Pseudotyping of Lentiviral Vector for Targeting Lung Cells and Myocytes
Pseudotyped lentiviral vectors (LVs) have the ability to transduce specific cell types and are important for targeted therapies. Creative Biolabs has established a variety of LVs optimization platforms to enable LVs targeting different types of cells. With years of experience in the gene therapy field, we provide high-quality pseudotyping services of LVs for targeting lung cells and myocytes.
Gene Delivery Targeting Lung Cells and Myocytes
Gene transfer to lung cells is an attractive treatment for many acute and chronic acquired lung diseases, including pulmonary edema, acute lung injury and/or acute respiratory distress syndrome, and pulmonary fibrosis. Due to the relative quiescence of the cells that constitute the alveolar epithelium, the viral vector must be capable of efficiently transducing cells that are not actively dividing. In this regard, LVs have been shown to transduce non-dividing cells and thus have the potential to deliver genes to the lung. However, the use of vectors to deliver genes to the lung is limited by the ability of the vector to traverse the airway surface. Therefore, it is imperative to develop novel LVs capable of targeting lung cells.
Gene delivery to cardiac myocytes has the potential to therapeutically correct genetic defects and study cardiac muscle physiology. Delivery of genes to myocytes is difficult because they are terminally differentiated, do not divide, and have a relatively short life span in vitro. Moreover, delivery of the gene to cardiac myocytes is further hampered by the toxicity associated with the delivery vehicle. LVs are capable of transducing non-dividing cells, achieving long-term expression of the gene without toxicity, and thus have a great potential for delivery of genes to myocytes.
Pseudotyping of LVs Targeting Lung Cells and Myocytes
Viral vectors derived from lentiviruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), have been developed and used to transfer genes of interest to specific cells in vitro and in vivo. At present, targeting specific cellular populations can potentially be achieved by pseudotyping LVs with heterologous glycoprotein (GPs) of other viruses. LVs are usually pseudotyped with vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV), which confers a broad tropism that transduces a wide range of cell types including hematopoietic cells, neurons and hepatocytes. The VSVG pseudotyped LVs have low transduction efficiency in myocytes and lung cells. To date, GPs of other viruses are also used to pseudotype the LVs, including Filovirus, Ebola Zaire (EboZ) virus, Marburg virus, Lassa virus and Sindbis virus.
Application of Pseudotyped LVs
Lentiviral-based gene transfer strategies have been extensively tested for the treatment of chronic lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF). CF is caused by the functional absence of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. Successful gene replacement therapy for CF is limited by the lack of a suitable vector that achieves good transduction of airway epithelial cells. HIV and FIV vectors pseudotyped with GPs of Filovirus, EboZ viruses allow for efficient and nontoxic transduction of airway epithelia in vitro and in vivo. With such envelope pseudotyping, LVs may hold promise for the treatment of CF and other airway diseases.
Services
As the world's leading provider of LVs development, Creative Biolabs has established a variety of LVs optimization platforms to perform LVs targeting different types of cells, including cancer cells, astrocytes, CD8+ cells, hepatocytes, lung cells and myocytes. For instance, we use various viral GPs to pseudotype LVs to increase its cell tropism, which allows LVs to be applied to various basic research and treatment of clinical diseases. At Creative Biolabs, the GPs we use to target lung cells and myocytes to pseudotype LVs are mainly from the following viruses:
As with all of our LVs optimization services, we also offer high-quality, full-experience services:
- Expert scientific support from LVs design to delivery
- Flexibility and versatility
- Full project tracking and monitoring throughout
- Complete confidentiality, consistent quality, and reliable timelines
At Creative Biolabs, we use our expertise to support customers at any stage, from basic research to clinical manufacturing. Our team is comprised of scientists across multiple disciplines that can help you with LVs optimization, vector design, and safety determination, LVs development and other technical questions. If you have any question about our LVs services, please feel free to contact us.
