Intrathecal injection of helper-dependent adenoviral vectors results in long-term transgene expression in neuroependymal cells and neurons.

Helper-dependent adenoviral (HDAd) vectors are devoid of all viral genes and result in long-term transgene expression in the absence of chronic toxicity. Because of their ability to infect post-mitotic cells, including cells of the central nervous system, HDAd vectors are particularly attractive for brain-directed gene therapy. In this study, we show that intrathecal injection of HDAd results in extensive transduction of ependymal cells and sustained expression of the transgene up to 1 year post-administration. We also demonstrate, for the first time, the ability of HDAd injected by this route of delivery to transduce neuronal cells. The transduced neuroepithelial cells can be potentially used to secrete therapeutic proteins into the cerebrospinal fluid and provide them via cross-correction to nontransduced cells. Targeting of neuronal cells and long-term transgene expression make this approach attractive for the treatment of several neurologic diseases.