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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Lentiviral Transduction of Embryonic Stem Cells.

Lentiviral vectors provide an efficient and reliable method for stable gene knockdown in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) through RNA interference. Here, we describe a detailed protocol for lentiviral transduction of mouse ESCs using lentiviral shRNA expression vectors. The protocol encompasses lentiviral particle production in HEK-293T packaging cells, determination of viral titer, transduction of ESCs cultured under feeder-free conditions, and selection of stably transduced cells. Additionally, we describe methods for evaluating transduction efficiency using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, as well as for assessing gene knockdown efficacy by quantitative real-time PCR (Q-RT-PCR). This protocol is suitable for functional genomic studies in pluripotent stem cells and can be adapted for other difficult-to-transfect cell types.

Lentivirus

Quantifying the mutational landscape of retroviral and lentiviral vectors in gene therapy patients.

Adenosine deaminase severe combined immunodeficiency (ADA-SCID) is a monogenic disorder caused by mutations in the ADA gene. Gene therapy using γ-retroviral and lentiviral vector gene addition approaches have shown curative results. We sequenced the ADA transgene in transduced CD3+ T cells, and in peripheral blood cells from patients treated with autologous CD34+ cells transduced with either a γ-retroviral or lentiviral ADA gene vector to assess transgene mutational profiles. In both CD3+ T cells and ADA-SCID patients' cells treated with the lentiviral vector, we observed significantly higher occurrences of guanine (G)-to-adenosine (A) base substitutions than with the γ-retroviral vector. We hypothesized that this G-to-A mutational signature was due to the APOBEC3 cytosine deaminase protein family. By knocking out APOBEC3 genes in HEK239T packaging cells, APOBEC3-mediated mutagenesis decreased by 91.2% along the transgene in CD34+ transduced cells in comparison to CD34+ cells transduced with lentiviral supernatant packaged in parental HEK293T cells.

Humans

Cre-loaded integrase-defective lentiviral vectors for targeted cassette exchange in CHO cells.

Genome-modifying enzymes, such as recombinases and CRISPR-associated nucleases, enable targeted gene insertion when delivered transiently to minimize off-target effects. Precise genome engineering requires controlled enzyme activity, as well as efficient donor DNA transfer. Integrase-defective lentiviral vectors (IDLVs) provide a promising platform for transient episomal DNA transfer; however, their integration efficiency depends on complementary genome-targeting strategies. Here, we engineered Cre-loaded IDLVs (Cre-IDLVs) that co-package lentiviral vector genomes together with bioactive Cre recombinase. Cre was inserted into the Gag region of an integrase-defective gag-pol construct, allowing for efficient encapsidation and protease-mediated release during virion maturation without compromising the viral titer. The resulting particles carried donor cassettes flanked by heterospecific loxP sites. When applied to CHO founder cells harboring compatible genomic loxP landing pads, Cre-IDLVs efficiently mediated recombination-mediated cassette exchange, producing the highest number of G418-resistant colonies among the plasmid ratios tested. Genomic PCR and sequencing confirmed precise locus-specific insertion without detectable random integration in the analyzed clones. These findings establish Cre-IDLVs as a streamlined dual-delivery platform that couples transient recombinase activity with episomal donor DNA transfer. This hybrid lentiviral strategy provides a programmable approach for controlled and site-specific genome modification in mammalian cells.

Integrases

Lentiviral-mediated gene complementation rescues pathogenic ABCA3 variants.

The ATP-binding cassette subfamily A member 3 (ABCA3) protein on the limiting membrane of lamellar bodies in alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells transports phospholipids required for pulmonary surfactant assembly. ABCA3 deficiency results from biallelic pathogenic variants in ABCA3 and causes progressive neonatal respiratory failure or childhood interstitial lung disease (chILD). Supportive/compassionate care or lung transplantation are the only current definitive treatments for ABCA3 deficiency and progressive respiratory failure. Complementing dysfunctional ABCA3 by gene addition has therapeutic potential. Previous studies show that repairing or complementing ABCA3 in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived AT2 cells rescues lamellar body morphology and surfactant phospholipid composition. Pathogenic variants disrupt ABCA3 function through altered protein trafficking (type 1) or by impaired phospholipid transport (type 2) into lamellar bodies. Here we tested ABCA3 gene complementation using a human pulmonary epithelial cell line (A549) with a genomically silenced ABCA3 locus (ABCA3 KO). From this line, additional cell lines that stably express individual ABCA3 variant cDNA constructs from a single genomic locus were tested: L101P (type 1), E292V (type 2), E690K (type 2), or wild-type ABCA3. Lentiviral-mediated ABCA3 delivery to each cell line partially rescued localization to LAMP3+ vesicles, lamellar body-like structure morphology, and cell proliferation. A functional assay measuring NF-κB signaling suggested that ABCA3 complementation ameliorated aberrant inflammatory signaling in E292V or E690K (type 2) mutant lines, but not in L101P (type 1) or knockout lines. These studies highlight the therapeutic potential of gene addition as well as differences between ABCA3 pathogenic variants that may influence genetic therapy outcomes.

ABCA3 deficiency

Adaptation of lentiviral vectors for viral gene therapy and their impact on host cell biology.

BACKGROUND: Lentiviral vectors (LVVs) are used as a viral gene therapeutic and were derived from human immunodeficiency virus subtype 1 (HIV-1). LVVs are used to deliver and induce the stable expression of transgenes through genome integration. Current clinical LVV delivery systems do not include HIV-1 major accessory genes; however, critical structural and non-structural HIV-1 proteins are encoded by the 4-plasmid combination that composes the 3rd generation LVV transduction systems. LVVs use HIV-1-like mechanisms for viral genome integration and both transgene delivery and expression. LVVs rely on host cell machinery to transcribe and translate transgenes for either knocking down disease-causing genes and/or supplying functional genes in a targeted disease. LVVs integrate into host intronic and intergenic regions due to genomic accessibility, but there are no known biases toward specific target integration motifs. MAIN BODY: Investigation of LVV integration has uncovered the generation of chimeric LVV-host transcripts and altered host transcript splicing patterns. Several Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved LVV-derived therapies are used for treating diseases ranging from beta thalassemia to sickle cell anemia. An increasingly popular application of LVV is in the generation of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies, which change and enhance T cell antigen specificity and effector function in liquid cancers. In November 2023, all CAR T cell therapies were placed under FDA investigation due to higher-than-expected rates of malignant transformation, hospitalization, and death in treated individuals. LVV integrations driving oncogene expression could be a cause for malignancy development. Current methods for resolving LVV integration patterns are technically limited by the sequencing approach applied allowing for only limited characterization of LVV integration profiles and altered host gene regulation. CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive understanding of LVV integration and its consequences is necessary for understanding how these events influence host cell gene regulation and splicing, possibly identifying tunable variables for enhanced positive clinical outcomes. Here, we review the development of LVV systems, what is known about LVV integration patterns, technologies used to characterize patterns of LVV integration, and what is understood about the subsequent impact on host cell gene regulation and its potential linkage to patient malignancies.

Humans

Assessment of different promoters in lentiviral vectors for expression of the N-acetyl-galactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase gene.

Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA (MPS IVA) is caused by pathogenic variants in the GALNS gene encoding N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase (GALNS) enzyme, leading to glycosaminoglycan (GAG) accumulation in multiple tissues, resulting in progressive skeletal dysplasia and poor quality of life. There is currently no effective treatment for this skeletal disease. This study proposes a novel lentiviral vector (LV)-based gene therapy that produces and secretes the active GALNS enzyme at supraphysiologic levels within the cells. LVs carrying the native GALNS encoding sequence (cDNA) were made under three different promoters: CBh, COL2A1, and CD11b. Moreover, we designed LVs carrying the native GALNS cDNA tagged with D8 octapeptide under the CD11b promoter and a human codon-optimized GALNS cDNA under the CBh promoter, respectively. Transduced HEK293 cells, HepG2 cells, and MPS IVA fibroblasts and chondrocytes were cultured for 8 and 30 days, and the media were collected every three days. The enzyme activity, GAG levels, and vector copy numbers (VCNs) in these cells and media were analyzed. LV with the COL2A1 promoter produced the highest enzyme activity in HEK293, HepG2, MPS IVA fibroblasts, and chondrocytes, followed by LV with the CBh promoter. VCNs were higher in MPS IVA fibroblasts treated with LV-CBh-hGALNS and in HepG2 cells treated with LV-CD11b-hGALNS than in HEK293 cells. Accumulated GAGs were normalized to wild-type levels by the LV gene therapy, especially with CBh and COL2A1 promoters. These findings, if further validated, could significantly impact the treatment of MPS IVA, offering a more effective and feasible treatment option.

Humans

Lentiviral CRISPRa/i in the adult prairie vole brain: modulating neuronal gene expression without DNA cleavage.

Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) are a powerful model for studying the neurobiology of social bonding, yet tools for region- and cell type-specific gene regulation remain underdeveloped in this species. Here, we present a lentivirus-mediated CRISPR activation and interference (CRISPRa/i) platform for somatic gene modulation in the prairie vole brain. This system enables non-mutagenic, titratable regulation of gene expression in the adult brain without germline modification. Our dual-vector system includes one construct expressing dCas9-VPR (VP64-p65-Rta) referred to as CRISPRa or dCas9-KRAB-MeCP2 (Kruppel-associated box-methyl CpG binding protein 2), referred to as CRISPRi under a neuron-specific promoter, and a second construct delivering a U6-driven sgRNA (single guide RNA) alongside an elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1α)-driven mCherry reporter. We detail the design, production, and stereotaxic delivery of these tools and demonstrate their application by targeting four genes implicated in social behavior (Oxtr, Avpr1a, Drd1, and Drd2) across two mesolimbic brain regions: the nucleus accumbens and ventral pallidum. Gene expression analyses confirmed robust, bidirectional transcriptional modulation for selected targets, establishing a proof of concept for CRISPRa/i in this non-traditional model. The dual-vector design is readily adaptable to other gene targets, cell types, and brain regions, and can be multiplexed to provide a flexible and scalable framework for investigating gene function in behaviorally relevant circuits. These advances represent the first successful implementation of somatic CRISPRa/i in prairie voles and expand the genetic toolkit available for this species.

Avpr1a

CROPseq-multi: a universal solution for multiplexed perturbation in high-content pooled CRISPR screens.

Forward genetic screens seek to dissect complex biological systems by systematically perturbing genetic elements and observing the resulting phenotypes. While standard screening methodologies introduce individual perturbations, multiplexing perturbations improves the performance of single-target screens and enables combinatorial screens for the study of genetic interactions. Current tools for multiplexing perturbations are limited by technical challenges and do not offer compatibility across diverse screening methodologies, including enrichment, single-cell sequencing, and optical pooled screens. Here, we report the development of CROPseq-multi (CSM), a CROPseq1-inspired lentiviral system to multiplex Streptococcus pyogenes (Sp) Cas9-based perturbations with versatile readout compatibility and high performance for both perturbation and barcode identification. CSM has equivalent per-guide activity to CROPseq and low lentiviral recombination frequencies. Dual-guide CSM libraries are constructed in a single, facile molecular cloning step that facilitates the use of unique molecular identifiers. CSM is compatible with enrichment screening methodologies, single-cell RNA-sequencing readouts, and optical pooled screens. For optical pooled screens, an optimized and multiplexed in situ detection protocol improves barcode counts 10-fold (for mRNA detection), enables detection of recombination events, and reduces the number of sequencing cycles required for decoding by 3-fold relative to CROPseq. CROPseq-multi-v2 (CSMv2) adds compatibility for detection methods based on T7 RNA polymerase in vitro transcription2-5. CSM provides a single system for CRISPR screens that is compatible with individual and combinatorial perturbations, diverse SpCas9-based perturbation technologies, and multiple high-content, single-cell phenotypic readouts.

CRISPR Cas9

Generation of Biologically Contained Marburg Virus.

Wild-type Marburg virus (MARV) can only be handled in biosafety level 4 facilities. By removing an essential gene from the virus genome, deficient virus particles can be generated that are only capable of replication if the missing gene product is provided in trans. As a result, these viruses are restricted to specific cell lines, making them safe to handle at lower biosafety levels. Here, we provide a detailed overview of how to generate MARV in which the VP30 gene has been replaced by a green fluorescent reporter gene, as well as how to use lentiviral transduction to create stable cell lines expressing MARV VP30. These cell lines can be used for the propagation and confinement of the resulting reporter virus.

Marburgvirus

A Dual-Selection System for Enhanced Efficiency and Fidelity of Circular RNA Overexpression.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are essential regulators of cellular processes, but are challenging to study using traditional methods. Overexpression approaches, such as the use of linearized plasmids and viral vectors, often result in high rates of false-positive clones, where cells retain selection markers without expressing the target circRNA. This study addresses this limitation by developing a dual-selection circRNA system designed to enhance the accuracy and reliability of circRNA overexpression. Our system integrates a fluorescent reporter gene upstream of the circRNA expression cassette, under a shared promoter, and a downstream antibiotic resistance marker, allowing for both antibiotic selection and flow cytometric cell-sorting to identify and enrich cells with genuine circRNA expression. We successfully incorporated this system into an inducible lentiviral vector for controlled overexpression in various cell types. The dual-selection circRNA system offers a significant advance for circRNA research and studies of other RNA species where accurate and reliable overexpression is essential.

RNA, Circular

PYCR1 promotes glutamine metabolism and the progression of lung adenocarcinoma by regulating the expression of OPLAH.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common subtype of lung cancer. Glutamine plays a critical role in the progression of LUAD. However, the function of pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 (PYCR1) and its regulatory role in glutamine metabolism remain unclear. Transcriptomic and clinical data for LUAD were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and validated using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets (GSE19188, GSE13213). Glutamine metabolism-related genes were analyzed for differential expression and prognostic significance. Functional enrichment was performed via gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analyses. Single-cell RNA-seq data (GSE117570) were processed using Seurat, and cell-cell communication was inferred with CellChat. In vitro, lentiviral overexpression, Western blotting, EdU, CCK-8, and glutamine uptake assays were conducted. An orthotopic xenograft model was established in nude mice to assess tumor growth in vivo. Six glutamine-metabolism-related genes were found significantly overexpressed in LUAD tissues and associated with poor overall survival. Single-cell sequencing revealed predominant PYCR1 expression in malignant cells. Functional assays demonstrated that PYCR1 overexpression enhanced glutamine uptake, proliferation, and inhibited apoptosis in LUAD cells, effects mediated via suppression of the P53 pathway. PYCR1 promoted tumor growth in a xenograft model and was found to transcriptionally upregulate 5-oxoprolinase (OPLAH), which augmented its oncogenic effects. Our findings identify the PYCR1/OPLAH axis as a key driver of LUAD progression via p53 signaling, revealing a promising therapeutic target.

Pyrroline Carboxylate Reductases

Multi-cohort integration and machine learning identify CPVL as a novel oncogenic driver in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, and the prognosis of advanced GC remains poor. Systematic identification of robust biomarkers through multi-cohort integration and computational prioritization may facilitate the discovery of novel therapeutic targets. AIM: To identify key genes associated with gastric cancer progression through integrative multi-omics analysis and to elucidate the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of the top-prioritized candidate gene. METHODS: Comprehensive bioinformatics analyses integrating The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets were performed using differential expression analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), Cox regression, and eight machine-learning algorithms to systematically identify and prioritize GC-associated hub genes. Among the identified candidates, CPVL was selected for further validation based on its diagnostic and prognostic performance. CPVL expression and clinical relevance were validated by independent datasets and immunohistochemistry. Lentiviral constructs were used to overexpress or silence CPVL in GC cell lines. Functional assays were performed, including CCK-8, colony formation, EdU incorporation, and flow cytometry, to assess cell proliferation and cell-cycle distribution. Western blotting and JAK2 inhibitor (AZD1480) rescue experiments were performed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, and a nude mouse xenograft model was used to evaluate tumorigenicity in vivo. RESULTS: Multi-cohort screening identified five hub genes (CPVL, AADAC, BCAT1, CPXM1, and FBN1). Among them, CPVL exhibited the highest diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.895) and the strongest correlation with poor overall survival, and was therefore selected for mechanistic investigation. CPVL expression was markedly upregulated in GC tissues and cell lines. Functional assays demonstrated that CPVL promotes GC cell proliferation and accelerates G1/S-phase transition. Mechanistically, CPVL activated the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, upregulating Cyclin D1 and CDK4 while downregulating p27. Treatment with the JAK2 inhibitor AZD1480 partially reversed these effects. In vivo, CPVL knockdown significantly inhibited tumor growth. CONCLUSION: Through systematic multi-cohort integration and machine-learning prioritization, CPVL was identified as a novel oncogenic driver in gastric cancer. CPVL promotes tumor growth via activation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway and regulation of the Cyclin D1/CDK4/p27 axis, highlighting its potential as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target.

Biomarker

Functional role and regulatory network of miR-22-3p in chicken hepatic lipid metabolism.

Although microRNA-22-3p (miR-22-3p) is abundantly expressed in the avian liver, its epigenetic role in lipid homeostasis remains largely uncharacterized. To elucidate its in vivo function, 14-day-old female Qingyuan Partridge chickens were intravenously injected with lentiviral vectors to establish miR-22-3p overexpression and knockdown models. Phenotypic analysis demonstrated that miR-22-3p knockdown significantly elevated hepatic triglyceride (TG) levels (p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05) and drove marked steatosis, whereas its overexpression reduced TG content. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) revealed profound metabolic remodeling, identifying 23 core lipid-associated genes (e.g., ELOVL6, FADS2, ACSBG2, and PTGIS) heavily enriched in steroid biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolism, and elongation pathways. In conclusion, miR-22-3p functions as a bidirectional epigenetic rheostat that negatively regulates hepatic lipid deposition by orchestrating a multilayered polygenic network, providing novel molecular targets for mitigating avian metabolic disorders and optimizing production traits in indigenous poultry breeds.

Animals

The transcription factor BMAL1 inhibits endothelial cell apoptosis by targeting STAT6 to repress its expression.

Corneal transparency is critical for optimal visual function, and corneal neovascularization represents the primary cause of visual impairment globally. Recent studies have identified the transcription factor BMAL1 as a significant regulator of angiogenesis. However, its specific role and underlying mechanisms in endothelial cell apoptosis remain inadequately understood. This study seeks to elucidate the role and underlying mechanisms of BMAL1 in endothelial cell apoptosis by employing genetic modification, alkali-burned mouse corneal neovascularization models, lentiviral transfection, proteomic analysis, and other complementary methodologies. Our results showed that BMAL1 expression is significantly elevated in corneal neovascularization induced by alkali burn and removal of Bmal1 in endothelial cells resulted in the suppression of corneal neovascularization in alkali burn mouse models. In vivo experiments have demonstrated that the knockout of Bmal1 in endothelial cells leads to an increase in endothelial cell apoptosis. Complementary in vitro studies revealed that overexpression of BMAL1 in endothelial cells inhibits apoptosis, while knockdown of BMAL1 promotes apoptosis. Proteomic analysis identified STAT6 as a downstream target of BMAL1 involved in the regulation of endothelial cell apoptosis. Further cell salvage experiments confirmed that BMAL1 modulates endothelial cell apoptosis through the regulation of STAT6 expression. Finally, the results of dual-luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that BMAL1 exerts transcriptional repressive effects on the promoter bound by STAT6. This study elucidates the novel role and mechanism of BMAL1 in the regulation of angiogenesis and endothelial cell apoptosis, thereby identifying a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of vascular diseases such as corneal neovascularization.

ARNTL Transcription Factors

Development of receptor and oncogene-responsive luciferase reporter vectors that are activated via kinase signaling to AP-1.

This study aimed to generate lentiviral vectors carrying an array of AP-1 motifs driving luciferase gene expression as reporters of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity. We created a series of vectors based on LeGO-iG that were used to generate stably transduced leukemia cell lines. A vector termed LEGO-AP1&#xd7;6-GM55 containing an array of 6 AP-1 sites linked to the minimal CSF2 promoter was sufficient to support high levels of MAPK-inducible luciferase activity in leukemic cell lines that was suppressed by MAPK inhibitors. The inclusion of a putative chromatin priming element encompassing RUNX and ETS motifs increased the activity of these vectors. The additional inclusion of the full-length mouse CSF2 promoter, or the human DUSP5 promoter further increased the MAPK-dependent activity of these vectors in leukemic cells. These vectors support moderate levels of constitutive activity in cells carrying mutations that activate the RAS/RAF/MEK MAPK signaling pathway, and high-level activity after direct activation of MAPK signaling. They also respond to T-cell receptor activation via MAPK and Ca2+ signaling pathways. This resource will now make it easier to track receptor or oncogene-inducible MAPK activity in cultured cells, and potentially in tumors, close to real-time.

Humans

Decreased expression of Kr&#xfc;ppel-like factor 4 is associated with colorectal cancer progression.

Kr&#xfc;ppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), a key transcription factor,plays an important role in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Here, we explored the prognostic value of KLF4 and its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. We analyzed transcriptomic data and clinical information related to CRC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. database. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate KLF4 expression in CRC tissue samples. Additionally, we examined the relationship between clinicopathological factors and patient prognosis using Cox proportional hazards model analysis. Lentiviral transfection was used to create KLF4 knockdown HCT-116 cells. Analysis of the TCGA database and two GEO datasets (GSE21510 and GSE117606) revealed that KLF4 was expressed at low levels in CRC. Furthermore, reduced KLF4 levels correlated with lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and advanced TNM staging. ROC curve analysis indicated that KLF4 can effectively differentiate cancerous tissue from normal tissue. Functional enrichment analysis identified KLF4 as significantly linked to the glycoprotein metabolic pathway. Our detection of KLF4 expression in CRC tissue samples confirmed its decreased levels and their association with poorer patient survival. However, KLF4 was not identified as an independent prognostic factor. In vitro, KLF4 knockdown promoted HCT-116 cell migration and invasion and downregulated the mRNA expression of glycoprotein synthesis- and glycosylation-related genes. Conversely, KLF4 re-expression markedly reversed these effects. Our findings suggested that low KLF4 expression served as a predictor factor for disease progression in CRC patients. Furthermore, reduced KLF4 levels enhance the migration and invasion of CRC cells, which may be related to impaired glycoprotein metabolism.

Colorectal cancer

In vivo CAR-T therapy: The shift from ex vivo culturing to direct in situ immune reprogramming.

CAR T-cell therapy using chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) has provided a radical shift in the treatment of several hematological malignancies, producing high response rates and durable remissions. However, conventional ex vivo manufacturing is limited by complex processing steps, high costs, variability in product quality, and clinically relevant delays that restrict patient eligibility. In vivo manufacturing has emerged as a next-generation approach in which immune cells are reprogrammed directly within the patient, eliminating the need for exogenous handling and culture. This strategy uses viral and non-viral delivery platforms, including lentiviral vectors, adeno-associated viruses, lipid nanoparticles, and targeted polymer systems, together with DNA, mRNA, and genome editing tools such as CRISPR-based technologies. Early feasibility data are supported mainly by preclinical models and translational studies, while safety remains a central concern due to potential immunotoxicity, off-target transduction, and regulatory challenges. This review highlights key engineering strategies enabling in vivo CAR T-cell generation, summarizes emerging clinical research and development, and discusses future opportunities for expanding in vivo CAR T-cell therapies as scalable immunotherapy platforms.

Humans

Preferential labeling of inhibitory and excitatory cortical neurons by endogenous tropism of adeno-associated virus and lentivirus vectors.

Despite increasingly widespread use of recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) and lentiviral (LV) vectors for transduction of neurons in a wide range of brain structures and species, the diversity of cell types within a given brain structure is rarely considered. For example, the ability of a vector to transduce neurons within a brain structure is often assumed to indicate that all neuron types within the structure are transduced. We have characterized the transduction of mouse somatosensory cortical neuron types by recombinant AAV pseudotyped with serotype 1 capsid (rAAV2/1) and by recombinant lentivirus pseudotyped with the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) glycoprotein. Both vectors used human synapsin (hSyn) promoter driving DsRed-Express. We demonstrate that high titer rAAV2/1-hSyn efficiently transduces both cortical excitatory and inhibitory neuronal populations, but use of lower titers exposes a strong preference for transduction of cortical inhibitory neurons and layer 5 pyramidal neurons. In contrast, we find that VSV-G-LV-hSyn principally labels excitatory cortical neurons at the highest viral titer generated. These findings demonstrate that endogenous tropism of rAAV2/1 and VSV-G-LV can be used to obtain preferential gene expression in mouse somatosensory cortical inhibitory and excitatory neuron populations, respectively.

Animals