Co-packaging of sense and antisense RNAs: a novel strategy for blocking HIV-1 replication

Retroviral vectors were engineered to express either sense (MoTiN-TRPsie+) or sense and antisense (MoTN-TRPsie+/-) RNAs containing the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) trans -activation response (TAR) element and the extended packaging (Psie) signal. The Psie signal includes the dimer linkage structure (DLS) and the Rev response element (RRE). Amphotropic vector particles were used to transduce a human CD4+ T-lymphoid (MT4) cell line. Stable transductants were then tested for sense and antisense RNA production and susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. HIV-1 production was significantly decreased in cells transduced with MoTiN-TRPsie+ and MoTN-TRPsie+/-vectors. Efficient packaging of sense and most remarkably of antisense RNA was observed within the virus progeny. Infectivity of this virus was significantly decreased in both cases, suggesting that the interfering RNAs were co-packaged with HIV-1 RNA. Vector transduction was not expected to occur and was not observed. Inhibition of HIV-1 replication was also demonstrated in human peripheral blood lymphocytes transduced with retroviral vectors expressing antisense RNA. These results suggest that (i) both sense and antisense RNAs were co-packaged with HIV-1 RNA, (ii) the co-packaged sense and antisense RNAs inhibited virus infectivity and (iii) the co-packaged sense and antisense RNAs were not transduced. Sense and antisense RNA-based strategies may also be used to co-package other interfering RNAs (e.g. ribozymes) to cleave HIV-1 virion RNA.