Long-term expression of human coagulation factor VIII in a tolerant mouse model using the φC31 integrase system

Hum Gene Ther. 2012 Apr;23(4):390-8. doi: 10.1089/hum.2011.110. Epub 2012 Jan 26.

Abstract

We generated a mouse model for hemophilia A that combines a homozygous knockout for murine factor VIII (FVIII) and a homozygous addition of a mutant human FVIII (hFVIII). The resulting mouse, having no detectable FVIII protein or activity and tolerant to hFVIII, is useful for evaluating FVIII gene-therapy protocols. This model was used to develop an effective gene-therapy strategy using the φC31 integrase to mediate permanent genomic integration of an hFVIII cDNA deleted for the B-domain. Various plasmids encoding φC31 integrase and hFVIII were delivered to the livers of these mice by using hydrodynamic tail-vein injection. Long-term expression of therapeutic levels of hFVIII was observed over a 6-month time course when an intron was included in the hFVIII expression cassette and wild-type φC31 integrase was used. A second dose of the hFVIII and integrase plasmids resulted in higher long-term hFVIII levels, indicating that incremental doses were beneficial and that a second dose of φC31 integrase was tolerated. We observed a significant decrease in the bleeding time after a tail-clip challenge in mice treated with plasmids expressing hFVIII and φC31 integrase. Genomic integration of the hFVIII expression plasmid was demonstrated by junction PCR at a known hotspot for integration in mouse liver. The φC31 integrase system provided a nonviral method to achieve long-term FVIII gene therapy in a relevant mouse model of hemophilia A.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Factor VIII / genetics*
  • Factor VIII / metabolism
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Hemophilia A / blood
  • Hemophilia A / genetics
  • Hemophilia A / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Integrases / genetics*
  • Integrases / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Factor VIII
  • Integrases