Herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase gene transduced into T cell clone in the treatment of ulcerative colitis in rat

Abstract

To investigate the effect of herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene transduced into T cell clone on the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) in rat. The T cell clone transduced with HSV-tk was infused into 27 rats with UC. Changes of stimulation index (SI), CD4(+), CD8(+), IL-13, IL-4 were detected, and pathological changes before and after infusion was compared. In the second and third day after tk+ T clone infusion, the inflammation of colon was assimilated. Two weeks later, the colon began to renovate and mend. The average SI was 7.39+/-1.24 before infusion, and 2.67+/-0.87 after infusion (P<0.05). Peripheral blood levels of CD4(+), CD8(+) or IL-13 and IL-4 in therapeutic group were significantly decreased as compared to control group (P<0.05). HSV-tk gene transduced into T lymphocyte clone and infused back is effective for UC gene therapy and target design in rat.