Cell-Specific Transfection of Choriocarcinoma Cells by Using Sindbis Virus hCG Expressing Chimeric Vector

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 248; no. 2; pp. 315 - 323
• Main Authors: Sawai, Keisuke, Meruelo, Daniel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 20.07.1998
• Subjects: 8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate - pharmacology; Cell Line; Choriocarcinoma - therapy; Chorionic Gonadotropin - genetics; Gene Targeting - methods; Genetic Therapy - methods; Genetic Vectors - genetics; Humans; Receptors, LH - genetics; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - genetics; Sindbis virus; Sindbis Virus - genetics; Transfection - genetics; Viral Envelope Proteins - metabolism; Viral Proteins - genetics
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.1998.8922

The development of Sindbis virus vectors that can target specific cell types would provide an important gene therapy strategy. We explored the possibility of designing a Sindbis virus vector that can target human choriocarcinoma cells via ligand-receptor interaction. The Sindbis virus envelope gene was modified by insertion of the α- and β-hCG genes. The chimeric helper RNA was then transfected into BHK cells along with a virus-based expression vector, allowing the production of virus particles containing hCG-envelope chimeras. The hCG-envelope chimeric virus vector has minimal infectivities against BHK cells and human cancer cells which do not contain LH/CG receptors on their surface. This vector can, however, infect and transfer a reporter gene to choriocarcinoma cells as well as other cells bearing LH/CG receptors. This chimeric Sindbis virus vector may provide a novel approach for gene therapy of gestational trophoblast disease and placental dysfunction.