AIM: To investigate the effect of all-trans retinoic acid(ATRA)on the bystander effect of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase(HSV-tk)/ganciclovir(GCV)suicide gene system mediated by recombinant adeno-associated virus 2(rAAV2)in lens epithelial cells(N/N1003A)in vitro.

METHODS: The expression of TK gene in lens epithelial cells mediated by rAAV2/HSV-tk was detected by RT-PCR. MTT assay was used to observe the changed bystander effects of HSV-tk/GCV system in N/N1003A cells after ATRA therapy. The effects of ATRA therapy on the apoptotic rates of HSV-tk/GCV system in N/N1003A cells were investigated by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: HSV-tk gene mediated by rAAV2 was transfected successfully into N/N1003A cells and expressed stably. The bystander effect of HSV-tk/GCV system on N/N1003A cells in ATRA treatment group was significantly improved when compared with control group(P<0.01), and the apoptotic rates of the study group were notably increased(P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: ATRA can significantly enhance the bystander effect of HSV-tk/GCV suicide gene system mediated by rAAV2 in rabbit lens epithelial cells in vitro.