Down regulation of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) expression by Vif antisense RNA expression vectors in transfected cells.
The HIV-1 vif gene is a potential candidate in the quest for anti-retroviral interventions, due to its unique role in the target cell infection. We employed the antisense RNA strategy to determine the antiviral activity of intracellularly expressed anti-sense RNAs of various lengths complementary to the targeted HIV-1 vif gene. Expression vectors mediating the delivery of the vif-ORF, 5'-Vif, M-vif, and 3'-vif antisense RNAs under the CMV promoter were constructed using pcDNA 3.1. The COS cells transfected with the antisense vectors showed a steady-state of antisense RNA expression levels. In contrast, those co-transfected with the Infectious molecular clone, pNL-E, exhibited a significant reduction in the steady-state antisense RNA levels, which correlated with a significant reduction in p24 antigen production. Thus, this expression method for these antisense RNAs provides a promising gene therapy strategy for HIV-1.
Barnor
Jacob Samson
JS
Department of Industrial Chemistry, Chiba Institute of Technology, Tsudanuma, Narashino, Chiba 275-0016, Japan.
Miyano-Kurosaki
Naoko
N
Yamaguchi
Kazuya
K
Kobayashi
Hiroki
H
Ishikawa
Koichi
K
Osei-Kwasi
Mubarak
M
Ampofo
William Kwabina
WK
Ofori-Adjei
David
D
Inagaki
Yoshio
Y
Yamamoto
Naoki
N
Takaku
Hiroshi
H
D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D016346:Gene Products, vif / Q000235:genetics*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection; D054320:vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D016346:Gene Products, vif; D016372:RNA, Antisense; D054320:vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus