Selection of keratinocytes transduced with the multidrug resistance gene in an in vitro skin model presents a strategy for enhancing gene expression in vivo
W. Pfutzner et al., Selection of keratinocytes transduced with the multidrug resistance gene in an in vitro skin model presents a strategy for enhancing gene expression in vivo, HUM GENE TH, 10(17), 1999, pp. 2811-2821
In gene therapy studies, achieving prolonged, high-level gene expression in
a significant percentage of cells has been difficult. One solution to enha
nce expression would be to select for cells expressing both the desired gen
e and a linked selectable marker gene in a bicistronic vector. As a potenti
al target tissue, the skin is easily accessible for safe topical applicatio
n of a selecting agent that could lead to significant gene expression in a
high percentage of keratinocytes. To test the feasibility of such an approa
ch, a skin raft culture model was developed. Human keratinocytes were trans
duced with the multidrug resistance (MDR) gene, which confers resistance to
a variety of cytostatic and antimitotic compounds, such as colchicine. Whi
le growing on acellular dermis, transduced keratinocytes were treated with
various doses of colchicine (10-50 ng/ml). Colchicine treatment increased t
he percentage of keratinocytes expressing MDR to almost 100% in raft cultur
es, Significantly, keratinocytes in colchicine-treated, MDR-transduced raft
cultures were able to proliferate normally and form a stratified, differen
tiated epidermis. This model suggests that topical selection for MDR-expres
sing keratinocytes in vivo should be feasible without hampering the biologi
c integrity of skin. Thus, topical selection leading to enhanced expression
of a desired gene, linked to a resistance gene, holds future promise for s
kin gene therapy.