We propose to deliver DNA to normal cells for potential treatment and prevention of AIDS. ph-sensitive liposomes and poly-L-lysine linked with specific ligands such as antibody will be used as target-specific delivery vehicles for the exogenous DNA. Two approaches will be taken. In the first, soluble CD4 gene will be delivered to the vascular endothelial cells. Production and secretion of soluble CD4 by the endothelial cells is expected to block the infectious activity of HIV. We will take advantage of a monoclonal antibody specific for the pulmonary endothelial cells to deliver the soluble CD4 gene in a mouse model. The soluble CD4 gene will be placed under the control of a regulatable promoter such that the production of the soluble CD4 could be controlled by the administration of a simple drug. In the second approach we will deliver the thymidine kinase (TK) gene of the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) to CD4+ normal cells. The TK gene will be placed under the control of LTR of HIV-1 such that the gene will be expressed at a significant level only when the cell is infected with HIV. Production of large amounts of HSVTK in the infected cells would then make the cells sensitive to drugs which are specific substrates for HSVTK, such as DHPG and acyclovir. The cellular and viral DNA syntheses of the infected cells would be inhibited by these drugs. This approach is potentially a preventative as well as a therapeutic treatment for AIDS. The virtue of the approach lies in three levels of safety guard of the treatment due to: (a) the specificity of the delivery vehicles, (b) the activation of gene expression by HIV infection, and (c) the opportunity to fine-tune the therapeutic efficacy vs. toxicity by manipulating the drug dose and administration regimen. Thus, the project addresses one of the most crucial aspects of genetic therapy, i.e. safety of the treatment.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI029893-04
Application #
3144880
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ARR (V1))
Project Start
1991-08-01
Project End
1993-05-31
Budget Start
1992-06-01
Budget End
1993-05-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
053785812
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Farhood, H; Gao, X; Barsoum, J et al. (1995) Codelivery to mammalian cells of a transcriptional factor with cis-acting element using cationic liposomes. Anal Biochem 225:89-93
Farhood, H; Serbina, N; Huang, L (1995) The role of dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine in cationic liposome mediated gene transfer. Biochim Biophys Acta 1235:289-95
Zhou, F; Huang, L (1995) Delivery of protein antigen to the major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted antigen presentation pathway. J Drug Target 3:91-109
Farhood, H; Gao, X; Son, K et al. (1994) Cationic liposomes for direct gene transfer in therapy of cancer and other diseases. Ann N Y Acad Sci 716:23-34;discussion 34-5
Tari, A M; Fuller, N; Boni, L T et al. (1994) Interactions of liposome bilayers composed of 1,2-diacyl-3-succinylglycerol with protons and divalent cations. Biochim Biophys Acta 1192:253-62
Zhou, X; Huang, L (1994) DNA transfection mediated by cationic liposomes containing lipopolylysine: characterization and mechanism of action. Biochim Biophys Acta 1189:195-203
Zhou, F; Watkins, S C; Huang, L (1994) Characterization and kinetics of MHC class I-restricted presentation of a soluble antigen delivered by liposomes. Immunobiology 190:35-52
Zhou, F; Huang, L (1993) Monophosphoryl lipid A enhances specific CTL induction by a soluble protein antigen entrapped in liposomes. Vaccine 11:1139-44
Mori, A; Kennel, S J; Huang, L (1993) Immunotargeting of liposomes containing lipophilic antitumor prodrugs. Pharm Res 10:507-14
Gao, X; Huang, L (1993) Cytoplasmic expression of a reporter gene by co-delivery of T7 RNA polymerase and T7 promoter sequence with cationic liposomes. Nucleic Acids Res 21:2867-72

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