Targeted retroviral gene transfer into the rat biliary tract.

The ability to induce proliferation by temporary duct ligation suggested an hypothesis that retrovirus-mediated gene transfer into cells of the biliary tract could be accomplished. The time course of histologic changes, incorporation of 3H-thymidine and immunofluorescent staining with a monoclonal antibody to cytokeratin-19 (a marker for differentiated bile ducts) was studied in male Fischer F344 rats. A recombinant Gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV), containing a gene encoding Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase was next introduced into 24 hr obstructed bile ducts. Gene transfer was maximal when virus was exposed to the obstructed duct for 12 hr (approximately 0.1%). The majority of X-gal positive cells were in cytokeratin-19 negative peribiliary tissues, which had the appearance of newly forming bile ducts. The data suggest that cells targeted by retroviral infection of the obstructed rat bile duct may be a precursor of mature, fully differentiated biliary epithelium.