Evaluation of retroviral vectors based on the gibbon ape leukemia virus

The gibbon ape leukemia viruses (GaLVs) are primate-derived C-type retroviruses with a broad host range. Using an infectious, full-length clone of the GaLV SEATO strain, we have determined that this virus replicates efficiently in 13 of 17 human cell lines tested. In fact, the SB lymphoblast cell line, while resistant to infection by wild-type amphotropic mouse leukemia virus (A-MLV), was infected by GaLV-SEATO. We constructed vectors containing GaLV components and compared the performance of genomes containing an enhancer and promoter derived either from the SEATO or SF strains of GaLV. The GaLV vector genomes were packaged in a Moloney (Mo)MLV core with either an A-MLV or GaLV SEATO envelope. We found that, in some cases, the vector genome appeared to be critical in obtaining optimal infection. For example, vectors with a GaLV SF-based genome infected the human HL60 cell line, whereas vectors with a GaLV SEATO-based genome did not. We also found that most, but not all, of the human cell lines tested were more susceptible to vectors packaged with the GaLV SEATO than A-MLV envelope. The source of the viral core was also important, in that some human cells appeared susceptible to infection only with GaLV genomes packaged in particles composed of a GaLV core and envelope. Our results show that GaLV-based packageable genomes can be expressed in target cells not efficiently infected by vectors containing MoMLV-based genomes. These results suggest that judicious combinations of retroviral genomes and structural components can significantly improve gene transfer into human cells.