RESUMO
Objective:To establish VSV-G qPCR assay for detection of replication competent lentivirus(RCL) and verify its application.Methods:A real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR for VSV-G envelope gene was developed. Several parameters including specificity, linear, amplification efficiency, precision, trueness, dynamic range, limit of detection, limit of quantification and robustness were verified. Preliminary application on CAR-T cells, end of production cells and the harvest of lentivirus vector was performed by using the method developed.Results:The real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR assay for VSV-G was specific for the detection VSV-G without specific amplification on 293T, PBMC and C8166 cells. The linear range of the assay was 1×10 2 copies/test-1×10 9 copies/test with a R2 value more than 0.998 and amplification efficiency between 93% and 98%. The precision (relative standard deviation) of the assay was less than 12% and the trueness (the rate of recovery) of the assay was between 85% and 106%. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of the assay was 5 copies/test and 40 copies/test. In addition, the robustness of the assay was also well. All the results of validation illustrated that the assay could meet the detection requirements. All of the 54 samples including CAR-T cells, lentivirus vector and end of product cells after amplification and passage on C8166 cells were negative of RCL by using the established assay. Conclusions:The real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR for VSV-G were established successfully. All of the validation results illustrated that the assay could meet the detection requirements. The application of the assay was conducive to further enhance the safety of the lentivirus vector related products.
RESUMO
Refractoriness of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells to chemotherapeutics represents a major clinical barrier. Suicide gene therapy for cancer has been attractive but with limited clinical efficacy. In this study, we investigated the potential application of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (HSV-TK/GCV) based system to inhibit chemoresistant AML cells. We first generated Ara-C resistant K562 cells and doxorubicin-resistant THP-1 cells. We found that the HSV-TK/GCV anticancer system suppressed drug resistant leukemic cells in culture. Chemoresistant AML cell lines displayed similar sensitivity to HSV-TK/GCV. Moreover, HSV-TK/GCV killing of leukemic cells was augmented to a mild but significant extent by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) with concomitant upregulation of Connexin 43, a major component of gap junctions. Interestingly, HSV-TK/GCV killing was enhanced by expression of vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV-G), a fusogenic membrane protein, which also increased leukemic cell fusion. Co-culture resistant cells expressing HSV-TK and cells stably transduced with VSV-G showed that expression of VSV-G could promote the bystander killing effect of HSV-TK/GCV. Furthermore, combination of HSV-TK/GCV with VSV-G plus ATRA produced more pronounced antileukemia effect. These results suggest that the HSV-TK/GCV system in combination with fusogenic membrane proteins and/or ATRA could provide a strategy to mitigate the chemoresistance of AML.