INTRACEREBRAL TETRACYCLINE-DEPENDENT REGULATION OF GENE-EXPRESSION INGRAFTS OF NEURAL PRECURSORS

TIGHT control of the activity of a therapeutic gene introduced in vivo is a major issue in gene therapy research. Appropriate levels of expr ession may be crucial for gene correction. The tetracycline-sensitive regulatory system is highly effective for transcriptional regulation o f foreign genes in mammalian cells. Here we report tight tetracycline- dependent regulation of a luciferase reporter gene transferred into th e rat brain in the genetically modified neural precursor cell line ST1 4A as early as 2 days and until at least 6 days after transplantation. This is the first demonstration of the potential of this regulatory s ystem for the modulation of the expression of therapeutic genes introd uced into the central nervous system.