Distribution of recombinant adenovirus in the cerebrospinal fluid of nonhuman primates

Gene therapy by administration of vectors into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may be used in treatment of leptomeningeal metastases (cancer gene therapy) as well as in treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, traumatic injury, and chronic pain. Recombinant adenoviruses are attractive vectors for intra-CSF administration because they can efficiently transfer genes into the nonreplicating cells of the central nervous system (CNS). In addition, they can be produced in high titers and, because no producers cells are introduced, the risk of CSF obstruction by clustering cells is circumvented. However, successful application requires favorable distribution dynamics, high transduction efficiency, and long-lasting transgene expression. In this study we examined the distribution of a recombinant adenovirus containing the lacZ gene after administration into the CSF of nonhuman primates. After intraventricular and suboccipital administration, homogeneous distribution of the vector along the meninges covering the brain and spinal cord was obtained, as demonstrated by extensive and intense blue staining of cells, predominantly in the arachnoid and pia mater. In one animal we also found beta-galactosidase activity in the cervical paraspinal fat and in one of the deep cervical lymph nodes, indicating drainage of the vector or vector products with CSF into cervical lymph. This route of vector clearance from the CNS may result in antigenic presentation and an effective immune response and may explain the sixfold higher serum antibody titers after intrathecal injection of adenovirus as compared with intranasal application in Fischer rats. We conclude that distribution dynamics of recombinant adenovirus after intra-CSF administration are excellent. However, because of the immune response elicited by the virus, even after administration to the CNS, development of immunomodulating strategies remains a challenge.