Sustained multilineage gene persistence and expression in dogs transplanted with CD34(+) marrow cells transduced by RD114-pseudotype oncoretrovirus vectors

Blood. 2001 Oct 1;98(7):2065-70. doi: 10.1182/blood.v98.7.2065.

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that the choice of envelope protein (pseudotype) can have a significant effect on the efficiency of retroviral gene transfer into hematopoietic stem cells. This study used a competitive repopulation assay in the dog model to evaluate oncoretroviral vectors carrying the envelope protein of the endogenous feline virus, RD114. CD34-enriched marrow cells were divided into equal aliquots and transduced with vectors produced by the RD114-pseudotype packaging cells FLYRD (LgGLSN and LNX) or by the gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV)-pseudotype packaging cells PG13 (LNY). A total of 5 dogs were studied. One dog died because of infection before sustained engraftment could be achieved, and monitoring was discontinued after 9 months in another animal that had very low overall gene-marking levels. The 3 remaining animals are alive with follow-ups at 11, 22, and 23 months. Analyses of gene marking frequencies in peripheral blood and marrow by polymerase chain reaction revealed no significant differences between the RD114 and GALV-pseudotype vectors. The LgGLSN vector also contained the enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP), enabling us to monitor proviral expression by flow cytometry. Up to 10% of peripheral blood cells expressed GFP shortly after transplantation and approximately 6% after the longest follow-up of 23 months. Flow cytometric analysis of hematopoietic subpopulations showed that most of the GFP-expressing cells were granulocytes, although GFP-positive lymphocytes and monocytes were also detected. In summary, these results show that RD114-pseudotype oncoretroviral vectors are able to transduce hematopoietic long-term repopulating cells and, thus, may be useful for human stem cell gene therapy.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Transport System ASC / genetics
  • Amino Acid Transport System ASC / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD34 / analysis*
  • Blood Cells / metabolism
  • Bone Marrow Cells / immunology*
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / methods*
  • Cats
  • Cell Lineage / genetics*
  • Dogs
  • Endogenous Retroviruses / genetics
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Vectors / standards*
  • Graft Survival* / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Hematopoiesis
  • Leukemia Virus, Gibbon Ape / genetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Receptors, Virus / genetics
  • Receptors, Virus / metabolism
  • Retroviridae Proteins / genetics
  • Retroviridae Proteins / metabolism
  • Survival Rate
  • Transduction, Genetic / methods*
  • Transduction, Genetic / standards

Substances

  • Amino Acid Transport System ASC
  • Antigens, CD34
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Receptors, Virus
  • Retroviridae Proteins
  • leukemia virus receptor, gibbon ape
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins