Hepatocyte-specific gene expression by Baculovirus pseudotyped with vesicular stomatitis virus envelope glycoprotein

We have developed the recombinant baculovirus pseudotyped with vesicular st omatitis virus (VSV) G protein. The VSV-G gene was under the control of the polyhedrin promoter so that it was expressed at high levels in infected in sect cells but not in mammalian cells. The presence of VSV-G protein in pur ified baculovirus preparations was confirmed by Western analysis. This reco mbinant bacudovirus also carried human AFP (alpha -fetoprotein) promoter fo r hepatocyte-specific gene expression. After an in vitro infection by a rec ombinant baculovirus carrying the luciferase gene under the control of huma n AFP promoter/enhancer (BacG-AFP-Luc(+)), the luciferase gene was expresse d in AFP-producing Huh7, Hep3B, and HepG2 cell lines, but not in AFP-nonpro ducing cell lines. BacG-AFP-Luc(+) transduced with human hepatoma cells in vitro at an efficiency about fivefold greater than the recombinant baculovi rus lacking VSV-G (the virus Bac-AYP-Luc(+)). The utilization of the AYP pr omoter/enhancer in a baculovirus vector could provide benefits in gene ther apy applications. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science.