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Retroviral and lentiviral vector integration into host-cell chromosomes carries with it a finite chance of causing insertional mutagenesis. This risk has been highlighted by the induction of malignancy in mouse models, and development of lymphoproliferative disease in three individuals with severe combined immunodeficiency-X1 (refs. 2,3). Therefore, a key challenge for clinical therapies based on retroviral vectors is to achieve stable transgene expression while minimizing insertional mutagenesis. Recent in vitro studies have shown that integration-deficient lentiviral vectors can mediate stable transduction. With similar vectors, we now show efficient and sustained transgene expression in vivo in rodent ocular and brain tissues. We also show substantial rescue of clinically relevant rodent models of retinal degeneration. Therefore, the high efficiency of gene transfer and expression mediated by lentiviruses can be harnessed in vivo without a requirement for vector integration. For therapeutic application to postmitotic tissues, this system substantially reduces the risk of insertional mutagenesis.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/nm1365

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nat Med

Publication Date

03/2006

Volume

12

Pages

348 - 353

Keywords

Animals, Brain, Carrier Proteins, Electroretinography, Eye Proteins, Female, Genetic Therapy, Genetic Vectors, Green Fluorescent Proteins, HeLa Cells, Humans, Lentivirus, Mice, Pigment Epithelium of Eye, Rats, Retina, Tumor Cells, Cultured, Virus Integration, cis-trans-Isomerases