Naked DNA transfer of factor VIII induced transgene-specific, species-independent immune response in hemophilia A mice

The development of antibodies to a previously unexpressed protein product may limit the success of human gene therapy approaches. We inserted B-domain-deleted factor VIII (FVIII) cDNA of human, canine, or murine origin into the multiple cloning site of a liver-specific vector, pBS-HCRHPI-A, to yield plasmids pBS-HCRHPI-FVIIIA, pBS-HCRHPI-cFVIIIA, and pBS-HCRHPI-mFVIIIA, respectively. Fifty micrograms of each plasmid in 2 ml of solution was rapidly injected into the tail vein of three groups of hemophilia A mice. Factor VIII levels ranging from 3 to 12 IU/ml were obtained from all three groups (normal is 1 IU/ml in human plasma) 3 days after treatment. These initial very high levels of functional human, canine, or murine factor VIII, however, fell gradually to undetectable levels within 2-3 weeks, and their disappearance correlated with the generation of high-titer, inhibitory anti-FVIII antibodies. Notably, this immune response occurred independent of the species of origin of the exogenous factor VIII. Antibody titers to factor VIII were detected beginning at 2 weeks, reached a plateau and remained at high levels for over 6 months. The majority of anti-hFVIII IgG was IgG1 isotype specific, suggesting a humoral response mediated by Th2-induced signals. Consistent with this idea, in a separate group of mice treated with pBS-HCRHPI-FVIIIA, transient immunosuppression by cyclophosphamide significantly delayed (5/6) or abolished (1/6) inhibitory antibody formation against the transgene.