Table 1

Comparison of promoters used in DNA expression studies in vitro and in vivo

Expressed antigen
Promoters/enhancers compared
In vitro/in vivo comparison
Reference

GFP
CMV, muscle-specific creatine kinase (CKM) promoter
Consistently higher levels of GFP expression were driven by the CKM promoter compared to CMV in mice.
[5]
LacZ
CMV, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) promoter
Injection of mice with the constructs containing the different promoters showed that GFAP is as efficient at driving lacZ expression as CMV.
[6]
CAT
HIV-1-LTR (long terminal repeat), RSV-TAR (transactivation response element)
HIV-1-LTR could be transactivated by tat in both stimulated and unstimulated cells; RSV-TAR was only transactivated in unstimulated cells.
[7]
CAT
CMV, RSV, SV40, murine leukemia virus (SL3-3) promoter
The CMV promoter was found to be stronger than any of the other promoters tested in muscle.
[8]
CAT
CMV, SV2
The CMV promoter was found to have greatest transcriptional activity.
[9]
Luciferase
CMV, RSV, SV40, PGK, hybrid β-actin promoter/CMV enhancer, CMV/IA (intron A)
The hybrid β-actin/CMV promoter/enhancer showed greater luciferase expression than RSV, SV40, PGK or CMV. CMV/IA also showed 2–6 fold in vitro and 1.5–3 fold in vivo higher luciferase expression than CMV.
[10]
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
CMV, desmin
The promoters performed equally well in vitro, and CTL and Th1 serum antibody responses against HbsAg in mice were of similar magnitude.
[11]
Hepatitis B envelope proteins
CMV, desmin
Greater in vitro expression of antigen was attributed to the desmin promoter. However, comparable humoral and cytotoxic immune responses were stimulated following i.m. injection of mice.
[12]
Rabies virus G protein
CMV, SV40
Comparable G antigen-specific antibody titres were stimulated in mice. Slightly higher T cell responses were observed from the CMV construct.
[13]
Influenza virus H5 hemagglutinin (HA)
CMV, β-actin
Constructs containing the CMV or β-actin promoters provided comparable protection against influenza in chickens.
[14]
Influenza virus H5 hemagglutinin (HA)
CMV, β-actin, RSV, SV40
Similar in vitro expression of HA. The greatest HA-specific antibody and protection against influenza in chickens was provided with the CMV construct.
[15]
Bovine herpesvirus glycoprotein D (gD)
RSV, CMV/IA
CMV/IA construct produced higher neutralising antibody titres against gD in i.d. injected cattle.
[16]
HIV-1 gag/env
CMV, AKV murine leukemia viral long terminal repeat
CMV showed 10–20 fold greater activity than AKV in vitro. Immunised macaques developed high humoral responses with the CMVconstruct only.
[17]
SV40 large tumour antigen
CMV, SV40
The CMV construct induced higher levels of antibody and protection in the murine experimental metastasis model than the SV40 construct.
[18]
M. tuberculosis apa + pro proteins
CMV, UbC
The CMV promoter was the most efficient tested.
[19]
Adenovirus E4 ORF3
CMV, RSV, SV40, UbC, EF-1α
Following i.n. dosing to mice, constructs containing the UbC and EF-1α promoters stimulated the most stable expression of antigen
[20]

Garmory et al. Genetic Vaccines and Therapy 2003 1:2   doi:10.1186/1479-0556-1-2