Cell-specific transfection of choriocarcinoma cells by using Sindbis virus hCG expressing chimeric vector.

The development of Sindbis virus vectors that can target specific cell types would provide an important gene therapy strategy. We explored the possibility of designing a Sindbis virus vector that can target human choriocarcinoma cells via ligand-receptor interaction. The Sindbis virus envelope gene was modified by insertion of the alpha- and beta-hCG genes. The chimeric helper RNA was then transfected into BHK cells along with a virus-based expression vector, allowing the production of virus particles containing hCG-envelope chimeras. The hCG-envelope chimeric virus vector has minimal infectivities against BHK cells and human cancer cells which do not contain LH/CG receptors on their surface. This vector can, however, infect and transfer a reporter gene to choriocarcinoma cells as well as other cells bearing LH/CG receptors. This chimeric Sindbis virus vector may provide a novel approach for gene therapy of gestational trophoblast disease and placental dysfunction. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.