LONG-TERM HEPATIC ADENOVIRUS-MEDIATED GENE-EXPRESSION IN MICE FOLLOWING CTLA4LG ADMINISTRATION

Recombinant adenovirus vectors are efficient at transferring genes int o somatic tissues but are limited for use in clinical gene therapy by immunologic factors that result in the vapid loss of gene expression a nd inhibit secondary gene transfer. This study demonstrates that syste mic coadministration of recombinant adenovirus with soluble CTLA41g, w hich is known to block co-stimulatory signals between T cells and anti gen presenting cells, leads to persistent adenoviral gene expression i n mice without longterm immunosuppression. This form of immunotherapy greatly enhances the likelihood that recombinant adenovirus vectors wi ll be useful for human gene therapy.