Lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with baculovirus gp64 efficiently transduce mouse cells in vivo and show tropism restriction against hematopoietic cell types in vitro

Gene Ther. 2004 Feb;11(3):266-75. doi: 10.1038/sj.gt.3302170.

Abstract

The envelope glycoprotein from vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G) has been used extensively to pseudotype lentiviral vectors, but has several drawbacks including cytotoxicity, potential for priming of immune responses against transgene products through efficient transduction of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and sensitivity to inactivation by human complement. As an alternative to VSV-G, we extensively characterized lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with the gp64 envelope glycoprotein from baculovirus both in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated for the first time that gp64-pseudotyped vectors could be delivered efficiently in vivo in mice via portal vein injection. Following delivery, the efficiency of mouse cell transduction and the transgene expression is comparable to VSV-G-pseudotyped vectors. In addition, we found that gp64-pseudotyped lentiviral vectors could efficiently transduce a variety of cell lines in vitro, although gp64 showed a more restricted tropism than VSV-G, with especially poor ability to transduce hematopoietic cell types including dendritic cells (DCs). Although we found that gp64-pseudotyped vectors are also sensitive to inactivation by human complement, gp64 nevertheless has advantages over VSV-G, because of its lack of cytotoxicity and narrower tropism. Consequently, gp64 is an attractive alternative to VSV-G because it can efficiently transduce cells in vivo and may reduce immune responses against the transgene product or viral vector by avoiding transduction of APCs such as DCs.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Baculoviridae / genetics
  • Cell Line
  • Complement System Proteins / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / virology
  • Factor IX / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Vectors*
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • Hematopoietic System / metabolism
  • Hematopoietic System / virology
  • Humans
  • Lentivirus / genetics*
  • Lentivirus / pathogenicity
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Nude
  • Rats
  • Transduction, Genetic / methods*
  • Tropism
  • Viral Fusion Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • Viral Fusion Proteins
  • Factor IX
  • Complement System Proteins