Abstract: Vascular grafts are used in gene therapy to implant autologous vascular smooth muscle cells that have been transduced with the gene of interest. The smooth muscle cells are immobilized within the pores and upon the interior surface of the wall of the graft, which is then coated with vascular endothelial cells and implanted into a patients's vascular system. The grafting device can be used in methods of treatment, such as supplying erythropoietin to a patient, and can be removed easily and replenished as necessary. The process is readily controlled and significantly reduces the risk of a viral gene vector spreading beyond a target cell population.

Abstract: Current techniques for expressing recombinant genes in cells of blood vessels following direct in vivo gene transfer are limited by attendant problems or limitations. Further, an effective method of transducing microvascular cells and/or cells involved in formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) has not been demonstrated. This invention provides methods of transducing cells in blood vessels using recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors.