Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2026
A Primary Neuron Culture System for the Study of Herpes Simplex Virus Latency and Reactivation
Published on: April 2, 2012
Development and Assessment of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1) Amplicon Vectors with Sensory Neuron-Selective
Charles Joussain1,2,3, Olivier Le Coz1, Andrey Pichugin1
1UMR INSERM U1179-Université de Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines/Paris Saclay, UFR des Sciences de la Santé Simone Veil, 2, Avenue de la Source de la Bièvre, 78180 Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France.
Background:
Neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) is a severe pathological condition characterized by involuntary detrusor contractions leading to urine leakage. This condition is frequent after spinal cord injury (SCI). Gene therapy for NDO requires the development of vectors that express therapeutic transgenes driven by sensory neuron-specific promoters. The aim of this study was to develop and assess tools for the characterization of sensory neuron-specific promoters in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons after transduction with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-based amplicon defective vectors.
Methods:
The HSV-1 vector genome encoded two independent transcription cassettes: one expressed firefly luciferase (FLuc) driven by different promoters' candidates (rTRPV1, rASIC3, rCGRP, or hCGRP), and the other expressed a reporter gene driven by an invariable promoter. The strength and selectivity of promoters was assessed in organotypic cultures of explanted adult DRG, or sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia from control and SCI rats.
Results:
The rCGRP promoter induced selective expression in the DRG of normal rats. The rTRPV-1 promoter, which did not display selective activity in control rats, induced selective expression in DRG explanted from SCI rats.
Conclusions:
This study provides a methodology to assess sensory neuron-specific promoters, opening new perspectives for future gene therapy for NDO.
More Related Videos
08:39Stereotaxic Injection of a Viral Vector for Conditional Gene Manipulation in the Mouse Spinal Cord
Published on: March 18, 2013
11:31Ex Vivo Optogenetic Interrogation of Long-Range Synaptic Transmission and Plasticity from Medial Prefrontal Cortex to Lateral Entorhinal Cortex
Published on: February 25, 2022
