In Vivo Transduction of Cerebellar Purkinje Cells Using Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors

• Published in: Molecular therapy Vol. 2; no. 5; pp. 446 - 457
• Main Authors: Kaemmerer, William F., Reddy, Rukmini G., Warlick, Christopher A., Hartung, Seth D., McIvor, R. Scott, Low, Walter C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2000; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adenoviridae - genetics; adenovirus; Adenoviruses; Animals; beta-Galactosidase - genetics; beta-Galactosidase - metabolism; Cells; Cerebellum - cytology; Cerebellum - metabolism; Cytomegalovirus; deep cerebellar nuclei; Dependovirus - genetics; DNA - genetics; Gene Expression; Gene therapy; gene transfer; Genetic engineering; Genetic Vectors; Green Fluorescent Proteins; in vivo adeno-associated virus; Indicators and Reagents - metabolism; Luminescent Proteins - genetics; Luminescent Proteins - metabolism; Mice; Nervous system; Neurosurgery; Proteins; Purkinje cells; Purkinje Cells - metabolism; Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; transduction; Transduction, Genetic; Transgenes; Vectors (Biology); deep cerebellar nuclei; gene transfer; Purkinje cells; in vivo adeno-associated virus; transduction; adenovirus
• ISSN: 1525-0016; 1525-0024
• DOI: 10.1006/mthe.2000.0134

We investigated whether adenovirus or adeno-associated virus vectors can transduce cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) in vivo. Mice were injected in the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) with lacZ-transducing adenovirus (Ad.RSV-βgal) or a recombinant AAV serotype 2 (rAAV2) vector (vTR-CMVβ) mixed with wild-type adenovirus type 5 (Ad5). One week later, Ad.RSV-βgal transduced cells were found throughout the cerebellar white matter in a dose-dependent manner, but few transduced PCs were evident. In contrast, vTR-CMVβ with Ad5 transduced several hundred PCs throughout the injected hemisphere. Using an rAAV2 vector transducing a CMV-regulated green fluorescent protein gene, we again found PC transduction, but only with Ad5 coinjection. To assess the effect of injection site and to determine whether the apparent requirement for Ad5 coinfection is observed with other promoters, a β-actin-regulated vector was injected with or without Ad5 to DCN or cerebellar cortical sites. Thousands of transduced PCs were observed under each condition. Cortical injection yielded greater numbers of transduced cells. Injection of rAAV2 without Ad5 led to greater specificity for PC transduction. We conclude that injection of rAAV2 vectors into the cerebellum is an effective means for transferring genes into substantial numbers of Purkinje cells in vivo.