Kinetics of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer to human lung fibroblasts

Many features of Ad-mediated gene transfer to human lung fibroblasts are not well understood. We tested kinetics of transduction efficiency of LacZ gene to human lung fibroblasts by E1-deleted adenovriuses containing two different promoters, i.e. CMV and RSV LTR. A dose-dependent relationship between the vector multiplicity of infection (moi) and the efficiency of LacZ gene transfer to fibroblasts was observed with each vector, and higher moi of vectors achieved 100% of transduction efficiency. Further, Ad-mediated gene transfer was enhanced by a long period of vector exposure to fibroblasts up to 6 hours. There were no differences in transduction efficiency between the two Ad vectors. LacZ gene expression by Ad vectors consistently decreased one day after infection. These results indicate that both Ad vectors are equally effective for gene transfer to human lung fibroblasts, and higher moi of vectors and/or a longer period exposure of fibroblasts to vectors can facilitate more efficient transduction of LacZ reporter gene into human lung fibroblasts.