Site-specific transfer of an intact beta-globin gene cluster through a new targeting vector

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007 Apr 27;356(1):32-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.02.074. Epub 2007 Feb 23.

Abstract

The ideal gene-therapy vector for treating genetic disorders should deliver intact therapeutic genes and their essential regulatory elements into the specific "safe genomic site" and realize long-term, self-regulatory expression. For beta-thalassemia gene therapy, viral vectors have been broadly used, but the accompanying insertional mutation and immunogenicity remain problematic. Hence, we aimed to develop new non-viral vectors that are efficient and safe in treating diseases. As previous studies have demonstrated that physiological expression of beta-globin genes requires both a 5' locus control region and 3' specific elements, we constructed a new human chromosome-derived targeting vector to transfer the intact beta-globin gene cluster into K562 cells. The whole beta-globin gene cluster was precisely integrated into the target site and expressed in a self-regulatory pattern. The results proved that the human chromosome-derived vector was specifically targeted to the human genome and this could provide a novel platform for further gene therapy research.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Blotting, Southern
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Targeting / methods
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics*
  • Globins / genetics*
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / methods
  • K562 Cells
  • Multigene Family*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transfection / methods*

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • Globins