Objective: To target expression of interleukin-2 in alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) positive hepatocellular carcinoma.
Methods: A retroviral vector pDOR-mAFP-IL2 was constructed by coupling the transcriptional regulatory elements (TREs) of murine AFP gene with interleukin-2 cDNA in a retroviral vector.
Results: Subsequent to retroviral infection, expression of IL-2 could be detected in an AFP positive murine hepatoma cell line Hepa1-6 but not in psi 2, an AFP negative murine fibroblast cell line.
Conclusions: Our results indicate that specific expression of IL-2 in hepatoma cell can be achieved by using of AFP TREs to control the expression of IL-2, and the retroviral vector which we have constructed may be used for further experimental studies on in vivo gene therapy.