Type I interferon response against viral and non-viral gene transfer in human tumor and primary cell lines.
BACKGROUND
Type I interferon (IFN-alpha/beta) response is one of the major host defence mechanisms against viruses. Some recent reports suggest that IFNs may interfere with the efficacy of both non-viral and virus-vector-mediated therapeutic gene transfer.


METHODS
The type I IFN response upon different gene transfer methods in human tumor and primary cell lines was studied by analysing IFN-beta mRNA expression, secretion of type I IFNs and accumulation of IFN-alpha/beta-induced MxA protein (myxovirus resistance protein A).


RESULTS
Infection with avirulent Semliki Forest virus A7[74] induced MxA protein accumulation and increased the IFN-beta mRNA level, whereas none of the studied virus vectors (adenovirus, CRAd, lentivirus or AAV) induced IFN response. However, plasmid DNA induced the accumulation of MxA protein when transfected with several commercial transfection reagents. RNA transfection appeared to be an efficient inducer of type I IFN response: replicating alphaviral RNA, eukaryotic total RNA, or mRNA all induced both MxA protein accumulation and IFN-beta expression. siRNA transfection failed to induce MxA response.


CONCLUSIONS
The non-viral gene transfer methods have gained more interest in recent years due to their better safety profiles when compared to their viral counterparts. However, the efficiency of non-viral gene transfer is well below those reached by viral vector systems. The type I interferon response induced by non-viral methods may in part contribute to this inefficiency, while most currently used viral gene transfer vectors fail to induce or are able to suppress type I IFN response.
Rautsi
Outi
O
A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, University of Kuopio, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
Lehmusvaara
Saara
S
Salonen
Tuula
T
Häkkinen
Katja
K
Sillanpää
Maarit
M
Hakkarainen
Tanja
T
Heikkinen
Sami
S
Vähäkangas
Elisa
E
Ylä-Herttuala
Seppo
S
Hinkkanen
Ari
A
Julkunen
Ilkka
I
Wahlfors
Jarmo
J
Pellinen
Riikka
R
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006224:Cricetinae; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005814:Genes, Viral; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012672:Semliki forest virus / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
D007370:Interferon Type I; C579071:MX1 protein, human; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins