The hyperactive Sleeping Beauty transposase SB100X improves the genetic modification of T cells to express a chimeric antigen receptor

Gene Ther. 2011 Sep;18(9):849-56. doi: 10.1038/gt.2011.40. Epub 2011 Mar 31.

Abstract

Sleeping Beauty (SB3) transposon and transposase constitute a DNA plasmid system used for therapeutic human cell genetic engineering. Here we report a comparison of SB100X, a newly developed hyperactive SB transposase, to a previous generation SB11 transposase to achieve stable expression of a CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR3) in primary human T cells. The electro-transfer of SB100X expressed from a DNA plasmid or as an introduced mRNA species had superior transposase activity in T cells based on the measurement of excision circles released after transposition and emergence of CAR expression on T cells selectively propagated upon CD19+ artificial antigen-presenting cells. Given that T cells modified with SB100X and SB11 integrate on average one copy of the CAR transposon in each T-cell genome, the improved transposition mediated by SB100X apparently leads to an augmented founder effect of electroporated T cells with durable integration of CAR. In aggregate, SB100X improves SB transposition in primary human T cells and can be titrated with an SB transposon plasmid to improve the generation of CD19-specific CAR+ T cells.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD19 / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Electroporation
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Antigen / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Transposases / genetics*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD19
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Antigen
  • Transposases
  • sleeping beauty transposase, human