The pINDUCER lentiviral toolkit for inducible RNA interference in vitro and in vivo

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Mar 1;108(9):3665-70. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1019736108. Epub 2011 Feb 9.

Abstract

The discovery of RNAi has revolutionized loss-of-function genetic studies in mammalian systems. However, significant challenges still remain to fully exploit RNAi for mammalian genetics. For instance, genetic screens and in vivo studies could be broadly improved by methods that allow inducible and uniform gene expression control. To achieve this, we built the lentiviral pINDUCER series of expression vehicles for inducible RNAi in vivo. Using a multicistronic design, pINDUCER vehicles enable tracking of viral transduction and shRNA or cDNA induction in a broad spectrum of mammalian cell types in vivo. They achieve this uniform temporal, dose-dependent, and reversible control of gene expression across heterogenous cell populations via fluorescence-based quantification of reverse tet-transactivator expression. This feature allows isolation of cell populations that exhibit a potent, inducible target knockdown in vitro and in vivo that can be used in human xenotransplantation models to examine cancer drug targets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Techniques*
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Lentivirus / genetics*
  • Luminescence
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / metabolism
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / pathology
  • Mice
  • RNA Interference*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • RNA, Small Interfering