Abstract: The invention is directed to novel combinations of liver specific enhancers and promoter elements for achieving persistent transgene expression in the liver. The liver specific enhancer elements may be derived from either the human serum albumin, prothrombin, ?-1microglobulin or aldolase genes in single copies or in multimerized from linked to elements derived from the cytomegalovirus intermediate early (CMV), ?-1-antitrypsin or albumin promoters. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an adenoviral vector comprising a liver specific enhancer/promoter combination operably linked to a transgene is administered to recipient cells. In other embodiments of the invention, adeno-associated viral vectors, retroviral vectors, lentiviral vectors or a plasmid comprising the liver specific enhancer/promoter combination linked to a transgene is administered to recipient cells. Also within the scope of the invention are promoter elements derived from the human prothrombin gene and the ?-fibrinogen gene.

Abstract: The invention is directed to novel combinations of muscle-specific enhancer and promoter elements useful for achieving persistent expression in the muscle or myocytes. The muscle-specific promoter elements are derived from a muscle creatine kinase promoter, a troponin I promoter, a skeletal alpha-actin promoter, or a desmin promoter. The muscle-specific enhancer elements are derived from either troponin I internal regulatory elements, muscle creatine kinase enhancers, or desmin enhancers.