REAGENTANDMETHODFOR
TARGETINGRETROVIRUS
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation in part of U.S. provisional application 60/014,962, filed April 8, 1996
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to retroviral vectors and to methods for making and targeting such vectors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Gene therapy is a promising tool for wide application in the field of medicine.
One common strategy for introducing genes into mammalian cells is to use a viral vector that contains nucleic acid packaged into a viral particle. These vectors typically have the ability to infect many different cell types. However, genetic diseases usually manifest themselves in one or a limited number of cell types. Inserting genes into other, healthy cell types of a patient can be harmful. For example, the treatment of cancer with a vector that contains a toxin-encoding polynucleotide can lead to toxic responses in healthy tissue as well. These undesirable side effects arise from the ability of the viral vector to bind and infect cells in addition to the cell of interest. This targeting problem is a major impediment to the development of gene therapy. Various techniques have been attempted to improve gene delivery to specific target cells. For example, vectors can be administered locally by injection at the site of diseased tissue or, in the case of lung tissue, by inhalation. One means to limit infection of normal tissue during cancer therapy has been the selection of a retrovirus as the virus
vector. A retrovirus integrates a DNA copy of its RNA into a host cell only when the cell actively divides. Since cancer cells typically are rapidly dividing, the retrovirus infects these cells, but not healthy cells that are quiescent. Unfortunately, these techniques are still very crude and the targeting problem remains. Fortunately, cell types can often be distinguished by characteristic receptors on their membranes. Recently, vectors have been engineered to contain specific binding ligands on their surfaces that allow them to interact with characteristic cell surface receptors. For example, a retrovirus gene was altered to provide targeted binding of the retrovirus to a specific cell. Retroviruses contain envelope proteins, which form a complex composed of the SU and TM proteins that is responsible for binding and fusion to a cell. These SU and TM envelope proteins are encoded by a single gene, the env gene Kasahara et al. , Science 266: 1326 (1994), replaced about 150 amino acids of the SU envelope protein with a portion of erythropoietin. This change allowed the virus to recognize the erythropoietin receptor on the surface of specific cell types. A related International patent application, PCT/US93/05260, describes a retroviral vector and a method of specifically targeting the vector to a mammalian cell by altering one portion of a multi-purpose env gene. The altered portion of env encodes a protein that specifically binds to the membrane of the target cell, (see also Valsesia-Wittmann et al., J. Virol. 68: 4609-4619 (1994)).
However, a significant problem is associated with modification of the env gene to produce modified envelope proteins that are capable of specifically targeting a cell. Studies have demonstrated the difficulty encountered in modifying one portion of the env gene without harming a function of the unmodified portion. For instance, small changes in the envelope coding sequence were shown to inactivate env function (see Freed & Risser, J. Virol. 61: 2852 (1987); Felkner & Roth, J. Virol. 66: 4258 (1992); and Granowitz et al. , Virology 183: 545 (1991)).
Rein et al. , J. Virol. 68: 1773 (1994), also have studied modification of a retrovirus envelope protein. Rein et al. found that truncation of a wild-type TM envelope polypeptide in the cytoplasmic region is capable of causing cell to cell membrane fusion before virions exit the virus-producing cell. This change also resulted in virions of lower specific infectivity compared to wild-type virions. Moreover, changing one amino acid residue of the TM envelope polypeptide at its cleavage site virtually abolished infectivity of
the virions. The report by Rein et al. further demonstrates the difficulty in modifying envelope proteins so that they retain wild type-like activity.
The multiplicity of functions within the same envelope complex greatly complicates the task of predictably modifying a retrovirus envelope gene to target it to a specific cell type. This limitation has hindered the use of retroviral vectors in gene therapy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the difficulty of predictably modifying the envelope complex of a retrovirus vector to specifically target the vector to a cell, thereby providing improved use of these vectors. The invention thus provides a modified env gene that encodes an SU envelope protein with a specific targeting ligand fused to a suitable site in the SU polypeptide. In addition, the invention provides a second env gene that encodes the TM envelope protein. The two envelope proteins from different env genes form a functional envelope complex that provides specific cell binding and cell membrane fusion activities to the virus particle.
In one aspect, the invention provides a targetable retroviral envelope complex comprising: (1) a wild type envelope polypeptide; and (2) a first fusion envelope polypeptide comprising a first targeting ligand.
In one embodiment, the targetable retroviral envelope complex further comprises a second fusion envelope polypeptide comprising a second targeting ligand. In another embodiment, the first targeting ligand and the second targeting ligand comprise a polypeptide derived from hormones, antibodies, antigens, lectins, and growth factors. In a further embodiment, the first targeting ligand comprises a polypeptide derived from erythropoietin. In another embodiment, a modified TM polypeptide is substituted for the wild type envelope protein.
In one embodiment, the wild type envelope protein is not tropic for a target host cell. In another embodiment, the target cell is a human cell.
In one aspect, the invention provides a producer host cell comprising the targetable envelope complex. In another embodiment, the producer host cell expresses the targetable retroviral envelope protein on the surface of the producer host cell.
In one aspect, the invention provides a recombinant retroviral vector comprising a retroviral particle comprising a targetable retroviral envelope complex.
In one aspect, the invention provides a method of making a targetable retroviral envelope complex by: (1) expressing a first gene encoding a first fusion envelope polypeptide comprising a first targeting ligand in a producer host cell; (2) expressing a second gene encoding a wild type envelope polypeptide in the producer host cell; and (3) incubating the producer host cell for a time sufficient to form a targetable retroviral envelope complex.
In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of expressing a third gene encoding a second fusion envelope polypeptide comprising a second targeting ligand in the producer host cell. In another embodiment, the method further comprises the step of packaging a retroviral vector comprising the targetable envelope complex.
In one embodiment, the first targeting ligand and the second targeting ligand comprise a polypeptide modified as described herein. In another embodiment, a modified TM polypeptide is substituted for the wild type envelope protein, as described herein.
In one embodiment, the wild type envelope protein is not tropic for a target host cell, as described above.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method of targeting a retroviral vector to a target host cell by: (1) expressing a first gene encoding a first fusion envelope polypeptide comprising a first targeting ligand in a producer host cell; (2) expressing a second gene encoding a wild type envelope polypeptide in the producer host cell; (3) incubating the producer host cell for a time sufficient to form a targetable retroviral envelope complex; (4) packaging a retroviral vector comprising a targetable retroviral envelope complex; and (5) contacting the target host cell with the retroviral vector, thereby targeting the retroviral vector to the target host cell.
In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of expressing a third gene encoding a second fusion envelope polypeptide comprising a second targeting ligand in the producer host cell.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Not applicable.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A. Introduction
The present invention provides retroviral vectors that are targeted to specific cell types. Pursuant to the present invention, a retroviral envelope protein can be engineered so that it binds a receptor that is specific to the targeted cell type. The env gene is modified to encode an envelope polypeptide (SU) that includes a specific targeting ligand. Modification of an env gene is often accompanied by disruption of other envelope proteins and functions encoded by the gene, for example, the membrane fusion function provided by TM. However, the present invention allows the retroviral vector to function despite a change to one env gene by providing a second env gene that has the ability to complement the modified env gene, e.g., one that encodes a cell membrane fusion polypeptide (TM). This uncoupling of the receptor binding function from other functions of the envelope complex allows greater freedom to modify the receptor binding envelope protein to target the vector to a specific cell type. The targeted retroviral vectors of the present invention can also contain a second modified envelope protein that provides a second, different targeting ligand that binds to a second specific cell receptor, thus increasing the specificity of targeting. Preferably, the two targeting ligands bind to the target cell with a much greater combined affinity than either member alone. As a result of the greater binding affinity of retrovirus to target cell, a lower concentration of retrovirus vector is needed and less vector will bind to non-targeted cells. The present invention also provides modified TM envelope proteins that retain the ability to induce membrane fusion in the presence of a complementing envelope protein that performs a receptor-binding role. The specifically targeted retroviral vectors of the invention are suitable for many applications, including use as a vector to deliver nucleic acid to a cell in vitro, or to detect the presense of a specific cell in vitro by binding of a targeted retrovirus, which can include a detectable moiety. Other uses include in ex vivo or in vivo gene therapy.
B. Definitions
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the meaning commonly understood by a person skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The following references provide one of skill with a general definition of many of the terms used in this invention: Singleton et al. , Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology (2d ed. 1994); The Cambridge Dictionary of Science and Technology (Walker ed. , 1988); and Hale & Marham, The Harper Collins Dictionary of Biology (1991). Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, preferred methods and materials are described. As used herein, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them unless specified otherwise.
"Retroviral envelope complex" refers to one or more polypeptides that associate together in the producer cell membrane and in the membrane coating the retrovirus particle. A plurality of retrovirus envelope complexes are present in the retrovirus membrane. The envelope complex polypeptides perform one or more functions in the viral membrane, such as binding to cell surface receptors and inducing membrane fusion.
"Targetable" refers to the ability of a retroviral envelope complex protein to specifically recognize and bind a cell receptor.
A "fusion envelope polypeptide" is an envelope protein that has been modified to include all or part of a heterologous protein fused to all or part of the envelope protein. Typically, the fusion envelope polypeptide is made by recombinantly joining nucleic acid sequences encoding the heterologous protein to the env gene. The heterologous polypeptide can be fused to the N-terminus of the SU polypeptide encoded by the env gene, or it can be fused to any suitable internal site in the SU protein. A "targeting ligand" refers to the heterologous protein that is part of the fusion envelope polypeptide. The targeting ligand provides the capability of specifically targeting a cell receptor that is different from the receptor normally targeted by wild type SU. A "second targeting ligand" refers to a targeting ligand that is different from the first targeting ligand. A "recombinant retroviral vector" refers to a retroviral vector that is capable of transducing a host cell. The term applies both to the nucleic acid encoding the vector and
the packaged retrovirus particle. Often a recombinant retroviral vector contains an expression cassette having a heterologous gene operably linked to a promoter.
"Derived from" is used to describe a polypeptide that is a subsequence of a protein. A polypeptide is derived from a protein when it contains all or part of the amino acid sequences of the protein.
"Tropic" refers to the ability of a virus to specifically bind to a cell. For example, ecotropic retrovirus vectors are mouse derived vectors that bind only to murine and rat cells, while amphotropic retrovirus vectors are mouse derived vectors that also bind to human cells. A virus that is not tropic for a cell does not specifically bind to the cell. "Producer host cell" refers to a host cell that is capable of producing packaged retroviral vector. "Packaging" refers to the ability of a host cell to produce proteins or nucleic acid molecules required for assembling a viral genome into an infectious viral particle. For example, the packaging components required to assemble a retroviral RNA genome into an infectious retroviral particle include the proteins encoded by gag, pol, and env. A retroviral vector is "packaged" when it is in the form of a retroviral particle.
A "target cell" or a "target host cell" is a cell that is capable of being infected by a retroviral vector. The retroviral vector is typically capable of integrating its genome into the DNA of the target host cell.
The term "transduction" refers to the ability of a viral vector to enter a cell via infection, intemalization, transfection or any other means.
"Replication deficient" refers to a virus particle that can undergo one round of infection, but is not capable on its own of producing virus particles for subsequent infection cycles. Thus, a replication deficient virus can infect a cell, but is not independently capable of producing further infectious viral particles. A replication deficient viral vector may lack any component necessary to replicate and produce an infectious viral particle. For example, it may lack genes that provide enzymatic functions or structural proteins, e.g. , the retroviral gag, pol, and env genes.
"Packaging cells" help replication-deficient viral vectors, which lack viral protein coding sequences that have been replaced, e.g. , by an expression cassette, to form virus particles that are capable of infecting another host cell. Some packaging cells contain mutations so that they cannot supply virus genomes to produce infective particles; these packaging cells typically complement a viral genome to produce infective virus particles.
Some packaging cells may also provide a viral genome that is packaged to produce infectious viral particles.
"Polynucleotide" and "nucleic acid" refer to a polymer composed of nucleotide units (ribonucleotides, deoxy ribonucleotides, related naturally occurring structural variants, and synthetic non-naturally occurring analogs thereof) linked via phosphodiester bonds, related naturally occurring structural variants, and synthetic non-naturally occurring analogs thereof. Thus, the term includes nucleotide polymers in which the nucleotides and the linkages between them include non-naturally occurring synthetic analogs. The term "nucleic acid" typically refers to large polynucleotides. The term "oligonucleotide" typically refers to short polynucleotides, generally no greater than about 50 nucleotides. It will be understood that when a nucleotide sequence is represented by a DNA sequence (i.e. , A, T,
G, C), this also includes an RNA sequence (i.e., A, U, G, C) in which "U" replaces "T. "
A "heterologous polynucleotide sequence" or a "heterologous nucleic acid" or a "heterologous polypeptide or protein" is a relative term referring to a molecule that is functionally related to another molecule, such as a gene and a promoter sequence, in a manner so that the two molecules are not arranged in the same relationship to each other as in nature. Heterologous polynucleotide sequences include, e.g., a promoter operably linked to a heterologous nucleic acid, including a gene or a transcription unit, e.g., a nucleic acid encoding an antisense nucleic acid. Heterologous polynucleotide sequences are considered "exogenous" because they are introduced to the host cell via transformation or infection techniques. However, the heterologous molecule can originate from a foreign source or from the same source.
"Recombinant" refers to polynucleotides constructed, synthesized or otherwise manipulated in vitro ("recombinant nucleic acids") and to methods of using recombinant nucleic acids to produce gene products encoded by those nucleic acids in cells, viruses, or other biological systems. For example, a cloned nucleic acid may be inserted into a suitable expression vector, and the vector can be used to produce a recombinant immunoglobulin fragment. A host cell that contains the recombinant nucleic acid is referred to as a "recombinant host cell. " The nucleic acid is then expressed in the recombinant host cell to produce, e.g. , a "recombinant protein. " A recombinant nucleic acid may serve a non-coding function (e.g. , promoter, origin of replication, ribosome-binding site, etc.) as well.
An "expression cassette" refers to a series of nucleic acid elements that permit transcription of a gene or polynucleotide in a host cell. Typically, the expression cassette includes a promoter and a heterologous nucleic acid sequence that is transcribed. Expression cassettes may also include, e.g., transcription termination signals, polyadenylation signals, and enhancer elements.
Expression cassettes are often included in an "expression vector," "cloning vector," or "vector," terms which usually refer to viruses, plasmids or other nucleic acid molecules that are able to transduce and/or replicate in a chosen host cell.
A "promoter" is an array of nucleic acid control sequences that direct transcription of an associated nucleic acid, which may be heterologous. A promoter includes nucleic acid sequences near the start site of transcription, such as a polymerase binding site. The promoter also optionally includes distal enhancer or repressor elements which can be located as much as several thousand base pairs from the start site of transcription.
The term "operably linked" refers to a functional relationship between two parts in which the activity of one part (e.g., the ability to regulate transcription) results in an action on the other part (e.g. , transcription of the sequence). Thus, a nucleic acid is "operably linked to a promoter" when there is a functional linkage between a nucleic acid expression control sequence (such as a promoter or other transcription regulation sequences) and a second nucleic acid sequence (e.g., a native or a heterologous polynucleotide), where the expression control sequence directs transcription of the nucleic acid.
An "antisense" nucleic acid refers to a polynucleotide that is complementary to a target sequence of choice and capable of specifically hybridizing with the target molecules. The term antisense includes a "ribozyme," which is a catalytic RNA molecule that cleaves a target RNA through ribonuclease activity. Antisense nucleic acids hybridize to a target polynucleotide and interfere with the transcription, processing, translation or other activity of the target polynucleotide. An antisense nucleic acid can inhibit DNA replication or DNA transcription by, for example, interfering with the attachment of DNA or RNA polymerase to the promoter by binding to a transcriptional initiation site or a template. It can interfere with processing of mRNA, poly (A) addition to mRNA or translation of mRNA by, for example, binding to regions of the RNA transcript such as the ribosome binding site. It can promote inhibitory mechanisms of the cells, such as promoting RNA degradation via RNase action. The inhibitory polynucleotide can bind to the major
groove of the duplex DNA to form a triple helical or "triplex" structure. Methods of inhibition using antisense polynucleotides therefore encompass a number of different approaches to altering expression of specific genes that operate by different mechanisms. These different types of inhibitory polynucleotide technology are described in C. Helene and J. Toulme, (1990) Biochim. Biophys. Acta. , 1049:99-125.
"Binding pair" refers to a binding complex between two or more molecules such as receptor-ligand complexes, antigen-antibody complexes, enzyme- substrate complexes and the like. As used in the invention, one member of the binding pair ("binding pair member") is contributed by an envelope complex from a vector. This binding pair member comprises a polypeptide and may be part of a hormone, antibody, antigen, lectin or a trophic factor. A "growth factor" or "trophic factor" in the sense of the invention is a substance which has an effect on the growth of a cell and which binds to the cell membrane prior to cell entry. Examples of a trophic factor include transferrin and ceruloplasmin.
"Cell receptor" refers to a binding pair member that is present at a cell surface. These receptors are distinguished by their greater relative abundance on the surfaces of one or more cell types that are desired targets for gene therapy. Exemplary of the many binding pair members known in the art are the insulin receptor, the erythropoietin receptor, the hCG receptor, the ferritin receptor, the heregulin- binding site and the T-cell antigen receptor.
C. Cooperation between proteins of the envelope complex
The envelope complex polypeptides are encoded by the env gene of the retrovirus. Envelope complexes that are formed within a cell expressing a single env gene originate from a common polypeptide precursor. The precursor is typically cleaved by a cellular protease into a large, external glycoprotein of about 70,000 daltons to about 120,000 daltons ("SU") and a smaller transmembrane component of about 20,000 daltons to about 41,000 daltons ("TM") (see, e.g., Dickson et al. , Molecular Biology of Tumor Viruses, pp. 513-648 (1984)). The SU polypeptide functions to bind receptors on the surface of target cells. The smaller TM polypeptide consists of three distinct domains: extracellular, membrane spanning, and cytoplasmic. The extracellular domain is involved in the oligomerization of the envelope and in the membrane fusion event by which the envelope
delivers the contents of the infecting particle into the cytoplasm of the host cell (see e.g. , Rein et al , J. Virol. 68: 1773-81 (1994)). The membrane-spanning domain functions in anchoring the envelope complex in the membrane. The cytoplasmic domain is involved in maturation of the TM polypeptide. A key aspect of the present invention is the discovery that the receptor-binding and membrane-fusion functions of a retrovirus envelope complex can be performed cooperatively by two different, functionally distinct envelope proteins that are encoded by two different env genes. Example I demonstrates that a wild-type envelope polypeptide and a modified envelope complex polypeptide co-operate, presumably by forming mixed oligomers of envelope complexes. In these mixed oligomers, a wild-type SU envelope complex polypeptide binds to a wild type receptor on a target cell, and a modified TM envelope complex polypeptide induces membrane fusion between the cells. In addition, a second type of functional mixed oligomer envelope complex may be formed in which the SU polypeptide has been modified to specifically target a cell receptor, and the wild type TM polypeptide induces cell membrane fusion. Finally, both the SU and the TM can be functionally modified polypeptides expressed from two separate env genes, which form a functional envelope complex.
If a cell expresses more than one . env gene, then envelope complex polypeptides can originate from more than one polypeptide precursor. In the case of expression from two env genes, the resulting retrovirus vectors might be of three types: one comprised solely of polypeptides from one gene, a second type made up of polypeptides from the second gene, and a hybrid type comprised of polypeptides from both genes. Often the wild type env gene encodes envelope complex proteins that are not tropic for the targeted cell. In this case, only the hybrid complex is functional because it includes both binding a cell membrane fusion activities.
The present invention also overcomes a problem associated with combining a modified polypeptide, used for binding to a target cell, with an unmodified polypeptide used for cell membrane fusion, in the same envelope complex. As noted above, modification of a polypeptide that binds to a target cell sometimes inactivates the membrane fusion function provided by TM in the envelope complex. The present invention overcomes this problem because there are enough envelope complexes in a retroviral vector to ensure
that at least some of the complexes only contain unmodified TM polypeptides derived from a wild type or functional TM env gene.
D. How to make the modified envelope protein and a retroviral vector containing the modified protein
A retrovirus is a single-stranded RNA virus having a life cycle in which the viral RNA genome is copied into a double-stranded DNA provirus when the virus infects a host cell, and the double-stranded DNA is then inserted into the DNA of the cell (Friefelder, Molecular Biology pp. 754-762 (2d ed. 1983)). Their unique structure make retroviruses ideally suited as gene-transfer vehicles. The RNA of a retrovirus is efficiently transmitted to a target cell and integrated in the chromosome as double-stranded DNA. DNA inserts of up to at least 8 kbp can be included in the retroviral genome. Furthermore, retroviruses have a wide host range and can infect a variety of cell types. Some retroviruses are amphotropic and can infect cells from a wide range of species, including humans. Suitable retroviral vectors are known to those skilled in the art. Such vectors can be derived, for example, from members of the genus oncornavinis or lentivirus. One embodiment of the retroviral vector is derived from amphotropic murine leukemia virus- related "type C" viruses that have been used extensively for gene transfer, e.g. , Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MuLV) (for the nucleotide sequence of Mo-MuLV, see, e.g. , Shinnick et al., Nature 293: 43-548 (1981)). Other suitable viruses as a source of sequences include, e.g. , monkey, cat, bird, and human retroviruses.
The retroviral particles that are specifically targeted to a cell are typically replication deficient. Generally, retroviral packaging cells provide components necessary to functionally package a retroviral genome, e.g. , the retroviral packaging components encoded by the genes gag, pol, wild type env, and the modified env gene. Optionally, a modified env gene encoding functional TM may be substituted for the wild type env gt ie. Typically, the retroviral genome is encoded by a vector that is introduced into the packaging cells, which then transcribe and package the genome. The retroviral genome includes any packaging sequence required for packaging of the viral genome. In addition, the viral genome may include a heterologous gene operably linked to a promoter, for delivery to or expression in a target cell.
The modified env gene is prepared according to standard recombinant nucleic acid methodology known to those in the art (see, e.g., Sambrook et al. , Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual (2d ed. 1989); Ausubel et al. , Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (1995)). Suitable env genes include the Mo-MuLV env gene, amphotropic MuLV env gene, and MuLV 10A1 env gene (for examples of env gene nucleotide sequences, see Ott et al., J. Virol. 64: 757-766 (1990)). The env gene is modified to include a targeting ligand at any suitable position in the env gene, including the 5' end and internal positions, so that the SU polypeptide, which contains the binding function, is now specifically targeted to a cell. Suitable targeting ligands are discussed below, and include hormones, antibodies, antigens, lectins, growth factors. As described above, optionally, an env gene encoding modified function TM can be prepared and substituted for the wild type env gene (see, e.g. , Rein et al., supra). After the modified env gene is constructed, as described below, it is typically introduced into packaging cells, as described below.
The retroviral genome often includes a heterologous gene in an expression cassette. The expression cassette allows transcription of the heterologous gene in host cells after infection with the virus. The promoter used to direct expression of the heterologous gene or nucleic acid depends on the particular application. The promoter is preferably positioned about the same distance from the heterologous transcription start site as it is from the transcription start site in its natural setting. As is known in the art, however, some variation in this distance can be accommodated without loss of promoter function. Often the promoter used to drive the heterologous gene is a retrovirus promoter from the LTR region. Other promoters include any promoter suitable for driving the expression of a heterologous gene in a host cell, including those typically used in standard retrovirus vectors, e.g. , SV40 and CMV promoters. Polyadenylation sequences are also commonly added to the expression cassette. Termination and polyadenylation signals that are suitable for the present invention include those derived from retrovirus LTR sequences. Other suitable sequences include polyadenylation and termination sequences derived from SV40, or a partial genomic copy of a gene already resident on the expression vector. The expression cassette optimally includes enhancer elements that can stimulate transcription up to 1 ,000 fold from linked homologous or heterologous promoters (see Enhancers and Eukaryotic Expression (1983)).
The components of a retroviral vector are prepared by first isolating the constituent nucleic acids, including the modified env gene and a retroviral genome. The nucleic acids are then joined to form a recombinant nucleic acid molecule, for example, using restriction endonuclease sites at the ends of the molecule. The recombinant molecule is often ligated into a DNA plasmid. Methods for preparing a recombinant nucleic acid are know by those skilled in the art (see Sambrook et ai, supra; Ausubel et al., supra).
One preferred method for obtaining specific nucleic acids combines the use of synthetic oligonucleotide primers with polymerase extension on a mRNA or DNA template. This PCR method amplifies the desired nucleotide sequence (see also U.S. Patents 4,683, 195 and 4,683,202). Restriction endonuclease sites can be incoφorated into the primers. Genes amplified by PCR can be purified from agarose gels and ligated together. Alterations in the natural gene sequence can be introduced by techniques such as in vitro mutagenesis and PCR using primers that have been designed to incoφorate appropriate mutations. Another preferred method uses known restriction endonuclease sites to isolate nucleic acid fragments from DNA plasmids.
After the component nucleic acids of the retroviral vector have been prepared, they are introduced into a packaging cell line, which then assembles and packages the retroviral vector. The recombinant nucleic acids encoding the modified env gene and the retroviral genome are introduced into packaging cells according to standard techniques, e.g. , transfection, electroporation, and the like (see Sambrook et al., supra; Ausubel et al., supra). Often a cell line that stably expresses the modified env gene is prepared. The packaging cell both expresses and packages at least two types of envelope complex proteins in a single retrovirus vector. The production of retrovirus vectors by means of packaging cells is well known (see, e.g., Markowitz et al, J. Virol. 62(4): 1120 (19881). The packaged retroviral vectors are collected and used to infect any suitable cell by ?* means suitable in the art (see Sambrook, supra, Ausubel, supra).
E. Binding activities
For specific targeting of a retroviral vector according to the present invention, one type of envelope complex protein (SU) binds the vector to a target cell by forming a binding pair with a binding pair member specific to the target cell type. The binding pair
member that is specific to the target cell type can be a cell membrane component characteristic of the target cell-type. The binding pair member also can be a protein or glycoprotein that has originated from outside the cell. Another envelope complex protein (TM) fuses the vector with the target cell. A subpopulation of cells is defined by the presence of a characteristic binding- pair member (i.e. , a cell receptor) on their surfaces. When targeted for treatment by the present invention, a subpopulation of cells having a suitable binding pair member is referred to as a "target cell type. " For example, hematopoietic stem cells that have committed to erythroid differentiation, as evidenced by the display of the erythropoietin receptor, define a cellular subpopulation that can be targeted by an erythropoietin binding-pair member which is part of the vector envelope complex. A preferred binding pair member for use in the retrovirus envelope complex has a structure that is not recognized as foreign by the body, so that it does not react with the immune system.
The extent of preferential binding of a first binding pair member (from the retrovirus vector) to a second binding pair member (from the target cell) is determined by a cell binding study. In other words, delivery of the retrovirus vector to a targeted sub¬ population of mammalian cells which contain the second member of a binding pair is compared to a different population of mammalian cells of the same species that does not display the second member of the binding pair. Delivery of the retrovirus vector to the targeted sub-population is generally greater than twice the delivery of the retrovirus vector to non-targeted population of cells.
Pursuant to the present invention, treatment of a genetic disease involves initial identification of the defective gene and the cell type that expresses the gene. Then a cell surface marker is identified that is characteristic of the cell type. A polypeptide that binds specifically with the identified cell surface marker to form a binding pair is selected and its gene is obtained. The selected gene is incoφorated into a retrovirus vector by mutation or by recombination of the retrovirus envelope gene, as described above. A completed retrovirus vector then is made by packaging cells. The completed retrovirus vector comprises both the new envelope complex polypeptide and the wild-type envelope complex that contains intact functional cell fusion polypeptide. Alternatively, the modified envelope complex contains a modified, functional cell fusion polypeptide. The vector additionally contains a recombinant gene whose delivery to a target cell is desired.
Optionally, one or more additional envelope complex polypeptides are present that specifically bind a therapeutic or diagnostic agent, or provide a second targeting ligand to the vector. The second targeting ligand provides additional targeting specificity to the retroviral vector. In addition, second targeting ligand allows for the use of a second reagent in the context of detection or treatment. The second reagent would bind the additional envelope complex polypeptide and allow detection, for example, by means of a fluorescent or radioactive label on the reagent. Alternatively, the second reagent could enter a cell, by virtue of its binding to the vector surface, and bring about a desired biological effect. To this therapeutic end, the second reagent preferably would be administered locally, rather than systemically, at about the same time that the retrovirus vector is administered. Thus, such a vector can be used for diagnostic puφoses, for delivery of nucleic acid to a cell. Such a labeled vector can also be used to detect the presence of a specific cell in vitro, and is useful for diagnostic applications. Such vectors are also useful for gene therapy applications.
F. Gene therapy
The retroviral vectors of the invention can be used in cell transformation procedures for mammalian gene therapy, preferably for human gene therapy. Gene therapy provides methods for combating chronic infectious diseases such as HIV infection, as well as non-infectious diseases such as cancer and birth defects (see generally Anderson, Science 256: 808-813 (1992); Yu et al., Gene Ther. 1: 13-26 (1994)). Gene therapy can be used to transduce cells with either an ex vivo or an in vivo procedure.
Any heterologous genes or transcription units suitable for gene therapy can be expressed by the retroviral vector. Some conditions that can be treated by gene therapy are chronic or congenital diseases are preferably treated by integration of a functional gene into the appropriate cell, e.g., hormones, cell receptors, and enzymes. Other disease conditions can be treated by killing the cell responsible for the disease condition, such as a cancer cell or a virally infected cell, e.g. , an HIV infected cell. For example, suitable therapeutics can target RNAs (e.g. , using ribozymes or antisense RNA), proteins (RNA decoys , transdominant proteins , intracellular single chain antibodies , soluble CD4) , inf ectible cells (suicide genes), or the immune system (in vivo immunization).
One embodiment of the invention is a vector and method for the treatment of hemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell anemia and 0-thalassemia. These diseases are caused by a gene defect where an abnormal globin chain is made or little if any β-globin chain is produced. A suitable vector is made by packaging a retroviral genome that contains the β- globin gene inside a retrovirus that has a modified envelope complex protein. The modified envelope polypeptide binds the erythropoietin receptor and a second envelope complex polypeptide fuses with a cell membrane.
During use to treat hemoglobinopathy, the above vector is introduced into a patient's body such that it contacts the surfaces of red blood cell progenitor cells. Upon binding to and fusing with a red blood cell progenitor cell, the vector releases the retroviral genome that contains the β-globin gene. The retroviral genome containing the β-globin gene integrates into the patient's genome and ameliorates disease symptoms by expressing β- globin polypeptide.
A retrovirus vector of the present invention targets diseased cells and delivers other therapeutic agents in addition to genes. For example, cancer is often associated with the overexpression of one or more oncogenes. In some cases an overexpressed oncogene encodes a receptor that is located on the surface of the cancer cell. The present invention exploits this overexpression of a receptor by the use of a suitable binding pair member that binds to the overexpressed cancer cell marker known in the art. A retrovirus vector is targeted to the cancer cell by selection of a suitable binding pair member that becomes part of an envelope complex and binds the retrovirus to the cancer cell surface marker. The retrovirus genome is altered by recombination to express a toxic polypeptide such as ricin, diphtheria toxin and the like.
An example of overexpression of a cancer marker is the proto-oncogene HER2 transmembrane tyrosine kinase. High expression of this kinase protein at the surfaces of cancer cells has been correlated with several cancers, including breast, ovarian, gastric, and endometrial cancers as well as non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma, as reported by Holmes et al. , Science 256: 1205 (1992). The protein heregulin-α has affinity for this characteristic tumor cell marker and is a suitable binding pair member for incoφoration into an envelope complex of a retrovirus vector.
Autoimmune diseases often are characterized by the presence of a cell surface marker and, hence, are treated in accordance with the present invention. For example, in
T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease a sub-population of T-cells contains a specific T-cell antigen receptor which recognizes and interacts with a self-antigen to elicit the autoimmune response. A T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease is treated with the present invention by selecting a binding pair member for the virus envelope complex that forms a binding pair with this specific T-cell antigen receptor. The retrovirus vector in this instance preferably carries a toxin gene that is expressed upon introduction of the retrovirus into target T-cells. Viral vectors (for in vivo gene therapy) and transduced producer host cells (for ex vivo gene therapy) can be administered directly to a patient, preferably a human. Administration is by any of the routes normally used for introducing a molecule or cell into ultimate contact with blood or tissue cells. The vectors of the invention are administered in any suitable manner, preferably with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. Suitable methods of administering such viral vectors in the context of the present invention to a patient are known to those skilled in the art.
Pharmaceutically acceptable excipients are determined in part by the particular composition being administered, as well as by the particular method used to administer the composition. Accordingly, there is a wide variety of suitable formulations of pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention. Formulations suitable for parenteral administration, such as, for example, by intraarticular (in the joints), intravenous, intramuscular, intradermal, intraperitoneal, and subcutaneous routes, include aqueous and non-aqueous, isotonic sterile injection solutions, which can contain antioxidants, buffers, bacteriostats, and solutes that render the formulation isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient, and aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions that can include suspending agents, solubilizers, thickening agents, stabilizers, and preservatives. Parenteral administration and intravenous administration are suitable methods of administration. The dose administered to a patient, in the context of the present invention should be sufficient to effect a beneficial therapeutic response in the patient over time. The dose will be determined by the efficacy of the particular heterologous gene in the expression cassette and the condition of the patient, as well as the body weight or surface area of the patient to be treated. The size of the dose also will be determined by the existence, nature, and extent of any adverse side-effects that accompany the administration of a particular viral vector or transduced cell type in a particular patient.
For administration, viral vectors and transduced cells of the present invention can be administered at a rate determined by the transduced cell type, and the side-effects of the vector or cell type at various concentrations, as applied to the mass and overall health of the patient. Administration can be accomplished via single or divided doses. For a typical 70 kg patient, a dose equivalent to approximately . lμg to 10 mg are administered. Transduced cells are optionally prepared for reinfusion according to established methods (see, e.g. , Abrahamsen et al., J. Clin. Apheresis 6:4 8-53 (1991); Carter et al., J. Clin. Apheresis 4: 113-117 (1988); and Aebersold et al. , J. Immunol. Methods 112: 1-7 (1988)).
All publications and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incoφorated by reference as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incoφorated by reference.
Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for puφoses of clarity of understanding, it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings of this invention that certain changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.
EXAMPLES The following examples are provided by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation. Those of skill in the art will readily recognize a variety of noncritical parameters that could be changed or modified to yield essentially similar results.
Example 1: Cooperation Between Retrovirus Envelope Complexes This experiment demonstrates that two retroviral envelope complexes cooperate to cause full expression of their properties. Except where noted, the procedures used are those described by Rein et al., J. Virology 68: 1773 (1994).
Human 293 cells described by Graham et al. , J. Gen. Virol. 36: 59 (1977) and that express SV40 T antigen were first infected with the 10A1 isolate of MuLV or transfected with a vector expressing a p2E~ Mo-MuLV envelope complex. These cells were then co-cultivated with NIH3T3 cells productively infected with Mo-MuLV or with control
NIH3T3 cells. The 293 cells that were infected with 10A1 did not induce syncytia in either Mo-MuLV-infected NIH3T3 cells or control NIH 3T3 cells. But 293 cells transfected with a p2E~ Mo-MuLV plasmid and co-cultivated with NIH3T3, which exhibit receptors for Mo- MuLV, did induce syncytia. On the other hand, these transfected cells failed to induce syncytia when co-cultivated with cells that had been productively infected with Mo-MuLV, and consequently had blocked Mo-MuLV receptors.
Finally, human 293 cells that had been infected with 10A1 MuLV were also transfected with the p2E~ Mo-MuLV envelope complex expression plasmid. These cells fused with NIH3T3 cells, as expected. They also fused with NIH3T3 cells infected with Mo-MuLV. Thus, cells that expressed both wild-type 10A1 envelope complex and p2E~ Mo-MuLV envelope complex were able to induce syncytia upon contact with target cells lacking available Mo-MuLV receptors even though cells expressing either of these envelope complexes alone were unable to do so.
Essentially the same results were obtained when this experiment was repeated with an expression plasmid encoding amphotropic p2E envelope complex in place of the Mo-MuLV, p2E~ envelope complex. These results show that wild-type 10A1 envelope complex can co-operate with amphotropic p2E~ envelope complex as well as with Mo- MuLV, p2E~ envelope complex.
Example 2: Gene Therapy for Hemoglobin Gene Defects
This example describes how a retroviral vector according to the present invention can be constructed and used for gene therapy. Two viral envelope complex proteins are incoφorated into retrovirus particles within a packaging cell, and cooperate, as in Example 1, to target retroviral particles to human cells that exhibit the erythropoietin receptor (EPO-R) on their surfaces.
A. Construction of a packaging cell line expressing two env genes
A suitable packaging cell line is selected which expresses all of the proteins required for assembly of infectious virus particles. The mRNAs that encode the .• proteins are incapable of being packaged into virus particles within the selected cell lint
Three plasmids are transfected by the calcium phosphate precipitation method into NIH3T3 cells as described by Wigler et al. , Cell 16: 77 (1979). One of these plasmids codes for the gag and gag-pol proteins of Mo- MuLV, and also carries a gene for resistance to G-418. Transfected cells are selected by treatment of the transfected culture with G-418. A second plasmid expresses the wild-type Mo-MuLV envelope complex proteins, as for example, the plasmid pCDEnv (Wilson et al. , J. Virol. 63: 2374 (1989)), and carries as well a gene for resistance to hygromycin. Transfected cells are selected by treatment of the transfected culture with hygromycin. A third plasmid expresses a modified envelope complex polypeptide, in which a large portion of the SU (receptor-binding) region of Mo- MuLV envelope complex is replaced with sequences encoding a protein with affinity for a specific cell surface receptor. The modified SU region contains part or all of the erythropoietin (EPO) polypeptide sequence, which binds to the erythropoietin receptor (EPO- R) on the surfaces of cells in the erythroid lineage. This plasmid also carries a gene for resistance to puromycin. Transfected cells are selected by treatment of the transfected culture with puromycin.
B. Production of a retroviral vector targeted to a specific cell type
The packaging cell line constructed as described above is transfected with a fourth plasmid. The fourth plasmid contains a retroviral genome consisting of two Mo- MuLV long terminal repeats, Mo-MuLV packaging signals (Adam & Miller, J. Virol. 62:
3802 (1988)), and a human /3-globin gene. This plasmid also contains the ecogpt gene.
Transfected cells are selected by treatment of the transfected culture with aminopterin and mycophenolic acid (see Mulligan & Berg, Proc. Nat 'I Acad. Sci. USA 78: 2072 (1981)).
The resulting cell line packages the RNA viral genome described above containing the ø-globin sequences into retrovirus particles. The resultant particles contain both wild-type Mo-MuLV envelope complex proteins and modified Mo-MuLV envelope complex proteins, in which most of the SU regions have been replaced by erythropoietin polypeptide.
The above-described therapeutic vector can infect human cells bearing EPO-R, due to cooperation between the two envelope complex proteins in this vector. The wild-type
Mo-MuLV envelope complex binding protein cannot infect these cells, because human cells
do not have a receptor for Mo-MuLV SU. But the two envelope complex proteins co¬ operate, as demonstrated in Example 1, such that the modified envelope complex protein binds to erythropoietin receptor on human erythroid precursor cells, and the wild-type envelope complex protein then carries out the remaining functions required for infection, such as membrane fusion. As a result, the human j3-globin gene is delivered to the cell, and the genetic disease of the patient is alleviated.
Given the disclosure of the present invention, one versed in the art would readily appreciate that there may be other embodiments and modifications well within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, all expedient modifications readily attainable by one versed in the art from the present disclosure within the scope and spirit of the present invention are to be included as further embodiments of the present invention.
The scope of the present invention is to be defined as set forth in the appended claims.