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Title: Highly specific expression of luciferase gene in lungs of naive nude mice directed by prostate-specific antigen promoter

Journal Article · · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [1]
  1. Department of Radiology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA 22908 (United States)
  2. Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA 22908 (United States)

PSA promoter has been demonstrated the utility for tissue-specific toxic gene therapy in prostate cancer models. Characterization of foreign gene overexpression in normal animals elicited by PSA promoter should help evaluate therapy safety. Here we constructed an adenovirus vector (AdPSA-Luc), containing firefly luciferase gene under the control of the 5837 bp long prostate-specific antigen promoter. A charge coupled device video camera was used to non-invasively image expression of firefly luciferase in nude mice on days 3, 7, 11 after injection of 2 x 10{sup 9} PFU of AdPSA-Luc virus via tail vein. The result showed highly specific expression of the luciferase gene in lungs of mice from day 7. The finding indicates the potential limitations of the suicide gene therapy of prostate cancer based on selectivity of PSA promoter. By contrary, it has encouraging implications for further development of vectors via PSA promoter to enable gene therapy for pulmonary diseases.

OSTI ID:
20710961
Journal Information:
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol. 334, Issue 4; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.07.025; PII: S0006-291X(05)01482-8; Copyright (c) 2005 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0006-291X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English