Search

Despite the success of recombinant adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) and dioleoyltrimethylaminopropane:cholesterol (DOTAP:Chol) liposomes as viral and nonviral vectors in clinical trials, these vectors still suffer from drawbacks such as high immunogenicity and low transfection efficiency, respectively. To address these issues, some researchers have synthesized DOTAP:Chol/Ad5 hybrid vectors hoping to combine the unique features of the individual vectors. While this method shows promise, the limitations associated with Ad5 were not completely ameliorated. The objective of the present study was to use PEGylated liposomes to improve upon these previous studies, with the aim of maintaining high transduction efficiency and reducing the immune response. PEGylated DOTAP:Chol liposomes were synthesized at different molar ratios of polyethylene glycol (PEG) (0 to 0.04), and its effects on transduction efficiency and immunogenicity of Ad5 were studied. Coating of Ad5 with PEGylated liposomes was confirmed using transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering, and these techniques indicated that the size of the complexes was ~ 140 nm. Transduction efficiency was enhanced nearly 100-fold in CAR-negative cells treated with PEGylated liposome/Ad5 complexes compared to unmodified Ad5. In addition, PEGylated liposome/Ad5 complexes significantly reduced the humoral and innate immune responses relative to native Ad5 as assessed by antiAd5 antibodies and IL-6 production by macrophage cells. Moreover, PEGylation decreased the cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity of the liposomes. In conclusion, the transduction efficiency, biocompatibility, and immunogenicity of DOTAP:Chol/Ad5 complexes were significantly improved by including an optimum amount of a PEG-lipid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background A baculovirus vector is capable of efficiently transducing many nondiving and diving cell types. However, the potential of baculovirus is restricted for many gene delivery applications as a result of the transient gene expression that it mediates. The plasmid-based Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system integrates transgenes into target cell genome efficiently with a genomic integration pattern that is generally considered safer than the integration of many other integrating vectors; yet efficient delivery of therapeutic genes into cells of target tissues in vivo is a major challenge for nonviral gene therapy. In the present study, SB was introduced into baculovirus to obtain novel hybrid vectors that would combine the best features of the two vector systems (i.e. effective gene delivery and efficient integration into the genome), thus circumventing the major limitations of these vectors. Methods We constructed and optimized SB-baculovirus hybrid vectors that bear either SB100x transposase or SB transposon in the forward or reverse orientations with respect to the viral backbone The functionality of the novel hybrid vectors was investigated in cell cultures and in a proof-of-concept study in the mouse eye. Results The hybrid vectors showed high and sustained transgene expression that remained stable and demonstrated no signs of decline during the 2 months follow-up in vitro. These results were verified in the mouse eye where persistent transgene expression was detected two months after intravitreal injection. Conclusions Our results confirm that (i) SB-baculovirus hybrid vectors mediate long-term gene expression in vitro and in vivo, and (ii) the hybrid vectors are potential new tools for the treatment of ocular diseases. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improved adenoviral-based gene delivery vector was developed by complexing adenovirus (Ad) with a biocompatible, grafted copolymer PEG-g-PEI composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyethylenimine (PEI). Although an Ad-based gene vector is considered relatively safe, its native tropism, tendency to elicit an immune response, and susceptibility to inactivating antibodies makes the virus less than ideal. The goal of the current study was to determine whether Ad could be complexed with a PEG-g-PEI copolymer that would enable the virus to transduce cells lacking the Ad receptor, while avoiding the issues commonly associated with PEI. A copolymer library was synthesized using 2 kDa PEG and either linear or branched PEI (25 kDa) with a PEG to PEI grafting ratio of 10, 20, or 30. The results of the study indicate that PEG-g-PEI/Ad complexes are indeed able to transduce CAR-negative NIH 3T3 cells. The results also demonstrate that the PEG-g-PEI/Ad complexes are less toxic, less hemolytic, and more appropriately sized than PEI/Ad complexes. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Genetic treatments of chronic arthritic conditions are essentially dependent on safe and efficient vector systems. To combine features of the efficient transduction of adenovirus vectors with the advantage of stable integration into the host cell genome of apathogenic prototype foamy virus vectors, hybrid vectors (FAD) have been established. In the present study, we have generated and investigated the use of safe FAD vectors for direct gene delivery to joints. Methods We generated recombinant FAD encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) or human interleukin 1 receptor antagonist protein (IL1RA) cDNA, and explored their transgene expression profile, as well as the bioactivity of the IL1RA transgene in vitro. The feasibility of IL1RA gene delivery to articular tissues was investigated in a pilot study employing direct FAD injections to the knee joints of Wistar rats. Results FAD vectors efficiently transduced human or rat fibroblasts with EGFP or IL1RA transgene in vitro. Levels of IL1RA transgene expression were high, stable and functional in vitro. Transduced synovial fibroblasts and high levels of IL1RA protein (10-35 ng/ml) could be detected in vivo in the synovium of Wistar rats 3-5 days after injection of FAD vectors to the knee joints. Conclusions Our results indicate that FAD vectors are capable of efficient in vivo gene transfer to synovium and merit further investigation as a means of providing efficient and long-term intra-articular transgene expression for treatment of the arthritides. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The turbulent history of clinical trials in viral gene therapy has taught us important lessons about vector design and safety issues. Much effort was spent on analyzing genotoxicity after somatic integration of therapeutic DNA into the host genome. Based on these findings major improvements in vector design including the development of viral hybrid vectors for somatic integration have been achieved. This review provides a state-of-the-art overview of available hybrid vectors utilizing viruses for high transduction efficiencies in concert with various integration machineries for random and targeted integration patterns. It discusses advantages but also limitations of each vector system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autonomous parvoviruses possess an intrinsic oncotropism based on viral genetic elements controlling gene expression and genome replication. We constructed a hybrid vector consisting of the H1 parvovirus-derived expression cassette comprising the p4 promoter, the ns1 gene and the p38 promoter flanked by the adeno-associated viruses 2 (AAV2) inverted terminal repeats and packaged into AAV2 capsids. Gene transduction using this vector could be stimulated by coinfection with adenovirus, by irradiation or treatment with genotoxic agents, similar to standard AAV2 vectors. However, the latter were in most cases less efficient in gene transduction than the hybrid vector. With the new vector, tumor cell-selective increase in transgene expression was observed in pairs of transformed and non-transformed cells, leading to selective killing of the transformed cells after expression of a prodrug-converting enzyme. Preferential gene expression in tumor versus normal liver tissue was also observed in vivo in a syngeneic rat model. Comparative transduction of a panel of different tumor cell lines with the H1 and the H1/AAV hybrid vector showed a preference of each vector for distinct cell types, probably reflecting the dependence of the viral tropism on capsid determinants.Cancer Gene Therapy (2008) 15, 252–267; doi:10.1038/sj.cgt.7701113; published online 18 January 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether long interspersed element-1 (L1 or LINE-1) retrotransposition can occur in quiescent, nondividing, and/or terminally differentiated somatic cells has remained an unanswered fundamental question in human genetics. Here, we used a ubiquitously active phosphoglycerate kinase-1 promoter to drive the expression of a highly active human L1 element from an adenovirus-L1 hybrid vector. This vector system achieved retrotransposition in up to 91% of actively growing immortalized cells, and we demonstrated that L1 retrotransposition can be suppressed by the reverse transcriptase inhibitor 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine. This adenovirus vector enabled efficient delivery of the L1 element into differentiated primary human somatic cells and G1/S-arrested cells, resulting in retrotransposition in both cases; however, it was not detected in G0-arrested cells. Thus, these data indicate that L1 retrotransposition can occur in nondividing somatic cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]