Disease- and cell-type-specific transcriptional targeting of vectors for osteoarthritis gene therapy: further development of a clinical canine model

Objectives. The potential for undesirable systemic effects related to constitutive expression of certain therapeutic transgenes may be limited through the development of transcriptionally targeted disease- and cell-type-specific vectors. The objective of this study was to analyse the canine matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) promoter and deletion constructs for its ability to drive expression in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1 beta and tumour necrosis factor-alpha). Methods. Initial analysis of MMP-9 deletion constructs was made using a luciferase reporter system. The promoter was subsequently engineered to incorporate multiple NF-kappa B sites. In parallel experiments we used the mouse collagen type XI promoter to study cell-type-specific promoter activity in chondrocyte-specific cells (SW1353) and undifferentiated chondroprogenitor cells (ATDC5). Results. Incorporation of multiple NF-kappa B sites into the MMP-9 promoter enhanced activity while maintaining disease specificity. Further, manipulation of the mouse collagen type XI (mColXI) promoter by the incorporation of SOX9 enhancer sites downstream of a reporter gene, increased gene activity while maintaining cell type specificity. Conclusions. Manipulation of promoter and enhancer regions can improve transcriptionally targeted genes. A combination of these systems, in the context of the canine model, has the potential to improve the safety of osteoarthritis gene therapy vectors.