Distinct transduction difference between adeno-associated virus type 1 and type 6 vectors in human polarized airway epithelia.

Of the many biologically isolated adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotypes, AAV1 and AAV6 share the highest degree of sequence homology, with only six different capsid residues. We compared the transduction efficiencies of rAAV1 and rAAV6 in primary polarized human airway epithelia and found significant differences in their abilities to transduce epithelia from the apical and basolateral membranes. rAAV1 transduction was ~10-fold higher than rAAV6 following apical infection, whereas rAAV6 transduction was ~10-fold higher than rAAV1 following basolateral infection. Furthermore, rAAV6 demonstrated significant polarity of transduction (100-fold; basolateral ¼ apical), whereas rAAV1 transduced from both membranes with equal efficiency. To evaluate capsid residues responsible for the observed serotype differences, we mutated the six divergent amino acids either alone or in combination. Results from these studies demonstrated that capsid residues 418 and 531 most significantly controlled membrane polarity differences in transduction between serotypes, with the rAAV6-D418E/K531E mutant demonstrating decreased (~10-fold) basolateral transduction and the rAAV1-E418D/E531K mutant demonstrating a transduction polarity identical to rAAV6-WT (wild type). However, none of the rAAV6 mutants obtained apical transduction efficiencies of rAAV1-WT, suggesting that all six divergent capsid residues in AAV1 act in concert to improve apical transduction of HAE.

Progress and prospects: techniques for site-directed mutagenesis in animal models.

In the past 2 years, new gene-targeting approaches using adeno-associated virus and designer zinc-finger nucleases have been successfully applied to the production of genetically modified ferrets, pigs, mice and zebrafish. Gene targeting using these tools has been combined with somatic cell nuclear transfer and germ cell transplantation to generate gene-targeted animal models. These new technical advances, which do not require the generation of embryonic stem cell-derived chimeras, will greatly accelerate the production of non-mouse animal models for biomedical research.

Comparative biology of rAAV transduction in ferret, pig and human airway epithelia.

Differences between rodent and human airway cell biology have made it difficult to translate recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-mediated gene therapies to the lung for cystic fibrosis (CF). As new ferret and pig models for CF become available, knowledge about host cell/vector interactions in these species will become increasingly important for testing potential gene therapies. To this end, we have compared the transduction biology of three rAAV serotypes (AAV1, 2 and 5) in human, ferret, pig and mouse-polarized airway epithelia. Our results indicate that apical transduction of ferret and pig airway epithelia with these rAAV serotypes closely mirrors that observed in human epithelia (rAAV1>rAAV2 congruent withrAAV5), while transduction of mouse epithelia was significantly different (rAAV1>rAAV5>>rAAV2). Similarly, ferret, pig and human epithelia also shared serotype-specific differences in the polarity (apical vs basolateral) and proteasome dependence of rAAV transduction. Despite these parallels, N-linked sialic acid receptors were required for rAAV1 and rAAV5 transduction of human and mouse airway epithelia, but not ferret or pig airway epithelia. Hence, although the airway tropisms of rAAV serotypes 1, 2 and 5 are conserved better among ferret, pig and human as compared to mouse, viral receptors/co-receptors appear to maintain considerable species diversity.

Intracellular trafficking of adeno-associated viral vectors.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has attracted considerable interest as a gene therapy vector over the past decade. In all, 85% of the current 2052 PubMed references on AAV (as of December 2004) have been published in the last 10 years. As researchers have moved forward with using this vector system for gene delivery, an increased appreciation for the complexities of AAV biology has emerged. The biology of recombinant AAV (rAAV) transduction has demonstrated considerable diversity in different cell types and target tissues. This review will summarize the current understanding of events that control rAAV transduction following receptor binding and leading to nuclear uptake. These stages are broadly classified as intracellular trafficking and have been found to be a major rate-limiting step in rAAV transduction for many cell types. Advances in understanding this area of rAAV biology will help to improve the efficacy of this vector system for the treatment of inherited and acquired diseases.

Expanding AAV packaging capacity with trans-splicing or overlapping vectors: a quantitative comparison.

Recombinant adeno-associated (rAAV) viral vectors hold great therapeutic potential for human diseases. However, a relatively small packaging capacity (less than 5 kb) has limited the application of rAAV for certain diseases such as cystic fibrosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Here we compared two mechanistically distinct approaches to overcome packaging restraints with rAAV vectors. The trans-splicing approach reconstitutes gene expression from two independent rAAV vectors, each encoding unique, nonoverlapping halves of a transgene. This process requires intermolecular concatamerization and subsequent splicing between independent vectors. A distinct overlapping vector approach uses homologous recombination between overlapping regions in two independent vectors. Using the beta-galactosidase gene as template, trans-splicing approaches were threefold (in primary fibroblasts) and 12-fold (in muscle tissue) more effective in generating full-length transgene products than the overlapping vector approach. Nevertheless, the efficiency of trans-splicing remained moderate at approximately 4.3% (for muscle) and 7% (for fibroblasts) of that seen with a single vector encoding the full-length transgene. The efficiency of trans-splicing was augmented 1185-fold by adenoviral E4, but not E2a, gene products. This augmentation was much less pronounced with the overlapping vectoring approach (12-fold). Trans-splicing and overlapping vector approaches are two viable alternatives to expand rAAV packaging capacity.

Redox-modulating gene therapies for human diseases.

Baseline levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated as an integral component of cellular function. Under certain conditions, e.g., the presence of an elevated concentration of transition metal (Fe/Cu) ions, drug metabolism, or ischemia-reperfusion, ROS generation is exaggerated to an extent that overwhelms cellular antioxidant defenses and results in oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has been characterized by the assessment of oxidative damage to cellular components, e.g., protein, lipid, and nucleic acid. More recent studies have determined that at a concentration much below that required for inflicting oxidative damage, ROS may serve as cellular second messengers through the regulation of numerous signal transduction pathways. For this reason, much of the current medical focus in this area has been directed toward the understanding of redox-driven physiological and pathophysiological processes in the cell. The goal of such research is to formulate effective strategies for manipulating the cellular redox environment in a manner that is beneficial for restoring normal cell functions in the setting of disease.

GPx-1 gene delivery modulates NFkappaB activation following diverse environmental injuries through a specific subunit of the IKK complex.

Numerous environmental stimuli alter cell functions by the induction of intracellular reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). These redox alterations can change the activity of kinases and phosphatases responsible for controlling intracellular signal transduction cascades important in determining how cells react to their environment. One such well known pathway includes nuclear factor-kappaB (NFkappaB); however, the exact redox-sensitive factors important in controlling H2O2-mediated activation of NFkappaB remain unclear. In the present study, we have investigated how intracellular clearance of H2O2, using a recombinant adenovirus expressing glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1), modulates NFkappaB activation following UV irradiation, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, or H2O2 treatment of MCF-7 cells. Findings from these studies demonstrate that GPx-1 overexpression can down-regulate NFkappaB DNA binding, and transcriptional activation of an NFkappaB-dependent luciferase reporter, to varying extents following these environmental stimuli. Studies using dominant negative adenoviral vectors expressing IKKalpha(KM) and IKKbeta(KA) suggest that GPx-1-mediated H2O2 clearance appears to preferentially inhibit the activity of IKKalpha, but not IKKbeta. These studies demonstrate for the first time that redox regulation of NFkappaB activation by intracellular H2O2 may be specific for a unique subunit in the IKK complex. Such findings suggest that IKK kinases or IKK phosphatases may have unique redox-regulated components. These studies have shed mechanistic insight into the potential application of redox-modulating gene therapies aimed at altering NFkappaB activation following environmental injury.

Enhancement of muscle gene delivery with pseudotyped adeno-associated virus type 5 correlates with myoblast differentiation.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based muscle gene therapy has achieved tremendous success in numerous animal models of human diseases. Recent clinical trials with this vector have also demonstrated great promise. However, to achieve therapeutic benefit in patients, large inocula of virus will likely be necessary to establish the required level of transgene expression. For these reasons, efforts aimed at increasing the efficacy of AAV-mediated gene delivery to muscle have the potential for improving the safety and therapeutic benefit in clinical trials. In the present study, we compared the efficiency of gene delivery to mouse muscle cells for recombinant AAV type 2 (rAAV-2) and rAAV-2cap5 (AAV-2 genomes pseudo-packaged into AAV-5 capsids). Despite similar levels of transduction by these two vectors in undifferentiated myoblasts, pseudotyped rAAV-2cap5 demonstrated dramatically enhanced transduction in differentiated myocytes in vitro (>500-fold) and in skeletal muscle in vivo (>200-fold) compared to rAAV-2. Serotype-specific differences in transduction efficiency did not directly correlate with viral binding to muscle cells but rather appeared to involve endocytic or intracellular barriers to infection. Furthermore, application of this pseudotyped virus in a mouse model of Duchenne's muscular dystrophy also demonstrated significantly improved transduction efficiency. These findings should have a significant impact on improving rAAV-mediated gene therapy in muscle.

Lipopolysaccharide induces Rac1-dependent reactive oxygen species formation and coordinates tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion through IKK regulation of NF-kappa B.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important second messengers generated in response to many types of environmental stress. In this setting, changes in intracellular ROS can activate signal transduction pathways that influence how cells react to their environment. In sepsis, a dynamic proinflammatory cellular response to bacterial toxins (e.g. lipopolysaccharide or LPS) leads to widespread organ damage and death. The present study demonstrates for the first time that the activation of Rac1 (a GTP-binding protein), and the subsequent production of ROS, constitutes a major pathway involved in NFkappaB-mediated tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) secretion following LPS challenge in macrophages. Expression of a dominant negative mutant of Rac1 (N17Rac1) reduced Rac1 activation, ROS formation, NFkappaB activation, and TNFalpha secretion following LPS stimulation. In contrast, expression of a dominant active form of Rac1 (V12Rac1) mimicked these effects in the absence of LPS stimulation. IKKalpha and IKKbeta were both required downstream modulators of LPS-activated Rac1, since the expression of either of the IKK dominant mutants (IKKalphaKM or IKKbetaKA) drastically reduced NFkappaB-dependent TNFalpha secretion. Moreover, studies using CD14 blocking antibodies suggest that Rac1 induces TNFalpha secretion through a pathway independent of CD14. However, a maximum therapeutic inhibition of LPS-induced TNFalpha secretion occurred when both CD14 and Rac1 pathways were inhibited. Our results suggest that targeting both Rac1- and CD14-dependent pathways could be a useful therapeutic strategy for attenuating the proinflammatory cytokine response during the course of sepsis.

Subcellular site of superoxide dismutase expression differentially controls AP-1 activity and injury in mouse liver following ischemia/reperfusion.

Acute damage following ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) in the liver is in part caused by the generation of reactive oxygen species, such as superoxides, during the reperfusion event. Gene therapy directed at attenuating mitochondrial superoxide production following warm I/R injury in the liver has demonstrated great promise in reducing acute hepatocellular damage. In the present study, we have compared the therapeutic effects of ectopic expression of mitochondrial (MnSOD) and cytoplasmic (Cu/ZnSOD) superoxide dismutase using recombinant adenoviral vectors for reducing I/R damage in the liver. Consistent with previous observations, recombinant adenoviral delivery of MnSOD to the liver significantly attenuated both acute liver damage and AP-1 activation following I/R injury to the livers of mice. However, ectopic expression of Cu/ZnSOD diminished neither I/R-induced elevations in serum alanine transaminase (ALT) nor AP-1 activation. Interestingly, baseline activation of AP-1 before I/R-induced injury was seen in livers infected with recombinant Ad.Cu/ZnSOD, but not Ad.MnSOD or Ad.LacZ, vectors. The level of Cu/ZnSOD-induced AP-1 activation was significantly reduced by ablation of Kupffer cells or by coexpression of catalase, suggesting that increased H(2)O(2) production facilitated by Cu/ZnSOD in hepatocytes and/or Kupffer cells may be responsible for AP-1 activation. In vitro reconstitution studies using hepatocyte and macrophage cell lines demonstrated that Cu/ZnSOD overexpression induces AP-1 in both cell types, and that secretion of a Cu/ZnSOD-induced macrophage factor is capable of elevating AP-1 in hepatocytes. In summary, our findings demonstrate that subcellular sites of superoxide production in the liver can differentially affect the outcome of I/R injury in the liver and selectively influence AP-1 activation.

Developmental expression of catenins and associated proteins during submucosal gland morphogenesis in the airway.

Although lymphoid enhancer binding factor-1 (Lef-1) plays an obligatory role in airway submucosal gland (SMG) development, its expression alone is not an adequate signal for initiating gland morphogenesis. Because Lef-1 forms a bipartite transcription factor with beta-catenin to mediate wnt pathway signaling, we investigated the expression of beta-catenin and associated proteins during SMG development with both in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. Unexpectedly, high levels of E-cadherin mRNA were expressed by cells in developing gland buds from the earliest stages through subsequent differentiation into mature glands. In contrast, a decreased level of E-cadherin immunoreactivity in stage I gland bud cells suggested that post-translational modulation of E-cadherin protein levels may play a critical role in early stages of gland morphogenesis. Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) mRNA was expressed relatively weakly in the developing ferret trachea, but higher levels of protein staining were observed throughout the cytoplasm of gland buds and surface epithelial cells. B-Catenin mRNA was abundantly expressed throughout the tracheal epithelium and at the highest levels in primordial gland buds. B-Catenin protein localized to the basolateral membranes of all airway epithelial cell types. However, no detectable increases in nuclear or cytoplasmic staining were associated with gland buds, as would be expected if beta-catenin served as a transcriptional cofactor for Lef-1 in gland morphogenesis. Additional studies demonstrated the gamma-catenin distribution to be remarkably similar to that of beta-catenin, whereas alpha-catenin staining was more diffuse in the cytoplasm of airway epithelial and gland bud cells. These descriptive results do not rule out a role for wnt signaling in SMG development , but provide no evidence that beta-catenin, or gamma-catenin, is a cofactor in Lef-1 regulation of SMG development.

New models of the tracheal airway define the glandular contribution to airway surface fluid and electrolyte composition.

Antibacterial defenses in the airway are dependent on multifactorial influences that determine the composition of both fluid and/or electrolytes at the surface of the airway and the secretory products that aid in bacterial killing and clearance. In cystic fibrosis (CF), these mechanisms of airway protection may be defective, leading to increased colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Submucosal glands, a predominant site of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein expression in the airway, have been hypothesized to play an important role in protection of the airway. Furthermore, recent studies have suggested that the salt concentration at the airway surface may be a key factor in regulating the activity of antibacterial substances in the airway. To explore these issues, we have used a new model of the ferret tracheal airway to evaluate the contribution of submucosal glands in regulating airway surface fluid and electrolyte composition. Using tracheal xenograft models with and without submucosal glands, we have characterized several aspects of airway physiology that may be important in defining antibacterial properties. These endpoints included the contribution of submucosal glands in defining bioelectric properties of the surface airway epithelium, airway surface fluid (ASF) chloride composition, ASF volumes, and secretion of the antibacterial factor lysozyme. Findings from these studies demonstrate a significantly elevated secreted fluid volume (Vs) and chloride concentration ([Cl](s)) in ASF from airways with submucosal glands (Vs = 47 +/- 4 microl; [Cl](s) = 128 +/- 5 mM), as compared with xenograft airways without glands (Vs = 36 +/- 2 microl; [Cl](s) = 103 +/- 6 mM). Furthermore, a temperature labile factor secreted by submucosal glands appears to alter the baseline activation of 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid and/or diphenylamine-2-carboxylic acid-sensitive chloride channels in the surface airway epithelium. Lastly, the lysozyme content of tracheal airways with submucosal glands was 8.5-fold higher than were airways without glands. These studies demonstrate that submucosal glands affect both the ionic composition and bioelectric properties of the airway and suggest that models evaluating antibacterial properties of the airway in CF should take into account the contribution of glands in airway physiology.

Rate limiting steps of AAV transduction and implications for human gene therapy.

Despite the fact that adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) is an extremely attractive gene therapy vector, its application has been limited to certain tissues such as muscle and the brain. In an attempt to broaden the array of target organs for this vector, molecular studies on the mechanism(s) of AAV transduction have expanded over the past several years. These studies have led to the development of innovative strategies capable of overcoming intracellular barriers to AAV2 transduction. The basis of these technologic breakthroughs has stemmed from a better understanding of the molecular processes that control AAV entry and intracellular trafficking to the nucleus. This review will focus on the identification of molecular components important for recombinant AAV (rAAV) transduction while highlighting the techniques used to discover them and potential clinical application of research findings.

Gene delivery to the airway.

This unit describes generation of and gene transfer to several commonly used airway models. Isolation and transduction of primary airway epithelial cells are first described. Next, the preparation of polarized airway epithelial monolayers is outlined. Transduction of these polarized cells is also described. Methods are presented for generation of human bronchial xenografts as well as both ex vivo and in vivo gene transfer to these xenografts. Finally, a method for in vivo gene delivery to the lungs of rodents is included. Methods for evaluating transgene expression are given in the support protocols.

Endocytosis and nuclear trafficking of adeno-associated virus type 2 are controlled by rac1 and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase activation.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a single-stranded DNA parvovirus that causes no currently known pathology in humans. Despite the fact that this virus is of increasing interest to molecular medicine as a vector for gene delivery, relatively little is known about the cellular mechanisms controlling infection. In this study, we have examined endocytic and intracellular trafficking of AAV-2 using fluorescent (Cy3)-conjugated viral particles and molecular techniques. Our results demonstrate that internalization of heparan sulfate proteoglycan-bound AAV-2 requires alphaVbeta5 integrin and activation of the small GTP-binding protein Rac1. Following endocytosis, activation of a phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI3) kinase pathway was necessary to initiate intracellular movement of AAV-2 to the nucleus via both microfilaments and microtubules. Inhibition of Rac1 using a dominant N17Rac1 mutant led to a decrease in AAV-2-mediated PI3 kinase activation, indicating that Rac1 may act proximal to PI3 kinase during AAV-2 infection. In summary, our results indicate that alphaVbeta5 integrin-mediated endocytosis of AAV-2 occurs through a Rac1 and PI3 kinase activation cascade, which directs viral movement along the cytoskeletal network to the nucleus.

Immunolocalization and adenoviral vector-mediated manganese superoxide dismutase gene transfer to experimental oral tumors.

The anti-oxidant enzyme system protects cellular macromolecules against damage from reactive oxygen species. One component of this system, manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), has also been shown to display tumor suppressor gene-like activity. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in MnSOD expression during hamster cheek pouch carcinogenesis, and the effects of MnSOD overexpression using an adenoviral vector. Tumor induction was carried out using 7,12-dimethylbenz[alpha]anthracene. Animals were killed at periodic intervals, and cheek pouch tissues were excised and examined for MnSOD expression by immunohistochemistry and digital image analysis. We observed a reduction in MnSOD expression as early as 2 weeks after the start of carcinogen application. Low MnSOD expression persisted until the end of the 23-week experimental period. Solid hamster cheek pouch carcinoma xenografts were then established in nude mice. An adenoviral vector encoding the human MnSOD gene was delivered to the xenografts by direct injection. We observed high, immediate expression of MnSOD in the xenografts that persisted for 10 days following cessation of viral construct delivery. Delivery of the MnSOD construct resulted in a maximal 50% reduction in tumor growth compared with untreated controls. Our results suggest that MnSOD may be a tumor suppressor gene in the hamster cheek pouch model system.

Endosomal processing limits gene transfer to polarized airway epithelia by adeno-associated virus.

The restriction of viral receptors and coreceptors to the basolateral surface of airway epithelial cells has been blamed for the inefficient transfer of viral vectors to the apical surface of this tissue. We now report, however, that differentiated human airway epithelia internalize rAAV type-2 virus efficiently from their apical surfaces, despite the absence of known adeno-associated virus-2 (AAV-2) receptors or coreceptors at these sites. The dramatically lower transduction efficiency of rAAV infection from the apical surface of airway cells appears to result instead from differences in endosomal processing and nuclear trafficking of apically or basolaterally internalized virions. AAV capsid proteins are ubiquitinated after endocytosis, and gene transfer can be significantly enhanced by proteasome or ubiquitin ligase inhibitors. Tripeptide proteasome inhibitors increased persistent rAAV gene delivery from the apical surface >200-fold, to a level nearly equivalent to that achieved with basolateral infection. In vivo application of proteasome inhibitor in mouse lung augmented rAAV gene transfer from undetectable levels to a mean of 10.4 +/- 1.6% of the epithelial cells in large bronchioles. Proteasome inhibitors also increased rAAV-2-mediated gene transfer to the liver tenfold, but they did not affect transduction of skeletal or cardiac muscle. These findings suggest that tissue-specific ubiquitination of viral capsid proteins interferes with rAAV-2 transduction and provides new approaches to circumvent this barrier for gene therapy of diseases such as cystic fibrosis.

Trans-splicing vectors expand the utility of adeno-associated virus for gene therapy.

Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors have demonstrated considerable promise for gene therapy of inherited diseases. However, with a packaging size of <5 kb, applications have been limited to relatively small disease genes. Based on the finding that AAV genomes undergo intermolecular circular concatamerization after transduction in muscle, we have developed a paradigm to increase the size of delivered transgenes with this vector through trans-splicing between two independent vectors coadministered to the same tissue. When two vectors encoding either the 5' or 3' portions of the erythropoietin genomic locus were used, functional erythropoietin protein was expressed in muscle subsequent to the formation of intermolecular circular concatamers in a head-to-tail orientation through trans-splicing between these two independent vector genomes. These findings will allow for the application of AAV technologies to a wider variety of diseases for which therapeutic transgenes exceed the packaging limitation of present AAV vectors.