Human bone marrow stromal cells are efficiently transduced by vesicular stomatitis virus-pseudotyped retrovectors without affecting subsequent osteoblastic differentiation.

This study tested the transduction efficiency of human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs) with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-pseudotyped retrovectors and their subsequent osteogenic differentiation in vitro. Two different retrovectors encoding beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) or enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) as marker genes were examined for transduction of hBMSCs. hBMSCs were obtained from bone marrow filtrates of normal donors (aged 5-35 years), cultured in alpha-minimal essential medium (alpha-MEM) containing 10% fetal calf serum and infected with retrovectors soon after the adherent cells started to form individual colonies. Transduced hBMSCs were observed to express eGFP protein 4-7 days after infection in primary cultures, and the majority of hBMSCs were eGFP-positive. hBMSCs were also stained for beta-gal in the secondary cultures and virtually all hBMSCs expressed beta-gal activity. Transduced hBMSCs were examined for their osteogenic potential. These cells were found to express markers of osteogenic differentiation, including alkaline phosphatase, type I collagen, bone sialoprotein, decorin, and osteocalcin, as strongly as uninfected control cells. Mineralization was also induced by dexamethasone in transduced cells as well as control cells. These results demonstrate that hBMSCs are highly susceptible to infection with VSV-pseudotyped retrovectors with the majority of cultured cells expressing the viral transgenes without antibiotic selection. Transduced cells retain their osteogenic potential in vitro. hBMSCs are a promising cellular vehicle for systemic human gene therapy and VSV-pseudotyped retrovectors should be effective for their in vitro transduction prior to cellular engraftment.

Dlx5 induces expression of COL1A1 promoter contained in a retrovirus vector.

AIM: To determine whether retrovirally expressed Dlx5, a homeobox-containing transcription factor, can induce a 2.3 kb rat COL1A1 promoter-reporter construct, which is transduced into osteoblastic cells by the use of a retrovirus vector. METHODS: A self-inactivating retrovirus vector containing the rat COL1A1 driving green fluorescent protein (GFP) was transduced into chick calvarial periosteal cells. These cells were then infected with a replication-competent retroviral vector expressing Dlx5, or a control vector. The cells were cultured in the presence of ascorbic acid and beta-glycerol-phosphate, which promotes osteoblastic differentiation. Expression of the COL1A1 promoter was assessed by detecting GFP with fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS: GFP was detected only in cells infected with the Dlx5 expressing retrovirus. The GFP positive cells were observed in regions of the culture that had undergone osteoblastic differentiation, as detected by cell morphology and the presence of a mineralized matrix. CONCLUSION: The 2.3 kb rat COL1A1 promoter fragment contains elements responsive to Dlx5, and the self-inactivating retroviral vector allows these elements to be used appropriately.

Use of VSV-G pseudotyped retroviral vectors to target murine osteoprogenitor cells.

Marrow stromal cells (MSC) and neonatal calvarial cells have the potential to differentiate and express markers of mature osteoblasts. Furthermore, MSCs can generate multiple differentiated connective tissue phenotypes. These properties and their ability to be expanded ex vivo make them good models for ex vivo gene therapy. In this study we examined the ability of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G) pseudotyped retroviral vectors to transduce osteoprogenitor cells derived from bone marrow and from neonatal calvaria. Retrovectors encoding either beta-galactosidase or green fluorescent protein (eGFP) were used for transduction of primary murine marrow stromal and primary neonatal calvarial cell cultures. High infection efficiency was demonstrated by fluorescence-activated cell analysis when GFP was used as a marker or by estimating the number of beta-galactosidase-positive cells. Expression of markers of differentiated bone cells, including Col1a1, bone sialoprotein, and osteocalcin mRNA and alkaline phosphatase activity was not impaired by retroviral transduction. Our data suggest that VSV-G pseudotypes retroviral vectors are suitable for introducing genes into osteoprogenitor cells without affecting osteoprogenitor lineage progression.

Reduction of target gene expression by a modified U1 snRNA.

Although the primary function of U1 snRNA is to define the 5' donor site of an intron, it can also block the accumulation of a specific RNA transcript when it binds to a donor sequence within its terminal exon. This work was initiated to investigate if this property of U1 snRNA could be exploited as an effective method for inactivating any target gene. The initial 10-bp segment of U1 snRNA, which is complementary to the 5' donor sequence, was modified to recognize various target mRNAs (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase [CAT], beta-galactosidase, or green fluorescent protein [GFP]). Transient cotransfection of reporter genes and appropriate U1 antitarget vectors resulted in >90% reduction of transgene expression. Numerous sites within the CAT transcript were suitable for targeting. The inhibitory effect of the U1 antitarget vector is directly related to the hybrid formed between the U1 vector and target transcripts and is dependent on an intact 70,000-molecular-weight binding domain within the U1 gene. The effect is long lasting when the target (CAT or GFP) and U1 antitarget construct are inserted into fibroblasts by stable transfection. Clonal cell lines derived from stable transfection with a pOB4GFP target construct and subsequently stably transfected with the U1 anti-GFP construct were selected. The degree to which GFP fluorescence was inhibited by U1 anti-GFP in the various clonal cell lines was assessed by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. RNA analysis demonstrated reduction of the GFP mRNA in the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartment and proper 3' cleavage of the GFP residual transcript. An RNase protection strategy demonstrated that the transfected U1 antitarget RNA level varied between 1 to 8% of the endogenous U1 snRNA level. U1 antitarget vectors were demonstrated to have potential as effective inhibitors of gene expression in intact cells.

Bone-directed expression of Col1a1 promoter-driven self-inactivating retroviral vector in bone marrow cells and transgenic mice.

Gene therapy of bone would benefit from the availability of vectors that provide stable, osteoblast-specific expression. This would allow bone-specific expression of Col1a1 cDNAs for treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta. In addition, such a vector would restrict expression of secreted therapeutic proteins to the bone-synthesizing regions of the bone marrow after ex vivo transduction of marrow stromal cells and reintroduction of the cells into patients. Retrovirus vectors stably integrate into target cell genomes; however, long-term regulated expression from internal cellular promoters has not been consistently achieved. In some cases this is due to a stem cell-specific mechanism for transcriptional repression of retroviruses. We evaluated the ability of self-inactivating ROSA-derived vectors containing a bone-directed 2.3-kb rat Col1a1 promoter to display osteoblast-specific expression. In vitro expression was examined in bone marrow stromal cell cultures induced to undergo osteoblastic differentiation. In vivo expression was evaluated in chimeric mice derived from transduced embryonic stem cells. The results indicate that self-inactivating retrovirus vectors containing the Col1a1 promoter are not permanently inactivated in embryonic stem cells and are specifically expressed in osteoblasts in vivo and in vitro. Thus these vectors should be useful for bone-directed gene therapy.

Premature termination codon in the aggrecan gene of nanomelia and its influence on mRNA transport and stability.

AIM: To analyze the influence of the premature termination codon on mRNA transport and stability METHODS: Chondrocyte mRNA was isolated from homozygous and heterozygous nanomelic 17-days old embryos and examined by RT-PCR analysis. To analyze aggrecan mRNA stability, mRNA synthesis was inhibited with DRB [5,6 dichloro-1-(-D-ribofuranosyl benzimidazole)], a specific inhibitor of RNA polymerase II. Visualization of the aggrecan alleles was performed by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: The level of mutant aggrecan mRNA within the nucleus was equal to that of the control, but no mutant mRNA was observed in the cytoplasm. RT-PCR revealed that the mutant transcript was only detectable in the nucleus, compared with house-keeping glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene or collagen type II. A restriction site induced by premature termination codon TAA allowed the distinction of normal and mutant transcripts in chondrocytes derived from embryos heterozygous for the nanomelic mutation. After the treatment with DRB, identical decay rates were demonstrated for both transcripts within the heterozygous nucleus. In situ hybridization showed no abnormal mRNA accumulation. CONCLUSION: This is the first evidence suggesting that the transcript of the mRNA with the premature termination codon within an exon does exit the nucleus.

Nuclear retention of COL1A1 messenger RNA identifies null alleles causing mild osteogenesis imperfecta.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heritable connective tissue disorder characterized by bone fragility. Most cases of severe OI result from mutations in the coding region of the COL1A1 or COL1A2 genes yielding an abnormal collagen alpha chain. In contrast, many patients with mild OI show evidence of a null allele due to a premature stop mutation in the mutant RNA transcript. We have previously described a null allele arising from a splice donor mutation where the transcript containing the included intron was sequestered in the nucleus. Here we demonstrate that transcripts from null alleles arising from premature stop mutations are also present in the nucleus and absent in the cytoplasm. Using reverse transcriptase-PCR and single-strand conformational polymorphism of COL1A1 mRNA from patients with mild OI, we describe three patients with distinct null producing mutations identified from the mutant transcript within the nuclear compartment. A fourth patient with a Gly--->Arg expressed point mutation exhibits the mutant transcript in both compartments. Defining the distribution of allelic variants of COL1A1 mRNA in the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments gives further insight into cell biology of OI and provides a strategy for investigating potential causes of a null allele.

Molecular basis of nanomelia, a heritable chondrodystrophy of chicken.

Nanomelia is a recessively inherited connective tissue disorder of chicken affecting cartilage development. Other investigators have demonstrated that it involves low aggrecan production and diminished aggrecan mRNA levels. Based on genetic linkage studies showing a high likelihood that the mutation responsible for the nanomelic phenotype lay within the aggrecan gene, a series of experiments was performed to define the molecular basis of the trait. Aggrecan mRNA was present in the nucleus of the nanomelic chondrocyte but greatly reduced in the cytoplasmic compartment, a finding suggestive of a premature stop codon within the aggrecan transcript. Since no defect in mRNA splicing could be demonstrated by ribonucleasease protection studies, direct DNA sequencing was initiated by polymerase chain reaction of the mRNA and of genomic DNA. A stop codon was demonstrated at codon 1513, which is located in the eighth repeat of the chondroitin sulfate 2 domain of the large tenth exon. The mutation creates a unique BasBI restriction site which readily distinguishes the mutant and wild-type alleles.

Measurement of interleukin-1 stimulated constitutive prostaglandin G/H synthase (cyclooxygenase) mRNA levels in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells using competitive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

To assess regulation of constitutive prostaglandin G/H synthase (PGHS-1) by interleukin-1 (IL-1) in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells, we compared analysis by competitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with Northern blot analysis. Using RT-PCR, IL-1 increased PGHS-1 mRNA levels by 1.84 +/- 0.10 or 2.07 +/- 0.17, depending on the method of calculation. Using Northern blot analysis, the effect of IL-1 on PGHS-1 mRNA levels was more variable, and the variability was increased by normalization of PGHS-1 mRNA levels to the housekeeping genes, beta-actin and glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), because their mRNA levels were also regulated by IL-1. We conclude that competitive RT-PCR is a reproducible and accurate method for studying small changes in mRNA levels.

Defective splicing of mRNA from one COL1A1 allele of type I collagen in nondeforming (type I) osteogenesis imperfecta.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) type I is the mildest form of heritable bone fragility resulting from mutations within the COL1A1 gene. We studied fibroblasts established from a child with OI type I and demonstrated underproduction of alpha 1 (I) collagen chains and alpha 1 (I) mRNA. Indirect RNase protection suggested two species of alpha 1 (I) mRNA, one of which was not collinear with fully spliced alpha 1 (I) mRNA. The noncollinear population was confined to the nuclear compartment of the cell, and contained the entire sequence of intron 26 and a G-->A transition in the first position of the intron donor site. The G-->A transition was also identified in the genomic DNA. The retained intron contained an in-frame stop codon and introduced an out-of-frame insertion within the collagen mRNA producing stop codons downstream of the insertion. These changes probably account for the failure of the mutant RNA to appear in the cytoplasm. Unlike other splice site mutations within collagen mRNA that resulted in exon skipping and a truncated but inframe RNA transcript, this mutation did not result in production of a defective collagen pro alpha 1 (I) chain. Instead, the mild nature of the disease in this case reflects failure to process the defective mRNA and thus the absence of a protein product from the mutant allele.

Expression of mutant alpha (I)-procollagen in osteoblast and fibroblast cultures from a proband with osteogenesis imperfecta type IV.

This study compares the synthesis of mutant type I collagen in cultured dermal fibroblasts and trabecular osteoblasts that were isolated from a patient with moderately severe osteogenesis imperfecta (type IV). Previous study of this patient's dermal fibroblasts revealed a 2000 dalton deletion located in cyanogen bromide peptide 4 of alpha 2(I)-collagen. The phenotype of the bone cell cultures was defined by a 3-4 day logarithmic phase doubling time, predominantly type I collagen production over type III and alkaline phosphatase activity 13.5 times dermal fibroblast levels. The current study revealed that both fibroblasts and osteoblasts synthesized a normal and a shortened alpha 2(I) chain, each as the product of separate alleles. Following pepsin treatment of the procollagens, a shortened alpha 1(I) chain was also seen in both cell types. Cyanogen bromide peptide mapping of osteoblast alpha-chains demonstrated the same deletions in the cyanogen bromide peptide 4 as observed in the fibroblast cyanogen bromide maps. PAGE analysis of oligonucleotide-specific cDNA that was reverse transcribed from RNA isolated from fibroblasts and osteoblasts also demonstrated the presence of two bands, one the normal size of alpha 2(I) cDNA and a second species that was smaller by 54 base pairs. Sequencing of polymerase chain reaction-amplified cDNA fragments revealed an in-frame deletion of exon 12. This finding was confirmed by the RNase protection method. Genomic DNA sequencing detected a T----G point mutation in the second position of the 5' splice donor site of intron 12. Therefore, in this patient with osteogenesis imperfecta there was no qualitative alteration in the osteoblast-specific expression of this mutant alpha 2(I)-collagen allele compared to dermal fibroblasts.

An osteopenic nonfracture syndrome with features of mild osteogenesis imperfecta associated with the substitution of a cysteine for glycine at triple helix position 43 in the pro alpha 1(I) chain of type I collagen.

Mutations affecting the pro alpha 1(I) or pro alpha 2(I) collagen genes have been identified in each of the major clinical types of osteogenesis imperfecta. This study reports the presence of a heritable connective tissue disorder in a family with an osteopenic syndrome which has features of mild osteogenesis imperfecta but was considered idiopathic osteoporosis in the proband. At age 38, while still premenopausal, she was found to have osteopenia, short stature, hypermobile joints, mild hyperelastic skin, mild scoliosis, and blue sclerae. There was no history of vertebral or appendicular fracture. Hip and vertebral bone mineral density measurements were consistent with marked fracture risk. Delayed reduction SDS-PAGE of pepsin-digested collagens from dermal fibroblast cultures demonstrated an anomalous band migrating between alpha 1(I) and alpha 1(III). This band merged with the normal alpha-chains upon prereduction, indicating an unexpected cysteine residue. Cyanogen bromide peptide mapping suggested that the mutation was in the smaller NH2-terminal peptides. cDNA was reverse transcribed from mRNA and amplified by the polymerase chain reaction. A basepair mismatch between proband and control alpha 1(I) cDNA hybrids was detected by chemical cleavage with hydroxylamine:piperidine. The cysteine substitution was thus localized to alpha 1(I) exon 9 within the cyanogen bromide 4 peptide. Nucleotide sequence analysis localized a G----T point mutation in the first position of helical codon 43, replacing the expected glycine (GGT) residue with a cysteine (TGT). The prevalence of similar NH2-terminal mutations in subjects with this phenotype which clinically overlaps idiopathic osteoporosis remains to be determined.

Cloning and analysis of the 5' region of the rat bone/liver/kidney/placenta alkaline phosphatase gene. A dual-function promoter.

The rat bone/liver/kidney/placenta (BLKP) alkaline phosphatase (ALP) gene is expressed at high level in these particular tissues and at low levels in many other tissues. To study the mechanisms underlying the complex regulation of the rat BLKP ALP expression, we isolated a genomic clone, containing a 10.5-kb insert, which includes the promoter of the BLKP ALP gene with 2 kb of 5' flanking region, its first exon (84bp), and over 7 kb of the first intron. The promoter of the rat BLKP ALP displays features of a "housekeeping" gene promoter: an atypical TATA-box (TTCATAA); 3 potential Spl binding sites; high GC content (82% in positions-134 to -14); and a high CpG to GpC ratio (60:89 in the 0.85 kb promoter region), indicating an abundance of potential methylation sites. Likewise, transient transfection of CAT fusion genes into ROS 17/2.8 osteoblast-like cells reveals weak expression from the promoter and proximal 5' flanking sequences, which can be elevated by an SV40E enhancer. The homologous human bone/liver/kidney (BLK) ALP promoter, which demonstrates a similar combination of tissue-specific and housekeeping characteristics, shares close similarity (184 bp of 79% similarity excluding gaps) with the rat BLKP ALP promoter. The human placental ALP is encoded by a separate gene and its promoter, on the other hand lacks significant similarity to the rat BLKP ALP promoter despite their common expression in the placenta. This lack of similarity appears to reflect the close evolutionary relationship of the human placental ALP gene to the intestinal ALP gene. Significant sequence similarity was found between the rat and human BLK/BLKP ALP promoters and the human and mouse adenine deaminase promoters, and together they may represent a class of dual-function promoters, allowing both constitutive low-level, and tissue-specific higher levels of expression. A pentanucleotide with the consensus sequence 5'-GGCTC-3' is present in these promoters and in the promoters for the human fibronectin and the human alpha 1(II) procollagen genes in the region of maximal similarity with the rat BLKP ALP promoter, and in the vicinity of the Sp1-binding sites.

Isolation and characterization of the rat alpha 1(I) collagen promoter. Regulation by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D.

Our previous work demonstrated that the inhibition of type I collagen synthesis by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-(OH)2D3) in fetal rat calvaria and cultured rat osteosarcoma cells is accompanied by equivalent reduction in steady state levels of alpha 1(I) and alpha 2(I) collagen mRNA. To pursue the mechanism for this effect, we isolated and sequenced a 3.6-kilobase DNA fragment that contained the promoter for the rat alpha 1(I) collagen gene. This promoter fragment was fused to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene and was introduced into ROS 17/2.8 cells by calcium phosphate co-precipitation. Expression of this construct was diminished by 1,25-(OH)2D3 to the same degree as the endogenous collagen gene in both transient expression assays and in permanently selected bone cells. However, a fibroblast cell line did not show a similar reduction in the activity of the transgene or the endogenous collagen gene. These experiments indicate that the alpha 1(I) promoter contains cis-active elements which are regulated by the 1,25-(OH)2D3 receptor in ROS 17/2.8 cells.

Acrodermatitis in breast-fed premature infants: evidence for a defect of mammary zinc secretion.

Two 9-week-old, breast-fed premature infants developed acrodermatitis and hypozincemia because of low zinc content in their mothers' breast milk. All symptoms of zinc deficiency disappeared within seven days after the infants were treated orally with zinc and did not recur when zinc was discontinued after 11 months (infant 1) and three weeks (infant 3). After a subsequent term pregnancy, one of the mothers had lower breast milk zinc content (P less than .025) and greater exponential decline (P less than .025) of zinc content through 40 weeks of lactation compared with 34 control subjects. Her second infant (infant 2) had hypozincemia at 7 months of age but did not develop clinical zinc deficiency. When the mothers of the affected infants took oral zinc supplements, there was no increase in their breast milk zinc content. Zinc secretion into breast milk appears to be a controlled process that is independent of maternal zinc intake or serum zinc level. Breast milk may be low in zinc because of defective mammary secretion and this may lead to severe symptomatic zinc deficiency in premature infants.