title: Safe selection of genetically manipulated human primary keratinocytes with very high growth potential using CD24.
abstract: 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.
authors: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Genomes and Cancers Unit, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
authors: Valérie
authors: V
authors: Bergoglio
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Larcher
authors: Odile
authors: O
authors: Chevallier-Lagente
authors: Alain
authors: A
authors: Bernheim
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Danos
authors: Alain
authors: A
authors: Sarasin
authors: Marcela Del
authors: MD
authors: Rio
authors: Thierry
authors: T
authors: Magnaldo
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D051927:CD24 Antigen