期刊名称：Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
印刷版ISSN：0027-8424
电子版ISSN：1091-6490
出版年度：1998
卷号：95
期号：17
页码：10158-10163
DOI：10.1073/pnas.95.17.10158
语种：English
出版社：The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
摘要：Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based vectors have been shown to be effective in transferring the cystic fibrosis gene (CFTR) into airway epithelial cells in animal models and in patients. However, the level of CFTR gene expression has been low because the vector cannot accommodate the CFTR gene together with a promoter. In this study, we described a strategy to reduce the size of the CFTR cDNA to allow the incorporation of an effective promoter with the CFTR gene into AAV vectors. We engineered and tested 20 CFTR mini-genes containing deletions that were targeted to regions that may contain nonessential sequences. Functional analyses showed that four of the shortened CFTRs (one with combined deletions) retained the function and the characteristics of a wild-type CFTR, as measured by open probability, time voltage dependence, and regulation by cAMP. By using an AAV vector with a P5 promoter, we transduced these short forms of CFTR genes into target cells and demonstrated high levels of CFTR expression. We also demonstrated that smaller AAV/CFTR vectors with a P5 promoter expressed the CFTR gene more efficiently than larger vectors or a vector in which CFTR gene was expressed from the AAV inverted terminal repeat sequence. The CFTR mini-gene with combined deletions was packaged into AAV virions more efficiently, generated higher titers of transducing virions, and more effectively transferred CFTR function into target cells. These new vectors should circumvent the limitations of AAV vector for CFTR expression. Our strategy also may be applicable to other genes, the sizes of which exceed the packaging limit of an AAV vector.
