Enhanced EJ Cell Killing of 125I Radiation by Combining with Cytosine Deaminase Gene Therapy Regulated by Synthetic Radio-Responsive Promoter

AIM To investigate the enhancing effect of radionuclide therapy by the therapeutic gene placed under the control of radio-responsive promoter. METHODS The recombinant lentivirus E8-codA-GFP, including a synthetic radiation-sensitive promoter E8, cytosine deaminase (CD) gene, and green fluorescent protein gene, was constructed. The gene expression activated by (125)I radiation was assessed by observation of green fluorescence. The ability of converting 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to 5-fluorourial (5-FU) by CD enzyme was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The viability of the infected cells exposed to (125)I in the presence of 5-FC was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and the infected cells exposed to (125)I alone served as negative control and 5-FU as positive control. RESULTS The recombinant lentiviral vector was constructed successfully. On exposure of infected cells to (125)I, green fluorescence can be observed and 5-FU can be detected. MTT assay showed that the survival rate for infected cells treated with (125)I was lower compared with the (125)I control group, but higher than the positive control group. CONCLUSION The synthetic promoter E8 can induce the expression of downstream CD gene under (125)I radiation, and the tumor killing effect of (125)I can be enhanced by combining CD gene therapy with radiosensitive promoter.