Cell type-specific targeting with surface-engineered lentiviral vectors co-displaying OKT3 antibody and fusogenic molecule

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of a T-cell-related targeting method using a lentiviral vector-based gene delivery system. Materials and Methods: A lentiviral vector system was constructed by co-incorporating an anti-CD3 antibody (OKT3) and a fusogen into individual viral particles. The incorporation of OKT3 and fusogen was analyzed using confocal microscopy and the in vitro transduction efficiency was evaluated using flow cytometry. Blocking reagents (ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) and soluble OKT3 antibody) were added into vector supernatants during transduction to study the mechanism of this two-molecule targeting strategy. To demonstrate the ability of targeted transduction in vivo, Jurkat.CD3 cells were xenografted subcutaneously into the right flank of each mouse and the lentiviral vector was injected subcutaneously on both sides of each mouse 8 h post-injection. Subsequently, the reporter gene (firefly luciferase) expression was monitored using a noninvasive bioluminescence imaging system. Results: By co-displaying OKT3 and fusogen on the single lentiviral surface, we could achieve targeted delivery of genes to CD3-positive T-cells both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: These results suggest the potential utility of this engineered lentiviral system as a new tool for cell type-directed gene delivery.