Optimization of Retroviral Gene Transfer Protocol to Maintain the Lymphoid Potential of Progenitor Cells

We have attempted to improve retrovirus-mediated gene transfer efficacy into hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) without causing them to lose their lymphoid potential. Highly purified CD34⁺ cells on CH-296 fibronectin fragments have been transduced with three different cytokine combinations. Murine CD2 was used as a marker gene. Transgene expression was assayed by FACS analysis shortly after transduction of CD34⁺ cells and after long-term culture (LTC) extended by differentiation of various lymphoid lineages: NK cells, B cells, and dendritic cells. Compared with the historical cytokine mix, i.e., SCF (stem cell factor) + IL-3 (interleukin 3) + IL-6, the combination SCF + FL (Flt-3 ligand) + M-GDF (megakaryocyte growth and differentiation factor) + IL-3 significantly improved the total number of viable cells and CD34⁺ cells after transduction and the long term-cultured progenitors after 6 weeks. In addition, the combination of SCF + FL + M-GDF + IL-3 maintained more efficiently the lymphoid potential of the progeny of transduced long term-cultured CD34⁺ cells, as attested by the significantly higher number of CD56⁺, CD19⁺, and CD1a⁺ cells recovered when FL and M-GDF were added to SCF + IL-3. Thus, even though additional improvements may still be needed in transduction of HPCs, these conditions were adopted for a clinical trial of gene therapy for X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency.