Safe selection of genetically manipulated human primary keratinocytes with very high growth potential using CD24.
Stable and safe corrective gene transfer in stem keratinocytes is necessary for ensuring success in cutaneous gene therapy. There have been numerous encouraging preclinical approaches to cutaneous gene therapy in the past decade, but it is only recently that a human volunteer suffering from junctional epidermolysis bullosa could be successfully grafted using his own non-selected, genetically corrected epidermal keratinocytes. However, ex vivo correction of cancer-prone genetic disorders necessitates a totally pure population of stably transduced stem keratinocytes for grafting. Antibiotic selection is not compatible with the need for full respect for natural cell fate potential and avoidance of immunogenic response in vivo. In order to surmount these problems, we developed a strategy for selecting genetically modified stem cell keratinocytes. Driving ectopic expression of CD24 (a marker of post-mitotic keratinocytes) at the surface of clonogenic keratinocytes permitted their full selection. Engineered keratinocytes expressing CD24 and the green fluorescent protein (GFP) tracer gene were shown to retain their original growth and differentiation potentials both in vitro and in vivo over 300 generations. Also, they did not exhibit signs of genetic instability. Using ectopic expression of CD24 as a selective marker of genetically modified human epidermal stem cells appears to be the first realistic approach to safe cutaneous gene therapy in cancer-prone disease conditions.
Bergoglio
Valérie
V
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Genomes and Cancers Unit, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
Larcher
Fernando
F
Chevallier-Lagente
Odile
O
Bernheim
Alain
A
Danos
Olivier
O
Sarasin
Alain
A
Rio
Marcela Del
MD
Magnaldo
Thierry
T
D051927:CD24 Antigen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division; D002469:Cell Separation; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D012038:Regeneration; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena
D051927:CD24 Antigen