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Biomedical subjects

Hideki Hanawa

Publications and source records attributed to Hideki Hanawa.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

The role of bone marrow-derived cells in bone fracture repair in a green fluorescent protein chimeric mouse model.

We investigated the role of bone marrow cells in bone fracture repair using green fluorescent protein (GFP) chimeric model mice. First, the chimeric model mice were created: bone marrow cells from GFP-transgenic C57BL/6 mice were injected into the tail veins of recipient wild-type C57BL/6 mice that had been irradiated with a lethal dose of 10Gy from a cesium source. Next, bone fracture models were created from these mice: closed transverse fractures of the left femur were produced using a specially designed device. One, three, and five weeks later, fracture lesions were extirpated for histological and immunohistochemical analyses. In the specimens collected 3 and 5 weeks after operation, we confirmed calluses showing intramembranous ossification peripheral to the fracture site. The calluses consisted of GFP- and osteocalcin-positive cells at the same site, although the femur consisted of only osteocalcin-positive cells. We suggest that bone marrow cells migrated outside of the bone marrow and differentiated into osteoblasts to make up the calluses.

Animals↗

Mobilization and mechanism of transcription of integrated self-inactivating lentiviral vectors.

Permanent genetic modification of replicating primitive hematopoietic cells by an integrated vector has many potential therapeutic applications. Both oncoretroviral and lentiviral vectors have a predilection for integration into transcriptionally active genes, creating the potential for promoter activation or gene disruption. The use of self-inactivating (SIN) vectors in which a deletion of the enhancer and promoter sequences from the 3' long terminal repeat (LTR) is copied over into the 5' LTR during vector integration is designed to improve safety by reducing the risk of mobilization of the vector genome and the influence of the LTR on nearby cellular promoters. Our results indicate that SIN vectors are mobilized in cells expressing lentiviral proteins, with the frequency of mobilization influenced by features of the vector design. The mechanism of transcription of integrated vector genomes was evaluated using a promoter trap design with a vector encoding tat but lacking an upstream promoter in a cell line in which drug resistance depended on tat expression. In six clones studied, all transcripts originated from cryptic promoters either upstream or within the vector genome. We estimate that approximately 1 in 3,000 integrated vector genomes is transcribed, leading to the inference that activation of cryptic promoters must depend on local features of chromatin structure and the constellation of nearby regulatory elements as well as the nature of the regulatory elements within the vector.

Animals↗

Distinct genomic integration of MLV and SIV vectors in primate hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.

Murine leukemia virus (MLV)-derived vectors are widely used for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene transfer, but lentiviral vectors such as the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) may allow higher efficiency transfer and better expression. Recent studies in cell lines have challenged the notion that retroviruses and retroviral vectors integrate randomly into their host genome. Medical applications using these vectors are aimed at HSCs, and thus large-scale comprehensive analysis of MLV and SIV integration in long-term repopulating HSCs is crucial to help develop improved integrating vectors. We studied integration sites in HSCs of rhesus monkeys that had been transplanted 6 mo to 6 y prior with MLV- or SIV-transduced CD34(+)cells. Unique MLV (491) and SIV (501) insertions were compared to a set of in silico-generated random integration sites. While MLV integrants were located predominantly around transcription start sites, SIV integrants strongly favored transcription units and gene-dense regions of the genome. These integration patterns suggest different mechanisms for integration as well as distinct safety implications for MLV versus SIV vectors.

Animals↗

Extended beta-globin locus control region elements promote consistent therapeutic expression of a gamma-globin lentiviral vector in murine beta-thalassemia.

Since increased fetal hemoglobin diminishes the severity of beta-thalassemia and sickle cell anemia, a strategy using autologous, stem cell-targeted gene transfer of a gamma-globin gene may be therapeutically useful. We previously found that a gamma-globin lentiviral vector utilizing the beta-globin promoter and elements from the beta-globin locus control region (LCR) totaling 1.7 kb could correct murine beta-thalassemia. However, therapeutic consistency was compromised by chromosomal position effects on vector expression. In contrast, we show here that the majority of animals that received transplants of beta-thalassemic stem cells transduced with a new vector containing 3.2 kb of LCR sequences expressed high levels of fetal hemoglobin (17%-33%), with an average vector copy number of 1.3. This led to a mean 26 g/L (2.6 g/dL) increase in hemoglobin concentration and enhanced amelioration of other hematologic parameters. Analysis of clonal erythroid cells of secondary spleen colonies from mice that underwent transplantation demonstrated an increased resistance of the larger LCR vector to stable and variegating position effects. This trend was also observed for vector insertion sites located inside genes, where vector expression was often compromised, in contrast to intergenic sites, where higher levels of expression were observed. These data emphasize the importance of overcoming detrimental position effects for consistent therapeutic globin vector expression.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗

Efficient gene transfer into rhesus repopulating hematopoietic stem cells using a simian immunodeficiency virus-based lentiviral vector system.

High-titer, HIV-1-based lentiviral vector particles were found to transduce cytokine-mobilized rhesus macaque CD34(+) cells and clonogenic progenitors very poorly (< 1%), reflecting the postentry restriction in rhesus cells to HIV infection. To overcome this barrier, we developed a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-based vector system. A single exposure to a low concentration of amphotropic pseudotyped SIV vector particles encoding the green fluorescent protein (GFP) resulted in gene transfer into 68% +/- 1% of rhesus bulk CD34(+) cells and 75% +/- 1% of clonogenic progenitors. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of DNA from individual hematopoietic colonies confirmed these relative transduction efficiencies. To evaluate SIV vector-mediated stem cell gene transfer in vivo, 3 rhesus macaques underwent transplantation with transduced, autologous cytokine-mobilized peripheral blood CD34(+) cells following myeloablative conditioning. Hematopoietic reconstitution was rapid, and an average of 18% +/- 8% and 15% +/- 7% GFP-positive granulocytes and monocytes, respectively, were observed 4 to 6 months after transplantation, consistent with the average vector copy number of 0.19 +/- 0.05 in peripheral blood leukocytes as determined by real-time PCR. Vector insertion site analysis demonstrated polyclonal reconstitution with vector-containing cells. SIV vectors appear promising for evaluating gene therapy approaches in nonhuman primate models.

Animals↗

Successful treatment of murine beta-thalassemia using in vivo selection of genetically modified, drug-resistant hematopoietic stem cells.

Successful gene therapy of beta-thalassemia will require replacement of the abnormal erythroid compartment with erythropoiesis derived from genetically corrected, autologous hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). However, currently attainable gene transfer efficiencies into human HSCs are unlikely to yield sufficient numbers of corrected cells for a clinical benefit. Here, using a murine model of beta-thalassemia, we demonstrate for the first time that selective enrichment in vivo of transplanted, drug-resistant HSCs can be used therapeutically and may therefore be a useful approach to overcome limiting gene transfer. We used an oncoretroviral vector to transfer a methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) drug-resistance gene into normal bone marrow cells. These cells were transplanted into beta-thalassemic mice given nonmyeloablative pretransplantation conditioning with temozolomide (TMZ) and O6-benzylguanine (BG). A majority of mice receiving 2 additional courses of TMZ/BG demonstrated in vivo selection of the drug-resistant cells and amelioration of anemia, compared with untreated control animals. These results were extended using a novel gamma-globin/MGMT dual gene lentiviral vector. Following drug treatment, normal mice that received transduced cells had an average 67-fold increase in gamma-globin expressing red cells. These studies demonstrate that MGMT-based in vivo selection may be useful to increase genetically corrected cells to therapeutic levels in patients with beta-thalassemia.

Animals↗

Development of gene therapy for hemoglobin disorders.

The hemoglobin disorders, severe beta-thalassemia and sickle cell anemia, are prevalent monogenetic disorders which cause severe morbidity and mortality worldwide. Gene therapy approaches to these disorders envision stem cell targeted gene transfer, autologous transplantation of gene-corrected stem cells, and functional, phenotypically corrective globin gene expression in developing erythroid cells. Lentiviral vector systems potentially appear to afford adequately efficient gene transfer into stem cells and are capable, with appropriate genetic engineering, of transferring a globin gene with the regulatory elements required to achieve high-level, erythroid-specific expression. Herein are results obtained in use of lentiviral vectors to insert a gamma-globin gene into murine stem cells with phenotypic correction of the thalassemia phenotype. Further, we have developed a drug-selection system for genetically modified stem cells based on a mutant form of methylguanine, methyltransferase, which allows selective amplification of genetically modified stem cells with phenotypic correction even in the absence of myeloablation prior to stem cell transplantation. These advances provide essential preclinical data which build toward the development of effective gene therapy for the severe hemoglobin disorders.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗

High-level erythroid lineage-directed gene expression using globin gene regulatory elements after lentiviral vector-mediated gene transfer into primitive human and murine hematopoietic cells.

Lentiviral vectors efficiently transduce primitive human hematopoietic cells and are capable of transferring complex genomes. Vectors were designed with hypersensitive sites containing regulatory elements from the beta-globin locus control region linked to the beta-globin gene promoter to drive expression of the enhanced green fluorescent protein marker to facilitate analysis of the pattern of gene expression in various hematopoietic lineages. Such vectors gave higher level, induced expression in mouse erythroleukemia cells than a previously described vector that utilized an enhancer from the alpha locus and the ankyrin-1 promoter [Moreau-Gaudry, F., Xia, P., Jiang, G., Perelman, N.P., Bauer, G., Ellis, J., Surinya, K.H., Mavilio, F., Shen, C.K., and Malik, P. (2001). Blood 98, 2664-2672]. The addition of gamma-globin intron sequences further augmented vector expression. Expression was also effectively targeted to the erythroid lineage in cultured human cells from peripheral blood and in mouse red blood cells in vivo, although lower levels of expression were also observed in other lineages. Thus, these newly described vectors provide a means to achieve high-level gene expression, predominantly in erythroid cells, an outcome that may have potential therapeutic application.

Animals↗

The degree of phenotypic correction of murine beta -thalassemia intermedia following lentiviral-mediated transfer of a human gamma-globin gene is influenced by chromosomal position effects and vector copy number.

Increased fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels diminish the clinical severity of beta-thalassemia and sickle cell anemia. A treatment strategy using autologous stem cell-targeted gene transfer of a gamma-globin gene may therefore have therapeutic potential. We evaluated oncoretroviral- and lentiviral-based gamma-globin vectors for expression in transduced erythroid cell lines. Compared with gamma-globin, oncoretroviral vectors containing either a beta-spectrin or beta-globin promoter and the alpha-globin HS40 element, a gamma-globin lentiviral vector utilizing the beta-globin promoter and elements from the beta-globin locus control region demonstrated a higher probability of expression. This lentiviral vector design was evaluated in lethally irradiated mice that received transplants of transduced bone marrow cells. Long-term, stable erythroid expression of human gamma-globin was observed with levels of vector-encoded gamma-globin mRNA ranging from 9% to 19% of total murine alpha-globin mRNA. The therapeutic efficacy of the vector was subsequently evaluated in a murine model of beta-thalassemia intermedia. The majority of mice that underwent transplantation expressed significant levels of chimeric m(alpha)(2)h(gamma)(2) molecules (termed HbF), the amount of which correlated with the degree of phenotypic improvement. A group of animals with a mean HbF level of 21% displayed a 2.5 g/dL (25 g/L) improvement in Hb concentration and normalization of erythrocyte morphology relative to control animals. gamma-Globin expression and phenotypic improvement was variably lower in other animals due to differences in vector copy number and chromosomal position effects. These data establish the potential of using a gamma-globin lentiviral vector for gene therapy of beta-thalassemia.

Animals↗

Sustained high-level expression of human factor IX (hFIX) after liver-targeted delivery of recombinant adeno-associated virus encoding the hFIX gene in rhesus macaques.

The feasibility, safety, and efficacy of liver-directed gene transfer was evaluated in 5 male macaques (aged 2.5 to 6.5 years) by using a recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vector (rAAV-2 CAGG-hFIX) that had previously mediated persistent therapeutic expression of human factor IX (hFIX; 6%-10% of physiologic levels) in murine models. A dose of 4 x 10(12) vector genomes (vgs)/kg of body weight was administered through the hepatic artery or portal vein. Persistence of the rAAV vgs as circular monomers and dimers and high-molecular-weight concatamers was documented in liver tissue by Southern blot analysis for periods of up to 1 year. Vector particles were present in plasma, urine, or saliva for several days after infusion (as shown by polymerase chain reaction analysis), and the vgs were detected in spleen tissue at low copy numbers. An enzyme-linked immunosorption assay capable of detecting between 1% and 25% of normal levels of hFIX in rhesus plasma was developed by using hyperimmune serum from a rhesus monkey that had received an adenoviral vector encoding hFIX. Two macaques having 3 and 40 rAAV genome equivalents/cell, respectively, in liver tissue had 4% and 8% of normal physiologic plasma levels of hFIX, respectively. A level of hFIX that was 3% of normal levels was transiently detected in one other macaque, which had a genome copy number of 25 before abrogation by a neutralizing antibody (inhibitor) to hFIX. This nonhuman-primate model will be useful in further evaluation and development of rAAV vectors for gene therapy of hemophilia B.

Animals↗

Comparison of various envelope proteins for their ability to pseudotype lentiviral vectors and transduce primitive hematopoietic cells from human blood.

Substantial effort has been invested in developing methodologies for efficient gene transfer into human, repopulating, hematopoietic stem cells. Oncoretroviral vectors are limited by the lack of nuclear mitosis in quiescent stem cells during ex vivo transduction, whereas the preintegration complex of lentiviral vectors contains nuclear-localizing signals that permit genome integration without mitosis. We have developed a flexible and versatile system for generating lentiviral vector particles and have pseudotyped such particles with amphotropic, ecotropic, feline endogenous virus (RD114) or vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G) envelope proteins. Particles of all four types could be concentrated approximately 100-fold by ultracentrifugation or ultrafiltration. RD114 or amphotropic particles were more efficient than VSV-G-pseudotyped particles at transducing human cord blood CD34(+) cells and clonogenic progenitors within that population. Amphotropic particles transduced cytokine-mobilized, human peripheral blood CD34(+) cells capable of establishing hematopoiesis in immunodeficient mice more efficiently than the other two types of particles. We conclude that the use of amphotropic pseudotyped lentiviral vector particles rather than the commonly used VSV-G-pseudotyped particles should be considered in potential applications of lentiviral vectors for gene transfer into this therapeutically relevant target cell population.

Animals↗

Loss of DCC gene expression is of prognostic importance in acute myelogenous leukemia.

PURPOSE: Expression of the deleted in colorectal carcinoma (DCC) gene has been found to be lost in some patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Although this finding is critical to leukemogenesis, its prognostic significance remains uncertain. To evaluate this, loss of DCC gene expression in AML patients and their prognostic significance were investigated. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A group of 170 patients with AML was analyzed. DCC gene expression in AML cells was determined by a semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR. Simultaneous mutation analyses of the p53, N-ras, and FLT3 genes were performed in all of the AML cells by single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing subsequent to PCR. The importance of loss of DCC expression was evaluated by Cox proportional analysis and the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Loss of DCC expression was detected in 47 patients (27.6%). The p53, N-ras, and FLT3 mutations were detected in 20 (11.7%), 42 (24.7%), and 26 (15.2%) patients, respectively. The durations of overall survival (OS) and complete remission (CR) of the 47 DCC-negative AML patients were significantly shorter than that of the 123 DCC-positive patients (P < 0.0045 and <0.0060, respectively). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that loss of DCC expression was an unfavorable prognostic factor for both OS (P < 0.0053 and <0.0084, respectively) and CR duration (P < 0.0146 and <0.0371, respectively). The 64 DCC-positive patients with wild p53, N-ras, and FLT3 had statistically better CR attainment compared with the other 106 patients (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Loss of DCC gene expression was shown to be an independent prognostic factor in AML patients. Thus, loss of DCC gene expression might serve as an important molecular marker for predicting the CR duration and OS of patients with AML.

Acute Disease↗