A new retrovirus packaging cell for gene transfer constructed from amplified long terminal repeat-free chimeric proviral genes.

The retroviral gene transfer system is a powerful tool for somatic gene therapy. A retroviral stock with a high viral titer and lacking replication-competent virus (RCV) is desirable for this type of gene transfer. To fulfill these requirements, we made a new packaging cell line, designated ampli-GPE. To reduce the homology between proviral DNA in the packaging cell and retroviral vector, the gag-pol and env genes of Moloney murine leukemia virus were separated onto two different plasmids, pGP-KV and pENV-KV, respectively, in which the 5' long terminal repeat and the 3' long terminal repeat had been replaced by the mouse metallothionein I promoter or the human beta-globin gene containing the polyadenylation site as control units for the gag-pol and env genes. In addition, these plasmids contained 69% of the bovine papillomavirus gene for gene amplification to obtain production of virus at a high titer. NIH 3T3 clones containing approximately 20 to 50 copies of the gag-pol and env genes were selected and designated ampli-GPE. When ampli-GPE was transfected with the N2 vector or pZipNeoSV(DHFR) derived from pZipNeoSV(X)1, we established clones producing titers of 5 x 10(6) and 1 x 10(6) CFU/ml, respectively. There was no sign of RCV generation in any virus-producing cells from ampli-GPE. However, virus-producing cells derived from psi 2 cells transfected with N2 did generate RCV. Thus, we showed that ampli-GPE, possessing the minimum complement of proviral genes, has potential for the development of a gene transfer system.     

Minimum requirements for efficient transduction of dividing and nondividing cells by feline immunodeficiency virus vectors

The development of gene delivery vectors based on feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is an attractive alternative to vectors based on primate sources for the delivery of genes into humans. To investigate the requirements for efficient transduction of dividing and nondividing cells by vector particles based on FIV, a series of packaging and vector constructs was generated for which viral gene expression was minimized and from which unnecessary cis-acting sequences were deleted. Pseudotyped vector particles produced in 293T cells were used to transduce various target cells, including contact-inhibited human skin fibroblasts and growth-arrested HT1080 cells. FIV vectors in which the U3 promoter was replaced with the cytomegalovirus promoter gave rise to over 50-fold-higher titers than FIV vectors containing the complete FIV 5' long terminal repeat (LTR). Comparison of the transduction efficiencies of vectors containing different portions of the FIV Gag coding region indicates that at least a functional part of the FIV packaging signal (Psi) is located within an area which includes the 5' LTR and the first 350 bp of gag. Transduction efficiencies of vectors prepared without FIV vif and orf2 accessory gene expression did not differ substantially from those of vectors prepared with accessory gene expression in either dividing or nondividing cells. The requirement for FIV rev-RRE was, however, demonstrated by the inefficient production of vector particles in the absence of rev expression. Together, these results demonstrate the efficient transduction of nondividing cells in vitro by a multiply attenuated FIV vector and contribute to an understanding of the minimum requirements for efficient vector production and infectivity. In addition, we describe the ability of an FIV vector to deliver genes in vivo into hamster muscle tissue.     

A new avian leukosis virus-based packaging cell line that uses two separate transcomplementing helper genomes.

An avian leukosis virus-based packaging cell line was constructed from the genome of the Rous-associated virus type 1. The gag, pol, and env genes were separated on two different plasmids; the packaging signal and the 3' long terminal repeat were removed. On a plasmid expressing the gag and pol genes, the env gene was replaced by the hygromycin resistance gene. The phleomycin resistance gene was inserted in the place of the gag-pol genes on a plasmid expressing the env gene. The plasmid containing the gag, pol, and Hygror genes was transfected into QT6 cells. Clones that produced high levels of p27gag were transfected with the plasmid containing the Phleor and env genes. Clones that produced high levels of env protein (as measured by an interference assay) were tested for their ability to package NeoR-expressing replication-defective vectors (TXN3'). One of the clones (Isolde) was able to transfer the Neo+ phenotype to recipient cells at a titer of 10(5) resistance focus-forming units per ml. Titers of supernatants of cells infected with Rous-associated virus type 1 prior to transfection by Neor vectors were similar. Tests for recombination events that might result in intact helper virus showed no evidence for the generation of replication-competent virus. The use of selectable genes inserted next to the viral genes to generate high-producer packaging cell lines is discussed.     

Improved primate foamy virus vectors and packaging constructs

Foamy virus (FV) vectors that have minimal cis-acting sequences and are devoid of residual viral gene expression were constructed and analyzed by using a packaging system based on transient cotransfection of vector and different packaging plasmids. Previous studies indicated (i) that FV gag gene expression requires the presence of the R region of the long terminal repeat and (ii) that RNA from packaging constructs is efficiently incorporated into vector particles. Mutants with changes in major 5' splice donor (SD) site located in the R region identified this sequence element as responsible for regulating gag gene expression by an unidentified mechanism. Replacement of the FV 5' SD with heterologous splice sites enabled expression of the gag and pol genes. The incorporation of nonvector RNA into vector particles could be reduced to barely detectable levels with constructs in which the human immunodeficiency virus 5' SD or an unrelated intron sequence was substituted for the FV 5' untranslated region and in which gag expression and pol expression were separated on two different plasmids. By this strategy, efficient vector transfer was achieved with constructs that have minimal genetic overlap.     

Q vectors, bicistronic retroviral vectors for gene transfer

We have developed a retroviral vector that incorporates unique features of some previously described vectors. This vector includes: 3' long terminal repeats (LTRs) of the self-inactivating class; a 5' LTR that is a hybrid of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) enhancer and the mouse sarcoma virus promoter; an internal CMV immediate early region promoter to drive expression of the transduced gene and the neomycin phosphotransferase selectable marker; an expanded multiple cloning site and an internal ribosome entry site. An SV40 ori was introduced into the vector backbone to promote high copy number replication in packaging cell lines that express the SV40 large T antigen. We demonstrate that these retroviral constructs, designated Q vectors, can be used in applications where high viral titers and high level stable or transient gene expression are desirable.     

Improved retroviral vectors for gene transfer and expression

We describe a set of murine retrovirus-based vectors that include unique cloning sites for insertion of cDNAs such that the cDNA can be driven by either the retroviral long terminal repeat, the immediate early promoter of human cytomegalovirus, or the simian virus 40 early promoter. The vectors carry the neomycin phosphotransferase gene expressed from an alternate promoter as a selectable marker. These vectors have been constructed to prevent viral protein synthesis from the remaining viral sequences, to yield high-titer virus stocks after introduction into retrovirus packaging cells, and to eliminate homologous overlap with viral DNAs present in retrovirus packaging cells in order to prevent helper virus production. Methods for generating high-titer virus are described.     

Efficient replication, integration, and packaging of retroviral vectors with modified long terminal repeats containing the packaging signal.

Retroviral vectors were modified to contain packaging (psi) signals of varying lengths (nucleotides 211-355, 211-565, or 211-1039 of MoMuLV RNA) between the U3-r and U5 sequences of their 5' long terminal repeat (LTR). For the vector MoTN-PR3, containing the full length 211-1039 nucleotide-long psi signal within the 5' LTR, replication, integration, and packaging were almost as efficient as for the original unmodified vector. This result confirmed that the 211-1039 nucleotide-long sequence from the MoMuLV RNA is sufficient and necessary to allow efficient packaging of RNAs. In addition, an important site was revealed where insertion of foreign DNA sequences of up to 829 nucleotides can be made within the 5' LTR, between U3-r and U5 sequences, without affecting viral replication, integration, or packaging.     

Improvement of avian leukosis virus (ALV)-based retrovirus vectors by using different cis-acting sequences from ALVs.

Production and expression of double-expression vectors which transduce both Neo(r) and lacZ genes and are based on the structure of avian leukosis virus were enhanced by using cis-acting sequences (long terminal repeats and noncoding sequences) from Rous-associated virus-1 and Rous-associated virus-2 rather than those of avian erythroblastosis virus previously used in our constructs. Polyclonal producer cells obtained after transfection of these vectors into the Isolde packaging cell line gave rise to titers as high as 3 x 10(5) lacZ CFU/ml, whereas it was possible to isolate clones of producer cells giving rise to titers of more than 10(6) resistance focus-forming units per ml.     

High-titer bicistronic retroviral vectors employing foot-and-mouth disease virus internal ribosome entry site.

Bicistronic retroviral vectors were constructed containing the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) internal ribosome entry site (IRES) followed by the coding region of beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) or therapeutic genes, with the selectable neomycin phosphotransferase gene under the control of the viral long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter. LNFX, a vector with a multiple cloning site 3' to foot-and-mouth disease virus IRES, was used to construct vectors encoding rat erythropoietin (EP), rat granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), human adenosine deaminase (ADA) and beta-gal. In transduced primary rat vascular smooth muscle cells the cytokines were expressed at high levels, similar to those obtained from vectors employing the viral LTR promoter. LNFZ, a vector encoding beta-gal, had a 10-fold increase in titer over that of LNPoZ, a comparable vector containing the poliovirus (Po) internal ribosome entry site. Primary canine vascular smooth muscle cells infected with LNFZ and LNPoZ expressed similar activities of beta-gal and neomycin phosphotransferase (NPT). Overall, these vectors had titers between 10(6) and 2 x 10(7) c.f.u./ml, indicating that foot-and-mouth disease virus IRES provides high-titer bicistronic vectors with high-level two gene expression.     

Construction and properties of replication-competent murine retroviral vectors encoding methotrexate resistance.

A series of replication-competent Moloney murine leukemia virus vectors was constructed in which each vector contained a mutant dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) cDNA insert in the U3 region of the viral long terminal repeat. Two of the resulting viruses, MLV (murine leukemia virus) DHFR*-5 and MLV DHFR*-7, were able to stably transfer methotrexate resistance to infected fibroblast cells upon multiple rounds of virus replication and in the absence of drug selection. Cell lines producing recombinant virus with high titers were established, which indicated that the insert did not grossly interfere with viral replication functions. These vectors should be useful for introducing and expressing foreign genes in vivo in tissues and whole animals in which virus spread is needed for efficient infection.     

Construction of recombinant murine retroviruses that express the human T-cell leukemia virus type II and human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III trans activator genes.

Recombinant retroviruses containing the trans activator genes of human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) type II and human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III were constructed. The trans activator genes tat II and tat III were inserted into the murine retroviral vector pZIPNEOSV(X)1. Recombinant plasmids were transfected into the psi 2 and psi AM packaging cell lines that produce murine leukemia virions containing no retroviral RNA. Functional tat II and tat III gene products were expressed as demonstrated by trans activation of HTLV type I and II and human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III long terminal repeat-directed gene expression in the respective infected cells. Use of these recombinant vectors permits high-efficiency gene transfer into a wide variety of cells, thereby providing the opportunity to study the biochemical effects associated with tat II and tat III gene expression.     

Replication-defective chimeric helper proviruses and factors affecting generation of competent virus: expression of Moloney murine leukemia virus structural genes via the metallothionein promoter.

Two chimeric helper proviruses were derived from the provirus of the ecotropic Moloney murine leukemia virus by replacing the 5'long terminal repeat and adjacent proviral sequences with the mouse metallothionein I promoter. One of these chimeric proviruses was designed to express the gag-pol genes of the virus, whereas the other was designed to express only the env gene. When transfected into NIH 3T3 cells, these helper proviruses failed to generate competent virus but did express Zn2+-inducible trans-acting viral functions needed to assemble infectious vectors. One helper cell line (clone 32) supported vector assembly at levels comparable to those supported by the Psi-2 and PA317 cell lines transfected with the same vector. Defective proviruses which carry the neomycin phosphotransferase gene and which lack overlapping sequence homology with the 5' end of the chimeric helper proviruses could be transfected into the helper cell line without generation of replication-competent virus. Mass cultures of transfected helper cells produced titers of about 10(4) G418r CFU/ml, whereas individual clones produced titers between 0 and 2.6 X 10(4) CFU/ml. In contrast, defective proviruses which share homologous overlapping viral sequences with the 5' end of the chimeric helper proviruses readily generated infectious virus when transfected into the helper cell line. The deletion of multiple cis-acting functions from the helper provirus and elimination of sequence homology overlapping at the 5' ends of helper and vector proviruses both contribute to the increased genetic stability of this system.