Work

Adenovirus-mediated transfer of low density lipoprotein receptor gene acutely accelerates cholesterol clearance in normal mice.

Year: 1993

Type: article

Abstract: We have explored the use of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer to transiently elicit production of low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors in mice. A recombinant adenovirus carrying the human LDL receptor cDNA restored LDL receptor function in receptor-deficient cultured cells. Intravenous injection of recombinant virus acutely lowered plasma cholesterol levels and increased the rate of 125I-labeled LDL clearance from the circulation in normal mice. At 4 days after virus injection, the t1/2 of plasma LDL was reduced up to 10-fold. An estimated 90% of the parenchymal cells in liver expressed the adenovirus-transferred genes as judged by immunofluorescence of LDL receptors or by beta-galactosidase staining. These results demonstrate that adenovirus-mediated transfer of the LDL receptor gene provides an efficient way of augmenting LDL receptor gene function in the liver over the short term.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.90.7.2812

Authors: J Herz, R D Gerard

Institution: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

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: American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health, Genentech, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute