Retrovirus Mediated Gene Expression in Haematopoietic Cells

Keith, William Nicol McCulloch (1988) Retrovirus Mediated Gene Expression in Haematopoietic Cells. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The expression of retroviral vectors in cell lines and primary cells was investigated, with emphasis on autocrine stimulation of haematopoietic cells by GM-CSF. In this study, two distinct retroviral vectors were used which allowed a dual approach to the investigation of expression of exogenous sequences in haematopoietic cells. Retroviral expression of GM-CSF in the growth factor dependent FDCP1 cell line resulted in factor independent colony growth, the frequency of which was related to the vector used. The characterisation of cell lines derived from viral infection of FDCP1 cells revealed that these cells required the concentration of self produced growth factor to attain a critical level before colony development occured. As a result of virus infection, FDCP1 cells which express the retrovirally encoded GM-CSF have a proliferative advantage over the parental cell line. Finally, a number of variables which might influence the success of retroviral infection of primary murine bone marrow cells were investigated. Initial results suggest that bone marrow cells can be infected with retroviral constructs containing the neomycin gene, the efficiency of which may be related to the origin of the vector. Thus, this study demonstrates the feasability of using retrovirus vectors to express exogenous sequences in haematopoietic cells. It also provides a system which can be used to evaluate the efficiency with which new vectors will express genes in primary haematopoietic cells.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Virology, Genetics
• Date of Award: 1988
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1988-77697
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 Jan 2020 11:53
• Last Modified: 14 Jan 2020 11:53
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/77697