Lentiviral vectors displaying modified measles virus gp overcome pre-existing immunity in in vivo-like transduction of human T and B cells

Mol Ther. 2012 Sep;20(9):1699-1712. doi: 10.1038/mt.2012.96. Epub 2012 May 22.

Abstract

Gene transfer into quiescent T and B cells is important for gene therapy and immunotherapy approaches. Previously, we generated lentiviral vectors (LVs) pseudotyped with Edmonston (Ed) measles virus (MV) hemagglutinin (H) and fusion (F) glycoproteins (H/F-LVs), which allowed efficient transduction of quiescent human T and B cells. However, a major obstacle in the use of H/F-LVs in vivo is that most of the human population is vaccinated against measles. As the MV humoral immune response is exclusively directed against the H protein of MV, we mutated the two dominant epitopes in H, Noose, and NE. LVs pseudotyped with these mutant H-glycoproteins escaped inactivation by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) but were still neutralized by human serum. Consequently, we took advantage of newly emerged MV-D genotypes that were less sensitive to MV vaccination due to a different glycosylation pattern. The mutation responsible was introduced into the H/F-LVs, already mutated for Noose and NE epitopes. We found that these mutant H/F-LVs could efficiently transduce quiescent lymphocytes in the presence of high concentrations of MV antibody-positive human serum. Finally, upon incubation with total blood, mimicking the in vivo situation, the mutant H/F-LVs escaped MV antibody neutralization, where the original H/F-LVs failed. Thus, these novel H/F-LVs offer perspectives for in vivo lymphocyte-based gene therapy and immunotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cricetinae
  • Epitopes / genetics
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Glycosylation
  • Hemagglutinins / genetics
  • Hemagglutinins / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Humoral
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / genetics
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / immunology
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / therapy
  • Immunotherapy
  • Lentivirus / genetics*
  • Lentivirus / immunology
  • Measles Vaccine / immunology
  • Measles virus / genetics*
  • Measles virus / immunology
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Transduction, Genetic
  • Viral Fusion Proteins / genetics*
  • Viral Fusion Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Epitopes
  • Glycoproteins
  • Hemagglutinins
  • Measles Vaccine
  • Viral Fusion Proteins