Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells are not permissive for adenovirus type 5

Adenoviral vectors are known to transduce hepatocytes in normal liver tissu e with high efficiency. The aim of this study was to investigate whether si nusoidal endothelial cells, which separate hepatocytes from the bloodstream in the sinusoidal lumen, are permissive for infection by adenoviruses, We show here that microvascular liver sinusoidal endothelial cells are not inf ected by adenovirus type 5 in vivo or in vitro unless high MOIs are used. I n contrast, macrovascular endothelial cells-from aorta are efficiently infe cted by adenovirus type 5, In addition, Kupffer cells, similar to sinusoida l endothelial cells, are not infected by adenovirus type 5, fiver sinusoida l endothelial cells do not express-the integrin receptor alpha(v)beta(3), w hich is required for efficient infection by adenoviruses, Our results demon strate that hepatocytes are the main cell population of the liver that is i nfected by adenovirus type 5.