PhiC31 integrase-mediated nonviral genetic correction of junctional epidermolysis bullosa.

Abstract

Patients afflicted with severe laminin 5-deficient junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) often die in infancy with massive cutaneous blistering. Prior approaches to genetically correct this disorder have relied on stable integration of wild-type LAMB3 sequences, using retroviral vectors. To develop a nonviral approach to JEB gene therapy, we used the phiC31 integrase, which mediates unidirectional genomic integration of plasmids containing a specific attB site. An attB-containing laminin 5 beta3 expression plasmid was integrated into the genomes of primary keratinocytes from four unrelated, genetically characterized JEB patients. phiC31 integrase supported genomic integration into epidermal progenitor cells. Regeneration of human skin on immunedeficient mice, using these cells, produced human skin tissue with restored laminin 5 expression. Furthermore, corrected JEB tissue restored hemidesmosome formation and abolished histologic evidence of subepidermal blistering. These findings provide an approach to durable nonviral correction of JEB.

• Authors: Susana Ortiz-Urda, Bhaskar Thyagarajan, Douglas R Keene, Qun Lin, Michele P Calos, Paul A Khavari
• Journal: Human gene therapy (Hum Gene Ther) Vol. 14 Issue 9 Pg. 923-8 (Jun 10 2003) ISSN: 1043-0342 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12828862 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Cell Adhesion Molecules
• kalinin
• Integrases

Topics

• Animals
• Cell Adhesion Molecules (genetics, immunology, metabolism)
• Cells, Cultured
• Epidermolysis Bullosa, Junctional (metabolism, therapy)
• Gene Expression
• Genetic Therapy
• Genetic Vectors
• Humans
• Integrases (genetics)
• Keratinocytes (physiology, ultrastructure)
• Mice
• Mice, SCID
• Plasmids
• Regeneration
• Skin (anatomy & histology)