Tissue Reactions of Adenoviral, Adeno-Associated Viral, and Liposome-Plasmid Vectors in Tendons and Comparison With Early-Stage Healing Responses of Injured Flexor Tendons

The 3 gene delivery systems tested elicit less severe tissue reactions in flexor tendons compared with early-stage inflammatory changes in injured tendons. Adenoviral and AAV vectors elicit less severe tissue reactions than liposome-plasmid vectors. The AAV2 vector appears to cause almost no reaction in endotenon. In terms of tissue reactions, the adenoviral and AAV2 vectors, in particular AAV2, are suitable gene delivery systems for future gene transfer to the tendon in vivo.