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Biomedical subjects

M Cottler-Fox

Publications and source records attributed to M Cottler-Fox.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Retroviral gene transduction of adult peripheral blood or marrow-derived CD34+ cells for six hours without growth factors or on autologous stroma does not improve marking efficiency assessed in vivo.

Our previous work in patients undergoing autologous transplant for multiple myeloma (MM) or breast cancer (BC) has shown that retroviral transduction of adult CD34+ cells for 72 hours in the presence of interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-6, and stem cell factor (SCF) resulted in .01% to 1% long-term marking of peripheral blood and marrow cells (Blood 85:3948, 1995). In this study we compare these previous studies to transduction with no added growth factors, previously shown to result in higher levels of marking in children (Lancet 342:1134, 1993) or transduction in the presence of an autologous stromal layer. Peripheral blood (PB) mononuclear cells were collected via apheresis after high-dose cyclophosphamide and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Bone marrow (BM) was also harvested in all patients. One third of both BM and PB collections were enriched for CD34+ cells and transduced with one of two marking vectors containing the neomycin-resistance gene to distinguish cells originating from BM and PB posttransplantation. Cells from 3 MM and 2 BC patients were transduced without growth factors for 6 hours and cells from 2 MM and 2 BC patients were transduced in the presence of autologous marrow stroma. Immediately posttransduction, the percentage of Neo-resistant PB and BM progenitors (colony-forming units) were: 0% to 19% in the 6-hour no growth factor group and 0% to 36% in the autologous stroma group. After conditioning therapy, both transduced and untransduced PB and BM fractions were infused into the patients. Semi-quantitative nested DNA polymerase chain reaction was performed on total, mononuclear, and granulocyte fractions of PB and BM at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 months. Poor marking has been observed in both groups, with no consistently positive patients. These results compare unfavorably with our prior experience using growth factors during transduction. Further optimization of transduction conditions and vectors needs to be developed to improve transduction efficiency of adult human repopulating hematopoietic cells.

Adult↗

CD34+ cell dose predicts survival, posttransplant morbidity, and rate of hematologic recovery after allogeneic marrow transplants for hematologic malignancies.

After autologous or allogeneic transplants of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC), an adequate dose of CD34+ cells is necessary to ensure early and sustained hematopoietic engraftment and favorable clinical outcome. There are no comparable data on the relationship between CD34+ cell dose and recovery after allogeneic bone marrow transplants (BMT). Twenty-eight patients with hematologic malignancies received a BMT from an HLA-identical sibling, using T-cell depletion and cyclosporin for graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis and delayed donor lymphocyte transfusions in an attempt to prevent leukemia relapse. The treatment-related mortality (TRM), primarily due to infections and cytopenias, was significantly higher for 13 patients receiving less than 1 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg (64.9% +/- 12.8% v 6.9% +/- 6.4%, P = .003). Survival at a median follow-up of 1 year was also lower in the group receiving less than 1 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg (30.8% +/- 12.8 v 74.3% +/- 13.7%, P = .005). The CD34+ cell dose was the only variable significantly associated with TRM. The dose of CD34+ cells also correlated with speed of hematopoistic recovery. Patients receiving more than 2 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg showed significantly earlier recovery of monocytes and a trend for earlier recovery of lymphocytes. They achieved platelet and red blood cell transfusion independence earlier, required less granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support during ganciclovir treatment, and spent fewer days in the hospital after transplantation. These results suggest that, for allogeneic T-cell-depleted BMT, the higher CD34+ cell doses may improve outcome in engrafting patients.

Adult↗

Transfer of the human glucocerebrosidase gene into hematopoietic stem cells of nonablated recipients: successful engraftment and long-term expression of the transgene.

In trying to develop methods of gene therapy for Gaucher disease that will avoid the morbidity and mortality associated with bone marrow (BM) ablation, we transplanted BM stem cells transduced with a retroviral vector containing the human glucocerebrosidase cDNA into normal, nonablated, syngeneic mice. Donor BM from untreated male mice or treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was transduced ex vivo using a standard 4-day transduction protocol. Recipient female mice were injected one time only or once daily for 5 consecutive days or once a week for 5 consecutive weeks using 2 x 10(7) (untreated BM) or 2 x 10(6) (5-FU-treated BM) cells per injection. Initial transduction efficiency into colony-forming unit-spleen (CFU-S) was 80% to 100%. Recipient analysis was performed at least 6 months after the last transplantation. The best engraftment of donor stem cells, up to 5% by secondary CFU-S analysis, was obtained with multiple injections of transduced BM not previously treated with 5-FU. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification for both the transgene and the Y chromosome identified the progeny of transduced stem cells in various hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic organs. The copy number of the transgene in stem cells was 0.13 to 2.8. Transgene expression was shown by reverse transcriptase-PCR, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. No serious side effects of the procedure were noted. We conclude that multiple transplants of retrovirally transduced BM cells into nonablated recipients may be a safe and effective therapeutic modality for a number of genetic hematopoietic disorders.

Animals↗

Retrovirally marked CD34-enriched peripheral blood and bone marrow cells contribute to long-term engraftment after autologous transplantation.

We report here on a preliminary human autologous transplantation study of retroviral gene transfer to bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB)-derived CD34-enriched cells. Eleven patients with multiple myeloma or breast cancer had cyclophosphamide and filgrastim-mobilized PB cells CD34-enriched and transduced with a retroviral marking vector containing the neomycin resistance gene, and CD34-enriched BM cells transduced with a second marking vector also containing a neomycin resistance gene. After high-dose conditioning therapy, both transduced cell populations were reinfused and patients were followed over time for the presence of the marker gene and any adverse effects related to the gene-transfer procedure. All 10 evaluable patients had the marker gene detected at the time of engraftment, and 3 of 9 patients had persistence of the marker gene for greater than 18 months posttransplantation. The marker gene was detected in multiple lineages, including granulocytes, T cells, and B cells. The source of the marking was both the transduced PB graft and the BM graft, with a suggestion of better long-term marking originating from the PB graft. The steady-state levels of marking were low, with only 1:1000 to 1:10,000 cells positive. There was no toxicity noted, and patients did not develop detectable replication-competent helper virus at any time posttransplantation. These results suggest that mobilized PB cells may be preferable to BM for gene therapy applications and that progeny of mobilized peripheral blood cells can contribute long-term to engraftment of multiple lineages.

Antigens, CD↗

Transduction of rIL-2 expanded CD4+ and CD8+ ovarian TIL-derived T cell lines with the G1Na (neor) replication-deficient retroviral vector.

We have expanded ovarian tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in low concentrations of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) to conduct intraperitoneal adoptive immunotherapy trials in patients with ovarian cancer. We have previously demonstrated that certain T cell lines and clones derived from ovarian TIL exhibit in vitro autologous tumor-specific cytotoxicity and/or cytokine production (interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha) preferentially in response to autologous tumor cells. Studies that utilize a marker gene introduced into the DNA of TIL can provide useful information on specific uptake or localization of TIL at tumor sites and on the survival of TIL in vivo. We have conducted a series of preclinical experiments in which we have successfully transfected TIL with G1Na, which encodes the gene for neomycin phosphotransferase (neoR). NeoR was detected in at least 10% of CD8+ cells (mean = 10.4%) and between 2.5 and 20% of CD4+ TIL (mean = 8.5%). Transduction of ovarian TIL with G1Na caused no substantial changes to the T cell phenotypes or in vitro cytotoxicities against ovarian and hematogenous tumor cell targets, or on the rIL-2 requirements of TIL for growth and proliferation. In addition, the intact G1Na provirus in transduced TIL cells was rescuable by replication-competent retrovirus and was transferred into the genome of NIH-3T3 fibroblasts, which were rendered resistant to G418. An enhanced polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure utilizing detection by ethidium bromide staining was developed. The enhanced PCR detected 1 in 100,000 neoR-labeled cells. Furthermore, detection of the G1Na genome in transduced TIL by in situ hybridization with an RNA probe provided evidence for expression of the neoR gene in transduced TIL. Results obtained from these studies suggest that ovarian TIL-derived T cell lines transduced with the neoR gene post infection with the G1Na retroviral vector can be utilized to examine the in vivo trafficking pattern of ovarian TIL-derived T cell lines expanded in low concentrations of rIL-2 and their survival.

3T3 Cells↗

Positive selection of CD34+ hematopoietic cells using an immunoaffinity column results in T cell-depletion equivalent to elutriation.

Acute graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) continues to present a barrier to successful allogeneic marrow transplantation. T cell-depletion may prevent severe GVHD but carries an increased risk of graft rejection and relapse posttransplant. Clinical trials have defined the number of lymphocytes associated with sustained engraftment but low risk of significant GVHD (greater than grade I or II skin only) as < or = 10(5)/kg. We examined T cell-depletion resulting from positive selection of CD34+ hematopoietic cells with a biotinylated monoclonal anti-CD34 antibody and an immunoaffinity column. Eleven patients (six myeloma and five breast cancer) underwent both peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection and marrow harvest prior to autologous transplantation. One PBSC collection and one-third of each marrow underwent column separation. PBSCs were enriched for CD34+ cells from an initial mean of 1.5 to 53.3%, while marrow went from an initial mean of 2.8 to 65.4%. PBSC were depleted of CD3+ cells from an initial mean of 9.6 x 10(9) to 8.6 x 10(6). Marrow CD3+ lymphocyte content was reduced from an initial mean of 5.6 x 10(9) to 8 x 10(5). Since the column permits quantification and salvage of depleted T cells, its use should allow re-addition of T cell-aliquots associated with minimal risk for GVHD and rejection. In addition, since PBSCs were as readily depleted as marrow, allogeneic PBSC transplant may be feasible using this method.

Antigens, CD↗

The impact of harvest center on quality of marrows collected from unrelated donors.

The total number and distribution of nucleated cells in harvested bone marrow are potentially important determinants of patient outcome following bone marrow transplantation. In order to assess whether marrows collected from predominantly unrelated donors at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) were different in cellular content from marrows collected at harvest centers outside of GUMC, we compared the nucleated cell counts and mononuclear cell subset distribution (CD34, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19 antigen-positive cell content) of 10 consecutive marrows harvested at GUMC to 10 unrelated donor marrows from outside harvest centers. Significantly higher nucleated cell counts and CD34 antigen-positive cell content and significantly lower CD3 and CD4 antigen-positive T-cell numbers were demonstrated among the marrows harvested at GUMC. These results confirmed significant variability in marrow collection practices between GUMC and 10 different outside harvest centers and suggest that strict adherence to a specific collection procedure, involving small volume marrow aspirations and multiple puncture sites, results in a product with a high number of early hematopoietic progenitor cells and minimal contamination by peripheral blood. These data further suggest the need for careful monitoring of individual unrelated donor marrow collection centers' practices to optimize the quality of the harvested marrow.

Academic Medical Centers↗

Transfusion support of hematology and oncology patients. The role of recombinant hematopoietic growth factors.

Recombinant DNA technology has made more than a dozen human cytokines available to treat patients with hematologic and oncologic disorders. These small glycoproteins mediate cell growth and differentiation and regulate complex cellular networks by autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine mechanisms. Direct infusions of hematopoietic cytokines can decrease the requirement for transfusion in many patients with hematologic disorders and malignancies and permit more aggressive myelosuppressive therapy. Stimulation of blood donors with cytokines may enhance collection of a variety of transfusion components from granulocytes to peripheral blood progenitor cells. Using combinations of recombinant growth factors can effect ex vivo cell expansion and differentiation. Such cellular components are currently being studied in immunotherapy of cancer, in molecular approaches to inherited and acquired genetic abnormalities, and in bone marrow transplantation. In the future, this technology may be applied to producing transfusion components.

Blood Component Transfusion↗

In situ hybridization in HIV research.

In situ hybridization (ISH) for HIV is an arduous, demanding means of detecting viral genetic material in cells and tissues. Good ISH requires broad technical skills and devotion to controls for every step of the process as well as a critical eye when interpreting results. ISH may be used to detect HIV in three ways: by hybridizing to viral RNA, by hybridizing to proviral mRNA being produced for virion packaging, and by hybridizing to proviral DNA in the cytoplasm or integrated in the nucleus of an infected cell. Here we discuss the technical considerations involved and the problems encountered in using ISH to study the pathobiology of HIV infection.

DNA Probes↗

An improved enrichment method for functionally competent, highly purified peripheral blood dendritic cells and its application to HIV-infected blood samples.

Dendritic cells (DC) were purified from human peripheral blood using a rapid and simple method based on magnetic depletion of phagocytes with carbonyl iron, followed by centrifugation of nonphagocytic cells on a Percoll density gradient and depletion of lymphocytes and macrophages/monocytes with a panel of MoAbs and immunomagnetic beads. Enriched DC were obtained with > 99% purity as judged by non-specific esterase (NSE) staining. After isolation, these cells, representing 0.4% of the starting mononuclear cell population, still function as potent antigen-presenting cells for purified T lymphocytes. The present results confirm the ability of human peripheral blood DC to present soluble antigens to T cells including microbial antigens and show, further, that DC are more potent soluble antigen-presenting cells than monocytes. The method was successfully applied to the purification of DC from the blood of HIV-infected individuals. We could not detect decreased numbers of DC in four individuals with early HIV infection and no replicating HIV was detected by in situ hybridization in the DC.

Antigen-Presenting Cells↗

Retroviral-mediated gene transfer into CD34-enriched human peripheral blood stem cells.

Retroviral-mediated gene transfer has been shown to be a feasible method for the introduction of new genes into bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells. We have investigated the application of this technology to primitive CD34-enriched human peripheral blood cells as a potential alternative stem cell source. Bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) CD34-enriched cells from normal volunteers and patients with multiple myeloma were exposed to retroviral vectors containing the neomycin-resistance gene and gene transfer efficiency into colony-forming unit colonies (CFU-C) and CD34+ cells was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Peripheral blood was a target equally efficient to BM, and PB cells mobilized with chemotherapy and growth factors were also shown to take up retroviral vectors readily. Conditions favoring gene transfer were investigated, and exposure of cells to interleukin-3 (IL-3), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and stem cell factor (SCF) during a 72-hour transduction was found to be most effective. The use of PB stem cells as targets for gene transfer could allow repeated collections and transductions, with obvious advantages over a single BM collection.

Antigens, CD↗