Gene delivery systems using the Sendai virus

Fusogenic liposome (FL) is a delivery system that can transfer encapsulated materials into living cells directly through membrane fusion. FL is a promising approach for gene therapy because it can deliver various genetic materials much more efficiently than other non-viral vectors without damaging the cell. FL-mediated gene transfer consists of two independent membrane fusion phenomena; generation of a FL by fusing a Sendai virus (SV) particle with a simple liposome encapsulating DNA, and successive fusion of the FL with cell membrane. The former requires viral F protein but no other special molecule on the liposomal membrane, whereas the latter may require the receptor (sialic acid) and unidentified assistant molecule(s) on the cell membrane. Further analysis suggests that these assistant molecule(s), not the receptor, may control the fusion and govern the cell specificity of FL-mediated delivery. This review has described a detailed analysis of these fusion phenomena and discussed possible applications of FL-mediated gene delivery to human gene therapy.     

Augmentation of antigen-specific immune responses using DNA-fusogenic liposome vaccine

In an attempt to enhance the immunological efficacy of genetic immunization, we investigated a new biological means for delivering antigen gene directly to the cytoplasm via membrane fusion. In this context, we investigated fusogenic liposome (FL) encapsulating DNA as a possible genetic immunization vehicle. RT-PCR analysis indicated that a FL could introduce and express encapsulating OVA gene efficiently and rapidly in vitro. Consistent with this observation, an in vitro assay showed that FL-mediated antigen-gene delivery can induce potent presentation of antigen via the MHC class I-dependent pathway. Accordingly, immunization with FL containing the OVA-gene induced potent OVA-specific Th1 and Th2 cytokine production. Additionally, OVA-specific CTL responses and antibody production were also observed in systemic compartments including the spleen, upon immunization with the OVA-gene encapsulating FL. These findings suggest that FL is an effective genetic immunization carrier system for the stimulation of antigen-specific immune responses against its encoding antigen.     

The Roles of Histidines and Charged Residues as Potential Triggers of a Conformational Change in the Fusion Loop of Ebola Virus Glycoprotein

Ebola virus (EBOV) enters cells from late endosomes/lysosomes under mildly acidic conditions. Entry by fusion with the endosomal membrane requires the fusion loop (FL, residues 507–560) of the EBOV surface glycoprotein to undergo a pH-dependent conformational change. To find the pH trigger for this reaction we mutated multiple conserved histidines and charged and uncharged hydrophilic residues in the FL and measured their activity by liposome fusion and cell entry of virus-like particles. The FL location in the membrane was assessed by NMR using soluble and lipid-bound paramagnetic relaxation agents. While we could not identify a single residue to be alone responsible for pH triggering, we propose that a distributed pH effect over multiple residues induces the conformational change that enhances membrane insertion and triggers the fusion activity of the EBOV FL.     

Assembly of clathrin molecules on liposome membranes: a possible event necessary for induction of membrane fusion

Below pH6, clathrin induces fusion of liposomes containing phosphatidylserine (PS) [Maezawa et al. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 1422-1428]. Under similar conditions clathrin forms self-aggregates, suggesting that the associated form of clathrin may be involved in the fusion process. For examination of this possibility, the extent of fluorescence energy transfer from N-(p-(2-benzimidazolyl)phenyl)maleimide (BIPM)-labeled clathrin to N-(7-dimethyl-amino-4-methyl-3-coumarinyl)maleimide (DACM)-labeled clathrin in the presence of liposomes and the number of binding sites for clathrin in one liposome were examined in the pH region inducing membrane fusion. A high degree of transfer was observed, and the area on the membrane surface occupied by a clathrin molecule was estimated to be much less than that expected from its size, indicating that clathrin binds to the liposome membrane as an associated form, which may be essential for induction of membrane fusion.     

用于转基因的阳离子脂质体

通过直接导入外源基因来治疗人类疾病的方法需要一种有效、安全并且可重复进行的载体,阳离子脂质体是基本满足这些条件的有限几种载体中的一员. 目前已经有十几种阳离子脂质体. 这些脂质体通过外周的电荷与DNA相结合,静电吸引形成复合物在与细胞膜相互作用后,通过细胞的内吞或融合作用使复合物进入细胞内,从而将外源基因导入细胞,这种DNA传递技术的有效性和安全性已经确立. 二例利用阳离子脂质体的人体基因治疗临床试验也已开始实施,将来会有更多的临床试验得到开展,阳离子脂质体在基因治疗领域有较好的前景.     

Membrane Fusion and Rupture in Liposomes: Effect of Biodegradable pH-Sensitive Surfactants

Biodegradable pH-sensitive surfactants (BPS) are a unique family of easily metabolized compounds that demonstrate pH-dependent surface activity. These agents, in combination with other delivery systems, have demonstrated effects in enhancing transnucleic acid activity. The increased activity has been hypothesized to occur from a release of endosomal contents. Simply, the BPS delivery system containing nucleic acids enters the cell through an endocytotoic process. It encounters an acidic pH and becomes surface active leading to defects in the endosomal membrane. In the current study, an in vitro model membrane was used to better understand the liposome defect mechanisms that BPS elicit. Using this system, it is shown that BPS can induce both liposome fusion and rupture depending upon the pH and mole ratio of BPS to membrane lipids. Futhermore, liposome fusion induced by BPS was dependent on the total numbers of liposome particles while rupture was independent of interacting liposome particles. The generated data indicate that BPS agents act differently from other typical surface active agents and fuosgenic compounds. Instead of facilitating membrane fusion through the hexagonal II phase, BPS appeared to contribute and participate in the membrane fusion at different stages. Received: 18 February 1998/Revised: 14 July 1998     

Developing a Novel Gene-Delivery Vector System Using the Recombinant Fusion Protein of Pseudomonas Exotoxin A and Hyperthermophilic Archaeal Histone HPhA

Non-viral gene delivery system with many advantages has a great potential for the future of gene therapy. One inherent obstacle of such approach is the uptake by endocytosis into vesicular compartments. Receptor-mediated gene delivery method holds promise to overcome this obstacle. In this study, we developed a receptor-mediated gene delivery system based on a combination of the Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE), which has a receptor binding and membrane translocation domain, and the hyperthermophilic archaeal histone (HPhA), which has the DNA binding ability. First, we constructed and expressed the rPE-HPhA fusion protein. We then examined the cytotoxicity and the DNA binding ability of rPE-HPhA. We further assessed the efficiency of transfection of the pEGF-C1 plasmid DNA to CHO cells by the rPE-HPhA system, in comparison to the cationic liposome method. The results showed that the transfection efficiency of rPE-HPhA was higher than that of cationic liposomes. In addition, the rPE-HPhA gene delivery system is non-specific to DNA sequence, topology or targeted cell type. Thus, the rPE-HPhA system can be used for delivering genes of interest into mammalian cells and has great potential to be applied for gene therapy.     

Liposome-mediated gene delivery into plant cells

Liposomes may offer several advantages as vectors for gene delivery into plant cells: (1) enhanced delivery of encapsulated DNA by membrane fusion, (2) protection of nucleic acids from nuclease activity, (3) targeting to specific cells, (4) delivery into a variety of cell types besides protoplasts by entry through plasmodesmata, (5) delivery of intact small organelles. Realization of these advantages calls for the construction of efficient liposomes, for appropriate fusion conditions and for an understanding of the nature of liposome-cell interactions. Various characteristics and techniques of the liposome-cell system are described (mode of delivery, liposome types and composition, and means of promoting delivery of liposome contents). Data of liposome-mediated delivery of various macromolecules into plant cells, with special reference to protoplasts, calli and pollen are reviewed. This includes data obtained by the use of fluorescent probes, radioactive-labelled DNA, viral nucleic acids and expression of plasmid-DNA. Structure and characteristics of plant surfaces and plasmodesmata are discussed with respect to DNA entry. It is suggested that liposome-mediated gene delivery into plant cells, and not only protoplasts, will be advantageous in certain specific tissues and situations.     

Asialoglycoprotein receptor and liposome synergistically mediate the gene transfer into primary rat hepatocytes

Gene transfer into primary rat hepatocytes was performed by employing cationic liposome as DNA carrier and the specific ligand of hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR), asialofetuin, as liver-targeting ligand. The resuits showed that asialofetuin, when added to the gene transfer complexes, could significantly increase the hepatocyte transfeetion efficiency, and alleviate the cellular toxicity of Lipofectin. Several synthetic ligands of ASGPR (galactosyl albumin) could also increase the transfection efficiency of hepatocyte like asialofetuin. It was proved that ASGPR and cationic liposome could synergistically mediate the gene transfer into primary rat hepatoeytes. This novel gene delivery system provided a safer, more simple and efficient gene transfer method for primary hepatocytes, and showed prospecting application in hepatic gene therapy.     

Asialoglycoprotein receptor and liposome synergistically mediate the gene transfer into primary rat hepatocytes

Gene transfer into primary rat hepatocytes was performed by employing cationic liposome as DNA carrier and the specific ligand of hepatic asialoglycopmtein receptor (ASGPR), asialofetuin, as liver-targeting ligand. The results showed that asialofetuin, when added to the gene transfer complexes, could significantly increase the hepatocyte transfection efficiency, and alleviate the cellular toxicity of Lipofectin. Several synthetic ligands of ASGPR (galactosyl albumin) could also increase the transfection efficiency of hepatocyte like asialofetuin. It was proved that ASGPR and cationic liposome could synergistically mediate the gene transfer into primary rat hepatocytes. This novel gene delivery system provided a safer, more simple and efficient gene transfer method for primary hepatocytes, and showed prospecting application in hepatic gene therapy.     

肝细胞靶向pH敏脂质体介导的硫代反义寡核苷酸对HCV5‘NCR基因表达的抑制作用

反义寡核苷酸是一种阴离子大分子物质,细胞生物利用度较低且易被细胞溶酶体酶降解,为了增强反义药物在病变靶细胞内的有效浓度,根据受体介导的内吞作用原理,针对肝细胞专一性表达的去唾液酸糖蛋白受体,设计及制备了一种肝靶向性脂质体,这种脂质体同时具有pH敏性.采用竟争抑制实验及鸡红细胞溶血实验分析了其肝细胞靶向性及pH敏性;应用肝靶向pH敏脂质体作为药物运载工具,介导反义寡核苷酸HCV363作用于转基因细胞HepG2.9706细胞,通过荧光素酶活性检测,观察了硫代反义寡核苷酸对HCV 5′NCR调控功能的抑制活性.结果显示,不同浓度半乳糖溶液对5%18-gal脂质体有一定的抑制作用,浓度超过20mmol/L时,达到饱和,最大抑制率为38%;溶血实验显示脂质体与红细胞膜融合作用有显著的pH值依赖性,pH＜6时,血红素释放量明显增加;肝靶向pH敏性脂质体介导的HCV363对HepG2.9706细胞中HCV 5′NCR调控基因具有显著的剂量依赖性抑制作用,浓度为1.0umol/L时,抑制率达86%.综上,所制备的脂质体具有一定的肝细胞靶向性及显著的pH敏感性,这种脂质体能够增强HCV特异性硫代反义寡核苷酸的细胞内抑制活性,这为针对肝炎病毒的反义寡核苷酸的体内活性评价提供了有用的转运体系.     

Rapid delivery of small interfering RNA by biosurfactant MEL-A-containing liposomes

The downregulation of gene expression by RNA interference holds great potential for genetic analysis and gene therapy. However, a more efficient delivery system for small interfering RNA (siRNA) into the target cells is required for wide fields such as cell biology, physiology, and clinical application. Non-viral vectors are stronger candidates than viral vectors because they are safer and easier to prepare. We have previously used a new method for gene transfection by combining cationic liposomes with the biosurfactant mannosylerythritol lipid-A (MEL-A). The novel MEL-A-containing cationic liposomes rapidly delivered DNA (plasmids and oligonucleotides) into the cytosol and nucleus through membrane fusion between liposomes and the plasma membrane, and consequently, enhanced the gene transfection efficiency. In this study, we determined the efficiency of MEL-A-containing cationic liposomes for siRNA delivery. We observed that exogenous and endogenous protein expression was suppressed by approximately 60% at 24 h after brief (30 min) incubation of target cells with MEL-A-containing cationic liposome/siRNA complexes. Confocal microscopic analysis showed that suppression of protein expression was caused by rapid siRNA delivery into the cytosol. We found that the MEL-A-containing cationic liposomes directly delivered siRNA into the cytoplasm by the membrane fusion in addition to endocytotic pathway whereas Lipofectamine™ RNAiMax delivered siRNA only by the endocytotic pathway. It seems that the ability to rapidly and directly deliver siRNA into the cytosol using MEL-A-containing cationic liposomes is able to reduce immune responses, cytotoxicity, and other side effects caused by viral vectors in clinical applications.     

Liposome-mediated gene therapy in the kidney

Gene therapy directed to the kidney has been attempted to improve renal disorders such as inherited kidney diseases and common renal diseases that cause interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, and glomerulosclerosis. Viral and non-viral vectors have been tried and been modulated to obtain sufficient transgene expression. However, gene delivery to the kidney is usually difficult because of characteristics of renal cell biology. Among non-viral vectors, the liposome system is a promising procedure for kidney-targeted gene therapy. Using cationic liposome, tubular cells were effectively transduced by retrograde injection of liposome/cDNA complex. Although transgene expression was reportedly modest using cationic liposomes, this method improved renal disease models such as carbonic anhydrase II deficiency and unilateral ureteral obstruction. In contrast, HVJ-liposome system is an effective transfection method to glomerular cells using intra-renal arterial infusion and improved glomerular disease models such as glomerulonephritis and glomerulosclerosis. In addition, intra-renal pelvic injection of DNA by HVJ-liposome system showed transgene expression in interstitial fibroblasts. In kidney-targeted gene therapy, liposome-mediated gene transfer is an attractive method because of its simplicity and reduced toxicity. In spite of modest transgene expression, several renal disease models were successfully modulated by liposome system. Although one limitation of liposome-mediated gene delivery is the duration of transgene expression, the liposome/cDNA complex can be repeatedly administered due to the absence of an immune response.     

Liposomes fuse with sperm cells and induce activation by delivery of impermeant agents

Sperm cell activation is a critical step in fertilization. To directly investigate the cell signaling events leading to sperm activation it is necessary to deliver membrane impermeant agents into the cytoplasm. In this study, the use of liposomes as possible agent-loading vectors was examined using (1) the octadecylrhodamine B (R18) and NBD phosphatidylethanolamine (NBD DHPE)/rhodamine phosphatidylethanolamine (rhod DHPE) fusion assays in bulk samples, (2) membrane transfer of fluorescence from liposome membranes labeled with R18 and rhodamine-tagged phosphatidylethanolamine (TRITC DHPE), and (3) lumenal transfer of impermeant calcium ions from liposomes to sperm cells, a process that stimulated sperm cell activation. Intermediate-sized unilamellar liposomes (98.17+/-15.34 nm) were prepared by the detergent-removal technique using sodium cholate as the detergent and a phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine/cholesterol (2:1:1 mole ratio) lipid composition. In the R18 fusion assays, self-quenching increased logarithmically with increasing concentrations of R18 in the liposome membranes; addition of unlabeled sperm to R18-labeled liposomes lead to a rapid release of self-quenching. In the NBD DHPE/rhod DHPE resonance energy transfer (RET) fusion assay, RET was rapidly reduced under similar conditions. In addition, individual sperm became fluorescent when TRITC DHPE-labeled liposomes were incubated with unlabeled sperm cells. Incubation of sperm cells with empty liposomes did not significantly affect sperm cell activation and did not alter cell morphology. However, incubation with Ca (10 mM)-loaded liposomes resulted in a time-dependent increase in sperm cell activation (7.5-fold over controls after 15 min). We conclude that liposomes can be used for direct loading of membrane-impermeant agents into sea squirt sperm cell cytoplasm, and that delivery occurs via fusion and content intermixing.     

Recombinant derivatives of the human high-mobility group protein HMGB2 mediate efficient nonviral gene delivery

Certain natural peptides and proteins of mammalian origin are able to bind and condense plasmid DNA, a prerequisite for the formation of transfection-competent complexes that facilitate nonviral gene delivery. Here we have generated recombinant derivatives of the human high-mobility group (HMG) protein HMGB2 and investigated their potential as novel protein-based transfection reagents. A truncated form of HMGB2 encompassing amino acids 1-186 of the molecule was expressed in Escherichia coli at high yield. This HMGB2186 protein purified from bacterial lysates was able to condense plasmid DNA in a concentration-dependent manner, and mediated gene delivery into different established tumor cell lines more efficiently than poly(l-lysine). By attaching, via gene fusion, additional functional domains such as the HIV-1 TAT protein transduction domain (TAT(PTD)-HMGB2186), the nuclear localization sequence of the simian virus 40 (SV40) large T-antigen (SV40(NLS)-HMGB2186), or the importin-beta-binding domain (IBB) of human importin-alpha (IBB-HMGB2186), chimeric fusion proteins were produced which displayed markedly improved transfection efficiency. Addition of chloroquine strongly enhanced gene transfer by all four HMGB2186 derivatives studied, indicating cellular uptake of protein-DNA complexes via endocytosis. The IBB-HMGB2186 molecule in the presence of the endosomolytic reagent was the most effective. Our results show that recombinant derivatives of human HMGB2 facilitate efficient nonviral gene delivery and may become useful reagents for applications in gene therapy.     

Interaction of the alpha-toxin of Staphylococcus aureus with the liposome membrane

When the liposome membrane is exposed to the alpha-toxin of Staphylococcus aureus, fluorescence of the tryptophan residue(s) of the toxin molecule increases concomitantly with the degree of toxin-hexamer formation (Ikigai, H., and Nakae, T. (1985) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 130, 175-181). In the present study, the toxin-membrane interaction was distinguished from the hexamer formation by the fluorescence energy transfer from the tryptophan residue(s) of the toxin molecule to the dansylated phosphatidylethanolamine in phosphatidylcholine liposome. Measurement of these two parameters yielded the following results. The effect of the toxin concentration and phospholipid concentration on these two parameters showed first order kinetics. The effect of liposome size on the energy transfer and the fluorescence increment of the tryptophan residue(s) was only detectable in small liposomes. Under moderately acidic or basic conditions, the fluorescence energy transfer always preceded the fluorescence increment of the tryptophan residue(s). The fluorescence increment at 336 nm at temperatures below 20 degrees C showed a latent period, whereas the fluorescence energy transfer did not. These results were thought to indicate that when alpha-toxin damages the target membrane, the molecule interacts with the membrane first, and then undergoes oligomerization within the membrane.     

Autophagy and formation of tubulovesicular autophagosomes provide a barrier against nonviral gene delivery

Cationic liposome (lipoplex) and polymer (polyplex)-based vectors have been developed for nonviral gene delivery. These vectors bind DNA and enter cells via endosomes, but intracellular transfer of DNA to the nucleus is inefficient. Here we show that lipoplex and polyplex vectors enter cells in endosomes, activate autophagy and generate tubulovesicular autophagosomes. Activation of autophagy was dependent on ATG5, resulting in lipidation of LC3, but did not require the PtdIns 3-kinase activity of PIK3C3/VPS34. The autophagosomes generated by lipoplex fused with each other, and with endosomes, resulting in the delivery of vectors to large tubulovesicular autophagosomes, which accumulated next to the nucleus. The tubulovesicular autophagosomes contained autophagy receptor protein SQSTM1/p62 and ubiquitin, suggesting capture of autophagy cargoes, but fusion with lysosomes was slow. Gene delivery and expression from both lipoplex and polyplex increased 8-fold in atg5^?/? cells unable to generate tubulovesicular autophagosomes. Activation of autophagy and capture within tubulovesicular autophagosomes therefore provides a new cellular barrier against efficient gene transfer and should be considered when designing efficient nonviral gene delivery vectors.     

Liposome mediated gene transfer

Liposomes, artificial membrane vesicles, are being intensively studied for their usefulness as delivery vehicles in vitro and in vivo. Substantial progress has been made in the development of procedures for liposome preparation, targeting and delivery of contents. The broad flexibility now available in the design of the structure and composition of liposomes, coupled to recent reports of liposome mediated gene transfer in animals, suggest that liposome technology is now poised to be utilized in the creation of custom-designed cell-type-specific gene transfer vehicles.     

Development of a novel fusogenic viral liposome system (HVJ-liposomes) and its applications to the treatment of acquired diseases

Toward human gene therapy and gene analysis in vivo, a novel hybrid vector based on liposome has been developed for more efficient gene delivery and gene expression. The liposome was decorated with HVJ (Sendai virus) envelope fusion proteins to introduce DNA directly into the cytoplasm, and contained DNA and DNA-binding nucelar protein to enhance expression of the gene. Recently, several types of HVJ-liposomes were developed by altering the lipid components of the liposomes. HVJ-cationic liposomes increased gene delivery 100 - 800 times more efficiently in vitro than the conventional HVJ-anionic liposomes. HVJ-cationic liposomes were also more useful for gene expression in restricted portions of organs and for gene therapy of disseminated cancers. It was further discovered that the use of anionic liposomes with a virus-mimicking lipid composition (HVJ-AVE liposomes) increased transfection efficiency by several fold in vivo, especially in liver and muscle. By coupling the Epstein-Barr (EB) virus replicon apparatus to HVJ-liposomes, transgene expression was sustained in vitro and in vivo. Most animal organs were found to be suitable targets for the fusigenicviral liposome system, and numerous gene therapy strategies using this system were successful in animals.     

Development of a novel fusogenic viral liposome system (HVJ-liposomes) and its applications to the treatment of acquired diseases.

Toward human gene therapy and gene analysis in vivo, a novel hybrid vector based on liposome has been developed for more efficient gene delivery and gene expression. The liposome was decorated with HVJ (Sendal virus) envelope fusion proteins to introduce DNA directly into the cytoplasm, and contained DNA and DNA-binding nuclear protein to enhance expression of the gene. Recently, several types of HVJ-liposomes were developed by altering the lipid components of the liposomes. HVJ-cationic liposomes increased gene delivery 100-800 times more efficiently in vitro than the conventional HVJ-anionic liposomes. HVJ-cationic liposomes were also more useful for gene expression in restricted portions of organs and for gene therapy of disseminated cancers. It was further discovered that the use of anionic liposomes with a virus-mimicking lipid composition (HVJ-AVE liposomes) increased transfection efficiency by several fold in vivo, especially in liver and muscle. By coupling the Epstein-Barr (EB) virus replicon apparatus to HVJ-liposomes, transgene expression was sustained in vitro and in vivo. Most animal organs were found to be suitable targets for the fusigenic-viral liposome system, and numerous gene therapy strategies using this system were successful in animals.