Feline leukemia virus integrase and capsid packaging functions do not change the insertion profile of standard Moloney retroviral vectors.

Adverse events linked to perturbations of cellular genes by vector insertion reported in gene therapy trials and animal models have prompted attempts to better understand the mechanisms directing viral vector integration. The integration profiles of vectors based on MLV, ASLV, SIV and HIV have all been shown to be non-random, and novel vectors with a safer integration pattern have been sought. Recently, we developed a producer cell line called CatPac that packages standard MoMLV vectors with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) gag, pol and env gene products. We now report the integration profile of this vector, asking if the FeLV integrase and capsid proteins could modify the MoMLV integration profile, potentially resulting in a less genotoxic pattern. We transduced rhesus macaque CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells with CatPac or standard MoMLV vectors, and determined their integration profile by LAM-PCR. We obtained 184 and 175 unique integration sites (ISs) respectively for CatPac and standard MoMLV vectors, and these were compared with 10 000 in silico-generated random IS. The integration profile for CatPac vector was similar to MoMLV and equally non-random, with a propensity for integration near transcription start sites and in highly dense gene regions. We found an IS for CatPac vector localized 715 nucleotides upstream of LMO-2, the gene involved in the acute lymphoblastic leukemia developed by X-SCID patients treated by gene therapy using MoMLV vectors. In conclusion, we found that replacement of MoMLV env, gag and pol gene products with FeLV did not alter the basic integration profile. Thus, there appears to be no safety advantage for this packaging system. However, considering the stability and efficacy of CatPac vectors, further development is warranted, using potentially safer vector backbones, for instance those with a SIN configuration.

Isolation and characterization of macaque dendritic cells from CD34(+) bone marrow progenitors.

We have developed a method for isolating and characterizing pigtailed macaque dendritic cells (DCs) generated from CD34(+) bone marrow (BM) progenitors based on methods previously developed for isolating human DCs. Macaque DCs displayed a characteristic morphology and were potent stimulators of allogeneic T cell proliferation. They expressed a set of DC-associated markers, such as MHC class II, CD1a, CD4, CD11a, CD40, CD58, CD80, CD83, CD86, and CXCR4. Macaque DCs, as well as peripheral blood CD4(+) T cells, were highly susceptible to HIV-2 infection, as detected by DNA-PCR. The expression of HIV-2 in macaque DCs was downregulated by treatment with the beta-chemokine RANTES. Macaque DCs will be useful for defining the in vivo role of DCs in HIV pathogenesis and for optimizing and testing peptide-DC vaccines or tolerizing regimens.

Promoter element for transcription of unrearranged T-cell receptor beta-chain gene in pro-T cells.

The hallmark of T- and B-lymphocyte development is the rearrangement of variable (V), diversity (D), and joining (J) segments of T-cell receptor (TCR) and immunoglobulin (Ig) genes to generate a diverse repertoire of antigen receptor specificities in the immune system. The process of V(D)J recombination is shared in the rearrangement of all seven antigen receptor genes and is controlled by changes in chromatin structure, which regulate accessibility to the recombinase apparatus in a lineage- and stage-specific manner. These chromatin changes are linked to transcription of the locus in its unrearranged (germline) configuration. To understand how germline transcription of the TCRbeta-chain gene is regulated, we determined the structure of germline transcripts initiating near the Dbeta1 segment and identified a promoter within this region. The Dbeta1 promoter is active in the presence of the TCRbeta enhancer (Ebeta), and in this context, exhibits preferential activity in pro-T versus mature T-cell lines, as well as T- versus B-lineage specificity. These studies provide insight into the developmental regulation of TCRbeta germline transcription, one of the earliest steps in T-cell differentiation.

Two regions in the CD80 cytoplasmic tail regulate CD80 redistribution and T cell costimulation.

CD28 is a major T cell costimulatory molecule, delivering signals distinct from those of the CD3/TCR complex, which regulate cytokine and cytokine receptor expression, cell proliferation, and cell viability. CD28 needs to be cross-linked to initiate signals, yet both of its ligands, CD80 and CD86, are expressed as monomers. Previously, we determined the cytoplasmic tail of CD80 is required for CD28-mediated costimulation and subcellular relocalization of CD80 in lymphocytes. In this study, we report that Reh B cell transfectants expressing CD80 with mutations in the cytoplasmic tail region either at 275-278 (RRNE-->AAAA, CD80/4A) or serine 284 (S-->A, CD80/SA) can bind ligand similar to transfectants expressing wild-type CD80, yet are unable to costimulate T cell proliferation. These mutant CD80 molecules are expressed on the surface of the Reh cells in small clusters or foci indistinguishable from those of wild-type CD80 molecules. However, mutant CD80 molecules unlike wild-type CD80 cannot be readily induced by ligand into caps. Thus, small clusters of CD80 found on APC are insufficient to initiate CD28-mediated signals, and the formation of CD80 caps appears to be a critical factor regulating the initiation of T cell costimulation. A 30-kDa phosphoprotein that associates with the cytoplasmic tail of CD80 in activated cells may play a role in CD80 redistribution and thus CD28-mediated costimulation. These results indicate two distinct regions of the CD80 cytoplasmic tail regulate its costimulatory function, and both regions are required for CD80 function.

Subcellular localization of CD80 receptors is dependent on an intact cytoplasmic tail and is required for CD28-dependent T cell costimulation.

CD28 provides a major costimulatory signal to T cells when it is cross-linked with mAb, immobilized recombinant ligand (CD80Ig or CD86Ig), or ligand-bearing cells but not when it is bound by specific Fab fragments or monomeric ligand. We wanted to determine how monomeric CD80 could cross-link CD28 since CD80 is expressed as a monomer on the surface of APC. We found that CD80 may interact with the actin-based cytoskeleton. To test whether the interaction of CD80 with the cytochalasin B-sensitive cytoskeleton was necessary for T cell costimulation through CD28, we constructed a tailless form of CD80 and generated stable transfectants of Chinese hamster ovary epithelial cells and Reh B cells expressing either the tailless or wild-type CD80 molecules. Unlike control cells expressing wild-type CD80, the tailless CD80 transfectants expressing equivalent levels of surface CD80 were not able to provide a costimulatory signal for anti-CD3-induced T cell proliferation, up-regulation of CD25 (IL-2Ralpha) expression, or the induction of IL-2 secretion. Thus, the cytoplasmic tail of CD80 apparently is required to signal T cells. Confocal microscopic studies revealed that wild-type CD80 and tailless CD80 have different patterns of subcellular distribution in both epithelial and lymphoid cells. Furthermore, T cell contact induces more patching and capping of CD80 in wild-type CD80-expressing cells than in tailless CD80-expressing cells. This suggests that the cytoplasmic region of CD80 functions to localize CD80 in complexes required for effective T cell costimulation.

Ig domains 1 and 2 of murine CD22 constitute the ligand-binding domain and bind multiple sialylated ligands expressed on B and T cells.

Baby hamster kidney cells transfected with murine CD22 (mCD22) mediate adhesion to B- and T-lineage cells. To further characterize mCD22-mediated cell adhesion, we generated a panel of recombinant globulins (Rg) consisting of different extracellular Ig-like (Ig) domains of mCD22. FACS analysis using these mCD22.Rgs revealed that ligands for mCD22 are expressed on both B and T cell lines and also normal B and T cells. In B-lineage cells, the expression of mCD22 ligands began on sIgM- pre-B cells in bone marrow. The ligand-binding site of mCD22 for ligands was mapped to Ig domains 1 and 2: mCD22.Rgs containing Ig domains 1 and 2 bound target cells and immunoprecipitated sets of glycoproteins similar to Rgs containing Ig domains 1 to 3 or all 7 CD22 Ig domains, whereas Rgs containing Ig domains 2 to 3 or 3 to 7 did not bind either B or T cells. Furthermore, B cells apparently expressed higher levels of mCD22 ligands than that of T cells, suggesting a potential competition for CD22 binding between ligands expressed on the same B cell and those expressed on another B cell or T cells. Immunoprecipitation experiments using the mCD22.Rgs identified mCD22 itself and the B cell-specific isoform of mCD45RA (B220) as two of the mCD22 ligands expressed on B cells. Thus, mCD22 may potentially regulate B cell activation through interactions with itself or mCD45RA/B220.