Abstract
To better characterize lentiviral vector supernatants, we compared three methods of titer assessment. These titer methods include assessment of vector RNA sequences in supernatants, DNA sequences in transduced cells, and vector expression in transduced cells (using a vector which expressed the green fluorescence protein, GFP). For analysis of RNA and DNA, we developed a real-time PCR method for detecting the lentiviral packaging sequence and used this methodology to quantitate the number of vector sequences. Vector expression was assessed by flow cytometric analysis for GFP. As functional titers (DNA and GFP expression titers) are dependent on transduction efficiency, we calculated the titer of a lentiviral vector, RRL-CMV-GFP, after transduction of 293, HeLa, or Mus dunni cells. Genomic DNA was extracted at 4 and 14 days after transduction and the number of vector DNA molecules was determined against a plasmid standard. Of the three cell lines tested, 293 cells provided the highest rate of transduction (PCR estimated DNA titer for RRL-CMV-GFP vector was 2.52 ± 0.25 × 106 molecules/ml at 14 days, and 2.31 ± 0.15 × 106 molecules/ml at 4 days). When titer was calculated based on GFP expression, the highest titer was also obtained on 293 cells (0.26 ± 0.04 × 106 TU/ml at 14 days, and 0.24 ± 0.03 ± 106 TU/ml at 4 days). The titers obtained by GFP expression assay were approximately one log lower than those obtained by DNA analysis suggesting that variability in vector expression may underestimate titer. Measurement of RNA titers directly from vector supernatants against a plasmid standard indicated that the RNA titers are substantially higher than the DNA (~103-fold) and GFP titers (~104-fold). To show that the lentiviral probe and primers could be used for titering a variety of lentiviral vectors, we have also used the real-time PCR method to determine the DNA titers of two other HIV1 derived vectors, RRL-PGK-GFP (6.1 ± 1.4 × 105 molecules/ml), and SMPU-RRE-BN (1.26 ± 0.2 × 106 molecules/ml). We conclude that of the three methods tested, titers assessed by DNA analysis of transduced cells provide the most reliable estimate of functional titers as these are least likely to be influenced by factors, such as defective interfering particles and vector expression levels. The real-time PCR method described offers a reproducible method for lentiviral titering and can be applied to a wide variety of vectors, regardless of transgene.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Dr Donald Kohn for the SMPU-RRE-BN vector construct and Dr Rafat Abonour and Dr Christie Traycoff for helpful comments on the manuscript. L Sastry is supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Research Service Award number 1T32 HL07910, Basic Science Studies on Gene Therapy of Blood Disease. The Indiana University Vector Production Facility is a NIH-designated National Gene Vector Laboratory (U42 RR11148) and this work was supported in part by a Core Centers for Excellence in Molecular Hematology (CCEMH) grant (PHS P50 DK 49218) and a core laboratory supporting PHS P01 HL53586.
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Sastry, L., Johnson, T., Hobson, M. et al. Titering lentiviral vectors: comparison of DNA, RNA and marker expression methods. Gene Ther 9, 1155–1162 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gt.3301731
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gt.3301731
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