Recombinant Retroviral Vector Delivered Intramuscularly Localizes to the Site of Injection in Mice

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Abstract
A murine retroviral vector encoding the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) env and rev genes can be used to induce cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. Immune responses can be induced by an ex vivo treatment, in which autologous cells are transduced in vitro and re-introduced to the donor, or by direct administration of retroviral vector via intramuscular injection. In this study we have used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis to examine the distribution of recombinant murine retrovirus directly administered to mice. Mice were injected intramuscularly with HIV-IT(V), an amphotropic murine leukemia virus (MLV)-based retroviral vector carrying the HIV-1 env/rev genes and a neomycin resistance marker gene. Detection of the HIV-1 env gene in DNA isolated from injection sites demonstrated in vivo transduction. No evidence of transduction was observed in the testes, spleen, kidney, or thymus. Retroviral DNA was detected in the liver of one animal in the study. These data suggest that retroviral vector administered intramuscularly to mice localizes primarily to the site of injection and that measurable transduction in the testes does not occur.