Figure 3.

Luminescence imaging of mice after intravenous injection of AAV-vectors carrying a luciferase reporter gene. (a) Images were taken 14 days after i.v. administration of 5 × 10¹⁰ gp/mouse of vectors displaying the peptide ESGHGYF selected for lung tropism, the random control peptide CVGSPCG, or wild-type AAV2 capsids, respectively. Mice were imaged from the back (left panel), from the side (intermediate panel) and from the front (right panel). Images show representative examples of >3 animals per group. (b) Sagittal, coronal, and transaxial sections (left panel) and three-dimensional reconstruction (right panel) of the luminescence images of a mouse injected with AAV2-ESGHGYF vector (as in a), obtained by measuring different wavelengths of the emitted light, confirming the lung as source of luminescence. (c) Single organ of an ESGHGYF-injected mouse (as in a), measured ex vivo immediately after tissue explantation. (d) ESGHGYF-displaying vector was administered and long-term transgene expression was analyzed by bioluminescence imaging at 14-time points during a 244 days period (n = 2 animals). Upper panel: Imaged mice, rainbow scale as in a. lower panel: Values of luminescence/ region of interest.