Sustained expression of genes delivered directly into liver and muscle by lentiviral vectors.

Successful gene therapy approaches will require efficient gene delivery and sustained expression of the transgene in recipients. A variety of methods, ranging from direct DNA delivery to infection with recombinant viruses containing foreign genes, have been developed, but they all have some major limitations that restrict their utility. We have described a human lentiviral (HIV)-based vector that can transduce non-dividing cells in vitro and deliver genes in vivo. With this vector, expression of transgenes in the brain has been detected for more than six months--the longest period tested so far. Because lentiviral vectors are pseudotyped with vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSVG; ref. 8), they can transduce a broad range of tissues and cell types. We now describe the ability of lentiviral vectors to introduce genes directly into liver and muscle. Sustained expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP), used as a surrogate for therapeutic protein, can be observed for more than 22 weeks in the liver. Similar long-term expression (more than eight weeks) was observed in transduced muscle. In contrast, little or no GFP could be detected in liver or muscle transduced with the Moloney murine leukaemia virus (M-MLV), a prototypic retroviral based vector. At a minimum, 3-4% of the total liver tissue was transduced by a single injection of 1-3 x 10(7) infectious units (I.U.) of recombinant HIV vector. Furthermore, no inflammation of recruitment of lymphocytes could be detected at the site of injection. Animals previously transduced with a lentiviral vector can be efficiently re-infected with lentiviral vectors. Additionally, we show that the requirement for lentiviral accessory proteins to establish efficient transduction in vivo is tissue dependent.

Signal transduction: the nuclear target.

Fos and jun heterodimers activate the transcription of genes containing an AP-1 site. The activity of Fos and Jun proteins is regulated by post-translational modification. The activity of the rel/NF-kappa family of transcriptional factors is regulated by their sequestration in the cytoplasm in association with the inhibitor protein, I kappa B. An ankyrin repeat motif in I kappa B proteins is required for their direct association with rel/NF-kappa B.

Inhibition of TNF-induced apoptosis by NF-kappa B.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is an inflammatory cytokine possessing a unique property: it can induce cells to undergo apoptosis. The sensitivity of different cell types to TNF-induced apoptosis can vary dramatically, but most cells become very sensitive upon simultaneous treatment with inhibitors of protein synthesis. It has been suggested therefore that a gene, or set of genes, is induced upon TNF receptor activation that downregulates the apoptosis signal. Recent results have shown that NF-kappa B, a transcription factor activated upon TNF signalling, is at least partly responsible for this effect. These findings have broadened the role of NF-kappa B from that of a regulator of immune and inflammatory responses to include an involvement in the regulation of apoptosis.

Reciprocal role of ERK and NF-kappaB pathways in survival and activation of osteoclasts.

To examine the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) pathways on osteoclast survival and activation, we constructed adenovirus vectors carrying various mutants of signaling molecules: dominant negative Ras (Ras(DN)), constitutively active MEK1 (MEK(CA)), dominant negative IkappaB kinase 2 (IKK(DN)), and constitutively active IKK2 (IKK(CA)). Inhibiting ERK activity by Ras(DN) overexpression rapidly induced the apoptosis of osteoclast-like cells (OCLs) formed in vitro, whereas ERK activation after the introduction of MEK(CA) remarkably lengthened their survival by preventing spontaneous apoptosis. Neither inhibition nor activation of ERK affected the bone-resorbing activity of OCLs. Inhibition of NF-kappaB pathway with IKK(DN) virus suppressed the pit-forming activity of OCLs and NF-kappaB activation by IKK(CA) expression upregulated it without affecting their survival. Interleukin 1alpha (IL-1alpha) strongly induced ERK activation as well as NF-kappaB activation. Ras(DN) virus partially inhibited ERK activation, and OCL survival promoted by IL-1alpha. Inhibiting NF-kappaB activation by IKK(DN) virus significantly suppressed the pit-forming activity enhanced by IL-1alpha. These results indicate that ERK and NF-kappaB regulate different aspects of osteoclast activation: ERK is responsible for osteoclast survival, whereas NF-kappaB regulates osteoclast activation for bone resorption.

Identification of a transcriptional enhancer element upstream from the proto-oncogene fos.

Sequences upstream from the proto-oncogene fos were shown to be essential for its transcription. Transient expression of the chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase (CAT) gene linked to upstream sequences of the fos gene including its promoter reveals that sequences located 64 to 404 base pairs 5' to the fos cap site contain a typical transcriptional enhancer. Moreover, these enhancer sequences, which are strikingly conserved between mouse and human fos genes, coincide with a deoxyribonuclease I-hypersensitive site in the chromatin. The expression of the fos-CAT fusion genes was stimulated only two to three times by the fos inducer 12-0-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate. The fos enhancer does not appear to be tissue-specific.

Expression of the c-fos gene and of an fos-related gene is stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor.

Complementary DNA clones of genes induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in BALB/c-3T3 cells were isolated; one such clone contains a domain having nucleotide sequence homology with the third exon of c-fos. This nucleotide sequence homology is reflected in the predicted amino acid sequences of the gene products. Under low stringency conditions, the mouse v-fos gene cross-hybridizes with the PDGF-inducible complementary DNA clone. However, the messenger RNA transcripts of mouse c-fos and the new fos-related gene can be distinguished by gel electrophoresis and by S1 nuclease analysis. Expression of the authentic c-fos gene is induced by PDGF and superinduced by the combination of PDGF and cycloheximide.

Severe liver degeneration in mice lacking the IkappaB kinase 2 gene.

Phosphorylation of inhibitor of kappa B (IkappaB) proteins is an important step in the activation of the transcription nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) and requires two IkappaB kinases, IKK1 (IKKalpha) and IKK2 (IKKbeta). Mice that are devoid of the IKK2 gene had extensive liver damage from apoptosis and died as embryos, but these mice could be rescued by the inactivation of the gene encoding tumor necrosis factor receptor 1. Mouse embryonic fibroblast cells that were isolated from IKK2-/- embryos showed a marked reduction in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)- and interleukin-1alpha-induced NF-kappaB activity and an enhanced apoptosis in response to TNF-alpha. IKK1 associated with NF-kappaB essential modulator (IKKgamma/IKKAP1), another component of the IKK complex. These results show that IKK2 is essential for mouse development and cannot be substituted with IKK1.

Expression of a retrovirus encoding human HPRT in mice.

Transmissible retroviruses encoding human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) were used to infect mouse bone marrow cells in vitro, and the infected cells were transplanted into mice. Both active human HPRT-protein and chronic HPRT-virus production were detected in hematopoietic tissue of the mice, showing transfer of the gene. These results indicate the possible use of retroviruses for somatic cell therapy.

Expression of cellular oncogenes in human malignancies.

Cellular oncogenes have been implicated in the induction of malignant transformation in some model systems in vitro and may be related to malignancies in vivo in some vertebrate species. This article describes a study of the expression of 15 cellular oncogenes in fresh human tumors from 54 patients, representing 20 different tumor types. More than one cellular oncogene was transcriptionally active in all of the tumors examined. In 14 patients it was possible to study normal and malignant tissue from the same organ. In many of these patients, the transcriptional activity of certain oncogenes was greater in the malignant than the normal tissue. The cellular fes (feline sarcoma) oncogene, not previously known to be transcribed in mammalian tissue, was found to be active in lung and hematopoietic malignancies.

Transduction of human CD34+ cells that mediate long-term engraftment of NOD/SCID mice by HIV vectors.

Efficient gene transfer into human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is an important goal in the study of the hematopoietic system as well as for gene therapy of hematopoietic disorders. A lentiviral vector based on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was able to transduce human CD34+ cells capable of stable, long-term reconstitution of nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice. High-efficiency transduction occurred in the absence of cytokine stimulation and resulted in transgene expression in multiple lineages of human hematopoietic cells for up to 22 weeks after transplantation.

Suppression of TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis by NF-kappaB.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) signaling gives rise to a number of events, including activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB and programmed cell death (apoptosis). Previous studies of TNF-alpha signaling have suggested that these two events occur independently. The sensitivity and kinetics of TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis are shown to be enhanced in a number of cell types expressing a dominant-negative IkappaBalpha (IkappaBalphaM). These findings suggest that a negative feedback mechanism results from TNF-alpha signaling in which NF-kappaB activation suppresses the signals for cell death.

Infectious and selectable retrovirus containing an inducible rat growth hormone minigene.

A growth hormone minigene carrying its natural promoter (237 nucleotides of chromosomal DNA) was stably propagated in a murine retrovirus containing hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase as a selectable marker. Glucocorticoid and thyroid hormone inducibility was transferred with the growth hormone gene. Recombinant virus with titers of 10(6) per milliliter was recovered. This demonstration that retroviruses can be used to transfer a nonselectable gene under its own regulatory control enlarges the scope of retroviral vectors as potent tools for gene transfer.

In vivo gene delivery and stable transduction of nondividing cells by a lentiviral vector.

A retroviral vector system based on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was developed that, in contrast to a murine leukemia virus-based counterpart, transduced heterologous sequences into HeLa cells and rat fibroblasts blocked in the cell cycle, as well as into human primary macrophages. Additionally, the HIV vector could mediate stable in vivo gene transfer into terminally differentiated neurons. The ability of HIV-based viral vectors to deliver genes in vivo into nondividing cells could increase the applicability of retroviral vectors in human gene therapy.

Expression cloning of human EGF receptor complementary DNA: gene amplification and three related messenger RNA products in A431 cells.

In order to further define the mechanisms by which polypeptide growth factors regulate gene transcription and cellular growth, expression cloning techniques were used to select human epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor complementary DNA clones. The EGF 3' coding domain shows striking homology to the transforming gene product of avian erythroblastosis virus (v-erbB). Over-expression of EGF receptors in A431 cell lines correlates with increased EGF receptor mRNA levels and amplification (up to 110 times) of the apparently singular EGF receptor gene. There appear to be three cytoplasmic polyadenylated RNA products of EGF receptor gene expression in A431 cells, one of which contains only 5' (EGF binding domain) sequences and is postulated to encode the secreted EGF receptor-related protein.

Human gene therapy.

Somatic cell gene therapy for the correction of many human genetic diseases is now technically possible. We review several methods of gene transfer that have been successfully used in animal studies, and discuss the promise and potential limitations of these methods in the treatment of human genetic diseases.

NF-kappaB and the regulation of hematopoiesis.

This review will focus on the role of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling in hematopoietic differentiation. We will also discuss several hematopoietic pathologies associated with deregulation of NF-kappaB and their potential therapies.

Differential transcription of exon 1 of the human c-fms gene in placental trophoblasts and monocytes.

Structural analysis of the 5' end of the human c-fms gene revealed that a large intron of about 25 kilobases separates an upstream noncoding exon (exon 1) from the signal peptide-containing exon (exon 2). Northern (RNA) blot analysis, S1 nuclease mapping, and primer extensions showed that exon 1 is transcribed in placenta but not in cells of the monocytic lineage. This is due to the differential usage of promoters, separated by approximately 25 kilobases, in a cell-specific manner. One major c-fms transcript was observed in U-937 cells, whereas multiple initiation sites for transcription appeared to be utilized in placental cells. Nucleotide sequence comparisons showed that the 3' end of the human platelet-derived growth factor receptor gene lies approximately 350 base pairs upstream of the major initiation sites for c-fms transcription in placental trophoblasts.

Alteration of a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation site in the c-Fos protein augments its transforming potential.

We have studied the phosphorylation of the nuclear oncoprotein Fos by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). We demonstrate that the human c-Fos protein, phosphorylated either in vitro with purified PKA or in vivo in JEG3 cells following treatment with forskolin, has similar phosphotryptic peptide maps. Serine 362, which constitutes part of a canonical PKA phosphorylation site (RKGSSS), is phosphorylated both in vivo and in vitro. A mutant of Fos protein in which serine residues 362 to 364 have been altered to alanine residues is not efficiently phosphorylated in vitro. Furthermore, Fos protein in which serines 362 to 364 have been altered to alanine shows increased transforming potential. We propose that phosphorylation of Fos by PKA is an important regulatory step in controlling its activity in normal cell growth and differentiation.

Proto-oncogene FosB: the amino terminus encodes a regulatory function required for transformation.

Overexpression of some members of the Fos gene family, including FosB, leads to transformation of established rodent fibroblasts. We have previously shown that transformation by FosB requires the presence of a C-terminal transcriptional activation domain. We now report that transformation by FosB also requires an intact DNA-binding domain composed of the functionally bipartite basic region and leucine zipper as well as sequences present in the N terminus that serve a regulatory function. Deletion of the N-terminal sequences results in proteins impaired in transcriptional activation and transformation. This region does not itself function as a transcriptional activation domain but instead regulates the transactivation functions present in the FosB-Jun complex. The requirement for this N-terminal region can be abolished by the presence of a strong constitutive activation domain. The primary sequence of the region that we have defined is highly conserved in the Fos family of proteins, suggesting functional conservation.

Gene regulation by tyrosine kinases: src protein activates various promoters, including c-fos.

A promoter of the nuclear proto-oncogene fos was activated by cotransfection with the viral src gene. Ability to transactivate the c-fos promoter was dependent on tyrosine kinase activity, because (i) src mutants which have reduced tyrosine kinase activity due to mutation of Tyr-416 to Phe showed lower promoter activation, (ii) pp60c-src mutants which have increased tyrosine kinase activity due to mutation of Tyr-527 to Phe also augmented c-fos promoter induction, and (iii) mutation in the ATP-binding site of pp60v-src strongly suppressed c-fos promoter activation. Tyrosine kinase activity alone, however, was not sufficient for promoter activation, because of pp60v-src mutant which lacked its myristylation site and consequently membrane association showed no increased c-fos promoter activation. Both the tyrosine kinase- and membrane-association-defective mutants were also unable to induce transformation. Therefore, phosphorylation of membrane-associated substrates appears to be required for both gene expression and cellular transformation by the src protein. Two regions of the c-fos promoter located between positions -362 and -324 and positions -323 and -294 were responsive to src stimulation. We believe that protein tyrosine phosphorylation represents an important step of signal transduction from the membrane to the nucleus.