Factors affecting the direct targeting of murine leukemia virus vectors containing peptide ligands in the envelope protein.
To develop a reliable strategy for cell-specific delivery of retroviral vectors, we genetically modified the envelope (Env) protein of the ecotropic Moloney murine leukemia virus. We found a site in the variable region A, where the insertion of ligands, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and stromal-derived factor-1 alpha (SDF-1 alpha), was possible without abolishing virion incorporation of the Env protein and its ecotropic entry function. The vector containing the EGF-Env did not show the EGF receptor-dependent transduction. The vector containing the SDF-1 alpha-Env, however, specifically transduced human cells expressing CXCR4, the receptor for SDF-1 alpha, at titers of 10(3)-10(4) c.f.u./ml. Further experiments showed that the CXCR4-dependent transduction was based on the specific interaction between the SDF-1 alpha moiety of the SDF-1 alpha-Env and CXCR4 and was independent of the ecotropic entry function. The direct targeting of the retroviral vector may be possible if the proper chimeric Env structure and the appropriate ligand-receptor system are employed.
Molecular Cell Science Laboratory, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama, Japan.
Masumi
M
Katane
Eiko
E
Takao
Yoshinao
Y
Kubo
Rika
R
Fujita
Hiroshi
H
Amanuma
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000378:metabolism; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D009052:Leukemia Virus, Murine / Q000235:genetics*; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
C515255:CXCL12 protein, human; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; C515256:Cxcl12 protein, mouse; D015686:Gene Products, env; D008024:Ligands; D010455:Peptides; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor