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Journal of Virology, May 2002, p. 4580-4590, Vol. 76, No. 9
0022-538X/02/$04.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.76.9.4580-4590.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,1 Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada,2 Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University,3 Children's Research Institute, Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio4
Received 15 November 2001/ Accepted 30 January 2002
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), RANTES, IP-10, MIP-1ß, MCP-1, and MIP-2 mRNAs. However, 6 h following injection, chemokine mRNA levels returned to baseline. As expected, administration of 10-fold less AdlacZ caused an induction of liver TNF-
and chemokine mRNAs that persisted for more than 24 h posttransduction. Whereas intravenous administration of 2.5 x 1011 particles of AAVlacZ triggered a transient infiltration of neutrophils and CD11b+ cells into liver, this response stood in contrast to widespread inflammation and toxicity induced by AdlacZ. Kupffer cell depletion abolished AAVlacZ but not AdlacZ-induced chemokine expression and neutrophil infiltration. In summary, these results show that AAV vectors activate the innate immune system to a lesser extent than do adenovirus vectors and offer a possible explanation for the reduced inflammatory properties of AAV compared to adenovirus vectors. |
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The acute inflammation induced by adenovirus vectors is due to the activation of target cells and the innate immune system (5, 32). It was previously demonstrated that adenovirus vectors induce the expression of chemokines following transduction in epithelial cells in vitro (5, 27). The induction of chemokines in these target cells is direct and occurs independently of virus transcription. In vivo, adenovirus vectors also activate the innate immune system (32, 40). The innate immune system is comprised of numerous cellular components including neutrophils, natural killer cells, and macrophages that recognize pathogens according to the pattern of their surface components rather than their specific antigenic sequences (14). An invading pathogen induces a cell to respond rapidly (within minutes to hours) and release an array of inflammatory mediators including cytokines and chemokines (31). The activation of innate immune responses in vivo also occurs in the absence of virus gene transcription (24, 32). The activation of target cells and the innate immune system is an important component of host recognition and response to adenovirus vectors (14).
The direct activation of target cells and the innate immune system by psoralen-inactivated adenovirus vectors suggests a role for the viral capsid in these responses. Thus, the differential induction of acute inflammation in vivo arising from adenovirus and AAV infection is not clear given the similar features of both vectors. Adenoviridae contain a linear double-stranded DNA genome, which is encapsulated in an icosahedral protein shell that is approximately 70 nm in diameter (17). Adenovirus particles bind to the 46-kDa coxsackievirus adenovirus receptor and are internalized by receptor-mediated endocytosis in clathrin-coated vesicles.
v integrins (
vß1,
vß3,
vß5) are essential for the efficient internalization of adenovirus vectors (21, 28, 38). The AAV genome is encapsulated as a single-stranded DNA molecule. The nonenveloped virion is also icosahedral in shape but measures only 20 to 25 nm in diameter (7). Initial attachment of AAV to cells is mediated by interaction with heparan sulfate proteoglycan (34). Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 has also been implicated in virus attachment (29). Using
vß5 integrins as a coreceptor, AAV vectors gain entry into cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis in a manner similar to that of adenoviruses (2, 33).
The objective of this study is to determine the effects of AAV vector transduction on the host chemokine induction in vitro and on the activation of innate immune responses in vivo. We demonstrate that adenovirus but not AAV vectors induce chemokine expression in target cells at equivalent titers and transduction efficiencies in vitro. Furthermore, we show for the first time that AAV vectors transiently activate innate immune responses in vivo. These results increase our understanding of viral vector biology and provide a basis for the reduced inflammatory properties exhibited by AAV vectors.
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AAVlacZ vectors were prepared from producer cell lines using wild-type Ad5 as described by Clark et al. (9) and purified by high-pressure liquid chromatography with a POROS HE1/M heparin column. Final vector preparations were dialyzed into buffer as above and stored at -70°C. The absence of replication-competent adenovirus in the AAVlacZ preparations was assayed by passing 1% of the purified vector stock onto 293 cells and scoring for adenovirus cytopathic effect after 7 days. Adenovirus contamination was consistently less than 1 infectious Ad particle per 1012 AAV particles, when evidenced at all. DNase-resistant particle values were determined using a Perkin-Elmer Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.) Prism 7700 sequence detector as described previously (9).
Endotoxin testing. Low-endotoxin H2O, buffers, and tissue culture reagents were used for vector production and experiments. Adenovirus and AAV vectors were routinely tested for the presence of endotoxin using the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate kit (Bio-Whittaker, Walkersville, Md.). All vectors contained <0.1 endotoxin units/ml of endotoxin.
Animal studies. Male DBA/2 (H-2d) mice were obtained from Charles River Laboratories (Wilmington, Mass.) and housed under standard conditions. All animals were used at 10 to 12 weeks of age (25 to 30 g). Under methoxyfluorane general anesthesia, 2.5 x 109 to 2.5 x 1011 particles of AdlacZ or AAVlacZ was injected via the femoral vein in a total volume of 100 µl (vector plus sucrose vehicle). Control animals were treated with 100 µl of sucrose vehicle alone (3% sucrose, 150 mM NaCl, 10 mM Tris [pH 7.4], 1 mM MgCl2). Animals were allowed to recover and then were sacrificed at predetermined time points, and the livers and sera were harvested for analysis. For Kupffer cell depletion experiments, gadolinium chloride (GdCl3) (10 mg/kg of body weight in a total volume of 100 µl) was injected via the tail vein 48 and 24 h prior to viral vector administration. All animal studies were performed in accordance with the Animal Care Committee guidelines at the University of Calgary.
Cell culture. The immortalized, nontransformed, epithelium-derived DBA/2 mouse kidney cell line (renal epithelium-derived cells [REC cells]) (5, 39) and human HeLa cells were maintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% penicillin-streptomycin (GIBCO-BRL, Rockville, Md.). Viral transductions were performed in six-well plates with 106 cells/well. Cells were incubated with 1 ml of medium per well containing viral vectors followed by incubation at 37°C in 5% CO2 for 1 or 6 h for RNase protection assays. Depending on the experiment, cells were harvested with trypsin or by direct lysis.
RNase protection assays. Liver tissues and cells were processed for total RNA using RNeasy (Qiagen, Chatsworth, Calif.) according to the manufacturer's protocol. RNase protection assays were performed using the RiboQuant Multi-Probe RNase protection assay system (PharMingen, San Diego, Calif.). Briefly, by using the multiprobe template set mCK5-mCK3 for mouse cells or hCK5 for human cells, a [32P]UTP-labeled RNA probe was transcribed using T7 polymerase followed by phenol-chloroform extraction and ethanol precipitation. The concentration of the probe was adjusted to 3 x 105 cpm/µl (mCK3 and mCK5) or 3.1 x 105 (hCK5) cpm/µl. Seven micrograms of RNA per sample was hybridized to 6 x 105 cpm of total probe overnight at 56°C. Samples were then digested with RNase, followed by proteinase K treatment and phenol-chloroform extraction. After ethanol precipitation with 4 M ammonium acetate, protected samples were resuspended in 1x loading buffer and separated on 5.7% acrylamide-bisacrylamide urea gels. After drying, the gels were visualized by autoradiography.
Slot and Southern blot analysis. To obtain total cell DNA, transduced cells were trypsinized for 5 min and washed several times with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) to remove bound virus from the cell surface. The pellet was lysed in 300 µl of lysis buffer (100 mM NaCl, 10 mM Tris [pH 8.0], 25 mM EDTA [pH 8.0], 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate [SDS], 0.1 mg of proteinase K per ml) and incubated at 50°C for 2 h. Liver samples were lysed in 500 µl of the same buffer and incubated at 50°C overnight. Nucleic acids were thoroughly extracted with phenol-chloroform-isoamyl alcohol (25:24:1), and the aqueous layer was ethanol precipitated. The DNA was resuspended in double-distilled water. For Southern analysis, 3 µg of total DNA was digested with HindIII and separated on a 1% agarose gel. The gel was washed in 0.25 M HCl followed by another wash in a 0.4 M NaOH solution, and the DNA alkaline was transferred onto a Hybond XL nylon membrane (Amersham Pharmacia). A 3,121-bp fragment spanning the entire lacZ gene was labeled with [32P]dCTP with the Redprime random prime labeling system (Amersham Pharmacia) and served as probe. Hybridizations were performed by using 2 ng of labeled probe per ml in 5 ml of ExpressHyb solution (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.) at 60°C for 1 h. The membrane was then washed in 2x SSC (1x SSC is 0.15 M NaCl plus 0.015 M sodium citrate)-0.1% SDS for 30 min and twice in 0.2x SSC-0.1% SDS for 30 min at 50°C and exposed to radiographic film. For slot blot analysis 1 µg of total DNA from tissue culture cells or 2 µg of total DNA from liver samples was diluted with NaOH and EDTA to a final concentration of 0.4 M NaOH and 10 mM EDTA, heat denatured, and fixed onto a positively charged Hybond XL nylon membrane (Amersham Pharmacia) using a slot blot manifold. The membrane was subsequently rinsed with 0.4 M NaOH and hybridized as described above.
Histology and liver function tests. Mice were sacrificed, and livers were harvested, rinsed in PBS, and fixed in 10% formalin. A portion of the liver was also snap-frozen in O.C.T. compound (Tissue Tek) and stored at -70°. Formalin-fixed tissues were embedded in paraffin. Five-micrometer-thick sections were stained with eosin and hematoxylin (for neutrophils, with chloroacetate esterase staining [Leder stain]) and analyzed by light microscopy in a blinded fashion.
Immunohistochemistry was performed by fixing 5-µm-thick frozen tissue sections for 10 min in acetone at 4°C followed by three washes in cold PBS for 10 min each. Sections for F4/80 staining to detect Kupffer cells were quenched in 0.3% H2O2 in PBS for 10 min. Sections were then blocked with rabbit serum for 30 min and avidin-biotin for 10 min (Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, Calif.) and were then incubated with a 1:500 dilution of rat anti-mouse CD11b (Mac-1) antibody (BD Pharmingen) or 1:100 dilution of the Kupffer cell-specific F4/80 (Serotec) for 1 h at room temperature. After being washed with PBS, sections were incubated with rabbit anti-rat immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody for 30 min at room temperature and then stained using the ABC protocol and DAB substrate (Vector Laboratories). Leukocyte numbers were determined by counting the number of positive-stained cells over 40 fields at a magnification of x40. The mean number of positive cells per high power field (hpf) was then calculated.
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST/GOT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT/GPT) determinations were performed on mouse serum using the Sigma Diagnostics transaminase kit as per the manufacturer protocol. Results are expressed as Sigma-Frankel (SF) units per milliliter.
Statistical analysis. All experiments were performed at least in triplicate. Values are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation.
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mRNAs were also increased following transduction with AdlacZ but to a much lower extent. As in REC cells, AAVlacZ failed to increase expression of these chemokines above baseline despite transduction with higher titers (Fig. 1B). Chemokine induction was not detected in REC or HeLa cells 1 h following transduction with either AAVlacZ or AdlacZ (data not shown).
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FIG. 1. Adenovirus and AAV vector-induced chemokine expression in vitro determined by an RNase protection assay of AdlacZ- or AAVlacZ-transduced cells. (A) REC cells were transduced with increasing titers of AdlacZ (1 x 103 to 70 x 103 part/cell) or AAVlacZ (15 x 103 to 200 x 103 part/cell). AdlacZ induced the expression of RANTES, MIP-1ß, MIP-2, and IP-10 in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, AAVlacZ failed to induce chemokine expression above baseline at titers 40-fold greater. (B) HeLa cells transduced with increasing titers of AdlacZ (1 x 103 to 70 x 103 part/cell) are induced to express RANTES, IP-10, MIP-1 , and IL-8 in a dose-dependent manner. AAVlacZ (15 x 103 to 200 x 103 part/cell) does not induce chemokine expression in HeLa cells. VH, sucrose vehicle.
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FIG. 2. Transduction efficiency of adenovirus and AAV vectors in vitro. (A) Slot blot analysis of total DNA from AdlacZ- and AAVlacZ-transduced REC and HeLa cells. Probing for the lacZ reporter gene confirms that cellular viral genome content correlates directly with vector titer. (B) Southern blot of transduced cells probing for the lacZ reporter gene. Total DNA from AdlacZ-transduced REC and HeLa cells reveals a 7,500-bp fragment of adenovirus DNA containing the lacZ gene. AAVlacZ-transduced cells demonstrate multiple genome conformations characteristic of early AAV infection. SS, single-stranded vector genome; M, monomer.
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AAV vectors induce the expression of chemokines and cytokines in vivo. The preceding studies were performed in cell culture and provided the basis for studies in whole animals. To determine the host response to AAV vectors in vivo, hepatic chemokine and cytokine mRNA levels were examined in DBA/2 mice following administration of adenovirus or AAV vectors. DBA/2 mice were injected intravenously with 2.5 x 109, 2.5 x 1010, or 2.5 x 1011 particles of AdlacZ or AAVlacZ. Animals were sacrificed at 1, 6, and 24 h following injection of virus. Both livers and sera were collected for analysis.
As previously reported, AdlacZ induced the expression of many inflammatory chemokines in the liver as determined by RNase protection assay (27). Results (Fig. 3A) showed that MIP-1ß, MIP-2, MCP-1, and IP-10 mRNAs were induced in a dose-dependent manner as early as 1 h following the administration of AdlacZ. Furthermore, chemokine mRNA levels increased from 1 to 6 h and remained elevated for the duration of the experiment that was terminated at 24 h (Fig. 3A). Surprisingly, AAVlacZ also induced the expression of chemokine mRNAs in vivo. One hour following the intravenous administration of 2.5 x 1011 particles of AAVlacZ, RANTES, MIP-1ß, MIP-2, MCP-1, and IP-10 mRNA levels were significantly upregulated. In contrast to what was observed with AdlacZ, however, chemokine mRNA expression was not induced following transduction with lower titers (2.5 x 109 and 2.5 x 1010 particles of AAVlacZ), suggesting a higher and more distinct threshold for AAVlacZ-induced chemokine expression in vivo. Interestingly, AAVlacZ-induced chemokine mRNA expression was transient and returned to undetectable levels within 6 h. Similar patterns of induction (Fig. 3B) were seen with the cytokines lymphotoxin ß (LTB-ß) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-
). At 6 h postinjection 2.5 x 1011 particles of AdlacZ induced the expression of TNF-
and LTB-ß mRNAs with the highest level of induction. The same titer of AAVlacZ up-regulated TNF-
and LTB-ß mRNAs at 1 h following vector administration but returned to baseline before 6 h (Fig. 3B). Transcripts for IL-6, IL-1ß, and gamma interferon (data not shown) were not detectable at any time following the administration of AAVlacZ. These results show that AAV vectors induce the expression of chemokines and cytokines in vivo but that the response is transient and occurs at a higher threshold titer than that for adenovirus vectors.
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FIG. 3. Adenovirus and AAV vector-induced chemokine and cytokine expression in vivo. RNase protection assay of DBA/2 mouse liver RNA following the intravenous administration of 2.5 x 109, 2.5 x 1010, and 2.5 x 1011 particles of AdlacZ or AAVlacZ. (A) Chemokine mRNA expression. One, six, and twenty-four hours following injection, AdlacZ induced the expression of RANTES, MIP-1ß, MIP-2, MCP-1, and IP-10 in a dose-dependent manner. AAVlacZ induced the expression of proinflammatory chemokines only 1 h following the administration of 2.5 x 1011 particles. Chemokine mRNA was not increased in mouse liver 6 and 24 h following the administration of 2.5 x 1011 particles of AAVlacZ. (B) Cytokine mRNA expression. LTB-ß and TNF- mRNAs are induced in a pattern similar to that of chemokines following AdlacZ and AAVlacZ administration. Data are representative samples of experiments performed with three animals per time point.
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FIG. 4. Analysis of adenovirus and AAV vector transduction in vivo. (A) Slot blot analysis of mouse liver total DNA 1, 6, and 24 h following transduction with 2.5 x 1011 particles of AdlacZ or AAVlacZ. Probing for the lacZ reporter gene reveals equivalent amounts of AAV and adenoviral genome DNA in transduced mouse livers. (B) Southern blot analysis of mouse liver total DNA 1, 6, or 24 h after injection of 2.5 x 1011 particles of AdlacZ or AAVlacZ. Probing for the lacZ gene reveals a 7,500-bp fragment of adenovirus DNA in AdlacZ-transduced mice. AAVlacZ-transduced livers demonstrate multiple genome conformations characteristic of early AAV infection. SS, single-stranded vector genome; M, monomer. Data are representative samples of experiments performed with three animals per time point.
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FIG. 5. Leukocyte infiltration following adenovirus or AAV vector transduction in vivo. (A) Leder (esterase) stain of liver sections showing infiltrating neutrophils in normal (+KC) or Kupffer cell-depleted (-KC) DBA/2 mice 1 h following the intravenous administration of 2.5 x 1011 particles of AdlacZ or AAVlacZ. (B) CD11b+ immunohistochemistry of liver sections showing infiltrating leukocytes in normal (+KC) or Kupffer cell-depleted (-KC) DBA/2 mice 1 h following the intravenous administration of 2.5 x 1011 particles of AdlacZ or AAVlacZ (magnification, x40). Arrowheads indicate one representative stained cell. Quantitative analysis of neutrophil (C) and CD11b+ (D) cell infiltration in mouse liver 1, 6, or 24 h after intravenous administration of 2.5 x 1011 particles of AdlacZ or AAVlacZ. , with Kupffer cells; , depleted of Kupffer cells. Values represent mean cells per high power field ± SD (n = 3).
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FIG. 6. Liver morphology following adenovirus or AAV vector transduction in vivo. (A) Liver necrosis (seen as pale patchy areas) is detected at 24 h in mice administered 2.5 x 10 11 particles of AdlacZ, but not in AAV- or vehicle-treated animals (hematoxylin and eosin stain; magnification, x20). Data are representative samples of experiments performed with three animals. (B) Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST/GOT) ( ) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT/GPT) ( ) levels in mice 24 h following the administration of 2.5 x 1011 particles of AdlacZ or AAVlacZ. VH, vehicle-treated animals. Values represent mean SF units ± SD (n = 3).
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mRNA was absent following AAVlacZ but not AdlacZ administration in Kupffer cell-depleted animals (Fig. 7C). Consistent with these results, Kupffer cell depletion also reduced AAVlacZ-induced hepatic leukocyte recruitment at 1 h to baseline (Fig. 5). Adenovirus vector-induced leukocyte recruitment to the liver was only slightly reduced in Kupffer cell-depleted animals. These results show that AAV but not adenovirus vector-induced chemokine and cytokine expression and leukocyte recruitment in the liver are dependent solely on Kupffer cells.
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FIG. 7. Adenovirus and AAV vector-induced chemokine and cytokine expression in Kupffer cell-depleted mice. (A) Kupffer cell immunohistochemistry in mouse liver following gadolidium chloride treatment. Liver Kupffer cells are reduced over 90% in mice receiving GdCl3. (B) RNase protection assay of mouse liver RNA, 1 h following intravenous administration of 2.5 x 1011 particles of AdlacZ or AAVlacZ in normal mice (+KC) or GdCl3-treated mice (-KC). Kupffer cell depletion abolishes AAVlacZ-induced chemokine mRNA expression at 1 h. VH, vehicle. Data are representative samples of experiments performed with four animals per group (results for two representative animals are shown). (C) LTB-ß and TNF- mRNA expression in GdCl3-treated mice (-KC) 1 h following the administration of 2.5 x 1011 particles of AdlacZ or AAVlacZ.
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FIG. 8. Analysis of adenovirus and AAV vector transduction in Kupffer cell-depleted mice. (A) Slot blot analysis of mouse liver total DNA 1 h following the administration of 2.5 x 1011 particles of AdlacZ or AAVlacZ to normal (+KC) and GdCl3-treated (-KC) animals. Probing for the lacZ reporter gene reveals equivalent amounts of AAV and adenoviral genome DNA in transduced mouse livers. Data are representative samples of experiments performed with four animals per group (results for two representative animals are shown). (B) Southern blot analysis of mouse liver total DNA, 1 h following the administration of 2.5 x 1011 particles of AdlacZ or AAVlacZ to Kupffer cell-depleted mice. Probing for the lacZ gene reveals a 7,501-bp fragment of adenovirus DNA in AdlacZ-transduced mice. AAVlacZ-transduced livers demonstrate multiple genome conformations, characteristic of early AAV infection. SS, single-stranded vector genome; M, monomer; VH, vehicle.
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The early host response to viral infection involves interaction between two components, the infected target cell and the innate immune system (14). We and others have previously demonstrated with epithelium-derived target cells in vitro that adenovirus vectors induce the expression of chemokines (1, 5, 27). The molecular basis for adenovirus vector induction of host inflammatory genes has been studied in nonmacrophage target cells. For example, adenovirus transduction of HeLa cells activates Raf-1 and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway. These events trigger expression of the C-X-C chemokine IL-8 (6). It was previously shown in epithelium-derived REC cells that the nuclear translocation of NF-
B is an important component of adenovirus vector induction of the C-X-C chemokine IP-10 (5). These findings illustrate the ability of adenovirus vectors to induce the expression of host inflammatory genes.
Unlike the situation with adenovirus vectors, the impact of AAV vector transduction in target cells has not been extensively studied. Recently, Stilwell and Samulski reported the effects of AAV-2 and adenovirus vectors on cellular gene expression in lung fibroblasts in studies using DNA microarray technology (J. Stilwell and R. J. Samulski, , Mol. Ther., p. 131, 2001.). Their findings parallel the results in this report. AAV demonstrated minimal effects on cellular gene expression in transduced cells, while adenovirus vectors increased the mRNA levels of many genes including those encoding cytokines and chemokines and stress response genes. Unlike the adenovirus, AAV vectors may lack a feature or features that enable them to activate signal transduction pathways following viral cell entry. It is possible that differences in surface receptor usage, virus internalization, or intracellular trafficking may result in differential activation of signaling pathways by these two vectors. For example, there is evidence suggesting that AAV particles enter the nucleus prior to uncoating and this pathway differs from the entry of adenovirus particles (2). Furthermore, AAV virions may need to be routed as far as the late endosome before penetration into the cytosol. This route contrasts with the early endosome escape during adenovirus infection (10). The inability of AAV vectors to induce the expression of host genes in target cells may underlie the truncated inflammatory response induced by these agents in vivo.
The target cell response acts in collaboration with the innate immune system in the early host response to invading pathogens, including viruses (14). Effector cells of the innate immune system include macrophages, neutrophils, and natural killer cells that serve as the primary defense to infection. Adenovirus vectors efficiently activate the innate immune system, a response that leads to acute inflammation of transduced tissues and reduced gene transfer efficiency (22, 32, 35, 41). Resident macrophages such as Kupffer cells in the liver and alveolar macrophages in the lung are significant components of the innate immune system that mediate the acute inflammatory response to adenovirus vectors (32, 35, 41). In addition to performing important phagocytic and antigen presenting functions, macrophages secrete cytokines and chemokines in response to viral infection, which in turn trigger multiple effects (22, 40). These effects include leukocyte recruitment to infected tissues and the participation of other effector cells of the immune system, resulting in a cascade of events that propagate the inflammatory response (30). The results of our studies in vivo show a Kupffer cell-dependent activation of innate immune responses following AAV vector administration. While this outcome is unexpected, it is not surprising given the role of Kupffer cells in the first line of defense against invading pathogens in the liver (20). Although AAV vectors induced transient chemokine and cytokine expression and leukocyte recruitment to the liver, this response did not result in detectable tissue damage or inflammation. In contrast, the induction of chemokines and cytokines by adenovirus vectors was greater in magnitude, prolonged, and associated with widespread liver inflammation. These findings suggest that a sustained increase in chemokine and cytokine expression appears to be required to trigger more-severe inflammation in the liver.
The depletion of Kupffer cells abolished AAV but not adenovirus vector-induced chemokine and cytokine expression in the liver. Yet, AAV vector transduction of the liver was not affected by Kupffer depletion, suggesting that AAV vectors did not activate other cells in the liver, such as hepatocytes. The differential induction of chemokines in vivo by AAVlacZ and AdlacZ in the absence of Kupffer cells is consistent with our in vitro data demonstrating a lack of chemokine induction by AAV vectors in nonmacrophage target cells. While macrophages may simply be more sensitive than epithelial cells to AAV transduction, these results raise the possibility that AAV vectors interact with macrophage and nonmacrophage cells via different mechanisms.
The induction of chemokines and cytokines by AAV vectors in vivo is likely not due to viral gene or transgene expression. Recombinant AAV vectors lack wild-type viral genes, and furthermore, lacZ expression in AAVlacZ-transduced livers was not detectable within 24 h (data not shown). The differential activation of chemokines and cytokines by adenovirus and AAV vectors is also not likely the result of adenovirus gene expression. Transcription-defective adenovirus particles have been shown to induce chemokine and cytokine expression in vitro and induce acute inflammation in vivo (5, 24, 27, 32).
Viral vector-induced immunity and toxicity limit the success of human gene therapy. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, the involvement of the innate immune system in the host response to AAV vectors. While AAV vectors transiently activate cells of the innate immune system, they have a limited capacity to trigger the expression of proinflammatory genes and induce inflammation in transduced tissues. The impact of the innate immune system on AAV-mediated gene transfer remains to be determined. Since the innate immune system significantly reduces adenovirus gene transfer efficiency (35), the activation of innate immune responses may also affect AAV-mediated gene delivery. Understanding the molecular mechanism underlying the differential activation of innate immune responses between adenovirus and AAV vectors is expected to facilitate the design of safer, more-effective vectors for human gene therapy.
This study was funded by a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). D.A.M. is a recipient of a Clinical Investigator award from the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research and a Scholarship award from CIHR.
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B. J. Virol. 74:3941-3947.
vß1 is an adenovirus coreceptor. J. Virol. 75:5405-5409.
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