title: Factors influencing retroviral-mediated gene transfer into hepatocytes in vivo.
abstract: Direct gene transfer into hepatocytes represents an attractive alternative to organ transplantation for the treatment of genetic liver diseases. This approach is hampered either by the difficulty to obtain, cultivate, and reimplant hepatocytes or by the poor stability of the expression of the transgene. In the present report, we show that direct in vivo infection of hepatocytes with a retroviral vector following partial hepatectomy results in a life-long expression of the transgene in adult rats and mice. We demonstrate that the kinetics of hepatocyte susceptibility to infection is closely associated with the kinetics of cell division. We also present evidence that a complete vascular exclusion of the organ allows better gene transfer as compared to simple portal infusion of the viral particles, presumably through a higher volume of retrovirus-containing medium delivered to the liver.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Rétrovirus et Transfert Génétique, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Branchereau
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Calise
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ferry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006498:Hepatectomy; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology* / Q000821:virology; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010477:Perfusion; D011169:Portal Vein; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D013997:Time Factors; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D001616:beta-Galactosidase