Adenovirus-Mediated Gene Transfer In Vivo to Cerebral Blood Vessels and Perivascular Tissue

Abstract Gene transfer to blood vessels in vivo generally requires interruption of blood flow. Thus, gene transduction to cerebral blood vessels in vivo has not yet been achieved. In this study, we injected replication-deficient adenovirus into cerebrospinal fluid in an attempt to transduce genes to cerebral blood vessels. Recombinant adenovirus (1×109 infectious units) expressing nuclear-targeted bacterial β-galactosidase driven by the cytomegalovirus promoter was injected into the cisterna magna of Sprague-Dawley rats. The brains were examined histochemically after staining with 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-d-galactopyranoside 1 to 7 days after injection of adenovirus. Leptomeningeal cells overlying the major arteries were efficiently transduced, and adventitial cells of large vessels and smooth muscle cells of small vessels were occasionally stained. β-Galactosidase was expressed on days 1 and 3 after injection but was undetectable by day 7. Expression of the gene was ‘targeted’ by altering the position of the head. When viral suspension was injected while the rat was in a nose-down position, the reporter gene was expressed extensively on the ventral surface of the brain, especially along the circle of Willis. When the position was changed to the nose-up or lateral position, the inferior or lateral region of the brain was stained primarily. Administration of the virus into the lateral ventricle provided extensive expression in ependymal cells and leptomeninges with some transduction to cerebral blood vessels. Thus, adenovirus injected into cerebrospinal fluid provides gene transfer in vivo to cerebral blood vessels and, with greater efficiency, to perivascular tissue. Furthermore, cisternal delivery may target specific brain regions by positioning of the head. This approach may be useful for studies of cerebral vascular biology and cerebral vascular gene therapy.