title: Targeting gene-modified hematopoietic cells to the central nervous system: use of green fluorescent protein uncovers microglial engraftment.
abstract: Gene therapy in the central nervous system (CNS) is hindered by the presence of the blood-brain barrier, which restricts access of serum constituents and peripheral cells to the brain parenchyma. Expression of exogenously administered genes in the CNS has been achieved in vivo using highly invasive routes, or ex vivo relying on the direct implantation of genetically modified cells into the brain. Here we provide evidence for a novel, noninvasive approach for targeting potential therapeutic factors to the CNS. Genetically-modified hematopoietic cells enter the CNS and differentiate into microglia after bone-marrow transplantation. Up to a quarter of the regional microglial population is donor-derived by four months after transplantation. Microglial engraftment is enhanced by neuropathology, and gene-modified myeloid cells are specifically attracted to the sites of neuronal damage. Thus, microglia may serve as vehicles for gene delivery to the nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Charité, Humboldt-University, Berlin, Germany. josef.priller@charite.de
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Priller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flügel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wehner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boentert
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prinz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernández-Klett
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prass
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bechmann
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frotscher
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Kreutzberg
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Persons
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dirnagl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000628:therapy; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018390:Gene Targeting; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins