Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer into selected liver segments using a vascular exclusion technique

Adenovirus-mediated gene therapy is hampered by severe virus-related toxicity, especially to the liver. The aim of the present study was to test the ability of a vascular exclusion technique to achieve transgene expression within selected liver segments, thus minimizing both viral and transgene product toxicity to the liver. An E1-E3-deleted replication-deficient adenovirus expressing a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene was injected into the portal vein of BDIX rats, with simultaneous clamping of the portal vein tributaries to liver segments II, III, IV, V, and VIII. GFP expression and inflammatory infiltrate were measured in the different segments of the liver and compared with those of the livers of animals receiving the viral vector in the portal vein without clamping. The GFP expression was significantly higher in the selectively perfused segments of the liver as compared with the non-perfused segments (p < 0.0001) and with the livers of animals that received the vector in the portal vein without clamping (p < 0.0001). Accordingly, the inflammatory infiltrate was more intense in the selectively perfused liver segments as compared with all other groups (p < 0.0001). Fluorescence was absent in lungs and kidneys and minimal in spleen. The clinical usefulness of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer to the liver largely depends on the reduction of its liver toxicity. Clamping of selected portal vein branches during injection allows for delivery of genes of interest to targeted liver segments. Transgene expression confined to selected liver segments may be useful in the treatment of focal liver diseases, including metastases.