in vivo. Enzyme expression was dependent on transcription from the pgk promoter. ADA expression in primary murine hematopoietic cells directed by the internal promoter was not adversely affected by the presence of the Moloney virus long terminal repeat enhancer sequence. Use of these vectors allows systematic evaluation of the effects of specific sequences in recombinant retrovirus vectors on expression in primary murine hematopoietic cells in vivo.

Protection of bone marrow transplant recipients from lethal doses of methotrexate by the generation of methotrexate-resistant bone marrow

To develop a highly efficient means for generating methotrexate resistant (MTXr) hematopoietic cells in vivo, a recombinant retroviral genome was constructed that encodes a MTXr dihydrofolate reductase (DHFRr). Cell lines producing high titers of virus capable of transmitting the DHFR gene were generated and used to infect mammalian cells in vitro. Analysis of infected fibroblasts indicated that the DHFRr gene was transmitted intact and conferred a high level of MTXr upon cells. Based on these findings, DHFRr-containing virus was used to infect murine bone marrow cells in vitro. Following infection, the transduced cells were introduced into lethally irradiated recipients via bone marrow transplantation techniques. The presence of the proviral sequences in cells of the spleen and bone marrow of engrafted recipients was associated with significantly increased survival of mice treated with otherwise lethal doses of MTX.