       Document 0358
 DOCN  M9620358
 TI    Manipulation of the immune response by foreign gene expression in the
       thymus.
 DT    9602
 AU    Marshall DJ; Park BH; Korostoff JM; Gaulton GN; Department of Pathology
       and Laboratory Medicine, University of; Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
       19104, USA.
 SO    Leukemia. 1995 Oct;9 Suppl 1:S128-32. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96022237
 AB    Retroviral gene transfer vectors have been developed for optimal in vivo
       gene therapy. Ideally, these vectors should target gene expression
       specifically to selected tissues or organs. Our studies focus on the
       development of retroviral vectors for gene delivery to the thymus. The
       goal of these studies is to utilize thymic expression of exogenous genes
       to manipulate the immune repertoire. We have characterized the selective
       thymic tropism of a molecular clone of Gross murine leukemia virus,
       GD-17, to thymic medullary epithelial cells using immunohistochemical
       staining and confocal microscopy. Specific expression of viral antigens
       in the thymus lead to the induction of immunologic tolerance to GMuLV
       proteins. This tissue specific vector may thus be used to study the
       requirements of epithelial mediated tolerance induction, and provide a
       more efficient tool for gene therapy.
 DE    Animal  Animals, Newborn  Cell Line  Embryo  Female  Flow Cytometry
       *Gene Expression  Gene Products, env/*BIOSYNTHESIS/GENETICS  *Gene
       Therapy  Genetic Vectors  Leukemia Viruses, Murine/*GENETICS  Mice
       Mice, Inbred C3H  Pregnancy  Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
       Retroviridae  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
       T-Lymphocytes/*IMMUNOLOGY  Thymus Gland/*IMMUNOLOGY  *Transfection
       JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

