Recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 2 effectively transduces primary rat brain astrocytes and microglia

Recombinant adeno-associated virus-2 (rAAV2) under control of the chicken beta actin promoter/truncated CMV enhancer (CBA) was investigated for its ability to transduce primary cultures of rat brain neurons, microglia and astrocytes. This vector was highly effective in all three cell types in heparin-sensitive manners (astrocytes, microglia and neurons transduced by >98%, 75%, and 95%, respectively). However, astrocytes co-cultured with neurons were not transduced. rAAV2/CBA is an important new method for genetic manipulation of brain cells, though this may be modulated by interactions among cell types.