Anti-CD25 targeted killing of bicistronically transduced cells: a novel safety mechanism against retroviral genotoxicity

Mol Ther. 2007 Jun;15(6):1174-81. doi: 10.1038/sj.mt.6300147. Epub 2007 Mar 27.

Abstract

Gene therapy for Fabry disease, a deficiency in alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-gal A) activity, has the potential to provide a cure for the disorder with a single treatment. Despite modifications to existing vectors, concerns have arisen regarding the risk of genotoxicity associated with the use of retroviruses. To address safety concerns, we propose that expression of a cell surface protein, human CD25 (huCD25) in a bicistronic format, with any therapeutic gene such as alpha-gal A can provide a target that can be used to kill transduced cells selectively should transformative events occur. We show that an anti-CD25 antibody and immunotoxin can specifically target and eliminate transduced leukemia cells expressing CD25. In a murine leukemia model, antibody treatment reduced tumor burden 32-fold and increased survival compared with untreated mice. Furthermore, after a bone marrow transplant of therapeutically transduced cells into Fabry mice, antibody treatment reduced the number of retrovirally transduced huCD25-expressing cells in the peripheral blood. A systemic loss of transduced cells with functional consequences was also evident in the liver and spleen. This proof-of-principle study demonstrates that a targeted antibody can reduce tumor burden and selectively clear bicistronically transduced hematopoietic cells that express a target antigen, thus acting as a built-in safety mechanism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Animals
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Antibodies / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Cell Survival / physiology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Fabry Disease / genetics
  • Fabry Disease / immunology
  • Fabry Disease / therapy
  • Genetic Therapy / methods
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / blood
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / genetics
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / immunology*
  • Lentivirus / genetics
  • Leukemia / genetics
  • Leukemia / immunology
  • Leukemia / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Retroviridae / genetics*
  • alpha-Galactosidase / genetics

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
  • alpha-Galactosidase