combined-genetic-chemical-capsid-modifications-adenovirus-based-gene

Combined Genetic and Chemical Capsid Modifications of Adenovirus-Based Gene Transfer Vectors for Shielding and Targeting

Adenovirus vectors are potent tools for genetic vaccination and oncolytic virotherapy. However, they are prone to multiple undesired vector-host ...

University Witten/Herdecke

An ideal vector to be used in gene therapy should allow long-term and regulated expression of the therapeutic sequence, but in many cases, it would be most desirable to remove all ectopic vector sequences from the cell once expression is no longer required. The vector pEPI is the first nonviral autonomous replicon that was constructed for mammalian cells. It represents a minimal model system to study the epigenetic regulation of replication and transcription but is also regarded as a promising alternative to currently used viral vector systems in gene therapy. Its function relies on a transcription unit linked to an S/MAR sequence. We constructed an inducible pEPI vector system based on the Tet ON system in which transcription is switched on in the presence of doxycycline. We show that for vector replication and long-term maintenance an ongoing transcription running into the S/MAR element is required. Once established, the vector is lost from the cell upon switching off transcription from the gene linked to the S/MAR. This feature provides not only controlled transgene expression but also the possibility to remove all vector molecules from the cells upon demand. This inducible episomal nonviral vector system will find broad application in gene therapy but also in reprogramming of somatic cells or modification of stem cells.

Controlled removal of a nonviral episomal vector from transfected cells.

Because of their high efficiency, virus-based vectors are currently used in most gene therapy trials. Because such vectors bear some potential safety risks, nonviral expression systems could be an attractive alternative. Ideally, these vectors should be completely based on chromosomal elements and replicate as an autonomous unit in the recipient cell, thus avoiding the risk of insertional mutagenesis or immunological reactions of the recipient organism. Our limited knowledge of the epigenetic regulation of replication in mammalian cells does not yet allow the rational design of such constructs. But in the late 1990s it was shown that scaffold/matrix attached region (S/MAR)-based vectors can promote episomal replication and maintenance in mammalian cells. These vectors have found broad application in basic research but are now improved for their use in the safe and reproducible genetic modification of cells and organisms and in gene therapy.

Scaffold/matrix attached region-based nonviral episomal vectors.

Gene therapeutic approaches offer great opportunities to treat genetic diseases which require long-term effects after a single administration of a customized vector. For these specific approaches the optimal vector system should combine the following features: (1) it should efficiently transport the genetic cargo into target cells in vitro or in vivo, (2) it should lead to sufficient long-term expression of the therapeutic transgene, (3) it should not interfere with the expression profile or the composition of the host genome, and (4) it should not result in unwanted side effects such as immune responses or other toxic effects. Predominantly used vectors for maintenance of therapeutic DNA and long-term transgene expression in preclinical and clinical studies are based on integrase-, recombinase-, transposase- or designer nuclease-mediated somatic integration into the host genome. However, for these systems the risk of insertional mutagenesis represents a potential unwanted adverse event. Therefore, autonomously replicating genetic elements were developed and there is accumulating evidence that these episomal vectors which are maintained extrachromosomally are suitable for therapeutic applications in dividing cells. In this review we provide a state-of-the-art overview of used viral hybrid-vectors which efficiently deliver autonomous DNA (plasmid replicon pEPI and Epstein-Barr Virus-based replicons) and RNA replicons (Semliki Forest Virus replicons) into target cells. To date adenoviruses, herpesviruses and baculovirus were explored for efficient delivery of autonomous replicons into various cell types and tissues. Applications and advantages and limitations of these hybrid-vectors are discussed in this review. We believe that with further optimization autonomous replicons may play an increasingly important role in gene therapeutic applications.

Claudia Hagedorn

Center of Biomedical Education and Research

University Witten/Herdecke

Combined Genetic and Chemical Capsid Modifications of Adenovirus-Based Gene Transfer Vectors for Shielding and Targeting

Claudia Hagedorn

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University Witten/Herdecke

Combined Genetic and Chemical Capsid Modifications of Adenovirus-Based Gene Transfer Vectors for Shielding and Targeting

Center of Biomedical Education and Research