Purpose: To study the feasibility of adeno-associated virus mediated gene transfection to cultured human iris pigment epithelium (IPE) cells in vitro.
Methods: Recombinant replication deficient adeno-associated viruses (AAV) expressing LacZ gene were produced without helper virus. The LacZ gene was transduced into cultured human IPE cells.
Results: Cultured human IPE cells stained positively anticytokeratin, The titer of rAAV-LacZ was 2.1 x 10(8) virus particles/ml, 42% cultured human IPE cells expressed beta-galactosidase 7 days after transfection and 67% after 14 days.
Conclusions: Recombined AAV produced without helper virus can transfer a foreign gene into human IPE cells with high efficiency in vitro.