Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer in the transplant setting. II. Successful expression of transferred cDNA in syngeneic liver grafts.
These experiments establish a model for gene transfer to transplanted liver grafts ex vivo using adenoviral vectors. Rat liver grafts (n = 8) were harvested, and preserved in UW or lactated Ringer's. The grafts were infected ex-vivo via portal vein perfusion with replication-defective Ad vectors encoding the beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) gene diluted in UW solution. The infected grafts were stored at 4 degrees C for 1 hr, then transplanted into syngeneic hosts. Liver biopsies were taken at 1, 7, and 15 days after transplantation. Infection rate was assessed by histochemical staining for beta-gal. Liver DNA and RNA were assayed for the beta-gal sequences, and recombinant protein production measured at 24 hr and 7 days after transplantation. Under conditions mimicking liver graft cold storage, efficient gene transfer was achieved with an infection rate of 10-15%, as assessed by X-gal staining. Viral DNA and RNA presence in the graft was confirmed; gene expression with protein production were verified by western blots and a functional protein assay. All studies were negative in control livers. Gene expression persisted for at least 2 weeks after transplantation. We conclude that efficient adenovirus-mediated gene insertion and expression of gene products can be accomplished in whole-liver grafts under hypothermic preservation conditions currently used in clinical transplantation.
Shaked
A
A
Department of Surgery, University of California at Los Angeles, CA 90024-6904.
Csete
M E
ME
Drazan
K E
KE
Bullington
D
D
Wu
L
L
Busuttil
R W
RW
Berk
A J
AJ
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew
D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary