Recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors efficiently transduce foreign gene into bovine aortic endothelial cells: Comparison with adenovirus vectors

Because the features and kinetics of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene transfer to endothelial cells (EC) are yet to be ultimately determined , we tested variables pertinent to the efficiency of AAV-mediated gene tran sfer to bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). The variables with AAV vect ors were compared with the better characterized adenovirus (Ad) vectors. Th ere is a dose-response relationship between multiplicity of infection (moi) of AAV or Ad vectors and transduction efficiency in BAEC. The higher moi o f AAV vectors achieved more than 80% of transduction efficiency in cultured BAEC. AAV and Ad vectors showed an incubation-time-dependent increase in t ransduction efficiency of LacZ gene to the BAEC up to 12 h of vector exposu re. Although the similar kinetics of transduction efficiency of LacZ gene t o BAEC was found in both vectors, the duration of gene expression was longe r in AAV vector than that in Ad vectors in vitro. These results indicate th at AAV-vector is efficient for gene transfer to EC, and higher moi of vecto rs or a longer period exposure of vectors to EC can facilitate efficient tr ansduction of a foreign gene into cultured EC. For the duration of gene exp ression, the AAV vectors may be better than Ad vectors.