In vivo Expression of Adenovirus-mediated lacZ Gene in Murine Nasal Mucosa

• Published in: Acta oto-laryngologica 2002-01, Vol.122 (6), p.627-633
• Main Authors: Arimoto, Yukiko, Nagata, Hiroshi, Isegawa, Naohisa, Kumahara, Keiichiro, Isoyama, Kyoko, Konno, Akiyoshi, Shirasawa, Hiroshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenoviridae; Adenovirus; Administration, Topical; Animals; beta-Galactosidase - biosynthesis; beta-Galactosidase - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Epithelia; Female; Gene; Gene Expression; Gene Transfer Techniques; Genes, Reporter; Genetic Vectors; Histocytochemistry; Injections; Lac Operon; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Nasal Mucosa - metabolism; Non tumoral diseases; Olfactory; Olfactory Mucosa - cytology; Olfactory Mucosa - metabolism; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Recombinant; Respiratory; Respiratory Mucosa - cytology; Respiratory Mucosa - metabolism; Solutions; Transfer; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology
• ISSN: 0001-6489; 1651-2251
• DOI: 10.1080/000164802320396303

Adenovirus is a good tool for transferring exogenous genes into various organs because the virus has a wide spectrum of infection. In this report, we demonstrate that a recombinant adenovirus, Ax1CAlacZ, can transfer an exogenous lacZ gene into murine nasal mucosa in vivo . The efficiency of the exogenous gene expression varied for different cell types and was improved by optimizing the method of administration. In the olfactory region, the olfactory epithelia, sustentacular cells and olfactory nerve efficiently expressed lacZ gene transferred by Ax1CAlacZ using either of two administration methods, dripping or injecting. In contrast, in the respiratory region, the respiratory epithelia but not the subepithelial tissues expressed lacZ gene transferred by Ax1CAlacZ, and the efficiency of the gene transfer, which was low when the virus was administered by nasal drops, was improved when the virus was administered by injection. Our study demonstrated that gene transfer mediated by adenovirus is more efficient in the olfactory epithelia than in the respiratory epithelia, and may be applicable to nasal or paranasal diseases such as olfactory epithelial disturbances.