Adenovirus Vector With ADP Gene Induces Cytopathic Effects in HEK293 Cells Without Significant Elevation of Virus Titers

BACKGROUND/AIM: Efficient production of adenovirus vectors is crucial for their clinical use. Adenovirus death protein (ADP), which is encoded in the E3 region of the adenovirus genome, is involved in host-cell lysis and the subsequent release of progeny virus; however, the ADP gene is often removed from the adenovirus vector genome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have developed adenovirus vectors that possess the ADP gene and maintain a relatively large insertion capacity for foreign genes by deleting the partial E3 region. Adenovirus vector-mediated transgene expression levels and virus titers were examined. RESULTS: The adenovirus vectors maintaining the ADP gene showed cytopathic effect earlier than conventional adenovirus vector without the ADP gene following treatment of HEK293 cells, although there were no significant differences in total virus titers. CONCLUSION: The adenovirus vectors possessing the ADP gene showed efficient spread of progeny virus infection following transduction in HEK293 cells.