Jose S. Gil

PTEN deletion in Bergmann glia leads to premature differentiation and affects laminar organization.

Development of the central nervous system is controlled by both intrinsic and extrinsic signals that guide neuronal migration to form laminae. Although defects in neuronal mobility have been well documented as a mechanism for abnormal laminar formation, the role of radial glia, which provide the environmental cues, in modulating neuronal migration is less clear. We provide evidence that loss of PTEN in Bergmann glia leads to premature differentiation of this crucial cell population and subsequently to extensive layering defects. Accordingly, severe granule neuron migration defects and abnormal laminar formation are observed. These results uncover an unexpected role for PTEN in regulating Bergmann glia differentiation, as well as the importance of time-dependent Bergmann glia differentiation during cerebellar development.

Development of a Novel Helper-Dependent Adenovirus-Epstein-Barr Virus Hybrid System for the Stable Transformation of Mammalian Cells

ABSTRACT Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) episomes are stably maintained in permissive proliferating cell lines due to EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA-1) protein-mediated replication and segregation. Previous studies showed the ability of EBV episomes to confer long-term transgene expression and correct genetic defects in deficient cells. To achieve quantitative delivery of EBV episomes in vitro and in vivo, we developed a binary helper-dependent adenovirus (HDA)-EBV hybrid system that consists of one HDA vector for the expression of Cre recombinase and a second HDA vector that contains all of the sequences for the EBV episome flanked by loxP sites. Upon coinfection of cells, Cre expressed from the first vector recombined loxP sites on the second vector. The resulting circular EBV episomes expressed a transgene and contained the EBV-derived family of repeats, an EBNA-1 expression cassette, and 19 kb of human DNA that functions as a replication origin in mammalian cells. This HDA-EBV hybrid system transformed 40% of cultured cells. Transgene expression in proliferating cells was observed for over 20 weeks under conditions that selected for the expression of the transgene. In the absence of selection, EBV episomes were lost at a rate of 8 to 10% per cell division. Successful delivery of EBV episomes in vivo was demonstrated in the liver of transgenic mice expressing Cre from the albumin promoter. This novel gene transfer system has the potential to confer long-term episomal transgene expression and therefore to correct genetic defects with reduced vector-related toxicity and without insertional mutagenesis.

Robust in vivo transduction of a genetically stable Epstein-Barr virus episome to hepatocytes in mice by a hybrid viral vector.

ABSTRACT To make a safe, long-lasting gene delivery vehicle, we developed a hybrid vector that leverages the relative strengths of adenovirus and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). A fully gene-deleted helper-dependent adenovirus (HDAd) is used as the delivery vehicle for its scalability and high transduction efficiency. Upon delivery, a portion of the HDAd vector is recombined to form a circular plasmid. This episome includes two elements from EBV: an EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) expression cassette and an EBNA1 binding region. Along with a human replication origin, these elements provide considerable genetic stability to the episome in replicating cells while avoiding insertional mutagenesis. Here, we demonstrate that this hybrid approach is highly efficient at delivering EBV episomes to target cells in vivo. We achieved nearly 100% transduction of hepatocytes after a single intravenous injection in mice. This is a substantial improvement over the transduction efficiency of previously available physical and viral methods. Bioluminescent imaging of vector-transduced mice demonstrated that luciferase transgene expression from the hybrid was robust and compared well to a traditional HDAd vector. Quantitative PCR analysis confirmed that the EBV episome was stable at approximately 30 copies per cell for up to 50 weeks and that it remained circular and extrachromosomal. Approaches for adapting the HDAd-EBV hybrid to a variety of disease targets and the potential benefits of this approach are discussed.

Delivery of an EBV episome by a self-circularizing helper-dependent adenovirus: long-term transgene expression in immunocompetent mice

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) evolved an episomal system for maintaining life-long, latent infection of human B lymphocytes. Circular episomes engineered from EBV components required for this latent form of infection have the capacity to persist in most types of replicating mammalian cells without DNA integration and the pitfalls of insertional mutagenesis. EBV episomes are typically transduced using low-efficiency methods. Here we present a method for efficient delivery of EBV episomes to nuclei of hepatocytes in living mice using a helper-dependent adenoviral vector and Cre-mediated recombination in vivo to generate circular EBV episomes following infection. Cre is transiently expressed from a hepatocyte-specific promoter so that vector generation and transgene expression are tissue specific. We show long-term persistence of the circularized vector DNA and expression of a reporter gene in hepatocytes of immunocompetent mice.

A Method to Rapidly and Accurately Compare the Relative Efficacies of Non-invasive Imaging Reporter Genes in a Mouse Model and its Application to Luciferase Reporters

PurposeOur goal is to develop a simple, quantitative, robust method to compare the efficacy of imaging reporter genes in culture and in vivo. We describe an adenoviral vector–liver transduction procedure and compare the luciferase reporter efficacies.ProceduresAlternative reporter genes are expressed in a common adenoviral vector. Vector amounts used in vivo are based on cell culture titrations, ensuring that the same transduction efficacy is used for each vector. After imaging, in vivo and in vitro values are normalized to hepatic vector transduction using quantitative real-time PCR.ResultsWe assayed standard firefly luciferase (FLuc), enhanced firefly luciferase (EFLuc), luciferase 2 (Luc2), humanized Renilla luciferase (hRLuc), Renilla luciferase 8.6-535 (RLuc8.6), and a membrane-bound Gaussia luciferase variant (extGLuc) in cell culture and in vivo. We observed greater than 100-fold increase in bioluminescent signal for both EFLuc and Luc2 when compared to FLuc and greater than 106-fold increase for RLuc8.6 when compared to hRLuc. ExtGLuc was not detectable in liver.ConclusionsOur findings contrast, in some cases, with conclusions drawn in prior comparisons of these reporter genes and demonstrate the need for a standardized method to evaluate alternative reporter genes in vivo. Our procedure can be adapted for reporter genes that utilize alternative imaging modalities (fluorescence, bioluminescence, MRI, SPECT, PET).

Application of a Rapid, Simple, and Accurate Adenovirus-Based Method to Compare PET Reporter Gene/PET Reporter Probe Systems

PurposeThis study aims to use a simple, quantitative method to compare the HSV1sr39TK/18 F-FHBG PET reporter gene/PET reporter probe (PRG/PRP) system with PRGs derived from human nucleoside kinases.ProceduresThe same adenovirus vector is used to express alternative PRGs. Equal numbers of vectors are injected intravenously into mice. After PRP imaging, quantitative hepatic PET signals are normalized for transduction by measuring hepatic viral genomes.ResultsThe same adenovirus vector was used to express equivalent amounts of HSV1sr39TK, mutant human thymidine kinase 2 (TK2-DM), and mutant human deoxycytidine kinase (dCK-A100VTM) in mouse liver. HSV1sr39TK expression was measured with 18 F-FHBG, TK2-DM and dCK-A100VTM with 18 F-L-FMAU. TK2-DM/18 F-L-FMAU and HSV1sr39TK/18 F-FHBG had equivalent sensitivities; dCK-A100VTM/18 F-L-FMAU was twice as sensitive as HSV1sr39TK/18 F-FHBG.ConclusionsThe human PRG/PRP sensitivities are comparable and/or better than HSV1sr39TK/18 F-FHBG. However, for clinical use, identification of the best PRP substrate for each enzyme, characterization of probe distribution, and consequences of overexpressing nucleoside kinases must be evaluated.

Reversible suppression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression in vivo by inducible RNA interference.

Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), also known as cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), plays a critical role in many normal physiological functions and modulates a variety of pathological conditions. The ability to turn endogenous COX-2 on and off in a reversible fashion, at specific times and in specific cell types, would be a powerful tool in determining its role in many contexts. To achieve this goal, we took advantage of a recently developed RNA interference system in mice. An shRNA targeting the Cox2 mRNA 3′untranslated region was inserted into a microRNA expression cassette, under the control of a tetracycline response element (TRE) promoter. Transgenic mice containing the COX-2-shRNA were crossed with mice encoding a CAG promoter-driven reverse tetracycline transactivator, which activates the TRE promoter in the presence of tetracycline/doxycycline. To facilitate testing the system, we generated a knockin reporter mouse in which the firefly luciferase gene replaces the Cox2 coding region. Cox2 promoter activation in cultured cells from triple transgenic mice containing the luciferase allele, the shRNA and the transactivator transgene resulted in robust luciferase and COX-2 expression that was reversibly down-regulated by doxycycline administration. In vivo, using a skin inflammation-model, both luciferase and COX-2 expression were inhibited over 80% in mice that received doxycycline in their diet, leading to a significant reduction of infiltrating leukocytes. In summary, using inducible RNA interference to target COX-2 expression, we demonstrate potent, reversible Cox2 gene silencing in vivo. This system should provide a valuable tool to analyze cell type-specific roles for COX-2.

773. Non-Invasive In Vivo Detection of Episomes Delivered to Mouse Hepatocytes by a Helper Dependent Adenovirus- Epstein-Barr Virus Hybrid Vector System

Helper Dependent Adenovirus (HDA) vectors deleted in all viral genes persist poorly in vivo due to viral genome loss during mitosis. We have addressed this limitation by using elements from Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), the genome of which persists as an extra-chromosomal episome in replicating B cells. Maintenance is mediated by the virally expressed Epstein-Barr Nuclear Antigen 1 (EBNA-1) protein that binds the Family of Repeats (FR) region of the EBV episome, and tethers it to metaphase chromosomes for segregation during telophase. In our hybrid binary system, an HDA vector (HDA.EBV) is used to deliver a linear EBV-based episome to target cells. Co-infection with a second HDA expressing Cre recombinase (HDA.Cre) leads to the excision and circularization of the loxP-flanked episome sequence, and places a CMV promoter upstream of the transgene. The episome also contains a human origin and the FR for replication and segregation in mitotic cells. We have shown that co-infection with HDA.Cre and an HDA.EBV vector carrying either a Cyan Fluorescence Protein (CFP) reporter gene or Puromycin AcetylTransferase (PAC) drug resistance gene produces circular episomes in vitro and that EBNA-1 and the FR significantly prolong transgene expression (in publication).