(Strept)avidin-displaying lentiviruses as versatile tools for targeting and dual imaging of gene delivery.

Abstract

Lentiviruses have shown great promise for human gene therapy. However, no optimal strategies are yet available for noninvasive imaging of virus biodistribution and subsequent transduction in vivo. We have developed a dual-imaging strategy based on avidin-biotin system allowing easy exchange of the surface ligand on HIV-derived lentivirus envelope. This was achieved by displaying avidin or streptavidin fused to the transmembrane anchor of vesicular stomatitis virus G protein on gp64-pseudotyped envelopes. Avidin and streptavidin were efficiently incorporated on virus particles, which consequently showed binding to biotin in ELISA. These vectors, conjugated to biotinylated radionuclides and engineered to express a ferritin transgene, enabled for the first-time dual imaging of virus biodistribution and transduction pattern by single-photon emission computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging after stereotactic injection into rat brain. In addition, vector retargeting to cancer cells overexpressing CD46, epidermal growth factor and transferrin receptors using biotinylated ligands and antibodies was demonstrated in vitro. In conclusion, we have generated novel lentivirus vectors for noninvasive imaging and targeting of lentivirus-mediated gene delivery. This study suggests that these novel vectors could be applicable for the treatment of central nervous system disorders and cancer.

• Authors: M U Kaikkonen, H P Lesch, J Pikkarainen, J K Räty, T Vuorio, T Huhtala, M Taavitsainen, T Laitinen, P Tuunanen, O Gröhn, A Närvänen, K J Airenne, S Ylä-Herttuala
• Journal: Gene therapy (Gene Ther) Vol. 16 Issue 7 Pg. 894-904 (Jul 2009) ISSN: 1476-5462 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19440224 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• CD46 protein, human
• Culture Media
• G protein, vesicular stomatitis virus
• Ligands
• Membrane Cofactor Protein
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Receptors, Transferrin
• Recombinant Fusion Proteins
• Viral Envelope Proteins
• Avidin
• Green Fluorescent Proteins
• Ferritins
• Streptavidin
• ErbB Receptors

Topics

• Animals
• Avidin (metabolism)
• Baculoviridae (genetics)
• Biotinylation
• Brain (metabolism)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Culture Media
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• ErbB Receptors (metabolism)
• Ferritins (genetics, metabolism)
• Gene Expression Profiling (methods)
• Gene Transfer Techniques
• Genes, Reporter
• Genetic Vectors (genetics)
• Green Fluorescent Proteins (metabolism)
• Humans
• Lentivirus (genetics)
• Ligands
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (methods)
• Male
• Membrane Cofactor Protein (metabolism)
• Membrane Glycoproteins (metabolism)
• Plasmids
• Rats
• Receptors, Transferrin (metabolism)
• Recombinant Fusion Proteins (metabolism)
• Stereotaxic Techniques
• Streptavidin (metabolism)
• Tissue Distribution
• Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon (methods)
• Transduction, Genetic (methods, standards)
• Transgenes
• Viral Envelope Proteins (metabolism)
• Viral Tropism (genetics)