title: Retrovirus-mediated in vivo gene transfer in the replicating liver using recombinant hepatocyte growth factor without liver injury or partial hepatectomy.
abstract: Retrovirus-mediated gene delivery into hepatocytes in vivo provides long-term gene expression, which is of great importance for treating most genetic and metabolic disorders. However, clinical application has not been realized because of the requirement for prior 70% partial hepatectomy or chemical (toxic) liver injury to initiate hepatocyte replication at the time of retroviral gene transduction. In this paper, we describe a novel gene delivery system that uses recombinant hepatocyte growth factor (rHGF) prior to retrovirus-mediated in vivo gene transfer in the liver without partial hepatectomy or liver injury. A single retroviral infusion through the portal vein following five systemic injections (via the tail vein) of 100 microg/kg rHGF resulted in a 10.4% 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling index (BLI) and 0.14% retroviral gene transduction efficiency (RGTE) in hepatocytes, which were 6.3- and 12.9-fold higher than those of controls, respectively. Modest additional increases in BLI and RGTE (13.4% and 0.22%, respectively) were seen after five systemic injections of 500 microg/kg rHGF. The correlation between BLI and RGTE was statistically confirmed regardless of treatment. When rats received multiple retroviral infusions through a cannulated portal vein following five portal injections of 100 microg/kg rHGF, RGTE was dramatically increased (1.3%) and in some areas of the liver exceeded more than 10%. There was no evidence of liver injury in any animal. This approach has great potential for clinical application in terms of avoiding invasive procedures or liver injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Kosai
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Finegold
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Thi-Huynh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tewson
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bowles
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Schwall
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Darlington
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor