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Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) is a clonal haemopoietic stem cell (HSC) disorder characterised by the presence of a disease-specific gene, BCR-ABL, which leads to the production of a bcr-abl mRNA transcript. CML is an ideal candidate for gene therapy using ribozymes (Rz), catalytic RNA molecules that cleave and inactivate target RNA in a sequence specific manner. Limited data is available on the activity of ribozymes in human CML cells. In this study, hammerhead ribozyme sequences directed against the b3a2 bcr-abl mRNA sequence (Rz6-Rz10) were cloned into several retroviral vectors. Initial experiments using MSCVHSA based retroviral constructs failed to express the sequences in cell lines. Rz cDNA fragments were then cloned into an LNL6 based retroviral vector (LGL1) encoding a GFP reporter gene and stable LGLRz constructs produced. Using cell sorting, high-titre PA317 producer cell line clones were isolated. Transcriptional silencing of the LGLRz6 producer cell line occurred with prolonged culture, with partial reversal on treatment with the demethylating agent 5' azacytidine. To assess the activity of these constructs in human cells, CD34+ HSC were isolated from newly diagnosed b3a2 Ph+ CML patients. Cells were transduced with either control LGL vector or the LGLRz6 construct. Transduced human cells were sorted based on GFP expression and placed into long-term HSC culture (LTC-IC assays). Using a common cDNA, RT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of both the transgene and bcr-abl in individual colonies derived from the LTCIC assay at various time points, allowing assessment of the effect of transgene expression on bcr-abl expression. LGLRz transgene expression was detectable for up to 6 weeks in culture. Colony RT-PCR results from 3 patients showed that expression of the LGLRz6 construct was associated with decreased bcr-abl expression. It also appeared that the reduced bcr-abl expression decreased the proliferation of Ph+ cells leading to their loss from culture. In summary, these results appear to show an effect of a retroviral vector containing a bcr-abl Rz sequence on human CML HSC. Targeting of bcr-abl remains a valid therapeutic goal in the Imatinib era, particularly if problems related to effective ribozyme delivery and targeting can be overcome.

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