Previous Article | Next Article ![]()
J. Virol., 10 1995, 5951-5958, Vol 69, No. 10
MJ Goldman and JM Wilson
Recombinant adenoviruses are being evaluated for gene therapy of cystic
fibrosis lung disease with the goal of reconstituting the expression of the
cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in pulmonary epithelia
by direct administration of the virus into the airway. The therapeutic
potential of recombinant adenoviruses is limited in part by the relative
inefficiency by which gene transfer occurs. This study uses a human
bronchial xenograft model to study adenovirus infection in the human airway
in an attempt to define the molecular events that limit gene transfer. Our
studies of the human airway confirm previous observations of cell lines
that have indicated a two-step process for adenovirus entry, which begins
with the binding of the virus to the cell through the fiber protein and
continues with internalization via interactions among cellular integrins
and an RGD motif (Arg-Gly-Asp) in the penton base. Furthermore, the level
of maturity of the epithelia in xenografts has a major impact on gene
transfer. Undifferentiated epithelia express high levels of alpha v beta 5
integrins and are easily infected with recombinant adenoviruses; gene
transfer is completely inhibited with excess fiber and partially inhibited
with RGD peptide and alpha v beta 5 integrin antibody. Pseudostratified
epithelia do not express alpha v beta 5 integrin in differentiated columnar
cells and are relatively resistant to adenovirus-mediated gene transfer;
what little gene transfer occurs is inhibited by fiber but not by RGD
peptide or alpha v beta 5 integrin antibody. These studies suggest that the
expression of integrins in human airway epithelia limits the efficiency of
gene transfer with recombinant adenoviruses. However, low-level gene
transfer can occur in fully mature epithelia through alpha v beta 5
integrin-independent pathways.
Copyright © 1995, American Society for Microbiology
Expression of alpha v beta 5 integrin is necessary for efficient adenovirus-mediated gene transfer in the human airway
Institute for Human Gene Therapy, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
This article has been cited by other articles:
Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology. For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»