System for monitoring the location of transgenes
AssigneeMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
InventorsStephen James Russell, John Morris
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A novel strategy for monitoring the location of a transgene in a mammal is disclosed. A sodium iodide symporter is genetically fused to either the N-terminus or C-terminus of the product of a transgene through a linker peptide which bears the recognition sequence of a host cell protease. Expression of the transgene confers the activity of the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) to a host cell which expresses the transgene. Subsequent administration of labeled iodine results in transport of the labeled iodine into the cell bearing the NIS, which can then be localized and measured using standard imaging techniques. The system is particularly useful for monitoring the location of therapeutic transgenes and tissue-specific distribution of the therapeutic gene product.
Claims16
A method of monitoring the location of a transgene in a mammal, comprising the steps of:
- administering to a mammal in need thereof nucleic acid comprising the transgene and a sequence encoding a sodium-iodide symporter (NIS), wherein the expression of said NIS sequence in cells permits cellular uptake of iodine;
- administering to the mammal labeled iodine in an amount sufficient to permit transport of the labeled iodine by the NIS and detection of transported labeled iodine;
- and
- determining the location of the transported labeled iodine in the mammal as an indication of the location of the transgene.
A method of monitoring the location of a transgene in a mammal, comprising the steps of:
- transfecting a host cell ex vivo with nucleic acid comprising said transgene and a sequence encoding NIS, wherein expression of said NIS sequence in said host cell permits cellular uptake of iodine by said host cell;
- introducing the transfected host cell into the mammal;
- administering to the mammal labeled iodine in an amount sufficient to permit transport of the labeled iodine by NIS and detection of transported labeled iodine;
- and
- determining the location of transported labeled iodine in the mammal;
- whereby the location of transported labeled iodine is indicative of the location of the transgene.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.