title: Biology of adenovirus vectors with E1 and E4 deletions for liver-directed gene therapy.
abstract: Recombinant adenoviruses with E1 sequences deleted efficiently transfer genes into a wide variety of target cells. Antigen- and nonantigen-specific responses to the therapy lead to toxicity, loss of transgene expression, and difficulties with vector readministration. We have created new cell lines that allowed the isolation of more disabled adenovirus vectors that have both E1 and E4 deletions. Studies with murine models of liver-directed gene therapy indicated that the E1- and E4-deleted vector expresses fewer virus proteins and induces less apoptosis, leading to blunted host responses and an improved safety profile. The impact of the E4 deletion on the stability of vector expression was confounded by immune responses to the transgene product, which in this study was beta-galactosidase. When transgene responses were eliminated, the doubly deleted vector was substantially more stable in mouse liver than was the E1-deleted construct. These studies indicate that adenovirus vectors with both E1 and E4 deletions may have advantages in terms of safety and efficacy over first-generation constructs for liver-directed gene therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D017498:Adenovirus E1 Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017504:Adenovirus E4 Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015870:Gene Expression; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008819:Mice, Nude; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D017498:Adenovirus E1 Proteins; D017504:Adenovirus E4 Proteins