Efficient gene transfer into neurons in monkey brain by adeno-associated virus 8

Although the adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector is a promising tool for gene transfer into neurons, especially for therapeutic purposes, neurotropism in primate brains is not fully elucidated for specific AAV serotypes. Here, we injected AAV serotype 8 (AAV8) vector carrying the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene under a ubiquitous promoter into the cerebral cortex, striatum and substantia nigra of common marmosets. Robust neuronal EGFP expression was observed at all injected sites. Cell typing with immunohistochemistry confirmed efficient AAV8-mediated gene transfer into the pyramidal neurons in the cortex, calbindin-positive medium spiny neurons in the striatum and dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The results indicate a preferential tropism of AAV8 for subsets of neurons, but not for glia, in monkey brains.