Feline immunodeficiency virus-mediated gene therapy of middle ear mucosa cells.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the feasibility of gene therapy of the middle ear mucosa using a novel vector.


BACKGROUND
Given present medications are unable to affect chronic otitis media, cholesteatoma, or tympanic membrane perforation, newer methods of treatment like gene therapy for these diseases must be explored. These genes can then be used to alter cytokines in the middle ear, slow or stop cholesteatoma growth, or improve tympanic membrane perforation healing. Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), a new lentiviral vector has been found to have greater than 90% efficiency in transfecting epithelial cells. Therefore, in vivo gene therapy of middle ear mucosa cells was attempted.


METHODS
Twenty microliter of 5x10(5) vectors per ml FIV carrying the gene for green fluorescence protein (GFP) was introduced into the middle ears of Sprague-Dawley rats via a bulla approach.


RESULTS
Expression of the GFP gene was observed in the middle ear mucosa cells at 1 week post-inoculation indicating transfection.


CONCLUSIONS
Gene therapy of the middle ear is feasible with a FIV-based vector.
Djalilian
Hamid R
HR
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Minnesota, Box 369 UMHC, 420 S.E. Delaware Street, Minneapolis, MN, USA. djali002@yahoo.com
Tsuboi
Yasuhiro
Y
Ozeki
Masashi
M
Tekin
Muhammet
M
Djalilian
Ali R
AR
Obritch
Wesley
W
Lin
Jizhen
J
D000818:Animals; D002781:Cholesteatoma / Q000628:therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000821:virology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000821:virology; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000821:virology; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000628:therapy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014162:Transfection; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000628:therapy