Convection-enhanced delivery of AAV-2 combined with heparin increases TK gene transfer in the rat brain

Adeno-associated virus type2 (AAV-2) binds to heparan-sulfate proteoglycans on the cell surface. In vivo, attachment of viral particles to cells adjac ent to the injection tract limits the distribution of AAV-2 when infused in to the CNS parenchyma and heparin co-infusion might decrease the binding of AAV-2 particles to cells in the vicinity of the infusion tract. We have pr eviously shown that heparin co-infusion combined with convection enhanced d elivery enhances distribution of the GDNF family trophic factors (heparin-b inding proteins) in the rat brain. In this work we show that heparin co-inf usion significantly increases the volume of distribution of AAV-2 as demons trated by immunoreactivity to the transgene product 6 days after infusion i nto the rat striatum. NeuroReport 12:1961-1964 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.