Virally mediated gene transfer to the vasculature.

Gene transfer technology provides valuable tools for the study of vascular biology. By using gene transfer, effects of specific gene products can be evaluated in a highly selective manner. In recent years, techniques used for gene transfer have been adapted for applications to blood vessels, including microvessels, both in vitro and in vivo. The purpose of this review is to provide a survey of published work in this field of investigation and to discuss advantages and limitations of current methods used for gene transfer to the vasculature.