Feasibility of double-expression retroviral vector using complement regulatory factor gene.

Abstract

The donor source of vascular endothelial cells for hybrid blood vessels seeded with genetically engineered endothelial cells is generally considered to be autologous. The purpose of this study was to determine whether porcine endothelial cells transduced with double-expression retroviral vector using complement-resistant gene could be substituted for autologous endothelial cells. Decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) cDNA were inserted into retroviral vector with homologous restriction factor 20 cDNA as a complement regulatory factor gene. Porcine aortic endothelial cells were transduced with these double-expression retroviral vectors, followed by the complement-dependent selection. Porcine endothelial cells transduced withdouble-expression retroviral vectors showed a high gene expression of both DAF and tPA. Complement-dependent cytotoxicity and adherence of U937 were significantly inhibited by the transduction of double-expression vectors with complement regulatory factor gene. Double-expression retroviral vector using complement regulatory factor gene was efficacious in substituting porcine endothelial cells for the autologous endothelial cells.