Electroporation for gene therapy.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F Toneguzzo.
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MHC class II+ human T-cell clones are able to simultaneously present and respond to peptide Ag and superantigen resulting in both proliferation and subsequent anergy. A major question remains as to whether a single T cell can present to itself or whether T-T cell interactions are required. We have employed a novel technique for inhibiting cell-to-cell contact that encapsulates individual T cells in agarose gel microdrops. Myelin basic protein-reactive individual CD4+ T-cell clones entrapped within these microdrops neither proliferated nor became anergized to either peptide Ag or Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), suggesting that cell-to-cell contact was required for T-cell presentation of Ag leading to proliferation and anergy. PMA treatment induced T-cell migration out of gel microdrops, restoring cell-to-cell contact and resulting in proliferation and anergy after T-cell coculture with peptide or superantigen. However, analysis of [Ca+2]i release revealed differences in T-cell responses to SEB versus peptide Ag. The addition of SEB, but not peptide Ag, induced a calcium flux in solitary T cells. Additionally, alpha HLA-DR mAb blocked peptide but not SEB-induced proliferation and anergy induction. Thus, SEB generated an early signal in solitary T cells that may not be a result of self stimulation via MHC class II. However, subsequent cell-to-cell contact was required for proliferation and anergy induction by SEB. These results indicate that peptide Ag requires a MHC class II-dependent cell-to-cell interaction for calcium flux, proliferation, and anergy induction, whereas SEB requires a MHC class II independent cell-to-cell interaction for proliferation and anergy induction after a TCR-generated calcium flux.
We examined electroporation for the introduction of DNA into hematopoietic cells in order to develop an in vitro model for human gene therapy. We demonstrated that electroporation is a relatively efficient and reproducible method of gene transfer in permanent hematopoietic lines. Characterization of DNA transfer revealed that genes are integrated in single or low copy number. We showed that human normal granulopoietic progenitors can express the transferred gene at a frequency of more than two percent. Although the progeny of erythroid progenitors failed to express transferred genes, the frequency of transfer to erythroid clones, as detected by the polymerase chain reaction, was moderately high (16%). In order to improve efficiency of expression, we examined the effect of different viral and cellular promoters in the hematopoietic lines K562 and KG1a as well as in marrow stromal cells. We found that Rous Sarcoma virus LTR was the most active promoter in K562 while the murine cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter was highly active in KG1a and marrow stromal cells. Further improvements in the efficiency of DNA transfer and expression with electroporation are likely to result in a successful hematopoietic model for gene therapy.
Electroporation is a simple and relatively efficient means of introducing genes into hematopoietic cells. However, achieving and maintaining high levels of gene expression in transfected hematopoietic progenitor cells remains problematic. In order to address this problem we examined the effect of different viral and cellular promoters on the transient expression of reporter genes transferred into K562, KG1a, and human marrow stromal cells. We found that although the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat was most active in K562 cells in a transient expression assay, the murine cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter was strikingly more active than the other promoters in KG1a cells as well as in the marrow stromal cell population. Long-term stable gene expression was also demonstrated in stromal cells. We infer that the murine cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter may be highly active in human hematopoietic progenitor cells and that human marrow stromal cells may be an attractive vehicle for gene delivery.
We describe a system for the real-time detection of radioactively labeled DNA molecules in gel matrix, and we demonstrate the application of this system to DNA sequence analysis. DNA sequencing reactions prepared by the Sanger chain termination method are resolved by electrophoresis on 8% polyacrylamide gels. During electrophoresis the 32P-labeled DNA fragments are detected by solid state detectors positioned 22 cm from the top surface of the gel. This system is able to resolve a DNA sequence of 300 bases or greater. Optimized protocols that allow sequence information to be obtained from single stranded and double-stranded templates are described. A linear relationship exists between the input dpm and the integrated peak values over a 20-fold range indicating that accurate DNA quantitation is also possible using this system.
Southern analysis of individual transfectants generated by electroporation demonstrated a strong preference for the integration of DNA in low copy number even when electroporation was performed in the presence of increasing DNA concentrations. Although transfer of multiple DNA copies was detected at higher DNA concentrations (16 pmoles/ml or greater), the average gene copy number even at 36 pmoles DNA per ml, was only 13. Multiple gene copies were integrated at either a few chromosomal sites, or at a single site within individual transfectants. Restriction endonuclease cleavage data were consistent with a random orientation of molecules within a concatemer, suggesting that the concatemer may have risen via end-to-end ligation of linear molecules, rather than by homologous recombination. Integration of exogenous DNA into the host chromosome occurred preferentially at the ends of the linear molecule. Although the linearization site was lost upon integration, endonuclease sites as close as 18 bp from the linearization site were retained. These data, as well as direct restriction mapping of the transferred genes, indicate that DNA transfer and integration occur without DNA rearrangement. Taken together, these results suggest that electroporation may offer some unique advantages for the transfer of eukaryotic genes.
Procedures are presented for reliable and accurate nucleotide sequence analysis using as template supercoiled DNA prepared by a modified rapid boiling minipreparation protocol. This method yields DNA templates suitable for sequencing within 1 h of bacterial harvest. We describe optimal reaction conditions for supercoiled miniprep DNA sequencing using a modified T7 DNA polymerase (Sequenase) in dideoxynucleotide chain termination reactions. We demonstrate that under these conditions, the sequencing data obtained with miniprep DNA is indistinguishable from that obtained with CsCl purified supercoiled DNA or from that obtained using single stranded DNA templates. We further show that the supercoiled DNA sequencing reactions can be analyzed on a commercially available automated DNA sequencing system that detects 32P labeled DNA during its electrophoretic separation. Taken together, these developments represent a significant improvement in the process of nucleotide sequence analysis.
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Chimeric immunoglobulin genes were constructed by fusing murine variable region exons to human constant region exons. The ultimate goal was to produce an antibody capable of escaping surveillance by the human immune system while retaining the tumor specificity of a murine monoclonal. The murine variable regions were isolated from the functionally expressed kappa and gamma 1 immunoglobulin genes of the murine hybridoma cell line B6.2, the secreted monoclonal antibody of which reacts with a surface antigen from human breast, lung, and colon carcinomas. The kappa and gamma 1 chain fusion genes were co-introduced into non-antibody producing murine myeloma cells by electroporation. Transfectants that produced murine/human chimeric antibody were obtained at high frequency as indicated by immunoblots probed with an antisera specific for human immunoglobulin. Enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay analysis demonstrated that this chimeric antibody was secreted from the myeloma cells and retained the ability to bind selectively to membrane prepared from human tumor cells. The chimeric immunoglobulin was also shown by indirect fluorescence microscopy to bind to intact human carcinoma cells with specificity expected of B6.2. The ability of chimeric antibody to recognize human tumor-associated antigen makes feasible a novel approach to cancer immunotherapy.
The successful introduction of DNA into human bone marrow cells by electric field-mediated transfer was initially demonstrated by the detection of transient chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (acetyl-CoA:chloramphenicol O3-acetyltransferase, EC 2,3.1.28) activity in marrow cell extracts. To determine whether DNA was transferred into hematopoietic stem cells, human nucleated marrow cells were subjected to electroporation in the presence of a plasmid construct containing the bacterial genes conferring resistance to the neomycin analogue G418 (neo) and to mycophenolic acid (gpt). The growth of granulocyte/macrophage colonies in selective media, followed by hybridization analyses of resistant cells, established that DNA was transferred into human granulopoietic progenitor cells and was stably maintained and expressed in their differentiated progeny. Electroporation, therefore, offers the opportunity to transfer genes effectively into human hematopoietic stem cells and avoids some of the disadvantages associated with other methods of gene transfer.
The technique of DNA transfer by electroporation was investigated in an effort to evaluate its utility for the identification of developmentally controlled regulatory sequences. Transient and stable gene expression was detected in a variety of lymphoid cell lines subjected to electroporation. No correlation existed between the levels of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (acetyl-CoA; chloramphenicol 3-O-acetyltransferase, EC 2.3.1.28) expression and stable transfection frequency. In all lymphoid cell lines tested, the simian virus 40 early region was a better promoter than was the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat.
The NH2-terminal amino acid sequences of the envelope glycoproteins and the in vitro synthesized, nonglycosylated precursors of the glycoproteins of three serotypes, namely Indiana (Toronto), Cocal, and New Jersey (Concan) of vesicular stomatitis virus were determined. A comparison of the sequences showed little homology in the signal peptides present in the nonglycosylated precursors except for their high hydrophobic amino acid content. In contrast, the NH2-terminal amino acid sequences of the mature envelope glycoproteins revealed extensive homology suggesting that this region is conserved and may be involved in essential biological function(s) of the rhabdovirus.
Two polypeptides associated with the envelope of vesicular stomatitis virus are obtained by exhaustive proteolytic digestion of the virion. Analysis of the tryptic peptides and determination of the partial amino acid sequence show that the larger membrane-anchoring peptide is derived from the hydrophobic COOH terminus of the viral transmembrane glycoprotein G. The smaller peptide is, however, derived from the nonglycosylated matrix protein M. Analysis of the membrane-anchoring peptide fragments obtained from virus labeled with [3H]palmitic acid shows that the larger peptide fragment contained all the fatty acid present in G, suggesting that the fatty acids in conjunction with the hydrophobic domain may be involved in the binding of G protein to the membrane.
Translation of mRNA encoding vesicular stomatitis virus envelope glycoprotein G by as membrane-free ribosomal extract obtained from HeLa cells yielded a nonglycosylated protein (G1 (Mr 63,000). In the presence of added microsomal membranes, G1 was converted to the glycosylated protein (G2 (Mr 67,000) which is inserted in the membrane vesicles as a transmembrane protein. Labeling with methionine donated by wheat germ initiator tRNA1Met showed that G1 but not G2 contains methionine in the NH2-terminal position. Determination of the NH2-terminal sequence of G1, G2, and G showed that a leader peptide of 16 amino acids is present in G1 but absent from the glycosylated proteins G2 and G. This leader peptide contains at least 62% hydrophobic amino acids and is removed presumably during insertion of G1 into the membrane.
Translation in vitro of the mRNA coding for the vesicular stomatitis virus membrane glycoprotein G in a membrane-free ribosomal extract from HeLa cells allowed the synthesis of only the unglycosylated protein G1 (molecular weight, 63,000). Addition of stripped crude microsomal membranes from HeLa cells resulted in the conversion of G1 to the glycosylated protein G2 (molecular weight, 67,000). The G2 protein synthesized by the reconstructed microsomal membrane/ribosome system was found to be segregated inside the microsomal membrane vesicles and was thus protected from the proteolytic action of trypsin and chymotrypsin. Stripped membranes were required at an early stage of protein synthesis for the synthesized protein to be inserted into the membrane vesicles and to be glycosilated. The segregated protein G2, however, was not completely protected from proteolytic digestion, showing that a portion of the polypeptide chain of about 3000 daltons was present on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane vesicle. Our data thus suggest that, unlike the secretory proteins, the membrane glycoproteins are not completely discharged across the microsomal membranes.
Coupling of ribonucleoprotein particles from L cells infected with vesicular stomatitis virus to a pre-incubated ribosomal system obtained from uninfected HeLa cells allowed synthesis of two proteins. G1 (molecular weight 63,000) and G2 (molecular weight 67,000), and all other proteins of vesicular stomatitis virus except the spike protein G (molecular weight 69,000). Analyses of the tryptic peptides showed that G1, G2, and G had identical peptide sequences. The synthesis of G2 required the presence of membranes; only G1 was synthesized in the absence of any membranes. G2 but not G1 was shown to be a glycoprotein by affinity chromatography on a concanavalin A-Sepharose column. Removal of sialic acid residues from G by neuraminidase resulted in a product having an identical mobility to G2. Digestion of G2 or G with a mixture of neuraminidase (EC 3.2.1.18), beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23), and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30), however, produced a protein of molecular weight 65,000. These data suggest that G2 is the desialated G and is formed by glycosylation of G1, which is the unglycosylated polypeptide backbone of G.
Ribonucleoprotein particles isolated from extracts of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) -infected L cells synthesized in vitro four classes of polyadenylated RNA sedimenting at 29S, 19S, 17S, and 13S. When synthesized in vitro in the presence of the methyl donor S-adenosyl methionine, these RNA species contained the following 5'-terminal structures: (i) m7G5ppp5'AmpAp(70%) ; (ii) m7G5'ppp5'AmpAmpNp (20%) and (iii) pppAp (10%). In the presence of the methylation inhibitor S-adenosylhomocysteine, however, the mRNA contained the 5'-terminal structures G5'ppp5'Ap (80%) and pppAp (20%). The mRNA's synthesized in vitro were translated in the homologous ascites and the heterologous wheat embryo cell-free systems. In both, the products were shown by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis and by immunoprecipitation to contain all five viral proteins, L, G, N, NS, and M. The presumed precursor to the G protein (G*) was also identified by fingerprint analysis. Methylated VSV mRNA was more active in protein synthesis than unmethylated mRNA in both the ascites system and the wheat embryo systems. Addition of S-adenosylmethionine stimulated translation of unmethylated mRNA in the wheat embryo but not in the ascites extract. S-adenosylhomocysteine, however, by preventing mRNA methylation inhibited the translation of unmethylated VSV mRNA in both systems. The mRNA methylating activity present in wheat embryo S-30 extracts was recovered in the ribosome-free supernatant fraction (S-150) and was insensitive to the protein synthesis inhibitor pactamycin.
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