Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) is the major
enzyme producing most plasma
cholesterol esters(CE) and a key participant in the process of reverse
cholesterol transfer (RCT). The aim of this research is to co-express LCAT and it's natural activator
apoA-I, with the recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors in the skeletal muscle cells, in order to pave a new way for gene therapy of the primary or secondary
LCAT deficiency. 293T cells was cotransfected with pDG and rAAVAIL/rAAVL plasmids to produce infectious rAAV, and non-ionic
iodixanol gradient centrifugation, followed by
heparin affinity chromatography, were performed for separation, purification and concentration of rAAV. The particle numbers of rAAV, assayed by dot blot, were 7 x 10(14)/L (rAAVAIL) and 1 x 10(14)/L (rAAVL). These vectors were then transduced into C2C12 myoblasts. The results of ELISA and Western blot for human
apoA-I, and [3H]-
cholesterol-labeled radiochemical methods for LCAT activity, showed that the expression of human
apoA-I cDNA and/or human LCAT
cDNA in transduced C2C12 cells lasted for 30 days, even after myoblasts were differentiated into myotubes. PCR products for the transgene indicated the long-term persistence of transduced vector sequences. The results indicate that the methods used for production and purification of rAAV is efficient, and rAAV vector mediated the expression and secretion of LCAT and
apoA-I gene in C2C12 myoblasts successfully. It suggests that the use of rAAV vectors mediating the high efficiency, long-term expression of human LCAT
cDNA and/or
apoA-I cDNA in skeletal muscle in vivo can be a safe and fesible strategy for the gene therapy of
LCAT deficiency.