Transformation-dependent expression of interleukin genes delivered by a recombinant parvovirus

The prototype strain of minute virus of mice [MVM(p)] is an autonomous parvovirus with a tropism for cells expressing a neoplastically transformed phenotype. To generate gene transfer vectors for tumor-specific gene expression, human interleukin-2 (IL-2) and murine interleukin-4 (IL-4) genes were cloned under the control of the p38 late promoter of MVM(p). Upon transfection into permissive cells, the recombinant MVMIL2 or MVMIL4 DNA was excised, amplified, and, in the presence of a helper plasmid, packaged into recombinant viral particles. The recombinant viruses were able to transfer fully functional IL-2 and IL-4 genes to permissive target cells and retained the oncotropic host range properties of the parental virus. Following infection with MVMIL2, nontransformed fibroblasts of rodent (FR3T3) or human (MRC-5) origin produced minimal IL-2 compared with the high levels of IL-2 production observed in their transformed derivatives (FREJ4 and MRC-5V1).