Work

Retroviral-mediated gene transfer into hepatocytes in vivo.

Year: 1991

Type: article

Abstract: Stable gene transfer into hepatocytes might be used to compensate for a genetic deficiency affecting liver function or to deliver diffusible factors into the blood stream. In rats, we have combined retroviral-mediated gene transfer with a surgical procedure in which the liver is temporarily excluded from the circulation and infected in vivo. Partial hepatectomy was performed 24-48 hr before perfusion with virus to induce hepatocyte division and facilitate viral integration. A helper-free recombinant retrovirus coding for beta-galactosidase with nuclear localization was used to score cells that expressed the transgene. For at least 3 months after gene transfer, up to 5% of hepatocytes expressed nuclear beta-galactosidase. Whereas in vitro reimplantation of genetically modified hepatocytes has proved to be inefficient in stably transferring genes into the liver, our approach provides a feasible alternative.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.88.19.8377

Authors: N Ferry, O Duplessis, D Houssin, O Danos, J M Heard

Institution: Institut Pasteur

Language: English

Topic: Virus-based gene therapy research

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Styrelsen för Internationellt Utvecklingssamarbete, Fondation de France