LAUSR

Adenoviral vectors are useful tools to manipulate a gene of interest in vitro and in vivo, including in the vascular system. The transduction efficiencies of adenoviral vectors in vascular cells such as endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are known to be lower than those in epithelial cell types. The effective entry for adenoviral vectors is primarily mediated through the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) which has been shown to be expressed in both cell types. Cationic liposomes have been used to enhance adenovirus transduction efficiency in non-epithelial cells. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to obtain new information regarding differences in, transduction efficiencies, cationic liposome sensitivity, and CAR expression between ECs and VSMCs. Using cultured rat aortic ECs and VSMCs, here, we have compared transduction efficiency of adenovirus with or without inclusion of liposomes and CAR expression. A significant increase in basal transduction efficiency was observed in ECs compared to VSMCs. Cationic liposome polybrene enhanced transduction efficiency in VSMCs, whereas decreased efficiency was observed in ECs. Western blotting demonstrated expression of CAR in ECs but not VSMCs. Proteomic analysis as well as mouse aorta immunostaining further suggest significant expression of CAR in ECs but not in VSMCs. In conclusion, adenovirus can effectively transduce the gene of interest in aortic ECs likely due to abundant expression of CAR, whereas cationic liposomes such as polybrene enhance the transduction efficiency in VSMCs lacking CAR expression.