Factory neovessels: engineered human blood vessels secreting therapeutic proteins as a new drug delivery system

Gene Ther. 2010 Jun;17(6):745-51. doi: 10.1038/gt.2010.33. Epub 2010 Mar 25.

Abstract

Several works have shown the feasibility of engineering functional blood vessels in vivo using human endothelial cells (ECs). Going further, we explored the therapeutic potential of neovessels after gene-modifying the ECs for the secretion of a therapeutic protein. Given that these vessels are connected with the host vascular bed, we hypothesized that systemic release of the expressed protein is immediate. As a proof of principle, we used primary human ECs transduced with a lentiviral vector for the expression of a recombinant bispecific alphaCEA/alphaCD3 antibody. These ECs, along with mesenchymal stem cells as a source of mural cells, were embedded in Matrigel and subcutaneously implanted in nude mice. High antibody levels were detected in plasma for 1 month. Furthermore, the antibody exerted a therapeutic effect in mice bearing distant carcinoembryonic-antigen (CEA)-positive tumors after inoculation of human T cells. In summary, we show for the first time the therapeutic effect of a protein locally secreted by engineered human neovessels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bispecific / genetics
  • Blood Vessels / metabolism*
  • CD3 Complex / genetics
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen / genetics
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Endothelial Cells / transplantation
  • Gene Transfer Techniques
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Humans
  • Lentivirus / genetics
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • T-Lymphocytes / transplantation
  • Tissue Engineering
  • Transduction, Genetic
  • Transfection
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bispecific
  • CD3 Complex
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen