A novel lentivirus vector derived from apathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus.

The improvement of gene transfer efficiency in growth-arrested cells using human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-derived vectors led to the development of vectors derived from other members of the lentivirus family. Here we report the generation of a lentiviral vector derived from the apathogenic molecular virus clone SIVagm3mc of the simian immunodeficiency virus from African green monkeys (Cercocebus pygerythrus). Upon pseudotyping with the G-protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G), the SIVagm-derived vector was shown to transduce proliferating and growth-arrested mammalian cell lines, including human cells. After in vivo inoculation into the striatum of the adult rat brain, the vector was shown to transduce terminally differentiated neurons and oligodendrocytes as well as quiescent and reactive astrocytes. Moreover, SIVagm transfer vector mRNA was efficiently packaged by HIV-1 vector particles. Homologous [SIV(SIV)] vectors generated by using the SIVagm-derived envelope glycoproteins allowed selective gene transfer into human CD4(+)/CCR5(+) cells. Thus, the SIVagm3mc-derived vector is a useful alternative to HIV-1-derived lentiviral vectors in somatic gene therapy. (C)2001 Elsevier Science.