Integrin alphaIIb promoter-targeted expression of gene products in megakaryocytes derived from retrovirus-transduced human hematopoietic cells.

Megakaryocyte-specific expression of the platelet-adhesion receptor, integrin alphaIIbbeta3, is caused by the presence of regulatory elements of the alphaIIb promoter that direct high-level, selective gene transcription early in megakaryocytopoiesis. To develop methods for targeted expression of transgenes, we transduced human CD34+ peripheral blood cells with a murine leukemia virus (MuLV) vector controlled by the human integrin alphaIIb promoter (nucleotides -889 to +35). A naturally occurring cDNA encoding the Pl(A2) alloantigen form (Pro(33)) of the integrin beta3 subunit was subcloned into this construct (-889Pl(A2)beta3) and transduced into cells that endogenously synthesized Pl(A1)beta3 (Leu(33)) as a marker for detection of provirus-derived beta3. The ability of this vector to target expression of Pl(A2)beta3 to megakaryocytes was first examined in cell lines. Immunoblot analysis with human anti-Pl(A2) alloserum detected synthesis of Pl(A2)beta3 in transduced promegakaryocytic cells; however, Pl(A2)beta3 protein was not detected in transduced epithelial cells. Human hematopoietic CD34+ cells were transduced with -889Pl(A2)beta3 virions and induced to differentiate with megakaryocyte growth and development factor. A hybrid alphaIIbbeta3 complex was formed in progeny megakaryocytes where provirus-derived Pl(A2)beta3 was detected associated with endogenous alphaIIb subunit. Another alphaIIb promoter-driven MuLV vector (-889nlacZ) encoding Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase was used to demonstrate that transgene expression was selectively targeted to the megakaryocyte progeny of transduced CD34+ cells. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of using alphaIIb promoter-driven MuLV vectors for gene transfer of hematopoietic CD34+ cells to target transgene expression in developing megakaryocytes and platelets and indicate potential applications toward human gene therapy for platelet disorders.