The ideal stem cell gene therapy vector remains as yet unidentified. Unlike other viral vectors for gene transfer into hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), rAAV transduces cells in the G0 phase of the cell cycle, including primitive multipotent HSC making rAAV particularly attractive for evaluation for HSC gene transfer. Recently the human marrow was identified as a common site for native AAV, indicating that it serves as a natural target. The use of novel AAV capsids has in some cases been shown to vastly improve gene transfer efficiencies and overcome limitations in onset of expression. We have previously shown that rAAV2 preferentially transduces primitive HSC residing in GO and capable of multilineage and serial engraftment. Here we propose to evaluate rAAV2 genomes pseudotyped in AAV 1,5,7,8&9 capsids for transduction of primitive human HSCs determine if transduction may be further improved. Our preliminary data indicates that certain serotypes efficiently transduce human HSC capable of long-term engraftment and robust expression in vivo at levels higher than that attained with rAAV2, necessitating the evaluation of pseudotyped rAAV for HSC gene transfer. Transductions will be evaluated in vivo with transduced human HSCs transplanted into immune-deficient mice.
The specific aims are: 1. Evaluation of transduction of human HSC capable of longterm multi-lineage primary and serial engraftment by pseudotyped rAAV. Serotypes will be compared for expression, primary and serial reconstitution, safety and toxicity. Differences between capsids with identical genomes will be exploited to dissect steps important for HSC transduction. 2. Identification of chromosomal sites of pseudotyped rAAV integration in HSCs, important to assess genotoxic potential. Comparision of junction sites between pseudotypes will provide insight into mechanisms underlying intgeration site selection. 3. Analysis of insulator function of AAV ITRs in transduced human HSC. We will test our recent exciting discovery of insulator-like functions of AAV ITRs in the context of HSCs. When completed this research should not only identify the most robust and safest AAV serotype for stem cell gene transfer but would also elucidate mechanisms underying the differences between the serotypes. Direct evaluation of human HSC in an in vivo setting will should provide preclinical data directly relevant to any therapeutic application. Delineating insulator function of AAV ITRs in HSC would identify a safe, efficient gene transfer vector for human HSC with a greatly reduced risk of insertional oncogenesis.

Public Health Relevance

TO PUBLIC HEALTH: This research explores a novel gene transfer vector system for safe and effective therapies for blood stem cells. The outcome of this work is expected to identify the optimal gene delivery vector for the treatment of a variety of blood diseases including inherited and infectious diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL087285-03
Application #
7848309
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-GTIE-A (01))
Program Officer
Di Fronzo, Nancy L
Project Start
2008-05-01
Project End
2012-04-30
Budget Start
2010-05-01
Budget End
2011-04-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$415,000
Indirect Cost
Name
City of Hope/Beckman Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
027176833
City
Duarte
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
91010
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Smith, Laura J; Ul-Hasan, Taihra; Carvaines, Sarah K et al. (2014) Gene transfer properties and structural modeling of human stem cell-derived AAV. Mol Ther 22:1625-34
Song, Liujiang; Kauss, M Ariel; Kopin, Etana et al. (2013) Optimizing the transduction efficiency of capsid-modified AAV6 serotype vectors in primary human hematopoietic stem cells in vitro and in a xenograft mouse model in vivo. Cytotherapy 15:986-98
Mroske, Cameron; Rivera, Hector; Ul-Hasan, Taihra et al. (2012) A capillary electrophoresis sequencing method for the identification of mutations in the inverted terminal repeats of adeno-associated virus. Hum Gene Ther Methods 23:128-36
Kauss, M Ariel; Smith, Laura J; Zhong, Li et al. (2010) Enhanced long-term transduction and multilineage engraftment of human hematopoietic stem cells transduced with tyrosine-modified recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 2. Hum Gene Ther 21:1129-36