Reporter expression persists 1 year after adeno-associated virus-mediated gene transfer to the optic nerve.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the foci and duration of protein expression following virus-mediated gene transfer to the optic nerve.
METHODS: A cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter was linked to a lacZ-SV40 polyA reporter gene or a humanized green fluorescent protein (hgfp) reporter gene, then inserted into a bacterial plasmid containing adeno-associated virus (AAV) terminal repeat sequences. The CMV-lacZ or the CMV-hgfp construct were injected into the vitreous cavity of strain-13 guinea pigs. Controls consisted of eyes injected with AAV without the promoter and reporter elements or eyes that received no injections. Th