title: A bovine papillomavirus-1 based vector restores the function of the low-density lipoprotein receptor in the receptor-deficient CHO-ldlA7 cell line.
abstract: The rationale of using bovine papillomavirus-1 (BPV-1) derived vectors in gene therapy protocols lies in their episomal maintenance at intermediate to high copy number, and stable, high-level expression of the gene products. We constructed the BPV-1 based vector harbouring the human low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene cDNA and tested its ability to restore the function of the LDLR in the receptor-deficient cell line CHO-ldlA7.
  
  
  
  The introduced vector p3.7LDL produced functionally active LDL receptors in the receptor-deficient cell line CHO-ldlA7 during the 32-week period of observation as determined by the internalisation assay with the labelled LDL particles.
  
  
  
  Bovine papillomavirus type-1 (BPV-1)-derived vectors could be suitable for gene therapy due to their episomal maintenance at intermediate to high copy number and stable, high-level expression of the gene products. The constructed BPV-1 based vector p3.7LDL produced functionally active LDL receptors in the LDLR-deficient cell line CHO-ldlA7 during the 32-week period of observation. In vivo experiments should reveal, whether 1-5% transfection efficiency obtained in the current work is sufficient to bring about detectable and clinically significant lowering of the amount of circulating LDL cholesterol particles.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Tartu University, Estonian Biocentre, 23 Riia St, 51010 Tartu, Estonia. jtammur@ebc.ee
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tammur
authors.forename: Hiljar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sibul
authors.forename: Ene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ustav
authors.forename: Mart
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ustav
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Metspalu