Pharmacologically regulated gene expression in the retina following transduction with viral vectors

The availability of inducible expression systems makes regulatable control of therapeutic proteins an attainable goal in gene therapy. We delivered te tracycline-inducible transgenes to the subretinal space using recombinant a denoviruses. Upon administration of doxycycline, we demonstrated reversible expression of green fluorescent protein in the retinal pigment epithelium as well as modulation of human growth hormone produced in the retina and se creted in the blood stream. This mode of delivery and regulation offers a u nique way to evaluate gene function in the eye and represents a novel metho d for introducing therapeutic proteins into the retina.