The killing effects of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene/ganciclovir (HSV-tk/GCV) approach by the addition of several commonly clinical chemotherapeutic agents on hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC)...The killing effects of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene/ganciclovir (HSV-tk/GCV) approach by the addition of several commonly clinical chemotherapeutic agents on hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) cells PC-3m were investigated. After transferring of the HSV-tk gene into PC-3m cells, mRNA and protein expression of HSV-tk was detected by reverse-transcript polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and strept avidin-biotin complex (SABC) im- munohistochemical method. The killing effect of GCV, cisplatin (CDDP), etoposide (VP-16), vincristine (VCR), methotrexate (MTX), 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu), and suramin on PC-3m cells was evaluated by morphological assessment analysis, trypan blue exclusion assay and MTT assay respectively. Additionally, the cooperative effect of HSV-tk/GCV system combined with the above agents on the target cancer cells was determined by MTT. Furthermore, apoptosis and necrosis induced by GCV plus 5-Fu or suramin was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). The results showed that that there was HSV-tk mRNA and protein expression in pDR2-tk plasmid transduced PC-3m cell. Combination of GCV with VP-16, VCR, 5-Fu or suramin led to an enhanced cellular killing effect, but with CDDP resulted in a reduced one and with MTX in an approximate one. FCM revealed that synergistic use of GCV and 5-fu or suramin resulted in a rather large proportion of apoptosis and necrosis with the apoptosis index being 36.38 % and 35.51%, and the proportion of necrosis being 33.05 % and 28.87 %, respectively. In conclusion, HSV-tk/CGV approach by addition of certain clinical available chemotherapeutic drugs brings on statistically significant enhanced cell killing over single-agent treatment. Our results highlight the potential for such new combination therapies for future treatments of HRPC.展开更多
AIM: To explore the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) targeting angiogenesis against hepatocellular carcinoma in vivio and in vitro. METHODS: Recombinant adenovir...AIM: To explore the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) targeting angiogenesis against hepatocellular carcinoma in vivio and in vitro. METHODS: Recombinant adenovirus containing kinase domain insert with receptor (KDR) or cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter-controlled HSV-tk gene (AdKDR-tk and AdCMV-tk) was constructed using pAdeasy system. The expression of KDR antigen in human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVEC) and HepG2 was detected with histological analysis of cells. The virus was used to infect HUVEC and HepG2. Following administration of ganciclovir (GCV), the survival rate of gene-transfected HUVEC and HepG2 was evaluated by MTT method. To develop hepatocarcinomas in 32 Balb/C mice with HepG2 cells, the mice were divided into four groups: ganciclovir group (Ⅰ), Ad group (Ⅱ), AdCMV-tk group (Ⅲ) and AdKDR-tk group (Ⅳ). Then selective administration of recombinant adenovirus or Ad via the intratumorial was given to all rats. Ganciclovir (GCV) was given at a dose of 100 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 (ip) started on the following day and lasted 10 d. Microvessel density (MVD) of tumor in all the treated animals were examined by the immunohistochemical methods and tumor burden was evaluated 10 d before and alter the last GCV dose.RESULTS: Immunocytochemical staining indicated the expression of KDR antigen in HUVEC. Under adenovirus infection index of 100, with increasing GCV concentration from 0 up to 50 mg/L, the survival rate of AdKDR-tk- transfected HUVEC and HepG2 decreased from 100% to (28.94 ± 5.67)% and (75.45 ± 2.91)% at proper order, respectively (P 〈 0.01), while the survival rate of AdCMV- tk-transfected HUVEC and HepG2 declined from 100% to (17.56 ± 2.48)% and (23.15± 5.72)%, respectively (P 〉 0.05). Compared with group I, there was a decrease of tumor weight by 14.7% in group Ⅲ and by 23.6% in group Ⅳ. And there was a distinct difference between group M and Ⅳ (P 〈 0.05). The median MVD for all groups was 37.4 ± 8.6, 30.6 ± 7.8, 27.6 ± 7.1, and 10.7 ± 4.1 (microvessels/mm^2) in group Ⅰ, Ⅱ, M and IV, respectively. And there was a marked difference between group M and Ⅱ (P 〈 0.05), Ⅳ and Ⅱ (P 〈 0.01), and Ⅳ and M (P 〈 0.01). CONCLUSION: KDR promoter-HSV-tk gene may effectually restrain the growth of tumor via targeting angiogenesis for hepatocellular carcinoma with treatment of GCV.展开更多
Objective: To construct expression vector containing fusion genes of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase(Hsv-tk), Interleukin-2(IL-2) with internal ribosome entry sites(IRES), and to assess their expression in cell ...Objective: To construct expression vector containing fusion genes of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase(Hsv-tk), Interleukin-2(IL-2) with internal ribosome entry sites(IRES), and to assess their expression in cell line Tca8113. Methods: IL-2 cDNA was obtained by reverse transcription. Hsv-tk, IL-2 and IRES genes were amplified by PCR. The purified amplification products were inserted into pGEM-T-Easy, and transformed into E.coli JM109. The purified recombinant plasmids were identified by restriction endonucleases. The recombinant plasmids were digested and pEGFP-N 3 were linearized, DNA fragments of Hsv-tk, IRES and IL-2 were ligated into linearized pEGFP-N 3, and then transferred into E.coli JM109. The recombinant tk-IL-2 genes were cloned separately and introduced into the expression vector pEGFP-N 3 containing GFP. The recombinant vectors were identified by their restriction sites through PCR. The plasmids pEGFP-TI was also transfected into Tca8113 cells by calcium phosphate method for the expression of fusion proteins. Fusion genes expressing vector PL(TI)SN was generated by the fusion of HSV-tk, IRES and IL-2 with the use of DNA recombination technology. The recombinant retroviruses were transferred into Tca8113 cells by lipofectamine. The positive clones were obtained after G418 selection and named Tca/TI respectively. Results: The pEGFP-TI pasmid was identified respectively by restriction endonucleases, and their fragment sizes were 1 120 bp and 450 bp. The pEGFP-TI pasmid as templates were amplified respectively by PCR, and their PCR products were 1 120 bp and 450 bp. The pEGFP-TI vectors were used to transfect Tca8113 cell, and the cells with fluorescence accounted for 60% of the total amount. Conclusion: pFGFP-tk-IRES-IL-2 expressing vector is easy to assess the expression of tk-IRES-IL-2-GFP fusion protein localization in transfected cells. The successful construction of expressing vector containing fusion genes of Hsv-tk, IRES and IL-2 may be beneficial for gene therapy in cell line Tca8113.展开更多
Objective: To observe the effect of anciclovir (ACV) treatment on tumors induced by inoculation of TK gene-transfected human pulmonary adenocarcinoma A549 cells in nude mice. Methods: A recombinant plasmid containing ...Objective: To observe the effect of anciclovir (ACV) treatment on tumors induced by inoculation of TK gene-transfected human pulmonary adenocarcinoma A549 cells in nude mice. Methods: A recombinant plasmid containing TK gene was constructed and transfected into A549 cells by electroporation. The sensitivity of the transgenic cells (A549-TK) to ACV was examined by MTT assay in vitro and for in vivo observation, inoculation of A549-TK and A-549 cells into nude mice was separately performed to induce tumor growth, the response of which to ACV treatment was observed, and the tumor tissues were pathologically examined. Results: A recombinant plasmid containing TK gene was successfully constructed and transfected into A549 cells. The sensitivity of A549-TK cells to ACV was 43 times higher than that of A549 cells. The tumors induced by A549-TK cells showed no significant increase in size after ACV treatment (P>0. 05) , and light microscopy revealed local tissue necrosis, karyoklasis, and nuclei disappearance. Conclusion: A549-TK cells acquires sensitivity to ACV both in vitro and in vivo, and ACV can inhibit the growth of tumors induced by A549-TK cell inoculation in nude mice.展开更多
Objective: Oncolytic adenovirus, also called conditionally replicating adenovirus (CRAD), has been developed for the treatment of cancer. However, there is a tremendous need to enhance their antitumor efficacy. Her...Objective: Oncolytic adenovirus, also called conditionally replicating adenovirus (CRAD), has been developed for the treatment of cancer. However, there is a tremendous need to enhance their antitumor efficacy. Here we wish to evaluate whether a strategy that combines the herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase with oncolytic effects offers a therapeutic advantage. Methods: A novel adenovirus Ad-ETK containing a sequentially positioned promoter of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), the coding sequence of E1A gene, an internal ribosome entry site sequence (IRES) and the coding sequence of herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) was constructed. Infection of various cells with Ad-ETK followed by RT-PCR confirmed the expression of E1A and HSV-TK. The oncolytic ability and synergism between oncolytic effects and HSV-TK system was measured. The infection efficiency was determined by flow cytometry. Results: Ad-ETK deliverys E1A and HSV-TK gene, which selectively replicates in hTERT-positive tumor cells, and the progeny virus can reach up to 150 IU/cell. Our in vitro study showed that Ad-ETK plus ganciclovir (GCV) induced an obvious cell death. Conclusion: An oncolytic adenovirus plus the HSV-TK/GCV suicide gene system resulted in a significant improvement in treatment efficacy and it may offer important considerations in the development and preclinical assessments of oncolytic virotherapy.展开更多
The long-term success of gene therapy for cancer relies heavily on the development of effective targeting systems. We investigate the possibility of targeted gene therapy using promoter of carcinoembryonic antigen (CE...The long-term success of gene therapy for cancer relies heavily on the development of effective targeting systems. We investigate the possibility of targeted gene therapy using promoter of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) gene. By using luciferase reporter gene, we found that CEA promoter exhibit 16 times high activity in CEA-producing lung cancer cells, A549 than in nonproducing cells, Hela. We also constructed a recombinant expression plasmid pCEATK, in which CEA promoter drives the effector gene, thymidine kinase gene of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSVTK). A549 cells transfected with pCEATK became 865 times more sensitive to ganciclovir (GCV) than the control cells. However, Hela cells transfected with this plasmid remained resistant to GCV. These data indicate the potential for targeted gene therapy using the CEA promoter against CEA-producing tumor cells, such as lung cancer cells.展开更多
This work is to demonstrate feasibility of imaging the expression of herpes simplex virus 1-thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk) reporter gene in rabbits myocardium by using the reporter probe 131I-2'-fluoro-2'-deoxy-1-...This work is to demonstrate feasibility of imaging the expression of herpes simplex virus 1-thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk) reporter gene in rabbits myocardium by using the reporter probe 131I-2'-fluoro-2'-deoxy-1-β-D- arabinofuranosyl-5-iodouracil (131I-FIAU) and SPECT. Rabbits of the study group received intramyocardial injection of Ad5-tk and control group received aseptic saline injection. Two sets of experiments were performed on the study group. Rabbits of the 1st set were injected with 131I-FIAU 600 μCi at Day 2 after intramyocardial transfection of Ad5-tk in 1×109, 5×108, 1×108, 5×107 and 1×107 pfu, and heart SPECT imaging was done at different hours. Rabbits of the 2nd were transferred various titers of Ad5-tk (1×109, 5×108, 1×108, 5×107, 1×107 pfu) to determine the threshold and optimal viral titer needed for detection of gene expression. Two days later, 131I-FIAU was injected and heart SPECT imaging was performed at 6, 24 and 48 h, before killing them for gamma counting of the hearts. Reverse tran- scription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to verify the transferred HSV1-tk gene expression. Semi-quantitative analysis derived of region of interest (ROI) of SPECT images and RT-PCR images was performed and the relationship of SPECT images with ex vivo gamma counting and mRNA level were evaluated. SPECT images conformed 131I-FIAU accumulation in rabbits injected with Ad5-tk in the anterolateral wall. The optimal images qual- ity was obtained at 24~48 h for different viral titers. The highest radioactivity in the focal myocardium was seen at 6 h, and then declined with time. The threshold was 5×107 pfu of virus titer. The result could be set better in 1~5×108 pfu by SPECT analysis and gamma counting. ROI-derived semi-quantitative study on SPECT images correlated well with ex vivo gamma counting and mRNA levels from RT-PCR analysis. The HSV1-tk/131I-FIAU reporter gene/reporter probe system is feasible for cardiac SPECT reporter gene imaging. The optimal Ad5-tk titer is 1~5×108 pfu and optimal imaging time is 24~48 h after transferred Ad5-tk in rabbit. The imaging of transgene expression in heart might be used for noninvasive imaging of gene therapy in cardiac diseases in human.展开更多
Objectives To explore whether HSV-TK (herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase) and GM-CSF (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) genes could be linked by internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in one retrovira...Objectives To explore whether HSV-TK (herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase) and GM-CSF (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) genes could be linked by internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in one retroviral vector and expressed by ovarian cancer cells following transfection, and to observe the characteristics of the transduced cells.Methods Retroviral vector pLGM-I-TK was constructed by linking the HSV-TK gene and GM-CSF gene with the IRES sequence. By using the “ping-pong' technique, pLGM-I-TK was transfected into the packaging cell line, PA317, to produce a PA317/TK-GM cell line. Using the resulting viral supernatant to infect the ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3, PCR and RT-PCR were used to explore the integration and transcription of HSV-TK and GM-CSF genes. The cytotoxicity of GCV (gancyclovir) on SKOV3/TK-GM was determined by MTT assay and the bystander effect of the HSV-TK/GCV system was also assessed. ELISA was used to measure the expression of GM-CSF by the transgene cells.Results The bicistronic retroviral vector constructed could be successfully transduced into PA317 and the titer of the retroviral vector was about 8.6×105?cfu/ml. PCR and RT-PCR demonstrated the successful integration and transcription of HSV-TK and GM-CSF genes transduced into the SKOV3 cell. SKOV3/TK-GM cells could be killed by GCV, and the IC50 was 0.7?μg/ml. The bystander effect was demonstrated. The expression level of GM-CSF in SKOV3/TK-GM was 60.4?ng*ml-1*106 cells-1*2 days-1.Conclusion The IRES sequence can be used to construct retroviral vectors to facilitate co-transfection of two genes. SKOV3/TK-GM cells can simultaneously express the HSV-TK and GM-CSF genes with biological activities which could be useful for enhancing the function of immune cells on the basis of suicide gene therapy.展开更多
文摘The killing effects of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene/ganciclovir (HSV-tk/GCV) approach by the addition of several commonly clinical chemotherapeutic agents on hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) cells PC-3m were investigated. After transferring of the HSV-tk gene into PC-3m cells, mRNA and protein expression of HSV-tk was detected by reverse-transcript polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and strept avidin-biotin complex (SABC) im- munohistochemical method. The killing effect of GCV, cisplatin (CDDP), etoposide (VP-16), vincristine (VCR), methotrexate (MTX), 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu), and suramin on PC-3m cells was evaluated by morphological assessment analysis, trypan blue exclusion assay and MTT assay respectively. Additionally, the cooperative effect of HSV-tk/GCV system combined with the above agents on the target cancer cells was determined by MTT. Furthermore, apoptosis and necrosis induced by GCV plus 5-Fu or suramin was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). The results showed that that there was HSV-tk mRNA and protein expression in pDR2-tk plasmid transduced PC-3m cell. Combination of GCV with VP-16, VCR, 5-Fu or suramin led to an enhanced cellular killing effect, but with CDDP resulted in a reduced one and with MTX in an approximate one. FCM revealed that synergistic use of GCV and 5-fu or suramin resulted in a rather large proportion of apoptosis and necrosis with the apoptosis index being 36.38 % and 35.51%, and the proportion of necrosis being 33.05 % and 28.87 %, respectively. In conclusion, HSV-tk/CGV approach by addition of certain clinical available chemotherapeutic drugs brings on statistically significant enhanced cell killing over single-agent treatment. Our results highlight the potential for such new combination therapies for future treatments of HRPC.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30371386the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, No. 31010
文摘AIM: To explore the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) targeting angiogenesis against hepatocellular carcinoma in vivio and in vitro. METHODS: Recombinant adenovirus containing kinase domain insert with receptor (KDR) or cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter-controlled HSV-tk gene (AdKDR-tk and AdCMV-tk) was constructed using pAdeasy system. The expression of KDR antigen in human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVEC) and HepG2 was detected with histological analysis of cells. The virus was used to infect HUVEC and HepG2. Following administration of ganciclovir (GCV), the survival rate of gene-transfected HUVEC and HepG2 was evaluated by MTT method. To develop hepatocarcinomas in 32 Balb/C mice with HepG2 cells, the mice were divided into four groups: ganciclovir group (Ⅰ), Ad group (Ⅱ), AdCMV-tk group (Ⅲ) and AdKDR-tk group (Ⅳ). Then selective administration of recombinant adenovirus or Ad via the intratumorial was given to all rats. Ganciclovir (GCV) was given at a dose of 100 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 (ip) started on the following day and lasted 10 d. Microvessel density (MVD) of tumor in all the treated animals were examined by the immunohistochemical methods and tumor burden was evaluated 10 d before and alter the last GCV dose.RESULTS: Immunocytochemical staining indicated the expression of KDR antigen in HUVEC. Under adenovirus infection index of 100, with increasing GCV concentration from 0 up to 50 mg/L, the survival rate of AdKDR-tk- transfected HUVEC and HepG2 decreased from 100% to (28.94 ± 5.67)% and (75.45 ± 2.91)% at proper order, respectively (P 〈 0.01), while the survival rate of AdCMV- tk-transfected HUVEC and HepG2 declined from 100% to (17.56 ± 2.48)% and (23.15± 5.72)%, respectively (P 〉 0.05). Compared with group I, there was a decrease of tumor weight by 14.7% in group Ⅲ and by 23.6% in group Ⅳ. And there was a distinct difference between group M and Ⅳ (P 〈 0.05). The median MVD for all groups was 37.4 ± 8.6, 30.6 ± 7.8, 27.6 ± 7.1, and 10.7 ± 4.1 (microvessels/mm^2) in group Ⅰ, Ⅱ, M and IV, respectively. And there was a marked difference between group M and Ⅱ (P 〈 0.05), Ⅳ and Ⅱ (P 〈 0.01), and Ⅳ and M (P 〈 0.01). CONCLUSION: KDR promoter-HSV-tk gene may effectually restrain the growth of tumor via targeting angiogenesis for hepatocellular carcinoma with treatment of GCV.
文摘Objective: To construct expression vector containing fusion genes of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase(Hsv-tk), Interleukin-2(IL-2) with internal ribosome entry sites(IRES), and to assess their expression in cell line Tca8113. Methods: IL-2 cDNA was obtained by reverse transcription. Hsv-tk, IL-2 and IRES genes were amplified by PCR. The purified amplification products were inserted into pGEM-T-Easy, and transformed into E.coli JM109. The purified recombinant plasmids were identified by restriction endonucleases. The recombinant plasmids were digested and pEGFP-N 3 were linearized, DNA fragments of Hsv-tk, IRES and IL-2 were ligated into linearized pEGFP-N 3, and then transferred into E.coli JM109. The recombinant tk-IL-2 genes were cloned separately and introduced into the expression vector pEGFP-N 3 containing GFP. The recombinant vectors were identified by their restriction sites through PCR. The plasmids pEGFP-TI was also transfected into Tca8113 cells by calcium phosphate method for the expression of fusion proteins. Fusion genes expressing vector PL(TI)SN was generated by the fusion of HSV-tk, IRES and IL-2 with the use of DNA recombination technology. The recombinant retroviruses were transferred into Tca8113 cells by lipofectamine. The positive clones were obtained after G418 selection and named Tca/TI respectively. Results: The pEGFP-TI pasmid was identified respectively by restriction endonucleases, and their fragment sizes were 1 120 bp and 450 bp. The pEGFP-TI pasmid as templates were amplified respectively by PCR, and their PCR products were 1 120 bp and 450 bp. The pEGFP-TI vectors were used to transfect Tca8113 cell, and the cells with fluorescence accounted for 60% of the total amount. Conclusion: pFGFP-tk-IRES-IL-2 expressing vector is easy to assess the expression of tk-IRES-IL-2-GFP fusion protein localization in transfected cells. The successful construction of expressing vector containing fusion genes of Hsv-tk, IRES and IL-2 may be beneficial for gene therapy in cell line Tca8113.
文摘Objective: To observe the effect of anciclovir (ACV) treatment on tumors induced by inoculation of TK gene-transfected human pulmonary adenocarcinoma A549 cells in nude mice. Methods: A recombinant plasmid containing TK gene was constructed and transfected into A549 cells by electroporation. The sensitivity of the transgenic cells (A549-TK) to ACV was examined by MTT assay in vitro and for in vivo observation, inoculation of A549-TK and A-549 cells into nude mice was separately performed to induce tumor growth, the response of which to ACV treatment was observed, and the tumor tissues were pathologically examined. Results: A recombinant plasmid containing TK gene was successfully constructed and transfected into A549 cells. The sensitivity of A549-TK cells to ACV was 43 times higher than that of A549 cells. The tumors induced by A549-TK cells showed no significant increase in size after ACV treatment (P>0. 05) , and light microscopy revealed local tissue necrosis, karyoklasis, and nuclei disappearance. Conclusion: A549-TK cells acquires sensitivity to ACV both in vitro and in vivo, and ACV can inhibit the growth of tumors induced by A549-TK cell inoculation in nude mice.
文摘Objective: Oncolytic adenovirus, also called conditionally replicating adenovirus (CRAD), has been developed for the treatment of cancer. However, there is a tremendous need to enhance their antitumor efficacy. Here we wish to evaluate whether a strategy that combines the herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase with oncolytic effects offers a therapeutic advantage. Methods: A novel adenovirus Ad-ETK containing a sequentially positioned promoter of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), the coding sequence of E1A gene, an internal ribosome entry site sequence (IRES) and the coding sequence of herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) was constructed. Infection of various cells with Ad-ETK followed by RT-PCR confirmed the expression of E1A and HSV-TK. The oncolytic ability and synergism between oncolytic effects and HSV-TK system was measured. The infection efficiency was determined by flow cytometry. Results: Ad-ETK deliverys E1A and HSV-TK gene, which selectively replicates in hTERT-positive tumor cells, and the progeny virus can reach up to 150 IU/cell. Our in vitro study showed that Ad-ETK plus ganciclovir (GCV) induced an obvious cell death. Conclusion: An oncolytic adenovirus plus the HSV-TK/GCV suicide gene system resulted in a significant improvement in treatment efficacy and it may offer important considerations in the development and preclinical assessments of oncolytic virotherapy.
文摘The long-term success of gene therapy for cancer relies heavily on the development of effective targeting systems. We investigate the possibility of targeted gene therapy using promoter of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) gene. By using luciferase reporter gene, we found that CEA promoter exhibit 16 times high activity in CEA-producing lung cancer cells, A549 than in nonproducing cells, Hela. We also constructed a recombinant expression plasmid pCEATK, in which CEA promoter drives the effector gene, thymidine kinase gene of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSVTK). A549 cells transfected with pCEATK became 865 times more sensitive to ganciclovir (GCV) than the control cells. However, Hela cells transfected with this plasmid remained resistant to GCV. These data indicate the potential for targeted gene therapy using the CEA promoter against CEA-producing tumor cells, such as lung cancer cells.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.30400176, 30571816)
文摘This work is to demonstrate feasibility of imaging the expression of herpes simplex virus 1-thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk) reporter gene in rabbits myocardium by using the reporter probe 131I-2'-fluoro-2'-deoxy-1-β-D- arabinofuranosyl-5-iodouracil (131I-FIAU) and SPECT. Rabbits of the study group received intramyocardial injection of Ad5-tk and control group received aseptic saline injection. Two sets of experiments were performed on the study group. Rabbits of the 1st set were injected with 131I-FIAU 600 μCi at Day 2 after intramyocardial transfection of Ad5-tk in 1×109, 5×108, 1×108, 5×107 and 1×107 pfu, and heart SPECT imaging was done at different hours. Rabbits of the 2nd were transferred various titers of Ad5-tk (1×109, 5×108, 1×108, 5×107, 1×107 pfu) to determine the threshold and optimal viral titer needed for detection of gene expression. Two days later, 131I-FIAU was injected and heart SPECT imaging was performed at 6, 24 and 48 h, before killing them for gamma counting of the hearts. Reverse tran- scription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to verify the transferred HSV1-tk gene expression. Semi-quantitative analysis derived of region of interest (ROI) of SPECT images and RT-PCR images was performed and the relationship of SPECT images with ex vivo gamma counting and mRNA level were evaluated. SPECT images conformed 131I-FIAU accumulation in rabbits injected with Ad5-tk in the anterolateral wall. The optimal images qual- ity was obtained at 24~48 h for different viral titers. The highest radioactivity in the focal myocardium was seen at 6 h, and then declined with time. The threshold was 5×107 pfu of virus titer. The result could be set better in 1~5×108 pfu by SPECT analysis and gamma counting. ROI-derived semi-quantitative study on SPECT images correlated well with ex vivo gamma counting and mRNA levels from RT-PCR analysis. The HSV1-tk/131I-FIAU reporter gene/reporter probe system is feasible for cardiac SPECT reporter gene imaging. The optimal Ad5-tk titer is 1~5×108 pfu and optimal imaging time is 24~48 h after transferred Ad5-tk in rabbit. The imaging of transgene expression in heart might be used for noninvasive imaging of gene therapy in cardiac diseases in human.
文摘Objectives To explore whether HSV-TK (herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase) and GM-CSF (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) genes could be linked by internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in one retroviral vector and expressed by ovarian cancer cells following transfection, and to observe the characteristics of the transduced cells.Methods Retroviral vector pLGM-I-TK was constructed by linking the HSV-TK gene and GM-CSF gene with the IRES sequence. By using the “ping-pong' technique, pLGM-I-TK was transfected into the packaging cell line, PA317, to produce a PA317/TK-GM cell line. Using the resulting viral supernatant to infect the ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3, PCR and RT-PCR were used to explore the integration and transcription of HSV-TK and GM-CSF genes. The cytotoxicity of GCV (gancyclovir) on SKOV3/TK-GM was determined by MTT assay and the bystander effect of the HSV-TK/GCV system was also assessed. ELISA was used to measure the expression of GM-CSF by the transgene cells.Results The bicistronic retroviral vector constructed could be successfully transduced into PA317 and the titer of the retroviral vector was about 8.6×105?cfu/ml. PCR and RT-PCR demonstrated the successful integration and transcription of HSV-TK and GM-CSF genes transduced into the SKOV3 cell. SKOV3/TK-GM cells could be killed by GCV, and the IC50 was 0.7?μg/ml. The bystander effect was demonstrated. The expression level of GM-CSF in SKOV3/TK-GM was 60.4?ng*ml-1*106 cells-1*2 days-1.Conclusion The IRES sequence can be used to construct retroviral vectors to facilitate co-transfection of two genes. SKOV3/TK-GM cells can simultaneously express the HSV-TK and GM-CSF genes with biological activities which could be useful for enhancing the function of immune cells on the basis of suicide gene therapy.