Sustained high-level polyclonal hematopoietic marking and transgene expression 4 years after autologous transplantation of rhesus macaques with SIV lentiviral vector-transduced CD34+ cells

Blood. 2009 May 28;113(22):5434-43. doi: 10.1182/blood-2008-10-185199. Epub 2009 Apr 1.

Abstract

We previously reported that lentiviral vectors derived from the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) were efficient at transducing rhesus hematopoietic repopulating cells. To evaluate the persistence of vector-containing and -expressing cells long term, and the safety implications of SIV lentiviral vector-mediated gene transfer, we followed 3 rhesus macaques for more than 4 years after transplantation with transduced CD34+ cells. All 3 animals demonstrated significant vector marking and expression of the GFP transgene in T cells, B cells, and granulocytes, with mean GFP+ levels of 6.7% (range, 3.3%-13.0%), 7.4% (4.2%-13.4%), and 5.6% (3.1%-10.5%), respectively. There was no vector silencing in hematopoietic cells over time. Vector insertion site analysis of granulocytes demonstrated sustained highly polyclonal reconstitution, with no evidence for progression to oligoclonality. A significant number of clones were found to contribute at both 1-year and 3- or 4-year time points. No vector integrations were detected in the MDS1/EVI1 region, in contrast to our previous findings with a gamma-retroviral vector. These data show that lentiviral vectors can mediate stable and efficient long-term expression in the progeny of transduced hematopoietic stem cells, with an integration profile that may be safer than that of standard Moloney murine leukemia virus (MLV)-derived retroviral vectors.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD34 / metabolism*
  • Biomarkers / blood*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Clone Cells
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gene Expression / physiology
  • Genetic Therapy / methods
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* / methods
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics*
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Transduction, Genetic
  • Transgenes* / genetics
  • Transplantation, Autologous
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antigens, CD34
  • Biomarkers
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins