Genotoxic potential of lineage-specific lentivirus vectors carrying the beta-globin locus control region

Mol Ther. 2009 Nov;17(11):1929-37. doi: 10.1038/mt.2009.183. Epub 2009 Aug 25.

Abstract

Insertional mutagenesis by long terminal repeat (LTR) enhancers in gamma-retrovirus-based vectors (GVs) in clinical trials has prompted deeper investigations into vector genotoxicity. Experimentally, self-inactivating (SIN) lentivirus vectors (LVs) and GV containing internal promoters/enhancers show reduced genotoxicity, although strong ubiquitously-active enhancers dysregulate genes independent of vector type/design. Herein, we explored the genotoxicity of beta-globin (BG) locus control region (LCR), a strong long-range lineage-specific-enhancer, with/without insulator (Ins) elements in LV using primary hematopoietic progenitors to generate in vitro immortalization (IVIM) assay mutants. LCR-containing LV had approximately 200-fold lower transforming potential, compared to the conventional GV. The LCR perturbed expression of few genes in a 300 kilobase (kb) proviral vicinity but no upregulation of genes associated with cancer, including an erythroid-specific transcription factor occurred. A further twofold reduction in transforming activity was observed with insulated LCR-containing LV. Our data indicate that toxicology studies of LCR-containing LV in mice will likely not yield any insertional oncogenesis with the numbers of animals that can be practically studied.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Genetic Vectors / adverse effects
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics*
  • Insulator Elements / genetics
  • Lentivirus / genetics*
  • Locus Control Region / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transduction, Genetic
  • beta-Globins / genetics*

Substances

  • beta-Globins