Selection and amplification of heterologous genes encoding adenosine deaminase in mammalian cells

Selective Agents for Stable Transfection

A stable cell line is generated when transfected DNA undergoes integration into a chromosome by nonhomologous recombination. Cells that stably express selectable (e.g., antibiotic-resistant) markers are also likely to have incorporated other DNA sequences. This phenomenon, in which physically unlinked genes are assembled into a single integrated array and expressed in the same transfected cell, is known as "cotransfection." Resistance to antibiotics has proven to be effective in selecting cotransfectants and, in some cases, as a driver for gene amplification.

The isolation of CHO cells with a site conferring a high and reproducible transgene amplification rate

Co-amplification of transgenes using the dihydrofolate reductase/methotrexate (DHFR/MTX) system is a widely used method for the isolation of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines that secrete high levels of recombinant proteins. A bottleneck in this process is the stepwise selection for MTX resistant populations; which can be slow, tedious and erratic. We sought to speed up and regularize this process by isolating dhfr(-) CHO cell lines capable of integrating a transgene of interest into a defined chromosomal location that supports a high rate of gene amplification. We isolated 100 independent transfectants carrying a gene for human adenosine deaminase (ada) linked to a φC31 attP site and a portion of the dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) gene. Measurement of the ada amplification rate in each transfectant using Luria-Delbruck fluctuation analysis revealed a wide clonal variation; sub-cloning showed these rates to be heritable. Site directed recombination was used to insert a transgene carrying a reporter gene for secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) as well as the remainder of the dhfr gene into the attP site at this location in several of these clones. Subsequent selection for gene amplification of the reconstructed dhfr gene in a high ada amplification candidate clone (DG44-HA-4) yielded reproducible rates of seap gene amplification and concomitant increased levels of SEAP secretion. In contrast, random integrations of the dhfr gene into clone HA-4 did not yield these high levels of amplification. This cell line as well as this method of screening for high amplification rates may prove helpful for the reliable amplification of recombinant genes for therapeutically or diagnostically useful proteins.

Selection of transfected mammalian cells

To determine the function of a gene in vitro, expression in heterologous cells is often employed. This can be done by transient expression, but often requires a more permanent expression of the gene and the creation of a cell line. This process can involve decisions as to the nature of construct used for expression, and invariably uses some strategy to select the transfected cells. Typically, these strategies use one of a number of genes that confer resistance to an added drug that will kill untransfected cells but not the transfected cells (positive selection). Alternatively, sometimes the strategy uses a gene that will confer sensitivity to a compound and kills the transfected cells (negative selection). This chapter discusses some of the strategies and genes used in creating cell line for in vitro study of gene function.

Selection of transfected mammalian cells

Analysis of gene function frequently requires the formation of mammalian cell lines that contain the studied gene in a stably integrated form. Approximately one in 10(4) cells in a transfection will stably integrate DNA (the efficiency can vary depending on the cell type). Therefore, a dominant, selectable marker is used to permit isolation of stable transfectants. In the first part of this unit, the procedure for determining selection conditions and the resulting stable transfection is presented and the most commonly used selectable markers are discussed. The second protocol includes conditions for thirteen markers commonly used for selection of mammalian cells. A third protocols describes selection of transfected cells from the total population soon after transfection with plasmids that express both the gene of interest and a selection tag. Optimization of transfection conditions can be facilitated by a simple staining assay detailed in a support protocol.

Selection of transfected mammalian cells

Analysis of gene function frequently requires the formation of mammalian cell lines that contain the studied gene in a stably integrated form. Approximately one in 10(4) cells in a transfection will stably integrate DNA (the efficiency can vary depending on the cell type). Therefore, a dominant, selectable marker is used to permit isolation of stable transfectants. In the first part of this unit, the procedure for determining selection conditions and the resulting stable transfection is presented and the most commonly used selectable markers are discussed. The second protocol includes conditions for thirteen markers commonly used for selection of mammalian cells. A third protocols describes selection of transfected cells from the total population soon after transfection with plasmids that express both the gene of interest and a selection tag. Optimization of transfection conditions can be facilitated by a simple staining assay detailed in a .

Overview of protein expression by mammalian cells

This unit reviews the stages involved in protein production in mammalian cells using a stable-expression approach. Choice of cell type is discussed, as is transfection of the host cells, methods for selection and amplification of transformants, and growth of cells at appropriate scale for protein production. Since post-transcriptional modification and intracellular protein transportation are important features of recombinant-protein production in mammalian cells, some description of these mechanisms is included.

Expression of murine adenosine deaminase (ADA) in transgenic maize

A murine adenosine deaminase (ADA) gene, driven by the maize ubi-1 promoter and intron region, was transformed into embryogenic maize callus, along with a bar and gusA gene-containing plasmid, using microparticle bombardment. Selection in the presence of either the herbicide Basta or the adenosine analogue 2'-deoxyadenosine resulted in transgenic cultures that expressed GUS and accumulated a 41-kD protein that immunoprecipated with an ADA-specific polyclonal antibody. ADA enzyme activity was observed in extracts from transgenic callus as well as regenerated plants and progeny. Culltures expressing ADA grew in the presence of 200 mg/l 2'-deoxyadenosine, a concentration which completely inhibited the growth of non-transgenic cultures. ADA activity appeared to segregate in progency of regenerated plants as a single, dominant Mendelian trait. These results suggest that ADA, in combination with adenosine analogue selection, represents a potentially viable selectable marker system for transgenic maize production.

Components of vectors for gene transfer and expression in mammalian cells

Progress in diverse scientific fields has been realized partly by the continued refinement of mammalian gene expression vectors. A growing understanding of biological processes now allows the design of vector components to meet specific objectives. Thus, gene expression in a tissue-selective or ubiquitous manner may be accomplished by selecting appropriate promoter/enhancer elements; stabilization of labile mRNAs may be effected through removal of 3' untranslated regions or fusion to heterologous stabilizing sequences; protein targeting to selected tissues or different organelles is carried out using specific signal sequences; fusion moieties effect the detection, enhanced yield, surface expression, prolongation of half-life, and facile purification of recombinant proteins; and careful tailoring of the codon content of heterologous genes enhances protein production from poorly translated transcripts. The use of viral as well as nonviral genetic elements in vectors allows the stable replication of episomal elements without the need for chromosomal integration. The development of baculovirus vectors for both transient and stable gene expression in mammalian cells has expanded the utility of such vectors for a broad range of cell types. Internal ribosome entry sites are now widely used in many applications that require coexpression of different genes. Progress in gene targeting techniques is likely to transform gene expression and amplification in mammalian cells into a considerably less labor-intensive operation. Future progress in the elucidation of eukaryotic protein degradation pathways holds promise for developing methods to minimize proteolysis of specific recombinant proteins in mammalian cells and tissues.

Clostridium septicum alpha-toxin is proteolytically activated by furin

Clostridium septicum alpha-toxin is secreted as an inactive 46,450-Da protoxin. The protoxin is activated by proteolytic cleavage near the C terminus, which eventually causes the release of a 45-amino-acid fragment. Proteoytic activation and loss of the propeptide allow alpha-toxin to oligomerize and form pores on the plasma membrane, which results in colloidal-osmotic lysis. Activation may be accomplished in vitro by cleavage with trypsin at Arg367 (J. Ballard, Y. Sokolov, W. L. Yuan, B. L. Kagan, and R. K. Tweten, Mol. Microbiol. 10:627-634, 1993), which is located within the sequence KKRRGKR367S. A conspicuous feature of this site is a recognition site (RGKR) for the eukaryotic protease furin. Pro-alpha-toxin (AT[pro]) that was digested with trypsin or recombinant soluble furin yielded the 41,327-Da active form (AT[act]). A mutated alpha-toxin in which the furin consensus site was altered to KKRSGSRS at the cleavage site (AT[SGSR]) was cleaved and activated by trypsin but not by furin. In cytotoxicity assays, wild-type Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and furin-deficient CHO (FD11) cells were killed by AT(pro) but not by AT(SGSR). Both cell types were killed by AT(SGSR) that was preactivated with trypsin. Propidium iodide uptake assays revealed that FD11 cells were approximately 22% less sensitive to AT(pro) than were CHO cells. AT(pro)-induced cell lysis of FD11 cells, assessed by propidium iodide uptake, was partially prevented by leupeptin (5 mM) and completely prevented by antipain (2.5 mM). The inhibition by antipain suggested the presence of cysteine or serine proteases that could also activate AT(pro). These findings demonstrate that furin is involved in the activation of C. septicum alpha-toxin on the cell surface but that alternate eukaryotic proteases can also activate the toxin. Regardless of the activating protease, the furin consensus site appears to be essential for the activation of alpha-toxin on the cell surface.

Stable, recombinant expression of human insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (hIGFBP-1) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells

Stable expression of human insulin-like growth factor of binding protein-1 (hIGFBP-1)at high levels has been achieved in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells by co-transfection and subsequent co-amplification of expression vectors containing the hIGFBP-1 cDNA and a dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) cDNA gene into DHFR-deficient cells. Stepwise selection of the DHFR(+) transformants in increasing concentrations of methotrexate (MTX) generated cells which had high copy numbers of the hIGFBP-1 gene (around 100 copies in cells amplified in medium containing 100 nM MTX). Expression of hIGFBP-1 in mixed clones was found to increase with increasing copy number and an apparent correlation between intra- and extracellular levels of hIGFBP-1 produced by these cells was observed. It was further observed that continuous cultivation over eight months in medium supplemented with 100 nM MTX increased the production of hIGFBP-1 25 times. The productivity did not increase further after five more months cultivation in MTX containing medium. A subcloning of this cell line gave clones with an even higher productivity. Further amplification in 500 nM or 1 uM MTX did not increase the hIGFBP-1 production.

Long-term in vivo expression of the MFG-ADA retroviral vector in rhesus monkeys transplanted with transduced bone marrow cells

We have tested the recombinant human adenosine deaminase (hADA) retroviral vector MFG-ADA for its efficacy in transducing hemopoietic stem cells of nonhuman primates and its expression level in the hematopoietic system. The percentage of provirus-positive granulocytes 1 year after transplantation of bone marrow transduced with MFG-ADA was 0.1%, which was equivalent to previously obtained results with the hADA virus-producing cell line POC-1. However, in MFG-ADA monkeys, significantly more peripheral blood mononuclear cells carried the hADA gene (1% versus 0.1%). Human ADA expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were different between POC-1 and MFG-ADA monkeys using samples with equal numbers of provirus copies per cell. In contrast, in total red blood cell lysates of MFG-ADA monkeys, the hADA expression was higher (approximately 10-fold) and could be detected longer (20 weeks and up to more than 1 year after bone marrow transplantation in 2 monkeys) than in POC-1 monkeys that were only positive for up to 12 weeks at the most. At 3 years after bone marrow transplantation, the MFG-ADA provirus could still be detected in 0.1% of bone marrow cells and peripheral blood cells and in 1% of cultured T cells. These results show that MFG-ADA virus can give rise to long-term in vivo expression of hADA in the primate hematopoietic system. However, transduction efficiencies remain low.

Use of hydroxyurea to alter drug resistance of human tumor cells

Tumor cell resistance to cancer chemotherapeutic agents is a well-recognized problem for clinicians. Efforts are being made to develop agents that are not affected by cross-resistance to other drugs, as observed with the mdr phenotype. Other efforts are focused on reversing drug resistance to enhance chemotherapeutic intervention. Gene amplification accounts for one mechanism through which tumor cells develop drug resistance. Since amplified genes may be unstable, the elimination of these genes is likely to be a promising new target for cancer chemotherapy. The use of HU at low concentrations either to reestablish tumor sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents or to decrease tumorigenicity, accomplished by the reduction of oncogene copy number, continues to be investigated. Studies thus far all report similar effects of noncytotoxic concentrations of HU on unstably amplified genes (EC DNA elimination), regardless of what gene is harbored on the EC DNA. The next essential step in the evaluation of HU-induced EC DNA elimination is to study the phenomena in vivo. In spite of extensive tissue distribution, HU appears to have pharmacokinetic properties, due to its short half-life, that may limit investigators' ability to study its use in prototype animal tumor models such as the nude mouse. In contrast, HU's half-life in humans (3.5 to 4.5 hours) [122] is comparatively longer, and therefore clinical trials may prove less troublesome.

Adenylosuccinate synthetase: a dominant amplifiable genetic marker in mammalian cells

Adenylosuccinate synthetase (AdSS) functions at the branchpoint of purine nucleotide metabolism leading to the synthesis of AMP. The enzyme is inhibited by a metabolite of alanosine, an aspartic acid analog that is highly cytotoxic for most cells. We show here that it is possible to use alanosine selection to isolate from a population of transformants those cells having the highest levels of AdSS activity resulting from uptake and expression of AdSS minigenes. Transformants isolated in this way were selected for resistance to even higher concentrations of alanosine and resulted in the isolation of cells with highly amplified copies of the transfected AdSS minigenes. We demonstrated that nonselectable genes can be cotransferred and coamplified with AdSS minigenes. These findings indicate that AdSS minigenes can be used as dominant amplifiable genetic markers in mammalian cells.

Gene transfer into nonhuman primate CD34+CD11b- bone marrow progenitor cells capable of repopulating lymphoid and myeloid lineages

We investigated whether rhesus monkey CD34+CD11b- hematopoietic stem cells can be transduced with recombinant retroviruses carrying the human adenosine deaminase (hADA) gene by co-cultivation with a virus-producing cell line. Following autologous transplantation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and granulocytes showed that the hADA-retrovirus was present in approximately 0.1% of the cells for at least 400 days post transplantation in 2 monkeys. Bone marrow that was harvested 16 months after transplantation carried ADA-overexpressing myeloid progenitor cells capable of in vitro colony formation. In addition, hADA activity could be demonstrated in T lymphocytes that were harvested 9 months post transplantation. Thus, in vitro transduction of CD34+CD11b- cells led to long-term repopulation of the hematopoietic system with transduced cells of lymphoid and myeloid lineages expressing the hADA gene. To investigate whether infusion of virus-producing cells into a rhesus monkey undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation could lead to in vivo transfer of the recombinant retrovirus, 1 monkey was infused with CD34+CD11b- bone marrow cells (BMC) and a large quantity of virus-producing cells. Few provirus-carrying cells could temporarily be detected in this animal. This shows that in vivo gene transfer into a regenerating hemopoietic system can occur, albeit at very low efficiency.

Retrovirus-mediated gene transfer into rhesus monkey hematopoietic stem cells: the effect of viral titers on transduction efficiency

We have generated a cell line, designated POAM-P1, shedding amphotropic recombinant retroviruses carrying the human adenosine deaminase (hADA) gene. It exhibits a 1 log increased retrovirus titer on NIH-3T3 cells and a five-fold more efficient transduction of human ADA-deficient T lymphocytes, as compared to the previously generated cell line POC-1 which produces the same recombinant hADA retrovirus. To study whether the titer of retrovirus-producing cell lines influences the transduction efficiency of hematopoietic stem cells in a co-culture setting, we compared the POAM-P1 and POC-1 cell lines with respect to their gene transfer efficiency on rhesus monkey bone marrow. Following co-cultivation of rhesus monkey bone marrow with POAM-P1 cells, successful transduction could be demonstrated in approximately 10% of myeloid progenitor colonies (CFU-C) and 0.1% of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and granulocytes in vivo until > 1 year after autologous transplantation. In addition, the presence of functional hADA enzyme was detected in red blood cells, PBMC, and granulocytes. Monkeys receiving POC-1 co-cultured bone marrow carried transduced blood cells for > 2 years after transplantation. Despite the higher retrovirus titer of POAM-P1 cells as compared to POC-1 cells, no difference was observed in gene transfer efficiency into CFU-C and long-term repopulating stem cells. This shows that in our co-cultivation procedure the retrovirus titer was not limiting the transduction efficiency of primate hematopoietic stem cells.

Long-term expression of human adenosine deaminase in rhesus monkeys transplanted with retrovirus-infected bone-marrow cells

Gene transfer into hemopoietic stem cells could offer a lasting cure for a variety of congenital disorders. As a preclinical test for such a gene therapy, rhesus monkeys were transplanted with autologous bone-marrow cells infected with helper-free recombinant retroviruses carrying the human adenosine deaminase gene. The in vivo regenerative capacity of the infected bone marrow could be conserved, suggesting survival of repopulating hemopoietic stem cells. In the hemopoietic system of transplanted animals the foreign gene could be observed for as long as the animals were analyzed (in two monkeys greater than 1 yr after transplantation). Genetically modified cell types and tissues included peripheral blood mononuclear cells, granulocytes, bone-marrow cells of various densities, and spleen and lymph nodes. The presence of the provirus in the short-living granulocytes greater than 1 yr after bone-marrow transplantation provided evidence for the transduction of very primitive hemopoietic progenitors. Moreover, the gene transfer resulted in sustained production of functional human adenosine deaminase enzyme in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These results demonstrate the feasibility of bone-marrow gene-therapy approaches, in particular for treating adenosine deaminase deficiency.

Expression of a human monoclonal anti-HIV-1 antibody in CHO cells

The cDNA coding for the light and heavy chains, respectively, of the human monoclonal antibody 3D6 (IgG1, kappa), which binds specifically to human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) gp41, was inserted into three different mammalian expression vectors and transfected into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Transcription was under the control of Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat (RSV LTR), human cytomegalovirus major immediate early (CMV IE) promoter, and mouse mammary tumor virus long terminal repeat (MMTV LTR), respectively. Antibody productivity was monitored in the supernatants of selected clones. The binding characteristics of the CHO-derived antibody to HIV-1 gp41 were found to be identical to that of the original antibody produced by hybridoma cells.

Evaluation of lymphoid-specific enhancer addition or substitution in a basic retrovirus vector

Two novel retroviral vectors bearing lymphoid-specific enhancers were tested for improved expression of human adenosine deaminase (hADA) in tissue culture cells and in mouse bone marrow transplant recipients. These vectors carried either an added human T-cell receptor alpha-chain enhancer (delta N2TADA) or a substitution of the Moloney long terminal repeat (LTR) enhancer with the murine immunoglobulin mu heavy-chain first intron enhancer (delta N2 mu ADA). Each vector was produced at a titer of approximately 10(6) infectious units/ml and efficiently transduced hADA into murine fibroblast and myeloma cells in culture. No quantitative difference in expression was observed between the enhancer modified vectors and the basic retrovirus vector (delta N2ADA). In addition, each vector efficiently conferred hADA expression in lymphoid, myeloid, and erythroid cells of long-term transplanted mice. The majority of the transduced-marrow recipients demonstrated expression of the human enzyme for 4-8 months with each of the three vectors.

Expression of human adenosine deaminase in mice transplanted with hemopoietic stem cells infected with amphotropic retroviruses

Amphotropic recombinant retroviruses were generated carrying sequences encoding human adenosine deaminase (ADA). Transcription of the human ADA gene was under control of a hybrid long terminal repeat in which the enhancer from the Moloney murine leukemia virus was replaced by an enhancer from the F101 host-range mutant of polyoma virus. Hemopoietic stem cells in murine bone marrow were infected with this virus under defined culture conditions. As a result, 59% of day-12 colony forming unit spleen (CFU-S) stem cells became infected without any in vitro selection. Infected CFU-S were shown to express human ADA before transplantation and this expression sustained upon in vivo maturation. Mice transplanted with infected bone marrow exhibited human ADA expression in lymphoid, myeloid, and erythroid cell types. Moreover, human ADA expression persisted in secondary and tertiary transplanted recipients showing that human ADA-expressing cells were derived from pluripotent stem cells. These characteristics of our amphotropic viruses make them promising tools in gene therapy protocols for the treatment of severe combined immunodeficiency caused by ADA deficiency. In this respect it is also relevant that the viral vector that served as backbone for the ADA vector was previously shown to be nonleukemogenic.

High Level Expression of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells Using Glutamine Synthetase Gene Amplification

We have used a glutamine synthetase (GS) gene as an amplifiable marker in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. GS was combined with an efficient transcription unit to produce tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP). Initial transfectant cell-lines selected using a GS gene secreted up to 9 micrograms TIMP/10(6) cells/24h. After one round of GS gene amplification expression levels of 110 micrograms TIMP/10(6) cells/24h were achieved. These GS gene amplified CHO cells, when adapted to grow in suspension, accumulated 180mg/l in shake flask culture. This system therefore provides a rapid method of achieving high level gene expression in mammalian cells.

Introduction of stable high-copy-number DNA into Chinese hamster ovary cells by electroporation

A new gene transfer protocol has been developed that introduces up to 800 copies of an expression vector into Chinese hamster ovary cells in a single step by electroporation. The DNA typically integrates in tandem repeats so that the restriction endonuclease site used to linearize the input DNA remains intact. This is likely due to ligation of vector DNA via cohesive ends prior to integration. This high-copy-number procedure is far more rapid than the conventional stepwise gene amplification method used to generate stable eukaryotic protein production cell lines. By employing the expression vector pJODtPA, in which the selectable marker dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and the human tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) casettes are separated by a spacer and an RNA polymerase II terminator, cell lines secreting as much as 24 pg/cell.day tPA were isolated following electroporation and a single methotrexate selection. Gene copies and expression levels are stable over long periods of growth. A single round of gene amplification was performed following the high-copy-number procedure to yield a clone having a tPA production level of 45 pg/cell.day.

Development of new cell lines for animal cell biotechnology

Mammalian cell culture has been an important technique in laboratory-scale experimentation for many decades. Developments in large-scale culture have been due to the need to grow large numbers of cells to support the growth of viruses for vaccine production, and more recently, for growing hybridoma cells as a source of monoclonal antibody. Increasingly, however, pharmaceutical products such as hormones, enzymes, growth factors, and clotting factors are being produced from cell lines which have been manipulated by recombinant DNA techniques. It is clear, therefore, that the high cost of growing mammalian cells on a large scale does not necessarily prohibit their use for biotechnology, and indeed there is considerable evidence to suggest that animal cell biotechnology will continue to be a major growth area in the future.

Expression of human adenosine deaminase in mice reconstituted with retrovirus-transduced hematopoietic stem cells

Recombinant retroviruses encoding human adenosine deaminase (ADA; adenosine aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.4) have been used to infect murine hematopoietic stem cells. In bone marrow transplant recipients reconstituted with the genetically modified cells, human ADA was detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the recipients for at least 6 months after transplantation. In animals analyzed in detail 4 months after transplantation, human ADA and proviral sequences were detected in all hematopoietic lineages; in several cases, human ADA activity exceeded the endogenous activity. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of introducing a functional human ADA gene into hematopoietic stem cells and obtaining expression in multiple hematopoietic lineages long after transplantation. This approach should be helpful in designing effective gene therapies for severe combined immunodeficiency syndromes in humans.

Long-term expression of human adenosine deaminase in mice transplanted with retrovirus-infected hematopoietic stem cells

Long-term stable expression of foreign genetic sequences transferred into hematopoietic stem cells by using retroviral vectors constitutes a relevant model for somatic gene therapy. Such stability of expression may depend on vector design, including the presence or absence of specific sequences within the vector, in combination with the nature and efficiency of infection of the hematopoietic target cells. We have previously reported successful transfer of human DNA encoding adenosine deaminase (ADA) into CFU-S (colony-forming unit-spleen) stem cells using simplified recombinant retroviral vectors. Human ADA was expressed in CFU-S-derived spleen colonies at levels near to endogenous enzyme. However, because of the lack of an efficient dominant selectable marker and low recombinant viral titers, stability of long-term expression of human ADA was not examined. We report here the development of an efficient method of infection of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) without reliance on in vitro selection. Peripheral blood samples of 100% of mice transplanted with HSC infected by this protocol exhibit expression of human ADA 30 days after transplantation. Some mice (6 of 13) continue to express human ADA in all lineages after complete hematopoietic reconstitution (4 months). The use of recombinant retroviral vectors that efficiently transfer human ADA cDNA into HSC leading to stable expression of functional ADA in reconstituted mice, provides an experimental framework for future development of approaches to somatic gene therapy.

Highly inducible expression from vectors containing multiple GRE's in CHO cells overexpressing the glucocorticoid receptor

A conditional glucocorticoid-responsive expression vector system is described for highly inducible expression of heterologous genes in mammalian cells. This host-vector system requires high level expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) protein in the host cell and multiple copies of the receptor binding site within the expression vector. Transfection and selection of Chinese hamster ovary cells with expression vectors encoding the rat GR yielded cell lines which express functional receptor at high levels. Insertion of multiple copies of the MMTV enhancer (glucocorticoid responsive element, GRE) into an Adenovirus major late promoter (AdMLP) based expression vector yielded greater than 1000-fold inducible expression by dexamethasone (dex) in transient DNA transfection assays. The induced expression level was 7-fold greater than that obtained with an AdMLP based vector containing an SV40 enhancer, but lacking GRE's. Vectors containing the SV40 enhancer in combination with multiple GRE's exhibited elevated basal expression in the absence of dex, but retained inducibility in both transient assays and after integration and amplification in the CHO genome. This expression system should be of general utility for studying gene regulation and for expressing heterologous genes in a regulatable fashion.

The phosphorylation state of eucaryotic initiation factor 2 alters translational efficiency of specific mRNAs

Phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of the eucaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF-2 alpha) by the double-stranded RNA-activated inhibitor (DAI) kinase correlates with inhibition of translation initiation. The importance of eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation in regulating translation was studied by expression of specific mutants of eIF-2 alpha in COS-1 cells. DNA transfection of certain plasmids could activate DAI kinase and result in poor translation of plasmid-derived mRNAs. In these cases, translation of the plasmid-derived mRNAs was improved by the presence of DAI kinase inhibitors or by the presence of a nonphosphorylatable mutant (serine to alanine) of eIF-2 alpha. The improved translation mediated by expression of the nonphosphorylatable eIF-2 alpha mutant was specific to plasmid-derived mRNA and did not affect global mRNA translation. Expression of a serine-to-aspartic acid mutant eIF-2 alpha, created to mimic the phosphorylated serine, inhibited translation of the mRNAs derived from the transfected plasmid. These results substantiate the hypothesis that DAI kinase activation reduces translation initiation through phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha and reinforce the importance of phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha as a way to control initiation of translation in intact cells.

Effect of von Willebrand factor coexpression on the synthesis and secretion of factor VIII in Chinese hamster ovary cells

In plasma, antihemophilic factor (factor VIII) exists as a 200-kilodalton heavy-chain polypeptide in a metal ion association with an 80-kilodalton light-chain polypeptide. This complex is bound by hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions to a large multimeric glycoprotein, von Willebrand factor (vWF). Accumulation of secreted human factor VIII activity expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells requires the addition of serum in the growth medium, which provides vWF. Here we report that coexpression of vWF with factor VIII in Chinese hamster ovary cells resulted in increased stable accumulation of factor VIII activity in the absence of serum in the growth medium. In the coexpressing cells, the vWF cDNA transcription unit was transcribed to yield mRNA which was efficiently translated. vWF was properly processed and secreted to yield disulfide-bonded high-molecular-weight multimers similar to those observed in vWF secreted from human endothelial cells. Nuclear run-on assays showed that the factor VIII gene was transcribed at a level similar to that of the vWF gene, but the mRNA did not accumulate to high levels in the cytoplasm. In addition, although the translation efficiency of the factor VIII mRNA was similar to that of vWF, the processing and secretion of the factor VIII primary translation product was dramatically reduced compared with vWF. These results demonstrate that in Chinese hamster ovary cells both factor VIII mRNA accumulation and the processing and secretion of the primary factor VIII translation product are inefficient processes.

Effect of von Willebrand factor coexpression on the synthesis and secretion of factor VIII in Chinese hamster ovary cells

In plasma, antihemophilic factor (factor VIII) exists as a 200-kilodalton heavy-chain polypeptide in a metal ion association with an 80-kilodalton light-chain polypeptide. This complex is bound by hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions to a large multimeric glycoprotein, von Willebrand factor (vWF). Accumulation of secreted human factor VIII activity expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells requires the addition of serum in the growth medium, which provides vWF. Here we report that coexpression of vWF with factor VIII in Chinese hamster ovary cells resulted in increased stable accumulation of factor VIII activity in the absence of serum in the growth medium. In the coexpressing cells, the vWF cDNA transcription unit was transcribed to yield mRNA which was efficiently translated. vWF was properly processed and secreted to yield disulfide-bonded high-molecular-weight multimers similar to those observed in vWF secreted from human endothelial cells. Nuclear run-on assays showed that the factor VIII gene was transcribed at a level similar to that of the vWF gene, but the mRNA did not accumulate to high levels in the cytoplasm. In addition, although the translation efficiency of the factor VIII mRNA was similar to that of vWF, the processing and secretion of the factor VIII primary translation product was dramatically reduced compared with vWF. These results demonstrate that in Chinese hamster ovary cells both factor VIII mRNA accumulation and the processing and secretion of the primary factor VIII translation product are inefficient processes.

The phosphorylation state of eucaryotic initiation factor 2 alters translational efficiency of specific mRNAs

Phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of the eucaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF-2 alpha) by the double-stranded RNA-activated inhibitor (DAI) kinase correlates with inhibition of translation initiation. The importance of eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation in regulating translation was studied by expression of specific mutants of eIF-2 alpha in COS-1 cells. DNA transfection of certain plasmids could activate DAI kinase and result in poor translation of plasmid-derived mRNAs. In these cases, translation of the plasmid-derived mRNAs was improved by the presence of DAI kinase inhibitors or by the presence of a nonphosphorylatable mutant (serine to alanine) of eIF-2 alpha. The improved translation mediated by expression of the nonphosphorylatable eIF-2 alpha mutant was specific to plasmid-derived mRNA and did not affect global mRNA translation. Expression of a serine-to-aspartic acid mutant eIF-2 alpha, created to mimic the phosphorylated serine, inhibited translation of the mRNAs derived from the transfected plasmid. These results substantiate the hypothesis that DAI kinase activation reduces translation initiation through phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha and reinforce the importance of phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha as a way to control initiation of translation in intact cells.

Use of a cloned multidrug resistance gene for coamplification and overproduction of major excreted protein, a transformation-regulated secreted acid protease

Malignantly transformed mouse fibroblasts synthesize and secrete large amounts of major excreted protein (MEP), a 39,000-dalton precursor to an acid protease (cathepsin L). To evaluate the possible role of this protease in the transformed phenotype, we transfected cloned genes for mouse or human MEP into mouse NIH 3T3 cells with an expression vector for the dominant, selectable human multidrug resistance (MDR1) gene. The cotransfected MEP sequences were efficiently coamplified and transcribed during stepwise selection for multidrug resistance in colchicine. The transfected NIH 3T3 cell lines containing amplified MEP sequences synthesized as much MEP as did Kirsten sarcoma virus-transformed NIH 3T3 cells. The MEP synthesized by cells transfected with the cloned mouse and human MEP genes was also secreted. Elevated synthesis and secretion of MEP by NIH 3T3 cells did not change the nontransformed phenotype of these cells.

Reduction of endogenous GRP78 levels improves secretion of a heterologous protein in CHO cells

GRP78 is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum and associates with improperly folded or underglycosylated proteins. The role of GRP78 in secretion was studied in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) variant which lacks potential N-linked glycosylation site sequences because of mutagenesis. The expression of variant tPA resulted in elevated levels of GRP78 and its stable association with tPA. The introduction of antisense GRP78 genes resulted in a two- to threefold reduction in GRP78 levels compared with those of the original cells. Cells with reduced levels of GRP78 secreted two- to threefold-higher levels of tPA activity. tPA expressed in these cells displayed reduced association with GRP78, and a greater proportion was processed to the mature form and secreted. These results demonstrate that reduction of GRP78 level can improve the secretion of an associated protein.

Reduction of endogenous GRP78 levels improves secretion of a heterologous protein in CHO cells

GRP78 is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum and associates with improperly folded or underglycosylated proteins. The role of GRP78 in secretion was studied in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) variant which lacks potential N-linked glycosylation site sequences because of mutagenesis. The expression of variant tPA resulted in elevated levels of GRP78 and its stable association with tPA. The introduction of antisense GRP78 genes resulted in a two- to threefold reduction in GRP78 levels compared with those of the original cells. Cells with reduced levels of GRP78 secreted two- to threefold-higher levels of tPA activity. tPA expressed in these cells displayed reduced association with GRP78, and a greater proportion was processed to the mature form and secreted. These results demonstrate that reduction of GRP78 level can improve the secretion of an associated protein.

Use of a cloned multidrug resistance gene for coamplification and overproduction of major excreted protein, a transformation-regulated secreted acid protease

Malignantly transformed mouse fibroblasts synthesize and secrete large amounts of major excreted protein (MEP), a 39,000-dalton precursor to an acid protease (cathepsin L). To evaluate the possible role of this protease in the transformed phenotype, we transfected cloned genes for mouse or human MEP into mouse NIH 3T3 cells with an expression vector for the dominant, selectable human multidrug resistance (MDR1) gene. The cotransfected MEP sequences were efficiently coamplified and transcribed during stepwise selection for multidrug resistance in colchicine. The transfected NIH 3T3 cell lines containing amplified MEP sequences synthesized as much MEP as did Kirsten sarcoma virus-transformed NIH 3T3 cells. The MEP synthesized by cells transfected with the cloned mouse and human MEP genes was also secreted. Elevated synthesis and secretion of MEP by NIH 3T3 cells did not change the nontransformed phenotype of these cells.

Amplification and expression of heterologous ornithine decarboxylase in Chinese hamster cells

We have developed an amplifiable mammalian expression vector based on the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). We show greater than 700-fold amplification of this vector in ODC-deficient Chinese hamster ovary cells. A passive coamplified marker, dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr), was amplified and overexpressed 1,000-fold. This ODC vector was a dominant marker in a variety of cell types and displayed at least 300-fold amplification in wild-type Chinese hamster ovary cells.