ADENOVIRUS VECTORS FOR GENE TRANSDUCTION INTO MOBILIZED BLOOD CD34(+)CELLS

Mobilized blood CD34(+) cells from cancer patients were ex vivo infect ed by a recombinant adenovirus vector carrying an alkaline phosphatase gene, whose expression is evaluable by flow cytometry. A mean of 40% CD34(+) cells were infected by the vector, with high levels of express ion of the transgene. Among attempts to improve infection efficiency b y manipulating culture conditions, only reinfection by the same vector achieved a 10% increase of transgene expression. Transduced CD34(+) c ells were induced to differentiate along the myeloid and the dendritic lineage, and in either case AP(+) cells were detectable among the dif ferentiated cell population. We conclude that adenovirus vectors may b e useful tools for gene transduction into mobilized blood CD34(+) cell s, particularly for those applications in which high transgene express ion for limited periods of time is required.