title: A lentiviral vector with expression controlled by E2F-1: a potential tool for the study and treatment of proliferative diseases.
abstract: We have constructed a lentiviral vector with expression limited to cells presenting active E2F-1 protein, a potential advantage for gene therapy of proliferative diseases. For the FE2FLW vector, the promoter region of the human E2F-1 gene was utilized to drive expression of luciferase cDNA, included as a reporter of viral expression. Primary, immortalized, and transformed cells were transduced with the FE2FLW vector and cell cycle alterations were induced with serum starvation/replacement, contact inhibition or drug treatment, revealing cell cycle-dependent changes in reporter activity. Forced E2F-1 expression, but not E2F-2 or E2F-3, increased reporter activity, indicating a major role for this factor in controlling expression from the FE2FLW virus. We show the utility of this vector as a reporter of E2F-1 and proliferation-dependent cellular alterations upon cytotoxic/cytostatic treatment, such as the introduction of tumor suppressor genes. We propose that the FE2FLW vector may be a starting point for the development of gene therapy strategies for proliferative diseases, such as cancer or restinosis.
authors.affiliation: Viral Vector Group, Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology/LIM-13, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Brazil. bstrauss@usp.br
authors.forename: Bryan E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: Juliana Rotelli
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Patrício
authors.forename: Anna Carolina Vieira
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.forename: Marcio C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bajgelman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D050684:E2F Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D016086:Lentivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D050684:E2F Transcription Factors; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor; C493753:E2F1 protein, human