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Lesion‐dependent regulation of transgene expression in the rat brain using a human glial fibrillary acidic protein‐lentiviral vector
Author(s) -
Jakobsson Johan,
Georgievska Biljana,
Ericson Cecilia,
Lundberg Cecilia
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.0953-816x.2003.03147.x
Subject(s) - transgene , glial fibrillary acidic protein , biology , viral vector , transactivation , microbiology and biotechnology , genetically modified mouse , green fluorescent protein , genetic enhancement , gene expression , gfap stain , gene , recombinant dna , immunology , genetics , immunohistochemistry
The ability to regulate transgene expression will be crucial for development of gene therapy to the brain. The most commonly used systems are based on a transactivator in combination with a drug, e.g. the tetracycline‐regulated system. Here we describe a different method of transgene regulation by the use of the human glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter. We constructed a lentiviral vector that directs transgene expression to astrocytes. Using toxin‐induced lesions we investigated to what extent transgene expression could be regulated in accordance with the activation of the endogenous GFAP gene. In animals receiving excitotoxic lesions of the striatum we detected an eightfold increase of green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐expressing cells. The vast majority of these cells did not divide, suggesting that the transgene was indeed regulated in a similar fashion as the endogenous GFAP gene. This finding will lead to the development of lentiviral vectors with autoregulatory capacities that may be very useful for gene therapy to the brain.