Cardiovascular system vectors

The initial viral-based gene delivery experiments were performed in vitro using replication defective retroviral vectors in an attempt to transduce endothelial cells (Yao et al., 1991). Preliminary viral-based in vivo cardiovascular gene delivery experiments were also performed using retroviral vectors and demonstrated this vector system s ability to successfully transduce vascular endothelial cells (Newman et al., 1991). Although attempts at direct transduction of the carotid artery were not successful, it was established that efficient endothelial transduction could be achieved through the retrovirus-mediated infection of cells ex vivo and their subsequent arterial seeding in vivo (Lynch et al., 1992). 

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