A novel approach to genetic engineering of T-cell subsets by hematopoietic stem cell infection with a bicistronic lentivirus

Sci Rep. 2020 Aug 13;10(1):13740. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-70793-6.

Abstract

Lentiviral modification of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) paved the way for in vivo experimentation and therapeutic approaches in patients with genetic disease. A disadvantage of this method is the use of a ubiquitous promoter leads not only to genetic modification of the leukocyte subset of interest e.g. T-cells, but also all other subsequent leukocyte progeny of the parent HSCs. To overcome this limitation we tested a bicistronic lentivirus, enabling subset specific modifications. Designed novel lentiviral constructs harbor a global promoter (mPGK) regulating mCherry for HSCs selection and a T-cell specific promoter upstream of eGFP. Two T-cell specific promoters were assessed: the distal Lck-(dLck) and the CD3δ-promoter. Transduced HSCs were FACS sorted by mCherry expression and transferred into sublethally irradiated C57/BL6 mice. Successful transplantation and T-cell specific expression of eGFP was monitored by peripheral blood assessment. Furthermore, recruitment response of lentiviral engineered leukocytes to the site of inflammation was tested in a peritonitis model without functional impairment. Our constructed lentivirus enables fast generation of subset specific leukocyte transgenesis as shown in T-cells in vivo and opens new opportunities to modify other HSCs derived subsets in the future.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD3 Complex / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gene Transfer Techniques
  • Genetic Engineering / methods
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / virology*
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / virology
  • Lentivirus / genetics*
  • Lentivirus Infections / virology*
  • Leukocytes / physiology
  • Leukocytes / virology
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / physiology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / virology*

Substances

  • CD3 Complex
  • CD3delta antigen
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins