Neurology India Medknow Publications on behalf of the Neurological Society of India ISSN: 0028-3886 EISSN: 1998-4022 Vol. 56, Num. 1, 2008, pp. 52-56

Neurology India, Vol. 56, No. 1, January-March, 2008, pp. 52-56

Original Article

Expression of truncated dystrophin cDNAs mediated by a lentiviral vector

Shunchang Sun, Haitao Chen, Weidong Chen, Jingbo He, Yunsheng Peng

Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong
Correspondence Address:Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, Southern Medical University, 118 Longjing Er Road, Baoan, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518101, bayyyz@yahoo.com.cn

Date of Acceptance: 16-Jun-2007

Code Number: ni08011

Abstract

Keywords: Duchenne muscular dystrophy, dystrophin, gene transfer, lentivirus, vector

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe life-threatening X-linked disorder which affects one of every 3,500 males born and is characterized by a progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. ^[1] The symptoms of the disease usually occur before three years of age, the patients are wheelchair bound by their early teens and death is normally in their early twenties. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is caused by an absence of dystrophin that has a critical role in both force transduction out of myofibers and in sarcolemmal membrane stabilization during muscle contraction. ^[2] Because of the lack of effective treatment for DMD, gene therapy has been actively explored. However, the dystrophin gene with a cDNA of 14 kb is too large to be packaged for common viral vectors. The selection of a safe and efficient vector is also important for gene therapy of DMD. Wild-type feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a lentivirus that causes an immunodeficiency disease in cats, but despite prevalent exposure, does not result in infection or disease in humans. ^[3] Feline immunodeficiency virus vectors were constructed from FIV; preparation of FIV vectors has been described previously. ^[4] Based on these observations, we designed three truncated dystrophin cDNAs as therapeutic genes, delivered them into myoblasts by FIV vectors and explored the expression feasibility of truncated dystrophin cDNAs mediated by lentiviral vectors.

Materials and Methods

Construction of truncated dystrophin cDNAs

We constructed three truncated dystrophin cDNAs by the PCR cloning method using Pfu polymerase (Promega) and human dystrophin cDNA (GenBank NM 004006) as the template. The sequences of the primers and other oligonucleotides used in the construction of the cDNAs are shown in [Table - 1]. As depicted in [Figure - 1] mini-dystrophin ∆4047 contains nucleotides 1-1668 (N terminus, hinge 1 and rods 1 and 2), 8059-10227 (rods 22, 23 and 24, hinge 4 and CR domain) and 10849-11058 (6-heptad repeat and the last 12 amino acids of dystrophin). Similarly, mini-dystrophin ∆4188 contains nucleotides 1-1668, 7270-7410 (hinge 3), 8059-10227 and 10849-11058. Finally, mini-dystrophin ∆4371 contains nucleotides 1-1992 (N terminus, hinge 1 and rods 1, 2 and 3), 8059-10227 and 10849-11058. ^[5]

Mini-dystrophin ∆4047 was generated as follows. Three PCRs were independently performed using human dystrophin cDNA as the template and primers F1/R1a, F2a/R2 or F4/R4. Subsequently, a mixture of the last two resulting PCR products was used as the template for the second round PCR with primers F2a /R4. Finally, a mixture of two resulting PCR products obtained from primers F1/R1a and F2a/R4 was used as the template for the third round PCR with primers F1/R4.

Mini-dystrophin ∆4188 was generated as follows. Four PCRs were independently performed using human dystrophin cDNA as the template and primers F1/R1c, F3/R3, F2c/R2 or F4/R4. Subsequently, a mixture of the first two resulting PCR products was used as the template for the second round PCR with primers F1/R3, a mixture of the last two resulting PCR products was used as the template for the other second round PCR with primers F2c/R4. Finally, a mixture of two resulting PCR products amplified from primers F1/R3 and F2c/R4 was used as the template for the third round PCR with primers F1/R4.

Mini-dystrophin ∆4371 was generated as follows. Three PCRs were independently performed using human dystrophin cDNA as the template and primers F1/R1b, F2b/R2 or F4/R4. Subsequently, a mixture of the last two resulting PCR products was used as the template for the second round PCR with primers F2b/R4. Finally, a mixture of two resulting PCR products obtained from primers F1/R1b and F2b/R4 was used as the template for the third round PCR with primers F1/R4.

The above constructs were made by PCR cloning in three steps using human dystrophin cDNA, which incorporates deletions of coding region. Therefore, three protein coding sequences are precisely spliced together in-frame. Mini-dystrophin ∆4047, mini-dystrophin ∆4188 and mini-dystrophin ∆4371 fragments were digested using flanking 5′ Eco RI and 3′ Not I sites. Fragments digested then were cloned into a FIV transfer vector plasmid digested with Eco RI and Not I, respectively, to generate vector constructs FIV-∆4047, FIV-∆4188 and FIV-∆4371.

Cell culture

Human embryonic kidney 293 cells, human embryonic lung fibroblast cells and C2C12 cells were obtained from the China Center for Type Culture Collection. They were cultured in Dulbecco modified Eagle medium (DMEM) with 10% fetal bovine serum, 2 mM of glutamine (Invitrogen).

Transfection and recombinant feline immunodeficiency virus production

293 cells were plated at the density of 6 x 10 ⁵ cells in six-well plates. The next day, they were transfected with packaging plasmid (pCPR∆Env): transfer vector: vesicular stomatitis virus envelope plasmid (pCI-VSVG) at a 1:2:1 rate by PolyFect Transfection Reagent (QIAGEN) according to the manufacturer′s recommendations. Medium was only changed at 30 h posttransfection. At 42-44 h posttransfection, plates were moved to 32°C. At 48 h posttransfection, viruses were collected and cleared via centrifugation at 1500 rpm for 5 min and by filtration through a low-protein-binding 45-µm filter. ^[6] For titer experiments, 100 µl of viral supernatant was used in a total volume of 1 ml to infect 1.5 x 10 ⁵ human embryonic lung fibroblast cells. The viral titers of the recombinant FIV particles were determined by the cytopathic effects. Titers were calculated in viral supernatant by the Reed-Muench method. ^[7]

Infection

Four to five hundred microliters of recombinant FIV was used to infect 0.5 x 10 ⁶ C2C12 cells. C2C12 cells were infected with recombinant FIVs at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 100 p.f.u./cell. All infections were performed in six-well plates in the presence of 5 µg/ml Polybrene (Sigma), which were centrifuged for 90 min at 2500 rpm immediately following addition of viruses. Plates were then incubated for 24 h at 32°C prior to having their media changed to fresh, virus-free media. Cells were harvested after three days and were washed three times with PBS to remove residual FIV. ^[4]

Western blotting

Lysates from C2C12 cells were obtained in lysis buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, 250 mM sucrose, 14 mM β-mercaptoethanol, 10 mM NaF, 1 mM sodium orthovanadate, 0.2 mM PMSF, 10 µg/ml Leupeptin and 1% Triton). ^[8] 20 µg proteins were separated on a 4-10% SDS polyacrylamide gradient gel and transferred onto nitrocellulose Hybond membrane (Amersham Bioscience). Protein transfer was confirmed by Coomassie blue R250 stain. Membranes were blocked in TBST (10 mM Tris pH 8.0, 150 mM NaCl, 0.05% Tween-20) containing 5% non-fat milk powder and primary and secondary antibodies were diluted in the same solution. Blots were probed with NCL-DYS2 (1:50 dilution, Novocastra Laboratories), a monoclonal antibody recognizing an epitope in the C terminus of dystrophin. Anti-mouse secondary antibody (1:1000 dilution, Jackson Laboratories) linked to peroxidase was used for ECL immunodetection (Amersham Bioscience) according to the manufacturer′s recommendations. Visualization of specific bands was obtained by exposure of blots to film.

Results

Construction of mini-dystrophin genes

To explore the feasibility of using FIV vectors for DMD gene therapy, we have designed three mini-dystrophin genes that were based on human dystrophin cDNA. These mini-dystrophin genes are small enough to be packaged into FIV vectors and yet retain the essential functions that should protect muscle from the pathological symptoms. We confirmed the sizes of the three mini-dystrophin genes by gel electropheresis (data not shown).

Production of recombinant FIV

Three FIV vector constructs are shown in [Figure - 2]. A three-plasmid expression system was designed for the production of pseudotyped FIV particles by transient cotransfection. The system consists of a FIV packaging construct, a FIV vector construct and a plasmid encoding the surface glycoprotein of VSV-G. ^[9] The viral titers of the recombinant FIV particles were approximately 1.1 x 10 ⁸ to 1.6 x 10 ⁸ viral particles per ml obtained in human embryonic lung fibroblast cells transduced with 293 cell supernatants.

Expression of truncated dystrophin cDNAs

Western blot analysis showed that three truncated dystrophin cDNAs constructed by PCR cloning expressed relative truncated dystrophins in cultured myoblasts. The expression of mini-dystrophin r4047 and mini-dystrophin ∆4188 was considerably higher than that of mini-dystrophin ∆4371 mediated by FIV vectors, though myoblasts were infected with the same amount of recombinant FIV particles [Figure - 3].

Discussion

The native dystrophin gene measures 2.4Mb, while the full-length dystrophin cDNA is about 14 kb. ^[10] The product of dystrophin gene is a 427 kDa cytoskeletal protein that is situated at the inner surface of the sarcolemma. ^[11] The dystrophin protein has four major structural domains: N-terminal, central rod, cysteine-rich and C-terminal domains. The central rod domain contains 24 triple-helix rod repeats and four hinges, which account for 80% of the total dystrophin length. ^[12]

There is currently no effective treatment for DMD, although gene therapy could be an attractive approach to the disease. The tremendous size of the dystrophin gene and mRNA are formidable obstacles to the development of gene therapy. Based on these observations, we designed three truncated dystrophin cDNAs with consecutive deletions in the rod domain and examined their expression effects in cultured myoblasts mediated by lentiviral vectors.

The previous study using an adenovirus vector-mediated gene transfer indicated that mini-dystrophins with N-terminal actin-binding and C-terminal domains were stably expressed at the sarcolemma. These mini-dystrophins with at least four rod repeats and two hinges can ameliorate the dystrophic phenotypes. ^[13] We constructed three mini-dystrophin genes, their length are 4047 bp, 4188 bp and 4371 bp, respectively. Mini-dystrophin ∆4047 construct has five rod repeats and two hinges. Mini-dystrophin ∆4188 construct has six rod repeats and two hinges. Mini-dystrophin ∆4371 construct has five rod repeats and three hinges. Three mini-dystrophin constructs expressed successfully truncated dystrophins in myoblasts mediated by FIV vectors, although mini-dystrophin ∆4371 construct was less strongly expressed than the other two constructs. The differential expression of mini-dystrophin constructs may be affected by their sizes. The low expression of mini-dystrophin ∆4371 construct could be caused by its larger size. All three mini-dystrophin constructs can be candidate therapy genes for DMD.

Gene transfer remains one of the main challenges for gene therapy. Viral vectors could be useful to deliver genes into tissue because of a high efficiency and long-term gene expression. Both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have been used for mini-dystrophin gene delivery to the muscle cells due to their ability to integrate into the host genome, and to infect nondividing cells. In vivo targeting of muscle progenitor cells with a pseudotyped HIV vector encoding the mini-dystrophin, restored dystrophin expression and provided functional correction in skeletal muscle of mdx mice. ^[14] There have been no direct reports on insertional mutagenesis by lentiviral vectors, however, the employment of HIV-based vectors in clinical trials is controversial mainly due to the lethal nature of the virus. ^[15] An AAV has never been associated with any human disease and has the combined advantages of high-efficiency gene transfer, persistent transgene expression and low immunogenicity. ^[16] The adenovirus has been the vector of choice to deliver dystrophin constructs to the muscle of mdx mice, the mouse model of DMD, but the expression of dystrophin was transient. Adenovirus is not integrated into the host cell genome and it is highly immunogenic, both contribute to the transient expression. ^[17] Nonprimate lentiviral vectors based on FIV and equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) hold great promise as gene delivery vehicles for the treatment of a wide variety of diseases. Like HIV, FIV and EIAV can integrate into the genome of non-dividing cells, resulting in long-term transgene expression. Currently, the EIAV vector is one of the most attractive gene delivery systems with respect to neuronal tropism. ^[18] The packaging size of FIV vectors is smaller than 8.0 kb. Considering the potential safety, FIV provides a potential tool for human gene transfer purposes. ^[19]

In summary, our data demonstrate the effectiveness of FIV vectors for ex gene transfer of mini-dystrophin constructs to myoblasts. Our findings indicate that FIV vectors may be useful gene delivery vehicles for the gene therapy of DMD. Our next goal is to transfer these mini-dystrophin constructs by FIV vectors into skeletal muscles of mdx mice to test its therapeutic effects.

Acknowledgment

References

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