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. 1988 Sep;85(17):6538–6542. doi: 10.1073/pnas.85.17.6538

Efficient expression of retroviral vector-transduced human low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor in LDL receptor-deficient rabbit fibroblasts in vitro.

A Miyanohara 1, M F Sharkey 1, J L Witztum 1, D Steinberg 1, T Friedmann 1
PMCID: PMC282008  PMID: 2842777

Abstract

Familial hypercholesterolemia is caused by a genetic deficiency of the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor. The Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbit, which is also defective in LDL receptor activity, provides an excellent animal model of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. As a step toward development of effective gene therapy for familial hypercholesterolemia, we have constructed a transmissible retroviral vector containing a full-length human cDNA for the LDL receptor. WHHL fibroblasts infected in vitro expressed the human receptor efficiently, as indicated by RNA and ligand blotting studies. Infected fibroblasts bound and degraded a monoclonal antibody specific for the human LDL receptor (IgGC7) in a manner comparable to that seen with normal human fibroblasts. Human LDL was also degraded by infected WHHL cells and promoted cholesterol esterification to the same degree as seen in normal human fibroblasts. Although technical problems remain to be solved, these studies show that, in principle, gene therapy may be possible for familial hypercholesterolemia patients.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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