Expression of human clotting factor Ⅸ mediated by recom- binant lentiviral vector in cultured cells and hemophilia B mice

Hemophilia B, a serious bleeding disorder, is an inherited X chromosome-linked disease for the deficiency or inactivity of human clotting factor Ⅸ (hFⅨ). Though factor substitution therapy has greatly improved the lives of hemophiliac patients, there are still limitations to the current treatment, which have triggered interest in alternative treatments by gene therapy[1]. Based on preclinical studies in rabbits[2], our lab had first initiated an ex vivo gene therapy clinical trial whereby a…     

Expression of biologically active human clotting factor Ⅸ(hFⅨ) in the mammary gland of transgenic mice

The DNA of human factor Ⅸ (hFⅨ) gene vector pMCⅨm, which had been proven to be able to express in in vitro and living cells, was introduced into 586 zygotes of Kunming White Mice by positive pressure microinjection technique with manual operation. The 499 survival embryos after microinjection were then transferred into pseudopregnant recipient mice and 216 F 0 pups were born. The analysis of PCR and Southern blot hybridization showed that, of the 216, 6 (2 females and 4 males) were integrated with foreign DNA in their genomes, giving an integration frequency of 3% (6/216). Two F\-0 female transgenic mice could express hFⅨ protein in their milk and the content was over 100 ng/mL as measured with ELISA. The biological activities of hFⅨ in the milk of two F\-0 mice were 44 67% and 79 43%, respectively.     

Building of hFⅨ transgenic mice by spermatogenic cells

Human FⅨ expression vector pCMVⅨ was packaged by effectene^TM reagent and injected into mice seminiferous tubules with glass pipettes.The expressional frame of pCMVⅨ was examined by PCR and Southern blotting among 41 progenies.There were 2(4%) mice being integrated with hFⅨ gene into chromosomes.4.6ng/mL of hFⅨ protein was expressed in plasma of one mouse,which was tested by ELISA.We demonstrated that building of transgenic animals by spermatogonial stem cells is an efficient method.Meanwhile,it has also been proved to be an alternative choice for mammary gland bioreactor.     

Efficient expression of human factor Ⅸ cDNA in liver mediated by hydrodynamics-based plasmid administration

The transfection of plasmid DNA into mammalian cells is an indispensable tool in the study of gene transfer and gene function. Since the original report in 1990 on the successful expression of a reporter gene in muscle[1], plasmid DNA injection has been widely used to mediate gene transfer study. As a gene transfer vector, naked DNA has many obvious advantages. It is easy and cheap to be prepared and more safe after transfection. But the plasmid mediated gene expression is low because of t…     

Efficient expression of human factor Ⅸ cDNA in liver mediated by hydrodynamics-based plasmid administration

Hydrodynamics-based administration via tail vein was used to deliver naked plasmid with human factor IX (hFIX) cDNA in 2.2 mL Ringer‘s solution into mice within 7 s. The peak level of expression of hFIX was 2921 ng/mL in mouse plasma. The hFIX cDNA expression increased with increasing the amount of plasmid DNA injected. The peak level of gene expression declined after repeated injection of plasmid (1459 ng/mL). The hFIX cDNA was detected in various organs, but the highest level of gene expression appeared in liver. Transaminase levels and liver histologicalresults showed that rapid intravenous plasmid injection into mice induced transient focal acute liver damage, which was rapidly repaired within 3--10 d. These results suggested that high-level expression of hFIX cDNA can be achieved by hydrodynamics-based plasmid transfer and this method is nowfurther used for gene therapy and gene function study in our lab.     

Preparation of a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector with a mutation of human factor Ⅸ in large scale and its expression in vitro and in vivo

A series of adeno-associated viral vectors containing a mutation of human factor Ⅸ (hFⅨR338A) with different regulation elements were constructed and used to transduce cell lines. The plasmids and the stable transduction cell clones with high expression level of hFⅨR338A were obtained by selecting and optimizing, and then, the recombinant adeno-associated viral vector with hFⅨR338A was prepared via novel rHSV/AAV hybrid virus packaging system on a large scale, which contained the capsid protein genes. A method for producing rAAV-hFⅨR338A viral stocks on a large scale and higher titer was established, which can be used for industrial purpose. The titer of rAAV-hFⅨR338A was more than 1.25×10¹² particle/mL, and then, a mammalian cell line, C2C12 and the factor Ⅸ knock-out mice were transfected with the rAAV-hFⅨR338A in vitro and in vivo. The results show that the high-level expression of rAAV-hFⅨR338A was achieved in cell line and hemophilia B mice. It reached at (2551.32±92.14) ng·(10⁶ cells)^-1·(24 h)^-1 in C2C12 cell in vitro and had a peak concentration of 463.28 ng/mL in mice treated with rAAV-hFⅨR338A, which was as high as the expression of rAAV-hFⅨ-wt (2565.76±64.36) ng·(10⁶ cells)^-1·(24 h)^-1 in C2C12 and 453.92 ng/mL in the mice treated with rAAV-hFⅨ-wt) in vitro and in vivo, there is no any difference between two groups, but the clotting activity of hFⅨR338A is about 2.46 times higher than that of hFⅨ-wt. It was first reported that a mutation of human factor Ⅸ was used into gene therapy research for hemophilia B, meanwhile, a novel packaging system, rAAV/HSV was used for preparation of rAAV-hFⅨR338A on a large scale, which laid the foundation of industrial production for applying rAAV viral stocks to gene therapy clinical trial for hemophilia B mediated with rAAV-hFⅨ.     

Therapeutic induction of angiogenesis by direct myocardial administration of an adenovirus vector encoding human hepatocyte growth factor gene and its safety

After the study in vitro and in rats, we assessed further the effects and safety of local angiogen therapy using intramyocardial delivery of an adenovirus carrying hepatocyte growth factor gene (Ad-HGF) in a canine ischemia model. The angiogenic activity of Ad-HGF was evaluated from three aspects. First, the augmentation of collateral vessel development was assessed by angiography 30 d after surgery. The results showed that the density of collateral vessels in treated group was higher than that of control group. Secondly, infarct size was evaluated by TTC staining and image analysis. The results showed that the infarct size of treated group was smaller than that of control group. Thirdly, the myocardial regional blood flow was determined by the method of colored microspheres. The results showed that the blood flow recovered to the level before ligation in treated group, but that of the control group was lower than normal level. In addition, during the study of chronic toxicity, we tested the anti-adenovirus antibodies by neutralization method. The antibodies yielded after the fourth injection decreased slowly from peak level and disappeared 12 weeks after drug withdrawal. Overall, Ad-HGF can promote angiogenesis in ischemic myocardium and reduce infarct size. So this method may be considered as a therapeutic angiogenesis induction strategy for ischemic disease including myocardial infarction and peripheral artery disease. At the same time, Ad-HGF could induce the yield of anti-adenovirus antibodies to neutralize adenovirus, which may be the mechanism of adenovirus clearance.     

Efficient transfer and expression of human clotting factor IX cDNA in neonatal hemophilia B mice mediated by VSV-G pseudotyped retrovirus

The feasibility of in vivo gene therapy for hemophilia B by VSV-G pseudotyped retroviral vector was introduced. The novel packaging cell line 293GPG was used to produce VSV-G/G1NaBAIX pseudotyped virus with the highest titers up to 8.5×10⁸ cfu·mL^-1. In contrast to the conventional retrovirus, VSV-G pseudotyped virus was more resistant to inactivation by serum complements (P＜0.001). Our results also demonstrated that VSV-G pseudotyped virus was more stable in neonatal mice serum than in adult mice serum (P＜0.01). After intraperitoneal injection of different doses of virus, hFIX antigen was detected and lasted for more than 120 d, the highest level reached (72.5±6.1) ng·mL^-1. Moreover, the functional activity was improved to some extent in all hFIX-treated mice, the most remarkable improvement was observed in the mice treated with higher dose of virus whose clotting activity increased to (3.4±1.5)% and APTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) reduced to (43.2±7.2) s. The anti-hFIX antibody was not detected by the method of Bethesda, no germ line transmission and any side effects associated with gene transfer were found. Our results indicated that neonatal gene therapy for hemophilia B mice by VSV-G pseudotyped retrovirus is promising.     

慢病毒载体及其介导的RNA干扰在基因治疗中的应用研究

主要就慢病毒载体及其介导的RNA干扰技术在基因治疗中的应用研究进行了综述,并对其在该领域具有的广阔前景进行了展望.慢病毒载体作为一种新型的载体,可有效地将携带的目的基因导入宿主细胞,并将其整合到宿主细胞基因组中,从而使目的基因得以持久稳定地表达.该载体因具有高感染性、高表达效率及不易诱发宿主免疫反应等优点,已成为基因治疗研究中的一个重要工具.RNA干扰技术可以特异性抑制或关闭特定基因的表达,因此该技术可广泛应用在基因功能探究和恶性肿瘤治疗等领域.由慢病毒载体介导的RNA干扰技术能持久、稳定、特异性地抑制各类细胞中特定基因的表达,在病毒感染、肿瘤等疾病的基因治疗中被广泛应用,成为生物医学领域的新热点.     

Expression of biologically active human clotting factor IX (hF IX) in the mammary gland of transgenic mice

The DNA of human factor IX (hF IX) gene vector pMC IX m, which had been proven to be able to express inin vitro and living cells, was introduced into 586 zygotes of Kunming Whlte Mice by positive pressure microinjection technique with manual operation. The 499 survival embryos after microinjection were then transferred into pseudopregnant recipient mice and 216 F, pups were born. The analysis of PCR and Southern blot hybridization showed that, of the 216, 6 (2 females and 4 males) were integrated with foreign DNA in their genornes, giving an integration frequency of 3% (6/216). Two F₀ female transgenic mice could express hF IX protein in their milk and the content was over 100 ng/mL as measured with ELISA. The biological activities of hF IV in the milk of two F₀ mike were 44.67 % and 79.43 %, respectively.     

四例血友病B患者基因治疗的临床试验

报道了对四例血友病Ｂ患者基因治疗的临床试验，取自四例血友病Ｂ患者的自体皮肤成纤维细胞，通过反转录病毒介导的基因转移，能高效地分泌人凝血因子Ⅸ。用胶原包埋经遗传修饰的自体皮肤成纤维细胞，再移植到血友病Ｂ患者皮下。四例患者经治疗后，自发出血症状得到了减轻，血浆中凝血因子Ⅸ蛋白浓度和凝血活性明显地增加，其中两例患者增加较大，达到正常值的４％￣５％。另外两例患者体内的凝血因子Ⅸ和凝血活性也有不同程度的提高