Lentivirus vectors incorporating the immunoglobulin heavy chain enhancer and matrix attachment regions provide position-independent expression in B lymphocytes

J Virol. 2003 Jul;77(13):7341-51. doi: 10.1128/jvi.77.13.7341-7351.2003.

Abstract

In the present studies we developed lentivirus vectors with regulated, consistent transgene expression in B lymphocytes by incorporating the immunoglobulin heavy chain enhancer (E micro ) with and without associated matrix attachment regions (E micro MAR) into lentivirus vectors. Incorporation of these fragments upstream of phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) or cytomegalovirus promoters resulted in a two- to threefold increase in enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) in B-lymphoid but not T-lymphoid, myeloid, fibroblast, or carcinoma cell lines. A 1-log increase in EGFP expression was observed in B-lymphoid cells (but not myeloid cells) differentiated from human CD34(+) progenitors in vitro transduced with E micro - and E micro MAR-containing lentivectors. Lastly, we evaluated the expression from the E micro MAR element in mice 2 to 24 weeks posttransplant with transduced hematopoietic stem cells. In mice receiving vectors with the E micro and E micro MAR elements upstream of the PGK promoter, there was a 2- to 10-fold increase in EGFP expression in B cells (but not other cell types). Evaluation of the coefficient of variation of expression among different cell types demonstrated that consistent, position-independent transgene expression was observed exclusively in B cells transduced with the E micro MAR-containing vector and not other cells types or vectors. Proviral genomes with the E micro MAR element had increased chromatin accessibility, which likely contributed to the position independence of expression in B lymphocytes. In summary, incorporation of the E micro MAR element in lentivirus vectors resulted in enhanced, position-independent expression in primary B lymphocytes. These vectors provide a useful tool for the study of B-lymphocyte biology and the development of gene therapy for disorders affecting B lymphocytes, such as immune deficiencies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Line
  • Cytomegalovirus / genetics
  • DNA Primers
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Genetic Vectors*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / genetics*
  • Lentivirus / genetics*
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Matrix Attachment Region Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Transgenes

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Matrix Attachment Region Binding Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins