Polyadenylation of pre-mRNAs requires the conserved hexanucleotide AAUAAA, as well as sequences located downstream from the poly(A) addition site. The role of these sequences in the production of functional mRNAs was studied by analyzing a series of mutants containing deletions or substitutions in the SV40 early region poly(A) site. As expected, both a previously defined GU-rich downstream element and an AAUAAA sequence were required for efficient usage of the wild-type poly(A) addition site. However, when either of these elements was deleted, greatly increased levels of SV40-specific RNA were detected in the nuclei of transfected cells' Evidence is presented that this accumulation of RNA resulted from a failure of transcription termination, leading to multiple rounds of transcription of the circular templates. We conclude that the sequences required for efficient cleavage/polyadenylation of the SV40 early pre-mRNA also constitute an important element of an RNA polymerase II termination signal. A model proposing a mechanism by which the act of pre-mRNA 3' end formation is signaled to the elongating RNA polymerase, resulting in termination, is presented.

Gutless adenoviral vectors are devoid of all viral coding regions and display reduced cytotoxicity, diminished immunogenicity, and an increased coding capacity compared with early generation vectors. Using hemophilia A, a deficiency in clotting factor VIII (FVIII), as a model disease, we generated and evaluated a gutless vector encoding human FVIII. The FVIII gutless vector grew to high titer and was reproducibly scaled-up from vector seed lots. Extensive viral DNA analyses revealed no rearrangements of the vector genome. A quantitative PCR assay demonstrated helper virus contamination levels of <2%, with the best preparation containing 0.3% helper virus. We compared the gutless vector with an E1/E2a/E3-deficient (Av3) early generation vector encoding an identical FVIII expression cassette following intravenous administration to hemophilia A mice. Gutless vector-treated mice displayed 10-fold higher FVIII expression levels that were sustained for at least 9 months. In contrast, mice treated with the Av3 vector displayed FVIII levels below the limit of sensitivity of the assay at 3 months. Assessment of hepatotoxicity by measuring the serum levels of liver enzymes demonstrated that the gutless vector was significantly less toxic than the Av3 vector at time points later than 7 days. At the highest dose used, both vectors caused a transient 10-fold increase in liver enzymes 1 day after vector administration, suggesting that this increase was caused by direct toxicity of the input capsid proteins. These data demonstrate that the gutless vector displayed increased duration and levels of FVIII expression, and was significantly less toxic than an analogous early generation vector.

Canine hemophilia A closely mimics the human disease and has been used previously in the development of factor VIII (FVIII) protein replacement products. FVIIIdeficient dogs were studied to evaluate an in vivo gene therapy approach using an E1/E2a/E3-deficient adenoviral vector encoding canine FVIII. Results demonstrated a high level of expression of the canine protein and complete phenotypic correction of the coagulation defect in all 4 treated animals. However, FVIII expression was short-term, lasting 5 to 10 days following vector infusion. All 4 dogs displayed a biphasic liver toxicity, a transient drop in platelets, and development of anticanine FVIII antibody. Canine FVIII inhibitor development was transient in 2 of the 4 treated animals. These data demonstrate that systemic delivery of attenuated adenoviral vectors resulted in liver toxicity and hematologic changes. Therefore, the development of further attenuated adenoviral vectors encoding canine FVIII will be required to improve vector safety and reduce the risk of immunologic sequelae, and may allow achievement of sustained phenotypic correction of canine hemophilia A. IntroductionHemophilia A is a severe, X-linked bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of blood coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). Hemophilia A has an incidence approaching 1 in 4000 males in all populations, 1 and in its severe form, is a life-threatening, crippling disease. Infusion of plasma-derived or recombinant FVIII protein in response to bleeding crises is currently the most widely accepted therapy 1 and has dramatically increased the life expectancy and quality of life for many patients with hemophilia. However, the high cost and short supply of FVIII replacement products has resulted in their availability being limited to less than 10% of the world's hemophilic population.Gene therapy for hemophilia A would provide prophylactic expression of FVIII and correction of the coagulation defect. Considerable progress has been made recently in the development of adenoviral vector-mediated gene therapy for hemophilia A. 2,3 Potent adenoviral vectors encoding a human FVIII complementary DNA (cDNA) have been developed that mediated expression of physiologic levels of FVIII in mice, 4-7 monkeys, 8 and dogs, 9 and sustained human FVIII expression in normal 5 and hemophilic mice. 7 Treatment of hemophilic mice and dogs resulted in human FVIII expression and complete phenotypic correction, verifying the feasibility of adenoviral vector administration for the treatment of hemophilia A. 7,[9][10][11] Expression in the hemophilic mice was sustained for at least 1 year, 7,11 whereas the duration of expression in the hemophilic dogs was short-term, limited by a rapid antibody response to the human FVIII protein. 9 Canine hemophilia A was first described 50 years ago, 12,13 and FVIII-deficient dogs have been used to support the development of FVIII pharmaceutical products. [14][15][16][17][18][19] However, human FVIII is highly immunogenic in dogs when the protein is delivered intravenously 20 or v...

Our previous studies of the 3'-end processing of simian virus 40 late mRNAs indicated the existence of an essential element (or elements) downstream of the AAUAAA signal. We report here the use of transient expression analysis to study a functional element which we located within the sequence AGGUUUUUU, beginning 59 nucleotides downstream of the recognized signal AAUAAA. Deletion of this element resulted in (i) at least a 75% drop in 3'-end processing at the normal site and (ii) appearance of readthrough transcripts with alternate 3' ends. Some flexibility in the downstream position of this element relative to the AAUAAA was noted by deletion analysis. Using computer sequence comparison, we located homologous regions within downstream sequences of other genes, suggesting a generalized sequence element. In addition, specific complementarity is noted between the downstream element and U4 RNA. The possibility that this complementarity could participate in 3'-end site selection is discussed.In higher eucaryotes, the 3' end of most mRNAs appears to be formed by specific cleavage of a larger precursor molecule at the site which is ultimately polyadenylated. The hexanucleotide AAUAAA (35), or close variants (43), has been shown to be an essential signal for 3'-end formation in both viral (12, 32) and cellular (20) systems. However, this sequence alone cannot be sufficient, since it is found within coding regions of mRNAs at positions where no processing occurs. Further, if the hexanucleotide were the only determinant of 3'-end processing, then it would be difficult to explain situations in which specific mRNAs utilize variable 3'-end cleavage sites, sometimes in a tissue-or developmentally specific manner (6,11,27). That the AAUAAA hexanucleotide is not sufficient has been suggested in several recent studies (14,29,30,38,39,45) which indicate that sequences on the 3' side of AAUAAA are important in specifying 3'-end cleavage sites.The formation of the 3' end of simian virus 40 (SV40) late mRNA has been shown to proceed at wild-type levels in constructs which include the 108 nucleotides immediately downstream of the AAUAAA (9; see Fig. 2). We have previously studied viable viral deletion mutants which deleted sequences within the first 58 nucleotides downstream of the AAUAAA (38). We were limited to this region, since further deletions eliminate virus viability. All of the deletions in this region resulted in (i) a small but notable lowering (ca. 10%) of the efficiency of utilization of the normal site and (ii) the appearance of readthrough transcripts with 3' ends at other downstream processing sites. Thus the deletion studies indicated that a functional element downstream of both the AAUAAA and the actual 3'-end processing site had been disturbed but not destroyed by the deletions. We concluded from the positions of the deletions that the putative element would most likely be located between 58 and 108 nucleotides beyond the AAUAAA.In the present studies, we used transient expression analysis to localize a functional ...

Endostatin, a proteolytic fragment of collagen XVIII, is an endogenous inhibitor of tumor angiogenesis that also inhibits choroidal neovascularization. In this study, we assessed the effects of increased intraocular expression of endostatin on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced changes in the retina. After subretinal injection of a pair of gutless adenoviral vectors (AGV) designed to provide tamoxifen-inducible expression of endostatin, diffuse endostatin immunoreactivity was induced thoroughout the retina by administration of tamoxifen. Induction of endostatin in double transgenic mice with doxycycline-induced expression of VEGF in the retina resulted in significant suppression of leakage of intravascular [3H]mannitol into the retina. The ability of endostatin to reduce VEGF-induced retinal vascular permeability was confirmed by using [3H]mannitol leakage and two other parameters, fluorescein leakage and retinal thickness, after subretinal injection of a bovine immunodeficiency lentiviral vector coding for endostatin (BIV-vectored endostatin, or BIVendostatin). Subretinal injection of BIVendostatin resulted in more discrete, less intense staining for endostatin in the retina than that seen with the inducible AGV system, which suggested lower levels and allowed visualization of sites where endostatin was concentrated. Endostatin staining outlined retinal blood vessels, which suggested endostatin binding to a component of vessel walls. More prolonged or higher level expression of VEGF in the retina resulted in neovascularization and retinal detachment, both of which were also significantly reduced by BIVendostatin. These data suggest that endostatin may be an endogenous inhibitor of vasopermeability as well as neovascularization. In patients with diabetic retinopathy, endostatin gene transfer may provide a way to decrease the risk of three causes of visual loss: macular edema, neovascularization, and retinal detachment.

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Hemophilia A is caused by blood coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) deficiency and is an attractive target for gene therapy. However, features of FVIII physiology, such as the instability of the mRNA and protein, have provided obstacles to the design of a feasible strategy for the transfer and expression of the human FVIII gene in vivo. We have constructed a recombinant adenoviral vector, Av1ALH81, that contains the human FVIII cDNA from which the B-domain has been deleted (BDD FVIII) and extensively characterized this vector in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, HepG2, human hepatoma cells, transduced with Av1ALH81 secreted high levels of biologically active human BDD FVIII measured by the Coatest bioassay (> 2,400 mU per 10(6) cells per 24 hr). Administration of Av1ALH81 to mice, via tail vein, resulted in expression of human BDD FVIII in the mouse plasma at levels averaging 307 +/- 93 ng/ml 1 week post-injection, measured by a sensitive human FVIII-specific ELISA. Normal FVIII levels in humans are 100-200 ng/ml, and therapeutic levels are as low as 10 ng/ml. Purification of the human FVIII from the mouse plasma, and subsequent Coatest analysis, revealed that the human FVIII produced in the mice was biologically active. In addition, the duration of FVIII expression in vivo was followed, and high-level FVIII expression was sustained over a period of several weeks. The finding that an adenoviral vector can mediate high-level expression of human FVIII in an animal model provides the basis for the development of gene therapy for hemophilia A.

Increased expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) in the retina is sufficient to stimulate sprouting of neovascularization from the deep capillary bed of the retina, but not the superficial retinal capillaries or the choriocapillaris. Coexpression of VEGF and angiopoietin 2 (Ang2) results in sprouting of neovascularization from superficial and deep retinal capillaries, but not the choriocapillaris. However, retina-derived VEGF and Ang2 may not reach the choriocapillaris, because of tight junctions between retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells. To eliminate this possible confounding factor, we used the human vitelliform macular dystrophy 2 (VMD2) promoter, an RPE-specific promoter, combined with the tetracycline-inducible promoter system, to generate double transgenic mice with inducible expression of VEGF in RPE cells. Adult mice with increased expression of VEGF in RPE cells had normal retinas and choroids with no choroidal neovascularization (CNV), but when increased expression of VEGF in RPE cells was combined with subretinal injection of a gutless adenoviral vector containing an expression construct for Ang2 (AGVAng2), CNV consistently occurred. In contrast, triple transgenic mice with induced expression of Ang2 and VEGF in RPE cells, did not develop CNV. These data suggest that increased expression of VEGF and/or Ang2 in RPE cells is not sufficient to cause CNV unless it is combined with a subretinal injection of a gutless adenoviral vector, which is likely to perturb RPE cells. These data also suggest that the effects of angiogenic proteins may vary among vascular beds, even those that are closely related, and, therefore, generalizations should be avoided.