title: Regulation of human factor IX expression using doxycycline-inducible gene expression system.
abstract: Following substitution therapy with human factor IX (hFIX) concentrate, therapy of haemophilia B by viral gene transfer has become an attractive alternative therapy in recent years. However, high doses of expressed hFIX, which can already be achieved in animal studies, may cause thrombosis in humans (van Hylckama Vlieg et al., 2000). Thus, it should be possible to maintain transgene expression within the therapeutic range. Therefore, we inserted elements of the tetracycline (Tet)-dependent Tet-On gene regulatory system into replication deficient adenovectors. The new system consists of two adenovectors: a response vector expressing hFIX (Ad5.TRE.hFIX), and a regulator vector expressing a second generation reverse tetracycline transactivator controlled by a CMV- (Ad5.CMV.rtTA) or human alpha1-antitrypsin-promoter (Ad5.hAAT.rtTA). Expression studies in four human cell lines showed high expression of hFIX from Ad5.TRE.hFIX in all cell lines in combination with Ad5.CMV.rtTA regulator vector, but only high specific expression in HepG2-cells in combination with Ad5.hAAT.rtTA regulator vector. Additionally, up- and down-regulation of hFIX expression could be demonstrated in vitro with the Ad5.TRE.hFIX/Ad5.CMV.rtTA combination and modulating doxycycline concentrations. When SCID-mice were infected with the Ad5.TRE.hFIX/Ad5.CMV.rtTA combination, up- and down-regulation of hFIX expression was achieved by oral doses of doxycycline for a period of at least two months. Replacement of the Ad5.CMV.rtTA vector by the Ad5.hAAT.rtTA vector showed minimal expression of hFIX in vivo. Although hFIX expression showed a slow and gradual decrease over time in vivo with the Ad5.CMV.rtTA vector, it remained within the therapeutic range. To date, regulation of hFIX has not been described in this way.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, University Clinics Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Mahmoud A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Srour
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fechner
authors.forename: Xiaomin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Siemetzki
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oldenburg
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hanfland
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Poller
authors.forename: Hans-Hermann
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Brackmann
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwaab
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005164:Factor IX / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D005164:Factor IX; D004318:Doxycycline