ADENOVIRAL-MEDIATED GENE-TRANSFER TO HUMAN ADIPOCYTES IN-VITRO, AND HUMAN ADIPOSE-TISSUE EX-VIVO AND RABBIT FEMORAL ADIPOSE-TISSUE IN-VIVO

Adenoviral-mediated gene transfer has proven useful in several organ s ystems to understand gene action and to provide a potential therapeuti c modality for localized, organ-specific gene overexpression. However, the application of adenoviral-mediated gene transfer to adipocytes an d adipose tissue has not been evaluated. We evaluated the feasibility of in vitro and ex vivo transfer of the beta-galactosidase gene to hum an adipocytes and adipose tissue by means of adenoviral vectors. The e fficiency (percentage of cells transduced) of adenoviral-mediated gene transfer of the beta-galactosidase gene to human adipocytes in vitro and to human adipose tissue ex vivo was 21 +/- 3% and 14 +/- 3%, respe ctively. Adenoviral-mediated gene transfer in a rabbit femoral adipose tissue was also demonstrated in vivo. Adenoviral-mediated gene transf er may facilitate studies on understanding the biology of adipocytes a nd provide a potential tool for the modulation of adipocyte function i n vivo and thereby for the treatment of obesity.