Induction of cytotoxic T lymphocyte and antibody responses to enhanced green fluorescent protein following transplantation of transduced CD34+ hematopoietic cells

M Rosenzweig, M Connole, R Glickman… - Blood, The Journal …, 2001 - ashpublications.org
M Rosenzweig, M Connole, R Glickman, SPS Yue, B Noren, MA DeMaria, RP Johnson
Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 2001ashpublications.org
Genetic modification of hematopoietic stem cells often results in the expression of foreign
proteins in pluripotent progenitor cells and their progeny. However, the potential for products
of foreign genes introduced into hematopoietic stem cells to induce host immune responses
is not well understood. Gene marking and induction of immune responses to enhanced
green fluorescent protein (eGFP) were examined in rhesus macaques that underwent
nonmyeloablative irradiation followed by infusions of CD34+ bone marrow cells transduced …
Abstract
Genetic modification of hematopoietic stem cells often results in the expression of foreign proteins in pluripotent progenitor cells and their progeny. However, the potential for products of foreign genes introduced into hematopoietic stem cells to induce host immune responses is not well understood. Gene marking and induction of immune responses to enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) were examined in rhesus macaques that underwent nonmyeloablative irradiation followed by infusions of CD34+ bone marrow cells transduced with a retroviral vector expressing eGFP. CD34+ cells were obtained from untreated animals or from animals treated with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) alone or G-CSF and recombinant human stem cell factor. Levels of eGFP-expressing cells detected by flow cytometry peaked at 0.1% to 0.5% of all leukocytes 1 to 4 weeks after transplantation. Proviral DNA was detected in 0% to 17% of bone marrow–derived colony-forming units at periods of 5 to 18 weeks after transplantation. However, 5 of 6 animals studied demonstrated a vigorous eGFP-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response that was associated with a loss of genetically modified cells in peripheral blood, as demonstrated by both flow cytometry and polymerase chain reaction. The eGFP-specific CTL responses were MHC-restricted, mediated by CD8+lymphocytes, and directed against multiple epitopes. eGFP-specific CTLs were able to efficiently lyse autologous CD34+ cells expressing eGFP. Antibody responses to eGFP were detected in 3 of 6 animals. These data document the potential for foreign proteins expressed in CD34+ hematopoietic cells and their progeny to induce antibody and CTL responses in the setting of a clinically applicable transplantation protocol.
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