Evidence for the in vivo safety of insulated foamy viral vectors.

Retroviral vector-mediated stem cell gene therapy is a promising approach for the treatment of hematopoietic disorders. However, genotoxic side effects from integrated vector proviruses are a significant concern for the use of retroviral vectors in the clinic. Insulated foamy viral (FV) vectors are potentially safer retroviral vectors for hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy. We evaluated two newly identified human insulators, A1 and A2, for use in FV vectors. These insulators had moderate insulating capacity and higher titers than previously developed insulated FV vectors. The A1-insulated FV vector was chosen for comparison with the previously described 650cHS4-insulated FV vector in human cord blood CD34+ repopulating cells in an immunodeficient mouse model. To maximize the effects of the insulators on the safety of FV vectors, FV vectors containing a highly genotoxic spleen focus forming virus promoter were used to elicit differences in genotoxicity. In vivo, the A1-insulated FV vector showed an approximate 50% reduction in clonal dominance compared with either the 650cHS4-insulated or control FV vectors, although the transduction efficiency of the A1-insulated vector was higher. This data suggests that the A1-insulated FV vector is promising for future preclinical and clinical studies.

Genetic correction of sickle cell disease: insights using transgenic mouse models.

Sickle cell disease is a hereditary disorder characterized by erythrocyte deformity due to hemoglobin polymerization. We assessed in vivo the potential curative threshold of fetal hemoglobin in the SAD transgenic mouse model of sickle cell disease using mating with mice expressing the human fetal Agamma-globin gene. With increasing levels of HbF, AgammaSAD mice showed considerable improvement in all hematologic parameters, morphopathologic features and life span/survival. We established the direct therapeutic effect of fetal hemoglobin on sickle cell disease and demonstrated correction by increasing fetal hemoglobin to about 9-16% in this mouse model. This in vivo study emphasizes the potential of the SAD mouse models for quantitative analysis of gene therapy approaches.

Activation of hemoglobin C synthesis in sheep marrow culture.

Erythropoietin preferentially stimulates hemoglobin C synthesis in suspension cultures of marrow cells from sheep homozygous for hemoglobin A; the amount of synthesis is dependent on the dose of erythropoietin and is blocked by antiserum to erythropoietin. The results provide the first in vitro evidence that erythropoietin mediates the hemoglobin A --> C "switch" in sheep and indicate that bone marrow cultures may be used to investigate the mechanisms involved in the preferential gene activation characteristic of the hemoglobin A --> C system.

Single chain alkali resistance in hemoglobin Rainier: beta 145 tyrosine-histidine.

The mechanism of alkali resistance in hemoglobin Rainier, an adult human hemoglobin variant (beta 145 tyrosinie --> histidinie), has been investigated. Alkali denaturation kinetics, electrophoretic and hybridization study. and ultracentrifuge analysis provided evidence for a monomeric beta Rainiier chain resisting denaturation at alkaline pH. These data provide evidence for a previously unrecognized effect of a single amino acid substitution, that is, the change of the alkali denaturation properties of monomneric chains.

Hemoglobin Rainier (beta145 Tyrosine rarr Histidine): Alkali-Resistant Hemoglobin with Increased Oxygen Affinity.

Hemoglobin Rainier, a new hemoglobin variant associated with erythrocytosis, was found in six members of a Caucasiant family. Structurally, it represents substitution of histidine for the invariant residute H23 tyrosine in the beta-hemoglobin polypeptide chain (beta(145) tyrosine --> histidine). Hemoglobin Rainier is the first example of a single amino acid substitution in adult human hemoglobin, causing increased resistance to alkali denaturation.

Negro variant of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (A-) in man.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in erythrocytes of the Negro type associated with enzyme deficiency (A(-)) was separated by chromatography on a carboxymethyl-Sephadex column from the electrophoretically indistinguishable Negro variant with normal enzyme activity (A(+)). Quantitative immunologic neutralization tests indicated that the A(-) enzyme had about the same enzymatic and serological activity as the A(+) and the normal (B(+)) enzymes. The enzyme activity of the A(-) variant in young erythrocytes was similar to that in young cells from normal individuals, although the activity of the A(-) variant in unfractionated red cells was 10 to 15 percent of normal. These data indicate that the basic defect in the variant enzyme (A(-)) is a structural mutation which causes more rapid degradation of the enzyme during erythrocyte aging.

Athens variant of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

A variant of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), characterized by slower than normal electrophoretic migration and associated with mild deficiency of G6PD in the red cells, was detected in two unrelated Greek males. Electrophoretic, chromatographic, and enzymologic study indicated that the new mutant is structurally different from normal G6PD (B+) and from the Mediterranean variant associated with red-cell enzyme deficiency (B-). Convincing electrophoretic separation of the new variant from the normal B+ and the Mediterranean B- enzymes was achieved only by detailed electrophoretic study in different buffer systems and conditions.

Activation of developmentally mutated human globin genes by cell fusion.

Human fetal globin genes are not expressed in hybrid cells produced by the fusion of normal human lymphocytes with mouse erythroleukemia cells. In contrast, when lymphocytes from persons with globin gene developmental mutations (hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin) are used for these fusions, fetal globin is expressed in the hybrid cells. Thus, mutations of developmental origin can be reconstituted in vitro by fusing mutant lymphoid cells with differentiated cell lines of the proper lineage. This system can readily be used for analyses, such as globin gene methylation, that normally require large numbers of pure nucleated erythroid cells, which are difficult to obtain.

Autonomous developmental control of human embryonic globin gene switching in transgenic mice.

The mechanisms by which expression of the beta-like globin genes are developmentally regulated are under intense investigation. The temporal control of human embryonic (epsilon) globin expression was analyzed. A 3.7-kilobase (kb) fragment that contained the entire human epsilon-globin gene was linked to a 2.5-kb cassette of the locus control region (LCR), and the developmental time of expression of this construct was studied in transgenic mice. The human epsilon-globin transgene was expressed in yolk sac-derived primitive erythroid cells, but not in fetal liver or bone marrow-derived definitive erythroid cells. The absence of epsilon gene expression in definitive erythroid cells suggests that the developmental regulation of the epsilon-globin gene depends only on the presence of the LCR and the epsilon-globin gene itself (that is, an autonomous negative control mechanism). The autonomy of epsilon-globin gene developmental control distinguishes it from the competitive mechanism of regulation of gamma and beta-globin genes, and therefore, suggests that at least two distinct mechanisms function in human hemoglobin switching.

Hemoglobin ontogenesis: test of the gene excision hypothesis.

The gene excision hypothesis of hemoglobin ontogenesis was tested in persons with HbSC disease, with the use of monospecific fluorescent antibodies for the identification of hemoglobins S, C, and F in individual erythrocytes. The results are incompatible with the prediction that only one gamma- or beta-globin gene may be active in any single chromosome and provide further evidence for incomplete repression of gamma-globin genes lying cis to active beta-globin genes.

Erythroid progenitors circulating in the blood of adult individuals produce fetal hemoglobin in culture.

Erythroid colonies, raised from erythroid stem cells circulating in the peripheral blood of normal adult individuals, synthesize considerable amounts of fetal hemoglobin. In cultures from persons with sickling disorders, amounts of hemoglobin F that are known to inhibit sickling in vivo are produced. The results provide evidence that primitive erythroid progenitors are able to express the hemoglobin F production program and that cultures of mononuclear cells of the adult blood can be used to investigate the mechanisms involved in regulation of gamma-globin gene switching.

Arabinosylcytosine induces fetal hemoglobin in baboons by perturbing erythroid cell differentiation kinetics.

Arabinosylcytosine, a compound that inhibits DNA synthesis in rapidly dividing cells, stimulates fetal hemoglobin in adult baboons and produces significant perturbations in the pools of erythroid progenitors. It appears that changes in the kinetics of erythroid cell differentiation rather than direct action on the gamma genes underlie stimulation of fetal hemoglobin in the adult animals in vivo. These results also suggest that chemotherapeutic agents selected for their low carcinogenic or mutagenic potential could be used for therapeutic induction of fetal hemoglobin in patients with sickle cell anemia.

Population structure of modern-day Italians reveals patterns of ancient and archaic ancestries in Southern Europe.

European populations display low genetic differentiation as the result of long-term blending of their ancient founding ancestries. However, it is unclear how the combination of ancient ancestries related to early foragers, Neolithic farmers, and Bronze Age nomadic pastoralists can explain the distribution of genetic variation across Europe. Populations in natural crossroads like the Italian peninsula are expected to recapitulate the continental diversity, but have been systematically understudied. Here, we characterize the ancestry profiles of Italian populations using a genome-wide dataset representative of modern and ancient samples from across Italy, Europe, and the rest of the world. Italian genomes capture several ancient signatures, including a non-steppe contribution derived ultimately from the Caucasus. Differences in ancestry composition, as the result of migration and admixture, have generated in Italy the largest degree of population structure detected so far in the continent, as well as shaping the amount of Neanderthal DNA in modern-day populations.

Fetal gene reactivation.

Reactivation of silent fetal or embryonic genes could be used for the treatment of genetic diseases caused by mutations of genes normally expressed during the adult stage of development. A paradigm of this approach is the activation of fetal hemoglobin synthesis in adult individuals and its use in the treatment of beta chain hemoglobinopathies. The current understanding of the molecular control of the beta globin locus is reviewed, as are the cellular and molecular basis of induction of fetal hemoglobin in the adult and the approaches used for stimulation of fetal hemoglobin synthesis in patients with beta chain hemoglobinopathies.

Production of transgenic mice with yeast artificial chromosomes.

Techniques are now available that allow the transfer of intact yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) DNA into transgenic mice. Coupled with the ability to perform mutagenesis on YAC sequences by homologous recombination in yeast, they enable the analysis of large genes or multigenic loci in vivo. This system has been used to study the developmental regulation of the human beta-globin locus.

Mechanism of Hb F stimulation by S-stage compounds. In vitro studies with bone marrow cells exposed to 5-azacytidine, Ara-C, or hydroxyurea.

The in vitro effect of S-stage-specific drugs on the fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) potential of erythroid precursors and progenitors was tested by exposing bone marrow cells to 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, Ara-C, or hydroxyurea in suspension cultures and reculturing the cells in drug-free clonal cultures. Analysis of Hb F in the erythroblasts present at the end of suspension cultures and in the erythroid colonies formed from treated progenitors showed that 1 X 10(-9)-5 X 10(-8) M 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine produced a concentration-related increase in the proportion of Hb F-positive erythroblasts, of Hb F-positive erythroid CFU (CFUe) colonies, and at the higher doses used, an increased Hb F expression in erythroid burst-forming unit (BFUe)-derived colonies. Preincubation of bone marrow cells with Ara-C produced significant megaloblastic changes by the end of the 2-d incubation and increased the proportion of Hb F-positive erythroblasts, CFUe colonies, and e-clusters, but BFUe-derived progeny was unaffected. Hydroxyurea failed to produce significant changes in Hb F at the range of concentrations used. The data raise the possibility of more than one mechanism underlying the stimulation of Hb F by S-stage drugs.

Globin synthesis in fractionated Normoblasts of beta-thalassemia heterozygotes.

Globin chain synthesis was examined in erythroid cells of increasing maturity, fractionated from the whole bone marrow of beta-thalassemia heterozygotes by a density gradient centrifugation procedure. In experiments using total cell "globin," a gradient of alpha/beta chain ratios was observed, increasing with erythroid cell maturation from unity in the basophilic cells up to 2.0 in reticulocytes. Gel filtration of the lysates from these marrow fractions revealed the presence of free alpha chains even in the most immature cells, the amount of which increased with erythroid cell age; the total alpha/beta ratio derived from gel filtration experiments showed a gradient similar to that observed in the total globin experiments. However, the alpha/beta ratio of the hemoglobin fraction obtained by gel filtration remained constant throughout maturation at an average of 0.65. This latter finding is incompatible with balanced synthesis at any stage of red cell development and excludes the possibility that total beta chain production is higher in the early cells than in the later cells or that alpha chain production in the early cells is reduced to the level of beta chain synthesis. Furthermore, in a Hb S/beta-thalassemia marrow examined, the beta A/beta S ratio remained constant throughout maturation while the alpha/non-alpha ratio showed an increase like that observed in the simple beta-thalassemia heterozygotes. This argues strongly against increased synthesis from either the thalassemic or nonthalassemic beta chain gene being responsible for the balanced synthesis in the immature cells. These findings lead us to suggest that, in beta-thalassemia heterozygotes, a large alpha chain pool is present throughout erythroid cell maturation and that the observed increase in alpha/beta ratios is a function of the ability of those cells to degrade the excess alpha chains.

Erythrocytosis associated with hemoglobin Rainier: oxygen equilibria and marrow regulation.

Hemoglobin Rainier (beta(145) tyrosine-->histidine) is an abnormal hemoglobin associated with increased oxygen affinity, decreased heme-heme interaction, presence of a Bohr effect, and erythrocytosis, but without obvious clinical sequelae. Regulation of erythropoiesis was studied in affected members of families having either hemoglobin Rainier or Yakima, abnormal hemoglobins associated with erythrocytosis. Apart from the elevated but stable hemoglobin concentration and red cell mass, parameters of red cell production in the subjects were normal. Initially normal values of erythropoietin excretion were increased by phlebotomy indicating a significant hypoxic stress at an otherwise normal hematocrit. This stress led to increased reticulocyte production and an eventual return to the prephlebotomy hematocrit. The erythrocytosis in carriers of hemoglobins Rainer and Yakima appears to be secondary to the increased oxygen affinity and this, with the response to phlebotomy, is consistent with the postulate that the renal sensor tissue regulating erythropoietin production is primarily influenced by the oxygen tensions of venous rather than arterial blood.

Genetic diversity of the "Mediterranean" glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency phenotype.

Genetic diversity of the "Mediterranean" phenotype of G-6-PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) deficiency was revealed when detailed studies were performed on blood specimens from 79 Greek males with G-6-PD levels 0-10% of normal. Four different mutants were found to be responsible for the severely deficient phenotypes: two mutants. G-6-PD U-M (Union-Markham) and G-6-PD Orchomenos, were distinguishable by electrophoresis, while the other two. G-6-PD Athens-like and G-6-PD Mediterranean, were distinguishable on the basis of their kinetic characteristics. Of the kinetic tests applied, the most useful for differentiating the variants were those measuring utilization rates of the analogue substrates deamino-NADP, 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate, and galactose-6-phosphate. Among unrelated males with severe G-6-PD deficiency, the relative frequencies of the four variants were: G-6-PD U-M. 5%; G-6-PD Orchomenos, 7%; G-6-PD Athens-like, 16%; G-6-PD Mediterranean, 72%. Genetic, biochemical, and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

Hemoglobinopathic erythrocytosis due to a new electrophoretically silent variant, hemoglobin San Diego (beta109 (G11)val--met).

Examination of 13 members of a Filipino family revealed that 6 had erythrocytosis inherited as a simple autosomal dominant trait. Application of several electrophoretic and chromatographic tests failed to reveal the presence of an abnormal hemoglobin in hemolysates from affected individuals. However, measurements of oxygen dissociation curves using whole bloods, dialyzed hemolysates, and 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid-stripped hemolysates clearly showed that affected persons had an abnormal hemoglobin characterized by a high affinity for oxygen. Compositional analyses of all tryptic peptides from the beta-chains of the proband revealed a valyl-methionyl ambiguity in betaT12a. Blockage of lysyl residues and subsequent tryptic hydrolysis at arginyl residues permitted the isolation of fragments containing residues 105 through 146. Automatic sequence analysis of the fragments demonstrated the presence of both valine and methionine in nearly equal proportions at position beta109. This new hemoglobin variant is designated Hb San Diego (beta109(G11) Val-->Met).