Conditional gene expression in hepatitis C virus transgenic mice without induction of severe liver injury using a non-inflammatory Cre-expressing adenovirus

► We establish HCV-Tg mice regulated by the Cre/loxP system and an AdV/Cre. ► We examine effects of an AdV/Cre bearing the EF1α promoter, AxEFCre. ► AxEFCre-injected HCV-Tg mice show clearly liver injury due to HCV protein expression. ► AxEFCre injection enables the HCV-Tg mice to persistently express HCV protein. ► AxEFCre efficiently promotes DNA recombination in vivo without a severe hepatitis.