ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the treatment of experimental lung metastasis by intratracheal injection of IL 18 gene recombinant adenovirus. Methods: (1)The mouse IL 18 mRNA was detected by RT PCR, the concentrations of IL 18, associated cytokines in lung lavage and blood were determined by ELISA at different times after intratracheal injection of IL 18 recombinant adenovirus. (2)The lung metastasis nodes, mouse survival period, survival rates were investigated in the treatment of experimental lung metastasis in C57BL/6 mouse model. The NK activity and CTL activity were determined by 51 Cr 4 h release method. Results: (1)The IL 18 mRNA could be detected in lung tissue 6 h after intratracheal use of IL 18 recombinant adenovirus, and the concentrations of IL 18 in lung lavage was higher than that of peripheral blood, and both IL 18 mRNA and IL 18 could not be detected in control groups. (2)Intratracheal use of IL 18 recombinant adenovirus had significant therapeutic effect on experimental lung metastasis with the results of increased CTL and NK activity, and with longer survival period and higher survival rates compared with the control groups. Conclusion: Intratracheal usage of adenovirus vector containing IL 18 gene has therapeutic effect on the lung metastasis, denoting that gene therapy of lung diseases can be done through airway directly with recombinant adenovirus.