Direct Gene Transfer to the Adult Rodent Myocardium In Vivo

The objective of in vivo gene transfer is the expression of a specific gene product into a target cell population with the general intention of not altering other cell populations. Because of their ability to transduce nonreplicating cells, as well as their fairly large packaging capabilities, recombinant adenoviral vectors have frequently been utilized as a vector system. However, the immune response to recombinant adenoviral vectors utilized for gene transfer limits their clinical efficacy for certain applications. Adenovirus receptors are present on multiple cell populations, limiting the ability of systemic vector administration to target myocardial cells. Nonspecific gene transfer affects gene product expression in cell populations other than the population of interest. This alteration of nontargeted cell populations may interfere with cell homeostasis in multiple organs and may expand the immune response consequences. Thus, vector delivery techniques that optimize tissue specificity of delivery are advantageous.