title: Adeno-associated virus serotype 8 efficiently delivers genes to muscle and heart.
abstract: Systemic gene delivery into muscle has been a major challenge for muscular dystrophy gene therapy, with capillary blood vessels posing the principle barrier and limiting vector dissemination. Previous efforts to deliver genes into multiple muscles have relied on isolated vessel perfusion or pharmacological interventions to enforce broad vector distribution. We compared the efficiency of multiple adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors after a single injection via intraperitoneal or intravenous routes without additional intervention. We show that AAV8 is the most efficient vector for crossing the blood vessel barrier to attain systemic gene transfer in both skeletal and cardiac muscles of mice and hamsters. Serotypes such as AAV1 and AAV6, which demonstrate robust infection in skeletal muscle cells, were less effective in crossing the blood vessel barrier. Gene expression persisted in muscle and heart, but diminished in tissues undergoing rapid cell division, such as neonatal liver. This technology should prove useful for muscle-directed systemic gene therapy.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Chunping
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Liqiao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chunlian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D006224:Cricetinae; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006321:Heart / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D014161:Transduction, Genetic / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA