Recombinant adeno-associated virus-mediated gene delivery to the mandibular condyle

Abstract

AIM: To investigate the expression of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) based vector mediated reporter gene (eGFP) in the temporomandibular joint. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Sixty, 35 day old, female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into one experimental group, which was injected with rAAV-eGFP virus into both mandibular condyles, and a control group that received a phosphate buffered saline injection. Each group of rats was sacrifi ced on the following experimental days: 7, 14, 21, 30 and 60. In situ hybridization with WPRE probe was used to identify the localization of transgene, and total RNA was extracted from condylar cartilage and semi-quantitative RT-PCR was carried out to evaluate the transgene expression. RESULTS: Using in situ hybridization and RT-PCR, EGFP expression was clearly detected in the deeper layer of the mandibular condyle as early as 7 days after injection, reaching a peak at 21 days and lasting for at least 60 days. CONCLUSION: This is fi rst study to confi rm that rAAV mediated foreign genes can be transferred to mandibular condyles in vivo. It strongly suggests that rAAV gene delivery is a promising approach to induce some candidate genes to regulate mandibular condylar growth.