A versatile and potentially general approach to the targeting of specific cell types by retroviruses: application to the infection of human cells by means of major histocompatibility complex class I and class II antigens by mouse ecotropic murine leukemia virus-derived viruses.
A technique for delivering genes carried by recombinant retroviruses into specific cell types could have numerous applications in oncology, developmental biology, and gene therapy. As a first step toward this remote goal we designed a procedure allowing in vitro cell targeting by retroviruses. Biotinylated antibodies against the viral envelope protein on one side, and against specific cell membrane markers on the other side, were bridged by streptavidin and used to link the virus to the host. The method was successfully used to infect human cells with ecotropic murine retroviruses by means of major histocompatibility complex class I and class II antigens and appears easily adaptable to other cell membrane markers. Moreover, the sequential protocol we designed, although allowing infection of human cells, requires less stringent safety constraints than would handling of amphotropic virus stocks.
Roux
P
P
Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Associée 1191, Université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, Montpellier, France.
Jeanteur
P
P
Piechaczyk
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000276:immunology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009052:Leukemia Virus, Murine / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014162:Transfection
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II